Pre-harvest Fauna Surveys for 15 Coupes (Package 16), East Gippsland, Victoria

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1 Final Report Pre-harvest Fauna Surveys for 15 Coupes (Package 16), East Gippsland, Victoria Prepared for VicForests June 2015 Ecology and Heritage Partners Pty Ltd MELBOURNE: 292 Mt Alexander Road Ascot Vale VIC 3056 GEELONG: PO Box 8048 Newtown VIC 3220 BRISBANE: Level 22, 127 Creek Street Brisbane QLD 4000 ADELAIDE: 8 Greenhill Road Wayville SA 5034 CANBERRA: PO Box 6067, O Connor ACT (03)

2 DOCUMENT CONTROL Assessment Pre-harvest Fauna Surveys for 15 Coupes (Package 16) Address East Gippsland, Victoria Project number 6847 Project manager Report reviewer Other EHP staff Mapping File name Client Bioregion CMA Council 6847_EHP_Pre-harvest Fauna Surveys_ VicForests East Gippsland Uplands, East Gippsland Lowlands, Highlands Far East East Gippsland East Gippsland Shire Report versions Comments Comments updated by Date submitted Draft June 2015 Final 3 June 2015 Acknowledgements We thank the following people for their contribution to the project: The Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning for access to ecological databases and literature. Copyright Ecology and Heritage Partners Pty Ltd This document is subject to copyright and may only be used for the purposes for which it was commissioned. The use or copying of this document in whole or part without the permission of Ecology and Heritage Partners Pty Ltd is an infringement of copyright. Disclaimer Although Ecology and Heritage Partners Pty Ltd have taken all the necessary steps to ensure that an accurate document has been prepared, the company accepts no liability for any damages or loss incurred as a result of reliance placed upon the report and its contents. Pre-harvest Fauna Surveys of 15 Coupes in East Gippsland, Victoria 2

3 CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION Background Scope and Objectives Study Area METHODS Nomenclature Desktop Assessment Field Surveys Coupe Survey Requirements Remote Camera Surveys Spotlight Surveys Call Playback Walking s Active Riparian Searches Opportunistic Sightings Permits RESULTS Remote Camera Results Spotlight, Call Playback and Active Riparian Search Survey Results Walking (Daytime) Survey Results Incidental Significant Fauna Sightings Summary of Significant Species Recorded REFERENCES APPENDICES Appendix 1 Recorded Fauna Appendix 2 Remote camera photos Pre-harvest Fauna Surveys of 15 Coupes in East Gippsland, Victoria 3

4 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background Ecology and Heritage Partners Pty Ltd was engaged by VicForests to undertake Pre-harvest Fauna Surveys for 15 Coupes (Package 16) in East Gippsland, Victoria. 1.2 Scope and Objectives The objectives of the project were to: Undertake fauna surveys as per VicForests Pre-Harvest Fauna Survey Procedure v. 1.6; Document all recorded fauna, methodology and survey conditions; and, Prepare reports for VicForests detailing the results of the surveys. 1.3 Study Area The fifteen coupes are located in the East Gippsland Forest Management Area (FMA), comprising: Orbost: 2 coupes o o Smelly Cat Fuzzy Mouse Cann River: 4 coupes o o o o Tudor Tudor RDC Hanover New Guinea Bendoc: 9 coupes o o o o o o o o o Too Many Oranges Crawfords Track Browny McGrath Pigeon Six and Out Cream Bun Panama Long Island Pre-harvest Fauna Surveys of 15 Coupes in East Gippsland, Victoria 4

5 2 METHODS 2.1 Nomenclature The names of aquatic and terrestrial vertebrate and invertebrate fauna follow the VBA (DELWP 2015). 2.2 Desktop Assessment Relevant literature, online-resources and numerous databases were reviewed to provide an assessment of fauna values associated with the study area. The following information sources were reviewed: The VBA (DELWP 2015) and Atlas of Victorian Wildlife (AVW) (Viridans 2014b) for previously documented fauna records within the project locality; and, Relevant biological and ecological literature pertaining to the target species. 2.3 Field Surveys Coupe Survey Requirements All field surveys were undertaken by and from Ecology and Heritage Partners Pty Ltd, in accordance with VicForests Pre-Harvest Fauna Survey Procedure (v. 1.6). The survey requirements for the current project were supplied by VicForests: Plate 1. VicForests survey requirements for the current project. Pre-harvest Fauna Surveys of 15 Coupes in East Gippsland, Victoria 5

