Ecology and conservation of the endangered Regent Honeyeater, 'Xanthomyza phrygia', in northern New South Wales

Abstract

This study investigates the ecology of the endangered Regent Honeyeater 'Xanthomyza phrygia' in northern New South Wales, to attempt to identify possible factors associated with its recent population decline, and to recommend suitable management to improve the conservation status of the species. This is the first detailed ecological study on a highly mobile and widely-distributed endangered Australian bird. ... The results of this ecological study show that the Regent Honeyeater is a typical honeyeater, which has generalised habitat and resource requirements, behaviour, and adequate breeding output. There was no evidence to identify a current threatening process, which may be causing a population decline in northern New South Wales, although further population monitoring, and investigations into their ecology in the non-breeding season are required. In particular, research should focus on the movements of post-breeding birds, to identify the habitats and resources that they require, and to quantify foraging and aggressive behaviour of non-breeding Regent Honeyeaters. The age structure of pre-breeding flocks should be measured, to provide adult and juvenile survivorship data, upon which population models can be based. On-ground conservation work to ensure that Regent Honeyeaters persist in northern New South Wales must incorporate the protection cf a broad range of woodland and forest habitats, especially Box/Ironbark woodland, and riparian gallery forest, over a large regional area. Within these habitats, protection and enhancement of all tree and shrub species is needed. Furthermore, the reversal of continuing habitat degradation of key Regent Honeyeater sites is required. To do this, landholders and other land managers need to manage remnant woodland used by Regent Honeyeaters sensitively, which will require extension and financial support from government agencies. The outcomes of these actions will benefit other threatened woodland birds, and favour regional avian biodiversity.