Survival, Distribution and Recovery of the King Island Scrubtit in Lavinia State Reserve Following the 2007 Wildfire

1 Acknowledgements I especially thank Belinda Colson of Cradle Coast NRM for the invitation to survey the King Island Scrubtit in Lavinia State Reserve, for securing funding from the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country initiative for the North West Environment Centre, for producing the Scrubtit distribution maps and for her endless patience and understanding during completion of this report. Thanks Belinda too for thorough proof-reading of the report, alerting me to inconsistencies and improving the maps. Volunteers Kate Ravich, Margaret Bennett and Shelley Davison of King Island and Carolyn Donaghey helped with surveys in the swamps with enthusiasm, dedication and good humour. Special thanks to Rachel Ehrat for converting my text into a document with splendid design, layout and artwork. Professor Stephen Garnett and Dr David Baker-gabb provided valuable constructive comments on a draft document and their suggestions greatly improved the recovery objectives and actions. Richard and Carolyn Donaghey visited three of New Zealand’s offshore nature conservation islands in November 2010. We were inspired by the dedication and commitment of the NZ Department of Conservation and volunteers in restoring habitat, eliminating feral predators and rescuing New Zealand birds from the brink of extinction. Survival, Distribution and Recovery of the King Island Scrubtit in Lavinia State Reserve following the 2007 Wildfire

In memory of Nigel Burgess for his love of birds and King Island.

A Report for Cradle Coast NRM June 2011 4 Contents

Introduction...... 2

Methods - Survey Guidelines...... 3

Scrubtit Abundance and Population Size...... 4

Scrubtit Behaviour...... 4

Scrubtit Distribution and Density...... 5

Scrubtit Habitat...... 5

Avian Assemblage at Survey Sites Searched for Scrubtit and Potential Predators and Brood-Parasites...... 5

Landscape Photos of Nook Swamps...... 6

Survey Photos in the Nook Swamps...... 7

Forest Interior Habitat Photos of Nook Swamps...... 8

Figure 1 - King Island Scrubtit Acanthornis magna greeniana Distribution in Lavinia State Reserve in 2010...... 9

Figure 2 - King Island Scrubtit Acanthornis magna greeniana Distribution in Lavinia State Reserve in 2004 and 2010...... 10

Figure 3 - King Island Scrubtit Acanthornis magna greeniana 2010 Distribution in Relation to Burnt and Unburnt Swamp Paperbark in Lavinia State Reserve...... 11

Table 1 - Numbers of Scrubtit, Scrubtit Behaviour and Habitat in the Nook Swamps...... 12-14

Table 2 - Unburnt Habitat in the Nook Swamps at Sites with no Scrubtit...... 15-16

Table 3 - Numbers of Bird Species at Unburnt Swamp Paperbark Sites with and without Scrubtit in the Nook Swamps...... 17-19

Five Case Studies of Recovery of Threatened Birds...... 20

1. Recovery of the Black Robin of the Chatham Islands, New Zealand...... 20

2. Recovery of the New Zealand North and South Island Saddlebacks...... 22

3. Recovery of the Seychelles Warbler...... 23

4. Recovery of the Noisy Scrub-bird in the South-west of Western Australia...... 24

5. Recovery of the Black-eared Miner in the Mallee of South-eastern Australia...... 25

Application of the Five Case Studies to the Recovery of the K I Scrubtit...... 26

Recovery of the King Island Scrubtit...... 27

King Island Scrubtit Recovery Outline...... 27

References ...... 29

1 Introduction The King Island (K I) Scrubtit Acanthornis magna greeniana formally Acanthornis magnus greenianus (Schodde and Mason 1999) is endemic to King Island (Higgins and Peter 2002) and was discovered on King Island in 1966 (Green and McGarvie 1971). The nominate subspecies A. m. magna only occurs on mainland Tasmania and South Bruny Island (Schodde and Mason 1999; Higgins and Peter 2002). The K I Scrubtit was described from specimens collected from Pass River and Pegarah State Forest (Schodde and Mason 1999). Previously it was recorded in habitat at 5 localities, the Nook Swamps in Lavinia State Reserve, Pass River, Pegarah State Forest, Yellow Rock and Yarra Creek. Recent searches in 2001 and 2004 failed to find any Scrubtits in the last 4 localities (Donaghey 2004 & 2007; TSN-WWF 2004) so the range of the K I Scrubtit has contracted significantly. The Nook Swamps is now the core critical habitat for the K I Scrubtit. The current conservation status of the K I Scrubtit under the Commonwealth EPBC Act 1999 is Critically Endangered (see http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/species/ scrubtit-king-island.html. for conservation advice on listing status). See http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/sprat.pl. for the species profile and threat database and then search for Scrubtit (King Island). The core critical habitat of the K I Scrubtit is the tall mature Swamp Paperbark forest in the Nook Swamps (Donaghey 2003), the largest remnant of reserved Swamp Paperbark forest on King Island. Destruction of this habitat by fire was recognised as the major threat to the survival of the K I Scrubtit (Donaghey 2003). In 2001 a fire burnt through much of Lavinia State Reserve surrounding the Nook Swamps but only a small patch of Swamp Paperbark forest was burnt. A search for the Scrubtit in February 2004 found 20 Scrubtit in the northern section of the Nook Swamps. A much more severe fire that ignited in the south at Sea Elephant in February 2007 burnt for 3 weeks and burnt almost all of the Lavinia State Reserve including about 2/3 of the Nook Swamps. A post-fire assessment of the impact of the fire on natural values of Lavinia State Reserve (Resource Management and Conservation Division Report 2007) recommended that a survey be conducted to determine the post-fire status of the K I Scrubtit. Cradle Coast Natural Resource Management obtained Commonwealth funding for this project. The aims of the 2010 K I Scrubtit survey were: • Survey the population of the K I Scrubtit (Acanthornis magna greeniana) in the Nook Swamps to obtain baseline data and GPS location points consistent with DPIPWE Natural Values Atlas standards. • At each GPS survey point record presence/absence of K I Scrubtit and where present establish Scrubtit abundance and density, and habitat characteristics . • Document distribution of K I Scrubtit in relation to habitat and investigate ability to inhabit burned sites. • Observe and record other listed threatened species such as the King Island Brown Thornbill (Acanthiza pusilla archibaldi) and all other bird species. • Prepare a report on the survey with recommendations for future management.

2 Methods Survey Guidelines Recommended survey methods for many bush birds in suitable habitat include area searches within a certain time, transect surveys of known length and width, or point surveys along transects. To census territorial breeding birds it is desirable to conduct surveys early in the breeding season since birds are more vocal and conspicuous when they establish and maintain territories and pair bonds through song and display. For diurnal bush birds it is best to conduct surveys throughout the morning in fine weather with little wind. Scrubtit in the Nook Swamps of Lavinia State Reserve are not an easy bird to survey because their favoured habitat is the low-lying, poorly drained Swamp Paperbark forests of the Nook Swamps that were extensively burnt in Febuary 2007 and because the terrain with tree-falls requires considerable care and navigational skills especially after wildfires. Although the K I Scrubtit almost certainly breeds in spring-early summer it is difficult and hazardous to census birds at this time because the swamps are inundated with water and hence more inaccessible. In 2004 the first Scrubtit survey in the Nook Swamps before the 2007 fire was conducted in February since on an earlier visit in November the swamps were too wet. The post-fire Scrubtit survey in the Nook Swamps was planned for November 2009 but above average rainfall for King Island in winter- spring 2009 and high water level in the swamps meant that it was more prudent to conduct surveys in late January-early February. Richard and Carol Donaghey visited King Island in 2010 for 10 days from 26 January to 5 February and enlisted the help of islanders Kate Ravich and Margaret Bennett to search for Scrubtit in the Nook Swamps. We accessed the eastern edge of the northern Nook Swamps by driving a hired 4WD vehicle along the Martha Lavinia Road past Pennys Lagoon and turning south-east onto a sandy track. We first surveyed the east side of the Nook Swamps at entry points 2, 4 and 6 km from the sandy vehicular turnoff past Pennys Lagoon. We first accessed the west side of the Nook Swamps from Yambacoona along East Wickham Road into Youngs Road then turned west onto a vehicular track at coordinates 242475E 5600560N (Egg Lagoon 1: 25 000 map) that headed toward the old Corduroy track. We gained access to the survey sites furthest south of the Corduroy on the west side of the Nook Swamps from the Counsel Hill vehicular track. We parked the vehicle on a rise (GPS 248814E 5599241N) 0.8 km north of the north-east boundary of land parcel AAE90. From the vehicle we walked toward the Nook Swamps on a bearing of 70 degrees through open burnt sedgeland and shrubby Eucalyptus viminalis and Banksia marginata for 1.3 km then descended on a bearing of 35 degrees through a gap in the scrub around the western edge of a lagoon with permanent water, aquatic vegetation and waterbirds and into the Nook Swamps. In the northern section of the Nook Swamps above what is known locally as the Corduroy track (east entrance GPS 250554E 5601390N) most of the swamp forest was burnt except for the northern tip and some linear strips on the eastern side. Hence it was not practicable to conduct fixed linear north-south transects through a mosaic of burnt and unburnt vegetation. Regeneration was slow and patchy in the burnt areas and showed little or no sign of bird activity so we concentrated our efforts on searching for Scrubtit in the unburnt patches. We entered any unburnt patch or strip and slowly progressed through the swamp forest linearly or in a circular route depending on patch size and condition. We stopped at roughly 50-80 m intervals for 15-20 minutes to search for Scrubtit. At each survey site we watched and listened for Scrubtit. If none were heard or seen in 5-10 minutes we attempted to lure them by pishing and/or playing a segment of song with a CD attached to 2 speakers. At each site we recorded the GPS location, presence or absence of Scrubtit, numbers and age of Scrubtit where possible, numbers of other bird species and habitat characteristics such as height and species composition of vegetation layers such as overstorey, understorey and ground layer. In addition any potential reptilian predators were recorded. Landscape photos 1 to 7 show the remaining unburnt Melaleuca ericifolia Swamp Paperbark forest from the 2, 4 and 6 km survey sites on the east side and west side survey sites as well as burnt areas traversed to access the latter unburnt sites. Photos 8 to 10 show people engaged in the surveys.

