https://doi.org/10.24199/j.mmv.1979.40.03 31 July 1979

VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE BALLARAT AREA, VICTORIA By A. M. Gilmore*, W. B. Emison* and J. R. Wheeler!

'Fisheries and Wildlife Division, Ministry for Conservation, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, 123 Brown Street, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084. 172 James Street, Belmont, Victoria 3216.

Abstract

The proportion of Crown Land remaining in the Ballarat area is small relative to most other areas surveyed by the Land Conservation Council of Victoria. The major habitats, grassland woodland and swamp, which originally occurred across the basalt plains have been mainly cleared and drained for pasture and crop production, but some isolated tall open- forests and open-forests survive along the Great Dividing Range in the north of the survey area. Mainly because of alterations to habitat at least 4 species of mammals and 8 species ot birds are now threatened with extinction or are extinct in the survey area. Details of abundance, geographic distribution, habitat, breeding (birds only) and infor- mation sources are given for 42 species of mammals, 249 species of birds and 26 species of reptiles. Less detailed information is also presented for 12 species of amphibians. Only one public reserve in the area has been established for wildlife (mainly aquatic birds) As yet no terrestrial area has been set aside as either a national park or a wildlife reserve although a woodland in the southeast of the area has been proposed as a flora reserve under the management of the National Parks Service.

Introduction and reptile recorded in the survey area is given in annotated lists at the end of this paper. The Ballarat area (Fig. 1) is located mainly within the basalt plains of western Victoria Survey Area and has the Great Dividing Range as its PHYSIOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY northern boundary. Because the basalt plains The survey area includes a small part of the were cleared for pasture and crops early dur- Great Divide where elevations range from ing European settlement only small amounts 300 m to nearly 1000 m. To the east of Bal- of native forest and woodland now remain. larat is a plateau whose average height is more Consequently, there have been few systematic than 450 m. Most of the area is composed of surveys of the native fauna of many of these weathered Pleistocene basalt with some "stony small blocks. However, good historical infor- rises" and alluvial material. These flat or mation is available for the birds because dur- undulating plains slope gradually to below ing the past 30 years one of the authors (J. R. 150 m in the south. Scattered throughout are Wheeler) has recorded his observations and small volcanic cones, e.g. Mt Buninyong south- those of other naturalists living in the survey east of Ballarat and Mt Hollowback west of area- Creswick, that rise to 300 m above the sur- Officers of the Fisheries and Wildlife Divi- rounding plain. sion, Ministry for Conservation, conducted In the eastern part of the survey area there field surveys of the vertebrate animals in the are Ordovician sedimentary rocks, which were Ballarat area during 1976 and early 1977. The the scene of intense gold mining more than data collected are being used by the Land 100 years ago. These areas (Enfield and Conservation Council in its assessment of Creswick Blocks) have now regained much of land-use in Victoria. their vegetative cover, and together with Cam- The results presented here were derived brian mudstones in the north (Ararat and mainly from our field surveys and the past Ben Major-Trawalla Blocks) compose much observations of J. R. Wheeler, as well as all of the land remaining in public ownership. other previously documented records. Detailed All these areas are low hills covered with information on each species of mammal, bird skeletal soils and rise to 450 m.

Memoirs of the National Museum of Victoria, 51 No. 40, July 1979. . —*

52 A. M. GILMORE, W. B. EMISON and J. R. WHEELER

144 L

Elmhurst ' Ararat /JHXJ ^J"> , ,-__ ,--0>-- ^fampbe.itown Block ,e,]r^-,Mt.Cole / (Mj S e n (E) l

, Vi f?ii .' Itti8 e '1 Major f «.. \ / Ararat .• % \ Clunes ngor /

Mt \Dayle:sford ** Beckworth J Langi Raglarf/^ / Ghiran Creswick^-'.Newly'n / Bl Ock Ben Major- '^Beaufort Learmonth_ g2':»Trawalla (F) Trawalla^r-" : Block '— - Creswick 37°30' Block (D) (C)\ ^ Willaura (B) BALLARAT™*^'" Basalt Plains Enfield . m hesdal *L (H) Block ,i^^^ ^ ^ N, Streatham Skipton*/*" I Linton ) •Wickliff. /X- Cartanballa'c

nfield" ICape Clea Deteel P*- f——J

\ • Rokewood \ U.

