Leader: Dr Stephen Garnett, Queensland Environmental Protection Agency, Cairns

Project 2.2.3 (Completed)

Summary | Results | Land-management planning | Recovery planning | Research methods and progress | Publications | Project team |

Summary

Star finches: this species is now confined to two small populations on the east and west coasts of Cape York Photo: Michael Todd

The crimson and star finches are both vulnerable species. The white-bellied crimson finch, which also occurs in New Guinea, was found at Iron Range and Aurukun early in the 20th century. By the end of the century, it appeared to be confined to two small populations on the east and west coasts of the Cape York Peninsula.

The star finch was once also widespread. Until recently a common species round the Gulf of Carpentaria, it is now confined to the same two areas as the crimson finch.

However, the same species in the Northern Territory and Western Australia are thriving.

This study set out to find out why there were such differences between the regions, and to develop management plans that would help the survival of the finches in Queensland.

Results

To do this, the study examined the feeding ecology and breeding biology of both species in areas where they were scarce and where they were abundant. The objective was to develop management recommendations based on a detailed understanding of the natural history of the two species. Both taxa are vulnerable to grazing but appear to thrive where there is agriculture.

Both species rely on rank grasses for nesting and shelter - and grazing can remove this vegetation, while agriculture promotes it. However, the star finch has also disappeared from areas where rainfall is unreliable because rank grasses are not protected by regular wet season rains. The crimson finch appears to have disappeared where heavy grazing has removed rank grasses from riparian areas or where these grasses have been lost to large-scale dry-season fires, leaving no areas from which this short-winged finch can re-colonise during the wet season.

The threatening factors appeared to be a combination of heavy grazing and changed fire regimes.

Land-management planning

The principal contribution of the research was into land-management planning. However it is also helping provide a practical application of joint management within protected areas, drawing on the skills of traditional owners and combining them with conventional scientific knowledge. Areas of high importance to these species are likely to be a focus for management during development of management plans for protected areas on Cape York Peninsula. The species have also been taken into account in the development of Property Management Plans for the Peninsula.

Recovery

Threatened species management in Australia has been built around the concept of Recovery Planning, a process that has been increasingly formalised through legislation.

Enough information is now available on the two taxa to allow a recovery plan to be prepared for both species. When this is endorsed by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment, it will ensure that the requirements of the two species are considered in any major developments within their home ranges.

Research methods and progress

• Observations of natural history of the two species, with special emphasis on habitat associations and their seasonal variation, and foraging behaviour, in sites of three types:
  • Sites that currently support healthy populations of star finch or crimson finch;
  • Sites that retain the species but where populations have declined in the recent past;
  • Sites that previously reported the species but do so no longer;
  • Detailed floristic and environmental descriptions of habitats at all sites, giving special emphasis to attributes that appear especially important to the ecology of each species.
• Restoration of habitat attributes in damaged environments, and subsequent long-term observations of:
  • population trends;
  • evidence of recolonisation;
  • or fate of reintroductions in restored and un-restored control sites.

Field work for the project was completed in October 2000. The work included two dry seasons and one wet season on Cape York Peninsula with studies being undertaken on populations at both Pormpuraaw on the west coast and Lakefield National Park on the east coast.

A wet season and part of a dry season were also spent at Kununurra in Western Australia where both species were present together.

At each site observations were made of habitat, breeding ecology and behaviour. In addition, large samples were netted at both sites and comparative measurements taken of morphometrics and crop samples taken to determine diet.

The results suggested that both species have a broad diet, though there may be less variation, particularly between sexes, among the rarer subspecies. The information is now on a database.

Comparative data was also collected on a number of other finch taxa. This was analysed.

The project also contributed to work on riparian habitats on the Ord in Western Australia because these birds inhabit wetter parts of the landscape, especially vegetation fringing waterways. It extended work concentrated in the Northern Territory to Queensland and engaged the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency in core TS-CRC activities.

Outputs also fed into the Information Clearinghouse, the Graduate Diploma and Master of Tropical Environmental Management and modules of the extension project.

Publications

Todd, M.K. in prep., Measurements of the Neochmia grassfinches from northern Australia with comparisons between sub-species. Todd, M.K. in prep., 'Bill Morphology and Diet of the Star Finch Neochmia ruficauda and the Crimson Finch Neochmia phaeton and Comparisons with other Australian Estrildine Finches'.

Todd, M.K. in prep., 'Nesting Biology of the Star Finch Neochmia ruficauda subclarescens and the Chestnut-breasted Mannikin Lonchura castaneothorax, in the East Kimberley, WA'.

Todd, M.K. in prep., 'Nest-Site Preferences and Breeding Season of the Crimson Finch Neochmia phaeton in Australia'.

Todd, M.K., Felton, A. and Garnett, S.T. in prep., 'Distribution, Habitat and Reasons for Decline in the Star Finch Neochmia ruficauda'.

Todd, M.K. in prep., 'Distribution, Habitat, Evolution and Reasons for Decline in the Crimson Finch Neochmia phaeton'.

Todd, M.K. in prep., Demographics, Movements and Moult in the Star Finch Neochmia ruficauda and the Crimson Finch Neochmia phaeton'.

Garnett, S.T., Clarkson, J.C, Harrinton, G. and Freeman, A.N.D. in prep., 'The Ecology of the Star Finch at Princess Charlotte Bay, Cape York Peninsula in the early wet season'.

Project Team

Mr Michael Todd, Qld Parks & Wildlife Service
Dr Stephen Garnett, Qld Parks & Wildlife Service
Paddy Bassani, Qld Parks & Wildlife Service
Lindsay Bassani, Qld Parks & Wildlife Service
Amanda Freeman, Qld Parks & Wildlife Service
Dr Peter Whitehead, NTU
Dr John Woinarski, Parks & Wildlife Commission of the NT