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Noisy Scrubbird (Atrichornis clamosus)

The Noisy Scrubbird is a small, semi-flightless, ground-dwelling bird of dense coastal forest, scrub and wetland margins in south-west Western Australia. It is listed as Endangered under the EPBC Act and in Western Australia, and clearing, fire and loss of connected dense cover can affect territories, nests, feeding areas and dispersal routes on development sites.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Endangered.

Western Australia, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Endangered.

Breeding season

The Noisy Scrubbird is sedentary through the year. Calling and breeding activity increase from autumn through spring, with most young present in nests or dependent during winter and early spring.

Seasonal timing is based on the documented breeding period and peak hatching and fledging periods. Local conditions may vary.

  • Breeding: Breeding mainly occurs from April to October, with peaks in late June and late August. Replacement clutches may extend the season into November.
  • Young: Most young hatch in late July or early August and fledge in late August or early September.
  • Movement or dispersal: The species is sedentary and has no known seasonal migration. Dispersal, probably mainly by young birds, can occur along continuous cover at any time, with recorded movements up to 10 kilometres.
  • Highest clearing risk: Risk is highest from June to September when calling, nesting, hatchling and fledging activity overlap. Clearing in April, May, October or November can also affect breeding birds and replacement clutches.

Identification

Noisy Scrubbirds are extremely secretive and are much more often detected by their calls than seen. A lack of visual detections does not demonstrate absence where dense ground cover is present.

This is a small, semi-flightless, terrestrial scrub bird that spends almost all of its time in dense cover. It is rarely seen away from vegetation and males have powerful, directional calls. The supplied sources do not provide adult body length, wingspan or body mass.

Body size and weight: Not provided in the supplied documents.

Flight behaviour: Semi-flightless and primarily terrestrial.

  • Treat a strong, directional male call from dense scrub, low forest or wetland margin as a significant record.
  • Record the call location, time, direction of travel if known, vegetation structure and whether the bird responded to another call.

Identification: Similar species

The Western Bristlebird is the main similar species identified in the survey guidance. The two species can share habitat and may be confused if a bird is seen only briefly.

  • Use call characteristics, habitat context and the location of the record together rather than relying on a brief visual observation.
  • Obtain an expert review of sound recordings where identification is uncertain.

Identification: Field signs and survey detection

The species is normally detected by vocalisation during area searches or transect point surveys. Males call more before and during the breeding season, and early morning surveys are recommended.

Detectability: Extremely secretive, much more often heard than seen.

Recommended timing: Early morning, most effective before and during breeding.

Survey effort for areas under 50 hectares: Area searches or transects: 8 hours over 4 days. Broadcast surveys: 6 hours over 3 days.

  • Survey suitable habitat early in the morning, especially in the lead-up to and during the breeding season.
  • If area searches or transects do not detect birds in apparently suitable habitat, use broadcast surveys early in the morning and listen for solicited responses.
  • For areas smaller than 50 hectares, the guidance recommends 8 hours over 4 days for area searches or transect surveys, or 6 hours over 3 days for broadcast surveys.
  • Do not rely on tracks, scats, feathers or nests alone. The supplied documents do not provide diagnostic descriptions for these signs.
  • Avoid entering dense cover unnecessarily during the breeding season, because females may nest repeatedly in the same area and nests can be close to previous nest sites.

Distribution: State and bioregional range

The Noisy Scrubbird is restricted to south-west Western Australia. The supplied documents describe a contracted historical range, a surviving stronghold at Two Peoples Bay and additional populations established through translocation and natural dispersal.

The species is recorded from Western Australia and is associated with the South Western Australia Temperate Forests Conservation Management Zone. Historically, it was recorded at several coastal localities between Perth and Albany, but it disappeared from those areas by the late nineteenth century.

State range: Western Australia

Bioregional context: South Western Australia Temperate Forests Conservation Management Zone

Former range: Coastal localities between Perth and Albany were recorded before the species disappeared from those areas.

  • For project screening, treat suitable coastal and near-coastal dense forest, scrub and wetland-margin habitat in south-west Western Australia as potentially relevant.
  • Do not infer absence from the lack of recent records, because the bird is secretive and may occur in connected or re-established habitat.

Distribution: Strongholds and subpopulations

Two Peoples Bay near Albany is the documented surviving stronghold. The Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve was created in 1967 and covers 4,637 hectares. Translocation to Mt Manypeaks was successful, and birds dispersing from Two Peoples Bay established three small populations.

Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve: 4,637 hectares

Documented population spread: By 1990, the population range covered about 30 kilometres of coastal and near-coastal land.

Population index: Singing males increased from 45 in 1970 to 290 in 1990 after habitat management and translocation.

  • Check current Western Australian occurrence records and local conservation advice before works near Two Peoples Bay, Mt Manypeaks or connected coastal habitat.
  • Map continuous dense vegetation between known or potential populations because dispersal occurs along cover corridors.

Distribution: Population status

The documents show a substantial increase in singing males at managed sites, but they do not provide a current national population estimate or a current population trend. The historical range contraction and continuing vulnerability to wildfire remain relevant to project assessment.

  • Use singing males as an index of occupancy only, not as a direct estimate of total population size.
  • Seek current state records and recovery advice where a project may affect known habitat or a connected corridor.

Habitat: Overall habitat

Noisy Scrubbirds require dense, continuous ground and shrub cover in wetter parts of south-west Western Australian forests and coastal scrub. Habitat often occurs near swamps, drainage lines and other wetlands, but feeding habitat can extend onto drier slopes.

The species inhabits dense undergrowth in wetter parts of dense, low coastal eucalypt forest, scrub and thicket adjoining swamps or drainage lines. It also occurs near other wetlands and on drier slopes with dense middle and upper vegetation layers.

Key habitat types: Dense, low coastal eucalypt forest, scrub, thicket, wetland margins and drainage-line vegetation.

Fire age pattern: Most abundant in areas unburnt for more than 20 years, with colonisation of areas about 2 to 10 years after fire also recorded.

  • Identify dense vegetation adjoining swamps, drainage lines and wetland margins as potential habitat.
  • Retain links between wet areas and adjacent forest or scrub because breeding and feeding features may occur in different parts of a territory.

Habitat: Vegetation structure

Formerly preferred wetter areas within marri and jarrah forest where canopy breaks supported dense shrubs, rushes and sedges. Drier slopes can provide dense middle and upper storeys with a relatively open ground layer and thick leaf litter.

Named tree communities: Marri, Eucalyptus calophylla, and jarrah, Eucalyptus marginata, forest.

Important ground features: Dense shrubs, rushes, sedges and thick litter.

  • Map dense shrubs, rushes, sedges, leaf litter and low forest structure before clearing.
  • Include ecotones between forest and swamp in habitat assessments, not only the wetland or forest vegetation polygon itself.

Habitat: Climate and elevation

The supplied documents do not provide an elevation limit or a numerical climatic envelope. They associate the species with wetter coastal and near-coastal parts of south-west Western Australia.

Foraging habitat: Diet

Noisy Scrubbirds forage mainly on the ground in leaf litter, decayed wood, shrubs and sedges. Adults take a broad range of arthropods rather than relying on one specialist food.

Adults are predominantly terrestrial insectivores. Analysis of adult droppings identified ants, beetles and spiders as the main prey, together making up 75.5 per cent of prey items in the reported sample.

Adult diet: Ants, beetles and spiders were the major recorded prey.

Adult prey diversity: Eight arthropod categories were recognised in the adult sample, with additional taxa also recorded.

Nestling diet: Nestlings are fed a range of invertebrates from 19 orders, with spiders, crickets and larvae prominent in the reported study.

  • Retain leaf litter, decayed wood and structurally diverse low vegetation within potential habitat.
  • Avoid removing or compacting the litter and woody debris layer where it forms part of a known or potential territory.

Foraging habitat: Foraging places and method

The species forages in leaf litter, decayed wood and among shrubs and sedges. The supplied documents do not give a separate foraging range or a daily distance travelled.

Known territory scale: Mean territory size is about 6 hectares, but a separate foraging range is not provided.

  • Assess the full vegetation mosaic within a territory, including wetter dense cover and drier litter-rich slopes.
  • Keep access tracks, machinery pads and stockpiles out of intact litter and dense understorey wherever practicable.
  • Treat a territory as potentially affected where clearing removes either dense cover or the adjacent litter-rich feeding habitat.

Breeding habitat: Breeding biology

Breeding occurs mainly from April to October in dense cover, with most young hatching in late July or early August and fledging in late August or early September. Females may reuse the same nesting area in successive years.

Males defend long-term territories using song. The male's core territory is maintained throughout the year and may be held for life. Females have been recorded nesting in the same area each year, often within 5 metres of the previous nest.

Breeding season: Mainly April to October, with calling and breeding peaks in late June and late August. Some replacement clutches may extend laying into November.