P Inverleigh / Block %r„y -j • / r- , J/ I— J v/* Inverleigh

Figure 1 —Place names and major blocks of Crown Land in the Ballarat area.

The highest areas, Mt Langi Ghiran and decreases to 625 mm in the south. Monthly the Mt Cole massif, are Ordovician granitic variations in temperature and rainfall are intrusions which reach nearly 1000 m at Mt shown in Table 1. Winter and spring are the Buangor; there is some quaternary aeolian seasons of maximum rainfall. Frosts occur sand in the south (Inverleigh Block) during winter and snow falls occasionally on CLIMATE the highest ground. Rainfall and temperature gradients over the VERTEBRATE HABITATS survey area rise and fall respectively with in- Four plant formations serve the general crease in elevation. Annual rainfall on the purpose of denoting habitat and are used in Mt Cole massif is greater than 1000 mm, but discussing the distribution of the vertebrate 49

VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE BALLARAT AREA, VICTORIA 53

TABLE 1 Climatic data from two representative stations (Bureau of Meteorology 1975)

Ballarat (Wendouree) Elevation 459-6 m

J F M A M J J A S O N D Ann. Rainfall (mm) 38 50 47 56 69 64 69 77 73 68 56 52 719 Max. Temp. (°C) 25-5 24-6 21-9 18-0 13-3 11 3 9-9 11-4 13-6 16 6 19-3 22 1 173 Min. Temp. (°C) 11. 11-8 102 8-0 5-8 4-3 3-2 3-8 4-8 6-7 7-9 9-8 7-3

re (P

J F M A M J J A S O N D Ann. Rainfall (mm) 35 41 38 53 55 51 58 68 59 60 56 46 620 Max. Temp. (°C) 26- 26-1 23-7 19-9 15 5 13-4 12 2 13 4 15 5 18 2 21-0 23-5 19-1 Min. Temp. (°C) 11-6 12-3 10 9 8-9 70 5-2 4-4 50 5-9 7-2 8-5 10 3 81

animals in the Ballarat area. Three of these fauna came from the collections of the National formations (tall open-forest, open-forest and Museum of Victoria, field records of the woodland) occur mainly on Crown Land and Mammal Survey Group of the Field Naturalists the fourth formation (grassland) occurs on Club of Victoria, specimens and files held by private land. For each plant formation, the the Fisheries and Wildlife Division, interviews dominant plant species, the characteristic with local naturalists, records of the Australian features and the blocks in which each occurs Bird-banding Scheme, published literature are shown in Table 2. The terminology for and nest records of the Royal Australasian

the plant formations follows that of Specht Ornithologists Union (RAOU ) . Information (1970) and Specht et al. (1974). sources are listed alphabetically and each is The aquatic habitat includes streams, preceded by an identifying letter and number swamps, lakes, farm ponds and associated in the section on Sources of Information. In vegetation which occurs in, or borders on, the the annotated lists, information sources for open water areas. The swamps and lakes, some species are listed only by these letters which are found mainly in the basalt plains, and numbers (those in bold face denote provide a valuable wildlife environment and sources containing breeding information). for 25 of these (Fig. 2) we have a large Mammals were trapped in wire cage traps amount of data on the animals utilizing them. (36 x 20 x 16 cm) baited with a mixture of peanut butter, honey and rolled oats. The Methods traps, to a maximum of 100, were set at each Information was collected on all vertebrate locality for two nights and the intervening animals except fishes. The field work was day. They were checked on the first morning, conducted by the Wildlife Survey Team of the and captured animals were either retained or Fisheries and Wildlife Division between Feb- marked and released. All traps were reset and ruary 1976 and January 1977 (a total of 50 checked again on the second morning, after days was spent in the field by between 1-4 which they were removed from the site and people). Records were kept of the vegetation set in another locality later in the day. Obser- formation at each site where observations vations of mammals during daylight hours were made and form the basis for comments and by spotlight at night were routinely re- on habitats. Data, particularly on birds, were corded as were characteristic scats, burrows collected on a long-term basis by J. R. and diggings. Scientific nomenclature for the Wheeler who has records for the last 30 years native mammals follows Ride (1970). and who has, for many years, written a nature Field work on the birds consisted of visit- column for the newspaper, Ballarat Courier. ing the different habitats in each block of Additional information on the vertebrate Crown Land (including aquatic areas) and 54 A. M. GILMORE, W. B. EMISON and J. R. WHEELER

