We used GPS telemetry to investigate space use and movements of 15 grey goshawks (Tachyspiza novaehollandiae) in south-east Tasmania, Australia, between 2021 and 2023. The number of nests per territory in 73 active breeding territories was also determined and inter-nest distances were calculated. Mean minimum convex polygon (MCP) non-breeding season home range size of female goshawks was more than twice as large as the mean breeding season home range size. Home range size of males was similar in the breeding and non-breeding seasons and the MCP estimates suggest their home ranges are much larger than that of females. Tracked goshawks were range residents throughout the year with kernel density (KD) core areas centred on nest trees and preferred foraging locations. Movement patterns were highly recursive although some individuals occasionally undertook long range excursions away from their nests. Mean number of nests per goshawk breeding territory was 2.0 (range 1–6). Median distance between nests in breeding territories was 78.0 m (range 1.8–915.0 m). We recommend that prescriptive nest reserves for grey goshawks be implemented based on our 50%, 75% and 95% KD core area estimates for females in the breeding season. We provide a conceptualised example of a nest reserve design.

Rocky landforms offer a complex and persistent habitat for a diverse range of fauna. The Mount Isa Inlier bioregion of north-west Queensland is dominated by such landforms, but the faunal assemblage inhabiting them has received scant attention. We conducted a 13-month camera trap study at 60 camera stations, totalling 21,965 camera days, aimed at detecting the faunal assemblage present on these landforms. We categorised each identified taxon as either a rocky landform specialist or non-specialist. We identified 15 specialists and implemented a multiseason community occupancy model for 12 of these to assess how they utilised rocky landforms over the course of a year, and according to a suite of environmental characteristics. Rates of use of rocky landforms increased in November and decreased in April. At the community level we found higher rates of use of south and west slopes than north slopes, higher rates of use of rocky hills than jumpups, and higher rates of use of metamorphic and igneous geologies than sedimentary ones. We provide the first evidence of this unique community’s use of the landscape through both space and time and highlight broad site characteristics of candidate areas in which to focus future management and conservation initiatives.

The capacity for dispersal is an important determinant of a species’ resilience to decline from the serial extinction of local populations. Dispersal of animals can be difficult to measure directly but population genetics provides a powerful tool for identifying dispersal limits. This study used microsatellite markers to investigate population structuring of the white-fronted chat (Epthianura albifrons) across its geographic range. Because the species is threatened in the north-eastern part of its range, the primary aim was to identify barriers limiting dispersal. Isolation by distance was not apparent across the 3000 km mainland range but populations on three oceanic islands, and two mainland sites surrounded by urbanisation, were genetically distinct from each other and the other mainland sites. The small populations that were surrounded by urbanised land had significantly lower genetic diversity (allelic diversity and heterozygosity) than the other mainland populations, with the oceanic island populations showing intermediate levels of diversity. These results suggest that although being a partially nomadic species, which facilitates its dispersal over continuous habitat, the species does not have the flight capacity of some other small passerines and is sensitive to habitat discontinuity. Populations inhabiting small areas of coastal saltmarsh in areas with large human populations are likely to face increasing threat levels.