Recovering the Bassian Thrush

Why we need to act

The Bassian Thrush relies on cool, sheltered gullies with deep leaf litter and dense understorey, habitats that are becoming increasingly scarce in the Flinders Ranges. These damp forest refuges support a diverse range of plants and animals and are vital for maintaining healthy forest ecosystems. As the thrush turns and probes through leaf litter in search of worms and other invertebrates, it contributes to nutrient cycling and soil processes that underpin forest productivity.

Today it survives in small, fragmented pockets increasingly threatened by grazing from feral goats and deer, predation by foxes and feral cats, and intense bushfires. Without targeted conservation measures, both the Bassian Thrush and the fragile forest habitats are likely to continue declining, with serious consequences for the ecological health and biodiversity of the southern Flinders Ranges.

Threats to the species

The Bassian Thrush faces several significant threats including habitat loss and degradation, particularly from inappropriate or intense fire regimes, can quickly alter the cool, sheltered gullies the species relies on.

Grazing by feral herbivores such as goats and deer reduces understorey vegetation and leaf litter, while introduced predators, including feral cats and foxes, place additional pressure on already small populations.

In dry landscapes increasingly shaped by fire, grazing and altered water flows, the moist refuges the Bassian Thrush depends on are becoming rarer. With populations small and fragmented, these combined pressures increase the risk of local extinction.

Solution and approach

Broad-scale, coordinated threat mitigation and monitoring will be delivered across priority areas. Key actions include:

• Mapping occupancy and core habitat using AudioMoth acoustic recorders, remote cameras and on-ground habitat assessments.

• Protecting long-unburnt refuges through strengthened fire planning and identification of critical gullies and creeklines.

• Reducing grazing pressure by controlling feral goats and deer to support understorey regeneration and maintain leaf litter.

• Lowering predation pressure from foxes and feral cats to improve the survival of small populations.

The project is already underway with remote cameras in place and the removal of feral goats and other invasive species. AudioMoth acoustic recorders in 2024 and 2025 have confirmed breeding Bassian Thrush in Wapma Thura, with further results from Mount Remarkable currently being analysed.

Project partners and additional funding information

Creating Three Safer Havens 

A master project in collaboration with the Department for Environment and Water (DEW). 

The aim of the project is to continue to develop and create three unfenced safer havens for the reintroduction of eleven (11) threatened and culturally significant species across three (3) national parks whilst maintaining habitats, increasing climate resilience and ensuring populations are nationally recognised in semi-arid South Australia.