Falcons, field guides and the future
The Black falcon, one of Australia’s most understudied and threatened birds of prey, has been the focus of a successful three-year conservation project in the southwest Riverina region, culminating in the launch of the new ‘Diurnal Raptors of Australia’ identification booklet in Hay next month.
Delivered by Riverina Local Land Services and funded by the NSW Government’s Environmental Trust, the ‘Securing the Black falcon’ project set out to protect and enhance critical breeding and foraging habitats, while also raising community awareness and capacity for long-term conservation.
Lucy Wright, Land Services Officer with Riverina Local Land Services, said the Black falcon – a sleek, dark, and powerful raptor – is endemic to Australia and sparsely distributed across the country’s northern, eastern and southern open woodlands, plains and wetlands.
“With a population decline of more than 30 percent in recent decades, it is now listed as vulnerable in NSW,” Miss Wright said.
Over the life of the project, Riverina Local Land Services worked alongside local landholders, community members and students to achieve impressive on-ground results:
- 351.7 hectares of African boxthorn control
- 57,600 hectares of pest animal control
- 16.4 hectares of revegetation
- 17 artificial nesting sites established for the Black falcon.
The project also partnered with BirdLife Australia to develop and print the ‘Diurnal Raptors of Australia’ identification booklet—a valuable resource for bird enthusiasts, landholders, educators and nature lovers.
“We would like to invite media, community members, and conservation partners to attend the official launch of the Diurnal Raptors booklet and celebrate the project’s success on Friday 12 September from 12pm to 1:30pm at Hay Public School,” Miss Wright said.
“The event will feature guest speakers from BirdLife Australia and Riverina Local Land Services, who will share insights into raptor conservation, species identification, and how the community can get involved — and attendees will receive a free copy of the booklet as well as learn how small actions can contribute to the protection of one of Australia's rarest raptors.”
For more information or to RSVP, please visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/lls-events
Media Contact
For more information, please contact Naomi Stephens, Regional Communications Advisor – Riverina and Murray, email naomi.stephens@lls.nsw.gov.au or phone 0498 772 825.