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Golden-shouldered Parrot (Psephotellus chrysopterygius)

The Golden-shouldered Parrot is a small, ground-feeding parrot restricted to Cape York Peninsula, Queensland. It nests in old termite mounds and depends on open grassy habitat maintained by suitable fire and grazing management, so clearing, earthworks, fire changes and damage to termite mounds require careful assessment on development sites.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Endangered.

Queensland, Nature Conservation Act 1992: Endangered.

Breeding season

Timing varies across Cape York Peninsula and is affected by local rainfall, flooding and food availability. May is the clearest documented breeding month, while wet season flooding can shift birds from low-lying flats to higher rocky feeding areas.

The season pattern is a field-planning guide based on the supplied records, not a substitute for pre-clearance surveys. Survey timing should account for local rainfall, flooding and known breeding records.

  • Breeding: Breeding is reported around May. Adults excavate or use termite mound chambers and incubate for about 20 days.
  • Young: Chicks remain in termite mound chambers after hatching. Adults may leave them during the day from about one week after hatching, and fledglings then move into nearby Melaleuca habitat.
  • Wet season feeding movement: Wet season flooding can make low-lying breeding and feeding flats unavailable. Birds may move to higher rocky areas where grass seeds remain in rock crevices.
  • Highest clearing risk: Clearing and disturbance are most likely to harm the species from around May through July, when nests, eggs, chicks and recently fledged young may be present. Wet season works can also remove or isolate feeding habitat.

Identification

This is a small, brightly coloured parrot that spends much of its time on the ground. Males are much more conspicuous than females, while both sexes may be difficult to detect in dense grass or among termite mounds.

The male has bright green plumage with blue and gold colouring, red on the abdomen, gold on the wings and a black head. The female is duller, with less red on the abdomen and without the male's gold wing patches and black head.

The species often feeds on the ground in small parties or as pairs and single birds. It can be overlooked because it is relatively inconspicuous in open grassland and may flush from close to the ground.

Identification: Distinguishing features

The combination of a ground-feeding habit, Cape York open grassy habitat and nesting in tall conical termite mounds is a useful field combination. The species is associated with flat grassy areas, often surrounded by Melaleuca woodland or low open woodland.

Do not identify the bird from habitat alone. Confirm records with clear photographs, diagnostic plumage, an audio recording, or a well-documented observation by an experienced observer.

  • Conical mounds are the usual nest structures. Magnetic or meridian mounds can be used occasionally, but are less frequent as nest sites.
  • The species is distinct from the Hooded Parrot in its usual use of tall conical termite mounds and its Cape York distribution. The supplied material does not provide a full plumage comparison.

Identification: Field signs

The strongest field sign is an active or recently used termite mound with a small parrot entrance and excavation spoil below the opening. Nest chambers may be several centimetres to approximately 30 centimetres above ground, and reported entrances may be as high as about 1.5 metres on a mound.

Old mounds can contain several sealed chambers from previous breeding attempts. Termites may cover the entrance after the breeding season, so apparently inactive mounds can still be important.

Tracks, scats, eyeshine and roost signs are not described in the supplied documents. Calls are reported as similar to the sound of a Red-rumped Parrot, but call-only identification should be treated cautiously.

  • Search conical termite mounds systematically in open grassy flats and drainage depressions.
  • Inspect mounds from a distance first and avoid touching, climbing on or excavating them.
  • Look for parrots entering or leaving a mound, fresh spoil, repeated visits, or adults carrying food to a concealed chamber.

Distribution: Range and bioregional setting

The Golden-shouldered Parrot is endemic to Queensland and is now restricted to a small part of Cape York Peninsula. Its former range was much wider, but the current distribution has contracted to two small areas.

The species occurs in Queensland only. The documented range is on Cape York Peninsula, including areas associated with the Gulf Country and Einasleigh Uplands. The supplied documents do not provide a formal Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia bioregion list.

