Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00635:reg:1:p1
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00635
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 1 (pt 1/23)
Character Range: 4123–7276

1  Summary

Regent Honeyeater (Anthochaera phrygia)
Family: Meliphagidae
Current status of taxon:
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999: Critically Endangered
Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (NSW):  Critically  Endangered
Nature Conservation Act 1980 (ACT):  Endangered
National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 (SA):  Endangered
                  Nature Conservation Act 1992 (Qld):  Endangered
Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (Vic):  Threatened
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species:  Critically Endangered

Distribution and habitat:
The regent honeyeater is endemic to mainland south-east Australia. It has a patchy distribution which extends from south‑east Queensland, through New South Wales (NSW) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), to central Victoria. However, it is highly mobile, occurring only irregularly in most sites, and in variable numbers, often with long periods with few observation anywhere. It is most commonly associated with box‑ironbark eucalypt woodland and dry sclerophyll forest, but also inhabits riparian vegetation and lowland coastal forest. In addition it can be found in a range of other habitats including remnant trees in farmland, roadside reserves and travelling stock routes, and in planted vegetation in parks and gardens. Principally a canopy bird, it is reliant on select species of eucalypt and mistletoe which provide rich nectar flows. Rapid declines have been observed in recent decades, thought to be mainly due to the clearing, fragmentation and degradation of its habitat.

Habitat critical for survival:
Habitat critical to the survival of the regent honeyeater includes:
    * Any breeding or foraging areas where the species is likely to occur.
    * Any newly discovered breeding or foraging locations.

Recovery plan objectives:
The objectives of this recovery plan are to:
    * Reverse the long-term population trend of decline and increase the numbers of regent honeyeaters to a level where there is a viable, wild breeding population, even in poor breeding years; and to
    * Enhance the condition of habitat across the regent honeyeaters range to maximise survival and reproductive success, and provide refugia during periods of extreme environmental fluctuation.

Recovery strategies:
The strategies to achieve the recovery plan's objectives are to:
    * Improve the extent and quality of regent honeyeater habitat.
    * Bolster the wild population with captive-bred birds until the wild population becomes self-sustaining.
    * Increase understanding of the size, structure, trajectory and viability of the wild population.
    * Maintain and increase community awareness, understanding and involvement in the recovery program.

Criteria for success:
This recovery plan will be deemed successful if, within 10 years, the following have been achieved:
    * A robust population estimate and trend have been established for the regent honeyeater, and the population is increasing.
    * There has been an increase in the area of regent honeyeater habitat protected and restored throughout the species' range.
    * The captive population, including its