Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna of the Greater Southern Sydney Region
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Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna of the Greater Southern Sydney Region VOLUME 2 Fauna of Conservation Concern and Priority Pest Species Species profiles and habitat maps A joint project between the Sydney Catchment Authority and Parks and Wildlife Group of the Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW). Special Areas Strategic Plan of Management (SASPoM) Research and Data Program: Project No: RD01 Information and Assessment Section Metropolitan Branch Climate Change and Environment Protection Group Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW) July 2007 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This is a joint project between the Sydney List of Abbreviations Catchment Authority and the Parks and BA Birds Australia Wildlife Group of the Department of CRA Comprehensive Regional Assessments (part Environment and Climate Change (NSW) of the Regional Forestry Agreement process) DEC Department of Environment and This volume has been produced and written by Conservation (NSW) Kylie Madden, Peter Ewin and Daniel Connolly DECC Department of Environment and Climate with assistance from Martin Schulz, Elizabeth Change (NSW) Magarey and Cate Ewin (map production). DEM Digital elevation model DEH Australian Government Department of Many individuals were involved in the fauna Environment and Heritage survey and the development and review of the DPI Department of Primary Industries (NSW) species profiles and habitat maps. For a full list of EPBC Act Environment Protection and Biodiversity acknowledgements, please see Volume 1 – Conservation Act (1999) Background Report. GAM Generalised Additive Model GLM Generalised Linear Model KTP Key Threatening Process (under the TSC Act This report may be referenced as follows: (1995)) DECC (2007) Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna of the Greater LGA Local Government Area Southern Sydney Region: Volume 2 Fauna of Conservation NP National Park Concern and Priority Pest Species. A joint project between the NR Nature Reserve Sydney Catchment Authority and the Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW) (DECC) by the NPW Act National Parks and Wildlife Act (1974) Information and Assessment Section, Metropolitan Branch, NPWS NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Climate Change and Environment Protection Group, DECC. PWD Parks and Wildlife Division, DECC RAOU Royal Australian Ornithological Society RLPB Rural Lands Protection Board All photos are copyright of the photographer. To RLP Act NSW Rural Lands Protection Act (1998) obtain a copy please contact the Bioregional Data RP Regional Park Group Coordinator, DECC Hurstville. For photos by Michael Todd visit www.wildlifing.com. SCA State Conservation Area SF State Forest TSC Act NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act Cover Photos (1995) Eastern Pygmy-possum © N. Williams Swift Parrot © DECC Green Tree Frog © N. Williams Masked Owl © M. Todd ISBN 978 1 74122 600 3 DECC 2007/471 CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. REASONS FOR THIS PROJECT ......................................................................................................... 1 1.2. STUDY AREA ................................................................................................................................. 4 1.3. ABOUT THIS REPORT...................................................................................................................... 4 2. SPECIES OF CONSERVATION CONCERN.......................................................................................... 7 2.1. WHY CONDUCT A REGIONAL REVIEW OF SPECIES OF CONSERVATION CONCERN? .............................. 7 2.2. WHAT SPECIES WERE INCLUDED AS SPECIES OF CONSERVATION CONCERN? .................................... 7 3. PRIORITY FAUNA SPECIES.................................................................................................................. 8 4. PRIORITY FAUNA HABITATS ............................................................................................................. 11 4.1. GRASSY BOX WOODLANDS.......................................................................................................... 11 4.2. UPLAND SWAMPS ........................................................................................................................ 12 4.3. ALLUVIAL WOODLANDS AND FORESTS .......................................................................................... 12 4.4. COASTAL WETLANDS................................................................................................................... 13 4.5. WHY PRIORITY FAUNA HABITATS ARE IMPORTANT .......................................................................... 13 5. SPECIES PROFILES............................................................................................................................ 15 5.1. SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................... 15 5.2. DESCRIPTION AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE................................................................................. 15 5.3. THREATS AND IMPACTS................................................................................................................ 15 5.4. LOCAL AND BIOREGIONAL CONSERVATION STATUS......................................................................... 16 5.5. RECOMMENDATIONS.................................................................................................................... 16 6. MORE ABOUT THE MAPS................................................................................................................... 17 6.1. ABOUT PREDICTIVE HABITAT MAPS................................................................................................ 17 6.2. BUILDING THE FAUNA HABITAT MAPS ............................................................................................. 17 6.3. THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF MAP..................................................................................................... 18 6.4. USING THE HABITAT MAPS ............................................................................................................ 18 AMPHIBIANS ................................................................................................................................................ 21 BIBRON’S TOADLET .................................................................................................................................. 22 BOOROOLONG FROG................................................................................................................................ 24 GIANT BURROWING FROG......................................................................................................................... 26 GREEN AND GOLDEN BELL FROG.............................................................................................................. 28 GREEN TREE FROG.................................................................................................................................. 30 LITTLEJOHN’S TREE FROG ........................................................................................................................ 32 RED-CROWNED TOADLET ......................................................................................................................... 34 STUTTERING FROG................................................................................................................................... 36 REPTILES ..................................................................................................................................................... 39 BLUE MOUNTAINS WATER SKINK .............................................................................................................. 40 BROAD-HEADED SNAKE ............................................................................................................................ 42 EASTERN SNAKE-NECKED TURTLE ............................................................................................................ 44 HIGHLANDS COPPERHEAD ........................................................................................................................ 46 MAINLAND TIGER SNAKE .......................................................................................................................... 48 ROSENBERG’S GOANNA ........................................................................................................................... 50 TREE-BASE LITTER-SKINK ......................................................................................................................... 52 DIURNAL BIRDS .......................................................................................................................................... 55 AUSTRALASIAN BITTERN ........................................................................................................................... 56 BEAUTIFUL FIRETAIL................................................................................................................................. 58 BLACK BITTERN........................................................................................................................................ 60 BLACK-CHINNED HONEYEATER.................................................................................................................. 62 BROWN TREECREEPER............................................................................................................................