North West Island Feral Fowl

North West Island had a population of feral chicken which may have been introduced onto the island by British Settlers in 1788.  While it is possible there have been rare injections of new blood from Australia or other places in the early years it seems likely that these North West Island Feral Fowl have been bred in isolation for over two hundred years under natural selection pressures. They have survived on an island that has no natural water sources and alongside natural and introduced predators. 

In 1965 Dr McBride and a small team visited the island and undertook a detailed field study and survey of the North West Island Feral Fowl (NWIFF). They could be observed at night roosting in the trees. They could also be seen nesting among the entanglement of Pisonia nd Fig tree roots. Dr McBride described them as looking like some of his own bantams.

Although there was no permanent source of fresh water on the Island, there was a shallow depression towards the north-west end that would temporarily hold wate rand tree hollows maintained small quantities of water for at least several months.  Birds were frequently observed in the early morning drinking water droplets formed by dew on the leaves of Birds Beak grass (Thuarea involuta) growing on the Island foreshores. The fowl devvised a method to harvest moisture when the opportunity presented. 

The field study survey involved long hours seated in hessian hides observing the birds. Their territories were mapped and the birds counted within their territories. THere were approximately 1500 NWIFF and 250 feral cats counted. A sample group of NWIFF were taken to the Australian mainly in connection with research about their origins and used for many later studies.

In due course the island became a national park and the feral fowl populations was completedly removed. After that time, the birds held in the hands of a very small number of breeders on mainland Australia have become the last remaining stock of the original North West Island Fowl. These birds are of heritage and conservation value due to the pressures under which they have existed for so any years. 

Thanks to John Urane for providing information and photos related to the NWIFF.