Brolga Grus Rubicunda

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Brolga Grus Rubicunda Action StatementNo 119 Brolga Grus rubicunda Indexof Action Stetements *xDescription and Distribution * LifeHistorv and Ecoloqv *ConservationStatus *Decline andThreats *ManaqeqentAgtion *xReferences **Compilers Brolga, Grus rubicunda (illustrationby SusannaHaffenden) Descriptionand Distribution The BrolgaGrus rubicunda (Perry) is a large,long-necked 'lr cranestanding to 1.8metres in height.They have long, darklegs and their plumage is predominanflylight grey in colour.The average wing span of an adultis 1.7-2.4 "k-: metres.The adultmale weighs 4.7-8.7 kilograms and the female3.7-7 .3 kilograms(Marchant and Higgins 1993). Adultshave a conspicuousorange-red head which contrastswith the barecrown of greenish-greyskin and the darkerpendulous dewlap. The billis dark,long and straightand relativelylarge compared to the head.The iris ..;;, is yellowto reddish-orange.lmmatures (up to 10 months of age)have a grey,fully feathered head and the irisis darkbrown. Juveniles (11to22 months)gradually lose the headfeathering and attainthe red headcolouring. A fulldescription can be foundin Marchantand Higgins illrtr{but}on In Vlcteria (1ee3) +b€fere 1970 I sincg ,1570 {s+urce: S#as of tf,efonsr $,!#dlds.FlftE lgSSl The Brolgais distributedacross New Guinea, northern andsouth-eastern Australia (Blakers et al. 1g84, Marchantand Higgins1993). The populationsin Victoria andSouth Australia may now be isolatedfrom the northernpopulations as thereappear to be onlyscattered birdsin NewSouth Wales. In Victoria,birds are currentlyfound in the south-west,the NorthernPlains and adjacentparts of the MurrayRiver (Emison et al.1987).The specieswas formerlymore widely distributed and common,being recorded from the Melbournearea, Gippsland and North-easternVictoria (White 1e83). Life historyand ecology The Brolgais omnivorousand utilisesa diverserange of fooditems on a seasonalbasis. The mainfood items taken are vegetable materials, particularly the fleshytubers of wetlandplants, whichit obtainsby diggingand foraging.The residuesof grainand potatocrops are alsotaken. Amphibians,sometimes small fish and a widerange of invertebratesare alsotaken including freshwatermolluscs, crustaceans and insects(Marchant and Higgins1993, White 1983). Duringsummer and autumn,many birds flock to deepfreshwater marshes and permanentopen waterand adjacentdryland areas. Most of theseareas are on privateland. These sites provide for the birds'drinking, feeding and roostingrequirements. lt is possiblethat young adults form theirinitial pair bonds at thesesites (Arnol et al. 1984).Not all Brolgasgo to the flockingareas. Somebreeding pairs with young remain close to theirbreeding areas (White 1983). In lateautumn and winter the flocksdisperse back to the breedingareas where bonded pairs re- establishsubstantial territories. Most recorded nest sites are on privateland. Pairs are capableof occupyingthese territories for manybreeding seasons as theyare long-livedbirds (White 1983). Nestsare generally constructed on a slightrise or islandin shallowherb-dominated or sedge- dominatedfreshwater marshes. Nests usually consist of a platformof coarsevegetation. Occasionallyeggs are laidon the groundwith a few piecesof coarsevegetation placed around them(Campbell 1900, Beruldsen 1980, Marchant and Higgins 1993). Usually two eggsare laid andthe parentsshare in nestbuilding, incubation of the eggsand rearingof the young.The chicksfledge 90-100 days after hatching and remainwith the parentsuntilthe onset of the next breedingseason or for anotheryear if the parentsdo not re-nest(White 1983, Marchant and Higgins1993). Littleis knownabout breeding success, however Hill(1992)estimates it to be aboutone chickper nestingattempt. White (1983) suggests that if hatchingis successfulit is morecommon for one youngto be rearedthan two. This varies from season to season.Fledging success is unknown; however,losses of immaturebirds are attributedto predationby the Red Fox Vutpesvulpes and entanglementin wirefencing (Arnol ef al.1g84). Cu rrent conservationstatus NRE(2000) Vulnerable (Vic.) SAC(1991) Threatened (Vic.) The Brolgais listedas a threatenedtaxon underthe Flora and FaunaGuarantee Act 1988. Declineand threats The mostrecent population estimate of the Brolgain Victoriais 600-650birds (Arnol et al. lgg4). In 1992a singleday countlocated 635 birdsin WesternVictoria. There were 566 in flocksand the remainderwere in smallgroups or pairs(White 1992). No countswere made of the northern Victorianpopulation, however, this population has remained static at 60-70birds from 1g81to 1996with the largestflock of 28 birdsbeing recorded at Coropin July1994 (R. Weberpers. comm.).The populationhas remainedat aboutthe samelevelfor about a decade.The issueof concernis thatwhile the adultpopulation