CRITICALLY ENDANGERED BIRDS IN LINE OF FIRE
- Regional Victorians Opposed to Duck Shooting Inc.
- Apr 5
- 5 min read
-VICTORIA'S APPALLING ENVIRONMENTAL SCORECARD JUST GOT A WHOLE LOT WORSE-
UNRESTRICTED NATIVE QUAIL SHOOT DESPITE POPULATION COLLAPSE
"Transparent" regulator finally publishes recommendation
The regulator’s quail shooting recommendation was apparently made public late Monday – with less than five days to go until the guns start. We know they submitted it to the Minister much earlier, so why hold off on sharing with the public until the 11th hour? Could the "independent" regulator (GMA) be so devious as to attempt to stave off any action to stop the shoot?
Appallingly, GMA’s recommendation was for a full 86 day shooting season in which shooters can each bag 20 Stubble Quail a day, despite the little birds' numbers falling to just a third of what they were two years ago.
The shooting has once again been allowed to occur during the quail's known breeding period.
We note there are no actual count numbers mentioned in their recommendation document. There are only extrapolated estimates.
But we have been diligently keeping track of the actual numbers.
The “counts” only started in 2022 which was a “trial” count.
The 2023 report states the number of birds counted was just 453 (p. 11). This was extrapolated up to an incredible 6.7 million, using the controversial “N-mixture” modelling – more on that in a minute.
The 2024 report doesn’t state the number of birds actually counted. Were they too embarrassed to admit they saw so few? But it does state the number of groups (246) and the average group size (it was 1.3 - refer p.8). So we can multiply these together to calculate the total number of birds counted at just 320. This tiny number was extrapolated up to 5.4 million.
Now in 2025, while no actual count has been provided yet again, we are given an extrapolated estimated population of 2.4 million - less than half of last year's estimate. But it could be even lower, because the possible range was quoted as anywhere between 1.6 – 3.8. million.
All up, in just two years, our native Stubble Quail population has fallen by two thirds.
Are there even a million native stubble Quail?
Quite likely not.
The regulator uses a controversial “N-mixture” model to extrapolate the actual counted numbers. This has been criticised by scientists and no longer used by the NSW government for their bird surveys.
“There is no such thing as a free lunch” – Link et al, Ecology 99(7), 2018, pages 1547-1551.
What if the range doesn’t start at 1.6M but at 1M? And what if quail shooters shoot the same number they did last year (450,000)? Add in the regulator’s estimated 30% additionally wounded (left behind to die later) and one gets 600,000 killed – a big dent in the quail population.
But what if shooters shoot what they did in 2011, i.e. 678,000? Add in 30% additional collateral damage from those wounded which die soon after, and one gets 881,400 killed quail, almost wiping out the species.
But it could be even worse. Documents obtained through FOI show the regulator believes the wound rate in duck shooting could be 60% or higher (GMA Board Meeting Paper April 2020). So it’s reasonable to believe the wounding rate in quail shooting is more than 30%. If shooters "bag" 600,000 quail, and there is an additional 60% wounded which also then die, there goes the species in a matter of months. Boom.
We know the regulator knows there is little data on quail biology or populations. The only thing “common” about Stubble Quail is the widespread understanding of avian experts and bush folk, that there are very few of these little birds left. We also know GMA knows the risks of shooting during the breeding season. It outlined this itself, in its 2020 Quail Forum presentation. |
Misleading the Minister?
We also note there is not one mention in the regulator’s recommendation, of the fact quail shooting is a known threat to the critically endangered Plains Wanderer for which there is a National Recovery Plan in place.
All things considered, surely, given the “independent” regulator’s function is to ensure sustainability and protect threatened species, it would exercise a precautionary approach and at least restrict the shooting season?
But this is the same “independent” regulator which refuses to conduct stakeholder consultation regarding stubble quail shooting season arrangements. It's the same "independent" regulator which in its recommendation document:
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What are taxpayer funds, funding?
While this recommendation can only be described as gobsmacking, it is sadly not out of line with the regulator’s lackadaisical approach to quail shooting in general.
Documents obtained through FOI show the regulator only started quail shooter bag checks four years ago. Typically a mere 1% of quail shooter bags are checked to monitor what is being shot.
No checks at all are performed prior to quail shooting (as they are prior to duck shooting) for the presence of threatened species.
Forget about requesting copies of minutes of GMA's leadership meetings under FOI to try and make some sense of any of this. The (taxpayer-funded) regulator has advised it stopped taking minutes of its leadership meetings six years ago!
Documents obtained through FOI revealed that senior officials at GMA have been long-time holders of duck and quail shooting licences themselves. Are these the folks making the recommendations, or is the decision stemming from somewhere higher up?
Why the full quail shoot has been recommended in 2025 we can only speculate. Either way it's tragic. |
Ministers must act
We know most Australians cherish their native birdlife and want to protect it for future generations. Most are appalled at the senseless cruelty involved in blasting little birds for "recreation". The risk to critically endangered Australian species takes the concern to a whole new national level.
It's time our governments demonstrated their commitment to preserving our struggling native species. The quail shooting season MUST be stopped.
RVOTDS has engaged the Minister's office on these matters state and federally. You should too.
Please send a respectful but urgent request to your local state and federal MPs - it's their job to represent you - as well as Tanya Plibersek - Federal Minister for the Environment.
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