Vicforests Pre-Logging Fauna Surveys 2014

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 BOX 255 BAIRNSDALE 3875

ACN 147 131 119 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, Yellow-bellied 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. VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 3

Results

Table 1 Summary of surveys and significant results for package 14 coupes; X - no significant species detected, Q – quoll, O – owl, P – potoroo, B – bandicoot, G – glider, F – frog.

Coupe Tracks & District Coupe no. Playback Spotlight Cameras name Traces 835-512-0002/ Orbost Ox/Bovine P/B G G P 835-512-0003 Swifts Creek 720-505-0019 Dapples North P/B X X X Orbost 832-501-0035 First Base B/P X X P Orbost 832-501-0031 Back Track X G X P Nowa Nowa 817-501-0015 Drop Down P/B, G G G X Orbost 830-507-0020 Webbed Feet P/B X X P Orbost 835-512-0008 Handball P/B O F P, B Orbost 830-509-0004 Kitz Lane - G X P Orbost 830-505-0006 Lottery King P/B X X P Orbost 834-505-0007 Wheelers - X X P Cann River 885-511-0018 0506 P/B O, G O, G P Cann River 885-509-0009 Honeymoon P/B G G P Bendoc 894-505-0002 Pollux P/B, G O, G O, G X

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

835-512- Ox/Bovine 14.5.14 JR, AC Silvertop and stringybark with diverse 0002/835-512- understorey of peas, heath, wattle, banksia, 0003 hakea, geebung, etc. Extensive wallaby and wombat activity Numerous termite mounds Bandicoot/potoroo diggings 655334 5824989 Crayfish burrow 655334 5824989 Creek damp, but not flowing Bandicoot/potoroo digging 655513 5825285 720-505-0019 Dapples North 6.5.14 JR, AC Montane grassy woodland with snow gum, ash, mountain gum No large hollow-bearing trees Creek flowing, but no Euastacus found Crayfish burrows 589085 5926341 Conical digging with truffle eaten 589073 5926371 Scat of wombat, brushtail possum, ringtail possum, rodent Lyrebird activity 832-501-0035 First Base 16.5.14 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 653269 5836774 Potoroo/bandicoot digging 653293 5836735 Potoroo/bandicoot digging 653798 5836841 832-501-0031 Back Track 16.5.14 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 652444 5836691 hollows Old, dead stag >2.5m DBH with spouts at 652497 5836870 top 817-501-0015 Drop Down 8.5.14 JR, TL Relatively flat topography, mature forest with understorey of small shrubs and sedges. Creek running, but no Euastacus found Potoroo/bandicoot digging 593653 5889700 Bush Rat carcass 593538 5889592 Scat of wombat and brushtail Potoroo/bandicoot digging 593518 5889606 Potoroo/bandicoot digging 593485 5889774 VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 5

Yellow-bellied Glider feed tree 593700 5889549 830-507-0020 Webbed Feet 16.5.14 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 657842 5844321 Potoroo/bandicoot digging 658057 5844083 835-512-0008 Handball 13.5.14 JR, AC Silvertop and stringybark dominant, with understorey of Banksia, Acacia, Gahnia. Xanthorrhoea-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 655089 5826699 830-509-0004 Kitz Lane 27.5.14 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 655576 5842496 Termite mound 655273 5842885 830-505-0006 Lottery King 15.5.14 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 658591 5845377 Potoroo/bandicoot diggings 658598 5844988 Potoroo/bandicoot digging 658513 5845467 Crayfish burrow 658466 5845444 834-505-0007 Wheelers 14.5.14 JR, AC Swamp wallaby scat Numerous termite mounds 885-511-0018 0506 13.5.14 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 672339 5861690 Potoroo/bandicoot digging 672756 5861170 Three large hollow-bearing trees 672703 5861169 885-509-0009 Honeymoon 14.5.14 TL, IV Damp to wet forest, fairly steep throughout with moderately large trees. All creeks within or bordering coupe were 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 676347 5860610 Potoroo/bandicoot digging 675918 5860686 Large hollow log (potential quoll habitat) 675911 5860710 894-505-0002 Pollux 9.5.14 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, red- necked wallaby and rabbit. Potoroo/bandicoot digging 679595 5880660 Greater Glider scat 679587 5880785 VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 7

Figure 1. Images of significant observations noted during Tracks and Traces surveys.

a b

c Potoroo/bandicoot diggings at (a) First Base, (b) Honeymoon and (c) Pollux

VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 8

(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 VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 9

Xanthorrhoea and Banksia heathland within the coupe boundary at Handball. VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 10

Remote Cameras Table 3 Remote camera results for package 14 coupes. Significant findings in bold.