3 Scrubtit Abundance and Population Size We searched for K I Scrubtit in unburnt Swamp Paperbark of the Nook Swamps at four localities on the eastern side: 1) north of the 2 km entry point; 2) north of the 4 km entry point; 3) north of the 6 km entry point, the Corduroy track, and 4) south of the 6 km entry point. On the western side of the Nook Swamps we looked for Scrubtit at two localities: 1) just south of the Corduroy track; and 2) well south of the Corduroy track. A total of 26 Scrubtit were detected at nearly half (47.4%) of the 38 survey sites (Tables 1 & 3). Of the 18 sites where Scrubtit were detected, 3 Scrubtit were seen simultaneously at only one site, 2 Scrubtit were reported at 6 sites and one Scrubtit at 11 sites. In the unburnt Swamp Paperbark forest remnant at the northern tip of the Nook Swamps two Scrubtit were seen together on two separate days at two sites (waypoints 28 & 29) in close proximity. Assuming these four Scrubtit were the same pair at least 3 Scrubtit occupied the northern Nook. In the unburnt linear strip of Swamp Paperbark north of the 4 km entry point 5 Scrubtit were detected at 4 sites. North of the 6 km entry point 7 Scrubtit were detected at 6 sites. On the western side of the Nook Swamps 3 Scrubtit were seen simultaneously just south of the Corduroy track. At the locality much further south 2 Scrubtit were seen and or/heard at each of 2 separate sites and 1 Scrubtit detected at each of 2 other sites. Thus there were at least 4 Scrubtit at the locality furthest south of the Corduroy track. A conservative estimate of the total number of Scrubtit recorded is 20-22 Scrubtit. Of the 26 Scrubtit detected nearly all were adults and only one was positively identified as an immature bird. Two of the 3 Scrubtit seen together were adults but the age of the third bird was not determined. There were no instances of adult Scrubtit feeding juveniles and no juveniles were heard begging for food. On 4 mornings in February 2004 20 Scrubtit were recorded at 4 localities, 3 on the eastern side and one on the western side of the Nook Swamps north of the Corduroy (Donaghey 2007; TSN-WWF 2004). In 2010 a similar number of Scrubtit (20-22) were recorded but more than twice as long was spent searching for them over more than three times the area (Donaghey 2007; this report). Garnett & Crowley (2000) estimated the population size of the K I Scrubtit to be 200 breeding adults based on four sub-populations and that the area of occupancy and number of breeding adults was decreasing. By February 2004 the core range of the K I Scrubtit had contracted to one locality, the Nook Swamps. The population size was then estimated to be 50 adult birds in the northern Nook Swamps and a total of no more than 100 adults for both the northern Nook Swamps and the Nook Swamps south of the Corduroy (Donaghey 2007). Following the 2007 wildfire the estimated population size of the K I Scrubtit in the Nook Swamps declined by more than half to less than 50 birds. Although the overall K I Scrubtit population trend is decreasing, the current status of the population in the Nook Swamps has not been determined from annual surveys of breeding adults and recruitment of juveniles into the population.

Scrubtit Behaviour Foraging and singing behaviour of Scrubtit were recorded (Table 1). Since Scrubtit song is very distinctive most of the Scrubtit encountered were detected by their song rendered naturally or in response to song playback. Singing was conducted either while birds were foraging high in the canopy foliage of Swamp Paperbark or low within the dense understorey of shrubby Swamp Paperbark. Scrubtit were recorded foraging at heights from 1 m to 20 m above ground. Most Scrubtit either foraged low 1-2 m up in dense foliage and trunks of Swamp Paperbark understorey or 10 to 20 m up on the trunks, branches and canopy foliage of Swamp Paperbark (Table 1). Four of the Scrubtit encountered were moulting body feathers. The breeding biology and behaviour of the nominate Scrubtit in Tasmania is poorly known and essentially unknown for the K I subspecies (Higgins & Peter 2002). Breeding of the K I Scrubtit 4 was confirmed in February 2004 when five of the sites where Scrubtit were detected included family groups with a pair of adults feeding dependent young. By comparison in February 2010 only one Scrubtit was positively identified as an immature and no adults were seen feeding fledglings.

Scrubtit Distribution and Density The spatial distribution of Scrubtit reported in the Nook Swamps in 2010, and 2004 plus 2010 is shown in Figures 1 and 2 respectively. Figure 3 shows Scrubtit distribution in 2010 in relation to burnt and unburnt Swamp Paperbark forest. Excluding unburnt Swamp Paperbark in the extreme southern Nook Swamps more than 60% of Scrubtit habitat in the Nook Swamps was burnt in the 2007 wildfire especially on the western side (Figure 3). Most of the surviving Scrubtit were detected in unburnt patches of Swamp Paperbark in the North Nook, on the eastern side north of the Corduroy and south of the Corduroy on the west side (Figure 3). Three to four Scrubtit occupied the North Nook remnant, 0.71 hectares (ha), at a density of 0.18-0.24 Scrubtit per ha. The irregularly shaped, almost contiguous 1.58 ha ribbon of unburnt habitat between the 6 km and 4 km survey sites was occupied by 10 Scrubtit at a density of 0.16 Scrubtit per ha. Two Scrubtit occupied the crescent- shaped habitat (0.35 ha) at the Corduroy at a density of 0.18 Scrubtit per ha. The density of 3 Scrubtit in the U-shaped forest remnant south of the Corduroy on the west side was 0.27 Scrubtit per ha. Finally 4 Scrubtit occupied the remnant of 1.99 ha furthest south of the Corduroy on the west side of the Nook Swamps at a density of 0.5 Scrubtit per ha.

Scrubtit Habitat Scrubtit were observed only in unburnt Swamp Paperbark forest. Table 1 describes the Swamp Paperbark Melaleuca ericifolia (Me) habitat at 18 sites where Scrubtit were reported. Scrubtit occupied three main types of Swamp Paperbark – i) Tall Me overstorey with dense understorey of short Me 1-6 m high; ii) Tall Me overstorey with a ground layer of Carex sedge; and iii) Tall Me with no understorey vegetation and a ground layer of litter. The different types of habitat are depicted in the photos 11to 17. Table 2 describes the habitat at 20 different sites where no Scrubtit were recorded. The habitat at most of these 20 sites appears suitable for Scrubtit especially those sites with a tall Me overstorey and short shrubby understorey of Me. Suitable habitat unoccupied by Scrubtit provide habitat connectivity for dispersing Scrubtit and provide habitat for population expansion.

Avian Assemblage at Survey Sites Searched for Scrubtit and Potential Predators and Brood-Parasites Table 3 shows the numbers of all bird species recorded at each of the 38 survey sites within Swamp Paperbark forest of the Nook Swamps. The six most common birds in order of abundance were Tasmanian Thornbill, Grey Fantail, Tasmanian Scrubwren, Scrubtit, Grey Shrike-thrush and Superb Fairy-wren. Tasmanian Thornbill were reported at 65.8 % of the survey sites. Scrubtit mortality is an important factor that may limit Scrubtit recovery. Potential predators of adult, nestling and juvenile Scrubtit include mammalian, avian and reptilian predators. Brush-tailed Possum, a known predator of birds’ eggs and nestlings, appeared to occur at low density in the Nook Swamps. Among the bird species recorded during the surveys the Brown Goshawk is a potential predator of both adult and nestling Scrubtit. Potential predators of nestling Scrubtit include the Grey Shrike-thrush and Forest Raven. Grey Shrike-thrush was recorded on 36.8% of the survey sites. Forest Raven was a common breeding resident in the Nook Swamps prior to the 2007 fire (Donaghey 2003) but during the 2010 surveys was recorded on only 2.6% of sites. The Black Currawong was not recorded within the swamp interior but was heard flying overhead. Small birds that build dome-shaped nests such as Scrubtit, Tasmanian Scrubwren and Tasmanian Thornbill are potential hosts for 5 brood-parasites such as cuckoos. One Fan-tailed Cuckoo, a known brood-parasite of Scrubtit and Tasmanian Scrubwren, was recorded (Table 3). Of the three snakes that occur on King Island (Donaghey 2003) one Copperhead was seen in dense wet tea-tree approaching the west side of the Nook Swamps south of the Corduroy. The Copperhead mostly preys on frogs. A White-lipped Snake was seen at two different locations within the swamp interior, once in the North Nook and once furthest south of the Corduroy on the west side of the Nook Swamps. White-lipped Snakes prey almost exclusively on lizards (Donaghey 2003). Landscape Photos of Nook Swamps

Unburnt northern end of Nook Swamps (North Nook) looking west from near the 2 km east entry point.

