Bittern Project

Key points

• Very little is known about Australasian Bitterns
• Drought, as well as drainage and degradation of wetlands has caused a rapid loss of suitable natural habitat for the species
• The Australasian Bittern is listed as Endangered, both in Australia and globally

Finding long-term solutions to save bitterns

The Australasian Bittern is a secretive and cryptic species, and there’s much that we don’t know about its basic ecology. The Bittern Project was launched in 2007 in response to concerns over the plight of the Australasian and Australian Little Bitterns.

Our research has revealed that the Australasian Bittern is indeed threatened, and through our efforts the species has been added to the EPBC list as Endangered, while the Australian Little Bittern has less specific habitat requirements and is not currently considered threatened.

This project aims to help ensure the long-term survival of bitterns as well as other species which inhabit the same freshwater wetlands.

Uncovering the bittern’s secrets in WA, NSW and Victoria

Australasian Bitterns in WA

The population of the Australasian Bittern in Western Australia has been declining since at least the 1980s, mainly due to loss of habitat. Work currently being undertaken in WA includes:

• Conducting bittern surveys to determine the current range, area of occupancy and population
• Collecting and reviewing wetland chemistry data
• Documenting wetland habitat data
• Determining fine-scale habitat requirements of Australasian Bitterns
• Raising awareness and engaging local communities
• Recording bittern calls to determine whether individuals can be identified by their calls

Bitterns in New South Wales

In NSW, the Australasian Bittern is listed as Endangered. In the Hunter and Mid-north coast, the Australasian Bittern has been recorded in a variety of freshwater and brackish habitats. BirdLife Australia has set out to learn more about this population of birds.

We’re working to better understand and improve the habitat for Australasian Bitterns in the Hunter and Mid-north Coast. We are undertaking community surveys with the assistance of the Hunter Bird Observers Club (HBOC) and the Hastings Birdwatchers to determine the size and breeding habits of the local population.

We are also assisting HBOC in conducting thermal drone surveys in the Hunter Wetlands matrix, with the aim of assessing the viability of Australasian Bittern nests.

Bitterns in south-western Victoria

We’re improving our knowledge of the population of bitterns in south-western Victoria (Glenelg Hopkins and Corangamite CMA regions) through:

• Undertaking bittern surveys
• Developing descriptions of bittern habitat requirements
• Developing management guidelines for landholders
• We’re also providing technical expertise to help deliver hydrological restoration and work with landholders.

To learn more about bitterns, we’re also tracking four birds to generate more information on their seasonal movement patterns.

This project is supported by Glenelg Hopkins CMA through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.