King Island woodland birds

King Island's endangered birds face extinction threats from habitat loss and limited population.

The King Island Scrubtit and King Island Brown Thornbill are listed as Critically Endangered and Endangered (respectively) under the EPBC Act, primarily due to extensive habitat loss associated with agricultural land clearing, altered hydrology (primarily drainage for agriculture) and wildfire.

The limited area of suitable habitat and extremely small population size of both birds places them amongst the top five Australian birds considered most likely, in the absence of intervention, to become extinct within 20 years.

Management recommendations are hampered by a lack of detailed knowledge of the distribution and abundance of the birds, and currently no agreed habitat descriptions.

As well as the KI Scrubtit and KI Brown Thornbill, King Island Black Currawong and King Island Green Rosella are both listed as “vulnerable” under the EPBC Act, and will also benefit from the Actions proposed for this Priority.

Outcome:

By 2030, recovery actions for the King Island Brown Thornbill and the King Island Scrubtit have been implemented in critical habitat patches.

Local threats that can be addressed by NRM actions:
  • Land use pressures including development, intensification of agriculture and other industries
  • Inappropriate land management practices including vegetation clearing
  • Weeds and feral animals
  • Increasing fire risk due to climate change
  • Lack of knowledge and understanding in the community about threatened species

Implementation:

Investment Opportunity
  • Australian Government
  • Tasmanian Government
  • Regional or Local
  • Private or philanthropic
Potential Delivery Methods
  • Information gathering activities including review of recent flora and fauna surveys.
  • Policy and planning activities such as prioritisation of appropriate management actions and locations for investment, engagement in council land-use planning processes, support for cat management planning.
  • On-ground work including weed and feral animal management, and land management agreements focused on protection and rehabilitation of remnant vegetation communities.
  • Behaviour-change and capacity-building activities – education, awareness and skill-building
    focused on biodiversity values and best management practices.
Potential collaborators

King Island Council; Government agencies (e.g., NRET, FPA and PWS); Landcare and community groups; Industry groups (e.g., Dairy Tas, beef groups); Farmers and land managers – land management agreements for on-ground works; Conservation Action Planning group (Birdlife).

Opportunity for Community Participation

Field days, workshops and educational activities; extension, capacity building and land management agreement opportunities for landholders; volunteer and citizen science opportunities; domestic animal management education and support.

Actions:

BS3.a

Undertake KI Brown Thornbill and KI Scrubtit habitat assessment and improvement activities in partnership with the members of the King Island Bird Conservation Action Plan.

BS3.b

Develop a King Island cat management program in partnership with King Island Council and King Island Landcare.

BS3.c

Support King Island Bird Conservation Action Plan activities such as landholder engagement, best management practice extension, ecosystem restoration activities.

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Cradle Coast Authority unites 8 of Northwestern and Western Tasmania’s Tasmania’s councils through strategic collaboration, fostering regional development, and ensuring a collective voice for shared goals and prosperity.
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