Denimein LWMP Wildlife

Denimein 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 106 farms and were surveyed One of the great things about between June 2005 and March living in rural Australia is all the 2006. They incorporated a range wildlife that we share the land- of vegetation types (e.g. Black scape with. Historically, humans Box Woodland) as well as reveg- have impacted on the survival of etation on previously cleared many native plants and animals. land and constructed wetlands. Fortunately, there is a growing Methods used to survey wildlife commitment in the country to included: wildlife conservation on the farm and as we improve our knowl- - Bird surveys edge and understanding of the - Log rolling for reptiles and local landscape and the animals frogs and plants that live in it we will - Spotlighting for mammals, rep be in a much better position to tiles and nocturnal birds conserve and enhance our natu- - Elliot traps for small mammals ral heritage for future genera- and reptiles tions. - Pitfall trapping for reptiles and frogs This wildlife survey was an ini- - Harp traps for bats tiative of the Denimein Land & - Using the “Anabat” to record D.Webb Water Management Plan (LWMP) bat calls The Black Wallaby was an Working Group and is the largest - Call broadcasting to attract excellent find! This shy spe- and most extensive ever un- birds cies loves thick undergrowth dertaken in the area. Denimein and is one of the rarest mam- was one of four LWMP areas that Other targeted methods were mals in Denimein. took part in the project. This used opportunistically and sig- project had three aims: nificant species seen incidentally (e.g. when traveling between CONTENTS 1 To determine the distribution, sites) were also recorded. Sur- Pg. 2 Introduction habitat and local status of veying over the entire Murray Pg. 3 Reptiles & Frogs birds, reptiles, mammals and LWMP area involved over 120 Pg. 4 Birds & Mammals frogs days of field work, usually with Pg. 5 Birds 2 To raise awareness about wild at least two people. Pg. 6 River Red Gum Forest life ecology Pg. 7 Black Box Woodland 3 To promote conservation of Pg.8-9 Denimein Highlights remaining species Pg. 10 Boree Woodland Front cover: Bush Stone-curlew (D. Webb), high quality Black Box habitat at the Pretty Pg. 11 Grassy Box Woodland What methods did we use? Pine TSR (M. Herring) and people gather to Pg. 12 Sandhill Woodland inspect one of the bat species found at a Deni- Pg. 13 Constructed Wetlands mein field day on the Edward River (D. Webb). A total of 150 sites were estab- Pg. 13 Chenopod Shrubland lished in the Murray LWMP area Back Cover: Glossy Ibis (P. Merritt), Pg. 14 Revegetation Revegetation in Denimein (M. Herring). with 20 of these in Denimein. Pg. 15 What We Can Do To Help

The Denimein LWMP area covers 53,379ha and is comprised of M.Herring 190 irrigated holdings. Log-rolling conducted as part of the wildlife survey.

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, 140 species were found in Denimein.

Reptiles A total of 12 reptiles were found in Denimein. The major high- Peron’s Tree Frog P.Merritt Southern Marbled Gecko M.Herring light for reptiles was the dis- REPTILES covery of two locally rare skinks Eastern Long-necked Turtle R Chelodina longicollis in Chenopod Shrubland in the Murray Turtle R Emydura macquarii north-western part of Denimein: Olive Legless Lizard R Delma inornata the Chenopod Morethia and the • Southern Marbled Gecko C Christinus marmoratus Spotted-backed Ctenotus. The Gibber Gecko R Diplodactylus byrnei Tessellated Gecko, considered • Tessellated Gecko R Diplodactylus tessellatus rare regionally, was also found Wood Gecko R Diplodactylus vitattus at this Chenopod Shrubland site, Beaked Gecko R Rynchoedura ornata as well as a Boree Woodland site • Carnaby’s Wall Skink C Cryptoblepharus carnabyii in Denimein. Sandhill Woodland Regal Skink R Ctenotus regius was the most important veg- • Robust Ctenotus U Ctenotus robustus etation type for reptiles across • Spotted-backed Ctenotus U Ctenotus orientalis the four Murray LWMP areas. Tree-crevice Skink R Egernia striolata The South-eastern Slider and Garden Skink R Lampropholis guichenoti Southern Blind Snake, also both South-eastern Slider R Lerista bougainvillii regionally rare, were recorded • Wood Mulch Slider U Lerista muelleri just outside the Denimein area. Eastern Robust Slider R Lerista punctatovittata A Carpet Python was found fur- • Dwarf Skink U Menetia greyii ther west in the Wakool LWMP • Chenopod Morethia R Morethia adelaidiensis area along the Niemur River and • Boulenger’s Skink C Morethia boulengeri they are known to occur in other Shingleback R Tiliqua rugosa nearby areas including the Ed- • Common Blue-tongue Lizard R Tiliqua scincoides ward River around Moulamein. Eastern Bearded Dragon U Pogona barbata The most common Denimein Sand Goanna R Varanus gouldii reptiles were the Boulenger’s • Lace Monitor U Varanus varius Skink, Carnaby’s Wall Skink and Southern Blind Snake R Ramphotyphlops bicolor Robust Ctenotus. Prong-snouted Blind Snake R Ramphotyphlops bituberculatus Woodland Blind Snake R Ramphotyphlops proximus Frogs Carpet Python R Morelia spilota By far the most common frogs Tiger Snake R Notechis scutatus recorded were Plains Froglet, Red-bellied Black Snake U Psedechis porphyriacus Common Froglet and Spotted • Eastern Brown Snake C Pseudonaja textilis Marsh Frog. They were frequent- Curl Snake U Suta suta ly recorded in large numbers near water, along rivers, creeks FROGS and in flooded wetlands includ- Peron’s Tree Frog U Litoria peroni ing rice. These common frogs (t) Southern Bell Frog R Litoria raniformis provide a great food source for • Plains Froglet C Crinia parinsignifera waterbirds. The most signifi- • Common Froglet C Crinia signifera cant of the 9 frog species found Pobblebonk U Limnodynastes dumerillii across the four Murray LWMP • Spotted Marsh Frog C Limnodynastes tasmaniensis areas was the beautiful South- Barking Marsh Frog U Limnodynastes fletchori ern Bell Frog, and although not Common Spadefoot R Neobatrachus sudelli recorded in Denimein, it is very Wrinkled Toadlet R Uperoleia rugosa likely to exist as they were recorded at several sites in good R - Rare (1 - 10% of sites) numbers in the nearby Wakool U - Uncommon (11-25% of sites) and Cadell LWMP areas. This C - Common (26% sites or more) Southern Bell Frog population is • - Found in Denimein an important stronghold for the # - Introduced species species. (t) - Listed as threatened in NSW

3 BIRDS & MAMMALS Birds species were bats, with eight MAMMALS A total of 107 bird species were species recorded in Denimein Platypus R found in Denimein. River Red including a range of wattled, • Yellow-footed Antechinus U Gum sites along the Edward freetail, long-eared, forest and • Common Brushtail Possum C River and the Pretty Pine Travel- broad-nosed bats. The great- Common Ringtail Possum U ling Stock Reserve Black Box site est number and diversity of bats Sugar Glider R had the highest diversity of birds were recorded in wetlands and (t) Squirrel Glider R including local rarities like Red- along rivers. These fascinat- • Eastern Grey Kangaroo C capped Robin, Painted Button- ing creatures consume up to Western Grey Kangaroo R quail, Eastern Shrike-tit, Azure half their body weight in insects • Red Kangaroo R Kingfisher and Budgerigar. Many every night! During the day they • Black Wallaby R other sites were dominated by roost in tree hollows and under Common Wombat R common species because contin- bark. • Gould’s Wattled Bat C uous grazing, removal of fallen (t) Little Pied Bat R timber and a lack of flooding has The Eastern Grey Kangaroo and • Chocolate Wattled Bat U reduced available habitat for the Brush-tailed Possum were the • Lesser Long-eared Bat U more sensitive birds. most commonly found marsupi- Southern Forest Bat R als whereas the Yellow-footed • Little Forest Bat C The 14 most common birds for Antechinus was only found • Inland Broad-nosed Bat U the entire Murray LWMP study amongst fallen timber in red • Inland Freetail Bat R (recorded at 75 or more sites) gum country along the Edward • Southern Freetail Bat C were the Australian Magpie, River. One of the most exciting • White-striped Freetail Bat U Galah, Striated Pardalote, Willie finds was a Black Wallaby re- Water Rat R Wagtail, Crested Pigeon, Superb corded near the corner of Nis- •#House Mouse U Fairy-wren, Red-rumped Parrot, bett’s and Stud Park Roads. •#Fox C Noisy Miner, Australian Raven, •#Cat R Eastern Rosella, Yellow Thorn- Other native mammals not •#Rabbit C bill, White-plumed Honeyeater, recorded in Denimein but found •#Hare C Magpie-lark and White-winged nearby included the Common #Pig R Chough. Many of these bird spe- Ringtail Possum, Little Pied Bat cies occur in open farmland and and Southern Forest Bat. Fur- are ‘winners’, having benefited ther west along the Edward R - Rare (1 - 10% of sites) from changes to the landscape River in the Wakool LWMP area U - Uncommon (11-25% of sites) C - Common (26% sites or more) since European settlement. a Platypus was found. Additional • - Found in Denimein recent sightings from local land- # - Introduced species A major highlight in Denimein holders suggest there are sev- (t) - Listed as threatened in NSW was finding two of the three eral in that area. It is possible pairs of Bush Stone-curlews for that Platypus still occur on the the entire Murray LWMP study. Edward River in Denimein. No The Inland Dotterel (one site, Echidnas were recorded for the Deni-Moulamein Rd) was the entire study. Historically, early only record for the whole study settlers recorded the Eastern and Yellow-throated Miner (3 Quoll, Rufous Bettong, Bilby, sites) were found in Denimein Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat more than any other area. A Lit- and White-footed Rabbit Rat, tle Eagle (Oro Rd), Glossy Ibis now all extinct in the Murray (on rice north of Pretty Pine), region. Black-faced Woodswallows (2 sites) and a group of ten Superb There were 5 introduced mam- Parrots in Boree (north of Pretty mals recorded in Denimein dur- Pine) are also noteworthy sight- ing the study. In a joint effort ings. Grey-crowned Babblers are with the Rural Lands Protection considered threatened in NSW Board, many landholders in but we found them at 11 of the Denimein have been extremely 20 Denimein sites, making them proactive in eradicating feral one of the most common local animals especially the fox and bird species in the area! this will have enormous benefits to the local wildlife. Mammals A total of 18 mammals were found in Denimein, 13 of these being native. Most of the native Lesser Long-eared Bat D.Webb

4 BIRDS BIRDS Black-fronted Dotterel R (t) Hooded Robin R • Emu R • Masked Lapwing R • (t) Grey-crowned Babbler C 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 (t) Freckled Duck R White-winged Black Tern R (t) Gilbert’s Whistler R (t) Blue-billed Duck R 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 (t) Magpie Goose R 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 • (t) Superb Parrot R • Dusky Woodswallow R Great Cormorant R Cockatiel U • Grey Butcherbird 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 • Pied Currawong R • White-faced Heron R • Red-rumped Parrot C • Australian Raven C Cattle Egret R • Budgerigar R • Little Raven C Little Egret R • Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo R Apostlebird U • Great Egret R Fan-tailed Cuckoo R • White-winged Chough C Intermediate Egret R Australian Owlet Nightjar R • Richards Pipit R • Nankeen Night Heron R 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 (t) Diamond Firetail R • Royal Spoonbill R • Laughing Kookaburra C •# House Sparrow R • Yellow-billed Spoonbill R • Sacred Kingfisher C • Mistletoebird 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) (t) Brolga R • Yellow Thornbill C C - Common (26% sites or more) Buff-banded Rail R • Striated Thornbill U Australian Spotted Crake R • Weebill C • - Found in Denimein 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 R Eurasian Coot R • Noisy Friarbird R • Black-tailed Native-hen R • Noisy Miner C (t) Bush Stone-curlew R • 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 (t) Black-tailed Godwit R (t) Painted Honeyeater R Common Greenshank R • Singing Honeyeater R Marsh Sandpiper R • White-plumed Honeyeater C Wood Sandpiper R (t) Black-chinned Honeyeater R 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 • Jacky Winter U Red-capped Plover R Flame Robin R • Red-kneed Dotterel R • Red-capped Robin U Inland Dotterel P.Merritt

5 RIVER RED GUM FOREST

D.Webb D.Webb

The Bush Stone-curlew is just one of many birds, mammals, reptiles and frogs that are attracted to the Edward River. They were recorded in River Red Gum adjacent to the Edward River and in Black Box just north of the Box Creek. Other recent sightings from Denimein landholders suggest there might be up to five different local pairs in the area. Increased fox and feral cat control and retention of fallen timber will help improve breeding success in the threatened curlew.

There are six main vegeta- Good quality red gum habitat Cockatoo, Yellow Rosella, Sacred tion types in Denimein. These booms with wildlife, particularly Kingfisher, Azure Kingfisher, include River Red Gum Forest, birds and mammals. Large, old White-throated Treecreeper, Dol- Black Box Woodland, Grassy Box River Red Gums are the equiva- larbird, Striated Thornbill, White- Woodland, Sandhill Woodland, lent of 5-star hotels for wildlife browed Scrubwren, Little Friar- Boree Woodland and Chenopod because they are filled with a bird, Restless Flycatcher, Sugar Shrubland. Together with Reveg- range of hollows and crevices. Glider, Yellow-footed Antechinus, etation and Constructed Wet- Bats, possums, gliders, parrots, Black Wallaby, Carpet Python, lands, these are covered in the pardalotes, owls, the Tree-crev- Tree-crevice Skink and a range following sections. ice Skink and numerous others of bats and frogs. all shelter and nest in red gums. River Red Gum (Eucalyptus ca- Shedding bark is important Intermittent flooding directly maldulensis) is one of the most for treecreepers, the Southern benefits waterbirds and frogs but intact vegetation types in the Marbled Gecko and Peron’s Tree also maintains the overall health NSW Murray Catchment. The Frog. Fallen logs and branches of the system. Great Egrets, red gum forests of the Mur- are home to an array of reptiles White-necked Herons and sever- ray region are one of Austral- and are a favourite place for the al other tree-nesting waterbirds ia’s greatest ecological assets. Yellow-footed Antechinus and were all found breeding in red Bush Stone-curlew. Thickets of gums along the Edward River. The Gould’s Wattled young red gums and shrubs like Common but easily over- Bat is easily recognised River Cooba, Silver Wattle and looked, the Striated Dwarf Cherry also increase habi- by its distinctive black Pardalote is usually the tat diversity in red gum forests ‘boofhead’. It is one of the and support additional species only small bird that per- most abundant mammals like the Black Wallaby, Gilbert’s sists in poor habitat domi- in the Denimein area. Whistler and White-browed Bab- nated by Noisy Miners. bler.

More than 70 species were found in red gum in Denimein across the four sites. Across all four LWMP areas, some of the species most strongly associated with red gum compared to other vegetation types were the Nankeen Night Heron, Long- billed Corella, Sulphur-crested

D.Webb D.Webb

6 BLACK BOX WOODLAND The Brush-tailed Pos- sum was the most common of the tree-dwelling marsupials and was recorded five times more frequently than the smaller Ringtail Possum. The Sugar Glider, Squir- rel Glider and Feathertail Glider are now all rare across the farming landscape.

D.Webb The White-browed Woodswallow arrives in the woodlands of Deni- mein each spring and M.Herring summer, hoping local conditions favour a good The Carnaby’s Wall breeding season. They are Skink, like many small often heard and seen in skinks, is often known large overhead flocks with simply as a ‘drop-tail’. Masked Woodswallows. This species loves dead

D.Webb wood and is often found Black Box Woodland is domi- ing off remnant stands and con- basking on dead trees nated by Black Box (Eucalyptus trolling grazing to allow young and fallen logs, even on largiflorens) and is often found trees, shrubs and various ground cold winter days. on heavier floodplain soils, along covers to regenerate is usually creeks and in wetland depres- the most practical first step. sions. Good quality Black Box Black Box along the Box Creek woodland also has a range of is an important wildlife corridor understorey shrubs such as and has excellent potential for Miljee, Lignum, Nitre Goose- being further restored to im- foot, Thorny Saltbush, Leaf- prove its habitat. less Cherry, Native Willow and a variety of grasses. Black Box Many of the remaining stands with an understorey is ideal for of Black Box are disconnected many woodland birds and when from the floodplain and show flooded it teems with frogs, bats signs of thirst. The wetlands and wetland birds. watering project that the NSW Murray Wetlands Working Group More than 60 species of animals and Murray Irrigation have were found in Black Box across implemented since 2001 has the 7 Denimein sites. Many been a great success in bring- Black Box remnants are miss- ing these systems back to life ing an understorey of shrubs on many farms. Waterbirds like and provide habitat for only the Latham’s Snipe, which only a handful of species like the breeds in Japan, and the Red- Eastern Rosella, Noisy Miner, kneed Dotterel that breeds lo- Grey Butcherbird, Eastern Grey cally, together with all local frogs Kangaroo and Eastern Brown and bats benefit directly from Snake. Increasing the cover of the flooding. Woodland birds like native perennial grasses, retain- the Grey-crowned Babbler and ing fallen timber and reinstating Chestnut-rumped Thornbill, and native shrubs will benefit locally a range of reptiles and mammals rare species like the Diamond benefit in the longer term from Firetail, Red-capped Robin and an improvement in the health of

Yellow-footed Antechinus. Fenc- these remnants. Black Box Woodland with shrubs. M.Herring

7 DENIMEIN HIGHLIGHTS

Involving the community… The six Denimein field days and seminars were well attended with an average of more than 50 people. We received a great deal of support and positive feed- back from the community, with particular appreciation of the family-focused barbecues, nov- elty prizes, involvement 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 1,293 people attended the 24 field days and seminars held across the four LWMP areas, testimony to the strong interest that irrigation farmers in the Murray region have in their local wildlife.

Photo Captions and Credits Top Left: Locals with Southern Blind Snake (MIL) Top Right: Locals with Southern Blind Snake (MIL) Middle: Latham’s Snipe (P. Merritt) Bottom Right: One of the three seminars held at the Pretty Pine Hall(MIL) Next Page, Top Left: Lesser Long-eared Bat (M. Herring) Top Right: Yellow-footed Antechinus (P. Merritt) Middle Left: Nankeen Night Heron (P. Merritt) Middle Right: Matthew Herring holding Yellow-footed Antechinus found on Edward River during field day (D. Webb) Bottom Left: Checking a harp trap for bats at a Denimein field day. (D. Webb) Bottom Right: Budgerigar breeding in old Fairy Martin (Bottle Swallow) nests. (P. Merritt)

8 9 BOREE WOODLAND

Boree Woodland is dominated by Boree (Acacia pendula) and originally it was the dominant vegetation type in Denimein extending over expansive areas beyond the active floodplain. Today, there are just a few scattered stands remaining, repre- senting about 4% of the original area.

A total of 48 species were found at the 2 Denimein sites. The Blue Bonnet and Singing Hon- eyeater were closely associated with Boree across all four LWMP areas. Tessellated Geckos and Superb Parrots were also D.Webb found in Denimein Boree, whilst Painted Honeyeaters and Bush The Painted Honeyeater is a rare woodland Stone-curlews were found in Bo- bird that is dependent on mistletoe. They were ree just to the east in the Ber- found at two sites east of Conargo (near Deni- riquin LWMP area. mein) feeding on Grey Mistletoe fruits in Boree. Their distinctive “georgie” call heralds their ar- Conservation of the remain- rival each spring. ing stands of Boree is crucially important for the Denimein Male Superb Parrot in Boree at a Denimein area. Controlling stock grazing to allow regrowth of young Bo- TSR. These striking parrots breed in the red ree trees and shrubs, retaining gum forests along the Murray, Edward and fallen timber and encouraging other rivers but rely on other vegetation types native grasses can make a huge like Boree to feed in. difference.

The ‘furnished house’ on the right is the only option for most prospective 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. An increasing number of landholders in Denimein are using fencing incentives to manage grazing and encourage regrowth of native vegetation.

M.Herring

10 GRASSY BOX WOODLAND

Kristin Goudie and Bruce Simpson at a Yellow Box patch on “Coolowie” that has been fenced-off and had a patchy understorey of shrubs reinstated – grassy box woodland restoration in progress!

M.Herring Grassy Box Woodland includes any stands of White Cypress- Pine, Murray Cypress-Pine, Yellow Box, Grey Box, Buloke or Needlewood, that aren’t on sandhills. Originally, these woodlands contained a great variety of understorey shrubs D.Webb such as wattles, saltbushes and hopbushes, together with open grassy areas. The Eastern Brown Snake, one of only four reptiles as- The soils found in Grassy Box signed to the Common cat- Woodland were favoured for egory for regional status, is agriculture and in most areas the most frequently recorded 95% of the original area has snake in Denimein and has disappeared. Today, the wildlife coped well with European set- found in these woodlands usu- tlement. ally consists of common species like the Eastern Brown Snake, The Australian Magpie (with Australian Magpie, Noisy Miner and Galah that can persist in two House Mice) was one of landscapes that are mostly only 14 bird species recorded cleared. The good news is that at more than half of the 150 once a site has plenty of shrubs, study sites. fallen timber and other habitat P.Merritt there are many species capable of returning.

Neat and Tidy versus Messy and Lively! Tidying up the farm by piling up logs and branches and burning them is bad news for wildlife. The habitat value of this stand of Grey Box has plummeted after being “cleaned up”. Retaining fallen timber and reinstating a patchy understorey of shrubs will improve wildlife habitat. Even junk such as old fence posts and sheets of corrugated iron can be valuable habitat.

M.Herring 11 SANDHILL WOODLAND Sandhill woodland includes vegetation capable of growing in sandy soils and often merges with Grassy Box Woodland. Large trees include White and Murray Cypress-Pine, Buloke, Yellow Box and Needlewood. Sandhills originally had the most M.Herring D.Webb diverse shrub layers with species such as Moonah, Rosewood, Butterbush, Native Willow, Emu The Southern Blind Snake (above left), one of three Bush, Golden Wattle, Quandong blind snake species found across the Murray LWMP areas, and various species of saltbush. is right at home in the loose soil of sandhill woodland. The Good quality sandhill wood- beautiful Robust Ctenotus (above right) is locally com- land is a haven for reptiles and mon on sandhills. The Wood Mulch Slider (below), a woodland birds. The sandy soils tiny slider skink, is most often found under rotting logs on allow movement of underground sandhills. These and other reptile species avoid heavy soils animals like blind snakes and like those found in River Red Gum and Black Box areas. excavation of nesting burrows by Rainbow Bee-eaters and Sand Goannas.

Only one sandhill site was surveyed in Denimein, however based on sites in neighboring LWMP areas we know they have a unique suite of wildlife, very different to what we find in River Red Gum areas for instance. A third of the 33 reptiles found across the Murray LWMP area D.Webb were either exclusively found on sandhills with good quality remnant vegetation or were only rarely found in other vegetation types. A well-managed sandhill The Common Spade- remnant with good habitat sup- foot has distinctive dark ports around 10 reptile species, ‘spades’ on each foot. even if the site is only a hectare This burrowing frog is or two in area. The most sig- usually only found when nificant birds found in sandhill it surfaces after rain. Up woodland were the Superb Par- rot, Hooded Robin and Apos- to 1000 eggs are laid, tlebird. at or near the surface of the water, often entwined Parts of Denimein have exten- among vegetation. sive sandhills but when the area was first settled in the 1800s they were heavily cleared for grazing and then later for crop- ping. Remaining stands of Mur- ray Cypress-Pine is an example of remnant sandhill woodland that is excellent starting block for future restoration. This can be done by fencing out stock, controlling common weeds and replanting with shrubs. Control- ling rabbits, hares, foxes and cats will also make a site more attractive to native wildlife. Typical Sandhill Woodland M.Herring M.Herring

