the plains-wanderer ( pedionomus torquatus ) is a bird , the only representative of family pedionomidae and genus pedionomus .

it is endemic to australia .

the majority of the remaining population is found in the riverina region of new south wales .

plains - wanderer

plains - wanderer surveys on the avoca plains , victoria , in 2012 . report by
any newly discovered locations that extend the likely range of the plains - wanderer .
other known and likely habitats are surveyed to locate viable plains - wanderer populations .
develop and implement a robust , targeted conservation breeding strategy for the plains - wanderer .
parker dg and oliver dl ( 2006 ) . plains - wanderer habitat management guide . a photographic guide for visually assessing the grassland structure of plains - wanderer habitat . 2
the critically endangered plains - wanderer has found a new home at werribee open range zoo .
spatial mapping overlaying all known pesticide applications with mapping of plains - wanderer habitat is produced .
strategy 5 : improve understanding of the distribution and population trends of the plains - wanderer .
plains - wanderer - profile ( office of environment & heritage , 2016f ) [ internet ] .
information on the plains - wanderer is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly .
plains - wanderer male ( left ) and female ( right ) in sparse grassland habi tat .
opportunities to use genetic techniques to analyse plains - wanderer population size and trends have been investigated .
enhance protection , improve the quality and increase the extent of habitat suitable for the plains - wanderer .
strategy 1 : develop and implement a robust , targeted conservation breeding strategy for the plains - wanderer .
areas in which quail hunting , including illegal hunting , overlaps with plains - wanderer distribution are identified .
design and implement a management strategy for plains - wanderer habitat in national parks and reserves and other lands where plains - wanderers are a management target .
the plains - wanderer is classified as endangered ( en ) on the iucn red list ( 1 ) .
develop and implement a broad strategy to raise awareness and educate the general public about plains - wanderer conservation .
information displays , and other strategies , are implemented to educate the broader community about plains - wanderer conservation .
national recovery plan for the plains - wanderer ( pedionomus torquatus ) ( pdf - 1 . 16 mb )
national recovery plan for the plains - wanderer ( pedionomus torquatus ) ( docx - 1 . 55 mb )
new species of plains - wanderer from . . . - ibis - international journal of avian science | facebook
with less than 1000 birds left in the wild , the plains - wanderer is in imminent threat of extinction .
regular monitoring has not been conducted and population trends have not been assessed in the plains - wanderer’s two strongholds .
action would provide a more informed basis for the long - term management and recovery of the plains - wanderer .
a regular monitoring program is established for other important plains - wanderer locations ( e . g . biennial ) .
a long - term monitoring program for the plains - wanderer and plains - wanderer habitat , has been implemented in the species’ two strongholds - the riverina region of new south wales and the northern plains of victoria ; and assessment of population trends is indicative of a positive trajectory .
strategy 3 : enhance protection , improve the quality and increase the extent of habitat suitable for the plains - wanderer .
current protections of plains - wanderer habitat under native vegetation laws in victoria and other range states are maintained or strengthened .
wildfire mitigation and fire suppression activities are implemented , as necessary , to protect habitat critical for the plains - wanderer .
knowledge on the population dynamics ( including recruitment and survivorship in populations ) of the plains - wanderer is significantly increased .
this entry was posted in archive , australia , pacific and tagged australia , plains - wanderer . bookmark the permalink .
new south wales national parks and wildlife service ( npws ) ( 2001 ) . summary of results of plains - wanderer api mapping project 1999 - 2001 . unpublished report to new south wales plains - wanderer recovery team . sydney , nsw .
fencing has been erected , in appropriate locations , to facilitate grazing management to soil type in key plains - wanderer habitats .
the plains - wanderer is listed as threatened under the epbc act as well as state and territory legislation across its range .
the actions described in this recovery plan are designed to provide ongoing protection for the plains - wanderer throughout the species’ range .
action is desirable , but not critical to the recovery of the plains - wanderer or assessment of trends in that recovery .
commonwealth of australia . 2016 . national recovery plan for the plains - wanderer pedionomus torquatus . commonwealth of australia , canberra .
the plains wanderer , which is only found in small pockets of victoria’s northern plains , the riverina district of new south wales , queensland and south australia , requires “emergency action” .
furthermore , while policies regarding aerial spraying of insecticides in mapped plains - wanderer habitat should negate direct impacts to the species , this activity may still pose an indirect threat through impacts to food webs if the spraying outside of plains - wanderer habitat impacts on food abundance within areas that contain plains - wanderers .
this report should be attributed as ‘national recovery plan for the plains - wanderer ( pedionomus torquatus ) , commonwealth of australia 2016’ .
facilitate management of grazing regimes , and improve knowledge of appropriate burning regimes , to maintain suitable habitat for the plains - wanderer .
develop a population response model for the plains - wanderer to inform the ongoing management of a captive breeding program for the species .
articles about plains - wanderer conservation , including threats and recovery actions , are published in community newsletters , local bulletins and newspapers .
remove introduced trees and large boxthorns on , or within 300 m of , red soils where suitable plains - wanderer habitat exists .
crome khj and rushton dk ( 1975 ) . development of plumage in the plains - wanderer . emu . 75 : 181‑184 .
ridley e ( 1986 ) . plains - wanderer project report 1985 . bird keeping in australia . 29 : 115 - 118 .
