Western Bowerbird (Chlamydera guttata)

Conservation status

South Australia, National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972: Rare. This listing covers only Chlamydera guttata guttata.

Breeding season

Breeding is recorded from August to February, with timing and duration varying between years and locations in response to local rainfall. The Western Bowerbird is treated as an EVNT species in this project context, and is listed as Rare in South Australia, so use a precautionary approach where breeding habitat may be affected.

Breeding mode: Sexual reproduction. Males build avenue-type bowers for courtship, while females build separate nests and raise the young independently.

Clutch size: 1 to 3 eggs, most often 2.

Incubation period: Not recorded.

Fledging and weaning: Not recorded.

Age at maturity: Not recorded.

Nest and bower sites: Bowers are courtship structures, not nests. Females build separate nests, but nest placement and structure are not recorded.

Breeding frequency: Not recorded.

Breeding timing may vary between regions and years, particularly after changes in local rainfall, so survey timing should be adjusted to site conditions and recent observations.

• Bower construction and courtship: Males construct and decorate bowers and use vocalisations and displays to attract females during the breeding period.
• Eggs and nesting: Eggs and nesting activity may occur from August to February, but the timing can shift with local rainfall.
• Nestlings and dependent young: Dependent young may be present during the recorded August to February breeding period, although fledging timing is not recorded.
• General presence and foraging: The Western Bowerbird is associated with arid and semi-arid habitats and may forage on the ground and in trees throughout the year.
• Highest clearing risk: For an EVNT species, use targeted searches for bowers, calling males and separate nests before clearing, and stop or modify works if active nests or dependent young are found, with additional advice sought for sites in South Australia where the species is listed as Rare.

Identification: Appearance

The Western Bowerbird is a medium-sized brown and olive-green bird with a stout bill and strong legs. It is mainly terrestrial, but also feeds in trees and can be difficult to detect in dry vegetation.

Adults are about 28 to 32 cm long. Their mottled brown and olive-green plumage provides camouflage in arid and semi-arid habitats.

The male has a bright pink to lilac patch of bare skin on the back of the neck. This patch is displayed during courtship.

• Look for a stout bill and strong legs.
• Expect a ground-oriented bird that may move through cover rather than remain perched in the open.

Identification: Calls and similar species

Calls include whistles, chattering and mimicry of other birds. A horse-whinny call has also been recorded. Males may call more frequently during the breeding season.

The Western Bowerbird is closely related to the Spotted Bowerbird, and the two were historically treated as forms of the same species. Identification can therefore require care where their ranges approach one another.

Identification: Field signs

The most useful site sign is an avenue-type bower built by a male. It is made from grasses and fine twigs and decorated with collected objects.

A bower is a courtship structure, not a nest. Decorations may include natural or discarded objects such as berries, shells, glass or plastic.

• Record the bower location with a photograph and GPS point.
• Search around the bower for repeated bird calls and tracks or movement through open ground.
• Do not rely on droppings, whitewash, stains or odour for identification. These are not distinctive field signs for this species.

Distribution: Australian range

The Western Bowerbird is an Australian species associated mainly with arid and semi-arid inland environments. Its mapped distribution includes five Australian states and territories, with no overseas range identified.

The species is mapped in New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. It is primarily associated with central and western parts of Australia.

The available range information is broad rather than locality specific. Confirm records against the relevant state or territory database before clearing or construction begins.

• New South Wales
• Northern Territory
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Western Australia

Distribution: Range features

The species distribution has been associated with the availability of figs, particularly Ficus platypoda. This association may be useful when prioritising habitat checks, but the presence of figs alone does not confirm that a site is occupied.

There is no described overseas range.

Distribution: Site planning

Treat suitable habitat as potentially occupied until it has been checked. This is particularly appropriate in South Australia, where the species is listed as Rare, and in Queensland, where near threatened animals are protected wildlife.

Before works, check recent records, inspect suitable habitat and ask local landholders or Traditional Owners about repeated sightings, bowers and seasonal use of the site.

• Map dry woodland, shrubland, rocky outcrops, fruiting trees and any active-looking bowers.
• Record the date, observer, location, habitat and confidence of each sighting.
• Escalate confirmed breeding-place disturbance for jurisdictional advice before works proceed.

Habitat: Vegetation

The Western Bowerbird uses dry, sparsely vegetated country. On works sites, focus searches on vegetation and landforms that provide food, cover and materials for a bower.

