8 thoughts on “Black-breasted Buttonquail (Turnix melanogaster): Revise global status?”
I don’t agree that ‘overgrazing’ can be held responsible for continuing decline (under Population trend). Cattle don’t get grazed in BlackBBQ habitat. Usually no grass is there unless weed grasses have penetrated and then it might be a good thing for the cattle to eat that grass. What has been said in the past is that cattle can degrade black-breasted button-quail habitat by camping in scrubs and introducing weeds, compacting soil. Webster et al. (2021) cite that Hamley et al. (1997) attribute overgrazing as a threat but this is not stated in the Hamley et al. paper.
Actually I see that the word ‘overgrazing’ is taken from the two drafts of the Recovery Plan that have been written. The latter Recovery Plan states: “Degradation caused by intensive grazing pressure may be exacerbated in small patches or along narrow strips of vegetation with little buffering to keep out the effects of prolonged drought. “
Very few if any of the remnant patches of prime habitat for BBBQ in the far south-west of its range (semi-evergreen vine-thicket) remain unaffected by weeds that are smothering and eventually killing the trees, and covering the ground where the birds otherwise feed. This has escalated in the last couple of years with return of good rainfall after extended drought. There are in fact three climbing plants responsible: Dolichandra unguis-cati as well as Anredera (note spelling) and Asparagus; all of them are serious threats.
Many of these habitat remnants are on private property, often on steep escarpments, and landholders do not have the resources to combat this threat. This is exacerbated by many landholders no longer working their land, instead obtaining off-farm income in urban areas and thus having no time for weed control. Around the city of Toowoomba, persistent efforts by community groups to control the climbers in local government reserves have been partially successful but are falling behind the tidal wave of weed growth in these ‘dry rainforests’.
Note that the habitat at Gowrie is indeed in bad shape. But BBBQ do still occur in Redwood Park with three breeding records over the past 12 months, probably due in part to the volunteer weeding work.
The map for this species should show ‘native resident’ status extending much farther south, almost to the NSW state border.
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested by so many people in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments until 21 February 2022. We will now analyse and interpret the new information, and we will post a preliminary decision on this species’s Red List status on this page on 21 February 2022, when discussions will re-open.
Based on available information, our preliminary proposal for the 2022.1 Red List would be to adopt the proposed classifications outlined in the initial forum discussion.
There is now a period for further comments until the final deadline on 27 February 2022, after which the recommended categorisations will be put forward to IUCN.
The final 2022.1 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in July 2022, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested by so many people in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments. We will analyse and interpret the new information, and we will post a final decision on this species’ Red List status on this page on 7 March 2022.
Recommended categorisation to be put forward to IUCN
The final categorisation for this species has not changed. Black-breasted Buttonquail is recommended to be listed as Vulnerable under Criterion C2a(ii).
Many thanks for everyone who contributed to the 2022.1 GTB Forum process. The final 2022.1 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in July 2022, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
I don’t agree that ‘overgrazing’ can be held responsible for continuing decline (under Population trend). Cattle don’t get grazed in BlackBBQ habitat. Usually no grass is there unless weed grasses have penetrated and then it might be a good thing for the cattle to eat that grass. What has been said in the past is that cattle can degrade black-breasted button-quail habitat by camping in scrubs and introducing weeds, compacting soil. Webster et al. (2021) cite that Hamley et al. (1997) attribute overgrazing as a threat but this is not stated in the Hamley et al. paper.
Actually I see that the word ‘overgrazing’ is taken from the two drafts of the Recovery Plan that have been written. The latter Recovery Plan states: “Degradation caused by intensive grazing pressure may be exacerbated in small patches or along narrow strips of vegetation with little buffering to keep out the effects of prolonged drought. “
The word ‘overgrazing’ is inferred. My issue is that perhaps it is not the right word.
I agree with Geoff Smith re impacts of grazing.
Very few if any of the remnant patches of prime habitat for BBBQ in the far south-west of its range (semi-evergreen vine-thicket) remain unaffected by weeds that are smothering and eventually killing the trees, and covering the ground where the birds otherwise feed. This has escalated in the last couple of years with return of good rainfall after extended drought. There are in fact three climbing plants responsible: Dolichandra unguis-cati as well as Anredera (note spelling) and Asparagus; all of them are serious threats.
Many of these habitat remnants are on private property, often on steep escarpments, and landholders do not have the resources to combat this threat. This is exacerbated by many landholders no longer working their land, instead obtaining off-farm income in urban areas and thus having no time for weed control. Around the city of Toowoomba, persistent efforts by community groups to control the climbers in local government reserves have been partially successful but are falling behind the tidal wave of weed growth in these ‘dry rainforests’.
Note that the habitat at Gowrie is indeed in bad shape. But BBBQ do still occur in Redwood Park with three breeding records over the past 12 months, probably due in part to the volunteer weeding work.
The map for this species should show ‘native resident’ status extending much farther south, almost to the NSW state border.
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested by so many people in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments until 21 February 2022. We will now analyse and interpret the new information, and we will post a preliminary decision on this species’s Red List status on this page on 21 February 2022, when discussions will re-open.
Preliminary proposal
Based on available information, our preliminary proposal for the 2022.1 Red List would be to adopt the proposed classifications outlined in the initial forum discussion.
There is now a period for further comments until the final deadline on 27 February 2022, after which the recommended categorisations will be put forward to IUCN.
The final 2022.1 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in July 2022, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested by so many people in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments. We will analyse and interpret the new information, and we will post a final decision on this species’ Red List status on this page on 7 March 2022.
Recommended categorisation to be put forward to IUCN
The final categorisation for this species has not changed. Black-breasted Buttonquail is recommended to be listed as Vulnerable under Criterion C2a(ii).
Many thanks for everyone who contributed to the 2022.1 GTB Forum process. The final 2022.1 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in July 2022, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.