Strathfieldsaye Estate Monitoring. Report by Chris Healey

Home , Eastern rosella, Little wattlebird, Noisy miner, Rosella, Striated pardalote

STRATHFIELDSAYE ESTATE BIRD MONITORING PROJECT: INTERIM REPORT FOR 2018 Chris Healey and Brian Martin

INTRODUCTION: This is a preliminary report on the first twelve months of a project to monitor the diversity and abundance of birds of the Strathfieldsaye Estate grazing property on the shore of Lake Wellington at Perry Bridge, East Gippsland. We anticipate being able to release a more detailed report early in 2019. In late 2017 BirdLife East Gippsland (BLEG) was invited by the Australian Landscape Trust (ALT) to undertake regular bird monitoring surveys of their Strathfieldsaye Estate property at Perry River.

The estate is a historic property established in the late 19th century,and bequeathed by the late Dr Clive Disher to the University of Melbourne. Ownership was transferred subsequently to the ALT, which manages the property as an ecologically sustainable organic grazing property. The bird surveys form a part of a larger fauna survey initiative of the ALT with Victorian government funding under the 'Bio-diversity On-ground Action – Community and Volunteer Action’ program. The bird survey program was established in consultation with Ms Madeline Watts, Ecologist with ALT, and overall project manager. The estate covers approximately 2000 hectares, and includes a heritage listed homestead and farm outbuildings. It also includes a ‘bombing range’ used as a training facility by the RAAF during World War Two (the ‘bombs’ consisted of flour bags!) While most of the property has been cleared of the original Red Gum grassy plains vegetation, significant remnants remain, along with several other threatened vegetation communities. The ALT has sought to protect and restore native vegetation through stock exclusion of selected areas and management of the large numbers of Grey Kangaroos. In 2005-6 the ALT undertook extensive surveys of fauna and flora. Quarterly bird surveys were carried out by a team of volunteers under the auspices of the then Birds Australia. These surveys provide useful baseline data for comparison with results from the current project. An initial desktop review based on vegetation surveys at 42 plots and bird surveys at 6 associated sites in 2005-6 identified potential survey sites across the estate. BLEG members conducted a reconnaissance of potential survey sites in November 2017 and selected eight sites for quarterly surveys. A ninth site was added during the life of the project. From 1995 to 1997 then Birds Australia undertook a ‘Birds on Farms’ project (BoF) across much of southeast Australia. The project was revived in early 2018, and it was agreed that the Strathfieldsaye monitoring project be treated as a BLEG contribution to BoF

