Plains-wanderer captive breeding success

NRM NEWS – MAY 2020 – SIGNIFICANT SPECIES

By Claire Gannon                                
Land Services Officer P: 03 5886 1203 | M: 0429 465 958 | E: claire.gannon@lls.nsw.gov.au

On the 8th March 2020, two critically endangered Plains-wanderer chicks hatched at Western Plains Taronga Zoo in Dubbo. The chicks are the first plains-wanderers to be born in Dubbo and are part of a conservation breeding program to save this unique species from extinction.

There are currently seven breeding pairs at Dubbo Zoo. The birds have been collected from the wild, mainly from grasslands in the Murray and Riverina regions. Plains-wanderers usually have a clutch of four eggs. In this case, only two chicks resulted from the clutch.

Hear from Mark O’Riordan, plains-wanderer keeper at Taronga Western Plains Zoo discussing the plains-wanderer captive breeding program in this TarongaTV video.

The follow-up video shows the two chicks receiving their first health check.

Both chicks were confirmed to be females at the health check as well as being weighed, having a physical examination and identification leg bands attached.

The chicks are now separated from their parents and come spring will play an essential role in the next breeding season and hopefully continue the breeding success at Taronga Western Plains Zoo for this critically endangered species.

Photo of a plains-wanderer chick in the aviary at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Taronga TV