Bushtracks - 30 years Thank you for being a Bush Hero - Bush Heritage Australia
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bushtracks
B u s h H e r i t a ge M a g a z in e | S u m m e r 20 21
SPECIAL E DITION
30 years
Thank you for being a Bush Hero.
Bush Heritage acknowledges the Traditional
Owners of the places in which we live,
work and play. We recognise the enduring
relationships they have with their lands and
waters, and we pay our respects to Elders,
past and present.
CONTRIBUTORS 2
Eliza Herbert 30 years of
Hannah James conservation
Bron Willis
Kate Thorburn
DE SIGN
4
Viola Design
The Olkola way
COVER IMAGE
Mike Ross, Olkola Elder and Chairman
of the Olkola Aboriginal Corporation.
Photo by Annette Ruzicka
6
The blue grass of
home
This publication uses 100% post-consumer
waste recycled fibre, made with a carbon
neutral manufacturing process, using 10
vegetable-based inks. A package
from the bush
BUSH HERITAGE AUSTR ALIA
T 1300 628 873
E info@bushheritage.org.au
W www.bushheritage.org.au
12
Follow Bush Heritage on: A passion for the wild
14
Fluent in grasswren
“You have all shaped our
frontline conservation
work in different ways, and
now I invite you to join us
on our journey through
the next 30 years...”
1 PhD candidate Miranda Rew-Duffy radio tracking
on Carnarvon Station Reserve, Bidjara country, Qld.
Photo by Krystle Wright
T
hirty years ago, when Australia’s Over the coming decades, we will be forced to
environmental movement was still finding answer some of the most complex questions of
its feet, a group of people gathered around a our time, such as: How do we feed and shelter our
walnut tree in northern Tasmania to talk about the civilisation without destroying the land upon which
future of the Australian bush. With great foresight, it depends? And how do we protect our landscapes
they realised Australia urgently needed a better and species from threats over which we, as
model for land conservation and the Australian individuals, have limited control?
Bush Heritage Fund was born.
Finding the answers to these questions will
Since those humble beginnings, Bush Heritage, necessarily involve collaboration and innovation –
as it was later renamed, has grown to protect an thinking outside the box, being willing to try new
area of land that equates to half the size of Victoria, approaches, and listening to those whose knowledge
spanning a breathtaking variety of ecosystems comes from over 60,000 years of experience.
and habitats. But our story is not that of a single
organisation, rather, it is the story of tens of Last year highlighted just how fragile our existence
thousands of concerned individuals like you who, on this Earth is. It was tough for people and wildlife
at some point in the last three decades, realised alike. But it’s often during tough times that we see
more needs to be done to protect our native the best of humanity, and last year was case in point.
species and took action. Your generosity throughout 2020 has kept Bush
Heritage going and placed us in good stead to plan
We’re using our thirtieth anniversary as a not just our vision for 2030, but for 2050 and 2090.
chance to celebrate these Bush Heroes: the donors, Thank you, as always, for your support.
volunteers, partners and staff who have made Bush
Heritage what it is today. You have all shaped our Heather Campbell
frontline conservation work in different ways, and Chief Executive Officer
now I invite you to join us on our journey through
the next 30 years, for Australia needs its Bush
Heroes now more than ever before.
1
bushtracks
30 years
of conservation
1991 2005 2008
1993 2002 2009 2010
2001 2005
1991 On Bush Heritage’s tenth Bush Heritage identifies five
Dr Bob Brown acts quickly anniversary it purchases regions in need of urgent
2009
to buy and protect two bush the 59,000 hectare protection upon which it Bush Heritage meets its
blocks in northern Tasmania Carnarvon Station Reserve will focus its conservation goal to protect 1 percent
from wood-chipping. The in Queensland for $1.5 efforts. This is later of Australia – more than
Australian Bush Heritage million, its first reserve expanded to 15 'priority 7 million hectares – through
Fund is born. acquisition of this size. landscapes’. reserves and partnerships.
1993 2002 2008 2010
Bush Heritage signals Bush Heritage is a founding Wunambal Gaambera Bush Heritage completes
its national conservation partner in GondwanaLink, a people sign a ten-year its first species
ambitions with the purchase project aiming to reconnect agreement with Bush translocation, establishing
of its first mainland reserve: over 1000 kilometres Heritage to help protect a new population of
Fan Palm, in eastern in south-west Western their Uunguu (living home) Red-tailed Phascogales
Queensland. Australia. in the Kimberley region on Kojonup Reserve in
of Western Australia - a Western Australia.
ground-breaking partnership
for Australian conservation.
