Cadell Wildlife

Murray Land & Water Management Plan Wildlife Survey 2005-2006

Matthew Herring David Webb Michael Pisasale INTRODUCTION Why do a wildlife survey? The sites were spread across One of the great things about 106 farms and were surveyed living in rural is all the between June 2005 and March wildlife that we share the land- 2006. They incorporated a range scape with. Historically, humans of vegetation types (e.g. Black have impacted on the survival of Box Woodland) as well as reveg- many native plants and . etation on previously cleared Fortunately, there is a grow- land and constructed wetlands. ing commitment in the country Methods used to survey wildlife to wildlife conservation on the included: farm. As we improve our knowl- edge and understanding of the - surveys local landscape and the animals - Log rolling for and and plants that live in it we will frogs be in a much better position to - Spotlighting for mammals, rep conserve and enhance our natu- tiles and nocturnal ral heritage for future genera- - Elliot traps for small mammals tions. and reptiles - Pitfall trapping for reptiles and This wildlife survey was an initia- frogs tive of the Cadell Land & Water - Harp traps for bats P.Merritt Management Plan (LWMP) Work- - Using the “Anabat” to record The Yellow-footed An- ing Group and is the largest and bat calls techinus was recorded in most extensive ever undertaken - Call broadcasting to attract densities up to 24 per hec- in the area. Cadell was one of birds tare at red gum sites that four LWMP areas that took part had numerous large fallen in the project. This project had Other targeted methods were logs. three aims: used opportunistically and sig- 1 To determine the distribution, nificant species seen incidentally habitat and local status of (e.g. when traveling between birds, reptiles, mammals and sites) were also recorded. Sur- CONTENTS frogs veying over the entire Murray Pg. 2 Introduction 2 To raise awareness about LWMP area involved over 120 Pg. 3 Reptiles & Frogs wildlife ecology days of field work, usually with Pg. 4 Birds & Mammals 3 To promote conservation of at least two people. Pg. 5 Birds remaining species Pg. 6 River Red Gum Forest Front Cover: One of many Cadell highlights Pg. 7 Black Box Woodland was the Squirrel Glider, found at two Grassy What methods did we use? Box Woodland sites near (P.Merritt). Pg. 8-9 Cadell Highlights Good quality River Red Gum Forest along the Pg. 10 Sandhill Woodland A total of 150 sites were es- booms with wildlife (M. Herring). tablished in the Murray LWMP Cadell field day near Womboota (MIL). Pg. 11 Constructed Wetlands area with 40 of these in Cadell. Pg. 12 Boree Woodland Back Cover: Flame Robin (P. Merritt). Green Pg. 13 Grassy Box Woodland Gully Eucalypt plantation with Old Man Salt- bush understorey (M. Herring). Pg. 14 Revegetation Pg. 15 What We Can Do To Help

P.Merritt

The Cadell LWMP area The Red-browed Finch was covers 299,331ha with 1,016 holdings only found along the Murray River.

2 REPTILES & FROGS Summary of Results There were 273 species (203 Birds, 33 Reptiles, 28 Mammals and 9 Frogs) found across the entire study area. Of these, 191 species were found in Cadell.

