Securing the black falcon in the Riverina

The Securing the black falcon in the Riverina project worked with landholders to raise awareness and protect vital habitat to help secure the species. 

Project objectives

This project aimed to protect breeding and foraging habitat and establish new artificial nesting sites for the black falcon in the Riverina.

Project background

The Black Falcon has been subject to a greater than 30% decline in its population over recent decades, leading to the species being listed as Vulnerable in New South Wales. There are thought to be less than 10,000 Black Falcons in Australia, or perhaps between 3,000 and 5,000 individuals in NSW. Threats to this species include:

• clearing of remnant woodland habitat
• loss of nests and nest trees to storms  
• competition for nest sites from an overabundance of crows and ravens
• collisions with vehicles and wind turbines
• susceptibility to secondary poisoning by locust sprays, pindone or second-generation anti-coagulant rodenticides.

Project delivery

The project's priority area extended from Narrandera in the east to Maude in the west. The Riverina Local Land Services boundary forms the southern border, with the priority area extending northward past Griffith. 

Project outcomes

• 351.7ha of African Boxthorn weed control
• 57,600ha of pest animal control work
• 16.4ha of revegetation  
• Acoustic recorders deployed across 8 holdings to survey Black Falcons.
• 17 artificial stick nests were constructed and installed across 14 holdings
• Several school and community events have raised awareness of the vulnerable Black Falcon and its conservation needs.
• Educational material has been developed including a children's story book and glovebox guide for diurnal raptors of Australia.

Funding and partnerships

This project is a partnership between the NSW Environmental Trust and Riverina Local Land Services.