2
bushtracks
Thanks to your support,
Bush Heritage has grown to celebrate
30 years of achievements.
2013 2015
2019
2014 2019 2020 2021
2015
2013 Bush Heritage acts quickly
Bush Heritage and to purchase and protect
2019
the Tasmanian Land the 56,000-hectare The innovative climate-
Conservancy begin working Pullen Pullen Reserve in ready revegetation project
with Tasmanian farmers Queensland, home to what commences on Nardoo
to protect the critically is then the only known Hills Reserve, Victoria, to
endangered ecosystems of population of the critically address eucalypt dieback
the Tasmanian Midlands. endangered Night Parrot. from climate change.
2014 2019 2020 2021
Olkola people partner with Bush Heritage, in The loss or displacement In its thirtieth year, Bush
Bush Heritage to help collaboration with the of over 3 billion animals Heritage is busy preparing
protect Alwal, the Golden- Carbon Neutral Charitable in Australia’s worst ever its 2030 vision, assessing
shouldered Parrot. Fund, commences a project bushfire season reinforces possibilities for new reserve
to revegetate cleared land the urgent need for practical, acquisitions, researching and
on Eurardy Reserve with effective and future-focused detailing strategies to combat
over 1 million trees – its conservation solutions. the threat of climate change,
largest restoration project. and deepening its Aboriginal
partnerships programs.
3
The Olkola way
Olkola Elder Mike Ross is a Bush Hero whose
visionary leadership has had a profound impact on
Olkola country and people.
STORY BY E LIZ A HERBERT
7
Olkola Elder Mike Ross.
Photo by Annette Ruzicka
O
lkola Elder Mike Ross is known as the says Jo Pender, a young Olkola person. “With people
‘Barefoot Chairman’. being displaced and having to work on pastoral
stations and not having ownership of country they
You’ll most likely find him walking Olkola were not able to be proud of who they are. Having
Country, hands sweeping across the tops of the tall land back and managing it themselves – this has
grass at Killarney Station, weaving between termite connected us to Country.
mounds and grass trees as he quietly listens, watches,
and understands what Country is telling him. With “Elders are talking so much more now about
piercing eyes, an Akubra on his head and no shoes, culture – getting our land back has been
he will be providing calm, wise leadership to those instrumental in this. People are becoming more
around him. and more proud of being an Olkola person. Being
proud of who you are as a person is directly related
At least that’s how Bush Heritage ecologist Allana to being connected to country.”
Brown pictures him, when she reflects on what
he has been able to achieve for Olkola people.
“...30 years ago the Elders sat him
“I still remember the moment I met Mike,” she
says. “We were sitting around the campfire and he
down and said, ‘Mike, you’re the
was talking about Alwal, the endangered Golden- one we want to get country back
shouldered Parrot that the Elders had entrusted to for us. That’s your job now.’”
him and the Olkola ranger team to look after. ‘Alwal
never forgot where he was created,’ he said, ‘that's
why he lives in the mounds, close to the earth.’” Straddling the Great Dividing Range, Olkola
country encompasses the headwaters of five major
This was in 2015, in the early days of Olkola’s river systems, expansive savanna woodlands,
partnership with Bush Heritage, when Allana was grasslands, mound springs and wetlands in the
beginning to work on the Bringing Alwal Home unique bioregion of the Cape York Peninsula.
project.
This land is intertwined with Olkola spirit and
“That night he spoke about his journey and how, identity, and so too is the totemic Alwal.
30 years ago, the Elders sat him down and said,
‘Mike, you’re the one we want to get country back After the hand-back, Olkola reignited efforts
for us. That’s your job now.’ to protect Alwal by establishing a new national
threatened species recovery team - the first
“And that’s exactly what he has done.” Aboriginal-led recovery team in Australia,
Mike Ross is Chairman of the Olkola Aboriginal chaired by Elder Mike Ross.
Corporation, which is the largest private landholder “With Mike at the helm, we've now had a full
in Cape York, Queensland. In December 2014, after population census of the parrot,” says Allana.
years of patient negotiation and strategy, he led the “We've got much better knowledge and understanding
Olkola people through the largest land hand-back in of the key threats and Olkola people are implementing
Queensland’s history, which saw them reclaim their right-way fire and tackling feral cats. We are also
rights to over 630,000 hectares of their land. starting to learn more about nest predation and how
This milestone enabled them to implement strong the Dingo fits into the picture. It's just one example
self-governance and to look after country ‘the of what Mike and Olkola people have been able to
Olkola way’, directed by traditional lore, knowledge achieve when doing things the Olkola way.”
and practices. Under Mike’s stewardship, the And while Mike’s legacy is everywhere on Olkola
Olkola Aboriginal Corporation now protects country, one of the best legacies is what he has
more than 869,922 hectares, providing significant created for the young people. As Olkola Alwal
opportunities for Olkola people. Project Manager Ashaley Ross, one of Mike’ sons,
“Over the last few years I’ve noticed a huge puts it: “I feel a sense of freedom, and I belong here.
difference, especially in the way people talk It’s really good looking after country, having Olkola
about Olkola; now people talk about Olkola as a feet back on the ground, I feel happy with what
community and everyone is a lot more positive,” we're doing.”
5
The blue grass
of home
Vital species live in Carnarvon Station Reserve’s
endangered bluegrass grasslands. A new seed
harvesting project is helping to ensure their
survival in the face of climate change.
STORY BY HANNAH JAME S
6
1
Carnarvon Reserve Manager Chris Wilson in native
Bluegrass Grasslands. Photo by Krystle Wright
A
ustralia has its own bluegrass traditions – “For many species, Carnarvon Station is in a really
and they’ve got nothing to do with playing interesting location in Australia,” adds University of
the banjo. Bluegrass grasslands occupy just Queensland ecologist Miranda Rew-Duffy, who is in
under 600 hectares of Bush Heritage’s Carnarvon her second year of a PhD studying the effects of fire
Station Reserve, Bidjara country in central on Carnarvon's small mammal and reptile species.
Queensland – a tiny fraction of its 59,000-hectare “It’s a buffer zone between the semi-arid area and
expanse. But these scattered remnants of a once- the coastline, and between tropical and temperate
flourishing ecosystem form a vital puzzle piece in climates. The bluegrass grassland is an important
the jigsaw of climate resilience. ecosystem within Carnarvon for species such as
the Narrow-nosed Planigale which makes its home
The grasslands (Dichanthium spp.) are home to within the cracks of the clay soil, and the Rufous
numerous native species, some endangered, and are Bettong which digs up fungi and tubers from the
themselves an endangered ecosystem. Chris Wilson, fertile soil.”
Carnarvon Reserve’s Healthy Landscape Manager,
has worked and lived on the reserve with his family Yet this vital habitat has been under attack across
for 11 years. He explains: “The grasslands attract the Brigalow Belt for hundreds of years, with only
insects, which are the start of the food chain. With fragments surviving. “Because bluegrass typically
those come your birds, your small rodents, your grows on fertile country, it’s usually turned into
native mammals, and they’re distributing that food cropping country or intensive agriculture,” says
throughout the landscape. A lot of our critical weight- Chris. Carnarvon itself was a cattle station for 150
range mammals, like Northern Brown and Long- years before Bush Heritage bought it in 2001, and
nosed bandicoots, live in these grasslands, too.” although it was managed sustainably, dealing with
the legacies of that land-use still keeps Chris busy.
7
bushtracks
“It’s like a street sweeper
that spins at about 600RPM,”
he explains. “Native seeds don’t
His day-to-day tasks include everything from weed all ripen at once, so we never
and erosion control to feral animal removal and fire take too much seed... ”
management. And, as of April 2020, he’s got a new
task to add to that list: bluegrass seed harvesting.
night, so we can’t start harvesting until the dew has
The idea came about because of climate change:
dried. Then the humidity starts picking up again in
specifically, the need to create climate resilience.
the afternoon, so the harvesting window is pretty
“Across Australia wildfires are becoming more
short.” Once the seed – which is actually not just one
frequent,” says Miranda. “We’re going to have more
species, but a blend of several native grasses – has
hot and dry days which will increase the risk of really
been harvested, it must be laid out on tarps to dry,
harmful, high-intensity wild fire.”
so it doesn’t go mouldy when it’s bagged. “That’s
This means that very soon, the areas currently every afternoon’s job,” says Chris, “to lay the seed
perfect for bluegrass will shrink and change. So out, and turn it every day for a week.” To add to the
Bush Heritage is working on a plan to save the challenges, harvest also comes at a particularly busy
grasslands and establish them in new locations. time of the year that coincides with other seasonal
tasks like weed-spraying and burning.
