FLORA AND FAUNA WORKSHOP 2

DEANEI RESERVE

PREPARED FOR BUSHCARE NETWORK

MAY 2018

www.appliedecology.com.au

1

Contents SURVEY CONDITIONS - .............................................................................................................................. 2

EQUIPMENT .............................................................................................................................................. 2

RESULTS .................................................................................................................................................... 4

OTHER SOURCES/RESOURCES................................................................................................................. 13

EBIRD LISTS ......................................................................................................................................... 13

NSW WILDLIFE ATLAS RECORDS ......................................................................................................... 13

ALL RECORDS ............................................................................................................................................... 16

This report summarises results of the Bushcare Deanei Forest fauna survey workshop held on the 21-

22nd of April 2018. The key components of the survey were completed by the 25th April 2018.

2

SURVEY CONDITIONS Survey conditions were very good. Saturday was mild to warm with a maximum temperature of 23oC,

mild overnight with a minimum temperature of 15.2 and into the next day with a top of 22.7oC. No

rainfall was recorded during the survey.

EQUIPMENT 16 Elliot type A traps were deployed on the 21st of April. All traps were baited with rolled oats, honey

and peanut butter. Elliot traps contained ample bedding and were bagged in case of rain. Traps were

closed or moved to a different location if an animal was trapped to avoid trapping the same animal on

consecutive nights.

Table 1 Trap in situ (left) and trap deployment (right)

Hairtubes were deployed later in the survey due to time constraints on the day. Three hairtubes were

deployed on the 28th of April 2018. Hair-tubes are a remote sampling technique that can detect

mammals by attracting them to an open cylinder containing a food bait held within a closed chamber.

Fur from mammals that enter a hair-tube adheres to a wafer covered in non-toxic adhesive “goo” that is

fixed to the inside of the device. Hair samples are then analysed in a laboratory to identify the species.

Figure 1 Cross section of hair samples showing different configuration of cells that are diagnostic for genus / species (Common Brushtail Possum and Bush Rat illustrated)

3

An anabat express unit was deployed on the 21st of April and collected on the 25th of

April. An “anabat” is a brand name for a range of devices that record the ultrasonic

calls made by microbat species. Calls can be downloaded and analysed by comparing

the shape and frequency of recorded calls with a reference library of calls for each

species. Most calls are unique to species level with some to genus level. Calls vary

between regions so analysis is done by experts in this field. “Gear” locations are

illustrated below.

Figure 3 Hairtube, Anabat and Elliot trap locations

Figure 2 Anabat express unit

4

RESULTS Elliot traps were deployed for four nights and checked daily at dawn. Traps were removed on the 25th of

April. In total 8 traps contained animals. All animals were released at point of capture. Species captured

are listed below.

Table 2 Species catured by Elliot traps

Species count

Bush rat (Rattus fuscipes) 1

Swamp rat (Rattus lutreolus) 1

Brown antechinus (Antechinus stuartii) 6

Figure 4 Location of traps with results

5

Figure 5 Antechinus stuartii morning 3 trap check.

Table 3 Bush rat (Rattus fuscipes) about to make good his escape (Morning 4).

6

Table 4 Swamp rat (Rattus lutreolus) – trapped very close to houses (Morning 3).

Figure 6 Note the tail length. The introduced Ship or Black Rat Rattus rattus (pictured right) has a much longer tail.

7

The three hairtubes deployed contained hair/fur when collected on the 4th of May 2018.

Figure 7 Hair in Hairtube "2" identified as Bush rat – Rattus fuscipes. Inset closeup.

Samples were sent to “Scatsabout” for identification – one of several companies in NSW that specialize

in identifying animals from fur/hair, scats and other evidence.

8

Figure 8 Hairtube sample results

Collection

Date

Position Sample Content species Content species

4/5/2018 1 Wafer Rattus fuscipes Antechinus stuartii

4/5/2018 2 Wafer Rattus fuscipes

4/5/2018 3 Wafer Rattus fuscipes Trichosurus sp.