Hatching: Most young hatch during late July or early August.

Fledging: Most young fledge during late August or early September.

Clutch size: Not provided in the supplied documents.

Incubation period: Not provided in the supplied documents.

Age at maturity: Not provided in the supplied documents.

Lifespan: Not provided in the supplied documents.

  • Avoid clearing, slashing, earthworks and intensive inspection through dense cover during the breeding season where occupied habitat is known or suspected.
  • Use call records and territory mapping to identify breeding areas before finalising work boundaries.

Breeding habitat: Breeding habitat features

Breeding habitat is associated with dense cover in low forest, scrub, thicket and forest to swamp ecotones. Dense shrubs, rushes and sedges provide cover for nests, while nearby drier slopes may provide feeding habitat.

Nest location information: Females may nest within about 5 metres of the previous year's nest.

Territory size: Mean territory size is about 6 hectares.

  • Retain dense understorey around swamps, drainage lines and wet forest margins.
  • Protect both nesting cover and nearby litter-rich feeding areas within the same territory.
  • Maintain connected vegetation between breeding areas because dispersal and recolonisation occur through continuous cover.

Sheltering habitat: Dense cover and roosting areas

The species remains concealed beneath dense vegetation and is almost never away from cover. Specific nest, roost and refuge dimensions are not provided in the supplied documents.

Noisy Scrubbirds use dense undergrowth, low forest, scrub, thicket, shrubs, rushes and sedges for concealment. Males move between their core singing area and roosting areas, but the sources do not describe roost structure or dimensions.

Core area: The male spends about 80 per cent of his time in a core area of about 1.25 hectares.

Roost dimensions: Not provided in the supplied documents.

  • Retain continuous dense ground and shrub cover, including vegetation beside drainage lines and wetlands.
  • Avoid creating isolated cleared gaps through occupied habitat because birds cross roads but not cleared land during dispersal.
  • Keep temporary compounds, laydown areas and access routes outside dense cover where practicable.

Sheltering habitat: Nests and shelter signs

The supplied documents confirm nesting in a recurring area but do not provide nest dimensions, nest height, nest materials or a diagnostic description of nest structure.

  • Treat repeated male calling in dense cover as a prompt for targeted breeding habitat assessment.
  • Do not disturb dense vegetation solely to search for nests unless the search is authorised and undertaken by appropriately qualified personnel.
  • Record any nest or dependent young location precisely and establish a site-specific exclusion or protection approach.

Threats: Clearing and fragmentation

The main project risks are loss of dense habitat, fragmentation of continuous cover, inappropriate fire and disturbance during breeding. The species' restricted range and dependence on connected vegetation make local clearing decisions important.

Historical range contraction was associated with changes after European settlement, and the species now occupies only a small part of its former range. Birds disperse along corridors of continuous cover and will cross roads but not cleared land.

Recorded movement: Dispersing or translocated birds have moved up to 10 kilometres.

Response to cleared land: Birds can cross roads but have not been recorded crossing cleared land during dispersal.

  • Avoid clearing dense scrub, low forest, wetland margins and forest to swamp ecotones within or between known territories.
  • Keep roads, construction corridors and cleared easements as narrow as practicable and retain continuous vegetation links.
  • Assess indirect habitat loss from edge effects, machinery access and temporary work areas, not only the permanent footprint.
  • Plan fauna spotter and clearing supervision around call locations, breeding season timing and the need to inspect dense cover carefully.

Threats: Fire

The historical decline was attributed mainly to changed fire regimes. The population remains vulnerable to wildfire, although habitat use includes areas unburnt for more than 20 years and some colonisation of areas 2 to 10 years after fire.

Preferred fire history: Most abundant in areas unburnt for more than 20 years.

Recorded post-fire colonisation: Areas between 2 and 10 years after fire can be colonised.

  • Prevent uncontrolled fire from spreading across entire habitat blocks.
  • Assess prescribed burning, wildfire breaks and post-fire recovery against the need to retain dense cover and connected habitat.
  • Do not assume that recently burnt vegetation is immediately suitable simply because recolonisation can occur after several years.

Threats: Other project risks

The supplied documents do not identify a species-specific disease, predator or hydrology impact. Hydrology change remains relevant to assessment because suitable habitat is associated with swamps, drainage lines, wetlands and wetter forest.

