159 AUSTRALIAN Field Ornithology 2010, 27, 159–164 Recent Observations of the Thick-billed Amytornis textilis modestus in New South Wales

DAVID G. PARKER1, DAVID EGAN2 AND MICHELLE L. BALLESTRIN2 1Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, P.O. Box 397, Griffith, New South Wales 2680 (Email: [email protected]) 2Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, Parks and Wildlife Group, P.O. Box 1049, Griffith, New South Wales 2680

Summary This note provides details of two reports of the Thick-billed Grasswren Amytornis textilis modestus in north-western New South Wales in August 2008 and August 2009. These observations were of on a low stony ridgeline with sparse Black Bluebush Maireana pyramidata and Thorny Saltbush Rhagodia spinescens shrubland ~80 km east of the nearest historical record at Mount Arrowsmith Station, NSW.

Introduction The Thick-billed Grasswren Amytornis textilis inhabits shrublands of the arid zone of Australia. Three subspecies are recognised: A.t. textilis from Western Australia (WA), where it is now restricted to the Shark Bay area; A.t. myall from (SA), between Whyalla and the Gawler Ranges (Higgins et al. 2001; Johnstone & Storr 2004; Black et al. 2009); and the eastern subspecies A.t. modestus, which formerly extended from the southern Northern Territory (NT) through northern-central SA into north-western New South Wales (NSW) (McAllan 1987, 2000; Higgins et al. 2001; NPWS 2002). The species has, however, suffered a substantial reduction in distribution since European settlement, attributed in parts of its range to the arrival of Rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus (Johnstone & Storr 2004). It was unnoticed for many years in the NT and inland WA (Black & Longmore 2009), and in NSW it was considered probably extinct by Higgins et al. (2001). Across its range the Thick-billed Grasswren occurs in chenopod shrublands, especially those dominated by species of saltbush Atriplex and Rhagodia, and bluebush Maireana, sometimes with widely scattered trees and other shrubs such as species of Acacia, Eremophila and Myoporum (Higgins et al. 2001; Black et al. 2006, 2009; Pedler et al. 2007).

Historical records in NSW The historical distribution, and the handful of records, of the Thick-billed Grasswren in NSW have been discussed in various sources, including McAllan (1987, 2000), Higgins et al. (2001) and NPWS (2002), with reports from three widely separated areas: ‘Namoi’, ‘Mossgiel’ and the far north-west (Parker 1972; McAllan 1987; Black & Longmore 2009; Table 1). However, from as early as the 1880s the species had been observed to be in decline, having ‘almost entirely disappeared’ from around Mossgiel and Ivanhoe at that time (North 1904; Parker 1972). The last documented record of this species in NSW is a specimen, from 1936, AUSTRALIAN 160 PARKER, EGAN & BALLESTRIN Field Ornithology

Table 1 Historical records of the Thick-billed Grasswren A.t. modestus in NSW. S = specimen, E = eggs. No. Month Year Location Observer Source

1 S 1847 Lower Namoi River J.A. Gould Parker (1972) 1 S Nov. 1886 Mossgiel K.H. Bennett Parker (1972) 1 S May 1898 Mossgiel K.H. Bennett Parker (1972) (Yandembal) 1 S 1904 Mossgiel Unknown Campbell (1927) 2 S Oct. 1912 Wyarra W.D.K. MacGillivray McAllan (2000) (Mt Arrowsmith) 2 E Aug. 1936 N of Tibooburra S.L. Harvey Black & Longmore (2009) in the egg collection of Sydney Leonard Harvey, now housed in Museum Victoria. Harvey’s explanatory notebooks document his record as being from ‘Tibooburra, many miles north, towards the Queensland border’ (Black & Longmore 2009: p. 134), most likely on the Wompah Gate Road, possibly in the Mount Wood Hills, an easterly spur of the Grey Range (McAllan 2000). Neither the first (1977–81) nor second (1998–2002) atlas of Australian birds contains records for this species in NSW (Blakers et al. 1984; Barrett et al. 2003).