12 CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS Most constructed wetlands, whether for irrigation storage or stock water, are steep-sided deep dams with insufficient habitat for most waterbirds, frogs and bats. The Australian Wood Duck and Galah are rare exam- ples of species that have actually benefited from the proliferation of farm dams. D.Webb M.Herring Simple changes to constructed The increasingly mythical Australian Painted Snipe is wetlands can dramatically in- Australia’s most threatened waterbird and despite the crease their wildlife carrying Murray region being an important spring/summer breed- capacity. Earthworks to create ing area for them, they were not found during the study. seasonally flooded shallows that These striking yet secretive birds favour shallow, muddy support waterplants and mud- wetland areas that have low, patchy cover from native flats will attract a wide range of waterplants like Spike-rushes. Irrigation storage dams new species like egrets, herons, have huge potential to support many more waterbirds crakes, sandpipers, spoonbills by incorporating shallows with waterplants that are only and stilts. Avoiding constant grazing pressure from stock will flooded intermittently. This site near Jerilderie illustrates also enable mudflats and water- the potential biodiversity value of an irrigation stor- plants to flourish resulting in a age dam, with Australian Painted Snipe recorded on a greater range of wildlife utilising number of occasions, together with more than 60 other your farm dam. waterbird species. CHENOPOD SHRUBLAND For many people Chenopod Shrubland is simply a shrubby paddock. Cottonbush, Mat-rush, various saltbushes, bluebushes, Dillonbush and other shrubby plants found in Chenopod Shrub- land offer many wildlife species D.Webb with habitat that isn’t otherwise The Chenopod Morethia, Spotted-backed Ctenotus available. Only a handful of birds are closely associated with and White-winged Fairy-wren are all closely associ- Chenopod Shrubland like the ated with Chenopod Shrubland. These species are only White-winged Fairy-wren, rarely found in areas where there are trees but scattered Orange Chat and White-fronted stands of Boree in Chenopod Shrubland increase habitat Chat. Unlike most birds and diversity and mean more species are able to take advan- mammals, many reptiles do well tage of the shrubs. in treeless habitats like Chenop- od Shrubland, providing there is some cover from native shrubs, grass tussocks or cracking soils.

M.Herring

13 REVEGETATION

D.Webb M.Herring The Yellow Thornbill is This 1993 planting on ‘Union Plain’ has already attracted one of the first species to back a range of birds such as the Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, colonise revegetation patch- Grey-crowned Babbler and three Thornbill species, despite es. These tiny birds move there being very little remnant vegetation in the surround- through the trees in groups ing landscape. The propagation of five mistletoe species into feeding on insects, helping this planting has further increased habitat diversity, providing to maintain tree health. important nest sites, fruit and nectar.

Over the last decade it has Eucalypt plantations for tim- Old sheets of corrugated iron, become clear that many wildlife ber or firewood and Old Man fence posts and roofing tiles species, particularly birds and Saltbush plantings for grazing can provide homes for a range bats, are readily able to return value and salinity mitigation are of skinks, geckos and legless to suitable revegetation patches a much better ‘crop’ for most lizards that will otherwise have that landholders have planted. wildlife than conventional ag- to wait many decades for fallen Other less mobile species, like riculture. Some farm forestry logs and branches to accu- many reptiles and small mam- sites in the Cadell LWMP area mulate. Similarly, nest boxes mals will only benefit from that incorporated an Old Man designed for bats, possums, revegetation that is situated Saltbush understorey were out- gliders, parrots, owls or other adjacent to existing remnants. standing for bird diversity with a hollow-nesting wildlife can pro- range of thornbills, honeyeaters, vide shelter and nest sites well Large plantings greater than whistlers, robins and other small before hollow formation takes five hectares that have a mix birds. place decades down the track. of tree and shrub species and are located adjacent to good remnant vegetation are the best Two hundred years ago For information on the range of and provide habitat for much the Red-capped Robin incentives available for manag- ing, restoring and establishing more wildlife than single-species would have been one of plantings in thin strips in iso- native vegetation, please contact the most common birds in lated paddocks. your Denimein LWMP officer on the Denimein area but it 03 5881 9300. is now locally rare, being found at only 2 Denimein sites during the study, both along the Edward River. Fortunately, this appealing bird, together with the Grey-crowned Babbler, is known to readily colonise revegetation patches and return to restored remnant vegetation. D.Webb D.Webb

