1) Family name: Ploceidae
2) Scientific name: Erythrura gouldiae
3) English name: Gouldian Finch
4) Subspecies survival status: Endangered (both the range and abundance of this species have declined greatly.  Populations that remain appear to be suffering excessively high mortality.  The decline has been documented over the lest two decades but may have been occurring for longer.  By proposed new ICUN criteria categorized as Endangered [possibly <500, population possibly declining >10% pre generation for past 2 generations, decline may represent a crash with >50% reduction in last 10 to 20 years]).
5) Former distribution:.  Patchily across northern Australia, in north-west Queensland, the northern Territory and the Kimberley Region of Western Australia.
6) Current distribution: In the Northern Territory and Western Australia it is now found reliably only at a few sites between the west Kimberley Region and the Kakadu Stage III.  There is also a small population in central north Queensland.
7) Habitat: Breeding confined to open woodland with a grassy under storey.  In the west of the Northern Territory breeds on rocky slopes dominated by Snappy Gum Eucalyptus brevifolia; further east Northern Territory Salmon Gum E.tintinnans woodland is used.  IN the non-breeding season it occurs in a wide variety of woodland habitats.
8) Reasons for decline: Infection with a parasitic mire Sterno stoma tracheacolum (speculative), species-specific disease (speculative), inappropriate fire regime affecting food supply (speculative), burning of suitable nest trees (speculative), grazing by cattle (speculative), trapping for the bird trade (speculative), alteration of habitat and disturbance by mining (speculative).  The cause of the decline is unknown.  The speed of the decline is documented in the last two decades is not consistent with any of the reasons suggested except an epidemic from an unknown disease.  However if the decline has been gradual over a longer period, but has only been noticed recently, then any of the proposed effects except trapping could have been responsible.  Infection with the parasitic mite and inappropriate fire regimes appear to be preventing recovery of the species.  Destruction of nest trees by fire may have prevented breeding at several sites where the species formerly occurred.  Through large numbers of birds were caught for the bird trade, it is unlikely to have been a major cause of the decline.  There is no evidence that cattle grazing is currently affecting the species but information is lacking for the early wet season.
9) Conservation reserves on which subspecies occurs: Kakadu National Park, Nitmiluk National Park, Keep River National Park, Gregory National Park, Drysdale River National Park, Bungle Bungle National Park, Geikie Gorge National Park.
10) Public land on which subspecies occurs: Pastoral leasehold land, mining leases.
11) Other land on which subspecies occurs: Aboriginal land, private pastoral properties.
12) Is knowledge about subspecies adequate for objectives and actions to be defined accurately?  No.  a) Further work is needed on the effects of the parasitic mite and its disruption in populations other than those in the Norther Territory.  b) The reason for the high rate at which marked birds disappear from the population must be determined, whether it be mortality of dispersal.  c) Nesting sites in other parts of the species’ range must be found and their conservation status assessed, particularly in central northern Queensland and the Kimberley District of Western Australia.  d) Effects of fire on breeding habitat must be determined, both on food supply and the availability of suitable trees for nesting.  e) Movements and ecology in the non-breeding season need to be determined.  f) Genetic structure of wild populations should be compared across regions and with aviary birds.
13) Recovery plan objectives: a) To determine the reasons for decline.  b) To produce and implement a management plan for future conservation of the species.
14) Actions already initiated: a) From 198601991 a detailed study on the breeding ecology has been undertaken by the Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory at four sites in the Northern Territory, with funding from the World Wild Fund for Nature (Australia).  b) Studies are continuing on the biology, demography and parasitology of the species.  c) Billiton Gold Australia, a company wishing to mine part of the breeding site at Yinberrie Hills, has funded surveys of Gouldian Finches in north-west Western Australia and in the Northern Territory.
15) Actions required: a) Give full protection to known large breeding colonies.  b) Continue study of the effects of the parasitic mite on demography of finch populations.  c) If deemed necessary, treat wild finch populations for parasitic infections and continue monitoring.  d) Study the effects of fire on breeding habitat.  e) Survey the size and health of populations in Western Australia and Queensland, and assess the conservation status of breeding sites.  f) Study the ecological requirements in the non-breeding season.  g) Establish, with participation from Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia, a Gouldian Finch Recovery Team and prepare a Recovery Plan for the species throughout its range.
16) Organizations responsible for conservation os subspecies: Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory/Sonia Tidemann, Queensland National Parks ad Wildlife Service, Western Australian Department of Conservation and Land Management.
17) Other organizations and individuals involved: World Wild Fund for Nature (Australia).
18) Can the recovery plan be carried out with existing resources? No.
Remarks - The species breeds readily in captivity and there are large holdings in aviculture both in Australia and abroad.