Skip to content
Yongergnow Malleefowl Centre
  • Home
  • About
    • The Centre
    • Café
    • Our Team
    • History of Yongergnow
  • Visitors Information
    • Opening hours
  • Yongergnow’s Role In Conservation
    • The Malleefowl
    • Aviaries and Sanctuary
    • Education and Raising Awareness
    • Bird and fauna surveys
  • Get Involved
    • Donate
    • Become a Member
    • Volunteer
    • Sponsors & Partners
    • Report Malleefowl Sighting
  • News
  • Contact Us

The Malleefowl

The Malleefowl

Malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata) are large ground dwelling birds somewhat larger than a domestic hen. They belong to a family of 22 bird species known as “megapodes”(meaning big feet). Described as a ground dwelling bird, Malleefowl will take flight to roost in trees overnight and to escape immediate danger.

Malleefowl are unique to the arid and semi-arid regions of Australia. Megapode habitat is generally described as high rainfall tropical/subtropical (east and north coasts of Australia, New Guinea, Philippines, Indonesia and Western Pacific/Southern Indian Islands) however the Malleefowl differs from other megapodes as a species of the lower rainfall Southern Australian landscapes.

Once common, their numbers have seriously declined over the last 100 years. Malleefowl are classified as “fauna that is rare or likely to become extinct” under the Western Australian Wildlife Conservation Act 1950-91. Nationally, the Malleefowl is listed as a threatened species in need of national conservation efforts (National Recovery Plan for Malleefowl, Dr Joe Benshemesh 2000).

Other common names include:- malleehen; mallee fowl, incubator bird, native pheasant; bush chook and Aboriginal names: gnow (naw, or ngow-o); lowan  (low, or loan, Lawani);  Nganamara

The malleefowl’s very distinctive nest or mound.

The Malleefowl Mound

Raising & Breeding Malleefowl at Yongergnow

Threats to the Malleefowl and Mallee

to the Malleefowl and Mallee

OPENING HOURS

Monday: CLOSED
Tuesday: 9am to 4pm
Wednesday: 9am to 4pm
Thursday: 9am to 4pm
Friday: 9am to 4pm
Saturday: 9am to 4pm
Sunday: CLOSED

Lot 260 Jaekel St, Ongerup WA 6336
Phone (08) 9828 2325
Fax (08) 9828 2326
Email: visitor@yongergnow.com.au

© Yongergnow 2017

The creation of this website was proudly sponsored by Great Southern Development Commission and Regional Development Australia
Site design by Alan Thompson / Warped Time Productions
Theme by Colorlib Powered by WordPress
  • Home
  • About
  • Visitors Information
  • Yongergnow’s Role In Conservation
  • Get Involved
  • News
  • Contact Us