threatened species of the northern territory - plains - wanderer pedionomus torquatus ( woinarski , j . , 2006g ) [ information sheet ] .
threats impacting upon the survival of the plains - wanderer have been identified and assessed and appropriate management measures have been put in place .
the potential for ecological burns to be used to manage plains - wanderer habitat ( including impacts and response of vegetation ) is investigated .
mechanisms are investigated by which to identify , and quantify the scale of , on - ground pesticide application within plains - wanderer habitat .
the effectiveness of spraying exclusion zones around plains - wanderer habitat , as currently applicable at the state / regional level , is evaluated .
natural grasslands of the murray valley plains’ ecological community , thus efforts to improve habitat quality for the plains - wanderer in this region are likely to have a positive effect on this grassland community .
zoos victoria is also supporting local recovery team partners , parks victoria and trust for nature who are working to preserve plains - wanderer habitat .
this instrument jointly makes the “national recovery plan for the plains - wanderer
with the south australian minister for sustainability , environment and conservation .
the plains - wanderer forages during the day and at dusk in areas of sparse grass ( baker - gabb , 1988 , 2002a ) .
a community outreach program is developed to inform relevant landholders about best - practice pest control protocols in the vicinity of plains - wanderer habitat .
continue to inform , support and encourage landholders and other community members , including indigenous groups , to be involved in plains - wanderer conservation .
baker - gabb dj ( 2015 ) . personal communication by email , 8 january 2015 . plains - wanderer expert , elanus environmental consultancy .
once widespread from victoria to queensland , the plains - wanderer has undergone a dramatic decline in the last decade , with their last strongholds in the northern plains of victoria and new south wales riverina .
plains - wanderer habitat management guide ( nsw department of environment , climate change and water ( nsw deccw ) , 2006 ) [ internet ] .
regular effective monitoring of plains - wanderer populations is conducted at permanent sites , and incorporates measurements of habitat structure , native grass and herb cover .
alternative survey and monitoring techniques are trialled to inform monitoring in other plains - wanderer locations , including assessment of the detectability success of each method .
tssc . 2015 . approved conservation advice for pedionomus torquatus ( plains - wanderer ) . threatened species scientific committee , commonwealth of australia , canberra .
embed this arkive thumbnail link (
portlet
) by copying and pasting the code below . < a href =
urltoken
title =
arkive photo - plains - wanderer in dry grass
> < img src =
urltoken
alt =
arkive photo - plains - wanderer in dry grass
title =
arkive photo - plains - wanderer in dry grass
border =
0
/ > < / a >
flora and fauna guarantee action statement 66 - plains wanderer pedionomus torquatus ( baker - gabb , d . , 2003a ) [ state action plan ] .
known populations of the plains - wanderer have not recovered from the very low numbers , and limited area of occupancy , recorded in 2011 - 14 .
the size of the plains - wanderer population is likely to vary with seasonal conditions . studies by baker - gabb et al ( 1990 ) indicated that the riverina population of plains - wanderer could vary by up to 80 % from year to year in times of drought . previously , plains - wanderer populations have been shown to recover from population declines associated with drought conditions and localised overgrazing ( baker - gabb et al . , 1990 , maher , 1997 ) . however , parker and baker - gabb ( 2013 ) noted that plains - wanderer numbers have now remained historically low for more than a decade .
embed this arkive thumbnail link (
portlet
) by copying and pasting the code below . < a href =
urltoken
title =
arkive species - plains - wanderer ( pedionomus torquatus )
> < img src =
urltoken
alt =
arkive species - plains - wanderer ( pedionomus torquatus )
title =
arkive species - plains - wanderer ( pedionomus torquatus )
border =
0
/ > < / a >
zoos victoria is part of australia’s national recovery team for the plains - wanderer , which was formed in an emergency effort to save the species from extinction .
the plains - wanderer is our local , an incredibly precious native species that needs our help . unfortunately very few people have heard about this amazing bird , or the threats that it faces . you can take the plains - wanderer under your wing and help us spread the word . whether that’s online or at your school , your workplace , community group or sports club – raising awareness is critical if we are to secure a future for the plains - wanderer .
the plains - wanderer eats seeds leaves , insects and spiders . it has been seen to hammer compacted soils with its beak in order to expose insects .
all landholders with plains - wanderer habitat are aware of the species and its management requirements and have been encouraged to manage their native grasslands for biodiversity outcomes .
baker - gabb dj ( 1987 ) . the conservation and management of the plains - wanderer pedionomus torquatus . world wildlife fund report . 49 : 140 .
whilst grazing is an important component of plains - wanderer management , both overgrazing and insufficient grazing have the potential to negatively impact upon the species . plains - wanderers have been shown to co - exist with light to moderate grazing
a workshop is held to develop a captive breeding strategy for the plains - wanderer , and establish the objectives , scale and nature of a captive breeding program .
baker - gabb dj ( 1988 ) . the diet and foraging behaviour of the plains - wanderer pedionomus torquatus . emu . 88 : 115 - - 118 .
bennett s ( 1983 ) . a review of the distribution , status and biology of the plains - wanderer pedionomus torquatus gould . emu : 1 - 11 .
although only one living species of the australian endemic plains - wanderer is known , the fossil record has revealed that the lineage already existed on the continent 26 million years ago . but at that time it wasn’t wandering the plains .