Observations in 2008–09

North-west of White Cliffs, 24 August 2008 While travelling in the Packsaddle area, two of us (DE and MB) stopped at 0930 h to look at a pair of Cinnamon Quail-thrushes Cinclosoma cinnamomeum flushed from the side of the road. While scanning for the Quail-thrushes where they had landed, DE and MB observed a small, plump, grey-brown with a long tail ~20–30 m away. The bird was loosely associated with a group of White- winged Fairy-wrens leucopterus, allowing an immediate comparison, the bird being distinguished by its larger size and plumper shape. As we had previous experience of , it was immediately apparent that this was a grasswren in shape. The bird was first seen in full dorsal and lateral view, always close to shrubs, and scampering rapidly from shrub to shrub. During the initial observation it moved around in an arc, maintaining a distance of about 20 m from us. At one point it was observed on top of a bluebush, with its tail lowered. At this time it was not possible to distinguish any significant tonal differences between the dorsal and ventral plumages, with tail and dorsum uniformly brown-grey in colour, except for some possible streaking across the side of the head. No calls were heard. After observing the bird for ~2 minutes as it moved away and over a low ridge, the bird became secretive and visible only when flushed from one clump of bluebush to another, and it had become separated from the party of Fairy-wrens. We followed it for ~100 m until it moved away at least another 50 m. At this time we chose not to disturb it any further and discontinued the search. The total observation time was ~10 minutes. VOL. 27 (4) december 2010 Thick-billed Grasswren in NSW 161

The habitat consisted of a low ridgeline covered with gibber, with scattered Black Bluebush Maireana pyramidata and Thorny Saltbush Rhagodia spinescens the dominant vegetation (Plate 28). Scattered trees and taller shrubs were also present, including Black Oak Casuarina pauper, Elegant Wattle Acacia victoriae and Myoporum sp.

North-west of White Cliffs, 2 August 2009 In August 2009, DE and MB with DP returned to the site of the 2008 sighting, arriving at 1010 h. After a brief search on the southern side of the road, with no birds of any type seen or heard calling, DE played the recording of the Thick-billed Grasswren from A Field Guide to Australian Birdsong (Buckingham & Jackson 1994). After ~1 minute (enough time for two full plays of the recording), a wren- like bird was observed on top of a low Black Bluebush ~50 m away before it soon flew low and scampered eastward down the slope of a ridge. Playback was stopped at this point, and all three observers followed the bird. The bird was again seen on top of a bluebush. We were facing it to the south- east, with the sun in the north-east, affording excellent viewing conditions. From a distance of ~40 m, the bird was observed to be dull grey dorsally and on the wings, with a stout bill compared with that of a fairy-wren, a long tail held cocked, pale throat contrasting with a darker underbody towards the belly, and clearly buff to rufous flanks below the folded wings. The crown appeared to have faint pale streaking. The bird was not heard to call. On the basis of these features, we concluded that this bird was a female Thick-billed Grasswren. At about this time, a single female White-winged Fairy-wren was also seen at about the same distance. This bird could be distinguished by its finer build and white throat and belly, with no contrast or gradation on the underbody. We followed the first bird for some minutes. It was seen hopping rapidly between Black Bluebush shrubs in what could only be described as a characteristic grasswren habit (a rapid bouncing gait) and was often glimpsed in shrubs beyond where it was last seen. Also at this time, and behind the observers, a second bird was heard making a rapid see see call, identical to the contact call of Buckingham & Jackson (1994). From glimpses of this bird to the north-north-west, and thus looking more into the sun, features were less obvious but, by behaviour and shape, it was again unmistakably a Thick-billed Grasswren. No buff–rufous patches could be seen on its flanks, and we concluded that this was a male, and therefore that a pair was present at the site. Assuming that the bird had moved away, the observers approached the bluebush to discuss the observations. While standing near the bush, however, DP observed movement within the shrub, and almost instantly the Grasswren flushed and fluttered rapidly ~15 m to another shrub. During this flight view from behind the bird, we noted the pale streaking on the greyish-brown bird. After ~20 minutes of observation we returned to the roadside to make notes at 1030 h. Just before 1100 h, we heard calls, rendered see, see, see-see-stuzeep, from the northern side of the road. DE and DP obtained glimpses of two Grasswrens ~30 m to the east-north-east, which we assumed at the time to be the same pair of birds observed earlier (but see Discussion). One bird, possibly a male, was heard to make a more elaborate call of short pips and downslurred whistles several times (which later we were able to match to a call in Buckingham & Jackson 1994). The two Grasswrens were foraging close to two Cinnamon Quail- AUSTRALIAN 162 PARKER, EGAN & BALLESTRIN Field Ornithology thrushes, and a small party of White-winged Fairy-wrens, including a male in full plumage, was also in the area (within 50 m of the Grasswrens). We had several glimpses of these birds over ~10 minutes, and they usually remained ~40 m or more away from us. When it was apparent that they were moving further ahead than we could keep up at slow walking pace, we returned to the car, and after making further notes left the site at ~1130 h. The records from near White Cliffs were forwarded to the New South Wales Ornithological Records Appraisal Committee, and were unanimously accepted (Case 490, 21 April 2010).

