Prick up your ears for Rufous Scrub Birds
Carmen Welss

Fancy joining an expedition into World Heritage Rainforest in search of an illusive threatened species?

The Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife is calling on keen birdwatchers in the Hunter region to register as volunteers for the annual Rufous Scrub Bird survey. Volunteers will get out and about this spring and help scientists find these elusive threatened birds in Border Ranges and Barrington Tops National Parks.

Rufous ScrubBird habitat at Barrington Tops National Park. Photo: NPWS

Scrub Bird calling

From October ornithologists and volunteers at almost 500 sites in the bush will prick up their ears for the call of male Rufous Scrub Birds. They may never see them, but they know that there will be only one male bird in an area of 200 square metres.

Male Rufous Scrub Birds are very territorial, and there were trials in the past to tease them with the recorded call of an invading male. Other territorial birds tend to respond with attacks, which makes them easy to observe. Our Rufous Scrub Bird, however, is not that brave. He goes all quiet, and the bird observer will never hear or see him.

The Rufous Scrub Bird is one of the most difficult birds to observe, and you may have to wait for hours in silence. When all is quiet, you might get to hear their call, but then it can be a bit of an earful. It is melodious and the birds are excellent mimics, but their voice is very loud. It can be almost painful if you happen to be too close.

Steps towards Recovery

The Foundation has committed $12,113 to the project to find out the reasons for the recent decline in the species’ abundance. Part of these funds will go towards training the volunteers in identification of the Rufous Scrub Birds and survey methodology. Current data on where the birds live, how the population's range and size are changing are essential for any future recovery action.

The Rufous Scrub Bird, a rare and localised resident at Barrington Tops and Border Ranges National Parks, is one of two birds of the genus Atrichornis. They are about 18 cm long and resemble a long-tailed wren. Rufous Scrub Bird populations have always been fragmented, isolated and restricted to small patches of thick undergrowth in the forests of Northern NSW and southern Queensland.

Scientists are considering upgrading the listing of the bird from vulnerable to endangered. The major threats are believed to be habitat fragmentation, too frequent fires and predation by feral predators like cats, dogs and foxes.

Camping & birding

The surveys are great fun - you camp out and get the chance to see some of the region’s rarer rainforest birds, mammals and plants. And while you take in the beauty of the most spectacular World Heritage rainforests of the east coast of NSW you help conserving a rare and cryptic species.

Survey areas include Barrington Tops and Border Ranges National Parks and will run from October-December 2004.

Experienced or just enthusiastic birdwatchers can participate and will receive a comprehensive briefing on the background of the project, the survey method, Rufous Scrub Bird calls and behaviour. Volunteers will be reimbursed for their petrol and food costs.

To register as a volunteer please contact Peter Ekert, Ekerlogic Consulting Services on 02 4950 0573.

To support future bird surveys and conservation projects through a donation contact the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife, GPO Box 2666, SYDNEY NSW 2001, Ph: 02 9221 1949, I: www.fnpw.com.au

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