To do this, Chris is harvesting bluegrass seeds to
sell to local landowners, graziers looking for native The April 2020 trial run was a success, but there
grasses, and mines undertaking rehabilitation and were still plenty of lessons learned for next time.
offset work. He’s using a brush harvester specially Chris is keen to invest in a bigger harvester, which
made to work with native seeds, which has minimal must be specifically made for the job, and will yield
impact on the plants. “It’s like a street sweeper that more seed with less impact on the ground. (Bush
spins at about 600RPM,” he explains. “Native seeds Heritage is also monitoring the effects of the work on
don’t all ripen at once, so we never take too much the grasslands, analysing species diversity and soil
seed – we’re probably only getting between 10 and health both before and after harvesting, so Chris can
15 per cent off the plant. It doesn’t cut or damage the make any changes that might be required.)
plant; the beaters just tickle the ripe seed off, leaving
Selling the seed, in partnership with Highlands
the unripe seed.”
Environmental, has another benefit, of course. “One
It’s tricky work. Some patches of grassland can’t be of the drivers was to create a sustainable, minimal-
harvested at all because of weed problems, and even impact income stream for Carnarvon, so the
the weed-free areas are scattered around the reserve. conservation can fund itself,” says Chris.
“It’s a juggling act to be at the right place at the right
And the hard work is paying off. “The most exciting
time with just enough ripe seed, but not having let
results I’ve found so far are that the reserve is acting
the plant drop too much seed,” says Chris.
as a refuge for a suite of small mammals and reptiles
Additionally, he says, “The harvest season is at the in the area,” says Miranda. That is, Carnarvon
end of the wet season, so it’s humid. We get dews at Reserve, together with the adjacent Carnarvon
Gorge National Park, forms a wilderness oasis for all
sorts of plants and animals in a desert of denuded
land. And thanks to the bluegrass seed harvesting
project, it’s an oasis that will grow and flourish –
even in the face of climate change.
You can help Chris buy a new harvester and bring
in more helping hands at harvest time by filling out
the donation coupon on the back cover, or visiting
bushheritage.org.au/donate
7 Native seed harvesting. Photo by Chris Wilson
2 PhD Candidate Miranda Rew-Duffy sets up a fauna
trap on Carnarvon Reserve, Qld. Photo by Krystle Wright
2 A Rufous Bettong (Aepyprymnus rufescens).
Photo by Bernard Dupont
8Package from
the bush
An unlikely delivery from one scientist to another has
provided valuable insight into what some consider
Australia’s prettiest wallaby.
STORY BY BRON WILLISbushtracks
7
A Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby. Photo by Jurgen
and Christine Sohns/Minden Pictures
I
n August 2019, Bush Heritage ecologist Graeme 90 years. Much to Graeme’s pleasure, analysis of the
Finlayson woke up to red dirt, the sweat of hard scats at Adam’s lab confirms their presence across
work permeating his clothes and granite-scattered the reserve.
horizons that framed the endless saltbush plains
of Boolcoomatta Reserve, Adnyamathanha and “Previously, the wallabies had only been seen at one
Wiljakali country, west of Broken Hill. rocky outcrop on Boolcoomatta. But through the
scat analysis, we confirmed Yellow-footed Rock-
A few hundred kilometres away at the University wallabies at two new locations there,” says Graeme.
of Adelaide, doctoral researcher and plant expert
Dr Adam Croxford began his workday surrounded Of course, it’s what the scats tell us about how to
by the sparse surfaces and white hues of a help the wallabies that Graeme really wants to know.
clinical laboratory. The settings couldn’t be more “If you really want to see more Yellow-footed Rock-
contrasting – and yet they were soon to become wallabies on Boolcoomatta we need to address this
closely connected. competition for food that we now know occurs,
A week or so later, a package arrived at Adam’s lab. particularly during times of drought,” he says.
