VICFORESTS PRE-LOGGING FAUNA SURVEYS 2014

Transcription

1 VICFORESTS PRE-LOGGING FAUNA SURVEYS 2014 SUMMARY OF RESULTS PACKAGE 14 Cann River, Nowa Nowa, Orbost and Swifts Creek districts WILDLIFE UNLIMITED PTY LTD PO BO 255 BAIRNSDALE 3875 ACN

2 VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 2 Survey Methods Tracks and traces transects Target Species: Long-footed and Long-nosed Potoroo, Koala, large forest owls, Spot-tailed Quoll, Spiny and Burrowing Crayfish. Tracks and traces transects were conducted along habitat corridors such as vegetated gullies with the aim of locating owl roosts and potoroo/bandicoot diggings. Transects of at least 500m were conducted at each coupe. Relevant findings were photographed and coordinates recorded. Scats and pellets were collected for analysis if encountered. Transects targeting Spiny Crayfish were not conducted if creeks were dry, but Burrowing Crayfish holes were photographed and coordinates recorded when found within coupes. Searches for burrows and individuals in water pools and beneath rocks were conducted where possible. Remote cameras Cameras (Reconyx, Keepguard & Scoutguard) monitored each site for a minimum of 21 days, a timeframe considered to guarantee a 90% chance of detecting a quoll or potoroo, if the species is present. Camera sites were photographed at the time of deployment, and the time and GPS coordinates were recorded. Effort was combined for some coupes that were small and in close geographical proximity, ie. two cameras were deployed per coupe rather than the usual four. TARGET SPECIES: Spot-tailed Quoll Two camera traps were deployed at each coupe. Sites of habitat significance for Spot-tailed Quoll (large logs, riparian verges, rocky areas) were selected if present. Bait holders containing sardines and tuna oil were pinned to the ground approximately 2.5m in front of the camera. Long-footed and Long-nosed Potoroo Two camera traps were deployed at each coupe. Sites of habitat significance for potoroo species, such as gullies with dense vegetation, were selected if present. Bait holders, pinned to the ground approximately 2.5m in front of the camera, were filled with a mixture of peanut butter, oats, honey and truffle oil. Spotlighting and call playback Target Species: Powerful Owl, Sooty Owl, Masked Owl, Greater Glider, Large Brown Tree Frog, Spotted Tree Frog, Giant Burrowing Frog, Spiny and Burrowing Crayfish A minimum of 1km/1hr spotlighting was conducted along road/track corridors adjacent to each coupe, which may have included some distance on either side of the coupe boundary. Species and coordinates were recorded for each observation. Playback locations and spotlight transects were combined for some coupes due to close geographical proximity. The spotlighting transects included: - a 15 min listening period initiated at dusk - a 20 min playback session of Powerful, Sooty and Masked Owl calls - a 1km/1hr spotlighting transect by 2 observers, including spotlighting for 10 minutes along streambanks and within streams where accessible.

3 VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 3 Results Table 1 Summary of surveys and significant results for package 14 coupes; - no significant species detected, Q quoll, O owl, P potoroo, B bandicoot, G glider, F frog. District Orbost Coupe no / Coupe name Tracks & Traces Playback Spotlight Cameras Ox/Bovine P/B G G P Swifts Creek Dapples North P/B Orbost First Base B/P P Orbost Back Track G P Nowa Nowa Drop Down P/B, G G G Orbost Webbed Feet P/B P Orbost Handball P/B O F P, B Orbost Kitz Lane - G P Orbost Lottery King P/B P Orbost Wheelers - P Cann River P/B O, G O, G P Cann River Honeymoon P/B G G P Bendoc Pollux P/B, G O, G O, G