East side of Nook Swamps looking west from near the 4 km east entry point.

East side of Nook Swamps looking west toward the Corduroy track near the 6 km east entry point. 6 4 5 6

4) Burnt standing Melaleuca ericifolia in large wetland on west side of Nook Swamps north of Corduroy track. 5) Negotiating burnt fallen and standing Melaleuca ericifolia on west side of Nook Swamps south of Corduroy track. 6) Approaching unburnt Swamp Paperbark forest on west side of Nook Swamps south of Corduroy track.

Navigating through regenerating burnt sedgeland and coastal scrub to the west side of the Nook Swamps furthest south from the Corduroy track.

Survey Photos in the Nook Swamps

8 9 10

8) Kate Ravich and Richard Donaghey spotting and recording Scrubtit in the Nook Swamps in good habitat with tall Swamp Paperbarks and a dense shrubby Melaleuca ericifolia understorey. 9) Margaret Bennett negotiating fallen and standing Melaleuca ericifolia south of the Corduroy track on the west side of the Nook Swamps. 10) Carol and Richard Donaghey and Kate Ravich looking for Scrubtit on the Corduroy track at the 6 km east survey site.

7 Forest Interior Habitat Photos of Nook Swamps

11 12 13

11) Tall Melaleuca ericifolia with dense shrubby understorey occupied by Scrubtits in the northern end of Nook Swamps (North Nook) near waypoint 29. 12) Scrubtit habitat of tall Melaleuca ericifolia and tall Me understorey in a narrow strip of forest south of an open burnt area at 4 km waypoints 39 and 40. 13) Scrubtit habitat of tall Melaleuca ericifolia with a dense ground layer of Carex sedges at 6 km waypoint 13.

14 15

14) Tall Melaleuca ericifolia with dense tall understorey of Me in background and ground layer of litter in foreground on east side of Nook Swamps south of Corduroy. Scrubtit not recorded here but similar habitat of tall Me with no ground layer vegetation (waypoint 3) was occupied by Scrubtit. 15) Tall Melaleuca ericifolia with medium-dense understorey of Me occupied by Scrubtit at west side of Nook Swamps south of Corduroy track (waypoint 56).

16 17

16) Scrubtit habitat of tall Melaleuca ericifolia with low shrubby Me understorey at waypoint 72 at survey patch furthest south of the Corduroy on west side of Nook Swamps. 17) Regenerating lightly burnt Melaleuca ericifolia swamp forest on the east side of the Nook Swamps near the 6 km location. This habitat appears suitable for Scrubtit.

8 Figure 1. King Island Scrubtit Acanthornis magna greeniana Distribution in Lavinia State Reserve in 2010

Pennys Lagoon

Lavinia Point

Nook Swamp

Legend King Island Scrubtit Data Feb 2010 Dry eucalypt forest and woodland SCRUBTIT NO Agricultural, urban and exotic vegetation 0 Non-eucalypt forest and woodland 1 Moorland, sedgeland, rushland and peatland 2 Saltmarsh and wetland 3 Scrub, heathland and coastal complexes Rivers Native grassland Rivers Water / sea Sand / mud

NOTE: Copyright © 2011. Cradle Coast NRM does not warrant the accuracy and completeness of information on this map. 0 250 500 750 1,000 Cradle Coast NRM shall not bear any responsibility or Base data from The List © State of Tasmania liability for errors or omissions in the information. Projection MGA94 Zone 55 Meters [ Scrubtit data courtesy Mr Richard Donaghey Map prepared by Belinda Colson 2011

9 Figure 2. King Island Scrubtit Acanthornis magna greeniana Distribution in Lavinia State Reserve in 2004 and 2010

Pennys Lagoon

Lavinia Point

Legend King Island Scrubtit Data Feb 2004 Rivers Rivers Nook Swamp SCRUBTIT NO Dry eucalypt forest and woodland 1 Agricultural, urban and exotic vegetation 2 Non-eucalypt forest and woodland 3 Moorland, sedgeland, rushland and peatland 4 Saltmarsh and wetland King Island Scrubtit Data Feb 2010 Scrub, heathland and coastal complexes SCRUBTIT NO Native grassland 0 Water / sea 1 Sand / mud 2 3

10 Figure 3. King Island Scrubtit Acanthornis magna greeniana 2010 Distribution in Relation to Burnt and Unburnt Swamp Paperbark in Lavinia State Reserve

Lavinia Point

Legend King Island Scrubtit Data Feb 2010 LaviniaTASVEG SCRUBTIT NO Burned Melaleuca ericifolia 2001 0 Burned Melaleuca ericifolia 2007 Sea Elephant River 1 Wetland/Saltmarsh 2 Dry Eucalypt Forest 3 Cleared and/or Regenerating Land KEY Bracken Fernland Sea Elephant Fire Boundary 2007 Native Grassland Lavinia Reserve Boundary Melaleuca ericifolia King Island Agriculture/Urban Coastal Scrub/Heath Wet Eucalypt Forest Burned Other

NOTE: Copyright © 2011. Cradle Coast NRM does not warrant the Base data from The List © State of Tasmania accuracy and completeness of information on this map. 0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 Cradle Coast NRM shall not bear any responsibility or Projection MGA94 Zone 55 [ liability for errors or omissions in the information. Scrubtit data courtesy Mr Richard Donaghey Meters Lavinia TASVEG data courtesy Ms Sib Corbett Map prepared by Belinda Colson 2011

Song heard Song heard Song heard dense low Me. low dense Foraging 2 m up in 2 m up Foraging Scrubtit Behaviour Song heard. Flew in Flew Song heard. regrowth Me 2 m up. Me regrowth Foraging on trunks of trunks on Foraging and trunks, 12-15 m up. trunks, and in moult. Possibly 2 birds. moult. Possibly in Foraging 1-2 m up in dense dense in 1-2 m up Foraging Scrubtit song 20 m to west. 20 m to Scrubtit song response to tape. Underparts Underparts tape. to response 1 seen singing. Heard another another 1 seen singing. Heard Foraging in Me canopy foliage canopy Me in Foraging foliage of short Me. trunks and 2 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 Scrubtit Number

As above mostly 4-6 m high.mostly Description Habitat adjacent to burnt area. burnt to adjacent Tall Me understory 8-10 m high. understory Me Tall Lots of fallen trunks and branches. Lots and of fallen trunks branches. Lots and of fallen trunks understory of Me, mostly 2-4 m high. mostly of Me, understory Lots of fallen trunks and uprooted trees. uprooted Lots and of fallen trunks Tall Me 15-20 m high, mostly 10-30 cm diameter. 15-20 m high, diameter. 10-30 cm Me mostly Tall Tall Me* 15-20 m high, diameter. 10-30 cm Me* mostly Tall layer plants or Me understory. Ground layer of litter. layer Ground understory. Me or plants layer Dense shrubby understory of Me, mostly 3-5 m high. mostly of Me, understory shrubby Dense 4-6 m high. mostly of Me, understory shrubby Dense Tall slender Me 15 m high with 40-60% crown cover. cover. 15 m high 40-60% crown Me with slender Tall Uneven aged Me. Sparse tall Me 15 m high aged dense tall Me Sparse with Me. Uneven Tall Me 10-40 m high. Dense shrubby understory of Me, 10-40 m high. of Me, understory Me shrubby Dense Tall Short Me 10-12 m high in open area with lots of treefalls lots 10-12 m high with Short area Me open in Tall slender Me 15 m high, mostly 5 cm diameter. No ground ground No 15 m high, diameter. 5 cm Me mostly slender Tall GPS coordinates 250211E 5604496N 250297E 5604453N 250257E 5604482N 250268E 5604398N 250589E 5602702N 250574E 5602760N 250542E 5602935N 250547E 5602959N

3 30 28 29 43 10 39 40 Way p o int

Numbers of Scrubtit, Scrubtit behaviour and habitat in the Nook Swamps Nook the in habitat and of Scrubtit, Scrubtit behaviour Numbers Date 2.2.10 1.2.10 1.2.10 29.1.10 26.1.10 29.1.10 25.1.10 26.1.10

