Species and Communities Branch newsletter for species and ecological communities conservation December 2014 Volume 20, Issue 1

A wetland oasis – Fortescue Marsh By Hamish Robertson

Above Fortescue Marsh. Photo – Stephen van Leeuwen

Fortescue Marsh is located in the Fortescue species. Fortescue Marsh is a Priority (DAFWA), Pilbara Mesquite Management Valley in the heart of the Pilbara. Set Ecological Community (PEC) and is listed Committee (PMMC), Fortescue Metals between the Chichester and Hamersley on the Directory of Important Wetlands Group (FMG), Roy Hill Iron Ore and Ranges, the marsh becomes episodically of Australia as a wetland of national Roy Hill Station, and traditional owners. inundated, and when it floods can occupy significance. The diverse ecosystem includes The project aims to eradicate the Parkinsonia an area of 1000km2. Large lakes that form endemic flora, fauna and supports a rich infestation which extends 18km along in the wet season can persist for up to diversity of restricted aquatic and terrestrial the upper Fortescue River. Aerial surveys 12 months attracting a diverse array of invertebrates. indicate a rate of spread of 1km per year Fortescue Marsh forms part of four active downstream towards Fortescue Marsh. pastoral leases, and several mining ventures Since the inception of the five-year project, surround the marsh. The pastoral leases approximately 55,000 individual plants have Inside this issue are proposed for excision in July 2015, been removed. A significant proportion of to be managed for conservation by Parks the work was undertaken by the Nyiyaparli A wetland oasis – Fortescue Marsh...... 1 and Wildlife. The department is a partner Traditional Owners, who received training in a series of collaborative projects which as part of this project. From weeds to whales – Pilbara aims to reduce impacts associated with A recent report published by the CSIRO research meeting...... 2 present and past land practices. One of the (Carwardine et al. 2014) states that without projects is the management and control of Tarin Rock Representative Lansdcape management intervention a quarter of the an invasive woody weed species, Parkinsonia Area – a little known gem in the Pilbara’s conservation significant species aculeata, from the marsh land system. Wheatbelt...... 3 will be lost within 20 years. This report Joint partners in the project include the ranked the management of feral ungulates New flora Interim Recovery Plans Department of Agriculture and Food WA approved...... 4

Re-introduction of Chuditch into Flinders Range National Park, South Australia...... 5

Highlights from recovery team annual reports 2013...... 6

Recovery plans...... 9

Above left Donkey located by helicopter. Photo – Parks and Wildlife Above right Newly established Parkinsonia infestation upper Fortescue River. Photo – Linda Anderson A wetland oasis – Fortescue Marsh (continued) and cats as the highest priority and the most cost-effective strategies. As a result of this report another collaborative project involving the removal of feral ungulates is underway. The department in partnership with DAFWA, NRM Rangelands and the Pilbara Regional Biosecurity Group established a Judas donkey telemetry program, which uses VHF telemetry collars fitted to donkeys. The Judas program relies on the social structure of a donkey mob. Feral donkeys are located by helicopter and fitted with telemetry collars before being released. The released donkey will seek out Above left Judas donkey. Photo – Mick Elliot Above right Workshop training to detect Parkinsonia. and become re-established with their mob. Photo – Hamish Robertson The collared donkey is then re-located by VHF signal and control work involves program using remote sensor cameras, department’s Science and Conservation removal of animals from the system, apart satellite telemetry and aerial surveys Division. It is anticipated that the cross from the collared animal. The collared commenced this year. The program will tenure model will continue, managing animal will seek to become re-established give insights to the distribution patterns threats to deliver conservation outcomes for to a new mob. This control cycle continues and behaviour of feral herbivores on the Fortescue Marsh. reducing the impact to a manageable level. Fortescue Marsh. For more information please contact Hamish So far more than 100 animals have been Other key projects* have commenced Robertson: phone (08) 9182 2017 or email removed from the system. at Fortescue Marsh including a five- [email protected]. Building on the success of this program year feral cat baiting program and the *Articles reporting on these projects will be there is a plan to expand it to include other first comprehensive floristic study of the presented in a future edition of WATSNU. feral ungulates. An integrated monitoring Fortescue Marsh Land System by the

Reference Carwardine J., Nicol S., van Leeuwen S., Walters B., Firn J., Reeson A., Martin T.G., Chades I. (2014). Priority threat management for Pilbara species of conservation significance. CSIRO Ecosystems Sciences, Brisbane.

