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White-winged Chough (Corcorax melanorhamphos)

The White-winged Chough is a large, social, ground-foraging bird of eastern and south-eastern Australia. It uses open woodland, taller mallee, mature pine forest and areas with leaf litter and mud, so clearing, earthworks and loss of connected feeding habitat can affect groups and their nest sites. It is listed as Rare in South Australia and is treated as an EVNT species for this project, requiring targeted consideration during surveys and works planning.

Conservation status

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

Breeding season

White-winged Choughs breed from August to December in Australia. Timing may vary between regions and years, particularly with rainfall and the availability of mud for nest building.

Breeding mode: Communal breeding in social groups. One breeding pair is supported by offspring and other helpers from previous years.

Clutch size: Usually 3 to 5 eggs. Larger clutches have also been reported.

Incubation: About 19 days.

Nestling period: About 28 days in the nest. Chicks leave unable to fly.

Post fledging dependence: Young remain with their family and assist with later breeding. Independence may take 6 to 7 months.

Age at maturity: About 4 years.

Nest site: A large mud bowl on a horizontal tree branch, usually within 15 m of the ground. Cattle or Emu dung may be used when mud is scarce.

Breeding may start or finish outside these months in some years or regions, so check suitable woodland, leaf litter, mud sources and horizontal branches before works begin.

  • Breeding and nest building: Groups build and defend mud nests from August to December, with nest building potentially taking several months when mud is scarce.
  • Eggs and nestlings: Egg laying, incubation and nestling care occur during the August to December breeding period.
  • Flightless and dependent young: Young may leave the nest unable to fly and remain dependent on the family while developing flight and foraging skills.
  • Ground foraging and social activity: White-winged Choughs are mostly sedentary and forage socially on the ground through leaf litter throughout the year.
  • Highest clearing risk: Avoid clearing and intensive disturbance from August to January where possible, because nests, nestlings and newly fledged flightless young may be present.

Identification: Appearance

White-winged Choughs are large, almost completely black birds that spend much of their time walking and feeding on the ground. They are social and are often detected as a noisy group rather than as a single bird.

Adults have black plumage, a curved black bill and a red eye. A large white wing patch is conspicuous when the bird flies.

Young birds are duller, with brown eyes. Eye colour changes through orange to red as they mature.

Length: 45 to 60 cm

Adult eye: Red

Young eye: Brown, changing through orange as the bird matures

  • Heavyset body, similar in overall size to a raven
  • Black legs and bill
  • White wing patch visible in flight
  • Slow, deep wingbeats mixed with short glides
  • Swaggering walk on the ground

Identification: Calls and similar species

The species is often first detected by a mournful, descending whistle or piping call. A ratchet like or grating call is given when birds are disturbed.

Australian Ravens and other crows can look similar at a distance. White-winged Choughs have a curved bill, red adult eye and white wing patch. Crows and ravens do not have the white wing patch.

Common confusion: Australian Raven, Torresian Crow and other Corvus species

  • Listen for the descending whistle or piping call before entering suitable woodland.
  • Check flying birds for the white wing patch.
  • Do not rely on a black bird seen briefly on the ground for identification.

Identification: Field signs

Groups usually move together through leaf litter and may call softly to one another while feeding. When disturbed, they commonly fly into nearby trees and call noisily.

A large bowl shaped mud nest on a horizontal branch is a strong breeding sign. Nests may contain grass, bark, hair or feathers, and may be difficult to see from the ground.

Nest form: Large bowl of mud on a horizontal branch

Nest height: Within 15 m of the ground

  • Several black birds walking together and raking through leaf litter
  • White wing patches flashing as a group takes flight
  • Fresh mud nest material or repeated bird activity around a horizontal branch
  • Alarm calls followed by birds perching in nearby trees

Distribution: Australian range

The White-winged Chough occurs across much of eastern and south-eastern mainland Australia. For this project it is mapped in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria, with additional records from the Australian Capital Territory in broader Australian distribution information.