Historical breeding records extended from north of the Morehead River to south of Musgrave Station. Current records are concentrated in a much smaller area than the historical range.

Distribution: Strongholds and subpopulations

Known areas include Artemis, Musgrave and Dixie stations, and parts of Staaten National Park and other protected areas on Cape York Peninsula. The recovery plan also identifies populations or retreating-edge populations associated with Artemis, Dixie and Mary Valley.

Records and management involvement extend across Olkola, Wakamin, Thaypan, Kunjen and Kokoberrin Country. Access to some areas is difficult, particularly during the wet season, so absence from a site does not demonstrate that the species is absent.

Distribution: Population and trend

The population is declining and the species has been listed as Endangered nationally and in Queensland. The supplied extracts do not include the numerical adult population estimates from the recovery plan's population table, so a reliable total cannot be given here.

Local abundance can be very low. An account from Artemis described approximately one breeding pair per square kilometre in favourable country, but this is a local observation rather than a range-wide population estimate.

Current range: Contracted to two small areas

Trend: Declining

Local breeding density reported from Artemis: About one pair per square kilometre in favourable habitat

Habitat: Overall habitat

The species depends on open, grassy tropical savanna rather than closed woodland. Breeding habitat and wet season feeding habitat are especially sensitive to vegetation thickening, grazing pressure and inappropriate fire.

Typical habitat consists of drainage depressions, grassy flats and low open woodland with scattered termite mounds. Breeding sites recorded in the historical survey occurred in variable low open woodland communities with scattered termitaria.

At Artemis, suitable areas were described as flat grass plains surrounded by Melaleuca woodland. The species can also use rocky upland areas during the wet season when low-lying feeding areas are flooded.

Habitat: Structural features

Important habitat has an open ground layer with abundant seeding grasses, scattered termite mounds and enough nearby woodland or trees for cover and observation. Vegetation thickening reduces food availability and increases vulnerability to ambush predators.

Open conditions are maintained through appropriate fire management and control of total grazing pressure. Development assessments should map both the grassy feeding areas and the termite mounds within and beside the work area.

  • Open grassy flats and drainage depressions.
  • Scattered conical termite mounds, including old mounds with sealed nest chambers.
  • Melaleuca woodland or low open woodland around or beside the grassy areas.
  • Rocky hills and crevices that can provide wet season seed resources.

Habitat: Climate and elevation

The supplied documents place the species in tropical Cape York Peninsula and describe strong seasonal flooding of low-lying breeding and feeding areas. They do not provide a defined elevation limit or a numerical climatic envelope.

Surveys and impact assessments should account for wet season access constraints and temporary changes in water levels, rather than relying only on dry season observations.

Foraging habitat: Food plants

Golden-shouldered Parrots feed mainly on grass seeds and spend much of their feeding time on the ground. Food availability changes through the wet season, when flooded flats can become unavailable.

The diet is dominated by grass seeds. Documented food plants include native fire grass and grasses in the genera Panicum, Setaria and Eragrostis.

The species uses wet season feeding areas when seed is available. After flooding, birds may move to higher rocky areas where seeds remain in rock crevices.

  • Retain native seeding grasses in open flats and drainage depressions.
  • Avoid introducing grazing pressure that removes grass seed before the wet season.
  • Map higher rocky feeding areas as part of habitat assessments, particularly where low-lying flats flood.

Foraging habitat: Foraging behaviour and range

Birds feed on the ground and may occur in small parties of 6 to 10 birds, as well as pairs and single birds. They may forage around nesting flats during the breeding season and move to surrounding higher country during flooding.

The supplied documents do not provide a measured daily foraging distance or home range. A local account reported about one breeding pair per square kilometre at Artemis, but this should not be applied as a general home-range value.

Documented party size: 6 to 10 birds on three recorded occasions in the historical survey

Measured foraging range: Not reported in the supplied documents

Breeding habitat: Breeding biology

Breeding depends on suitable termite mounds within open grassy habitat. Nesting areas can remain important for many years because individual mounds may contain old, sealed chambers.

