FAUNA SURVEY of BALNARRING PRIMARY SCHOOL Balbirooroo Wetlands BALNARRING APRIL 2009 to MAY 2010
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FAUNA SURVEY OF BALNARRING PRIMARY SCHOOL Balbirooroo Wetlands BALNARRING APRIL 2009 TO MAY 2010. Field work and report writing Malcolm Legg Mal’s Environmental & Ecological Services ABN 70 165 787 370 PO Box 247 Shoreham 3916 Ph 03 59 863 448 M 0438 898 325 EMAIL [email protected] Fauna Survey of Balnarring Primary School, ‘Balbirooroo Wetlands’ Balnarring, April, 2009 to May, 2010. Report and fields work by Malcolm Legg (Mal’s Environmental and Ecological Services) Balbirooroo Wetlands Acknowledgements Special thanks to Heather Goddard and the Balbirooroo Community Wetlands/Woodlands Committee for organizing this survey. Also thanks to Matt Stahmer from Mornington Peninsula Shire for supplying the aerials of the property. Profiles Front Page Black Swan with cygnets, pair of Black shouldered Kites, wetlands, Lowland Copperhead and Korra Bun-yun Wetland. All other profiles through-out this report were photographed at the study site. And is Copy- write M. Legg 2010. Executive Summary Mal‟s Environmental & Ecological Services were commissioned by Balbirooroo Community Wetlands/Woodlands Committee to conduct a fauna survey within Balnarring Primary School and adjacent lake. The study site is approximately 12 hectares in size and habitat includes Grassy Woodlands, Swamp Scrub, wetlands, lake, drainage line and school buildings. The property is also a part of the foothill to coast bio-link including Merricks Creek. Aims and Objectives The main purpose of this study was to identify and map all vertebrate fauna with emphasis on threatened species. The outcomes of this assessment are to guide the managers into sustaining the significant and common fauna and their habitat that have been detected and to identify possible impacts or risks associated with feral animals and other threats. The brief for this project was to establish the fauna values that occur or could occur within the study site. Fauna values considered in this report include all significant vertebrate fauna and native vegetation types. Also included were the role of native vegetation in a landscape context to provide habitat and corridors for native fauna. Methods and Results Fauna Fauna surveys and mapping were undertaken from April, 2009 to May, 2010. Methods, undertaken in accordance with permit conditions included identifying appropriate habitat and mapping all fauna species, active searching, scat analysis, digging analysis, Elliot traps, colour-bond tiles, hair tubing, infra red cameras, spotlighting, Anabat 2 Bat Detector and vocalization identification. A total of 109 species of native fauna and 10 species of introduced fauna were recorded within the study site. This includes species of Decapod Crustaceans, freshwater fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. No National significant species listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999 were detected, however 5 species are listed as internationally migratory under the EPBC Act. Nine state significant species were recorded during this study and 5 of those species are listed under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 as threatened. In addition, 22 species are considered to be of regional significance and 7 species are considered to be of high local significance. Vegetation Some parts of the study site have been modified in the past due mostly to clearing for live- stock use. However the clearing of vegetation phases has stopped for many decades and the indigenous vegetation has returned. Approximately 70% of the site is considered to be covered in native vegetation, both remnant and re-growth from past disturbances. Several Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVC‟s) were identified within the study site. Some of these 3 Fauna survey of Balnarring Primary School, Balnarring, April, 2009 to May, 2010. are: Grassy Woodland, Swamp Scrub, Wetland Formation, Aquatic Herbland, Swampy Riparian Woodland and drainage-lines. The quality of vegetation within these EVC‟s is very high, with some areas supporting grassy understorey while others are sedgy. Most areas are almost exclusively indigenous. Majority of the study site is of very high conservation significance including state significant species. Conclusion and Recommendations The study site constitutes an important contribution and is part of an important foothill to coast bio-link. The significance of the area has been increasing over the last two decades as due to habitat restoration projects and an increase in species diversity. Feral animals such as foxes, cats, introduced birds, introduced rodents and mosquitofish are impacting on fauna heavily including threatened species. An integrated on-going feral control program for the greater area is urgently required. Other