The Bittern Project was launched in 2007 in response to concerns over the plight of the Australasian Bittern. This project aims to help ensure the species' long-term survival, as well as that of other species which inhabit the same freshwater wetlands.
Although little is known about the Australasian Bittern, we know that they are under threat. This project is working to find out more about the ecology and needs of these cryptic birds, which will provide clues about how to conserve them.
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.
Birds in Backyards surveys help to provide invaluable knowledge to our team of scientists. It helps us to know how our urban birds are doing and how different gardens and their features impact birds. It also informs us about the types of gardens that can attract different types of birds – and what features some birds may be avoiding.
Also, countless backyards have been transformed through Birds in Backyards to make them more bird friendly. After many years of running the program, native birds can now find refuge in sanctuaries dotted throughout Australia’s cities and towns.
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:
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.
We’re improving our knowledge of the population of bitterns in south-western Victoria (Glenelg Hopkins and Corangamite CMA regions) through:
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.
Australia's bitterns are mysterious wetland birds, and some are under threat. Conduct a survey to help us to learn more about these intriguing birds.
This program focuses on the conservation of wetland and waterways and the birds they support.
The Australasian Bittern lives in freshwater wetlands in dense beds of reeds and rushes, where their secretive nature makes them difficult to see.
