Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L01095:body:0:p11
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L01095
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 28372–31125

at least every 5 to 10 years is needed to capture these and ensure accurate estimation of breeding numbers.

The primary aim of the Malleefowl monitoring program is to track changes in the number of breeding birds inhabiting specific areas. Observers (mostly volunteers) examine and categorise all the known mounds at each site as either active, i.e. currently used as an incubator, or not active. To enable vetting of records and the detection of errors in judging the activity of the mound, the size, shape and appearance of mounds is also described each time a mound is visited. These descriptors have been defined and are included in the National Malleefowl Monitoring Manual. The resulting protocols have been used in both Vic and SA from the early 1990s, in WA since 2004 and NSW since 2014.

Monitoring in arid areas:

Monitoring Malleefowl in arid regions presents distinct challenges. These regions tend to be very remote, and the Malleefowl typically occur at very low densities making it onerous to thoroughly search areas large enough to encompass several active mounds. Consequently, mound-based forms of monitoring, as used in semi-arid regions, are not suitable in the arid zone. Rather than basing monitoring on the activity at mounds, a more efficient approach in the arid zone is to search areas for the distinctive footprints (or tracks) of Malleefowl. The sandy and open substrates typical of arid areas inhabited by Malleefowl provide excellent opportunities for tracking which are not available in semi-arid areas. Malleefowl footprints are distinctive and are a rich source of information on where Malleefowl have been (Benshemesh et al. 2014). Provided the weather is dry and not too windy, their tracks are likely to accumulate over several days. The abundance of prints in an area provides a useful and efficient indicator of the birds' activity in that area. Where birds are resident, their prints are likely to consistently occur through their home range (1–4 km2). However, the prints of birds that have merely passed through an area are likely to be less prevalent in space and time.

Long Walk survey method:

A 'Long Walk' method is being utilised by Aṉangu, the Traditional Owners of the Maralinga Tjarutja Lands (MTL) in the eastern Great Victoria Desert, South Australia. Pairs of observers are dropped off by vehicle every 2 km along established tracks and roads. Each pair then walks the 2 km stretch to the next drop-off, searching for Malleefowl prints parallel to and about 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