A Survey of the Bat Fauna

Home , Austronomus, Chalinolobus, Chocolate wattled bat, Little forest bat, Little pied bat, Microbat

______Monitoring of the microbat fauna of the Ulan Coal Mine lease during 2015.

Microbat Monitoring of the Ulan Coal Mine Lease during 2015

A report to Ulan Coal Mines Limited

G.A. Hoye & M.M. Hoye Fly By Night Bat Surveys Pty Ltd ABN 48 068 562 005

PO Box 271 BELMONT NSW 2280 Tel 4947 7794 Fax 4947 7537

January 2016

January 2016 Fly By Night Bat Surveys Pty Ltd ______

______Monitoring of the microbat fauna of the Ulan Coal Mine lease during 2015.

1 INTRODUCTION

This report details the results of microbat monitoring undertaken during 2015 in accordance with the Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) (ULN SD PLN 0026). The Project Area comprises a total of 13,435 hectares and includes areas referred to in the Environmental Assessment (Umwelt 2009) and the subsequent BMP. This area consists of the Ulan West and No. 3 underground areas, as well as the open cut. They include;

 Open Cut Extension – the extent of the recently approved open cut operations, being approximately 239 hectares;

 Previous Open Cut Mining Areas – covers approximately 475 hectares of previously open cut mining areas that have been rehabilitated and final voids that remain to support future mining activities (i.e. water storage, tailings disposal, underground access etc.);

 Surface Infrastructure Area – the 169 hectare disturbance area required for construction of underground service infrastructure;

 Residual Project Area – the remainder of the Project Area that is not subject to the current project. This includes large areas that have been previously undermined, agricultural grazing land, irrigation pivots and large areas of remnant native vegetation;

 Biodiversity Offset and Management Areas – land that has been approved for Biodiversity Offset and Management Areas for the Project, being:

1. Bobadeen Vegetation Offset Area including Bobadeen Corridor (1116 hectares);

2. Bobadeen East Vegetation Offset Area (232 hectares);

3. Brokenback Conservation Area (58 hectares); and

4. Spring Gully Cliff Line Management Area (211 hectares).

The BMP was prepared (in part) to document the existing ecological and rehabilitation monitoring commitments for the Project Area, considering current and approved operations. The aims of the ecological and rehabilitation monitoring program are to:

 demonstrate compliance in regards to the relevant federal and state approvals that apply to the project area;

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______Monitoring of the microbat fauna of the Ulan Coal Mine lease during 2015.

 provide the scientific basis for defining rehabilitation objectives and for developing closure criteria and a rehabilitation program that will facilitate lease relinquishment following closure;

 assess the long-term stability and functioning of re-established ecosystems within post-mining rehabilitation areas, as well as revegetated areas within the Biodiversity Offset and Management.

Microbats were surveyed at nineteen general fauna monitoring sites across many of the above areas as well as targeted sites along clifflines for subsidence impact monitoring. Subsidence impact monitoring will focus on the identification of roosting/breeding habitat of threatened bat species and any observable impacts to these species. Bat species at each site were surveyed through captures in harp traps and through recording and subsequent analysis of echolocation calls.

In accordance with the Ulan West Subsidence Monitoring Program (ULN SD ANN 0064) pre- mining monitoring for microbats along clifflines was undertaken prior to longwall mining of Ulan West Longwalls 1-3 in September 2013. Sites with potential roosting/breeding habitat or a high level of activity were selected from those found during the pre-mining survey for ongoing annual monitoring until 2 years post mining. Pre-mining survey for Ulan West Longwall 4 was conducted in January 2015 and selected sites were monitored in the annual monitoring conducted in December 2015.

In accordance with the Underground No.3. (UG3) Subsidence Monitoring Program (ULN SD PLN 0061) pre-mining monitoring for microbats along clifflines was undertaken prior to longwall mining of Underground No.3. Longwalls West 3 & 4 in December 2014. Sites with potential roosting/breeding habitat or a high level of activity were selected from those found during the pre-mining survey for ongoing annual monitoring until 2 years post mining.

January 2016 Fly By Night Bat Surveys Pty Ltd ______

______Monitoring of the microbat fauna of the Ulan Coal Mine lease during 2015.

2 SURVEY METHODOLOGY a General Fauna Sites

Nineteen sites were sampled for bats through captures using collapsible harp traps (Tidemann & Woodside, 1978) as well as recording and subsequent analysis of echolocation calls via Anabat II detectors. Each site was sampled for three consecutive nights with harp traps and had echolocation call recording undertaken for a minimum of two complete nights. Echolocation calls were recorded for subsequent analysis. Bats captured in harp traps were identified, measured and fitted with an identification band. Survey for bats in forest above existing and planned underground workings was undertaken from 24th April to 4th May and 1st to 9th December 2015. Ten of the sites were sampled during April and May 2015 and the remaining nine sites were sampled during December.

The location of the nineteen general fauna monitoring sites are as follows;

Bobadeen Corridor 1 (BC1) 761520E 6436115N Durridgere 8833-1-S Bobadeen Offset 1 (BO1) 757171E 6435205N Narragamba 8833-4-S Bobadeen Offset 2 (BO2) 760452E 6435200N Durridgere 8833-1-S Bobadeen Offset 3 (BO3) 757453E 6436742N Narragamba 8833-4-S Bobadeen Offset 4 (BO4) 759186E 6436912N Narragamba 8833-4-S Bobadeen East 1 (BE1) 762922E 6436183N Durridgere 8833-1-S Bobadeen East 2 (BE2) 763374E 6438349N Durridgere 8833-1-S Spring Gully 1 (CR) 760096E 6433625N Durridgere 8833-1-S Infrastructure 1 (INF1) 754636E 6431861N Narragamba 8833-4-S Infrastructure 2 (INF2) 755148E 6437151N Narragamba 8833-4-S Infrastructure 3 (INF3) 755352E 6438919N Narragamba 8833-4-S Infrastructure 4 (INF4) 758717E 6439744N Durridgere 8833-1-S Residual 1 (RES1) 758719E 6432538N Narragamba 8833-4-S Residual 2 (RES2) 756620E 6433058N Narragamba 8833-4-S Residual 3 (RES3) 752509E 6434120N Narragamba 8833-4-S Residual 4 (RES4) 759263E 6439041N Durridgere 8833-1-S Residual 5 (RES5) 755562E 6442346N Narragamba 8833-4-S Open Cut 1 (OC1) 759955E 6426893N Narragamba 8833-4-S Open Cut 3 (OC3) 758345E 6428917N Narragamba 8833-4-S

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______Monitoring of the microbat fauna of the Ulan Coal Mine lease during 2015.

Figure 1 General fauna sites sampled for microbats during 2015.

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______Monitoring of the microbat fauna of the Ulan Coal Mine lease during 2015.

B Targeted Microbat Sites

Nineteen sites were sampled for microbats through captures using collapsible harp traps (Tidemann & Woodside, 1978) and/or the recording and subsequent analysis of echolocation calls via Anabat II detectors. Due to unsuitability of the sites or their remoteness no harp trapping was undertaken at sites BD9, UTN1, SG5, UG9, VW3, VW4, UW4 & UW8. Each site had echolocation call recording undertaken for two complete nights. Echolocation calls were recorded onto storage zcaims for subsequent analysis. Bats were captured in harp traps which were left in place for two nights. Bats captured in harp traps were identified, measured and fitted with an identification band. Survey for microbats at the targeted cliffline sites was undertaken from 24th April to 4th May and 1st to 9th December 2015.

Eight control targeted microbat cliffline sites which will not be undermined were sampled;

BD6 753428E 6436595N Narragamba 8833-4-S H,E BD7 753052E 6436594N Narragamba 8833-4-S H,E BD8 752671E 6436618N Narragamba 8833-4-S H,E BD9 751864E 6436925N Narragamba 8833-4-S E SG5 761877E 6432689N Durridgere 8833-1-S E SG7 761427E 6432729N Durridgere 8833-1-S H,E SG8 761438E 6432916N Durridgere 8833-1-S H,E UG1 756847E 6431191N Durridgere 8833-1-S H,E

Site E which is a temporary control site above Ulan West Longwall 7. This site was added to the monitoring program due to the continued presence of the Large–eared Pied Bat at this site over a considerable period

E 754050E 6435900N Narragamba 8833-4-S H,E

Sites recently or currently located above underground mining;

UTN1 UW LW1 756586E 6433823N Narragamba 8833-4-S E VW3 UW LW2 756229E 6434374N Narragamba 8833-4-S E

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Sites located above future underground mining areas;

UG5 UG3 LWW3 755431E 6437443N Narragamba 8833-4-S H,E UG9 UG3 LWW4 755211E 6437865N Narragamba 8833-4-S E VW4 UW LW3 755840E 6434284N Narragamba 8833-4-S E VW5 UW LW3 755730E 6434129N Narragamba 8833-4-S H,E UW2 UW LW5 755097E 6433764N Narragamba 8833-4-S H,E UW4 UW LW4 755532E 6433510N Narragamba 8833-4-S E UW8 UW LW4 755276E 6432114N Narragamba 8833-4-S E UW11 UW LW3 755663E 6431667N Narragamba 8833-4-S H,E

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______Monitoring of the microbat fauna of the Ulan Coal Mine lease during 2015.

Figure 2 Targeted microbat cliffline sites surveyed during 2015.