Nook) (North Location 2 km east 2 km 4 km east 4 km Table 1 i. Table Paperbark Swamp ericifolia is Melaleuca * Me 12

Moulting Song heard Song heard Seen singing and in foliage in and and Scrubtit Behaviour branches of tall Me. branches Immature bird with bird Immature and paleand rusty anks. 1 seen and song heard song 1 seen and pale uniform underparts pale uniform Foraging 10 m up on trunk trunk on 10 m up Foraging 1 1 1 1 1 2 Scrubtit Number

sedges

sedges. . and some Gahnia some and Description Habitat mostly 10 cm diameter. 10 cm mostly Carex sedges. of Carex layer Ground Sparse ground layer of Carex layer ground Sparse Tall Me* 15 m high, Me* diameter, 5-20 cm Tall interspersed with pondweed with depressions. interspersed Extensive ground layer of mostly Carex of mostly layer ground Extensive Tall Me 18-20 m high, diameter. 10-20 cm Me mostly Tall Tall Me 20-25 m high, diameter. 20-40 cm Me mostly Tall Dense understory of Me mostly less than 2 m high. than less mostly of Me understory Dense Tall Me 15 m high. Dense short Me regrowth 1m high. 15 m high. regrowth Me short Me Dense Tall Short dense Me 2-6 m high, 3-4 m high Me mostly Short dense regrowth Short slender Me, 10-14 m high diameter. 2-8 cm Me, mostly Short slender GPS coordinates 250667E 5602120N 250499E 5601390N 250442E 5601379N 250505E 5601577N 250470E 5601347N 250572E 5601304N

21 44 45 16 14 13 Way p o int

Numbers of Scrubtit, Scrubtit behaviour and habitat in the Nook Swamps Nook the in habitat and of Scrubtit, Scrubtit behaviour Numbers Date 2.2.10 2.2.10 27.1.10 27.1.10 27.1.10 27.1.10

Location 6 km east 6 km Table 1 ii. Table Paperbark Swamp ericifolia is Melaleuca * Me 13

Song heard high canopy in Second heard bird Scrubtit Behaviour foliage 12-15 m up. Song heard of one then then one of heard Song 2 adults moulting foraging moulting 2 adults another song heard nearby. heard song another low in Me understory 1 m up. 1 m up. understory Me in low Heard song and saw 1 foraging saw and song Heard 2 1 2 3 Scrubtit Number

Lots of fallen trees. 10-40 cm diameter. 10-40 cm some 30 cm diameter. 30 cm some Description Habitat Lots of fallen trunks and branches. Lots and of fallen trunks Ground layer of low aquatic plants. aquatic of low layer Ground Dense Me regrowth understory 1-2 m high. understory regrowth Me Dense Medium-dense understory of Me 2-4 m high. of Me understory Medium-dense Lots of fallen trunks and branches on ground. on branches Lots and of fallen trunks shrubby regrowth understory of Me 2-3 m high. of Me understory regrowth shrubby some 30-40 cm diameter. 40 -50% crown density. 40 -50% crown diameter. 30-40 cm some Tall Me 18-20 m high, diameter, 10-20 cm Me mostly Tall Tall Me 15 m high with leaning and upright trunks, upright 15 m high and leaning Me with Tall Short, shrubby understory of Me less than 1 m high. than less of Me understory Short, shrubby Tall slender Me 15-20 m high, diameter, 10 cm Me mostly slender Tall Tall Me 15m high, mostly 10 cm diameter. Medium-dense Medium-dense 15m high, diameter. 10 cm Me mostly Tall GPS coordinates 250527E 5599491N 250568E 5599427N 250374E 5600815N 250539E 5599470N

75 73 56 72 Way p o int

Numbers of Scrubtit, Scrubtit behaviour and habitat in the Nook Swamps Nook the in habitat and of Scrubtit, Scrubtit behaviour Numbers Date 4.2.10 4.2.10 3.2.10 4.2.10

furthest furthest south of south south of south Location Corduroy Corduroy West Nook Nook West West Nook Nook West Table 1 iii. Table Paperbark Swamp ericifolia is Melaleuca * Me 14

Carex sedges.Carex ground layer on west edge. west on layer ground Carex Habitat Description Habitat Recently inundated. Recently Many tree falls. tree Inundated. Many White-bellied Sea-Eagle nest. Short Me 10 m high in swamp interior. Many dead fallen and leaning tree trunks. trunks. tree dead fallen leaning and Many 10 m highinterior. Short Me swamp in Tall Me 15 m high. 2-4 m high. Me understory depression. in Regrowth Me Pondweed Tall Tall Me 18-20 m high 10-40 cm diameter. Dense shrubby understory of Me 6-8 m high. of Me understory shrubby Dense 18-20 m high Me diameter. 10-40 cm Tall 6-8 m high. of Me understory shrubby Dense 18-20 m high Me diameter. 10-40 cm Tall understory 2-4 m high. Sparse dead standing trees with with trees 2-4 m high.understory dead standing Sparse Tall Me 15-20 m high. Some short Me less than 10 m high. Ground layer of dense of dense 10 m high. 15-20 m high. layer Me than less Ground Some short Me Tall Tall open Me 15-20 m high, mostly 5-20 cm diameter. No ground layer plants only litter and debris. and only litter plants layer ground No 15-20 m high, diameter. 5-20 cm Me open mostly Tall Tall open Me 15-20 m high mixed with short understory regrowth Me 2-6 m high. Me 15-20 m high falls. regrowth shortLots of tree Me understory open mixed with Tall Tall Me 20 m high, mostly 20-40 cm diameter. Dense, shrubby understory of Me mostly 2-4 m high. mostly of Me understory shrubby Dense, 20 m high, diameter. 20-40 cm Me mostly Tall Tall Me 15-20 m high, mostly 10-30 cm diameter. Dense, shrubby understory of Me mostly 2-3 m high. mostly of Me understory shrubby Dense, 15-20 m high, diameter. 10-30 cm Me mostly Tall Short Me 8 m high in swamp interior with very small patch of unburnt vegetation within a large burnt area. a large burnt within vegetation very of unburnt patch small with 8 m highinterior Short Me swamp in Tall slender dense Me 15-20 m high, mostly 3-10 cm diameter in narrow linear strip. Dense shrubby regrowth Me Me regrowth shrubby Dense strip. linear narrow in 15-20 m high, diameter 3-10 cm Me mostly dense slender Tall GPS coordinates 250584E 560281N 250696E 5600835N 250637E 5602142N 250140E 5604249N 250677E 5601988N 250570E 5602640N 250526E 5602711N 250190E 5604482N 250557E 5602864N 250696E 5601878N 250442E 5601385N

7 22 35 18 31 32 37 38 17 15 4 & 6 19, 20 Way p o int

Unburnt habitat in the Nook Swamps at sites with no Scrubtit with sites at Swamps Nook the in habitat Unburnt Date 1.2.10 1.2.10 26.1.10 26.1.10 29.1.10 28.1.10 27.1.10 29.1.10 27.1.10 29.1.10 27.1.10 27.1.10

Nook) Nook) (North (North South of South Location West side West 6 km east 6 km 4 km east 4 km 6 km east 6 km 2 km east 2 km side of Nook Swamp Paperbark Swamp ericifolia is Melaleuca * Me Table 2 i. Table 15

. Sparse Me understory less than less understory Me . Sparse sedges Gahnia some and Carex Habitat Description Habitat understory of regrowth Me 4-6 m high. Me of regrowth understory Lots of fallen branches and thin stems of Me. stems Lots thin of fallen and branches Some dense undetstory regrowth. Me 2-4 m high. Me regrowth. undetstory Some dense Short crooked Me 12-15 m high Me diameter. Short 10-30 cm crooked Narrow ribbon of unburnt habitat extending west from waypoint 23. waypoint from west extending habitat ribbon of unburnt Narrow Short Me 12-15 m high. Shrubby regrowth understory of Me 1-2 m high. 12-15 m high. of Me understory Short Me regrowth Shrubby Tall slender Me 20 m high with some sparser large old trees with pink peeling large with bark. 20 m high old trees sparser some Me with slender Tall Tall Me 15-20 m high, mostly 10-20 cm diameter. Dense shrubby understory of Me 1-2 m high. of Me understory shrubby Dense 15-20 m high, diameter. 10-20 cm Me mostly Tall Tall Me 20 m high with dense crown cover. Some fallen trees. Dense understory of Me 2-6 m high. of Me Some understory fallen Dense trees. cover. crown 20 m high dense Me with Tall Tall Me 15-18 m high 3-30 cm diameter. Short shrubby understory of Me 2-6 m high edge. of Me west understory on Short shrubby 15-18 m high Me diameter. 3-30 cm Tall Short Me 12-15 m high, mostly 10-20 cm diameter 50% crown cover. Shrubby understory of Me 1-2 m high. of Me understory Shrubby cover. 50% crown 12-15 m high, diameter 10-20 cm Short Me mostly Tall Me 18-20 m high, mostly 20-30 cm diameter (range 10-40 cm diameter). 80% crown cover. Dense shrubby shrubby Dense cover. 80% crown (rangediameter). 10-40 cm 18-20 m high, diameter 20-30 cm Me mostly Tall Tall Me 18-20 m high with ground layer of dense of dense 18-20 m high layer ground Me with Tall 50 cm high. Small unburnt patch fringed on east by short dense slender Me and on west by dense slender burnt stems. burnt slender dense by west on and Me slender fringed short patch east dense by on high.50 cm unburnt Small GPS coordinates 250501E 5599529N 250551E 5599331N 250381E 5600642N 250384E 5600678N 250380E 5600754N 250570E 5601250N 250712E 5600181N 250624E 5600628N 250683E 5600644N