Reptiles A total of 19 reptiles were Southern Bell Frog D.Webb Tessellated Gecko D.Webb found in Cadell, highlighted REPTILES by a Woodland Blind Snake on • Eastern Long-necked Turtle R Chelodina longicollis the Cummeragunga Sandhill, Murray Turtle R Emydura macquarii the only record for the entire Olive Legless Lizard R Delma inornata study. The Chenopod Morethia, • Southern Marbled Gecko C Christinus marmoratus a small that loves shrubs Gibber Gecko R Diplodactylus byrnei but avoids trees, was found in • Tessellated Gecko R Diplodactylus tessellatus between and Barham Wood Gecko R Diplodactylus vitattus and hadn’t been recorded in the Beaked Gecko R Rynchoedura ornata NSW Murray catchment before. • Carnaby’s Wall Skink C Cryptoblepharus carnabyii The beautifully patterned Spot- Regal Skink R regius ted-backed Ctenotus was found • Robust Ctenotus U Ctenotus robustus at two sites, both with loose soil • Spotted-backed Ctenotus U Ctenotus orientalis associated with clumps of Mat- • Tree-crevice Skink R Egernia striolata rush (Lomandra) or along fence- • Garden Skink R Lampropholis guichenoti lines. Other good finds in Cadell • South-eastern Slider R Lerista bougainvillii were the Tessellated Gecko Wood Mulch Slider U Lerista muelleri in Black Box near and Eastern Robust Slider R Lerista punctatovittata several Curl Snakes. By far the • Dwarf Skink U Menetia greyii most common reptiles recorded • Chenopod Morethia R Morethia adelaidiensis in Cadell were the Boulenger’s • Boulenger’s Skink C Morethia boulengeri Skink and Carnaby’s Wall Skink, Shingleback R Tiliqua rugosa sometimes occurring in densities Common Blue-tongue Lizard U Tiliqua scincoides over 100 per hectare in good • Eastern Bearded Dragon U Pogona barbata habitat. Sandhill Woodland was Sand Goanna R Varanus gouldii the most important vegetation • Lace Monitor U Varanus varius type for reptiles across the four Southern Blind Snake R Ramphotyphlops bicolor Murray LWMP areas but all sites • Prong-snouted Blind Snake R Ramphotyphlops bituberculatus that were messy with old grass, • Woodland Blind Snake R Ramphotyphlops proximus fallen logs, branches, shrubs, Carpet Python R Morelia spilota sheets of corrugated iron, old Tiger Snake R Notechis scutatus fence posts or other habitat • Red-bellied Black Snake R Psedechis porphyriacus were rich in diversity. • C Pseudonaja textilis • Curl Snake U Suta suta Frogs By far the most common frogs FROGS recorded during the study were • Peron’s Tree Frog U Litoria peroni Plains Froglet, Common Froglet • Southern Bell Frog R (t) Litoria raniformis and Spotted Marsh Frog. They • Plains Froglet C Crinia parinsignifera were frequently recorded in • Common Froglet C Crinia signifera large numbers near water, along • Pobblebonk U Limnodynastes dumerillii rivers, creeks and in flooded • Spotted Marsh Frog C Limnodynastes tasmaniensis wetlands including rice. The • Barking Marsh Frog U Limnodynastes fletchori adults and tadpoles of these • Common Spadefoot R Neobatrachus sudelli common frogs provide a great Wrinkled Toadlet R Uperoleia rugosa food source for waterbirds like the Great Egret and reptiles pg. 11), in rice near Caldwell R - Rare (1 - 10% of sites) like the Tiger Snake. The most and at numerous sites in the U - Uncommon (11-25% of sites) significant of the 8 frog species Wakool LWMP area. The South- C - Common (26% sites or more) found in Cadell was the beautiful ern Bell Frog population of the • - Found in Cadell Southern Bell Frog. They were is one of # - Introduced species recorded in a storage dam with very few remaining strongholds (t) - Listed as threatened in NSW dense stands of Cumbungi (see for the species.

3 BIRDS & MAMMALS Birds and Black-chinned , MAMMALS which were all recorded in Cadell A total of 144 bird species were red gum. Platypus R found in Cadell. The Cadell area • Yellow-footed Antechinus U is fortunate in that it supports Mammals • Common Brushtail Possum C species typically found well in- • Common Ringtail Possum U land like Chestnut-crowned Bab- A total of 20 mammals were • Sugar Glider R bler but also species only found found in Cadell. The majority of • Squirrel Glider R (t) in south-eastern Australia like these were bats and marsupi- • Eastern Grey Kangaroo C Flame Robin and White-browed als. The bats included a range of Western Grey Kangaroo R Scrubwren. wattled, freetail, long-eared, for- Red Kangaroo R est and broad-nosed bats. The • Black Wallaby R Sites along the Murray and greatest number and diversity of Common Wombat R Wakool Rivers, together with bats were recorded in wetlands • Gould’s Wattled Bat C other major waterways, had the and along rivers. These fasci- Little Pied Bat R (t) highest bird diversity. They ex- nating creatures consume up to • Chocolate Wattled Bat U clusively supported species like half their body weight in • Lesser Long-eared Bat U the Azure Kingfisher. However, every night! During the day they Southern Forest Bat R large patches of Boree, Grassy roost in tree hollows and under • Little Forest Bat C Box and Sandhill Woodland also bark. • Inland Broad-nosed Bat U supported a unique suite of • Inland Freetail Bat U birds, including many that are A total of 7 marsupial species • Southern Freetail Bat C not found in floodplain vegeta- were found in Cadell but the White-striped Freetail Bat U tion types. only common species were the • Water Rat U Eastern Grey Kangaroo and •#House Mouse U Sites dominated by common Brush-tailed Possum. The most •#Fox C species had poor habitat diver- exciting species were gliders. •#Cat R sity and were typically subject The Squirrel Glider was found •#Rabbit C to continuous grazing, removal in Grassy Box Woodland sites •#Hare C of fallen timber and a lack of west of Moama, whilst the Sugar #Pig R flooding. The 14 most common Glider was found in red gum ar- birds for the entire Murray LWMP eas associated with major rivers. R - Rare (1 - 10% of sites) study (recorded at 75 or more U - Uncommon (11-25% of sites) sites) were the Australian Mag- The Yellow-footed Antechinus C - Common (26% sites or more) pie, Galah, Striated , was found in densities up to 24 • - Found in Cadell Willie Wagtail, Crested Pigeon, per hectare at sites that had nu- # - Introduced species Superb Fairy-wren, Red-rumped merous large, old logs. A Platy- (t) - Listed as threatened in NSW Parrot, Noisy Miner, Australian pus was found in the Edward Raven, Eastern Rosella, Yellow River to the west of Cadell in the Thornbill, White-plumed Hon- Wakool LWMP area. No Echid- eyeater, Magpie-lark and White- nas or Feathertail Gliders were winged Chough. Many of these recorded for the entire study. bird species occur in open farm- Historically, early settlers re- land and are ‘winners’, having corded the Eastern Quoll, Rufous benefited from changes to the Bettong, Bilby and White-footed landscape since European settle- Rabbit Rat, now all extinct in the ment. Murray region.