6 2.3.2 Remote Camera Surveys Infra-red motion detector cameras targeting Spot-tailed Quoll Dasyurus maculatus maculatus and Longfooted Potoroo Potorous longipipes were strategically placed within suitable habitat for a minimum of 21 days. Cameras were positioned in areas of suitable micro-habitat for the target species and the focal point of the cameras was baited with species appropriate mixtures. Spot-tailed Quoll baits of chicken, sardines and tuna oil were secured to logs or trees. Long-footed Potoroo baits of a mixture of peanut butter, rolled oats, vanilla essence, pistachio nuts and honey, were caged in a plastic enclosure and pegged to the ground, and then sprayed with a vanilla essence solution. Cameras were placed so that the bait was in the focal point of the camera Spotlight Surveys Two experienced personnel used 50 watt spotlights to survey for eye-shine or other evidence of fauna at night. Following detection binoculars were used to identify the animal to species level. s of one kilometre were completed within each coupe or along coupe boundaries where roads or tracks were present. Spotlight transects were shared, as directed by the survey requirements, where coupes were located adjacent to each other. All spotlight transects were a minimum of one hour in duration. locations and sightings of fauna were recorded by GPS. Weather and environmental conditions (e.g. temperature, wind speed, cloud cover and moon phase) was recorded at the commencement of each transect Call Playback Call play-back was undertaken before each spotlighting transect. Call playback methodology followed the suggested VicForests procedures, using the full playback sequence for Powerful Owl Ninox stenua, Sooty Owl Tyto tenebricosa, Masked Owl Tyto navaehollandiae and Yellow-bellied Glider Petaurus australis. Calls were broadcast towards the centre of coupes through a hand held megaphone (10- watt) to attract animals to the survey site or to elicit a call response. Two observers listened and looked for animals throughout the call playback period, and for at least 15 minutes following the call playback sequence. All species observed were recorded using GPS and bearing, and distance estimates were recorded for call responses. In areas of suitable habitat, call playback for frogs was undertaken (between 2-5 cycles of an average call), followed by a 5 minute period of quiet listening. Target species included Large Brown Tree Frog Litoria littlejohnii, Giant Burrowing Frog Heleioporus australiacus and Southern Barred Frog Mixophyes iteratus Walking s Walking transects during the day involved a strip transect of 400m x 50m following the VicForests procedures. Each transect was traversed by two observers who listened for vocalisations and used binoculars to scan for birds and mammals. The transect areas were searched for other general signs of fauna (Spot-tailed Quoll latrine sites or dens, bones, feathers, fur, scats, pellets, tracks, scratching, diggings and incisions in the bark of trees left by Yellow-bellied Gliders). Pre-harvest Fauna Surveys of 15 Coupes in East Gippsland, Victoria 6

7 2.3.6 Active Riparian Searches Active searches were undertaken at waterways (creeks and drainage lines) in coupes where directed by the VicForests survey requirements. Searches targeted Amphibians and Crayfish, and were conducted by spotlighting at night within suitable habitat types with all species encountered and their life-stages recorded. Weather conditions including temperature, wind speed, cloud cover and humidity were recorded. Active searches of riparian areas also utilised call playback for target frog species, in accordance with the methodology outlined above Opportunistic Sightings Opportunistic sightings of significant species were also recorded. 2.4 Permits Fauna surveys were conducted under the Ecology and Heritage Partners Pty Ltd research permit (# ) issued by DELWP under the Wildlife Act Pre-harvest Fauna Surveys of 15 Coupes in East Gippsland, Victoria 7