Microbat -Ultrasonic bat recording results

Calls were sent to Marg Turton for analysis. A total of eight species of micro bats were recorded during

the survey including two threatened species (highlighted in green in the table).

Table 5 Microbat survey results

Common Name Species Name Confident Probable Possible

Gould’s Wattled Bat Chalinolobus gouldi X

Long-eared Bat Nyctophilus sp. X

White-striped Free-tailed Bat Austronomus australis X

Ride’s Free-tailed Bat Mormopterus ridei X

Eastern Bentwing Bat Miniopterus orianae oceanensis

X

Large Forest Bat Vespadelus darlingtoni X

Large-eared Pied Bat Chalinolobus dwyeri X

Eastern Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus megaphyllus X

High diversity. Eastern Horseshoe bat calls not perfect, but hard to see what else they would be. Only 1 short C. dwyeri call.

Note: Calls that are considered not clear enough for ID are not identified and are not included in the results, this includes very short calls that consist of just a few pulses.

Calls were identified using: Pennay, M., Law, B., Reinhold, L. (2004). Bat calls of New South Wales: Region based guide to the echolocation calls of Microchiropteran bats. NSW Department of Environment and Conservation, Hurstville and personal call files.

Bat nomenclature used from: Reardon, T.B., Armstrong, K.N. and Jackson, S.M. (2015). A current taxonomic list of Australian Chiroptera. Australasian Bat Society. Version 2015-05-15. URL: http://ausbats.org.au/taxonomic-list/4589345107

9

Bird Survey

A birding session was held on the 22nd of April. Additional species were added to the list when they were

observed during other survey activities.

Common Name Scientific name

Australian King-Parrot Alisterus scapularis

Australian Raven Corvus coronoides

Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike Coracina novaehollandiae

Brown Cuckoo-dove Macropygia phasianella

Brown Gerygone Gerygone mouki

Brown Thornbill Acanthiza pusilla

Crimson Rosella Platycercus elegans

Eastern Spinebill Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris

Eastern Whipbird Psophodes olivaceus

Eastern Yellow Robin Eopsaltria australis

Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis

Grey Butcherbird Cracticus torquatus

Grey Fantail Rhipidura albiscapa

Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae

Lewins Honeyeater Meliphaga lewinii

Nankeen Kestrel Falco cenchroides

Noisy Miner Manorina melanocephala

Pied Currawong Strepera graculina

Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus

Red Wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata

Red-browed Finch Neochmia temporalis

Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus

Spotted Pardalote Pardalotus punctatus

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita

Superb Fairy-wren Malurus cyaneus

Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena

White-browed Scrubwren Sericornis frontalis

Wonga Pigeon Leucosarcia melanoleuca

Yellow Thornbill Acanthiza nana

Yellow-faced Honeyeater Lichenostomus chrysops chrysops

10

Figure 9 Eastern Yellow Robin Deanei Reserve 2018

Figure 10 White-browed scrubwren and an Eastern Spinebill at Deanei Reserve April 2018

11

Spotlighting 21st of April

One spotlighting session was undertaken.

Common Name Species Count

Common Brushtail Possum Trichosurus vulpecula 4

Common Ringtail Possum Pseudocheirus peregrinus 2

Swamp Wallaby Wallabia bicolor Heard only -1

Searches for evidence

Two species of mammals were heard moving through the reserve during various survey activities. These

were the Long-nosed Bandicoot (Perameles nasuta) and the Swamp Wallaby (Wallabia bicolor). One

bandicoot was disturbed while deploying hairtubes (see Figure 1) and made the typical alarm noise of

the Long-nosed Bandicoot. There was ample evidence to confirm the presence of these species

including abundant wallaby scats and the conical diggings made by bandicoots.

Table 6 Swamp Wallaby scats - loose (left) and firm (right) are both commonly sighted.