The species is native to southern and eastern Australia. It is absent from northern Queensland and is generally associated with the mainland woodlands and forests of the south-east.

Movement pattern: Mostly sedentary, with local movement and larger gatherings outside the breeding season

  • New South Wales
  • Queensland, mainly outside the far north
  • South Australia
  • Victoria
  • Australian Capital Territory

Distribution: South Australian distribution

In South Australia, the species has declined in parts of the Mount Lofty Ranges. Records remain from suitable woodland and forest areas, including Belair National Park, Black Hill Conservation Park, Aldinga Scrub Conservation Park and Eurilla Conservation Park.

The Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges also have records from the central ranges, Monarto, areas north of Kuitpo and an isolated record at Deep Creek. Records should be treated as evidence of use, not as a complete distribution map.

South Australian listing: Rare under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972

  • Check local databases and recent records before planning clearing.
  • Treat apparently isolated records as useful indicators of potentially connected habitat.
  • Search beyond the immediate works footprint where a group may range across adjoining woodland.

Distribution: Site scale and detectability

Family groups maintain large feeding territories, often up to 1000 ha. A group seen on or near a site may therefore use a much larger surrounding area.

The species is conspicuous once located, but records can be uneven because groups move over large areas and may be missed during a short visit.

Feeding territory: Often up to 1000 ha

  • Map adjoining woodland, mallee, pine forest, litter rich ground and likely movement routes.
  • Record the number of birds, direction of travel and any repeated feeding or nesting locations.
  • Use local records to plan targeted searches where the species is listed or declining.

Habitat: Vegetation and ground structure

Look for White-winged Chough habitat where open woodland or taller mallee provides a continuous layer of leaf litter and open ground. Wetter parts of the landscape are favoured where they retain food, litter and mud for nest building.

Suitable habitat includes grassy woodland, open forest, taller mallee and some mature pine forest. In the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges, persistent populations have been associated with a mixture of native woodland and mature pine forest.

The ground layer is often more useful than dense understorey. Extensive grassless areas with leaf litter provide feeding conditions.

Preferred habitat groups: Grassy Woodland and Mallee in the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges

  • Native woodland with mature trees and an open or lightly grassy ground layer
  • Taller mallee with intact leaf litter
  • Mature pine forest adjoining native vegetation
  • Wetter woodland or forest patches with damp ground and mud

Habitat: Landscape features to check

Inspect broad woodland remnants, forest belts, mallee patches and links between them. A small clearing may still be part of a much larger feeding territory.

Pay particular attention to areas with rotten wood, accumulated litter, open ground and nearby damp soil or mud.

Key resources: Leaf litter for feeding and mud for nest construction

  • Large intact remnants and connected vegetation
  • Edges between woodland and mature pine forest
  • Drainage lines and damp depressions that retain mud
  • Unsealed tracks, firebreaks and open forest floors used for ground feeding

Habitat: Habitat retention on works sites

Retain native woodland, mature trees, fallen litter and areas of open ground where practicable. Avoid treating a site as unsuitable simply because it has little dense understorey.

Before clearing, map habitat that links the works area with nearby woodland. This helps identify whether a local group may lose access to a substantial part of its feeding area.

  • Keep connected patches of woodland and mallee where possible.
  • Avoid unnecessary removal of mature trees and litter rich ground.
  • Protect damp areas and natural sources of mud.
  • Include adjoining retained vegetation in the site inspection, not only the construction footprint.

Foraging habitat: Foraging signs and resources

White-winged Choughs forage mainly on the ground in groups. They rake through leaf litter and loose soil for insects and take some seeds, so disturbance or removal of the ground layer can reduce the value of otherwise suitable woodland.

Look for groups walking slowly through litter and raking it with the bill. Birds may also search rotten wood and open ground.

Food includes insects and other small invertebrates, together with some seeds. Wetter sites can provide richer litter and softer ground.

