Australian Bustard - profile

Scientific name: Ardeotis australis 
 Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Description

The Australian Bustard is a very large, heavy-bodied, ground-dwelling bird up to one m tall. The larger male has a wingspan of up to 2.3 m. It has a stately, erect posture, prominent black cap, and long legs. The head, neck and breast are white, with dark grey specks. The upper surface of the wings and tail are brown with fine dark patterns. There is a bold black and white patch on the lower edge of the wing.

Location and habitat

Distribution
 The Australian Bustard mainly occurs in inland Australia and is now scarce or absent from southern and south-eastern Australia. In NSW, they are mainly found in the north-west corner and less often recorded in the lower western and central west plains regions. Occasional vagrants are still seen as far east as the western slopes and Riverine plain. Breeding now only occurs in the north-west region of NSW.

• Mainly inhabits tussock and hummock grasslands, though prefers tussock grasses to hummock grasses; also occurs in low shrublands and low open grassy woodlands; occasionally seen in pastoral and cropping country, golf courses and near dams.
• Breeds on bare ground on low sandy ridges or stony rises in ecotones between grassland and protective shrubland cover; roosts on ground among shrubs and long grasses or under trees.
• Forages on insects, young birds, lizards, mice, leaves, seeds and fruit.
• Dispersive, with irregular widespread movements over long distances; movements are thought to be in response to habitat and climatic conditions; known to converge on areas with high mice numbers and in recently burnt areas.

Regional information
This species is found in the following catchment management authority regions. Click on a region name to see more details about the distribution, vegetation types and habitat preference of the species in that region.

• Border Rivers/Gwydir
• Central West
• Lachlan
• Lower Murray/Darling
• Murray
• Murrumbidgee
• Namoi
• Western

Threats

• Alteration to tussock grasslands through overgrazing.
• Predation by foxes and cats.
• Illegal hunting.
• Loss, fragmentation and degradation of semi-arid open grassy woodlands.
• Secondary poisoning from rabbit baiting.

Recovery strategies

Priority actions are the specific, practical things that must be done to recover a threatened species, population or ecological community. The Department of Environment and Conservation has identified 13 priority actions to help recover the Australian Bustard in New South Wales.

What needs to be done to recover this species?

• Undertake fox and feral cat and goat control; ensure feral animal control measures do not impact on native species.
• Minimise the risk of secondary poisoning from rabbit baiting.
• Reduce or remove heavy stocking regimes from semi-arid grassland and shrubland habitats.
• Report suspected illegal hunting to the DEC.

References

• Grice, D., Caughley, G. and Short, J. (1986) Density and distribution of the Australian Bustard Ardeotis australis. Biological Conservation 35, 259-67.
• Marchant, S. and Higgins, P.J. (eds.) (1993) Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume 2: Raptors to Lapwings. Oxford University Press, Melbourne.
• Pizzey, G. and Knight, F. (2003) The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia 7th Edition. Menkhorst, P. (ed). HarperCollins.