Yellow chat (Dawson)
Common name: yellow chat (Dawson)
Scientific name: Epthianura crocea macgregori
Family: Meliphagidae
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). It is a high priority for conservation under the Department of Environment and Resource Management 'Back on Track' species prioritisation framework.
Description
Yellow chats (Dawson) are approximately 11cm long and weigh about 9g. Plumage of breeding males is mainly yellow with yellow-olive on the back and a bright golden-yellow head and a blackish band on the upper chest. The blackish band fades in non-breeding males. Adult females are duller and lack the distinctive chest band of the breeding males.
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 winter it has been recorded in only a few small areas of sedge.
Important yellow chat (Dawson) habitat appears to include rush or grass vegetation of between 0.4-2m tall along drainage lines; and more open vegetation types nearby for foraging.
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. They breed in spring and summer with clutch sizes ranging from two to three eggs. The chat's incubation period is approximately 14 days and nestlings remain in the nest for a further 14 days.
Yellow chats (Dawson) are predominantly insectivorous. They feed within low vegetation or on the ground at the base of the shrubs.
Threatening process
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
The recovery plan for the yellow chat (Dawson) (PDF)* makes the following management recommendations:
- 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 yellow chats (Dawson) and the contribution that can be made to maintaining yellow chat habitat.
Related information
Houston, W. and Melzer, A. 2008. Yellow chat (Capricorn subspecies) Epthianura crocea macgregori recovery plan (PDF)*. Report to Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Canberra. Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management.
Houston, W. 2004. Capricorn yellow chat. In The State of Australia's Birds 2004 - Water, wetlands and birds (PDF)*, eds. Olsen, P. and Weston, M. Birds Australia
* Requires Adobe Reader
Last updated 28 February 2011