THE ISLANDSOF THE NORTH.WESTKIMBERLEY WesternAustralia
EDITEDBY A. A. Burbidse and N. L. McKenzie 1978
DEPARTMENTOF FISHERIESAND WILDLIFE PERTH,WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Wildl. Res.Bull. lyest. Aust. 1978No, 7, l-47. r
CONTENTS Page PART I INTRODUCTION A. A. Burbidge,N. L. McKenzie Background.... 5 History 5 Narrative 5 Land Status .... l1 References .... l1
PART II EN\aIRONMENT A. A. Burbidge, N. G. Marchant, N. L. McKenzie, p. G. WiIson Climate 12 Geology 12 Description Sir GrahamMoore Islands .... 13 OsbornIslands 14 Low Rocks 15 Bonaparte Archipelago l5 Kingfisher Islands zl BrowseIsland .... 2l Adele Island 2l References .... 21
PART III MAMMALS N. L. McKenzie,A. A. Burbidge,A. Chapman,W. K. youngson Introduction.... 22 AnnotatedSpecies List 22 Discussion .... 25 Acknowledgements.... 27 References .... 28
PART MIRDS L. A. Smith, R. E. Johnstone,J. Dell Inlroduction.... List of Species 30 Discussion .... 40 Acknowledgements.... 41 Relerences,... 4l
PART V AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES L. A. Smith, R. E. Johnstone Introduction.... List of Species Alura.... 42 Reptilia.... A' Discussion .... 44 References..... 45
PART VI CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS A. A. Burbidge, N. L. McKenzie Conclusions.... 46 Recommendations.... 46
a TABLES Page PART I INTRODUCTION 1. Islandsvisited in 1971 .. 10 2. Islandsvisited in 1972 .... 10 3. Islandsvisited in 1973 . .. 10
PART II ENVIRONMENT L Weatherdata t2 2. Island stratigraPhY 13
PART III MAMMALS L Zyzomys woodwardibteeding data 2. Native Mammalsrecorded on the islands 26
PART IV BIRDS 1. Co-ordinatesand areasof islandsand datesvisited 29
FIGURES PART I INTRODUCTION l. The north-westKimberley, showing island groups ' 6 2. AugustusGroup to PrinceFrederick Harbour 7 3. MontagueSound area ... 8 4. AdmiraltYGulf area 9
PART II ENVIRONMENT 1. Sir GrahamMoore Island 13 2. Sir GrahamMoore Island,mesa t4 1'l 3. Borda Island 4. Middle OsbornIsland .... 14 5. SouthWest OsbornIsland, mesa 15 6. SouthWest OsbornIsland 15 7. WollastonIsland .. . 16 8. South Maret Island 16 9. BiggeIsland, sandstone.. L7 10. Bigge Island, woodland 17 I l. BoongareeIsland 17 12. CoronationIsland 17 13. Coronation Island, open woodland . . 18 14. CoronationIsland, water course 18 15. Uwin's Island 18 16. AugustusIsland, Warton Sandstone... 19 17. AugustusIsland, vine thicket .... 19 18. AugustusIsland, woodland 19 19. AugustusIsland, freshwater pool 19 20. Darcy Island 20 21. Byam Martin Island 20 22. ByamMartin Island,tall open-shrubland 20 23. BrowseIsland .... 21 Wildl. Res.Bull. Ilest. Aust. No.'1, 1 47 ABSTRACT THE ISLANDS OF THE NORTH-WEST KIMBERLEY, WESTERN AUSTRALIA A. A. Burbidgeand N. L. McKenzie,Edilors (W.A. WildlifeRes_earch Centre, P.O. Box 51,Wanneroo, W.A.6065). Street,Perth, Coniainr pupirs by A. Cl.rapman,J.-Dell, R. E. Johnstgl" 9n{ L. A Smith,(W.A.,Museun,.Frarcis W.a. OOO6I;'N-ci Marchairtund p. c. Wilson(W.A. Hgibarlum,ceorge Stre€l, South-Perth, W.A.6151): A. A' Surbidge,N. L. McKenziealtd W. K. Youngson(W.A. Wildlife Research Centre, P.O. Box 51,Wanneroo, W.A. 6065). Biolosical survevwork was undertakenon the islandsof tbe north-westKimberley coastin the dry seasonsof 1971,19'72and 1973. Twenty- seven-islandswdre visited,raoging in area from t to 17 950 ha The island\are geologicall).lopographtcllly. climarically and_reG:tationrlly typicdl ol the adjacentKinlberley marnland. Rock-t5pe' ;"iiri"li"a.ro"is, ,oicanii, and l;e;ir;.: ltieclimareis tropiccland 'ub-humidsilh a di.tincl Jryseacon. A \ariel) olfofesl. woodland. i6iritti.a, gi..ttiira and nrangrovecon,munities were recordedas well as seni-deciduousvine thickets. Annotated lists of mammals,birds, reptiles and amphibiansare pres€nted. The 22 naiive mammal, 146 bird, 42 leptile and 3 amphibian mainiand today. Someislands harbour p_opLllationsof specieswhich are little soeciesrecorded are all extant on the rioith-west Kimberley (,P(radorcat il,"*" i" iti-K,lnt";i.v .ii"iirA includinglhe Scaly-rrriedPos\un tWvt da ,quamicauda!at-L;ltle Rocl^Wallaby cott,innd\. \ arat:i (perntlalc burbidsei), LesserWniii--no.el Hor.e"hoe Bat tHippo'ilctor verot^r. Mangrove.K ingfi\heJ-tHak)on chlorh rctdida\. i;;;;i;;t'il7;;;p;ri;,Viyriii iirrt6in"d Red-cro\\nedPigeon tPrilnopu' r?sina ewinsii). righl or rhe l7 endemic norrh-wesrKim- berlev reotilei odcur on the islands. Feral mammals wererecorded orr only two islands. Recon'lmendationsare made for reservationof many of the islandsas nature reserves' PART I INTRODUCTION by A. A. BURBIDGEI and N. L. McKENZIEI
BACKGROUND Tlle first European to visit the Kimberley coastline was Abel Tasman in 1644 but his 1og has been lost and it Some of the most important Nature Reservesin Western is not known where he landed. The region was first Australia are islands. Some offshore islands harbour explored by the French scientific expedition under animals which arc rarc or cxtinct on the Australian Nicholas Baudin in 1803. Although many of the mainland, some have unique assemblages,species or islands were named at this time little scientific work sub-sDecie.of animal' and pllnt:, and almostall have was reported (Cornell 1974). beenunaffected bv the eroiic arrimalsirtlroduced into The next explorer was P. P. King who explorad and man. Australia by Errropean mapped the Kimberley coast between 1820 and 1822 Until recentlvwork on WesterrlAustralian islands r'ras (King 1827). He namedmany of the islandsalthough larselvre'lriited lo lhose5oulh of Port HedlandlWillir his landirrgswere chiefly on the mairland.in searcho[ 1957;-Mair 1961; Ride et al. 1962; Storr 1960, 1964; water. King was accompanied by the botanist Allan Butler 19701Main and Yadav l97l; Burbidge l97l; Cunningham who collected many previously unknown Burbidse and Prince 1972) atd almost nothing was speciesof plants.duringthesc erplorations. Duringour known-of the biota of islands fulther north. For this sur\e\s we redi)covered a Baobab tree carved with "Mer- reason the DeDartment of Fisheriesand Wildlife decided the name of King's vessel, His Majesty's Cutter to examinethe islands in the Kimberley Division and maid" and the date 1820 at Careening Bay, in the work commencedon this project in 1971. Prince Regent River Nature Reserve (Burbidge 1975). Most islands in the Kimberley occur off the western The next maritime explorers in the region were Wickham coast between Cape Lev€que and Cape Londonderry and Stokes in H.M.S. Beagle (Stokes 1846) who ex- (Figs 1, 2, 3, 4). In this region there are two archi- amined the coastline as far north as Port George IV. pelagosand severalstnaller groups. From north to At this time George Grey explored the mainland in the iouth thereare: Corernor lslands,Sir Craham Moore vicinity of the Glenelg River (Grey 1841). lslands,Eclipse Islands, Osborn Islands,lnstitut Islands, ln recent times the islands have beenvisited by geologists, BonaparteArchipelago. Monlgomery Irlan9s. King- suryeyors and military personnel. During World War fisher'l'landsand BuicaneerArchipelago. Thi: report II a radio base was constructed on Sir Graham Moore is concernedwith the Kingft IlvotA 0cEA ".:::".,, ',1.r::.*; -.'uo ' "4'\ "- '9 a-, 2, "'" - on s?'; "- ,C""';]$5**'e,:r*; 6D \ OO' MAP1 1244O0' Fiture l-The north-westKimberley, showing island groups. o = = . ,.'-S: \b\\ \a - ;{N-; tJ s- 6 2'an*- un "o, y o \\ rr I t'l ,,t ' !''"' :t t ",\ a\l z, Figure2-AuSustus Group to Prince FrederickHarbour. 7 125"15 I DtAfl OCEAIT o \ IJ Lqc$\et$so !- Jr In tr-v ^ LI EASTMoilrAuvEr L "o*nto*t" 4l.il8x,o,,u,,,.-o ,waBilt. . cl a' s ,z-) l PSUDHOEIS. g\? MASETi bw., -Y rs MOIVIAAUE squflD ?A ?)i'Xu''['l' .l t 6 0 n'l 0 s0utvD q MAP3 TREDEEICK "_v? 12so tta8R0u8 l25o 15' Fiture3-Montague Sound area. 8 25" 30', 126000' 13045', MtAN OCEAII HTCLAl. o 140 00' tow B0c(s MONTESOUIEUIS. .r.' \ BAUDINLt 9 ( lFEr/Etol'lL -S.v 'sq ' /<) \J .*"f\ n , \4) . wHtTEL D BoBoA!,.\> 14'15' cop"volti,u ADMINATfY tl 0au t4c 15', MIDDIE ,4 l' oSBoRNts) lRB0nr -.?{'D)J ", 33Ht[il'i]r,\-\J $ I 4ceatta;/tu n / lcr .,,/ STETP ?-s tltAo t.(/,/ s WAIBE|\IDEAI 125445'. 1260'15' Figure4-Admiralty Gulf area. 9 Surveywork commencedin Augustand September1971. TABLE 2 At,that, time the Royal AustralianSurvey Corps was u-nce_rtarrnga mapping programme in the norih_\ est ISLANDS YISITED IN 1972 Krmberte) and Major C. Sargent,the commandins omcer_ol Lhe 5 Field Surrey Squadron, generousli Approx. agreed provide Dates to accommodation,food and-helicooter Island Area Visited transportation to islands as and when it fitted in;ith (ha) (1e72) hrs programme. A. A. Burbidgc{ F. & W.) wasartached to rhe Squadron ar Kalumburu from 3l Jul) to l4 Augustus 17950 12-19May {.geys1.-N. L. McKenzie (f. & W.) ana r. ,{. Smiitr Heywood (w.A.M.) 760 2423 May uere basedat Kunmunya from l5 August Darcy 4 800 2A-23 May to 4 Scptemberand D. J. Kirchener{W.A.M.) ;;; Coronation 3 830 basedal 23 26 May MitchellPlareau from 4 to l0 Seprembert971. Champagny . .. 1330 21 29 The biologislswere May able ro \isir l5 islandsrrneins in Bigge l7 190 l-7 June size from.one hectare ro nearly 18000. The T,ja'ndi SouthMaret 320 vrsrtec 7-8 June ard the ttme spenton eachis gi c, i,, Table I. East Montalivet 320 8-9 A.Inough antmtls June were collected on nearly all these Katers 1 775 9-12 June islands..mammal_ trapping was only und6nakenon Wollaston ... certarn 850 9-12 June targerslands where orernight stop\ werearranged, Borda 600 fauna colleclions 12 15 June madeat the sitesof the Armv crmos MiddleOsborn 2 300 13 16 June hare been lodged at the Western nrrrratiun iitui.u', SouthWest Osborn... 1370 atongwrth 16 June the specimelsfrom the islands. Browse 6l 17 June Adele 218 I8-19 June TABLE 1 ISLANDS YISITED IN 1971 A. A. Burbidgeand T. Erans(F. & W.). N. C. Mar_ chanl(W.A.H.). and L. A. Smithand J. Dell1W.A.M.) were the second Approx. Dates Duration team. Between3l May and 20 Ju;; Island Area 1912they worked on the islands furthe'r north in ihe Visited of Visit Bo_naparte (ha) (1971) (hrs) Archipelagoand on rhe OsOorntsjanOs'ln AdmjrrltyGulf {Table2). Theyalso made brief visirs to tuo oceanicislands -Browse Middle Osborn 2 300 3-4 August 25.5 and Adele. Fenelon 280 6 August 5.5 The l97l e^pg.d!l'_9.1was basedon ihe Departmentof Borda.... 600 8 August 6.5 frsheriestnd Wildlife22 m ResearchVessel ..Flinder>... South West She.was_crewe4 by C. J. Seabrookltvtastery, n.-f. Osborn 1 3',70 Duckrell(Mare). 8 August 2.0 _R..R. Birch(Engineer). A. A. d; Low Rocks 4 12 August l0 iranca anc J. f. Rodl|sues. Sir Graham Moore 2 660 12 August 2.5 Th9 Louis .... _qu1v_eyteam was ,+. A. nurbiage,N. L. McKenzie 40 12August o.25 andW. K. (F. North Eclipse.... Youngson & W.). l. R. Smittr,L. Oelt 320 12 August 0.1 a1! R F Johnstooe p. Augustus 179s0 1G20 tW.A.M.),and G. Wilson August 88.0 (W.A.H.) Between26 June Darcy.... 4 800 20-22August .0 and 13 July they viJeJ 51 a number of islandsthat had Champagny 1330 22 August not been visited in 1972 4.0 agd revisitedone that had only partly Uwins.... 3 300 23 August been examined. 0.5 The islandsvisited ir 1973are shownin :tible Commerson 2 23 August 0.1 :. Coronation 3 830 29-30August 3l.5 Bigge 17 190 7 September 2.0 TABLE 3 ISLANDS YISITED IN 1973 The objec* of the work in 1971 were to visit and rnake Approx. Dates faunacollections-on as many islandsas possiUleanJ to AICA Visited bu_rldup a knowledgeof localconditions. This know_ (ha) (1973) usedin rhe planning l:d-g..yu, of more detailedsur\eys rn the two subsequentvears. Bat .... 30 26 June SouthWest The 1972.""pedition was divided rnto two separate Osborn.... 137O 2'l-29 Jane teams. The t€ams spent two con5eculi\e Carlia 480 27-29 lune three_$eek Sir Graham qeflods examlorng islands as far north as Admiraltv Moore 2 660 30 3 Julv uurt. I he Frsheries patrol Boongaree.... 4 880 4-7 *Dampier", and Wildlife l5 m Vessil Jtti working out of Koolan Island yampi Uwins 3 310 7-8 July in SaintAndrew sound. wa5 used as a base. She uas skippered bv I 410 8-10July E. J. Lirrle and crewed by J. van Roon. Byam Martin 760 1l-12 Julv Kingfisher .... 1010 12-13 N_L. McKenzie and R. F. Dear p. Julv (F. & W.), c. Melomys 850 12-13 Juli W-ilson(W.A.H.), and A. Chapman a,iO n. f.. f6irniton" (Y4.Ia.)^y:tS rhe first team. Betweent1 M;t;;; 30^May-1972rhey worked on islandsar rhesouri enJ Some work was done on the mainland at Anjo peninsula or.the.tsonapane Archipelago (Table 2) and also made while Sir Graham Moore lsland lras being surveved. Dflel lDspectlonsol the mainland at Careenins - Bav.--'' The mouth of rhe Hunter River uas risitedand a irio St. George Basin and rhe prince Regenr River. was made up rhe Prince RegentRiver ro King Cascadd. 10 After the 1973 trip was completedit was decidedto REFERENCES partly to aid transfersurrev -oIwork to the mainland. Burbidse. A. A. (lq7l). The fauna and flora of lhe \{onte interDretalion rhe data gainedduring the island BeTloI'lands. lDept. Fish.Fauna we\I. Aust Repl. No c). partlv first of survevsand lor its own value. The Burbidce.A. A (lq?5i His{ory of the Prince Regenl Ri\er'A thesesur\evs was'of the PrinceRegent River Nature Re-.eive". /rr: Mileq,J. M. cnd Burbidge.A A (Ldsl Reserre(Mlles and Burbidge 1975). bioloaical srtr\ev of lhe Prince Regenl Ri\er Reser\e. norlhlwesLKimberley, we.tern AusLr.ilia.in Augusl lc74-'. A. A. Burbidp,eand P. J. Fuller(F. & w.) brieflyvisited (Wildl. Res. Bull. West. Aust. No. 3). (Dept. Fish. Wildl : Biggeand Btudinlslands dLrring July 1977. Perth). Burbidec.A. A. and Prince,R. I T. (1972"'l he fauna.Ilorir ani plannedusage ol the D.mpier Archipelago". (Dept Fish. Fauna West. Aust. Rept. No. ll.) LAND STATUS 'A public- Butler.W. H. (1970). sLlmnlaryof the vcrtebratefauna of The oresentstatus of islandsdescribed in this Barro$ fsland.We\lern Au.Lralia". West Auv. ^at 1l. ation is as follows: 149 160. Moore Islands. Sir GrahamMoore Cornetl.C. (1974). (TranJalor). Thc Jo nal of Port Capnin 1. Sir Graham BardiD. (Libraries Board of South Au"lralia: Island comprisesClass C ReserveNo. 18303for LiLholar "Cultivation is not vested. The Adelaide). and Grazing". It Crawford. L M. (1968). The Att of the wandjinI. Aboriginal smallerislands are vacantCrown land. Caw' Painti ;s in Kimbe el, Westetn Australia. (Oxford 2. OsbornIslands. VacantCrown land. University Prass:Melbourne). Crey, G. {1841). JournaL ol lwo,e.rpeditionsoI,llsloyrv,yt Low Rocks compriseClass C Re- e. 3. Low Rocks. "Conservation north-wesland we"rernAurlralia aluting lh" leart 163t' 6 ana serveNo. 33832for of Flora and (T. and W. Boone: London). Western Fauna", The Reserveis vestedin the Kins.-weslern P. P. 11821). Narrative of a v w! of the i !.rtt'opical and, AustralianWildlife AuthoritY. coatis of Au:tnlia, performed b.rween !h( )'catt ol $18 and 1822. 2 vols. (Joh[ Murray: London). 4. BonaparteArchipelago. The followingislands "fhe wollaston.Bigge' M0in, A. R. (l96tl. occurrenceof Macropodidae-on arevicant Crownland: Katers, i'landsand il\ climaticand ecologicalimplication"'. .I Rov' the Maret Islands,the Montalivet Islands,Boon- Soc, W. Aust. 44,8+89. "Conservation saree. the Coronation Islands and Bat Island' Main. A. R. and Yadav, M. (19?1) of macropods Itl iilands south of a line running north-west in reservesin Western Australia". Biological Co setvalion Cape Wellington to and including the 3, 123-133. from (Fdsr' Montsomeryl'lands are includedin ClassC Mites.J. \4. and Burbidge,A. A 11975). A biological "Use of Abor- \ur!ey of the PrinceRegent Ri\€r Re5er\e.norlh-west K-lm_ Rc,,erieNo. 23079tor and benefit herlei- WesternAus{rafia. in August lq74'. (Wildl. Res isines" which is vestedin the Aboriginal Lands Bull.-We5t.Au5l. \o. l) (Depr' Firh. Wildl.: Perlh). Theseinclude the following islands des' Douglas.A M.. Rovce.R D and irust. Ride.w. D. L., Mees,G. F. "The report: Uwins,St. Andr€w,Augustus, Tvndale-Biscoe.C. H. (1962). resultsol an e\pedrtron cribedin this (Ed. Darcv.Hevwood, Bvam Martin and Champagny' ici Bernier and borre Iilands". Fauna bulletin No 2. \ hich lies to the A. J. Fmser). (FjsheriesDepaftment: Perth), Pan'of Dep,erandolsland, 2 (T' is freehold,owned.by Stokes,J. L. (1846). Discowries i Austrclia, etc. Vols south-westoi Champagny and W. Boone: London). oiAustraliafor a lighthousesite' "The theCommonwealth Srorr,C. \4. (lq6O). phyriography.v€gelalion--and-verte- 5. Kingfisher Islands. All islandsin this group arc bra(efauna of North Island,Houtnlxn Abrolho\ ./ Kol' vacantCrown land. Soc. W. Aust. 43' 59-62 (1964). 'The phyriography.vegelalion anC 6. BrowseIsland. This islandis Reserveno 22697 Srorr. G. M. -verle-- "Minerals-Phosphatic brate launa of the wallabi Croup, HouLman Abrolhos for Rock". It is not vested' J. Rot. Soc. ,l/est.Aast. 48, | 14. " 7. Adele Island. The whole of Adele is owned by Willic,.J. H. ( 1954r. (Fd.l. fhe Archipelcgoof the Recherche"' the Commonwealthof Australia. ReoortNo. i. AuttralianCeographical Society. Melbotrrne' r1 PART II ENYIRONMENT by A. A. Burbidgel,N. G. Marchant'1,N. L. McKenzierand P. G. Wilson. CLIMATE islandsdescribed here). The averagemonthly 9 a.m.and 3 p.m. relativehumidity for two stations given The notth-west Kimberley area has two distinct sea- is also in "wet", Table 1. sons-the lasting roughly from December to March and a dry season between June and September when little or no rain falls. The Bureau of Meteorolosv GEOLOGY (Anon. 1975)has recenrlyupdated inforrnatiorr on tii A seriesof l:250000 maps wirh erplanalory notes, climate of the Kimberley. Data from the region de- describingthe geology of-rhe north-wesLKimberley scribed in this report are extremely limited, with only have been published by Gellatly and Sofoulis (1969, the recently establishedstations at Kuri Bay and Mitchell 1973), Allen (1971)and Williams and Sofoulis (t971). Plateau to complement data from Troughton Island, The nomenclature used bv these authors is followed Kalumburu and Yampi Sound. throughout this report. Rainfall in the region is high, ranging from over 1400 The stratigraphy of the islauds is the same as the ad- rnm at Mitchell Plateau to 1 000 mm at Kalumburu jacent mainland although, because of their restricted and Yampi. Sirce rainfall decreases rapidly further size, even the largest islands usually include only two inland, information fi'om stations away from the coast or three of the rock types found on the mainland (Table is of little value. Heavy falls, usually associated with 2). Descriptions of these rock-types and a time-strat! tropical cyclones or thunderstorms, can occur. Kalum- graphic interpretation have been included in the above buru has recorded 304 mm in a 24 hour period. publications. Average maximum and minimum temperatures for The sandstonesand volcanics of the islands are of Pre- given four stations are in Table 1, It can be seen that Cambrian age and are overlain in places by superficial temperatures are mild to warm throughout the year. Cenozoic deposits. depositsoccur in coastal probably Quaternary Conditions on the islands are milder than situations. The Carpentarian Kimberley Strata found given those for Mitchell Plateau and Kalumburu on the islands include King Leopold Sandstone (Pkl), which are a short distance inland. This is nrobablv Carson Volcanics (Pkc), thi Bu&land point Meinb6i especiallyso in relationro winter nrinimum tempei- of the Warton Sandstone (Pkb), Warton Sandstone (see atures Troughton Island data but note that (Pkw), the Yampi Member of the Pentecost Sandstone Troushton is futther offshore and smaller than most (Pkpy) and Hafi Dolerite (Pdh). In broad terms the sandstones are expressed as resistant, clifl-forming r Wesrern Australian Wildlife Research Cenl.e, P.O, Box 51, Wanneroo. W,A. quanz sandstonesgiring rise to a rugged. dissecled g 6065. Western AuslrAlian Herbarium, Georse Street, Soulh Perth, W.A. 6151. terraine with joint-controlled gorges and drainage. TABLE 1 WEATHER DATA FOR SELECTED NORTH-WEST KIMBERIEY STATIONS AVERAGE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURESfC') Apr. May July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. TroughtonIsland .... 31'7 31.3 31.8 32.5 30.7 28.1 27.8 28.4 29.9 31.4 32.6 32.9 30.8 26.1 25.9 26.2 26.6 25 0 23.2 22.O 22.5 24.2 26 0 21.0 27.O 25.1 Kalumburu 33.5 34.0 34.3 32.8 31.9 31.9 33.6 35.',7 37.2 37.7 36.4 34.4 24.6 24.5 23.9 21.3 17.8 14.9 13.4 15.I 184 22.2 24.5 25.0 20.5 Mitchell Plateau .... 33 6 32.6 32.4 324 31.6 30.0 30.6 33.2 35.1 36.7 36.1 33.3 33 1 22.0 21.3 18 6 12.8 10.8 8.3 t2 t 16.6 20.0 21.5 22.5 17.4 Kuri Bay .... 32.9 32.4 33 1 34.3 32.8 31.l 30.6 3l .6 33.1 33.6 34.0 34.0 32.8 25.8 25 1 25.0 24 2 22.4 19.5 18.4 20.0 22.3 25 9 26.4 23.3 AVERACE MONTHLY RELATIVE HUMIDITY (%) Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. year Kalumburu (30 year average) .... 9 a.m. 7l 70 60 48 43 38 31 4t 4s 50 61 53 3 p.m. 62 66 60 4'1 39 33 28 28 3s 42 47 54 48 '74 '70 Mitchell Plateau(1970-74) 9 a.m. 70 59 39 36 31 38 40 44 52 66 s2 3 p.n. 57 63 5'7 45 30 28 22 27 34 40 43 55 42 t2 The CarsonVolcanics are expressedas rounded,usually Kimberleyisland shorelinesare usuallyrocky although soil covered,undulating country with gentle gradients small sandy beachesare presentbetween some head- and dendritic drainage. Hart Dolerite occursas dark- lands. Along shelteredshorelines a narrow strip ol gray to black bouldery outcropsand is generallyfound littoral mud occurs and in shelteredbays there are in valleys betweenKing Leopold Sandstoneslopes or often extensivelittoral mudflats traversed by incised clifls. tidal creeks. Shallow rocky shoals and coral reefs occur aroundmany of the islands, IABLE 2 ISLAND STRATIGRAPHY DESCRIPTION Island Name Precambrian Cenozoic Plant sDecimenswere collected from most of the islands Strata+ Strata* visited. The collections are lodsed in the Western Australian Herbarium. Augustus Pkw, Pkc ...... Czs, Qc, Qs Darcy.... Pkw .... Qc, Qs Heywood Pkw .... Qc, Qs 1. Sir Graham Moore Islantls Champagny -...... Pkw .... Qs,Qc Byam Martin Pkw, Pkb ...... Qc, Qs These islands lie off Anjo Peninsula, the north- Uwins.... Pkw .... Qc, Qs western edge of Napier Broome Bay. They com- St Andrew .... Pkw, Pkc ...... Qc' Qs prise two small islands-Scorpion and Kim-as Coronation ...... Pkc,Pkl ...... Qc, Qs well as Sir Graham Moore itself. Only the main Boongaree .... Pkl, Pdh ...... Czs, Qc, Qs Bigee.... Pkl, Pdh ...... Czs, Qc, Qs island was visited. SouthMaret ...... Pkc...... Tb, Qs Wollaston Pkl ...... Qs Sir Graham Moore Island (2 660 ha). Katers Pkl, Pdh ...... Czs,Qs East Montalivet Pkc...... Tb, Qs The western portion of this sandstone island has a Fenelon Pdh...... Tp, Qs low profile and is mostly covered with sandy soil Carlia.... Pkw, Pkc ...... Qc, Qs At the eastern end is a mesa capped by laterite. South West Osborn .... Pkc, Pkw ...... Qs joined Middle Osborn Pkc...... rb, Qs The two sections are by a narrow sandy Borda.... Pkt...... Qs isthmus. Sir Graham Moore .... Pkt...... Tp Kingfisher Pkpv .... Qc An open-woodland of Eucalyptus miniata A. C:urlrr. Melomys PkPY .... Qc ex Schau., E. bleeseri Blakely and E. papuana F- Muell. covers most of the island (Fig. l). Shrubs *Stata a.e listed in descendingordot of idpodance. of Pouteria sericea (Ait.) Bachr., Acacia stigmqto' phylla Benth. and Taminalie canescens (DC) Radlk. The oldestof the Cenozoicstrata are Tertiary deposits above Plectrochne pungms (R.Br.) C. E. Hubb., of variouslaterites (Tb. Tp) whichoccur as capping.in Heteropogon and Cymbopogon form scattered areas the form of mesasand dissectedtablelands, on top of of low open-shrubland. Wide crevices,where sand- CarsonVolcanics and King Leopold Sandstone. Such stone is exposed, s.Jpporl Pandanus sp., Eucalyptus lateritic strata are only found on the more northerly spp., Owenia vernicosaF. Muell. and Fictts platypoda islands. Cenozoicsoils (Czs),as pale sandylight-text- A. Cunn. over hummock grasslands. Extensive ured soil overlyingsandstone, occur as highJevelplains areas of swamp supporting a closed-sedgeland of on King Leopold Sandstoneon Bigge and Boongaree Fuirens ciliaris (L.) Roxb. surrounded by low- Islandsand in a valley situation on Warton Sandstone closed forests of Meleleuca tiridiflora Soland. ex on AugustusIsland. Comparativelyyoung Quaternary Gaertn. occur in the western Dortion of the island. soilsare present as beachsands (Qs) and coastaldeposits Xyris complanata R. Br. and 9ylidium muhiscapum (Qc) of grey sticky chloropal saline mud with some O. Schwafiz commonly occur in these wetlands. silt and fine sand. Sandy areas at the eastern end of the island have a Soils associatedwith the various rock-typeshave been low open-shrubland of Pouteria rericea (Ait.) Bachr. describedby Speck(1960). Grevillea so.. Banksia dentatq L.f. and Pqndanus Following rejuvenationof the drainagesystem in the with hummock srasslands. late Tertiary or early Pleistocenethe KimberleyPlateau Provinceunderwent a period of activedissection (Stew- art et al. 1960,Allen 1971). Later, a Quaternaryrise in sealevel resultedin the drowning of valleysand the formation of the indented shoreline with many ofl- shoreislands and a coastalconfiguration strongly con- trolbd by the jointing in the King Leopold and Warton sanostones. Work by such authors as Nix and Kalma (1972) in Northern Australia,Fujii et al. (1971)in Asia, and Miirner (1971) in Scandinaviaon sea level changes in the last 20 000 years,along with limited bathymetdc data available from the north-west Kimberley coast, indicatethat the islandswere part of the mainland as recentlyas 8 000 to l0 000 yearsago. This was about the time that Torres and BassStraits were submerged (Gentilli 1961). A few islands, such as Boongaree Island, have possibly had a much more recent separ- FiSurel. Sir GrahamMoore lsland. Low open Eucdlyptuswood- atlon. landwith shrubsof Acocidand grasses. IJ The flat laterite plateau of the mesa is covered with 2. Osborn Islands an open Eucallptus woodland over hummock The Osborn Islands are located in Admiralty Gulf. grasses (Fig. 4. Acacia gonocarpa F. Muell. and There are six main islands-Borda, Middle Osborn, Acqcia translucens A. Cunn. ex Hook. occuf as Kidney, South-West Osborn, Carlia and Steep Head. scattered low oDen-shrublands. The laterite scree Kidney and Steep Head Islands were not inspected. slopes of the uresa are covered with a low open or low closed-shrubland with some areas of Pand.enus and Adqnsoniq gregorrl F. Muell. Borda Island (600 ha). This island is composed of strongly dissected King Leopold Sandstone with deep, wide fissures. In places there are extensive sandy flats at the base of the sandstonecliffs. Vegetation cover is sparse on the exposed sand- stone (Fig. 3) wrth Plectrachne and, Triodia, Ficus platypoJa A. C:tnn.. Gyrocarpusamericanus Jacq. and Calvtix exttipulata DC. Deep, wide fissuressup- port a low open-shrubland of Acacia retinerfis Benlh. over Plectrqclne. A limited area of vine thicket, with Tinospora and,a few large trees of Albizi{t lebbek (\N|ltd)'Benth. and Toona sp., occurs at the foot of a high sandstone cliff. Wet areas near this cliff, support low open- forests of Melaleuca firidiflora Soland. ex Gaertn. Extensive littoral areas of Plectraclme and, Spinifex longrfolius R.Br. with occasional Pandqnus occur on a coastal sandplair in the north-west portion of the Figure2-Sir GrahamMoore lsland showinS vegetation on laterite island. cappedmesa. Middle Osborn Island (2 300 ha). This island consists of weathered Carson Volcanic rocks and associated red soils. Structurally it consists of high peaks surrounded by undulating slopes (Fig. 4). FiSure4 MiddleOsborn lsland. The main peakwirh a frinSing closed-scruband low shrubland. Sorghumgrassland in the middla The doninant vegetation is a low open-woodland ol Eucalyptuswith a grass and shru6 understorey. Steep slopes support open and closed-shrublands of Canarium ausl ra lanium F. Mtell., Buchanqnio oboyatq Engl. and Mimusops elengi L. Low shrublands of Cochlospermumheteroneurum (F. Muell.) Benth. and Brachychiton occur on iess (teeply sloping areas. Small areasof an open-shrublandincluding ,4ra./a stigmqtopb'lla A. Cunn. ex Benth., Tremq uspera Brongn.) Blume. Grevilleamimosoides R.Br., Celrrs Figure 3-Borda Island. RuSgedKing LeopoldSandstone v,/ith philipinnensisBlanco. and Paramygnio trimera \Oli\.) sparseveSetation. The shrubsare Ficusplotypodo A. Cunn. Burkill are scatteredin lhe shrublaDdsof sreepand 14 gradual slope areas, Sorghum sp. ar,d Heteropogott At lower Ievels the volcanic soil slopes and areas of conlortus (L.\Beau. ex Roem. et Schultz occur under alluviunr are characterised by Ada soniq gregorii these shrublands. F. Muell. and extensive areas of Themeds eustralis (R.Br.) (Malden) Littoral areas have narrow zones of mangroves Stapf. atd Sotghum. Acacia dunnii Tllrrill, qrndrilocularis with closed-shrublandsof Thespesiapopulnea Soland. Zizyphw F. Muell. and Hakea macrocarpa ex Corr. and extensive flats of Sporobolus 'virginicus R.Br. also occur on the lower (L.) Kunth. and Spinifex longifolius R.Br. Adansonia slopes as components of scattered low open-shrub- gregorii F. Muell. occurs in the supraJittoral. lands. Littoral areas in sheltered bays snpport some low South West Osborn Island (1 370 ha). closed-forests of mangroves. A small estuarine This island includes two Warton sandstone mesas salt marsh occurs on the western coast. surrounded by extensive areas of steep and undul- Carlia Island (480 ha). ating volcanic slopes (Figs. 5, 6). Carlia is geomorphologically similar to South West Osborn though the sandstone plateau is less well defined and without a pronounced screeslope. The vegetation is also similar. The sandstonc areas are sparsely vegetated except in crevices where FicLts,Pouteria sericeq (Ait.) Bacht., Atalq'a rcfiifolia (F. Muell.) Benth. and Ov;e ia yerfiicosaF. Muell. frequently occur. Both basic soils developed over volcanic rocks and alluvial soils in valleys support low open-woodlands witl.r a ground cover of grasses. There are no areas of fringing vine thicket although a low forest was recorded at the base of a volcanic screeslope behind a beach on the western coast. Extensive low closed-forestsof mangroves, including Ceriops tagal (Perr.) C.B. Robinson and Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh., occur on the central eastern Fisure 5 South West Osborn lsland. DissectedWarton sand- coast. "t6n. "n t"p of mesawith a tall shrublandof Acdciosp. over a Plectrochnehummock grassland. 3. Low Rocks (4 ha). Low Rocks are situated in the northern part of Admiralty Gulf. There is one main rocky island with sone low vegetation cover, mainly grassesand Ipomoea sp. 4. BonaparteArchipelago The Bonaparte Archipelago includes all islands from Cape Voltaire south to near Hall Point. There are a large number of islands varying in size from a few square metres to the two largest Kimberley islands-Augustus and Bigge. We visited most of the larger islands in this group. '775 Katers Islard (l ha). Katers and Wollaston lslands are located in Mon- tague Sound about 40 km north-west of Mitchell Plateau. Fi8ure 6 South West Osborn Island. F.inging tall vine thicket Extensive areas of Katers Island are composed of co'ntaining numerous species below cliff. tlemedo Srasslandin horizontally bedded sandstones with a sparse foreground. vegetation cover of shrubs and snall trees over an open hummock grassland. The small areas of Scattered low open-shrublands, mostly in crevices, basic soil over dolerite support denser vegetation. dominate the dissected sandstone on top ol the Sandstone rock terraces with shallow soil support mesas. Pouteria sericea (Lit.) Bachr. is the most scattered shrubs of Ficus, Eryatamie orientalis common shrub with Flcrr platypoda A. Cunn., (R.Br.) Turrill., Alstoniq actinoph!//a (A. Cunn.) Exocarpos latifolius R.Br,, Cansrium qustrolanicum K. Schum. atd Strycltnos lucicla R.Br. An open F. Muell. and Grevillea rcfracta R.Br. hummock grassland of Plectrachne, with some Sandstone scree slooes. at the foot of the sandstone Acacia retineryis Benth. shrubs, occurs on the deeper cliffs of the mesas and adjacent areas of steeply soils of wider sandstone terraces. sloping volcanic soils, support tall vine thickets of Flcas is particularly common in rock fissures al- Albizie lebbek (Willd.) Benth., Randict cf. racemosa though Acacia xylocarpa Benth. and occasional (Low) F. Yill, Acacia hemignosta F. Muell. and Eucalyptus sp. and Erythrophleum chlorostachlts (F. Eugenie grandis (Blume) Wight wtth Tinospora Muell.) Baill. form tall open-shrublands in wider smilacina Benth. and other lianes. gullies. 15 Basicsoil associatedwith the doleriteoutcroD in the An extensivesandy littoral area dominated by northernpart of the islandsupports a tall-to low Spinifex longifolius R.Br. and Salsola kqli L. occurs open-shrublandof Acaciq xylocarpa Benth. with on the south sideof the island. someEucqlyptus sp. A ste€plydipping slopeon the southernedge of the doleriteoutcrop is coveredwith SouthMaret Island (320ha). a poorly developedvine thicket including Tinospora Lying 18 km seawardof BiggeIsland, South Maret smilqcinaBenth. and Aristolochiasp. (Fig. 8) resemblesEast Montalivet. Some sandy littoral areas occur. Theseare char- acterised by Spinifex longifolius R.Br. and,Ipomoea brasiliensis(L.) Sw. Mangrovecommunities are not developed. WollastonIsland (850ha). Yegetativecover on this sandstoneisland is very sparseand only well developedin crevicesand on terraces(Fig. 7). FiSure 8-South Maret lsland showing larerire capped mesa rnd breakaways. A lcw open-shrublandoccurs cn the plareau while on the scree in the foreground is a thicket of low shrubs including Rdndio sp. and the scrambler Abrus Drecotoriut L, Most of the island is a laterite capped plateau sup- porting a low open-shrubland to an open hulrmock grassland of spinifex. Acqcia ? retineryis Benlh., Eucalyptus sp., Grevillea pyramidalis A. Cunn. ex R.Br. and Diospyros nitens W. V. Fitzg. are the Figure 7-Wollaston lsland. Sparse vegeration on Kins LeoDotd common shrubs and trees. A medium dense or Sandstone terraces. Pouteria sericeo (Ait.) Bachr., Ficus-btotvDoda " open grass understorey of Plectrqchne ald Hetero- A. Cunn., A(dcio sp. and hummock 8r;sses in fore8round. pogon contortus (L.) Beauv. ex Roem. et Schultz occurs on the more weathered laterite and ooen The plant species and their habitats are similar to areas of laterite srpporL Crinum Herbirt, nearby Katers -DC. focciclum 'fhe Island with rocky terraces character- Cadaba capparoides and Gomphrena sp. ised by ,Frcas.Alstonia sp. and Acacia. Glrocorpus steep scree slopes over volcanic rocks are generally ameri(anus Jacq. is one of the tallest trees present covered by thickets of low shrubs suct, as Pouteriq occurring on the shallow soil and rocky outciops of sericea (Nt.) Bachr. and Randiq \nith Flagellaria the terraces. indicq L. and. Abrus precotorius L. Pqndanis Irees Deep gulliescrossing the centreof the island havea were noted in deeper valleys. low open to closed-shrubland of Acacia2 aulacocarpa Littoral vegetation is limited to narrow zones of A. Cunn. ex Benth. and, Acacia retinenis Ber\ih. S-pinifex longifolius R.Br. on the western and eastern Restricted water seepageareas provide a habitat for snoles. the ferns Lygodiun microphyllin (Cav.) R.Br. and Stenochlaenapalustlrb (Burm.l) Beddome. Bigge Island (17 190 ha). There are no extensivemangrove stands, Avicennia Bigge is the second largest island in the Kimberley. marina (Forsk.) Vierh. and Rhizophora stylosa Griff. It lies between Montague and York Sounds and is occur as small thickets in sheltered areas. separated from the mainland by Scolt Straight. Most of the island consists East Montalivet Island (320 ha). of stronslv dissected King Leopold sandstonewirh a spari- vegetation This island, situated at the entrance of Montasue cover. Extensive areas of superficial Cenozoic Sound. is dominated by a Iateriteplateau suooorti*ne depositsoccur parts plactiachne in the central and southern of a hummock grassland of wiiti ,omi the island. scatteredshrub-s ol Ac.qciqsp. The breakawayand The,.sandsrone (Fig. sc^reeslopes ol the ptateau support dense thickets oulcrops -9) suppon sca ered ot lhe same spectesas occur further down_slooe small trees and shrubs of Owenia vernicosaF. although Flogellariq indica L. and Abrus precatorius Muell., Alstonia actinophylla (A. Cunn.) K. Schum. L. are more common in lhis habitat. and Pouterio sericea (Ait.) Bachr. Rock crevices and narrow. steep-sidedvalleys are characterised The surrounding by slopes of volcanic soil and rock low and tall open-shrublands,as well as woodland! oulcrops are characterised by low open-shrublands of Acacia 2 rctinervis Berth., Str)'chnoslucida R.Br., of Brachychiron with scattered shrubi of Mimusoos Gordenia pontonii F. Muell. and Eucolytpus so. elengi L., y. A Diospyros nitens W. Fitzgerald, Raniia hummock grasslandto an open-humm6ckgraisland sp., Terminalia sp. and, Buchanania obovqta'Ensl. of Plectrachneoccurs in all iiruations. 16 island is composed of King Leopold Sandstone but a large dome of Hart Dolerite in the central part divides the sandstoneinto two discrete areas. The vegetation of the sandstone is mostly a low open-woodland of Eucalyptus miniata A' Cunn. ex Sihau. and D- brachvqndra F. Muell. with shrubs of Acacia delibr(ia A.'Cunn. ex Benth., Cqlytrix exsti- nulsta DC., Dodonaea viscosa L. and Gretillea sp' Rocky areas are more sparsely vegetated wirh Ficus platyioda A. Cunn. and Cassine melanocatpa (F. tltuiit.t O. Kuntze as well as Terminalia canescens (DC.) Radlk. Areas of deepersoils support wood- lands or Acacia spp. low open-shrublands over Fisure9-Bisqe lsland.Exposed King LeoPoldSands!one with N;tiveWalnui (Owenio vernicoso F. Muell ). Broader lalleys in the sandstone areas generally have well deflned scree slopes with an open-hum- nrock srassland of Plectrlchne and scattered trees and slriubs of Ficus platypoda A. Cu\t\', owenicr vernicosaF. Mu.ell., Acacia spp. and Pouteriq sericeq (Ait.) Bachr. Valley floors with deeper soil support a closed-grassland of Plectracltne sp. and Cym- bopopon procerus (R.Br..) Donlin. with an open uooei storev of Eucallplus miniqta A Cunn ex Sichau.,Acqcia sp. rnd. along walercourses.Barl Figure1O BiggeIstand. Woodlandof Eucollptusminioto A. Cunn. ex Schau. Shorelinesare mostly rocky though there are some wide areasof coastalsands with a closed-grasslandof Soinifexlongifolius R.Br. and emergcntScaetolq ticcicla lGaerin.1Roxb. and Morindacirr(olia L. Mangroveareas are nowhele extensive except around Boorierang Bay and a few shelteredbays on the easl side. BoongareeIslatd (4 880ha). BoonsareeIsland is situated in Prince Frederick Harbouradiacent to the PrinceR€gent River Nature Reserve(Miles and Burbidge 1975). Most of the Figurel2-Coronation lsland. Generalview. L7 72A43-3 Bat Island (30 ha). Lying off Cape Brewster, Bat Island is joined to the mainland at low 1ide. It has a vegetationsimilar to that of the adjacert Warton Sandstone ard Carson Volcanic areas of the adjacent mainland (Miles, Kenneally,and George 1975). Uwins Island (3 310 ha.) Uwins (Fig. l5) liesat the mouth ofthe PrincaRegent River. As ilr the caseof the other sandstoneislands, sparse vegetationis developedon elcrated areas between the numerous deep, seasonally wet crevices. The dissected sandstone areas support a low open- woodland of Eucalyptusminiala A. Cunn. ex Scfiau., E. JbrrugineaSchat. and E. pefoliatq Benth. Shrub- FiSur€..f3 Coronation lsland. Open-woodlandoI Eucolyptus IotiFolidF. Muell. lands of scattered Acaciq stipulosa F. Mueil. and Acqci.t lumifusa Benth. over Plectrachne also occur. Broadcrcrer ices {gullie"t srrpDort den.er vegetaTion \\ith some de\elopmellt of poor \ine lhicker. beaches and rocky basaltic headlands with steep Litistona sp., Pqndanus ard Bo,tsiqeq cliffs and scree bossiaeoides slopes. A small area of King Leo- (A. Cunn. ex Benth.) pold A. B. Court commonly occur Sandstone occurs in the northern part. ir this situation. Most of the island is covered by a low open-wood- Mangrove low closed-forests of Ayicernia mari a land of Eucalyptus latifoliq F. Muell. with a more or (Forsk.) Vierh. and Ceriops tagal (Perr.) C. B. less complete shrub and grassground cover (Fig. l3). Robinson occur in shelteredareas. Sandy beaches IndigoJbra linifolia Retz., Acacia stigmatophylla A. with Spinifex longifolius R.Br. are not common, Cunn. ex Benth. and Bueclnera sp. w\lh Heteropogon contortus (L,) Beauv. ex Roem. et Schultz and Sorghum are common shrubs and grasses in this habitat. Areas of low closed-woodland or low closed-forest are scattered throughout the island. Eucqb)ptus latifolia F. Muell. and Phtllantfurs Figure l,l-Coronation lsland. Pool in watercourse. moderaspatqnusL, commonly occut here. Narrow valleys or gullies support dense thickets of Termin- alia ftzgeraldii C. A. Gardn. a:ndAbrus precatorius L. with densc cover of Sorghuttt ? au,truliense Garber et Snyder. There are occasional water- courseswith semi-permanentpools (Fig. l4). The small area of sandstone supports an open- rvoodland of Acqcia oyet Plectrqchne. Extensive low closed mangrove forests occur in large shelteredbays. Rocky coastssupport scatlered shrubs of Lumnitzerct rqcemosa Willd'. Lysiphvllq cunninghamii (BenIh.) Dc Wit. and Sicruiiega Figure 15.-Uwins lsland. Sandstoneplateau and scree and melantlrcsoides(F. Muell.) Airy Shaw. adjacentmangroves at low tide. l8 most of the shorelinc being rocky with vegetation characteristic of more elevatcd parts of the island approachingthe shoreline. Saint Andrew Island (l 410 ha). This and St Palrick Island (which we did not visit) lie within St Geotge Basin near the mouth ofthe Prince Regent River'. St Andrew consistsof a ceotfal Warton Sandstotre plateau surrounded by screcslcpes on Carson Vol- canic rocl<. The vegetation of the sandstone is typical for that type of country on the mainland (iee Miles, Kenneally ard George 1975)with sparse cover except in the numerous crevices and where some soil has developed o[ rock teraces. Figurel8 Augustuslsland. Euco,yptus woodland with Pondonus on alluvialsoil. drainage. In the central northerrl part of the island there is a small area of alluvail soil. Volcanic areas which outcrop on the island were not examined. Sparse vegetation cover typifies the Warton Sand- stone (Fig. 16). A low open-woodland of Eucalyptus sp, alad Owenia ve ticosa F. Muell. with a ground coyer of Plectrqchnepungens (R.Br.) C. E. Hubb. is quite widespread. Low open-shrublands of Acacia gonocqrpa F. Muell. are also common and scatter.qd shrubs bf Buchaneniq oborata Engl. aud, Grivelleq agrifolia A. Cunn. ex Benth. occur throughout tlle shrublands and woodlands. Dissected sandstone outcrops are sparsely covered with Flcrl,r leucotricha Mrq., Erratamia sp. and, in some areas, Cal/i/rr's Filure l6 -Ausustuslsland. Warton Sandstonewith low oPen_ intratropica Baker et Smith. grasslandol Plectro(hne. sh-rubfandand 6ummocl< Steeply sloping areas or steep cliffs with a scree slope support open-shrublands with Mqba humilis R.Br. and other shrubs frequently covered by the creeper Abrus precatorius L. Areas near the south coastsuppofivine thicket in suitable habitats (Fig. 17). Alluvial soil supports a low closed to low open- woodland of Eucalyptus sp., Acacia plectocarpa Benth., l. tumida Benth., and Pandanuswith Calytrix qchaeta F. Muell., Cyperus cf . holoschoenusRBr. aradEriachne stlcata Hartley (Fig. 18). Permanent fresh ,,vater occurs in watercourses through the alluvial soils. These provide a habitat for Nymphaea giga teq Hook, and Xfris compla ata R.Br. Lower reaches of the watercourses support fringing forests to woodlands of Melqleuce leucqdendron(L.) L. and Melaleucu viridifiora Soland. ex Gaertn. (Fig. 19). Figurel7-Augustus, lsland. Vine thicket below cliff. Hummock SlaSSeSInloreSrOUno. Small areas of poorly developed vine thicket occur on stceply sloping moist soil areas below the sand- stone cliffs. Much of the slopes are covered by low open-rroodlands ol Lucalypttt\ miniqla A. Cunn, ex Schau. and TerntinaliafetdinctncJiqna Exell over hummock grasslands and open grasslands. AugustusIsland (17 950 ha). AususLusis thc large'licland in the Kimberley. It, arrd-nearbv i.,land.,divide Brun'uick Bay from Camden Sound. The Kuri Bay pearl culture centre is sheltered from the open sea by Augustus Island. Most of Augustus Island is strongly dissected Figure l9 Augustuslsland. Permanentfresh water Pool with Warton Sandstone country with joint controlled riiging Meid/euioviridiflord Soland. ex Gaertn. 19 The littoral habitat is restricted becauseof the steep cliffs and scree slopes around most of the coastline. Narrow mangrove areas occur in sheltered inlets and Ceriops tqgal (Perr.) C. B. Robinson, Bruguiera exqristqtq Ding Hou, Aegiceras comiculata (L.) Blanco and two speciesof Rhizophora were recorded, Heywood Islands The Heywood Islands comprise two fairly large islands and a number of smaller ones. Thev are situated to the north-\ryestof Augustus Island.' The two larger islands (Darcy Island and Heywood Island) are low orofile Warton Sandstone islands with less habitat diversity than Augustus Island. Most of Darcy Island (4 801 ha) is covered with a low open-woodland. of Eucalyptus spp. mostly FiSure2l-Byam Martin lsland. Generalview. Eucallptus miniata A. Cunn. ex Schau., with a vari- able shrub layer of Acacia spp. (including lcacra (760 delibratq A. Cunn. ex Berlth.), Greyillea sp. and Byam Martin Island ha) Dodonaeq sp. oyer hummock grasses. Shallow Byam Martin lies to the west of Augustus and to joint controlled drainage valleys which cross the the south of Heywood Island. It is similar to the island in a number of directions suDDort denser lalter in its geomorphology.being a iow profile vegetation-low woodlandsand thicketi-mostly ot sandstoneisland with numerous ioint controlled the same speciesas on interveniogareas. drainage lines. The western part bf rhe island is composed of the Buckland Point Member of the Warton Sandstone but no obvious vesetation differencewas noled. Most of the island is covered bv a low or tall oDen- shrubland of Acqcia sericata'A. Cunn. ex Bdnth. and Acaciqplectocarpa Benth. with scatteredEucalyp- tus perfoliata Benth. (Figs 21,22). Open vegetation occurs on rocky areas wherc Petalostigma pubescen Domin. and Verticordia cunninshamii Schau. com- monly occur Adansoniagregori F. Muell. appears on pockets of deeper soil. Seasonalwatercourses in the sandstonecrevices support Pandqnusw|th Olden- Iandia sclerqnthoides (F. Muell.) Jackson and Melql- euca viridiflora Soland. ex Gaertn. Mangrove low closed-forests are very limit€d in extent, shorelines being mostly rocky or sandy. Aegialitis annulqt.t R.Br. was recorded from one Fi8u.e20 Darcylsland. Valleybehind beach with woodlandof manglove area. Eucolyptusconfertifloto F. Muell. with Cycds medio R.Br. over nummocksrnsslano, Champagny Island (1 330 ha) Situated to the west-north-west of the Heywood A tall closed-for€st of Melqleucs leucoderulron(L.\ Islands, the Warton Sandstones of Champagny have an even profile L, surrounded by a flood-plain with sca ered lower and numerous shallow joint controlled Pandanus, and Byblis linifora Salisb. was recorded drainage lines. in the mouth of a valley opening onto a sandy pebble beach. A smaller valley with steep sandstone scree sides, opening onto the same beach, supports a woodland of Euclayptus confertifiora F . MwlI., Acacia delibrata, A. Cunn. ex Benth., Ficus oppositct Miq., Owenia vernicosa F. Muell. and Cycas media R.Br. over hummock grassland (Fig. 20). Heywood tstand t760 ha) is smallerthan Darcy and appears[o have the samedegree of vegetationcover with an extensiye low open-woodland of Eucalyptus spp, Acacia and Pandanus oyer Plectrachne. Low closed-forestsof mangroves are restricted to a few localities. There is one extensive mangrove formation on Darcy. Sandy beaches comrnonly occur around both islands. These have .trlzlfer long{olus R.Br. and Triodia c[. argasra N. T. dur- Figure 22-Byam 14artin lsland. Tall open-shrubland of Acocio bidge with Salsolq kali L. on the low dunes. sericdtoA. Cunn. ex Benth, over Plectroahne. 20 Low rocky headlandsoccur around the coast; these Behind the beachesis a spatse vegetation consisting have low open-shrubland including Tephrosia lepto- mainly of lpomoea brasiliense (L.) Sw. and a few clatla Benth. and Fimbristylis sp. scattered bushes of Scaevola tqccqda (Gaertt.) Roxb. On undisturbed coral sand the most com- Most of the island is covered by a tall open-shrub- mon speciesare Abutilon indicun C. Don and laj.d of Acacia plectocqrpa Be:f.lh. and Acacia 1L.) an unidentifiedSrZa. The grassesfragroslts sp. and tumida F. Muell. with scallercd Eucal),ptusperlbliatq Cenchrusbrownii Roem. et Schultz. are also common. Benth. over Plectrachne and Cymbopogon procerus Disturbed ateas have been colonised by Ipomoea (R.Br.) Domin. Open areas suppott hummock atd Sida. grassland of Plectruchne and, in rocky ateas, Ficus leucotricha Miq. and Ficus cf. puberula Mtq. 7. Adele Islanil 5. Kingfisher Islanils Lyingabout 100 km north-north-east ofcape Lev€que A'deti is a low, flat, sandy cay of about 200 La. Situated in Collier Bay these comprise two major The lowest, more frequently inundated areas sup- islands Kingfisher (l 010 ha) and Melomys (850 porl gras5landsof Sporobolusriigrricas (L.) Kunth. ha)-and some smaller ones. Until recently they Slighrlyclevared soils hare a densecover ol Spinifex were known as the Wood Islands, longiloliur R.Br. Areas disturbed by nesting sea- Both islandssupport extelsive low open-woodlands birds suooort Boerlnvia chinensis L. and Amqrqn- of Eucallptus spp. especially E. miniatq A. Cunn. thus cf. spinosus. Canqvqli(t matitima (Anbl.) Ur6 ex. Schau. with local developmentof low closed- is relatively common, particularly on the beaches. shlubland in drainage channels. Terminalia cqnesces Salsole kali L., Portulqcca oligosperma F Muell., (DC.) Radlk.. Ar'aria hilputoil$ Hew. er Benth.. Cyperus conicus (R.Br.) Boek., Euphorbia chryso- Casio oligoclala l-. Mrrell.and Ceirrsphillipinnensis chaet(tW, V. Fitzg., Sesuriumportulacastrum L. and Blanco. are conmon shrubs, with an understorey of an lpomoea were the only other species recorded. Ptilotus exaltatus Nees., Auaranthtls IePtostqcllys Benth., Phyllanthus spp. and other small shrubs. Steep scree slopes occur near the coast and these REFERENCES lre vegelateduith humrnockgrassland. of P/s(t- "Montague (f. \4uell.) t. Hubb. and Allen. A. D. (19?1). Sount, W.A. 1:250 000 Geolog- rach e-danthonioiJer C. ical Series-Explanatory Notes. Sheet SD/51-12". (Bur. other grasseswith cmergent Acacia tumida F. Muell. Min. Res. Geol. Geophys.:Canberra). "A ex Benth. Rocky outcrops and coastal slopes Anon. f1975). brief climatic surveyof the Kimberley region". sr.rppolt scattered small trees of Ficus leucotricha MinTeographed. (Bureauof Meteorology: Perth). "Sea Mlj., F. opposita Mig., Calytrix exstipulata DC, and Fuiii. S.. Linn, C. C. and Tjia, H. D. (lc7l). le\el charrges other small shrubs. Mangrove formations are in A\ia durrng lhe pa.t 11000 1ears". Quat.rnaria 14, 2t\-2\6. limited to narrow strjpsin sheltetedareas. "Dry.dale Cellallv. D. C. and Sofoulis.J. (196q). and London- derry. W.n. | :250000 Ceological Series-Explanatory 6- Browse Island Notis. SheetsSD/52 5. 9" (Bur. Min. Res. Ceol. Geo- (ca phys.: Canberra). Browse Island is a small cay 60 ha) situated on "Yampi, Shelf about 350 km north of Derby. The cellatly, D. C. and Sofoulis,J. (1973). W.A 1:250.000 the Sahul 3" (Bur. of guano but these G66logical SeriesExplanatory Notes. SheetSE/51 island once held large deposits Min. Res. Geol. Geophys.:Canberra). resulting in a disturbed surface "Quaternary have been nined out, Gentilli, J. (1961). climates of the Australian (Fig. 23). region". Ann. N.Y. Aca.l. S./s. 95' 465-501. "The Mile., J. M., Kenneally.K. F. and Ceorge.A. S. (1s75). /rr Miles, Prince ilecent Ri\er ReserveEntironment" 'A J. M. and Burbidge.A. A. lEd.r. biologicalsurve) of lhe Pfince Regenl Riter Reser\e.north-\.resl Kimberley. wesrern Au\rrtlia in Aug .r, 1q74". {Wildl. Res. Bull. West. Aust. No. 3) (Dept. Fish. Wildl.: Perth). Mitrner. N. A. (1971). Late Quaternary isostatic, eustatic and climatic changes. Quaternaria14' 65-83. "Climate Nix.-conirol H. A. and Kalma. I. D. (1972). as a dominant in the biogeographyof northem Australia and New Guinea". lr. Bridge and Barriet: the Natural an!1Culturcl Hi'tart of forrc\ Sl|,rieht.lLd. F. Waller) ResearchSchool of Paaificstudies PublicalionLo l. (AustralianNational University: Canberra). "Geo- stewart. C. A.. Twidale. c. R. and Bradlev, J (1960). moiphotogy of the North Kimberley, W.A". /r" -"The Lands anii Pastoral Resources of the North Kimberley Area,w.A.". (C.S.I.R.o.Land Res.Ser' No. 4) (c S I.R.o.: Melbourne). "Prince williams. I. R. and Sofoulis, J. (1971) Regent and showing disturbed surface following Camden Sound. W.A. l:250000 Geological Series-Ex- Fisure 23 Browse lsland. (Bur. Min. Res. creeper /pomoedbroti,iense (L.) Sw. isscrambling planatory Notes. Sheets SD 51-15, 16" gu-anomining. . The over rocks rn tne 10re?roLlno. Ceol. Geophys.:Canberra). 2L PART III MAMMALS by N. L. McKenziel, A. A. Burbidgel, A. Chapman2and W. K. Youngsonl TNTRODUCTION Shot aftor dark and during the day. Often flushed from cover during the day. This paper is based on information ccllected during biological surveys in 1971, 1972 and 1973. Islands visited are described in Brrrbidge, Marchant, McKenzie Perqdorcasconcinna (Gould) Little Rock-Wallaby and Wilsol (this publication) and a map showing the location of islandsis included in the Introduction (Bur- Augustus(l?d, l?), Borda (lj, 1t). bidge and McKenzie, this publication). A1l specimens Rugged Warton and Kilg Leopold Sandstonecountry have been lodged in the Westerrt Australian Museum with lorv open-woodlands of Eucalyptus spp. and with registration numbers M8484-8496, 9248-9362, Owenia ',;ernicosaover hun':mock grasslands. Often 10348-10353, 10356 10367, 10371-10390, 10400- seen near mangroYes on Augustris. 10448, 10452, 10454 10463, 10465-10472, 104',76 10478and 15414-15418. We did not note any differences between the habitat or behaviour ofthis and the preceding speciesalthougl.r Mammals were collected on l8 islands by trapping and Augustus and Borda probably receive lower rainfall jn spotlighting techniques similar to those described than Bigge, Boongaree and Katers (Anon. 1975). McKenzie et al. (1975). The period of collection on islands varied from a few hours to eleven days; the The females both had joeys. Augustus (i.ro data, length of stay mainly depended on island size (seeIntro- May 1972), Borda (J, 30 mm crown-rump, June duction, Tables l-3) and habitat diversity. 1972). Data are presented in the following order in the an- Shot after dark. notated specieslist. (1) Number of males and females collected from each island. FAMILY PHALANGERIDAE (2) Habitat. Ilyulda squanticaudata Alexandet Scaly-tailed Possum (3) Breeding information where mamnary develop- Boongaree(l?). (Reportedon Bigge by Royal Aus- ment and/or signs of pregnancy were detected. tralian Suruey Corps.,26 August l97l). (4) Taxonomic notes. Under a coastal Baobab (Adansonia gregorii) on the (5) Mode and time of collection. edgeof a low open-woodlandof Eucalyptusspp. over tussock grassland in rugged King Leopold Sandstone country. ANNOTATED SPECIES LIST One Q pouch young (21 mm crown-rump, 7 July FAMILY MACROPODIDAE r973). Petrogale burbidgel Kitchener & Sanson Warabi Cagc trap. Bigge (5d, 2Q), Boongaree (lJ), Katers (26,2!). A skull (WAM M5978) was collected on Bigge on FAMILY PETAURIDAE 20 September 1963, and another was collected in Jttly 1977. Petaurus breticeps Waterhouse Sugar Glider Tracks and scats of a wallaby of similar size were Augustus(ld). recorded on Uwins and Darcy. Wallabies of a similar size were also sighted otr Wollaston. We Rugged Warton Sandstone boulder slope supporting cannot assign these records to either Petrogqle a low open-woodland of Eucab,ptusspp. with scattered burbidgei or Perodorcqs concirutawithout specimens. Owenia vernicosqover rank hummock grassland. In frdting Owenia vernicosq lree. Rugged King Leopold Sandstone country with low open-woodlands of Eucalyptus spp. and Owenia Shot after dark. vernicosa over hummock grassland (Plectrochne spp.). pouch young (?, One 40 mm crown-rump, June FAMILY PERAMELIDAE 1972, Bigee). Isoodon macrourus mecrourus (Gould) Brindled Bandi- This species is known also from the mainland at coot Mitchell Plateau and the Prince Resent River Nature Rcserve(Kitchener and Sanson1976). St Andrew (2d). area of canegrasson Carson Vol- r western Auslralian Wildlife Research Cenlre, P.O. Box 51, Wanneroo, !V.A. One carce from an 6065. : canic soils with some scree llear the edge of a dense Deparrnent of Ma6mals, \\tsle.n Australian Museum, Francis Skeet, Pe.th, vine thicket. 22 The other came from alluvial creek soils with Warton The St Andrew specimens came from Eucqb)ptus Sandstone boulders in an area of open-woodland of open-woodland over hun.rmock grasslands and cane- Eucal),ptus and Owenia ret' icosq over tall dense grasslands o[ Warton Sandstone derived soils (some canegrass. scree) and Carson Yolcanic derived soils respectively. Five of the Boongaree females were pregnant with Trapped. between 2 and 7 foetuses (5-7 July 1973). The St Andrew female was a non-parousjuvenile (10 July Isoodon auratus (Ransay) Golden Bandicoot 1973). Augustus(1il). Trapped. Rugged Warton Sandstonecoulrtry supporting a low open-woodland af Eucab,ptus spp. over hLttnmock Hydromys chrysogoster Geoffroy Water Rat grassland. Sir Graham Moore (ld), Kingfisher (1?). Trapped. In a coastal situation on rugged sandstone behind mangroves(Kingfi sher Island). FAMILY DASYURIDAE On a beach near mangroves adjacent to a woodland "sot'ghum" of Eucalyptus aad Terminqliq over grass- Da*,urus hallucatLrsCould Little Northern Natiye-Cat land on sandy sandstonederived soils with occasional Augustus(1j), Wollaston (ld), Bigge(2J, 2!), Uwins King Leopold Sandstone outcrops (Sir Graham (2j), Boolgaree (lJ, 2t). Seenon Carlia. Moore). Rugged Warton and King Leopold Sandstonecouotry Trapped. supporting woodlands of Eucab)ptus spp. over hum- mock grassland and, in more sandy areas, canegrass. Also in vine thickets and lolv open-forests of Termin- Mesembriomys macrurus (Peters) Golden-backed Tree- alia and Ficus, with Flsgellqria and lianes, below Rat cliffs and in gullies. CommonJy collected and ob- served at night in coastal situations between man- Wollaston (1j), Carlia (ld), Uwins (ld). groves and sandstone country; also observed in the littoral zone at low tide. In hummock grassland at the junction of beach sand and rugged King Leopold Sandstonecountry (Wollas- One was seen at rigirt on a Carson Volcanic scree ton). slope in a low forest on Carlia. On a sandy beach at the foot of a Carson Volcanic On Boongaree several were tlapped on deep soil slope covered with low open-rvoodland (Carlia). suppol'ting canegrass r:car the foot of a sandstone slope. They had been eating Rattus tunne),i carght In rugged Warton Sandstone country with Eucqlyptus in traps set over a burrow systemin the deep soil. miniata open-woodland over hummock grassland On two of tl.re sandstone islands (Uwins and Boon- (Uwins). garee) they were relatively common and specimens Trapped. Shot. rvere releasedfrom traps. Shot both at dusk and after dark. Trapped. Zlzomys qrgurLls(Thomas) Common Rock-Rat Anteclirtus sp. Augustus (15d, 12?), Coronation (ld, l?). Augustus(1d), South Heywood (l!). Rugged lvarton Sandstone country supporting low to woodlands of Eucalyptus spp., Rugged Warton Sandstone county. Plectrachne opcn-woodlands Owenia vernicosa and some Flctrs over hummock hummock grassland. On Heywood a tall open- grassland (Augustus). slrrubland of Acqciq was also present. Krng Leolrld Sandstonecountry supporting a tall Probably referable to A techinus bilami (M. Archer, open-shrubland of Acacia sp. over hummock grassland pers.comm.). (Coronation). Cave in coastal Carson Volcanic clifl (Coronation). Shot at dawn. Trapped. Four females were pregnant with 2 foetuses each, another three females showed uterine distension and FAMILY N,IURIDAE mammary development (12-19 May 1972). The female from Coronation had 3 foetuses(25 May 19'12). Rattus tlnlneyi (Thonas) Tunney's Rat The Coronation specimens were unusually large (J Boongaree (13d, 7?), St Andrew (2J, I t). ?5 gm, ? 80 gm) compared wilh Z. argurus from the adjacent mainland (McKenzie et al. 19'75). The Most from Boongaree wele trapped near a burtow coloration of specimens from Coronation was dis- system in deep soil supporting a Eucslyptus open- tinctlv different beins brownish on the underside with woodland oYer canegrass. The rest came from open- white" throat patchesi Further specimensare needed 'woodlands af Eucal.yptusa:nd Acqcia over patches of to establish the status of this island population. hummock grassland and canegrassesotl sandy soil rvith occasional sandstoneboulders. Trapped. Zyzomys woodwanli(Thomas) Woodwarrl'sRock-Rat specimenwas also pregnant with two foetuses(13 July 1973). Augustus(3J, lQ), Darcy (4J, 5Q),Bigge (7d, We infer that breedingwas well advanced 13?), at the time of collection Katers (3d, 3?), Middle Osborn (2j), South becausetwo animals from West Sir Graham Moore Osborn(15d, l1fl), Boongaree(5d, 7?), Borda (3i1, wiih small foetuses(crown-rump lengrh5 and 7 mrnrhad 2?). A rodent, possiblyZ. woodwardi,was seenon erlargedlears indicarive oI Heywoodand Champagny. lacialionand ncrc probably suckling a prerious litter. The Melomys Island A1l typesof ruggedKing Leopold ard Wafton Sard- specimenwas heavier (93 gm) stone country including than femalesfrom Sir GrahamMoore (67.2'+ 5-.04 low open-woodlandsof gm (n : Eucalyptusspp. and tall shrublands 5)), was largerin all externalbody measure- of Acacia oyer ments, hummock grasslands,vine thickets over leaf and had a differentfur texture. The taxonomy litter, of Melomys and fringing formations of Terminalia,Eucalyptus, is in needof revision(Parker 1973). Pandanusand Flcrs. Also on sandybeaches adjacent Trapped. to sandstonecountry. CarsonVolcanic scree covered with vine thicketson Middle Osborn. Mus muscuhtsLinnaeus HouseMouse Breedinginformation is summarisedin Table 1. Browse(8; sexundetermined). Trapped. Shot at night. An introducedspecies seldom recorded in the north Kimberley. Pseudomysdelicatulus (Gould) Little Native-Mouse Bigge(td, 4Q,2 undertemined). Trapped by oil company personnel stationed on lSland. White sand uith Spinilex longi-[oliusgrassland and Plectrqchnchummoik grassland'behind-abeach. In low open-woodland of Eucalyptusspp. over low FAMILY VESPERTILIONIDAE hummock grasslandon sandy soil with occasional exposuresof sandstone. Eprclicuspuntilis Cray Liltle Bal Two femaleswere pregnant with I and 3 foetuses Boongaree(lJ, l undetermined),Bat (lc{,2?). (2 and 6 June 1972). Flying over a Hart Dolerite exposureon the coast Trapped. (Boongaree). In a deepcave, just abovethe high tide line, in Carson Melomys sp. Volcanic rock on the south side of Bat Island. Sir Graham Moore (8J, 5Q),Melomys (1t). One female (Bat Island, 26 June 1973)had enlarged Open-woodland of Eucalyptus and. Terminqliq oyer uteri and developedmamnae. Sgrghum type grasseson sandy soils with exposed Shot at dusk. Caughtin a cave King I eopoldSandstone. SomePar danus in pitches. during the daytime. Laterirescree slope supporting low open-woodland of Eucalyptusover patchesof denseCanegrass and FAMILY HIPPOSIDERIDAE leaf litter. Hipposiderosater Templeton DuskyHorshoe Bat The Melomys Island specimencame from a pebble beach beneath a sandstoneslope supporting hum- Augustus(3d), Byam Martin (1il). mock grassland. 5 m inloa runnelpenelrating a depression filled wirh Four specimensfrom Sir Graham Moore were sandstonehoulders in rugged\A arton Sandstone pregnant (l-3 July 1973). Two had three foetuses counlr). Ilumidity in rhe runnelwas very high and two had two foetuses. The Melomys Island (A ugustus). TABLE 1 FEMALE Zlzon))s rroodrdrdi BREEDING DATA No. Non-Parous Pregnant Signsof of (Juvenilesand (F =- fcetus) reproductive ?? sub-adults) activity* Augustus .-.. 20 August 1971 I I Darcy 21 August1971 3 I Augustus .... 14 May 1912 l 1 Darcy 23 May 1972 2 2 Bigge 2-6 I]une 1972 l3 9 Katers 10-12 JluJ.]e1972 3 I Borda 13-14 Iune 1972 2 2 South West Osborn 16 lune 1972 l South West Osbom 28-30 June 1973 10'l 2 (3F each) Boongaree.-.. 5 :l July 1973 5 (2F each) 2 *Enlarged uleri, developed mmmae, vascular areas on uierj. 24 Flying over coastal sandstone (Byam Martin). FAMILY CANIDAE Caught in a cave during daytime. Shot at dusk. Canisfamiliaris dingo Meyet Dingo Hipposi.derosJle[ot6 Thomas Lesser Warty-noseil Scats and/or tracks on Augustus, Middle Osborn, HorseshoeBat Wollaston. Scatsrecorded on Biggeby Royal Aus- tralian SurveyCorps., 26 August 1971,and by us in Boongaree(2?). t977. l0 m into cleft in coastal King Leopold Sandstone RuggedKing Leopoldand Warton Sandstonecountry, cliff. The entrance was partially blocked with CarsonYolcanics, beaches. boulders and the humidity was very high. Flying over Hart Dolerite exposure on coast. FAMILY SUIDAE One had enlarged uteri and developed mammae (5 Sussuofa Linnaeus Pig July 1973). The other was sub-adult, Sir GrahamMoore. In separating this species from Hipposideros semoni Matschie we have followed Hill (1963). All habitatson the island. Many seen. Caught in cave during daytime. Shot at dusk. One shot,not collected. DISCUSSION FAMILY EMBALLONURIDAE Twenty-twospecies of native mammal and two species Taphozous georgianus Thomas Common Sheath-tailed of introduced mammal were recorded on islands off Bat the nofth-westKimberley coast during the suryey. We can find only one pteviousmammal record from these Augustus (lJ, l?), Bat (3J, l?), Boongaree (6J), rslands(Petrogale burbidgei, Bigge Island, 1963,W.A. Bigge (2j, 2t). MuseumM5978) although collections are availablefrom Koolan and CockatooIslands in the BuccaneerArchi- Over P.V. Dunpier at anchor in a coastal inlet fringed pelago(W.A. Museum). by mangroyes and Warton Sandstone country (Aug- ustus). In termsof climate(Anon. 1975),geology (Burbidge elal. just this publication)and flora, the islandsoff the north-west In a deep cave, above high tide line, in Carson Kimberley coast are very similar to the adjacent Volcanic rock main- on south side of Bat Island. Crevices land (seeMiles and Burbidge1975; Gelatly and Sofoulis in Coastal King Leopold Sandstone (Boongaree). 1969). The same situation holds for the mammals. From caves in rugged King Leopold Sandstone All the mammal speciesrecorded on the islands are country (Bigge). known from the north-westKimb€rley mainland to-day. (1972) Shot after dark. Caught in caves during daytime. Nix and Kalma indicate that the islands were part of the mainland coast as recentlyas 8 000 years ago. It is reasonableto assumetherefore that the mammal faunas of the islands are FAMILY derived from the PTEROPODIDAE north-westKimberley mainland fauna and that terres- Pteropus alecto Temminck Black Flying Fox trial specieshave beenisolated for 8 000 years or less. Certain inshore islands probably separatedfrom the Coronation (l!), Boongaree(lj), St Andrew (lQ). mainland comparativelyrecently. For exampleBoon- gareeIsland is separatedfrom the mainland Also by a channel seen on Augustus in large numbers, less than 0.5 km wide, running through a mangrove mud-flat. It is doubtful whether the mammal faunas In a flowering Eucalyptus papuonc in open-woodland "final behind beach in Carson Volcanic country (Coron- c'f islandssuch as this haveachieved a equilibrium auonJ. siruarion"(as di(cu(sed irr DiamondI975;. Over Hart Dolerite coastal ledges fringed with man- There are many published instancesof reduction in groves (Boongaree). speciesdiversity of faunas isolatcd on continental islands and the pdnciples behind the expectationof Seenroosting at night in mangrovesand one collccred changesin densityand diversity of island faunas have lrom a Eucalyptustree in rugged coastal Warton been discussedby McArthur, Diamond and Karr Sandstone country behind mangroves (St Andrerv). (1972),Diamond (1975)and others. Although at least speciesof native mammal Shot after dark. fifty-seven are known from the north-west Kimberley to-day, on even the largest islandsno morethan elevenspecies were collected (Table 2). The island collectionsare certainlyincomplete FAMILY be- TACHYGLOSSIDAE causeonly a limited amount of collectingwas under- Tachyglossus tzcalealas (Shaw) Echidna taken. For example, the five bat speciesrecorded representonly a fraction of the numberof speciesknown Bigge (scats). from the adjacentmainland; tracks of a possum-sized nammal wererecorded on a beachat Darcv Island and Rugged King Leopold Sandstone country. rodentstere sightedon bothChampagny and Heywood Islands. 25 a .E .9, uroqsoolpprt\l vdse i- uolleuoroc x x-g-' N :t ..1 uroqso ld s a z J (A x *8- Fi z x x x +E- oB t! z g € XX XX X XX XX XX XXX+.: 8 >| a1 FErF . g € ."Etsis- .E .= E !qc:.E:9-: ^ " .2 .s:::3Ed .gE > F:S-s sso.is R -e : !.Siist:e;3 f F il isssssissis$sSs$ss$sS; sE 26 Main (1961)and Main and Yadav (1971)have discussed sandstonehabitats, records frorr Middle Osborn (2. the distribution and persistenceof macropods on islands woodtvardi), Coronation (2. argurus) and Carlia (D. off the Western Australian coast. In the Kim-berleyit hallucatus) suggest that othcr rocky situations are suit- appears that otly Peradorcas conciruta and Petrogale able. Z. argurus is knovln from lateriie scree in vol- burLictgeioccur on islands although another five species canic country on the Prince Regent R.iver Na.turo Re- are known from the adjacent mainland. Tbe absencc serve ard Burbidge and Prince (1971) coliected Z. of Petrogole brachyoli5, which is widesplead on tl'le argtuus a.r:d D. hallucatus ou rccky igneous and vol- adjacentmainland, is notewoithy. canic islards in the Dampier Archipelago. In the (1954) The two species which are present on islands are the Northern Territory, Johnson recordsD.hellucatus smallest macropods in the regio[ and their sizc may be froir brol 27 REFtr,RENCES McKenzie, N. L., Chapman, A. and Youngson, W. K.0975). "A Mammals of the Prince Regent River ReseNe, notth-west Anon, (1975). Briefclimatic Surveyof the Kimberley Region". Kimberley, Westem Austtalia. ft; Miles, J. M. and Bur- (Bureau of Meteorolog/: Perth). bidgeA. A. (Eds). "A biological suryeyof the Prince Regenr "The Burbidge, A. A. and Prince, R. I. T. 0971). Fauna, Flora River Reserve,noth-west Kimberley, Western Australia in and Planned Usage of the Dampier Archipclago". (Dept. August, 1974". (Wildl. Res. Bull. West. Aust. No. 3) (Dept. Fish. Fauna West. Aust. Rept. No. 11). Fish. wildl.: Perth), Calaby, J. H. and Keith, K. (1974). Mammals. ln. Fauna McKenzie, N. L., ChapmaD,A., Youngson, W. K. and Burbidge, survey of the Port Essington District, Cobourg Peninsula, A, A. (1977). Mammals of the Drysdale River National Park, north Kimberley, WesternAustralia. 1i..Kabay, Northem Territory of Australia. (Eds. H. J. Frith and J. H. "A E. D. Calaby), (C.S.I.R.O. Aust. Div. Wildl. Res. Tech. Pap. and Burbidge, A. A. (Eds). biological suryey of the No.28). Drysdale River National Park, north Kimberley, Western (Wildl. (1975). "The Aust.alia, in August 1975." Res. Bull. West. Aust. Diamond, J. M. Island Dilemma: Irssons of Modem No. 6) (Dept. Fish. Wildl.: Perth). Biogeographic Studies for the Design of Natural Reserves". "The Biological Conservation 7, 129-146. Main, A. R. (1961). occurrenceof Macropodidaeon islands and its climatic and ecological implications". I. Roy- Soc. Gelatly, D. C. and Sofoulis, J. (1969). Drysdale-Londonderry, West,Aust.44,8+89. W.A. 1:250000 Geological Series. (Bur. Miner. Resour. "Conservation Ausr.explan. notes SD52/5-9) (Bur. Miner.Resour. Ceology Main, A. R. and Yadav, M. (1971). of madopods and GeophysicsrCanberra). in reservesin Westem Australia". Biological Consenatiitr 3, *A 123-133. Hill, J. E. (1963). Revision of the cenus Hipposideros". "A Bull. Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) ll (2), | 129- Miles, J. M. and Burbidge, A. A. (1975). (Eds). biological suffey of the Prince Regent River Reserve,north-west Kim- Johnson, D. H. (1964). Mammals of the Arnhem Land Ex- bedey, Western Australia, in August 1974". (Wildl. Res. pedition. In: Records of the American-Austnlian Scientifc Bull. West. Aust. No. 3) (Dept. Fish. Wildl.: Perth). Expeditionto Amhem Land,4 (Zoology). (Ed. R. L. Specht.) "Climate (Melboume University Press:Melboume). Nix, H. A. and Kalma, l. D, (1912). as a dominant "Petrcgale control in the biogeographyof Northem Austmlia and New Kitchener, D. J. and Sanson, G. (7978). burbidgei Cuinea". In: Bridge and Barrier: The Naturcl antl Cultural (Marsupalia, Macropodidae), a n6w rock wallaby from History oJ Totres Strait. (Ed. D. Walker). Research Kimberley, Westem Australia". Rec. West. Aust. Mus.6 School of Pacific Studies Publication 8613. (Austmlian (2), 269-28s . NationalUni!ersit) : Canberra.) "Den- "An McArthur, R. H., Diamond, J. M. and Karr, J. R. (1972). Parker, S. A. (1973). Annotated Checklist of the Native sity Compensation in Island Faunas". Ecology 53, 330- I-and Mammals of the Nofihern Territory." Rec. S. Autt, 342. Mus,16,1-57. 28 PART IV BIRDS By L. A. SMITHT, R. E. JOHNSTONET and JOHN DELL, INTRODUCTION TABLE 1 This paper is based mainly on data obtained durins a CO.ORDINATES AND AREAS OF ISLANDS AND biological survey of the major islands in the Bonapaite DATES VISIIED. (THOSE WITHOUT DATES NOT VISITED BY Archipelago and the Institut, Osborn and Sir Gr;ham US) Moore groups of islands. We also visited Koolan Island and Kingfisher Islands (northern end of Buc- Aoo,o".' caneer Archipelago), (St Nane of Position Aiea St Andrew Island Georse Island (ha) Basin). lnd two coral iclands(Browse and Adele-). Brief visirsuere made to the mainlandal Kuri Bav (twice)Careering Bay. Prince Regent Ri\er (ruice)ancl Jones.... 13'45',5126"21'E the. Hunter River esluary. Three days spent Troughton ..-. 13"45'126"09' were at Sand.... Anjo_Point (opposite Sir 13"51'125"44' Graham Moore Island). See North Eclipse 13"53'126.t8'.... Fig. 1 in Burbidge_and 320 12 ADg.19'71 },fcKenzie (this publicati6n) for Sir Graham 13"54', 126.32'.... 2 660 12 Alue.1971 positions of islands. The surveys wer6 conducted in Moore 30 June-3 July the wintersof l97l-7J. .jx $ee-ksbeing spenr in lhe 1973 area in 1971 Cassini 13"56'125.3't' ard 19'12and three weeks in 1973. Smith Hecla-... 13'59',126"00, and Burbidge were responsible for the collection of Mary.. t4'00, 126"22' data in l97l . In 1972Johnstone collected data between Low Rocks 14'04',125"52' .... 4 12 Auc. l97l 10 and 29 May, and Smith and Dell data l-.etween3l Mav Browse 14"06' 123"33'.... 6t l7 JDne1912 and 20 June. All authors Fenelon 14"09' 125.42'.... 280 6 Aug. 1971 were in the field toeerhei Baudin 14"09, 12s"37' beLueen25 Juneand 14July 1973. Borda t4'14' 126"0t'.... 600 8 Aug. 1971"72 Some.breeding. dara were giren 12-15 June ro Smith irr l97l by East Montalivet t4'17' 12s"18' Royal, Australian .... 320 8 9 lune 19'12 SurveS Corps {RASC) personnei. Middle Osborn t4"19' 126"01'.... 2 300 3-4 Aug. 19?l we arso Include record\ pflor to our o\ n, These l3-16 June'72 includedata from Hecla.Mary and AugusrusIslands 14'21' t25"20' South West (Hill l911); Low Rocks, Sand,Warn and-AdeleIslands I370 8 Aug. 1971 Osborn 16 Jone1972 (Seryenty et al. 1971\; Adele, Browse and White lslands an{ !9w. Rocks{Scnenry i952): and Brouse(servenry Carlia t4'23', 125.59'.... 480 2119 I]lne'73 and Whi ell 1976). we hare also u"ed SouthMaret .... 14"26' 125.00' ... 320 7-8 Jlune 1972 data from Katers.... Bowdler.Shrrper1892 and t89o) 14"28' 125.32'.... | 7't5 9-12 J\ne 1972 and Oares(t902) lor Wollaston .... 14"30' 125.28' Baudin.Jones, Cassini _... 850 9-12 lune 1912 and Troughtorrl.land,. Bigge.... t4'32', 125"11'. . l7 190 1-7 June 1912 Coronalior.... The size of islands and time spenion them varied greatly. 15"00' 124"56'.... 3 830 29 30 Aug. 1971 23-26 Arg. 1972 Most time.wasspenr on Augustu,tII days oGr t\ro Low Rock .... 15"02'124.53' \rsrts.).whrle mlnuteswefe spentinrestigating roostins Small islet at t5'02'125"22' )eabirds on islets ofren no more than r-oct FAN4ILY ARDEIDAE FA}IiLY PELECANIDAE Ardea sumqtrana Rrr.flles Great-billed Heron Pelacanusconsp ici i latrs Temruinck Australian Pelican Scarce. Fivc otr tl]c cast side of Uwins. Scarcc. Tr.voon Arieie l8 Junc. Breedson S:rd (Serventyet cl. l97l). A rdeq noraehollandise Lathen. White-faced Heron Sir Graham Moore, Darcy aud Augustus. FAMILY SULIDAE Scarce. Eight scen,mostly near freshwaterpools. Sltlit rltclflqtra personalil-Gould Masked Booby Abcut 100 brceding pairs ou Adcle on l8 June. Egretta alba (Linnaeus) Great Egret Nests wiih two eggsor one egg and one young were Scarce. One on Adele (Serventy1952). in areas of bare vrhite sand, mostly on beach bnt also sparsely scaitered ovcr island. Trvo flyitlg noith from island to feed as we approached. Egretta sacra sacra (Gmelin) Reef Heron Jones (Oates 1902), Troughton (Oates 1902), Sir plotrs (Forster) Brown Booby Sllc llucagaster Graham Moore, Browse, East Montalivet, Middle Scarce iir seas between Sir Graham Moore and Osborn, South West Osborn, Carlia, South Maret, Koclan islandsi about 30 seen, the largcst group i(aters, Wollaston, Bigge,Coronation, islet at mouth being 8. Estimatcd 1000-1 500 breedirg pairs on of Hunter River, Boongaree, Bat, Commerson 30 (RASC), Darcy, Chan.rpagny, Augustus, Heywood, Ilqliastut spltenurus(Vieillot) WhistlingKite Byam Martin, ,Adele,Kingfisher ald Koolan. Aiso on mainland at Kuri Bay and Anjo Point. Sir Graham Mcore, Fenelon,South Maret, Wollaston, U\yins,AuguslrLS ard I(ingfisher. Also at Kuri Bay. Qommon. Dark phasebirds outnumber white phasc Common at Kuri Bay (8 seen),scarce elsewhere. birds about 5: l. Sevcral nests rvcre being construclcd in a soiitary Milrus rtrigraits affni.y Gotrld Black Kite mangrovetree on l8 June on Browse. Brecciirrgon Sir Grahar:rN4oorc. Commerson in August (RASC), and on fhrcy. Augrr,tu..Hc) {oo.l and Jores and Koolln Tloughton (Oatcs 1902). Aiso at Kuri Bay. Scarcc. In ones and twos (cxcept Iioolan Island where 4 \.,,erescen together Blltorides striatus cinereusMayr Mangrove Heron over the town). Sir Graharr Moore, Borda, Middlc Osl-'orn,Carlia, Accipiter fasciqtlis (Vigors & I iorsfield) Brown Goshawk SouthMareL. Bigge. Boongsrec. U\ ins.Ditrcy. Blrn) Martin and Melotnys. Coroiration, Boonga,reeand Auguslils (? species). Unconrmon. All grey phase. Conlined to mar. Scarce. Single birds along watercourses and in groves,particularly sparse mangroves on rocky shorcs. mangroves. Stomach of one contained 3 skinks (Carlia). Nyct icorax celedoni urs /l/l Mathews Nankeen Night- heron Accipiter cirrocephaluscirroceplnlus (Vieillot) Collared Sparrorvhawk Moderately common on Adele (Servcnty 1952). Sir Graham l\4oorc ( ? species),East Montalivet, South West Osborn, Carlia (? spccies),Augustus and FAMILY CICONIIDAE Byam Martin (? species). Apparenlly scarce, Open woodland and edges Xenorhynchusasiaticus (Latbam) of Black-neckedStork serni-deciduousvine thickets. Sir Craham Moore and Bigge. Also moullr of launrcr Krver'. Atluila audax (Latham) Wedge-tailedEagle Breeding on Bigge 3 Junc. Nest with two eggsabout Borda, Katers, Wollaston, Bigge and Augustus. 0.5 km inland on sandstonepillar 8-10 m above sparscmangroves. Scarce. Sirrgle birds, usually soaring over islands. All th() aboveislands haye popuJationsof rock rvalla- bles. FAMILY ACCIPITRIDAE Holiae(tusleucogaster(Gnelin) White-breastedSea- Ela us sct'iptusGould Letter-winged Kite eagle H._Tarlton Phillips saw l0 circling the ljght lower on Sir Graham Moorc, Borda, N{iddlc Osborn, South Adele on l0 July 1952(Ssr\,cnry 1953). West Osborn, Katers, Wollaston, Cor.onatioD,Boon- garee, Uwins, Darcy, Augustus, Heywood, Byam Loplloict ini aisura (Gould) Square-tailedKite llartin and Koolan. AIso at Arjo point and kuri Bay. Sii Graham Moore and Boongarce. Also on main- larld at Anio Point. Ivloderatelycornn]on. Coastlincs. Scarce. Singlebirds. Psndion haliaetu.scr,/s/atuJ Vieillot Osprey Troughton, Sir Craharn N{oorc, Ilanirost ra nTelanosternon(Gouid) Black-breastedKitc Cassini,Borda, East Mortalivet, Middle Osborr, South West Osborn, Bigge, Darcy, Augustus and Fleyrvood. AIso at Kuri Soulh Maret, Katcrs, Wollaston, Coronaiion, Com- Bay. merson (RASC), Bocngaree,Chan.rpagny, Augustus, Bvain Martin, Kingf,sher',Koolan and Meiomys. Scarce. Sevensingle birds secn. Also at Parry Harbour and mouth of Hunter Rivir. Mocicratelycoli]n.ton. Coastlines. Hqliastur in(lus giteners (Vieillot) Brahminy Kite Breeding on Troughton (Oates 1902), Sir Graham Slr Graham Moore, East Montalivet, Iliddle Osborn, Moore 30 June (nestwith three newly hatchedchicks) Carlia, Maret, Katcrs, Wollaston, .South Bigge, (nestin large,dead gurn tree I km inland); Coronation,__Boolgaree,Bat, Uwins, Chanrp,.aliy, ryd I {ury C'a."initOarc: lq02): Bordl l4 Jltnc(Ie:,ron srnd.tone Heywood, St Andrew, nyam 4ugustus, Maitiir, pinnaclccomplerel) .urrounded by wcrcr. norLlr,ide Kingfisher,Koolan and Melomys. of island, attendedby adults); South Maret 7 June Common.__Mainly coastal,along beachesand cliffs; (ne!t with young on west side of i:land, just below occasionalfy in Mel{tleuca along creeks. cliff); Katen 10 Jure (nest wiih three eggi or.r10 m high rocky spur); Champagny28 May (nestwith three All786 di Augustus 18 May. eggsor large pirracle ofrock); EyarnMartin ll July 31 (nest on rocky spit, easily approached, three chicks FAMILY GRUIDAE about size of bantams, one almost dead, mouths Grus rubicundus(Perry). Brolga bright pink, eyesbrown); and Melomys 12 July (nest in cliff, two birds carrying fish to nest). Also breeding Scarce. Two feeding on salt lake on Sir Graham at Parry Harbour (Hill l9ll). Moore and two on beachat lliggc. FAMILY FALCONIDAE FAMILY RALLIDAE t|is castatleot'efilrisGould Falco peregrinus macropus Srvainsou Peregrine Falcon Eulqbcouis castaneoi'e Chestnut Rail South West Osborn. Also at mouth of Hunter River. Sir Graham Moorc, South West Osborn, Carlia, Scarce. In vicinity of clifls. Biggeand Boongaree. Copulating on SouLhWest Osborn 28 Jttly. Uncommon. Confinedto densemangroves. A12640,3 910 g Sir Grahan Moore I July. Falco longipauis longipe nis Swainson Little Falcon South Maret. Also mouth of Hunter River. FAMILY HAEMATOPODIDAE Scarce. In vicinity of cliffs. Haematopusostralegus longiroslris yrc illot Pied Oyster- catcher Falco berigora berigora Yigors & Horsfield Brown Falcon Troughton (Oates1902), Sir Grahan Moore, Fenelon, Borda, South Maret, Bigge, islet at mouth of Hunter Scarce. Two at east end of Koolan Island. River, Uwins, Augustus, Heywood, Adele (Serventy 1952)and Kingfisher. Falco cenchr o ides c e nch roi des Y tgors&Horsfi eld Nankeen Uncommon. Mostly in twos and threes, once 6. Kestrel Usually on sandy beaches,occasionally rocks. Scarce. Single birds at Browse, Champagny, and Breeding on Troughton (Oates 1902). Chicks seen Adele. Open woodland and grassland. on Fenelon. Hqenatopus./uliginosusopthalnicus Castellrau & Ramsay FAMILY MEGAPODIIDAE Sooty Oystercatcher Megapodiusfreycinet tumulLtsGould Scrub Fowl Troughton (Oates 1902 and Bowdler Sharpe 1896), Borda, Montalivet, South Hecla (Hill l9l l), Middle Osborn, South West Sir Graham Moore, East West Osborn, South Maret, Katers, Wollaston, Osborn, St Andrew and Augustus (pers. comm. E. Bigge, Coronatio[, islet at mouth of Hunter River, Little). Also mouth of Hunler River. Champagny, Augustus, Heywood, Byam Maltin and Moderately common on South West Osborn Island Kingfisher. Also Anjo Point. and Hunter River. Elsewhereuncomnon. Fairly common. Mostly in twos and threes,occasion- Confined to semi-deciduousvine thickets. ally in flocks of 8 10. This species outnumbered the precedingabout 3:1. Usually on rocky beaches, (chicks Breeding on South West Osborn and active occasionallysand. nests seen; males )vith enlarged testes). Breedingon Troughton (Oates 1902). A124546 970 g South West Osborn 15 June. A12614 6 South West Osborn 27 June. FAMILY CHARADRIIDAE 412615 ? South West Osborn 27 June. Pluvialis squatarola (Linnaeus) Grey Plover A12616 9 South West Osborn 28 June. Scarce. One on Sir Graham Moore, and one on Bigge. FAMILY PHASIANIDAE Both on beaches. Coturnix ypsilophora australis (Latham) Brown Quail Pluvialis dominicafuA,a (Gmelin) Eastern Golden Plover (Oates Breedingon Baudin in July l90l). Scarce. Two on rocky beach on Sir Graham Moore. Also on Adele (Serventy1952). 115 g Sir Moore 2 July. FAMILY TURNICIDAE A.12623? Graham Turnix sp. Charqclrius rufcapillus Temmrnck Red-capped Dotterel One of the speciesof button quail was fairly common Sir Graham Moore, Borda, South Maret, Wollaston, on Sir Graham Moore lsland. Byam Martin and Adele. Unidentified quail were seen on Browse Island. Scarceon beaches. 32 Churulriusrnongolus nongolus Pallas MongolianSand- Esacusmagnircstris (Vieillot) BeachStone-curlew dotterel Troughton(Oates 1902), Sir GrahamMoore, Fenelon, Scarce. Troughton(Bowdler-Sharpe 1896). Oneon East Montalivet,South West Osborn,Carlia, South mudflat at edgeof mangroveson Augustus. Maret, Wollaston, Coronation,Uwins, Augustus, Heywood,Byam Martin and Kingfisher. Charadrius I eschenqult ii Lesson Largc Sand-dotterel Moderatelycommon. Mostly in t\,vos,sornetimes Sir Graham Moore, Coronationand Adele(Serventy singlebirds, on beaches. 1952). Breedingon Troughton(Oates 1892). Scai'ce. On rocks and sandy beaches. 1'1179| 70 g Coronation 24 May. FAMILY LARIDAE FAMILY SCOLOPACIDAE Larus notaehollandiaeStephens Silver Gutl Numeniusphoeopu"r (Liitnaeus) Wlimbrel Jones(Oates 1892), Sir GrahamMoore, Borda, East Sir Graham Moore. Sonth West Osborn, Bigge,islet l\lontalivet..Bigge.Boongtree. Charnpagny. Augu.t Lr.. at mouth of HunterRiver, Boongaree,Augustus, Bylrl11 Aqele,ano llootSn. Martin, Kingfisherand Mekrmys. Also Anjo Point. Locally comnton at Koolan (up to 30 at rvhaf) and Moderately comlltol'l. Usually in groups of 612 Adele (about 50 robbing food from young boobies). (one.groupof 2l), mostly on nruclflatsbut also sandy Scarceat other islands. Rarely seenen route betwecn beacheswith rocks. islards. Breedson Jones(Oates 1892). Ntrmenius madagascctriensis(Lirrnaeus) Eastem Curlew Scarce. One on Kingfisher. Stems onaethetusScopoli Bridled Tern Limosa lapponicctbalerl Naumann Bar-tailed Godwit Breeds on Low Rocks and Warn Is (Serventy et a/. 1971). Sir Graham Moore and Adele (Seryenty1952). Scarcc. Rocky beaches. Sterns niloticq locrot(trsa Gould Gull-billed Tern Tringa nebularia (Gunnerus) Greenshank Scarce. Two adults and one juvenile feeding on smali prawns lrorn mudflats at Kiogfisher, Scarce. One on Augustusnnd a total of l0 on Bigge. Sandy Beaches. 412645220 g Kingfisher 12July. Tringa brelipes (Vieiilot) Grey-taileal Tattler Sterna caspia Pallas Caspian Tern Sir Graham Moore, Fenelon, Borda, Katers, Wol- Islet at mouth of Hunter laston, Bigge,Augustus River, Boongaree and and Kinglisher. Adele. Moderately common. Severalflocks of ll I5 seen, mostly on nudflats or perclred on partly submerged Scarce. rocks. Nest with two downy chicks in open on basalt on 1^12622.386 g Sir Glahan.r Moore I July. islet at nouth of Hunter River Arenqria hterpres interpres (Linlaeus) Turnstone Sterna bergii Lichtensteir Crested Tern Troughton (BowdlerSharpe 1896), Low Rocks,Bor.da and Adele (Serventy1952). Uncommon in waters between Koolan and Corot- ation; becoming scarcerfurther north. Scarce. Breedingon Low Rocks 11 August 1971. Calidris rt(icollis (Pallas) Red-necked Stint Sir Graham Moore, Borda, Bigge, Coronation anil Stema bengalensisLesson Lesser Crested Tern Adele (Serventyl952). Comnron. Flocks of up to 200 along all inter-island !o1m9n on.Coronation (40 50 with some Large routes and around all islands. One flock of about Sand-dottercls).but gerrerallluncomrron. On sanJy 200 at the Hunter River islet contained about 100 belchesor roci(silt low tide. juveniles. This species outnurrrbered the Crested ,,crested Al 1790d 23 g Coro|ation 24 May. Tern about 30:1. Altogether about 950 terns" were seen. About 5% were not identified. FAMILY BURHINIDAE 412642 ? 175 g Sir Graham Moore 30 June. 412643 g Burhinus grollarius (Lathan) Bush Stone-curlery ,3 220 Hunter River mouth 6 July. 412644 200 g Hunter River Scarce. One on laterite plateau of Sir Graham ,1 mouth 6 July. Moore, the other on beach at Bigge. Breedingon Adele (Walker 1892) 33 Sterna dougollii gracilis Gould Roseate Tern Geopeliq striatq placid(r Gould, Peaceful Dove Generally uncommon. Two flocks of about 200 each Sir Gra,ham Moore, East Montalivet, Middle Osborn, near Augustus on 17 and l8 May; mixed flock of 30 South West Osborn, Carlia, Wollaston,Bigge, Coron- adults and juveniles feeding with 40 Lesser Crested ation, Boo_ngaree,Uwins, Darcy, Champagny, Aug-- Terns at Sir Graham Moore on 30 June. r"rstusand Koolan. Also mouth of Hunter River. 412641 6 87 g Sir Graham Moore 30 June. Common_on Augustus and Darcy; moderately com- mon on Carlia and Boongaree, scarce elsewheie. Sterna sine sis Gmelin Little Tern Mostly at_ margins of watercourses and wooclland, Scarce. Three possiblesightings: 6 at Darcy, small occasionallyin semi-deciduousvine thickets, rarely flock near East Montalivet and three near Borda. rn mangroves. Sterna anaetlletLtsanqethetus Scopoli Bridled Tern Geopeliacwleqta (Latham) Diamond Dove Low Rocks (Serventy et ql. 191'7),Warn (irrcorrectly Coronation and Augustus. called Warm in Serventy et ol. 1971) (Ser- and AdeJe Scarce. Possibllonly a d11 scasonvisitor. venty 1952). Along dry creek bcds and small Scarce. walcrholes. Breeds on Low Rocks and Warn (Seryenty et a/. Cltllcophaps irulica longirostris Gould Green-winged r97t). Pigeon South West Osborn, South Maret, Corolation Anous stolidus pileatrir (Scopoli) Common Noddy and Augustus. Also mouth of Hunter River. Scarce. Only at Adele (Serventy1952). Scarce in vine forest at South West Osborn and Hunter River and in creeksidevegetatjon on Augustus and Coronation. FAMILY COLUMBIDAE Al1792 6 145g Coronatior.r25 May. Ptilinopus rcgina ewingii Gould Red-crownerl Pigeon Middle Osborn, South West Osborn and St Andrew. PetrophaJs.t albipenni; Gould White-quilled Rock Also mouth of Hunter River. Pigeon Scarce. Confined to canopy of tall semi-deciduous Wolla,ton. Boongareeand Urvin.. vine forest. Cenerallyscarca but locally commol. Diet: fruit of Zizyphus cluadrilocularis. Confined to areasof ruggedjumbled sandstone. A126116 South West Osborn 28 June. 4,117976145 g Wollastonll June. A126126 South West Osborn 28 June. Al26l3 ? South West Osborn 28 June. Phaps chalcoptera (Latham) Common Bronzerving Bigge, Uwins, Darcy, Byam Martin and Koolan. Ducula spilorrhoa spilorrhoa (Gray) Torres Strait Pigeon Scarce. Visiting freshwater seepages near man_ Sir Graham Moore, Borda, South West Osborn, grovesat dusk on Bigge. Carlia, Bigge, Corouation, Boongaree,AugLlstus, St Andrew and Byam Martin. Also Anjo Point. Moderately com.'non in flocks of 2 18. Generally FAMILY PSITTACIDAE associated with dense vegetation (mangroves and semi-deciduousvine forest) but occasionallyin open li9hoS,!9tsu,s"laeryatodLts rubri tor.tuis vigors & Horsfield R€d-collared woodland. Nine seenflying north west from Byam Lorikeef Martin to Heywood. Scarce in eucalypts along \,yatercourseon Augustus, Diet: seeds of Rqndia coclinchinensis ol Augustus. Trichoglossus yersicolor Lear Yaried Lorikeet Prey of Peregrine Falcon at South West Osborn. Scarce on Augustus. Also at Anjo point. A11780 ? 490 g Augustus12 May. Ill eucalyptsalong watercourses. Geopelia lumeralis (Temminck) Bar-shoulderedDove Aprosmictus Sir Graham Moore, Borda, Middle Osborn, South ery)thropterus (Gmelin) Red-winged panot West Osborn, Carlia, South Maret, Bigge, Coron- Sir CrahanrMoore. SourhWest Osborn.Wollaston, ation. Boongaree.Uuins. Darcy. Charnpagny, Aug- Bigge. Coronatiorr.Boorrgaree. Ur,rins. Darcy, Cham_ ustus. St Andrew. Byam Martin and Kingfi.her. pagny. Augusrus.Heyuood. Sr. Andrew, Kingfishcr Also Arjo Point and mouth of Hunter River. and Koolan. Also ar Kuri Bayand Anjo poirri. Common in semi-deciduous vine thicket, mangroyes Moderately common (flocks up to l l) in eucalypt and margins of watercourses. woodland 34 Platrcercus lenasas (Kuhl) Northern Rosella FAMILY PODARGIDAE Coronation,Boongaree, Uwins, Augustusand Koolan. Podargusstrigoitles phalaenoidesGould Tawny Frog- Common in eucalypt woodland on Koolan rvhere it mouth was seen feeding on Triclax procumbens; elsewhere Scarce. Ore at Carlia. AIso at Anjo Point. scarce. 412647240 g Carlia 27 June. Calyptorhltnchus magnifcus (Shaw) Red-tailed Black Cockatoo FAMILY AEGOTHELIDAE Sir Graham Moore, South West Osborn, Carlia, Coronation, Boongareeand Koolan. Aegothelesuistalus leucogasterGo!1d CrestedOwlet- nightjar Moderately common (flocks of up to 32). Visitor in flocks to Koolan and Cockatoo (pers, comm. Scarce. One flushed from small tree at edge of a MacRobertson Miller Airline Staff). A r orr.Trrs Cqcatuq tenuirostris sanguinea (Gould) Corella FAMILY CAPRIMULGIDAE Middle Osborn, Augustus, Kingfisher, Melomys and Koolan. Uncommon. Flocks of up to 6 birds. EurostopodusguttatLts (yigors & Horsfield) Spotteal Nightjar Cqcatua gqleritq (Latham) Sulphur-crestedCockatoo East Nlontalivet,South West Osborn, South Maret, Sir Graham Moore, South West Osborn, Carlia, BJgge.Uwins and Augustus. Boongaree, Auguslus, St Andrew. Also at Kuri Bay. IJncommon. Mostly seenhunting at dusk. Moderately common in thick creekside vegetation. A.12617? 93 g SouthWest Osborn28 June. Also in vine forest and mangroves. FAMILY CUCULIDAE FAMILY ALCEDINIDAE Cuculus pallidus (Latham) Palliil Cuckoo Alcedo qzurea ruJicollaris (Bankier) Azure Kingfisher Scarce. One recorded on Byam Martin and another Scarce. Oneseen flying into rnangroveson Augustus. on Melonrys. Also at mouth of Hunter River. Chrysococcyx oscalars (Gould) Black-eared Cuckoo yigors Scarce. Only recorded from Wollaston. Dacelo leqchii leachii & Horsfield Blue-winged Kookaburra A11798d 28 g Wollaston 1l June. Sir Graham Moore, Boongaree, St Aldrew and Kingfisher. Chrysococcyx Dasalrs (Horsfield) Horsfield Bronze- cuckoo Scarcein eucalypt woodland. Possiblesighting; two flying south over South Maret. Halycon chloris sordida Gould Mangroye Kingfisher Centropus plwsianinus phasianhus (Latham) Pheasant Scarce. Recorded once, a male collected on Kirrg- Coucal fislier Island. It flew from mangroves into eucalypt Sir Graham Moore, Fenelon,Borda, East Montalivet, woodland on the side of a hill. Middle Osborn, South West Osborn, Katers, Bigge, The Western Australian Museum has only two speci- Coronation, Boongaree, Uwins, Chanpagny, Aug- mens, the other is an unsexed bird from mangroves ustus, Heywood, St Andrew, Byan.r Martin and at Crab Creek, Broome. Koolan. Field observations of the Mangrove Kingfisher are Moderately common in tall grass on basalt and in often unreliable as it is easily confused with the spinifex on sandstone. smaller Sacred Kingfisher which also frequents man- gro\c\. Measurementsof lhe two MangroveKing- FAMILY STRIGIDAE fishersand three male Kimberley Sacred-Kingfisheis are presented for comparison. Bill measured to Tlto sp. baseof skull. Scarce, Two calling on Boongaree along cliff face, Mangrove Sacred Kingfisher Kingfisher Ninox novqeseelandiaebooboolc (Latham) Boobook Owl Bi 56,60 43 48 Sir Graham Moore, South West Osborn, Bigge, Wing 104,106 87-94 Boongaree,Augustus, Kingfisher and Melomys. Tail 73,76 57-6s '70, Apparently scarce. Single records for each of the Weight 70 29 49 aboveisla nd.. Openwoodlano. Length 260 2{t0 35 The best diagnostic field characters for the Mangrove FAMILY CAMPEPHAGIDAE Kingfisher are the long bill and pure white under- parts. The Sacred Kingfisher has a shoter bill, Coracina notaehollandiqe novaehollandiae(Gme\in) white throat, pale buff or rufous breast and lacks the Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike light, bright blue rump of the Mangrove Kingfisher. Sir Graham Moore, Borda, East Montalivet, Middle A126213 70 g Kingfisher l3 July 1973. Osborn, South West Osborn, South Maret, Katers, Wollaston,Bigge, Coronation, Boongaree, Bat, Uwins, Halq)on sancta sancta ytgots & Horsfield Sacred Champagny, Augustus, Heywood, St Andrew, Byam Kingfisher Martin, Kingfisher, Koolan and Melomys. Also at Anjo Point. Troughton (BowdlerSharpe 1892), Sir Graham Moore, Browse, Fenelon, Borda, East Montalivet, Middle Common. Mostly in low woodland on basalt, Osborn, South West Osborn, South Maret, Bigge, laterite and saudstone. Sometimes in mangroves, Coronation, Boongaree, Uwins, Darcy, Augustus, rarely in low open-forest or low-closed forest. Seen I-leywood,St Andrew, Byan Martin, Kinglisher and in flocks of I 12, some with juveniles. Seenmoving Koolan. north in June and July. Common. Mostly in or at edgesof mangroves;also in sen.f-deciduousvine thicket. Corcrcinapapuensis hypoleuca Gould Little Cuckoo- Seccornnrerrls rrrrder preccding .pecics. sh ke Sir Graham Moole, Middle Osborn, South West FAMILY MEROPIDAE Osborn, Carlia, Boongaree, Uwins, Darcy, Augustus, St Andrew, Koolan and Melomys. Merops ornatus Latham Black-tailed Bee-eater Moderately common. Mostly in low woodla[d on Sir Graham Moore, Hecla, Borda, Middle Osborn, sandstone and in senrideciduous vine thickets. South West Osborn, Carlia, Bigge, Coronatior, Rarely in mangroves. Boongaree, Darcy, Champagny, Augustus, Byam g Martin, Kingfisherand Melomys. Also at Anjo Point. Al1802 59 Middle Osborn 13 June. Moderatelycommon in flocks of up to 14,mostly 3 7. (Swainson) Open woodland or flying over islanCs. Lal oge sueurii /r/color White-wingealTriller Boongaree, Uwils, Augustus, St Andrew and Byam FAMILY PITTIDAE Martin. Pitta is Go\rld Rainbow Pitta Scarcein low woodland. All but one ofthe sightings (15, somejuveniles, heading north on Byam Martil South West Osborn and St Andrew. Also mouth of on ll July) were in groups of lessthan 4. Hunter River. Moderately common on South West Osborn. Un- Laloge leucomelaruJiventris (Gray) Yarierl Triller common on St Andrew. Confined to semi-deciduous vine thickets. Sir Graham Moore, Middle Osbom, South West Osborn, Carlia, Katers, Boongaree, Uwins, Darcy, .41260555 g Mouth of Hunter River 6 July. Augustus and St Andrew. g 412606 ? 56 South West Osborn 27 June. Comnon in semi-deciduous vine thickets on the 4,12607,3 54 g South West Osborn 28 June. Osborns, uncommon elsewhere. Prefers low closed- forest and closed-scrub including semi-deciduous vine thickets, mangroves and creekside scrub; scarce ALAUDIDAE FAMILY in low woodland. Mirafra Horsfield Singing Bushlark .favanica Al 1788d 30 g Augustus17 May. One bird, possiblythis species,in snall open area on A1178930 g Augustus 17 May. Champagny. A1 1800? 33 g Katers 10 June. FAMILY HIRUNDINIDAE Hirundo nigricans nigricans Yreillot Tree Martin FAMILY PACHYCL,PHAL IDAE ( Sir Graham Moore ? species), East Montalivet, Microeca to nenti Mathews Brown-tailed Flycatcher Carlia (? species), South Maret, Katers, Bigge, Champagny,Augustus, Heywood, Byam Martin and Bigge, Boongarec and Augustus. AIso at Anjo Kingfisher. Point. Geuerally scarce but sometimes locally common Scarce. Mostly in llangroves but occasionally in (flock of 60 on Heywood). adjacent cadjeputs. Breedingon Augustus(Hill 1911). Hirundo ariel (Gotrld) Fairy Martin A.126269 l0 g Boongaree5 July. Scarce. Eight circling cliff face on Augustus; 5, possiblythis species,on Carlia. A1262'76 1l g Anjo Point 1 Jul;. 36 pulverulenta Eopsaltria (Bonaparte) Mangrove Robin Rhipidura leucophry: leucopltrvs ( Latharn) Wi ie Wag- tail Sir Graham Moore, Champagny and Augustus. Scarce, Confined to mangroves. Fenelon,East Montalivet, Middle Osborn,South West O"born. Sourh Varer, Bigge, Coronation. Uwin", ( nam pagny..A uqusrus,Hey\^ood, St Andrew- B)am Martin Pjcfucephala coledonica melanura Golld Mangrove cnd Kingfisher. Golden Whistler Moderatelycommon in low woodland. Occasionallv Sir Graham Moore, Hecla, Fenelon, East Montalivet, in low closed-forest(mangroves). South West Osborn, Carlia, Katers, Bigge, Coronation, Boongaree,Uwirs, Champagnyand St Andrew. Rhipidura rulirentris riara Could Northern Fantail Moderately conmot'l. Most seen in low woodland adjacent to mangroves and some in nrangroves. Sir 9?ham Moore, South West Osborn, Carlia, South Maret, Bigge, Coronation, Boongaree, Uwins, 411794 16 g Corolation 25 May. Darcy, Augustus and St Andrew. 1'11628 19 g Carlia 28 June. Common. Almost always in closed-forest or low 412629 18 g South West Osborn 28 June. closed-forest; semi-deciduous vine thickets,mangroves and. creeksidevegetation; occasionally in low ivood- land. Pachycephala rufi|entris rufventris (Latham) Rufous Old nestfound Whistler on South Maret. A11785 g Sir Graham Moore, South West Osborn, Katers, ?dlI 1 Augustus12 May. Coronation, Boongaree,Uwins, Darcy, Champagny, St Andrew ard Byam Martin. Myiagra rufcollis nimiAar Ogilvie-Crant Broad-billed Moderately common. Mostly in low uoodland, Flycaicher sometimes in closed-loresrand Iow closed-foresr (including mangroves). Sir Graham Moore, Carlia, Boongaree,Augustus and Heywood. Uncommon in mangroves. Colluricincla megarhynchapartula Gould Little Shrike- thrush Sourh West Osborn. Boongaree.Augustur -Hunter and St Myiagra rubecula concinna Gould, Leaden Flycatcher Andrew. Al5o at Anjo Poinf and River mouth. Sir Graham Moore, Borda, East Montalivet, Middle 9sborn, louth West Osborn, Carlia, South Maret, Scarce but locally common. Conlined to closed- Katgrs, Wollaston, Bigge, Coronation, Boongaree, forest and low closed-forest (almost exclusively semi- Uwin.. papcy.Charnpagny. Augustus. Heyuood, SL deciduousvine thickets). Andre\ . Byam Martin, Kingfisherand Koolan. A11787d 43 g Augustus l8 May. Common. Mostly in closed-forest and low closed- A1180346 g South West Osborn 15 June. forest (including mangroves); occasionally in low woodland. Colluricincla woodwardi Harterl SandstoneShrike- thrush Myiagra inquietq nqnq Gould Restless Flycatcher Borda,South West Osborn, Wollaston and Boongaree. Coronatior and Champagny. IJncommonamong tumbled sandstone. Scarce. Single birds on both islands. Pools and edge of mangroves. Colluricincla harmonicahqrmonica (Latham) Brown Shrike-tbrush Myiagra alecto rufolateralis (Gray) Shining Scarce, Two seenon Augustusand one on Corol- Flycatcher ation. Sir Graham Moore, South West Osborn, Carlia, Bigge, Coronation, Boongaree, Uwins, Augustus and St Andrew. FAMILY MONARCHIDAE Uncommon in closed-forest and low closed-forest (mostly mangroves but sometimes semi-deciduous Rhipidura rufifrons dryas Gould Rufous Fantail vine thicket and creekside vegetation a short distance EastMontalivet, Middle Osborn,South West Osborn, from mangroves). Carlia, Katers and Boongaree. A11793 ? Coronation 25 May. IJncommon. Confined to low closed-forestand A12631 Carlia 28 June. closed-scrub(mostly semi-deciduousvine thickets ? and creeksidevegetation, also mangroves). 4.12632 ? Carlia 28 June. FAMILY GRALLINIDAE Moderately corlmon. Confined to areas of rugged sandstone. Grallina cyanoleuca(Latham) MagpieJark 411784 7 g Augustus 14 May. Bigge,Coronation, Boongaree, Augustus and Koolan. 4,11799,1 7.5 g Wollaston 11 June. Commonin town on Koolan. Scarceeisewhere. Malurus melanocephalus (Latham) Red-backed Wren FAMILY ORTHONYCHIDAE Boongaree. Also at Arjo Point. Pomqtostomastemporalis (Vigors & Horsfield) Grey- Scarce. One in area of basalt on Boongaree. crownedBabbler Scarceon Augustus(party of 4 seen,2 other parties heard). FAMILY SYLVIIDAE Open woodlandon plateau. Megalurus timoriensis Wallace Tawny Grassbird Moderately comnron on Adele; mainly in Spinifex Iongifulius. FAMILY ACANTHIZIDAE A.11801? 14 g Adele18 June. Gery gone magnirost ris magnirostr is Gould Large-billed Flyeater Cisticolq exilis (Vigors & Horsfield) Golden-headed Sir Graham Moore, South West Osborn, Carlia, Fantail-warbler Boongaree,Uwins and St Andrew. Sir Grahalr] Moore, Hecla and South West Osborn. Also Anjo Point. Moderatelycommon in mangroves. Scarce. A total of 4 secnin rank grasseson laterite Nest lined with fine grassabout l 6 m tp Bruguiera or basalt. exaristatqon Sir Graham Moore. Bulk of nest was strips of seaweedlooking like flood debris, the last few piecesof danglingnest held in positionby spider's web. A few leaveshad been worked into it. Nest FAMILY DICAEIDAE illustratedin Johnstone(1975). Dicaeumhi rundin aceum ltiru ndinaceun? (Shaw) Mistleto€- bird 4,127636 8 g Carlia 28 June. Sir Graham Moore, Borda, East Montalivet, Middle L127646 7 g Sir Graham Moore 2 July. Osborn, South West Osborn, Carlia, South Maret, Katers, Wollaston, Bigge, Coronation, Boongaree, Gerygonechloronota chloronota Gould Green-backed Bat, Uwins, Darcy, Champagny,Augustus, Heywood, Flyeater St Andrew, Byam Martin, Kingfisherand Melomys. Sir Graham Moore, South West Osborn, Carlia, Very colr]mon. Recordedon 22 of the 25 contin- Coronation,Boongaree, Uwins, St Andrew and Byam ental islands visited. Mostly in low woodland, Martin. occasionallyin closed-forest. Juvenilesseen. Also Anjo Point. FAMILY PARDALOTIDAE Fairly commonin closed-forestand low closed-forest (mostly semi-deciduousvine thicket but also creek- Pardalotus striqtus uropygialis Go!\d Black-h€aded sidescrub and mangroves). Pardalote Breedingon Boongaree4 July (nestover freshwater); Sir Graham Moore, Uwins, Boongaree, Darcy, and Uwins 8 July (nest with small strips of paper- Augustusand Melomys. bark, lined with fine grass;one egg.) IJncommonin eucalyptwoodland. Al1781 l0 g Augustus17 May. A11782Augustus 17 May. FAMILY ZOSTEROPIDAE Smicrornis brcvirostris Gould Weebill Zosteropsluteq Go\ld Yellow Silvereye Scarce. One party calling from eucalypt on Aug- Sir Graham Moore, Hecla, Fenelon, Borda, East ustus. Montalivet,South West Osborn, Carlia, SouthMaret, Katers, Wollaston, Bigge, Coronation, Boongaree, Uwins, Darcy, Champagny,Augustus, Heywood, St Andrew, Byam Martin, and Kingfisher. FAMILY MALURIDAE Common in low closed-forest(mostly mangroves, Malurus dulcis rogersl Mathews Lavender-flankedWren sometimessemi-deciduous vine thickets). Wollaston,Boongaree, Uwins and Augustus. Old nesrfound on SouthMaret. 38 FAMILY MELIPHAGIDAE Philemon citreogulatis citrcogularir (Could) Little Friar- birrl Lichmera indistitlcta indistitlct.t (Vigors & Horsfield) Brown Honeyeatet East Montalivet, Middle Osborn, Katers, Coronation, Darcy and Augustus. Ecli.pse.Sir Craham Moore. Borda.fast Montali\ct, Viddle Osb_orn.South Wesr Osborn.Carlia, Sourh Scarce along watercourses and in mangroves. Mrrer. Wolla.ton. Bigge. Coronation. Boongaree. uwrn\. ( Uarcy. hampagny.Augu\tus. Heyr,rood, Sr PhiIem.onatgenIircpI argenticels {Gould) Silver-crowned A_ndrew.BSam Maitin.'Kingh.her, footon inA Friarbird Melomys. Sir Graham Mo-ore, East Montalivet, Middle Osborn, Very con.rmonin all habitats. South West Osborn. Carlia. Katers. Wollaston, Bigge. Coronation. Boongaree,Uwins, Darcv, Aue_ uslus,St Andrew. Koolan, Kingfisherand Melomyi. ll1orylg er))throrcflrula eryrltoceplnla Could Red- headedHoDeyeater Common in arearof floweringeucalypts (paflicularly L. miniorq). Moderatell common ln low closed- Sir Craham Moore. Middle Osborn,Carlia. Bisse. lorest (semi-deciduous Boongaree. rine thicketsand regetation Uwins,Augustus and St.Andrew. along watercourses). Moderately common in mangroves. Cissomelqpectoralis (Gould) Banrled Honeyeater Meliphaga albilineatq (White) WhiteJineal Honeyeater Sir Graham Moore and Boongaree. Scarcein Wollaston.Bigge and Boongaree.Also at mourh of woodland. |:luntef l(rver. Juveniles seenon Boongaree. Moderately common. For habitat see Smith & Johnstone(1974). Ramsayornis fascialrr (Gould) Bar-breasted Honeyeater Sir Graham Moore, r''126246 27 g Boongaree 4 July. Boongaree, Uwins and Augustus. Scarcealong watercourses, L12625 ? 23 g Boongaree4 July. Co.nopophila Meliphaga rufogularu.r(Gould) Rufous-throateitHoney_ virescens (Yieillot) Singing Honeyeater eater Sir Graham Moore and Bigge. Boongareeand Uwins. Scarcein woodland. Scarcein low woodland. Meliphaga plumula (Gould) yellow-fronted Honeyeater Manorina favigula (Gould) Yellow-throated Mircr IJncommon Scarcein creekside vegetation on Sir Graham Moore. on Uwins, colnmon on Koolan. Me,liphagafavescezs (Gould) yellow-tinted Honeyeater Uwrns. FAMILY PLOCEIDAE Moderately common in Melaleuca leucadenclronand, Poephila bichenovii annulosa (Gould) Double-bar Finch lucg.lyprus miniato along creeks uhere r;;it, ;;;; Middle_Osborn, reeolngyoung. South West Osborn, Carlia, Coron_ ation, Boongar€e, Uwins and Koolan. Generally scarce but locally common, Sromiopera unicolor unicolor lCould) White-gaped usually along Honey€ater watercourses. Nest South with 5 eggs in dead tree over pool on Uwins, _West Osborn, Carlia, Boongaree, Uwins and 7 June. St Andrew. Also at Anjo point. Moderately- common. Mostly in closed_forestor Lonchura castaneothorqxcastaneot horax (Gould) Chest_ ro\r ctosed-lorestbut sometimesin woodland. nut-breasted Finch Sc-qrce;40 drinking from freshwater pool on Coron- Melithreptus albogularr's Gould White-thoateal Honey_ ation. Also Hecla. eater Sir Craham Jvloore. South West Osborn, Carlia. tsoonsaree.Uwins, Augusrus and FAMILY ORIOLIDAE il:?:3i"", St Oriolus sagittatas (Latham) Olive-backed Oriole Moderately common in low woodland. Sir Graham_Moore, South West Osborn, Carlia, Coronarion..gg.ong^aiee. Uwins. Darcy. Augustus. SL Melhltreptus gularis laaior Gould Black_chinned ,". Krnghshef. Atso at moulh of Hunter frotreyeater fi]i".i:* Augustus and possibly Coronation. Moderately common. Mostly in woodland. some_ lrmes In closed lorest and low closed_forest Scarce. Edge of dense forest {semi_ along watercourse. deciduousvine lhicket and mangro\es.). 39 Oriolusfavocinctus flavocinctus (King) Yellow Oriole FAMILY CRACTICIDAE Mary, East Montalivet, South West Osborn, South Crqcticus torquatus argenteus Gould Silver-backed Maret, Katers, Wollaston, Boongaree,Uwins, Aug- Butcherbird ustusand St Andrew. Moderately common in Melaleuca along creeks on Moderatelycommon in closedforest and low closed- eastside of Uwins. forest,(semi-deciduous vine thicket);occasionally in woodland. Seeneating lDrll.t seeds. A126196 96 g Uwins 7 July. A11795? EastMontalivet 8 Jure. 1^12620? 94 g Uwins 8 July. Cract icus nigr ogularrs (Gould) Pied Butcherbird Spltecotherest'iridis faviventris Gould Figbird Sir Graham Moore, Bigge, Boongaree, Uwins, Scarcein closed-foreston South West Osborn. Augustus, St Andrew, Kingfisher, Cockatoo and Koolan. Also Anjo Point. Moderatelycommon in low woodland. FAMILY DICRURIDAE Dicrurus megarhynchusbracteatus Gottld Spangled Crqcticus tibicen tibicerL(Latham) lN'.tgpie Drongo Scarce,one at Kuri Bay 1972. Sir Graham Moore, Borda, South West Osborn, Katers, Wollaston, Coronation, Boongaree, Aug- ustus and St Andrew. Also at mouth of Hunter FAMILY PARADISAE]DAE River. Ptilonorhynclrusttucltalis nuchalis Jardine & Selby Uncommon. Mostly at edgesof closedforest and GreatBorverbird (semi-deciduousvine thicket). Some- low closed-forest Sir Grahan Moore, Middle Osborn, South West timesin low woodland. Osborn,Carlia, Katers, Wollaston, Bigge, Coronation, A11783Augustus 18 May. Boongaree,Uwins, Darcy, St Aldrew and Koolan. Also at Anjo Point and mouth of Hunter River. A11796Wollaston l1 June. Common in low closed-forest(mangroves, seml- A1260885 g SouthWest Osborn27 June. deciduousvine thicketsand creeksidescrub). 412609 ? 86 g SouthWest Osborn29 June 412610A 80 g Boongaree5 July. FAMILY CORVIDAE Corvusorru salvadoii Finsch AustralianCrow FAMILY ARTAMIDAE Scarceon Augustus. Moderately common on both visits to Kud Bay (4 in 1972and I0 in 1973). Artamusleucor hynclrls (Linnaeus) White-breasted Wood- srYallow Sir Graham Moore, Uwins, Champagny,Augustus, DISCUSSION Heywoodand Koolan. Winter visits by us recorded 146 speciesof birds in the (up in a flock); Bonaparte Archipelago and nearby groups of islands. Common at wharf on Koolan to 15 (see Records from other sources Introduction, 'Ithis scatceelsewhere. paper)mrke lhe total l5l species.Of these.the ree Martin, and White-\inged Triller are probablyu inter Artamaspersonatus (Gould) MaskedWooil-swallow migrants from the south; and Red-tailed Black Cockatoo and Diamond Dove are possibly dry season visitors Scarce. One flock of 15 high over Byam Martin. from the Kimberley mainland. Populations of pre- sumed resident speciessuch as the Black-faced Cuckoo- shrike, Black-tailed Bee-eater and MagpieJark are Artamuscinereus melanops Gould Black-faceilWootl- orobablr aup.meotedbv winrer \isitors. A !ummer swallow i,icir would idd rigrarory species:uch as lhe Koel South West Osborn, Boongareeand Koolan. (Eudynamys scolopacea) and Dollarbird (Eury)stomus orientalis). in low woodland. Scarce There are four nain habitats on the islands: semi- deciduous microphyll vine thickets associated with Artamusminor Vieillot Little Wooil-swallow basalts; woodlands associated with sandstone; wood- lands associated with basalts and laterites; and man- Borda, Middle Osborn, South West Osbom, Carlia, groves. Coronation, Boongaree, Katers, Wollaston, Bigge, vine thickets in the Kimberley are only Augustusand Koolan. Also at moutll Semi-deciduous Bat, Uwins, well developed on basalts within the I 200 mm isohyet. of Hunter River. They are eisential for the Scrub Fowl, Red-crowned Moderatelycommon in flocksup 10 12; usuallyassoci- Pigeon.Rufou. Owl, Rainbow Pitta, Cicada-birdand atedwith cliffs. YJlo\ Figbird. lmportant featuresof rine thicket' 40 are the high proportion of plants producing succulent The. small blocks of mangroves scattered throughout fruits and the large quantities ofleaflitter. Vine scrubs the.i 4l PART V AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES By L. A. SMITHT and R. E. JOHNSTONET INTRODUCTION FAMILY HYLIDAE Tree Frogs " This paper is based mainly on specimens obtained Litoria latopalmala Giinther" during a biological survey of the major islands of the Freshwater pools on Bigge (4), seepages (l). Bonaparte Archipelago and the Institut, Osborn and on Katers Sir Graham Moore Groups of islands. We also visited Koolan and Kingfisher Islands (northern end of Litoria rubella (Gray) (St Buccaneer Archipelago), St Andrew Island George Freshwater pools on Bigge (2). Basin) and two oceanic islands (Browse and Adele). Brief visits were made to Kuri Bay (twice) and the Hunter River mouth. Three days were spent at AnJo Point (mainland opposite Sir Grahan Moore Island). SeeFig. 1in Burbidge and McKenzie (this publication) REPITILIA for positions of islands. Co-ordinates of all islands except Condillac (14'06'5, 125'33'E)appear in Table I FAMILY CHELONIIDAE Marine Turtles e/ a/. (this publication). of Smith Turtle tracks were found on Bigge,Champagny and The surveyswere conducted in the winters of 1971 1973, HeywoodIslands. six weeksbeing spentir the area in l97l and 1972and Many hundredsof nestson Browse. three weeks in 1973. All personnel helped with the collecting (see Burbidge and McKenzie, this public- ation, for itineraries of collecto$). Most time was FAMILY GEKKONIDAE Geckos spent on Augustus (11 days over two visits), least time on Browse (about t hour). Smith e/ 4/. (this public- Crmadactylusocellatus neso Storr ation) give collecting localities on the larger islands. Storr (1974 a, b and c, 1975 atd 1916) referred to island Heywood(2). groups or used tenporary names when listing material Burnt from spinifexamong sandstone. from Kimberley islands. Official names have since been settled on these islands by the Nomenclature Advisory Committee, Western Australian Department Gehyraaustralis (Gray) of Lands and Surveys. Names of Individual islands Sir Graham Moore (l) and Koolan (5). within groups are as follows: Heywood lslands (Hey- wood and Darcy), Kingfisher Islands (formerly Wood On sandstone. Islands, comprising Kingfisher Island and Melomys Island), Coronation Islands (Coronation.lsland). South Gehyranana Ston East Osborn Island is now Carlia Island. Sir Graham Moore (7), South West Osborn (l), The following list giyes the islands on which the species Bigge(1), Boongaree(l), Darcy (l), Champagny(4), occur, number of specimens collected (in brackets) Augustus (1), Heywood (2), St Andrew (1), King- and where possible ecological data. No attempt is fisher (9) and Melomys(1). made to assessrelative abundanca, but numbers col- lected give some indication. Specimens collected on Among sandstoneboulders. the surveysare lodged in the Western Australian Museum registerednumbers Rl 4072-7 4, 14076 80, 141 4 1, R 15830, Gehyra p ilbara Mrtchell R40439-74. R40480 82, R40499-501, P.4l27l-509, R41703-10, R44008 44068, P'M076-44179 and 57099- Koolan(l). l0l. Sisht recordsare asterisked. Gehyraxenopus Slorr Borda (l), South West Osborn (5), Katers (3), Wol- laston(l), Boongaree(2), Bat (l), Uwins (1), Darcy LIST OF SPECIES (5), Champagny(2), Augustus(2), St Andrew (1) and Byam Martin (2). ANURA In rugged sandstoneswith nurnerousvertical laces FAMILY LEPTODACTYLIDAE GrounilFrogs and overhangs. Limnodlnastes sp. Heteronotiab inoei (Gray) it too A Limnodynasteswas collected on Bigge; was Sir Graham Moore (12), Baudin (l), Carlia (1), desiccatedto identify to species. Bigge (2), Coronation (3), Boongaree(2), Augustus (l), St Andrew (3), and Byam Martin (1). t Depdt-.nt of VqtebEtes, western Australian MuseuD. Francis Slreet, Perth. Found in most habitats. 42 Oeduramarmorata Gray Car I i a fo li or um (D eYis) Augustus(2). Sir GrahamMoore (1). On open,flat sandstoneat night. Carlia johnstonei Stoft Oedurarhombifera Gray East Montalivet (1), Middle Osborn (5), Sourh West Sir Grahxm Moore(l). Boongaree Osborn18). Carlia (l), Kalers(j), Biap,e{5). Coron- {2). Darcy(l). a.!ion(31. qoongaree (4), Augustus(l). St Andrew(2). ByamMarlin (l) and Uwins(2) Dari! i5.1.Augustus Koolan (2). (22)and Heywood(2). Mostly in semi-deciduous Found in associationwith basalts and sandstones. vine thickets but also in leaf litter on sandstone. The specimenfrom Augustuswas active in lhe day- time on basaltin the inter-ridalzone. CqrI ia triacanthq (Mitchell) Sir_Graham (4), Pseudothecadact!lusIindneri cavaticusCogger Moore Baudin (l), South West O.born (2). Carliarl). Bigge(2). Coronarion(2), Boongaree(2). Boongaree(2). Uuins (3), Darcy (l). Champasnv (l). Augusrus(l). Helwoodt7). St Andrew1l) inO In cavein sandstoneduring day, I(oolan (4). Mostly in spinifex on sandstonebut sometimesin leaf litter on basaltsaud sandslones. FAMILY PYGOPODIDAE LeglessLizarits Delmaborea Kluge Cryptobleplnrusmegastict us 9rcfi Coronation(l). Augrrsrus(l), Heywood(l) and Middle Osborn (6) and Sourh West Osborn (1). Koolan (2). On basalt: tidal splashzone and creek margins. Associatedwith basaltsand sandstone. Cryptob lepharus plagiocephalus (Cocteau) Delma sp. Borda(l)..Bigge (3). Boongaree(2). Augu\rus(l). anq r\rngnsner()). The sloughedskit ol a Dclmawas lound on a sandv spit vegetaredwith Spinifcxlongilolius on Bigge. On trees. Lialis burtonis Gray Ctenotusburbidgei Storr Heywood(3) andKoolan (1). Darcy (l) and Augustus(4). Burnt from spinifexamong sandstone. Specimenfrom Darcy on 5and with S. longifolius; spectmenstrom.-Augustus on open. flat sandstone wrtnsparse splntlex. FAMILY AGAMIDAE Dragon Lizards Ct enotusinornatus (Gray) Amphibolurusmicrolepido tus Glatert Sir Graham..Moore (13), Fenelon (3), Baudin (l), Bisse(l). East Moitalivet (3), South West Osborn (l), Soiili Maret (l), Karers (8). Wolla:ron (2), Bisp.e(2). Coronarion(8). Boongaree (6), ( Diporiphora Uwins l), Chirioasnv bennettiibennettii (Gruy) (2).Heywood {54) and ByamMarrin (3). Coronation(9). (2). Darcy Champagnytl). Augustus This abundantspecies was found in (b.),and KooJan(4). all habitats. Associatedwith basaltsand sandstones. Ct enotus t anti llus Stolr Sir GrahamMoor€ (l). D ip or iplrcra superb a Ston In a small sandyarea among Boongaree(3). sandstoneand spinifex. This arboreal specieswas found in acaciasamong Le r ist a walk eri (Bodenger) sanoslones- Condillac(Boulenger l89l), Augustus(1). Among sandstoneboulders. FAMILYSCINCIDAE Skinks Morethia ruficaudaruficauda (Ltcas & Frost) Carlia amax Ston Sir GrahamMoore (2). Borda( l), Katers( Darcy (l), Kingfisher(2) | ). Wol- and Koolan (1). laston( I). Bigge(2). Boongaree( | ) and Heywood(5). Among sandstoneand spinifex. On sandstonewith spinifex. 43 Notoscincus ornatus tr)otjulum (Glauert) Liasis olivaceousGray Sir Graham Moore (1), South West Osborn (l), Heywood (2). Katers (3), Wollaston (l), Bigge (l), Boongaree(l) Both specimens from a sandstone and Augustus(1). overhang near a small pool. In leaf litter on basaltsand sandstones. See Smith Pythons rvhich were either Z. mackloti or L, oliyaceous (1976) for comparison of behaviour and habitats of were seennear the splashzone on Middle Osborn and this and the nominate race. on sandstonescree on Augustus. Sp henonte r p hus isoleprs(Boulenger) Baudin (1), Bigge (1), Boongaree(l), Augustus (l), FAMILY COLUBRIDAE Rear-fanged and Fangless and Heywood ( 1). Snakes Boiga Jusca (Gray) FAMILYVARANIDAE Goannas Koolan ( 1). Varanus acanthur us subsp. Cerberusaustralis (Gray) Sir Graham Moore (1), Augustus(l). Sir Graham Moore (l). Yarunus g lau er t i Mertens Swimming in open water near beach. Sir Graham Moore ( l), South West Osborn (1), Dendrelaphis puttctulatus (Gny) Bigge+, Uwins (l), Darcy (1), Champagny (l), Aug- ustus (4), Heywood (l), St Andrew (1) and Byam Bigge* and Koolan (2). Martin (l ). Among boulders and leaf litter at margins of water- FAMILY coursesand in semi-deciduousvine thickets. Mostly ELAPIDAE Front-fanged Snakes on basalt,sometimes sandstone A cant h op is ant arctlcas (Shaw) ( Varanusglebopalma Mitchell Bigge l) and Koolan (1). South West Osborn (l), Katers (l), Boongaree(l), Demqnsia oliracea oliwcea (Gray) Uwins (1), Byam Martin (l) and Koolan (l). Koolan (l) Among ruggedsandstone. Demansia papuensis melaena Slorr Varanusgouldii (Grcy) Koolan (l). Boongaree(l). Pseudechis australis (Gray) FAMILY TYPHLOPIDAE Blinrl Snakes Sir Graham Moore (l), Boongaree+and Koolan (l). Typhlina polygramnrca (Schlegel) In Jonggrass near watercourses. Bigge(l). This, the first specimen from Western Australia, was collected under debris on a sandy spit vegetated with DISCUSSION S . Iongfolius . Except for Browse and Adele all islan 44 A majority of^islandsare wholly or mosrly sandstone, islands- ano than on the mainland. No island can be con_ o ot the U norlh-westKimberley endemics,which sidered occur to be adequately.oit.cted foi'hemrii;r:;;;;; on th_eislands. are inhabitantsof sandstoneareai. lr ls rmposstbteto say if a species.absence is real or not. J ney are: o?hlra nana, G. xenopus,pseudot hecadqct vlus The.aqua^tic l,tndneri cqvq.ricus, Diporiphorct superba, Ctenotus bur_ herp-tilcsare an exceprion. There are 19 specres..ol Dnger and Lerisla wqlkeri. The other 2 |axa (Carliq lrog. 2 speciesof tonoise and I speciesof johnst,onei.and.Cryptoblephanrs megqfiictus) are usuallv 'l,ji.%i:'.,::"?H#ilI"il'"lJi,TJlo,";1,.T:,:l Iound on basaltsbut sometimeson sandstones. ;ffi nrncantdrllerence Table l-lists_the a\ only a few islands-appea r-to haie number of representati\esfrom each permanentwater. Prince Re_genlRiver Nature l1Tly,lol,tl.ptateau Reserve, rvlrrche area and jslands vi\ited. No family except the Typhlopidae is better represented on thi REFERENCES Boulenger..C. (t891). ..Descriprion A. of a new scincoidLizard Auslratia...A^. Mrs.- ti;i. H;;:1;, TABLE 1 ffirNo.rh-*.","rn NqryrpE.Bq_ gF spEcrES oF EACH FAMTLY Ar TIIREE..'''" t^tt\,!;. Reptitesof Barrowrsland,,. r.r/esr. AREAS I\ THE SUBHL'MID NORTH WESi.. i;,!Y,%5 l];le KIMBERLEY t'nhi#;'t.'$i;'fff;,fu jli ''"'i"",t:'r#iljll'#*::..-{ll,'!u:"Jffi,i;" "x...';h"*Tl"u.f;4lriu.. Prince Mitchell Kinrberley' Family Regent Plateau Islarrds li:ni!?iiiillie: Reseave Arca (l974b,..-Agamid SLorr.'^fr;i'fJ,fic. M. LizardsoflheGeneraCaimaoDs. Crocodilidae 2 2 ?;,iiJ,r2:0"'i!!'"'f,"liy,:;"'fi,l::'l"j'fl Leplodactylidae 1 ,i?1i'. 4 f '-'T:y#.ji,11.;f Hylidae.... I 9 ll 2 "*'x?oo",tli,[?i,i,:ii":ii:,i:l.lF.:;: Cheluidae 2 2 0 cekkonidae 8 l5 9 "*ii,?iy,i[t*l]i", Pygopodidae .... I 2 j:ff ':ft? Agamidae 2 ;1",ff.1il#:?,ffili;,i'ft"f;ff 9 9 3 tralia". Rec. West.Aust. Mus.3,2Og_243. Scincidae t7 17 10 o"",;.,f;o*,.'l"oti,';,,;;ni,9:l,i;...t'rdi:.,,ff!:,:),,,,1:trr,i:,i: Varanidae 8 6 Typhlopidae 0 0 Pythonidae I 2 2 3 Colubridae 2 3 3 "-;;i*i":'1,{q;{";ifli#Hi.{*^#r,tl'#;iliff Elapidae.... 3 7 6 iii[: Total survey or p.nceRes€nt *,"., A;Ju*o.t,);.,,f 45 .rne - w),,9lrtJl{it;ilird E',I'fh.:,:'l'Jl, i,,l'l Tj i;.1. ti,$,1"ir,13i1.r, r Res. 45 PART VI CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS bv A. A. BURBIDGE1 and N. L. McKENZIET CONCLUSIONS can Dersistin the absenceof interference lrom man and feral animals. Their protection will greatly enhance Geolosicallv the islands of the north-west Kimberley nature conservation in Australia. represint ail the major strata of the adjacent mailland wirh lhe exceptionof bauxilc\ which are not represented and laterile; which are poorly represented. Mo't RECOMMENDATIONS islandsare compo\edof sandstoneiKing Leopold or We believethat someof the more important islandsand Warton Sandstohes)or basalt (Carson Volcanics). groupsof islandsshould be setaside as Nature Reserves. Vesetation formations are varied. Open and low open- Firstly, we believe that the islands adjacent to the wo-odlandsand low open and low closed-shrublandsare Prince RegentRiver Nature Reseryeale naturally part widesoread but a number of other formations were ofthe reserveand shouldbe includedin it. Accordingly found. includins lall closed-forest,low forest,Iow open- we recommend: forest, low closed-forest(mangrove formations). low 1. that Bat Islanit, the CoronationIsllnils and Boongaree closed-woodland, woodland, grassland and sedgeland. Islandbe includedin ReserveNo' 27164. Manv areas of sparselyvegetated rock outcrops werc also iound. Of ipecial intereslare lhe arecs of semi- The Augustusgroup of islandsare includedin a reserve deciduous vine thicket. South West Osborn has an set asidefor the Use and Benefitof Aboriginesand are area of Darticularlywell derelopedrine regetation therefofe not availablefor reservationas Nature Re- which coirld classify as closed-forest. Other i'lands serves. AugustusIsland is particularly diverseand we with vine thickets include Augustus, St Andrew, Uwins, recordedmore speciesof mammal here than on any Borda, Katers and Boongaree. other island. St Andrew Island in St GeorgeBasin is we recommend: Twentv-two species-are of native mammal were recorded' anothervaluable area. Accordingly all of-which known from the adjacent mainland. 2, that the Department of Fisheries anil Wildlife bring Some jslands support high densities of three mammal to the notice of the Aboriginal Lands Trust the con- sDecieswhich, based on current knowledge, appear to servational value of islarals in the Augustus Group be relarivelvuncommon or restrictedin their distribution and in St GeorgeBasin. Shoultl they at any time no on the mainland, viz: Petrogale burbidgei, Peradorcas longer be requiredfor Aborigines' considerationshoultl concinna and Zvzomvs woodwqrdi. Some islands also be given to setting them asideas Nature Resenes. suooortundistuibed bopulations of speciesr'rhich should oeiiist jndefinitelv ri:gardlessof increaseddisturbance The islandsin and adjacentto Montague Soundhave a bn the adjaceni m;inland. Elsewhere in Western diverse flora and fauna. Bigge Island, the second iilands support a whict Australia. -number.of ,species. largestisland in the Kimberley.is SsPeciallYinteresting are now rare or exlincLon the malnland anc rnere IS and suppoflslarge populalions ol two comparatlvely no guarantee that a similar situation will not develop rare mammals Pitrosale burbidgei and Zyzomys wood' in the KimberleY. wardi. The rock wallaby also occurson Katers Island Members of the survey parties recorded 146 species of and oerhaos on Wollaston as well. The Maret and birds on the islands and a further 5 specieshave been Monfalivef Islandsprovide a sharpcontrast in terms of recordedbv other observers. A number of vine thicket geology,plant formations and fauna. Accordlnglywe soeciesweie recorded,inctuding the Scrub Foul, Red- recommenc: ciowned Pigeon. Rainbow Pitta and Yellow Figbird. 3. that Bigge, Katers and Wollaston Islrnals, the Maret Sea bird breldins islandsare scarce.only the following Islands; the Montalivet Islanils anrl other small beins known: Jbnes, Sand, Low Rocks. Warn, an islands in the vicinity be ileclareil a Class A Resene un-n"amedislet in Prince Frederick Harbour ncar the for the Conservationof Flora and Fauna' Y€stedin mouth of the Hunter River, and Adele. the Westem Australian \Yikllife Authority. Fortv-five sp3ciesof frogs and reptiles were recorded. All except one, a blind snake. have been recorded on The OsbornIslands in Admiraly Gulf are most diverse, rhe adia&nt mainland. Seventecnspecies or subspecies proridinga greatvariety of geology,.frora.andfauna. are en-demicLo the north-west Kimberley and eight ol' Theyare, in essence,a microcosm of tbe region Semi- these have been collected on the islands' deciiuousvine thicketsare well developedon South on basalt con- West Osborn; Middle Osbornhas woodlands The biologicalsurveys of the various islandswere ruggedKing Leopold Sand- The teams and Borda is composedof ducted udder far fiom ideal conditions. stones. In addition, Borda Island harbours a popul- worked from small boats, had to traverse the islands place' ation of the Little Rock Wallaby (Peradorcasconcinna)- on -[ootand could spendonly a shorr time al one populationof thjs specieswhich can be presented and further the only island Conseouentlv,the dita are limited protectedby reservation.Accordingly we recommend: work will doubtlessadd speciesto lhe lists. Neverthe- less. it is clear that the islands collectivelyharbour a 4. that the Osborn Islands (comprising Midille Osborn' wide variety of ecosystemstypical ol the humid north- South West Osborn, Carlia' Kidney, Steep Head' west Kimb;rley and provide an area where these species Borda and adjac€nt smaller Islands) be rleclared a Class A Reservefor the Conservationof Flort anal Fauna, yested in the Western Australian Wildlife r Wesre.n Austrulian Wildlife Resea.ch Cenl.e, P.O Box 51, Wann€roo, W A' 6065, Authority. 46 Low.Rocks.in Admiralry Gulf. is an imporrantseabird to State conhol. When this eventuatesAdele Island oreedrngsrte, lt ts at presenra ClassC Reserve but should be declared a Class A Reserve for the Con- we beliere it has sufficientimportance to bc rccognised - senation of Flora and Fauna, yested by ClassA status. Accordinglywe recommend: in the West€rn Australian Wildlife Authority. Leases should be 5. that Reserve No. 33832 proclaimed be Class A. issued, if necessary,to protect the lighthouse, rarlio beaconand weather station. BronseIsland. is undoubtedlyone of rhe major marine lurlle neslingislands of rhe IndianOcean. We believe All the islands along the north-west that it should receive legal protection. Accordingly Kinberley coast \d9 recommend: have some conservational value. Some of thbse for uhich wc hare nor nrade