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Australasian Bittern
Botaurus poiciloptilus
Conservation Status
Listed as a Critically Endangered species in NSW (Threatened Species Conservation Act).
What does it look like?
It is a large, stocky bird reaching up to 75 cm in length. It has a long, thick neck and a straight brownish-yellow bill. It's upper surface is mottled brown and its undersurface is buff, with dark brown stripes, except for a pale throat. The eyes are yellow and there is a pale eyebrow. The feet and legs are a pale green. (from DEC - NSW Threatened Species Profile)
Where does it live and what does it eat?
The Australasian Bittern favours freshwater wetlands with tall, dense vegetation. However, it also occurs in estauine and brackish wetlands, and sometimes in flooded, rank pastures. It tends to keep to dense vegetation and can be hard to detect. Due to its cryptic habits, it is most commonly detected by the distant, repeated foghorn call of males. In Pittwater, there have been a number of reports of the Bittern from Deep Creek (where it appears to be a regular inhabitant) and Narrabeen Lagoon.
It forages in still, shallow water up to 30 cm deep, often at the edges of pools or waterways, or from a platform or mat of vegetation over deep water. Their diet includes fish (often eels), frogs, crustaceans, insects, reptiles, small mammals and birds. Most feeding takes place at dusk, dawn or at night.
What is its life cycle?
They build a shallow, saucer-like nest in dense reeds or simila wetland vegetation, breeding as dispersed pairs rather than in colonies. The breeding season is October to February and the clutch size is four or five.
What are the threats and how can we protect it?
Threats include:
- Drainage of wetlands and ponds
- Reduced water quality due to siltation, polution and salinity
- Predation by foxes and cats.
- Use of herbicides, pesticides and othe chemicals near wetland areas.
To protect them we must:
- Ensure cats are not allowed to roam into wildlife habitat, especially fragile wetland areas.
- Stop pollutants entering waterways and remove any waste in wetland areas.
From DEC - NSW Threatened Species Profile
Updated: 01 Jun 2011