From weeds to whales – Pilbara research meeting By Valerie English

From left to right Welcome to Country. Paperbarks at Millstream Pools. Discussing management issues. Photos – Valerie English In late June 2014 a meeting was held in as providing habitat to stygofauna and The Pilbara is dominated by grasslands the Pilbara to discuss current and planned many birds, mammals and other fauna. A and two important types were examined research in the region. The venue was new order of crustaceans for Australia – and discussed on the journey between Millstream Chichester National Park, Spelaeogriphacea – was identified from Millstream and Karratha. There are eight an area that has significant weed and the Millstream aquifer and represents an priority and one threatened grassland water management issues. The meeting ancient lineage of stygofauna perhaps up types in the region. These grasslands are was attended by specialists from Parks to 200 million years old. The presence of often highly impacted by grazing and and Wildlife’s Science and Conservation this important group, and a suite of other development, and more research into the Division and Pilbara Region, as well as important stygofauna led to the listing of flora that comprise them, and distribution the CSIRO. The meeting was opened the aquifer habitat as a Priority Ecological and condition is a priority, with a view to with a Welcome to Country performed Community. seeking to protect the best areas. overlooking the Millstream pools by Other research discussed included The knowledge shared and networks traditional owners from Parks and management of threatened mammals, established will greatly facilitate the future Wildlife’s Karratha office. fire management, control of feral animals management of important marine, island Major management issues at the site and weeds, monitoring and management and mainland areas in the Pilbara and including control of date palms and of Pilbara islands, marine fauna issues, the important flora and fauna that they Passiflora foetida (a weedy passionfruit using genetic signatures to help guide support. species), and managing the erosion along management of rare flora, and managing For more information please contact the river pools, and the Millstream aquifer impacts of development in the Pilbara. Val English: phone (08) 9334 0409 or were discussed during a walk alongside Many of the projects discussed are email [email protected]. the stream. This important aquifer feeds supported through funds from offsets for the rare permanent pools and is a water industrial and mining developments in source for local towns and industry, as well the region.

2 watsnu Tarin Rock Representative Landscape Area – a little-known gem in the Wheatbelt By Marissah Kruger

Tarin Rock Representative Landscape Area (TRLA) straddles the Avon and Blackwood Catchment divide, and spans across the Kulin and Dumbleyung shires. Since 2002, management of TRLA has been a joint effort between Parks and Wildlife, the Avon Catchment Council, Southwest Catchment Council, Dumbleyung Landcare Zone and private landholders. This Representative Landscape Area was strategically selected for priority planning based on set criteria and was considered as having the greatest likelihood of achieving biodiversity aims. In 2006, it was also identified and selected as one of 12 priority Flora and fauna To date, recovery and protective measures ecoscapes. This was largely due to the high include more than 100km of fencing of number of vegetation associations within a TRLA contains three threatened flora private remnants protecting 1500ha of small area which were not well represented species – the stilted tinsel lily (Calectasia land and reducing grazing pressure. In elsewhere, with large areas of intact pignattiana), echidna wattle (Acacia depressa) addition, planting of 200,000 seedlings of remnants that have high area – boundary and Conostylis rogeri, in addition to 37 mixed native species and local provenance, ratios, and low salinity risk. priority flora species and four threatened and planting 37,000 oil mallees as part of fauna species – malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata), cost-sharing projects to connect landscapes Carnaby’s cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus and create ecological corridors between Biodiversity values latirostris), western whipbird (Psophodes remnants. TRLA has high biodiversity values, nigrogularis) and the red-tailed phascogale A number of ongoing management actions particularly in comparison with other (Phascogale calura). TRLA is also home to continue in partnership with landholders Wheatbelt landscapes. The area comprises a significant collection of mammals, frogs and community groups including: 44,600ha and contains 22 per cent intact and reptiles but in particular also acts as remnant natural vegetation of which 50 per a significant refuge for birds. Fifty-eight • fire ecology assessments cent is in lands managed by the department. bird species were identified within five • ongoing fencing of remnants Approximately 5 per cent of remaining nature reserves in 2002 and 13 of these are • revegetation projects to create buffers, remnant vegetation is contained across considered rare in the Wheatbelt Region. manage and reduce weed threats; and various Crown reserves and 45 per cent is continue linkage establishment on private remnants, with the department • flora and fauna monitoring, particularly continuously reviewing new acquisitions Threats to TRLA bird surveys into department-managed land to ensure Fragmentation of habitats has been • fox and rabbit baiting, covering more adequate representation of identified identified as the greatest threat to nature than 10,000ha of Crown and private vegetation associations. TRLA contains a conservation in the area. Other threats remnants. diverse range of landscapes and vegetation considered high risk to the biodiversity For more information please contact including woodland, mallee and heath, values include introduced animals, and the supporting a high diversity of flora and Marissah Kruger: phone (08) 9881 9256 loss of ecosystems and habitats due or email [email protected]. fauna. to clearing and altered fire regimes.

Top right Tarin Rock breakaway. Above right Tarin Rock woodland. Photos – Marissah Kruger Above middle Parks and Wildlife staff handling a red- tailed phascogale. Photo – Carla Tassone Far right Stilted tinsel lily. Photo – Marissah Kruger Above left Tarin Rock. Photo – Ray Pybus

3 watsnu Above Grevillea murex. Photo – Gemma Phelan Above right Kunzea acicularis. Photo – Andrew Brown New flora Interim Recovery Plans approved By Andrew Brown

Eleven new flora Interim Recovery Plans Bennett s.n. PERTH 08396051) sharing The species is currently known from 19 (IRPs) have recently been approved by this feature. Caladenia lodgeana differs from populations, 13 of which are located on road the department’s Director of Science and these species in its later flowering period reserves that have little or no natural habitat Conservation (see page 9). Five are new and confinement to the Augusta area. and are infested with weeds. Many mature plans and six are updates of previously plants are senescing with little natural adopted plans. To view the full IRPs for The first collection of Caladenia lodgeana recruitment occurring and five of the 19 all eleven species go to http://www.dpaw. was made in Leeuwin-Naturaliste National populations no longer have extant plants. wa.gov.au/plants-and-animals/threatened- Park south of Augusta by Eric Chapman in The main threats to the species are road, species-and-communities/198-approved- 1984. A single mature plant was then found track and firebreak maintenance, altered fire interim-recovery-plans#flora. at Margaret River by Stephen Hopper regimes, habitat degradation and grazing. in 1987. Despite numerous searches by In this article I provide a summary of each Parks and Wildlife and members of the Shell-fruited Grevillea (Grevillea murex) of the five species covered by new plans. All WANOSCG, no plants have been located five species are specially protected under at either of these sites since the original Grevillea murex is northern Wheatbelt the Western Australian Wildlife Conservation collections were made. Caladenia lodgeana species formally described by Don Act 1950 with Caladenia lodgeana ranked as is currently known from a single McGillivray and Robert Makinson in 1986 Critically Endangered, Androcalva perlaria, population at Augusta, growing under low from specimens collected south-west of Morawa in 1976. The name murex refers Daviesia dielsii and Grevillea murex ranked as scrub in seasonally moist to wet clay soil on the margins of low granite outcrops. to the similarity of the fruit surface to that Endangered and Kunzea acicularis ranked as of the shellfish Murex, which has pointy Vulnerable. The main threats to the species are projections on its surface. possible future clearing, inappropriate fire Lodge’s spider orchid (Caladenia Plants grow from 1–2m tall and have many lodgeana) regimes, four-wheel-drive access, picking and trampling, grazing, weeds and small hairy branches. The leaves are on stalks Caladenia lodgeana is a late flowering species population size. up to 1.5mm long and have four or five formally described by Stephen Hopper and blunt-tipped lobes. The dome-shaped flower Andrew Brown in 2001 when they named Diel’s daviesia (Daviesia dielsii) heads are at the ends of the branchlets and contain cream to yellow flowers about 3cm it in honour of Harry Lodge, a foundation Daviesia dielsii is an attractive species, member of Western Australian Native long. The fruits, 9–13mm long, are oblong formally described by Ernst Pritzel in 1904 to ellipsoid in shape and are covered with Orchid Study and Conservation Group when he named it in honour of Friedrich (WANOSCG). irregular shiny protuberances to 2.5mm Diels who collected widely in WA between high. The species is related to Grevillea Plants grow from 200–400mm high with a 1900 and 1901. crithmifolia but has hairy branchlets, smaller single, erect, hairy leaf 100–200mm long by Plants grow to 90cm high by 1.8m wide and leaves and hard-coated seed pods with 5–10mm wide. The species has up to two have densely hairy branchlets and phyllodes irregular projections. cream to creamy-yellow, red marked flowers (leaf-like structures). The phyllodes are Grevillea murex was first collected north of 50–100mm across with narrowly-clubbed 2–4mm long by 1–3mm wide, flattened, petals and sepals and a white labellum (lip) Three Springs by C. Chapman in 1975, obliquely oval and have a sharp point. with subsequent collections made between with long fringe segments and four or more Flowers are also small and are borne singly in rows of pale red calli. It is distinguished there and the Mingenew–Morawa Road, the axils of the upper phyllodes. Each flower growing in lateritic-gravel, brown clay-loam from the similar Caladenia serotina by its has calyx lobes that are much shorter than narrowly clubbed petals and sepals and or red clayey-sand soil on gentle lower valley the tube. The outer part of the standard petal slopes or flat areas. Habitat is open York gum slightly earlier flowering period. Caladenia is orange or orange red, and the inner part (Eucalyptus loxophleba) woodland over open lodgeana belongs to the C. huegelii complex and the wings and keel are a dark red. The low scrub, grasses and herbs. which is characterised by having clubbed fruit is a triangular pod, about 1mm long and sepals and shortened petals. However, has convex valves. The species is currently known from 10 Caladenia lodgeana lacks the dark maroon populations comprising 314 mature plants. labellum apex typical of most members of Daviesia dielsii is restricted to the Moora, All but one population are located on narrow complex, with only the closely related C. Watheroo and Dalwallinu areas where it road reserves which are under threat from busselliana, C. interjacens and C. sp. Collie (E. grows in brown and grey sandy loam with road maintenance activities. The main threats chert over laterite and yellow sand.

4 watsnu New flora Interim Recovery Plans approved (continued) to the species are road, track and firebreak Pearl-like androcalva (Androcalva maintenance, insect infestation, altered fire perlaria) regimes, weed invasion and rabbits. Androcalva perlaria (formerly Commersonia Kunzea acicularis sp. Mt Groper) is a spreading shrub first collected by Ray Cranfield and Dave Kunzea acicularis is an attractive pink- Kabay from north of Mount Groper in flowered species formally described by 1993. The species was formally named by Hellmut Toelken and Gillian Craig in Carol Wilkins in 2011 from specimens she 2007 from specimens collected north-east collected east of Wellstead in 2006. Ravensthorpe in 2001. The name acicularis refers to the ‘needle-like’ bracts. Plants grow to 50cm high by 1m wide and have shallowly to deeply lobed grey-green Plants grow to 2m tall with few erect stems, leaves. The cream and white flowers appear each of which is irregularly branched. between September and December with Young branches are densely covered with spot flowering at other times of the year. fine spreading hairs. The inflorescence The fruit is green-grey in colour with a comprises three to five pink to mauve velvety hairy covering. flowers. Kunzea acicularis is similar to the southern form of K. preissiana with both The species is found over a range of having similarly-lengthed bracts. However, approximately 33km around Wellstead, Kunzea acicularis is distinguished by being approximately 100km east of Albany, growing usually taller, having broader leaves and sandy-clay soil in seasonally-waterlogged different-shaped, long-pointed bracts on sites. Five populations are known, four of the inflorescence, as well as longer, acute, which are extant and together contain 207 triangular calyx lobes. plants. Live plants are absent from a fifth population where the species is thought to The species is known from one population persist as a soil stored seed bank. north-east of Ravensthorpe where it grows in pale orange clay-loam soil in The main threats to the species include open mallee woodland and heath. The grazing, mining, altered hydrology and water main threats to the species are narrow quality, weeds and inappropriate fire regimes. distribution, road maintenance, altered fire For more information please contact regimes, Phytophthora dieback and potential Above top Androcalva perlaria. Photo – Andrew Brown: phone (08) 9334 0122 or Shane Turner Above Daviesia dielsii. Photo – future mining operations. email [email protected]. Lorraine Duffy

Re-introduction of chuditch into Flinders Range National Park, South Australia By Abby Thomas Chuditch (Dasyurus geoffroii) are medium- Wildlife was approved to re-introduce wild sized marsupial carnivores that once chuditch from WA into Flinders Range occupied approximately 70 per cent of the National Park. The aim of the translocation Australian mainland, ranging throughout is to re-establish a self-sustaining much of central, western and southern population of chuditch outside WA. Australia, including most of South Chuditch were considered the ideal species Australia (SA). Chuditch have declined for re-introduction as they were previously from their former range probably due known from the area, and possibly less to fox (Vulpes vulpes) and feral cat (Felis sensitive to cat predation than many other Above top Chuditch caught in camera catus) predation and competition. They locally extinct mammals. They are an monitoring. Photo – Parks and Wildlife are now only extant in Western Australia opportunistic generalist that adapts well to between Kalbarri and Esperance, where different environments and an important they are listed as threatened fauna under totem animal for Adnyamathanha people (Native Animal Rescue facilities) in Malaga. the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. The of the northern Flinders Range. Three months of intensive monitoring estimated population size is between As part of Parks and Wildlife’s recovery by DEWNR staff, using aerial radio 10,000–12,000 mature individuals. program, chuditch have successfully tracking, camera monitoring and trapping, In SA, chuditch are listed as endangered been translocated by Parks and Wildlife indicates that the released animals are in (presumed extinct) under the SA National to Julimar Forest, Lake Magenta Nature good physical condition and settling into Parks and Wildlife Act 1972, and were Reserve and Kalbarri National Park in WA. their home ranges with many females now last recorded in the SA landscape in the carrying pouch young. The translocation Between March and April 2014, Parks 1950s, with the last museum specimen will be deemed successful if these and Wildlife staff and volunteers trapped being collected in February 1933. The translocated animals continue to thrive chuditch from two populations – Julimar SA Department of Environment, Water and reproduce within the Flinders Range State Forest (proposed Conservation and Natural Resources (DEWNR) and become a self-sustaining population. Park) and Perup Nature Reserve. Over Bounceback program is a long-running This chuditch release will contribute to the two trapping periods, 20 females and 17 landscape-scale conservation program that national recovery of this species and will be males were captured and consequently aims to restore the semi-arid environments a land mark as the first reintroduction of transported and released into Flinders of the Flinders, Olary and Gawler Ranges chuditch outside WA. Range National Park. Between the time in South Australia. of capture and the flights to the Flinders For more information please contact Abby As part of the program, a translocation Range National Park, the chuditch were Thomas: phone (08) 9219 8636 or email proposal between DEWNR and Parks and housed and cared for at the ‘chuditch hotel’ [email protected].

