Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L01095:body:0:p12
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L01095
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 30889–33733

50–150 m from the road. The number of pairs of observers varies with their availability, but the technique enables large distances to be covered quickly (e.g. five pairs of observers searched 10 km in one hour). Linear transect walks of 16–28 km length alongside existing tracks provide a useful means of broadscale survey (Benshemesh et al. 2014).

Slow Drive method:

Slow Drive method involves searching for Malleefowl prints from vehicles driving along disused vehicle tracks (e.g. 14 km stretch) by driving at about 10 km/hr while observers spot Malleefowl tracks from the windows (Benshemesh et al. 2014).
Whatever technique is considered, a critical component in its successful application will be how the technique is received by the local Indigenous communities.
A 3D computer image of a Malleefowl mound generated through Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) ©Anditi.
Measuring a Malleefowl mound, Ninghan, WA ©Todd Erickson, University of Western Australia.
Malleefowl tracks in red desert sand, APY Lands, SA ©Joe Benshemesh, NMRG.

3 Background

3.1 Species description

The Malleefowl is a large ground-dwelling bird with strong feet and a short bill. The head and neck are mostly grey, with a dark stripe extending down the foreneck from the throat to the upper breast. The underparts are mostly creamy-coloured, and the upperparts are more striking. The upperwings are a complex combination of mottles, barring and variegations of grey, cream, black and rufous. The bill is blackish and the legs and feet are pale greyish. The sexes are similar (Birdlife n.d.). Expert Aṉangu trackers are able to tell the sex of a Nganamara (Malleefowl) from its tjina (tracks) (APY Land Management, n.d).

3.2 Distribution

The original distribution of Malleefowl covered much of the southern half of the continent from the west coast to the Great Dividing Range in the east (Barrett et al. 2003; Garnett et al. 2011) and the species was widespread in every mainland state except Queensland (Figure 1). The species occurred in more than a quarter of the 80 biogeographic regions of Australia (as defined by Thackway & Cresswell 1995) and ranged as far north as the Tanami Desert in the Northern Territory (Kimber 1985), and to within 60 km of Melbourne in the south (Campbell 1884, Campbell 1901, Mattingley 1908). While there have been various searches of historical records for the original distribution of Malleefowl (Blakers et al. 1984, Kimber 1985, Gara 1989), little systematic effort has been made to understand the nature, ownership and sensitivity of Traditional Knowledge (but see Kimber 1985; Copley & Williams 1995; Richards & Short 1996; Copley et al. 2003). This Traditional Knowledge includes accounts of the bird's range, habits and habitat requirements, and is fast disappearing. A list of some Indigenous names for Malleefowl