TABLE 2 Terrestrial habitats in the Ballarat area

Formation/ Occurrence in dominant species Characteristic features blocks

Tall open-forest Eucalyptus obliqua Trees >30 m high; mesomorphic shrub E. st johnii understory to 3 m with tree ferns in Mt Cole £. viminalis gullies Creswick Open-forest

Eucalyptus obliqua Trees 10-30 m; xeromorphic shrubs to Creswick E. dives 1 m Ben Major-Trawalla Enfield E. aromaphloia Sparse shrubs to 1 m; patchy Pteridium Creswick E. obliqua esculentum Enfield E. viminalis Dense shrubs and Pteridium with sedges Creswick E. ovata and Leptospermum spp. in gullies Mt Cole Langi Ghiran E. rubida Tussock grass mid-dense to 1 m Enfield E. paucifiora Ben Major-Trawalla E. goniocalyx Many multistemmed trees from coppice Ararat E. macrorhyncha shoots; sparse shrubs and tussock grass Langi Ghiran E. polyanthemos to 0-5 m Mt Cole Enfield E. macrorhyncha Sparse shrubs to 1 m; sparse Acacia E. sideroxylon pyenantha to 2 m Enfield (Mt Erip) E. aromaphloia Sparse shrubs to 1 m and sparse grass Ararat E. melliodora to 0-5 m Langi Ghiran Woodland

Eucalyptus viminalis Dense grass to 0-5 m; patches of Acacia E. camaldulensis armata to 2 m Inverleigh E. melliodora Dense grass to 0-5 m ; patches of Langi Ghiran E. camaldulensis A cacia Enfield (small) E. leucoxylon Sparse grass and xeromorphic shrubs to E. melliodora 0-5 m patches of Acacia pyenantha to 2 m Ararat Grassland/ Herbfield Themeda australis* Dense grass to 0-5 m Basalt Plains

Mainly converted to introduced pasture grasses and crops.

recording actual or relative numbers of all population estimates that we have made for avian species present and their utilization of other areas of Victoria. Scientific names follow particular structures within the habitats. In- Condon (1975) for the non-passerines and cidental observations were also made outside Schodde (1975) for the passerines. Common the Crown Land areas (e.g. on the basalt names follow the RAOU (1978). plains and in towns) and spotlighting at night Collection of field data on reptiles consisted was used for observing nocturnal species such of observations and collection of specimens. as owls and frogmouths. The terms used to Scientific names and, where available, com- describe abundance (rare, uncommon and mon names follow Cogger (1975) except for common) are estimates of the population of the use of the genus Lampropholis (Greer each species in the survey area relative to 1974), the addition of Leiolopisma coventryi .

VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE BALLARAT AREA, VICTORIA 55

U U3 144°

r-\ w Elmhurst "V "*o\ Campbell town S x \ ^ (oAr arat / Clunes J ) Daylesford 7 Raglan o ° / •18 \ 13 j / o12 17 19 Beaufort "\ / 11 14« 16 \ 37°30' y 10 / Ms 20* jb Willaura '9 8 7 VBALLARAT S' 1

24 I I Lake 2 SkiptonQ/ (Piggoreet Bolaco^ I 1 j,^ °25 / J 1 Lake Bolac 15 Lake Burrumbeet 2 Streatham Swamp 16 Lake Learmonth \ 3 Carranballac Swamps 17 Creswick Lakes i ORokewood S 4 Lake Wongan 18 Hepburn Lagoon U_ 5 Skipton Swamps 19 Newlyn Reservoir X 38° 6 Stoneleigh Swamps 20 Moorabool Reservoir l 7 Mt. Emu 21 White Swan Reservoir Cressy 8 Mena Park Swamp 22 Lake Wendouree /Inverteigh 9 Lake Goldsmith 23 Flaxmill Swamp 10 Buln Gherin 24 Lai Lai Falls Ur 11 Trawalla Swamps 25 Piggoreet (Creek) 12 Beaufort Lake 13 Raglan Swamps 14 Cockpits Lagoon

