Growing Knowledge, Growing Habitat

Written by Alice Blackwood

The Roadshow was delivered by BirdLife Australia’s woodland birds’ team – Mick Roderick, Kristy Peters and Beau Meney. Together, we shared the latest science and on-ground experience supporting the recovery of the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater, as well as the important role native mistletoes play in healthy woodland ecosystems.

Why Mistletoe Matters

Mistletoe is far more than a Christmas symbol! Across the Australian mainland in woodlands, forests and shrublands, mistletoe is a keystone resource providing a wide range of fauna species with abundant fruit and nectar, nutritious leaves, secure nesting sites and a steady stream of enriched litter. Its flowers and fruits are critical seasonal food sources for specialist feeders like Regent Honeyeaters and Painted Honeyeaters, while its dense structure offers valuable shelter and nesting habitat.

In landscapes heavily affected by fire, drought, flood and ongoing decline of mature host trees, restoring mistletoe can help fast-track ecological recovery. The Roadshow showcased case studies demonstrating how strategic propagation can bring these vital resources back into areas where they have been lost.

What We Explored Together

Across each event participants enjoyed a blend of indoor talks and outdoor field sessions.

Key topics included:

• Regent Honeyeater ecology & conservation – understanding why this species is critically endangered and how improved habitat, especially mistletoe resources, supports their recovery.

• Painted Honeyeater ecology & conservation – a bonus topic at the Narromine TSR workshop was the importance of Weeping Myall Woodland EEC, especially where it contains healthy mistletoe populations which forms vital breeding areas for this species.

• Mistletoe’s ecological role & success stories – real-world examples showing how mistletoe enriches biodiversity and case studies from BirdLife’s propagation trials.

• The role of the Mistletoebird – how this specialist frugivore concentrates and exploits mistletoe where it already occurs, while other bird and mammal species are likely responsible for moving mistletoe seeds over longer distances across the landscape. At some field sites we were lucky enough to watch Mistletoebirds energetically moving about mistletoe clumps searching for ripe fruit.

• Local mistletoe species identification – five species were observed across the various project sites including four Amyema species (Box, Needle-leaf, Fleshy and Grey Mistletoe) and one species from the Viscaceae family (Wilga Jointed Mistletoe, growing in (you guessed it!) Wilga trees). At a couple of locations, we even saw Fleshy Mistletoe growing as an epiparasite on Box Mistletoe!

• Hands-on propagation techniques – practical demonstrations on selecting ripe fruit, choosing a compatible host, placing mistletoe seeds onto suitable host branches and tips for monitoring germination.

Questions and discussions throughout the week were lively and practical, with many landholders’ keen to trial propagation on their own properties or incorporate mistletoe considerations into broader woodland restoration plans.

Community Momentum & Collaboration

One of the strongest outcomes of the Roadshow was the collaboration it fostered across the region. Staff from Landcare, Mid-Western Regional Council, Local Land Services, NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water played a crucial role in hosting and promoting events, while attendees shared local knowledge, property experiences and new ideas for supporting woodland birds at a landscape scale.

The interest shown across the six events demonstrates just how many people care deeply about woodland health and the future of Regent Honeyeaters. It also highlighted the growing momentum for restoring mistletoe as an important part of that story.

Thank You

A huge thank you to everyone who attended and contributed questions, enthusiasm and local insights. We also acknowledge the financial and in-kind support of all the various partner organisations who helped make the Roadshow a success. Special thanks to our project collaborators and to those assisting ongoing propagation trials and monitoring efforts.

What’s Next?

If you’re interested in trialling mistletoe propagation or want advice about creating better habitat for woodland birds on your property, BirdLife Australia (email: woodlandbirds@birdlife.org.au) and your local Landcare network are here to help. Together, we can help restore the rich woodland resources that species like the Regent Honeyeater rely on.

Stay tuned—depending on interest, we hope to offer follow-up workshops and field days in 2026.

Below are some other important links and resources:

Mistletoe Propagation Manual

Birds on Farms - BirdLife Australia

Threatened ecological communities on farms | NSW Government

Homepage | BCT

About • Box-Gum Grassy Woodlands

Sustainable Farms: Healthy farmers, Healthy farms, Healthy profits