Malleefowl, like many species in the Wheatbelt, used to be found across the region, but loss of habitat and feral predators have reduced their range considerably.

The species is now listed as threatened by the Australian and WA Government which means without urgent actions it may disappear forever.

If you have ever seen a malleefowl mound you will understand just how amazing these bushland builders are.

Their nesting mounds are a large pile of leaf litter and sand scraped together by the bird’s strong feet.

Rather than sitting on the nest the male Malleefowl checks the temperature of his mound regularly and moves material either onto or off the mound to keep it just right for his eggs.

The main threats impacting their survival include:

• Ongoing habitat loss through vegetation clearing
• Fox and feral cat predation
• Competition for food and habitat with introduced herbivores

They can be very cryptic and hard to spot. In the Wheatbelt, Malleefowl are more likely to be seen in and around remnant shrublands and woodlands.

Wheatbelt NRM is working with landholders across the region to identify Malleefowl habitat and existing or historic breeding sites. We will be undertaking a range of actions including fencing and feral animal control to provide safe havens for this iconic Wheatbelt bird and ensure they will not be lost to our future generations.

This program can provide support generally to a value of $10,000 per project.

Application Form