Figure 2—Major wetlands in the Ballarat area.

following Rawlinson (1975) and the use of Results Anotis maccoyi for Hemiergis maccoyi (Raw- linson pers. comm.). For those species not More than 325 species of vertebrates (ex- named in Cogger we have used local common cluding fishes) were found or occurred recently names. in the Ballarat area. This total represents 42 Amphibians were recorded and collected species of mammals, 249 species of birds, 26 opportunistically and the field data for them species of reptiles and 12 species of amphi- are much less complete than for the other bians. Details of abundance, geographic dis- vertebrates. The list of amphibians was ob- tribution, habitat, breeding (birds only) and tained from the distribution maps of Brook information sources are given for each verte- (1975). The scientific nomenclature of amphi- brate species (except 12 species of amphibians) 1-3. bians used here follows Cogger ( 1 975 ) in Appendices The distribution of all 56 A. M. GILMORE, W. B. EMISON and J. R. WHEELER

vertebrate species, except aquatic birds, among (Table 3) do not include the information of seven blocks (Fig. 1) composed of either Brook (1975) which was presented on a 10- single parcels of public land or several parcels minute grid basis rather than on a Crown grouped on the basis of proximity and the Land basis. The distribution of the aquatic basalt plains surrounding them is set out in birds in relation to 25 wetlands in the survey Table 3. Distribution data for the amphibians area (Fig. 2) is shown in Table 4.

TABLE 3 Distribution of vertebrate animals (excluding aquatic birds) in the Ballarat area

Species Distribution of species in defined areas (see Fig- 1)

A MAMMALS B C D E F G H

Echidna X X X X X Platypus X Tiger Cat X Quoll Survival in area doubtful. Tuan X X X X X Yellow-footed An (echinus X X Brown x x X Antechinus X X X X x Swainson's Antechinus x Mouse Dunnart X X Fat-tailed Dunnart X X Gunn's Bandicoot Survival in are a doubtful. X Wombat X Koala X X X x Brush-tailed Possum X X X X X x X Ring-tailed Possum X X x Sugar Glider X X X Yellow-bellied Glider X R,squires coniirmation. Greater Glider X Feather-tailed Glider X X x Eastern Pigmy Possum X X Eastern Grey X Kangaroo X X X X X X X X Red-necked Wallaby x Black Wallaby X X X x Red Fruit Bat X Tasmanian Pipistrelle X X X Little Bat X X X x X Gould's Wattled Bat X X Bent-winged Bat X Lesser Long-eared Bat X x White-striped Bat X x Hare X Rabbit X X X X X X X Bush Rat X X Black Rat X X X X Swamp Rat X X House Mouse X X X X Eastern Water Rat X X Grey Squirrel X Survival in are? i doubtful. Fox X X X X Cat X X X X Sambar Deer X X Red Decv X X BIRDS

Emu Survival in area doiibtful. Black-shouldered Kite X X x Letter-winged Kite X VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE BALLARAT AREA, VICTORIA 57

TABLE 3 (Continued)

Species Distribution of species in defined areas (see Fig. 1)

A B c D E G H Black Kite X Whistling Kite X X X X X X Brown Goshawk X X X X X X Collared Sparrowhawk X X X X Grey Goshawk X X X Wedge-tailed Eagle X X X X X X X Little Eagle X X X X Spotted Harrier X Black Falcon X Peregrine Falcon X X X X X X Australian Hobby X X X Brown Falcon X X X X X X Australian Kestrel X X X Stubble Quail X X X X King Quail X X Red-backed Button-quail Accidental. Recorded near Dowling. Painted Button-quail X X X Little Button-quail Black-breasted Button-quail Accidental. Recorded at Cardigan. Red-chested Button-quail X Plains-wanderer X Australian Bustard X Bush Thick-knee X X Superb Fruit-Dove Accidental. Recorded at Raglan. Feral Pigeon X X X Spotted Turtle-Dove X X Peaceful Dove X X Diamond Dove X X Common Bronzewing X X X X Brush Bronzewing X Crested Pigeon X X Yellow-tailed Black- Cockatoo X X X X X Gang-gang Cockatoo X Galah X X X X X Long-billed Corella X X X X X Pink Cockatoo Accidental. Recorded at Smythes Creek. Sulphur-crested Cockatoo X X X X X X X Rainbow Lorikeet X Musk Lorikeet X X X X X X Purple-crowned Lorikeet X X X X X Little Lorikeet X X X X Australian King Parrot Accidental. Recorded at Enfield and Ega Cockaliel X X X Budgerigar X X X Swift Parrot X Crimson Rosella X X X X X X X Eastern Rosella X X X X X X X Red-rumped Parrot X X X X X X X Blue-winged Parrot X X Elegant Parrot X Pallid Cuckoo X X X X X Brush Cuckoo X X X Fan-tailed Cuckoo X X X X X Black-eared Cuckoo X X X Horsfield's Bronze- Cuckoo X X X X X X X Shining Bronze-Cuckoo X X X X X X Powerful Owl X X X X X X Southern Boobook X X X X X X 58 A. M. GILMORE, W. B. EMISON and J. R. WHEELER