Discussion The Thick-billed Grasswren has gone unnoticed for significant periods of time throughout its range. In WA there had been no inland records (i.e. away from the Shark Bay population) of the species since 1908–10 until 1966 when Len Harvey observed three Grasswrens north-west of Mullewa in inland WA, i.e. almost 60 years after they had last been recorded (Black & Longmore 2009). However, the species is now considered extinct in inland WA, with its current distribution restricted to two localities near Shark Bay (Johnstone & Storr 2004). Similarly, in the NT, no records of the species were obtained for long periods of time: none from 1936 until September 1967, when Harvey observed the species east of Kulgera, and then none until April 1994, when a small isolated population was located south of Charlotte Waters (Northern Territory Government 2006). The species is now known from four locations within an area of 25 km2 of chenopod vegetation surrounding Charlotte Waters (Brandle & Reid 1998; Black & Longmore 2009). McAllan (2000) speculated that ‘the Thick-billed Grasswren may still be found in parts of the Grey Range in New South Wales, parts of which are included within ’. In April 2004, Black investigated an area known as South Blackwell Paddock on the present-day Mount Arrowsmith Station, the likely locality of MacGillivray’s 1912 record (Black & Longmore 2009). The search was unsuccessful, though little chenopod vegetation that might support Thick-billed Grasswrens was seen. Black commented ‘Whether there is sufficient habitat suitable for grasswrens to the north where Harvey obtained his clutch of eggs, or elsewhere in that part of New South Wales, is still an open question’ (Black & Longmore 2009: p. 135). The records of 2008 and 2009 establish that the Thick-billed Grasswren continues to persist in NSW. The site north-west of White Cliffs is located ~80 km east of MacGillivray’s record on Mount Arrowsmith, whereas the record and eggs of Harvey’s collection are from >200 km to the north (A.B. Black pers. comm.). The ability to relocate the species in the area almost a year between observations provides strong supporting evidence that the site is within the territory of a resident pair. Since these observations, staff from the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, and other individuals, have been conducting targeted searches for Thick-billed Grasswrens in north-western NSW to gain a better understanding of the extent of the population. During fieldwork conducted from 13 to 16 April 2010, Grasswrens were identified at five localities, each apparently occupied by a pair of birds (Plate 29 shows a Grasswren captured as part of this work). Two sites were on either side of the road in the area identified in this paper, indicating that we had in fact observed two pairs during the 2009 visit. This work VOL. 27 (4) december 2010 Thick-billed Grasswren in NSW 163

Habitat where Thick-billed Grasswrens were observed in August 2009 Plate 28 Photo: David G. Parker

Female Thick-billed Grasswren captured during follow-up surveys in north-western NSW in 2010 Plate 29 Photo: David Geering AUSTRALIAN 164 PARKER, EGAN & BALLESTRIN Field Ornithology is ongoing, and it is to be hoped that a summary of the results will be published in due course (D. Geering pers. comm.).

