Listing Statement for Pardalotus quadragintus (Forty-spotted Pardalote) Pardalotus quadragintus
Forty-spotted Pardalote
T A S M A N I A N T H R E A T E N E D S P E C I E S L I S T I N G S T A T E M E N T
Image by Chris Tzaros Common name: Forty-spotted Pardalote Scientific name: Pardalotus quadragintus Gould, 1838 Group: Vertebrate, Aves (birds), Passeriformes, Pardalotidae
Status: Threatened Species Protection Act 1995: endangered Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999: Endangered IUCN Red List: Endangered
Distribution: Endemic status: Endemic Tasmanian NRM Regions: South, North
Figure 1. 2011 distribution of the Forty-spotted Plate 1. Adult Forty-spotted Pardalote (Image by Pardalote, showing NRM regions P. Geard)
1 Threatened Species Section – Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment
Listing Statement for Pardalotus quadragintus (Forty-spotted Pardalote)
SUMMARY markings. The wings are black and each feather The Forty-spotted Pardalote (Pardalotus terminates with a characteristic large white spot. quadragintus) is a tiny bird found only in The bill is short and dark with a small overhang Tasmania. It now occurs in only a few small and the legs and feet are fleshy-brown. areas of dry forest that contain Eucalyptus Forty-spotted Pardalotes have a low tone viminalis (White Gum) trees, on which it is contact call „where..where… where..where…‟ exclusively dependent. Core habitat includes made infrequently in short bursts and rapid any White Gum forest within 3 km of the east succession. During the breeding season the male coast from St Helens to Southport. Potential makes a distinctive „koochow…koochow…‟ call. habitat is any White Gum forest 3-5 km from the east coast from St Helens to Southport. The Forty-spotted Pardalote regularly co-occurs Recent surveys found a 60% population decline with the more widely distributed Striated in 17 years, to around 1500 individuals. The Pardalote and Spotted Pardalote. All three major threat to the species is loss and pardalote species are similar in size and degradation of habitat through clearing, behaviour and at times will forage together. conversion, drought or dieback. Forty-spotted Pardalote colonies can also disappear with Forty-spotted Pardalotes feed mainly on habitat fragmentation and human disturbance invertebrates, lerps and manna, which they take such as housing and roading. Substantial efforts aerially or glean from branches and leaves high are required to protect the species, including in the canopy of eucalypts (Woinarski & reservation and covenanting of habitat, Bulman 1985). A lerp is the waxy sugary coating improved community awareness of the issues, of the larval stage of psyllid insects. Manna is a as well as regeneration of White Gum. Loss white sugary substance formed at the damage even of single White Gum trees may point of branches. significantly reduce a colony‟s survival prospects. Forty-spotted Pardalotes breed from August to December and can lay two clutches of 4 to 5 IDENTIFICATION AND ECOLOGY pure white eggs per season (Higgins & Peter 2002). The species uses hollows and crevices in The Forty-spotted Pardalote (Pardalotus live or dead eucalypts, fallen limbs, fence posts, quadragintus) is a small passerine (perching bird) and occasionally holes in the ground for nest and one of four pardalote species in the family sites (Brown 1986, Bulman et al. 1986). The Pardalotidae. Pardalotes are typically eggs are incubated for 16 to 20 days, with both insectivorous birds which occur in dry adults sharing in the incubation and feeding of sclerophyll forests and woodlands across chicks. Young are fledged at approximately 25 Australia. All are similar in appearance and have days of age (Bulman et al. 1986, Higgins & rounded wings, short tails, and plumage Peter 2002). characterised by spots or streaks and bright red or yellow markings (Woinarski 1983, Higgins & Forty-spotted Pardalotes are territorial, Peter 2002). The Forty-spotted Pardalote is relatively sedentary and form permanent endemic to Tasmania. breeding colonies around their critical habitat tree, White Gum (Eucalyptus viminalis). The Forty-spotted Pardalotes measure about 10 cm species‟ movements are not well known but (8.5-11 cm) in length, have a wingspan of 18 cm there is local post-breeding dispersal by and weigh about 11 g (Higgins & Peter 2002). juveniles. Dispersal is unlikely to be extensive as Their body colour is mainly olive grey on the the species‟ wing shape is unsuitable for long back and greyish white on the front with a pale- distance travel (Woinarski & Bulman 1985) and olive wash to the sides of the breast and flanks. they are not strong fliers. Pairs are probably They have yellow cheeks and undertail-coverts monogamous, and remain together for several which brighten in colour during the breeding seasons. season. The feathers on the head and nape are faintly scalloped but have no definite head 2 Threatened Species Section – Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment
Listing Statement for Pardalotus quadragintus (Forty-spotted Pardalote)
Survey techniques well down the east coast from Bridport to To survey for the presence of the Forty-spotted Southport (Higgins & Peter 2002, TSS 2006). Pardalote, the surveyor needs to be highly Despite this seemingly wide distribution, the familiar with the species (including calls). Walk species was considered uncommon and rare slowly throughout areas of suitable White Gum (Littler 1910, Milledge 1980, Woinarski & habitat listening for calls and actively scanning Bulman 1985). all White Gum canopies for any sign of Surveys conducted during the 1980s (Brown pardalote movement. If movement is detected 1986, 1989) confirmed the species had declined then the species needs to be positively in range and was confined to small colonies on identified using binoculars. New methods using offshore islands, headlands and peninsulas down repeated site visits and stationary point counts the east coast of Tasmania. Colonies were found are currently being trialled (M. Webb, on Flinders Island, Maria Island, Bruny Island, Threatened Species Section); multiple surveys Tasman Peninsula, the slopes of Taroona, are likely to be required to be confident that the Tinderbox Peninsula and Coningham Peninsula. species is absent from an area, particularly Survey work during the 1990s (Bryant 1992, where birds occur at low densities. 1997, 1998) re-confirmed most of these sites and reported a new small population at Howden. A re-assessment of the species in 2009 to 2010 found that the species had maintained its previous range, although most of the colonies have undergone a significant decline in number (Bryant 2010).
The Forty-spotted Pardalote is linked exclusively to one tree species, White Gum Eucalyptus viminalis. Permanent colonies are formed around stands of White Gum and the species only occurs in forest communities containing this Plate 2. Nest hole, Dennes Hill (image by S. Bryant) eucalypt species. Core habitat for the Forty- spotted Pardalote includes any White Gum on Confusing species Flinders Island and within 3 km of the east coast Juvenile Spotted and Striated Pardalotes are from St Helens to Southport, and potential often misidentified as Forty-spotted Pardalotes habitat is any White Gum forest 3 to 5 km from due to their lack of head markings, duller body the east coast from St Helens to Southport. plumage and similarity in foraging behaviour (Bulman et al. 1986). In the absence of calls, The main forest communities containing White binoculars are essential to confirm the species‟ Gum (Brereton et al. 1997) are listed below markings on the head and colouration of the (equivalent vegetation communities in the vent. Confusion can also occur during the DPIPWE TASVEG classification in brackets): breeding season as the Striated Pardalote makes White Gum grassy forest (DVG); a similar breeding call and the Black-headed Honeyeater (Melithreptus affinis) often produces a White Gum coastal shrubby forest on short vocalisation similar to the contact call of Holocene sand (DVC); the Forty-spotted Pardalote. dry Stringybark (E. obliqua) forest (DOB); DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT White Peppermint (E. pulchella) - blue Historical records confirm the Forty-spotted gum (E. globulus) – White Gum grassy Pardalote once occurred on King Island, shrubby dry sclerophyll forest (DPU); Flinders Island, along the north-west coast to Wynyard, at sites in the central highlands, and 3 Threatened Species Section – Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment
Listing Statement for Pardalotus quadragintus (Forty-spotted Pardalote)
Black Gum (E. ovata) – White Gum CONSERVATION STATUS forest (DOV); The Forty-spotted Pardalote is listed as Black Peppermint (E. amygdalina) forest endangered under the Tasmanian Threatened on a sandstone substrate (DAS); Species Protection Act 1995. The species was listed on the initial establishment of the Act based on East coast wet viminalis (WVI). its listing as endangered in „Native Vertebrates which are rare of threatened in Tasmania‟ POPULATION PARAMETERS (Vertebrate Advisory Committee 1994). The first estimate of the total population size of Reasons for listing were „Loss of White Gum, the Forty-spotted Pardalote was of less than 850 nest hollows and competition from aggressive birds in 8 discrete geographic locations bird species that establish as a result of land (Rounsevell & Woinarski 1983). During the mid clearing‟. 