Justification This species is considered Endangered because it has a very small range. Its population comprises small and severely fragmented subpopulations. In the northern part of its distribution, the numbers of locations and birds are rapidly decreasing, but this has little effect on overall population numbers. Although numbers are presently stable, the threat of destructive fires in the majority of this species's habitat means that an overall future decline is very likely.

Family/Sub-family Dasyornithidae

Species name author (Latham, 1801)

Taxonomic source(s) Christidis and Boles (1994), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Identification 18-22 cm. Medium-sized, sturdy, grey-brown passerine. Sexes similar, female slightly smaller. Dark cinnamon-brown upperparts. Rufous-brown upperwing and uppertail. Grey-brown underparts, faintly scalloped. Grey-brown sides of belly and flanks. Brown undertail-coverts. Dull rufous-brown undertail. Red iris. Juvenile, pale brown iris. Similar spp. Similar in jizz and skulking behaviour to Rufous Scrub-bird Atrichornis rufescens but lacks barring on upperparts. Voice Frequent, ringing contact call, loud, melodious song and chattering, staccato, squeaky notes.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

1,600

decreasing

2,100 km²

Yes

Range & population Dasyornis brachypterus is endemic to Australia. There are two subspecies, monoides in south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales, and brachypterus in eastern New South Wales and eastern Victoria. The northern subspecies is in decline, falling from c.206 pairs in 1988 to c.16 pairs in 1997-1998 and c.13 pairs in 2006-2007². The nominate subspecies is stable at c.1,550 mature individuals in four principal locations numbering up to 600 individuals. All subpopulations are probably isolated.

Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.

Ecology: The species is a ground-dwelling, semi-flightless passerine¹. The northern population usually inhabits grass tussocks in open forest-woodland, close to rainforest which provides fire refuge. The southern population lives in dense, low vegetation, particularly heath, but also in surrounding woodlands. Surveys have noted birds in shrubland dominated by Melaleuca or Leptospermum grandifolium, heath dominated by Hakea teretifolia and Eucalyptus woodland¹. It is eliminated for at least three years after fire, with density increasing until at least 15 years post-fire¹. This increase is slower for sites with a post-fire age of over 14 years, compared with sites less than 10 years post-fire, suggesting that after 14 years, sites are reaching their carrying capacity¹.

Threats The main threat to the northern population appears to be a change in the fire regime resulting in unsuitable habitat. Extensive fire threatens the southern population. Fire removes dense understorey vegetation, which is the species's preferred habitat¹. At least 80% of the 10 known sites of occurrence in Victoria were burnt between 1960 and 1995, some several times, eliminating all but one subpopulation. Agricultural land may be unsuitable for the dispersal of the species¹. The isolation of habitat within an agricultural matrix may reduce the risk of wildfire spreading into it, but might make complete loss of a population more likely if fire burnt through a reserve¹. Feral pigs uproot tussocks, opening the habitat and possibly disturbing breeding. Other threats to the species include grazing, invasion of habitat by exotic weeds and predation by foxes and cats. Birdwatching may be a threat to the northern population, with repeated playback of calls having the potential to affect breeding.

Conservation measures underway The northern population has been the focus of extensive conservation actions. Fences and fire-breaks have been constructed. Some pig and cat control is undertaken. Vegetation monitoring sites are being established. Genetic samples have been analysed. All known territories in Queensland have been mapped. This population is now the focus of a intense captive breeding programme with the aim of re-establishing the species at several sites. The three main southern populations in New South Wales (Barren Ground-Budderoo, Jervis Bay-Booderee and Nadgee Nature Reserve) have undergone surveys and initial ecological research. Habitat mapping has been conducted at Jervis Bay. Research has been conducted over three years into the ecology and translocation of 50 birds from Bhewerre Peninsula to Beecroft Peninsula in the Jervis Bay region, including habitat selection by the species after fire. Currently, there is a study to look at a future translocation of approximately 50 birds from Barren Grounds Nature Reserve to Sydney Catchment Authority (SCA) lands. If deemed feasible, this is likely to be conducted in 2008. Other fire ecology research has been conducted. Research on the southern population has shown that not all habitat needs to be constantly maintained as greater than 14 years unburnt, as long as large, adjacent and long unburnt (for over 20 years) areas are protected for emigration from and recolonisation of more recently burnt areas¹. Annual monitoring is carried out at Jervis Bay National Park, Barren Grounds Nature Reserve and Nadgee Nature Reserve. At Nadgee, habitat monitoring is conducted every two years. Fox control is carried out for the Jervis Bay-Booderee and Barren Grounds-Budderoo populations. Weed control, particularly of Bitou Bush has been undertaken at Booderee National Park, though recent studies have shown that the species can utilise Bitou Bush as post-fire refugia.

Conservation measures proposed Northern population: Continue to survey for a new population in the vicinity where the species once occurred. Release captive-bred birds into areas with small populations and where the species has been recently recorded. Southern population: Monitor populations annually. Monitor habitat every two years. Define and map suitable habitat on Sydney Catchment Authority lands as part of the proposed future translocation from Barren Grounds Nature Reserve. Control foxes and weeds. Reduce the impacts of traffic at Jervis Bay and Booderre National Parks on the Bhewerre Peninsula. Develop contingency plans for fire and conduct ecologically sensitive hazard reduction burns at central populations (Barren Grounds-Budderoo and Jervis Bay-Booderee National Parks) to reduce the impacts of large intense fires. Encourage public participation and provide information. Minimise the loss of habitat on private land from future residential and commercial developments in the Jervis Bay area. Retain and manage known or potential habitat corridors between reserves¹. Continue to monitor the density of the species in long unburnt habitat and study the relationship between the species and the post-fire age of habitat¹. Both populations: Determine a suitable fire management strategy. Continue studies on population genetics.

References Garnett and Crowley (2000). 1. Bain and McPhee (2005). 2. D. Stewart in litt. (2007).

Further web sources of information

Australian Govt - Action Plan for Australian Birds 2000 - Recovery Outline for Dasyornis brachypterus brachypterus

Australian Govt - Action Plan for Australian Birds 2000 - Recovery Outline for Dasyornis brachypterus monoides

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), Stephen Garnett (Charles Darwin University), Stephen Garnett (Birds Australia), Rachel McClellan (BirdLife International), Joe Taylor (BirdLife International)

Contributors Damien Oliver (NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service), David Stewart (Environmental Protection Agency, Queensland Gov.)

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Guy Dutson (Birds Australia), Stephen Garnett (Charles Darwin University), Joe Taylor (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Dasyornis brachypterus. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 9/2/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife

To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums