An urban cryptic – the Bush Stone-curlew

DCF 1.0

Bush Stone-curlews (Burhinus grallarius), or Bush Thick-knees, are a relatively large but slim, mainly ground dwelling, nocturnal bird. Although it looks a bit like a wader it is related to the oystercatchers, avocets and plovers and is a terrestrial predator filling an ecological niche similar to that of the road runner in North America (Wikipedia 2016). There is only one other bird in the Burhinidae family in Australia, the Beach Stone-curlew (Esacus magnirostris).

Bush Stone-curlews are found in part of the Kimberley and its off-shore islands, the Pilbara, Gascoyne and south-west of WA, and seldom in the sandy deserts and east of Southern Cross (Johnstone and Storr 1998). This bird is found is a variety of habitat across Australia from the open forest, eucalyptus woodlands, grassy plains and arid shrublands and around inland rivers and streams. It is relatively common in the northern areas but has become very rare in the south and south west, predominantly in response to feral predators but possibly also due to habitat fragmentation.

During the day, Bush Stone-curlews tend to remain inactive, sheltering amongst tall grass, thickets and low shrubs and relies on its cryptic plumage for protection from predators. If spotted, they will remain motionless and visual predators like raptors and humans will struggle to find them, however, animals that hunt by scent like foxes, cats and goannas will still be an issue. Although they prefer to stand motionless as a defence strategy, they are very agile and quick on the ground and will still fly if required.

The Bush Stone-curlew has a distinctive , wailing call, which has variously been described as melancholy, mournful, frightening and eeire. It has also been described as akin to the call of a screaming woman or baby and can be quite unsettling if a mob of the birds are calling at night. In most Australian aboriginal cultures these birds have a close association with death.

It normally lays a clutch of two eggs in a slight depression in the ground, and they area a dull, greyish, off-white to light brown colour with grey brown or olive spots. Eggs are very difficult to find.

The Bush Stone-curlew is not listed under the EPBC Act 1999 and were recently removed from threatened species lists maintained by the Department of Parks and Wildlife.

We have observed Bush Stone-curlews throughout the Pilbara and were fortunate to observe three breeding pairs near Redmont Camp (170km NE of Newman, WA) a few years back. In all cases, both adults were present with one sitting on the eggs and the other watching guard. Both remained motionless when we drove or walked past but we didn’t get too close so prevent disturbing the birds.

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Last week Graham observed a Bush Stone-curlew in the metropolitan suburbs in Perth. This is not a common occurrence and after some searching on social media we discovered that this bird is one of the captive bred birds released by the Perth Zoo into Whiteman Park. The Perth Zoo has bred and released Bush Stone-Curlews into the Wadderin Sancutary in the State’s central Wheatbelt in 2012 and into Whiteman Park in 2013, 2014 and 2015. The bird observed by Graham had a reflective leg band indicating that it was one of the 2013 birds released into Whiteman Park. Some of these birds still live in Whiteman Park, but others have moved around Perth and have been observed at Herdsman Lake, Challenge Stadium, John XXIII College, Bullcreek Shopping Centre, Rous Head and other locations around Perth.

The release of these birds into wildlife sanctuaries assists with the re-establishment of populations in areas where they have previously been impacted by habitat fragmentation, and feral cats and foxes.

This is an excellent example of how captive management and breeding programs can contribute to the vertebrate fauna assemblages of threatened species and is perhaps something that we should do more of.

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References

Johnstone, R. E., and G. M. Storr. 1998. Handbook of Western Australian Birds. Volume 1 – Non-Passerines (Emu to Dollarbird). Western Australian Museum, Perth.

Photo credit: Top – Bush Stone-curlew in a captive breeding enclosure sitting on eggs; middle – Bush Stone-curlew sitting on eggs in the Pilbara; bottom – a Bush Stone-curlew standing near a female which is incubating eggs.

Comments

11 Responses to “An urban cryptic – the Bush Stone-curlew”

  1. Chris on March 29th, 2018 9:54 pm

    Walking with my small dog was surprised when I turned torch to water tonight to see what looked like a curlew wading in shallow water of river
    It simply looked up at me without being disturbed
    Bicton area

  2. Scott Thompson on March 30th, 2018 7:16 am

    Thanks Chris for the comment. It could have also been a species from the heron or egret families. Curlews wouldn’t normally be seen out in the water.

  3. Iain Adam on December 16th, 2018 7:37 pm

    I have a fantastic photograph of a Curlew based at Beverley wa taken on my Nikon D300s camera. I am a retired professional photographer. Tel : 08 94485464 Ilve in Duncraig WA 6023

  4. Marion Thompson on July 24th, 2019 5:27 am

    When husband goes walking in the morning the last couple of days bysh stone Curlew followed him about 1-2 mtrs behind for about half km or more. We live in a rural residential area,5-10 acre blocks. Early morning just prior to this one came and followed me around the yard. Both instances were a over a km apart. Is that unusual?

  5. Scott Thompson on July 24th, 2019 5:55 am

    It certainly sounds unusual, but amazing that they will get so close. Maybe they think insects will be kicked out of the grass that they can feed on?

  6. Dylan on September 26th, 2019 4:45 pm

    There is bush stone curlews outside my house they had a baby and one day left. They have returned tonight and are screaming loudly….(they don’t have their baby)
    What does the screaming mean?
    Is the baby fine?
    Is this normal?

  7. Scott Thompson on September 27th, 2019 8:34 am

    I am sorry but I don’t know what the screaming is for in this particular case. They screaming noise is not uncommon though so maybe they are alerting the young to a potential threat or predator?

  8. Magali McDuffie on April 5th, 2020 10:53 am

    We observed a bush stone curlew last night (Saturday 4th April) on Blencowe Street, West Leederville, just up the road from Lake Monger. Initially froze as they do, then when we did not move just walked around for a bit seemingly unperturbed by us. We chased a cat away and it flew off, but the bird was back in the same spot on our return. I did not observe a reflective band so not sure if it is one of the ones that was released in the Whiteman Park pilot program. Anyway thought it was great to see one in our neighbourhood. I observed them nesting near my house when I lived in Northern New South Wales…

  9. Scott Thompson on April 5th, 2020 2:42 pm

    It is great to hear that they are doing well in the suburbs

  10. Kath Grant on November 6th, 2022 8:25 pm

    Yes
    What a fabulous page Insightful factual interestingly enough for my own personal experience.
    I would like to share my own experience with such a prominent bird

  11. Anthony fripp on March 4th, 2024 5:35 pm

    We are in Crystalbrook Qld on a 5 acre property we have a pair of Bush Curlews on our land see them often .They will lower their necks horizontal to the ground and run 20 mtrs or so this stand bolt upright motionless. As I write this at 7 pm we have just heard one of the loudest and longest wailing calls we have ever heard They are very interesting birds.

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