Black Grasswren (Amytornis housei)

Conservation status

Western Australia, WA Threatened and Priority Fauna List: Near threatened. Priority 4 (rare, near threatened) on the Western Australian priority fauna list. Priority species are not listed under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 but should be considered in assessments.

Breeding season

The Black Grasswren is poorly known, and breeding timing has not been recorded by month. Treat all months as potentially sensitive until local surveys establish whether birds, nests or dependent young are present.

Breeding mode: Not recorded

Clutch size: Not recorded

Incubation period: Not recorded

Fledging period: Not recorded

Age at maturity: Not recorded

Nest site: Not recorded

Breeding frequency: Not recorded

Timing may vary between years and regions, so local records should be used to refine the seasonal assessment before clearing or construction.

• Potential breeding activity, timing not recorded: No breeding month or seasonal peak is established, so plan for possible breeding activity throughout the year.
• Eggs, nestlings and dependent young: The timing and duration of dependent young are not recorded, so avoid assuming that any month is free of this risk.
• Habitat use and daytime activity: Search hummock grassland and rocky sandstone areas during all site visits, with attention to bird calls and visual sightings.
• Highest clearing risk: Clearing risk is treated as year round because breeding places, nests and dependent young have not been described or assigned a season.

Identification: Appearance and size

The Black Grasswren is poorly known in the field, and reliable identification may be difficult when sightings are brief or distant. Use a combination of a clear view, call recognition, habitat assessment and, where possible, a photograph.

The field survey information does not provide a formal description of plumage, body size or diagnostic markings. Do not rely on the common name alone for identification. Record the bird's overall colour, shape, behaviour, location and habitat as soon as possible after a sighting.

Identification: Calls and similar species

Species-specific call details and information on similar species are not available for this profile. Treat an unfamiliar grasswren call or brief grassland sighting as unconfirmed until it has been checked by an experienced ornithologist.

• Record the time, location and direction of the call.
• Describe whether the bird was calling from dense hummock grassland, rocks or another feature.
• Use photographs or sound recordings where site conditions and equipment allow.

Identification: Field signs

No validated information is available on Black Grasswren droppings, nests, feathers, odour, whitewash or other distinctive field signs. Do not identify the species from indirect signs alone.

• Record all direct sightings, including the number of birds and whether sex could be determined.
• Map the observation and describe the vegetation, rocks and ground cover nearby.
• Report unexpected records promptly to the project ecologist and relevant Western Australian biodiversity authorities.

Identification: Survey approach on works sites

Surveys should be led by experienced bird observers and should include both visual detection and call recognition. The baseline survey used 2 hectare avifauna sites, with each survey lasting at least 20 minutes, and placed emphasis on periods around sunrise and sunset.

Baseline avifauna effort: 17.8 person hours across the field survey

Additional active searches: 27.1 hours across 16 fauna sites

• Search dense hummock and spinifex grassland adjoining large sandstone boulders.
• Include systematic sites in each relevant habitat type, as well as opportunistic observations during access and other field work.
• Keep a record of negative searches, access routes and areas that could not be inspected.

Distribution: Australian range

The Black Grasswren is mapped in Western Australia, with known records in the Kimberley region. Records are sparse, so a lack of previous records near a work area should not be treated as proof of absence where suitable habitat is present.

Known records include Prince Regent National Park and the Mitchell Plateau in northern Western Australia. A bird was also observed 4.5 km south of a surveyed project area while the field team was travelling to Long Pool.

• State or territory mapped: Western Australia.
• Regional focus: the north Kimberley, including Prince Regent National Park and the Mitchell Plateau.
• No other Australian state or territory distribution is identified for this profile.

Distribution: Records near work areas

The nearby bird was observed in hummock grassland and was considered to be in atypical habitat. The project area was outside the previously known distribution and did not contain typical habitat, but occurrence was assessed as possible because of the nearby record and similar habitat.