Potential habitat includes dry woodlands and shrublands. The species is adapted to dry environments and may use open areas with scattered trees and ground cover.

Retain native vegetation that connects feeding areas with rocky or vegetated shelter.

• Dry woodland
• Shrubland
• Open, sparsely vegetated ground with nearby cover
• Native fruiting trees, including fig-bearing areas

Habitat: Landforms and site features

Rocky outcrops are potential habitat features. They may provide lookout points, cover or access to surrounding foraging areas.

Inspect the edges of outcrops, dry creek or riverine vegetation and patches of native vegetation before earthworks or access tracks are established.

Habitat: Habitat checks

Walk slowly through suitable habitat and listen for whistles, chattering and mimicry. Search open ground and the bases of shrubs and trees for bowers and collected decorations.

Where works are staged, keep habitat checks current because rainfall can change food availability and breeding activity.

Foraging habitat: Food resources

The Western Bowerbird forages both on the ground and in trees. It is an opportunistic feeder, so areas with seasonal fruit, seeds, insects and connected native vegetation should be retained where practicable.

The diet includes fruits, seeds, insects and small vertebrates. Figs and other native fruits are particularly relevant food resources.

Recorded invertebrate foods include beetles, grasshoppers and spiders. Fruits from many native plant species may also be used.

• Fruiting figs, including areas associated with Ficus platypoda
• Other native fruiting plants
• Seed-bearing plants
• Ground and canopy habitat supporting insects and spiders

Foraging habitat: Foraging areas on works sites

Search beneath fruiting trees, along woodland edges and through open ground between shrubs. Birds may move between trees and the ground while feeding.

Avoid isolating individual fruiting trees from surrounding cover. Retaining linked patches reduces the need for birds to cross cleared areas.

• Map fruiting trees and patches of native food plants.
• Avoid unnecessary removal of mature trees and dense native shrub patches.
• Keep spoil, vehicles and stored materials out of retained feeding areas.

Foraging habitat: Seasonal considerations

Food availability is likely to change with local rainfall. Plan repeat checks where works extend across different seasons or follow substantial rain.

A bird feeding in a work area may be using a wider local habitat network. Do not assume that it is only an occasional visitor without checking nearby vegetation and bowers.

Breeding habitat: Bowers

Male Western Bowerbirds build bowers for courtship, while females build separate nests and raise the young. Breeding records for the species extend from August to February, with timing varying according to local rainfall.

The male builds an avenue-type bower from grasses and fine twigs. He decorates it with numerous objects and uses it to attract and court females.

Bowers are not nests and should not be treated as evidence that eggs or chicks are present at that structure.

• Mark the bower location before vegetation clearing.
• Keep machinery, material storage and pedestrian traffic away from the structure.
• Do not remove, tidy, relocate or add objects to a bower.

Breeding habitat: Nests and breeding period

After mating, the female builds a separate nest and raises the chicks independently. Specific nest placement details are not sufficiently established for reliable site prediction.

Eggs or young have been recorded from August to February. The timing and length of breeding activity can vary between years with local rainfall.

Clutch size: 1 to 3 eggs, most often 2.

Breeding period: August to February, varying with local rainfall.

• Treat suitable woodland and shrubland as potential nesting habitat during August to February.
• If a nest, dependent young or repeated adult activity is found, stop work in the immediate area and obtain fauna advice.
• Use a qualified spotter catcher for any required nest assessment or animal handling.

Breeding habitat: Pre-clearance checks

Inspect likely bower locations before clearing, including dry woodland edges, shrubland, rocky areas and places with abundant grasses, twigs or other decorative material.

Use quiet observation and listening periods rather than relying only on a rapid vegetation walkover. Record all bowers and repeated courtship activity on the site plan.

• Check early in the work planning process.
• Repeat checks if clearing is delayed or conditions change.
• Protect confirmed breeding places and seek state or territory advice before disturbance.

Sheltering habitat: Cover to retain

Specific roosting and sheltering structures are not well established for the Western Bowerbird. Use a precautionary approach and retain connected native cover, rocky features and mature trees within otherwise open dry habitat.

Retain dry woodland, shrubland, rocky outcrops and native trees that provide concealment and movement routes. Avoid reducing a site to isolated trees surrounded by bare ground where practical.

Dense shrubs, ground vegetation and rocky margins may provide temporary shelter even where no nest or roost is visible.

