Help Albert's Lyrebird

Meet Albert the Lyrebird, our project mascot.
Albert is no ordinary bird. He’s rare, elusive and clever and has links to royalty.
He and his friends are seldom sighted, but you can hear their calls echo around the valleys they live in. They delight people with their ability to mimic calls of other birds as well as their own distinctive “gronk”. Hear Albert's sound here (link on the right).
Albert’s Lyrebird was named after Prince Albert (1819 -1861 and pictured) who was married to Queen Victoria.

Albert also has famous relatives, his cousin is the more common and more widely distributed Superb Lyrebird that features on the Australian 10 cent coin (see below) and is found from south east Queensland to southern Victoria.

But Albert's future isn't so bright, he's been hunted for food and tail feathers in the past and his home has also suffered.
Albert is listed as a threatened species. In the year 2000, the number of breeding birds in Australia was estimated at 3,500 and declining.
Albert needs our help

Extensive historical clearing of rainforest and wet eucalypt forests has seriously reduced the range of Albert’s Lyrebird. The species is also threatened by:
- low numbers
- predation by foxes
- weeds such as Lantana, which grow in forests disturbed by logging, clearing or storms.
Below: The exotic scrambling shrubs in the foreground, known as Lantana, fill forest gaps and interrupt regrowth, suppressing regenerating natives.

Below: This gully was choked with Lantana 15 years ago. Now lyrebirds are sighted here and Pouched Frogs chorus every time it rains.

Increasing habitat area, making landscape connections and improving habitat condition will allow lyrebirds to set up new territories and hopefully reverse the population decline.
Below: The orange area represents the small pocket of habitat that Albert calls home on the border of QLD and NSW.

Find out more about Albert’s Lyrebird by clicking here.
How can we help Albert?
Your generous support will provide funds to enable Wilsons Creek Huonbrook Landcare to regenerate bush sites that are home to Albert’s Lyrebird and other rainforest flora and fauna (read more about our habitat below).
Trained and experienced bush regenerators will work with landholders and volunteers to carefully clear weeds without damaging native species. Native seedlings and saplings will develop and the recovery of sites will be accelerated when competition from weeds is managed or removed.
Help recover our precious rainforest
Many people in Wilsons Creek and Huonbrook are lucky to have backyard forests that provide him with the habitat he needs – trees, fallen logs and vegetation for shelter, courtship and territorial display, leaf litter that hosts insects and other invertebrates for food, and tree stumps, rocks and cliff crevices well-shaded by the forest canopy for nest sites.
Like Albert’s Lyrebird, many of the fauna species sharing our rainforest and wet eucalypt habitats are listed as threatened species. They include the fruit-doves that feast in the rainforest canopy - Rose-crowned Fruit-dove, Wompoo Fruit-dove and Superb Fruit-dove. The curious Pouched Frog lives and breeds in the leaf litter of the forest floor while the Red-legged Pademelon shelters in dense forest understorey. Eucalypts favoured by the Koala also develop hollows for nesting and roosting hollows. At night, we often hear the bomb-whistle call of the Sooty Owl.
With 19 threatened flora species also recorded from our valleys – including the iconic bush tucker Smooth Davidsons Plum – the task of recognising and describing our very high biodiversity conservation values becomes a very big one.
How The Funds Will Be Used
This is our proposed budget:

If we are lucky enough to exceed our target, we will be able to add more work sites.
The Challenges
Albert's Sidekick
Whether you are a member of our community or a visitor, Albert will call out especially for you any time you pass through his valleys.
Albert's Friend
You get to be what everyone wants to be... Albert’s friend. You will also receive a special mention on our Facebook page for your fantastic gesture of support for the restoration of habitat for Albert and other wildlife habitat.
Albert’s Defender
As a dedicated protector of Albert, we’ll provide you with a high quality professional recording of his Lyrebird call (courtesy of Naturesound). You can listen to his unique call and mimicking and imagine yourself living in his patch of rainforest any time you want.
Albert’s Bestie
Albert will mail you a personalised thank you card and give you access to a copy of his unique call. These modest gifts will help remind you of the great contribution you have made to rainforest conservation.
Albert's Hero
As Albert's hero, you get an exclusive invitation to join Landcare events around Albert's home. We’ll be sure to give you a good time as a guest of honour and highly valued project supporter. Plus you'll get access to Albert's call and a thank you card made just for you.
Albert's Family
As Albert's Family, you and other new family members will be invited to a special BBQ function held near Albert's habitat in your honour. Also, get an open invitation to other Landcare events, receive a copy of Albert's call and best of all, a card from Albert to treasure.