• Check current databases and local records before clearing or construction begins.
• Treat a new record outside the mapped range as significant and arrange verification.
• Do not assume that an isolated record represents a temporary stray without assessing nearby habitat.

Distribution: Overseas range

The Black Grasswren is treated in this profile as an Australian species. No overseas range is relevant to site planning.

Habitat: Landforms and vegetation

Look first for rocky sandstone landscapes with dense hummock or spinifex grassland. Habitat can be patchy, and a site may have suitable features outside the area initially identified during desktop planning.

Known habitat contains large rocky sandstone boulders and dense hummock and spinifex grasslands. These features should be mapped before ground disturbance starts.

• Sandstone boulder fields and rocky outcrops.
• Dense hummock grassland and spinifex cover.
• Transitions between rocky ground and dense grassland.
• Intact patches connected to similar habitat nearby.

Habitat: Habitat assessment on site

Inspect the full disturbance footprint and nearby access routes for the combination of rocks and dense grass cover. Include habitat that may be outside the main construction area if machinery movements, laydown, drainage or access could affect it.

• Mark habitat patches on site plans and exclusion maps.
• Avoid driving through dense hummock grassland where practical.
• Use a fauna spotter catcher or ecologist to check unexpected rocky grassland before clearing.

Habitat: Habitat suitability

The species was assessed as unlikely to use one surveyed project area as important habitat because typical habitat was absent, although occurrence was considered possible. Habitat assessments should therefore consider both the quality of the vegetation and the presence of the required rocky landform.

• Give greater survey attention to areas containing both sandstone boulders and dense hummock grassland.
• Record areas with only one of these features as lower confidence habitat, rather than automatically ruling them out.
• Retain suitable habitat where avoidance is practicable.

Foraging habitat: Areas to inspect

Specific diet and foraging behaviour are poorly documented in this profile. During site inspections, focus on the dense ground layer and rocky margins where grasswrens may remain concealed and move between cover.

Search dense hummock and spinifex grassland, especially where it meets large sandstone boulders and other rocky cover. The single nearby bird was recorded in hummock grassland.

• Inspect the bases and edges of boulder fields.
• Check dense, continuous grass cover rather than only open ground.
• Include habitat beside tracks and temporary access areas, as the nearby record was made along an access track.

Foraging habitat: Field observation

No information is available here on food items, foraging height or foraging method. Avoid disturbing cover to force a bird into view, and record behaviour from a suitable distance.

• Note whether the bird is on the ground, moving through grass or using rocks for cover.
• Record any feeding behaviour without handling vegetation or turning rocks.
• Use repeated observations by experienced observers where a record is important for project decisions.

Foraging habitat: Worksite controls

Keep machinery, vehicles and personnel out of suspected foraging habitat until it has been assessed. Where clearing cannot be avoided, use staged clearing and active fauna supervision so that birds can move away from the disturbance.

• Fence or clearly mark habitat retained beside work areas.
• Keep access to approved routes.
• Stop work and seek ecological advice if a Black Grasswren is found within the disturbance area.

Breeding habitat: What to look for

Breeding habitat, nests and breeding biology are not well documented for the Black Grasswren in this profile. Any suspected breeding place should be treated cautiously and protected from disturbance until an ecologist has assessed it.

No confirmed nest type, nesting substrate, breeding season or breeding place is identified here. Search carefully through dense hummock and spinifex grassland near rocky sandstone features without trampling or pulling apart vegetation.

• Look for repeated adult activity in one small area.
• Watch for birds carrying nesting material or food.
• Check dense cover before clearing, slashing or moving through boulder fields.

Breeding habitat: Managing a suspected nest

Do not touch, move or expose a suspected nest. Suspend nearby work and establish a temporary no-go area while the project ecologist confirms the record and determines the appropriate response.

• Keep workers, vehicles and machinery away from the location.
• Minimise noise and repeated inspections.
• Document the location, habitat and observed behaviour.