• Native shrubs and understorey
• Mature trees and fruiting trees
• Rocky outcrops and associated vegetation
• Vegetated links between feeding and breeding areas

Sheltering habitat: Roosts and concentrations

No dependable roost type, maternity roost or colony size is established for site planning. Do not assume that the absence of a visible roost means the area has no shelter value.

Repeated observations at dusk, dawn or after disturbance should be recorded and reviewed by an ecologist.

Sheltering habitat: Works controls

Limit night works, vehicle access and unnecessary lighting near retained habitat where birds are regularly observed. Keep access tracks and laydown areas out of rocky and vegetated shelter features.

If a bird is flushed repeatedly from the same patch, pause nearby works and check for a bower, nest or other important site feature.

• Use existing tracks where possible.
• Avoid clearing outside the approved footprint.
• Keep retained vegetation free from spoil, waste and equipment.

Threats: Clearing and fragmentation

The main development risks are loss and fragmentation of dry habitat, disturbance of bowers or nests, and removal of food plants. Climate change and predation pressures may add to these risks, particularly where habitat is already fragmented.

Clearing dry woodland, shrubland, rocky vegetation and fruiting trees removes feeding and sheltering habitat. Fragmentation can separate food resources from bowers and nesting areas.

Keep the clearing footprint as small as practicable and retain connected native vegetation around rocky features and fruiting trees.

• Avoid unnecessary removal of mature native trees.
• Retain native understorey and woodland links.
• Rehabilitate temporary work areas with locally appropriate native vegetation.

Threats: Disturbance at bowers and nests

Earthworks, vehicles, people and material storage can damage a bower or disrupt courtship. Disturbance near a separate nest may cause adults to abandon the area or expose young to harm.

Bowers should be treated as protected site features during planning, even though they are not nests.

• Mark bowers and confirmed nests on construction drawings.
• Set work exclusion areas around active features on advice from a qualified ecologist.
• Do not collect, move or replace bower decorations.

Threats: Loss of food resources

Removing figs and other native fruiting plants can reduce food availability. Clearing insect-rich ground cover and shrub layers can also reduce foraging opportunities.

The historical association between distribution and fig availability should guide habitat checks, but should not be treated as proof that every fig tree is occupied.

• Retain fruiting trees where safe and practicable.
• Avoid unnecessary broad-scale removal of native ground cover.
• Control waste and plastic items so they do not accumulate around bowers or become a site hazard.

Threats: Status and regulatory response

The Western Bowerbird is listed as Rare in South Australia and is profiled as an EVNT species. In Queensland, near threatened animals are protected wildlife, and tampering with a breeding place requires a species management program.

Confirm the current requirements in the relevant jurisdiction before clearing. A confirmed bower, nest or dependent young should trigger review by the project ecologist and the relevant wildlife authority where required.

• Apply targeted pre-clearance surveys in suitable habitat.
• Increase oversight where the species is recorded or where a bower is found.
• Use state-specific approval and management requirements rather than relying on a generic buffer.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

Western Bowerbirds are terrestrial birds of arid and semi-arid country. They can be overlooked when quiet, so survey both the ground and nearby trees, and search specifically for bowers and feeding activity. Species-specific survey effort is not well established.

Map rocky outcrops, dry woodlands, shrublands, riverine vegetation, mature fruiting trees and likely fig resources. Check aerial imagery for retained vegetation, drainage lines and connected habitat.

Search relevant state databases and local records. Confirm whether the site is within the mapped range and whether the South Australian Rare listing applies to the population being considered.

• Review the proposed clearing footprint, access tracks, laydown areas and indirect disturbance zones.
• Identify known or potential bowers, nests, feeding areas and sheltering vegetation.
• Check whether the proposal may affect a matter of national environmental significance under the EPBC Act.

Survey methodology: 2. Field detection

Use a combination of quiet daytime searches, targeted listening and inspection of suitable habitat. Search on foot through ground cover, shrubs and trees, especially around rocky outcrops, dry woodland and fruiting trees.

Look for males displaying at avenue-type bowers, sticks and fine twigs arranged on the ground, and collections of natural or human-made objects. A bower is a courtship structure, not a nest.

Search for females and juveniles in surrounding vegetation. Inspect trees and dense cover for separate nests, but avoid touching or disturbing suspected nests.