8 3 RESULTS A consolidated list of all fauna species recorded during these surveys with scientific names and conservation status is presented in Appendix 1. Photos of significant fauna species recorded on the remote cameras are presented in Appendix Remote Camera Results Table 1. Remote camera results from Orbost District coupes Coupe ID and Name Target Species Date deployed Trap Nights Easting Northing Species Recorded Smelly Cat LFP 28/04/ STQ 28/04/ STQ 28/04/ Long-footed Potoroo, Mountain Brushtail Possum, Bush Rat, Antechinus spp., Sambar Deer, Common Wombat, Black Wallaby, Superb Lyrebird, Wonga Pigeon, Feral Cat. Bush Rat, Mountain Brushtail Possum, Wonga Pigeon (x2), Feral Dog/Dingo, Lace Monitor, Superb Lyrebird, Common Wombat, Feral Cat Mountain Brushtail Possum, Superb Lyrebird, Eastern Yellow Robin, Feral Cat LFP 28/04/ Mountain Brushtail Possum, Black Wallaby, Antechinus spp., Superb Lyrebird Fuzzy Mouse STQ 29/04/ LFP 29/04/ Long-footed Potoroo, Mountain Brushtail Possum, Black Wallaby, Superb Lyrebird, Wonga Pigeon, Feral Cat (x2) Long-footed Potoroo, Mountain Brushtail Possum, Black Wallaby, Bush Rat, Superb Lyrebird, Wonga Pigeon, Grey Butcherbird STQ 29/04/ Feral Cat LFP 29/04/ Long-footed Potoroo, Bush Rat, Black Wallaby, White-browed Scrubwren Notes: Bold indicates significant species; x2 indicates two individuals were identified either by distinctive markings or by multiple individuals being present in the same photograph. Pre-harvest Fauna Surveys of 15 Coupes in East Gippsland, Victoria 8

9 Table 2. Remote camera results from Cann River District coupes Notes: x2 indicates two individuals were identified either by distinctive markings or by multiple individuals being present in Coupe ID an Name Tudor Target Species Date deployed Trap Nights STQ 30/04/ LFP 30/04/ Easting Northing Species Recorded Bush Rat, Antechinus spp. (x2), Mountain Brushtail Possum, Superb Lyrebird, Feral Cat (x2) Long-nosed Bandicoot, Mountain Brushtail Possum, Antechinus spp., Bush Rat (x2), Superb Lyrebird Tudor RDC LFP 29/04/ Long-nosed Bandicoot, Mountain Brushtail Possum, Superb Lyrebird, Wonga Pigeon, Feral Cat (x2) Hanover STQ 29/04/ Feral Cat LFP 29/04/ Long-nosed Bandicoot, Mountain Brushtail Possum, Bush Rat, Superb Lyrebird, Bassian Thrush, Feral Cat New Guinea STQ 29/04/ STQ 29/04/ Long-nosed Bandicoot, Bush Rat (x3), Antechinus spp., Superb Lyrebird, Bassian Thrush Mountain Brushtail Possum, Bush Rat (x2), Common Wombat, White-browed Scrubwren, Eastern Whipbird LFP 29/04/ Long-nosed Bandicoot, Mountain Brushtail Possum, Bush Rat, Antechinus spp. the same photograph. Cameras for Tudor, Tudor RDC and Hanover were combined (four cameras between these three as instructed). Table 3. Remote camera results from Bendoc District coupes Coupe ID an Name Target Species LFP Date deployed Trap Nights 30/04/ Easting Northing Species Recorded Mountain Brushtail Possum (x2), Bush Rat, Antechinus spp. (x2), Common Wombat, Superb Lyrebird, White-browed Scrubwren Too Many Oranges STQ 30/04/ LFP 30/04/ STQ 30/04/ Bush Rat (x2), Superb Lyrebird, Feral Dog/Dingo, Feral Cat Long-Footed Potoroo, Long-nosed Bandicoot, Mountain Brushtail Possum (x2), Bush Rat, Antechinus spp. (x2), Superb Lyrebird, Eastern Whipbird, Whitebrowed Scrubwren Mountain Brushtail Possum (x2), Bush Rat, Antechinus spp., Common Wombat, Superb Lyrebird, Feral Cat Pre-harvest Fauna Surveys of 15 Coupes in East Gippsland, Victoria 9

