The listing assessment says increased heatwaves and fire frequency as a result of the climate emergency were increasing pressure on the species across its range, with bushfires likely to reduce the amount of nesting habitat available to the birds.
Sarah Legge, a scientist who sits on the committee, said the bushfires had affected 36% of the birds’ range and about half of that had been burnt by high-severity fire.
“That would have potentially taken out nesting hollows and destroyed a lot of their foraging resources,” she said.
She said gang-gangs needed time to recover after such a disaster, something that would be made difficult with more frequent severe bushfire seasons. “Any species that’s fire sensitive is going to really struggle,” she said.
Shedders pitch in for wildlife
1 Min Read Many hands: Shedders getting the job done are Phil Endersbee, Phil Robinson (hidden), and Laurie Oliver. Picture: Supplied Share
POINT Nepean Men’s Shed members are using their woodworking skills to make 100 shelter and nesting boxes for wildlife impacted by bushfires in Gippsland.
In the picture, above, men’s shed president John Stevenson and members Laurie Oliver and Leigh Norrie add final details to the boxes which were the last of a batch going to Kalimna West, inland from Lakes Entrance.
The bushfire recovery program aims to help the animals in their long-term recovery. Birdlife Australia provided a design template, Studio57F1 provided the boxes in kit form, Bunnings Rosebud provided the paint and the Men’s Shed provided the hardware as well as assembling and painting the boxes.
Description:
Platalea regia, commonly known as the royal spoonbill or black-billed spoonbill, is a large wading bird from the family Threskiornithidae, and is an Australian native. This is also a tall bird that stands approximately 80 cm high. White plumage, long legs, and an amazing spoon-shaped bill that acts like a pair of tongs. At this location, the spoonbill diet would consist mainly of small fish and tadpoles, small crustaceans and aquatic insects. It uses several methods to catch food: slow sweeping from side to side with an open bill, rapid sweeping while walking fast, or even running through the water, as well as dragging, probing or grabbing. Once food is caught, it lifts its bill up and lets the items slide down its throat. It will bash shrimps against hard objects to remove their shells. (Birdlife Australia) This species occurs in intertidal flats and shallows of fresh and saltwater wetlands, and can also be found New Zealand, Indonesia, PNG, and the Solomon Islands.
A rare New Zealand bird has taken off on a Trans-tasman flight after being spotted for the first time in Australia.
Hunter Bird Observers Club member Michael Kearns discovered the endangered black-fronted tern flying in the skies over Newcastle in late June.
During wild weather Michael had set about on a bird watching trip to Fort Scratchley with the hopes of spotting seabirds like albatross, when he unexpectedly came across the threatened species.
The rare black-fronted tern endemic to New Zealand has been spotted for the first time in Australia
The unusual sighting of the endangered bird endemic to New Zealand has sparked excitement within the NSW birdwatching community.
A pair of rare owls have singlehandedly slammed the brakes on plans for a multimillion-dollar redevelopment of a Sydney high school.
Construction plans for a $153 million facelift of Chatswood High School in Sydney s lower North Shore were sent back to the drawing board after concerns were raised of the impact on two threatened owls.
The Education Department pledged to preserve the large Angophora Costata tree, the chosen nesting ground of the powerful owls - a breed of the nocturnal birds.
A pair of rare Powerful Owls have singlehandedly slammed the brakes on plans for a multimillion redevelopment of Chatswood High School (pictured)