Yellow chat (Dawson)
Common name: Yellow chat (Dawson), (Capricorn subspecies)
Scientific name: Epthianura crocea macgregori
Conservation status: This subspecies of the yellow chat is 'Endangered' in Queensland (Nature Conservation Act 1992) and 'Critically Endangered' nationally (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999).
Description: Yellow chats have a dark golden-yellow crown, an olive back, and a dark golden-yellow rump.
Habitat and distribution: This subspecies is known only from Curtis Island, the Torilla Plain and Fitzroy River Delta in central Queensland, but it is seasonally mobile and possibly also occurs in other localities. In June 2000 only 14 birds were found during a three day search. On Curtis Island, it occurs in swampy grassland and saline herbland, in which it probably feeds on insects. In winter it has been recorded in only a few small areas of sedge.
Behaviour and life history: It frequents freshwater and saline wetlands on marine plains and in the latter it nests and/or raises its young in saltwater couch grassland and samphire shrubland.
Threatening processes: Habitat occupied by yellow chats is threatened by modifications to hydrological regimes through flow reductions and construction of barriers (by dams, levee banks or ponded pastures) within tidal areas where the subspecies occurs. In addition, high densities of feral pigs and cattle grazing and trampling threatens important breeding and shelter sites on Curtis Island. The potential for industrial expansion may also lead to habitat loss in the Fitzroy Delta.
Recovery actions:
- Locate additional and secure existing populations;
- Establish management strategies for the conservation and enhancement of the yellow chat habitat on Curtis Island Conservation and National Parks;
- Investigate possible voluntary conservation agreements over freehold land at all sites where appropriate;
- Control feral pig numbers at Curtis Island and manage cattle grazing on freehold lands where the subspecies occurs;
- Develop a fire management strategy for Curtis Island marine plain;
- Develop a weed management strategy including introduced ponded pasture grasses for Curtis Island marine plain;
- Undertake research and monitoring of chat ecology, genetic structure, demographics and dispersal;
- Undertake regional ecosystem (RE) mapping at an appropriate scale;
- Liaise with landholders/managers and industry as to the requirements of Capricorn yellow chats and the contribution that can be made to maintaining chat habitat.
Further information:
A recovery plan is prepared for this species: Houston, W. and Melzer, A. (in prep) Draft Yellow chat (Capricorn subspecies) Epthianura crocea macgregori recovery plan 2007- 2011. Report to Department of the Environment and Heritage, Canberra. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Brisbane.
Houston, W. 2004. Capricorn yellow chat. In The State of Australia's Birds 2004 - Water, wetlands and birds, eds. Olsen, P. and Weston, M. Birds Australia.
Last updated: 31 August 2006