Breeding habitat: Timing and clearance planning

A species-specific breeding season is not established here, so timing restrictions cannot be set from the available information. Plan clearance outside areas of suitable habitat where possible, and use pre-clearance checks before each stage of work.

• Schedule pre-clearance inspections close to the start of works.
• Repeat checks if vegetation or access conditions change.
• Obtain project-specific advice before disturbing any confirmed breeding place.

Sheltering habitat: Potential cover

Sheltering and roosting sites have not been described in detail. Dense hummock grassland and rocky sandstone features should nevertheless be treated as potential cover and inspected before disturbance.

Large sandstone boulders and dense spinifex or hummock grassland are the main habitat features associated with the species. These areas may provide concealment from weather, predators and site activity.

• Inspect gaps between and beneath stable boulders without moving them.
• Retain dense grass clumps where they occur beside rocky areas.
• Avoid unnecessary clearing of edge cover around boulder fields.

Sheltering habitat: Night and low-activity periods

Specific roost structures and night-roost behaviour are not established here. Do not assume that a bird absent during a daytime inspection is absent from the work area.

• Use surveys at more than one time of day where suitable habitat is present.
• Give attention to early morning and late afternoon activity periods.
• Record birds moving into dense cover and include those locations in work planning.

Sheltering habitat: Site protection

Map potential sheltering habitat before construction and keep it outside approved disturbance limits wherever practicable. If a bird is flushed repeatedly from one area, stop work nearby and seek ecological advice.

• Use visible exclusion markers that are understood by all contractors.
• Prevent unauthorised vehicle access through retained habitat.
• Inspect barriers after rainfall, grading or other earthworks.

Threats: Clearing and habitat loss

The main worksite risk is the loss or degradation of suitable rocky grassland. The species is listed as Priority 4 in Western Australia, so projects should use a precautionary approach where suitable habitat or new records occur.

Clearing dense hummock grassland, spinifex and rocky sandstone features can remove potential habitat. Fragmentation may also reduce the value of remaining patches.

• Avoid clearing suitable habitat where practicable.
• Keep disturbance footprints and access routes as narrow as practicable.
• Map and protect retained habitat before machinery arrives.

Threats: Ground disturbance and altered water conditions

Agriculture and groundwater modification have affected habitat quality in the broader region. Construction drainage, excavation, dewatering and changes to surface water may similarly alter nearby grassland and rocky habitat.

• Prevent uncontrolled runoff, sediment movement and discharge into retained habitat.
• Keep drainage and dewatering works within approved areas.
• Rehabilitate temporary disturbance with locally appropriate methods.

Threats: Introduced predators and other animals

The broader region is affected by predation and poisoning associated with introduced species such as cats and cane toads. Avoid creating conditions that increase predator access to retained habitat or concentrate animals around work areas.

• Keep food waste and other attractants secured.
• Remove construction waste that could provide shelter for pest animals.
• Report observations of cats, cane toads or other introduced fauna through the project environmental system.

Threats: Unexpected records and compliance response

A new sighting can extend the known distribution and may change the assessment of a work area. The nearby record was made outside the previously known range, so unexpected observations should be treated seriously.

Western Australian status: DBCA Priority 4, a non-statutory category for rare and near threatened species that need monitoring

Project response: Use precautionary habitat protection, targeted verification and documented pre-clearance checks where suitable habitat is present

• Stop work in the immediate area if a Black Grasswren is found inside the disturbance footprint.
• Protect the location from further disturbance until the record is verified.
• Notify the project ecologist and review clearing controls, habitat mapping and approvals.
• Scale survey effort and mitigation to the record, habitat quality and potential impact.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

The Black Grasswren is poorly known and can be difficult to detect in dense hummock grassland. Focus surveys on suitable spinifex and rocky sandstone habitat, and combine quiet observation with call recognition.

Map large rocky sandstone boulders, dense hummock grassland and spinifex before entering the site. Check records from the project area and nearby locations, including the Prince Regent National Park and Mitchell Plateau region.

