The bush stone-curlew, endemic to Australia, is classified as Endangered in New South Wales.  It is mainly nocturnal and specialises in hunting small grassland animals (frogs, spiders, insects, molluscs, crustaceans, snakes, lizards and small mammals) found in soft soil or rotting wood, along with seeds or tubers in drought years. They forage alone or in pairs over their range especially on moonlit nights. By day they hide in tall grass or low shrubs. Their predators are foxes, wild dogs, dingoes or goannas. Like the other species at Black Rocks sports field it also has many threats to its survival.

Between October 2011 and May 2015 here have been 56 evidenced bush stone-curlew activities/sightings on or adjacent to the sports field and access road (with 3 birds sighted concurrently) which have been reported to council and logged into NSW Bionet Wildlife Atlas.  Many of these activities/sightings were of wailing calls during breeding season.  If there is no successful breeding it is likely to be due to disturbance and threats.

A number of the above bush stone-curlew sightings occurred during the day (see photo below) as well as at night on the access road (including a sighting during the day reported by a council officer).

Dog attack risk

Bush stone-curlews are currently exposed to risk of dog attack during the day when the koala/dog-proof vehicle access gate is open, or any time through the self-latching pedestrian access gates if accompanied by a person.  If the vehicle access gate is removed and replaced with a grid, there will be no restriction to stop dogs being transported over the grid in motor vehicles both day and night.

Recovery Plan for the Bush Stone-Curlew (RPBSC) February, 2006

The land surrounding the sports field and access road is a preferred bush stone-curlew roosting and/or breeding habitat, as described in RPBSC, 3.6 (p.8).

‘Within urban areas, bush stone-curlews may become accustomed to foraging under street lights that attract insects.  This significantly increases the risk of individuals being hit by cars and falling victim to predators.’

7-PART TEST UNDER THE ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING & ASSESSMENT ACT, 1979

Based on the suitable foraging and breeding habitat adjacent to the sports field and access road site, the evidenced sightings and the existing and/or potential impacts detailed above, which are likely to have an adverse effect on the life cycle of the species, the bush stone-curlew should be subject to the 7-part test under the EP&A Act 1979.

Contrary to Flora & Fauna Assessment of the Men's Shed D.A. (p.32), the Review of Environmental Factors for failed tennis court application PTV12/0022 at the Black Rocks sports field stated that consideration of impacts under the 7-part test for the bush stone-curlew at the access road and surrounding bushland was warranted.   This is further evidence that the bush stone-curlew should be subject to the 7-part test.

According to the Recovery Plan for the bush stone-curlew, February 2006 Appendix 4:-

‘The loss of individual birds can have a significant adverse effect on local and regional populations and the species as a whole within NSW.’

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For impacts on bush stone-curlew click here