Australasian Bittern - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Botaurus poiciloptilus

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Commonwealth status: Endangered

Gazetted date: 05 Nov 2010

Profile last updated: 01 Dec 2017

Description

The Australasian Bittern is a large, stocky bird, reaching up to 75 cm in length. It has a long, thick neck and a straight, brownish-yellow bill. Its upper surface is mottled brown and its undersurface is buff, with dark brown stripes, except for a pale throat. The eyes are yellow and there is a pale eyebrow. The feet and legs are pale green.

Distribution

Australasian Bitterns are widespread but uncommon over south-eastern Australia. In NSW they may be found over most of the state except for the far north-west.

Habitat and ecology

Favours permanent freshwater wetlands with tall, dense vegetation, particularly bullrushes (Typha spp.) and spikerushes (Eleocharis spp.).
Hides during the day amongst dense reeds or rushes and feed mainly at night on frogs, fish, yabbies, spiders, insects and snails.
Feeding platforms may be constructed over deeper water from reeds trampled by the bird; platforms are often littered with prey remains.
Breeding occurs in summer from October to January; nests are built in secluded places in densely-vegetated wetlands on a platform of reeds; there are usually six olive-brown eggs to a clutch.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Threats

Drainage of wetlands and ponds and alteration of natural flow regimes (including accelerated erosion and siltation).
Reduced water quality due to siltation, pollution and salinity.
Predation by foxes, pigs and cats.
Use of herbicides, pesticides and other chemicals near wetland areas.
Inappropriate grazing and associated frequent burning of wetland areas.
Loss and degradation of wetland habitat, including artificial wetland habitat in rice growing areas, due to changes in water management and cropping practises.
Changes in seasonality and amount of rainfall and associated changes in environmental water allocations, driven by climate change.

Recovery strategies

A targeted strategy for managing this species has been developed under the Saving Our Species program; click here for details. For more information on the Saving Our Species program click here

Activities to assist this species

Undertake fox and feral cat control in and nearby wetlands.
Protect swamps from fire during hazard reduction activities.
Fence wetlands to exclude grazing and trampling by stock.
Protect wetlands and water-courses from pollution.
Protect wetlands, ponds and associated marshy areas from clearing or disturbance.

Information sources

Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW) (2007) Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna of the Greater Southern Sydney Region. Volume 2: Fauna of Conservation Concern including priority pest species. (DECC NSW, Hurstville)
Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW (2010) Northern Rivers Regional Biodiversity Management Plan.
Garnett, S.T., Szabo, J.K. and Dutson, G. (2011) Action Plan for Australian Birds 2010. (CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Victoria)
Marchant, S. and Higgins P.J. (eds) (1990) Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume 1: Ratites to Ducks. Part A Ratites to Petrels. (Oxford University Press, Melbourne)
Menkhorst, P. (2012) The food and foraging rate of an Australasian Bittern. Australian Field Ornithology 29(3): 133-142
Murray Catchment Management Authority and Office of Environment and Heritage (2012) New South Wales Murray Biodiversity Management Plan: A guide to terrestrial biodiversity investment priorities in the central and eastern NSW Murray catchment. (Murray CMA, Albury)
NSW Scientific Committee (2009) Australasian Bittern Botaurus poiciloptilus - Review of current information in NSW.
NSW Scientific Committee (2010) Australasian Bittern Botaurus poiciloptilus - Endangered species determination - final.
Pringle, J.D. (1985) The Waterbirds of Australia. (Angus and Robertson Publishers, Sydney)
Taylor, I.R. and Schultz, M.C. (2010) Waterbird Use of Rice Fields in Australia. Waterbirds 33 (Special Publication 1): 71-82

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

Brigalow Belt South	Liverpool Plains	Predicted	None
Brigalow Belt South	Liverpool Range	Predicted	None
Brigalow Belt South	Moonie-Barwon Interfluve	Predicted	None
Brigalow Belt South	Narrandool	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Northern Basalts	Predicted	None
Brigalow Belt South	Pilliga	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Pilliga Outwash	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Talbragar Valley	Predicted	None
Cobar Peneplain	Barnato Downs	Predicted	None
Cobar Peneplain	Boorindal Plains	Predicted	None
Cobar Peneplain	Canbelego Downs	Predicted	None
Cobar Peneplain	Lachlan Plains	Known	None
Cobar Peneplain	Nymagee	Predicted	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Bogan-Macquarie	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Castlereagh-Barwon	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Culgoa-Bokhara	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Louth Plains	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Menindee	Predicted	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Pooncarie-Darling	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Warrambool-Moonie	Predicted	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Wilcannia Plains	Predicted	None
Mulga Lands	Paroo Overflow	Known	None
Mulga Lands	Paroo-Darling Sands	Predicted	None
Murray Darling Depression	Darling Depression	Predicted	None
Murray Darling Depression	South Olary Plain	Known	None
Nandewar	Kaputar	Predicted	None
Nandewar	Peel	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Eastern Nandewars	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Coffs Coast and Escarpment	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Dalmorton	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Karuah Manning	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Macleay Hastings	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Upper Hunter	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Yuraygir	Predicted	None
NSW South Western Slopes	Capertee Valley	Predicted	None
NSW South Western Slopes	Inland Slopes	Known	None
NSW South Western Slopes	Lower Slopes	Known	None
Ocean	Batemans Shelf	Known	None
Ocean	Manning Shelf	Known	None
Other State	Jervis Bay Territory	Predicted	None
Other State	QLD	Known	None
Other State	SA	Known	None
Other State	VIC	Known	None
Riverina	Lachlan	Known	None
Riverina	Murray Fans	Known	None
Riverina	Murray Scroll Belt	Known	None
Riverina	Murrumbidgee	Known	None
Riverina	Robinvale Plains	Predicted	None
South East Corner	Bateman	Known	None
South East Corner	South East Coastal Ranges	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Bathurst	Predicted	None
South Eastern Highlands	Bungonia	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Capertee Uplands	Predicted	None
South Eastern Highlands	Crookwell	Predicted	None
South Eastern Highlands	Hill End	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Monaro	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Murrumbateman	Predicted	None
South Eastern Highlands	Oberon	Predicted	None
South Eastern Highlands	Orange	Predicted	None
South Eastern Queensland	Burringbar-Conondale Ranges	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Clarence Lowlands	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Scenic Rim	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Sunshine Coast-Gold Coast Lowlands	Predicted	None
Sydney Basin	Cumberland	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Hunter	Known	East of Cessnock
Sydney Basin	Illawarra	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Jervis	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Kerrabee	Predicted	None
Sydney Basin	Moss Vale	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Pittwater	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Wollemi	Predicted	None
Sydney Basin	Wyong	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Yengo	Known	None

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Australasian Bittern
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