Effects on other native species and biodiversity benefits

The Recovery Plan focuses on the management, protection, restoration and creation of freshwater and coastal wetlands, the principal breeding habitat for Australasian Bittern. Australia has a diverse waterbird fauna adapted to these wetlands, many of which are unpredictable in their availability and habitats (Kingsford and Norman 2002). Many waterbird species exploit the high productivity of those wetlands that dry out after being inundated temporarily (Taylor 2003). Consequently, appropriate management of these wetlands will benefit many plant and animal species, as well as associated ecological communities.

The wide distribution and unpredictable nature of freshwater and coastal wetlands makes it difficult to identify population trends of species within them.

Other threatened species occur in these habitats, such as the Australian Painted Snipe (Rostratula australis), which can have conflicting habitat requirements for targeted management (Herring and Silcocks, 2014; Herring et al. 2019a). The Australasian Bittern, an unusually attractive and enigmatic resident waterbird, may be of value as a flagship species to highlight the importance of conserving these habitats.

Australasian Bittern