
The Malleefowl
What is a Malleefowl? Drawing by Ann Angel Malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata) are part of a unique family of birds called the megapodes (large footed). This family of birds is unique in that they build mounds to bury and incubate their eggs. The Malleefowl is about the size of a medium fowl like bird. Their average weight is 1.7kg and their average height is 60cm. This species is well camouflaged and large nesting mound is the best way of knowing whether it occurs in an area. Where do they live? Malleefowl prefers the semi-arid and arid regions of southern Australia. The environment consisting of multi-stemmed eucalypts (mallee), shrubs and groundcovers suits the Malleefowl's mound construction and incubation needs. The soils in nesting areas need to be sandy with a substantial accumulation of leaf litter and fallen rotting branches usually as a result of a long period (30 years) without a bushfire. When are they active? The Malleefowl is active only during the day, when it forages for food on the ground. It is very wary and at any hint of danger will make off into the scrub, hiding beneath bushes. They can fly if threatened and roost at night in trees to escape predators. The Malleefowl remains within a given area and the males are usually territorial. What do they eat and how do they get water? The Malleefowl’s diet consists of seeds of shrubs such as wattle and cassia, the buds and flowers of small plants and annual herbs, insects and small invertebrates. The Malleefowl is able to exist without drinking by gaining its moisture needs from its food. However if water is about it will drink. Do they make any sounds? The Malleefowl make several sounds: they have a booming sound which is a territorial signal, a sharp grunt expresses alarm and their soft lowing is believed to be the ordinary communication. How do they breed? Malleefowl generally pair for life. The Malleefowl does not incubate the eggs themselves, but rather relies on external sources of heat. These heat sources include heat from the sun to decomposing leaf litter, keeping the egg chamber at a constant temperature of 33°C. The male bird does all the housekeeping and spends up to ten months of the year working the mound and incorporating dry leaves, bark and twigs with the sand. Mounds can be up to 5 m in diameter and up to 1 m high. How many eggs do they lay? Egg-laying for the female usually starts in September/October when the mound incubation chamber is at the right temperature. Eggs are laid at 5-7 day intervals until January/February. 15-20 eggs per nest on average are usually laid with 80% hatching success. Egg-laying very much depends upon the season. Chicks dig themselves out of the mound after hatching and can run and fly within a day. This gives the chicks a chance of survival since they are never cared for by their parents again. A high mortality rate exists amongst the young because of their immediate independence with only 1-2% surviving to adulthood. How long to they live for? Malleefowl live for 20-25 years and may produce 100-200 young over that time. What is its conservation value? Once widespread throughout large semi arid areas of southern Australia, patchy populations remain. Land clearing for agriculture has removed the best Malleefowl habitat areas and as a result, the Malleefowl is now a Nationally Vulnerable species. What are the current threats to its survival? Loss of habitat (clearing, fires) Remnant vegetation decline (salinity, grazing) Introduced animals (e.g. foxes, cats, rabbits, goats) How can you help? Fox and cat baiting can be focused within 500 metres of active nesting mounds. If you are lucky enough to spot a bird (dead or alive), please contact the Malleefowl Preservation Group, or visit their web site to complete a Malleefowl sighting Form. This will help determine their present-day state-wide distribution and abundance. Feathers can be picked up. Fold the feather in a clean paper wrap or envelope and write the date and location on the paper. Send the feather to the South Australian Museum with your name and address. Become part of a local volunteer group and help monitor Malleefowl mounds and activity. Increase awareness of the species in your local community. Where can I find out more information? Murray Mallee Local Action Planning Association PO Box 2056, Murray Bridge, SA Ph: 8531 2066 Email: mmlap@lm.net.au Malleefowl Preservation Group PO Box 29, Ongerup, WA 6336 Ph: (09) 9828 2007 E-mail: malleefowl.wa@wn.com.au www.malleefowl.com.au Birds Australia 415 Riversdale Rd Hawthorn East, Victoria, 3123 Ph: (03) 9882 2622 Email: mail@birdsaustralia.com.au www .birdsaustralia.com.au

The Malleefowl

What is a Malleefowl?