71 74 60 58 57 26 25 24 23 Way p o int

Unburnt habitat in the Nook Swamps at sites with no Scrubtit with sites at Swamps Nook the in habitat Unburnt Date 4.2.10 4.2.10 3.2.10 3.2.10 3.2.10 28.1.10 28.1.10 28.1.10 28.1.10

Nook side of south of south furthest furthest south of south South of South Location 6 km east 6 km Corduroy Corduroy West Nook Nook West West Nook Nook West Swamp Paperbark Swamp ericifolia is Melaleuca * Me Table 2 ii. Table 16

Silvereye

3 2 2 1 Dusky Robin Dusky

2 2

Flame Robin Flame

Forest Raven Forest

Grey Fantail Grey

2 2 2 2 1 1 2 2 1 1

Shrike-thrush

Grey 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 1

Whistler

Golden

Whistler

Olive Olive 1

Cuckoo-shrike

Black-faced 2

ornbill

Tasmanian 6 6 3 2 2 1 2 6 1 1 2 Scrubtit

1 2 1 1 2 2 1 2 1

1-2

Scrubwren

Tasmanian 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1

Fairy-wren

Superb 3 1 3 1

Cuckoo

Fan-tailed 1

Goshawk

Brown

3 7 43 35 10 31 37 30 29 38 28 39 40 13 14 4 & 6 Way p o int with and without Scrubtit in the Nook Swamps Nook the Scrubtit in without and with sites Paperbark Swamp species unburnt of bird at Numbers Date 2.2.10 1.2.10 1.2.10 1.2.10 1.2.10 25.1.10 29.1.10 29.1.10 29.1.10 29.1.10 26.1.10 26.1.10 26.1.10 25.1.10 27.1.10 27.1.10

Nook) (North Location 4 km east 4 km 2 km east 2 km 6 km east 6 km Table 3 i. Table 17

Silvereye Dusky Robin Dusky

1 1 Flame Robin Flame

1 Forest Raven Forest

Grey Fantail Grey

1 1 1 1 1 2 4 2

Shrike-thrush

Grey 2 1 1 2

Whistler

Golden

Whistler

Olive Olive 1

Cuckoo-shrike

Black-faced

ornbill

Tasmanian 1 2 2 2 1 1 2 1 4

Scrubtit

1 3 1 1 1

Scrubwren

Tasmanian 1 2 1 1 1 1 3

Fairy-wren

Superb 1 1 1 3

Cuckoo

Fan-tailed Goshawk

1 1 Brown

58 26 57 20 21 44 25 56 45 24 22 23 17 18 60 16 15 Way p o int

with and without Scrubtit in the Nook Swamps Nook the Scrubtit in without and with sites Paperbark Swamp species unburnt of bird at Numbers Date 2.2.10 3.2.10 3.2.10 3.2.10 3.2.10 2.2.10 28.1.10 27.1.10 27.1.10 28.1.10 28.1.10 27.1.10 27.1.10 27.1.10 28.1.10 28.1.10 27.1.10

Nook side of south of south South of South Location 6 km east 6 km 6 km east 6 km Corduroy West Nook Nook West Table 3 ii. Table 18 Silvereye

1 9 5

13.2 Dusky Robin Dusky

1 7 5

13.2 Flame Robin Flame

1 1

2.6 Forest Raven Forest

2 1

2.6 Grey Fantail Grey

1 2 32 20

52.6

Shrike-thrush

Grey 1 1 18 14

36.8

Whistler

Golden 1 1 1

2.6

Whistler

Olive Olive 1 3 3

7.9

Cuckoo-shrike

Black-faced 2 1

2.6

ornbill

Tasmanian 1 2 2 1 1 55 25

65.8 Scrubtit

2 2 1 26 18

47.4

Scrubwren

Tasmanian 2 2 1 27 19

50.0

Fairy-wren

Superb 1 1 16 10

26.3

Cuckoo

Fan-tailed 1 1

2.6 Goshawk

2 2

Brown 5.3

71 72 73 74 75 Way p o int with and without Scrubtit in the Nook Swamps Nook the Scrubtit in without and with sites Paperbark Swamp species unburnt of bird at Numbers

Date 4.2.10 4.2.10 4.2.10 4.2.10 4.2.10

West Nook furthest furthest south of south Location Corduroy Total number detected/species number Total reported/species sites Number % sites/species Table 3 iii. Table 19 Five Case Studies of Recovery of Threatened Birds Globally over 80% of bird extinctions since 1800 have been on islands especially those in the Pacific region such as New Zealand and Hawaii. Island birds are prone to extinction and threatening processes such as small populations, loss and degradation of habitat through agriculture and forestry, and invasive species particularly introduced mammalian predators. The solutions for arresting and reversing the decline of threatened species lies with Government forming partnerships with Non- Government Organisations and Volunteers to set conservation targets and implement action plans through research and management. In the relatively recent past New Zealand has lost many unique species through overexploitation, loss and degradation of habitat and exotic mammalian predators such as rats, cats and mustelids (especially stoats). Some offshore islands free of these predators have provided a refuge for some threatened species. The eradication of mammalian predators on other offshore islands and subsequent re-introduction and translocation of threatened species has been a major conservation focus to save many species from extinction. New Zealand has a high proportion of threatened seabird and land birds and has six Critical, 16 Endangered, 40 Vulnerable and 14 Near Threatened species (Stattersfield & Capper 2000). Some of the threatened forest birds include 4 species of kiwis, 6 parrot species, the Takahe and passerine birds such as the Black Robin, Kokako, Stitchbird and Yellowhead. The Saddleback has been downlisted from Endangered to Near Threatened (Stattersfield & Capper 2000). During the last half of the 20th century New Zealand conservationists became aware of declining forest birds from introduced predators and took drastic recovery measures to avert species and subspecies being lost forever. New Zealand led the world in developing and implementing techniques for recovering birds so it is very appropriate that the first two case studies discuss the recovery of some New Zealand passerine birds. All these case studies are relevant because they introduce us to techniques that need to be considered and evaluated for future research and management to recover the Critically Endangered King Island Scrubtit.

1. Recovery of the Black Robin of the Chatham Islands, New Zealand One of the most renowned successful recovery of a species on the brink of extinction is that of the Black Robin Petroica traversi. This robin, endemic to the Chatham Islands 800 km east of the South Island of New Zealand, recovered from a low of 5 birds in 1979 to about 250 in 2006. This remarkable and inspirational story of the recovery of the Black Robin, summarised in Stattersfield & Capper (2000), Higgins & Peters (2002) and Heather & Robertson (2005: 399-400) and told in full in the 1992 book ‘The Black Robin. Saving the World’s most Endangered Bird’ by Butler & Merton is a tribute to the resourcefulness, commitment and dedication of the team of New Zealand conservationists led by Don Merton (Ballance 2007). This story is particularly pertinent to future management options for the King Island Scrubtit. The Black Robin was re-discovered on Little Mangere Island (22 ha) during the 1937-38 expedition to the Chatham Islands by Charles Fleming (Fleming 1939a; Fleming 1939b). At that time the Black Robin only survived on remote, inaccessible Little Mangere Island and Fleming (1939b) advocated that South East Island become a sanctuary for translocated Black Robins. Fleming (1939b) estimated there were 20 to possibly 35 pairs on Little Mangere. In 1968 the population was estimated to be 25 pairs but by March 1972 only 26 robins remained. Almost a year later in January-February 1973 the entire population numbered 17-19 birds the decline perhaps due to deteriorating forest habitat. There were 12 robins by February 1974, 9 at the start of the 1975-76 breeding season (October-January) but only 7 birds, 5 males and 2 females, by the start of the 1976-77 season (Butler & Merton 1992; Ballance 2007: 95-112). Left on their own the Black Robins continued to decline and almost certainly would have gone extinct.