TABLE 3 (Continued)

Species Distribution of species in defined areas (see Fig. 1)

A B D E G H Balking Owl X Barn Owl X X X X Tawny Erogmouth X X X Australian Owlet-nightjar xxx X White-throated xxx Nightjar Accidental. Recorded at Glenpark. Spotted Nightjar Accidental. Recorded from Enfield forest White-throated Needletail X X Fork-tailed Swift X X Laughing Kookaburra X X X X X X X Red-backed Kingfisher Accidental. Recorded at Invermay. Sacred Kingfisher X X X X X X Rainbow Bee-eater X XX x X Dollarbird Accidental. Recorded at Ercildoune and Trawalla. Singing Bushlark X Skylark X X Welcome Swallow X X X X X Tree Martin X X X X X Fairy Martin X X X X Richard's Pipit X X Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike X X X X X White-bellied Cuckoo- shrike X X X X White-winged Triller X X X X White's Thrush X X X X X Common Blackbird X X x X Song X Thrush Restricted to towns in the survey area. Rose Robin X X X X Pink Robin X X X Flame Robin X X X X X X X Scarlet Robin X X X X X X X X Red-capped Robin X X X Hooded Robin X X X X X Eastern Yellow Robin X X X X X X X X Jacky Winter X X X X X X X Crested Shrike-tit X X X X X X X X Olive Whistler X Golden Whistler X X X X X X X X Rufous Whistler X X X X X X X Grey Shrike-thrush X X X X X X X X Leaden Flycatcher X X X X Satin Flycatcher X X X X X Restless Flycatcher X X X X X X X Rufous Fantail X X Grey Fantail X X X X X X X Willie Wagtail X X X X X X X Spotted Quail-thrush X X White-browed Babbler Rufous X Songlark X X X Brown Songlark X X X Super Fairy-wren X X X X X X X X White-browed Scrubwren X X X X X X X Calamanthus X X X Speckled Warbler X X X X X X X Weebill X X X Western Gerygone Accidental. Recorded at Waubni Junction White-throated Gerygone X X Brown Thornbill X X X x x X X Chestnut-rumped Thornbill X BurT-rumped Thornbill X X X X X X X X Yellow-rumped Thornbill X X X X X X X VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE BALLARAT AREA, VICTORIA 59

TABLE 3 (Continued)

Species Dist ribution o f species in defined areas (see Fig. 1)

