Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary

The range and quality of habitats across Newhaven protect a stunning diversity of arid zone birdlife. In the north, the piping calls of Grey Shrike Thrush and Pied Butcher Birds echo in the gorges of Newhaven’s rugged quartzite ranges, while the trill calls of the Dusky Grasswren or the Spinifex Bird are often heard on the edge of the ranges. Further south, Princess Parrots grace the woodlands on their nomadic desert flights. Other arid zone specialist species include the Banded Whiteface, Rufus-crowned Emu-wren, Slaty-backed Thornbill, Grey Honeyeater and the Redthroat.

The mammal fauna of Newhaven is also exceptional. The MacDonnell Ranges race of the Black-footed Rock-wallaby (Petrogale lateralis ssp), which is now absent from Uluru and Kata Tjuta and declining elsewhere, is still present on the Quartzite ranges of Newhaven. Other threatened mammals include a significant population of the Brush-tailed Mulgara, the Southern Marsupial Mole and a range of native rodents and small marsupials such as the carnivorous Fat-tailed False Antechinus. The Greater Bilby is possibly still present at Newhaven, which also lies within the former range of at least two other endangered mammals which AWC plans to reintroduce: the Burrowing Bettong and the Mala.

The reptile fauna features Australia’s smallest goanna – the diminutive Short-tailed Pygmy Monitor - and our largest goanna - the massive Perentie - within a rich reptile fauna of 75 species. Of particular note, Newhaven protects one of the largest known populations of the nationally vulnerable Great Desert Skink.

Populations of many small mammals, particularly the native rodents, will “boom” during the wetter years. During these wetter seasons, the property is adorned by a network of ephemeral lakes which become breeding sites for migratory birds as well as species such as the burrowing frogs that have been lying dormant under the sand waiting for rain.