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______Monitoring of the microbat fauna of the Ulan Coal Mine lease during 2015.

Plate 3 Harp trap set in cave overhang at site UW2 off Valley Way.

Plate 4 Harp trap and detector set along cliffline at targeted microbat site SG7.

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______Monitoring of the microbat fauna of the Ulan Coal Mine lease during 2015.

Weather Conditions during Surveys

Weather experienced during the 2015 microbat survey was varied. During the April 2015 section of the monitoring, minimum temperatures occurred from 3.8 to 14.50C while maximum temperatures ranged from 14 to 24.50C (refer to Table 1). No rain fell during the period of survey.

During the December 2015 section of the monitoring, minimum temperatures varied from 11.5 to 190C while maximum temperatures ranged from 23.5 to 36.50C (refer to Table 1) . No rain fell during the period of the survey.

Gulgong Post Office (Site 62013), Latitude: 32.36°S, Longitude: 149.53°E, Elevation: 475m.

Table 1 Weather conditions during the 2015 microbat monitoring.

Date Minimum temperature (°C) Maximum temperature (°C) Rainfall (mm) 24/04/2015 12.5 23 0 25/04/2015 8.5 23 0 26/04/2015 8.5 14 0 2704/2015 5 17.5 0 28/04/2015 3.8 19 0 29/04/2015 8 20.5 0 30/04/2015 10.5 20 0 01/05/2015 11.8 19.3 0 2/05/2015 12.5 23 0 03/05/2015 13.8 24.5 0 04/05/2015 14.5 23.2 0

1/12/2015 14.5 36.5 0 2/12/2015 19 27.5 0 3/12/2015 13.5 25.3 0 4/12/2015 11.4 28.5 0 5/12/2015 11.5 23.5 0 6/12/2015 16 34.5 0 7/12/2015 16.5 34.6 0 8/12/2015 16.6 31.1 0 9/12/2015 18.4 32.9 0

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______Monitoring of the microbat fauna of the Ulan Coal Mine lease during 2015.

3 SURVEY RESULTS a General Fauna Sites

As seen in Table 2, thirteen microbat species were recorded in total at the general fauna sites during the 2015 surveys. The number of species recorded at each site varied from six to thirteen across both surveys. Two of these bat species, White Striped Mastiff Bat (Austronomus australis) and the Little Forest Bat (Vespadelus vulturnus) were recorded from echolocation and/or capture at all nineteen sites.

44 individuals of seven species were captured in harp traps, the Large-eared Pied Bat (Chalinolobus dwyeri), Gould’s Wattled Bat (Chalinolobus gouldii), the Chocolate Wattled Bat (Chalinolobus morio), South-eastern Long-eared Bat (Nyctophilus corbeni), Lesser Long- eared Bat (Nyctophilus geoffroyi), Gould’s Long-eared Bat (Nyctophilus gouldi) and Little Forest Bat (Vespadelus vulturnus). An adult female South-eastern Long-eared Bat captured at site CR (Cicada Road) in December indicated the presence of a breeding aggregation in the vicinity at that time.

A total of 4870 echolocation call passes were recorded across the general fauna sites during the April 2015 survey and December 2015 survey. Eleven microbat species were confidently recorded from echolocation calls during these surveys; the Yellow-bellied Sheathtail Bat (Saccolaimus flaviventris), White Striped Mastiff Bat (Austronomus australis), Southern Freetail Bat (Mormopterus planiceps), Eastern Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus megaphyllus), Gould’s Wattled Bat (Chalinolobus gouldii), Chocolate Wattled Bat (Chalinolobus morio), Large-eared Pied Bat (Chalinolobus dwyeri), Eastern Bent-wing Bat (Miniopterus oceanensis), Unidentified Long-eared Bat (Nyctophilus sp.), Inland Broad-nosed Bat (Scotorepens balstoni) and Little Forest Bat (Vespadelus vulturnus).

Four microbat species listed as Vulnerable on Schedule 2 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 were recorded from the general fauna sites during the 2015 surveys. The Yellow-bellied Sheathtail Bat (Saccolaimus flaviventris) was recorded from echolocation call at six sites (INF3, RES4, RES5, OC3, BO3 & BE1). The Large-eared Pied Bat (Chalinolobus dwyeri) was captured at the general fauna site BO1 during 2015 survey and was confidently recorded through echolocation call detection at sixteen sites (BC1, BO1, BO2, BO3, BO4, CR1, INF1, INF2, INF3, INF4, RES1, RES3, RES4, RES5, OC1 & OC3). The Little Pied Bat (Chalinolobus picatus) was tentatively recorded from echolocation call at four sites (BO2, BO3, RES4 & OC1). The South-eastern Long-eared Bat (Nyctophilus corbeni) was captured at one site (CR1) during December 2015. The Eastern Bent-wing Bat (Miniopterus oceanensis) was not captured at the general fauna sites during 2015 but was confidently recorded from echolocation call at least half of the monitoring sites (BC1, BO2, BO3, BO4, BE1, BE2, CR1, INF1, INF2, INF3, INF4, RES2, RES3, RES4, OC1 & RES5).

