Malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata) are large ground dwelling birds somewhat larger than a domestic hen. They belong to a family of 22 bird species known as “megapodes” Described as a ground-dwelling birds, they will take flight to roost in trees overnight and to escape immediate danger. Malleefowl are unique to the arid and semi-arid regions of Australia. Megapode habitat is generally described as high rainfall tropical/subtropical, however, the Malleefowl differs from other megapodes as a species of the lower rainfall Southern Australian landscapes. The original distribution included an area from Shark Bay in WA, across the Nullarbor into SA (with some records from the NT), VIC, and NSW, but now their habitat has much declined due to land clearing Once common, their numbers have seriously declined over the last 100 years.
Malleefowl are classified as “fauna that is rare or likely to become extinct” under the Western Australian Wildlife Conservation Act 1950-91. And are classed as Vulnerable by the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. It is estimated that there are approximately 95,000 mature Malleefowl remaining in the wild.
Threats include:
Loss and fragmentation of habitat, changed fire & grazing regimes, Introduced predators, competition for food. Chick survival rate in the wild: only 1-2% – i.e. infant mortality rate of up to 99%! These birds dedicate 9+ months a year building and maintaining a large incubation mound of soil, leaves and twigs. The eggs are laid in the mound, buried and left to incubate by heat generated from composting litter. The mounds may be used over many generations and can attain an impressive size of 22 meters in circumference and one meter high.
They have developed a highly sophisticated method of temperature control for egg incubation. The birds maintain the mound temperature of 32-34 degrees by using their beak as a “thermometer” and adjusting soil cover to either retain or expel heat from the egg chamber. The main diet consists of seeds from acacia and cassia shrubs. They also eat herbs, flowers, invertebrates, and fruits of shrubs (especially legumes), tubers and fungi. They do not drink from surface water.
Much of the above information was gathered from the Yongergnow Malleefowl Centre. For more information on the Malleefowl and to see a successful breeding program please visit their webpage http://yongergnow.com.au/centre/. Or take a trip out to see the brilliant facilities and visit the birds in Ongerup.
Malleefowl are classified as “fauna that is rare or likely to become extinct” under the Western Australian Wildlife Conservation Act 1950-91. And are classed as Vulnerable by the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. It is estimated that there are approximately 95,000 mature Malleefowl remaining in the wild.
Threats include:
Loss and fragmentation of habitat, changed fire & grazing regimes, Introduced predators, competition for food. Chick survival rate in the wild: only 1-2% – i.e. infant mortality rate of up to 99%! These birds dedicate 9+ months a year building and maintaining a large incubation mound of soil, leaves and twigs. The eggs are laid in the mound, buried and left to incubate by heat generated from composting litter. The mounds may be used over many generations and can attain an impressive size of 22 meters in circumference and one meter high.
They have developed a highly sophisticated method of temperature control for egg incubation. The birds maintain the mound temperature of 32-34 degrees by using their beak as a “thermometer” and adjusting soil cover to either retain or expel heat from the egg chamber. The main diet consists of seeds from acacia and cassia shrubs. They also eat herbs, flowers, invertebrates, and fruits of shrubs (especially legumes), tubers and fungi. They do not drink from surface water.
Much of the above information was gathered from the Yongergnow Malleefowl Centre. For more information on the Malleefowl and to see a successful breeding program please visit their webpage http://yongergnow.com.au/centre/. Or take a trip out to see the brilliant facilities and visit the birds in Ongerup.
Photo courtesy of Yongergnow.
Please see www.yongergnow.com.au/centre/ for more information.
Please see www.yongergnow.com.au/centre/ for more information.
|
Engage with us online by liking and following us on social media
|
|
We acknowledge the Minang and Koreng people as the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and live. We pay our respects to the Elders, past, present, and emerging and to the wider Noongar community.
|
Sponsors and Supporters |
|
|
|
|
