Australian Field Ornithology 2014, 31, 113–121

Significant breeding event of Regent Honeyeaters Anthochaera phrygia near Kurri Kurri, New South Wales, during spring 2007

Michael Roderick1, David J. Geering2 and Dean A. Ingwersen1*

1BirdLife Australia, Suite 2–05, 60 Leicester Street, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia 2New South Wales Office of Environment and Heritage, P.O. Box 2111, Dubbo NSW 2830, Australia *Corresponding author: [email protected]

Summary. During the spring–summer of 2007–2008, a breeding event of Regent Honeyeaters Anthochaera phrygia took place in bushland south of Kurri Kurri, in the dry open Spotted Gum–Ironbark forests of the Lower Hunter Valley in New South Wales. Breeding spanned at least 4 months, and likely involved multiple clutches raised by several pairs. This event is considered to be highly significant in light of the continued decline of this critically endangered species, and the Lower Hunter Valley needs to be recognised as one of the most important regions for the species.

Introduction The Regent Honeyeater Anthochaera phrygia is an endangered species that occurs in open forests and woodlands from south-eastern Queensland to central Victoria (Franklin et al. 1989), although records near the limits of its range have been scarce in recent decades and New South Wales (NSW) now forms the stronghold for the species (Ingwersen et al. in prep). It is listed as Critically Endangered within NSW, Endangered at a national level, and was upgraded from Endangered to Critically Endangered in the Action Plan for Australian Birds 2010 (Garnett et al. 2011). The total population of Regent Honeyeaters is probably fewer than 1000 birds (see Garnett et al. 2011). A review of recent data suggests that it may be significantly lower than this, possibly as low as 350–400 individuals (Debus 2008; Regent Honeyeater Recovery Team unpublished data). Regent Honeyeaters are known to breed as single pairs and in loose colonies. Breeding colonies have mostly been found at a few key sites, notably the Capertee Valley and the Bundarra–Barraba region (Geering & French 1998; Oliver et al. 1998). Regent Honeyeaters occur regularly within the Hunter Valley (e.g. Franklin et al. 1989; Stuart 1994–2013; Roderick & Ingwersen 2012), and in the early 1900s were in thousands at some locations (White 1909). As a result, the area has been recognised as an important supplementary or subsidiary foraging area for Regent Honeyeaters that regularly utilise the Capertee Valley (Geering & Mason 2009; Ingwersen et al. in prep). The species also occurs in areas proximate to the Hunter Valley, particularly around Lake Macquarie and the NSW Central Coast, most often in association with the flowering of Swamp Mahogany Eucalyptus robusta trees (Stuart 1994–2013; Roderick et al. 2013). 114 Australian Field Ornithology M. Roderick et al.

The Hunter Valley is a broad valley that supports a range of habitats that are preferred by Regent Honeyeaters. In the Upper Hunter Valley, these include vegetation communities containing White Box Eucalyptus albens, Yellow Box E. melliodora and Mugga Ironbark E. sideroxylon. These habitats facilitate movement from the core breeding area (Capertee Valley) to important winter nectar sources in coastal and sub-coastal areas. In the Lower Hunter Valley (parts of the valley coastward of about Jerrys Plains), Regent Honeyeaters predominantly occur in dry open forests in association with the seasonal blossoming of winter- flowering eucalypts and, in particular, Spotted Gum Corymbia maculata. Regent Honeyeaters appear to be present in the Lower Hunter and nearby coastal areas in greatest numbers in autumn and winter (generally May to August), which is directly correlated with the predominant flowering period of eucalypts, such as Spotted Gum and Swamp Mahogany (Roderick & Ingwersen 2012; Regent Honeyeater Recovery Team unpublished data). However, some birds may persist in the area beyond this period if spring-flowering eucalypts such as Broad-leaved Ironbark E. fibrosa,Brown Stringybark E. capitellata, an undescribed stringybark E. sp. aff. agglomerata, Grey Gum E. punctata, Forest Red Gum E. tereticornis or mistletoes (in particular Long-flowered Mistletoe Dendrophthoe vitellina) are in blossom. It is when this occurs that Regent Honeyeaters may breed in the Lower Hunter Valley. Here we describe a Regent Honeyeater breeding event in 2007–2008 that was the most significant recorded in the Lower Hunter Valley, and coincided with few records (of only nine individuals) and no breeding in the Capertee Valley over the same period (Regent Honeyeater Recovery Team unpublished data). Since 2000, Honeyeaters have been recorded nesting on only three additional occasions in the Lower Hunter Valley at a private property near Quorrobolong—two nests were found in 2000, a single nest was found in 2003, and a third nesting attempt was recorded at this site in 2007. However, it should be noted that no fledged young were observed at the Quorrobolong property.

Regent Honeyeaters in the Lower Hunter Valley in 2007 In the Lower Hunter–Lake Macquarie area in 2007, Regent Honeyeaters were initially found in the forests dominated by Swamp Mahogany around Lake Macquarie in late autumn. Six Regent Honeyeaters were first recorded at Morisset Hospital Reserve on 12 May 2007, increasing to approximately 50 birds by 28 May 2007 (the last record at this site for the year: Stuart 2008). Regent Honeyeaters were also recorded at Galgabba Point (south of Swansea) in early May (Stuart 2008) (Figure 1). On 4 August 2007, the first Regent Honeyeaters were recorded in the Lower Hunter Valley woodlands, when three were found at the private property near Quorrobolong referred to previously (~15 km south of the area where the major breeding event described opposite took place). Subsequent counts on that property rose to an estimated 20 Honeyeaters by later that month (Stuart 2008). A pair was observed nesting on 20 August, and by 13 September there were three pairs nesting at the site (A. Morris pers. comm.). Nesting continued through September Regent Honeyeaters breeding in Lower Hunter Valley, NSW 115

Figure 1. Locations of Regent Honeyeater sightings in the Lower Hunter Valley, NSW, May 2007–January 2008. and October, though no fledged young were observed. On 27 August, two Honeyeaters were recorded on a property south of Ellalong, ~5 km west of the Quorrobolong site (Figure 1). At approximately the same time that Regent Honeyeaters were nesting at Quorrobolong, two Honeyeaters were recorded in the bushland within a 870-ha area that has been zoned for industrial subdivision known as the Hunter Economic Zone (HEZ; Figure 2) near Kurri Kurri Hospital on 30 August (Stuart 2008). Two Honeyeaters were also seen ~500 m to the north on 25 October, feeding on the blossom of Long-flowered Mistletoe in Narrow-leaved Apples Angophora bakeri (M. Roderick & S. Roderick pers. obs.).

Chronology of the 2007 breeding event Multiple Regent Honeyeaters were first noted by a local birdwatcher (A. Zoneff) on 28 October 2007 within the HEZ, ~1.5 km west of the August and other October observations for the HEZ. Amongst an undetermined number of adults (see front cover), he counted six juvenile birds, readily identifiable by their brown plumage (A. Zoneff pers. comm.). Over the next 2 days, two pairs of Honeyeaters were observed constructing nests in this area, along with an active nest where an adult was sitting on eggs (Figure 3; A. Zoneff pers. comm.). Soon after (in early November), a pair of adults was attending a recently built nest in bushland south 116 Australian Field Ornithology M. Roderick et al.

Figure 2. Locations of Regent Honeyeaters and nests in the Hunter Economic Zone (HEZ), August 2007–January 2008.

Figure 3. Regent Honeyeater on nest during the 2007–2008 breeding event near Kurri Kurri, NSW. Photo: Andrew Zoneff Regent Honeyeaters breeding in Lower Hunter Valley, NSW 117 of Mulbring Street, Kurri Kurri, ~2.8 km east of this nesting activity; no evidence of eggs or dependent young could be found at this site. On 17 November 2007, a group of Regent Honeyeaters was observed just to the south of a large power easement at the base of Mt Tomalpin (32°50′34″S, 151°26′35″E), ~2 km south of the concentration of nests just described. This flock contained at least seven juveniles, and a nest with an adult sitting on eggs was found. On the same day, an inactive nest was located ~170 m north of the active nest (A. Zoneff pers. comm.). The Regent Honeyeater Recovery Co-ordinator (D. Geering) was advised of these sightings and visited the area with the initial observer to record nesting activity on 28–29 November 2007. Fieldwork during these 2 days was carried out predominantly in an area of high Regent Honeyeater activity, spread across an area of forest near where the original nests had been found in late October (all within 1 km of 32°49′38″S, 151°26′25″E). Five active nests were found, along with dependent fledged young and individual adults. A single active nest was also located to the south of the power easement, where the active nest and inactive nest had been found 12 days earlier. The birds were utilising nectar flows of Broad- leaved Ironbark, a species not previously known to support breeding Regent Honeyeaters (D. Geering pers. obs.). The breeding stage of Regent Honeyeaters associated with the active nests— namely recently fledged young, large nestlings, and adults incubating eggs— indicated that this particular breeding event had been taking place for at least a month before the birds were located during November. The juvenile plumage of the recently fledged birds indicated an approximate age of less than 6 weeks (Geering 2010). These birds may have been the offspring of previous breeding within the HEZ, possibly as early as September, or had moved from a nearby area, such as Quorrobolong. The record of two birds in late winter as well as the detailed observations of the initial observer support their local origin. It is possible that the ‘inactive’ nests found in late October were probably from an earlier nesting event in the area (A. Zoneff pers. comm.). Regent Honeyeaters are known to re-nest after successful breeding when conditions remain favourable (Geering & French 1998). Concurrently with further investigations made by D. Geering on 7 and 19–21 December, the HEZ development authority engaged an ecological consultant to undertake targeted surveys for Regent Honeyeaters and their nest- sites. This resulted in 14 nests being identified and mapped during December, including both active and failed nests, as well as nests with dependent young nearby and nests with an uncertain status (Biosis Research 2008a; D. Geering pers. obs.). This information led to an assessment that the proposed industrial subdivision and precinct development within the HEZ would have a significant impact on Regent Honeyeaters. This assessment concluded that ‘the habitat to be impacted by the proposal is considered to be highly important for the long term survival of the species in the locality, and probably, for the species as a whole’ (Biosis Research 2008b, p. 11). In addition, through clearing and fragmentation of breeding habitat and cumulative impacts from factors such as invasion by 118 Australian Field Ornithology M. Roderick et al.

Noisy Miners Manorina melanocephala, the development was also considered likely to reduce the probability of a similar breeding event in the future (Biosis Research 2008b). Another Regent Honeyeater nest (unknown to other observers at the time) was monitored during December 2007 and January 2008 by a different observer (D. Miller pers. comm.). It was located ~450 m from a known nest mapped by Biosis Research (2008b). A bird fledged from this nest in early January 2008 and was photographed by the observer.

Summary of the 2007 breeding event A total of 19 Regent Honeyeater nests was located between October 2007 and January 2008, comprising 15 nests that produced fledglings, one active nest that later failed, two inactive nests, and one nest observed being constructed (Biosis Research 2008a; D. Geering & A. Zoneff pers. obs.) (Figure 2). An additional pair of Honeyeaters with two dependent juveniles, plus several lone singing males, was also located. It is probable that the singing males were defending nesting territories, and it is possible that incubating females were overlooked In total, sightings of 108 individual Regent Honeyeaters were made, including 29 fledged juveniles, in the HEZ between 25 October 2007 and 2 January 2008. There is likely to be some double-counting of individuals within this total, but simultaneously birds are likely to have been overlooked, given the size of the forest remnant, including areas where there are no trails. Regent Honeyeater nests were located in Long-flowered Mistletoe clumps growing on small or medium Spotted Gums and in the forks of high branches in mature Broad-leaved Ironbarks, Grey Gums and, occasionally, stringybarks. Most of the nests were recorded in Lower Hunter Spotted Gum–Ironbark Forest, which is listed as an Endangered Ecological Community under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.

Discussion This 2007–2008 breeding event is important in the context of the documented decline of the Regent Honeyeater population and paucity of breeding events in the past decade. Since 2004, on average only 171 Regent Honeyeaters have been reported across the full range of the species in any one year (Regent Honeyeater Recovery Team unpublished data). Although there is the chance of double- counting in our data, an event where so many birds are observed within a single location is notable. Under the auspices of the Regent Honeyeater Recovery Program, the 1990s saw a considerable amount of research, which included documentation of breeding events across the species’ range. Geering & French (1998) reported a reproductive success of 38.7% for 73 nests in 1995 and 46.9% for 42 nests in 1996 in the Capertee Valley. Oliver et al. (1998) reported 38.3% success in the Bundarra area from 51 nesting attempts in 1996, but Ley & Williams (1994) reported a success of only 20% for 20 nesting attempts between 1993 and 1996 in the same region. Within the Regent Honeyeaters breeding in Lower Hunter Valley, NSW 119

Chiltern–Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria, E. Collins and S. Jessup (unpublished data) reported a success rate of 12.5% in 24 nesting attempts in 1995. Although insufficient data are available to determine a comparative measure of breeding success for the event described in the present study, the number of nests observed to fledge young is regarded as high. The breeding event in the HEZ probably spanned five calendar months (September–January) and provided substantial recruitment to the population at a time when little breeding activity was recorded elsewhere in the species’ range (Regent Honeyeater Recovery Team unpublished data). Furthermore, this breeding event is the most successful and productive known breeding event outside the Capertee Valley since 2000 (Regent Honeyeater Recovery Team unpublished data). The apparently high breeding success indicates that, at least at the time of this breeding event, the site is of very high quality either in food abundance or low density of nest-predators, or both. The majority of land within or adjacent to the HEZ in which Regent Honeyeaters were observed (and where nests were located) was rezoned from rural to industrial development in 2002. The only observations of Honeyeaters on land not rezoned in this area were the few nests south of the main power easement (within the northern extreme of Werakata National Park) and two nests ~900 m west of the main cluster of nests (Figure 2). At the time of the breeding event described here, searches were undertaken throughout bushland contiguous with the HEZ, including in Werakata National Park, but they failed to locate any Honeyeaters (L. Grenadier & A. Zoneff pers. comm.). Previous extensive ecological surveys and searches for Honeyeaters had been undertaken in these adjacent areas, with no Honeyeaters recorded (e.g. University of Newcastle 2001; Harper Somers O’Sullivan 2004; Department of Environment and Climate Change 2008). Although little development has occurred within the HEZ (as at August 2014), it remains zoned for industrial development, and much of it was granted approval for development by the Australian Government Department of the Environment and Water Resources (now the Department of Environment) in May 2007, just months before this important breeding event took place. Subsequently, the NSW Government granted concept approval to a precinct development proposal within a portion of the HEZ in April 2009 despite assessments by Biosis Research (2008b) that there would likely be significant impacts upon the Regent Honeyeater. The dry forests of the Lower Hunter Valley have long been known to provide an important winter-foraging habitat resource for Regent Honeyeaters. The species had been recorded only sporadically within the HEZ before 2007, though this is likely because of a lack of observers. However, breeding was recorded in the HEZ in spring 1993, when recently fledged juvenile birds were recorded (A. Zoneff pers. comm.). Since 2007–2008, Regent Honeyeaters have been recorded several times within the HEZ and on adjacent Crown Land, most significantly in 2012 when up to 50 birds were present and nest-building was observed (M. Roderick & D. Ingwersen pers. obs.; S. Roderick pers. comm.). A recent review of sightings and subsequent modelling of Regent Honeyeater distribution across five local government areas within the Lower Hunter Valley 120 Australian Field Ornithology M. Roderick et al. determined that, based on data up to and including 2012, the HEZ site contains the most important foraging habitat for Honeyeaters in the Lower Hunter region (Roderick et al. 2013). Here we provide evidence that the HEZ site also contains significant breeding habitat. Given the paucity of breeding events of this magnitude for the species across its range since 2000, and particularly outside the Capertee Valley, this breeding event further demonstrates the significance of the dry forests of the Lower Hunter Valley for the species, and why their conservation is paramount to the survival of Regent Honeyeaters in the wild.

Acknowledgements We are indebted to local birder Andrew Zoneff for extended and detailed observations during the breeding event, Dave Miller for observations of a nest late in the period, and Alan Morris for data and assistance with surveys in the Lower Hunter Valley over many years. Peter Menkhorst and Hugh Ford greatly improved a draft of the manuscript.

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Received 14 July 2014