City of Melville Carnaby’s Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus latirostris Habitat Restoration Plan – Piney Lakes January 2012 99 C Lord St Whiteman (08) 9209 2767 (P) (08) 9209 2768 (F) [email protected] www.naturalareaconsulting.com.au City of Melville Carnaby’s Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus latirostris Habitat Restoration Plan - Piney Lakes January 2012 Report prepared for: City of Melville Report prepared by: Natural Area Consulting 99c Lord St Whiteman WA 6068 [email protected] City of Melville – Carnaby’s Cockatoo Habitat Restoration Plan - Piney lakes Disclaimer Natural Area Consulting (NAC) have prepared this report for the sole use of the Client and for the purposes as stated in the agreement between the Client and NAC under which this work was completed. This report may not be relied upon by any other party without the express written agreement of NAC. 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No part of this document may be copied, duplicated or disclosed without the express written permission of the Client and NAC. Document Control Document: Carnaby’s Cockatoo, Habitat restoration plan File: City of Melville Version Prepared by Reviewed by Approved by Date Draft 1 Jacquie Milner Sue Brand Luke Summers January 2012 Jaren Hart © Natural Area Consulting 2011 Page iii City of Melville – Carnaby’s Cockatoo Habitat Restoration Plan - Piney lakes Executive Summary Natural Area Consulting was contracted to prepare a Carnaby’s Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus latirostris) Habitat Restoration Plan for a 4 ha area within the Piney Lakes Reserve. The Carnaby’s Cockatoo is an endangered species that is listed under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 (WA) and the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwlth). A flora and vegetation assessment was carried out within the nominated area to determine: . flora species present, including those species preferred by the Carnaby’s Cockatoo, . vegetation condition, and thus areas where rehabilitation can occur, and . identification of species for rehabilitation activities, with a focus on restoring those species preferred by the cockatoo. The rehabilitation plan includes indicative costings, an implementation plan, and suggested monitoring and maintenance requirements. Current site characteristics and key information about the preferred food and habitat resources used by the Cockatoo are also provided. After assessment of the site characteristics the following recommendations are provided in order to achieve a bushland area suitable as Carnaby’s Cockatoo habitat: . weed control of large woody weeds, . herbicide application targeting grasses, small shrubs, herbs and spring geophytes, . intensive revegetation of the most degraded areas with local provenance species to preferred by the Carnaby’s Cockatoo, . infill planting across the site including the establishment of Eucalyptus species, . monitoring and reporting of the sites progression and . ongoing maintenance. An indicative cost and implementation schedules are provided to assist with implementing the Revegetation Plan. Other considerations that may influence the success of the plan are also outlined. © Natural Area Consulting 2011 Page iv City of Melville – Carnaby’s Cockatoo Habitat Restoration Plan - Piney lakes Table of Contents Executive Summary ......................................................................................................... iv 1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Scope of Works............................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Site Location ................................................................................................................ 2 2.0 Carnaby’s Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus latirostris).................................................... 4 2.1 Description .................................................................................................................. 4 2.2 Distribution .................................................................................................................. 4 2.3 Preferred Habitats ....................................................................................................... 4 2.3.1 Breeding Habitat .................................................................................................. 4 2.3.2 Foraging / Roosting Habitat ................................................................................. 5 2.4 Conservation Status .................................................................................................... 5 2.5 Threats ......................................................................................................................... 5 3.0 Existing Site Characteristics .................................................................................... 6 3.1 Regional Context ......................................................................................................... 6 3.2 Climate ........................................................................................................................ 6 3.3 Topography and Soils .................................................................................................. 6 3.4 Vegetation ................................................................................................................... 7 4.0 Flora and Vegetation Surveys ................................................................................. 8 4.1 Objectives .................................................................................................................... 8 4.2 Field Survey ................................................................................................................. 8 4.2.1 Methodology ........................................................................................................ 8 4.2.2 Limitations............................................................................................................ 8 4.2.3 Species Composition ............................................................................................ 8 4.2.4 Vegetation Type ................................................................................................... 9 4.2.5 Weeds .................................................................................................................. 9 4.2.6 Vegetation Condition ......................................................................................... 10 5.0 Rehabilitation Plan ............................................................................................... 20 5.1 Weed Control ............................................................................................................ 20 5.2 Revegetation ............................................................................................................. 23 5.3 Other Rehabilitation Success Considerations ........................................................... 26 5.4 Nesting Boxes ............................................................................................................ 27 5.5 Success Criteria and Maintenance ............................................................................ 27 6.0 Indicative Costing ................................................................................................. 29 © Natural Area Consulting Page v City of Melville – Carnaby’s Cockatoo Habitat Restoration Plan - Piney lakes 7.0 Implementation Schedule .................................................................................... 30 7.0 References ........................................................................................................... 31 Appendix 1: Flora Species List .................................................................................... 33 Appendix 2: Informal Monitoring Sheet...................................................................... 37 Appendix 3: Bush Forever Vegetation Structural Classes ............................................. 38 Appendix 4: Keighery Scale ........................................................................................ 40 © Natural Area Consulting Page vi City of Melville – Carnaby’s Cockatoo Habitat Restoration Plan - Piney lakes 1.0 Introduction Natural Area Consulting was contracted to prepare a Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus latirostris) habitat restoration plan for Piney Lakes. The Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus latirostris) is a large cockatoo endemic to the south-west of Western Australia (Department of Environment