adult males and juveniles are similar to the smaller little , turnix velox , and red - chested , turnix pyrrhothorax , button - quails . these button - quails have stout greyish bills and much shorter fleshy or pinkish legs . unlike the plains - wanderer they lack hindtoes . the plains - wanderer has a more upright stance .
the plains - wanderer has recently been upgraded to critically endangered on the list of threatened species under the environment protection and biodiversity conservation act 1999 ( epbc act ) .
taking prompt action is necessary in order to mitigate the key threats to the plains - wanderer and also provide valuable information to help identify long - term population trends .
study the roles of burning and slashing in maintaining and improving the condition of plains - wanderer habitat in national parks and reserves , and other lands managed for conservation .
current protections of plains - wanderer habitat under the native vegetation act ( nsw ) , and as detailed in the environmental outcomes assessment methodology , are maintained in nsw .
llewellyn lc ( 1975 ) . recent observations of the plains - wanderer with a review of its past and present status . emu . 75 : 137 - 142 .
. the use of strategic grazing , including fenced stock containment or exclusion areas ( which are particularly important during drought conditions ) , may optimise plains - wanderer habitat cover .
increase understanding of population dynamics and ecology of the plains - wanderer ( e . g . population size , age / size class structure , dispersal rates , distribution ) .
the major economic impact of this plan will be on those who require approval to remove or modify plains - wanderer habitat and are prevented from doing so , or are required to modify their proposal by a consent authority . consent authorities need to consider the impact of proposals on plains - wanderer habitat . any further loss of native grassland habitat from areas known or likely to contain plains - wanderers is regarded as significant .
at the time of writing this recovery plan , there had been no studies to indicate that broad scale declines in plains - wanderer numbers were associated with pesticide use . it is currently unknown as to whether pesticide use , either by way or aerial or on - ground application , is having any direct or indirect effects on plains - wanderer numbers .
mr speakman said in the past decade plains - wanderer numbers had dropped up to 90 per cent due to habitat loss , with an estimated 200 still living in the wild .
if we look after plains - wanderer we ' ll also be supporting all the other plants and animals that rely on grassland habitats in the riverina ,
he said .
baker - gabb dj ( 1998 ) . native grasslands and the plains - wanderer . birds australia conservation statement no . 1 . wingspan . 8 ( 1 ) : 8 .
souter tg ( 1938 ) . notes on the plain wanderer . emu . 38 : 327 - 328 .
the plains wanderer used to be common in many areas but with more intensive cultivation practices in rural areas bird numbers and their distribution have reduced markedly . it is now classed as rare .
the plains - wanderer is so discreet that only a handful of farmers , scientists and avid bird enthusiasts are likely to lay eyes on it in the wild ,
he said .
the plains - wanderer ' s habitat is grassland and mr cameron said they could co - exist in agricultural areas , like the riverina , on land that is light to moderately grazed .
a population response model , that identifies a realistic recovery time frame and trajectory , informed by knowledge of species biology and threats , has been developed and implemented for the plains - wanderer .
an accompanying species profile and threats database ( sprat ) page provides background information on the biology , population status and threats to the plains - wanderer . the sprat page is available from :
any large introduced trees that are located in known plains - wanderer habitat and are supporting known predators of the species are removed , or tree limbs that provide perches for predators are lopped .
johnstone k , miller kk and antos mj ( in press ) . grassland conservation and the plains - wanderer : a small brown bird makes an effective local flagship . conservation and society .
maher pn ( 1997 ) . survey of plains - wanderer pedionomus torquatus and native grasslands on the riverine plain , new south wales . unpublished report to birds australia . melbourne , victoria .
northern plains grasslands technical advisory group ( ntag ) ( 2010 ) . northern plains grasslands : strategic operational plan for the protected area network . unpublished report .
the plains - wanderer has recently been upgraded to critically endangered on the list of threatened species under the environment protection and biodiversity conservation act 1999 ( epbc act ) . in recent years , significant declines in numbers of plains - wanderers have been recorded in the species core locations . over longer timeframes the primary threats to the survival of the plains - wanderer have been identified as habitat loss , primarily through the expansion of agriculture , and inappropriate grazing regimes .
in july 2000 , this species was required to have a recovery plan . the decision to have a recovery plan for the plains - wanderer should remain ( 25 / 06 / 2015 ) .
farmers living in south - western new south wales are believed to be the key to the future of one of the world ' s most unique birds , the critically endangered plains - wanderer .
they may need some assistance in the form of advice or some additional incentives to allow them to modify their land management practices so the plains - wanderer and agriculture can carry on .
an incentive program is developed to provide funding for landholders to fence paddocks and / or key habitat patches , or implement other methods for improving grazing management , in key plains - wanderer habitat .
implement the captive breeding strategy and establish a captive population of plains - wanderers .
an information flyer on plains - wanderers is developed for incorporation into hunting guides .
reported sightings of plains - wanderers are collated and information disseminated among relevant stakeholders .
it is anticipated that the recovery process will not be achieved prior to the scheduled five year review of the recovery plan . the national recovery plan for the plains - wanderer ( pedionomus torquatus ) will therefore remain in place until such time as the australian population of the plains - wanderer has improved to the point at which the population no longer meets threatened species status under the epbc act .
