Bush stone-curlew

Reintroduction biology

Bush stone-curlews (Burhinus grallarius) are a nocturnal, ground-dwelling shorebird that used to be found across the Australian continent. They have declined across their southern distribution and are now endangered in New South Wales, rare in South Australia and critically endangered in Victoria. They went extinct in the ACT in the 1970s, but our project commenced in 2014 to reintroduce them at Mulligans Flat.

Releases were carried out in 2014 and 2016 led by the Woodlands and Wetlands Trust, and in 2018, 2019 and 2021 led by the Coexistence Conservation Lab. Currently, the population of bush stone-curlews in Mulligans Flat is successfully breeding with over 3 generations in the sanctuary. Many individuals spend more than half of their time over the fence and have home ranges that overlap with the suburbs.

This species holds significance in the lore of multiple First Nations communities, where they are a messenger of death or grief. Subsequently they are culturally sensitive for some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

They are known as warabin or mulyara in Ngunnawal language, for their rufous and grey plumage morphs respectively.