4 VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 4 Tracks and Traces Transects Table 2 Results of tracks and traces recorded for package 14 coupes. Significant results in bold. Coupe No. Coupe Name Date Surveyors Observations Easting Northing / Ox/Bovine JR, AC Silvertop and stringybark with diverse understorey of peas, heath, wattle, banksia, hakea, geebung, etc. Extensive wallaby and wombat activity Numerous termite mounds Bandicoot/potoroo diggings Crayfish burrow Creek damp, but not flowing Bandicoot/potoroo digging Dapples North JR, AC Montane grassy woodland with snow gum, ash, mountain gum No large hollow-bearing trees Creek flowing, but no Euastacus found Crayfish burrows Conical digging with truffle eaten Scat of wombat, brushtail possum, ringtail possum, rodent Lyrebird activity First Base TL, IV Damp forest, with a mixture of mature trees and regrowth Evidence of wombat, wallaby and lyrebird activity Numerous termite mounds Hollow-bearing stag Potoroo/bandicoot digging Potoroo/bandicoot digging Back Track TL, IV Forest damp on ridge, wetter on lower slope. More large trees and potential roost trees than at First Base. Evidence of wallaby and lyrebird activity Old grey gum containing several large hollows Old, dead stag >2.5m DBH with spouts at top Drop Down JR, TL Relatively flat topography, mature forest with understorey of small shrubs and sedges. Creek running, but no Euastacus found Potoroo/bandicoot digging Bush Rat carcass Scat of wombat and brushtail Potoroo/bandicoot digging Potoroo/bandicoot digging

5 VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 5 Yellow-bellied Glider feed tree Webbed Feet JR, AC Mixed eucalypts, tree fern, old growth wattles, understorey sparse in places. Large trees, fallen timber. Wombat, Brushtail scat Numerous lyrebird mounds Several termite mounds Potoroo/bandicoot diggings Potoroo/bandicoot digging Handball JR, AC Silvertop and stringybark dominant, with understorey of Banksia, Acacia, Gahnia. anthorrhoea-dominated heath occurs in the area mapped as Heathlands on the context map provided by VicForests; potential habitat for Smoky Mouse and Ground Parrot. Creek along northern boundary is damp but not flowing. Unlikely crayfish habitat, and no frogs found during survey. Extensive wombat and wallaby activity Several termite mounds Potoroo/bandicoot diggings Kitz Lane TL, AC Wet forest with many mature trees, and a very steep, wet gully. Creek contained pools among lots of debris and overhanging banks, but flow increased dramatically after rain. Swamp wallaby and lyrebird activity evident Rodent scat Termite mound Lottery King JR, AC Mixed eucalypt forest with dense fern understorey on slopes, sparse on ridge Evidence of wombat, brushtail, ringtail, wallaby and lyrebird activity Predator scat on log identified as Cat Potoroo/bandicoot diggings Potoroo/bandicoot digging Crayfish burrow Wheelers JR, AC Swamp wallaby scat Numerous termite mounds TL, IV Damp forest with open canopy of treeferns and blanket leaf, and dense understorey of vines and ferns. Evidence of brushtail and lyrebird activity Potoroo/bandicoot digging x4 Potoroo/bandicoot digging Three large hollow-bearing trees Honeymoon TL, IV Damp to wet forest, fairly steep throughout with moderately large trees. All creeks within or bordering coupe were

6 VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 6 dry when cameras were deployed, but the north-south creekline was flowing during pickup, being flat and rocky with small pools, so potentially good for frogs such as L. littlejohni. No nocturnal searches conducted due to inaccessibility. Extensive lyrebird activity, wombat present. Small mammal burrow entrance Potoroo/bandicoot digging Large hollow log (potential quoll habitat) Pollux JR, TL Damp forest dominated by large, mature silvertop, with an understorey of dense ferns. Few suitable roost trees for owls. Creekline running, but small and trickling through vegetation, no pools. Scats of wombat, deer, swamp wallaby, rednecked wallaby and rabbit. Potoroo/bandicoot digging Greater Glider scat

7 VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 7 Figure 1. Images of significant observations noted during Tracks and Traces surveys. a b Potoroo/bandicoot diggings at (a) First Base, (b) Honeymoon and (c) Pollux c

8 VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 8 b (a) Yellow-bellied Glider feed tree; (b) ephemeral creek containing potential habitat for Large Brown Tree Frog or Giant Burrowing Frog at Honeymoon; (c) large hollow-bearing tree at First Base. a c

9 VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 9 anthorrhoea and Banksia heathland within the coupe boundary at Handball.