SURVEY METHODS: Bird monitoring involved quarterly surveys over a 12-month period, commencing in summer 2017. An additional ‘autumn’ survey was included to synchronise surveys with the BoF schedule. The BirdLife Australia methodology recommended in initial consultations for the national ‘Birds on Farms’ program was adopted, these being 20 minute counts in 2 hectare plots each located within larger survey areas of 500 m radius within which ‘area searches’ are undertaken. Subsequently, the current BoF program was limited to 2ha/20-minute count sites only. For the Strathfieldsaye surveys, we retained the embedded 2ha sites within 500m area searches at six sites, with 500m area searches at a further two sites. A ninth site, confined to a 2ha/20-minute count site was added to the schedule from the May (autumn) survey period. Experienced volunteers gathered at the estate for each quarterly survey series at approximately 0900, and spilt into two teams of from 4 to 6 members to conduct simultaneous surveys. Team A surveyed in order Sites 1 to 3 and Site 7, while Team B surveyed Sites 4 to 6 (in reverse order) and Site 9. The teams reconvened at Site 7 around noon for lunch, then completed the survey at the remaining Site 8 (See following section for details of sites). Birds seen/heard were recorded on record sheets with separate entries for 2 ha and 500m radius sites. Time of surveys, duration, current weather conditions, indications of breeding activity and comments on behaviour were noted. Surveys (with number of BLEG participants) were conducted on 15 December 2017 (10), 16 March (8), 23 May (10), 25 July (11), and 17 October (9); Madeline Watts of ALT was also a member of the survey party for the first three survey sessions. The initial scoping survey in November 2017 and five project survey periods amounted to a total time investment of approximately 200 person-hours. Night-time audio recordings were conducted to supplement the main surveys to help identify nocturnal birds that are often cryptic in daytime and which otherwise might remain unrecorded. Field recordings were made by Ms Madeline Watts, Australian Landscape Trust, and analysed by Dr Brian Martin, Birdlife East Gippsland. An automated audio recorder was deployed at eight locations in the Estate. The sites correspond with the locations used for daytime observations. Recordings were made between 21 December 2017 and 25 June 2018. A total of 177 recordings were made, each of about an hour's length. The recordings were generally made between 8:00 pm and 5:00 am. The recordings were analysed using computer software to display spectrograms as well as using audible recognition of calls. Calls were compared to standard databases to confirm identification. Experienced observers also helped to identify calls. Analysis of recordings has so far occupied approximately 150 person-hours. Results of surveys are entered onto Excel spreadsheets and submitted to the estate management and entered onto the BirdLife Australia Birdata database. Results of the 2005-06 surveys were lodged with the ALT management of Strathfieldsaye, but unfortunately could not be found; nor have any records been recoverable from the Birdata database managed by BirdLife Australia. Personal copies of data retained by Len Axen, one of the volunteers involved in the earlier surveys, were made available to BLEG, but it is unclear if these are a complete record of the surveys.

SURVEY SITES: Site details are listed below (see also the accompanying map).

Table 1: Survey Sites

Name BoF ID* Survey type Ecological features 2ha; 500m

1 Gateway Scrub T1285 500m, 2ha Plains grassy redgum woodland, dense Manuka understory, ungrazed; woodland and pasture

2 Perry River North T1286 500m, 2ha Plains grassy redgum woodland remnant, part grazed; woodland, pasture, waterpoints

3 Lake Tiny T1287 500m, 2ha Permanent artificial freshwater wetland; grassy woodland and pasture

4 Bush Electric T1288 500m, 2ha Plains grassy redgum woodland, lomandra understory, ungrazed; woodland, pasture

5 Gravel Pit T1290 500m, 2ha Permanent small artificial wetland, melaleuca scrub, poa grassland, ungrazed; open pasture

6 Bombing Target T1291 500m, 2ha Plains grassy redgum woodland, lomandra, dense Woodland Manuka understory, ungrazed; poa and samphire

7 Swell Point 500m Plains grassy redgum woodland, poa grassland, shoreline and Lake Wellington

8 Barton’s Swamp 500m Samphire swamp, melaleuca thicket, permanent waterpoint, fringing plains grassy redgum woodland

9 Windbreak T1289 2ha Planted eucalypt windbreak, grassy understory

* Site identification number assigned by Birds on Farms coordinator for data entry in electronic Birdata Two-hectare sites were marked out on the ground with tape, each being rectangular with sides measuring approximately 200 by 100 metres, and oriented as shown on the map. While each 2ha site was surveyed comprehensively, this was not practicable with most of the 500 m sites within which 2 ha sites are embedded.

RESULTS: A total of 105 species was recorded during 2017-18, comprising 98 in daytime site surveys, with another two incidental records outside survey sites and a further five species recorded only by audio recorder. The 2005-06 surveys recorded 108 species. Across the two sets of surveys 132 species have been recorded on the estate; 24 of those recorded in 2005-06 were not encountered in 2017-18, while another 23 species were added to the overall list in 2017-18. Appendix 1 provides the combined list of species for the estate.

