Fauna Spotters logo

Magpie Goose (Anseranas semipalmata)

The Magpie Goose is a large, social wetland bird of shallow floodplains, swamps and wet grasslands across northern and eastern Australia. It is listed as vulnerable in New South Wales and Victoria, and endangered in South Australia, so wetland clearing, drainage, altered flooding and disturbance around breeding areas require particular care.

Conservation status

New South Wales, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Vulnerable.

Victoria, Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988: Vulnerable.

South Australia, National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972: Endangered.

Breeding season

Timing differs between northern and southern Australia. The table combines the best-supported regional pattern and should be adjusted to local rainfall, flooding and breeding records.

The species is not a long-distance seasonal migrant in the supplied sources. It is resident or nomadic, with movements linked to wet and dry conditions, food availability and breeding habitat.

  • Breeding, northern Australia: Breeding is reported mainly from February to April in northern Australia and often follows flooding.
  • Breeding, southern Australia: Breeding in southern Australia is thought to occur mainly from August to October. Magpie Goose breeding has been recorded in the Gwydir wetlands after major floods.
  • Young and family groups: Young leave the nest within about 24 hours in one account, fledge at about three months, and may remain dependent on adults until the following wet season. The months shown represent the approximate periods following the northern and southern breeding seasons.
  • Movement between wetlands: Groups move in response to food availability, flooding and breeding habitat. Movements are not restricted to one fixed migration period. Most movements are less than 120 km when resources are abundant, but movements up to 500 km can occur when resources are scarce.
  • Highest clearing risk: Risk is highest during regional breeding and the period when young remain dependent. Confirm local breeding activity after flooding before clearing, slashing, burning or draining wetland habitat.

Identification

The Magpie Goose is a very large, distinctive black and white waterbird. It is often conspicuous because it feeds and roosts in groups, but breeding birds can be difficult to approach in dense wetland vegetation.

Adults have a black head, neck, upper mantle, wings and tail, contrasting with a white body and rump. The legs are orange, the bill is pale flesh coloured, and both sexes have a prominent knob on the crown, which is larger in males and increases with age.

The feet are only partly webbed, with webbing at the base of the toes. This is unusual among Australian waterfowl and supports the species' habit of walking and feeding on wet ground as well as swimming.

Adult length: Male 75 to 90 cm; female 70 to 80 cm.

Adult weight: Male about 2.8 kg; female about 2.0 kg.

  • Juveniles have greyer or browner plumage and lack the prominent adult crown knob.
  • The call is a loud honk, which can help locate birds in dense reeds or wet grass.
  • Nests are simple cups on floating platforms of trampled reeds or in tree tops.

Identification: Similar species

The Black Swan is similar in size, but has a longer neck, an almost entirely black body, a bright red bill with a pale bar and greyish black legs. The Magpie Goose has a pale flesh coloured bill, orange legs and a contrasting white body.

  • Check the orange legs, pale bill, white body and crown knob before recording a large black and white waterbird as a Magpie Goose.
  • Do not rely on body colour alone when birds are distant or partly hidden in reeds.

Identification: Field signs

Useful field signs are loud honking calls, groups feeding in shallow water or wet grassland, and communal nests made from reeds. Adults may defend nests and young by wing beating, pecking and using their clawed feet.

  • Search floating reed platforms, dense rushes and tree tops close to deep water for nests.
  • Record calling birds, flock size, feeding habitat, nest locations and evidence of dependent young.
  • No species-specific track, scat, slough or eyeshine descriptions are provided in the supplied documents.

Distribution: National range

The current Australian range is concentrated in northern Australia, with remnant or reintroduced populations farther south and east. Distribution is strongly associated with low-lying wetlands, river floodplains and other shallow wet areas.

The species occurs in Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland, with records and populations extending into New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. It also occurs in New Guinea.

The current range is mainly in monsoonal northern Australia. The historical range was broader and included coastal and wetland areas of southern Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.

  • Northern strongholds include the coastal floodplains and wetlands of the Northern Territory, including the Mary River and South Alligator River areas.
  • Queensland and northern Western Australia support major parts of the current range.
  • Southern records are more localised and are associated with suitable wetlands, including the Gwydir wetlands in New South Wales.

Distribution: Strongholds and population information

The Northern Territory population may sometimes reach three million birds, and the total Australian population has been estimated at more than four million birds. These figures are from the supplied 2011 assessment and should not be treated as current survey estimates.

The species has experienced a substantial reduction in its historical range since European settlement. Some successful reintroductions have occurred in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.