The female excavates or uses a chamber inside a termite mound. The male may inspect the entrance before the female enters, and both adults feed the young. After about a week, the adults may leave the nest during the day to find food while the chicks remain inside.

The supplied documents provide limited information on maturity, lifespan and exact clutch size. One field account observed four chicks in a nest, while the recovery material emphasises the importance of monitoring nests and breeding success.

Breeding season: Around May

Clutch or brood size: Exact typical clutch size not established in the supplied documents; one observed brood contained four chicks

Incubation: About 20 days

Age at maturity: Not reported in the supplied documents

Lifespan: Not reported in the supplied documents

Nest development: Adults may leave chicks unattended during the day from about one week after hatching while they forage

Breeding habitat: Breeding site requirements

Most nests are in conical termite mounds on grassy flats that may flood during the wet season. Historical surveys found nests in drainage depressions with scattered termitaria and variable low open woodland.

Conical mounds are used significantly more often than meridian or magnetic mounds, possibly because their internal temperatures fluctuate less. Breeding habitat must therefore retain both suitable mounds and the open grassland around them.

  • Survey and flag all termite mounds before clearing, access track construction or earthworks.
  • Establish exclusion buffers around active nests and avoid vibration, machinery traffic, stock access and direct damage to mounds during the breeding period.
  • Retain open vegetation around mounds and avoid creating dense regrowth that reduces access, food availability or predator detection.

Sheltering habitat: Termite mound refuges

The main shelter and breeding refuge is a chamber inside a termite mound. Adults and fledglings also use nearby Melaleuca woodland, rocky areas and open country for cover and movement.

Golden-shouldered Parrots excavate nest chambers in termite mounds. Conical mounds are usually preferred, although magnetic or meridian mounds can occasionally be used.

The documented conical mounds are about 2 metres high and about 45 centimetres in diameter in one field account. Nest entrances were reported from close to ground level to about 1.5 metres above ground, with one account describing entrances around 30 centimetres above ground.

Typical conical mound height reported: About 2 metres

Typical conical mound diameter reported: About 45 centimetres

Reported nest entrance height: Close to ground level to about 1.5 metres above ground

  • Treat all suitable termite mounds as potential habitat, including mounds without an obvious active entrance.
  • Do not remove, collapse, fill, burn intensely over or use as machinery turning points on termite mounds.
  • Inspect mounds for old sealed chambers because a mound may be reused in later breeding seasons.

Sheltering habitat: Non-breeding cover

After fledging, birds move into nearby Melaleuca habitat and may use surrounding mountains or rocky country during wet season flooding. The supplied documents do not describe separate roost trees, cavities or communal roosts.

Retain connected movement routes between termite mound flats, nearby woodland and higher wet season feeding areas.

Threats: Clearing and development

The main risks are loss of open grassy habitat, reduced seed supply, damage to termite mounds and increased predation. Clearing and construction can affect the species directly by removing nests and indirectly by changing fire, grazing, drainage and vegetation structure.

Mining, clearing, infrastructure and other land use changes can remove nesting mounds, wet season feeding habitat and movement routes. The recovery plan specifically calls for proposed development and land use change to be assessed and managed so they do not threaten recovery.

Before works, map termite mounds, open grassy flats, drainage depressions, rocky wet season feeding areas and nearby Melaleuca woodland. Avoid clearing habitat around known nests and retain links between breeding and feeding areas.

  • Use a qualified fauna spotter catcher to inspect termite mounds and surrounding grassland before clearing.
  • Suspend works if an active nest is found and obtain species-specific advice from the relevant Queensland and Commonwealth environment authorities.
  • Control dust, vehicle access, vibration and night lighting near active nests and important feeding areas.

Threats: Fire and vegetation thickening

Changed fire regimes can allow grasslands to become wooded. Vegetation thickening reduces grass seed availability and makes parrots more vulnerable to ambush predators.