20 The recovery team decided to catch all seven remaining robins and release them on the nearby, larger Mangere Island (113 ha). Prior to release of the robins the last of the cats had died out after the rabbits were gone from Mangere Island and thousands of native trees principally Olearia traversi and New Zealand flax Phormium tenax were planted to provide more shelter and breeding habitat. In September 1976 five robins, a male and two pairs, were caught in mist-nets and carried in boxes down the cliffs of Little Mangere Island and transported by boat to nearby Mangere Island. The remaining two males were transferred from Little Mangere to Mangere Island in March 1977. For the next 3 breeding seasons after transfer the robin population showed no natural increase. By early 1979 at the end of the 1978-79 season the total population had declined further to 5 birds with only one breeding pair. Clearly transfer alone was not enough to save the species. Now was the time for action and try to boost the population by intervention and intensive management. In November-December 1979 there were 5 adults including two pairs, female Blue mated to Yellow and female Green mated to White. Female Blue was banded in March 1972 so at the start of 1980-81 season she was 8 years of age and soon after became known as Old Blue. Her mate Yellow hatched in the summer of 1977-78 (Butler & Merton 1992; Ballance 2007: 112-117, 176-181). Black Robins like New Zealand Robins re-nest and lay a replacement clutch upon loss of a first clutch so in the 1980-81 season the first cross-fostering experiments began using Chatham Island Warblers Gerygone albofrontata to raise Black Robin chicks and boost the population of Black Robins. In October 1980 many warblers were incubating eggs so when the two robin pairs laid their first 2-egg clutch of the season each robin egg was placed in a different warbler nest and substituted for a warbler egg. Once the foster warblers were incubating the robin eggs, the robin nests were removed to induce the robins to re-nest. Both robin pairs renested and laid a second clutch. The robin chicks being fed by the warbler foster parents died at 11 days, 7-8 days before fledging so it seemed the smaller Chatham Island Warblers were unable to provision the robin nestlings with enough food. Now it was time for bold decisions. One of Green’s chicks was taken from its warbler foster parents and raised by Blue and Yellow to fledging and Blue’s 2 eggs hatched in two different warbler nests. Blue’s two chicks were then removed from the warbler nests and raised by Green when one of her eggs hatched. So now toward the end of the 1980-81 season there were 8 robins. In January 1981 Blue was found on a nest with a chick so by the end of the season Blue had nested three times and there were 9 robins (Butler & Merton 1992; Ballance 2007: 181-191). In the following 1981-82 season the congeneric Chatham Island Tomtit Petroica macrocephala chathamensis was chosen as the foster parent. All Chatham Island Tomtits were removed from Mangere Island prior to re-introduction of Black Robins because the Tomtit was thought to compete with Black Robins for food and space. The plan was to use Tomtits as foster parents to raise Black Robins to fledging, to use foster warblers for brief periods, to get the robins to re-nest twice and to swap eggs and young among different nests. Green’s young died soon after hatching and some eggs failed to hatch so she didn’t raise any young. Blue’s eggs of the first two clutches were transported by boat from Mangere to Rangatira or South East Island (218 ha) and placed in Tomtit nests. Three of Blue’s young were reared by Tomtits on South East Island and returned to Mangere Island. Blue laid a third clutch and successfully reared two young bringing the total number of robins at the end of the season to 12. All five new robins had Blue and Yellow as parents (Butler & Merton 1992; Ballance 2007: 191-195). In 1984-85 one foster-reared Black Robin mal-imprinted and mated with a Tomtit then reared a hybrid robin. Subsequently as a precaution this problem was averted by taking 7-11 day old nestling Black Robins from foster Tomtit nests and placing them in active Black Robin nests so they were reared to independence by their own species. Black Robins readily accept additional chicks even though there may be a marked difference in age. The cross-fostering program with Tomtits continued throughout the 1988-89 season and when the total Black Robin population

21 reached 100 in December 1988 intensive management ceased. In the following 1989-90 season the breeding success of Black Robins was monitored to see how they fared without intervention. At the start and end of the season the robins numbered 78 and 116 respectively, so the program was judged to be a success. When Don Merton left the Chatham Islands in January 1991 there were 92 adult robins and 50 fledglings. With meticulous planning and courageous intervention the Black Robin population rose from a low of 5 birds on one small island to about 250 on Mangere and South East Islands by 2006. In 2002, and again in 2004, Black Robins were transferred from South East Island to a predator-free enclosure on Pitt Island (Ballance 2007: 195-205, 239-248; Butler & Merton 1992). The techniques and lessons learnt from the Black Robin recovery program have been applied to other threatened birds in New Zealand and to bird species in the Seychelles Islands in the Indian Ocean. Techniques that can be evaluated and if necessary applied to the recovery of the King Island Scrubtit include supplementary feeding, translocation, cross-fostering, habitat improvement and restoration, and eradication and control of predators. 2. Recovery of the New Zealand North and South Island Saddlebacks The unique endemic Saddleback Philesturnus carunculatus, a forest passerine in the ancient wattlebird family Callaeidae, consists of two geographically distinct populations, nominate carunculatus from the South Island and the islands off Stewart Island, and rufusater from the North Island (Heather & Robertson 2005; Higgins, Peter & Cowling 2006). Recently these two subspecies have been elevated to species level, the North Island (N I) Saddleback P. rufusater and the South Island (S I) Saddleback P. carunculatus (Scofield 2009; Gill 2010). Saddlebacks were widespread on the main islands in the early-mid 19th century but declined rapidly in the late 19th century to early 20th century due to habitat loss and predation from introduced mammals such as rats and mustelids. The ground-foraging behaviour and low roosting and nesting habits of Saddlebacks make them very susceptible to predation especially from stoats Mustela erminea, ship rats Rattus rattus and Norway rats R. norvegicus. The last remaining population of the S I Saddleback on Big South Cape Island offshore from south- west Stewart Island was almost wiped out when ship rats invaded the island and reached plague proportions in 1963. Extinction was prevented by the capture and transfer of 36 S I Saddleback to nearby Big and Kaimohu Islands in August-September 1964. A further 30 were caught on Big South Cape Island in June-July 1965 and released on Inner Chetwode Island in the Marlborough Sounds but this transfer failed a few years later because of Pacific rats or kioreRattus exulans and many Weka Gallirallus australis (Hooson & Jamieson 2003; Ballance 2007). Over the next 40 years birds from these two source islands were removed and released successfully onto 15 new islands, mainly off Stewart Island but also in Fiordland and the Marlborough Sounds (Hooson & Jamieson 2003; Higgins, Peter & Cowling 2006). The N I Saddleback declined throughout the 19th century due to the spread of rats and mustelids and by 1910 it survived only on Hen Island in the Hauraki Gulf north of Auckland (Heather & Robertson 2005). In January 1964 29 N I Saddleback were transferred successfully from Hen Island to Middle Chicken Is. (Whatupuke Is.) and these survived to breed making it the first successful transfer of Saddlebacks (Merton 1965; Ballance 2007). Further transfers of Saddlebacks from Hen Is. to Red Mercury Is., Cuvier Is. and Fanal Is. occurred from 1966- 68 (Lovegrove 1996). N I Saddlebacks were released successfully to12 predator-free islands, the main source islands being Cuvier, Hen and Stanley Islands (Lovegrove 1996). Translocation to predator-free offshore islands has been pivotal in saving the N I and S I Saddleback from extinction. Lovegrove (1996) summarised Saddleback translocations and analysed the factors resulting in success or failure of releases. The most important factor resulting in successful translocations was the lack of predators such as cats, rats and stoats that prey on nesting birds and take eggs and nestlings. Translocations to offshore islands were most successful when exotic 22 mammalian predators were either absent or eradicated. Translocations failed if predators were present at time of release or subsequently invaded or there were too few birds (less then 12) released. Familiarity of Saddleback or the proportion of neighbours released was not crucial for success. By 2002 estimates for population size for North and South Island Saddlebacks were 6,630 and 1265 respectively (Hooson & Jamieson 2003). Fifteen populations of S I Saddlebacks, mostly on small islands each less than 100 ha near Stewart Island, occupy a total area of 1034 ha whereas 12 populations of N I Saddleback occupy 6, 839 ha (Hooson & Jamieson 2003). Further population expansion of the S I Saddleback is restricted by small island size. Only Ulva and South Range Islands have capacity for further expansion of the S I Saddleback. By comparison, significant population expansion of N I Saddleback can occur on two large islands, Little Barrier and Kapiti (Hooson & Jamieson 2003). Stattersfield & Capper (2000) treated the N I and S I Saddlebacks as a single species and listed it as Near Threatened. The S I Saddleback has a projected total population of less than 10,000 individuals distributed on 15 islands. Hooson & Jamieson (2003) recommend that this species be listed as Near Threatened based on IUCN 2001 threatened species categories and criteria. The current estimate of the N I Saddleback population is over 6,000 with a capacity to increase to over 15, 000 individuals so Hooson & Jamieson (2003) recommend that this species be downgraded to Least Concern. Currently there is some scope for population increase of the S I Saddleback by translocation to large islands such as Big South Cape Island. S I Saddleback became extinct on Big South Cape Island just two years after their initial transfer but in 2006 rats were finally eradicated paving the way for reintroduction of the S I Saddleback back to Big South Cape Is. (Ballance 2007). Island populations are reasonably secure but continual vigilance is required to eradicate any predators particularly stoats and rats that arrive on islands. A further threat is inbreeding depression. However, a longer term recovery goal is to reintroduce N I & S I Saddleback to former mainland sites. In 2002 the first N I Saddlebacks were returned to a ‘mainland forest island’ (Karori Wildlife Sanctuary, near Wellington) protected by a predator-exclusion fence. Today visitors can enjoy the successful recovery of the N I Saddleback and other threatened birds on Tiritiri Matanga Island an open sanctuary near Auckland (for further information see K. Ombler. Where to watch birds in New Zealand pp 50-54 and www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz ). The rarer S I Saddleback can be observed by the public at Ulva Island a 15 minute water taxi trip from Golden Bay near Oban settlement on Stewart Island south of the South Island. 3. Recovery of the Seychelles Warbler The Seychelles group of oceanic islands in the western Indian Ocean support 26 globally threatened birds (Komdeur 1994). One of these, the endemic Seychelles Warbler Acrocephalus sechellensis had declined to 26 birds in 1959 and only survived on the small (29 ha) Cousin Island so it appeared to be on the verge of extinction (Komdeur 1994; Bairlein 2006; Drycz 2006). Cousin Island was purchased in 1968 for a nature reserve. Existing vegetation was managed to allow indigenous plants to regenerate and this produced a Pisonia grandis dominated forest. Habitat improvement and protection led to a spectacular recovery of Seychelles Warblers to nearly 320 by 1982 (Komdeur 1994). Studies of foraging ecology and behaviour showed that these insectivorous warblers prefer to forage in insect rich Morinda citrifolia trees. Planting of young Morinda food trees throughout the island produced a threefold increase in Morinda woodland. In addition Scaevola shrubs were planted for coastal wind and salt protection. This habitat restoration didn’t increase the population of Seychelles Warblers but did result in higher quality territories and a higher reproductive success. On Cousin Island the habitat was saturated with a stable population of

