RADIO-TRACKING REVEALED HOME RANGES OF BLACK-BREASTED BUTTON-QUAIL TURNIX-MELANOGASTER IN REMNANT VINE SCRUB BETWEEN HOOP PINE PLANTATION AND AGRICULTURE

Fifteen Black-breasted Button Quail Turnix melanogaster were trapped a nd banded at three of ten trap stations in remnant vine forest between a young Hoop Pine Araucaria cunninghamii plantation and agricultural land. Eleven individuals were tagged with radio-transmitters. Four ind ividuals yielded sufficient data for home range analysis. Home range e stimates ranged from 2.2 to 6.1 ha. Home ranges overlapped considerabl y (both within and between sexes). One male was found on a nest incuba ting three eggs, located at the junction of two overlapping female ter ritories. Another nest containing two eggs appeared to have been aband oned. Observed roosts were found among the buttress roots of larger tr ees in the vine forest; roosting positions changed across nights. Radi o-tracked birds were found solely within Microphyll Vine Forest and so metimes within lantana thickets within the vine forest. No use was mad e of surrounding agricultural land or young hoop pine plantation, alth ough elsewhere in the region birds have been observed in older hoop pi ne plantations and a closed eucalypt forest with a well developed unde rstorey.