Raising and Breeding Malleefowl at Yongergnow
Yongergnow plays an important role in Malleefowl conservation through captive raising, breeding programs and carefully managed releases into protected habitats across Western Australia.
Captive Raising of Malleefowl
Yongergnow collects selected Malleefowl eggs from the wild and incubates them on-site before raising the chicks in a protected environment.
Young birds remain in care until they are large enough to be safely banded and have a significantly higher chance of survival than newly hatched chicks in the wild.
All releases are undertaken with approval from the Department of Parks and Wildlife and occur in predator-controlled habitats.
While natural chick survival rates are estimated at only 1–2%, survival rates through Yongergnow’s captive raising program have ranged between 60% and 80%.
Captive Breeding Success
In the 2015–16 breeding season, Yongergnow's resident Malleefowl pair Happy and Rhea became the first birds at the centre to successfully maintain an active mound and produce chicks.
Their first chick hatched in November 2015, followed by another 12 chicks over the following months. Nine of those chicks survived, marking a significant milestone for the breeding program.
In subsequent years, breeding efforts continued with other pairs including Drei and Maggie, further contributing to knowledge and conservation outcomes for the species.
Happy and Rhea — the first breeding pair to successfully hatch chicks at Yongergnow.
Release Program
13+
Malleefowl successfully released into protected habitat since 2011.
60–80%
Average chick survival rate through Yongergnow conservation projects.
4 Locations
Birds released at Wadderin Sanctuary, Tieline Reserve, Badja Station and Whiteman Park.
Maggie — a Yongergnow-raised Malleefowl chick.
Bird Survival at Yongergnow
Between 2010 and 2016, a total of 69 Malleefowl eggs were either incubated or produced through breeding programs at Yongergnow.
- 31 eggs were unfertilised or unviable.
- 38 chicks successfully hatched.
- 13 birds were successfully released into the wild.
- Survival outcomes continue to provide valuable information for conservation efforts.
The program helps improve understanding of Malleefowl breeding biology while contributing directly to recovery efforts for this vulnerable Australian species.