Central Riverina Wildlife Matthew Herring Hugh McGregor Jessica Herring David Webb Alexandra Knight INTRODUCTION Publication Details Published by the Murray Catch- ment Management Authority and Murray Wildlife Pty. Ltd. © 2008. This booklet is copyright. ISBN: 978-0-9775829-5-2 Matthew Herring Hugh McGregor Jessica Herring David Webb Alexandra Knight Central Riverina Wildlife For any further information contact Why we did a wildlife 2) To raise awareness about wild- in the region, together with reveg- [email protected] survey? life ecology and promote conser- etation on previously cleared land. or to obtain additional copies con- vation of the remaining species tact the Murray CMA. One of the best things about liv- Methods used to survey wildlife ing in the Murray region is all the What methods did we use? included: wildlife that we share our land- scape with. Unfortunately we have A total of 70 sites were estab- • 420 x 20 minute Bird Surveys lost several animal species since lished across the Central Riverina (Two surveys in each of three sea- European settlement, such as the and West Corurgan areas. Formal sons at all 70 sites) White-footed Rabbit-Rat and East- surveys were conducted over the ern Hare-wallaby, and many others 14-month period at the sites, with • 30 x 1 hour Active Searches for are in serious danger of becoming an additional 20 sites surveyed reptiles and frogs (e.g. log rolling) extinct as well. Fortunately though, incidentally. The sites were spread • 30 x 1 hour Spotlighting surveys there is a growing commitment in across 28 farms and were surveyed for mammals, reptiles and noctur- the country to wildlife conserva- between September 2006 and Oc- nal birds tion on the farm. As we improve tober 2007. The sites incorporated • 6000 x Elliot trap-nights for small Acknowledgements our knowledge of the local land- the range of broad vegetation types mammals and reptiles scape and the animals and plants • 120 x Harp trap-nights for bats. The West Corurgan/Central Riverina that live in it we will be in a much • Opportunistic Anabat bat call re- Wildlife Survey was funded and sup- better position to ensure our natu- cording, Pitfall trap-nights for rep- ported by the NSW Murray Catch- ment Management Authority. Special ral heritage is maintained for future tiles and frogs and call broadcasting thanks to all the farmers for support- generations. to attract birds. ing the project so enthusiastically, with access to your properties, help during This wildlife survey was an initiative Surveying over the entire West trapping sessions, strong attendance at of the Murray Catchment Manage- Corurgan and Central Riverina ar- the field days and seminars, and amaz- ment Authority (CMA) and is the eas involved over 60 days of field ing hospitality. Rosie Smith, Shanna largest and most extensive ever work, usually with at least two Rogers, Natasha Lappin and Sue Logie undertaken in the local area. It people. from the Murray CMA made a signifi- cant contribution to the project – their builds on three previous studies in efforts are greatly appreciated. The the catchment: the Murray LWMP Red Kangaroo work by Gary Herring, Jamie Jackson Wildlife Survey conducted in the and Scott Lucas during the field work Berriquin, Cadell, Wakool, and was first class. Thanks also to David Les- Denimein areas from 2005-2006; lie, Dean Metcalfe, Jack Chubb, Katrina the Murrakool Wildlife Survey Grundy, Anthony Couroupis (Murray conducted around Barham, Swan CMA) and Ian Davidson for reviewing Hill and Tooleybuc in 2003-2004 an earlier draft and for general support throughout the project. We are indebt- and; the Heartlands Eastern Billa- ed to the graphic design, IT and pub- bong Wildlife Survey conducted lishing expertise of Dylan O’Donnell around Holbrook, Culcairn and who enabled our visions to materialise Walbundrie in 2001-2002. These into this booklet. Thanks also to the Ru- projects have two broad aims: ral Lands Protection Boards and NSW Forests for access to TSR’s and State 1) To determine the distribution, Forests, and to Charles Sturt University habitat and local status of birds, and the Department of Environment & Climate Change for scientific permits reptiles, mammals and frogs and equipment hire. 2 CENTRAL RIVERINA / WEST CORURGAN - SPECIES LIST Galah C Olive-backed Oriole R Little Corella R Masked Woodswallow R Sulphur-crested Cockatoo C White-breasted Woodswallow R Cockatiel R White-browed Woodswallow R Superb Parrot R (t) Black-faced Woodswallow R Eastern Rosella C Dusky Woodswallow R Yellow Rosella R Grey Butcherbird C Mallee Ringneck R Pied Butcherbird C Ground Cuckoo-shrike Wrinkled Toadlet Birds Blue Bonnet R Australian Magpie C Frogs Red-rumped Parrot C Pied Currawong R Emu R Pallid Cuckoo R Little Raven C Peron’s Tree Frog R