Government Guidelines and Legislation
Threatened Species Profile: Bush-hen
Source: Source: DECC, http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/profile.aspx?id=10042
Date: March 2008
Scientific name: Amaurornis olivaceus
Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable
The Bush-hen is a small, dark wetland bird with greenish-yellow legs, and a lime-green beak, although the base of the upper beak becomes orange-red in the breeding season. The Bush-hen inhabits coastal northern Australia, through eastern Queensland to the NSW north coast. The species is shy and usually first comes to notice when the loud, distinctive braying, shrieking call is heard. It is listed as vulnerable on the Threatened Species Conservation Act, 1995.
Location and habitat
Distribution
Coastal northern Australia and through eastern Queensland to the NSW north coast. They appear to be uncommon residents from the Queensland border to the Clarence River and recently have appeared as far south as the Nambucca River.
Description
The Bush-hen is a small, dark wetland bird with lime-green beak and greenish-yellow legs, though the base of the upper beak becomes orange-red in the breeding season. Its plumage is dark olive-brown above and grey below with rich buff under the tail. The species is shy and usually first comes to notice when the loud, distinctive braying, shrieking call is heard. It apparently flies mainly at night, swims readily and flicks its tail when walking in the manner of most rails and swamp-hens.
Regional information
This species is found in the Northern Rivers catchment management authority region. Click on a region name to see more details about the distribution, vegetation types and habitat preference of the species in that region. Northern Rivers.
Threats
- Clearing, filling and draining of wetlands for agricultural, residential and industrial development.
- Pollution of wetlands from agricultural, urban and industrial run-off.
- Changes to wetlands caused by weed invasions, often associated with sedimentation or grazing.
- Predation by introduced, feral and domestic predators, particularly the foxes and feral cats.
- Use of herbicides and pesticides in agriculture and residential areas.
Recovery strategies
Priority actions are the specific, practical things that must be done to recover a threatened species, population or ecological community. The Department of Environment and Conservation has identified 12 priority actions to help recover the Bush-hen in New South Wales.
What needs to be done to recover this species?
- Assist with control of introduced predators and restrain domestic cats, particularly at night.
- Protect wetlands from clearing, filling, draining, sedimentation and pollution.
- Avoid use of herbicides and pesticides near wetlands.
- Fence wetlands to exclude grazing.
- Rehabilitate and restore wetland vegetation.
- Report records south of the Clarence River to the DEC.