Primary feeding location: On the ground among leaf litter

Territory scale: Often up to 1000 ha

  • Deep or continuous leaf litter
  • Rotten logs and decaying wood
  • Open ground between trees
  • Native shrubs and grasses that provide seed
  • Damp soil or litter after rain

Foraging habitat: Survey approach

Search suitable ground habitat for groups, tracks of repeated use and feeding activity. Listen for calls as well as watching the ground, particularly where vegetation limits visibility.

Because groups can travel several kilometres through a territory, a single visit may not show the full area used. Combine direct observations with recent records and habitat mapping.

Useful observation: A group repeatedly feeding in one area indicates local habitat use, even if no nest is found

  • Walk slowly through or beside suitable woodland and litter rich areas.
  • Pause regularly to listen for descending whistles and group alarm calls.
  • Record group size, location, direction of travel and feeding behaviour.
  • Check nearby retained vegetation if birds leave the immediate work area.

Foraging habitat: Managing feeding areas

Limit clearing of leaf litter, native shrubs and fallen timber where these features are part of the feeding area. Keep vehicle movements and stockpiling within defined work zones.

Avoid creating unnecessary barriers between woodland patches. Restore compacted or disturbed ground with locally appropriate native vegetation and retain natural litter where safe to do so.

  • Minimise the clearing footprint.
  • Keep machinery on designated access routes.
  • Prevent avoidable soil contamination and litter removal.
  • Retain links between feeding areas and nearby nest habitat.

Breeding habitat: Nest location and construction

Breeding is communal. A breeding pair is assisted by other group members, often including young from earlier broods, so disturbance to one nest can affect several birds and the group’s future breeding effort.

The nest is a large, deep bowl made mainly from mud. It is built on a horizontal branch, generally within 15 m of the ground. Construction can take several months when suitable mud is scarce.

Birds may use cattle or emu dung when mud is unavailable. Nests can be conspicuous once complete but may be obscured by foliage or overlooked during a rapid inspection.

Nest material: Mud, sometimes supplemented with dung and plant material

Nest position: Horizontal branch within 15 m of ground

  • Horizontal limbs in open forest or woodland
  • Trees near damp ground or other mud sources
  • Mature trees retained within otherwise open habitat
  • Areas where birds repeatedly carry mud or vegetation

Breeding habitat: Breeding period and group behaviour

Breeding is reported from August to December. Group members help with nest building, incubation and feeding chicks.

Chicks leave the nest unable to fly and remain vulnerable until they develop strong flight. Young birds may remain with their family group for several years and help with later broods.

Usual clutch: About 3 to 5 eggs

Incubation: About 19 days

Nestling period: About 28 days

  • Watch for repeated visits to one tree or branch.
  • Treat an active nest and the surrounding feeding area as a breeding site, not just a single tree.
  • Use trained personnel to assess nesting activity before vegetation removal or noisy works.
  • If a nest is found, pause work in the immediate area and obtain project specific ecological and regulatory advice.

Breeding habitat: Preclearance checks

Inspect trees with horizontal branches before clearing, particularly where groups are seen, heard or repeatedly fly into nearby trees. Search from several viewpoints because a nest may be hidden by foliage.

A preclearance check should include nearby ground habitat and mud sources. The aim is to identify active nests, recently used nests and the broader group territory before works begin.

  • Search during daylight when birds are active.
  • Use binoculars where a nest is suspected and avoid shaking or climbing nest trees.
  • Mark confirmed nest trees and retain access for follow up inspection.
  • Record photographs, coordinates, nest condition and bird behaviour from a safe distance.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter features

Specific roost sites are not well characterised, but disturbed groups commonly fly into nearby trees. Retained trees and connected woodland therefore provide useful shelter and escape habitat during works.

Look for mature trees, woodland edges and nearby canopy where groups can move quickly from the ground when disturbed. Retain a mix of trees and open ground rather than clearing all cover from the work area.