10 Crawfords Track Browny STQ 30/04/ LFP 30/04/ LFP 30/04/ STQ 30/04/ LFP 30/04/ STQ 30/04/ Mountain Brushtail Possum, Black Wallaby, Grey Shrike-thrush, Feral Cat Mountain Brushtail Possum, Bush Rat, Antechinus spp., Grey Shrike-thrush, White-browed Scrubwren Black Wallaby (x2), Bush Rat, Eastern Yellow Robin, Superb Lyrebird Mountain Brushtail Possum, Black Wallaby, Bush Rat, Antechinus spp., Grey Shrike-thrush, White-browed Scrubwren, Feral Cat Long-nosed Bandicoot, Mountain Brushtail Possum (x2), Black Wallaby, Bush Rat, Superb Lyrebird Long-nosed Bandicoot, Black Wallaby, Common Wombat, Superb Lyrebird McGrath Pigeon LFP 30/04/ Antechinus (x2), Bush Rat STQ 30/04/ LFP 30/04/ Long-nosed Bandicoot, Mountain Brushtail Possum, Bush Rat (x3), Black Wallaby, Antechinus spp., Superb Lyrebird x2, Wonga Pigeon, Feral Cat Mountain Brushtail Possum (x2), Black Wallaby, Bush Rat, Antechinus spp., Superb Lyrebird, Pilotbird STQ 30/04/ Bush Rat Six and Out LFP 30/04/ STQ 30/04/ Mountain Brushtail Possum, Common Wombat, Superb Lyrebird Common Wombat, Black Wallaby, Bush Rat, Antechinus spp., Superb Lyrebird LFP 29/04/ Black Wallaby, Bush Rat, Superb Lyrebird Cream Bun STQ 29/04/ No species recorded. STQ 29/04/ LFP 29/04/ Bush Rat, Antechinus spp., Superb Lyrebird Black Wallaby, Bush Rat (x2), Antechinus spp Panama STQ 1/05/ LFP 1/05/ Long-footed Potoroo, Mountain Brushtail Possum, Common Wombat, Bush Rat (x2), Superb Lyrebird, Feral Cat Long-footed Potoroo, Mountain Brushtail Possum, Bush Rat, Antechinus spp., Superb Lyrebird, Feral Cat STQ 1/05/ Common Wombat, Superb Lyrebird Long Island LFP 1/05/ Long-footed Potoroo (x2), Antechinus spp. LFP 1/05/ Long-footed Potoroo (x2), Mountain Brushtail Possum, Antechinus spp., Superb Lyrebird Notes: Bold indicates significant species; x2 indicates two individuals were identified either by distinctive markings or by multiple individuals being present in the same photograph. Pre-harvest Fauna Surveys of 15 Coupes in East Gippsland, Victoria 10

11 3.2 Spotlight, Call Playback and Active Riparian Search Survey Results Table 4. Weather Conditions and Survey Times for Spotlight, Call Playback and Active Riparian Search Surveys. Coupe ID Coupe Name Date Time Temp. Moon Wind Cloud Orbost District Smelly Cat 28/04/ :00-22:20 5 2/ Fuzzy Mouse 28/04/ :45-18:45 7 2/3 1 0 Cann River District Tudor RDC 29/04/ :50-20: Tudor Spotlight: 18/05/ Hanover Call playback: 20/05/2015 Spotlight: 21:00-22:30 Call playback: 18:50-19:30 8 2/3 1 8 (light fog)* New Guinea 29/04/ :50-22:15 8 2/3 1 4 Bendoc District Too Many Oranges 21/05/ :30-20: (light drizzle) Crawfords Track 19/05/ :30-22: Browny McGrath 19/05/ :40-00: Pigeon Six and Out 19/05/ :30-20: Cream Bun 18/05/15 18:45-20: Panama Long Island 22/05/ :50-21:20 8 1/5 2 7 Notes: Wind uses Beaufort Scale; Temperature in degrees Celsius; Moon = amount full; Cloud cover in Oktas from 1-8. Data for adjacent coupes surveyed in the same spotlight survey have been combined. *Fog was light enough not to impede our ability to spotlight fauna in tree canopies. Table 5. Spotlight, Call Playback and Active Riparian Search Results Orbost District Coupes Coupe ID and Name Feature Easting Northing Species Recorded Start Spotlight Smelly Cat End Spotlight Call Playback Location Whistling Tree Frog Active Riparian Search Common Froglet, Victorian Smooth Froglet, Southern Brown Tree Frog Fuzzy Mouse Start Spotlight End Spotlight Call Playback Location A single Yellow-bellied Glider responded from a tree above the call playback location. Pre-harvest Fauna Surveys of 15 Coupes in East Gippsland, Victoria 11