baker - gabb , d . j . ( 1995 ) . plains - wanderer , pedionomus torquatus . flora and fauna guarantee action statement . 66 . department of conservation and natural resources , melbourne .
another threat to the plains - wanderer is the use of pesticides , especially when used in large quantities to spray locust plagues . pesticides kill the birds either directly or indirectly through the food chain .
strategies have been developed and implemented to provide refugia ( i . e . designated areas where habitat structure is maintained within key parameters for the plains - wanderer ) during periods of extreme environmental fluctuation .
a range of other grassland species , and thus biodiversity in general , through improving the quality and extent of grassland habitat . furthermore , the plains - wanderer distribution significantly overlaps with the critically endangered ‘
baker - gabb dj ( 1993 ) . managing grasslands to maintain biodiversity and conserve the plains - wanderer . royal australasian ornithologists union . conservation statement no . 8 . wingspan . 10 : 8 .
baker - gabb dj ( 2002a ) . recovery plan for the plains - wanderer pedionomus torquatus 2002 - 2006 : conservation of lowland native grassland dependant fauna . unpublished report to environment australia , canberra .
d ' ombrain ea ( 1926 ) . the vanishing plain - wanderer . emu . 26 : 59 - 63 .
keartland ga ( 1901 ) . notes on the plain - wanderer . victorian naturalist . 17 : 167 - 168 .
measure the impacts of feral species , wildfires and quail hunting on plains - wanderers .
where necessary , mitigate the impacts to plains - wanderers from the use of pesticides .
extensive surveys of the plains - wanderer have been undertaken in nsw , victoria and south - eastern south australia . detailed research has focussed on their habitat requirements and recovery plans have been developed for the nsw and victorian populations . a draft management plan to reduce pesticide impact has been produced by the australian plague locust commission . the plains - wanderer ' s habitat has been incorporated into conservation reserves in queensland and victoria .
baker - gabb dj , benshemesh j and maher pn ( 1990 ) . a revision of the distribution , status and management of the plains - wanderer pedionomus torquatus . emu . 90 : 161 - 168 .
new south wales national parks and wildlife service ( npws ) ( 2002 ) . plains - wanderer ( pedionomus torquatus ) draft recovery plan . new south wales national parks and wildlife service . sydney , nsw .
mr speakman also revealed , for the first time in 30 years , the plains - wanderer had been bred in captivity as part of a partnership between the nsw office of environment ( oeh ) and taronga zoo .
baker - gabb dj ( 1990b ) . the biology and management of the plains - wanderer pedionomus torquatus in nsw . nsw npws species management report no . 3 . nsw national parks and wildlife service , sydney .
the main threat to the plains - wanderer is clearing and modification of native grasslands for agriculture . even if left to recover , the grasslands will remain unsuitable as habitat for decades . where patches of habitat remain , they may be too few and dispersed to be effective refuges during drought . overgrazing causes the plains - wanderer to leave an area when grassland is reduced to a remnant , probably because it becomes too vulnerable to predators .
the degree to which quail hunting is impacting upon plains - wanderer survival is largely unknown ; however hunting has the potential to have adverse impacts upon the species due to both incidental shooting and interactions between birds and dogs .
office and environment and heritage new south wales ( oeh ) ( 2015 ) . response to consultation questions for plains - wanderer . unpublished report to the department of the environment . office of environment and heritage , nsw .
areas in which wildfires pose a threat to key habitat for plains - wanderers are indentified .
in the species’ strongholds in the riverina region of nsw and the northern plains of victoria .
the plains - wanderer is a small , ground - dwelling bird native to the grasslands of south - eastern australia . with less than 1000 birds remaining in the wild they are critically endangered and under imminent threat of extinction .
feral species control programs are implemented , at regional scales ( i . e . landscapes > 10 000 ha ) , with efforts centred on important areas of reserved plains - wanderer habitat ( such as oolambeyan national park ) .
table 1 : international , national and state conservation status of the plains - wanderer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
the recorded history of quail hunting impacts on plains - wanderers is collated and , if appropriate , a case is developed for excluding quail hunting from key areas of the northern plains of victoria .
understanding of the plains - wanderers spatial ecology , and preferred floristic habitat attributes , is increased .
genetic material is collected , stored and recorded from plains - wanderers , whenever the opportunity arises .
harrington gn , maher pn and baker - gabb dj ( 1988 ) . the biology of the plains - wanderer pedionomus torquatus on the riverine plain of new south wales during and after drought . corella . 12 : 7 - 13 .