The species is mostly sedentary, so regularly used shelter may be close to feeding and breeding areas.

Typical response to disturbance: The group flies into nearby trees and calls noisily

  • Mature trees with spreading branches
  • Connected woodland and forest belts
  • Tree lines linking feeding areas
  • Nearby canopy beside open ground and access routes

Sheltering habitat: Managing disturbance

Keep noisy machinery, vehicle movements and personnel concentrated within the approved work area. Avoid unnecessary disturbance of groups feeding or resting in retained vegetation.

If birds repeatedly leave a particular tree or patch during works, record the location and review whether the activity is affecting a regularly used shelter or nest area.

  • Retain nearby trees when safe and practicable.
  • Avoid parking, storage and lighting beneath retained woodland.
  • Keep workers and machinery away from identified nests and repeatedly used trees.
  • Schedule vegetation inspections before high disturbance activities begin.

Threats: Clearing and habitat loss

The main broad threat is loss of habitat, with additional risks during clearing, construction and the period when young leave the nest. Management should protect both the nest tree and the larger feeding landscape used by the group.

Removal of woodland, mallee, mature pine forest, leaf litter and open feeding ground can reduce the area available to a family group. Fragmentation can also separate feeding areas from nest trees and mud sources.

Because feeding territories can be large, impacts may extend beyond the immediate clearing footprint.

Primary threat: Habitat loss, especially in extensively cleared districts

  • Avoid clearing native woodland and taller mallee where alternatives exist.
  • Retain mature trees with suitable horizontal branches.
  • Protect connected litter rich ground and woodland links.
  • Map cumulative loss across adjoining projects where information is available.

Threats: Nests and breeding birds

Clearing or noisy work near an active nest can cause repeated disturbance or abandonment. Young leave the nest unable to fly, which makes the period around fledging particularly sensitive.

The species is listed as Rare in South Australia. Treat confirmed nests and important habitat as a planning constraint and seek the relevant approval or ecological advice before disturbance.

South Australian status: Rare

Project status: EVNT species for this profile

  • Complete a targeted preclearance inspection.
  • Stop and reassess if a nest or dependent young are found.
  • Do not remove a nest or relocate birds without specific authorisation and expert advice.
  • Apply any conditions attached to the project approval or species management requirements.

Threats: Predation and domestic animals

Newly fledged birds are vulnerable to feral cats and foxes before they can fly strongly. Owned dogs and cats can also disturb or prey on birds around works areas and retained habitat.

Keep domestic animals out of active work zones and manage food and waste that may attract predators.

  • Use predator control measures where they are lawful, approved and part of the site plan.
  • Keep cats and dogs away from retained woodland and nest areas.
  • Secure food waste and avoid creating shelter for pest animals.
  • Report repeated predator activity near a nest or group.

Threats: Construction disturbance and monitoring

Noise, vehicle movement, night lighting, dust and loss of ground cover can reduce use of otherwise suitable habitat. Monitor groups that are repeatedly observed near the work area and adjust activities if disturbance is persistent.

For a Rare or EVNT species, retain survey records and document avoidance measures, nest findings, group locations and any incidents.

  • Define and brief workers on no go areas around identified habitat and nests.
  • Keep work within the approved footprint.
  • Maintain leaf litter and natural ground cover in retained areas.
  • Use follow up inspections when works occur near known groups or breeding habitat.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

White-winged Choughs are conspicuous, social birds that usually forage on the ground in groups. Survey effort should target their calls, group activity and use of leaf litter, woodland and mature pine areas.

Review recent records and habitat mapping before visiting the site. Give particular attention to woodland, taller mallee, mature pine forest, wetter areas, leaf litter and places where mud is available for nest building.

Map adjoining habitat because a family group may use a large feeding territory, often up to 1000 ha. Consider habitat beyond the clearing footprint, including access tracks, laydown areas and haul routes.