Daytime Surveys: The number of species and total number of birds recorded at each survey site are shown in Table 2. Spring (October) and Summer (December) counts were generally higher than counts in cooler months: the highest total of 74 species (October) is approximately 75% of the total number of species recorded during all surveys combined, while the lowest total of 53 (May) is only 54% of all recorded species. This marked seasonal variation is probably due to a combination of factors, particularly the greater detectability of some species in warmer months when birds are more vocal while establishing and defending territories and advertising for mates, as well as the arrival of summer migrants. However, progressively severe drought conditions over the life of the project may also have a bearing on the species diversity and abundance. Site totals were ranked according to the total number of species recorded and given a score of 1 (most species, highest rank) to 8 (fewest species, lowest rank) for each survey period (the Windbreak site was excluded from analysis). An average score was calculated for each site for the five survey periods. The standard deviation from the average is an indication of the degree of variability in total species numbers for each site. Gateway Scrub ranked highest for number of species (and lowest overall score of 6), while the Gravel Pit ranked lowest (highest overall score of 36). Table 3 indicates the degree of variability in species number per survey period. Gateway Scrub had the least variability between surveys with consistently high species diversity, followed by the Gravel Pit, with consistently low species diversity – that is, the sites with both the highest and lowest average number of species showed the least variability in species diversity across the 12 months of surveys. Bush Electric showed the greatest variability in species diversity between survey periods.

TABLE 2: SPECIES NUMBERS AND ABUNDANCE BY SITE - Notes: 1. From horizontal Total cells only. 2. From vertical Total cells only, excludes Windbreak

Site Dec 17 Mar 18 May 18 Jul 18 Oct 18 Total1

2ha 500m Total 2ha 500m Total 2ha 500m Total 2ha 500m Total 2ha 500m Total No. Mean/s urvey

1 Gateway Scrub 20 25 35 10 23 25 14 18 23 16 17 24 17 24 35 63 28.4 (111) (84) (195) (42) (136) (178) (51) (95) (146) (54) (51) (105) (61) (94) (155) (779) (155.8)

2 Perry River 11 15 17 12 14 21 8 14 17 16 17 23 15 21 27 46 21.0 North (61) (35) (96) (50) (111) (161) (29) (36) (65) (53) (78) (131) (43) (61) (104) (557) (111.4)

3 Lake Tiny 7 16 20 17 12 25 15 5 17 7 7 11 17 8 21 36 18.8 (25) (37) (62) (54) (69) (123) (80) (36) (116) (20) (46) (66) (93) (50) (143) (510) (102.0)

4 Bush Electric 11 18 24 14 21 27 5 8 10 3 14 14 9 10 15 43 18.0 (48) (63) (111) (144) (100) (244) (17) (43) (60) (15) (77) (92) (43) (45) (88) (595) (119.0)

5 Gravel Pit 9 6 13 12 4 13 4 11 13 4 5 9 12 14 23 35 14.2 (27) (84) (111) (57) (28) (85) (8) (70) (78) (10) (48) (58) (21) (59) (80) (412) (82.4)

6 Bombing Target 13 19 21 13 8 17 11 11 18 12 14 19 19 15 25 40 19.6 (40) (73) (88) (42) (38) (80) (50) (31) (81) (62) (46) (108) (92) (45) (137) (479) (95.8) 7 Swell Point 21 21 15 15 14 14 15 15 29 29 42 18.8 (88) (88) (118) (118) (48) (48) (62) (62) (194) (194) (510) (102.0) 8 Barton’s Swamp 29 29 24 24 12 12 23 23 30 30 48 23.6 (142) (142) (99) (99) (84) (84) (126) (126) (173) (173) (624) (124.8) 9 Windbreak 5 5 1 1 8 8 13 4.7 (7) (7) (4) (4) (36) (36) (47) (15.7) TOTAL 68 60 53 55 74 98 (878) (1088) (685) (752) (1110) (4513) Mean spp all 22.25 20.88 15.50 17.25 25.63 sites2 Mean no. all sites2 109.75 136.00 84.75 93.50 134.25

