Davidson Creek Vertebrate Consolidated Report
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Consolidated Report on Vertebrate Fauna Surveys Conducted for the FerrAus Pilbara Project Prepared for FerrAus Ltd Final Report, Rev 0 August 2011 Consolidated Report on Vertebrate Fauna Surveys Conducted for the FerrAus Pilbara Project Final Report FerrAus Ltd Consolidated Report on Vertebrate Fauna Surveys Conducted for the FerrAus Pilbara Project Prepared for FerrAus Limited Final Report, Rev 0 Authors: Karen Crews, Tamara Kabat, Guillaume Bouteloup Reviewer: Jarrad Clark Date: August 2011 Submitted to: Barbara Heemink, Neil Dixon ©Phoenix Environmental Sciences Pty Ltd 2011. The use of this report is solely for the Client for the purpose in which it was prepared. Phoenix Environmental Sciences accepts no responsibility for use beyond this purpose. All rights are reserved and no part of this publication may be reproduced or copied in any form without the written permission of Phoenix Environmental Sciences or FerrAus Limited. Phoenix Environmental Sciences Pty Ltd 1/511 Wanneroo Road BALCATTA, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, 6021 P: 08 9345 1608 F: 08 6313 0680 E: [email protected] Phoenix Environmental Sciences Pty Ltd i Consolidated Report on Vertebrate Fauna Surveys Conducted for the FerrAus Pilbara Project Final Report FerrAus Ltd CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY............................................................................................................................. vi 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Project background ................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Surveys conducted .................................................................................................................... 4 1.3 Scope of work and survey objectives ........................................................................................ 4 1.3.1 Scope of this report ........................................................................................................... 4 1.3.2 Scope and survey objectives for technical reports ............................................................ 6 2 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ................................................................................................................. 9 2.1 Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation of Australia (IBRA) Region .......................................... 9 2.2 Climate ...................................................................................................................................... 9 2.3 Relevant legislation and agreements for the protection of fauna in Western Australia ....... 10 3 METHODS ....................................................................................................................................... 12 3.1 Desktop reviews and database searches ................................................................................ 12 3.2 Field surveys............................................................................................................................ 12 3.2.1 Trapping for ground-dwelling mammals, reptiles and amphibians ................................ 13 3.2.2 Avifauna surveys .............................................................................................................. 13 3.2.3 Bats .................................................................................................................................. 13 3.2.4 Spotlighting ...................................................................................................................... 13 3.2.5 Active Searches ................................................................................................................ 13 3.3 Taxonomy and nomenclature ................................................................................................. 17 3.4 Survey limitations ................................................................................................................... 17 4 RESULTS .......................................................................................................................................... 18 4.1 Species of conservation significance ...................................................................................... 18 4.1.1 Apus pacificus (Fork-tailed Swift) .................................................................................... 19 4.1.2 Falco hypoleucos (Grey Falcon) ....................................................................................... 20 4.1.3 Falco peregrinus (Peregrine Falcon) ................................................................................ 20 4.1.4 Ardeotis australis (Australian Bustard) ............................................................................ 22 4.1.5 Burhinus grallarius (Bush Stone-curlew) ......................................................................... 22 4.1.6 Charadrius veredus (Oriental Plover) .............................................................................. 25 4.1.7 Merops ornatus (Rainbow Bee-eater) ............................................................................. 25 4.1.8 Neochmia ruficauda subclarescens (Star Finch) .............................................................. 25 4.1.9 Dasycercus cristicauda (Crest-tailed Mulgara) and Dasycercus blythi (Brush-tailed Mulgara) ......................................................................................................................................... 27 4.1.10 Macrotis lagotis (Greater Bilby) ....................................................................................... 30 4.1.11 Notoryctes caurinus (Northern Marsupial Mole) ............................................................ 32 4.1.12 Macroderma gigas (Ghost Bat) ........................................................................................ 32 Phoenix Environmental Sciences Pty Ltd ii Consolidated Report on Vertebrate Fauna Surveys Conducted for the FerrAus Pilbara Project Final Report FerrAus Ltd 4.1.13 Pseudomys chapmani (Western Pebble-mound Mouse) ................................................ 34 4.1.14 Lerista macropisthopus remota (Unpatterned Robust Lerista) ...................................... 34 4.1.15 Ctenotus uber johnstonei ................................................................................................ 34 4.2 Fauna habitats of the study area ............................................................................................ 35 4.2.1 Spinifex sandplain ............................................................................................................ 35 4.2.2 Mulga woodland .............................................................................................................. 35 4.2.3 Major creeklines and floodplains .................................................................................... 36 4.2.4 Low rocky ranges and rocky slopes ................................................................................. 36 4.2.5 Sand dunes ...................................................................................................................... 36 4.3 Vertebrate fauna assemblage of the study area .................................................................... 37 4.3.1 Amphibians ...................................................................................................................... 37 4.3.2 Birds ................................................................................................................................. 38 4.3.3 Mammals ......................................................................................................................... 44 4.3.4 Reptiles ............................................................................................................................ 47 5 ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS .......................................................................................... 52 5.1 Assessment approach ............................................................................................................. 52 5.1.1 Purpose ............................................................................................................................ 52 5.1.2 Method ............................................................................................................................ 52 5.1.3 Scope and limitations ...................................................................................................... 52 5.2 Fauna values ........................................................................................................................... 52 5.2.1 Conservation significant fauna and habitats ................................................................... 52 5.2.2 Fauna assemblages .......................................................................................................... 53 5.3 Threatening processes ............................................................................................................ 53 5.3.1 Habitat loss (population scale) ........................................................................................ 53 5.3.2 Habitat fragmentation ..................................................................................................... 53 5.3.3 Habitat degradation......................................................................................................... 53 5.3.4 Species’ interactions