The Fauna of the Blue Mountains Special Areas Blackheath, Katoomba and Woodford Creek
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Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna of the Greater Southern Sydney Region VOLUME 5 The Fauna of the Blue Mountains Special Areas Blackheath, Katoomba and Woodford Creek Summary of findings and recommendations A joint project between the Sydney Catchment Authority and Parks and Wildlife Group of the Department of Environment and Climate Change. 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) September 2007 Acknowledgments This report has been prepared by the Information and Assessment Section, Metropolitan Branch of the Climate Change and Environment Protection Group, Department of Environment and Climate Change. Information and Assessment Section Julie Ravallion (Section Manager) Daniel Connolly (Coordinator Biodiversity Survey and Data) Peter Ewin (GIS and Database Officer) Project Team Kylie Madden (Fauna Programs Officer) Nick Corkish (Field Team Leader) Helen Achurch (Field Team Leader) Elizabeth Magarey (Field Team Leader) Report Writing and Habitat Mapping Kylie Madden, Peter Ewin, Daniel Connolly Report Editing Martin Schulz, Peter Ewin Map Production Cate Ewin, Bob Wilson Cover Design and Formatting Kerry Oakes Special thanks to: Staff of the Sydney Catchment Authority, in particular Alan Benson, George Dodds, Ross Wallis, Tony Kondek, Brian Waldron, Kirk Newport, Glen Caparero, Loretta Galleen, Dennis Ashton, Chris Chafer, Andrew Simson and Martin Krogh and This report may be referenced as follows: all staff at the Warragamba and Cordeaux Offices. DECC (2007) Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna of the Greater Parks and Wildlife Group, particularly Bob Conroy Southern Sydney Region: Volume 5 – The Fauna of the Blue and staff from the Kanangra, Nattai, Upper Mountains Special Areas. A joint project between the Sydney Mountains, Illawarra, Royal and Hawkesbury Area Catchment Authority and the Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW) (DECC) under the Special Areas offices. Strategic Plan of Management (SASPoM) by the Information and Assessment Section, Metropolitan Branch, Climate The many private landholders that allowed access to Change and Environment Protection Group, DECC, their properties. Hurstville. The hardworking and dedicated volunteers who assisted us throughout the project. All photographs are held by DECC and are copyright of the photographer. To obtain a copy please contact the Thank you to all contributors to the Atlas of NSW Bioregional Data Group Coordinator, DECC Hurstville. Wildlife and others who gave data toward this project. We are indebted to the many wildlife, pest species and Cover Photo land management experts who generously gave advice. Woodford Creek Special Area. © G. Steenbeeke For a full list of acknowledgements, please see Volume One. ISBN 978 1 74122 603 4 DECC 2007/474 Contents 1 Summary .................................................................................................................................1 1.1 FAUNA SPECIES PRIORITIES ............................................................................................................. 1 1.2 PRIORITY FAUNA HABITAT AND PRIORITY FAUNA POPULATIONS ......................................................... 1 1.3 KEY THREATENING PROCESSES ....................................................................................................... 1 1.4 FIRE MANAGEMENT AND FAUNA........................................................................................................ 1 1.5 RECOVERY PLANNING ACTIONS........................................................................................................ 1 1.6 PEST SPECIES AND BIODIVERSITY .................................................................................................... 2 2 Introduction ............................................................................................................................3 2.1 BACKGROUND.................................................................................................................................. 3 2.2 OBJECTIVES .................................................................................................................................... 3 2.3 THE WOODFORD CREEK SPECIAL AREA............................................................................................ 3 2.4 THE KATOOMBA SPECIAL AREA ........................................................................................................ 3 2.5 THE BLACKHEATH SPECIAL AREA ..................................................................................................... 4 2.6 HOW TO USE THIS DOCUMENT ......................................................................................................... 4 3 Native Fauna ...........................................................................................................................7 3.1 SUMMARY OF SURVEY EFFORT......................................................................................................... 7 3.2 NATIVE SPECIES INVENTORY ............................................................................................................ 7 3.3 THREATENED SPECIES INVENTORY ................................................................................................... 9 3.4 PATTERNS IN NATIVE FAUNA DISTRIBUTION..................................................................................... 11 4 Species Conservation Status..............................................................................................12 4.1 OVERVIEW..................................................................................................................................... 12 4.2 SETTING PRIORITIES FOR CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT.......................................................... 12 5 Priority Fauna Habitats and Populations ...........................................................................15 5.1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................. 15 5.1.1 How can priority fauna habitats be used in conservation management? ...................................15 5.2 PRIORITY FAUNA HABITATS IN THE BLUE MOUNTAINS SPECIAL AREAS ............................................. 15 5.2.1 Priority Habitat: Upland Swamps ...............................................................................................15 5.3 PRIORITY FAUNA POPULATIONS...................................................................................................... 16 5.3.1 Blue Mountains Water Skink in Katoomba and Blackheath Special Areas ................................16 6 Managing Native Species and Habitats..............................................................................18 6.1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................. 18 6.2 KEY THREATENING PROCESSES ..................................................................................................... 18 6.3 THREAT ABATEMENT PLANS ........................................................................................................... 19 6.4 MANAGEMENT APPROACH FOR THE BLUE MOUNTAINS SPECIAL AREAS ............................................ 19 6.5 LAND ACQUISITION STRATEGIES AND FAUNA ................................................................................... 20 6.6 ECOLOGICAL REHABILITATION AND RESTORATION (INCLUDING WEED MANAGEMENT)........................ 20 6.7 PREVENTING FURTHER DISTURBANCE ............................................................................................ 21 6.8 FIRE MANAGEMENT AND FAUNA...................................................................................................... 21 6.8.1 Overview....................................................................................................................................21 6.8.2 Upland Swamps and Fire Management.....................................................................................22 6.8.3 Priority populations and Fire ......................................................................................................22 6.9 RESEARCH AND MONITORING ......................................................................................................... 22 Fauna of the Blue Mountains Special Areas - Blackheath, Katoomba & Woodford Creek i 6.10 RECOVERY PLANNING ACTIONS RELEVANT TO THE BLUE MOUNTAINS SPECIAL AREAS...................... 22 6.10.1 Blue Mountains Water Skink ..................................................................................................... 22 6.10.2 Large Forest Owls ..................................................................................................................... 23 6.10.3 Barking Owl............................................................................................................................... 24 6.10.4 Regent Honeyeater ................................................................................................................... 24 7 Pest Species Management ..................................................................................................25 7.1 SPECIES INVENTORY...................................................................................................................... 25 7.2 FERAL PREDATOR DIETS...............................................................................................................