Male Richmond birdwing butterfly (Ornithoptera richmondia)
Photo © Jennifer Broomhall

Aims

The Richmond Birdwing Conservation Network (RBCN) is an affiliation of individuals, groups and organisations dedicated to the conservation of the Richmond birdwing butterfly (Ornithoptera richmondia) and its host plants, the Richmond birdwing vine (Pararistolochia praevenosa) and mountain aristolochia (P. laheyana). The RBCN strives to achieve this aim through establishing vine refuges, as well as creating awareness and support for conservation in the broader community.

The Network partners with other like-minded organisations and provides members with scientific-based information to cultivate and care for birdwing vines.

Conservation Volunteers Australia planting birdwing vines which will hopefully attract the birdwing butterfly back to Brisbane's western suburbs. Photo © Greg Siepen

Ongoing Activities

Community workshops and field days

• Restoring Richmond birdwing habitats
• Supporting scientific research
• Hands-on school projects
• Creating flagship corridors by planting vines
• Educational publications
• Removing Dutchman’s pipe vines

Flagship Corridors

Several sites and wildlife corridors have been identified in south-eastern Queensland that are vitally important to the survival of the Richmond birdwing vine and butterfly.  These sites are in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, western suburbs of Brisbane and Currumbin area of the Gold Coast.  Sites in northern NSW have yet to be determined.

Host vine, Pararistolochia praevenosa
Photo © Jenny Thynne

Areas will be cleared of weeds, sometimes with the assistance of Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA), and groups of up to 30 vines will be planted and maintained at each site.

Captive Rearing and Release Project

The Network is partnering with the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection to carry out experimental field trials to overcome in-breeding depression.  Critical breeding work as part of this project is being carried out at David Fleay Wildlife Park.  Successful first releases have been made in the Cootharaba area, and two other experimental sites are now active.  Future monitoring is needed to determine if butterfly populations become established at these sites. 

Pupae at David Fleay Wildlife Park
Photo © Jenny Thynne

School Projects

Richmond birdwing vine trellises have been erected at two schools in the western suburbs of Brisbane.  Two more are planned for the Sunshine Coast hinterland.  Teachers' notes for conducting experiments are being designed, and teacher workshops will be held later in 2011. Email us to find out more about school trellises.

Get Involved

To get involved visit the RBCN website.

Publications

• Pyper, W. (2001). Changing habitat.  Ecos 106:  22-25
• Pyper, W. (2002). Butterfly effect: rethinking butterfly conservation. Wildlife Australia Magazine 39(4): 14-17.
• Sands, D. (1996). Birdwing blues. Wildlife Australia Magazine 33(1): 7-9.
• Sands, D.P.A. and Scott, S. (eds) (2002). Conservation of Birdwing Butterflies. SciComEd Pty Ltd, Marsden, Qld.
• Sands, D. (2008). Conserving the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly over two decades: Where to next?  Ecological Management & Restoration 9(1): 4-16

Newsletters are generally published four times per year and previous issues are available on the RBCN website.

News

• Richmond Birdwing Conservation Network Newsletter (or in pdf) - December 2012
• A Green Jewel calls Redlands home once again - October 2011

Information and Resources

• Richmond Birdwing Butterfly Species Profile
• Richmond Birdwing Conservation Network website
• Richmond Birdwing Butterfly - DEHP species profile
• Birdwings' New Home. Children's book by Lynette Reilly and Lois Hughes.

For more information on WPSQ's other projects, email or phone +61 (7) 3221 0194.