Estimated Australian population: More than four million birds, based on the 2011 assessment.

Possible Northern Territory population: Up to about three million birds in some years.

Historical range estimate: Approximately 236,000 km².

  • The Gwydir wetlands are a recognised southern breeding area, with increased breeding recorded during major floods.
  • The species was recorded in the Gwydir River Selected Area during 2020 to 2021, including evidence of breeding in autumn 2021.

Habitat: Wetland types

Magpie Geese use shallow wetlands and adjoining wet ground where aquatic vegetation is available. They can walk and run on land, so habitat assessment should include wetland margins, floodplains and nearby wet grassland, not only open water.

Preferred settings include low-lying river floodplains, shallow marshes, swamps, wet grasslands and wetlands formed by runoff. The species can use both aquatic and terrestrial parts of a wetland system.

In the Gwydir, the species was recorded across a wetland network containing channels, floodplain wetlands and waterholes. Wet sites supported substantially more waterbird species than dry sites, and floodplain wetlands supported more species than channels.

  • Map shallow wetland basins, flood runners, channels, waterholes, wet grasslands and reed beds before clearing.
  • Include wetland edges and dry banks used for roosting in habitat assessments.
  • Treat temporary wetlands as potential habitat where flooding can produce suitable food and nesting vegetation.

Habitat: Vegetation and physical structure

Important vegetation includes tall reeds, rushes, sedges, wet grasses and aquatic plants. Nests are built in tall supporting vegetation, often over deep water and beside grasses that provide food for young.

The current distribution is mainly in monsoonal regions, while the species historically occupied more temperate parts of southern Australia.

Elevation: No elevation limits are given in the supplied documents.

Climate range: Current distribution is mainly monsoonal, with historical occurrence in more temperate southern regions.

  • Retain tall reed and rush stands, especially where they are surrounded by shallow or deep water.
  • Retain wet grassland adjoining open water because birds feed on grass blades and seeds as well as aquatic plants.
  • Assess hydrological connections and flood history because breeding and food availability depend strongly on flooding.

Foraging habitat: Food plants

Magpie Geese are specialised herbivores that feed in shallow water, wet grassland and soft wet soil. They often forage in large, noisy flocks and may move between wetlands as food and water conditions change.

The diet consists mainly of grass blades and seeds, wild rice, sedges and other aquatic vegetation. Important food plants named in the supplied sources include wild rice, Oryza, Paspalum, Panicum and spike-rush, Eleocharis.

During dry periods, birds rely more on sedge rhizomes, roots and bulbs. They may also consume exotic fruit and root crops, pasture and rice crops.

  • Inspect shallow wetlands for wild rice, sedges, rushes, grasses and soft mud suitable for digging.
  • Record feeding flocks and the plant communities being used, particularly where works may remove wetland vegetation.
  • Include adjoining pasture and rice fields in impact assessments where birds are known to feed outside the wetland.

Foraging habitat: Feeding method and movements

Birds feed by grazing, stripping seed heads, upending in shallow water and excavating bulbs and rhizomes from soft mud or soil. They may feed in water to about 0.7 m deep.

Groups usually move less than 120 km when resources are abundant, but movements of up to 500 km have been recorded when resources are extremely scarce. Seasonal movements are linked to food availability and breeding habitat.

Typical movement when resources are abundant: Usually less than 120 km.

Movement when resources are scarce: Up to 500 km in one event has been recorded.

Maximum reported feeding depth: About 0.7 m.

  • Search both wetland vegetation and shallow mud margins during fauna surveys.
  • Avoid assuming that birds remain within the wetland where they were observed, particularly during drought or changing flood conditions.
  • Record flock direction and nearby alternative wetlands when construction may disrupt access between feeding areas.

Breeding habitat: Breeding biology

Breeding is linked to flooding and the growth of tall wetland vegetation. Magpie Geese may breed as pairs or in groups, and several adults can share incubation and care of young.

Breeding groups commonly include one male and two females, although communal nesting can involve three or more females laying in one nest. All members of the group may incubate and guard the eggs.

Breeding often follows flooding and the emergence of wetland vegetation. In northern Australia, breeding is reported mainly from February to April. In southern Australia, breeding is thought to occur mainly from August to October.

Breeding season: Northern Australia, February to April. Southern Australia, August to October. Other sources report February to June more generally.

Eggs: A clutch is reported as 3 to 8 eggs in one source. Communal nests may contain about 17 eggs, with one female contributing 5 to 11 eggs.