Poorly timed or excessively intense fire can also remove food, damage nesting habitat and reduce the condition of the open flats on which the species depends. Fire planning should be developed with the recovery team, Traditional Owners and land managers.

  • Maintain open nesting and wet season feeding habitat through adaptive fire management.
  • Avoid applying a generic fire interval without considering grass seed production, nest mounds, wet season timing and local Traditional Owner knowledge.
  • Prevent unplanned wildfire from converting open grassland to dense Melaleuca regrowth.

Threats: Grazing and nest damage

Cattle, feral pigs and native herbivores can reduce wet season grasses and damage termite mounds. Grazing pressure can remove the food base before seed is available to parrots.

The recovery program identifies herbivore exclusion, total grazing pressure management and wet season feeding sanctuaries as management responses.

  • Exclude cattle and feral pigs from active nesting areas and important wet season feeding areas where practicable.
  • Prevent vehicles, stock and earthworks from damaging termite mounds.
  • Monitor grass seed production and mound condition after changes in grazing management.

Threats: Predators and other threats

Documented predators include brown goshawks, black-backed butcherbirds, yellow-spotted monitors and feral cats. Vegetation thickening can increase ambush risk, while the recovery plan also identifies loss of black-faced woodswallows and changes in dingo populations as issues requiring further investigation.

The recovery plan identifies adverse weather, climate change, weeds, pest animals and disease spread as new or emerging threats. The supplied documents do not provide species-specific evidence for road mortality or a measured disease impact.

  • Limit predator-attracting food waste and avoid creating artificial perches or dense edge habitat beside active nesting areas.
  • Manage feral animals in accordance with approved threatened species programs.
  • Treat road and drainage impacts as site-specific risks and assess them where works cross known breeding or feeding habitat.
  • Prevent the movement of contaminated equipment, soil and animals between sites where disease or pest spread is a concern.

Survey methodology: 1. Habitat and termite mound inspection

The Golden-shouldered Parrot is a ground-feeding parrot of open grassy flats, drainage depressions and low open woodland. It nests in termite mounds, so surveys must examine both birds and the condition and use of termite mounds. No species-specific survey guideline was provided in the source material, so the methods below are project-level field practice based on the species’ documented habitat and behaviour.

Map open grassy flats, drainage depressions, wet season feeding areas, low open woodland and all termite mounds before selecting survey locations.

Inspect conical termite mounds closely for entrance holes, fresh excavation, soil spoil, feathers, droppings, tracks and other signs of current or recent nesting.

Record the location, mound type, mound condition, apparent height and evidence of use for every mound within the disturbance area and retained buffer.

Give particular attention to conical mounds, which are used more often for nest tunnels than meridian or magnetic mounds.

Documented nest setting: Drainage depressions with scattered termite mounds and variable low open woodland.

Documented food plants: Panicum, Setaria and Eragrostis grasses.

Survey methodology: 2. Diurnal searches and behavioural observations

Search on foot across open grassy habitat and around termite mounds during daylight, recording birds feeding on the ground, flying between feeding areas and nearby woodland, or entering mounds.

Use several transects or search areas that cover the full proposed disturbance footprint, retained habitat and adjoining habitat that may provide wet season food.

Record the date, start and finish time, weather, observer hours, transect length, area searched, number of birds, behaviour and habitat condition.

Treat a lack of detections as inconclusive where vegetation is thick, access is restricted, the wet season has reduced access, or the survey does not cover suitable grassy habitat.

Typical feeding behaviour: The species spends much of its time on the ground feeding on grass seeds.

Social observations reported in surveys: Small parties of 6 to 10 birds, pairs and single birds have been recorded.

Survey methodology: 3. Dawn, dusk and targeted nest searches

Conduct repeated dawn and late-afternoon searches when birds are likely to move between termite mounds, feeding areas and nearby woodland.

