Habitat and diet of the Star Finch (Neochmia ruficauda clarescens) in the early wet season at Princess Charlotte Bay, Cape York Peninsula, Australia

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Contents Vol 105(1)

doi:10.1071/MU04020

Habitat and diet of the Star Finch (Neochmia ruficauda clarescens) in the early wet season at Princess Charlotte Bay, Cape York Peninsula, Australia

S. T. Garnett ^A ^B ^F, J. R. Clarkson ^A, A. Felton ^A ^C, G. N. Harrington ^D, A. N. D. Freeman ^A ^E

^A Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, PO Box 2066, Cairns, Qld 4870, Australia.
^B School of Social and Policy Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0909, Australia.
^C Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies, Australian National University, PO Box 4, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia.
^D PO Box 680, Malanda, Qld 4885, Australia.
^E School for Rainforest Studies, PO Box 141, Yungaburra, Qld 4872 Australia.
^F Corresponding author. Email: stephen.garnett@cdu.edu.au





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Emu 105(1) 81–85 http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/MU04020
Submitted: 29 March 2004 Accepted: 3 March 2005 Published online: 31 March 2005

Abstract

Surveys for the endangered Star Finch (Neochmia ruficauda clarescens (Hartert)) were conducted in the early wet season on Cape York Peninsula. We found Star Finches in only two grassland vegetation types. Most sightings were on unburnt islands of grass and saltbush on tidal saltpans where the birds were feeding solely on the seeds of the annual grass Xerochloa imberbis R.Br. Some individuals were also found among tall perennial grasses further inland where they fed on the first seed production of the new wet season. Xerochloa imberbis is probably a critical food source and saltpans a critical habitat for survival of this population of Star Finches during the early wet season.