“the plains wanderer was recently ranked number one in australia and fourth in the world on a list of earth’s 9 , 993 recognised bird species we could least afford to lose , ” britt gregory from the north central catchment management authority said .
the plains - wanderer lives on open , sparse swards and grasslands . it is not found in dense , improved grasslands or in treed areas . this bird prefers to live in the one area , unless forced to move by habitat changes .
baker - gabb d . j . ; benshemesh j . s . ; maher p . n . 1990 . a revision of the distribution , status and management of the plains - wanderer pedionomus torquatus . emu 90 : 161 - 168 .
wilson , c . ; ingwersen d . ; parker d . 2014 . review of oeh plains - wanderer pedionomus torquatus monitoring data 2001 - 2014 . a report for the office of environment and heritage , nsw . birdlife australia , melbourne .
the plains - wanderer’s range once included the plains between geelong and melbourne , with werribee open range zoo providing an ideal location for the breeding program . a breeding facility with 16 aviaries capable of holding up to 12 breeding pairs and 40 juveniles will be built at werribee open range zoo , with completion of the build expected in autumn 2017 .
birdlife international ( 2015j ) . important bird areas factsheet : patho plains . available from : urltoken .
today the plains - wanderer inhabits sparse open native grasslands of southern and eastern australia , and does not occur in dense grasslands or treed areas . unlike most other charadriiform birds , the plains - wanderer is a very reluctant flier , and more likely to run away or lie flat on the ground when threatened ( baker - gabb 1996 ) . these native grasslands are therefore inherent to the survival of this bird , as its movement is less restricted when escaping predators ( marchant & higgins 1993 ) .
figure 2 : modelled distribution of the plains - wanderer ( pedionomus torquatus ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
the overall goal of this recovery plan is to achieve a viable , self - sustaining wild population capable of persisting through extended poor breeding seasons , and to put in place long - term management arrangements that ensure key plains - wanderer habitat is appropriately managed .
native plants provide the majority of the seeds , while exotic species make only a minor contribution to the plains - wanderer’s diet ( baker - gabb , 1988 ) . invertebrates generally account for about 40 % of the diet of plains - wanderers , except in spring , when the proportion of insects in their diet increases slightly ( baker - gabb , 1988 ) .
design and implement a habitat management strategy for all lands in which plains - wanderers are a management target .
plains - wanderer habitat has been heavily modified through clearing , development , fragmentation and degradation . the more fertile areas have been targeted for agricultural pursuits . restrictions on further clearing of plains - wanderer habitat will impact on some landowners / managers and developers . these restrictions are not predicted to impact significantly on agricultural industries since the remnants of these grassland communities are generally located on less fertile soils and are , therefore , relatively unattractive for grazing or cropping . there is likely to be greater consideration of impacts from urban development .
the threatened species strategy webpage includes information on other projects that may be supporting the species . the taking emergency action for the plains - wanderer in nsw project in collaboration with the nsw government and the going feral free at astrebla downs national park project funded by the australian government in partnership with the australian wildlife conservancy aim to benefit the plains wanderer by initiating a captive breeding programme , controlling rabbits in the nsw riverina , creating a safe haven for the species in queensland and controlling feral animals such as cats outside fenced areas .
figure 1 : plains - wanderer male ( left ) and female ( right ) in sparse grassland habitat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
a joint framework is developed and implemented to learn lessons from the various fire management methods being used across plains - wanderer habitat ( e . g . by np , tfn etc . ) and to improve and coordinate future management of the species and its habitat .
plains wanderers inhabit sparse native grasslands and are often absent from areas where grass becomes too dense or too sparse .
habitat quality has not improved in key locations , resulting in the disappearance of plains - wanderers from these sites .
in recent years , significant declines in numbers of plains - wanderers have been recorded in the species core locations .
and decreasing . given the historically low population size and the fragmented distribution of the plains - wanderer , all areas in which birds are found , and any suitable but currently unoccupied habitat within the species’ extent of occurrence , represent habitat critical to the survival of the species .
parker d and baker - gabb dj ( 2013 ) . prolonged decline of the plains - wanderer in south - eastern australia ; case study 2 : the riverina of nsw from 2001 to 2013 . unpublished report to the office of environment and heritage , new south wales .
( 2011 ) estimated the total number of mature individuals to be c . 2000 and decreasing . since that time , significant declines in plains - wanderer numbers have been reported in the species’s two strongholds in victoria and nsw . monitoring and annual surveys conducted across the northern plains of victoria between 2010 and 2015 indicated a decline in numbers of > 90 % during this period ( baker - gabb
radford j , baker - gabb dj and antos m ( 2013 ) . prolonged decline of the plains - wanderer in south - eastern australia ; case study 1 : north - central victoria from 2010 to 2013 . unpublished report to the department of sustainability and environment , victoria .
a simple system for measuring the density of grass cover has been devised that involves dropping 18 golf balls into a 1m x 1m quadrant and scoring the visibility of each golf ball – for a plains - wanderer the ideal score is 14 . 5 – 16 . 5 golf balls !
baker - gabb , d . ; antos , m . ; brown g . 2016 . recent decline of the critically endangered plains - wanderer ( pedionomus torquatus ) , and the application of a simple method for assessing its cause : changes in grassland structure . ecological management and restoration .
the number of plains - wanderers has increased from the very low levels recorded for the species in 2011 - 14 .
feral species numbers are monitored in areas where they have been identified as posing a potential threat to plains - wanderers .
facilitate grazing management to soil type and enable landholders to maintain suitable grassland biomass for plains - wanderers on red soils .
the plains - wanderer has a number of calls : a repeated , low pitched
oo
; a soft
chuck
when calling chicks when danger threatens ; a gentle
irr - irr
to soothe chicks ; a
pie - pie - pie
to summon chicks .
actions identified for the recovery of the plains - wanderer are described below . it should be noted that some of the objectives are long - term and may not be achieved prior to the scheduled five - year review of the recovery plan . priorities assigned to actions should be interpreted as follows :
facilitate management of grazing regimes , and improve knowledge of appropriate burning regimes , to maintain suitable habitat for plains - wanderers .