• Survey during the cooler parts of the day where practicable, when birds are more likely to forage and vocalise.
• Use binoculars and a camera with a telephoto lens to identify birds without approaching closely.
• Record whistles, chatter and mimicry, including any repeated call associated with a bower.
• Do not rely on a single visit if habitat is suitable and no birds are detected.

Survey methodology: 3. Timing and conditions

Target the breeding period of August to February, while recognising that breeding timing can vary with local rainfall. Males may be more vocal during breeding, but quiet conditions and a lack of calls do not rule out presence.

There is no established migration schedule for the Western Bowerbird. Plan surveys around local habitat conditions rather than assumed arrival or departure dates.

• Avoid surveys during heavy rain, strong winds, extreme heat or other conditions that suppress bird activity or reduce visibility.
• Repeat searches after useful rainfall where this is safe and practicable.
• Allow enough time to inspect all suitable habitat, not only the proposed clearing line.

Survey methodology: 4. Records and evidence

Record the date, start and finish time, weather, observers, survey route and habitat condition. Photograph birds, bowers and signs from a distance, and retain original photographs and GPS data.

Map every observation and distinguish active bowers, old bowers, suspected nests, feeding records and birds seen only in flight.

• Record the number of birds, sex where confidently identified, behaviour, call, direction of travel and distance from the disturbance area.
• Record bower materials, condition, apparent recent use and any nearby tracks or feeding resources.
• Document all areas searched and any constraints on survey coverage.
• Report uncertainty clearly rather than treating an unconfirmed bower or nest as absent.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Approvals and permits

Avoidance is the preferred approach for a species listed as Rare in South Australia and profiled as an EVNT species. Confirm the legal pathway before work starts, then use field checks and a clear exclusion plan to protect bowers, nests and birds.

Obtain project-specific ecological and legal advice before clearing or construction. Confirm whether an EPBC Act referral is required and whether approval conditions apply.

In Queensland, check the protected wildlife requirements and whether disturbance to a breeding place requires a species management program. Obtain the relevant Queensland approval before work begins.

Check state and territory permits, licences and approval conditions for clearing, wildlife handling, nest disturbance and relocation. South Australian projects must account for the Rare listing.

• Keep approvals, permit conditions, survey reports and fauna handling authorities on site.
• Do not assume that a general clearing approval authorises disturbance to a breeding place.
• Escalate any proposed impact on a confirmed bower, nest or other breeding place to the project ecologist and approval holder.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Avoidance and site design

Retain suitable woodland, shrubland, rocky outcrops, mature fruiting trees and connected habitat wherever practicable. Keep access routes, stockpiles, lighting and construction activity away from known bowers and suspected nests.

Treat a bower as a site feature that may indicate nearby use of the area. Protect the bower and surrounding habitat from vehicle access, storage, vibration, dust and unauthorised collection of decorations.

• Mark approved exclusion areas on plans and on the ground before mobilisation.
• Use fencing, bunting or other visible barriers that do not entangle birds.
• Set buffers through the project ecologist and approval conditions. Do not apply an unapproved generic distance where the site assessment indicates a larger area is needed.
• Prevent workers from collecting, moving or adding objects to a bower.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Pre-clearance survey

Complete a pre-clearance inspection shortly before works begin, including all vegetation to be removed and the surrounding retained habitat. Search for birds, active bowers, separate nests and dependent young.

Repeat the inspection if clearing is delayed, the footprint changes, or rainfall changes local breeding conditions. Breeding has been recorded from August to February, with timing varying with rainfall.

• Use an authorised fauna spotter catcher where required by the approval or jurisdiction.
• Mark all confirmed and potential breeding places and brief the clearing crew on their locations.
• Stop the planned activity in any area where a bird, nest, dependent young or suspected active breeding place is found until the ecologist confirms the next step.
• Do not remove a bower during a routine pre-clearance inspection.

Before habitat disturbance: 4. Induction and work controls

Give every worker a short site induction before entry. Show photographs or descriptions of the Western Bowerbird, its bower and likely nest signs.

Explain the no-go areas, stop-work process, wildlife handling rules and reporting contacts.

• Require workers to stop and notify the spotter catcher if they see a Western Bowerbird, bower, nest, egg, chick or injured animal in the work area.
• Prohibit chasing, feeding, trapping or photographing birds at close range.
• Control night lighting, dust, noise and unnecessary vehicle movement near retained habitat.
• Keep dogs and other animals out of the work area unless specifically authorised.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Sequential clearing

Use staged clearing with an authorised spotter catcher present where required. The spotter catcher has authority to stop work whenever wildlife, a breeding place or an unexpected risk is identified.

