Nature conservation

Threatened species

Rufous Scrub-bird (Atrichornis rufescens)



Saving our Species strategy

This species has been assigned to the Landscape species management stream under the Saving our Species (SoS) program.

Justification for allocation to this management stream

This species is distributed across relatively large areas and is subject to threatening processes that generally act at the landscape scale (e.g. habitat loss or degradation) rather than at distinct, defineable locations.

Conservation status

Management objectives

This SoS strategy aims to ensure that the species is secure in the wild in NSW and that its NSW geographic range is extended or maintained and maintain its conservation status under the BC Act.

Species sightings and management sites across NSW

The map below displays the species’ distribution in NSW, based upon the species’ geographic range, habitat distribution or area of occupancy (to as high a resolution as available data allow, using a range of data sources).

Information about the species’ habitat and ecology is available here.

The map may also display one or more management sites where management of important populations is underway. More information is available in the tables below.

IBRA

The species occurs in the following IBRA (Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia) regions in NSW:

 
New England Tablelands
NSW North Coast
South Eastern Queensland

Proportion of the species' distribution on reserve

94% of the species' distribution occurs on reserve (within NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service estate).

Critical actions for this species

The key threats to the viability of landscape-managed species are loss, fragmentation and degradation of habitat, and widespread pervasive factors such as impacts of climate change and disease. Many of these threats are addressed by NSW planning, native vegetation, and biodiversity legislation, policy and programs including the offsets program (BioBanking, NSW Biodiversity Offsets Policy for Major Projects), Biodiversity Certification, management of environmental water and reservation under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974.

Threats to this species are outlined here.

The actions listed in the action toolbox are supplementary to NSW legislation, policy and programs and can be used by stakeholders, where applicable to guide management at a site, regional or state scale.

Action toolbox

Action DescriptionScale
Liaise with land managers to ensure that occupied habitat is identified in fire planning and protected from prescribed burning and, as far as practicable, wildfire.State
Liaise with land managers to ensure that occupied habitat is identified in road maintenance and weed control planning.State
Investigate the impacts of fire, disturbance and predation on the birds and their habitats.State
Support and potentially expand the monitoring program in the Border Ranges, New England, Werrikimbe and Gloucester Tops.Site
Investigate the constraints operating to restrict population size.State
Research the potential impact of climate change on populations and their habitats.State

How will this species be managed?

Key management sites for this threatened species are being identified by the NSW Government and other program partners, where feasible, cost-effective and beneficial management actions can be undertaken. Currently, 5 management sites have been identified for this threatened species.

Management sites

Click on column headers to sort
Site nameSite typeStatusLocal government area (LGA)
New England Priority management siteProposed  
Border Ranges Priority management siteProposed  
Gibraltar Range Priority management siteProposed  
Werrikimbe - Carrai Priority management siteProposed  
Gloucester Tops Priority management siteProposed  

Are you or is someone you know doing conservation work for this species or in this area?

Contact us to tell us about the work. Your input will help OEH evaluate the status of threatened species and provide a broader picture of conservation work across NSW.