An amazing breeding event has provided hope for the survival of one of the world’s most taxonomically unique and endangered birds.
Key points:
- The Plains Wanderer is a critically endangered native bird that only lives in the prairies of eastern Australia.
- The bird is the only member of its taxonomic family, Pedionomidae
- Researchers say the La Niña climate cycle has facilitated widespread reproduction this year
The plain wanderer, a small quail-like bird found only in the prairies of eastern Australia, represents an ancient bird lineage that evolved in Gondawana more than 100 million years ago.
It is so endangered and taxonomically unique that it has been ranked as the number one priority for conservation action among the world’s birds by the London Zoological Society.
But recently, researchers at La Trobe University discovered a record number of homeless people on the plains during a survey north of Victoria.
“We found about 60 adults and they were about 40 chicks,” said La Trobe University doctoral and environmental student Dan Nugent.
“With the plain wanderer, it’s actually the male who does most of the incubation of the chicks and eggs.
“We were discovering that males were often accompanied by two or four chicks, huddled under them to protect themselves from predators.”
Dan Nugent, a doctoral student at La Trobe University, holds a tramp on the plains. (Provided by: Tom Hunt)
The Girl causes the breeding boom
The only member of its taxonomic family, Pedionomidae, is estimated to be less than 1,000 vagabonds from the plains in the wild due to habitat loss.
Nugent said this jackpot was the largest bird discovery found since tracking began in northern Victoria in 2010.
It was also more than double the best previous result of 2018, when 30 adults and 17 chicks were detected.
A wandering female from the plains, one of the most endangered birds in the world. (Provided by: Owen Lishmund)
“Another encouraging sign was that 85 per cent of surveillance posts supported plainclothes vagrants, the highest percentage of posts since polls began 12 years ago,” he said.
Nugent said the La Niña climate cycle was largely to thank for the recent population boom.
“A lot of rain has produced a lot of food to eat these birds,” he said.
“More food means more opportunities for breeding. These birds can breed during spring and summer if conditions are right.”
Technological advances help detect birds
This latest survey was conducted by the university, in collaboration with the North Central Catchment Management Authority as part of a report for the Department of Environment, Land and Water and Planning (DELWP).
Recently, investigators discovered a record number of vagabonds on the plains during a survey north of Victoria. (Provided by: Rohan Clarke)
DELWP natural environment program officer Aaron Grinter said it was a difficult bird to control.
“The vagabonds on the plains are very cryptic,” Dr. Grinter said.
“They are almost never seen during the day when they are most active because of their excellent camouflage and their distrust of predators, which makes detection a big challenge for researchers.”
But Mr Nugent said the technology and survey methods had improved greatly over the years.
“We just used focus,” he said.
“But now we have equipped our cars with thermal imaging cameras and they are able to pick up these very small birds in the grass.”
A wandering of the plains has been detected by thermal images. (Supplied by: Dan Nugent)
Goldilocks species
Although researchers have celebrated this increase in the wandering population of the plains, Nugent said they have not yet left the forest.
Habitat loss due to overgrazing remains a major threat, as these birds, nicknamed “Golden Rites” for their need for ideal conditions, favor poor, but not too scarce, ground cover.
“There are very few native grasslands left in Victoria. Much of them have been destroyed for agriculture,” Nugent said.
He said more needed to be done to ensure the continued survival of the bird.
“Plains vagrants can benefit from grazing livestock, but as soon as this prairie is cultivated, they lose their habitat,” he said.
“Until we can stop this, there is concern for the species. There are not many left.”