develop a targeted information pack to assist landholders , outdoor enthusiasts and professionals to identify and report sightings of plains - wanderers .
this document constitutes the national recovery plan for the plains - wanderer ( pedionomus torquatus ) . the plan considers the conservation requirements of the species across its range and identifies the actions to be taken to ensure the species long - term viability in nature , and the parties that will undertake those actions .
the plains - wanderer occasionally occurs in other types of habitat : it has been recorded in cereal stubble , and amongst low crops of cereal grasses ( bennett , 1983 ; llewellyn , 1975 ; souter , 1938 ; sutton , 1927 ) , and in low , sparse chenopod shrublands ( harrington et al . , 1988 ) . however , it is unknown as to whether plains - wanderers can persist in these habitats over extended timeframes .
the plains - wanderer is a small ground - dwelling bird . the female bird is larger and more brightly coloured than the male . it is of great scientific interest as it may be an ancient member of australia ' s avifauna , with origins dating back to when australia was part of the gondwanan supercontinent .
long - term monitoring grids are established at key sites across the riverina region in nsw and the northern plains region in victoria .
opportunities for community groups , or citizen scientists , to assist in surveys for plains - wanderers and / or provide data are investigated .
surveys also indicate that plains - wanderers appear to avoid being in close proximity to living or dead trees , with no records of any birds within 300 m of trees of 10 m or greater in height across their strongholds in new south wales and victoria ( baker - gabb , 2014 ) . plains - wanderer avoidance of trees and tall shrubs appears to be a defence strategy to limit the potential for attack by predatory birds that often perch in these trees . the distance plains - wanderers maintain from trees appears to depend on the height of the tree ( baker - gabb , 2014 ) .
the male plains - wanderers are very protective of their chicks . despite their tiny stature the males will stand their ground to protect their young
a captive population of plains - wanderers is established and meets the agreed objectives of the captive breeding program ( as determined under 1b ) .
the plains - wanderer ' s nest is a hollow in the ground , scratched out by the female . the nest is lined with straw and fine grass stems . the male does most of the incubation , and all of the care of the chicks after they hatch . a female may mate with several males in one breeding season .
the riverina region of south - west new south wales and the northern plains in north - central victoria ( table 2 ; figure 2 ) .
threatened species scientific committee ( tssc ) ( 2014bm ) . non - current approved conservation advice for pedionomus torquatus ( plains - wanderer ) . canberra : department of the environment . available from : urltoken . in effect under the epbc act from 11 - apr - 2014 . ceased to be in effect under the epbc act from 07 - jul - 2015 .
enhance the condition of habitat across the plains - wanderers’ range to maximise survival and reproductive success , and provide refugia during periods of extreme environmental fluctuation .
identify the key factors that have contributed to the significant recent declines in the numbers of plains - wanderers and develop mitigation measures to address these threats .
plains - wanderers can occasionally be killed during the quail hunting season as they look superficially similar and are found in the same habitat . stubble quail (
grassland structure and broad composition is monitored regularly , on both public and private protected areas , where grazing regimes are being managed for plains - wanderers .
management practices are reviewed to ensure best practice is being implemented . national parks and reserves and other lands where plains - wanders are a management target .
remove the threat posed by introduced trees and large boxthorns on , or within 300 m of , red soils providing known habitat for plains - wanderers .
introduced trees , and other large trees , that are providing perches for potential predators of plains - wanderers in known habitat for the species are identified .
the plains wanderer is a highly unique , ground - dwelling bird that lives in the grasslands of queensland , new south wales , victoria and south australia . it is a very ancient member of australia ' s avifauna , with its origins tracing back over 60 million years . plains wanderers inhabit sparse native grasslands and are often absent from areas where grass becomes too dense or too sparse . they nest amongst native grasses and herbs , or sometimes amongst crops , feeding on a mixture of seeds , invertebrates and leaves .
the major threats to their survival are the loss of sparse native grasslands and the condition of the grassland habitat that remains . grassland structure is critical for the plains - wanderer , with birds preferring short , sparse grasslands that provide cover and space to forage for seeds , leaves and insects . if grass cover becomes too thick or too sparse they abandon the site .
table 2 : current distribution of plains - wanderer and key threats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
although the plains - wanderer is similar to button - quails , it has a number of quite different features and is the only species in the bird family pedionomidae . it is more closely related to shorebirds such as sandpipers than it is to quail ; in fact its closest relatives may be the south american seedsnipe . pedionomus is greek for
haunting the fields
.
plains - wanderers appear to avoid being in close proximity to living or dead trees , with no records of any birds within 300 m of trees of 10 m or greater in height across their strongholds in new south wales and victoria ( baker - gabb , 2014 ) . plains - wanderer avoidance of trees and tall shrubs appears to be a defence strategy to limit the potential for attack by predatory birds that often perch in these trees ; furthermore the distance plains - wanderers maintain from trees appears to depend on the height of the tree ( baker - gabb , 2014 ) . planting of trees is also a threat to the flora of native grasslands ( dse , 2010 ) .
wherever possible , stock are rotated through , or confined to , fenced paddocks to maintain grassland biomass to desired levels for plains - wanderers in key habitat .