Treat a nearby record as a reason for targeted assessment, even where the site is outside the currently known distribution. The species has been recorded in atypical hummock grassland, so do not exclude all non-rocky areas without field checking.

Western Australian listing: Priority 4, a non-statutory DBCA category for rare and near threatened species that need monitoring

Survey habitat: Large rocky sandstone boulders with dense hummock and spinifex grassland

• Obtain current Western Australian DBCA information and check local government, land manager and project databases.
• Confirm whether the proposed action could affect a listed matter under the EPBC Act, and seek referral advice where required.
• Map habitat that may be retained, cleared, fragmented, burnt, inundated or affected by access tracks and construction activities.

Survey methodology: 2. Targeted field searches

Search systematically through suitable habitat and record every sighting or call. Walk slowly and quietly, pause often, and check boulder margins, spinifex clumps and sheltered ground cover.

Use visual sightings and call recognition. Give particular attention to the higher activity periods around sunrise and sunset, while also recording suitable observations made during other field activities.

Reported survey effort: 17.8 person hours of avifauna surveys and 27.1 hours of active searches across 16 fauna sites

Known field record: One bird was seen opportunistically in hummock grassland, 4.5 km south of a study area

• Use the project fauna survey method as a minimum starting point, with 2 ha sites in a single habitat type and at least 20 minutes at each avifauna survey site.
• Add active searches and quiet listening in all suitable habitat, including habitat beside tracks and work areas.
• Survey in conditions that allow birds and calls to be detected. Avoid relying on a single visit when wind, rain, heat, vehicle noise or dense vegetation limits detection.
• Use experienced observers who can distinguish grasswren calls from other small birds.

Survey methodology: 3. Timing and survey conditions

There is no established breeding calendar or migration period for the Black Grasswren. Do not assume that a particular month is a low-risk period for disturbance.

Plan surveys when access is safe and detection conditions are good. Where suitable habitat is present and the first survey is inconclusive, use repeat visits or additional targeted searches before clearing.

• Prioritise early morning and late afternoon activity periods.
• Record wind, rain, temperature, visibility, noise, observer experience, start and finish times, and the area searched.
• Record whether the survey covered typical habitat, atypical habitat or both.
• Do not treat a negative survey as proof that the species is absent from dense or inaccessible habitat.

Survey methodology: 4. Records and reporting

Make a precise GPS record for every observation, call, nest-like structure, possible breeding place and area of suitable habitat. Photograph habitat and tracks where this can be done without disturbing a bird.

The opportunistic record was not supported by a photograph, so good documentation is especially useful for future assessments.

• Record date, time, observer, sex if known, behaviour, number of birds, call details, habitat, weather and the direction of movement.
• Map the observation in relation to the clearing footprint, access tracks, boulders, spinifex and proposed exclusion areas.
• Submit records to the project ecologist and relevant state database or land manager in the required format.
• Flag uncertain records for review by a suitably experienced ornithologist.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Approvals, permits and responsibilities

Avoidance is the preferred control for a Priority 4 species where suitable habitat is present. Confirm the approval pathway before works start, then make the clearing footprint and stop-work process clear to the whole crew.

The Western Australian Priority 4 listing is a conservation priority and is not, by itself, a statutory threatened species category. The project still needs to meet all applicable environmental, clearing, fauna and land access requirements.

Check current Commonwealth and state status before finalising the impact assessment. A referral under the EPBC Act may be needed if the action could significantly affect a protected matter. Obtain any required Western Australian permits, approvals and DBCA advice before disturbance.

Mapped state: Western Australia

Listing context: The Black Grasswren is profiled as an EVNT species, with Western Australian Priority 4 status

• Ask the project environmental manager to document the EPBC Act screening and referral decision.
• Confirm approvals under Western Australian clearing and biodiversity legislation, local conditions and land manager requirements.
• If work occurs in Queensland and may tamper with a breeding place of a near threatened animal, obtain or confirm the required species management program before work.
• Use the relevant state permit process for handling, possession, relocation or release of native fauna.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Avoidance and site controls

Retain large rocky sandstone boulders, dense spinifex and hummock grassland wherever practicable. Avoid unnecessary tracks, laydown areas, lighting, drainage changes and edge effects through these areas.