23 about 300 birds (Komdeur & Pels 2005). The Seychelles Warbler is a small, wholly insectivorous bird that is long-lived, breeds cooperatively, lays a 1-egg clutch and has a low reproductive rate. In order to safeguard the population from extinction it was decided to transfer birds to two new islands (Komdeur 1994). First habitat suitability was assessed on the two islands and the foraging ecology of the avian community was studied for a year. Initially 29 adult Seychelles Warblers were transferred each to the islands Aride and Cousine in September and June 1988 respectively (See Komdeur 1994 for the techniques and evaluation of the transfers). Breeding began soon after the transfers. In the first year after transfer the Aride population rose from 29 to 59 and from 29 to 43 on Cousine. After nearly 3 years all the adults had survived and 150 young fledged. 4. Recovery of the Noisy Scrub-bird in the South-west of Western Australia The Noisy Scrub-bird Atrichornis clamosus, a semi-flightless, insectivorous, ground-dwelling passerine was re-discovered after 102 years in 1961 at Mt Gardner near Two Peoples Bay, east of Albany, Western Australia. In 1962 it was estimated there were 40 singing males. For the first 20 years after its discovery Noisy Scrub-bird conservation focussed on securing the habitat at Two Peoples Bay as a Nature Reserve, habitat management, fire exclusion, population monitoring and research. Captive breeding began so as to provide birds for translocation to new areas but was unsuccessful. By 1980 the population centred around Mt Gardner in Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve had increased to 116 singing territorial males so a translocation strategy was developed to find suitable release areas and implement a pilot project to capture, hold and release birds (see Danks 1995 for description of methods). Between 1983 and 1999 110 Noisy Scrub-birds, 65 males and 45 females, were translocated to six new areas. In 1983-84 16 males and 15 females were released at Mt Manypeaks and by 1992 there were 100 males, a third of the total population. This rapid population increase proved that the initial translocation was successful and that Mt Manypeaks was sufficiently large and of good habitat quality. Releases of 56 birds at two sites further to the west failed perhaps because of less suitable habitat. Individuals for translocation are precious so in 1990-92 small numbers of birds, less than 6 per site, were released at sites closer to Mt Gardner and Mt Manypeaks so all these sub-populations formed a meta-population. The successful translocation to Mt Taylor suggests that small numbers of founder birds can be enough to establish a new population (Higgins, Peter & Steele 2001; DEWHA 2010b). Since rediscovery of the Noisy Scrub-bird in 1961 and subsequent translocations to several new areas the population rose to a peak in 2001 of over 1500 with 770 territorial males. After 2001 the population plummeted following a series of wildfires east of Albany especially a severe fire that eliminated 2/3 of the population in 2004. By 2005 the total population had halved to 858 comprising 278 territorial males in the Albany region and 65 males on Bald Island (DEWHA 2010b). Threats and recovery: Extensive and/or frequent fires pose the greatest risk to the Noisy Scrub- bird because of its restricted range, fire-prone habitat, semi-flightlessness and low dispersal ability. One wildfire at Mt Manypeaks reduced the total Noisy Scrub-bird population by 2/3 and reduced the critical habitat by a similar amount. The Noisy Scrub-bird prefers habitat not burnt for at least 3-4 years and usually 10 or more years, and is extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. A trend toward increasing temperatures, reduced rainfall and drying of the vegetation could affect winter food supply and breeding, and increase the severity and frequency of wildfires through increased incidence of dry lightning storms. Thus rapid suppression and prevention of wildfires are the most important actions to prevent species extinction.

24 5. Recovery of the Black-eared Miner in the Mallee of South-eastern Australia The Black-eared Miner Manorina melanotis, a highly social cooperatively breeding Australian honeyeater, is listed as Endangered under the Commonwealth EPBC Act. This miner is restricted to large areas of mallee woodland in the Murray Mallee region encompassing South Australia, north-western Victoria and south-western NSW. It prefers old growth mallee that has not burnt for at least 40 years. The Bookmark Biosphere Reserve of the South Australian Murray Mallee, the stronghold of the species, contains the only viable population of over 200 colonies with about 1400 pure Black-eared Miners and 2200 hybrids with Yellow-throated Miners, Manorina flavigula (DEWHA 2010c). Threats and Recovery: The major cause of decline of the Black-eared Miner has been the clearance and fragmentation of large mallee habitat. This loss and fragmentation of habitat has allowed the Yellow-throated Miner to expand its range, colonise habitat of the Black-eared Miner and interbreed with it. The current two greatest threats to the Black-eared Miner are genetic swamping by the Yellow-throated Miner and large uncontrolled wildfires that destroy and fragment remaining old growth mallee in large reserves. Fire threatens the only viable population of Black-eared Miner in the South Australian Bookmark Biosphere Reserve. To safeguard the species and avert the risk of extinction (recovery plan recommendation) it is desirable to translocate colonies to large suitable mallee in north-western Victoria and south-western NSW. In the spring of 2000 and 2001 five complete colonies with dependent young were caught from the Bookmark Biosphere Reserve, S.A. and released in the centre of Murray-Sunset National Park, a large mallee woodland in north-western Victoria, at sites where Black-eared Miner colonies existed nearby (Clarke 2002). Two techniques, hard and soft release, were employed to test their efficacy (Clarke 2002). Hard release consisted of the immediate release of fledglings followed quickly by adults and juveniles without any supplementary food and water. At a soft release site birds were housed in a large portable aviary for either 3 or 7 days and supplied with food and water. After release food was supplied for a further week. Two large colonies of 30 and 22 birds, each with 18 adults plus juveniles and fledglings, were hard released. Two smaller colonies of 12 and 15 birds were soft released, and one colony was held in an aviary for only 1.5 days then released. In each colony transmitters were attached to five birds for intensive short-term monitoring for 4-8 weeks. Translocated miners showed high short-term survival and high colony cohesion. Intensive searches 6-18 months after release only re-located two translocated colonies because of the difficulty of traversing large areas and finding mobile birds with non-functioning transmitters. The two colonies re-located 12-13 months after release maintained colony cohesion as evident by the presence of 50% of marked adult birds and 60% of juveniles. Four of the five translocated colonies either attempted to breed or bred within a year of release. Colonies were faithful to the release site initially but after 12 months one colony was found 2.9 km and another found 2.7 km from the release site but then returned to the original release site suggesting that these miners are highly mobile in response to their unpredictable semi-arid environment. This first successful translocation of a highly social cooperatively breeding species showed the importance of releasing whole colonies comprised of breeding adults, juveniles and dependent young. This suggests that maintenance of social bonds and social cohesion in colonies strongly contributed to success and that familiarity among pairs and group members is more important with highly social species. There was no evidence that soft release techniques were more successful in the short-term (Clarke 2002).