January 2016 Fly By Night Bat Surveys Pty Ltd ______

______Monitoring of the microbat fauna of the Ulan Coal Mine lease during 2015. Table 2 Microbat species recorded from all general monitoring sites during the 2015 monitoring period. General Monitoring Sites

Forest Regen

Bat Species BC1 BO1 BO2 BO3 BO4 BE1 BE2 CR INF1 INF2 INF3 INF4 RES1 RES2 RES3 RES4 RES5 OC1 OC3

Saccolaimus flaviventris E E E E E E Austronomus australis E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E Mormopterus planiceps E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E Mormopterus ridei E E E E E E E E E

Rhinolophus megaphyllus E E E E E E E E Chalinolobus dwyeri E E,H E E E E E E E E E E E E E Chalinolobus gouldii E E E E E E E E,H E E E E E E E E,H E Chalinolobus morio E E,H E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E Chalinolobus picatus E? E? E? E?

Miniopterus oceanensis E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E Nyctophilus corbeni H Nyctophilus geoffroyi H H H H H H H Nyctophilus gouldi H H H Nyctophilus sp. E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E Scotorepens balstoni E E E E E E E E E Vespadelus vulturnus E,H E E,H E,H E,H E E E,H E E,H E E,H E E E E E E H TOTAL SPECIES 8 8 11 12 8 8 8 12 6 11 11 8 9 6 10 12 12 12 7 KEY H Captured in harp traps E Recorded from echolocation call E? Tentatively recorded from echolocation call Threatened and locally significant bat species are marked in bold

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b Targeted Microbat Sites

As seen in Table 3, thirteen microbat species were recorded in total during survey of the targeted microbat cliffline sites during the 2015 surveys. The number of species recorded at each site varied from four to thirteen. Most of these bat species; the White-striped Mastiff Bat (Tadarida australis), Large-eared Pied Bat (Chalinolobus dwyeri), Gould’s Wattled Bat (Chalinolobus gouldii), Chocolate Wattled Bat (Chalinolobus morio), Eastern Bent-wing Bat (Miniopterus oceanensis), Long-eared Bat species (Nyctophilus sp.) and Little Forest Bat (Vespadelus vulturnus) were recorded from at least half of the sites.

30 individuals of four species; the Large-eared Pied Bat (Chalinolobus dwyeri), Gould’s Long- eared Bat (Nyctophilus gouldi), Lesser Long-eared Bat (Nyctophilus geoffroyi) and Little Forest Bat (Vespadelus vulturnus) were captured in harp traps. The threatened cave– roosting microbat the Large-eared Pied Bat was captured during the surveys.

Three targeted microbat species were recorded during the 2015 surveys. The Eastern Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus megaphyllus) was confidently recorded through echolocation call detection at fifteen sites (BD6, BD7, BD8, BD9, E, SG5, SG7, UG5, UG9, UTN1 & VW3, VW4, VW5, UW8 and UW11). The Large-eared Pied Bat (Chalinolobus dwyeri) was captured at two sites (UG5 and UW2) and confidently recorded through echolocation call detection at thirteen sites (BD6, BD7, BD8, BD9, SG8, UG1, E, UG5, UG9, UW4, UW8, UW11 & VW5). The Eastern Bent-wing Bat (Miniopterus oceanensis) was not captured during the 2015 surveys but was confidently recorded from echolocation call at fourteen sites (BD7, BD8, BD9, SG5, UG1, E, UG5, UG9, UTN1, VW4, UW2, UW4, UW8 & UW11).

January 2016 Fly By Night Bat Surveys Pty Ltd ______

______Monitoring of the microbat fauna of the Ulan Coal Mine lease during 2015. Table 3 Microbat species recorded from all targeted microbat cliffline sites during the 2015 monitoring period.

Targeted Monitoring Sites Control Sites Impact Sites

Bat Species BD6 BD7 BD8 BD9 SG5 SG7 SG8 UG1 E UTN1 UG5 UG9 VW3 VW4 VW5 UW2 UW4 UW8 UW11 Saccolaimus flaviventris E E E E E E

Austronomus australis E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E

Mormopterus planiceps E E E E E E E E E E E

Mormopterus ridei E E E E E E E

Rhinolophus megaphyllus E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E

Chalinolobus dwyeri E E E E E E E E,H E E H E E E

Chalinolobus gouldii E E E E E E E E E E E E

Chalinolobus morio E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E

Chalinolobus picatus E? E?

