The Hattah bush block is home to many rare and iconic species
In 2019 we commissioned Simon Verdon, a bird expert specialising in the effects of fire on bird species in the Mallee, to assess the birdlife on the property. He observed fifty-one bird species during the survey period. A further 26 species have been previously recorded on the property. Of these 77 species, eleven species are associated with mature mallee woodlands, seven species are listed as threatened in Victoria under the FFG Act 1988 and three are listed as threatened Nationally under the EPBC Act 1999.
Two of the seven threatened bird species were found in high densities and with evidence of breeding - these are the Malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata) and the Regent parrot (Polytelis anthopeplus subsp. monarchoides). The remaining five threatened species are the Mallee emu-wren (Stipiturus mallee), Major Mitchell’s cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri), Hooded robin (Melanodryas cucullata), Crested bellbird (Oreoica gutturalis) and Apostlebird (Struthidea cinerea).
Major Mitchell’s cockatoo
Species known to have been observed on the property - S Verdon report 2019
Apostlebird (Struthidea cinerea) LISTED
Australian hobby (Falco longipennis)
Australian magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen)
Australian owlet nightjar (Aegotheles chrisoptus)
Australian raven (Corvus coronoides)
Black-eared cuckoo (Chrysococcyx osculans)
Black-faced cuckoo-shrike (Coracina novaehollandiae)
Bluebonnet (Northiella haematogaster)
Blue-faced honeyeater (Entomyzon cyanotis)
Bronzewing pigeon (Phaps chalcoptera)
Brown falcon (Falco berigora)
Brown treecreeper (Climacteris picumnus)
Brown-headed honeyeater (Melithreptus brevirostris)
Chestnut quailthrush (Cinclosoma castanotum)
Chestnut-crowned babbler (Pomatostomus ruficeps)
Chestnut-rumped thornbill (Acanthiza uropygialis)
Crested bellbird (Oreoica gutturalis) LISTED
Crested pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes)
Crimson chat (Epthianura tricolor)
Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)
Flame robin (Petroica phoenicea)
Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla)
Golden whistler (Pachycephala pectoralis)
Grey butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus)
Grey currawong (Strepera versicolor)
Grey fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa)
Grey shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica)
Hooded robin (Melanodryas cucullata) LISTED
Horsefield's bronze cuckoo (Chrysococcyx basalis)
Inland thornbill (Acanthiza apicalis)
Jacky winter (Microeca fascinans)
Little corella (Cacatua sanguinea)
Little crow (Corvus bennetti)
Little wattlebird (Anthochaera chrysoptera)
Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca)
Major Mitchell’s cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri) LISTED
Mallee emuwren (Stipiturus mallee) LISTED ENDANGERED
Mallee ringneck (Barnardius zonarius subsp. barnardi)
Malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata) LISTED VULNERABLE
Masked lapwing (Vanellus miles)
Masked woodswallow (Artamus personatus)
Mulga parrot (Psephotus varius)
Nankeen kestrel (Falco cenchroides)
Pied butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis)
Rainbow beeeater (Merops ornatus)
Red wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata)
Red-capped robin (Petroica goodenovii)
Red-rumped parrot (Psephotus haematonotus)
Regent parrot (Polytelis anthopeplus subsp. monarchoides) LISTED VULNERABLE
Rufous songlark (Cincloramphus mathewsi)
Rufous whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris)
Shy heathwren (Hylacola cauta)
Southern whiteface (Aphelocephala leucopsis)
Spiny-cheeked honeyeater (Acanthagenys rufogularis)
Splendid fairywren (Malurus splendens)
Spotted pardalote (Pardalotus punctatus)
Striated pardalote (Pardalotus striatus)
Striped honeyeater (Plectorhyncha lanceolata)
Stubble quail (Coturnix pectoralis)
Sulphur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua galerita)
Wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax)
Weebill (Smicrornis brevirostris)
Welcome swallow (Hirundo neoxena)
White-browed babbler (Pomatostomus superciliosus)
White-browed woodswallow (Artamus superciliosus)
White-eared honeyeater (Lichenostomus leucotis)
White-fronted chat (Epthianura albifrons)
White-fronted honeyeater (Purnella albifrons)
White-naped honeyeater (Melithreptus lunatus)
White-winged chough (Corcorax melanorhamphos)
White-winged fairy-wren (Malurus leucopterus)
White-winged triller (Lalage sueurii)
Willie wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys)
Yellow-plumed honeyeater (Lichenostomus ornatus)
Yellow-rumped thornbill (Acanthiza chrysorrhoa)
Yellow-throated miner (Manorina flavigula)