  • Check records for NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria, with particular attention to South Australian Rare records.
  • Identify whether the proposal could affect a Queensland protected animal or its breeding place.
  • Check whether the project has other matters that may require an EPBC Act referral. White-winged Chough is not identified as nationally listed in the available project information, so do not assume that a referral is required for this species alone.
  • Mark potential nest trees, feeding areas, mud sources, movement routes and nearby retained woodland on project plans.

Survey methodology: 2. Field detection

Search on foot through suitable woodland and open forest. Look for groups raking through grass and leaf litter, black birds with red eyes and a white wing patch, and the distinctive descending whistle.

Use calls as an aid to detection. A mournful descending whistle is often heard before the group is seen. Disturbed birds may give a ratchet-like call and fly into nearby trees.

Give priority to ground habitat because the species spends most of its time foraging there. Inspect horizontal branches in trees for large mud bowl nests, including branches within 15 m of the ground.

  • Walk slowly and pause regularly to listen and scan tree lines and ground cover.
  • Search wetter parts of the site and areas with abundant leaf litter or exposed mud.
  • Record observations from a safe distance and avoid repeatedly flushing groups.
  • Do not use call playback near a suspected nest unless it has been approved by the project ecologist and the relevant authority.

Survey methodology: 3. Timing and effort

Survey during daylight, preferably within three hours of sunrise or sunset when birds are active and calls are easier to detect. A 30 minute survey at each representative vegetation association is a useful minimum baseline where the survey design and site access allow it.

Repeat searches where habitat is suitable but no birds are detected. White-winged Choughs are mostly sedentary, but groups can range widely and may be absent from one part of their territory during a single visit.

Give additional attention to the breeding period from August to December. Survey before clearing and again immediately before works if the first survey was undertaken well before construction.

  • Survey in calm conditions with good visibility and avoid heavy rain or strong wind where possible.
  • Spread survey points or walking paths across all suitable habitat and along the edge of the proposed disturbance area.
  • Increase effort where records, calls, fresh nests or repeated group observations indicate a territory.
  • Do not treat one negative survey as proof that the site is unused.

Survey methodology: 4. Record and report

Record the date, start and finish time, observers, weather, survey route, habitat and survey effort. Map every sighting, call, feeding area, nest and flight path.

Describe group size and behaviour. Note whether birds are feeding, carrying mud, attending a nest, defending an area or moving between retained habitat patches.

Photograph diagnostic features or nests only where this can be done without approaching or disturbing the birds.

  • Record the number of adults and juveniles where possible.
  • Record the location and height of any nest, using the nest tree and branch position rather than relying only on a handheld waypoint.
  • Record signs of feral cats, foxes, domestic animals, habitat clearing, soil disturbance and loss of leaf litter.
  • Provide the results to the project ecologist, superintendent and spotter catcher before the work area is released.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Approvals and permits

Plan works to retain the habitat and social structure used by White-winged Chough groups. Resolve the legal status, breeding-place risks and avoidance measures before machinery arrives.

Confirm the listing and approval requirements for the state where the work will occur. The species is mapped in NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria, and is listed as Rare in South Australia.

In Queensland, treat the species as protected wildlife where the relevant near threatened provisions apply. Obtain or confirm a species management program if the work may tamper with its breeding place.

Obtain any required state wildlife permits, approvals or authorisations before capture, handling, relocation or disturbance. Use the project ecologist to confirm the current agency requirements.

  • Check whether a South Australian permit or approval is needed for disturbance to a Rare species or its nest.
  • Check state requirements in NSW and Victoria before clearing or handling fauna.
  • Consider an EPBC Act referral only where the project may affect a relevant nationally listed matter or another MNES. Do not describe White-winged Chough as an EPBC listed species unless the current protected matters search confirms this.
  • Keep approvals, conditions, maps and contact details at the work front.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Avoidance and work design

Retain native woodland, mature pine forest, taller mallee, leaf litter and wetter areas where practicable. Retain mud sources and vegetation that supports ground foraging.