Incubation: About 23 to 25 days in northern Australia, and 24 to 35 days in another account.

Fledging: About three months after hatching.

Age at maturity: Females about two years; males about two to four years.

Lifespan: More than 32 years in the wild has been reported.

  • Look for nests in large rushy swamps, dense reed beds and tall vegetation over or close to deep water.
  • Treat occupied nests and nearby adults as sensitive to approach because adults may defend eggs and young.
  • Retain nearby feeding grasses because young are fed from vegetation close to the nest.

Breeding habitat: Nest structure and breeding conditions

Nests are simple, unlined cups placed on floating platforms of trampled reeds or in tree tops. The species does not use tree hollows.

Nests are commonly placed in tall supporting vegetation over deep water and beside grasses that can be reached by young. In the Gwydir wetlands, increased Magpie Goose breeding was recorded during major floods, and breeding was also recorded during autumn 2021.

  • Protect reed and rush stands with intact water around them during the relevant regional breeding period.
  • Avoid draining, filling, slashing or burning nesting vegetation after flooding has produced suitable breeding habitat.
  • Survey wetland vegetation and open water together because nests, adults and feeding areas may be close but separated by dense cover.

Sheltering habitat: Roosts and refuge

The species uses wetland vegetation for nesting and nearby dry or wooded areas for resting. Roosting habitat can therefore extend beyond the area of open water.

Magpie Geese roost on dry water banks, in trees within wet woodlands and on the water in deep wetlands. Family groups may remain together, while non-breeding birds can gather in large flocks.

Nests provide shelter for eggs and are placed on floating reed platforms or in tree tops. No nest, roost, burrow or refuge dimensions are provided in the supplied documents.

Tree hollows: Not used for nesting.

Refuge dimensions: No dimensions are provided for nests, roosts or other shelter sites.

  • Inspect dry banks, wet woodland edges, deep water and reed beds for roosting birds.
  • Retain roost trees and wetland edge vegetation where they are connected to feeding and nesting areas.
  • Avoid night works, high noise and vehicle access near concentrated roosts where practicable.

Sheltering habitat: Handling and disturbance

Adults may defend eggs and young by beating with their wings, pecking and slashing with their clawed feet. Unprovoked attacks are not reported, but personnel should avoid cornering or handling adults during breeding.

  • Use a spotter catcher or suitably experienced fauna handler where birds must be moved from an active work area.
  • Maintain an escape route to open water and avoid driving birds into dense vegetation, fencing or traffic.
  • Record roost and refuge locations so they can be included in daily exclusion and movement plans.

Threats: Clearing and hydrology change

The main risks are loss and degradation of wetlands, altered flooding and disturbance of breeding and feeding habitat. The species has declined across parts of its historical range even though large populations remain in northern Australia.

Historical range loss has been associated with settlement, wetland drainage, poisoning and destruction of habitat through cattle grazing. Clearing or filling floodplain wetlands can remove feeding, nesting and roosting habitat at the same time.

Breeding often depends on flooding and the emergence of wetland vegetation. Water extraction, levees, drainage, altered flood timing and reduced inundation can therefore affect breeding and food supply.

  • Avoid clearing reed beds, rushes, wet grassland and wetland margins where birds are present or where recent flooding has produced suitable habitat.
  • Assess how works may change inundation depth, duration, connectivity and timing across the wetland.
  • Include temporary and seasonal wetlands in impact assessments, not only permanently inundated areas.
  • Retain links between feeding wetlands, nesting vegetation, dry banks and roost trees.

Threats: Agriculture and infrastructure

Magpie Geese may feed on pasture, rice and other crops, and can damage crops while feeding. This can lead to conflict and management actions near agricultural areas.

Roads, construction areas and temporary works can block movement between wetlands or increase disturbance at concentrated feeding and roosting sites. The supplied documents do not provide species-specific road mortality rates.

  • Identify nearby wetlands and crop fields used by flocks before establishing haul roads, fencing or construction compounds.
  • Use wildlife-aware traffic controls where roads cross regular movement routes between wetlands.
  • Do not assume that a flock observed at one wetland represents the full local use area.

Threats: Predators, fire and disease

Eggs and young are vulnerable to pythons, large lizards, Whistling Kites, White-bellied Sea-Eagles, dingoes, water rats and other predators. Adults are less vulnerable but may be hunted where permitted.

The supplied documents identify avian cholera, botulism and pathogenic avian influenza as diseases that may cause illness or mass mortality. They do not provide a species-specific fire regime or fire mortality estimate.

