Further assistance for noisy scrub-bird recovery plan

Efforts to save Western Australia's rarest bird - the noisy scrub-bird - have received a further $47,000 funding.

Environment Minister Jim McGinty said the Federal Government had provided the funds to the Department of Conservation and Land Management for a recovery plan for the bird as part of $1.2 million allocated to Western Australia under the Commonwealth's endangered species program. 

"Fewer than 1,000 noisy scrub-birds are thought to exist in the wild," Mr McGinty said. 

"When the bird was rediscovered in 1961 after being presumed extinct, there were less than 100 scrub-birds left in a colony 40 kilometres east of Albany." 

Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve was created to protect the birds' habitat. 

"New colonies have since been established by natural spread and by CALM releasing birds at new sites," Mr McGinty said.

"Measures by CALM to manage bushfires have also been important in conserving the birds' habitat." 

In 1991, the noisy scrub-bird recovery team was set up with representatives from CALM, the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, CSIRO, the Shire of Albany and volunteers. 

"Western Australia has 40 per cent of Australia's endangered species and we must do everything we can to protect them," Mr McGinty said. 

"CALM has pioneered broadscale methods for fox control and is already implementing 10 recovery plans for endangered species." 

During a visit to Perth earlier this week, Federal Environment Minister Ros Kelly congratulated the Western Australian Government for its trail-blazing efforts in endangered species work.