A B C D E F G H Yellow Thornbill X X X X Striated Thornbill X X X X X X X X Southern Whiteface X X Varied Sittella X X X X X X White-throated Treecreeper X X X X X X X X Red-browed Treecreeper X Brown Treecreeper X X X X X X X Red Wattlebird X X X X X X X X Little Wattlebird Accidental. Recorded at Lake Wi:ndouree in Ballarat. Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater X Regent Honeyeater X Also recorded in Ballan it. Noisy Miner X X X X X Yellow-faced Honeyeater X X X X X X X X Singing Honeyeater X White-eared Honeyeater X X X X X X X X Yellow-tufted Honeyeater X X X X X X Yellow-plumed Honeyeater Accidental. Recorded at Beaufort. Fuscous Honeyeater X X X X X White-plumed Honeyeater X X X X X X Black-chinned Honeyeater Also recorded in Balllarat. X Brown-headed Honeyeater X X X X X X X White-naped Honeyeater X X X X X X X X Painted Honeyeater X X Crescent Honeyeater X X X New Holland Honeyeater X X X X X X X Tawny-crowned Honeyeate r Rare. Recorded in [owns of Ballarat and Skipton. Eastern Spinebill X X X X X X X X White-fronted Chat X X X X Mistletoebird X X X X X X Spotted Pardalote X X X X X X X X Striated Pardalote X X X X X X X X Silvereye X X X X X X European Goldfinch X X X X X X European Greenfinch X X X X House Sparrow X X X X X Tree Sparrow Rare. Recorded in Ballarat. Red-browed Firetail X X X X X X X Diamond Firetail X X X X Common Starling X X X X X Common Myna Rare. Recorded in Ballarat. Olive-backed Oriole X X X X X Satin Bowerbird Accidental. Recorded at Cresw ick White-winged Chough X X X X X X X X Apostlebird Accidental. Recorded at Lake Goldsmith and Smythesdale. Australian Magpie-lark X X X X X White-browed Wood- swallow X X X Dusky Woodswallow X X X X X X X Grey Butcherbird X X X X Australian Magpie X X X X X X X X Pied Currawong X X Grey Currawong X X X X X X X X Australian Raven X X X X X X Little Raven X X X X

REPTILES Long-necked Tortoise X Marbled Gecko X X Thick-tailed Gecko X X Spinifex Lizard X 60 A. M. GILMORE, W. B. EMISON and J. R. WHEELER

TABLE 3 (Continued)

Species Distribution of species in defined areas (see Fig. 1)

A B D E F G H Jacky Lizard X X X X Large Striped Skink X X Cunningham's Skink X Black Rock Skink X While's Skink X X X X Three-toed Skink X X Garden Skink X X X X X Coventry's Skink X X X Grass Skink X X X X X Three-lined Skink X X X Bougainville's Skink X X Spencer's Skink X Southern Water Skink X X X X Blotched Blue-tongued Lizard X Eastern Blue-tongued Lizard X Shingle-back X X X Copperhead X X White-lipped Snake X X Eastern Tiger Snake X X X Red-bellied Black Snake X X X Eastern Brown Snake X X X Little Whip Snake X X X X X X AMPHIBIANS Crinia pdrinsignifera No NMV specimens or FWD records (see Brook 1975). Crinia signifera X X X X X X X Geocrinia victoriana X X X X X X Limnodynastes dumerilii X X X X Limnodywastes peroni No NMV specimens or FWD records (see Brook 1975). Limodynastes tasmaniensis X X Neobatrachus pictus XXX No NMV specimens or FWD records (see Brook 1975). Pseudophryne bibronii X X X Litoria ewingii XXX X X X X X X X Litoria lesueurii X Litoria raniformis XX X X Litoria verreauxii No NMV specimens or FWD records (see Brook 1975).

X = present in defined area. ; '

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Discussion cundus) in the Ballarat area and the Magpie The percentage of land in public ownership Goose (Anseranas semipalmata) has also dis- in the survey areas under consideration by the appeared from the area. However, a large Land Conservation Council (LCC) varies number of native animals still occur in the from nearly 90 per cent in some of the areas aquatic habitats of the survey area (Fig. 2). in the eastern portion of the State to less than These include 76 species of birds (Table 4),

10 per cent in some of the areas in the western 1 2 species of amphibians (Table 3 ) , the portion. The percentage of Crown Land in the Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus), Eastern

Ballarat survey area is amongst the lowest of Water Rat ( Hydromys chrysogaster ) and

all the LCC survey areas and those public Long-necked Tortoise (Chelodina longicollis) . lands which remain are fragmented into Nine of the aquatic bird species are inter- numerous small parcels (Fig. 1). Conse- continental migrants which spend parts of quently some species of wildlife have either their non-breeding seasons in the aquatic disappeared from the area or their populations environments of the Ballarat area. have declined to such an extent that specific Some species of animals still extant in the efforts may be required to ensure their survival blocks of Crown Land in the survey area are in the survey area. in low numbers and further fragmentation Most of the native grasslands which occurred and reductions in sizes of blocks will result in across the basalt plains before European local extinction of some of these species. In settlement has now been cleared for farming. particular, the Tiger Cat (Dasyurus macu-

