Endangered in NSW
Powerful Owls are the largest species of owl in Australia. They prey on arboreal marsupials such as ring-tailed possums and can crush their prey with a single squeeze of their talons. They are an apex predator and therefore a keystone species – this means that they play a major role in the function of the ecosystem.
They prefer to roost in trees along riparian areas as this provides an area to cool off. Powerful Owls can often be detected by the patch of whitewash they leave under trees. A tell-tale sign is also the remnants of bones from their prey that litters this area.
Powerful Owls defend their territory year-round, and pairs will often mate for life. They breed in the cooler months of the year. Young birds stay with their parents for several months after fledging. Avoid loud noise and disturbances near known nesting sites, preserve hollow bearing trees.
However, they are threatened by land clearing and the loss of hollow bearing trees (these can take hundreds of years to form). The Black Summer bushfires also further contributed to a significant loss of their habitat across NSW.
Protected in NSW
This iconic Australian bird is famous for its loud, distinctive call that sounds like human laughter but is actually a territorial call produced to warn other birds to keep their distance. This species of kingfisher is often seen perched on branches or fences across the Ballina Shire. It has brown wings dabbled with blue, a white underside, and a dark brown eye stripe extending from its beak to the back of its head. These features help it blend in easily into the bush, assisting the bird to hunt its prey of insects, small lizards and snakes. It hunts by perching silently and swooping down on its prey.
Breeding occurs between August and January. Nesting in branches or tree-dwelling termite mounds, the female kookaburra lays up to three eggs, with the entire family involved in incubating and protecting the young. Kookaburras are believed to mate for life, and juvenile birds remain with the family group for up to four years, helping to care for the younger chicks.
Threats to this species include habitat loss due to tree clearing, reduced availability of nesting sites, and poisoning from consuming rodents that have ingested rodenticides.
How can you help?
Vulnerable in NSW
This striking and rare parrot is known for its distinctive appearance and gentle nature, often seen feeding quietly in the Ballina Shire. It is smaller than other black-cockatoos, with a wingspan of around 90 cm. The male is mostly black with bright red panels in a black tail, while the female may have yellow patches on her head and neck as well as a wider tail which is red to reddish-yellow, barred with black.
The Glossy Black-Cockatoo feeds almost exclusively on the seeds of she-oaks (Allocasuarina species) and is often found in coastal woodlands and forests. In NSW, breeding season is between March and August, with nesting taking place in tree hollows, usually in large, old eucalypts. Threats to this species include habitat loss due to land clearing, bushfires that destroy food sources, competition for nesting sites with other species, and predation by feral animals.
How can you help?
The Australian White Ibis prefer to inhabit swamps, floodplains, lagoons, and grasslands. However, they have become common in the urban landscape – colloquially referred to as ‘bin chickens’ due to lingering around and feeding from rubbish bins.
Though they are not listed as endangered, their distribution across their natural range has declined due to increased development and periods of drought. They can be identified by their long black bill, black head, and white body.
Avoid feeding Ibis and other native wildlife. Not only can human food be bad for them but can cause them to be dependent on us for resources.
Like all native animals, Brush turkeys are protected from harm under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. They play an important role in the ecosystem by dispersing seeds, airing the soil, and insect control.
Male Brush turkeys build a mound to attract a female who will then use this as a nest for her eggs. They are one of the few species of birds that use external heat sources (decomposition of organic matter) to incubate their eggs. From the moment their chicks hatch they are completely independent and receive no parental care.
During breeding season, they can create a bit of disturbance to gardens while they construct their mounds. If you are concerned a brush turkey is constructing a mound on your property you can:
Endangered in NSW
Not to be confused with the Superb Lyrebird, the Albert’s Lyrebird is slightly smaller and can be distinguished by their chestnut brown plumage. Additionally, they are restricted in distribution to a small area of north-eastern NSW and south-eastern QLD, and it is predicted the population in the Blackwall ranges may be as small ten birds. Within this area they mainly occur in wet rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests foraging for invertebrates in the moist layer of leaf litter.
They are territorial birds that mainly occur alone but sometimes in pairs. Once they have mated the female will lay a single egg and undertake sole care of her chick.
Their numbers have declined due to habitat clearing and disturbance. Weed invasion in these damaged areas also further reduces the suitability of habitat. Excluding grazing stock from wet forest can help reduce disturbance to this species habitat, as well as control of foxes, dogs and cats to reduce the threat of predation.
Endangered in NSW and Critically Endangered Nationally
The Regent Honeyeater has a striking yellow and black scaled plumage along their back and breast.
They used to once be common along the coastline from Adelaide to Rockhampton, but their distribution has reduced in recent decades. Unfortunately, only 15% of their natural habitat remains as much of it was cleared for agricultural uses and it is predicted that there are less than 350 left in the wild.
They are highly nomadic and travel between eucalypt forests and woodlands in south-eastern Australia searching for blossoming trees. However, the population is also struggling due to the competition for nectar amongst other honeyeaters and the poor condition of most remanent vegetation. As a result larger honeyeaters such as noisy minors, that are adapted to fragmented landscapes, are taking a hold of more territories.