Coupe no. Coupe name Surveyors Date Target Easting Northing Effective Species Identified deployed sp. days in operation 835-512- Ox/ Bovine JR, AC 14.5.14 Potoroo 655396 5824881 37 Cat, Feral 0002/ 835- Potoroo, Long-footed 512-0003 Shrike-thrush, Grey 14.5.14 Potoroo 655234 5824970 37 Cat, Feral Potoroo, Long-footed Rat sp. 14.5.14 Quoll 655801 5824952 37 Antechinus, Dusky Bandicoot, Long-nosed Cat, Feral Shrike-thrush, Grey 14.5.14 Quoll 655664 5825332 37 Nil species recorded, no triggers except during setup and pickup 720-505-0019 Dapples JR, AC 6.5.14 Potoroo 588955 5926340 31 Lyrebird, Superb North Possum, Common Brushtail Shrike-thrush, Grey 6.5.14 Potoroo 589058 5926684 31 Cat, Feral Horse, Feral Lyrebird, Superb Possum, Common Brushtail Wombat, Common 6.5.14 Quoll 588595 5926318 31 Cat, Feral Lyrebird, Superb Possum, Common Brushtail Wombat, Common 6.5.14 Quoll 588756 5926836 31 Fox, Red Horse, Feral Wombat, Common 832-501-0035 First Base TL, IV 16.5.14 Potoroo 653256 5836739 34 Bandicoot, Long-nosed Dasyurid, Small Fairy-wren, Superb Lyrebird, Superb Pigeon, Wonga Possum, Common Brushtail Potoroo, Long-footed Scrubwren, White-browed Wallaby, Swamp Wombat, Common 16.5.14 Quoll 653907 5836766 34 Bandicoot, Long-nosed Cat, Feral Lyrebird, Superb Pigeon, Wonga Possum, Brushtail sp. Potoroo, Long-footed 832-501-0031 Back Track TL, IV 16.5.14 Potoroo 652430 5836675 34 Bandicoot, Long-nosed Cat, Feral Lyrebird, Superb Pigeon, Wonga Potoroo, Long-footed Wallaby, Swamp 16.5.14 Quoll 652489 5836947 34 Bandicoot, Long-nosed Dasyurid, Small Lyrebird, Superb Pigeon, Wonga Possum, Common Brushtail Potoroo, Long-footed Rat, Bush Rosella, Crimson Wallaby, Swamp 817-501-0015 Drop Down JR, TL 8.5.14 Potoroo 593477 5889677 22 Bandicoot, Long-nosed Dasyurid, Small Rat sp. 8.5.14 Potoroo 593570 5889537 22 Dasyurid, Small Lyrebird, Superb Pilotbird VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 11

Possum, Mountain Brushtail Rat, Bush 8.5.14 Quoll 593648 5889781 22 Antechinus, Agile Antechinus, Dusky Bandicoot, Long-nosed Dasyurid, Small Possum, Mountain Brushtail Rat, Bush Scrubwren, White-browed Treecreeper, Red-browed 8.5.14 Quoll 593439 5889800 22 Bandicoot, Long-nosed Dasyurid, Small Possum, Common Brushtail Possum, Mountain Brushtail Rat, Bush Scrubwren, White-browed Whistler, Olive 830-507-0020 Webbed JR, AC 16.5.14 Potoroo 657819 5844323 28 Bandicoot, Long-nosed Feet Bowerbird, Satin Cat, Feral Dasyurid, Small Lyrebird, Superb Pigeon, Wonga Pilotbird Possum, Mountain Brushtail Potoroo, Long-footed Rat, Swamp Whipbird, Eastern 16.5.14 Potoroo 657698 5843872 28 Lyrebird, Superb 16.5.14 Quoll 657541 5843946 28 Bandicoot, Long-nosed Lyrebird, Superb 16.5.14 Quoll 657909 5844049 28 Cat, Feral Lyrebird, Superb Pigeon, Wonga Possum, Brushtail sp. Wallaby, Swamp 835-512-0008 Handball JR, AC 13.5.14 Potoroo 656058 5826448 38 Cat, Feral Dasyurid, Small Possum, Common Ringtail Potoroo, Long-footed Rat, Bush Robin, Eastern Yellow 13.5.14 Potoroo 655253 5826648 38 Bandicoot, Southern Brown Shrike-thrush, Grey Wallaby, Swamp 13.5.14 Quoll 655808 5826482 38 Cat, Feral Potoroo, Long-footed Wallaby, Swamp 13.5.14 Quoll 655304 5826466 38 Bandicoot, Long-nosed Bandicoot, Southern Brown Cat, Feral Potoroo, Long-footed Shrike-thrush, Grey Wallaby, Swamp Wombat, Common 830-509-0004 Kitz Lane TL, AC 27.5.14 Quoll 655482 5842686 22 Cat, Feral Lyrebird, Superb 27.5.14 Quoll 655208 5842888 22 Bandicoot, Long-nosed Cat, Feral Lyrebird, Superb Pigeon, Wonga Potoroo, Long-footed 830-505-0006 Lottery King JR, AC 15.5.14 Potoroo 658661 5845299 29 Bowerbird, Satin Pigeon, Wonga Possum, Common Brushtail Potoroo, Long-footed 15.5.14 Potoroo 658586 5845521 29 Bandicoot, Long-nosed Lyrebird, Superb Possum, Common Brushtail Potoroo, Long-footed Rat, Bush Robin, Eastern Yellow VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 12

Scrubwren, White-browed Wallaby, Swamp 15.5.14 Quoll 658587 5844954 29 Bandicoot, Long-nosed Lyrebird, Superb Pigeon, Wonga Possum, Common Brushtail Rat, Bush Wallaby, Swamp Wombat, Common 15.5.14 Quoll 658343 5845319 29 Bandicoot, Long-nosed Bowerbird, Satin Cat, Feral Possum, Common Brushtail Wallaby, Swamp Wombat, Common 834-505-0007 Wheelers JR, AC 14.5.14 Potoroo 660317 5829158 37 Lyrebird, Superb Pigeon, Wonga Possum, Common Brushtail Potoroo, Long-footed Rat, Bush Robin, Eastern Yellow Wallaby, Swamp 14.5.14 Potoroo 661114 5828786 37 Bandicoot, Long-nosed Dasyurid, Small Fairy-wren, Superb Lyrebird, Superb Possum, Brushtail sp. Potoroo, Long-footed Rat, Bush Robin, Eastern Yellow 14.5.14 Quoll 660467 5829347 37 Bandicoot, Long-nosed Dasyurid, Small Rat sp. Robin, Eastern Yellow Wallaby, Swamp 14.5.14 Quoll 660885 5829039 37 Bandicoot, Long-nosed 885-511-0018 0506 TL, IV 13.5.14 Potoroo 672611 5861572 29 Bronzewing, Common Cat, Feral Potoroo, Long-footed Possum, Mountain Brushtail Rat sp. Lyrebird, Superb 14.5.14 Potoroo 672814 5860785 28 Antechinus, Dusky Dasyurid, Small Lyrebird, Superb Possum, Mountain Brushtail Potoroo, Long-footed Rat sp. Rosella, Crimson 13.5.14 Quoll 672296 5861590 29 Bandicoot, Long-nosed Dasyurid, Small Lyrebird, Superb Possum, Common Brushtail Potoroo, Long-footed Rat, Bush 14.5.14 Quoll 672678 5861171 28 Lyrebird, Superb Possum, Common Brushtail Wallaby, Swamp 885-509-0009 Honeymoon TL, IV 14.5.14 Potoroo 675980 5860630 28 Lyrebird, Superb Rosella, Crimson Thrush, Bassian Wallaby, Swamp Wombat, Common 14.5.14 Potoroo 676144 5860973 28 Lyrebird, Superb Pigeon, Wonga 14.5.14 Quoll 675793 5860802 28 Bandicoot, Long-nosed Dasyurid, Small Lyrebird, Superb Possum, Mountain Brushtail Potoroo, Long-footed Shrike-thrush, Grey Wallaby, Swamp VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 13

15.5.14 Quoll 675869 5861289 27 Cat, Feral Dasyurid, Small Lyrebird, Superb Pigeon, Wonga Wallaby, Swamp Wombat, Common 894-505-0002 Pollux JR, TL 10.5.14 Potoroo 679664 5880356 32 Bandicoot, Long-nosed Lyrebird, Superb Wombat, Common 10.5.14 Potoroo 679992 5880625 32 Currawong, Grey Dasyurid, Small Lyrebird, Superb Possum, Common Brushtail Rat sp. Robin, Eastern Yellow Scrubwren, White-browed Thrush, Bassian Wallaby, Swamp Whipbird, Eastern Wombat, Common 9.5.14 Quoll 679610 5880863 33 Antechinus, Agile Bandicoot, Long-nosed Dasyurid, Small Lyrebird, Superb Owlet-nightjar, Australian Possum, Common Brushtail Possum, Mountain Brushtail Rat, Bush Robin, Eastern Yellow Wallaby, Red-necked Wallaby, Swamp Wombat, Common 9.5.14 Quoll 679576 5880659 33 Bandicoot, Long-nosed Cat, Feral Lyrebird, Superb Possum, Common Brushtail Wallaby, Swamp Whistler, Olive Wombat, Common

VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 14

Figure 2 Significant images captured by remote cameras set in package 14 coupes.

Long-footed potoroos at (a) Back Track, (b) Ox/Bovine, (c) Handball and (d) First Base.

d VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 15

(a) Long-nosed bandicoot at Pollux, and (b, c) southern brown bandicoot at Handball.

c 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. Coupe Date Surveyors Easting/ northing Dusk listen results Distance/ Playback results Distance/ name direction direction 835-512- Ox/Bovine 13.5.14 JR, AC 655786/ 5825181 n/a n/a Glider, Yellow-bellied 150m 160° 0002/ 835- Boobook, Southern 250m 160° 512-0003 720-505-0019 Dapples 6.5.14 JR, AC 588420/ 5926281 Nil n/a Nil n/a North 832-501- First Base/ 18.6.14 TL, BV 652911/ 5837111 n/a n/a Boobook, Southern 300m 40° 0035/ 832- Back Track Boobook, Southern 150m 50° 501-0031 Boobook, Southern 200m 65° Glider, Sugar 100m 80° Glider, Yellow-bellied 250m 350° Possum, Common Brushtail 100m 245° 817-501-0015 Drop Down 8.5.14 JR, TL 593992/ 5889688 Nil n/a Glider, Sugar 400m 360° Glider, Yellow-bellied 400m 300° 830-507-0020 Webbed 15.5.14 JR, AC 658281/ 5843938 n/a n/a Nil. Windy weather marginal n/a Feet for conducting playback survey. No return visit made to site as track became inaccessible after rain. 835-512-0008 Handball 13.5.14 JR, AC 655220/ 5826281 Froglet, Eastern Common - Froglet, Eastern Common 50m 320° Froglet, Victorian Smooth - Owl, Powerful 200m 45°, Martin’s Toadlet - then 150m 0° 830-509-0004 Kitz Lane 18.6.14 TL, BV Dusk: Glider, Yellow-bellied 30m 20° Frog, Southern Brown Tree 300m 110° 655566/ 5842349 Glider, Yellow-bellied 200m 120° Playback: Hearing obstructed by sound of a dozer being 655413/ 5841979 walked along a track in the distance. VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 17

830-505-0006 Lottery King 15.5.14 JR, AC 658288/ 5845288 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. 834-505-0007 Wheelers 14.5.14 JR, AC 660172/ 5828971 Nil n/a Nil n/a 885-511-0018 0506 13.5.14 TL, IV Dusk listen: Glider, Yellow-bellied 200m 90° Glider, Sugar 150m 40° 671903/ 5861750 Glider, Yellow-bellied 30m 0° Glider, Sugar 150m 70° Playback: Glider, Yellow-bellied 250m 340° 672714/ 5861631 Owl, Sooty 150m 60° several screams heard from gully east of coupe 885-509-0009 Honeymoon 14.5.14 TL, IV Dusk listen: Glider, Yellow-bellied 100m 20° Glider, Sugar 200m 300° 676508/ 5861162 Glider, Yellow-bellied 100m 245° Glider, Yellow-bellied 150m 140° Playback: Duck, Australian Wood 200m 0° Glider, Yellow-bellied 200m 140° Boobook, Southern 676284/ 5861311 500m 320° 894-505-0002 Pollux 9.5.14 JR, TL 679432/ 5880895 Froglet, Eastern Common - Boobook, Southern - Frog, Southern Brown - Glider, Sugar 100m 330° Tree Glider, Yellow-bellied 100m 330° Owl, Sooty Strong reaction scream 300m 60°, then 200m, 220°, trilling 50m 80°.

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

835-512-0002/ Ox/Bovine 13.5.14 JR, AC 656146/ 655581/ Froglet, Victorian Smooth 655643 5825401 0m 835-512-0003 5824744 5826074 Glider, Yellow-bellied 655847 5825085 50m 215° Glider, Yellow-bellied 656050 5824880 150m 230°

720-505-0019 Dapples North 6.5.14 JR, AC 588420/ 588569/ Galaxias sp. in Dapples Creek 589085 5926341 50cm, in 5926281 5926867 creek pool

832-501-0035 First Base 18.6.14 TL, BV 653918/ 653389/ Nil. n/a n/a n/a 5836848 5836904

832-501-0031 Back Track 18.6.14 TL, BV 652474/ 652306/ Nil. n/a n/a n/a 5837240 5836852

817-501-0015 Drop Down 8.5.14 JR, TL 593992/ 593413/ Antechinus/ Glider, Feathertail 593449 5889595 0m 5889688 5889741 Bandicoot, Long-nosed 593461 5889716 0m Glider, Greater 593559 5889546 100m 250° Glider, Yellow-belllied 593449 5889595 0m Possum, Mountain Brushtail 593449 5889595 150m 0° Possum, Mountain Brushtail 593958 5889529 0m 830-507-0020 Webbed Feet 15.5.14 JR, AC 658281/ 657638/ Glider, Sugar 658253 5844056 0m 5843938 5844661 Possum, Mountain Brushtail x3 657638 5844661 0m

835-512-0008 Handball 13.5.14 JR, AC 655789/ 655037/ Glider, Sugar 655799 5826333 100m 0° 5826396 5826873 Toadlet, Martin’s 655789 5826396 150m 15°

830-509-0004 Kitz Lane 18.6.14 TL, BV n/a n/a Coupe inaccessible for spotlighting n/a n/a n/a

830-505-0006 Lottery King 15.5.14 JR, AC 658594/ 658040/ Glider, Sugar 658120 5845352 50m 210° 5845470 5845451 Wind hindered spotlighting effort but habitat marginal on ridgetop. 834-505-0007 Wheelers 14.5.14 JR, AC 660172/ 660887/ Boobook, Southern 660397 5828764 200m 30° 5828971 5828340

885-511-0018 0506 13.5.14 TL, IV 672732/ 672840/ Boobook, Southern 672880 5860996 500m 340° 5861618 5860629 Frogmouth, Tawny 672770 5861136 0m Glider, Sugar x2 672737 5861386 200m 340° VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 19