5 watsnu Highlights from recovery team annual reports 2013

Albany District Sarah Barrett Fourteen new population and sub- populations of threatened flora were located. Of particular significance were three new populations of the Critically Endangered (CR) Calectasia cyanea, previously known from about 200 plants in two populations. Fiftysix new populations of priority flora were located and nine species removed from Above Flowering Tecticornia within the Lake Bryde Recovery Catchment. Photo – Wendy Chow the priority flora list due to survey. Fencing undertaken or commenced in 2013 and colourful spectacle. In one of the Moora District will be critical for the reproductive success occurrences (Lakelands Nature Reserve) of a number CR taxa and components of fencing was erected to protect the TEC Bree Phillips the Montane Thicket of the eastern Stirling from grazing which thought to be caused Survey of approximately 60 populations of Range Threatened Ecological Community by rabbits. This has proven to be successful threatened flora was undertaken as part of (TEC). Significant seed collections were in allowing the community to recover translocation and monitoring of threatened made from poorly collected CR taxa from grazing. flora species. Recruitment was observed at the such as Latrobea colophona on Bluff Knoll. translocation site of Grevillea calliantha. Other Fencing has enabled heavily grazed plants Wendy Chow from Species and implementation activities to protect threatened of this species to grow and set seed. Communities Branch has completed a flora included firebreak maintenance as well as Similarly, fencing has increased the number project on the TEC at Lake Bryde as part road and utility maintenance. of plants of Daviesia ovata that are now of her postgraduate studies. The recovery reproductive and increased the number of catchment will look to draw on the findings A research burn plan is being developed source individuals for seed collections from of this work to manage the TEC in the for Acacia cochlocarpa subsp. cochlocarpa six individuals to almost 40, enabling a future as part of the Lake Bryde Recovery translocation site at Gunyidi Nature Reserve. translocation to be planned. Catchment Recovery Plan which will be completed in 2014. Lake Clifton Goldfields Region Great Southern District Paul Tholen Jennifer Jackson Greg Durell Focus over the past two years has been to The priority 1 flora species, Ptilotus determine the catchment boundaries and chortophytus, was relocated at Niagara Dam. The Great Southern District and Caring water quality influences on Lake Clifton This species has not been collected for 40 for our Country research project, ‘Towards thrombolite TEC. A series of postgraduate years. It was previously known from just recovery: Reversing the trend of threatened studies are currently proceeding, the two other populations, north of Geraldton flora habitat senescence’, was completed outcome of which will assist management and north of Kalgoorlie. during 2013. All remaining sites were of the TEC in future. Studies into formation monitored and a final report and field guide and health of the microbial assemblages, Several new sub-populations of P1 flora has been produced. The project measured hydrological characteristics, geology and species Ptilotus rigidus was found on Lake the level of senescence in the critical evolution, and mapping of critical habitat Goongarrie. This was formally described in habitat of 28 threatened flora populations. continued for the Lake Clifton TEC. 2009 and Florabase records indicate that it A prioritisation metric, using threatened has not been collected for 20 years. species attributes and the habitat senescence A survey of the Carnarvon Range measures, was developed. This ranks the Warren Region 28 threatened flora sites to identify those in conjunction with the Science and Janine Liddelow Conservation Division was completed in requiring urgent management. May 2013. Over 530 taxa were recorded On-ground activities commenced in 2013 Threatened flora survey in the Frankland with a total of 809 herbarium collections. for the State NRM funded, ‘Improving District which involved monitoring habitat condition and recruitment at a population numbers and habitat survey population of the threatened flora species, conducted in 2013 included Verticordia apecta, Lake Bryde Banksia oligantha’. The population of this Banksia verticillata, Reedia spathacea, Rhacocarpus rehmiannus var. webbianus, Caladenia christineae, Greg Durell species is on private property that was historically cleared for agricultural purposes. Tetratheca sp. Kent River, Hybanthus volubilis, The TEC Muehlenbeckia horrida subsp Weed incursion and grazing by rabbits Hemigenia microphylla, Synaphea sp. Kwornicup abdita with Tecticornia verrucosa exists on are identified as ongoing threats. A rabbit and Thelymitra jacksonii. New populations three lake beds within the Lake Bryde exclusion fence was installed in 2010 and were found of Sphagnum, Drosera binate, Recovery Catchment (Lake Bryde, East focus is now on restoring the habitat. Banksia porrecta and Leucopogon alternifolius. Lake Bryde and on one lake in Lakelands In the Donnelly District threatened flora Nature Reserve). The monitoring project The threats of grazing and habitat destruction surveys were conducted for Caladenia which was established in 2008 is now in by rabbits continue to be managed with dorrienii, C. harringtoniae. C. winfieldii, Diuris its second phase with the reduction of rabbits controlled at 28 threatened flora sites. drummondii, Grevillea acropogon, Kennedia TEC monitoring to an annual regime. A new assessment and monitoring program glabrata, Myriophyllum trifidum, Reedia spathacea Monitoring in 2013 saw the lake bed has been introduced and a new database and Rhacocarpus rehmannianus var. webbianus, covered in purple due to flowering has been developed to manage more than Brachyscias verecundus and Andersonia annelsii Tecticornia verrucosa. This attracted visitors 50 rabbit and stock exclusion fences at which included survey for potential including landholders to see this beautiful threatened flora sites in the district. translocation sites.

6 watsnu Highlights from recovery team annual reports 2013 (continued)

Drummond Nature Hill Nature Reserve in the central and resource use by Carnaby’s cockatoo on Wheatbelt. The fence was erected through the Swan Coastal Plain, including through Reserve a partnership between the department and the use of satellite tracking tags attached Wendy Chow WWF-Australia. to 24 birds. Both projects were undertaken in partnership with Parks and Wildlife and In August and September 2013, 26 black- utilised offset funding. flanked rock wallabies were translocated from the Calvert Ranges to Durba Hills in Monitoring of breeding sites and the use the Little Sandy Desert. These animals were of artificial hollows continues to build on a monitored in November 2013, indicating long-term dataset and produce insights into that 12 of the 15 animals fitted with VHF the breeding behaviour. transmitters were still alive and all five animals fitted with satellite transmitters were active. Dibbler Camera traps deployed by the department Tony Friend in Cape Range in 2013 produced some Dibbler (Parantechinus apicalis) recovery very interesting results, including images of through the establishment of wild a black-flanked rock wallaby ‘crèche’. The populations has continued to progress. pictures revealed three young at foot playing Numbers have increased on an island together with one adult in attendance. The at Jurien Bay after several years of poor cameras also detected a rock wallaby very rainfall, the re-introduced Peniup reserve close to Exmouth town site closer than any population in the south-west has recorded previously known sighting. increased population numbers even without Community and volunteer involvement in further supplements of new individuals. Above Drummond recovery plan. 2013 has been integral to the monitoring of The breeding program at Perth Zoo The Drummond Natural Diversity Recovery rock wallabies in the Cape Range and the provided 68 dibblers in 2013 for release into Catchment recovery plan 2011–2031 was Exmouth areas, with staff and students from the Waychinicup National Park enclosure. recently published by Parks and Wildlife. Hale School deploying a remote camera Monitoring of this population has detected The recovery plan describes the biodiversity transect and Conservation Volunteers breeding for the first time, indicating that values which are under threat of altered Australia and Cape Conservation Group this reintroduction is heading for success. hydrology and salinity. The plan focuses volunteers providing assistance with the on the biodiversity assets: the ecological rock wallaby monitoring. communities ‘Claypans with mid dense Forest black cockatoos shrublands of Melaleuca lateritia over herbs’ (Baudin’s cockatoo and and ‘Wandoo woodland over dense low Carnaby’s cockatoo sedges of Mesomelaena preisii’ by altered David Mitchell forest red-tailed black hydrology. The plan can be used as a guide cockatoo) for management by various stakeholders The department and BirdLife Australia such as catchment mangers, landholders and are continuing to band Carnaby’s Brad Barton community members. A biophysical threat cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus latirostris) and have encouraged people to report and The conflict between human resources analysis revealed that the most important or activities and forest black cockatoos management issues are; hydrological photograph banded birds. They also held the fifth Great Cocky Count (GCC) in (Baudin’s cockatoo, Calyptorhynchus baudinii, processes, weeds, nutrients, fire regimes and and forest red-tailed black cockatoo, attitudes towards conservation assets. Some April 2013, with 250 sites surveyed by over 250 volunteers, including 48 sites Calyptorhynchus banksii naso) continued works that have been undertaken thus far in 2013. In an attempt to reduce conflict in the catchment has been bore monitoring surveyed outside the Swan Region and not previously surveyed during a GCC. There with orchardists, the department provided of surface and ground water, weed control, funding for orchards to buy netting and revegetation and fencing in the surrounding are now over 450 GCC sites in the south- west, including 174 confirmed roosts. contribute to a Department of Agriculture surface water catchment and community and Food WA research project. This project involvement and consultation. The Jandakot Banksia Woodland Restoration is funded by a Royalties for Regions scheme Reference Department of Parks and project is a large offset project that has that looks at the costs and benefits of using Wildlife, 2013, Drummond Natural Diversity restored 22ha of banksia woodland through netting for tree crop protection from forest Recovery catchment plan 2011-2031, topsoil transfer and planted a further 6ha of cockatoos. Carnaby’s feeding habitat. Department of Parks and Wildlife, Perth. The department, in partnership with Alcoa Carnaby’s cockatoo road warning signs have Australia, also contributed funding in been designed and erected at some locations 2013 for a research project (by Murdoch Black-flanked rock where road kills have occurred to help University and University of Western wallaby raise public awareness of cockatoos in the Australia) studying functional habitat use vicinity and prevent or reduce vehicle strike. by forest black cockatoos on an Alcoa David Pearson and Katherine Howard Liaison with Main Roads WA will assist mining lease site in the Myara locality, (WWF) the identification of “black spots” where Perth Hills District. In 2013 the conservation of black-flanked Carnaby’s cockatoo are being hit by cars so Monitoring of known roost sites and rock wallabies was enhanced by the national that signage can be installed in these areas. breeding locations continued in 2013 endorsement of the recovery plan for five An Edith Cowan University Master of with anecdotal reports from recovery team species of rock wallabies. Science research project that investigated members indicating that numbers of both The recovery of the Petrogale lateralis lateralis food availability for Carnaby’s cockatoos species are lower than last year. subspecies was boosted by the establishment has been completed. A UWA PhD project of a predator-proof sanctuary at Nangeen continued to investigate roost site fidelity

7 watsnu Highlights from recovery team annual reports 2013 (continued)

Geocrinia (white-bellied flights to monitor translocated animals, South Coast Threatened motion sensor cameras for research into frog and orange-bellied population numbers and DNA analysis Invertebrate Group frog) work. Volunteers from Project Numbat, the Deon Utber Friends of the Fitzgerald River National Kim Williams Park and the community provided valuable In 2013 four species of assassin spiders of Forty-eight sites were monitored in 2013 assistance while the department conducted the genus Zephyrarchaea (Z. barrettae, Z. across the distribution of the threatened the Boyagin diggings survey. marki, Z. melindae and Z. robinsi) were listed white-bellied and orange-bellied frogs as threatened fauna. (Geocrinia alba and Geocrinia vitellina), Quokka Research was conducted in to the indicating that larger populations at three molecular phylogeography of Bothriembryon sites are relatively stable. Monitoring has Brad Barton in WA, with an emphasis on the south coast shown successful establishment of white- region. This work was conducted by the bellied frogs at the Witchcliffe Forest site, In 2013 the Quokka (Setonix brachyurus) WA Museum by Corey Whission, Dr Bram and all previous establishment sites of the Recovery Plan was approved by the Breure and Lisa Kirkendale. orange-bellied frog. Froglet breeding by the department and subsequently nationally Perth Zoo has continued, with 70 white- endorsed in January 2014 and published bellied frogs translocated to Forest Grove, on the Commonwealth Department of the Western swamp tortoise and 65 orange-bellied frogs translocated to Environment’s website. three Adelaide Creek sites. Craig Olejnik Shark Bay marsupials Western swamp tortoise (Pseudemydura Gilbert’s potoroo umbrina) populations at Ellen Brook Nature Manda Page Reserve, Twin Swamps Nature Reserve, Sarah Comer Mogumber Nature Reserve and Moore Monitoring at Faure Island in Shark Bay River Nature Reserve are all showing signs The annual census of the critically has indicated that western barred bandicoots of recruitment, following annual monitoring endangered Gilbert’s potoroo (Potorous (Perameles bougainville bougainville), banded and management of the reserves. gilbertii) in natural and established populations hare-wallabies (Lagostrophus fasciatus fasciatus) progressed in 2013, with current population and burrowing bettongs (Bettongia lesueur The department in 2013 has purchased an estimates for Bald Island being 60, for Two lesueur) have each established self-sustaining Peoples Bay 20, and Waychinicup National additional 5ha to the west of Ellen Brook Park enclosure being 15 individuals. Potoroo populations on the island. Nature Reserve, which will increase the area of protected land available to the numbers have been remaining stable in the All reintroduced populations of burrowing western swamp tortoise. wild populations on Bald Island and in Two bettongs have increased in population size. Peoples Bay. Breeding has been recorded in Department staff and volunteers from the Twelve banded hare-wallabies were all three populations of potoroos and the Bald Friends of the Western Swamp Tortoise successfully translocated from the Peron Island population had a range expansion in planted 5000 plants in Ellen Brook Nature Captive Breeding Centre to Wadderin 2013. In 2013 the Gilbert’s Potoroo Action Reserve and 10,000 plants in Mogumber Group published and distributed their new Sanctuary in the eastern Wheatbelt in 2013. Nature reserve in an effort to revegetate brochure on the plight of the Gilbert’s suitable degraded habitats for the western potoroo, with funding from Lotterywest. South Coast swamp tortoise. Fifty years of monitoring and recovery efforts for the western swamp Hairy marron threatened birds tortoise was celebrated in 2013 at an event Sarah Comer attended by the Environment Minister. Rodney Duffy (Department of Fisheries) In 2013 the noisy scrub-bird (Atrichornis A morphometric key for the hairy marron clamosus) sub-population on Mount (Cherax tenuimanus) was published in 2013, Woylie Gardner was surveyed, and the translocation and subsequent training in how to use it population of birds to the Angove site was Manda Page has been conducted with the Cape to Cape monitored, with a territorial male being catchment groups and volunteers. Captive In 2013 the conservation status rank for detected. Western ground parrot (Pezoporus breeding of this species was successfully the woylie (Bettongia penicillata ogilbyi) was flaviventris) recovery efforts continued, undertaken in 2013. upgraded from endangered to critically with no further decline being detected in endangered following further monitoring that the Cape Arid National Park population. demonstrated ongoing decline in this species. However extensive surveys have failed Numbat to find ground parrots still persisting in Intensive management of woylies continued Tony Friend Fitzgerald River National Park. in 2013, with further animals translocated out of Perup Sanctuary to Yendicup, and Monitoring of numbat (Myrmecobius Cat baiting trials continued with State new genetic stock from Dryandra and fasciatus) populations in 2013 indicated that NRM and Biodiversity Fund support in the Manjimup populations appear to be Cape Arid and Fitzgerald River national Kanyana rehabilitation centre (Tutanning healthy and expanding and the translocated parks. Results to date are encouraging with stock) introduced to the Perup enclosure. populations at Tutanning and Dragon Rocks a significant decrease in cat activity recorded Fenced or island populations are increasing Nature reserves are still persisting. Nine young in the 2013 trials. in size, and animals that were translocated to Julimar State forest in 2013 are persisting. females from the breeding program were In 2013 there was significant volunteer translocated to the reintroduced population participation in project work for all South Publicity for the recovery of the woylie at Batalling to boost population numbers and Coast threatened birds, with more than occurred in response to the decline in its genetic viability of the population. 2000 volunteer hours being contributed conservation status. Coverage included Community involvement continues to to the recovery of these species. Regular a LANDSCOPE article, a WATSNU provide important support for the numbat articles for the Friends of the Western article, a Today Tonight television story and recovery program. In 2013, Project Ground Parrot newsletter, and features Woylie Outbreak Workshop article in The Numbat provided funding for radio in LANDSCOPE magazine and Great Australian newspaper. collars for translocations, radio-tracking Southern Great Science magazine were published in 2013. 8 watsnu Recovery plans