  • Prevent sediment, altered drainage and dewatering from reducing the wet conditions that support dense scrub, rushes and sedges.
  • Assess whether road drainage, culverts or water diversion will dry or inundate habitat adjoining swamps and drainage lines.
  • Manage domestic animals and other introduced predators in accordance with project and land manager requirements, but do not claim a species-specific predator impact without current evidence.
  • Use hygiene controls where works involve movement between habitat patches, while recognising that the supplied documents do not report a named disease threat.

Survey methodology: 1. Area searches and transect point surveys

Survey the Noisy Scrub-bird in dense, low coastal forest, scrub and thicket, especially where this vegetation adjoins swamps, drainage lines or other wetlands. The species is extremely secretive and is usually detected by the directional call of a territorial male rather than by sight.

Survey suitable habitat early in the morning, when calling activity is highest.

Search slowly through dense cover and listen for unsolicited calls, because birds are rarely seen away from vegetation.

Give preference to the lead-up to and breeding season, mainly April to October, with calling peaks in late June and late August.

Recommended effort: 8 hours over 4 days for areas less than 50 hectares

Breeding and peak calling period: Mainly April to October, with peaks in late June and late August

Primary detection method: Male call, usually from dense cover

  • For areas smaller than 50 hectares, complete 8 hours of area searches or transect point surveys over 4 days.
  • Record the search route, start and finish times, weather, habitat condition, fire history and all calls heard.
  • Treat a suspected call as a detection only after recording its location, direction, time and a clear description or recording where practicable.

Survey methodology: 2. Broadcast surveys

Use broadcast surveys where area searches or transect surveys do not detect the species and the habitat remains suitable, particularly where density is expected to be low.

Conduct broadcasts early in the morning during the lead-up to and breeding season, then listen for solicited responses.

Use playback only by trained personnel and keep the method targeted to survey detection rather than repeated disturbance of occupied territories.

Recommended effort: 6 hours over 3 days for areas less than 50 hectares

Timing: Early morning, most effective before and during breeding

Use: Follow area searches or transect surveys where density may be low

  • For areas smaller than 50 hectares, complete 6 hours of broadcast surveys over 3 days.
  • Record the broadcast locations, timing, equipment, duration, weather, habitat and every response or apparent non-response.
  • Do not treat silence as evidence that the species is absent where dense cover, recent fire or poor calling conditions reduce detectability.

Survey methodology: 3. Habitat and movement checks

Inspect all dense undergrowth in wetter parts of low coastal eucalypt forest, and all scrub or thicket adjoining swamps, drainage lines and wetlands.

Also check drier slopes with dense middle and upper storeys, a relatively open ground layer and thick leaf litter, because these areas can provide feeding habitat.

Map continuous vegetation corridors and nearby suitable patches, because dispersal occurs along continuous cover and birds generally do not cross cleared land.

Mean territory size: About 6 hectares

Male core area: About 1.25 hectares

Potential dispersal distance: Up to 10 kilometres, generally along continuous cover

Fire age pattern: Most abundant where unburnt for more than 20 years; colonisation recorded 2 to 10 years after fire

  • Record vegetation structure, dominant eucalypts, shrub, rush and sedge cover, litter depth, wetland edges, recent fire and links to retained vegetation.
  • Search for repeated calling locations and map likely territories, noting that the mean territory size is about 6 hectares and the male core area is about 1.25 hectares.
  • Use caution when interpreting fire age: the species is most abundant in areas unburnt for more than 20 years, although it can colonise areas 2 to 10 years after fire.

Survey methodology: Minimum effort and reporting

  • Use the recommended survey effort as a minimum for suitable areas under 50 hectares and increase effort where habitat is extensive, fragmented, recently burnt or difficult to access.
  • Plan repeat surveys where works extend across more than one season or where weather, noise, fire age or access prevents effective listening.
  • Have an experienced ornithologist assess uncertain calls and distinguish the species from the superficially similar Western Bristlebird where both occur.
  • Submit confirmed records, negative survey results and mapped habitat observations to the relevant state wildlife database and provide the records to the project environmental officer.
  • Retain field sheets, audio files, photographs, GPS tracks, habitat descriptions, survey dates, observer names and any permit or approval conditions.

Before habitat disturbance: Avoid and minimise

Avoid clearing Noisy Scrub-bird habitat wherever practicable. The species has a restricted distribution, uses dense cover and depends on connected vegetation for dispersal, so small areas of clearing can affect territories and movement routes.