the ground - dwelling bird’s numbers are low because its habitat , natural grasslands of the murray valley plains , is one of the most endangered ecosystems in australia .
closely monitor grazing impacts on public and private reserves , where grazing regimes are being managed for plains - wanderers , to ensure grassland structure remains within acceptable limits .
the national recovery plan for the plains - wanderer ( pedionomus torquatus ) is licensed by the commonwealth of australia for use under a creative commons attribution 4 . 0 licence with the exception of the coat of arms of the commonwealth of australia , the logo of the agency responsible for publishing the report , content supplied by third parties , and any images depicting people . for licence conditions see :
the plains - wanderer is found in the low - land native grasslands in the riverina region , in northern victoria and smaller numbers are found in south - western and central queensland . it is effectively extinct in south - west victoria , south - east south australia , eastern new south wales and south - east queensland . lowland native grasslands are among the most depleted ecosystems in south - east australia .
plains - wanderers share a physical resemblance to quail , but in evolutionary terms , they are one of a kind – there’s no bird like it in the world .
closely monitor grazing impacts on public and private reserves where grazing regimes are being managed for plains - wanderers to ensure grassland structure remains within acceptable limits for the species .
however , there is no mechanism for individual landholder’s records of pesticide usage across the plains - wanderer’s range to be reported back to a central repository . thus the total amount of pesticide exposure to the species is unknown . furthermore , as ground - level pesticide application can involve different application rates and methodologies to aerial spraying , the toxicological and environmental risk profiles associated with private landholder usage are also not clearly understood .
baker - gabb dj ( 2002b ) . surveys for plains - wanderers pedionomus torquatus on astrebla downs national park , western queensland . unpublished report to environment australia , canberra .
department of sustainability and environment ( dse ) ( 2010 ) . conservation and protection of northern plains grasslands – a strategic direction . department of sustainability and environment , melbourne .
an absence of grazing , or insufficient grazing , when followed by , or following , widespread rainfall and prolific grass growth , can also be deleterious to the species ( baker - gabb , 2002b ; npws , 2002 , radford et al . , 2013 ) because it allows the density and / or height of grasses to increase which , consequently , can render native grasslands unsuitable for inhabitation by the plains - wanderer .
protocols for the use of spraying exclusion zones around plains - wanderers and their habitat are maintained or enhanced , if found to be necessary based on the outcomes of action 3b .
antos m ( 2014 ) . northern plains grassland fauna surveys at terrick terrick national park : july 2013 - june 2014 progress report . unpublished report to parks victoria , melbourne .
antos m ( 2015 ) . northern plains grassland fauna surveys at terrick terrick national park . july 2014 - june 2015 progress report . unpublished report to parks victoria , melbourne .
baker - gabb dj ( 1990a ) . an annotated list of records of plains - wanderers pedionomus torquatus , 1980 - 1989 . australian bird watcher . 13 : 249 - 252 .
i , greg hunt , minister for the environment under section 269a ( 3 ) of the environment protection and biodiversity conservation act 1999 , hereby jointly make a recovery plan with the south australian minister for sustainability , environment and conservation , the hon . ian hunter , for the listed threatened species specified below , entitled “department of the environment ( 2016 ) . national recovery plan for the plains - wanderer . department of the environment , canberra . ”
philip maher’s involvement with the plains - wanderer began 30 years ago , in august 1980 , when he and some friends were driving across a sheep paddock en route to a neighboring property . two little birds scurried out of the way of their vehicle and paused in the grass . maher took a closer look and recognized them as plainswanderers , then virtually unknown in the wild . subsequent unsuccessful searches for plains - wanderers by day led him to guess that these shy birds might be easier to find at night , when they are resting . and , indeed , when he started spotlighting the grasslands at night , he regularly found them .
there are now possibly fewer than 8 , 000 plains - wanderers left in the wild , and in drought years , when overgrazing of habitat occurs , the population may be more than halved .
plains - wanderers can co - exist with light to moderate grazing ( baker - gabb et al . , 1990 , deiz & foreman , 1996 ) , however during droughts and prolonged dry periods
the overall goal of this recovery plan is to achieve a viable , self - sustaining wild population capable of persisting through extended poor breeding seasons , and to put in place long - term management arrangements that ensure key plains - wanderer habitat is appropriately managed . to achieve this goal a range of strategies will be employed , including the development and implementation of a robust , targeted conservation breeding program and projects to facilitate management of grazing and burning regimes to maintain suitable habitat .
site specific management strategies , with appropriate grazing and burning protocols , are developed for areas within national parks , the national reserve system and other lands for which plains - wanderers are a management target .
the loss of habitat has been widespread and extensive , and has caused the distribution of the species to contract markedly . the plains - wanderer is now locally - extinct or near extinct in coastal and sub - coastal areas in all four states in which it is known to occur , and is mainly confined to small inland areas that are subject to grazing ( baker - gabb , 1998 , 2002b ; bennett , 1983 ; blakers et al . , 1984 ; llewellyn , 1975 ) .
baker - gabb , d . j . , kirwan , g . m . & sharpe , c . j . ( 2018 ) . plains - wanderer ( pedionomus torquatus ) . in : del hoyo , j . , elliott , a . , sargatal , j . , christie , d . a . & de juana , e . ( eds . ) . handbook of the birds of the world alive . lynx edicions , barcelona . ( retrieved from urltoken on 9 july 2018 ) .
