Malleefowl monitoring – an opportunity to be involved
It’s that time of the year again, says the WA Malleefowl Recovery Group. Volunteering days to monitor known nesting mounds of these extraordinary birds are planned for the Merredin and Dalwallinu areas of the Wheatbelt in October, followed by a weekend camping event in the Ongerup area in November.
The Malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata) is one of only three large mound building birds found in Australia, and its mallee woodland habitat has been largely cleared decades ago for farming.
Listed as vulnerable, it is a priority species in the Threatened Species Action Plan 2022–2032 which maps a pathway to protect, manage and restore Australia’s threatened species and important natural places. This builds on the Action Plan 2021-2026 developed with input from experts, the community, natural resource managers, scientists, conservation groups, and First Nations peoples.
The recovery plan guides conservation planning for the Malleefowl across its range, identifying actions to stop the decline and support the recovery of the species to maximise its chances of long-term survival.
The WA Malleefowl Recovery Group was formed in 2017 to raise awareness of the Malleefowl decline and to promote community involvement in Malleefowl conservation.
The monitoring objective is to visit every mound at each known site every year. This enables calculation of population trends over time for each site, with all monitoring data entered into the National Malleefowl Monitoring Database for analysis.
Malleefowl monitoring involves bushwalking, so a suitable level of physical fitness and appropriate clothing and footwear is essential for joining these events. Monitoring training and supervision is provided.
More information on what’s involved and how to register can be found here.
