Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L01082:reg:1:p9
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L01082
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 1 (pt 9/30)
Character Range: 28057–32610

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 sparse grasslands than dense grasslands (Baker-Gabb 1987). The plains-wanderer occasionally occurs in other types of habitat: it has been recorded in cereal stubble, and amongst low crops of cereal grasses (Bennett, 1983; Llewellyn, 1975; Souter, 1938; Sutton, 1927), and in low, sparse chenopod shrublands (Harrington et al., 1988). However, it is unknown as to whether plains-wanderers can persist in these habitats over extended timeframes.
Surveys also indicate that plains-wanderers appear to avoid being in close proximity to living or dead trees, with no records of any birds within 300 m of trees of 10 m or greater in height across their strongholds in New South Wales and Victoria (Baker-Gabb, 2014). Plains-wanderer avoidance of trees and tall shrubs appears to be a defence strategy to limit the potential for attack by predatory birds that often perch in these trees. The distance plains-wanderers maintain from trees appears to depend on the height of the tree (Baker-Gabb, 2014).
Garnett et al (2011) estimated the extent of occurrence of plains-wanderers to be 930 000 kmP2P, however the species' actual area of occupancy was estimated to be only 330 kmP2P and decreasing. Given the historically low population size and the fragmented distribution of the plains-wanderer, all areas in which birds are found, and any suitable but currently unoccupied habitat within the species' extent of occurrence, represent habitat critical to the survival of the species.

3.4.6 Habitat critical to survival
Habitat critical to the survival of the plains-wanderer includes:
    * Any regions where the species is likely to occur (as defined by the distribution map provided in Figure 2); and

    * Any newly discovered locations that extend the likely range of the plains-wanderer.
Key areas include the Riverina region of south-west New South Wales and the Northern Plains in north-central Victoria (Table 2; Figure 2).
Habitat critical to the survival of the species occurs in a wide range of land ownership arrangements, including on private land and leaseholds, travelling stock routes, National Parks and Nature Conservation Reserves and other conservation managed lands. It is essential that the highest level of protection is provided to these areas and that enhancement and protection measures target these productive sites.
Table 2: Current distribution of plains-wanderer and key threats.
State/Territory  Distribution                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Tenure                                           Threats
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Small population

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      National Parks                                   Inappropriate habitat management

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Travelling stock routes                          Prolonged drought
                 Riverina region of south-western NSW, in the area bounded by the Cobb Highway between Deniliquin and Willandra National Park to the west, Narrandera and Urana