  • Avoid burning dense nesting and feeding vegetation during the regional breeding period or after flooding has created suitable habitat.
  • Manage fire so that reed beds, rush swamps and wet grassland are not removed across an entire wetland unit.
  • Do not handle sick or dead birds without following the project's biosecurity and wildlife disease procedures.
  • Report unusual mortality, neurological signs or clusters of dead waterbirds to the relevant state or territory authority.

Survey methodology: 1. Wetland point counts and transects

Survey Magpie Geese in and around shallow wetlands, floodplain wetlands, swamps, wet grasslands, channels and waterholes. Prioritise visual and aural searches when wetlands are inundated, because geese use open water, wet margins and tall emergent vegetation for feeding, nesting and roosting.

Survey all accessible water, mudflat, wetland edge and fringing vegetation from fixed points, using walking transects between points where needed.

Search during daylight and record birds detected visually or aurally, including birds in adjacent terrestrial areas.

Use 10x binoculars and a spotting telescope with up to 45x zoom where required for larger or more distant wetlands.

Spend at least 20 minutes at each site, extending the search to 1 hour where needed for the visible water, margins and species accumulation rate to plateau.

Repeat the same routes and observation procedure across survey periods and have the same observers conduct repeat surveys where practicable.

Minimum observation time: 20 minutes per site

Extended observation time: Up to 1 hour per site

Documented equipment: 10x binoculars and spotting telescope to 45x zoom

Survey methodology: 2. Repeat surveys across wetland conditions

Visit each accessible survey site on at least two separate days within each survey period where practicable, and use the maximum count from replicate surveys for analysis.

Survey both a wetter period and a drier period where the project program allows, because waterbird richness, density, diversity and breeding activity vary with inundation.

Classify a site as wet when more than 10 percent is inundated and record the percentage inundated area, vegetation type, vegetation cover and weather conditions for each replicate.

Include channels, floodplain wetlands and waterholes in the survey design, because these habitat types support different bird assemblages.

Wet site threshold: More than 10 percent inundated

Dry site threshold: Less than 10 percent inundated

Reference survey periods: Spring 2020 and autumn 2021 in the Gwydir program

Survey methodology: 3. Breeding and habitat-feature search

Search tall rushes, reeds, floating vegetation, wet grassland and secluded wetland margins for nests, broods and adults showing breeding behaviour.

Record the number of broods or nests and the location, habitat type, water depth or inundation status and any proposed disturbance near the record.

Give added attention to wetlands following flooding or environmental flows, because Magpie Goose breeding is associated with flooding and breeding activity increased in the Gwydir during wetter conditions.

Do not enter dense nesting areas unless access is necessary and authorised, and use a telescope from the wetland edge where this provides adequate detection.

Documented breeding period: February to April in northern Australia; August to October is reported for southern Australia

Alternative breeding period reported: February to June

Gwydir observation: Magpie Geese were recorded breeding in autumn 2021

Survey methodology: Minimum effort and reporting

  • Map all wetlands, floodplain depressions, channels, waterholes, wet grasslands and adjoining roosting areas within and immediately beside the disturbance footprint.
  • Complete at least two visits on separate days at each accessible site within each survey period where practicable.
  • Record survey date, start and finish time, observers, weather, visibility, inundated area, habitat type, survey route, equipment, detection method, number of birds, age class where identifiable, nests, broods and behaviour.
  • Record zero detections and inaccessible or dry sites, rather than omitting them from the survey record.
  • Submit confirmed records and breeding observations to the relevant state or territory wildlife database, and retain the project spatial data and survey sheets with the environmental records.
  • Check current state or territory survey, animal welfare, wildlife handling and threatened-species requirements before fieldwork, because the supplied documents do not provide a single national survey guideline for every jurisdiction.

Before habitat disturbance: Avoid and minimise habitat loss

Treat wetland water, emergent vegetation and nearby dry roosting areas as connected habitat. Avoid disturbance wherever practicable, particularly when birds are nesting, raising young or concentrated by low water availability.

  • Retain shallow wetlands, floodplain wetlands, swamps, wet grasslands, channels and waterholes within and beside the project area.
  • Retain tall rushes, reeds and other supporting vegetation used for nests, and retain adjacent grass and wetland margins that provide food for adults and young.
  • Maintain movement between retained wetlands and nearby feeding, roosting and refuge areas, because Magpie Geese move in response to water and food availability.
  • Keep machinery, laydown areas, access tracks, spoil and sediment controls out of wetland margins unless the approved design specifically allows them.
  • Avoid draining, filling, diverting or substantially changing wetland water regimes, as breeding is associated with flooding and the species depends on wetland vegetation and shallow water.

