A Word from the RALF (April 2023)
The Plains Wanderer is a small bird species that is native to Australia. These birds are highly specialised and unique, as they are the only representative of their family group in Australia. Unfortunately, the Plains Wanderer population has been declining rapidly due to habitat loss and fragmentation.
The Plains Wanderer is a highly specialised bird that is adapted to living in grasslands and open woodland habitats. This means that they play an important ecological role in these habitats, helping to maintain the balance of the ecosystem. The Plains Wanderer is an indicator species, meaning that their presence or absence can be used to assess the health of grassland ecosystems. As such, the conservation of the Plains Wanderer is crucial to the protection of Australia’s grassland ecosystems.
In response to this threat, Riverina Local Land Services, the Biodiversity Conservation Trust and Murrumbidgee Landcare are playing an important role in raising awareness about the Plains Wanderer and promoting its conservation in the Riverina region of New South Wales.
Landholders are learning about the threats facing the Plains Wanderer, the importance of its conservation, and practical steps that can be taken to protect its habitat. Such steps include vegetation management, predator control and the implementation of habitat restoration projects.
The Plains Wanderer is an important species that is facing significant threats due to habitat loss and fragmentation. Raising awareness, providing education and hands-on training to individuals interested in protecting this unique bird species offer a range of benefits, including the sharing of knowledge and experiences, the building of community, and the capacity-building for conservation efforts, all contributing to the protection of Australia’s grassland ecosystems and the preservation of biodiversity.
This article was written by Jade Auldist. Jade is the Regional Agriculture Landcare Facilitator (RALF) for the Riverina region. Her role supports farmers, industry and community groups (including Landcare Groups) to adopt new and innovative sustainable agriculture practices.
For further information on this article, please contact Jade at jade.auldist@lls.nsw.gov.au.
