The Wedderburn CMN and Endangered Species of Animals
 |
The Malleefowl - flagship species of the Wedderburn CMN
The malleefowl Leipoa ocellata is found exclusively on mainland Australia and is a member of the megapode family. Megapodes are unique in the world. They do not use their body heat to incubate the eggs like most other birds; rather, the eggs are buried in a mound then incubated by external heat sources. Malleefowl use the heat generated by decomposing leaf litter and the sun to heat their mounds, and constantly manipulate the soil depth and mound shape to regulate the temperature. Amazingly, despite a wide range of day and night temperatures over the seasons, malleefowl are able to keep their egg chambers at a constant temperature.
The Malleefowl is found within the focus area of the Wedderburn CMN and is the flagship species of the group. The population in the Wychitella NCR area is isolated from others in the state and is regarded as extremely vulnerable. The bird species is listed in the nationally endangered category. The birds were in the past considered to be widespread and common (see the article below) but are now extinct in many of their former habitats. These sedentary and territorial birds feed on shoots, flowers of herbs, wattle seeds, fruits and ground insects. They inhabit mostly areas with Green and Bull Mallee with a dense understory of Broombush. Threats to the birds include: fragmentation of the environment, wildfire, predation by foxes, habitat declination and grazing pressure.
|
|
Monitoring a malleefowl nest
A member of the Wedderburn Conservation Management Network and a member of the Victorian Malleefowl Recovery Group combining their efforts in monitoring an active malleefowl nestsite. The information gathered during such monitoring is used to aid with efforts to restore the dwindling population of this nationaly endangered species. Monitoring involves observing the site at various times and recording such aspects as: shade, soil type, vegetation, orientation of the nestsite and its relationship to other known sites. Nestsites are located using both line and grid searches.
|
.jpg) |
 |
The Bandy Bandy
The Bandy Bandy is a very rare snake known from only a few locations including the Wedderburn CMNs focus area. The population of this species has been declining and the snake is now classified as threatened. The snake is considered extinct in many of its previous habitat areas. This secretive, nocturnal animal shelters in loose soil and decomposing vegetative matter beneath deeply embedded logs and rocks. It feeds exclusively on blind snakes and is not considered dangerous to humans.
|
|
The Painted Honeyeater
This uncommon migrant comes into the Wedderburn CMNs focus area from the north, usually arriving in October and departing in January / February. The species is listed as threatened. Its population has been in decline since the middle of the twentieth century. The birds usually occur in pairs feeding in the canopy on fruiting mistletoe, nectar and insects.
|
 |
 |
The Woodland Blind Snake
This very rare and threatened species of snake has been adversely affected by destruction and modification of its habitat. The snake inhabits dry open forests and woodlands, favouring areas with lots of rotten fallen timber, scattered surface rocks and leaf litter, It is endemic to various parts of the Wedderburn CMNs focus area.
|
| A BIT OF HISTORY
This article in the Inglewood Advertiser of May 10th, 1861 indicates clearly the situation with the malleefowl approximately one hundred and fifty years ago i.e. the mallefowl was a common species then. THE MALLEE HEN - It is suggested, in the Mountain Creek Pioneer, that the Lowan, or Mallee Hen, an inhabitant of the scrub, with which we have lately become acquainted, might be domesticated. The nests of this extraordinary bird, which are to be found in the neighborhood of Inglewood, have excited no small degree of interest, and the idea of domesticating the birds is by no means original. The eggs are not three times the size of a goose-egg, nor are they pink, as stated in the Pioneer. They are certainly larger than those of a goose, and white in color. The wonder is, that, a bird the size of a mallee hen should lay so large an egg; but, a greater wonder still, is the size of the nest. Some of the nests in this neighborhood contain no less than ten or twelve cart-loads of earth, gravel and twigs, and are four feet high, and twelve feet in diameter. No doubt the labor of many generations of mallee fowls has been employed in the construction of a single nest; and although we are not informed upon the point, we still believe that a single nest is the common property of a large number of hens. Eggs, as well as birds, were sold in Inglewood during the last summer, at high prices, both being remarkably palatable. We are not sure that the instinct which the bird has, in common with the crocodile, for allowing the sun to hatch, would not prove an obstacle to its propagation. We believe the young birds cannot be easily tamed. One of them may be seen at the Newmarket Hotel. There can be no doubt as to the value of this bird as a domestic fowl, and it is well worthy of the attention of Mr. Edward Wilson, who is devoting himself to that worthy object -the discovery and propagation of animals useful to man. - article courtesy of David Rose of Inglewood. The wedderburn Conservation Management Network was founded in part as a response to the dwindling numbers of malleefowl in our area of interest. There are other endangered species in our area of interest such as, the swift parrot, the diamond firetail and jericho wiregrass which will benefit from projects funded by an $80,000 grant mentioned elsewhere on this site. Ongoing Research The Wedderburn CMN has been actively engaged in ongoing research aimed at enhancing the habitats of the malleefowl and other species. |
|
Victorian Malleefowl Recovery Group Department of Sustainability and Environment
|
||
 |
This Webpage has been created using the my connected community (mc2) Webpage generator. my connected community (mc2) is funded by the Victorian Government and coordinated by Vicnet
|