Field management of the bilby Macrotis lagotis in an area of south-western Queensland Original Research Article

A study is reported of a population of bilbies Macrotis lagotis Reid at Davenport Downs, a 15 100 km2 cattle property in the Channel Country of Queensland. Systematic traverses first established that bilby burrows were located throughout the tussock grasslands on downs near major watercourses on the property. A 10-month survey of burrows subsequently revealed that fewer than one-half of those studied were in permanent use. Moreover, daily burrow use in a typical burrow aggregation ranged from one-third to two-thirds of the total over a 45-day observation period. From regular observations made of 27 burrow aggregations consisting (at the end of the period) of 169 burrows, the data suggested that these may have accommodated 40 bilbies, that each added an extra burrow over 10 months, and that each used one, two or three burrows each night. Further research needs are identified from these introductory observations. These include monitoring the distribution and relationships between burrow and bilby numbers. Property management guidelines to minimize disturbance to areas of bilby activity, including by overgrazing by stock, have been recommended to, and adopted by, the landholders involved.