Habitat preferences of an endangered species in developing landscapes: the Bush Stone-curlew on the central coast of New South Wales, Australia

Abstract

The bush stone-curlew Burhinus grallarius is listed as 'Near threatened' on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In NSW, bush stone-curlews are listed as 'Endangered' under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. The present study focused on bush stone-curlew populations throughout the central coast of NSW and the aim of this study was to develop an inductive spatial model in Geographical Information System (GIS) of suitable bush stone-curlew habitat based on historical sightings and empirical data. To develop the models, micro-habitat data from 30 sites where bush stone-curlews have been recorded were combined with broad historical habitat maps between Gosford and Port Stephens. The habitat data and developed spatial models indicated that bush stonecurlew sightings are associated with trees dominated by Casuarina glauca and Syncarpia glomulifera. In terms of broad habitat classifications, bush stone-curlews are more likely to be sighted in wet sclerophyll forests (towards Gosford) and dry sclerophyll forests and saline wetlands (Port Stephens). The spatial model developed for this endangered bird will help direct conservation efforts to maintain and promote habitat in areas where urban development is rapidly increasing.

Leaving home but nowhere to go: lessons learnt from almost two decades of Bush Stone-curlew Burhinus grallarius monitoring on the Central Coast of NSW

“…However, grassy groundcover species differed between Brisbane Water sites and Port Stephens. A greater amount of leaf litter was also associated with sites with Bush Stonecurlews (Murialdo et al, 2015). Nesting sites may be selected for their drainage characteristics, as studies of a related northern hemisphere species, the Eurasian Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus, suggests that welldrained substrates are preferred as nest sites (Green and Griffiths, 1994;Green et al, 2000).…”

“…With increasing urbanisation and development on former farming areas around saltmarsh, Bush Stone-curlews within the study area are frequently observed roosting in and around backyards, ovals and areas of open space. Murialdo et al (2015) found that Bush Stone-curlews around Brisbane Water were observed at sites with Casuarina spp., and at Port Stephens sites where Bush Stone-curlews were observed supported Casuarina spp and broad-leaved paper bark Melaleuca quinquenervia. However, grassy groundcover species differed between Brisbane Water sites and Port Stephens.…”

“…While listed as 'near threatened' nationally, it is considered endangered across south-eastern Australia (Garnett et al, 2010). Taxonomically the Bush Stone-curlew is a wader, but it inhabits lowland open woodlands including agricultural areas with remnant native vegetation (Gates and Paton, 2005), and is now often recorded within peri-urban and urban areas, particularly along the eastern Australian coast (Murialdo et al, 2015). In coastal areas, Bush Stonecurlews are also recorded in mangrove and saltmarsh communities (Marchant and Higgins, 1993).…”

“…Johnson and Baker-Gabb (1994) found that almost all sites in Northern Victoria were within 250 m of water (dam, creek or irrigation channel) with little canopy species diversity; 39% of sites supported only one species of tree and just 16% of sites had more than three species. Similar habitat assessments for coastal populations used only macrohabitat variables (Murialdo et al, 2015), and it seems likely that microhabitat variables, habitat structure and the frequency and type of disturbance from predators (and humans) (Banks and Bryant, 2007;Taylor et al, 2007) may define habitat suitability to a greater extent that plant species composition.…”