Reviving the Flinders Ranges Short-tailed Grasswren populations

Why we need to act

The Short-tailed Grasswren is highly dependent on dense spinifex grasslands, it is rarely seen and increasingly at risk as its habitat continues to degrade.

Recent surveys show this species is disappearing from areas where it once existed, including a local extinction in Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park. Without urgent action to restore habitat and reduce grazing pressure, further population losses are likely and could become permanent.

Threats to the species

The Short-tailed Grasswren faces multiple threats, primarily linked to habitat condition:

• Bushfires, impacting already fragile ecosystems,

• overgrazing by native and feral herbivores,

• habitat loss and degradation,

• drought impacts on vegetation, and

• predation by feral cats and foxes.

Solution and approach

This project takes a targeted, science-based approach to restore habitat, reduce threats and support the recovery of the Finders Ranges Short-tailed Grasswren by: 

• Conducting population surveys to understand where Grasswrens persist and where they have been lost,

• restoring critical spinifex (Triodia) habitat essential for shelter and breeding,

• managing grazing pressure from native and feral herbivores to allow habitat recovery, and 

• monitoring outcomes over time to ensure conservation actions are effective.

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.