Miniopterus oceansensis E E E E E E E E E E E E E E

Nyctophilus geoffroyi H H

Nyctophilus gouldi H H

Nyctophilus sp. E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E

Scotorepens balstoni E E E E E E E E

Vespadelus vulturnus E,H E E E E E E,H E,H E E,H E E E E E,H E,H E E

TOTAL SPECIES 6 8 13 9 6 5 4 10 10 4 12 11 6 6 9 8 9 13 11 KEY H Captured in harp traps E Recorded from echolocation call E? Tentatively recorded from echolocation call Target microbat species are marked in bold Results are pooled for the autumn and summer surveys.

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4 DISCUSSION a General Fauna Sites

Fifteen microbat species were recorded during microbat surveys of the nineteen general fauna monitoring sites for the Ulan Coal Mine lease during the 2015 monitoring period. Five microbat species listed as Vulnerable on Schedule 2 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 were recorded during the surveys; the Large-eared Pied Bat (Chalinolobus dwyeri) was captured at one of the general fauna sites during 2015 and was confidently recorded through echolocation call detection at fifteen sites. The Eastern Bent-wing Bat (Miniopterus oceanensis) was not captured at the general fauna sites during 2015 but was confidently recorded from echolocation call at most sites. A female South-eastern Long-eared Bat (Nyctophilus corbeni) was captured at site CR1 during the December survey. The Yellow- bellied Sheathtail Bat (Saccolaimus flaviventris) was recorded from echolocation call at six sites and the Little Pied Bat (Chalinolobus picatus) was recorded tentatively from echolocation call at four sites. Two species tentatively recorded from echolocation call during previous surveys, the Fishing Bat (Myotis macropus) and Greater Broad-nosed Bat (Scoteanax rueppellii) were not recorded during the current surveys.

Graph 1 Simpsons Diversity Index for captures and echolocation call detection at the general monitoring sites from 2011 to 2015.

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Graph 1 shows the species diversity of bats captured at the general fauna monitoring sites for the current and previous monitoring periods since these sites were designated in 2011. The results indicate that overall microbat diversity has been relatively stable across the period from 2011 to 2014. There has been a gradual increase in diversity when measured by echolocation call. Conversely, a slight drop in diversity has been recorded when measured by captures.

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Body Condition

Graph 2 shows the mean Body Condition Index (BCI) for two most regularly captured microbats at the general monitoring sites for each year since the current monitoring program commenced in 2011, the Little Forest Bat (blue line in Graph 2) and Lesser long-eared Bat (red line in Graph 2) . BCI is derived from the weight and forearm length of individuals and provides a measure of the fat reserves held by bats. Individuals under stress from natural phenomena such as drought or stress from impacts due to mining would be expected to loss condition. Body condition in the Lesser Long-eared Bat has shown a slight decrease in the past two years of monitoring. This may solely be a response to environmental conditions affecting prey and may be unrelated to mining activity. and Body condition in the Little Forest Bat has shown only a small degree of variation across the five years of monitoring.

Graph 2 Mean body condition of the two most regularly captured bat species at the general monitoring sites from 2011 to 2015.

Age Composition

Graph 3 shows the mean canine length (CL) for two most regularly captured microbats at the general monitoring sites, the Lesser Long-eared Bat (Nyctophilus geoffroyi) and Little Forest Bat (Vespadelus vulturnus). Canine length provides a measure of the age distribution of bats. As individuals age, their canines gradually wear. Because microbats can be long-lived with individuals of some species reaching 20 years plus, their canines can wear down to gum level over time. The age structure and hence mean canine length of a particular population of

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microbats will be dependent on the mortality factors at play. Where young animals are not being recruited into a population, mean canine length can be expected to decrease over time as the population is biased to older animals. Conversely, if older animals are selectively removed from the population, mean canine length can be expected to increase over time as the population is biased to younger animals. Mean canine length has remained reasonably stable for the Lesser Long-eared Bat (red line in Graph 3) and the Little Forest Bat (blue line in Graph 3) across the five years of monitoring under the current regime. This indicates that no substantial change in the age structure of populations of these two microbats has occurred across the lease since the commencement of the current monitoring regime in 2011.

Graph 3 Mean canine length of the two most regularly captured microbat species at the general monitoring sites from 2011 to 2015.

Open Cut Rehabilitation

Bat diversity and activity at the two sites sampled in open cut rehabilitation (OC1 & OC3) was generally high with twelve species recorded in 1991 mine rehabilitation and seven species at the 2005 mine rehabilitation. As shown in Graph 4, overall microbat diversity in both 1991 and 2003 open cut regeneration was lower than that seen in forest sites away from the open cut. This is consistent with results achieved in previous monitoring (Fly By Night 1995-2015).

