Plains-wanderer

The Plains-wanderer is one of the most evolutionarily distinct and endangered birds in the world. Despite a historic range spread across eastern Australia, most research on this species has centred around a “core range” in the Riverina of southern New South Wales and the plains of northern Victoria. Due in part to a lack of records in the state, Queensland is currently considered marginal habitat for the species. Recent research, however, points to the possibility that the Channel Country of western Queensland could host a previously overlooked yet significant population of Plains-wanderers. Given fluctuations in the Plains-wanderer population within its core range, conservation of the species in this region may be critical for the species’ conservation as a whole.

This project aims to answer the question of how to manage Plains-wanderers in the Channel Country of western Queensland. To do this will require an improved understanding of 1) their status and distribution, 2) the factors which influence their distribution, and 3) their movement patterns. Early stages of the project are focused on searching for Plains-wanderers using acoustic recorders and thermal imaging techniques. This will then lead into the development of a local dynamic species distribution model. Later stages of the project will also incorporate tracking to identify both short-term habitat use and long-term dispersal patterns.

This research is supported by Bush Heritage Australia, the Queensland Government’s Department of Environment and Science, Birds Queensland and the Queensland Wader Study Group.