The Wood Sandpiper, one of the There were five introduced rarest migratory shorebirds, mammals recorded in Cadell was found at a flooded Black during the study. In a joint effort Box-Nitre Goosefoot wetland in with the Rural Lands Protec- the northern part of Cadell, and tion Board, many landholders wasn’t recorded elsewhere dur- in Cadell have been extremely ing the entire study. The Hooded proactive in eradicating feral Robin was recorded in high animals especially the fox and quality Grey Box woodland near this will have enormous benefits and proved to be one to the local wildlife. of the rarest resident woodland birds across the Murray LWMP area, together with the Gilbert’s Whistler, White-browed Babbler Gould’s Wattled Bat C.Grabham

4 BIRDS BIRDS • Black-fronted Dotterel R • R (t) • Emu R • Masked Lapwing R • Grey-crowned Babbler U (t) • Brown Quail R • Banded Lapwing R • White-browed babbler R Stubble Quail R Inland Dotterel R • Chestnut-crowned Babbler R • Plumed Whistling-duck R Silver Gull R Varied Sittella R • Australian Wood Duck U • Whiskered Tern R • Eastern Shrike Tit R • Freckled Duck R (t) White-winged Black Tern R • Gilbert’s Whistler R (t) Blue-billed Duck R (t) Caspian Tern R • Golden Whistler R Musk Duck R Gull-billed Tern R • Rufous Whistler C • Black Swan R #Spotted Turtle-dove R • Grey Shrike-thrush C Australian Shelduck R •#Feral Pigeon R • Restless Flycatcher U • Hardhead R Diamond Dove R • Willie Wagtail C • Pacific Black Duck U • Peaceful Dove U • Grey Fantail C Australasian Shoveler R • Common Bronzewing C • Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike C • Pink-eared Duck R • Crested Pigeon C Ground Cuckoo-shrike R • Grey Teal U • Galah C • White-winged Triller U Chestnut Teal R • Long-billed Corella U Olive-backed Oriole R Magpie Goose R (t) Little Corella R White-breasted Woodswallow R Great Crested Grebe R • Sulphur-crested Cockatoo C • White-browed Woodswallow R • Hoary-headed Grebe R • Rainbow Lorikeet R Masked Woodswallow R • Australasian Grebe R Musk Lorikeet R Black-faced Woodswallow R • Darter R • Superb Parrot R (t) • Dusky Woodswallow R Great Cormorant R • Cockatiel U • C • Little Pied Cormorant R • Eastern Rosella C • Pied Butcherbird C Little Black Cormorant R • Yellow Rosella C • Magpie-lark C • Australian Pelican R Australian Ringneck R • Australian Magpie C • White-necked Heron R • Blue Bonnet U • R • White-faced Heron U • Red-rumped Parrot C • Australian Raven C Cattle Egret R Budgerigar R • Little Raven C Little Egret R • Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo R Apostlebird R • Great Egret R Fan-tailed Cuckoo R • White-winged Chough C • Intermediate Egret R • Australian Owlet Nightjar R • Richards Pipit R • Nankeen Night Heron U • Tawny Frogmouth R • Singing Bushlark R • Glossy Ibis R • Southern Boobook R • Zebra Finch U • Straw-necked Ibis R • Barn Owl R • Red-browed Finch R • Australian White Ibis R • Azure Kingfisher R • Diamond Firetail R (t) Royal Spoonbill R • Laughing Kookaburra C •# House Sparrow R Yellow-billed Spoonbill R • Sacred Kingfisher C • U Black-shouldered Kite R Red-backed Kingfisher R • Welcome Swallow C • Black Kite R • Rainbow Bee-eater R • White-backed Swallow R • Whistling Kite U • Dollarbird R • Tree Martin U • Collared Sparrowhawk R • White-throated Treecreeper U • Fairy Matrin R Brown Goshawk R • Brown Treecreeper C • Clamorous Reed Warbler R • White-bellied Sea-eagle R • Superb Fairy-wren C • Little Grassbird R • Little Eagle R Variegated Fairy-wren R Golden-headed Cisticola R • Wedge-tailed Eagle U • White-winged Fairy-wren R Brown Songlark R • Swamp Harrier R • Spotted Pardalote U • Rufous Songlark C • Spotted Harrier R • Striated Pardalote C • Silvereye R • Black Falcon R • White-browed Scrubwren R # Common Blackbird R • Brown Falcon U • Western Gerygone C •# Common Starling U • Nankeen Kestral U • Chestnut-rumped Thornbill C Peregrine Falcon R • Buff-rumped Thornbill U R - Rare (1 - 10% of sites) • Australian Hobby R • Yellow-rumped Thornbill C U - Uncommon (11-25% of sites) Brolga R (t) • Yellow Thornbill C C - Common (26% sites or more) Buff-banded Rail R • Striated Thornbill U • Australian Spotted Crake R • Weebill C • - Found in Cadell • Spotless Crake R • Southern Whiteface U # - Introduced species • Dusky Moorhen R Red Wattlebird R (t) - Listed as threatened in NSW • Purple Swamphen R • Little Friarbird U • Eurasian Coot R • Noisy Friarbird R • Black-tailed Native-hen R • Noisy Miner C Bush Stone-curlew R (t) Yellow-throated Miner R Painted Button-quail R • Blue-faced Honeyeater R • Little Button-quail R Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater R • Latham’s Snipe R • Striped Honeyeater R Black-tailed Godwit R (t) Painted Honeyeater R (t) • Common Greenshank R • Singing Honeyeater R Marsh Sandpiper R • White-plumed Honeyeater C • Wood Sandpiper R • Black-chinned Honeyeater R (t) Red-necked Stint R • Brown-headed Honeyeater U Curlew Sandpiper R Black Honeyeater R • Sharp-tailed Sandpiper R Crimson Chat R • Black-winged Stilt R Orange Chat R Banded Stilt R • White-fronted Chat R Red-necked Avocet R • U Red-capped Plover R • Flame Robin R • Red-kneed Dotterel R • Red-capped Robin U Spotted Harrier D.Webb

5 RIVER RED GUM FOREST

P.Merritt D.Webb M.Herring / P.Merritt (inset)

Emu chicks emerge after being incubated for almost two months exclusively by the male. Good numbers of Emu were recorded in Cadell River Red Gum sites. An enormous 25- foot long Creeping Mistletoe growing along the trunk of a red gum west of Moama. Mis- tletoe helps increase habitat diversity. The secretive Spotless Crake was recorded at this red gum wetland near Barham because of the healthy waterplant community.

There are five main vegetation quality red gum habitat booms Bush Stone-curlew. Thickets of types in Cadell. These include with wildlife, particularly birds young red gums and shrubs like River Red Gum Forest, Black and mammals. Large, old River Silver Wattle and Dwarf Cherry Box Woodland, Grassy Box Red Gums are the equivalent of also increase habitat diversity Woodland, Sandhill Woodland 5-star hotels for wildlife because in red gum forests and support and Boree Woodland. Together they are filled with a range of additional species like the Black with Revegetation and Con- hollows and crevices. Bats, pos- Wallaby, Gilbert’s Whistler and structed Wetlands, these are sums, gliders, parrots, pard- White-browed Babbler. covered in the following sec- alotes, owls, the Tree-crevice tions. Skink and numerous others all More than 110 species were shelter and nest in red gums. found in red gum across the River Red Gum (Eucalyptus ca- Shedding bark is important 16 Cadell sites. Across all four maldulensis) is one of the most for treecreepers, the Southern LWMP areas, some of the species intact vegetation types in the Marbled Gecko and Peron’s Tree most strongly associated with NSW Murray Catchment. The Frog. Fallen logs and branches red gum were the Nankeen Night red gum forests of the Murray are home to an array of reptiles Heron, Yellow Rosella, White- region are among Australia’s and are a favourite place for the throated Treecreeper, Dollarbird greatest ecological assets. Good Yellow-footed Antechinus and and Carpet Python.

