Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00006:reg:3:p17
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00006
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 3 (pt 17/58)
Character Range: 48453–51355

Bristlebird breeding through a reduction in invertebrates suitable for feeding nestlings.

           Eastern Bristlebirds raised in captivity reach sexual maturity at approximately 317 days (Booth 2009). Generation length for the species is estimated at 3.8 years (Bird et al. 2020).

           Eastern Bristlebird nest Park © Copyright, Stephen King from NSW Department of Planning
           and Environment

                 2.7.4            Movement patterns

           The Eastern Bristlebird is a sedentary (McNamara 1946; Gibson 1977; Blakers et al. 1984; Holmes 1989; Lamb et al. 1993; Hartley & Kikkawa 1994) or resident (Morris et al. 1981; Cooper 1991) species that undertakes some local movements (Baker 1998; Baker & Clarke 1999) and can recolonise some areas after being displaced by fire (Bramwell & Baker 1990; Hartley & Kikkawa 1994; Jordan 1984; Pyke et al. 1995). The birds are only capable of making weak, low, short-range flights (Chaffer 1954; Holmes 1989; Bramwell & Baker 1990; Lamb et al. 1993; Hartley & Kikkawa 1994; Baker 1998; Chapman 1999), which suggests that dispersal is likely to be mostly through ground movements (Higgins & Peter 2002) and, consequently, that they have a limited ability to disperse (Clarke & Bramwell 1998).

           Studies of radio-tagged birds indicate that Eastern Bristlebirds are capable of travelling a total distance of at least 1.5 km during the course of a day (Baker & Clarke 1999). In 2009, Eastern Bristlebirds were recorded two to four kilometres from Howe Flat in heathland where they had previously not been detected, requiring a 2 km movement through coastal forest vegetation (M Bramwell pers. comm. 2010 cited

 in OEH 2012). Translocated birds at Cataract Dam dispersed 5 km in 3 years, and at Beecroft Peninsula a maximum dispersal distance of 6 km was recorded after 6 years (Baker et al. 2012).

 Male Eastern Bristlebirds are territorial, although territorial behaviour may decline during the non-breeding season (Hartley & Kikkawa 1994; Chapman 1999; Higgins & Peter 2002). The results of one study suggest that the territory is a core-area within the home range that is defended from conspecifics and advertised by loud directional song (Holmes 1989). Territories, some of which are probably permanent (Chapman 1999; Higgins & Peter 2002), range in size from about 1–4 ha (McNamara 1946; Holmes 1989; Bramwell & Baker 1990; Hartley & Kikkawa 1994). Home ranges are estimated to be about 10 ha (Baker 2001).

 Population densities within suitable habitat are low compared to those of other heathland birds (Gosper & Baker 1997). Within coastal heathland habitats population densities of 3–4 birds per 10 ha have been estimated (Holmes 1989; Hartley & Kikkawa 1994; Baker 2001). Maximum densities of 4 birds per 10 ha recorded at Barren Grounds NR (Baker 1998). In the Howe Flat population, 1.5–2 birds per 10 ha were