10 Remote Cameras Table 3 Remote camera results for package 14 coupes. Significant findings in bold. Coupe no. Coupe name Surveyors Date deployed / Dapples North Target sp. VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 10 Easting Northing Effective days in operation Species Identified Ox/ Bovine JR, AC Potoroo Cat, Feral Shrike-thrush, Grey Potoroo Cat, Feral Rat sp Quoll Antechinus, Dusky Bandicoot, Long-nosed Cat, Feral Shrike-thrush, Grey Quoll Nil species recorded, no triggers except during setup and pickup JR, AC Potoroo Shrike-thrush, Grey Potoroo Cat, Feral Horse, Feral Quoll Cat, Feral Quoll Fox, Red Horse, Feral First Base TL, IV Potoroo Bandicoot, Long-nosed Fairy-wren, Superb Scrubwren, White-browed Quoll Bandicoot, Long-nosed Cat, Feral Possum, Brushtail sp Back Track TL, IV Potoroo Bandicoot, Long-nosed Cat, Feral Quoll Bandicoot, Long-nosed Rat, Bush Rosella, Crimson Drop Down JR, TL Potoroo Bandicoot, Long-nosed Rat sp Potoroo Pilotbird

11 Webbed Feet VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 11 Possum, Mountain Brushtail Rat, Bush Quoll Antechinus, Agile Antechinus, Dusky Bandicoot, Long-nosed Possum, Mountain Brushtail Rat, Bush Scrubwren, White-browed Treecreeper, Red-browed Quoll Bandicoot, Long-nosed Possum, Mountain Brushtail Rat, Bush Scrubwren, White-browed Whistler, Olive JR, AC Potoroo Bandicoot, Long-nosed Bowerbird, Satin Cat, Feral Pilotbird Possum, Mountain Brushtail Rat, Swamp Whipbird, Eastern Potoroo Quoll Bandicoot, Long-nosed Quoll Cat, Feral Possum, Brushtail sp Handball JR, AC Potoroo Cat, Feral Possum, Common Ringtail Rat, Bush Robin, Eastern Yellow Potoroo Bandicoot, Southern Brown Shrike-thrush, Grey Quoll Cat, Feral Quoll Bandicoot, Long-nosed Bandicoot, Southern Brown Cat, Feral Shrike-thrush, Grey Kitz Lane TL, AC Quoll Cat, Feral Quoll Bandicoot, Long-nosed Cat, Feral Lottery King JR, AC Potoroo Bowerbird, Satin Potoroo Bandicoot, Long-nosed Rat, Bush Robin, Eastern Yellow

12 VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 12 Scrubwren, White-browed Quoll Bandicoot, Long-nosed Rat, Bush Quoll Bandicoot, Long-nosed Bowerbird, Satin Cat, Feral Wheelers JR, AC Potoroo Rat, Bush Robin, Eastern Yellow Potoroo Bandicoot, Long-nosed Fairy-wren, Superb Possum, Brushtail sp. Rat, Bush Robin, Eastern Yellow Quoll Bandicoot, Long-nosed Rat sp. Robin, Eastern Yellow Quoll Bandicoot, Long-nosed TL, IV Potoroo Bronzewing, Common Cat, Feral Possum, Mountain Brushtail Rat sp Potoroo Antechinus, Dusky Possum, Mountain Brushtail Rat sp. Rosella, Crimson Quoll Bandicoot, Long-nosed Rat, Bush Quoll Honeymoon TL, IV Potoroo Rosella, Crimson Thrush, Bassian Potoroo Quoll Bandicoot, Long-nosed Possum, Mountain Brushtail Shrike-thrush, Grey

13 VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report Quoll Cat, Feral Pollux JR, TL Potoroo Bandicoot, Long-nosed Potoroo Currawong, Grey Rat sp. Robin, Eastern Yellow Scrubwren, White-browed Thrush, Bassian Whipbird, Eastern Quoll Antechinus, Agile Bandicoot, Long-nosed Owlet-nightjar, Australian Possum, Mountain Brushtail Rat, Bush Robin, Eastern Yellow Wallaby, Red-necked Quoll Bandicoot, Long-nosed Cat, Feral Whistler, Olive

14 Figure 2 Significant images captured by remote cameras set in package 14 coupes. VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 14 a b c Long-footed potoroos at (a) Back Track, (b) Ox/Bovine, (c) Handball and (d) First Base. d

15 VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 15 a b (a) Long-nosed bandicoot at Pollux, and (b, c) southern brown bandicoot at Handball. c

