The Night Parrot in Western Australia ©Martin Thompson A summary of sightings Rob Davis, Edith Cowan University 22/8/2013

Objectives To review all known reliable records of the Night Parrot in Western Australia To present details on our 2005 sighting in the Pilbara To investigate any trends in distribution and relationships with environmental or climatic variables.

Methods A thorough review of all literature concerning Night Parrots. Data sources: 95 articles provided by John Blyth and Allan Burbidge Specimen records from museums Atlas of Australian Birds Criteria: only records with reliable location and date Discarded sightings with insufficient detail on location/date, from a typical habitat or outside arid/semi-arid zone. Peer review with John Blyth and Allan Burbidge was undertaken for contemporary sightings reported to DEC All well documented sightings in the literature and museum specimens were accepted.

Results: Specimens 3 of 22 museum specimens were from WA: Type specimen at Mt Farmer (west end of Lake Austin, 1854) Second specimen has no locality data and listed simply as WA Third has incorrect data and may be an Andrew’s from S.A. A fourth specimen described by Wilson (1937) as being collected in 1912 by Bourgoin at Nichol Springs from one of 4 flushed. Lost due to poor specimen preparation.

Results: Historical records Calvert expedition 1896 evidence of Night Parrots “in the north-west desert as far north as Separation Well” (Campbell, 1900). Bourgoin: “three parties of Night Parrots” at Bolger’s Soak on October 10, 1920. (Bolger’s soak is described as between Three Rivers Station and Lake Nabberu). 10 days later heard at Pinyerinya Pool Attempted (unsuccessfully) to trap at Windich Spring (193 km north of Lake Way) Observed 8 including 6 young at head of Ned’s Creek near Bolger’s Soak. Observed drinking at Nichol Spring 1935

Results: Historical Records (cont.). JR Ford: Jeedamaya Station in Murchison, April 1937, adult and 5 young in nest near Lake Ballard. Informed by station employee. Veracity? More modern sightings many and brief without extensive documentation of most. Hotspot east of Newman and Nullagine into Great Sandy Desert. A number of well-equipped expeditions with no positive evidence

Map courtesy of Piers Higgs, Gaia Resources

2005 Sighting Sighting by R. Davis and B. Metcalf on 12th April at Minga Qwirriawirrie Well at Cloudbreak (Mulga Down station – 120 km NW of Newman) during pre-mine construction baseline fauna survey for FMG Ltd. and Bamford Consulting Ecologists. Sighting documented with thorough independent field notes and accepted by Birds Australia Rarities Committee (Case 506) after one year – the only Night Parrot sighting to have been accepted.

2005 Sighting Habitat was a freshwater bore with (at the time) extensive ponding of the water. Used by cattle and within close proximity to the largest inland extent of samphire in the Pilbara (Fortescue Marshes) 300 m to spinifex/samphire ecotone Belts of Mulga Acacia aneura, extensive Triodia grasslands and Chichester Ranges nearby. All known “preferred” habitats of Night Parrots within close proximity.

Fortescue Marshes, 2005

Observer Pezoporus Minga Well, 19/4/2005

2005 Sighting Three parrots observed at ~ 1800 on opposite bank to 2 observers after attention drawn by flutter of wings thought to be Diamond Doves. Medium-sized, 1,5 m from water’s edge and on open ground but within 2 m of Mulga. Seen drinking from water Observed for 2-3 minutes at 1815 in visible twilight. Moon at 12%. Mostly observable including colour and plumage Dull greenish colour with yellowish-green breast and distinctly black-flecked plumage Bull-headed, fat-bodied and dumpy. Low-slung, short legs and short tail

2005 Sighting All other species eliminated due to high familiarity with them and previous 12 days of surveys in the region. Budgies not present or heard for duration of trip Bourke’s Parrots in good numbers (and shortly before our sighting) and seen each night so easily eliminated on being much smaller and a different shape as well as much more gregarious.

Environmental Conditions Sightings during a period of intense drought Rainfall less than half yearly average Other unusual birds were resident around the bore as a refuge – Orange Chats and Star Finch. This may explain use of bore by Night Parrots Literature suggests dispersal to areas of seeding grasses and absence of Night Parrots during dry conditions Speculatively, the Fortecue Marshes may be a dry-season refuge due to Samphire and permanent water? Samphire provides fleshy food source and could supplement diet in dry periods.

Literature Review We observed them at water. Rare for all contemporary sightings but a common theme in the literature: Bourgoin describes coming to water after dark, in pairs, alighting near water’s edge. Distinctive mournful whistle – not heard Wilson (1937) “dependence on fresh water seems clear” Andrews 1883 “fly direct to water at night, often considerable distance from nest”.

Literature Review Of all sightings with habitat data (n=19), 89% in spinifex. 1 in cave and 1 on stony flat. 26% in close proximity to samphire yet most specimens and early records from chenopods or samphire (Andrews, 1883; Cleland, 1937; Forshaw, 1970; Kershaw, 1943; McGilp, 1931; Parker, 1980; Powell, 1970). 42% of sightings mention ranges, caves or breakaways. For 14 sightings adequately describing locations and habitats, 50% were at water and 95% within close proximity to water. Andrews (1883) suggests flying up to 8km to water. How would he know?

Conclusions The presence of Night Parrots in the Pilbara seems certain Reliance on freshwater may be the best opportunity given the vastness of other habitats Targeting surveys after long periods of drought may increase the probability of encounters Given that this species seems to utilize large spinifex areas, a focus on protecting limiting habitats such as samphire marshlands should be a priority, particularly if they are an important refuge