14 WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP How can I attract more Acknowledgements wildlife to my farm? The Denimein LWMP Wildlife Survey was funded and supported by Murray The most important thing that Irrigation Limited, the National Action Denimein 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 Tooleybuc in 2003/2004 and the Heartlands East- quality of habitat. Keeping areas ern Billabong Wildlife Survey conducted messy by avoiding continuous Reducing grazing pressure around Holbrook, Culcairn and Walbun- drie in 2001/2002. Special thanks to grazing pressure, not ‘cleaning will encourage an under- up’ fallen timber and ensuring the Denimein farmers for supporting the storey of shrubs. project so enthusiastically, with access that there is at least some areas to your properties, help during trapping that have shrubs and young sessions, strong attendance at the six trees are three simple ways to Denimein field days and seminars, and improve your wildlife habitat. reporting a multitude of local sightings made over many decades. Hats off to Kristin Goudie, former LWMP officer, for For those lucky enough to still her significant contribution to the project have good stands of Boree, Na- and also to her replacement Jane Paulet. tive Pine, Grey Box, Yellow Box Massive thanks to the talented team of wildlife surveyors who helped with the or Needlewood, these are the field work: Adam Bester, Peter Irish, Jess most valuable. For those with Herring, Gary Herring, Hugh McGregor, River Red Gum along the Edward Terry Korodaj, Daniel Arnold, Cameron River or Black Box along the Box Thomas, Jane Herring, Craig Grabham and Alex Knight. Big thanks to Jess Her- Creek, your sites contribute to ring and Maree Petrow for tackling the major wildlife ‘highways’ through Linking patches of bush daunting task of data entry. Thanks also the landscape. Flooding Black within and between prop- to the Riverina and Murray Rural Lands Box, River Red Gum and other erties creates corridors. Protection Boards for access to Travel- ling Stock Reserves, and to Charles wetland sites from time to time Sturt University and the Department of will help maintain the health of Environment & Conservation for scien- the floodplain and greatly im- tific permits, equipment hire and bat call prove wildlife habitat. analysis. Thanks to Paul Higgs and Jason Tasker for helping to produce the study site map. Lastly, to Dylan O’Donnell for Revegetated sites attract the his outstanding design expertise in help- most species when they are 5 ing to prepare these booklets. or more hectares in area, in- For further information contact: corporate a range of tree and Murray Irrigation Limited shrub species and are situated 443 Charlotte Street adjacent to remnant vegetation. Deniliquin NSW 2710 Simple changes to irrigation and Phone (BH) 03 5881 9300 stock water storage dams that Flooding of black box and create shallows with waterplants red gum is vital for the and mudflats can also dramati- health of the floodplain. Publication details cally increase wildlife diversity Published by Murray Wildlife and Murray on your farm. Irrigation Limited. All text Copyright © Matthew Herring, David Webb and Recommended Reading Michael Pisasale. All photos Copyright © David Webb, Peter Merritt, Matthew Herring Lindenmayer, D., Claridge, A., Hazell, D., Michael, D., Crane, M., ISBN: 0-9775829-0-6 MacGregor, C. and Cunningham, R. (2003) Wildlife on Farms – how Date of Publication: August 2006 to conserve native animals. CSIRO Author: Herring, Matthew. Publishing, Melbourne. Suggested citation: Herring, M., Webb, D. & Pisasale, M. Platt, S. J. (2002) How to plan wild- M.Herring (2006) Denimein Wildlife – Murray life landscapes: a guide for commu- Keeping stands of rem- Land & Water Management Plan Wildlife nity organisations. Department of nant vegetation messy, Survey 2005-2006. Murray Wildlife and Natural Resources and Environment, Murray Irrigation Limited. Melbourne. like this Boree patch, will benefit wildlife.