In it were hundreds of snap-lock bags containing When the precious scats from the carefully mapped
ecological gold: the scats of Yellow-footed Rock- locations arrived in Adam Croxford’s research lab,
wallabies, feral goats and Euros from Boolcoomatta, they were cause for some excitement.
the neighbouring Bimbowrie Conservation Reserve,
and Plumbago and Mount Victor stations. “Scats can be really valuable, especially with modern
DNA techniques,” says Adam. “But they have to be
“Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby scats are quite carefully collected: you can store only one scat per bag,
distinctive,” says Graeme. “They’re torpedo-like, as cold and fresh as possible. The touch of a human
with a little tail.” hand would contaminate the data, so collectors turn
But the Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby is not the only the bag inside out, zip it up, label it with the GPS
mammal to roam South Australia’s stunning Olary point – and send it off as soon as possible.”
Ranges, where Graeme and three other scientists While Adam’s University of Adelaide lab might be a
gathered the scats over a one-week period. Euros vastly different setting to the plains of Boolcoomatta,
and feral goats also inhabit the nooks and crannies the collection and the analysis are equally important
of the ancient granite rocks. It’s the relationship parts of a larger collaboration.
between these three species, in particular their diets,
that Adam and Graeme are studying. “Partnerships between conservation groups like
Bush Heritage and universities are so important,”
“One of the questions we asked in the study was says Adam. “They bring together a lot of skills,
‘are the wallabies, Euros and goats competing for each of which contributes to a complex story.”
the same food source?’” says Adam. “And we found
a significant overlap in their diets, with them all At the time of writing, Graeme and some of the
eating chenopods (e.g. bluebushes), forbs (e.g. collection team were preparing to return to the
native daisies) and Acacia shrubs.” Olary Ranges to gather more scats, this time from
a changed landscape: heavy Spring rains have
The Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby, known as Andu transformed Boolcoomatta’s drought-stricken
to Adnyamathanha people for which it is a totem plains and brought about a flush of fresh growth.
species, is Australia’s largest rock wallaby. According
to Graeme, it’s also the prettiest in the country. “What we really want to know now,” says Adam,
“is whether the three species’ diets still overlap
“The patterning on their tail, the colouration on their when the vegetation is flourishing. Do they have
face – they’re a stunning animal,” he says. preferences? If you give them a choice, do they
Once found in arid, rocky landscapes throughout choose to eat different things?”
Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia, We’re looking forward to finding out.
the species is now limited to a few isolated
populations. In 2017, a decade after Bush Heritage This project was partially funded by the Thyne Reid
purchased Boolcoomatta, the wallabies began to be Foundation.
seen regularly on the reserve for the first time in over
11A passion for the wild
Bush Heritage’s new President Sue O’Connor
is happiest photographing a wind-whipped coast
at dawn, or out in the bush learning about
our reserves and partnerships.
STORY BY HANNAH JAME S
M
eet Sue O’Connor, the new President of Back in the boardroom for now, Sue has spent
Bush Heritage Australia. her career in senior leadership roles at various
technology companies (including a stint as group
“I believe everyone has a superpower,” general manager at Telstra), and, for the past 12
explains Sue. “Your superpower is the combination years, as a company Director and Chair. She’s used
of your skills, expertise and passion. It enables you to negotiating, strategising and holding her own
to do something to make things better. That could among Australia’s top corporate players. So she’s
be getting involved with Bush Heritage. It could be simply forging ahead anyway, moving online to
volunteering to plant trees or replace fences. It could meet Bush Heritage’s Board and executive team,
be influencing climate change policies. It could be give presentations on climate change and announce
donating to a cause you care about. Everyone has a Bush Heritage news. Fortunately, much of the work
superpower and everyone can take action.” of a president, which she describes as “providing
input into the strategic direction of the organisation;
So what’s Sue’s superpower? We’ll get to that. working with the board, and with and through
Meanwhile, she accepts that the COVID movement the CEO; and engaging with donors, stakeholders,
restrictions have temporarily put paid to the one and volunteers so that we collectively all make a
thing she can hardly wait to do in her new role. “I difference,” can be done remotely. For Sue, “The
have to be honest, I’m really interested in being role of a president is both to lead and to serve.”
able to get out on country,” she says. “That’s my
real priority, because that will help me meet our It’s obvious from her desire to get out on country
partners, deepen our relationships with Traditional that ‘remote’ isn’t a frightening word for Sue.