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For many species the older mine rehabilitation provides additional foraging habitat. Some species such as long-eared bats have been observed utilising roosts under decorticating bark in dead acacias within the older rehabilitated areas (Fly By Night, 2009). Roosts are not yet present for many of the hollow dependent microbat species such as the Little Forest Bat and Gould’s Wattled Bat. These will develop with time but may not be present for at least 50 years (as per Mackowski 1984).

The threatened South-eastern Long-eared Bat (Nyctophilus corbeni) was recorded from the open cut mine rehabilitation for the first time during the 2014 monitoring. A male was captured in a harp trap at OC1 on the night of the 3rd April 2014. This species was not recorded from mine rehabilitation during the current monitoring.

Graph 4 Bat diversity based on echolocation calls and captures in open cut mine regeneration and forest during 2015.

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b Targeted Microbat Sites

Three predominantly cave roosting microbats that occur across the lease could potentially be impacted through mining induced subsidence and other impacts, the Large-eared Pied Bat (Chalinolobus dwyeri), Eastern Bent-wing Bat (Miniopterus oceanensis) and Eastern Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus megaphyllus). These species are being monitored at selected sites of the lease that contain well developed sandstone escarpments where roosts of the species are most likely to occur. Table 3 details the results of survey at the sites during 2015.

Large-eared Pied Bat Chalinolobus dwyeri

The Large-eared Pied Bat was captured at two of the impact sites and recorded confidently from echolocation call at six of the eight control sites and seven of the eleven impact sites. No evidence of breeding by this species was obtained during the current surveys. Previously, lactating females and free-flying young have been recorded at UG1 east of old Ulan homestead and at Spring Gully in November 2004. High levels of activity at BD8 were indicative of a breeding aggregation possibly occurring at this site

Graph 5 Mean capture and activity levels of Large-eared Pied Bats at targeted microbat sites from 2011 to 2015.

Graph 5 shows the mean capture rate and echolocation call rate of Large-eared Pied Bats at targeted microbat sites for each year since 2011 when monitoring at these sites commenced. Mean call activity rates have varied substantially between 4.5 and 29.5 passes per night. Activity levels during 2015 increased from that during the previous year to levels recorded

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during 2012 and 2013. Captures have been much more even since the current monitoring regime commenced.

Eastern Bent-wing Bat Miniopterus oceanensis

A second threatened cave-roosting species, the Eastern Bent-wing Bat (Miniopterus oceanensis) was not captured during the surveys but was confidently recorded from echolocation call at five of the eight control sites and nine of the eleven impact sites. Females migrate to select maternity roosts in spring to give birth (Hoye & Hall, 2008). These are normally located within limestone caves, but in recent years smaller groups of breeding females have been recorded using disused underground coal mines (Hoye & Hall, 2008; Hoye, 2000). During the survey individuals would be present at overwintering and other sites, possibly located in disused workings or sandstones caves.

Graph 6 Mean capture and activity levels of Eastern Bent-wing Bats at targeted microbat sites from 2011 to 2015.

Graph 6 shows the mean capture rate and echolocation call rate of Eastern Bent-wing Bats at targeted microbat sites for the each year since 2011 when monitoring at these sites commenced. Mean call activity rates have varied between 2 and 9 passes per night. Echolocation call detection rates during 2015 were similar to that recorded during the previous monitoring period. The number of individuals of this species can change rapidly in a given area as transiting bats move into roosts in their hundreds or even thousands as they disperse from roosts up to 100 kilometres away.

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Eastern Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus megaphyllus

The non-threatened but locally significant Eastern Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus megaphyllus) was not captured during the surveys but was confidently recorded from echolocation call at six of the eight control sites and nine of the eleven impact sites.

Graph 7 Mean capture and activity levels of Eastern Horseshoe Bats at targeted microbat sites from 2011 to 2015.

Graph 7 shows the mean capture rate and echolocation call rate of Eastern Horseshoe Bats at targeted microbat sites for each year since 2011 when monitoring at these sites commenced. Mean call activity rates have varied between 0.8 and 4.5 passes per night. Detection rates of this species during 2015 were down from the previous year and on par with that recorded from 2011 to 2013.

c Subsidence impacts at Targeted Microbat Sites within current mining areas

Mining of Ulan West LW1 was completed 2 May 2015 with extraction commencing in LW2 on 25 May 2015. A Pre-mining inspection for microbats and microbat habitat within the clifflines above Ulan West Long walls 1-3 was conducted in September 2013 (Fly By Night 2014b). The clifflines contained low to moderate densities of overhangs, caves and fissures. All potential roosts examined contained no evidence of substantial use through staining of the ceiling or accumulation of droppings. In total eleven fissures varying in length from 1.1 to 50 metres were located. A total of 47 sandstone overhangs were located. These varied in size from very small (<2m3 in volume) to large (297m3). All were not very deep, being less than

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6.5 metres in depth and generally without a dark zone. This would limit most to providing sites where bats hang to digest prey at night and/or socialise. Small numbers of the Eastern Horseshoe Bat and Large-eared Pied Bat may roost in them during the day, particularly in honeycombing on the roof or small holes.

