Queensland research maps movements and behaviours of black-throated finch

Queensland researchers have mapped the habitat and movements of the black-throated finch in a never-before-seen level of detail, as part of Bravus Mining and Resources commitment to managing the environment.

The findings are the latest from a five-year joint research program between Bravus Mining and Resources and researchers from ecology consultancy E2M and have been published in the peer-reviewed and highly respected international scientific journal PLOS One.

Bravus Mining and Resources chief operating officer Mick Crowe says the research is building a profile of the black-throated finch to guide best practice conservation techniques.

“The Carmichael mine has created jobs and opportunities for regional Queensland in a responsible way during both the planning and mining phases,” he said.

“Our research has been running since 2020 as part of our targeted Management Plan for the black-throated finch.

“Researchers now know more about the finch than ever and their work has helped us prioritise habitat conservation activities.”

Researchers used tiny radio transmitters, weighing just 0.32g each, to track the movements of 142 black-throated finches.

The research combined a network of 27 transmission towers covering about 2,700ha of black-throated finch habitat with manual tracking and AI technologies to log eating, drinking, preening and nesting behaviours.

It also tracked the home ranges, movement patterns and habitat characteristics of the finch.

E2M principal ecologist John van Osta says the findings have provided researchers with new insights into the movements of the black-throated finch and how they use the local environment.

“This research has revealed much more about the black-throated finch population near Carmichael,” he said.

“It has a large home range of an average of 320ha and travels up to four kilometres from water.

“Both of these characteristics differ from the finch population near Townsville, which is the only other area where radio tracking has been used for the species.

“The research has also confirmed details about the preferred vegetation of the finch and provided new insights into its movements at various times of the day.”

The findings will help guide conservation activities for other finch populations.

The methods can also be applied to track the behaviour and movements of other rare birds.