Threatened Species Conservation

Many animals and plants living in the Murraylands have been impacted upon by human activities such as habitat loss and fragmentation, river regulation and extraction of water.

For information about Threatened Species programs in South Australia, visit the Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH)'s Threatened Species website.

DEH in the Murraylands is undertaking research and planning to assist in the recovery and conservation of many species in the mallee and along the River Murray corridor.

Threatened Fauna

Mallee Triodia habitat. Habitat used by Striated Grasswrens at Danggali Conservation Park

Mallee Birds in Trouble

The Mallee has been recognised as the most threatened environment for birds in Australia. More than 20 mallee birds are considered threatened, either at a national scale or locally. The main issues facing mallee birds today are fire, degradation of the remaining habitat, and isolation of subpopulations. Added to this, the exacerbating effects of climate change, such as more frequent and prolonged droughts, may mean that many species will become locally extinct.

DEH is working on recovering mallee birds through two integrated approaches. The first is dealing with specific threats to particular species. This project is initially focussing on four bird species in the Murray-Darling Basin Region:

The second component of mallee bird recovery is looking at the system as a whole using mallee bird species as a focus. This project includes work on the impact of grazing, and a strong collaboration with the Landscape Restoration trial in the northern Murray Mallee. Part of this project includes improving our information on the regional distribution of mallee birds. In the future, this is an area where the community has an opportunity to contribute by providing information about sighting of target mallee birds.

Striated Grasswren

Striated Grasswren, rare and declining bird of the mallee Photo: Lynn Pedler

The Striated Grasswren is a small, ground-dwelling bird that inhabits mallee/spinifex communities across semi-arid Australia. Related to the fairy-wrens and emu-wrens, they are slightly larger and have a louder, more complex song. Pairs of grasswrens live in territories and frequently interact with their neighbors using territorial song displays. In the Murray Mallee, the species’ range is contracting, and we are studying the grasswren’s ecology to better understand why they are declining, what their major threats are, and how these threats can be managed.

Mallee Emu-wren bringing food to its nestlings. Endangered species with very restricted distribution in SA Photo: (c) graemechapman.com.au

The Mallee Emu-wren

The Mallee Emu-wren, one of Australia’s smallest birds, lives in spinifex heaths and mallee/spinifex habitat in a shrinking range across the Murray Mallee. Following several large fires over the last few summers, this species is now seriously threatened in SA, with the only confirmed remaining population inhabiting a patch of heath in Ngarkat Conservation Park. We are working with the fire-management team to protect this area of habitat, while continuing to search for other populations that have escaped the fires.

Red-lored Whistler

Red-lored Whistlers are found throughout the mallee of South Australia and Victoria. and in central New South Wales. We know very little about their ecology, except that they have low densities and sometimes move long distances. Its habitat requirements are currently the subject of a PhD project, which will help us to understand its distribution and why it appears to have declined considerably in recent times. It is likely that fire and other factors that contribute to habitat loss/degradation are the important threatening processes for this species.

Western Whipbird

Western Whipbird, endangered in SA, very elusive mallee bird that has suffered a great decline in the Murray Mallee Photo: (c) graemechapman.com.au

Possibly the rarest and most endangered mallee bird, the eastern subspecies of the Western Whipbird has suffered enormous loss of its habitat due to fires in the last 10 years. Although it is a very shy bird, there are numerous records from Ngarkat and Billiatt Conservation Parks up to the 1980s when it started to disappear. At this time it also disappeared from Victoria where it had been relatively common. It is best known for its strange, loud call that sounds somewhat like a squeaky gate.

Threatened Species Along the River Murray

Regent Parrot

Every year the brightly coloured Regent Parrot returns to the Riverland to breed. To help monitor these rare birds the Department for Environment and Heritage is calling on local landholders and community members to report Regent Parrot sightings. Whether in the mallee or on an agricultural area all sightings are valuable as they highlight the type of habitats important to the birds. This information can be used to identify possible threats to these parrots and help determine conservation actions to protect the species for the future.

Regent Parrots are listed as vulnerable at both within South Australia and nationally. Their range has declined since the early 1900s and there are now believed to be fewer than 500 breeding pairs in South Australia. They breed between August and December nesting in the hollows of mature and dead River Red Gums. They have been recorded foraging for food in mallee woodlands up to 12 km from their nests and in agricultural areas such as fruit and almond orchards. Although primarily a seed eater, Regent Parrots will sometimes feed on insect larvae in addition to the seeds buds and flowers of native and introduced plants.

Regent Parrots are colourful, pretty birds. They are medium sized parrots weighing 160 - 190 g. Males may be slightly larger than the females. The male is brightly coloured with a golden-yellow head neck and shoulders. Females and juveniles are similar but are greener, particularly around the head and neck. To report a Regent Parrot sighting, fill out a Regent Parrot Sightings Form (50Kb PDF) and to learn more about these magnificent birds, see the Regent Parrot Fact Sheet (150Kb PDF).

Bush Stone-curlew

Extraordinary camouflage of the Bush Stone-curlew helps protect these ground-dwelling birds from predators

The Bush Stone-curlew is a tall ground-dwelling bird with long gangly legs and yellow 'goggle' eyes. They roost and nest in grassy woodlands of black box with low, sparse, grassy or herb understorey. They use fallen litter and tree debris against which they have exceptional camouflage. Nests are usually a scrape in the ground beside a fallen log, which makes it harder for predators like foxes to find. Bush Stone-curlews prefer a sparse understorey so they can see predators while foraging for insects, spiders and frogs. DEH is undertaking research and recovery planning to assist with the conservation of this bird.

For more information see:

Carpet Python

The striking 'carpet-like' pattern of the Murray-Darling Carpet Python Photo: Peter Robertson

The docile Carpet Python is a strikingly patterned snake. It lives in sheltered alcoves such as those in cliffs along the river, or in hollows of large River Red Gums. Often they are found in human modified environments, nestled in quiet corners like pump sheds and roof spaces. These snakes are not venomous and can be useful in controlling rodents.

A continued decrease in sightings of the Carpet Python has caused concern. DEH is undertaking research into the current distribution of Carpet Pythons and would like your help. If you see a Carpet Python, please don't disturb it. Observe the python from a distance, fill out a sighting form and send to:

Claire Treilibs
PO Box 231
Berri SA 5343
Fax: (61 8) 8595 2232
Email: mlands_cpu@saugov.sa.gov.au

For more information see:

Golden Bell Frog

The Golden Bell Frog also known as the Southern Bell Frog or the Growling Grass Frog is a medium to large frog (up to 10 cm long), found in both temporary and permanent wetlands along the South Australian River Murray, they are also found in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. Sometimes they can be seen basking in the sun, but most commonly feeding at night, even eating other frogs. They are most active in spring and summer, when the male frog can be heard calling for a mate. Females lay jelly-like egg masses (up to 4000), the tadpoles will metamorphose into frogs in summer or autumn.

The population of this frog has declined throughout Australia, but it remains locally abundant in parts of the South Australian River Murray corridor. DEH is currently undertaking research to determine how wetland management and environmental watering programs can benefit this frog in South Australia.

To learn more see:

Golden Bell Frog Recovery Plan (1.9Mb PDF)

Threatened Flora

Caladenia colorata

The South Australian Murray Darling Basin provides habitat that is unique and vital for numerous threatened plant communities. Many plant species are under threat from factors such as:

Prostanthera euryboides

Bush Management Advisors are working with private landholders and conservation groups to protect some of the nationally threatened plants in the Region. A Recovery Plan for nine nationally threatened plants in the South Australian Murray Darling Basin has been written along with fact sheets for the following species: