Here we present a rare regional assessment of the population size and distribution of a patchily distributed, threatened species, the purple-crowned fairy-wren (Malurus coronatus coronatus), across a vast landscape. AWC protects the vegetation at Mornington-Marion Downs and Pungalina-Seven Emu Wildlife Sanctuaries by removing major threats such as large feral herbivores and implementing effective, large-scale fire management programs.Conservation of the patchily distributed and declining purple-crowned fairy-wren (Malurus coronatus coronatus) across a vast landscape: the need for a collaborative landscape-scale approachĬonservation of species that are patchily distributed must consider processes that influence both the occurrence of individuals within patches, and the persistence of populations across multiple habitat patches within the landscape. The Purple-crowned Fairy-wren is considered at risk due to ongoing threats to riparian vegetation, on which they heavily depend. During the mating season, males distinguish themselves by sporting a vibrant purple crown, while the females have grey heads and chestnut-coloured cheek patches.
Both male and female wrens have brown backs, wings and a paler buff belly. The Purple-crowned Fairy-wren is a small social bird found in dense riparian vegetation in northern Australia. “We are really excited about this big boost in numbers and look forward to learning what our new findings may mean for the population moving forward.” “It’s all really good news for the Purple-crowned Fairy-wrens at Mornington Wildlife Sanctuary,” Dr Niki Teunissen added. Wayne Lawler/AWC As of November 2019, Mornington Wildlife Sanctuary’s wren population is estimated to be around 204 individuals – an increase from 172 in July 2021 and 143 in November 2020. It raises more exciting research questions for us to answer!”
“To be honest, it goes against what we thought we knew about the birds’ breeding behaviour and we don’t quite understand the recent breeding activity by the wrens. However, it does not explain why there was so much dry season breeding last year too.” This may have provided good conditions for breeding. “We suspect that dry season breeding is a result of the above average rainfall we had last wet season which means water levels remained relatively high along Anie Creek and the Adcock River on AWC’s Mornington Wildlife Sanctuary. “Successful breeding amongst an endangered species such as the Purple-crowned Fairy-wren is always welcome, however, we are surprised by the extent of dry season engagement,” said Dr Niki Teunissen, Research Fellow at Monash University. Wayne Lawler/AWC Females caught during dry season research had brood patches ¬- bare patches on the belly indicating that the females were actively breeding out of season.ĭr Niki Teunissen, a Research Associate running the on-the-ground research for a long-term Purple-crowned Fairy-wren project led by Professor Anne Peters of Monash University, said most of the adult females caught during a survey in November last year, had brood patches ¬- bare patches on the belly – which indicate that the females were actively breeding out of season.
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