TABLE 3: VARIABILITY OF SPECIES DIVERSITY BY SITE

TOTAL SCORE (5 SITE surveys) MEAN SD Gateway Scrub 6 2.00 0.45 Gravel Pit 36 12.00 1.10 Bombing Target 21 7.00 1.48 Swell Point 24 8.00 1.48 Perry River North 21 7.00 1.92 Barton’s Swamp 17 5.67 2.19 Lake Tiny 25 8.33 2.35 Bush Electric 26 8.67 3.11

Species abundance varied between surveys, even for some common and sedentary species such as Australian Magpie and Noisy Miner. Table 4 lists the more abundant species for each survey period, limited somewhat arbitrarily to the ten most numerous species.

TABLE 4: TEN MOST ABUNDANT SPECIES BY SURVEY PERIOD

Survey date Species (number of individuals)

15-12-17 Australian Magpie (95), Welcome Swallow (71), Rainbow Lorikeet (69), Noisy Miner (56), Striated Pardalote (46), Eastern Rosella (42), Yellow-faced Honeyeater (37), Common Starling (35), Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (32), Latham’s Snipe (31)

16-3-18 Noisy Miner (116), Common Starling (116), Welcome Swallow (97), Eastern Rosella (74), Chestnut Teal (70), Australian Magpie (63), Yellow-faced Honeyeater (51), Galah (43), Grey Fantail (38), Superb Fairy-wren (34)

23-5-18 Noisy Miner (117), Australian Magpie (74), Eastern Rosella (70), Crimson Rosella (50), Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (38), Superb Fairy-wren (27), Striated Thornbill (27), Galah (21), Common Starling (20), Welcome Swallow (20)

25-7-18 Noisy Miner (104), Eastern Rosella (95), Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (77), Superb Fairy-wren (58), Australian Magpie (52), Brown Thornbill (48), Common Starling (40), Galah (33), Striated Pardalote (31), Spotted Pardalote (20)

17-10-18 Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (116), Eastern Rosella (99), Noisy Miner (84), Australian Magpie (72), Striated Pardalote (63), Common Starling (62), Grey Fantail (45), Superb Fairy-wren (44), White-winged Chough (36), Galah (33)

Cumulative Noisy Miner (477), Eastern Rosella (380), Australian Magpie (356), Sulphur- crested Cockatoo (283), Common Starling (273), Welcome Swallow (220), Superb Fairy-wren (177), Striated Pardalote (170), Galah (145), Yellow-faced Honeyeater (124) 6

Eighteen species are listed in Table 4, with five of them (Eastern Rosella, Noisy Miner, Australian Magpie and Common Starling) being among the most common in all survey periods. Large numbers of each of these species were also noted incidentally (although numbers were not tabulated). On several occasions flocks of Starlings were observed in open pastures with scattered trees, some flocks estimated at up to 300 birds. Agricultural properties with a mix of natural woodland, open pastures with scattered stands of mature trees and multiple sources of watering points are highly suitable to a range of native and introduced species such as Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Eastern Rosella, Noisy Miner, Australian Magpie and Common Starling. Noisy Miners are classed as a ‘threatening’ factor for small woodland birds and are therefore a species of potential negative conservation significance. They were noted in all five sites containing significant woodland habitat. On the other hand, these partially or predominantly woodland sites supported the greatest diversity of species of all sites.

