SPECIAL SUBSPECIES OF KING ISLAND

King Island, once connected to both Tasmania and the Australian mainland by the Bass Strait land bridge, was isolated over 10,000 years ago as the last ice-age ended, and Bass Strait flooded. Consequently, many species on King Island are endemic. King Island’s fascinating but fragile bird population is no exception.

The island hosts not only a swathe of migratory birds, and is an invaluable stepping stone for many, but is home to resident subspecies of global importance. A number of these birds are threatened including the King Island Scrubtit (Critically Endangered), King Island Brown Thornbill (Critically Endangered), the King Island Green Rosella (Vulnerable) and the King Island Black Currawong (Vulnerable) according to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act List.

Themaincontributorstothesebirds’plightsare habitatlossthroughlandclearingandfirerisk. Agriculturaldrainingandherbivoregrazingarealso knowncausesofhabitatdegradation

OnevictimofthesethreatstohabitatonKingIslandis theYellowWattlebird KnownasAustralia’slargest honeyeater,andendemictoTasmania,thisbirdhasa subspeciesdistincttoKingIsland–theKingIsland YellowWattlebird(Anthochaeraparadoxakingi).

The KI Yellow Wattlebird can be distinguished from its Tasmanian cousin by its smaller size Known for its rather unfortunate squawk (which is no-doubt charming to other wattlebirds), the Yellow Wattlebird sports a yellow belly and has a pendulous yellow wattle or skin flap that hangs on either side of the neck

The rare bird can be described as active, noisy, and conspicuous – if you can’t see it, you’ll probably hear it!

The 2020 Action Plan for Australian Birds identified the KI Yellow Wattlebird as “endangered” but it has not been formally listed yet.

Focused research on all of King Island’s special subspecies is needed to accelerate conservation activities.