THE DIRE STATE OF THE BUFF-BREASTED BUTTON-QUAIL: WHERE TO FROM HERE?

BirdLife Club Talk in Cairns

THE DIRE STATE OF THE BUFF-BREASTED BUTTON-QUAIL: WHERE TO FROM HERE?

By guest speaker Patrick Webster

Cominos House Meeting Room

27 Greenslopes St, Edge Hill QLD 4870

Australia supports the greatest diversity and endemism of button-quail of any country in the world. Button-quail are notoriously shy and cryptic, and as a result very little is known of their ecology. The least known is the Buff-breasted Button-quail. This species is thought to be an inhabitant of north Queensland, though the finer details of its ecology remain largely a mystery. For the past four years the PhD candidate Patrick Webster from the RARES lab, University of Queensland, has been studying the Buff-breasted Button-quail. What has been uncovered during this project is extremely concerning. 

What was once considered a rare migrant or vagrant to the Wet Tropics of north Queensland may actually be in a far worse state than was previously thought. The current lack of verified records across its entire range is alarming. Pat will discuss the history and current status of the Buff-breasted Button-quail as well as his complementary work on other tropical savanna species; Painted and Chestnut-backed Button-quail.  Pat will conclude with an insight into his work the policy and conservation ramifications of this work and allow plenty of time for questions and discussion.

The venue still has a COVID plan and we can only accept 32 people (even though the Queensland rules may change before then). Please RSVP to the contact below prior to the event. This is a free event for both members and non-members. We are looking forward to seeing you!

For more information, please contact me on kudo555@hotmail.co.jp or 0402 343 610

Mikey Kudo

Cairns Area Coordinator