The diminutive Azure The Gilbert’s Whistler The Peron’s Tree Frog, Kingfisher is restricted to depends on a dense un- with its distinctive ma- major waterways like the derstorey of shrubs like chine gun call, is closely Murray and Wakool Riv- the thickets of Dwarf associated with red gum ers. Cherry you see in red along rivers, creeks and in gum. wetlands.

D.Webb D.Webb P. Merritt

6 BLACK BOX WOODLAND

The Australian Owlet Nightjar, a small noc- turnal bird that relies on old trees with hollows to shelter and breed in. Like the Tawny Frogmouth, it is not a true owl because it doesn’t hunt using its feet.

D.Webb C.Grabham The Lace Monitor ex- clusively lays its eggs in Like all small insectivo- termite nests. Termites rous bats, the Southern seal the excavation left by Freetail Bat uses echo- the female and the eggs location (high frequency are safely incubated. Once pulses of sound that hu- they hatch, the young mans usually can’t hear) look after themselves with to navigate and catch no help from their par- flying prey like moths and ents. mosquitoes.

P.Merritt Black Box Woodland is domi- Noisy Miner, Grey Butcherbird, nated by Black Box (Eucalyptus Eastern Grey Kangaroo and largiflorens) and is often found Eastern Brown Snake. Increas- on heavier floodplain soils, along ing the cover of native perennial creeks and in wetland depres- grasses, retaining fallen timber sions. Good quality Black Box and reinstating native shrubs woodland also has a range will benefit the more sensitive of understorey shrubs such species like Diamond Firetail as Lignum, Nitre Goosefoot, and Yellow-footed Antechinus. Miljee, Thorny Saltbush, Leaf- Fencing off remnant stands less Cherry, Native Willow and and controlling grazing to allow a variety of grasses. Black Box young trees, shrubs and various with an understorey is ideal for ground covers to regenerate is many woodland birds like the usually the most practical first Red-capped Robin and Chest- step. nut-crowned Babbler, and when flooded it teems with frogs, Many of the remaining stands bats and a spectacular range of of Black Box are disconnected waterbirds. from the floodplain and show signs of thirst. The wetlands More than 75 species of animals watering project that the NSW were found in Black Box across Murray Wetlands Working Group the 6 Cadell sites, most nota- and Murray Irrigation have bly the Hooded Robin, Tessel- implemented since 2001 has lated Gecko and Curl Snake. The been a great success in bring- number of species found at each ing these systems back to life site varied considerably, depend- on many farms. Waterbirds like ing on how isolated the site the Latham’s Snipe, which only was, the size of the site and the breeds in Japan, and the Red- quality of habitat. Many Black kneed Dotterel that breeds lo- Box remnants are missing an cally, together with all local frogs understorey of shrubs and pro- and bats benefit directly from vide habitat for only a handful of the flooding. High quality Black Box-Lignum species like the Eastern Rosella, habitat. M.Herring

7 CADELL HIGHLIGHTS

Involving the community… The six Cadell field days and seminars were well attended with an average of over 50 people attending each event. We received a great deal of support and positive feedback from the community, with particular ap- preciation of the family-focused barbecues, novelty prizes, in- volvement in the surveying and the opportunity to see some of the more unusual local critters like blind snakes, long-eared bats and antechinus. A total of 1293 people attended the 24 field days and seminars held across the four LWMP areas, testimony to the strong inter- est that irrigation farmers in the Murray region have in their local wildlife.