Table 7 Bandicoot digging

12

Multiple invertebrates were also observed. One of particular interest is the nocturnal snail currently

known as Pommerhelix monarcha – a woodland snail species that may be a separate species in the

lower Blue Mountains. This species was observed during pre-dawn trap checking. An expert in this field,

Dr Stephanie Clark, has subsequently surveyed the reserve.

Figure 11 Pommerhelix monarcha at Deanei Reserve.

13

OTHER SOURCES/RESOURCES

EBIRD LISTS – bird list submitted by birdwatchers to ebird for specific locations

There are no ebird records for the reserve.

NSW WILDLIFE ATLAS RECORDS

Records from the NSW Wildlife Atlas (BIonet) were accessed on the 22/6/2018. All records for the

immediate area were downloaded and are illustrated below.

Figure 12 Bionet records for the local area. Each point can represent one record or multiple records

The records represented above in Figure 10 are listed below in Table 3 by species with a count of the

number of records for that species. Of interest is the additional mammal species that the workshop will

be able to add to the Wildlife Atlas including the Long-nosed Bandicoot , Brown Antechinus, Bush Rat,

Swamp Rat and several microbat species.

Class Name

Scientific Name Common Name NSW Status

Comm Status

Exotic Records

Amphibia Crinia signifera Common Eastern Froglet P 7

Amphibia Platyplectrum ornatum Ornate Burrowing Frog* P 1

Amphibia Pseudophryne australis Red-crowned Toadlet V,P 3

Reptilia Lampropholis delicata Dark-flecked Garden Sunskink P 2

Reptilia Lampropholis guichenoti Pale-flecked Garden Sunskink P 5

Reptilia Saiphos equalis Three-toed Skink P 2

Reptilia Saproscincus mustelinus Weasel Skink P 3

Reptilia Tiliqua scincoides Eastern Blue-tongue P 5

14

Class Name

Scientific Name Common Name NSW Status

Comm Status

Exotic Records

Reptilia Intellagama lesueurii Eastern Water Dragon P 1

Reptilia Rankinia diemensis Mountain Dragon P 1

Reptilia Morelia spilota Carpet & Diamond Pythons P 1

Reptilia Cacophis squamulosus Golden-crowned Snake P 2

Aves Columba leucomela White-headed Pigeon P 4

Aves Geopelia striata Peaceful Dove P 1

Aves Macropygia amboinensis Brown Cuckoo-Dove P 1

Aves Ocyphaps lophotes Crested Pigeon P 2

Aves Phaps chalcoptera Common Bronzewing P 1

Aves Streptopelia chinensis Spotted Turtle-Dove x 1

Aves Aviceda subcristata Pacific Baza P 1

Aves Cacatua galerita Sulphur-crested Cockatoo P 7

Aves Calyptorhynchus funereus

Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo P 6

Aves Eolophus roseicapillus Galah P 1

Aves Nymphicus hollandicus Cockatiel P 1

Aves Alisterus scapularis Australian King-Parrot P 4

Aves Platycercus elegans Crimson Rosella P 14

Aves Platycercus eximius Eastern Rosella P 4

Aves Trichoglossus haematodus

Rainbow Lorikeet P 12

Aves Cacomantis pallidus Pallid Cuckoo P 2

Aves Eudynamys orientalis Eastern Koel P 3

Aves Scythrops novaehollandiae

Channel-billed Cuckoo P 4

Aves Ninox novaeseelandiae Southern Boobook P 2

Aves Tyto tenebricosa Sooty Owl V,P,3 1

Aves Dacelo novaeguineae Laughing Kookaburra P 8

Aves Menura novaehollandiae Superb Lyrebird P 5

Aves Cormobates leucophaea White-throated Treecreeper P 9

Aves Ptilonorhynchus violaceus

Satin Bowerbird P 5

Aves Malurus cyaneus Superb Fairy-wren P 2

Aves Acanthiza lineata Striated Thornbill P 2