Flora interim recovery plans recently endorsed by the department’s Director of Science and Conservation:

Parks and Wildlife No. Title Prepared by region involved 340 Callitris preissii (or Melaleuca lanceolata) forests and woodlands Val English Swan (SCP community type 30a - Gibson et al. 1994). 341 Pearl-like androcalva, Androcalva perlaria Shane Turner, Sarah Barrett South Coast

342 Lodge’s spider orchid Caladenia lodgeana Robyn Luu, Andrew Brown South West

343 Butterfly-leaved Gastrolobium Gastrolobium papilio Robyn Luu, Andrew Brown South West (Brachysema papilio) 344 Prickly honeysuckle Lambertia echinata subsp echinata Robyn Luu, Andrew Brown South Coast

345 Albany cone bush Isopogon uncinatus Robyn Luu, Andrew Brown South Coast

346 Cactus banksia Banksia anatona Robyn Luu, Sarah Barrett, South Coast Andrew Brown 347 Kunzea acicularis Robyn Luu, Andrew Brown South Coast

348 Late hammer orchid Drakaea confluens Robyn Luu, Andrew Brown South Coast, South West

349 Diel’s daviesia Daviesia dielsii Robyn Luu, Andrew Brown Midwest, Wheatbelt

350 Shell-fruited grevillea Grevillea murex Robyn Luu, Andrew Brown Midwest, Wheatbelt

351 Foote’s grevillea Grevillea calliantha Robyn Luu, Andrew Brown Midwest,

Fauna Recovery Plans recently endorsed in WA and/or adopted under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) as National Recovery Plans

State or No. Recovery plan title Year National 56 Quokka (Setonix brachyurus) Recovery Plan 2013 National

55 Recovery plan for five species of rock wallabies: Black-footed rock wallaby (Petrogale lateralis), Rothschild 2013 National rock wallaby (Petrogale rothschildi), Short-eared rock wallaby (Petrogale brachyotis), Monjon (Petrogale burbidgei) and Nabarlek (Petrogale concinna) 52 Carnaby’s cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus latirostris) Recovery Plan 2013 National

50 Western swamp tortoise (Pseudemydura umbrina) Recovery Plan 2010 State 2013 National 59 White-bellied and Orange-bellied Frogs (Geocrinia alba and Geocrinia vitellina) Recovery Plan 2014 State

58 Western ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus occidentalis) Recovery Plan 2014 State

44 South Coast Threatened Birds Recovery Plan 2014 State

All plans will be made available on Parks and Wildlife site: www.dpaw.wa.gov.au.

Editor: Jill Pryde Species and Communities Branch Department of Parks and Wildlife Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, Bentley WA 6983 Email: [email protected] 20140772 1214 PDF

9 watsnu