Before habitat disturbance: Approvals and work planning

  • Confirm the project species and habitat triggers against current Commonwealth, state and territory legislation before works start.
  • The supplied listing records Magpie Goose as not listed under the EPBC Act and as vulnerable in New South Wales and Victoria and endangered in South Australia; obtain current legal advice and state approvals because the supplied sources contain differing descriptions of Commonwealth status.
  • Obtain any required state or territory permits for taking, handling, possessing, moving or disturbing protected wildlife, and ensure the fauna spotter catcher is appropriately authorised.
  • Schedule wetland disturbance outside the relevant breeding period where practicable, using February to April for northern Australia and August to October for southern Australia as the more specific regional guidance in the supplied material.
  • If timing cannot avoid breeding, stage the works, establish no-go areas around active nests and broods, and obtain written approval for the mitigation approach.

Before habitat disturbance: Pre-clearance preparation

  • Complete a pre-clearance inspection immediately before works, covering the disturbance footprint, wetland margins, adjoining retained habitat and access routes.
  • Mark wetland boundaries, nests, broods, dense nesting vegetation, roosting areas and retained habitat on plans and on the ground before machinery enters.
  • Install exclusion fencing or other visible barriers where these will prevent machinery and people entering retained wetlands or breeding areas without restricting bird movement between retained habitat patches.
  • Brief operators and supervisors on the species' appearance, loud calls, wetland habitat, stop-work triggers and the location of exclusion zones.
  • Include the survey results, maps, permit conditions, contact details, handling limits, release sites, injured-animal arrangements and incident forms in the fauna management plan.

During habitat disturbance: Daily controls and machinery interface

Use a controlled, low-disturbance work sequence around wetlands. A fauna spotter catcher must have authority to stop work and must coordinate directly with the machine operator and site supervisor.

  • Inspect exclusion fencing, wetland boundaries and no-go markers at the start of each shift and after rainfall, flooding, vehicle movement or maintenance.
  • The fauna spotter catcher must inspect the next work area before clearing, then remain in communication with the operator while vegetation, soil or wetland margins are disturbed.
  • Clear towards retained habitat where this is safe and consistent with the approved method, so animals have an opportunity to move away from machinery.
  • Use low speed and short work sections near wetlands, stop the machine when the spotter catcher signals, and do not resume until the spotter confirms that the area is clear or an approved response is in place.
  • Do not chase, herd, corner or repeatedly flush Magpie Geese, and keep workers and machinery away from active nests, broods and dense nesting vegetation.

During habitat disturbance: Wetland and habitat-feature protection

  • Prevent sediment, fuel, concrete washout, herbicide and other pollutants from entering retained wetlands, channels and waterholes.
  • Do not remove reeds, rushes, floating vegetation or wet grassland used for feeding, nesting or cover unless removal is authorised and the fauna management plan provides controls.
  • Treat active nests and broods as stop-work areas and establish a site-specific exclusion zone with the fauna spotter catcher and relevant regulator or approval holder.
  • Do not assume that dry wetland areas are unused, because Magpie Geese may move between wet and dry areas and use dry banks, trees in wet woodlands and water for roosting.
  • Hollow-bearing trees, logs, rocks and burrows are not identified as key Magpie Goose habitat features in the supplied documents, so manage them under the broader project fauna plan rather than applying species-specific requirements that are not supported here.

During habitat disturbance: Animal response, stop-work and records

  • If a Magpie Goose is found, stop nearby work, keep people and machinery back, and allow the bird to leave without pursuit where it can move safely to retained habitat.
  • Do not capture, handle, transport or release the bird unless the person is authorised and the action is permitted by the relevant state or territory approval.
  • If an injured bird cannot move safely, contain it only under the authorised fauna procedure and transfer it to an approved wildlife carer or veterinarian as soon as practicable.
  • Use the project-approved release site in nearby retained wetland habitat only when relocation is authorised and the bird is fit for release; do not move birds to an unapproved or ecologically unsuitable wetland.
  • Stop work and reassess if an active nest, brood, repeated adult alarm response, injured bird, trapped bird or unexpected concentration of birds is found in the work area.
  • Record the date, time, location, habitat, number of birds, behaviour, nest or brood evidence, action taken, handling details, release or treatment outcome, personnel and approval reference.

