Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L01095:body:0:p16
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L01095
Segment Type: other
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Character Range: 41162–44015

across cleared land and making very little use of cleared agricultural land, mainly before and during harvest (Stenhouse and Moseby, 2023).

In general, the diet of chicks is thought to be similar to that of adults, although observations have been mostly restricted to summer. During this time, free-ranging chicks have been observed eating insects and the seeds from both shrubs and herbs (Frith 1962b; Benshemesh 1992; Waag 2004). While a regular supply of food throughout the year is clearly important for the birds' persistence in an area, occasional super-abundance of foods probably benefits the survival of chicks and may be important for recruitment of young into the adult population. In one observational study, over half the diet in some months comprised fallen lerp, a food that had not previously (or subsequently to any degree) been recorded in Malleefowl diets (Benshemesh 1992). Lerp are the secreted shields of sap-sucking psyllid insects and are high in sugars and starch. While usually rare, lerp occasionally occurs in very high numbers (Beveridge 1884). The occasional availability of such super-abundant foods may greatly enhance chick survival as their mortality from stress and predation is likely dependent on food supply.

Food resources for Malleefowl are typically varied, transient and patchily distributed (Harlen & Priddel 1996) reflecting the highly irregular rainfall and inherent patchiness of the habitats they occur in. In particular, a diversity of food shrubs, rather than abundance of any one species, is probably critical to ensure continuity of food for the birds during lean times such as droughts (Harlen & Priddel 1996).
3.4.3 Movement patterns and habitat use
Malleefowl mostly move about their home-range by foot, and rarely fly except when they are disturbed or to roost in the canopy (Frith 1962b). Breeding birds tend to be sedentary, nesting in the same general area year after year (Frith 1959; Benshemesh 1992). Nonetheless, a pair sometimes moves several kilometres between nesting seasons, the reasons for which are not known (Frith 1959). Home-ranges do not appear to be defended, although in the vicinity of its nest the male is vigorously aggressive toward other Malleefowl except its mate (Frith 1959). Radio-tracking studies (Booth 1987b; Benshemesh 1992) have shown that over the course of a year the birds may range over one to several square kilometres and that home-ranges overlap considerably. During the breeding season, males spend most of their time in the vicinity of their mounds and consequently, male home-ranges are usually much smaller than those of their mates at these times and may rarely overlap with other males. The male and female of a pair spend most of their time together outside the breeding season and hence their ranging behaviour is similar at these times. Stenhouse