Factors Affecting Flora Conservation - Victorian Environmental ...

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are all broadly coastal, including northern,
eastem, and south-eastern Ausfralia, but rare
in Victoria, with only six sightings reported
here between 1973 and 1986 (Emison et al,
1987). Most of these records came from
French Island, where a resident populafion
occupies coastal heathland and has been
recorded breeding there since 1986.
Management of the fire regime in these
heaths is likely to be important in maintaining
king quail on French Island.
Draining and clearance of wet headis has
eliminated the species from areas near
Melbourne.
PI ains-wanderer (Pedionomus torquatus)
The plains-wanderer is a small quail-like bird
that nests and forages on the ground, feeding
on insects and seeds. Its preferted habitat is
open native grassland where the cover of
grass is approximately 50%. Its current
distribution is restrict^ to parts of: western
Victoria, the Riverina in southern New South
Wales, the Mallee, north-eastern South
Australia, and south-western Queensland
(Baker-Gabb et al. 1990). It is considered
rare in Australia (Brouwer and Garnett 1990)
and vulnerable in Victoria. The main causes
of its decline in range and abundance are
overgrazing, cultivation, and pasture
improvement, leading to the extinction
of local populations. In the study area,
pi ains-wanderers have been recorded
immediately east of the Hume Highway on
private land, most recently in 1983. All
records are from private land. Here the
pi ains-wanderer is at the south-eastern edge
of its known range and the study area
probably never contained substantial areas of
suitable habitat.
Bush thick-knee (Burhinus magnirostris)
This species is a ground-dwelling bird whose
presence is often only detected by its
mournful nocturnal call. It is omnivorous
and nests on the ground. In Victoria, the
bush thick-knee now lives in open grassy
woodlands and wooded farmland in the north
and west. Its range has declined markedly
since European setflement, especially in
southern cenfral Victoria (Emison et al.
1987). It is now considered vulnerable in
Victoria. It was present around Western Port
last century and was probably moderately
common in grassy wocxllands in the northwest
of the study area. A small population of
less than 20 individuals survives in the far
north of the study area on land owned by the
Commonwealth Department of Defence,
where breeding was recorded in 1990. The
decline in numbers and distribution of bush
thick-knees has been attributed to clearance
and fragmentation of habitat, and predation
by foxes and cats. Some suitable habitat
occurs in roadside reserves and small nature
reserves. Conservation of this species
requires the confrol of introduced predators,
and the management of renmant vegetation in
cooperation with private land-owners.
Pied oystercatcher (Haematopus longirostris)
The pied oystercatcher is a medium-sized
shore-bird, whose red bUI and legs contrast
sfrikingly with its black and white plumage.
It lives on beaches and estuaries around
Ausfralia, feeding in the littoral zone and
nesting above the high-tide mark. In the
study area, it inhabits muddy shores, sandbanks,
and sheltered rocky or sandy beaches,
especially if near mudflats. Pied
oystercatchers are relatively common in
Westem Port and the population here appears
to be increasing: it is now the second-largest
breeding population in Victoria (which
contains a total of only about 1200
individuals), (Lane 1987) and is important for
the conservation of this species. Nesting pied
oystercatchers are vulnerable to distiubance
by people and dogs using beaches, and to
predation by foxes.
Hooded plover (Charadrius rubricollis)
Plains-wanderer
This small endemic wader lives on sandy
ocean and bay beaches. It feeds on
invertebrates caught in the intertidal zone,
and nests above die high-tide mark on the