Photo Captions and Credits Top Left: Locals at a Cadell field day on “Emu Park” inspect a Carpet Python (MIL) Top Right: Kids participating in wildlife competitions at a field day near Womboota (MIL) Middle Left: Common Ringtail Possum (P.Merritt) Bottom Right: Seminar at the Caldwell Hall (MIL) Next Page, Top Left: Hooded Robin (D. Webb) Top Right: Tree Crevice Skink (D.Webb) Middle Left: Superb Parrot (D.Webb) Middle Right: Children intrigued by a Tree-crevice Skink (MIL) Bottom Left: Kids learning about wildlife in the Murray River red gum forests. (MIL) Bottom Right: White-bellied Sea Eagle (P.Merritt)

8 9 SANDHILL WOODLAND Sandhill woodland includes White and Murray Cypress-Pine, Buloke, Yellow Box and Nee- dlewood and often merges with Grassy Box Woodland. Sandhills originally had the most diverse shrub layers with species such as Moonah, Rosewood, Butter- bush, Native Willow, Emu Bush, Hopbush, Quandong and various D. Webb D.Webb species of saltbush. Good quality sandhill woodland is a haven for reptiles and woodland birds. The The Prong-snouted Blind Snake, one of three blind sandy soils allow movement of snake species found across the Murray LWMP area, is underground animals like blind largely restricted to sandhill woodland. The Robust Cten- snakes and excavation of nest- otus, a beautifully patterned medium to large-sized skink, ing burrows by Rainbow Bee- eaters and Sand Goannas. is also right at home in the loose soil of sandhill woodland.

Sandhill Woodland has a par- ticularly unique suite of wildlife, very different to what we find The Eastern Bearded in other vegetation types like Dragon, often misla- River Red Gum. A third of the 33 beled a ‘frill-neck’, can reptiles found across the Murray escape predators with LWMP area were either exclu- its bursts of high speed sively found on sandhills with or deter them when it good quality remnant vegeta- tion or were only rarely found in exposes it’s bright yel- other vegetation types. A well- low mouth. managed sandhill remnant with D.Webb good habitat supports around 10 reptile species, even if the site is only a hectare or two in area. The most significant birds found The rare Common in sandhill woodland in Cadell Spadefoot has distinc- were the White-backed Swallow, tive dark ‘spades’ on which builds its nesting burrow each foot. This burrow- into sand banks, and the Black ing frog is usually only Falcon, a powerful bird eater. found when it surfaces after rain. Up to 1000 Parts of Cadell like the Cummer- agunga Sandhill west of Moama eggs are laid, at or near and sites on the Lower Thule the surface of the water, Road have extensive sandhills often entwined among but when the area was first vegetation. settled in the 1800s they were heavily cleared for grazing and then later for cropping. Remain- ing stands of Buloke, Needle- wood and Murray Cypress-Pine are examples of remnant san- dhill woodland that are excel- lent starting blocks for future restoration. This can be done by fencing out stock, controlling common weeds and replanting with shrubs. Controlling rabbits, hares, foxes and cats will also make a site more attractive to High Quality Sandhill Woodland native wildlife. M.Herring M.Herring

10 CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS

P.Merritt D.Webb P.Merritt

The Marsh Sandpiper was one of 8 migratory shorebird Most constructed wetlands, species found across the four LWMP areas. They essen- whether for irrigation storage tially live their lives in an endless summer, migrating or stock water, are steep-sided between the northern and southern hemispheres. This deep dams with insufficient habi- species relies on mudflats and breeds in Europe, Siberia tat for most waterbirds, frogs and bats. The Australian Wood and China. The Water Rat is now the only native rodent Duck and Galah are rare exam- found in the region. The increasingly mythical Australian ples of species that have actually Painted Snipe is Australia’s most threatened waterbird benefited from the proliferation and despite the Murray region being an important spring/ of farm dams. Simple changes to summer breeding area for them, they were not found constructed wetlands can dra- during the study. These striking yet secretive birds favour matically increase their wildlife shallow wetland areas. Irrigation storage dams and other carrying capacity. Earthworks to constructed wetlands on farms have huge potential to create seasonally flooded shal- support many more waterbirds by incorporating shallows lows that support waterplants with waterplants that are only flooded intermittently. A and mudflats will attract a wide range of new species like egrets, site in the Berriquin LWMP area illustrates the potential herons, crakes, sandpipers, biodiversity value of a farm dam, with Australian Painted spoonbills and stilts. Avoiding Snipe recorded on a number of occasions, together with constant grazing pressure from more than 60 other waterbird species. stock will also enable mudflats and waterplants to flourish The Southern Bell Frog was recorded in good numbers resulting in a greater range of in this Cadell irrigation storage dam between Barham and wildlife utilising your farm dam. Deniliquin because it supports stands of Cumbungi.

M.Herring / D. Webb (inset)

11 BOREE WOODLAND Boree Woodland is dominated by Boree (Acacia pendula) and originally it covered large areas of Cadell extending over expan- sive areas beyond the active floodplain. Today, there are just a few scattered stands remain- ing, representing about 4% of the original area.