During premining survey, activity of the Eastern Horseshoe Bat was relatively uniform across the sites and is consistent with foraging bats that are not near a roost aggregation. The Large-eared Pied Bat was recorded at relatively low levels of activity across the sites. The highest mean activity recorded of this species was 8.5 passes per night at site VW4. This level is consistent with solitary males being present, as was the case at VW3 where a male was captured in a harp trap. In contrast, activity levels of almost 100 passes per night were recorded at a site where breeding females were present during the 2013 microbat monitoring (Fly By night 2014).

The Eastern Bentwing Bat was absent from most of the sites, but was recorded from 14 passes per night at site VW4. This may indicate that a small roost is in the proximity but may also reflect higher use of this part of the study area by foraging bats.

There were no roosts or breeding females detected during the pre-mining monitoring. Sites with the greatest activity and those in the best developed sections of the clifflines with potential roosting habitat were selected for annual microbat monitoring during and post underground mining operations within the area. These sites were VW3 (above LW2), VW4 (above LW3), VW5(above LW3) and UTN1 (above LW1).

Targeted monitoring for microbats at sites UTN1 (above LW1) and VW3 (above LW2) was conducted in 2014 and 2015. At least two of the targeted three threatened microbat species were detected through echolocation at both of the sites each year from 2013 to 2015. One threatened species was caught in a harp net at VW3 in 2013. No roosts or breeding females were detected within these sites during monitoring in 2014 and 2015. Changes to microbat populations would not be detectable for several years following mining.

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4 CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS

The Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) was prepared in part to document the existing ecological and rehabilitation monitoring commitments for the Project Area, considering current and approved operations. This area consists of the Ulan West and No. 3 underground areas, as well as the Surface Operations.

Monitoring of microbat populations at the general fauna monitoring sites was productive during 2015 with fifteen species recorded. Of these, five are listed as threatened under State legislation, the Yellow-bellied Sheathtail Bat (Saccolaimus flaviventris); Large-eared Pied Bat (Chalinolobus dwyeri), Little Pied Bat (Chalinolobus picatus), Eastern Bent-wing Bat (Miniopterus oceanensis) and South-eastern Long-eared Bat (Nyctophilus corbeni). The Large-eared Pied Bat is also listed under Commonwealth legislation. Monitoring of these sites over the past four years indicates that overall microbat diversity has not declined during this time. The age composition and body condition of the two most regularly captured species has remained relatively stable over this period. These three indicators provide a means of assessing the overall composition and health of the populations within the lease. Body condition in particular should respond to prevailing conditions. Bats store fat during spring and summer to allow them to survive during the winter months when insect populations are dormant or in larval stages. Rainfall and other factors dictate the abundance of insects in any year and hence the food available to microbat populations. While the current microbat monitoring regime has only been in place for five years, future monitoring should reveal natural fluctuations in body condition. A gradual decline in body condition would be expected if microbat populations are under stress from mining related impacts.

The current and previous microbat monitoring has established that microbat diversity in the older open cut mine rehabilitation is equivalent to that at sites in surrounding forest. Microbats are certainly using the rehabilitation for foraging and to some extent for roosting. Some species of bats have previously been observed roosting under decorticating bark of dead wattles. Unfortunately, the density of wattles has decreased in the older regeneration as it has matured. Roosts within eucalypts will take substantial time to develop and are unlikely to be a significant resource for at least 50 years. The hollow dependent species are able to commute from roosts within the surrounding forest to forage within the mine rehabilitation. Augmentation of roosts within the mine rehabilitation can also be undertaken through the provision of artificial roost boxes.

While the regeneration has been utilised by a suite of microbat species, some species present in the surrounding forest have not been recorded. The South-eastern Long-eared Bat (Nyctophilus corbeni) has been recorded intermittently at forest sites throughout the lease area, but had remained undetected within the open cut rehabilitation. A male was captured during the April 2014 survey in the older rehabilitation planted in 1991, but no individuals of this species were recorded in mine rehabilitation during 2015. It is currently uncertain if the

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older rehabilitation is starting to become suitable for this species or whether the 2014 record represents a vagrant individual passing through the site. Repeated captures of this species and in particular adult females within the regeneration in future years would disclose whether this species is utilising revegetated mine spoil to a reasonable degree.