Acknowledgements DP would like to thank his wife Liz and their son Lachlan who waited patiently while we chased our birds over the biggest rock collection a 19-month old had ever seen. Our gratitude is extended to Peter Higgins, Andrew Black and an anonymous reviewer for providing constructive advice on drafts of this paper.

References Barrett, G., Silcocks, A., Barry, S., Cunningham, R. & Poulter, R. (2003), The New Atlas of Australian Birds, Birds Australia, Melbourne. Black, A.B. & Longmore, N.W. (2009), ‘Notes on grasswren eggs in Len Harvey’s Collection, Museum Victoria’, Australian Field Ornithology 26, 132–141. Black, A., Carpenter, G. & Pedler, L. (2006), Distribution and habitats of the ‘Western’ Thick-billed Grasswren Amytornis textilis myall, Unpublished report for the SA Arid Lands Natural Resources Management Board, Port Augusta, SA. Black, A., Carpenter, G. & Pedler, L. (2009), ‘Distribution and habitats of the Thick- billed Grasswren Amytornis textilis, subspecies myall’, South Australian Ornithologist 35, 161–177. Blakers, M., Davies, S.J.J.F & Reilly, P.N. (1984), The Atlas of Australian Birds, Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union, Melbourne. Brandle, R. & Reid, J.R.W. (1998), ‘Birds’, pp. 183–234, in Brandle, R. (Ed.), A Biological Survey of the Stony Deserts South Australia, Department of Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs, Adelaide. Buckingham, R. & Jackson, L. (1994), A Field Guide to Australian Birdsong, Cassette 9: Chestnut-crowned Babbler to Redthroat, Bird Observers Club of Australia, Melbourne. Campbell, A.G. (1927), ‘The genus Amytornis: A review’, Emu 27, 23–35. Higgins, P.J., Peter, J.M. & Steele, W.K. (Eds) (2001), Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds, vol. 5, Oxford University Press, Melbourne. Johnstone, R.E. & Storr, G.M. (2004), Handbook of Western Australian Birds, vol. 2, Western Australian Museum, Perth. McAllan, I.A.W. (1987), ‘Early records of the Thick-billed Grasswren Amytornis textilis and Amytornis striatus in New South Wales’, Australian Birds 21, 33–43. McAllan, I.A.W. (2000), ‘On some New South Wales records of the and the Thick-billed Grasswren’, Australian Bird Watcher 18, 244–246. North, A.J. (1904), Nests and Eggs of Birds Found Breeding in Australia and Tasmania, Special Catalogue 1, Australian Museum, Sydney. Northern Territory Government (2006), ‘Thick-billed Grasswren (eastern subspecies) Amytornis textilis modestus’, Threatened Species of the Northern Territory Information Sheet, Northern Territory Government, Palmerston. Available at http://www.nt.gov. au/nreta/wildlife/animals/threatened/pdf/birds/thickbilled_grasswren_en.pdf [accessed 1/3/2010]. NPWS (2002), Thick-billed Grasswren (eastern subspecies) Amytornis textilis modestus (North, 1920) Recovery Plan, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Sydney. Parker, S.A. (1972), ‘Remarks on distribution and of the grass wrens Amytornis textilis, modestus and purnelli’, Emu 72, 157–166. Pedler, L., Watson, M., Langdon, P. & Pedler, R. (2007), Rare Bird Surveys, Mt Lyndhurst Station, March 2007, Unpublished report for the SA Arid Lands Natural Resources Management Board, Port Augusta, SA.

Received 16 March 2010 