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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 107(2)

Monitoring population change in the cryptic and threatened Western Ground Parrot in relation to fire

Allan H. Burbidge A E , Jim Rolfe A , Shapelle McNee B , Brenda Newbey C and Matt Williams D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Environment and Conservation, PO Box 51, Wanneroo, WA 6946, Australia.

B 1674 Thomas Road, Oakford, WA 6121, Australia.

C 58 Annie Street, Beaconsfield, WA 6162, Australia.

D Department of Environment and Conservation, Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, WA 6983, Australia.

E Corrsponding author. Email: allan.burbidge@dec.wa.gov.au

Emu 107(2) 79-88 https://doi.org/10.1071/MU06016
Submitted: 26 April 2006  Accepted: 9 February 2007   Published: 13 June 2007

Abstract

Measures of abundance and population trends are necessary for informed management of rare species, but obtaining reliable estimates of sparsely occurring species is an ongoing challenge in conservation biology. It is even more difficult when the species of interest is also cryptic. We censused a population of one such species, the Western Ground Parrot (Pezoporus wallicus flaviventris), over several years to develop a monitoring protocol to assist in future management, extend understanding of its response to fire, and provide a model that could be used with other cryptic bird species. Abundance of Western Ground Parrots, monitored by means of calling frequencies, varied from year to year at a study site in Fitzgerald River National Park, south-western Australia. Frequency of calling increased significantly from 1996 to 2000. During this time, frequency of calling peaked in 1998 in part of the study site that had been unburnt for more than 40 years, and remained high in 2000. Frequency of calling was similar in a more recently burnt part of the study area except in May 1998, when frequency was lower following a fire that burnt part of this area five months previously. Frequency of calling dropped significantly in both the long unburnt and recently burnt areas between 2000 and 2004; exact reasons for this are unknown. Western Ground Parrots can use recently burnt vegetation where it is immediately adjacent to an established population, but do not need fire to create habitat, at least in the timescale of 40 years. The current monitoring protocol, where eight listening posts are counted approximately three times each, is capable of detecting an annual change in frequency of calling of ~13%. The number of listening posts would need to be increased to 14 in order to detect an annual change of 10%, and would need to be increased to 40 in order to detect an annual change of 5%.


Acknowledgements

Funding for this project was provided by Environment Australia and the Western Australian Department of Environment and Conservation. We thank past and present ranger staff at Fitzgerald River National Park, particularly Chris Hart, Nathan McQuoid, Lindsay Brown and Peter Wilkins, for facilitating entry to the study area, logistical support and interest in the project. Mary Hart assisted as an essential part of the survey team in 1996. The 2004 data were gathered during fieldwork coordinated by Brent Barrett; we thank Brent for gathering and providing these data, and the Friends of the Western Ground Parrot and other volunteers who assisted in this work. We are grateful to Michael Barth, John Blyth, Lesley Gibson and anonymous referees for their useful comments on drafts of this paper.


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