Western Whipbird (Kangaroo Island)  |  

Psophodes nigrogularis lashmari (Psophodes leucogaster lashmari)

Status: Endangered on the EPBC Act list

Weighing around 45 g, with a wingspan 24 to 26.5 cm and length 23.5 cm, the Kangaroo Island Western Whipbird is a distinctive, medium-sized, ground-dwelling bird with a short triangular erectile crest on its forehead. Plumage is mostly olive green, with pale tail tips and greenish tones in the wing, and the throat is black and bordered by broad white moustache. Tail outer feathers are tipped white. Sexes are alike and juveniles can be identified by the lack of white and black on the chin and throat. The name “whipbird” was used to reflect the loud whipcrack-like song of the Eastern Whipbird
Psophodes olivvaceus, however the Western Whipbird, including the Kangaroo Island subspecies, does not make such a call.

Government evidence of impact of climate change:

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  • Australian Government, Conservation Advice, Psophodes nigrogularis lashmari (Psophodes leucogaster lashmari)

    Extremes in fire weather (Di Virgilio et al. 2019 Dowdy et al. 2019) driven by longer and more severe droughts (Evans et al. 2017) and more frequent heatwaves (Herold et al. 2018) are likely to increase in frequency and intensity in coming decades due to human induced climate change.
    Climate change Increased likelihood of Status historical; current future Average temperatures in Australia have extreme events (i.e.; Confidence known increased by around 1.4 C in the past century heatwave and (BOM CSIRO 2020 IPCC 2021); and global drought) Consequence moderate temperatures are likely to exceed 1.5 C in the Trend increasing next 20 years if global greenhouse gas Extent across the entire range emissions are not reduced immediately (IPCC 2021).
    The cumulative effect of the climate anomalies has led to; and will continue to; increase the likelihood of extreme events such as droughts and heatwaves (BOM CSIRO 2020).
    Climate anomalies will also increase the risk of wildfire (see Increase in frequent; large extent; high intensity wildfires).
    An analysis by a team from the National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Threatened Species Recovery Hub shows that a large proportion of the range of Kangaroo Island Western Whipbird was affected by these fires 51 was burnt in high to very high severity fire; and a further 11 was burnt in low to moderate severity fire (Legge et al. 2021).
    A structured expert elicitation process was used to estimate the proportional population change for this species from pre fire levels to immediately after the fire and then out to three generations 10 years after the fire; when exposed to fires of varying severity.
    For comparison; experts also estimated the population change over time in the absence of fire by 10 years; the overall population of Kangaroo Island Western Whipbird after the fire was estimated to be 30 lower than it would have been; had the 2019 2020 fire not occurred (Legge et al. 2021).
    While optimal fire frequency for the subspecies is unknown; most records for P. n. leucogaster are from vegetation last burnt 10 to 25 years earlier.
    Threats The most prominent threat that has caused the subspecies to decline is wildfire particularly fire like the 2019 2020 bushfires; where half of the Kangaroo Island was impacted (Paton et al. 2021).
    While fire is integral to the ecology of Kangaroo Island; the 2019 2020 bushfires are the most extreme in recorded history and were unprecedented in their scale; speed and intensity (Government of South Australia 2020).
    Unlike in 2007; when 85 of Flinders Chase was burnt; few unburnt refuge areas remained to protect the subspecies in the 2019 2020 bushfires; because the fire weather; caused by heat and drought; was unparalleled (Collins et al. 2021 Paton et al. 2021).
    The flammable nature of some weeds; including non endemic species such as Tasmanian Blue Gum Eucalyptus globulus (Government of South Australia 2021); may also increase fire risk and severity (Government of South Australia 2021).
    Table 1 Threats impacting Kangaroo Island Western Whipbird Threat Status and severity a Evidence Fire Increase in frequent; Status historical; current future While fire is vital to the ecology of Kangaroo large extent; high Confidence known Island; the 2019 2020 bushfires were the intensity wildfires most extreme in recorded history; burning Consequence severe approximately half of the island (DEW 2020 Trend increasing Todd Maurer 2020).
    The optimal fire regime for the Kangaroo Island Western Whipbird is not known; however the species generally require long intervals without fire (at least years and preferably 50 years) (McNee 1986) though studies have shown that they can recolonise burnt heath habitat after 4 to years (Smith 1985).
    Proposed changes include increased fire prevention works such as prescribed burns; mechanical vegetation removal and increased asset protection zones and buffer zones (BirdLife Australia 2021; pers comm 02 July).
    Information and research priorities Improve knowledge of the impacts of wildfire on the subspecies including their ecology; behaviour and habitat use; and their ability to re colonise recently burnt areas.
    The number of locations was determined using the 2019 2020 fire extent on Kangaroo Island; which heavily impacted the western side of Kangaroo Island; though unburnt habitat fragments remained within the fire affected area.
    The risk of a fire extirpating all individuals on the eastern side of the island was considered.
    Given there are lower fuel loads and less contiguous vegetation cover in east; as well as greater access to fire fighting resources; the risk of fire impacting this entire area is reduced.
    For comparison; experts also estimated the population change over time in the absence of fire by 10 years; the overall population of Kangaroo Island Western Whipbird after the fire was estimated to be 30 lower than it would have been; had the 2019 2020 fire not occurred (Legge et al. 2021).