Mark the approved clearing boundary before mobilisation. Use visible exclusion fencing or bunting around retained habitat and any area identified by the ecologist as requiring protection.

• Redesign the footprint to avoid suitable habitat where practicable.
• Keep vehicles, materials and workers out of exclusion areas.
• Prevent unauthorised burning, slashing, grading, dumping, weed spread and changes to surface water flow in retained habitat.
• Set site-specific buffers around any bird, nest, breeding place or shelter feature found during assessment. The project ecologist should define the buffer after considering the activity and risk, because a species-specific buffer is not established here.
• Do not rely on a generic buffer where a bird is present or behaviour suggests breeding.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Pre-clearance survey and breeding checks

Complete a pre-clearance inspection shortly before works, after the final footprint and access routes are marked. Search all suitable habitat and inspect boulder fields, spinifex clumps and ground cover without damaging them.

Breeding timing, nest form and breeding places are not well established for this species. Treat a nest, dependent young, repeated alarm calls, territorial behaviour or a bird repeatedly entering cover as a potential active breeding situation.

• Use a suitably experienced ecologist or fauna spotter catcher to inspect the footprint and a practical area around it before clearing.
• Include a dawn or late afternoon check where the risk assessment identifies low detectability.
• Clearly mark any active breeding place, suspected breeding place, roost or occupied shelter and stop the affected work area until the ecologist provides written direction.
• Do not clear a suspected breeding place merely because no adult bird is visible during a short inspection.

Before habitat disturbance: 4. Induction and work planning

Brief all workers before they enter the site. The induction should use photographs or maps of the habitat to be retained and explain that a single bird may indicate a wider area of use.

Nominate the spotter catcher or ecologist who can stop work. Give that person direct access to the supervisor, plant operators and project manager.

• Explain the no-go areas, approved clearing sequence, speed limits and vehicle routes.
• Show workers how to report a bird, nest, injured animal, carcass or unexpected habitat feature.
• Confirm the wildlife handling authority of each person before works begin.
• Schedule the highest-risk work for periods that minimise disturbance where the ecologist identifies a breeding or roosting risk.
• Keep contact details for the project ecologist, wildlife carer, veterinarian, regulator and emergency services in the site office and vehicles.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Sequential clearing and supervision

Clear in a controlled sequence from the approved footprint towards retained habitat, while maintaining a clear line of communication with the spotter catcher. Stop immediately when an animal or possible breeding place is found.

Use a staged clearing approach that allows mobile fauna to move towards retained habitat. Start with low-impact vegetation removal and inspect each area before larger machinery enters.

The spotter catcher must have an unobstructed view of the work area and authority to stop machinery without waiting for further approval.

• Brief operators before each shift and confirm the daily clearing boundary.
• Clear small areas progressively rather than opening the whole footprint at once.
• Pause between stages to inspect felled vegetation, boulder margins, spinifex clumps and ground cover.
• Stop for poor visibility, excessive dust, unsafe conditions or any loss of communication with the spotter catcher.
• Do not chase, corner or force a bird into dense machinery activity.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Animal handling and breeding places

Only authorised and appropriately trained people may catch, handle, transport or release native fauna. The Black Grasswren is small and may shelter in dense ground cover, so avoid unnecessary handling.

If an active breeding place, dependent young, colony-like concentration, occupied roost or repeatedly used shelter is found, stop work in the affected area. Obtain advice from the project ecologist and regulator as required before restarting.