  • Retain dense, low coastal eucalypt forest, scrub and thicket, particularly at swamp, drainage-line and wetland edges.
  • Retain drier slopes with dense middle and upper storeys, open ground layers and thick leaf litter where they adjoin wetter habitat.
  • Keep continuous vegetation corridors between occupied or potentially suitable areas, because the species disperses through continuous cover and will not cross cleared land readily.
  • Avoid dividing a likely 6 hectare territory or removing the approximately 1.25 hectare core area used by a territorial male.
  • Keep machinery, access tracks, spoil, drainage changes, sediment and lighting out of retained dense cover and wetland ecotones.
  • Do not apply broad or high-intensity burns to occupied habitat or retained corridors.

Before habitat disturbance: Approvals and work planning

  • Confirm the current EPBC Act listing and obtain ecological advice on whether referral or approval is required before clearing nationally listed habitat.
  • Check Western Australian threatened species, clearing, wildlife handling and relocation requirements before work starts.
  • Use the breeding period, mainly April to October, to schedule works outside peak calling and breeding activity where the program allows.
  • Stage clearing so that retained cover and movement corridors remain connected until each work area has been checked and released.
  • Prepare a fauna management plan that identifies habitat, survey effort, exclusion areas, fauna handling authority, stop-work triggers, incident reporting and post-clearing monitoring.

Before habitat disturbance: Site preparation

  • Complete the targeted pre-clearance survey using early-morning area searches or transect point surveys, followed by broadcast surveys where required.
  • Mark retained dense vegetation, wetland edges, drainage lines, likely territories, corridors and no-go areas before machinery enters the site.
  • Use exclusion fencing where it can protect retained cover without blocking movement between connected habitat patches.
  • Brief machinery operators and fauna spotters on the species' secretive behaviour, call-based detection and the requirement to stop when a suspected bird is detected.
  • Inspect the work area immediately before clearing and again each morning during staged works, because a bird may remain concealed in dense vegetation.

During habitat disturbance: Daily controls and machinery coordination

Keep disturbance inside the approved footprint and maintain a direct communication link between the fauna spotter catcher, machinery operator and environmental officer. Noisy Scrub-birds are usually heard rather than seen, so work controls must respond to reliable calls as well as visual observations.

  • Hold a daily pre-start briefing covering the approved footprint, exclusion zones, current habitat risk, weather, recent detections and the stop-work procedure.
  • Have the fauna spotter catcher inspect the active work area before clearing and remain close enough to direct the operator safely.
  • Clear in short, staged sections so the spotter can check dense understorey, litter, logs and wetland edges before each section is removed.
  • Use low-speed, supervised clearing near retained dense cover and stop the machine immediately when the spotter identifies a suspected Noisy Scrub-bird, nest, injured animal or unexpected habitat feature.
  • Keep cleared material, spoil and machinery out of retained corridors and avoid creating gaps that isolate remaining cover.

During habitat disturbance: Finding and handling a bird

  • Stop work in the immediate area when a Noisy Scrub-bird is seen, captured or detected repeatedly calling from the work zone.
  • Allow the authorised fauna spotter catcher or other person named in the approval to decide whether handling is permitted and how it will occur.
  • Do not chase, repeatedly flush or handle the bird unless this is authorised and necessary to protect it from the works.
  • If relocation is authorised, move the bird only to nearby retained habitat that is connected to suitable dense cover and agreed with the environmental officer and relevant authority.
  • Keep handling brief, quiet and shaded, and record the capture point, release point, time, condition, method and authorisations.
  • Take an injured bird to an appropriately qualified veterinarian or authorised wildlife carer as soon as practicable, and notify the environmental officer and relevant authority.

During habitat disturbance: Habitat features and stop-work triggers

  • Treat dense understorey, rushes, sedges, leaf litter, decayed wood, logs and wetland margins as potential habitat and inspect them before removal.
  • Do not assume that a lack of visual sightings means the area is clear, because the species is extremely secretive and almost always remains under dense cover.
  • Stop work and obtain ecological direction if a bird is detected within the clearing footprint, if a likely territory or corridor would be severed, or if fire, machinery or sediment enters retained habitat.
  • Stop work if the approved footprint changes, exclusion fencing fails, an injured animal is found or the fauna spotter catcher cannot safely observe the work area.
  • Do not remove hollow-bearing trees, rocks, logs, burrows or other fauna features without following the project fauna management plan and approval conditions, even though the supplied species documents identify dense ground and shrub cover rather than a specific dependence on hollows.