Aves Acanthiza pusilla Brown Thornbill P 1

Aves Gerygone olivacea White-throated Gerygone P 1

Aves Pardalotus punctatus Spotted Pardalote P 3

Aves Anthochaera carunculata Red Wattlebird P 4

Aves Anthochaera phrygia Regent Honeyeater E4A,P CE 1

Aves Caligavis chrysops Yellow-faced Honeyeater P 2

Aves Manorina melanocephala

Noisy Miner P 11

15

Class Name

Scientific Name Common Name NSW Status

Comm Status

Exotic Records

Aves Manorina melanophrys Bell Miner P 1

Aves Philemon citreogularis Little Friarbird P 1

Aves Philemon corniculatus Noisy Friarbird P 4

Aves Psophodes olivaceus Eastern Whipbird P 15

Aves Coracina novaehollandiae

Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike P 2

Aves Coracina tenuirostris Cicadabird P 3

Aves Colluricincla harmonica Grey Shrike-thrush P 2

Aves Pachycephala pectoralis Golden Whistler P 1

Aves Cracticus tibicen Australian Magpie P 5

Aves Cracticus torquatus Grey Butcherbird P 7

Aves Strepera graculina Pied Currawong P 3

Aves Rhipidura albiscapa Grey Fantail P 6

Aves Corvus coronoides Australian Raven P 3

Aves Grallina cyanoleuca Magpie-lark P 2

Aves Eopsaltria australis Eastern Yellow Robin P 2

Aves Hirundo neoxena Welcome Swallow P 2

Aves Pycnonotus jocosus Red-whiskered Bulbul x 1

Aves Sturnus tristis Common Myna x 5

Aves Neochmia temporalis Red-browed Finch P 3

Mammalia Dasyurus maculatus Spotted-tailed Quoll V,P E 1

Mammalia Pseudocheirus peregrinus Common Ringtail Possum P 5

Mammalia Trichosurus vulpecula Common Brushtail Possum P 6

Mammalia Wallabia bicolor Swamp Wallaby P 10

Mammalia Pteropus poliocephalus Grey-headed Flying-fox V,P V 1

Mammalia Miniopterus schreibersii oceanensis

Eastern Bentwing-bat V,P 1

Mammalia Scotorepens orion Eastern Broad-nosed Bat P 1

Mammalia Vespadelus darlingtoni Large Forest Bat P 1

Mammalia Canis lupus familiaris Dog x 1

Mammalia Vulpes vulpes Fox x 2

Mammalia Felis catus Cat * 1

Mammalia Ovis aries Sheep (feral) x 1

Insecta Jalmenus evagoras Common Imperial Blue 1

Insecta Papilio aegeus Large Citrus Butterfly 1

One record from 1965 mapped near the highway (400m east)

16

ALL RECORDS Several sources were amalgamated to form the table below.

1 = the Bionet NSW Wildlife Records as listed above (includes additional records from immediate

surrounds –as per map).

2 = Blue Mountains Fauna Project 2018. Records collected from the community to date for Deanei

Forest (all records from 2018)

3 = Bushcare Fauna Workshop 2018 (this survey)

4 = Plan of Management Deanei Forest – Roger Lembit – May-95

5 = Deanei Survey – Graham Turner together with the Bushcare team – 26 Jan 2015

6 = Bushcare Conference Bioblitz data – Carol Probets & Graham Turner together with the Bushcare team – 29 July 2017

Threatened species

Introduced species

Lewjfg

Scientific Name Common Name 1 BIONET 2 BMFP

3 BFW 2018

4 1996 POM

5- 2015 BUSHCARE SURVEY

6 2017 -BIOBLITZ

AMPHIBIA

Crinia signifera Common Eastern Froglet X

Platyplectrum ornatum Ornate Burrowing Frog X

Pseudophryne australis Red-crowned Toadlet X

AVES

Alisterus scapularis Australian King-Parrot X X X X X X

Cracticus tibicen Australian Magpie X

Corvus coronoides Australian Raven X X X X

Tyto alba Barn owl X

Manorina melanophrys Bell Miner X X X X X

Coracina novaehollandiae Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike X X X X

