Gouldian Finch Sightings Kit By Colleen O'Malley Threatened Species Network with input from the Gouldian Finch Recovery Team March 2005
WWF-Australia 2005. All rights reserved. ISBN: 1 875941 83 5 For bibliographic purposes, this booklet should be cited as: O Malley, C. 2005 Gouldian Finch Sightings Kit. WWF-Australia: Sydney First published in March 2005 by WWF-Australia WWF-Australia PO Box 528 SYDNEY NSW 2001 Tel: +612 9281 5515 Fax: +612 9281 1060 www.wwf.org.au Any reproduction in full or in part of this publication must mention the title and credit the above-mentioned publisher as the copyright owner. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of WWF. For copies of this report, please contact WWF-Australia at publications@wwf.org.au or call 1800 032 551. World Wide Fund for Nature ABN: 57 001 594 074 Printed on Monza Satin recycled. Produced with 50% recycled fibre - 15% post consumer and 35% pre-consumer waste, the balance being oxygen bleached virgin fibre, sourced from sustainable forest regions. Cover photo: Gouldian finch adults and juvenile resting above a waterhole. Credit: Milton Lewis/NT Parks and Wildlife Service Acknowledgments Members of the National Gouldian Finch Recovery Team (Carol Palmer, Stephen Garnett, Sarah Legge, Rob Taylor and Peter Latch) provided feedback on the text. David Hooper and Carol Palmer (NT Parks and Wildlife Service) prepared the section on protocols for waterhole counts, and Rachel Paltridge (Desert Wildlife Services) created the distribution map. Most of the images used in the booklet are courtesy of the NT Parks and Wildlife Service and many were taken by Milton Lewis in his former role as Gouldian Finch Project Coordinator for NT PWS. Thanks also to Ian Morris for the use of his image of Gouldians feeding on sorghum grass seeds. Finally, thanks to members of the public who have provided sightings information used by the Recovery Team to produce the current distribution map, and to help inform decisions about where to focus recovery work for the species.
Contents page How to use this kit 4 Recording sightings of Gouldians 4 Gouldian recovery program update 5 Gouldian finch factsheet and how you can help 7 Identifying Gouldian finches in the field 9 Where to find Gouldians in the wild 11 Recognising prime Gouldian habitat 12 Protocols for Gouldian finch waterhole counts 13 Waterhole count datasheet 15
Gouldian Sightings Kit HOW TO USE THIS KIT The purpose of this kit is to provide information about Gouldian finches and their detection in the wild. It is hoped that members of the public might use this kit to provide the National Gouldian Finch Recovery Team with important sightings information to help us understand where these nationally endangered birds are persisting in the wild. By knowing more about where Gouldian populations are, and understanding more about where their breeding sites and feeding areas are, we will be able to focus management of wildfire or grazing pressure at key population sites. This kit provides descriptions and images of adult and juvenile Gouldians to help with field identification. Images of some of the other birds Gouldians are often seen amongst are also included, as are images of typical dry season and wet season habitats. There is also a map showing where Gouldians have been recorded in the wild over the last 10 years, and some background information about Gouldians and the Gouldian finch recovery program. Advice about how to go about counting Gouldians at waterholes is also provided. Recording sightings of Gouldians The national Gouldian Finch Recovery Team is very keen to receive information on any Gouldians you might see in the wild. For some areas the sightings records on the national database are the only data we have to detect possible changes in regional populations over time. The critical information to record for Gouldian sightings is the date, where you saw the birds (preferably a GPS reading, map coordinates, or points drawn on a topographic map), the name of the location, how many birds were seen (and preferably the numbers of adults and juveniles), what kind of habitat they were in (hilly or lowland county, and the main trees, shrubs or grasses) and whether the vegetation looked like it had been burnt recently. Other really useful information to collect includes what the birds were doing (drinking, perching above a waterhole, feeding on grasses, visiting a hollow tree branch etc) and whether they were amongst flocks of other birds. This information can either be recorded in a notebook or directly onto a datasheet like the one shown below. You can forward all sightings to: The Gouldian Recovery Team C/- TSN/WWF PO Box 2796 Alice Springs NT 0871 E-mail: rangelands@wwf.org.au Gouldian Finch sightings datasheet example Date Eg. 10/9/04 GPS or map reading GPS: 15º 58.099 127º 03.104 Location Campbell Ck Ellenbrae Stn, ~ 1km downstream from Ringers campsite. # GF seen Adult Juv GF activity notes 25 17 Birds drinking with flock of longtails at shallow gravely pool in creek. Habitat notes Burnt within last 12 months. Melaleuca and Pandanas fringing waterhole. Cattle dung in waterhole. Sorghum flats above creek (seed all gone) with germinating grasses plentiful in burnt patches. WWF-Australia 4