Protect the area used by the whole group, not only the nest tree. A breeding group may include helpers and young birds from previous years, and feeding territories can be large.

Use a site-specific exclusion area around any active nest, feeding concentration or repeatedly used flight route. Set the distance through the project ecologist and approval conditions because no universal species-specific buffer is established here.

  • Redesign access, fencing, drainage and stockpile locations to avoid nests and continuous feeding habitat.
  • Keep vehicles, workers, dogs and domestic animals out of retained habitat.
  • Fence and sign exclusion areas before clearing starts.
  • Prevent sediment, dust, fuel, concrete washout and spoil from reaching leaf litter, mud sources or retained woodland.
  • Schedule the most disruptive work outside August to December where practicable, especially where active nesting is present.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Pre-clearance survey

Complete a pre-clearance fauna inspection shortly before disturbance. Search the full clearing footprint, the edge of retained vegetation, access routes and trees with horizontal branches within 15 m of the ground.

Check for adults, juveniles, fresh mud, nest attendance, alarm calls and group defence. A nest may take several months to build when mud is scarce, so apparently incomplete nests still require assessment.

If a nest or dependent young is found, stop planning in that area until the project ecologist confirms the required controls.

  • Search during daylight in suitable weather and listen before entering the habitat.
  • Inspect from the ground first and use qualified personnel for any elevated inspection.
  • Mark the nest tree and the proposed exclusion area without entering the nest area unnecessarily.
  • Repeat the inspection if more than a short period passes before clearing or if works occur during August to December.

Before habitat disturbance: 4. Induction and release to work

Give all workers a short fauna induction before they enter the site. Show photographs of the species, its white wing patch, red eye, curved bill, calls, mud nests and the site exclusion markings.

Nominate the fauna spotter catcher and project ecologist who can stop work. Make the stop-work process clear to machine operators and supervisors.

Release each work area only after the pre-clearance inspection, fencing and permit checks are complete.

  • Tell workers not to chase, feed, capture or handle White-winged Choughs.
  • Require workers to report any group, nest, injured bird, alarm behaviour or bird trapped in infrastructure.
  • Keep cats, dogs and other domestic animals out of the work area.
  • Display the fauna contact number and the location of the first aid and wildlife holding equipment.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Sequential clearing

Use staged clearing and keep a trained fauna observer involved whenever suitable habitat is disturbed. Work must stop when a nest, dependent young, injured bird or unexpected group response indicates that the approved controls are not adequate.

Clear in stages from the disturbed area towards retained habitat, allowing birds to move away without being surrounded. Retain escape routes and avoid blocking nearby woodland with machinery, spoil or fencing.

Start with low-impact ground preparation where approved, then remove vegetation progressively. Do not fell a nest tree until the fauna spotter catcher and project ecologist have confirmed that it is inactive and can be lawfully disturbed.

Keep machinery speed low and maintain continuous communication between the operator, spotter catcher and supervisor.

  • Check the next section immediately before it is cleared.
  • Stop if birds begin repeated alarm calling, wing-waving, circling or defending a location.
  • Do not clear leaf litter or mud sources outside the approved footprint.
  • Keep cleared material from being pushed into retained feeding habitat.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Stop-work and breeding-place response

The fauna spotter catcher has authority to stop work at any time. Stop immediately if an active nest, dependent young, breeding group, colony-like gathering or repeatedly used roost is found.

Move workers and machinery away quietly. Establish a temporary exclusion area under the direction of the project ecologist and follow the approval or species management program.

Do not remove, relocate or destroy a nest. White-winged Chough nests are large mud bowls on horizontal branches, and breeding groups may rely on the surrounding habitat as well as the nest tree.