may appear to be unchanged,it may be ageingas the Brolgais a long-livedbird. With increasing age, the fecundity may be reducedand withno recruitmentto the populationthe numbersmay crash when older birds die. Fertilitywas not considereda limitingfactor in the early1980s when 82o/o of eggscollected were fertile (White 1983).In 1980immature and juvenile birds made up 10%of a flockat Willaurain western Victoria (White1983): however, few werelocated during the 1992survey. Anotherimpact on recruitmentis the modificationand disappearanceof breedingwetlands. For example,drainage works have resulted in the lossof 79o/oof shallowfreshwater marshes which arethe preferredbreeding wetlands in the westerndistrict of Victoria(Corrick 1982). Deep freshwatermarshes which are usedduring the driermonths and to a lesserextent for breeding havesuffered a 66% reduction(Corrick 1982). In recentyears some wetlands have been restored by landownersand Brolgashave bred on them;however drainage of freshwaterwetlands still continuesparticularly where raised-bed cropping activities are occurring.Grazing of wetlandsby stockalso reduces vegetation leaving insufficient for nestconstruction when the wetlandsfill (White1983). In recentyears concern has also been expressed about the subtleinfluence of salinityon freshwaterwetlands (Codd 1992, Kevin 1992) which may contribute to the lossof suitablehabitat throughsecondary salinisation. In additionthere has recentlybeen extensive planting of pinetrees and bluegums in somerural areas,including the basaltplains. These plantations may impacton shallowfreshwater wetlands in the vicinityby interceptingwater that normally would flow into them. Predationby the Red Foxon eggsand chicksis probablya majorcause of nestfailure at the presenttime (D. White pers. comm.). Humanactivities have also had a directadverse impact on Brolgapopulations. In the past,egg losseswere due to egg collectingand trampling by cattle,but they do not appearto be a major causeat present.Young birds have become entangled in fencingand maycollide with vehicles andfarm machinery (White 1983, Arnol et al. 1984).Netting fences present barriers to unfledged chicks,which must remain close to theirparents. As breedingsites dry out,adults and young mustfind other sources of foodand water, and if youngcannot get throughfences, they are more susceptibleto predationor starvation. Therehave been a numberof reportsof fledgedBrolgas colliding with transmission lines (White 1983,Goldstraw and Du Guesclin1991). lf nestsites are in the vicinityof thesepower lines there is a possibilitythat these sites will be unsuccessfulbecause of mortalityof adultsor newlyfledged young. In the pastBrolgas were shot and poisonedto protectgrain crops, but reportsof these occurrencesare now infrequent.Brolgas may also have been indirectly poisoned as a resultof baitingprograms for otherpests, for examplecricket baiting programs and useof other agriculturalpesticides. Brolgas have also died as a resultof illegalbird-poisoning activities when the targetspecies was the Long-billedCorella Cacatua tenuirostris (D. Venn pers.comm.). Lastcentury Brolgas were also shot for food.Campbell (1900) stated 'its flesh is goodfor the table'and commented that they were frequently offered for salein the Melbournemarket. It is notknown if disturbanceof flocksinterferes with their social structure. Disturbance of areas suchas LakeMuirhead during proclaimed hunting seasons may fragment flocks. In itsfinal recommendation the ScientificAdvisory Committee (SAC 1991) has determinedthat theBrolga is: o significantlyprone to futurethreats which are likelyto resultin extinction,and . veryrare in termsof abundanceor distribution. The Brolgais non-migratory,but doesundertake seasonal movements. They breed in shallow wetlandsin one areaand thenmove to traditionalflocking sites which can be nearbyor many kilometresaway. In Victoriamost birds are nowrestricted to the south-west.They are dependent on shallow,grass or herb-dominatedfreshwater wetlands for breeding,and permanentfreshwater areasand a regularfood supply at flockingsites. Activitiesthat threatenthe Brolga'spreferred breeding habitat inelude: . Drainageand modificationof wetlands. r Alterationof floodregimes during the breedingseason which can causenest abandonment. r Modificationof vegetationstructure and species composition, water quality or soil structureat breedingand feeding sites. r Widespreaduse of herbicidesand pesticidesespecially in closeproximity to breeding sites. r Disturbanceby huntingactivities where young birds are stillin the breedingwetland. o Introducedpredators taking eggs and killingchicks. Wildfireand burningprograms, which remove nest materiar. Grazingby stock. r Subdivisionand fencingof largeprivate landholdings. r Erectionof structuressuch
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