Gouldian recovery program update Background After recognising that Gouldian finch populations in Queensland and the Top End of the Northern Territory had declined significantly, the species was listed under Commonwealth legislation as an endangered species in 1989. A national Gouldian Finch Recovery Team was established in 1993 to help work out the key actions necessary to halt this apparent decline in numbers. A recovery plan was developed in 1994 to guide planning, research and conservation work. The main focus of the original recovery plan was research into breeding biology, population trends, habitat use, diet, disease factors, and the impact of fire on seed resources. Many of these studies were focussed in the Yinberrie Hills near Katherine, or at Newry Station near the NT/WA border. This work clearly showed that Gouldians, unlike other finches or other seed eating birds in the northern savannas, have a very restricted diet, that their key wet season grasses are very patchily distributed through the landscape and that fire, grazing and rainfall significantly affected seed production in these grasses. Around the same time that this work was being done, other researchers were analysing population trends in other granivorous (seed-eating) birds in the northern savannas and finding similar downward trends in species such as the golden-shouldered parrot, partridge pigeon, chestnut-backed button-quail, flock bronzewing, black-throated finch, squatter pigeon, and star finch. Although the northern savanna landscape has often been described as relatively intact, with parts even pristine, it is now clear that more subtle changes in these landscapes have been occurring. Changes in the grassy understorey influenced by altered fire regimes or grazing are thought to have been seriously impacting granivorous birds as well as medium-sized mammals in the region. Current Gouldian recovery work The current draft Gouldian Finch Recovery Plan (2005-2010) outlines key additional research and adaptive management actions needed to determine ideal fire and grazing regimes to ensure Gouldian survival in the wild. The following section summarises the projects that are in progress under the program. Analysing population trends Eight years of waterhole count data from the Yinberrie Hills was recently analysed by Price et al. (in prep.). Population estimates for each year showed an overall fluctuating population with a low point in 2002, and high points in 1997 and 2003. An analysis of fire history data in the Yinberrie Hills for part of the study period showed a positive relationship between fire incidence and population estimates, however there was not enough information to determine which type of between-fire interval, or intensity, patch size or timing of fires was beneficial. Annual dry season waterhole counts are continuing in the Yinberrie Hills, and have recently been instigated at Nathan River (Limmen Bight NP, NT) and at Australian Wildlife Conservancy s (AWC) Mornington Wildlife Sanctuary in the Kimberley region. Waterhole counts have also recommenced at Newry Station and are planned to commence at other key waterholes in the Kimberley in 2005/6. Managing fires within important Gouldian habitat areas Late wet season or early dry season patch burning programs are in place specifically to manage Gouldian habitat within NT Parks (Nitmiluk, Limmen Bight), and off-reserve areas at Newry Station, at Australian Defence s Bradshaw Field Training Area and at Mornington Wildlife Sanctuary in WA. It is hoped to expand the network of fire-managed habitat areas, WWF-Australia 5
particularly in the Kimberley region. The aim of these programs is to protect nesting habitat and critical wet season feeding areas from large, hot wildfires, and to promote seed production of some wet season grasses. Gouldian diet There have been a number of studies into the diet of wild Gouldians in the NT since the late 1980s. From this work it is clear that Gouldians feed almost exclusively on spear grass (also known as sorghum: Sorghum 1 species) seeds in the dry season and then switch to a small number of wet season grasses once spear grass seed becomes unavailable early in the wet season. The favoured wet season grasses in the Yinberrie Hills are cockatoo grass (Alloteropsis semialata), golden beard grass (also known as ribbon grass: Chrysopogon fallax) and curly spinifex (Triodia bitextura). Gouldians rarely supplement this diet with insects even in times when seed reserves are low. Their restricted diet makes them vulnerable to seed shortages through the wet season, and it may be that population fluctuations relate to the availability of seed in this critical period. There is very little information about diet of Gouldians in Queensland or