March 2005 - Eastern Bristlebird

One of Australia's rarest birds tracked down for possible captive breeding program.

One of Australia’s rarest birds tracked down for possible captive breeding program. 

After an exhaustive 2 year search, bird expert and wildlife consultant John Young has discovered several nests of the rare Eastern Bristlebird in a bid to help Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) rangers bring the endangered species back from the brink of extinction. The species now only exists in small isolated locations in the mountains of southern Queensland.

John Young spent two weeks in late December last year tramping through hilly, dense terrain in a second survey commissioned by QPWS to locate some of the few remaining breeding pairs and nest sites. Fewer birds and nests were found than John’s previous survey conducted in 2003 – feral cats and bad storms to blame.

‘The mountain form of these birds prefers high steep slopes covered in dense grass and low vegetation and are experts at hiding their nests. At the peak of their breeding season in October through November, pairs become fixed to a small area and begin to nest,’ Mr Young said.

‘This allows me to observe them as they go about nesting behavior and raising chicks – information needed to manage the forest areas where they are found.’  

After monitoring the nests, rangers decided to take two Eastern Bristlebird chicks from the wild and set up an intensive breeding program at the David Fleay Wildlife Park at West Burleigh on the Gold Coast in case the wild population declines further. The young birds, housed in a purpose built research and breeding facility managed by QPWS, are gaining weight as they acclimatize to their new surrounds.

The chicks were taken early enough in the breeding season to allow the parent female to breed again in the same season. Two months later John young returned to the site and was delighted to see the female with two newly fledged chicks foraging in the leaf litter for food.

The eastern bristlebird is an endangered species with estimates of fewer than twenty breeding pairs remaining in Queensland. The species is found in only 6 fragmented populations Australia wide.

‘The birds are weak flyers and would be unable to escape fires burning up hill in summer towards them. Predation from feral cats is also a problem. A captive breeding program may be the only answer to give this species a second chance,’ John Young said.

 

John will lead a number of specialized bird tours to north Queensland later this year where some of Queensland’s most unusual birds are found.

For more information:

Iain McIndoe, John Young Wildlife Enterprises
ph: (07)3870 4308 or 0409 347 150
(broadcast quality digital images of Eastern Bristlebird available)