Mad about Malleefowl

What is approximately the size of a chicken and creates a large mound nest? Only one of most iconic bird species in Australia – the marvellous Malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata).
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Q. What is approximately the size of a chicken and creates a large mound nest?
A. Only one of most iconic bird species in Australia – the marvellous Malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata).

Back in 2016, NACC staff joined a team from Bush Heritage Australia and a group of dedicated volunteers to spend several days hiking across Charles Darwin Reserve – east of Perenjori. The aim of the expedition was to check the accuracy of the LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging remote sensing) data to identify the location of Malleefowl nesting mounds. Thanks to their hard work, more than 100 mounds were recorded on the property.

Fast forward a year later – to October 2017 – when once again NACC staff, the Badimaya Aboriginal Ranger team, and community volunteers “went mad for Malleefowl”, helping our conservation partners at Bush Heritage and the National Malleefowl Recovery Team to check on the status of those mounds.

The 100 known mounds were monitored for signs of malleefowl activity, but unfortunately, positive signs were few and far between.

NACC Biodiversity Program Coordinator Jessica Stingemore said the dry winter and recent, late rains were likely to have contributed to the low numbers.

“The presence of cat tracks in some areas, and the presumed impact of feral cats, is also a real concern,” she said.

“Despite this disappointing result, it is still important to know the trends in local Malleefowl populations. It leads us to wonder why Malleefowl might be thriving better in some areas, but not others.”

“Answering this particular question will help us determine what conditions are required for Malleefowl to survive, which in turn will allow us to focus on the most effective management actions.”

If you would like to know more about Malleefowl in the NACC NRM Region or to volunteer to help monitor their activities, please contact NACC Biodiversity Program Coordinator Jessica Stingemore at jessica.stingemore@nacc.com.au or 9938 0106.

Badimaya Ranger Lindsay helping out BHA volunteers with the mallefowl monitoring devices.
Badimaya Ranger Lindsay helping out BHA volunteers with the mallefowl monitoring devices.

About the National Malleefowl Recovery Team

The role of the National Malleefowl Recovery Team is to implement actions from the National Malleefowl Recovery Plan.

The Malleefowl is listed nationally as Vulnerable and for every threatened species in Australia (listed in the EPBC Act) there is a Recovery Plan. The Recovery Plan sets out all of the actions necessary to stop the decline of, and support the recovery of Malleefowl and aims to maximise the long term survival in the wild of the species.

The National Malleefowl Recovery Team has members representing a wide range of interests. This includes farmers, scientists, community groups and government agencies. There are members from ACT, New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia.

 

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In 2020-21 I talked about ‘raising the bar’. In 2021-22 we worked on setting the bar on fire. Over the last 12 months, the team at NACC NRM has not stopped.

The Sustainable Agriculture team has extended the program’s reach through collaborations with grower groups in the regions. Specifically, the Beyond Reasonable Drought project and Grower Group Alliance – South West WA Drought Innovation Hub – Geraldton Node project. The Beyond Reasonable Drought partnership with grower groups supported farmers across the region to improve the environmental sustainability of their agricultural production and drought resilience. The outcomes of this project have been consolidated through our successful Expression of Interest to the South West WA Drought Innovation Hub, with support from grower groups across the region, to host the Geraldton Node of the Hub. The program continues to focus on working with agricultural networks to share technical expertise and provide opportunities that will improve land management practices in agriculture across the region.

The conservation outcomes of ranger teams have expanded through work on several land tenures. Maintaining Heritage sites such as Willi Gulli, Racecourse Paddock and Buller River has long been a priority. During 2021-22, the teams have increasingly focused on threatened species and ecosystems.

To this end, Western Mulga rangers have improved management across 19,000 ha for the conservation of Malleefowl through firebreak and access management. They completed the maintenance of water holes and supported the monitoring of over 90 Malleefowl mounds.

Similarly, the Kwelena Mambakort Aboriginal Corporate ranger team have contributed positively to Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo populations by installing artificial hollows and habitat restoration.

All ranger teams have collected native seed, propagated native plants for restoration, and planted native vegetation in key locations across the NAR. Seed collection provides valuable industry experience and has facilitated the planting of over 100,000 seedlings during the year.   

In September 2021, the NACC NRM team delivered the WA Threatened Species Forum, held in tandem with the National Malleefowl Forum. Given the impact of COVID and the timing of this event, having more than 100 delegates from all over Australia was a significant achievement. The two Forums brought together 12 events over five days and featured 14 local artists, 25 businesses and 36 youth participants.

Following the successful relaunch of our updated NARvis, NACC NRM was invited to help lead a significant piece of strategic planning work for the region with Mid West Development Commission and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. With funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, the consortia delivered a Regional Drought Resilience Plan covering the shires of Northampton and Chapman Valley and the City of Greater Geraldton, along with significant technical analysis of drought vulnerability for the South West land division. The development of this plan also included extensive community consultation to ensure that local knowledge and technical advice guided the development of priorities for action.

This planning work links to existing NACC NRM on-ground projects, including Beyond Reasonable Drought and the Chapman Catchment Collaborative regeneration project.

It was a busy year for events with face-to-face events becoming commonplace again. During 2021-22 we hosted events in Gingin, Moora, Dalwallinu, Cervantes, Jurien Bay, Walkaway, Nabawa, Perenjori, Kalannie and Morawa. We supported events in Karakin, Thundellara, Perenjori, Paynes Find, Wubin, Cataby, Warradarge, Northampton, Yuna, Dalwallinu and Dandaragan.

We also supported on-ground works throughout the region, including at the following locations Yuna, Dalwallinu, Dandaragan, Merkanooka, Goodlands, Kalannie, Bunjil, Yardarino, Canna, Kondut, Latham, Kadathinni, Nabawa, Red Gully, Sandy Gully, Waddy Forrest, Devils Creek, Perenjori, Bowgada, Ellendale, Wandana, Namban, Hill River, Warradarge, Gillingarra, Regans Ford and Moonyanooka.

Our region is vast – slightly larger than Tasmania, which for comparison, is serviced by three separate NRM organisations. Covering the NAR region and its many environmental threats is challenging. We continue to focus on partnerships and collaboration to address this challenge. We know that by working with our community through passionate delivery of collaborative on-ground projects and education, the community will value and actively protect our region’s natural capital.

This year we have launched a new Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). The RAP Working Group consulted widely and developed an Innovate RAP which Reconciliation Australia approved in March 2022. The activities to fulfil these commitments are now in full swing.

Sadly, at the end of 2021, we farewelled former NACC NRM CEO Shelley Spriggs, who lost a long battle with cancer. Shelley was an inaugural inductee to the NRM Leadership Honour Roll. I will always be grateful for her guidance and no-nonsense approach, not to mention her passion for life.

While we have said farewell to some, we have welcomed many new faces across all programs, including our Administration team. We have also hosted a school-based trainee from Nagle Catholic College who has been working towards a Certificate II in Conservation and Ecosystem Management. This trial position has been very successful, and we look forward to making this opportunity available again in 2023.

During 2022 we have taken on new projects that align with our organisational and program objectives, and we have successfully completed some great initiatives that support continued conservation and sustainability outcomes. I want to thank the whole team who continue to go above and beyond for the organisation and each other proving their ongoing commitment to our purpose and our values.