Watch active or potentially active mounds from a distance before approaching, and record adults entering or leaving, alarm behaviour, fledglings and food-carrying behaviour.

Do not insert mirrors, probes or other equipment into a mound during a project survey unless the work is authorised, the method is approved in the fauna management plan and a suitably qualified person is present.

If breeding activity is suspected, establish a temporary no-entry area and obtain advice from the relevant wildlife authority before disturbance.

Breeding period reported in source material: Around May.

Incubation reported in source material: About 20 days.

Nest structure: A tunnel and chamber excavated inside a termite mound, usually close to the ground.

Survey methodology: 4. Seasonal and survey-condition planning

Schedule at least one survey period when grass seed resources and wet season feeding habitat can be assessed, because food availability changes after flooding and during the wet season.

Plan access and repeat visits around Cape York wet season conditions, noting that some areas may not be accessible until August to October.

Record recent fire, grazing, flooding, vegetation thickening and feral animal activity because these factors affect habitat suitability and the likelihood of detecting birds.

Use remote cameras only where they can be installed without blocking mound entrances or disturbing breeding birds, and inspect equipment regularly.

Wet season habitat: Flooded grassy flats can become unavailable for feeding, while rocky hills and crevices may provide seed resources after other grasses germinate.

Documented survey equipment: Infrared cameras have been used to monitor nests, breeding success and predation events.

Survey methodology: Minimum effort and reporting

  • Prepare a written survey design before fieldwork that states the survey area, dates, observer hours, transect lengths, search conditions, weather, access constraints and reasons for any repeat visits.
  • Survey all termite mounds and suitable open grassy habitat within the proposed disturbance footprint, and map suitable habitat and mounds in adjoining retained areas that could be affected by works.
  • Repeat searches where the first survey occurs in unsuitable weather, after heavy flooding, during dense vegetation growth, or when access prevents coverage of suitable habitat.
  • Report every detection, nest sign, mound location and negative survey result with coordinates, photographs and habitat notes.
  • Submit verified records to the relevant Queensland wildlife database and to the relevant state or territory wildlife database if the project is outside Queensland.
  • Check current Queensland and Commonwealth survey, threatened species and permitting requirements before fieldwork, because the supplied documents do not provide a prescribed survey effort or current database name.

Before habitat disturbance: Avoid and minimise habitat loss

Avoiding disturbance to open grassy feeding areas and termite mound nest sites is the preferred control. A project that may affect this species’ habitat must be assessed against Commonwealth and Queensland requirements before clearing or construction starts.

  • Redesign the works to retain open grassy flats, drainage depressions, wet season feeding areas, low open woodland and all termite mounds that show current or recent use.
  • Retain connected areas between nesting habitat, wet season feeding areas and nearby rocky or elevated feeding habitat where these features occur together.
  • Do not assume that an apparently unused termite mound is insignificant, because old mounds may contain several covered nest chambers and may be reused.
  • Prevent vegetation thickening in retained habitat where it reduces open grass cover, while ensuring any fire treatment is prepared and approved by the land manager and relevant authorities.

Before habitat disturbance: Approvals and work planning

  • Assess whether the action is likely to have a significant impact on the nationally listed Golden-shouldered Parrot and refer the action under the EPBC Act where required.
  • Obtain Queensland threatened species, wildlife handling, clearing, protected area and fire approvals that apply to the site and proposed activity.
  • Prepare a fauna management plan that identifies survey results, mapped habitat, mound protection areas, exclusion zones, fauna spotter catcher roles, stop-work triggers, incident reporting and post-clearance checks.
  • Stage clearing so that retained habitat remains available and connected throughout the works, and so that high-risk activities avoid confirmed or suspected nesting activity.
  • Schedule works outside confirmed nesting activity where practicable, noting that breeding is reported around May and that wet season access and food conditions require site-specific planning.

