Conservation and management of the endangered forty-

Project Summary Project 2.2.3

A forty-spotted pardalote during monitoring. Photo: Fernanda Alves

Research in Brief Why is the research a previously unknown but extremely important threat to the pardalotes in The forty-spotted pardalote is a needed? the form of a parasite. A screw worm small endemic to Tasmania. The forty-spotted pardalote is a fly (Passeromyia longicornis) lays its It has suffered severe declines highly specialised species that has eggs in the nests of forty spotted and is now only found in a small undergone large declines, and is now pardalotes, and the maggots burrow part of its former range. Its main nationally endangered. Historically, into the skin of nestling pardalotes threats include habitat loss the species was widely distributed and feed on their blood. This leads and fragmentation, introduced across eastern Tasmania; however to very high mortality rates of fly- predators, competitors, and a it is now largely confined to a few struck pardalote nestlings and is now parasitic fly causing severe islands off the coast of Tasmania, and the primary cause of nesting failure nestling mortality. headlands and peninsulas in south identified in this species. This project will: fill biological and south-eastern Tasmania. and ecological knowledge gaps How will the research Forty-spotted pardalotes use about the species; test techniques tree hollows for nesting, and are help? to manage threats; undertake a dependent on white gum ( feasibility analysis of the potential to To address the drastic decline in forty- viminalis) where they forage for reintroduce the bird to parts of its spotted pardalotes we have begun insects and manna, the sugary historical range; and identify areas a research program that identifies substances produced by white suitable for reintroduction trials. and fills knowledge gaps about the gums in response to insect attack. key threats faced by the species, Together, this work will increase the likelihood of the species Forty-spotted pardalotes are and helps us better understand its surviving in the wild. threatened by habitat loss and current distribution and habitat needs. degradation, introduced predators like The research is expanding previous sugar gliders, competitors, drought knowledge and already our work has and limited dispersal ability. Previous had two major wins that will lead to research by this team also discovered better conservation outcomes. ANU Researchers in the field. Photo: Dejan Stojanovic

1. An on-going nest box What research activities Who is involved? deployment and monitoring We are collaborating with: program led to the discovery are being undertaken? • The Tasmanian Department of that parasitic fly larvae are We have been monitoring forty- Primary Industry, Parks, Water responsible for high nestling spotted pardalotes over their known and Environment (DPIPWE) mortality. This research project is range to track changes in their now developing techniques for population patterns including where • Sustainable Timber Tasmania managing the fly and improving they are and their abundance. This • Forest Practices Authority nesting success. has enabled us to identify the habitat • Weetapoona, and South 2. Our monitoring program recently characteristics that are most important East Tasmanian Aboriginal led to the discovery of a new for supporting pardalote populations, Corporations and to identify ways to make new population of forty-spotted • NRM South and other relevant populations safe from known pardalotes in a location beyond NGOs, local government and threatening processes. This research their known range – a major community groups. conservation win for this species. will be used to develop a framework Further our monitoring program and feasibility analysis of the potential Our program is designed so that has allowed us to derive the first for experimental reintroduction of the these stakeholders are informed robust population estimates for this species to parts of its historical range. immediately of research results and can take action without delay. still relatively poorly known species. We have also been monitoring the This is essential given the precarious breeding success of forty-spotted With further research we hope to state (e.g. small or fast declining pardalotes at a network of nest boxes identify more new populations of numbers) of the target species. forty-spotted pardalotes, and improve on North Bruny Island. We are trialling management of known threats to and testing techniques to manage the This project is also supported by the species. This will allow us to screw worm fly nest parasites using a The Holsworth Wildlife Research halt the decline of the species and bird-safe insecticide to fumigate nests, Endowment & The Ecological Society work towards recovery across its which substantially improves nestling of Australia, BirdLife Australia, and former range. survival. We are also experimentally the Mohamed bin Zayed Species deploying new nesting boxes into Conservation Fund. remaining populations of unmanaged Forty-spotted pardalote eggs in a nest. pardalotes to establish whether they Where is the research Photo: Fernanda Alves respond to management actions. happening? Our main research activities are: The research will take place on • Deploying nest boxes across Bruny, Maria and Flinders Islands and the current known species adjacent Tasmanian mainland sites. range, particularly targeting remaining mainland Tasmanian When is the research sites where the persist. happening? • Researching methods for This project began in 2015, and will controlling the parasitic continue until December 2020. screw worm fly to improve nesting success.

• Surveying historical locations for Further Information potentially persisting populations For more information contact: of forty-spotted pardalotes. Fernanda Alves [email protected]

This project is supported through funding from the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Programme.