1980s, a detailed assessment generated a total population estimate of 3,520 ± 704 birds at six Based on current knowledge, the species locations (Brown 1986, 1989). During the 1990s qualifies as endangered under the Tasmanian a similar population size of 3,840 ± 768 birds Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 under the was estimated at four of the previous six following criteria: Criterion A1a: an observed locations (Bryant 1995, Bryant & Jackson 1999). reduction of at least 50% over the last 10 years or within the past three generations of the A re-assessment in 2009 to 2010 generated a species (A1), based on direct observation (A1a); total population size estimate of 1,500 ± 300 and Criterion B1, B2b,c,d,e: Extent of birds (Bryant 2010, Bryant pers. comm.; Table occurrence <5000 km2, extent of occupancy 1), equating to an overall 60% decline in bird <500 km2 (B); severely fragmented and known numbers across the species‟ entire range. to exist at no more than five locations (B1); continuing observed decline (B2) in area of RESERVATION STATUS occupancy (B2b), area of habitat (B2c), number of subpopulations (B2d), number of mature The Forty-spotted Pardalote is well reserved individuals (B2e). throughout its range. About 77% of known sites occur in either public or private reserves (3,158 ha) including about 64% of the total THREATS, LIMITING FACTORS & MANAGEMENT ISSUES habitat located in Maria Island National Park (Bryant 2010). Key colonies are formally The major threat to the Forty-spotted Pardalote reserved in Dennes Hill Nature Reserve, South is loss of habitat due to clearing and/or Bruny National Park, Peter Murrell State deterioration in the health of White Gum Reserve and Conservation Area, Coningham habitat. The 2009-2010 survey found the most State Reserve, Magazine Nature Reserve, likely factor causing the population decline was Darling Range Conservation Area, Brougham deterioration in the health of White Gum on Sugarloaf Conservation Area, and Strezlecki Bruny Island and Maria Island due to drought National Park. Previously occupied colonies on and dieback (Bryant 2010). the Tasman Peninsula were reserved at Lime Bay State Reserve and Coal Mines Historic Site. Other threatening processes include habitat fragmentation caused by urban sprawl, housing, A large number of colonies on private land have roading, increased human disturbance, been permanently covenant under predation by domestic and feral species, and Commonwealth assisted programs. Over 500 ha pressure from more aggressive bird fauna. of Forty-spotted Pardalote habitat has been These factors acting singly or in combination protected by private conservation covenant with dieback reduce the viability of pardalote under the Tasmanian Nature Conservation Act colonies and lead to displacement and local 2000 and/or management agreements. extinction. These threats are particularly significant on large feeder colonies that are responsible for supplying dispersing birds.
4 Threatened Species Section – Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment
Listing Statement for Pardalotus quadragintus (Forty-spotted Pardalote)
Table 1. Summary of population estimates for the Forty-spotted Pardalote 1950 - 1980 1986 - 1987 1993 - 1997 2009 - 2010 NRM 1:25 000 No Location Tenure Pop. Estimate Pop. Estimate Pop. Estimate Pop. Estimate region* mapsheet (col – area) (col - area) (col - area) (col - area) Conservation area (Broughams North Flinders Sugarloaf Conservation Area, Leventhorpe, 6 birds 20 birds 70 birds 14 (5) birds# 1 Island Darling Range Conservation Fisher (1 col - ? ha) (1 col - 20 ha) (3 col - 300 ha) (4 col – 350 ha) Areas, Strzelecki National Park) Darlington, Riedle, 500 birds 1687 birds 1687 birds 974 birds 2 Maria Island National Park South Peron (many - ? ha) (23 col - 2030 ha) (23 col - 2030 ha) (23 col – 2030 ha) Adventure Bay, Barnes Bay, National Park, Nature Reserve, Blackmans Bay, 30 birds 1716 birds 1920 birds 450 birds 3 Bruny Island Private, Game Reserve, State South Great Bay, Dover, Forest, Kingborough Council ( incomplete survey) (72 col - 1628 ha) (76 col – 1622 ha) (76 col – 1622 ha) Fluted Cape, Partridge Mt Faulkner, New Norfolk, 2 - 26 birds 0 birds 0 birds 4 Private South Not assessed Granton Collinsvale (2 col – 20 ha) No data 3 general areas 0 birds 6 birds 0 birds 5 Taroona Private South Taroona Unknown (2 col - 3 ha) (1 col - 2 ha) (1 col – 2 ha) State Reserve & Conservation 20 birds 10 birds 6 Howden Area, Kingborough Council, South Blackmans Bay Unknown unknown site Private (1 col - 10 ha) (1 col – 12 ha) Private, Nature Reserve, 75 – 150 birds 75 birds 137 birds 46 birds 7 Tinderbox South Blackmans Bay Kingborough Council (many - ? ha) (6 col - 73 ha) (12 col - 108 ha) (12 col – 111 ha) 30 birds 10 birds 0 birds 6 birds 8 Coningham Nature Recreation Area South Barnes Bay (2 col - ? ha) (2 col - 8 ha) (2 col - 8 ha) (2 col – 8 ha) Lime Bay & 20 – 40 birds 12 birds 0 birds 0 birds 9 State Reserve & Historic Site South Cremorne Coal Mines (4 col - ? ha) (4 col - 27 ha) (4 col - 27 ha) (4 col – 27 ha) 850 birds 3,520 birds 3,840 birds 1,500 birds Total (incomplete) (110 col – 3,789 ha) (122 col - 4,107 ha) (123 col – 4,162 ha * NRM region = Natural Resource Management region, # extrapolated population size from 2011 survey (5 birds observed); sources: Brown (1986, 1989), Bryant (1997, 2010), Bryant & Jackson (1999), Bulman et al. (1986), Rounsevell & Woinarski (1983), TSS (2006). Note: Colonies include all new and previously known sites which retain intact habitat.