Audio Surveys: Analysis of the many hours of audio recordings are continuing. Many calls are yet to be positively identified. There is a surprising level of activity during the night hours, particularly during Summer/Autumn. It was common for normally daytime birds to give short calls during the night, perhaps due to disturbance. There was much less activity in the Winter surveys. The recordings also revealed a large number of calls from mammals, amphibians and insects as well, many of which were difficult to identify. The problem is compounded by the fact that many or most wildlife have a wide range of calls and vocalisations which are often poorly documented. There are many practical difficulties in field audio recording. It is very difficult to sort out individual calls in the din of the morning chorus and moderate to strong winds overwhelm all other sounds. The assistance of several BirdLife observers in identifying some of the more difficult calls was much appreciated. Collective experience is invaluable. Analysing large audio files is a major challenge. 'Manual' review of the recordings is very laborious and time-consuming. Software such as Kaleidoscope Pro offers the possibility of automated recognition of calls but, in practice, has not lived up to its promise due to the large number of birds/mammals present and their very large range of vocalisations. A comprehensive database of recordings with local vocalisations is also required for reference, but this is lacking at the present time. Recordings from other parts of Australia often include different vocalisations and are not normally a sufficiently good reference. The following calls had positive identification (Table 5). There were many other calls where identification was uncertain. Bird calls marked with an asterisk were not recorded in the daytime surveys.

TABLE 5: SPECIES IDENTIFIED IN AUDIO RECORDINGS A: Birds * Birds not recorded in daytime surveys

*Boobook, Southern (Ninox boobook)

Bronzewing, Common (Phaps chalcoptera)

Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested (Cacatua galerita)

Coot, Eurasian (Fulica atra)

Fantail, Grey (Rhipidura albiscapa)

*Frogmouth, Tawny (Podargus strigoides)

Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla)

Honeyeater, Yellow-faced (Caligavis chrysops)

Kookaburra, Laughing (Dacelo novaeguinae)

Lapwing, Masked (Vanellus miles)

Lorikeet, Rainbow (Trichoglossus moluccanus)

Magpie, Australian (Cractius tibicen)

*Owl, Masked (Tyto novaehollandiae)

*Owlet-nightjar, Australian (Aegotheles cristatus)

*Pigeon, Wonga (Leucosarcia melanoleuca)

Shrike-thrush, Grey (Colluricincla harmonica)

Spinebill, Eastern (Acanthorynchus tenuirostris)

Swamphen, Australasian (Porphyrio melanotus)

Wattlebird, Little (Anthochaera chrysoptera)

B: Other calls:

Fox, Red (Vulpes vulpes)

Frogs, several species including Green and Golden Bell Frog (Litoria aurea)

Glider, Sugar (Petaurus breviceps)

Kangaroo, Eastern Grey (Macropus giganteus)

Possum, Common Brushtail (Trichosurus vulpecula)

Wombat, Common (Vombatus ursinus)

CONCLUSION: The project has identified over 100 species of birds on the estate. The great majority of species were also recorded in similar surveys in 2005-06. Both monitoring series occurred during marked drought conditions. During wetter periods other species which have not so far been detected are likely to be present, particularly in such areas as the ephemeral swamp habitat at Barton’s Swamp.

The number of repeat surveys is insufficient to support anything other than broad generalisations about the overall nature of the bird community. Data to date suggest a good diversity of species across most of the survey sites. Forest and woodland sites with a mix of mature trees and diverse understory supported the greatest diversity of species, which is not unexpected. There is potential for comparisons of bird diversity and abundance between Strathfieldsaye and similar habitats on the Gippsland Red Gum grassy plains (e.g. at the nearby Bush Family Reserve, Moormung Forest and Forge Creek). Inclusion of nocturnal audio recordings as an element of the project has demonstrated the value of the methodology in confirming the presence of several species of birds which are highly unlikely to be detected in day-time surveys. In combination with survey results from 2005-06, the current project has the potential to serve as a useful point of comparison for further monitoring that may take place in future decades. It is proposed that surveys continue in 2019 under the BoF program.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Thanks are due to Madeline Watts of ALT for the invitation to undertake surveys on the estate and for logistical support. BLEG member Len Axen kindly provided records from his personal files of results of the 2005-06 surveys, and advice of suitable sites for the current surveys. Chris Timewell and Dr Caroline Wilson of the BirdLife Australia Birds on Farms/Woodland Birds program gave valuable advice and support. Special thanks are due to all the volunteers who have participated in surveys: Bev Beard, Leah Beekman, Gary Cousens, Heather Cousens, Felicity Healey, John Hutchison, Ron Mackenzie, Derek Russell, Ken Russell, Gary Smith, Judy Smith, Jack Winterbottom, Ian Wright, Merryl Wright, and Robert Wright. 9

APPENDIX 1: STRATHFIELDSAYE ESTATE BIRD LIST This lists all species recorded in the 2005-06 and 2017-18 survey periods on the estate, derived from quarterly site surveys, audio recordings, and incidental records elsewhere on the estate.