16 VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 16 Call Playback and Spotlighting Table 4 Results of call playback surveys for package 14 coupes. Significant findings in bold. Coupe no / Dapples North / Coupe name Date Surveyors Easting/ northing Dusk listen results Distance/ direction Playback results Ox/Bovine JR, AC / n/a n/a Boobook, Southern First Base/ Back Track JR, AC / Nil n/a Nil n/a TL, BV / n/a n/a Boobook, Southern Boobook, Southern Boobook, Southern Glider, Sugar Drop Down JR, TL / Nil n/a Glider, Sugar Webbed Feet JR, AC / n/a n/a Nil. Windy weather marginal for conducting playback survey. No return visit made to site as track became inaccessible after rain Handball JR, AC / Froglet, Eastern Common Froglet, Victorian Smooth Martin s Toadlet Kitz Lane TL, BV Dusk: / Playback: / Froglet, Eastern Common Owl, Powerful 30m 20 Frog, Southern Brown Tree Hearing obstructed by sound of a dozer being walked along a track in the distance. Distance/ direction 150m m m m m m m m m m 300 n/a 50m m 45, then 150m 0 300m m 120

17 VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report Lottery King JR, AC / Nil n/a Nil. Windy weather marginal n/a for conducting playback survey. No return visit made to site as track became inaccessible after rain Wheelers JR, AC / Nil n/a Nil n/a TL, IV Dusk listen: / Playback: / Honeymoon TL, IV Dusk listen: / Playback: / Duck, Australian Wood Pollux JR, TL / Froglet, Eastern Common Frog, Southern Brown Tree 200m 90 30m 0 100m m m Glider, Sugar Glider, Sugar Owl, Sooty Glider, Sugar Boobook, Southern Boobook, Southern Glider, Sugar Owl, Sooty 150m m m m 60 several screams heard from gully east of coupe 200m m m m m m 330 Strong reaction scream 300m 60, then 200m, 220, trilling 50m 80.

18 VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 18 Table 5 Results of spotlighting surveys for package 14 coupes. Significant findings in bold. Coupe no. Coupe name Date Surveyors Start coords End coords Results Easting Northing Distance/ direction / Ox/Bovine JR, AC / / Froglet, Victorian Smooth m 50m m Dapples North JR, AC / First Base TL, BV / Back Track TL, BV / / / / Galaxias sp. in Dapples Creek cm, in creek pool Nil. n/a n/a n/a Nil. n/a n/a n/a Drop Down JR, TL / Webbed Feet JR, AC / / / Antechinus/ Glider, Feathertail Bandicoot, Long-nosed Glider, Greater Glider, Yellow-belllied Possum, Mountain Brushtail Possum, Mountain Brushtail Glider, Sugar Possum, Mountain Brushtail x m 0m 100m 250 0m 150m 0 0m 0m 0m Handball JR, AC / / Glider, Sugar Toadlet, Martin s m 0 150m Kitz Lane TL, BV n/a n/a Coupe inaccessible for spotlighting n/a n/a n/a Lottery King JR, AC / Wheelers JR, AC / / / Glider, Sugar Wind hindered spotlighting effort but habitat marginal on ridgetop m 210 Boobook, Southern m TL, IV / / Boobook, Southern Frogmouth, Tawny Glider, Sugar x m 340 0m 200m 340

19 VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report Honeymoon TL, IV / Pollux JR, TL / / / Owl, Powerful Owl, Sooty Possum, Common Ringtail Possum, Common Ringtail Possum sp. x2 Glider, Sugar Glider, Sugar Bandicoot, Long-nosed Glider, Greater Glider, Greater Dingo/Wild Dog Owlet-nightjar, Australian Owl, Powerful Owl, Powerful (heard post-survey) m m m 90 10m 280 0m 10m m m m m m 30 0m 0m 0m 500m m m m 70

20 Appendix 1 Diurnal birds recorded for package 14 coupes. Species Ox Bovine Dapples North First Base VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 20 Back Track Drop Down Webbed Feet Handball Black-cockatoo, Yellow-tailed Boobook, Southern Butcherbird, Grey Cockatoo, Ganggang Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cuckoo, Fan-tailed Currawong, Grey Currawong, Pied Emu Fairy-wren, Superb Fantail, Grey Honeyeater, Brown-headed Honeyeater, Crescent Honeyeater, Lewin s Honeyeater, New Holland Honeyeater, White-eared Honeyeater, White-naped Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Kookaburra, Laughing Magpie, Australian Mistletoebird Owlet-nightjar, Australian Pardalote, Spotted Parrot, Australian King Pilotbird Raven, Australian Robin, Eastern Yellow