25 Application of the Five Case Studies to the Recovery of the K I Scrubtit Valuable lessons can be learnt from all five case studies and applied to the recovery of the K I Scrubtit. All five studies emphasise the importance of research on population ecology, breeding behaviour and also a recovery plan that identifies factors limiting population growth and threats to recovery. Research on the North Island Robin Petroica longipes at Kaikoura provided life history and behavioural information (like incubation and nestling periods, renesting following loss of clutch/young, extended breeding season with 2-3 nests/pair /season, and behavioural responses and tolerance to manipulating birds and nest contents). All this data helped to make decisions about intervention techniques and their implementation to rescue the Black Robin. All five case studies relied on translocation to new locations as an important tool in the recovery of threatened species. Swift translocations saved the S I Saddleback from certain extinction. Protocols on translocating species have been well-developed for many bird species so these can be adapted and modified for the K I Scrubtit if it is deemed necessary to move birds from the Nook Swamps to Colliers Swamp and/or other sites. Cross-fostering of Black Robins by congeneric Tomtits undoubtedly saved the Black Robin from extinction. Don Merton wrote a detailed guide to Black Robin cross-fostering (Appendix C, Butler & Merton 1992: 267-270) that would be extremely useful if cross-fostering is to be employed in the recovery of the K I Scrubtit. Tasmanian Thornbills Acanthiza ewingii rufifrons are abundant in the Swamp Paperbark forests of the Nook Swamps. The Tasmanian Thornbill is a closely related, small, foliage-gleaning insectivorous bird that builds a dome-shaped nest with a side entrance, lays a clutch of 3-4 eggs and probably lays at least 2 clutches per season (Higgins & Peter 2002: 451-458). Tasmanian Thornbill appear to be the most suitable candidate as a foster parent because they are more numerous than any other small brown birds and thus potentially more nests are available for cross-fostering. Tasmanian Scrubwren Sericornis humilis tregallasi are less common than Tasmanian Thornbill in the Swamp Paperbark forests of the Nook Swamps. Tasmanian Scrubwren is an endemic ground-dwelling, insectivorous bird that builds a globular nest with a side entrance close to or on the ground, lays a clutch of 2-4, usually 3 eggs (Higgins and Peter 2002:191-199). The White-browed Scrubwren Sericornis frontalis has an incubation period of 17-22 days similar to that of the Tasmanian Thornbill (Donaghey pers. obs. & Higgins & Peter 2002: 177). The Tasmanian Scrubwren is another potential candidate as a foster parent for Scrubtit. Both potential cross-fostering species need to be trialled for their suitability as foster parents of the K I Scrubtit. The amount of habitat, habitat quality, patch size and connectivity between patches are important factors that may limit population size, determine reproductive performance and influence dispersal. Assessment of habitat and habitat restoration on predator-free islands were important factors in the success of the recovery of the Black Robin and Saddleback. Research on foraging ecology of the Seychelles Warbler discovered that insect-rich Morinda plants were favoured and consequently these plants were used to restore habitat on the island. Habitat quality improved reproductive success. Monitoring Swamp Paperbark regeneration in burnt patches and in unburnt patches unoccupied by K I Scrubtit is required to assess suitability of habitat in the Nook Swamps for K I Scrubtit. Extensive and frequent wildfires that destroy birds and their breeding habitat are the greatest threat to the Noisy Scrub-bird, Black-eared Miner and K I Scrubtit. For example, after Noisy Scrub-bird were successfully translocated to Mt Manypeaks and other areas the population peaked in 2001 to over 1500 but by 2004 it had halved to 858 following a series of wildfires. A severe wildfire in December 2004 in Mt Manypeaks reduced the number of territorial males from a high of 427 in 2001 to 32 in 2005 and reduced the total population by 2/3 (DEWHA 2010b). The Noisy Scrub-bird is more abundant at sites not burnt for 20 or more years. Similarly for the Black-eared Miner, wildfire in the mallee of the Bookmark Biosphere Reserve, the stronghold of the species, poses the greatest risk. For this reason birds were transferred to suitable mallee habitat in north-west Victoria (Clarke 2002).

26 All the above three species are highly vulnerable to wildfires thus fire exclusion and rapid suppression of fire, and establishment of new populations in suitable secure habitats are primary goals of species recovery. Recovery of the King Island Scrubtit The February 2007 fire in Lavinia State Reserve burnt about 70% of the core critical K I Scrubtit habitat in the Nook Swamps and almost certainly caused a severe decline in the Scrubtit population through death of individuals as a result of the fires and destruction of habitat resulting in loss of food, foraging substrates and shelter. Before and after the 2007 fire the true population status of the K I Scrubtit was unknown. The 2010 survey attempted to determine the abundance and distribution of the K I Scrubtit in the remaining unburnt vegetation and the regenerating burnt vegetation. Scrubtit were observed only in some unburnt Swamp Paperbark patches but other suitable unburnt Swamp Paperbark patches or regenerating habitat was unoccupied suggesting that there is some unburnt habitat available for population dispersion and expansion. This study was unable to determine the current population status of the K I Scrubtit whether it is stable, increasing or decreasing. If a population is declining rapidly then it may well be necessary to intervene and intensively manage the population through techniques such as predator removal, cross-fostering, food supplementation and translocation in order to boost the population to a self-sustaining level and save the species. The current population status of the K I Scrubtit is unknown so at this stage it is more prudent to determine the number of breeding pairs, their reproductive performance and population recruitment, and census the annual post-breeding survival of adults and juveniles for at least 2-3 years before any intervention techniques are initiated. The greatest threat to the continued survival of the K I Scrubtit is undoubtedly uncontrolled wildfires that destroy further Swamp Paperbark in the Nook Swamps. Prevention and rapid extinguishing of wildfire is the best management option to this threat. In response to the 2007 that destroyed most of Lavinia State Reserve and much private property, the King Island Fire Management Area Committee (2009) developed a wildfire management plan for the whole of King Island. The plan identified community values, identified and evaluated treatment options, and identified and analysed wildfire risk. The King Island Scrubtit and the Melaleuca ericifolia Swamp Paperbark forest were identified as fire sensitive values in Lavinia State Reserve. Other threats and threatening processes that limit population recovery of the K I Scrubtit have yet to be defined. These could include insufficient habitat and food, mortality of adults and young by predation, disease, mites, and reduced fertility through inbreeding. The prime objective of future field research is to provide population and breeding biology data to recover the K I Scrubtit with minimum disturbance and interference of nesting birds.

King Island Scrubtit Recovery Outline 1. Reduce risk of wildfires in Lavinia State Reserve and Colliers Swamp • Develop, resource and implement Fire Management Plans to protect the natural assets of Lavinia State Reserve and Colliers Swamp, especially the Swamp Paperbark forests • Involve landholders adjacent to Lavinia State Reserve and Colliers Swamp to develop property fire management plans to protect these assets • Raise community awareness about the plight of and threats to the K I Scrubtit through education and community participation 2. Develop a National Recovery Plan • Seek funding from the Tasmanian Threatened Species Unit and/or the Commonwealth Government to develop a National Recovery Plan for the Critically Endangered King Island Scrubtit

27 3. Determine population status of the K I Scrubtit • Conduct annual breeding bird censuses to determine distribution, density and dispersion of breeding pairs in the Nook Swamps and Colliers Swamp • Conduct annual post-breeding bird censuses to determine survival of adults and juvenile recruitment into the sub-populations in the Nook Swamps and Colliers Swamp 4. Assess habitat condition and carrying capacity of Swamp Paperbark in the Nook Swamps and Colliers Swamp • Map the condition and size of habitat patches in relation to dispersion of Scrubtit pairs using GIS and ground surveys • Calculate territory size and density of Scrubtit and determine extent of habitat saturation and available habitat for population expansion 5. Obtain funding and a project supervisor for a 2-3 year Scrubtit research project • Primary objectives of the research project are to investigate and determine: i) The size of the Scrubtit population over 3 years and whether it is increasing, stable or declining. ii) Identify factors causing population trend. iii) The natural history parameters of the K I Scrubtit that may assist with its recovery especially the following • Social organisation and behaviour especially territory size and habitat selection • Breeding biology parameters especially reproductive success of breeding pairs per season (e.g. clutch size, % eggs hatching/infertile, % young fledging, % nests failed due to predation and other causes, number of clutches laid and number of young fledged per pair per season, and nestling period) • Foraging behaviour and ecology • Dispersion and recruitment of individually marked young • Presence and abundance of potential candidates for cross-fostering experiments (e.g. Tasmanian Thornbill) 6. If population is declining assess future need and risk of intervention techniques such as: • Habitat improvement and restoration • Catching and colour-banding individuals and collecting blood samples • Cross-fostering experiments • Food supplementation • Translocation to other sites 7. Seek community and volunteer participation in recovery • Raise awareness of project through Birds Australia Threatened Bird Network and King Island community organisations, and the media • Recruit and train volunteers, especially from King Island • Enlist the support and participation of landholders, especially those adjacent to Lavinia State Reserve and Colliers Swamp, in the suppression and prevention of wildfires

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