Enhancing Biodiversity Hotspots Along Western Queensland Stock ...

Biodiversity hotspots
Site 1. Bedourie – Birdsville Road (Linkage with Adria Downs Station)
STOCK ROUTE NUMBER: U465
PRIORITY SPECIES: Animals:
greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis).
RATING: BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOT
SHIRE COUNCIL: DIAMANTINA SHIRE
There are many historic records of greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis) in the Birdsville
region. Regrettably, many of these records are just that, historic, and indicate a
former distribution of where the bilby once occurred. However, a site inspection and
quick ground survey undertaken at one of these old sites along the stock route north
of Birdsville discovered evidence of a large bilby population in the area.
A total of 63 active bilby burrows were located along and adjoining the stock route.
Using the technique of brushing away all tracks at burrow entrances at dusk and rechecking
the entrances in the morning, it was possible to determine that these
burrows were being actively used as there was the presence of fresh scats and tailmarks
(Plate 9). Additional evidence included signs of bilby diggings (from foraging)
(Plate 10), and the remains of a bilby foot was found under a tree that was possibly
dropped by a raptor. Scats were also collected and positively identified by a
researcher at DERM, with the quantity of scats around the burrows suggesting a
reasonably sized population.
Plate 9. Bilby burrow with fresh scats and tail-marks (Photo: B. Walsh).
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