Environmental groups are nurturing two populations of the birds at Bael Bael (west of Kerang) and at Patho.
The latest Bush Heritage Australia monitoring detected 33 adults (19 female and 14 male) and 17 juveniles, including two clutches of chicks.
Those figures extrapolate to an estimated population of 731 in the two sites under management
The North Central Catchment Management Authority is working with landholders, Parks Victoria, First Nations groups, the Victorian plains-wanderer operations group, the national recovery team, and other key stakeholders to protect and restore numbers of the critically endangered plains-wanderer in northern Victoria.
About 99 per cent of its habitat – native grasslands – has been lost to land clearing for farming and urban development.
The North Central CMA’s Plains for Wanderers project aims to improve grassland habitat and mitigate the threat of predation on Victoria’s northern plains near Patho and Bael Bael, home to one of two core plains-wanderer populations.
North Central CMA project manager Laura Chant said the key to the quail-like bird’s survival was protecting and improving habitat through changed land management practices and controlling predators such as foxes.
“There’s nothing like the plains-wanderer in the world. It’s unique and worth protecting,” she said.
“The work we are all doing is focused on creating the species’ preferred habitat condition and removing key threats such as foxes to help it survive and, one day, thrive. And so far, the results are promising.”
“These numbers are encouraging from a conservation perspective, as they suggest imminent regional extinction is unlikely,” Mrs Chant said.
“Some of the land these birds call home was impacted by the 2022 floods, so to see the numbers remain steady is good news.
“It also highlights that previous long-term investment in vegetation management and active fox control, delivered in partnership with landholders and partners, is working.
“The next step is to keep the focus on habitat enhancement and predator control with an aim to increasing plains-wanderer numbers.”
This project is funded by the Federal Government Natural Heritage Trust and delivered by the North Central CMA, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel.
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