Rare bird fighting extinction in northern Victoria

By Ryan Bellingham

Sep 20, 2024

A female plains-wanderer at the Taronga Western Plains Zoo. Photo: contributed

An ancient Australian bird has seen encouraging numbers from recent population monitoring results in the state’s north.

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The plains-wanderer, which has existed for around 60 million years, has a current population of less than 1000 in the wild.

The North Central Catchment Management Authority has partnered with landholders, Parks Victoria, First Nations groups and other key stakeholders to revive numbers of the critically endangered species.

Around 99 per cent of the plains-wanderer’s native grassland habitat has been destroyed by land-clearing practices for urban development and farming.

The NCCMA aims to improve grasslands and ease the threat of predators, focusing on core species populations near Patho and Bael Bael north-west of Echuca.

“The work we are all doing is focused on creating the species’ preferred habitat condition and removing key threats such as foxes to help it survive and, one day, thrive,” NCCMA project manager Laura Chant said.

An estimated 731 plains-wanderers, including two clutches of chicks, were detected by Bush Heritage Australia’s latest monitoring of managed sites, which Mrs Chant said was a sign the interventions were working.

“Some of the land these birds call home was impacted by the 2022 floods, so to see the numbers remain steady is good news,” she said.

Mrs Chant said imminent regional extinction was unlikely, and that the NCCMA aimed to achieve an increase in population numbers through continued work with landowners.