Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00006:reg:3:p7
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00006
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 3 (pt 7/58)
Character Range: 20695–23893

adaptations to its habitat include a low forehead profile with bristles near the eyes. The rictal bristles which project from the beak are modified contour feathers that are thought to play a part in prey
           capture. The bristles may also provide protection for the bird's eyes as it consumes its struggling prey (Cornell Lab of Ornithology 2013). Another theory is that the bristles may function as sensors, providing tactile feedback, like the whiskers on a dog or cat to facilitate obstacle avoidance (Lederer 1972).

    Adult Eastern Bristlebird photographed at Booderee National Park © Copyright, Chris Grounds

    Adult Eastern Bristlebird photographed at Jervis
    Bay National Park © Copyright, Chris Grounds

 Eastern Bristlebird © Copyright, Alex Pike from NSW Department of Planning and Environment

                 2.4                  Species distribution

           The Eastern Bristlebird is endemic to Australia and is currently distributed as three populations across three geographically separate areas of south-eastern Australia (Map 1):
•      Northern population: Main Range NP (Qld), Lamington NP (Qld), Mt Barney NP (Qld), Border Ranges NP (NSW), private land.

•      Central population (NSW/ACT): Barren Grounds NR, Budderoo NP, Bellawongarah,
             Woronora Plateau (Cataract Dam), Bherwerre Peninsula (Jervis Bay NP, Booderee NP, Australian Department of Defence land, private land), Beecroft Peninsula (Australian Department of Defence land, Crown land, private land), Morton NP, Red Rocks NR.

•      Southern population: Nadgee NR (NSW) and Croajingolong NP (Vic).

           Due to the large geographic distribution and distinct habitat requirements between the northern and central/southern populations, the species has typically been split into these two groups by species experts. For the purposes of this recovery plan, central/southern populations have been grouped together in some sections for consistency with other conservation planning documents (e.g., Garnett & Baker 2021).

Northern population

           The northern population has undergone a dramatic population decline and range contraction (e.g., Holmes 1989, 1998; Sandpiper Ecological Surveys 2000b, 2003, 2005a, 2008). Historically the distribution of the northern population extended much further south, to the Dorrigo Plateau and possibly to Wootton near the Myall Lakes (Chisholm 1958; Holmes 1982, 1989). Eastern Bristlebirds are presumed to be locally extinct from Conondale Ranges, Razorback Mountains, Mt Burrell, Big Scrub, Mt Richmond and the Dorrigo Plateau; in none of these areas have there been confirmed records for over a decade despite searching.

           Northern Eastern Bristlebirds are now confined to the mountain ranges of south-east Queensland and north-east New South Wales. In Queensland, they are currently known from one site near Mt Gipps on the Queensland/New South Wales border and possibly one at Mt Barney (DES 2018), though a long-term (minimum three-years) expanded survey program is needed to confirm current distribution (L Gould pers. comm. 2021). In New South Wales, they occur at several sites near Kyogle in the Border Ranges