Nature conservation

Native animals

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Bush stone-curlew community survey

The bush stone-curlew is one of the state's most recognisable woodland bird species, with its gangly legs and distinctive 'weer-loo' wailing call (MP3 - 562KB).

But if you see one of these birds, count yourself lucky. Numbers have declined greatly over the last century - mainly due to the threat of foxes and loss of the bird's woodland habitat.

The bush stone-curlew is now endangered in NSW, and experts worry that in 10 or 20 years, it will be too late to prevent the species from going extinct.

Is there a bush stone-curlew in your area? Let us know!

The NPWS is carrying out a community survey to discover where the bush stone-curlew is still found. It's the first step towards the recovery and future conservation of the species.

We're calling on landholders to report all sightings - or hearings - of this quirky bird. In return, we'll send you free information on how to keep the bush stone-curlew a living part of your region and your property. If you live in any of the following areas of NSW, we'd love to hear from you:

  • North Coast
  • North West
  • Central Coast
  • Central West
  • South West.

To report your bush stone-curlew sightings, please:

1. fill in the Wildlife Atlas spreadsheet, and
2. forward the completed spreadsheet or any inquiries to the Wildlife Data Unit. 

How you can help care for local bush stone-curlews

If you report a sighting of this endangered bird, we'll send you some practical information, including:

  • habitat requirements of the bush stone-curlew
  • current threats to the species
  • tips on how to manage habitat to ensure the curlew remains a resident of your property.

It's easy to make your local woodlands more suitable for bush stone-curlews. Here are some simple starting points:

  • Leave fallen timber on the ground. This provides camouflage for the bird as well as areas for foraging.
  • Keep grasses less than 15cm high and fairly thin. Pulse grazing is a useful method of managing grass height, but it should not be done if the birds are breeding. Bush stone-curlews usually lay two eggs around August-October, and another two eggs around November-January.
  • Conserve patches of trees on your property, and allow some natural regeneration for the future. Large patches and small clumps of trees suit the bush stone-curlew better than long, thin corridors of vegetation.
  • Carry out fox baiting programs prior to and during the bush stone-curlew breeding season (August to January).

 

 

Page last updated: 20 November 2008