During habitat disturbance: Records and incident reporting

  • Record daily start and finish times, personnel, weather, active machinery, cleared area, retained habitat, detections, call locations, handling events and stop-work events.
  • Photograph and map all occupied or potentially occupied habitat, corridors, release sites and any unauthorised disturbance.
  • Report injuries, deaths, unapproved clearing, fire encroachment, habitat isolation and breaches of approval conditions to the project environmental officer immediately.
  • Submit confirmed records and incident information to the relevant state wildlife database or authority where required by the approval or permit.

After habitat disturbance: Post-clearance checks

Post-clearing work must confirm that retained habitat and movement links remain functional. A single clear site inspection is not enough where dense cover has been disturbed or where a territory may have been affected.

  • Inspect the completed footprint and retained edges for injured or trapped fauna, damaged exclusion fencing, debris in corridors and unapproved removal of dense vegetation.
  • Check that swamp, drainage-line and wetland edges remain free of spoil, sediment, altered drainage and machinery damage.
  • Complete a post-clearance early-morning call survey in retained suitable habitat where a bird was detected, where habitat was marginally cleared or where the environmental officer requires confirmation.
  • Compare post-clearing GPS tracks and photographs with the approved footprint and record all deviations.

After habitat disturbance: Monitoring and controls

  • Maintain exclusion fencing and no-go markers until the environmental officer confirms that construction risks have ended.
  • Monitor retained corridors and occupied habitat during staged construction, especially through the April to October breeding period.
  • Repeat area searches or transect point surveys using 8 hours over 4 days, and broadcast surveys using 6 hours over 3 days where the project requires a formal follow-up survey in an area under 50 hectares.
  • Use call locations, territory records and habitat condition to assess whether the species continues to use retained areas.

After habitat disturbance: Reporting and offsets

  • Provide a close-out report describing cleared and retained areas, survey effort, detections, handling, injuries, stop-work events, rehabilitation commitments and monitoring results.
  • Report confirmed records to the relevant state wildlife database and meet all EPBC Act, state approval and permit reporting requirements.
  • Obtain advice on offsets or other compensatory measures where approved impacts cannot be avoided or minimised, and ensure any measure is consistent with the applicable approval.

Rehabilitation actions: Rebuild suitable structure

Rehabilitation should recreate connected dense cover, wetland ecotones and feeding habitat rather than only planting scattered trees. The aim is to support territorial cover, nesting areas, leaf-litter foraging and movement between retained populations.

  • Restore low, dense coastal eucalypt forest and scrub or thicket adjoining swamps, drainage lines and wetlands.
  • Use locally appropriate marri, Eucalyptus calophylla, and jarrah, Eucalyptus marginata, where these species suit the site, together with locally occurring shrubs, rushes and sedges.
  • Create dense middle and upper storeys with a relatively open ground layer and thick leaf litter on drier slopes used for feeding.
  • Reconnect isolated retained patches with continuous native vegetation and avoid leaving cleared gaps that prevent movement.
  • Reinstate leaf litter, decayed wood and logs where construction has removed them, using clean local material and avoiding the introduction of weeds or pests.

Rehabilitation actions: Fire, weeds and predators

  • Prepare a fire plan that prevents large or intense fires from burning occupied habitat, corridors and newly restored areas at the same time.
  • Use site-specific fire management that maintains a mosaic of vegetation ages, recognising that the species is most abundant in areas unburnt for more than 20 years but can colonise areas 2 to 10 years after fire.
  • Control weeds before they dominate the dense shrub, rush and sedge structure needed for cover and feeding.
  • Inspect restored habitat for erosion, altered drainage, feral animal activity and other pressures that reduce dense ground cover.
  • Use natural fire breaks and existing topographic features where available, while avoiding new breaks through occupied or connected habitat.

Rehabilitation actions: Monitoring and success measures

  • Monitor plant survival, native cover, shrub, rush and sedge development, leaf-litter recovery, wetland-edge condition and corridor continuity.
  • Use early-morning call surveys to check whether Noisy Scrub-birds use restored or retained habitat, applying the recommended effort of 8 hours over 4 days for area or transect surveys and 6 hours over 3 days for broadcast surveys in areas under 50 hectares.
  • Map repeated call locations and compare them with the approximate 6 hectare territory scale and 1.25 hectare male core area, without treating these figures as fixed boundaries.
  • Record whether restoration connects suitable habitat, supports calling birds and prevents new gaps between occupied areas.
  • Continue monitoring through the April to October breeding period and report failures, fire damage, weed invasion, predator impacts or loss of connectivity with corrective actions.

Sources