Monitoring at the targeted microbat sites during 2015 has provided information on the continued presence and abundance of the three target bat species within these areas. The Large-eared Pied Bat was captured at two and recorded from call at seven impact sites and recorded from echolocation call at six of the control sites. Mean activity of this species at the sites was equivalent to that recorded during 2012 and 2013. Capture of lactating females and free-flying young during 2013 at UG1 along Ulan Creek confirmed breeding in this area. High activity again during 2015 at BD8 in the Broken Back Domain suggest a breeding aggregation may be present in this area. Activity of the remaining two target species, the Eastern Horseshoe Bat and Eastern Bent-wing Bat, was similar to that recorded during previous monitoring years despite some fluctuation. It is currently uncertain at this stage whether this represents a real increase in abundance of the two species or is part of natural fluctuations in the populations utilising the lease due to prevailing climatic conditions or other effects.

Targeted monitoring for microbats at sites UTN1 (above LW1) and VW3 (above LW2) was conducted in 2014 and 2015. At least two of the targeted three threatened microbat species were detected through echolocation at both of the sites each year from 2013 to 2015. A male Large-eared Pied Bat was caught in a harp trap at VW3 in 2013. No roosts or breeding females were detected within these sites during monitoring in 2014 and 2015 but may be present. Changes to microbat populations would not be detectable for several years following mining.

Monitoring commenced in 2015 at two sites above the third and fourth western panels of UG3 (LWW3 & LWW4) and four sites above the fourth longwall panel of Ulan West(LW4). These sites in addition to those located above the third panel of Ulan West (LW3) are currently being monitored pre-mining, as mining in these areas has not yet commenced.

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5 REFERENCES

Fly By Night Bat Surveys (2011) Microbat Monitoring of the Ulan Coal Mine Lease during 2011. Report to Ulan Coal Mines Ltd. January 2012. Fly By Night Bat Surveys (2012a) Microbat Monitoring of the Ulan Coal Mine Lease during 2011. Report to Ulan Coal Mines Ltd. January 2012. Fly By Night Bat Surveys (2012b) Microbat Monitoring of the Ulan Coal Mine Lease during autumn/winter 2012. Report to Ulan Coal Mines Ltd. October 2012. Fly By Night Bat Surveys (2014a) Microbat Monitoring of the Ulan Coal Mine Lease during 2013. Report to Ulan Coal Mines Ltd. January 2014. Fly By Night Bat Surveys (2014b) Ulan West SMP Premining Microbat Cliffline Survey, Panels 1 to 3. Report to Ulan Coal Mines Ltd. January 2014. Fly By Night Bat Surveys (2015a) Microbat Monitoring of the Ulan Coal Mine Lease during 2014. Report to Ulan Coal Mines Ltd. January 2015. Fly By Night Bat Surveys (2015b) Ulan West SMP Premining Microbat Cliffline Survey, Panel 4. Report to Ulan Coal Mines Ltd. February 2015. Fly By Night Bat Surveys (2015c) Premining Microbat Cliffline Survey, LW3-4, UG3. Report to Ulan Coal Mines Ltd. March 2015. Hoye, G.A. The Discovery of Two and Distinctive Maternity Roosts of the Large Bent-wing Bat in the Hunter Valley, NSW. Spoken Presentation. 9th Australasian Bat Conference. Tocal, New South Wales. April 2000. Hoye, G.A. and Schulz, M. (2008) Large-eared Pied Bat Chalinolobus dwyeri. in Van Dyck, S. and Strahan, R. ed. The Mammals of Australia. Third Edition. Reed New Holland, Chatswood. p 531-532. Hoye, G.A. and Hall, L.S. (2008) Eastern Bent-winged Bat Miniopterus schreibersii oceanensis in Van Dyck, S. and Strahan, R. ed. The Mammals of Australia. Third Edition. Reed New Holland, Chatswood. p 507-508. Hoye, G.A. and Richards, G.C. (2008) Greater Broad-nosed Bat (Scoteanax rueppellii) in Van Dyck, S. & Strahan, R. ed. The Mammals of Australia. Third Edition. Reed New Holland, Chatswood. p.551-552. Mackowski, C.M. (1984) The ontogeny of hollows in Blackbutt (Eucalyptus pilularis) and its relevance to the management of forests for possums, gliders and timber. Pp 553-67 in Possums and Gliders, edited by A.P. Smith and I.D. Hume. Australian Mammal Society, Surrey Beatty and Sons, NSW. Tidemann, C.R. and Woodside, D.P. (1978) A collapsible bat trap and comparison of results obtained with the trap and with mist-nets. Australian Wildlife Research 5:355-362.

Glenn Hoye

12 February 2016

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