management guidelines that need to be adopted include: -Establish bio-links between the property and the coast including Merricks Creek. -Look into placing a covenant on the land through „Trust for Nature‟. -Continue to manage weeds and follow these simple rules: -Leave if Eastern Yellow Robins or other birds are nesting. -Continue to remove weeds by carrying out the same methods already implemented. -Only remove woody weeds or conduct control burns during the non-bird breeding season. -Allow natural regeneration to occur. =If ringtail possum dreys occur in weeds then ring-bark with-out poisoning and follow-up after a year. _Continue with nesting box program and monitor. Place dense sedges and prickly wattles around water bird nesting boxes. -Retain and place out ground logs with hollows through-out different habitats. -Look into ways to prevent catastrophic disasters. -Continue to conduct fauna surveys every 5 years to monitor fauna populations and diversity. Fauna survey of Balnarring Primary School, Balnarring, April, 2009 to May, 2010. 4 Contents 1. INTRODUCTION 6 1.1 Project Background 6 1.2 Aims 6 1.3 Study Site 6-7 2. METHODS 13 2.1 Fauna 13 2.2 Data Handling and Storage 15 2.3 Mapping 16 3. RESULTS 17 4. SIGNIFICANT FAUNA 18 5. DISCUSSION 57 6. RECOMMENDATIONS 64 7. REFERENCES 65 APPENDIX 1. METHODS FOR DEFINING BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE 66 APPENDIX 2. FAUNA SPECIES DETECTED DURING THIS SURVEY 68 APPENDIX 3. FAUNA TRAPPING, SPOTLIGHTING AND OBSERVED RESULTS 72 APPENDIX 4. FAUNA SPECIES IN VFD AND EPBC DATABASES 77 TABLES Table 1. Significant species detected from VFA & EPBC database search 19 Table 2. Significant species recorded during this survey 20 Table 3: Current status of Grassy Woodland ecosystems within the property 56 Table 4. Decopod Crustaceans 68 Table 5. Fish 68 Table 6. Amphibians 68 Table 7. Reptiles 69 Table 8. Coastal and Wetland birds 69 Table 9. Woodland Birds 70-71 Table 10. Mammals 71 Tables 11-18. Fauna sampling results from the survey period 72-76 MAPS Map 1. Locations of Fauna Sampling Sites 80 Fauna survey of Balnarring Primary School, Balnarring, April, 2009 to May, 2010. 5 1.0 INTRODUCTION Malcolm Legg from Mal‟s Environmental and Ecological Services was commissioned by Balbirooroo Community Wetlands/Woodlands Committee to conduct a fauna survey of Balnarring Primary School and adjacent lake. The study was conducted from April, 2009, to May, 2010. This report provides information on the significant fauna and habitat quality through: -reviewing existing information -documenting new information -providing recommendations to ensure the site‟s biodiversity values are maintained. 1.1 PROJECT BACKGROUND The scope of works proposed by Balbirooroo Community Wetlands/Woodlands Committee and Mal‟s Environmental & Ecological Services included the following: -a review of fauna databases -a review of existing environmental documentation -targeted fauna surveys and mapping species -documentation of fauna values -an evaluation of ecological significance -discussions on the impacts feral animals might be having on fauna species -discussions on fauna management and monitoring. 1.2 AIMS This report aims to: -establish the study site‟s known significant fauna values -document significant habitats and species -assess all fieldwork data and information from relevant literature and databases -provide recommendations to ensure the site‟s significant values are maintained well into the future. 1.2 STUDY SITE The study site is located in the township of Balnarring in the Westernport Bay catchment of the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. The township of Hastings is situated to the north, and the coastal village of Flinders to the south. The study site falls within the Gippsland Plains Bioregion (DNRE 1997). Prior to European settlement the study site fell within the Aboriginal territory of the Boonwurrong people. The property is approximately 12 hectares in size and retains Indigenous vegetation and wetlands. Prior to the early 1990‟s the property was Fauna survey of Balnarring Primary School, Balnarring, April, 2009 to May, 2010. 6 cleared grazing paddocks and post 1993 replanting programs and wetland construction have been achieved through-out including the schools environs. Small infestations of weeds, mainly exotic grasses appear through-out which are being controlled. The soils drain towards the drainage lines, wetlands, lake and down to Merricks Creek into Westernport Bay. The study site comprises woodlands, wetlands, drainage lines and a lake. The area has a maritime climate with wet moist winters and dry warm summers. 1.3.1 Ecological Vegetation Classes Pre European Settlement 2 EVC‟s are recognizes on maps (DSE) would have been apparent within the property which included Grassy Woodland and Swamp Scrub. Wetlands have been created forming new EVC‟s including