probably most of the habitat is on private land , subject to grazing and we ' re really keen to work with landholders to assist in managing that land in a way that benefits plains - wanderers .
the plains wanderer is one of 20 birds that the australian government has prioritised resource allocation to support the species recovery effort . this species is a priority for investment because of its uniqueness and conservation status , the existing partnerships in place to recover it with state and territory governments and the high likelihood of success . priority actions which may support the species include restoring grassland habitat where it occurs , primarily through improved grazing regimes , establishing a long term captive breeding program and the development and implementation of feral animal control programs .
the life expectancy of plains - wanderers in the wild is unknown ( baker - gabb , 2002a ) , but in captivity they are capable of surviving for at least eight years ( baker - gabb , 1993b ) .
managers respond quickly and effectively to ensure grassland structure remains suitable ( i . e . 13 - 17 golf balls score , parks victoria 2008 1 ; nsw , 2007 ) on reserves being managed for plains - wanderers .
antos m ( 2013b ) . grassland fauna surveys in diamantina and astrebla downs national parks , south west queensland . a targeted search for plains - wanderers . unpublished report to queensland parks and wildlife service and parks victoria .
due to these and other studies , ornithologists now have a fairly precise understanding of the habitat requirements of the plains - wanderer . the birds prefer areas containing a mixture of roughly 50 percent bare ground and 50 percent grass , with the grass occurring in two strata : a lower layer of short grass and a sparser upper layer of tall grass . this combination of features provides the birds with adequate foraging sites , nest sites , and concealment from raptors . what seemed like an “ordinary” pasture to me was actually a very special habitat .
as word of maher’s success in finding plains - wanderers spread , bird watchers from around the world began trekking to deniliquin . he now estimates he has guided more than 6 , 000 bird watchers in pursuit of this species .
this is a small quail - like ground bird , but with longer legs and a finer bill than a button quail . the female is larger than the male and has a chequered black and white collar and a chestnut breast patch . the male is similar but lacks an obvious collar and has no breast patch . overall both are speckled brown , darker above than below . they often stand upright on tiptoe with craned necks and obvious legs . the legs are yellow to greenish yellow . other english names are collared plains - wanderer and turkey quail .
organisations likely to be affected by the actions proposed in this plan include australian and state governments agencies , particularly those with environmental , agricultural and forestry concerns ; land owners and managers ; local indigenous communities ; researchers ; tourism operators ; conservation groups ; wildlife interest groups and proponents of land developments in the vicinity of important plains - wanderer habitat . this list , however , should not be considered exhaustive , as there may be other interest groups that would like to be included in the future or need to be considered when specialised tasks are required in the recovery process .
2014 ) . the tssc ( 2015 ) estimated the total number of mature individuals of plains - wanderers to be < 1 , 000 birds in 2015 , and so the population size is placed here in the range 250 - 999 mature individuals .
this now rare bird is endemic to southern and eastern australia ( found only there ) . mostly now in south - west queensland , the riverina , central and north - central victoria , the adelaide plains , the murray - mallee country and eyre peninsula .
plains - wanderers do not require regular access to water bodies and instead fulfil their hydration requirements through the food they consume and via pecking dew and rain drops from leaves ( baker - gabb , 1988 ) . lichens and numerous perennial plants , including yellow buttons (
the plains - wanderer is a sedentary species that may undertake some movements in response to changes in the suitability of habitat , although most birds that have been banded have been recaptured within 400 m of their original banding sites ( baker - gabb , 2002a ; baker - gabb et al . , 1990 ; harrington et al . , 1988 ) . in the riverina region , the home range of individual plains - wanderers vary in size from 7 - 21 ha ( average size is 12 ha ) in suitable habitat ( baker - gabb et al . , 1990 ) . as about half of a pairs’ home range overlaps , a pair requires about 18 hectares to breed . home ranges are almost certainly larger in more arid areas ( baker - gabb , pers comm . , 2006 ) . the size of the home range also varies from year to year depending on seasonal conditions ( baker - gabb , 2002a ) .
although appropriately managed grazing may be unlikely to have a negative impact on the grassland structure ( wong & morgan , 2012 ) upon which plains - wanderers rely , further research is required into the effects that various grazing regimes have on the food resources available to the species .
as unique as the plains - wanderer is , it is hardly the only grassland bird in decline . indeed , around the world , grassland birds are feeling the squeeze from agriculture , overgrazing , and desertification . in the united states , for example , the 2009 report released by the department of the interior concluded that nearly half of the nation’s grassland - breeding birds are in trouble . meadowlarks , bobolinks , short - eared owls , and northern bobwhites have experienced population declines of 38 to 77 percent since 1968 . the northern aplomado falcon , florida grasshopper sparrow , and attwater’s greater prairie - chicken are on the federal endangered species list ; the mountain plover belongs there as well .
the situation we ' ve got now with plains - wanderers is that numbers have fallen so low that there ' s a real chance they could just blink out of existence and so establishing a captive insurance population is a key part of the recovery strategy ,
he said .
plains - wanderers breed in solitary pairs in a territory defended by the larger female . it’s primarily the male that incubates the eggs and raises the young , while the female may breed with another male . if conditions are favourable they can produce multiple clutches of 2 - 5 eggs each year .