• Create a temporary exclusion area around the find and keep people, vehicles and machinery out.
• Record the location, habitat, behaviour, photographs where safe, and the time of discovery.
• Do not remove nests, eggs, young, boulders or dense cover unless specifically authorised under the approved management process.
• Do not relocate a bird or alter a breeding place without the required approval and direction from an authorised fauna professional.
• Recheck the area before work resumes and document the restart decision.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Injured or trapped animals

Treat an injured, trapped or exhausted bird as a wildlife incident. Keep the area quiet and prevent workers, dogs and vehicles from approaching.

A qualified fauna handler should assess the bird and arrange care through the approved wildlife carer, veterinarian or regulator pathway.

• Stop nearby work and remove immediate hazards if this can be done safely.
• Do not give food or water and do not release the bird without professional direction.
• Place the bird in a suitable ventilated container only if directed and only by an authorised person.
• Record the finder, location, condition, photographs where appropriate, actions taken and destination.
• Report any death, injury or unauthorised handling as required by the approval conditions.

During habitat disturbance: 4. Daily records and incident control

Keep a daily fauna log for the full clearing period. Unexpected records should be reviewed by the project ecologist before the next work stage.

Use the log to identify repeated use of habitat, movement towards retained areas and any change in risk as clearing progresses.

• Record observer, date, time, GPS location, species, number, behaviour, habitat, activity, outcome and photographs.
• Record all stop-work events, searches, handling, relocations, injuries, mortalities and approvals to recommence.
• Update the site map with cleared areas, retained habitat, exclusion zones and fauna records.
• Notify the supervisor and environmental manager before changing the approved sequence or footprint.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Post-clearance inspection

Post-clearance checks confirm that no fauna has been left in the footprint and that retained habitat remains undisturbed. Use the results to improve later clearing stages and any related project works.

Inspect the completed footprint and the edge of retained habitat after each clearing stage. Look for live birds, injured animals, carcasses, disturbed nests and animals sheltering in felled vegetation or boulder piles.

Use the same experienced personnel who supervised clearing where practicable, so observations are consistent.

• Walk the entire cleared area and inspect vegetation piles, machinery exclusion areas and retained habitat edges.
• Check that all fauna has moved from the work area before grading, burning, chipping, mulching or removing materials.
• Search again if clearing occurred in dense spinifex, poor visibility or noisy conditions.
• Keep temporary exclusion controls in place until the post-clearance inspection is complete.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Relocation and release follow-up

Record any authorised relocation separately from an observation. Relocation does not demonstrate that the surrounding habitat remains suitable or that the animal has established safely.

Follow the release direction of the fauna professional and approval conditions. Do not move animals to an unapproved site.

• Record the capture point, release point, date, time, handler, method, condition and outcome.
• Release only into suitable, connected habitat selected by the ecologist and permitted under the relevant approval.
• Check the release area for immediate hazards such as machinery, predators, fire, weeds, lighting and unsuitable access.
• Undertake follow-up checks where required by the approval or when the animal was injured, displaced or released after handling.

After habitat disturbance: 3. Monitoring and reporting

Monitoring should be scaled to the risk. A small project outside suitable habitat may need documented completion checks, while clearing of occupied or connected habitat warrants targeted follow-up and review.

Because the species is poorly known, report useful records even where no breach occurs. New observations can improve future site assessments.

• Compare pre-clearance and post-clearance maps and habitat descriptions.
• Repeat targeted observations in retained suitable habitat where the project ecologist identifies ongoing risk or an important record.
• Report survey effort, detections, negative results, incidents, mitigation and monitoring outcomes to the regulator or land manager where required.
• Submit confirmed records to the relevant biodiversity database with accurate coordinates and supporting evidence.

After habitat disturbance: 4. Incident review and adaptive controls

Review every stop-work event, injury, mortality, breeding-place discovery and unexpected record before the next work stage. Use the findings to adjust the clearing method and induction.

Escalate repeated detections or evidence of occupied habitat to the project environmental manager and relevant regulator.