Stubble Quail R Horsfields Bronze-cuckoo R White-winged Chough C Plains Froglet C Brown Quail R Southern Boobook R Apostlebird R Common Froglet C Pacific Black Duck R Barn Owl R House Sparrow R # Spotted Marsh Frog C Wood Duck R Powerful Owl R (t) Red-browed Finch R Barking Marsh Frog R Black Swan R Tawny Frogmouth R Zebra Finch R Wrinkled Toadlet R Magpie Goose R (t) Australian Owlet-nightjar R Diamond Firetail R (t) Australian Shelduck R Fork-tailed Swift R Mistletoebird R Grey Teal R White-throated Needletail R Welcome Swallow C Reptiles Chesnut Teal R Laughing Kookaburra C Tree Martin U Hardhead R Azure Kingfisher R White-backed Swallow R Eastern Long-necked Turtle R Australasian Grebe R Sacred Kingfisher R Clamerous Reed-warbler R Southern Marbled Gecko R Hoary-headed Grebe R Rainbow Bee-eater R Little Grassbird R Wood Gecko R Darter R Dollarbird R Rufous Songlark U Tree Dtella R Great Cormorant R White-throated Treecreeper R Australian Pipit R Southern Spiny-tailed Gecko R Little Black Cormorant R Brown Treecreeper U Singing Bushlark R Lace Monitor R Little Pied Cormorant R Striated Pardalote C Brown Songlark R Sand Goanna R Australian Pelican R Spotted Pardalote R Silvereye R Carnaby’s wall skink C White-faced Heron R White-browed Scrubwren R Common Blackbird R # Wood Mulch Slider R White-necked Heron R Speckled Warbler R (t) Common Starling R # Boulengers Skink C Royal Spoonbill R Weebill C Dwarf Skink R Yellow-billed Spoonbill R Western Gerygone U Southern Rainbow Skink R Great Egret R Brown Thornbill R Spotted-backed Ctenotus R White Ibis R Inland Thornbill R Bronze-blazed Wedgesnout R Straw-necked Ibis R Chestnut-rumped Thornbill R Tree Crevice Skink R Black-shouldered Kite R Yellow-rumped Thornbill C Robust Ctenotus R Black Kite R Yellow Thornbill C Yellow-bellied Water Skink R Swamp Harrier R Buff-rumped Thornbill R Dwyer’s Snake R Spotted Harrier R Southern Whiteface R Inland Forest Bat Curl Snake R Whistling Kite R Red Wattlebird R Eastern Brown Snake U Brown Goshawk R Painted Honeyeater R (t) Mammals Red-bellied Black Snake R Wedge-tailed Eagle R Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater R Bearded Dragon R White-breasted Sea Eagle R Striped Honeyeater R Short-beaked Echidna R Prong-snouted Blind Snake R Little Eagle R Noisy Friarbird R Squirrel Glider R (t) Nobbi Dragon R Brown Falcon R Little Friarbird R Sugar Glider R Australian Hobby R Noisy Miner C Black Wallaby R Black Falcon R Blue-faced Honeyeater R Eastern Grey Kangaroo C Key Peregrine Falcon R White-plumed Honeyeater C Red Kangaroo R Australian Kestrel R Black-chinned Honeyeater R (t) Ring-tailed Possum R R - Rare (1-10% of sites) Brolga R (t) Brown-headed Honeyeater R Common Brushtail Possum C U - Uncommon (11-25% of sites) Dusky Moorhen R White-fronted Chat R Gould’s Long-eared Bat R C - Common (26% sites or more) Purple Swamphen R Jacky Winter R Lesser Long-eared Bat U # Introduced Eurasian Coot R Flame Robin R White-striped Freetail Bat R (t) Threatened Black-tailed Native Hen R Red-capped Robin R Southern Freetail Bat R Bush Stone-curlew R Hooded Robin R (t) Inland Freetail Bat R Painted Button-quail R Grey-crowned Babbler C (t) Goulds Wattled Bat U Marsh Sandpiper R White-browed Babbler R Chocolate Wattled Bat R Common Greenshank R Varied Sittella R Inland Broad-nosed Bat R Sharp-tailed Sandpiper R Crested Shrike-tit R Inland Forest Bat R (t) Black-winged Stilt R Golden Whistler R Little Forest Bat C Red-necked Avocet R Rufous Whistler U Large Forest Bat R Red-kneed Dotterel R Grey Shrike-thrush C Southern Forest Bat R Black-fronted Dotterel R Restless Flycatcher U Feral Cat R # Masked Lapwing R Leaden Flycatcher R House Mouse U # Banded Lapwing R Australian Magpie-lark C Black Rat R # Australian Pratincole R Grey Fantail U Rabbit C # Peaceful Dove R Willie Wagtail C Brown Hare U # Common Bronzewing U Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike C Fox U # Crested Pigeon C Ground Cuckoo-shrike R Feral Pigeon R # White-winged Triller R Dwyer’s Snake 3 GRASSY BOX WOODLAND Grassy Box Woodland includes found in these woodlands usually any stands of White Cypress-Pine, consists of common species like Yellow Box, Grey Box or Buloke, the Australian Magpie, Noisy that aren’t on sandhills. Prior to Miner, Red-rumped Parrot, Galah, European settlement this was the Eastern Brown Snake and Eastern most widespread vegetation type Grey Kangaroo, all of which are across the NSW Murray Catch- associated with relatively open ar- ment with large expanses in the eas and can persist in landscapes Central Riverina. that are mostly cleared. From a conservation perspective, At times it was very dishearten- the few remaining stands of high ing for us to survey these sites quality Grassy Box Woodland are and record the same dozen or so like gold.