After habitat disturbance: Post-clearance checks

Confirm that the completed work has not left birds, nests or wetland habitat exposed to avoidable harm. Keep controls in place while disturbed areas remain unstable or unsuitable for birds.

  • Complete a fauna spotter catcher inspection of the cleared footprint, wetland edge, drainage paths, exclusion fencing and adjoining retained habitat before demobilisation and after the first substantial rainfall or flow.
  • Check for stranded, trapped, injured or displaced birds, damaged nests, blocked movement routes, erosion and sediment entering retained wetlands.
  • Remove temporary hazards such as open pits, unsecured pipes, netting, wire, deep excavations and water-filled containers, or fence and cover them so birds cannot enter.
  • Confirm that no unapproved drainage, diversion, infilling or vegetation removal has altered the retained wetland.

After habitat disturbance: Monitoring and reporting

  • Repeat visual and aural waterbird surveys at retained or restored wetlands where the approval, fauna management plan or risk assessment requires monitoring.
  • Use consistent points, routes, observation times, equipment and inundation records so results can be compared between monitoring events.
  • Report all sightings, breeding records, injuries, relocations, mortalities, stop-work events, permit departures and corrective actions to the project environmental officer and relevant regulator.
  • Submit confirmed state records, including breeding observations and significant concentrations, to the relevant state wildlife database.
  • Assess whether the works have reduced wetland area, wetland connectivity, feeding vegetation, nesting vegetation or access to roosting habitat, and implement corrective action where required.

After habitat disturbance: Offsets and ongoing controls

  • Apply any offset, rehabilitation or compensatory habitat requirement imposed by the relevant approval, state legislation or project condition.
  • Maintain wetland exclusion fencing, sediment controls, water-quality controls and access restrictions until the environmental officer confirms that they are no longer required.
  • Retain records of survey effort, raw counts, spatial data, permits, fauna incidents, treatment outcomes, monitoring results and close-out actions for the project record.

Rehabilitation actions: Wetland structure and planting

Restore wetland function and the vegetation structure used by Magpie Geese for feeding, nesting and shelter. The rehabilitation design should match the local wetland type and approved hydrology rather than creating isolated open water without supporting vegetation.

  • Reinstate shallow wetland areas, floodplain depressions, wet grassland and wetland margins where these were temporarily disturbed.
  • Restore local rushes, reeds, sedges and other native emergent plants that provide nesting platforms, cover and food, using locally appropriate species approved for the site.
  • Retain or re-establish grass and sedge communities, including vegetation that produces seeds, blades, bulbs or rhizomes used by Magpie Geese.
  • Reconnect restored wetlands with retained channels, waterholes and floodplain wetland areas where this is consistent with the approved hydrology and does not cause erosion or uncontrolled inundation.
  • Do not use exotic pasture or crop species as the primary rehabilitation treatment in wetland habitat.

Rehabilitation actions: Threat reduction and site management

  • Control weeds that replace native rushes, reeds, sedges and wet grassland used for feeding or nesting.
  • Design permanent or temporary fencing so cattle and vehicles cannot damage wetland vegetation, while preserving bird movement between feeding and roosting areas.
  • Manage fire, grazing and water levels so tall nesting vegetation and shallow feeding habitat are retained, using the local wetland management plan and approval conditions.
  • Prevent introduced predators, domestic animals, waste and artificial hazards from accessing restored nesting and brood-rearing areas.
  • Do not install hollows, nest boxes, logs or rock piles as Magpie Goose measures unless another fauna species or the approved rehabilitation design requires them, because the supplied sources identify wetland vegetation and shallow water, not those structures, as the relevant habitat features.

Rehabilitation actions: Monitoring and success measures

  • Monitor restored wetlands through at least wet and dry conditions, recording inundated area, wetland vegetation cover, water quality where required, weed cover, bird presence and breeding evidence.
  • Use the same point-count and transect approach at each monitoring event, with at least 20 minutes of observation per site and longer observation where detection continues to increase.
  • Measure success against approved targets for wetland area, inundation, native emergent vegetation, weed control, connectivity, absence of fauna hazards and use by Magpie Geese.
  • Treat repeated Magpie Goose use, feeding, roosting or breeding in restored habitat as a positive outcome, but do not rely on bird presence alone if hydrology and vegetation targets have not been met.
  • Report monitoring results to the project environmental officer and relevant regulator, and repair erosion, reinstate vegetation or adjust water controls when targets are not met.

Sources