Common name
Black-necked Stork
Stronghold population
True
Regionally significant/rationale
True
Restricted distribution/rationale
False
Historical abundance
Declining
Overall distribution
India, South-east Asia, southern New Guinea and Australia. Very sparsely distributed through its north and north-east Australian range; more common in coastal Northern Territory, north and south-east Queensland coast and plains to central coast NSW.
Local distribution
Terrestrial wetlands, estuarine and littoral habitats. Occasionally grasslands and wooded areas. Few pairs on Gold Coast. Breeding records from Surfers Paradise and Mudgeeraba. Sedentary
Known location
Carrara, Upper Mudgeeraba, Tallebudgera Creek, Hope Island, Eagleby, Canungra, Coombabah, Pimpama, C
Other locality
Most records are from the Coombabah Lake and surrounding estuarine system; also from Numinbah, Coomera, Tallebudgera and Currumbin Valleys.
General ecology
A large range of waterbodies are used by the Jabiru, including extensive sheets of shallow water over grassland or sedgeland, shallow swamps with small emergent vegetation and abundant aquatic flora, permanent billabongs and pools on floodplains, freshwater meadows, wet heathland, seepage fern springs and ephemeral wetlands with tall emergent vegetation, mangroves and tidal mudflats.
Habitat comment
This bird is mobile and highly visible, and the relatively large number of sightings probably apply to a small number of birds.
Threats
Loss and degradation of habitat through:
1. Draining of wetlands for agricultural and urban development
2. Contamination of water and food supplies by urban and agricultural nutrients and chemicals
3. Disturbance of feeding habitat by livestock grazing
Reduced recruitment through:
1. Loss of nest trees to clearing, grazing, fire etc.
Management
Where ever possible the following suggested objectives and guidelines should be followed:
Objectives:
1. Protect known nest sites by reducing the impact of grazing on the species.
2. Maintain the water quality and vegetation inegrity of the habitat
Guidelines:
1. Searches to be undertaken for this species in their appropriate habitat.
2. Prescribed burning and grazing regimes should not be detrimental to floristic and structural diversity of wetland vegetation, floodplains and the surrounding water quality
3. Protect population from domestic animals trampling foraging grounds.
4. Consider options for limiting other activities which threaten the long term viability of habitat, such as grazing.
Feeding substrate
Margins of wetlands, mud or grass fields near wetlands.
Diet
Small invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles and possibly small mammals
Breeding season
October to May
Social group
Singles or pairs
Behaviour
Jabiru forages in fresh or saline waters up to 0.5 metres deep, including small artificial waterbodies. The Jabiru requires a steady supply of food, particularly aquatic organisms for feeding. This prey is generally most abundant is undisturbed, large, semi-vegetated waterbodies of high water quality. It moves in pairs and occasionally in groups of up to 18 individuals and roosts in live or dead trees in or overhanging the water. Although it may establish long-term residence in a particular area, it is capable of making long journeys to access suitable wetland habitat.
Biology
Identification: Length 1.4 m. Striking tall black-and-white bird with massive, slightly upturned, glossy black, bill, glossy green-black head and neck and lanky red legs.
Citations
SFNSW 1996, Pizzey & Knight 1997, Stanger et.al. 1998.
