When the BAC’s Conserving Mur’rindum (Black-breasted button-quail) on Butchulla Country project was approved in September 2020, the Du’ling Bushfire that burnt over 85,000 Ha (50%) of the island, hadn’t even started.

However, there were already concerns about fire impacts on this Vulnerable ground-dwelling bird found on K’gari.

The aims of the project were for the Butchulla Land and Sea Rangers (BLSR) to deliver actions under the ‘National Recovery Plan for the Black-breasted button-quail (Turnix melanogaster)’ or BBBQ for short, to increase resilience to climate change. Activities were planned for K’gari (formerly known as Fraser Island) and Inskip Recreational Area, where BBBQ populations had previously been recorded.

During the first survey period in August-September 2021, the BLSR deployed cameras and surveyed sites to check in on previously mapped populations (from Liddington, 2013 and Webster, 2016). Trail cameras were deployed from Double Island Point to Champagne Pools.

What the team discovered is that although there were several areas where the BBBQ were still going well (with healthy breeding populations), there were several gaps in the records where key habitats had been impacted by wildfire, access issues – where informal pathways have led to weed and grass encroachment, or predation – by feral cats, foxes, and pigs. 

Conservation actions conducted by BLSR included implementing a cultural burn at Dilli Village (to reduce bushfire risk and protect habitat), along with weed management and pig control activities near Rainbow Beach (in the Inskip Recreational Area). 

In a recent survey (17-21 July 2023), the BLSR team headed out again, accompanied by BBBQ researcher and project advisor, Patrick Webster (University of Queensland). The team checked both the east and west coasts of K’gari.

Nineteen trail cameras were deployed from just south of Sandy Cape down to Hook Point. All cameras were deployed in the littoral forest where there was evidence of BBBQ in the form of platelets, and at Dilli Village observations of the birds themselves. These cameras will be collected, and data analysed in about 6 weeks’ time. 

On the western beaches, there was some suitable habitat present, but this is currently too open to support BBBQ (which relies on canopy cover to prevent predation and provide leaf litter). These sites will continue to be monitored.

The team was pleased to see some recovery of the dune scrub following the fires. Whilst it does not appear these areas are utilised by BBBQ yet, it should only take another 5 to 10 years before these areas will once again provide suitable habitat for these threatened birds. 

The BAC will also incorporate records into their mapping system and seasonal calendar, informing future fire management of critical habitat protecting Mur’rindum on Butchulla Country.

The 3-year project was supported by a Queensland Government Community Sustainability Action grant. 

Submitted by Chantel Van Wamelen, Butchulla Land and Sea Rangers