More than 40 species were found across the four Cadell sites. The Blue Bonnet and Sing- ing Honeyeater were closely associated with Boree across all four LWMP areas. The most exciting find in Cadell Boree was the Spotted-backed Ctenotus at two sites. These intricately pat- P.Merritt D.Webb terned are identifiable by the spots on their back.

Conservation of the remain- The stunning Red-capped Robin is a sensitive ing stands of Boree is crucially bird that relies on the best quality patches of important for the Cadell area. bush with an understorey of shrubs. Controlling stock grazing to allow regrowth of young Bo- The well known Grey-crowned Babbler is a ree trees and shrubs, retaining social species usually found in groups of six or fallen timber and encouraging more. It is one of few woodland birds able to native grasses can make a huge persist in bush dominated by Noisy Miners. difference.

The ‘furnished house’ on the right is the only option for most prospec- tive wildlife tenants. This comparison between two Boree stands illustrates the role that continuous grazing can have on the loss of this vegetation type from the landscape. The stand on the left is a classic case of the ‘living dead’ because it isn’t rested from grazing for long enough to allow the regeneration of young Boree, various shrubs and ground covers. The stand on the right is only crash- grazed, then rested for months at a time.

M.Herring

12 GRASSY BOX WOODLAND

D.Webb Superb Parrots were closely associated with Grassy Box Woodland and although they breed in the red gum forests, they rely on other vegetation types to feed in. Grassy Box Woodland includes M.Herring any stands of White Cypress- Pine, Murray Cypress-Pine, Yellow Box, Grey Box, Buloke This enormous Grey Box or Needlewood, that aren’t on tree near Moama is home sandhills. Two hundred years to Squirrel Gliders, rare ago this was the most wide- tree-dwelling marsupials spread vegetation type in Cadell that rely on tree hollows and originally, these woodlands contained a great variety of for breeding and shelter understorey shrubs such as wat- during the day. They are tles, together with open grassy capable of gliding for up areas. The soils found in Grassy to 100 metres between Box Woodland were favoured trees, any gaps beyond for agriculture and on most that usually restrict their farms more than 95% of the movements. original area has disappeared. Today, the wildlife found in these woodlands usually consists of D.Webb common species that can persist in landscapes that are mostly This Grassy Box Woodland site has thickets of regenerating cleared. However, sites in Cadell young trees after being rested from grazing, greatly ben- that contained good habitat efiting wildlife. Sites like this can also have shrubs added, supported sensitive species like further improving wildlife habitat. An increasing number of the Hooded Robin, Buff-rumped Thornbill and Yellow-footed An- landholders in Cadell are using fencing incentives to man- techinus. age grazing and encourage regrowth of native vegetation.

M.Herring

13 REVEGETATION

M.Herring This Green Gully Eucalypt Old Man Saltbush plantings like this one in between Barham plantation is outstanding for and Deniliquin attract wildlife associated with chenopod small woodland birds be- shrubland like the White-winged Fairy-wren, Orange Chat and cause it contains an under- White-fronted Chat. These “crops” are a much better option storey of Old Man Saltbush than conventional agriculture because they offer good grazing and is larger than 5 hec- value, help mitigate salinity and also provide wildlife habitat. tares.

Over the last decade it has more wildlife than single-species mulate. Similarly, nest boxes become clear that many wildlife plantings in thin strips in iso- designed for bats, possums, species, particularly birds and lated paddocks. gliders, parrots, owls or other bats, are readily able to return hollow-nesting wildlife can pro- to suitable revegetation patches Eucalypt plantations for timber vide shelter and nest sites well that landholders have planted. or firewood and Old Man Salt- before hollow formation takes Other less mobile species, like bush plantings for grazing value place decades down the track. many reptiles and small mam- and salinity mitigation are a mals will only benefit from much better ‘crop’ for most wild- revegetation that is situated life than conventional agricul- For information on the range of adjacent to existing remnants. ture. Some farm forestry sites in incentives available for manag- Large plantings greater than Cadell that incorporated an Old ing, restoring and establishing five hectares that have a mix Man Saltbush understorey were native vegetation, please contact of tree and shrub species and outstanding for bird diversity your Cadell LWMP officer on 03 are located adjacent to good with a range of thornbills, hon- 5881 9300. remnant vegetation are the best eyeaters, whistlers, robins and and provide habitat for much other small birds.

