The Albert's lyrebird project
The Albert's lyrebird is a unique forest dweller restricted to the mountain ranges in the vicinity of the Queensland/New South Wales border.
More often heard than seen, very little is known of its habits. Due to its preference for rainforest and mixed eucalypt-rainforest, it is usually only glimpsed as it disappears into the forest.
However, its call is spectacular and the presence of the birds is unmistakable during the winter months. During this time, males broadcast their remarkable vocal abilities in order to impress potential mates. Lyrebirds mimic a large diversity of forest sounds including the calls of bowerbirds, whipbirds and rosellas.
Based on early work by the Tamborine Mountain Natural History Association, the project has progressively developed towards the aim of surveying sites throughout the lyrebirds range each winter.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) provided technical support and data management through the NatureSearch program. Subsequently, Conservation Services have facilitated the involvement of other Natural History Associations in the project. Groups including Green Mountains and Lamington NHA have supplemented the Mount Tamborine work through the project.
Project aims
One of the basic requirements for conservation management of any species is having an up-to-date knowledge of its distribution. The opportunity to collect data from the same location in subsequent years is also important. This provides the ability to monitor change in populations over time, which may assist in halting the decline of a species.
The Albert's Lyrebird Project aims to enhance the data that is currently available by encouraging members of the community to submit sightings for entry to the department's (EPA) WildNet database.
WildNet provides quality information about Queensland's wildlife. This information underpins sound management decisions and is the key source of such information in the state.
Threats to the Albert's lyrebird
The Albert's lyrebird is listed as a threatened species both in Queensland (Rare) and NSW (Vulnerable). The threats to Albert's lyrebird include clearing and fragmentation of habitat, unsuitable forest management practices and predation by introduced predators such as the fox.
Additionally, the limited population size and physical isolation of the lyrebirds at Mt Tamborine and in the Blackwall Range in NSW may mean that these populations are unviable in the long term.
How to get involved
This kit contains all the information you need to be able to submit sighting records for entry into the database. You will find a detailed explanation of what to record, sheets to record information in a standard manner and contact details for QPWS officers who can provide any further information required.
If you don't wish to get out there and seek lyrebirds by yourself, QPWS officers can put you in contact with groups that you may wish to link up with. This can be an excellent way of developing your identification skills and a greater familiarity with the local area.
Protecting lyrebirds on private land
If you are fortunate enough to be able to record sightings of lyrebirds on your own property, you may wish to find out more about Conservation Agreements. There are a number of types of conservation agreements available in south-east Queensland. These agreements play an important part in augmenting and enhancing the role of QPWS in conserving our unique natural assets.
The agreements range from the non-binding Land for Wildlife program (managed by local councils), through to binding agreements to conserve the land in perpetuity, such as the Nature Refuge program managed by QPWS.
All conservation agreements are written in conjunction with the landowner and are able to include the continuation of a variety of land uses. Conservation agreements also provide an excellent opportunity to gain technical advice about how to best manage your land for conservation. For more information, please see the contacts section of this kit.
Last updated: 31 August 2005