  • Record the location, nest condition, bird behaviour and work activity at the time of discovery.
  • Contact the project ecologist and the relevant wildlife authority where required.
  • Revise the work method, timing or footprint before work resumes.
  • Treat any occupied nest or dependent young as active until a suitably qualified person confirms otherwise.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Handling and injured animals

Only authorised and appropriately trained people may catch, handle, transport or release a White-winged Chough. Do not attempt to catch a healthy bird simply because it is near machinery.

If a bird is injured, stop nearby work and keep people, vehicles and dogs away. Contact the project fauna handler, wildlife carer or veterinarian nominated in the fauna management plan.

Use a ventilated, dark, secure container only under the direction of the authorised handler. Keep the bird quiet and do not give food or water unless directed by a veterinarian or wildlife carer.

  • Record the bird's location, condition, visible injuries and time found.
  • Prevent further disturbance while waiting for the authorised handler.
  • If a bird is trapped in a structure, isolate the structure and obtain specialist assistance before opening or dismantling it.
  • Do not release a handled bird without advice on the release location and timing.

During habitat disturbance: 4. Daily records and communication

Maintain a fauna log for every work shift. Record inspections, stop-work events, sightings, nests, handling, injuries, releases, deaths and changes to exclusion areas.

Report incidents to the site supervisor and project ecologist on the day they occur. Escalate statutory reportable events in accordance with approval conditions and permit requirements.

  • Record the date, time, location, species, number of birds and behaviour.
  • Record the name and authority of every person involved in handling or decision making.
  • Photograph nests, injuries and work areas where this can be done safely and without additional disturbance.
  • Update the site map after every change to an exclusion area or work boundary.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Post-clearance checks

Close out each work area with a fauna check and confirm that retained habitat, exclusion controls and records match the approved plan. Follow up any nest, injury, mortality or relocation event rather than treating the work area as complete when machinery leaves.

Inspect the cleared area, retained vegetation edge, access tracks and nearby trees after clearing. Look for stranded birds, injured animals, damaged nests, trapped fauna and unexpected barriers to movement.

Confirm that no waste, mesh, trenches, pits, pipes or open containers remain available to trap birds or other fauna.

Check that exclusion fencing and signs remain intact around retained habitat and any active breeding place.

  • Complete the check before the crew demobilises from the work area.
  • Close or cover pits and drains, or provide an approved escape method.
  • Remove loose wire, netting and other entanglement hazards.
  • Report any mortality or damaged nest immediately.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Relocated or released animals

Where an authorised handler has relocated or released a bird, record the release location, time, method and condition. Use a location selected by the project ecologist that provides suitable woodland, leaf litter, cover and access to the bird's social group where practicable.

Do not assume that a released bird has rejoined its group. Monitor for normal flight, calling, feeding and group association when this can be done without disturbance.

  • Follow the wildlife carer or veterinarian's release instructions.
  • Do not provide supplementary food or water unless specifically authorised.
  • Check whether the release location is within another group's defended territory before release.
  • Record any subsequent re-capture, injury or mortality.

After habitat disturbance: 3. Monitoring and reporting

Monitor retained habitat and any active nest according to the approval, species management program or project fauna plan. Use consistent routes and observation points so changes can be compared over time.

Report whether groups continue to use the site, whether feeding areas remain connected and whether birds are using retained trees and leaf litter after works.

  • Repeat observations during and after the August to December breeding period where breeding activity was recorded.
  • Record group size, calls, feeding, nest attendance, juvenile presence and flight responses.
  • Map new nests, new feeding areas and any changes in habitat condition.
  • Submit a close-out report with survey effort, incidents, corrective actions and outstanding commitments.

After habitat disturbance: 4. Incident review

Review every stop-work event, injury, mortality, nest disturbance or unplanned habitat loss with the supervisor, spotter catcher and project ecologist.

Use the review to improve the next work stage. Update the induction, exclusion map, clearing sequence or supervision level where the controls did not work as intended.