5 Threatened Species Section – Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment
Listing Statement for Pardalotus quadragintus (Forty-spotted Pardalote)
MANAGEMENT STRATEGY Management prescriptions were developed Management objectives and incorporated into commercial forestry practices and local government planning processes; Maintain and improve total habitat area, especially in and around colonies, and The Forty-spotted Pardalote is included in prevent habitat losses; the Threatened Fauna Adviser, a decision- support system used by the forest industry Maintain and improve habitat quality by to take account of threatened fauna in wood protecting White Gum and encouraging production forests (FPB 2000, 2002). regeneration; Consultation between the Forest Practices Assess potential habitat including Authority and DPIPWE is required under identification of priority areas for the protocols for managing threatened protection; species in wood production forests (FPB Continue to improve reservation status 2000); and/or develop management agreements Several thousand White Gum seedlings were with private landowners; grown and distributed to landowners; Prevent habitat loss or encroachment Listing Statement produced (Threatened within or near urban areas; Species Unit 1998); Improve understanding of the species‟ A major publicity campaign including a case ecology and interaction with other bird study video increased public awareness on species, especially other pardalote species; the species‟ plight; Assess and monitor subpopulations; Honours project completed on Forty- Involve and educate the community. spotted Pardalote foraging behaviour and habitat selection (Dorr 1999). What has been done? The second national Recovery Plan (TSS 2006) The first national Recovery Plan (Bryant 1991) was prepared in 2005 and implemented with was implemented with partial funding from 1992 partial funding from 2006 to 2010. to 1997. Achievements included: Achievements included: Increased protection of colonies on private Known habitat of the species increased under land through perpetual covenants and reservation; management agreements, increasing the New colonies were identified on Flinders species reservation status to 77%; Island, Howden and Bruny Island; Bruny Island Threatened Species Recovery Dennes Hill on Bruny Island was donated to Plan produced (Cochran 2003); the Crown and proclaimed a Nature Reserve; Post wildfire survey undertaken on Flinders Walkers Hill on Flinders Island was acquired Island (TSS 2005); by the Crown through a land swap and proclaimed a Nature Reserve; Nest box trial commenced on Bruny Island; 280 ha of Crown Land on Flinders Island Trial plantings undertaken on Dennes Hill, was incorporated into the Broughams Woodlands Estate and other private Sugarloaf Conservation Area during the properties on Bruny Island, and incentive Regional Forest Agreement, increasing the money provided for small scale works species reservation status to 66% of known (NRM South, Threatened Species Network); colonies by area;
6 Threatened Species Section – Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment
Listing Statement for Pardalotus quadragintus (Forty-spotted Pardalote)
Increased landholder awareness in 6. To reduce potential competition with threatened species protection through the introduced species for tree hollow nest sites – NRM South Mountain to Marine program; continue coordinated nest box trial (vary designs and placements); A resurvey of the species throughout its 7. To test whether conservation entire range (Bryant 2010); management is effective – continue Masters Thesis at Peter Murrell Reserve, standardised annual monitoring of all Howden (Iijima 2010). populations; 8. To increase understanding of current What is needed? distribution and population structure – expand survey effort on Flinders Island including the Implement the actions identified in the national potential for genetic studies; Recovery Plan (2006 – 2010), including: 9. To improve protection of the species – Protect and manage known colonies; identify all Forty-spotted Pardalote colonies on property titles to ensure colonies are not lost Monitor the population and habitat; with land sales. This action can then be used to Identify threats and factors limiting identify critical habitat for the species for listing expansion of colonies and colonisation of under the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection potential habitat; Act 1995; Increase the size of the population and the 10. To reduce potential competition with area of occupancy; native species – increase the research effort into competitor species (e.g. striated pardalote, Maintain community awareness of the black-headed honeyeater) and aggressive birds species and involvement in recovery actions. (e.g. noisy