Old sheets of corrugated iron, fence posts and roofing tiles can provide homes for a range of skinks, geckos and legless lizards that will otherwise have to wait many decades for fallen logs and branches to accu-

The Western Gerygone and Superb Fairy-wren are among a whole suite of small, insectivorous birds that respond to revegetation within a few years of planting.

P.Merritt P.Merritt

14 WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP How can I attract more wild- Acknowledgements life to my farm? The Cadell LWMP Wildlife Survey was funded and supported by Murray Ir- The most important thing that rigation Limited, the National Action Cadell landholders can do for Plan for Salinity and Water Quality, the wildlife conservation is identify Natural Heritage Trust and the Mur- ray Catchment Management Authority. the most significant remnant This project was based on two previous vegetation sites on their proper- studies in the NSW Murray Catchment; ties and manage them in a way the Murrakool Wildlife Survey conducted that will maintain or improve the around Barham, Swan Hill and in 2003/2004 and the Heartlands East- quality of habitat. Keeping areas ern Billabong Wildlife Survey conducted messy by avoiding continuous Flooding of black box and around Holbrook, and Walbun- grazing pressure, not ‘cleaning red gum is vital for the drie in 2001/2002. Special thanks to all up’ fallen timber and ensuring the Cadell farmers for supporting the health of the floodplain. project so enthusiastically, with access that there is at least some areas to your properties, help during trap- that have shrubs and young ping sessions, strong attendance at the trees are three simple ways to six Cadell field days and seminars, and improve your wildlife habitat. reporting a multitude of local sightings made over many decades. Hats off to Kirsty Swinton and Clare Fitzpatrick, For those lucky enough to still Cadell LWMP officers, for their signifi- have good stands of Boree, Na- cant contribution to the project. Massive tive Pine, Grey Box, Yellow Box, thanks to the talented team of wildlife surveyors who helped with the field Buloke or Needlewood, these are work: Adam Bester, Peter Irish, Jess some of most valuable assets on Herring, Gary Herring, Hugh McGregor, your farm. For those with River Terry Korodaj, Daniel Arnold, Cameron Red Gum or Black Box along Thomas, Jane Herring, Craig Grabham major waterways like the Murray and Alex Knight. Big thanks to Jess Her- Linking patches of bush ring and Maree Petrow for tackling the River, your sites contribute to daunting task of data entry. Thanks also major wildlife ‘highways’ through within and between prop- to the and Murray Rural Lands the landscape. Flooding Black erties creates corridors. Protection Boards for access to Travel- ling Stock Reserves, and to Charles Box, River Red Gum and other Sturt University and the Department of wetland sites from time to time Environment & Conservation for scien- will help maintain the health of tific permits, equipment hire and bat call the floodplain and greatly im- analysis. Thanks to Paul Higgs and Jason Tasker for helping to produce the study prove wildlife habitat. site map. Lastly, to Dylan O’Donnell for his outstanding design expertise in help- Revegetated sites attract the ing to prepare these booklets. most species when they are 5 or more hectares in area, in- corporate a range of tree and shrub species and are situated For further information contact: adjacent to remnant vegetation. Murray Irrigation Limited 443 Charlotte Street Simple changes to irrigation and Reducing grazing pressure Deniliquin NSW 2710 stock water storage dams that will encourage an under- Phone (BH) 03 5881 9300 create shallows with waterplants storey of shrubs. and mudflats can also dramati- cally increase wildlife diversity Publication details on your farm. Published by Murray Wildlife and Murray Irrigation Limited. All text Copyright © Matthew Herring, David Webb & Michael Pisasale.All photos Copyright © David Webb, Peter Merritt, Matthew Herring

Recommended Reading ISBN: 0-9775829-2-2 Date of Publication: August 2006 Michael, D., Crane, M., MacGregor, C. and Cunningham, R. (2003) Wildlife on Farms Author: Herring, Matthew. – how to conserve native animals. CSIRO M.Herring Publishing, Melbourne. Suggested citation: Keeping remnant vegeta- Herring, M., Webb, D. & Pisasale, M. Kent, K., Earl, G., Mullins,B., Lunt,I & tion messy, like this Black (2006) Cadell Wildlife – Murray Land & Webster,R. Editors. (2002) Native Vegetation Water Management Plan Wildlife Survey Guide for the Riverina; notes for land manag- Box patch, will benefit 2005-2006. Murray Wildlife and Murray ers on its management and revegetation. Charles Sturt University, . wildlife. Irrigation Limited.

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