Before habitat disturbance: Site preparation

  • Complete a pre-clearance inspection immediately before works, including a systematic inspection of termite mounds and open grassy feeding habitat.
  • Mark all confirmed or suspected nest mounds, suitable mound clusters, retained feeding habitat and exclusion areas on plans and on the ground.
  • Install exclusion fencing or other visible controls around retained habitat where plant movement, stock, vehicles or workers could damage mounds or compact feeding areas.
  • Brief machinery operators and all contractors on the species’ appearance, ground-feeding behaviour, mound nests, stop-work triggers and reporting procedure.
  • Keep machinery, spoil, sediment, chemicals and access tracks out of retained grassy habitat and away from termite mounds.

During habitat disturbance: Daily controls and spotter catcher protocol

Clearing and earthworks must proceed under direct ecological controls. The fauna spotter catcher should have authority to pause work whenever a bird, nest, mound or other unexpected habitat feature is encountered.

  • Inspect the work area and exclusion controls at the start of each shift and after storms, flooding, fire or changes to the work footprint.
  • Keep a suitably authorised fauna spotter catcher present during vegetation clearing and ground disturbance in or near mapped habitat.
  • Clear in short, controlled stages towards retained habitat, using machinery at low speed and stopping when the spotter catcher signals.
  • Maintain clear communication between the spotter catcher, machine operator, supervisor and environmental officer throughout each clearing operation.
  • Do not drive over termite mounds, disturb mound material, stockpile soil on grassy feeding areas or use retained habitat for access or laydown.

During habitat disturbance: Fauna and habitat feature response

  • Stop the machine immediately if a Golden-shouldered Parrot is seen, flushed, injured, trapped or suspected to be inside the work area.
  • Allow the bird to leave naturally where it can do so safely, and do not chase, net or handle it unless handling is necessary and permitted.
  • If a nest, active mound, eggs, chicks or dependent fledgling is found, stop work around the feature, protect it from people and machinery, and obtain advice from the environmental officer and relevant wildlife authority.
  • Only an appropriately authorised and experienced person may capture or relocate a bird, and handling must be limited to what is necessary for safety, assessment or lawful relocation.
  • Relocate a healthy bird only when authorised and when the receiving site is nearby, suitable, outside the disturbance area and agreed in the fauna management plan.
  • Take an injured bird to an appropriately qualified veterinarian or licensed wildlife carer as soon as practicable, recording the chain of custody and advice received.
  • Do not dismantle, move or fill a termite mound containing suspected nesting activity without written approval and specialist advice.

During habitat disturbance: Stop-work triggers and records

  • Stop work and reassess if an active or suspected nest mound is found, if birds repeatedly return to the work area, or if a bird is injured or unable to move away safely.
  • Stop work if exclusion fencing fails, mapped habitat is entered, clearing extends beyond the approved footprint, or machinery damages a retained mound.
  • Record the date, time, coordinates, work activity, bird or nest evidence, photographs, personnel involved, action taken, authority consulted and time work resumed.
  • Report any death, injury, unauthorised clearing, mound damage or breach of an approval immediately under the fauna management plan and approval conditions.
  • Keep daily clearing maps, pre-start checklists, fauna interaction forms, photographs and relocation or veterinary records with the project environmental records.

After habitat disturbance: Post-clearance inspection

Post-clearance checks must confirm that no birds, nests or dependent young remain at risk and that retained habitat has not been damaged. Monitoring should test whether the habitat controls are working, not only whether birds are detected.

  • Inspect the cleared footprint, access routes, spoil areas and retained habitat at the end of each clearing stage and again before handover to construction.
  • Recheck termite mounds near the disturbance edge for physical damage, blocked entrances, fresh excavation and signs of continuing use.
  • Search for injured birds, carcasses, feathers, droppings and other evidence of fauna interaction, and escalate findings under the project incident procedure.
  • Repair or replace damaged exclusion fencing and remove soil, waste, sediment or equipment that has entered retained habitat.