Clear in a planned sequence that allows birds to move into retained habitat without being surrounded. Start with less suitable cover and work towards retained habitat, subject to the approval conditions and site safety requirements.

Inspect each work area immediately before clearing and continuously during high-risk activities.

• Have the spotter catcher walk the next clearing section before machinery enters.
• Clear vegetation progressively rather than opening the whole site at once.
• Keep machinery, workers and materials outside marked exclusion areas.
• Stop work if visibility is poor or the spotter catcher cannot safely inspect the area.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Handling and breeding places

Only authorised and appropriately experienced personnel may capture, handle, contain or relocate wildlife. The spotter catcher must follow the relevant permit, approval and animal welfare requirements.

If an active bower, nest, eggs, chicks, dependent young or other breeding place is found, stop work in the immediate area and protect it from people, machinery and vibration.

• Do not move a nest, bower, egg or chick unless specifically authorised.
• Do not dismantle or clean up a bower as part of site housekeeping.
• Obtain advice from the project ecologist and approval authority before changing the exclusion area or resuming work.
• Treat a group of birds using one area as a potential local concentration and seek ecological advice before proceeding.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Injured or trapped animals

Stop nearby work and reduce noise and people around the animal. Do not chase a bird into dense vegetation or attempt capture without authority and suitable equipment.

Contact the authorised fauna handler, project ecologist or wildlife rescue provider listed in the site plan.

• Keep the animal in a quiet, secure location only when directed by an authorised handler.
• Record the exact location, time, apparent injury, activity underway and photographs from a safe distance.
• Arrange veterinary or wildlife rehabilitation assessment through the approved pathway.
• Do not release a handled bird without advice on the approved release location and conditions.

During habitat disturbance: 4. Daily records and stop-work events

Maintain a daily fauna register. Record all sightings, bowers, nests, handling events, injuries, deaths, relocations, exclusions and work stoppages.

The spotter catcher should report incidents to the site supervisor and project ecologist on the same day, or immediately where required by an approval.

• Record the location and condition of each bower or breeding place before and after work nearby.
• Record the name and authority of each person who handled an animal.
• Retain photographs, GPS points, clearance maps and copies of notifications.
• Report suspected breaches of approval conditions through the project incident system.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Post-clearance inspection

Complete a structured close-out inspection before the site is handed back to the construction team or rehabilitation crew. Use the results to check that exclusions, handling decisions and approval conditions were effective.

Inspect the cleared area, retained vegetation and exclusion boundaries after each clearing stage. Search for injured birds, trapped animals, damaged nests, abandoned eggs and disturbed bowers.

Check that no machinery, spoil, fencing or waste has entered retained habitat or a protected breeding place.

• Confirm that all fauna observations and handling events are reconciled with the daily register.
• Remove temporary barriers only when the project ecologist confirms that the area is no longer at risk.
• Report any new bower or bird concentration before further work proceeds.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Monitoring retained habitat

Monitor retained habitat where the project approval, risk assessment or ecologist recommends it. Focus on known bowers, nearby fruiting trees, rocky outcrops and vegetation retained as movement or feeding habitat.

Use the same observation points, routes and recording methods on each visit so changes can be identified.

• Record Western Bowerbird presence, behaviour, bower condition, visible threats and habitat condition.
• Check during the August to February breeding period where breeding risk is relevant to the project.
• Repeat checks after major construction stages, substantial rainfall or an incident affecting retained habitat.
• Escalate declining habitat condition, repeated disturbance or a damaged bower to the project ecologist.

After habitat disturbance: 3. Relocated or handled birds

Follow up every bird that was captured, contained or relocated under the applicable authority. The responsible fauna handler should confirm release details and any welfare concerns.

Do not treat a bird as successfully relocated solely because it left the release point.

• Record release location, date, time, condition and identifying marks if used lawfully.
• Check for delayed injury, abnormal behaviour or repeated return to the hazard area where monitoring is required.
• Notify the approval holder and relevant authority of mortality, failed release or unexpected impacts.
• Do not recapture or move the bird again without authorised advice.

