Bush stone-curlew chick born at Australian Reptile Park

WITH only six known breeding pairs on the Central Coast, bush stone-curlews are about as rare as hen’s teeth, but a new baby has brought hope for the species.

WITH only six known breeding pairs on the Central Coast and a population of about 18 birds, bush stone-curlews are about as rare as hen’s teeth.

But the Australian Reptile Park is hoping to do its bit to help the critically endangered species with the arrival of a new bush stone-curlew chick.

Named “Baloo” the gangly youngster hatched two weeks ago and is still a bit clumsy as he navigates his enclosure on his long legs.

Rare bush stone-curlew chick is hope for the endangered species. Pictures; Troy Snook

With a liking for fresh crickets the bush stone-curlew is growing fast and starting to explore without mum or dad in tow.

Mammal keeper Andrew Daly said bush stone-curlew’s were amazing birds but sadly endangered in NSW “so this is definitely a big win for the species”.

“The Central Coast Council has fenced off protected areas for the curlew to help them thrive and fight being endangered,” he said.

“Sadly, the introduction of predators such as foxes, feral cats and dogs has been a great contributor to the declining numbers of the bird.

Baloo with the adult curlews.

“Fox control measures introduced by Central Coast Council seem to be effective in that fewer sightings of foxes are now being reported within the local bush stone-curlew habitat.”

The birds nest openly on the ground in the foreshore areas of Brisbane Water.

Birdlife Australia’s guardian for the Brisbane Water key biodiversity area Alan Morris said there were only six known breeding pairs on the Coast and about 18 birds in total.

He said most were found around the Saratoga and Davistown areas.

Only six breeding pairs remain in the wild on the Central Coast.

“There’s a bit of a problem too in that a lot of these areas are dog walking areas,” he said.

Besides nesting openly on the ground where their eggs can get trampled by passing dogs or people, bush stone-curlews also rely on their camouflage and freeze when threatened, making the susceptible to introduced predators such as cats or dogs.

Mr Morris said despite such few numbers the species was “hanging in there”.

“They’re having a reasonably successful year, most breeding pairs have nested and had one chick and they’re nesting again, they normally have two nesting attempts,” he said.