12 Active Riparian Search No fauna recorded Fauna Mountain Brushtail Possum Notes: Bold indicates significant species. Table 6. Spotlight, Call Playback and Active Riparian Search Results Cann River District Coupes Coupe ID and Name Feature Easting Northing Species Recorded / Notes Start Spotlight End Spotlight Note: spotlight transect extended into the coupe for approx. 400 m between these start and end points to achieve 1 kilometre length Tudor RDC Call Playback Location Active Riparian Search Southern Boobook one bird heard calling from approx metres north of the call playback location No fauna recorded Fauna Greater Glider Fauna Greater Glider Fauna Greater Glider Fauna Greater Glider Fauna Sugar Glider Fauna Greater Glider Start Spotlight Note: spotlight transect was shared between Hanover and Tudor coupes Hanover and Call Playback Location Active Riparian Search Sooty Owl one bird call response to call playback immediately following call playback of Sooty Owl calls. The bird called clearly for approximately five minutes. The bird did not fly in. It was estimated to be calling from approx. 1 kilometre south of the call playback location. No fauna recorded. A dam at / was also searched Southern Brown Tree Frog was recorded. Fauna Greater Glider Fauna Greater Glider Fauna Greater Glider Fauna Greater Glider Fauna Greater Glider Fauna Ringtail Possum Tudor End Spotlight Active Riparian Search Note: spotlight transect was shared between Hanover and Tudor coupes No fauna recorded New Start Spotlight End Spotlight Pre-harvest Fauna Surveys of 15 Coupes in East Gippsland, Victoria 12

13 Guinea Call Playback No response Active Riparian Search No fauna recorded Fauna Greater Glider Fauna Greater Glider Fauna Greater Glider Fauna Greater Glider Fauna Greater Glider Fauna Greater Glider Notes: Bold indicates significant species. Table 7. Spotlight, Call Playback and Active Riparian Search Results Bendoc District Coupes Coupe ID and Name Feature Easting Northing Species Recorded Start Spotlight End Spotlight Call Playback Location Powerful Owl one female bird call response from approx. 100 metres north of the call playback location, approx. two minutes after commencement of call playback. The bird then flew in to the call playback location for several minutes until it was flushed by a Greater Glider landing several metres below it in the same tree. It was heard calling 30 minutes later at approximately the same location from which it was first heard (approx. 100 metres north of the call playback location). Active Riparian Search Common Froglet Too Many Oranges Fauna Greater Glider Fauna Greater Glider Fauna Greater Glider Fauna Greater Glider Fauna Greater Glider Fauna Greater Glider Fauna Greater Glider Fauna Greater Glider Fauna Greater Glider Fauna Greater Glider Fauna Greater Glider Fauna Ringtail Possum Fauna Yellow-bellied Glider Fauna Yellow-bellied Glider Start Spotlight Pre-harvest Fauna Surveys of 15 Coupes in East Gippsland, Victoria 13