the Kimberley region. Current research and management activities by Australian Wildlife Conservancy scientists at Mornington Wildlife Sanctuary includes collecting information on grasses utilised by Gouldians in both the dry and wet seasons. The influence of different fire regimes on Gouldian-preferred wet season grasses A recently completed analysis of data from a study in the Yinberrie Hills (Price et al b. in prep.) has shown that the frequency and timing of fires over a three year period can influence the quantity of seed produced in two of the key wet season grasses namely cockatoo grass and curly spinifex. The fire story is fairly complex with some grass seed production promoted by fires - and so excluding fire completely would not be beneficial. Fire management at key NT and Kimberley Gouldian habitats is based on creating a complex mosaic of burnt and unburnt patches of country with varying intervals between burning. As more information is collected on local Gouldian population changes in relation to fire history, management prescriptions for key feeding or breeding areas will be able to be fine-tuned. Cattle grazing impacts on Gouldian food resources Studies show that seed production in some key wet season grasses is affected by grazing but it is unclear whether grazing is contributing to reduced availability of seed resources for Gouldians at a regional level. Work based at Mornington Wildlife Sanctuary is aimed at examining the relationship between cattle grazing and habitat utilisation by Gouldians. Reintroducing Gouldians into the wild at Mareeba It is now an extremely rare sight to see Gouldians in the wild in Queensland. Because there are such low numbers of wild birds, it is not considered strategic to focus on trying to find populations in the wild on which to base recovery work. Instead the recovery team in Queensland is concentrating on determining the best strategy for reintroducing Gouldians into carefully managed habitats at one or two locations. The last two years have seen trial introductions of aviary-reared birds at Mareeba Wetlands on the Atherton Tablelands, where habitat is protected from grazing and habitat restoration works have been implemented to ensure there are suitable grasses for Gouldians to feed on. Further reintroduction trials are planned using birds that have spent considerably fewer years in captivity, in the hope that they will have retained predator avoidance behaviour. 1: Grasses currently classified within the Sorghum genus are likely to be split into Sorghum, Sarga and Vacoparis genera in the near future. WWF-Australia 6
Factsheet GOULDIAN FINCH Erythrura gouldiae The Gouldian finch, also known as the painted finch, is one of Australia's most strikingly coloured birds with splashes of turquoise, yellow, green, black, and lilac plumage. Some forms have bright red or golden heads, rather than the normal black colouration. They are small seedeating birds with a stout bill, and feed on grass seed still attached to the stems. In the early days of European settlement Gouldian finch flocks numbering in the thousands were a feature of the northern Australian savannas. Population size Gouldians are now listed as Endangered because of the significant decline in numbers over the last century. It is thought that fewer than 2500 adult birds exist at the beginning of each breeding season, but it is possible that this number fluctuates significantly depending on the availability of seed resources. Based on population estimates from waterhole counts, in the Yinberrie Hills near Katherine it is clear that local populations can crash and recover in successive years. There are only a handful of sites in the Kimberley and the Top End of the Northern Territory where Gouldian finches have been recorded breeding over the last decade, raising further concerns about the long-term prospects for this species. The Gouldian finch is one of several species of seed-eating birds in serious decline across our northern savannas. Partridge pigeons, squatter pigeons, star finches, golden-shouldered parrots, and chestnut-backed and buff-breasted button quail are also threatened by a reduction in the amount of suitable nesting and feeding habitat available to them. Habitat & Range Gouldian finches occur very patchily across the northern parts of Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland. There are very few Gouldians remaining in the wild in Queensland, and the stronghold for this species now appears to be around the Katherine region in the NT, and in the Kimberley in Western Australia. Tropical woodland habitat with a grassy understorey (savanna habitat) and nearby hilly areas is favoured by Gouldian finches. In the dry season, Gouldians congregate to drink in the early morning at shallow waterholes or puddles in seasonal creeks. Unlike other native finches, Gouldians gain little of their required protein from insects, relying instead exclusively on seeds from grasses such as spear grass (Sorghum spp.) in the dry