2005-06 2017- 18 Stubble Quail • Black Swan • • Australian Shelduck • • Australian Wood Duck • • Chestnut Teal • • Pacific Black Duck • • Spotted Dove • Common Bronzewing • • Crested Pigeon • Wonga Pigeon • Tawny Frogmouth • • Australian Owlet-nightjar • White-throated Needletail • Australasian Darter • Little Pied Cormorant • • Great Cormorant • • Little Black Cormorant • • Australian Pelican • • Eastern Great Egret • Intermediate Egret Cattle Egret • White-faced Heron • • Nankeen Night Heron • Straw-necked Ibis • • Black Shouldered Kite • White-bellied Sea-Eagle • • Whistling Kite • • Brown Goshawk • • Swamp Harrier • • Wedge-tailed Eagle • •

Little Eagle • Nankeen Kestrel • • Brown Falcon • Australian Hobby • Peregrine Falcon • Purple Swamphen • • Dusky Moorhen • Eurasian Coot • Masked Lapwing • • Latham's Snipe • • Caspian Tern • • Whiskered Tern • Crested Tern • • Silver Gull • Yellow-tailed Black- • Cockatoo Gang-gang Cockatoo • Galah • • Little Corella • Sulphur-crested Cockatoo • • Rainbow Lorikeet • Musk Lorikeet • • Australian King Parrot • • Crimson Rosella • • Eastern Rosella • • Channel-billed Cuckoo • Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo • • Shining Bronze-Cuckoo • Pallid Cuckoo • • Fan-tailed Cuckoo • • Southern Boobook • • Masked Owl • Laughing Kookaburra • • Sacred Kingfisher • • Dollarbird •

White-throated • • Treecreeper Satin Bowerbird • Superb Fairy-wren • • White-browed Scrubwren • • Striated Fieldwren • • Weebill • Striated Thornbill • • Yellow Thornbill • Yellow-rumped Thornbill • • Brown Thornbill • • Spotted Pardalote • • Striated Pardalote • • Eastern Spinebill • • Lewin's Honeyeater • Yellow-faced Honeyeater • • White-eared Honeyeater • • White-plumed Honeyeater • Noisy Miner • • Little Wattlebird • • Red Wattlebird • • White-fronted Chat • • Scarlet Honeyeater • Crescent Honeyeater • New Holland Honeyeater • Brown-headed Honeyeater • White-naped Honeyeater • Noisy Friarbird • Spotted Quail-thrush • Eastern Whipbird • • Varied Sitella • Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike • • White-bellied Cuckoo- • shrike Golden Whistler • • Rufous Whistler • •

Grey Shrike-thrush • • Olive-backed Oriole • • Dusky Woodswallow • Grey Butcherbird • • Australian Magpie • • Pied Currawong • • Grey Currawong • • Rufous Fantail • Grey Fantail • • Willie Wagtail • • Australian Raven • • Little Raven • • Leaden Flycatcher • Magpie Lark • • White-winged Chough • • Jacky Winter • • Scarlet Robin • • Flame Robin • Rose Robin • Eastern Yellow Robin • • Eurasian Skylark • • Golden-headed Cisticola • • Australian Reed-Warbler • Little Grassbird • Rufous Songlark • Silvereye • • Welcome Swallow • • Tree Martin • • Common Blackbird • • Common Starling • • Common Myna • • Mistletoebird • • Australasian Pipit • • Total Species 108 105

MAP: SURVEY SITES