Monarcha melanopsis Black-faced Monarch X

Macropygia amboinensis Brown Cuckoo-Dove X X X X

Gerygone mouki Brown Gerygone X X X X

Acanthiza pusilla Brown Thornbill X X X X X

Scythrops novaehollandiae Channel-billed Cuckoo X

Coracina tenuirostris Cicadabird X

Nymphicus hollandicus Cockatiel X

Turdus merula Common Blackbird X

17

Scientific Name Common Name 1 BIONET 2 BMFP

3 BFW 2018

4 1996 POM

5- 2015 BUSHCARE SURVEY

6 2017 -BIOBLITZ

Phaps chalcoptera Common Bronzewing X X X

Sturnus tristis Common Myna X X

Eudynamys orientalis Common or Eastern Koel X X

Sturnus vulgaris Common Starling X

Ocyphaps lophotes Crested Pigeon X X

Platycercus elegans Crimson Rosella X X X X X X

Eurystomus orientalis Dollarbird X

Platycercus eximius Eastern Rosella X X X X

Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris Eastern Spinebill X X X X

Psophodes olivaceus Eastern Whipbird X X X X X X

Eopsaltria australis Eastern Yellow Robin X X X X X

Cacomantis flabelliformis Fan-tailed Cuckoo X

Eolophus roseicapillus Galah X X X

Calyptorhynchus lathami Glossy Black-Cockatoo X

Pachycephala pectoralis Golden Whistler X X X X X X

Cracticus torquatus Grey Butcherbird X X X X

Rhipidura albiscapa Grey Fantail X X X X X

Accipiter novaehollandiae Grey Goshawk X X

Colluricincla harmonica Grey Shrike-thrush X

Passer domesticus House Sparrow X

Sericornis magnirostra Large-billed Scrubwren X

Dacelo novaeguineae Laughing Kookaburra X X X X X X

Meliphaga lewinii Lewins Honeyeater X X X X X

Cacatua sanguinea Little Corella X

Hieraaetus morphnoides Little Eagle X

Philemon citreogularis Little Friarbird X

Glossopsitta pusilla Little Lorikeet X

Anthochaera chrysoptera Little Wattlebird X

Grallina cyanoleuca Magpie-lark X X X

Dicaeum hirundinaceum Mistletoe bird X X

Falco cenchroides Nankeen Kestrel X X

Phylidonyris novaehollandiae

New Holland Honeyeater X

Philemon corniculatus Noisy Friarbird X X

Manorina melanocephala Noisy Miner X X X X X

Aviceda subcristata Pacific Baza X X X

Cacomantis pallidus Pallid Cuckoo X

Geopelia striata Peaceful Dove X X

Falco peregrinus Peregrine Falcon X

Centropus phasianinus Pheasant Coucal X

Strepera graculina Pied Currawong X X X X

Trichoglossus haematodus Rainbow Lorikeet X X X X X

Anthochaera carunculata Red Wattlebird X X X X

Neochmia temporalis Red-browed Finch X X X X X

Pycnonotus jocosus Red-whiskered Bulbul X X X X

18

Scientific Name Common Name 1 BIONET 2 BMFP

3 BFW 2018

4 1996 POM

5- 2015 BUSHCARE SURVEY

6 2017 -BIOBLITZ

Anthochaera phrygia Regent Honeyeater X

Columba livia Rock Dove X

Todiramphus sanctus Sacred Kingfisher X

Ptilonorhynchus violaceus Satin Bowerbird X X X X

Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus Scaly-breasted Lorikeet X