14 0009 Crawfords Track End Spotlight Call Playback Location Active Riparian Search Start Spotlight Powerful Owl one male bird call response to call playback approx. 20 minutes after commencement of call playback. The bird called clearly for approximately two minutes. The bird did not fly in. It was estimated to be calling from approx metres south of the call playback location. No permanent streams occur in coupe the drainage line in the east of the coupe did not contain water at the time of the assessment. Several roadside drains containing standing water along the length of the Spotlight were searched instead. Southern Brown Tree Frog was heard calling from approx. 50 metres to the west of the call playback site (outside the Crawfords Track coupe). Note: Spotlight was shared across Browny, McGrath and Pigeon coupes Browny and Call Playback Location Active Riparian Search No response Note: call playback was shared across Browny, McGrath and Pigeon coupes No fauna recorded Fauna Greater Glider Fauna Mountain Brushtail Fauna Greater Glider (x2) McGrath and Active Riparian Search No fauna recorded Fauna Greater Glider Fauna Greater Glider End Spotlight Note: Spotlight was shared across Browny, McGrath and Pigeon coupes. Fauna Greater Glider Pigeon Fauna Greater Glider Fauna Common Ringtail Possum Fauna Mountain Brushtail Possum Fauna Greater Glider Fauna Greater Glider Six and Out Start Spotlight End Spotlight Call Playback Location No response Active Riparian Search No fauna recorded Pre-harvest Fauna Surveys of 15 Coupes in East Gippsland, Victoria 14

15 Fauna Greater Glider Fauna Mountain Brushtail Possum (x2) Fauna Greater Glider (x2) Fauna Greater Glider Fauna Greater Glider Fauna Greater Glider Start Spotlight End Spotlight Call Playback Location At least two Dingo/Feral Dogs heard; approx metres northwest and west of the call playback location respectively Cream Bun Active Riparian Search Common Froglet Fauna Greater Glider (x2) Fauna Greater Glider Fauna Mountain Brushtail Possum Fauna Greater Glider Fauna Common Ringtail Possum Fauna Greater Glider Fauna Common Ringtail Possum (x2) Start Spotlight Note: Spotlight was shared across Panama and Long Island coupes Panama and Active Riparian Search Note: Active Riparian Search shared with Long Island as it was located on the boundary between the two coupes. A reference check for Large Brown Tree Frog was undertaken at the recently-discovered Yalmy Road site, where it was not observed to be calling and not able to be located by spotlighting. No fauna recorded End Spotlight Note: Spotlight went along the northwest edge of both Panama and Long Island coupes and then proceeded southeast down the slope of the Long Island coupe to achieve the 1 kilometre length Long Island Call Playback Location Note: call playback was shared across Panama and Long Island coupes. Two Yellow-bellied Gliders responded to call playback from within the Long Island coupe it s highly likely that these were two of the three Yellow-bellied Gliders recorded within the coupe during the Spotlight. Fauna Yellow-bellied Glider Fauna Yellow-bellied Glider Fauna Yellow-bellied Glider Notes: Bold indicates significant species (DSE 2013). Pre-harvest Fauna Surveys of 15 Coupes in East Gippsland, Victoria 15

16 3.3 Walking (Daytime) Survey Results Table 6. Daytime Results Coupe ID Coupe Name Date Species Recorded / Notes Smelly Cat Fuzzy Mouse Tudor RDC Tudor Hanover 29/04/ /04/2015 Lots of pools along roadside drains contained breeding Victorian Smooth Froglet. Many large, hollow-bearing trees throughout the coupes. Common Froglet, Gang Gang Cockatoo, Southern Boobook, Wonga Pigeon, Eastern Yellow Robin, Silvereye, King Parrot, Superb Lyrebird, Eastern Spinebill, Lewin s Honeyeater, Brown Thornbill, White-throated Treecreeper Streams to the west and east of the Tudor and Hanover coupes were flowing. Many large, hollow-bearing trees throughout the coupes. Brown Thornbill, Superb Lyrebird, White-browed Scrubwren, Pied Currawong, White-throated Treecreeper, Eastern Spinebill New Guinea 29/04/2015 Stream in middle of coupe had a very small flow. Many large, hollow-bearing trees throughout the coupe. Brown Thornbill, Eastern Spinebill, Eastern Yellow Robin Too Many Oranges 21/05/2015 Stream along the western side of the coupe contained running water. Many large, hollow-bearing trees throughout the coupe. Lyrebird, Pilotbird, Laughing Kookaburra, Eastern Whipbird, Pied Currawong, White-browed Scrubwren Crawfords Track 21/05/2015 The only surface water was along roadside drains drainage lines were dry. Many large, hollow-bearing trees throughout the coupe. White-browed Scrubwren, Pied Currawong, Eastern Yellow Robin Browny McGrath Pigeon 30/04/2015 The only surface water was along roadside drains drainage lines were dry. Many large, hollow-bearing trees throughout the coupes. Pilotbird, Pied Currawong, Laughing Kookaburra, Grey Shrikethrush, Wonga Pigeon Six and Out 30/04/ Cream Bun 18/05/15 The only surface water was along roadside drains drainage lines were dry. Many large, hollow-bearing trees throughout the coupe. Pied Currawong, Eastern Yellow Robin, White-browed Scrubwren, Lewin s Honeyeater Stream along the western side of the coupe contained running water. Many large, hollow-bearing trees throughout the coupe. Lyrebird, Brown Thornbill, Grey Shrike-thrush, Bassian Thrush, Crimson Rosella Panama Long Island 01/05/2015 Drainage lines within these coupes were dry. Several pools of standing water occurred along the Yalmy Road, but these did not appear likely to be as permanent as nearby locations where Large Brown tree Frog had been recently recorded. Many large, hollow-bearing trees throughout the coupes. Common Froglet, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Superb Lyrebird, Eastern Yellow Robin. Note: Daytime transects were undertaken in the area between the closest road and camera locations for each coupe in all cases this achieved the minimum survey requirements. Pre-harvest Fauna Surveys of 15 Coupes in East Gippsland, Victoria 16