  • Identify the immediate cause and the underlying planning or communication failure.
  • Confirm whether an authority notification or permit report is required.
  • Record corrective actions, responsible people and completion dates.
  • Do not reopen an affected work area until the revised controls are approved.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore feeding habitat

Rehabilitation should restore the ground-foraging habitat and social landscape used by White-winged Chough groups. Focus on native woodland structure, leaf litter, mud availability and safe movement between retained areas rather than on artificial nest boxes.

Re-establish native woodland or mallee structure appropriate to the local vegetation community. Restore ground layers that support insects and other invertebrate prey, while retaining natural leaf litter and fallen timber where safe.

Keep rehabilitation areas connected to retained woodland. A small isolated planting may not provide the large feeding area used by a family group.

Use locally appropriate native species and protect plantings from grazing, vehicle damage and soil compaction.

  • Retain leaf litter instead of routinely raking or removing it.
  • Avoid broadscale planting of dense grass where it prevents ground foraging through litter.
  • Retain fallen timber and natural ground debris unless it creates a specific safety or fire risk.
  • Control erosion and sediment movement into retained feeding habitat.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Restore mud and water resources

Maintain suitable damp ground and natural mud sources where they occur. White-winged Choughs use mud to build nests, and may use cattle or emu dung when mud is unavailable.

Design drainage and water management so that rehabilitation areas receive suitable moisture without creating erosion, pollution or a wildlife hazard.

  • Prevent concrete washout, chemicals and sediment from entering mud sources or drainage lines.
  • Use shallow, stable edges at any constructed water point where this is compatible with the broader site design.
  • Do not create standing water that becomes a trap or concentrates predators.
  • Monitor whether mud remains available during the breeding period from August to December.

Rehabilitation actions: 3. Nest sites and artificial structures

White-winged Choughs build large mud nests on horizontal branches, rather than using nest boxes or bat boxes. Nest boxes, bat boxes and enclosed roost structures are therefore not suitable replacement breeding structures for this species.

Where an approved rehabilitation design requires assistance, use retained or planted trees with suitable horizontal branches and nearby mud sources. An artificial open nest platform should only be considered if designed and installed by a qualified ornithologist and accepted by the relevant authority.

  • Do not install nest boxes or bat boxes as a substitute for chough nest habitat.
  • Do not attach an artificial nest or platform near an active nest without expert approval.
  • Protect potential nest trees from pruning, vibration and repeated disturbance during August to December.
  • Monitor any artificial platform for use, structural safety and impacts on the birds.

Rehabilitation actions: 4. Weeds, predators and domestic animals

Control weeds that reduce native ground cover, alter leaf litter or displace native food plants. Use methods that limit soil disturbance and avoid poisoning birds or their invertebrate prey.

Reduce access by feral cats, foxes and domestic animals. Young birds are especially vulnerable after leaving the nest, when they cannot yet fly effectively.

  • Remove food, shelter and denning opportunities for foxes and feral cats where the project has lawful control.
  • Keep domestic cats and dogs out of rehabilitation and retained woodland.
  • Avoid broadscale insecticide use in feeding habitat unless specifically assessed and approved.
  • Inspect rehabilitation areas for new weeds, erosion, rubbish and predator activity.

Rehabilitation actions: 5. Long-term monitoring

Monitor rehabilitation until vegetation is established and the site is functioning as connected feeding habitat. Use the same observation methods as the pre-clearance survey so results can be compared.

Track whether White-winged Chough groups return, forage, call, nest and move through the restored area. A return of birds should not be the only measure of success, because groups may use a large territory beyond the project boundary.

  • Survey during daylight, with emphasis on the period from August to December and the three hours around sunrise or sunset.
  • Record group size, juvenile presence, feeding behaviour, nest building, mud use and use of retained trees.
  • Inspect leaf litter, ground cover, water and mud availability during each monitoring round.
  • Continue monitoring for the period required by the approval or rehabilitation plan, and address failures promptly.

Sources