After habitat disturbance: 4. Reporting and review

Prepare a close-out report that compares planned controls with what occurred in the field. Include maps, photographs, survey effort, fauna records, incidents and corrective actions.

Review the event with the supervisor, spotter catcher and project ecologist before the next clearing stage or similar project.

• Identify whether the survey timing, exclusion areas, induction and clearing sequence worked as intended.
• Update the site fauna management plan where controls were ineffective.
• Share confirmed records with the relevant biodiversity database where appropriate and permitted.
• Keep records for the period required by approvals and permits.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Habitat restoration

Rehabilitation should restore connected, low-disturbance habitat rather than focus only on planting within the cleared footprint. Western Bowerbird breeding and shelter requirements are not well documented, so use local reference habitat and monitor whether restored areas are used.

Retain and reconnect dry woodland, shrubland, rocky outcrops and riverine vegetation where present. Use locally appropriate native species and structural diversity that provide ground cover, shrubs, trees and natural bower materials.

Protect mature fruiting trees and retain native plants that support seasonal food resources, including figs where they occur naturally in the local area.

• Reinstate natural drainage and avoid creating erosion, sediment or waterlogging problems.
• Keep rehabilitation areas free from vehicle access once planted or seeded.
• Use local provenance seed or tubestock where practicable and consistent with the rehabilitation plan.
• Retain fallen timber and natural materials unless they create a safety or fire hazard.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Breeding and shelter features

Do not install nest boxes, bat boxes or artificial roost structures as a default measure for this species. Western Bowerbirds construct bowers for courtship, and females build separate nests. The species-specific value of artificial nest or roost structures is uncertain.

Where a confirmed bower or nest has been affected, obtain advice from the project ecologist and relevant authority before considering any replacement feature.

• Prioritise restoration of natural vegetation and protection of existing bowers over artificial structures.
• Do not relocate or construct a bower without a site-specific ecological rationale and approval.
• Do not use bat boxes, nest boxes or artificial roost structures as substitutes for retained habitat unless they are intended for another confirmed species and are separately assessed.
• If an artificial feature is approved, record its design, location, installation date and maintenance requirements.

Rehabilitation actions: 3. Weeds, water and site hygiene

Control weeds that reduce native ground cover, alter food resources or simplify the habitat. Use weed control methods that avoid harming birds and other fauna.

Provide water only where it is part of an approved landscape or rehabilitation design. Poorly planned water points can attract predators, concentrate wildlife or spread disease.

• Inspect rehabilitation areas for weeds after rainfall and during scheduled maintenance.
• Prevent sediment, chemicals, rubbish and construction wash-down water from entering retained habitat.
• Remove plastic, glass and other waste from the site, while leaving natural bower materials undisturbed.
• Keep artificial lighting directed away from retained vegetation and rehabilitation areas.

Rehabilitation actions: 4. Long-term monitoring

Monitor plant survival, weed cover, habitat structure and connectivity through establishment. Add targeted Western Bowerbird checks where the site contains suitable habitat or a known bower was retained.

Use the results to adjust watering, weed control, fencing and access management.

• Record any Western Bowerbird sightings, courtship behaviour, bower construction or use of restored habitat.
• Check whether construction traffic, lighting, noise, predators or domestic animals are affecting the restored area.
• Inspect retained and restored habitat after extreme weather or major maintenance works.
• Continue monitoring for the period required by the approval, and extend it if the habitat is slow to establish or a breeding place is present.

Rehabilitation actions: 5. Adaptive management

Treat rehabilitation as a staged process. If birds do not return, investigate habitat condition, connectivity, food resources, disturbance and survey timing before changing the design.

Seek local ecological and Traditional Owner knowledge where appropriate and with permission, particularly when selecting habitat features and monitoring locations.

• Review monitoring results with the project ecologist and land manager.
• Repair damaged fencing, replace failed plants and remove new weed outbreaks promptly.
• Change lighting, access or work practices if monitoring shows continued disturbance.
• Document lessons for future clearing and construction projects.

Sources

• [PDF] Notes on the Nesting Biology of the Spotted Bowerbird - Birdlife, BirdLife Australia: https://afo.birdlife.org.au/afo/index.php/afo/article/download/886/867
• WESTERN BOWERBIRD, wildlifemountain.au: https://wildlifemountain.au/western-bowerbird/
• Occurrence records for the distribution map, Atlas of Living Australia: https://biocache.ala.org.au/