17 3.4 Incidental Significant Fauna Sightings A pair of Sooty Owls were seen at Frosty Hollow camp site on 20 May 2015 at around midnight. Due to the proximity to the Hensleigh Creek Road coupes, where a single Sooty Owl responded to call playback earlier in the night, it is likely that one of these birds was the bird recorded at the call playback survey for Hanover and Tudor coupes (combined call playback survey). A single Long-footed Potoroo was seen on the Yalmy Road at 19:30 on 22 May 2015 at East/North / The animal was seen on the road as we were driving north to the Large Brown Tree Frog reference site and ran off the road to the east. 3.5 Summary of Significant Species Recorded Long-footed Potoroo were recorded at five coupes: Smelly Cat and Fuzzy Mouse (Orbost District); and, Too Many Oranges, Panama and Long Island (Bendoc District). Powerful Owl were recorded at two coupes ( Too Many Oranges and Crawfords Track, Bendoc District). A Sooty Owl was recorded in the call playback survey for Hanover and Tudor coupes (combined call playback survey) (Cann River District). A Lace Monitor was recorded at Smelly Cat. Greater Gliders were recorded at all coupes except the Orbost District coupes, Panama, Long Island and Crawfords Track (Bendoc District). Eleven Greater Gliders per 1 kilometre spotlight transect were recorded at Too Many Oranges, while nine were recorded on the combined spotlight transect for Browny, McGrath and Pigeon. Feral Cats were recorded at 16 out of 41 remote cameras.. Pre-harvest Fauna Surveys of 15 Coupes in East Gippsland, Victoria 17

18 REFERENCES Christidis, L. & Boles, W.E Collingwood, Victoria Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds. CSIRO Publishing, Cogger, H. G (Ed) Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. 5th Edition. Victoria. Reed Books Australia, Cogger, H.G., Cameron, E.E., Sadlier, R.A. and Eggler P., The Action Plan for Australian Reptiles. Australian Nature conservation Agency, Canberra, ACT. DEPI 2013a. Biodiversity Assessment Guidelines: Permitted clearing of native vegetation. Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries. DEPI 2014a. Biodiversity Interactive Map [WWW Document]. URL Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning. DoE Protected Matters Search Tool: Interactive Map [WWW Document]. URL (accessed ). Federal Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Canberra. DSE Advisory list of Threatened Invertebrate Fauna in Victoria Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment. DSE Advisory List of Rare or Threatened Fauna in Victoria. Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment. Garnett, S.T. and Crowley, G. M The Action Plan for Australian Birds Environment Australia. Lee, A. K Action Plan for Australian Rodents. Australian Nature Conservation Agency, Canberra. Maxwell, S., Burbidge, A A. and Morris, K (Eds) The 1996 Action Plan for Australian Marsupials and Monotremes. Wildlife Australia for Australasian Marsupial and Monotreme Specialist Group and the IUCN Species Survival commission, Switzerland. Menkhorst, P. and Knight, F A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. 2nd Edition. Oxford University Press, Victoria. Strahan, R. (Ed) The Mammals of Australia. Reed Books, Sydney. Tyler, M.J The Action Plan for Australian Frogs. Wildlife Australia: Canberra. Viridans 2014a. Flora Information System. Viridans Biological Databases. Viridans 2014b. Victorian Fauna Database. Viridans Biological Databases. Pre-harvest Fauna Surveys of 15 Coupes in East Gippsland, Victoria 18