Owners and the agricultural sector, and understand And that doesn’t just apply to her work for Bush
everything better.” Heritage. “I’ve always been attracted to places with
121 Bush Heritage President Sue O'Connor. Photo by Annette Ruzicka big horizons. That’s where I feel the most alive,” she says. That means snowy mountains, the depths of the ocean (she’s a keen open water swimmer) and For Sue, “The role of a Australian deserts. “There are two places that really make my heart sing: one is down on the Surf Coast president is both to lead in Victoria, hearing the waves booming on the shore. and to serve.” The other is out in the desert, with horizons that seem to go forever.” Once in these remote areas, she loves walking taken that interest to a whole new level (she is also and photography. “To be out in the wild with my Chair of Yarra Valley Water and on the board of camera, either at dawn or as the sun is setting, is so ClimateWorks Australia). “I have a choice here,” she magnificent for me,” Sue says. “I use photography says of this stage in her career, “and the choice I take to express how the bush makes me feel and to is to be an active participant in building resilience in convey that connection that humans have to the face of climate change, particularly as it affects country and place.” the natural world.” Sue’s interest in the environment began at university, So what’s Sue’s superpower? Boundless energy where she studied science. Having grown up in and optimism, coupled with corporate knowhow, suburban Melbourne at a time when high-school perhaps. But even more than that: it’s her passion girls were discouraged from camping, it wasn’t “to use my skills and to work with others to cherish until those student years that she discovered her and restore the natural environment.” And that’s a love of outdoor pursuits. And her board career has superpower we all share.
Fluent in grasswren
A young researcher is learning the language of
Western Grasswrens at Hamelin Station Reserve
to assist with one of Australia’s most ambitious
ecological restoration projects.
STORY BY K ATE THORBURN7
A Western Grasswren on Hamelin Station
Reserve, Malgana and Nhanda country, WA.
Photo by Aline Gibson Vega
N
ot many people would be able to instantly
recognise the call of the enigmatic and
understudied Western Grasswren.
Yet to University of Western Australia PhD student
Aline Gibson Vega, their songs are as familiar as the
back of her hand.
In fact, Aline is so attuned to their songs, she can
hear the difference between a bird from Bush
Heritage’s Hamelin Station Reserve, 250 kilometres
north of Geraldton, and a bird from Francois Peron
National Park, about 100 kilometres further north.
“Bird song is culturally learned. Like a human
language or dialect, you learn it from your parents,
it’s not genetic. So I can hear something and say:
that’s probably a bird from Peron or that’s a bird
from Hamelin,” she says.
Aline’s research aims to shed light on the differences
between these two Western Grasswren populations
and uncover for the first time how genetically and
socially distinct they are.
Do they speak the same dialect? Do they
communicate in the same way? Do they have the
same family ties? How much genetic diversity is
there in each population?
“Aline’s research aims to shed
light on the differences between
these two Western Grasswren
populations and uncover for the
first time how genetically and
socially distinct they are.”
The answers to these questions will feed directly
into the Dirk Hartog Island National Park Ecological
Restoration Project, an epic 12-year plan to return
all 11 native species that have gone locally extinct on
Dirk Hartog Island, or Wirruwana to the Malgana
Traditional Owners, since the Dutch sea captain
landed there in 1616.
The Western Grasswren is one of these 11 species
– the only bird and the species about which least is
known. Once, this well-camouflaged wren, bigger
and sturdier than its Fairywren cousins, would have
been found across much of south-western Australia.
15bushtracks
7`
PhD candidate Aline Gibson Vega releases a
Western Grasswren. Photo by Michelle Hall
“Will the birds consider each
other the same - will it be like
a super sexy French accent -
or will they think the other
bird’s call sounds terrible
and not be interested?”