Glider, Yellow-bellied 672880 5860996 150m 300° Owl, Powerful ♀ 672725 5861518 400m 320° Owl, Sooty 672725 5861518 150m 90° Possum, Common Brushtail 672725 5861518 10m 280° Possum, Common Ringtail 672737 5861386 0m Possum, Common Ringtail 672769 5861204 10m 210° Possum sp. x2 672880 5860996 50m 265° 885-509-0009 Honeymoon 14.5.14 TL, IV 676294/ 675822/ Glider, Sugar 676177 5861540 50m 240° 5861296 5861435 Glider, Sugar 676177 5861540 150m 320° Glider, Yellow-bellied 675879 5861483 200m 300° Possum, Common Brushtail 676371 5861362 10m 30° 894-505-0002 Pollux 9.5.14 JR, TL 679432/ 679476/ Bandicoot, Long-nosed 679478 5880679 0m 5880895 5880161 Glider, Greater 679482 5880469 0m Glider, Greater 679469 5880280 0m Dingo/Wild Dog 679432 5880895 500m 340° Owlet-nightjar, Australian 679478 5880679 20m 180° Owl, Powerful ♂ 679473 5880722 500m 240° Owl, Powerful ♀ (heard post-survey) 679432 5880895 200m 70°

VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 20

Appendix 1 Diurnal birds recorded for package 14 coupes.

Ox Dapples First Back Drop Webbed Species Handball Bovine North Base Track Down Feet Black-cockatoo, X Yellow-tailed Boobook,

Southern Butcherbird, Grey X Cockatoo, Gang- X X X X gang Cockatoo,

Sulphur-crested Cuckoo, Fan-tailed X Currawong, Grey X Currawong, Pied X X X X X X Emu Fairy-wren, X X Superb Fantail, Grey X X X Honeyeater,

Brown-headed Honeyeater, X X X Crescent Honeyeater, X X Lewin’s Honeyeater, New X Holland Honeyeater, X White-eared Honeyeater, X White-naped Honeyeater,

Yellow-faced Kookaburra, X X Laughing Lyrebird, Superb X X X X Magpie, Australian Mistletoebird X Owlet-nightjar,

Australian Pardalote, Spotted Parrot, Australian X X King Pigeon, Wonga X Pilotbird X X Raven, Australian X Robin, Eastern X X X X X Yellow VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 21

Robin, Pink X Rosella, Crimson X X X X X Scrubwren, White- X X browed Shrike-thrush, X X X X X Grey Silvereye X X Spinebill, Eastern X Thornbill, Brown X X X X Thornbill, Striated X X X X X Thrush, Bassian X Treecreeper, X X X X X X X White-throated Wattlebird, Red X Whipbird, Eastern X Whistler, Golden X X Whistler, Olive

VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 22

Lottery Species cont. Kitz Lane Wheelers 0506 Honeymoon Pollux King Black-cockatoo, Yellow- X X X tailed Boobook, Southern X Butcherbird, Grey X Cockatoo, Gang-gang X X X X Cockatoo, Sulphur- X crested Cuckoo, Fan-tailed Currawong, Grey X Currawong, Pied X X X X Emu X Fairy-wren, Superb X Fantail, Grey X X X X Honeyeater, Brown- X headed Honeyeater, Crescent X X X Honeyeater, Lewin’s X X X X X Honeyeater, New

Holland Honeyeater, White- X X eared Honeyeater, White- naped Honeyeater, Yellow- X X X faced Kookaburra, Laughing X Lyrebird, Superb X X X X Magpie, Australian X Mistletoebird X Owlet-nightjar, X X Australian Pardalote, Spotted X Parrot, Australian King X Pigeon, Wonga X X X X Pilotbird X X X Raven, Australian X Robin, Eastern Yellow X X X X X Robin, Pink X Rosella, Crimson X X X X Scrubwren, White- X X X X browed Shrike-thrush, Grey X X X X Silvereye X X X Spinebill, Eastern Thornbill, Brown X X X VicForests pre-logging surveys- package 14 report 23

Thornbill, Striated X X X Thrush, Bassian X Treecreeper, White- X X X X throated Wattlebird, Red Whipbird, Eastern X Whistler, Golden X X X X Whistler, Olive X

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.

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.)