19 APPENDICES Pre-harvest Fauna Surveys of 15 Coupes in East Gippsland, Victoria 19

20 Appendix 1 Recorded Fauna Table A1. All Fauna Species Recorded Common Name Scientific Name Status Record Type Mammals Antechinus spp. Antechinus spp. C Black Wallaby Wallabia bicolor C Bush Rat Rattus fuscipes C Common Wombat Vombatus ursinus C, I Feral Cat* Felis catus C, I Greater Glider Petauroides volans DSE:VU S Long-footed Potoroo Potorous longipes EPBC:EN; FFG:L; DSE:VU C, I Long-nosed Bandicoot Perameles nasuta C Mountain Brushtail Possum Trichosurus cunninghami C, S Red-necked Wallaby Macropus rufogriseus I Ringtail Possum Pseudocheirus peregrinus S Sambar Deer* Rusa unicolor C Sugar Glider Petaurus breviceps S Wild Dog* Canis lupus familiaris C Wild Dog/Dingo Hybrid Canis lupus dingo x Canis lupus familiaris C Yellow-bellied Glider Petaurus australis S, CP Reptiles and Amphibians Common Froglet Crinia signifera RS Lace Monitor Varanus varius DSE: EN C Southern Brown Tree Frog Litoria ewingii RS Victorian Smooth Froglet Geocrinia victoriana RS Whistling Tree Frog Litoria verreauxii RS Birds Bassian Thrush Zoothera lunulata C Brown Thornbill Acanthiza pusilla T Crimson Rosella Platycercus elegans T Eastern Spinebill Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris T Eastern Whipbird Psophodes olivaceus C Eastern Yellow Robin Eopsaltria australis C Gang Gang Cockatoo Callocephalon fimbriatum T Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis T Grey Butcherbird Cracticus torquatus C Grey Shrike-thrush Colluricincla harmonica C, T Pre-harvest Fauna Surveys of 15 Coupes in East Gippsland, Victoria 20

21 King Parrot Alisterus scapularis T Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae T Lewin s Honeyeater Meliphaga lewinii T Pied Currawong Strepera graculina T Pilotbird Pycnoptilus floccosus C; T Powerful Owl Ninox strenua FFG:L; DSE:VU Silvereye Zosterops lateralis T Sooty Owl Tyto tenebricosa FFG:L; DSE:VU Southern Boobook Ninox boobook H CP; O CP; H, O Superb Lyrebird Menura novaehollandiae C, T White-browed Scrubwren Sericornis frontalis C White-throated Treecreeper Cormobates leucophaea T Wonga Pigeon Leucosarcia melanoleuca C Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo Calyptorhynchus funereus T Notes: EPBC = Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999; VU = Vulnerable; EN = Endangered; FFG = Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act; L = Listed; DSE = Department of Sustainability and Environment, Advisory List of Threatened Vertebrate Fauna in Victoria 2013; I = Incidental Sighting; S = Spotlighting; C = Camera Trap Photograph; T = Search; CP = Call-playback Response; H = Heard; O = Observed. Pre-harvest Fauna Surveys of 15 Coupes in East Gippsland, Victoria 21

22 Appendix 2 Remote camera photos Plate Smelly Cat Long-footed Potoroo Plate Smelly Cat Lace Monitor Plate Fuzzy Mouse Longfooted Potoroo Plate Too Many Oranges Longfooted Potoroo Plate Panama Long-footed Potoroo Plate Long Island Long-footed Potoroo Pre-harvest Fauna Surveys of 15 Coupes in East Gippsland, Victoria 22