21 VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 21 Robin, Pink Rosella, Crimson Scrubwren, Whitebrowed Shrike-thrush, Grey Silvereye Spinebill, Eastern Thornbill, Brown Thornbill, Striated Thrush, Bassian Treecreeper, White-throated Wattlebird, Red Whipbird, Eastern Whistler, Golden Whistler, Olive

22 VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 22 Species cont. Kitz Lane Lottery King Wheelers 0506 Honeymoon Pollux Black-cockatoo, Yellowtailed Boobook, Southern Butcherbird, Grey Cockatoo, Gang-gang Cockatoo, Sulphurcrested Cuckoo, Fan-tailed Currawong, Grey Currawong, Pied Emu Fairy-wren, Superb Fantail, Grey Honeyeater, Brownheaded Honeyeater, Crescent Honeyeater, Lewin s Honeyeater, New Holland Honeyeater, Whiteeared Honeyeater, Whitenaped Honeyeater, Yellowfaced Kookaburra, Laughing Magpie, Australian Mistletoebird Owlet-nightjar, Australian Pardalote, Spotted Parrot, Australian King Pilotbird Raven, Australian Robin, Eastern Yellow Robin, Pink Rosella, Crimson Scrubwren, Whitebrowed Shrike-thrush, Grey Silvereye Spinebill, Eastern Thornbill, Brown

23 VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 23 Thornbill, Striated Thrush, Bassian Treecreeper, Whitethroated Wattlebird, Red Whipbird, Eastern Whistler, Golden Whistler, Olive Appendix 2 Large Forest Owl Records. Powerful Owl 0506 A female was heard uttering several double-hoots at 20:30, during the spotlight. She was estimated to be a considerable distance away, approximately 400m at 320 and did not approach any closer. Handball A Powerful Owl was first heard from 200m away at 45, and came in to 150m at 0. Pollux At 19:30, during the spotlight, several male Powerful Owl double-hoots were heard from a distance of around 500m, at 240. At 21:54, after completion of the spotlight, two Powerful Owls were heard calling simultaneously from the call playback location. The closer individual, 200m away at 70, could be identified as a female, although the other individual was at least 1km away at 320 and the sex of this bird could not be determined. Sooty Owl 0506 At 19:59 a Sooty Owl scream was heard from the gully at 60 below the coupe, estimated to be 150m away. Several more screams were heard from a similar direction during the playback and spotlight up until around 20:25, including a wailing scream in flight, but the bird did not come any closer. Pollux Shortly after commencing playback of the Sooty Owl call, a scream was heard at 60 from 300m away, then another 200m away at 220, before the bird flew in and landed in a tree on the edge of the coupe, approximately 30m away from the playback site, trilling simultaneously with the playback of the trilling call. The owl continued trilling for approximately 20 mins, while we commenced the spotlight. Due to the speed at which it reacted to the playback, the distance from which it came in, and the length of time it continued to trill, this would be considered a very strong and aggressive reaction, likely indicating that we were in a core part of the bird s territory.

24 VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 24 Appendix 3 Fish Records. Galaxias species Dapples North A school of approximately 15 barred galaxiids was observed in a pool of water in Dapples Creek during the spotlighting survey. They were unable to be photographed as they were in running water and there was a rippling effect on the water s surface. Nor were they able to be caught, as the observers were not carrying hand nets. According to the reference book below, the Cobberas Galaxiid is the only galaxiid species to occur in the upper tributaries of the Limestone Creek catchment, around the Cobberas area. Until recently, it was classified with several other species in a group called the Mountain Galaxiids (in the Galaxias olidus complex), and is also known by the name of Galaxias species 5 (it has not yet been assigned a Latin name). On the DSE s Advisory List 2013, Galaxias species 5 (also referred to as McDowall s Galaxias) is listed as Critically Endangered, and nominated for listing under the FFG Act. (Kuiter, R. H. (2013) A pictorial guide to Victoria s Freshwater Fishes, Aquatic Photographics, Seaford.)