Drawing by Ann Angel

Malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata) are part of a unique family of birds called the megapodes (large footed). This family of birds is unique in that they build mounds to bury and incubate their eggs.

The Malleefowl is about the size of a medium fowl like bird. Their average weight is 1.7kg and their average height is 60cm.

This species is well camouflaged and large nesting mound is the best way of knowing whether it occurs in an area.

Where do they live?

Malleefowl prefers the semi-arid and arid regions of southern Australia. The environment consisting of multi-stemmed eucalypts (mallee), shrubs and groundcovers suits the Malleefowl's mound construction and incubation needs.

The soils in nesting areas need to be sandy with a substantial accumulation of leaf litter and fallen rotting branches usually as a result of a long period (30 years) without a bushfire.

When are they active?

The Malleefowl is active only during the day, when it forages for food on the ground. It is very wary and at any hint of danger will make off into the scrub, hiding beneath bushes. They can fly if threatened and roost at night in trees to escape predators.

The Malleefowl remains within a given area and the males are usually territorial.

What do they eat and how do they get water?

The Malleefowl’s diet consists of seeds of shrubs such as wattle and cassia, the buds and flowers of small plants and annual herbs, insects and small invertebrates.

The Malleefowl is able to exist without drinking by gaining its moisture needs from its food. However if water is about it will drink.

Do they make any sounds?

The Malleefowl make several sounds: they have a booming sound which is a territorial signal, a sharp grunt expresses alarm and their soft lowing is believed to be the ordinary communication.

How do they breed?

Malleefowl generally pair for life. The Malleefowl does not incubate the eggs themselves, but rather relies on external sources of heat. These heat sources include heat from the sun to decomposing leaf litter, keeping the egg chamber at a constant temperature of 33°C.

The male bird does all the housekeeping and spends up to ten
months of the year working the mound and incorporating dry leaves, bark and twigs with the sand. Mounds can be up to 5 m in diameter and up to 1 m high.

How many eggs do they lay?

Egg-laying for the female usually starts in September/October when the mound incubation chamber is at the right temperature.

Eggs are laid at 5-7 day intervals until January/February. 15-20 eggs per nest on average are usually laid with 80% hatching success. Egg-laying very much depends upon the season.

Chicks dig themselves out of the mound after hatching and can run and fly within a day. This gives the chicks a chance of survival since they are never cared for by their parents again. A high mortality rate exists amongst the young because of their immediate independence with only 1-2% surviving to adulthood.

How long to they live for?

Malleefowl live for 20-25 years and may produce 100-200 young over that time.

What is its conservation value?

Once widespread throughout large semi arid areas of southern Australia, patchy populations remain. Land clearing for agriculture has removed the best Malleefowl habitat areas and as a result, the Malleefowl is now a Nationally Vulnerable species.

What are the current threats to its survival?

Loss of habitat (clearing, fires)
Remnant vegetation decline (salinity, grazing)
Introduced animals (e.g. foxes, cats, rabbits, goats)

How can you help?

Fox and cat baiting can be focused within 500 metres of active nesting mounds.

If you are lucky enough to spot a bird (dead or alive), please contact the Malleefowl Preservation Group, or visit their web site to complete a Malleefowl sighting Form. This will help determine their present-day state-wide distribution and abundance.

Feathers can be picked up. Fold the feather in a clean paper wrap or envelope and write the date and location on the paper. Send the feather to the South Australian Museum with your name and address.

Become part of a local volunteer group and help monitor Malleefowl mounds and activity.

Increase awareness of the species in your local community.

Where can I find out more information?

Murray Mallee Local Action Planning Association

PO Box 2056, Murray Bridge, SA
Ph: 8531 2066
Email: mmlap@lm.net.au

Malleefowl Preservation Group

PO Box 29, Ongerup, WA 6336
Ph: (09) 9828 2007
E-mail: malleefowl.wa@wn.com.au
www.malleefowl.com.au

Birds Australia

415 Riversdale Rd
Hawthorn East, Victoria, 3123
Ph: (03) 9882 2622
Email: mail@birdsaustralia.com.au

www .birdsaustralia.com.au