season, and a small number of grasses including cockatoo grass (Alloteropsis semialata), ribbon grass (Chrysopogon fallax), and curly spinifex (Triodia bitextura) in the wet season. Ecology and lifecycle Late in the wet season, Gouldian finches seek out hollows for nesting, preferring those formed by termites in northern white gum (Eucalyptus brevifolia) and salmon gum (E. tintinnans) to raise their four or more chicks. Both parents raise the chicks, feeding them on sorghum seed. Up to three clutches of eggs can be laid in a season, depending on the availability of grass seeds. Flock size varies with season. During the dry season larger feeding flocks can be observed, whereas flocks are smaller and more dispersed during the wet season. WWF-Australia 7 Ro McFarlane
Threats There are a number of factors thought to have contributed to the declines in Gouldian populations, including trapping of wild birds for the aviary trade (a practice made illegal in 1982), disease (particularly infection with a parasitic airsac mite), and habitat degradation. Research has shown that both fire and grazing can reduce the amount of wet season grass seed available to Gouldians. Frequent fires reduce the amount of seed produced by cockatoo grass and curly spinifex. Cockatoo grass and ribbon grass are also eaten by cattle, horses and pigs and grazing by these animals can affect the amount of seed produced. It is thought that a critical period for Gouldians is the onset of the wet season when spear grass seed germinates and is unavailable to birds, and the first of the wet season grasses is yet to produce seed. The length of this resource bottleneck period varies dependent on the pattern of rainfall in the wet season and the dry season fire regime. It is possible that regional declines in Gouldian numbers between years may be influenced by poor seed production of critical wet season grasses, and that proactive fire and grazing management may be able to improve Gouldian habitat and contribute to population increases. Management and recovery actions The Gouldian Finch Recovery Team is trying to turn the tide on population declines by working out ideal fire and grazing regimes that favour seed production in important wet season grasses. Involving landholders in testing these regimes on pastoral properties and Aboriginal lands in the Top End and Kimberley region is considered to be crucial for Gouldian recovery. Contacts Gouldian Finch Recovery Team - Chair Threatened Species Network Ph. (08) 8952 1541 rangelands@wwf.org.au Conservation and Natural Resources, DIPE NT Ph. (08) 8944 8463 carol.palmer@nt.gov.au Australian Wildlife Conservancy Mornington Sanctuary Ph: (08) 9191 4619 sarah@australianwildlife.org Dept. Conservation & Land Management WA Ph. (08) 9168 4200 allant@calm.wa.gov.au Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. Ph. (07) 4091 8191 peter.latch@epa.qld.gov.au How you can help There are several ways that you can assist with the recovery effort for Gouldian finches: Report any sightings of Gouldian finches to the Threatened Species Network, CALM, Parks and Wildlife NT, or the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service; Participate in annual waterhole counts on Australian Wildlife Conservancy s Mornington Wildlife Sanctuary, or coordinate your own regular counts at your favourite Gouldian waterhole; If you are a land manager in the northern savannas, find out more about habitat requirements for Gouldian finches, and manage your property to encourage native grass species favoured by Gouldians. WWF-Australia 8
Identifying Gouldian finches in the field Male Gouldian finches are virtually impossible to mistake for any other bird. Typically they are very brightly coloured with turquoise, yellow and lilac underparts, olive green backs, and either black (more usual), red or golden heads. Their beaks are pale, with a reddish tip. Close up views of male Gouldians with typical black head (above left) or red head (above right) Female Gouldians are similar in size to males and have the same colour pattern but are much duller coloured. Like males they have a lilac chest and definite face patch, and can have either black or red head colouration. Milton Lewis/NT PWS Milton Lewis/NT PWS Milton Lewis/NT PWS Milton Lewis/NT PWS Close up views of female Gouldians with typical black head (above left) or red head (above right). Note the duller green and lilac plumage colours. Juvenile Gouldians lack the distinct face patch and lilac chest of the adults, and are basically a dull olive colour on the back, brownish underneath, and have brownish-grey heads. Some may have patches of brighter feathers beginning to grow through. They may be mistaken for juvenile pictorella mannikins, but pictorellas are a basic brown colour all over. All juvenile finches have a dark beak, and very young Gouldians have blue colouration around their gapes. WWF-Australia 9