miner, kookaburra, butcherbird and raven); Additional actions now needed include: 11. To assist in preserving the species – 1. To avoid further population declines – assemble a Recovery Team and convene a protect habitat of all Forty-spotted Pardalote Forty-spotted Pardalote workshop to colonies, including avoiding damage to single reinvigorate and expand community white gums, preferably through reservation or involvement in recovery actions; covenant; 12. To assist in preserving the species – ensure the species receives priority focus in the 2. To support species‟ recovery through National Woodland Birds for Biodiversity habitat restoration - map all potential habitat Project (2009 CFOC grant); containing White Gum 0-3 km from the coast within the species‟ range and instigate planning 13. To assist in preserving the species – liaise mechanisms to protect and restore potential with Kingborough Council to improve habitat; awareness of colony locations and the importance of White Gum protection, and 3. To support a larger population – preventing loss of trees in trade-arrangements regenerate White Gums within or linking key in development proposals; colonies, using seed collected from the planting site; 14. To assist in preserving the species – expand training of volunteers to identify the 4. To protect White Gums from damage species with confidence, especially landholders (they are very prone to dieback) – fence colony who can then take on monitoring colonies on a habitat to reduce browsing by stock and native more regular basis. animals; 5. To recover populations – research feasibility of relocation and captive breeding;
7 Threatened Species Section – Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment
Listing Statement for Pardalotus quadragintus (Forty-spotted Pardalote)
REFERENCES quadragintus. Unpublished Honours Thesis, Brereton, R., Bryant, S.L. & Rowell, M. (1997). Department of Zoology, University of Habitat Modelling of the 40 Spotted Pardalote and Tasmania. Recommendations for Management. Report to Higgins, P.J. & Peter, J.M. (Eds) (2002). the Tasmanian RFA Environment and Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Heritage Technical Committee, Hobart. Antarctic Birds. Volume 6: Pardalotes to Shrike Brown, P.B. (1986). The Forty-spotted Pardalote in Thrushes. Oxford University Press, Tasmania. National Parks and Wildlife Melbourne. Technical Report 1986/4, Hobart. Iijima, C. (2010). Extent and Quality of Habitat for Brown, P.B. (1989). The Forty-spotted the Endangered Forty-spotted Pardalote Pardalote on Maria Island. Tasmanian Bird (Pardalotus quadragintus) at Howden, Report 18: 4–13. Tasmania. Unpublished Masters Thesis, School of Geography and Environmental Bryant, S.L. (1991). The Forty-spotted Pardalote Science, University of Tasmania. Recovery Plan: Management Phase. Department of Parks, Wildlife and Heritage, Hobart. IUCN (2010). IUCN red list of threatened species. Version 2010.1. Bryant, S.L. (1992). Long Term Survival of the
Listing Statement for Pardalotus quadragintus (Forty-spotted Pardalote)
Vertebrate Advisory Committee (1994). Native Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Vertebrates Which Are Rare of Threatened in Tasmania. Tasmania. Edition One. Species at Risk, View: Tasmania – Vertebrates. Parks and Wildlife www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/threatenedspecieslists Service, Tasmania. Contact details: Threatened Species Section, Woinarski, J.C.Z. & Rounsevell, D.E. (1983). Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Comparative ecology of pardalotes, Water and Environment, GPO Box 44, Hobart, including the forty-spotted pardalote, Tasmania, Australia, 7001. Phone (03) 6233 Pardalotus quadragintus (Aves: 6556; fax (03) 6233 3477. Pardalotidae) in south-eastern Tasmania, Australia Wildlife Research 10: 351–361. Permit: A permit is required under the Woinarski, J.C.Z. & Bulman, C. (1985). Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 Ecology and breeding biology of the forty- and Nature Conservation Act 2002 to “take” spotted pardalote and other pardalotes on (which includes kill, injure, catch, damage, north Bruny Island Emu 85: 106–119. destroy and collect), keep, trade in or process any specimen or products of a listed species. Additional permits may also be required under Prepared by Sally Bryant in March 2011 under other Acts or regulations to take, disturb or the provisions of the Tasmanian Threatened interfere with any form of wildlife or its Species Protection Act 1995. Approved by the products, e.g. on reserved land. Secretary and published in February 2012. Cite as: Threatened Species Section (2012). Listing Statement for Pardalotus quadragintus (Forty-spotted Pardalote). Department of Primary
9 Threatened Species Section – Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment