In the NSW Murray Catchment
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Acknowledgements In 2001, the Eastern Billabong Wild- These community wildlife surveys have only been possible because a large number of people and organisations have been involved and they’ve sup- Southern Bell Frog Bush Stone-curlew Billabong Creek – life Survey marked the beginning ported so the projects so well. It is because of you all that we have had Stronghold such great success. Firstly, we’d like to extend immense thanks to all the Squirrel Glider High- of an era of community wildlife sur- farmers for supporting the projects so enthusiastically, welcoming us so Our best results for the much- way veys across the New South Wales warmly with access to your properties, help during surveying, strong at- loved Bush Stone-curlew have tendance at the field days and seminars, and reporting a multitude of local The Wakool, Cadell and sightings made over many decades. The Eastern Billabong Wildlife Sur- Murrakool Wildlife Sur- come from the Jimaringle/ The threatened Squir- Murray Catchment. To date (April vey was an initiative of the Heartlands project, which was a collaboration between CSIRO, the Murray-Darling Basin Commission and the Eastern veys highlighted the great Cockran Creek system. Here rel Glider was found at 2008), 403 study sites have been Billabong Landcare Groups (Holbrook, Culcairn, Alma Park/Pleasant Hills & importance of the western they were found at 20% (6/30) most Billabong Creek Doodle Comer). It was funded by the Natural Heritage Trust. The Murrak- established, covering all the avail- ool Wildlife Survey was an initiative of Murrakool Inc., a local community part of the catchment for of sites. Other areas where trapping/spotlighting group who obtained funding through the Australian Government’s Envi- the threatened Southern multiple pairs have been found sites in the Eastern Bill- able Broad Vegetation Types and in- rofund. The Murray LWMP Wildlife Survey was funded and supported by Murray Irrigation Limited, the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Bell Frog, which relies on include the Barham, Denimein abong, and during the corporating 300 farms. A great deal Quality, the Natural Heritage Trust and the Murray Catchment Management both ephemeral and per- and Walla Walla regions. Authority. The West Corurgan & Central Riverina Wildlife Survey, together Central Riverina Wild- of useful information on wildlife has with the Tuppal Creek Wildlife Survey were funded and supported by the manent wetlands. life Survey they were Murray CMA. The Jimaringle/Cockran Creek was funded and supported by been generated. There has been the Wakool LWMP and Murray Irrigation Limited. Massive thanks to Andrew found on the Billabong Lawson, Jane Rowe, Nigel Jones, Kylie Murray, Claire Davison, Alan Kerlin in between Urana and immense support from local com- & Barb Hawkins (local Landcare staff at the time of the Eastern Billabong Morgan’s Ridge – Beating Heart of the Hol- project); Sue Pretty, Janet Field, Phil & Pam O’Neill, Evelyn McConnell, Rand, much further brook Landcare Area munities over the past seven years. Geoff McDonald & Karin Heslop (Murrakool Committee members); Michael west on this creek than Pisasale, Matt Dean, Kirsty Swinton, Clare Fitzpatrick, Kristin Goudie, Robyn Buckingbong Biodiversity Hotspot 2001-2002 Eastern Billabong Walker, Nick Cullen, Emma Wilson & Reg Hinton (Murray LWMP staff); Alex previously thought. A private land jewel in the landscape and bio- 2003-2004 Murrakool Knight, Jack Chubb, Rosie Smith, Shanna Rogers, Natasha Lappin & Sue Logie (Murray CMA staff involved with West Corurgan/Central Riverina proj- diversity hotspot of enormous value, the ap- 2005-2006 Murray Land & Water Management Plan The Buckingbong State Forest has immense regional significance for wildlife, ect); Michael Pisasale, Andi White & Lauren Mathers (Murray/Wakool LWMP Australasian Bittern –The Wetland Bunyip Boomer proximately 2500 hectare Morgan’s Ridge patch Berriquin staff involved in Jimaringle/Cockran project); and Katrina Warne (Murray supporting dozens of rare woodland bird and reptile species. It is the largest re- Cadell CMA, Tuppal Creek project). Massive thanks to the talented team of wildlife yielded rarities like the Turquoise Parrot and maining patch of Grassy Box Woodland in the entire NSW Murray Catchment. Denimein surveyors who helped with the field work, particularly David Webb for his The threatened Australasian Bittern has been one of the most White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike. Wakool significant contribution. Thanks also to all the other folk that have helped with the field work over the years, particularly Jess Herring, Gary Herring, severely affected species by the recent drought. The past 7 2006-2007 West Corurgan & Central Riverina Adam Bester, Peter Irish, Maree Petrow, Jamie Jackson, Scott Lucas, Greg years of community wildlife surveys have yielded few records as 2007-2008 Jimaringle/Cockran Creek Slade, Scott Hartvigsen, Damian Michael, Craig Grabham, Chris Coleborn, 2007-2008 Tuppal Creek Terry Korodaj, Daniel Arnold, Cameron Thomas, John O’Bree, Sarah Faith- most of the favoured Cumbungi/Phragmites Reedbeds, Cane- ful, Dave Watson, Mackillop College (Swan Hill), Deanne Stevens, Mihkel Carpet Python grass wetlands and rice paddies have been dry. Proos, Angela Petrow, Tyral Dalitz, Peter Merritt, Phillip Seely & Jane Her- These projects have had the following broad aims: ring. Big thanks to Jess Herring and Maree Petrow for their contribution to data management. Special thanks to Hamish Cresswell, John Ive, Nick The large River Red Gum 1 - To assess the distribution, habitat and local status of Abel, Matthew Colloff (all from CSIRO), Emmo Willinck, Maria Adams and forests of the western wildlife (birds, mammals, reptiles and frogs) to deter- Andrew Claridge (Eastern Billabong); John Naimo, Alan Mathers, David Overwhelming mine key areas for conservation and direct future man- Parker & David Leslie (Murrakool); and Katrina Grundy, Anthony Couroupis part of the catchment are (West Corurgan/Central Riverina).Thanks also to the Rural Lands Protec- Community Sup- agement. the regional stronghold tion Boards for access to Travelling Stock Reserves, NSW Forests for ac- port 2 - To engage local communities, raise awareness about cess to State Forests, and to Charles Sturt University and the Department for this well known snake. wildlife ecology and promote conservation of the remain- of Environment & Conservation for scientific permits, equipment hire and ing species. bat call analysis. To three Murray region conservation gurus, Ian Davidson, The Murray, Wakool, Ed- These local families at Martin Driver and Rick Webster, I say thanks for the inspiration and support ward and Niemur River Feathertail Glider throughout. Lastly, to Dylan O’Donnell for his outstanding design and IT a field day near Con- A minimum of between 3 and 6 20-minute bird surveys expertise in helping to prepare this poster and all of the previous booklets systems are particularly argo are among more Community have been conducted at each site across three different and posters we have worked on together. The significance of his contribu- A major highlight of the Murrakool Wildlife seasons. At a third of the sites spotlighting, elliot traps, tion cannot be overstated. important. than 3200 people that Survey was the discovery of a Feathertail harp traps and reptile searches were undertaken. Addi- have attended the 90 Photo Credits Glider population near the junction of the tional techniques like arboreal cage traps for gliders, pit- David Webb: Southern Bell Frog, Beaded Gecko, Carpet Python, Austral- field days and semi- fall traps for reptiles and call playback for nocturnal birds asian Bittern, Painted Snipe, Tullakool shorebirds, Painted Honeyeater. Pe- Wakool and Murray Rivers north of Good- ter Merritt: Bush Stone-curlew, Squirrel Glider, Brolga, Yellow-footed An- nars held through- have been used opportunistically. A total of 328 species night. have been recorded including 235 birds, 44 reptiles, 38 techinus. Matt Herring: Buckingbong SF, Morgan’s Ridge, River Red Gum/ out the catchment to Revegetation – It works! Cherry, Murray River red gum, Boree Woodland, Constructed Wetland, mammals and 11 frogs. As part of these projects 90 field Revegetation. Murray Irrigation Ltd: Berrigan and Conargo Field Days. Da- date. Wildlife days and seminars have been held across the catchment mian Kelly: Hooded Robin. Pete Morris: Powerful Owl. Martin Willis/ANT- The response we have recorded from small wood- and nine wildlife booklets and two posters have been Photo.com: Feathertail Glider. Hugh McGregor: Gilbert’s Whistler nest. land birds to the revegetated areas on people’s farms produced. has been phenomenal, especially at large sites (>5 Surveys hectares) that are adjacent to large remnants. In the NSW Murray Catchment 0 20 40 60 80 kms Platypus – Edward River The Edward River was a con- stant source of significant wildlife records during the Wildlife Survey Regions Murray LWMP Wildlife Sur- vey. One highlight was the Platypus, which was found east of Moulamein. Other Features Brolga – Canegrass/ Spike-rush Wetlands The NSW Murray Catch- Red Gum and Cherry – Gilbert’s Australia’s Most Threatened Water- Beaded Gecko – One of Six “New” Reptiles for the Catchment ment is probably the Whistler Central bird – Painted Snipe Boree Woodland – Painted Hon- most important breed- The Beaded Gecko is one of at least six reptile species that were not eyeaters ing area for Brolgas in Few woodland birds have declined This stunning shorebird is now only re- known from the catchment prior to these community wildlife surveys. the entire state. The within the catchment more than the corded at about ten sites per year across It appears to be restricted to a high quality 80-hectare Sandhill/Mallee Boree Woodland is now so rare in the West Corurgan/Cen- threatened Gilbert’s Whistler. Their the entire country. The two birds found at Woodland block in the Koraleigh area that also proved to be a hotspot for catchment that any stand is significant. tral Riverina region stronghold is now along the Murray Tally’s Lake during the Murrakool Wildlife reptile diversity overall.