The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has launched a survey in the Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula in the hope of learning more about the rare spotted bird, the Bassian thrush.
Conducted by the University of Adelaide’s experts on the Bassian thrush, Bec Boulton and Darcy Whittaker, NPWS said the survey was being conducted across more than 60 different sites to see if the Bassian thrush can be found in parks, SA Water, Forestry SA and private land.
Among the national parks included in the survey are the Belair National Park, Cleland Conservation Park, Kaisersthul Conservation Park, Black Hill Conservation Park, Porter Scrub, Mount George Conservation Park and Scott Creek Conservation Park.
NPWS said that by using small audio recorders known as ‘audio moths’ hung in trees, the Bassian thrush’s unique call is being recorded and used to identify the locations it can be found in.
“The Bassian thrush is a secretive bird, coloured with subtle brown and cream feathers,” the NPWS said.
“It has scalloped black crescent-shaped bars down its back, rump and head, offering it perfect camouflage in its habitat of thick leaf litter,” it said.
“It is an insectivorous, ground-dwelling bird which can be found in wet forest gullies and densely vegetated areas.”
The NPWS said the target thrush traditionally breed in winter when their favourite food – earthworms – are easier to find.
“When foraging, the thrush often stands still before dashing forward and then vigorously jabbing its sturdy bill into the ground to seize a worm,” the surveyors said.
“When males are foraging, they can carry up to five or six very large worms at a time, laying the wiggling pile down each time they extract an extra worm,” it said.
“This bundle of worms is presented to the female or hungry nestlings to eat.”
The surveyors have already found the thrush in several new locations including at Eurilla Conservation Park, Blackfellow’s Creek and Belair and Hindmarsh Valley National Parks.
