Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L01082:reg:1:p8
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L01082
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 1 (pt 8/30)
Character Range: 25288–28386

and herbs, or rarely amongst crops (Harrington et al., 1988; Keartland, 1901; North, 1913-1914; Souter, 1938; Sutton, 1927). Clutch-size is usually four (Bennett, 1983; North, 1913-1914), but can range from two to five (Bennett, 1983). The male does most of the incubation during the 23 day incubation period and is also primarily responsible for attending the young (Baker-Gabb, 1990b; Baker-Gabb et al., 1990; Bennett, 1983; Ridley, 1986).  At this time the female may pair with and lay a clutch for a second male to incubate. Young birds gain independence at about two months (Baker-Gabb, 1990b).
Breeding success is often linked to environmental conditions. There may be no breeding during drought years and success can also be very low in years of heavy rainfall (Baker-Gabb et al., 1990; Harrington et al., 1988; Maher, 1997). However, if there is sufficient moderate rainfall during summer, females will often produce a second clutch (Baker-Gabb et al., 1990; Harrington et al., 1988).

3.4.5 Habitat
The plains-wanderer inhabits sparse, treeless, species-rich, lowland native grasslands with approximately 50% bare ground, 40% herbs and grasses and 10% fallen litter, with grass tussocks spaced around 10-20 cm apart and most vegetation less than 5 cm in height and some widely-spaced plants up to 30 cm high, which provide shelter and concealment from predators (Baker-Gabb, 1987, 1990b, 2002a; Garnett et al., 2011; Harrington et al., 1988). These grasslands usually occur on hard, red-brown clay soils that do not support dense pasture growth under most conditions. The structure of the grassland is more important than the species composition in determining its suitability for the plains-wanderer (Baker-Gabb, 1987, 1990b, 2002a; Harrington et al., 1988; Llewellyn, 1975), with the species known to actively avoid areas of dense grass or other vegetation (Baker-Gabb, 1988), and exhibit a strong preference for native grasslands with a sparse structure (Baker-Gabb et al., 1990). Analysis of New South Wales survey data collected between 2001 and 2014 indicated that grass height is a significant predictor of abundance for plains-wanderers, with abundance negatively correlated with increased grass height (Wilson et al., 2014).
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 (Chrysocephalum apiculatum and Chrysocephalum sp1), have been recorded in areas with high-quality plains-wanderer habitat. Other frequently recorded plant species include ringed wallaby grass (Austrodanthonia caespitosa), pale beauty heads (Calocephalus sonderi), windmill grass (Chloris truncata), slender bluebush (Maireana pentagona), speargrass (Austrostipa 'variablis' complex), and barley grass (Hordeum leporinum) (Baker-Gabb 1990b. Two species, fairy grass (Sporobolus caroli) and chariot wheels (Maireana cheelii), have been demonstrated to occur significantly more often in