Booderitj/western bristlebird and Dading/western whipbird: ecology and management of two of the lesser-known threatened species at Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve, Western Australia

Allan Burbidge; Alan Danks; Sarah Comer; Graham Smith

Just Accepted

This article has been peer reviewed and accepted for publication. It is in production and has not been edited, so may differ from the final published form.

Booderitj/western bristlebird and Dading/western whipbird: ecology and management of two of the lesser-known threatened species at Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve, Western Australia

Allan Burbidge , Alan Danks , Sarah Comer , Graham Smith

Abstract

Context. While the Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve was established for conservation of Djimaalap/noisy scrub-bird, the reserve also supports other threatened species including Booderitj/western bristlebird and Dading/western whipbird. Aims. This paper summarises and reviews work done at Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve on Booderitj/western bristlebird and Dading/western whipbird over the last five decades. Methods. We used occurrence and observational data collected in the field, built on published and unpublished historical data and notes. Key results. Although these two species occur in scattered locations across the Reserve, the stronghold is across the Maardjitup Gurlin/Mt Gardner headland, but with different habitat requirements. In the absence of fire, home ranges have been highly constant across several decades. Song types in Booderitj/western bristlebirds are complex and variable, as is their social system, but these observations are difficult to interpret because the cryptic nature of the species makes it difficult to follow individual birds. Both species are sensitive to fire, but with different responses from each other and the Djimaalap/noisy scrub-bird. Conclusions. More research is needed to understand the significance of the limited observations on song production and social behaviour. Fire management will be of increasing importance as the south coast climate continues to become warmer and drier. Implications. Fire management of the Reserve needs to consider the different requirements of each of the threatened bird species. No single fire regime is likely to support all three threatened bird species unless it retains sufficient temporal and spatial complexity to do so.

PC25021 Accepted 18 March 2025