After habitat disturbance: Monitoring and reporting

  • Monitor retained open grassy habitat, mound condition, vegetation thickening, grazing pressure, feral animal activity and fire treatment outcomes at intervals set in the fauna management plan.
  • Use repeat diurnal searches, targeted mound inspections and remote cameras where justified by the approval conditions or risk assessment.
  • Compare monitoring results with the pre-clearance baseline, including mapped mound locations, habitat condition, bird detections and evidence of breeding.
  • Report survey effort, detections, injuries, mortalities, habitat damage, corrective actions, approvals and database submissions to the project environmental officer and relevant authorities.

After habitat disturbance: Ongoing controls and offsets

  • Maintain habitat exclusion fencing, access controls, weed controls and fire management measures for as long as specified in the approval conditions or fauna management plan.
  • Implement approved offsets or conservation actions where residual impacts remain after avoidance and mitigation.
  • Ensure any offset or compensatory action protects and manages suitable open grassy habitat and termite mound nesting resources rather than relying only on general woodland protection.
  • Review the management plan if monitoring shows declining habitat condition, loss of mound use, increasing predation or failure to maintain grass seed resources.

Rehabilitation actions: Restore habitat structure and food

Rehabilitation should restore the open grassy structure, termite mound resource and seasonal food supply used by the species. Planting dense woodland over former open feeding or nesting areas is not an appropriate default outcome.

  • Regrade disturbed drainage depressions and wet season feeding areas so that natural drainage and seasonal access are maintained.
  • Re-establish open grass cover using locally appropriate native grasses, including documented food genera such as Panicum, Setaria and Eragrostis, where suitable for the site.
  • Control weeds and prevent rapid vegetation thickening that converts open grassland to dense woodland.
  • Do not plant dense tree cover across open nesting flats, and retain scattered low open woodland where it forms part of the documented habitat structure.
  • Protect rehabilitated feeding areas from cattle, feral pigs and excessive native herbivore pressure where grazing would remove grass seed or damage mounds.

Rehabilitation actions: Termite mounds and habitat features

  • Retain undamaged termite mounds in place wherever practicable, because the species excavates nest tunnels in existing mounds.
  • Do not manufacture or relocate termite mounds as a substitute for retaining natural mounds unless the method has been developed and approved by a suitably qualified specialist and the relevant authorities.
  • Reinstate natural ground contours and drainage around retained mounds, and keep vehicles, erosion, sediment and stock away from them.
  • Use nest boxes only if a recovery specialist and the relevant authority approve them as a site-specific intervention, because the supplied documents identify termite mounds as the normal nest resource and do not provide a nest box design.

Rehabilitation actions: Fire, predators and grazing

  • Prepare an adaptive fire management program with Traditional Owners, landholders and fire authorities to maintain open nesting and wet season feeding habitat.
  • Use local knowledge and monitoring to set the timing, extent and intensity of burns, rather than applying a uniform fire regime across all retained habitat.
  • Control feral pigs and other introduced animals where they damage nests, mounds or wet season feeding areas, and manage grazing pressure from cattle and native herbivores.
  • Assess predation pressure and emerging pest, weed, disease and climate risks during rehabilitation monitoring.
  • Use wet season feeding sanctuaries that exclude introduced and native herbivores where they are identified as an appropriate recovery action.

Rehabilitation actions: Success measures and monitoring

  • Set measurable rehabilitation targets for open grass cover, grass seed availability, mound condition, absence of damaging vegetation thickening, grazing pressure and access by feral animals.
  • Map rehabilitation plots and inspect them at the same time of year as the baseline survey where practicable.
  • Use repeated bird searches and mound inspections to test whether Golden-shouldered Parrots return to feed, nest or move through the restored area.
  • Record failures such as erosion, weed invasion, dense regrowth, mound damage, inadequate grass establishment or continued grazing, and apply corrective management.
  • Continue monitoring until the environmental approval conditions and the agreed rehabilitation criteria have been met.

Sources