• Identify whether the event arose from poor detection, unclear boundaries, inadequate exclusion, plant movement or unexpected habitat use.
• Revise the survey timing, observer coverage, exclusion area, clearing sequence or crew instructions as needed.
• Keep a signed record of the review, decisions, responsible person and completion date.
• Do not close the incident until all approval, reporting and rehabilitation actions are complete.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Habitat restoration

Rehabilitation should restore the habitat structure used by the Black Grasswren, rather than simply replacing cleared plants. Focus on hummock and spinifex cover, rocky features, connectivity and protection from ongoing disturbance.

Retain and reuse local materials where authorised, including natural rocks, coarse woody material and suitable spinifex or hummock-forming vegetation. Do not move boulders or habitat features into a new location without ecological and approval advice.

Aim for a connected, structurally diverse ground layer that provides dense cover. Recovery may be slow, so protect rehabilitation areas from repeated vehicle access, fire and grazing impacts.

Preferred habitat features: Dense hummock and spinifex grasslands associated with large rocky sandstone boulders

• Use local provenance seed, tubestock or other approved propagation material suited to the site.
• Reinstate natural drainage and avoid creating bare, waterlogged or eroding areas.
• Fence or clearly mark rehabilitation zones during establishment.
• Remove temporary construction materials and compacted pads where rehabilitation plans require it.
• Inspect for erosion, weed invasion, grazing, fire damage and vehicle incursions.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Breeding, shelter and roost structures

Specific nest, roost and breeding-place requirements for the Black Grasswren are not established. Do not install nest boxes, bat boxes, artificial nests or other structures as a substitute for protecting natural spinifex and rocky habitat.

Use replacement structures only where a suitably experienced ornithologist confirms that they suit this species and the local habitat, and where the approval permits them.

• Prioritise retention and reconstruction of natural ground cover and rocky shelter.
• Obtain a written design, location, installation and maintenance plan before using any artificial structure.
• Do not use bat boxes or hollow-dependent bird boxes for this species unless they have a documented ecological purpose for another confirmed species.
• Inspect approved artificial structures for occupancy, damage, pests and maintenance needs.
• Remove ineffective structures only under ecological advice and approval conditions.

Rehabilitation actions: 3. Weeds, fire, predators and water

Manage rehabilitation to maintain dense ground cover and avoid changes that make the site unsuitable. The broader region has been affected by agriculture, groundwater modification and introduced predators, although species-specific effects are not well defined.

Use controls that reduce disturbance without creating new hazards or concentrating predators around rehabilitation areas.

• Prevent weed introduction through clean-down of vehicles, machinery and materials.
• Control weeds before they seed, using methods approved for the site and compatible with fauna protection.
• Develop fire controls that protect spinifex and rocky habitat from unplanned burns, while following the land manager's fire regime advice.
• Do not create artificial water points unless they are part of an approved ecological design. Prevent altered drainage, ponding and contamination.
• Control domestic animals and reduce opportunities for feral cat access in accordance with the approved fauna management plan.

Rehabilitation actions: 4. Long-term monitoring

Monitor whether dense hummock and spinifex cover, rocky shelter and habitat connectivity are returning. Use the same search approach where possible so results can be compared over time.

Set the monitoring duration and frequency according to the scale of clearing, habitat condition, species records and approval conditions.

• Map rehabilitation boundaries and retain baseline photographs from fixed locations.
• Record vegetation structure, bare ground, weeds, erosion, fire, access, predator signs and any Black Grasswren sightings or calls.
• Use dawn and late afternoon checks when targeted bird monitoring is warranted.
• Review results with the project ecologist and land manager, and apply corrective actions where rehabilitation is failing.
• Close rehabilitation only when completion criteria are met and monitoring records have been submitted as required.

Sources

• Baseline Terrestrial Fauna Survey for the Napier Downs Irrigation Project, Western Australian Government: https://ftp.dwer.wa.gov.au/permit/10427/CPS%2010427-1%20-%20Revised%20fauna%20survey%20report.pdf
• Occurrence records for the distribution map, Atlas of Living Australia: https://biocache.ala.org.au/