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Listed: Australasian Bittern and Fairy Tern |
 Following nominations by Birds Australia, Tony Burke, Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, last week informed us that he has accepted Threatened Species Scientific Committee recommendations to list the Australasian Bittern as Endangered, and the Fairy Tern as Vulnerable, under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999.
The Australasian Bittern is a secretive and cryptic heron with mottled buff, brown, and dark brown plumage, which provides it excellent camouflage. A predator at the top of the food chain, it is threatened across its range by loss and degradation of suitable wetlands. In the Murray Darling Basin in particular, the loss of wetland inundation, through river regulation and water harvesting and groundwater extraction and the loss of vegetation and/or food prey through wetland salinisation continues to degrade Bittern habitat. Total loss of wetlands is occurring through drainage and urban development.
This poorly known species is listed as Endangered at the global level (IUCN Red List) but had, until now, not been recognised under national legislation.
 Birds Australia proposed that the Australasian Bittern be listed as Endangered under the EPBC Act as it has a population size of less than a 1000 individuals and a high rate of continued population decline at over 44% in 2 generations. Using Bird Atlas data we were also able to demonstrate that the species’ area of occupancy has declined severely - by 70% over the last 30 years (3 generations).
The causes and the reduction have not ceased.
Over the past few years Birds Australia have appealed for observers to submit their records of Australasian Bitterns to us. We would like observers to get out and check their local wetlands for these species. Due to their skulking nature, they are difficult to detect and two different types of survey are proposed - listening surveys and wetland walks. To get involved download the ID kits or
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for more information.
The Fairy Tern inhabits estuaries and near-shore environments of Australia’s coasts. It is a small grey-and-white tern with a bright-orange bill and long, narrow wings. It feeds in inshore waters and nests in small colonies on islands, cays and beaches. Birds Australia proposed the Fairy Tern be listed as its population has had decreased by over 10% in the last 3 generations, as well as a substantial decrease (>30%) in its extent of occurrence. The birds are prone to disturbance, which may reduce breeding success severely through predation by introduced predators or human activity, such as four wheel drives and dogs on beaches. Degradation and salinisation, particularly of the Coorong, also affect the species’ food stocks.
Importantly, now that both species have been listed, they should reap the “significant protection” conferred by the Act.
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