Gouldian Finch Sightings Kit Milton Lewis/NT PWS A brightly coloured male Gouldian (far left) with juvenile Gouldians (middle left and far right) with typical dull plumage and dark bills, next to a female red headed Gouldian (middle right) at a waterhole. Other finches typically congregate to feed or drink with Gouldians, these include long-tailed finches, masked finches, double-barred finches, crimson and star finches, pictorella mannikins, yellow-rumped and chestnut-breasted mannikins. Although the adult birds are very distinctive and easily distinguished from Gouldian adults, the juvenile birds are often very similar looking. Refer to a good bird guide and practice distinguishing juvenile birds in the field to get your eye in. Milton Lewis/NT PWS Milton Lewis/NT PWS A mixed group of double-barred finches and a young chestnut-breasted mannikin (bird second from left) resting close to a waterhole (photo above left). An immature (left) and mature (right) pictorella mannikin drinking at a waterhole (photo above right). WWF-Australia 10
Where to find Gouldians in the wild Judging by records on the current national database, the key areas to find good numbers of Gouldian finches in the wild are in the Yinberrie Hills near Katherine and in Arnhem Land including parts of Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory. In the Kimberley hot spot areas occur around Lake Argyle, Kununurra and Wyndham townships, and around waterholes associated with the Durack and Dunham River systems. Further to the south, significant populations of Gouldians exist on Australian Wildlife Conservancy s Mornington Wildlife Sanctuary just north of the Fitzroy River. During the wet season, Gouldians are dispersed across lowland habitats feeding alone or in small flocks on wet season grasses that occur in small, scattered patches. For this reason, and because access is often difficult during the wet season, it is difficult to detect Gouldians at this time. At the end of the wet season, Gouldians begin to flock in much larger numbers, and tend to nest and feed in large aggregations often in hilly country where smoothbarked eucalypts such as snappy gum and salmon gum grow. Spear grasses (native sorghums) typically dominate dry season Gouldian habitats, and Gouldians can often be seen hanging off grass stems while they feed (see photo to right). As the dry season progresses and rivers and creeks are reduced to small, scattered waterholes, Gouldians can be most easily detected in early mornings when they congregate with other finches to drink at shallow waterholes. Ian Morris WWF-Australia 11
Gouldian Finch Sightings Kit Recognising prime Gouldian habitat NT Parks and Wildlife Service NT Parks and Wildlife Service Typical wet season habitat (above) is relatively flat woodland country with patches of favoured wet season grasses in the understorey. In this picture the main grass is cockatoo grass Dry season habitat (right) is typically hilly country with smooth barked gums (northern white gum or salmon gum mostly) which have hollow branches in which Gouldians can build their nests. The understorey is typically dominated by spear grasses, on which Gouldians feed almost exclusively during the dry season. Later in the dry season, Gouldians rely on small, shallow pools of water left behind when ephemeral and semi-permanent rivers and creeks dry out. Gouldians need to drink every day during the dry season, and generally drink early in the morning in flocks with other finches. Gouldians prefer small, shallow waterholes with gently sloping sides and some protection from raptors. Gouldians are very flighty when drinking and will often flit between the waterhole edge and an overhanging tree, where it is sometimes possible to see large numbers of birds. WWF-Australia Milton Lewis/NT PWS The picture (right) shows a male adult Gouldian drinking alongside a long-tailed finch at a typical late dry season waterhole. 12
Protocols for Gouldian finch waterhole counts Regular monitoring of Gouldian populations can provide important information on trends in local populations that may reflect seasonal changes in food availability. Over the longer term monitoring data could potentially be used to look at the effectiveness of experimental fire and grazing regimes aimed at enhancing Gouldian numbers. Annual dry season counts of Gouldians at key waterholes appear to be an effective way of monitoring changes in local populations over time. The following information describes the best way to undertake waterhole counts. Waterhole selection You will need to work out where to focus your counts and this requires a reconnaissance trip to find out which waterholes Gouldians regularly drink at. Local bird-watchers and wildlife agencies may be able to help you decide which waterholes to focus on. The number and size of waterholes associated with seasonal watercourses will vary dependent on wet season rainfall, therefore it is important to select waterholes that are present in the late dry season even in low rainfall years. Ideally, selected waterholes are at least 400 metres away from another waterhole. It may be best to walk creek lines and flag potential waterholes and then do a trial count at each waterhole to determine where Gouldians are concentrating. Once you have selected a good waterhole (or if there is a group of people, choose several waterholes separated by at least 400 metres), you will need to visit these waterholes late in the dry season (September or October) each year for three consecutive days and undertake three-hour counts of birds drinking at the waterhole beginning soon after dawn. How late in the season to do the counts depends on the selected waterhole(s) not drying out and there not being too much other water available in the landscape for birds to drink at. Choosing your observation point Finches will drink surprisingly close to you, but at shorter distances are readily frightened by even the slightest movement. Flightiness has serious potential to disrupt your counts, and may even frighten the birds to another waterhole on this or the subsequent day. We recommend a distance of about 15 metres, more if you are a restless sitter. Other issues to consider when selecting where to put your chair are: Have the sun behind you so you can see through your binoculars clearly. Make sure that your shadow is not on or near the water as any movement will flush the birds; Avoid sitting under potential roosting trees; Try not to sit in the open away from vegetation; Try to avoid being higher than the birds as they drink; and Have as clear a view of the waterhole as possible. At large waterholes, consider where the finches are likely to drink. They prefer gently sloping edges, or rocks just above the water surface. If the pool is very long consider sitting on one end from where the birds are drinking. Try to avoid having to shift your sitting position while counting. WWF-Australia 13
Counting and recording your counts Prior to departing for the waterhole make sure you have the following: binoculars clipboard and count datasheet pencils and/ or pens a watch or clock this instruction sheet a chair food and water bird book sun cream and hat GPS Use a logical and straightforward naming system for the selected waterhole(s). Take a GPS reading for the waterhole, and record details such as waterhole size, distance to other water, evidence of recent or past burns, dominant vegetation, and any notes about feeding or breeding events if seen (see datasheet). For useful statistical analysis three consecutive counts (three mornings) are required. Each counting session should be for three hours with counting commencing shortly after dawn (usually around 0700). Count all finches that actually drink, if you think that a bird has flown off without drinking (for example, when frightened), don t count it. Count all Gouldians, other finches or mannikins, and other seed-eating birds (doves, pigeons and parrots) that drink. Record adult male and female Gouldians separately, and also record juvenile Gouldians separately to adult Gouldians. The best way to record bird numbers as they come into drink is a tally system. Four vertical strokes and a horizontal stoke through them represents five birds. It may be easier to record the counts in 15 periods but the total count period is three hours. At the end of each session, write the total numbers of each type of bird counted. When things get busy, you may not be able to count individuals. In this case, estimate groups of birds drinking (eg. 10 male Gouldians, 5 female Gouldians, 25 juvenile Gouldians, 40 masked finches) and record these numbers as your count. Return to actual counts as soon as possible. If it gets really busy DON T PANIC. The priorities are: 1) First and foremost count the Gouldians if you cannot easily distinguish males and females lump them together as adult Gouldians, if you cannot easily distinguish juvenile Gouldians from other juvenile finches or mannikins lump them together as juvenile finches. Only if you have time, separate adult Gouldian counts into different head colour forms; 2) Then count other finches or mannikins; and 3) Finally, count other seed-eating birds. Please forward any count or sightings data to the National Gouldian Finch Recovery Team ph. (08) 8952 1541, fax: (08) 8953 2988, email: rangelands@wwf.org.au, or mail to TSN/WWF, PO Box 2796, Alice Springs NT 0871. Thankyou! WWF-Australia 14
Waterhole count datasheet Waterhole name GPS reading: Location: Gouldians Masked Longtail Double-bar Pictorella C-b mannikin Other granivores male male female female juvenile Time red black red black adult juvenile adult juvenile 0700-0715 0716-0730 0731-0745 0746-0800 0801-0815 0816-0830 0831-0845 0846-0900 0901-0915 0916-0930 0931-0945 0946-1000 WWF-Australia 15
Waterhole count datasheet p2 Date: Time first sun rays hit water Observer distance from water Observer Waterhole size Weather at 0800 warm cold sunny cloudy still breeze windy General notes including distance to next water, estimate of time since fire, dominant vegetation, notes on Gouldian behaviour etc. WWF-Australia 16