Zosterops lateralis Silvereye X X X

Tyto tenebricosa Sooty Owl X

Ninox novaeseelandiae Southern Boobook X X

Pardalotus punctatus Spotted Pardalote X X X X X X

Streptopelia chinensis Spotted Turtle-Dove X X

Pardalotus striatus Striated pardalote X

Acanthiza lineata Striated Thornbill X X X X

Cacatua galerita Sulphur-crested Cockatoo X X X X X

Malurus cyaneus Superb Fairy-wren X X X X

Menura novaehollandiae Superb Lyrebird X X

Podargus strigoides Tawny Frogmouth X

Malurus lamberti Variegated Fairywren X X

Hirundo neoxena Welcome Swallow X X X

Haliastur sphenurus Whistling Kite X

Haliaeetus leucogaster White-bellied Sea-eagle X

Sericornis frontalis White-browed Scrubwren X X X X

Climacteris affinis White-browed Treecreeper* X

Phylidonyris niger White-cheeked Honeyeater X

Lichenostomus leucotis White-eared Honeyeater X

Columba leucomela White-headed Pigeon X X

Melithreptus lunatus White-naped Honeyeater X

Gerygone olivacea White-throated Gerygone X X

Hirundapus caudacutus White-throated Needletail X

Cormobates leucophaea White-throated Treecreeper X X X X

Rhipidura leucophrys Willie Wagtail X

Leucosarcia picata Wonga Pigeon X X

Acanthiza nana Yellow Thornbill X X X X

Caligavis chrysops Yellow-faced Honeyeater X

Lichenostomus chrysops Yellow-faced Honeyeater X X X

Calyptorhynchus funereus Yellow-tailed Black- X

19

Scientific Name Common Name 1 BIONET 2 BMFP

3 BFW 2018

4 1996 POM

5- 2015 BUSHCARE SURVEY

6 2017 -BIOBLITZ

Cockatoo

Sericornis citreogularis Yellow-throated Scrubwren X

*out of range – semi-arid/arid zone species

MAMMALIA

Austronomus australis White-striped Free-tailed Bat X

Antechinus stuartii Brown Antechinus X X

Rattus fuscipes Bush Rat X

Felis catus Cat X

Gould’s Wattled Bat Chalinolobus gouldi X

Trichosurus vulpecula Common Brushtail Possum X

Pseudocheirus peregrinus Common Ringtail Possum X

Canis lupus familiaris Dog X

Miniopterus schreibersii oceanensis Eastern Bentwing-bat X X

Scotorepens orion Eastern Broad-nosed Bat X

Rhinolophus megaphyllus Eastern Horseshoe Bat X

Vulpes vulpes Fox X

Pteropus poliocephalus Grey-headed Flying-fox X

Vespadelus darlingtoni Large Forest Bat X X

Chalinolobus dwyeri Large-eared Pied Bat X

Perameles nasuta Long-nosed Bandicoot X

Mormopterus ridei Ride’s Free-tailed Bat X

Nyctophilus sp. Long-eared Bat X

Ovis aries Sheep (feral) X

Dasyurus maculatus Spotted-tailed Quoll X

Rattus lutreolus Swamp Rat X

Wallabia bicolor Swamp Wallaby X

REPTILIA

Morelia spilota Carpet & Diamond Pythons X

Lampropholis delicata Dark-flecked Garden Sunskink X

Tiliqua scincoides Eastern Blue-tongue X

Intellagama lesueurii Eastern Water Dragon X

Cacophis squamulosus Golden-crowned Snake X

Rankinia diemensis Mountain Dragon X

Lampropholis guichenoti Pale-flecked Garden Sunskink X

Saiphos equalis Three-toed Skink X

Saproscincus mustelinus Weasel Skink X

20

Scientific Name Common Name 1 BIONET 2 BMFP

3 BFW 2018

4 1996 POM

5- 2015 BUSHCARE SURVEY

6 2017 -BIOBLITZ

INVERTEBRATES

Pommerhelix monarcha Blue Mountains Woodland Snail X

Brevisentis jacksoniensis Green Amber Glass-Snail X

Vitellidelos dulcis Sydney Carnivorous Snail X

Jalmenus evagoras Common Imperial Blue X

Papilio aegeus Large Citrus Butterfly X