However, a reduction in viable habitat due to To test this, the songs of 19 different male Western
overgrazing by rabbits and goats plus predation by Grasswrens from Francois Peron were played back
feral cats saw its range gradually shrink westwards, to birds at Hamelin. The same experiment was
and today, the Hamelin and Francois Peron birds are repeated at Francois Peron with Hamelin songs.
the only two remaining populations of the western
subspecies, Amytornis textilis textilis. “At times I saw the birds approach the speakers
straight away, so upset about the rival intruding
It’s this element of mystery that initially attracted on their territory,” Aline says. “Other times I’ve
Aline to her PhD topic. seen them approach, but no singing, so they’re
vigilant but not willing to engage. Some of them go
“You look at the literature and there’s so much on immediately back to their original behaviours while
Fairywrens and then Grasswrens almost nothing,” others stay alert for a lot longer.”
she says. “They’re really cryptic…and there isn’t
much known about their biology so there is no point This information about the birds’ compatibility will
of reference for planning a translocation.” be added to the package of genetic data ultimately
informing the Dirk Hartog Island project. Aline’s
Over the past two years, Aline has spent many findings will also inform the Hamelin Reserve
months in the field at Hamelin and Francois Peron management strategy.
mist netting, banding individual birds, collecting
DNA samples, doing nest counts and recording Michelle says that Bush Heritage’s hard work
vocal displays; building, block-by-block, a complete destocking feral goats and managing pest species on
Western Grasswren data set. the reserve should help grasswren habitat recover
from overgrazing.
The analysis of this data won’t be complete until
Aline finishes her PhD but initial observations “Our reserve managers have done a lot of work
provide a fascinating insight into the bird’s behaviour, trapping goats every year and the numbers are now
including the intriguing question of song dialect. dramatically lower than they were,” Michelle says.
“The Grasswrens seem to be in reasonable shape
Understanding whether the Hamelin and Francois but knowing about their genetic status will help us
Peron birds recognise each other’s calls is important understand their condition in more detail – whether
to the success of their eventual translocation to Dirk there are any signs of inbreeding that we might need
Hartog Island. to do something about, or whether the population has
good genetic diversity to help them adapt to change.”
As Bush Heritage senior ecologist and one of Aline’s
project supervisors Dr Michelle Hall puts it: “Will the For Aline, the thought that her work will contribute
birds consider each other the same - will it be like a to the Western Grasswren’s future on an island
super sexy French accent - or will they think the other sanctuary is reward enough.
bird’s call sounds terrible and not be interested?”
“I wanted to work on something that had tangible
“[Translocation] is already such a stressful situation… conservation outcomes,” she says. “The bonus is
so you don’t want the birds to have new neighbours that I am working with a species that not very many
that they perceive as really aggressive,” Aline adds. people get to see, and that not many people know
“That’s something to consider in the release design – about. I want the birds to do well.”
should we release all the Hamelin birds together and
the Peron birds somewhere else? Over time they would Aline’s research is supported by the inaugural Paul
mix but the initial placement could be separate.” Hackett Memorial Scholarship for Bird Research,
created to encourage research on our wonderful bird life.
16bushtracks
Parting shot
Happy place
Brett Howland
Ecologist – south-east NSW
Scottsdale
Reserve
Right up in the northern corner of Scottsdale This one small area is probably one of the most
Reserve, up near the Murrumbidgee River, diverse spots on the reserve. Over the last ten years
there's a rocky outcrop that retains much of its pre- I’ve seen so many different species there, including
European beauty, having never been ploughed or Dusky Woodswallows, Scarlet Robins and other
pasture improved. Scottsdale is a restoration project threatened woodland birds that aren't often seen in
– large parts of it were intensely farmed before Bush this region. I’ve also seen Common Dunnarts there
Heritage purchased it, but this little spot is one of several times, and it's a hotspot for reptile diversity
the few places on the reserve that was left relatively on the reserve - I've seen 13 different species of
untouched, probably largely because the ploughs reptiles in that one little area, and it’s the place we
couldn’t get through the rock. You can literally see chose to release 120 legless lizards back in 2016
the line where the vegetation changes from African because it’s such good habitat. Looking at this area
Lovegrass (a weed) to native Kangaroo Grass. gives you a sense of what Scottsdale’s grassy valley
There’s also a really high diversity of native grasses floors would once have looked like – and what we’re
and forbs there, including the threatened native pea trying to get them back to, or as close as possible,
Swainsona sericea, which goes to show that the natives once more.
can hang on really well when they’re not disturbed.
1
Scottsdale Reserve. Photo by Brett Howland
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