Endangered in NSW
Wompoo’s are a beautiful rainforest pigeon which can be found in Ballina Shire, often feeding on fruit high in the canopy of subtropical rainforests. Even though they are brightly coloured they are often overlooked whilst they forage. It is their distinctive ‘wompoo’ call that normally gives them away, or the sound of falling fruit.
They are the largest of the fruit dove species in Australia and both sexes have similar plumage – purple throat and chest, yellow lower belly, green upper parts, orange bill, and a grey head. They lay a single white egg in a twig nest when breeding and both parents incubate the egg and care for the chick.
Clearing of rainforest vegetation and habitat fragmentation has resulted in a decline of Wompoo populations. To assist this species consider planting local fruit bearing trees and shrubs on your property.
Further Information
Endangered in NSW
Pied Oystercatchers forage at low tide for molluscs, worms, crabs and small fish. Their chisel like bill pries open or break into shells of oysters and other shellfish. Pied Oystercatchers are listed as a vulnerable species under NSW legislation. Threats include introduced pests such as foxes, weed invasion, coastal processes, natural predation and disturbance from beach and estuary users resulting in the destruction of nests, eggs and chicks, disturbance to foraging, nesting and resting birds, and loss of habitat.
Endangered in NSW
Bush Stone-curlews are ground dwelling nocturnal birds that feed on insects, molluscs, lizards, seeds, and even at times small mammals. They can be found in grasslands, the bush, and also open spaces such as golf courses. Curlews can live for more than 20 years, and mature birds share the incubation and care for their young. Their mating ritual entails an elaborate courtship dance which involves outstretched wings, an upright tail and repeatedly stamping their feet up and down.
Unfortunately, these elusive birds are listed as an endangered species in NSW due to predation from introduced species, trampling of eggs, and habitat loss and modification. You may not have seen them before as they are the masters of camouflage thanks to their mottled plumage. However, if you do see a curlew, please do not approach them as they may have a nest nearby.
Endangered in NSW
Brolgas are unmistakable due to their large size – they stand at 1.3 metres and have a wingspan of close to 2.5 metres. Their colouring is a pale grey with a band of red around the back of their neck and a black dewlap under their chin.
They are known for their ‘dance’ during breeding season. The brolga dance is used as a part of courtship or bonding display where pairs face each other, crouch down and stretch upwards, trumpet, leap and toss grass and sticks into the air. Both partners defend their territory and lay a single clutch of eggs in a mound of vegetation in wetland areas.
Brolgas used to be found across most of Australia but are now sparse in distribution across their southern range. One of the biggest threats to Brolgas is the loss and degradation of their wetland habitats, this may be through vegetation clearing and draining for flood mitigation agriculture.
Endangered in NSW
Collared Kingfishers can be identified by striking blue plumage on their upper tail and wings. Often, they are mistaken for Sacred and Forest Kingfishers, both of which are smaller and have slightly different colouring on their heads and wings. You’ll likely spot a Collared Kingfisher flying low over water and vegetation in mangroves and estuaries. They forage on the surface of mud and sand, mainly at low tide, feeding on crustaceans (particularly crabs) and small fish. Occasionally, they supplement their diet with insects, lizards, and worms.
The courtship ritual for this bird involves the male offering the female a fish or other food token. They lay their eggs in the hollows of trees (mainly mangroves) and arboreal termite mounds. On average, the female lays three eggs, and both parents incubate the eggs and raise the chicks.
Their distribution extends from Shark Bay in Western Australia to the North Coast of NSW. Unfortunately, the clearing of old stands of mangroves and the loss of trees bordering these areas has further restricted their habitat. Pollution of estuaries is also a significant problem, specifically from pesticide residue.
Vulnerable in NSW
The Eastern Osprey is a distinctive, large bird-of-prey often spotted carrying a fish or resting atop a light post in the Ballina Shire. It has a wingspan of up to 1.7m, with deep brown feathers on top of the wings and white, barred feathers underneath. The head is primarily white with a dark stripe through the eye.
The Eastern Osprey feeds on fish and favours the entrances to rivers, lagoons, and lakes for hunting grounds. It breeds in July – September in nests made high up in dead trees, generally within 1km of the coastline. Threats to this species include the removal of large coastal trees (used as nest sites), disturbances to water quality, including effluent and run-off, which increase turbidity in feeding areas, ingestion of fish containing discarded fishing tackle, and electrocution from nesting on powerline poles.
There are 151 fauna species found in Ballina Shire that are classified as threatened under State and Commonwealth legislation.
Learn more about threatened marine species in Ballina Shire
Learn more about threatened mammals in Ballina Shire
Learn more about threatened amphibians in Ballina Shire
The General Manager
Ballina Shire Council
PO Box 450
Ballina NSW 2478
40 Cherry Street
Ballina NSW 2478
Opening Hours
8:15am - 4:30pm
Monday to Friday
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