Native animals which have disappeared from latus) , possibly the Yellow-bellied Glider the Ballarat area as a result of these changes (Petaurus australis), Bush Thick-knee (Bur- include the Quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus), hinus magnirostris) and Rainbow Lorikeet Gunn's Bandicoot (Perameles gunnii) and (Trichoglossus haematodus) have only small

Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) . Other isolated populations in the survey area. species, the Plains-wanderer (Pedionomus Although generally small and fragmented, torquatus), Australian Bustard (Ardeotis the Crown Land areas are still inhabited by a australis) and Elegant Parrot (Neophema large number of wildlife species. Many of

elegans), are still found occasionally in culti- these species are widespread throughout the vated grasslands of the survey area, but their Crown Land, but some species exist as small numbers have declined. However, many groups only in some of the seven blocks (Fig. species of native wildlife still exist in large 1) to which we have arbitrarily allocated frag- numbers in the survey area only in the grass ments of Crown Land. The reasons why these and crop lands of the basalt plains. These groups of species are confined to specific include the Fat-tailed Dunnart (Sminthopsis blocks in the survey area are many and varied, crassicaudata), Spinifex Lizard (Delma impar), but are mainly related to the types of habitats present. For example, the Enfield Block has Cunningham's Skink {Egernia cunnlnghami) , the only records of the Tiger Cat, Mouse Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus notatus) , Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus), Little Dunnart (Sminthopsis murina), Blotched Blue- tongued Lizard (Tiliqua nigrolutea), Spotted Eagle ( Hieraaetus morphnoides ) , Brown

Falcon (Falco berigora), Australian Kestrel Nightjar ( Caprimulgus guttatus) and acci-

(F. cenchroides) , several species of quail dental occurrences of Red Fruit Bat (Pteropus (Coturnix spp. and Turnix spp.), Galah scapulatus) and Bent-winged Bat (Miniopteris

schreibersii) . (Cacatua roseicapilla) , Richard's Pipit (An- The Creswick Block contains tall thus novaeseelandiae) , Brown Songlark several open-forest inhabitants which have (Cinclorhamphus cruralis), Yellow-rumped not been confirmed as occurring elsewhere in Thornbill (Acanthiza chrysorrhoa) and South- the survey area; these include the Wombat ern Whiteface {Aphelocephala leucopsis). (Vombatus ursinus), Greater Glider (Schoino- Drainage of many of the swamps has re- bates volans), Bush Rat (Rattus fuscipes), duced the numbers of Brolgas (Grus rubi- Olive Whistler (Pachycephala olivacea)^ Red- 64 A. M. GILMORE, W. B. EM [SON and J. R. WHEELER

browed Treecrceper (Climacteris erythrops) come under pressure from recreation because and the unusual occurrences of White-throated of the absence of large natural areas set aside Nightjar (Caprimutgus mysiacalis) and Satin for the latter. Bowerbird (Ptitonorhynchus violaceus). The Ararat Block is inhabited by three avian Acknowledgements species, White-browed Babbler {Pornato- The authors wish to thank the stomus superciliosus) following , Black-chinned Honey- staff of the Fisheries and Wildlife Division eater (Melithreptus gularis) and Peaceful Dove who helped collect field data: William Bren, (Geopelia placida), which are seldom recorded Keith Cherry, Steven Craig, Denise Deerson, further south in the survey area. Keith Dempster, David Hespe, Jane Marcius, The wide range of habitats in the Mt Cole Ian Norman, James Porter and John Seebeck. Block is reflected by a high species diversity Sid Cowling provided of all administrative support; classes of vertebrates; it is also the only Keith block Dempster and Darwin Evans made having Swainson's Antechinus {Ante- valuable comments on drafts of this paper; chinas swainsonii), Yellow-bellied Glider, Alicia McShane drew the maps; Julie Mehegan Red-necked Wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus), Black and Lyn Sharpe typed the manuscript; and Rock Skink {Egernia saxatilis) and James Cooper took all photographs. Spencer's Skink (Pseudemoia spenceri). The Staff and students of Creswick Forestry tall open-forest at Mt Cole also contains an School and staff at the Forests Commission unusually high density of Swamp Rats (Rattus district lutreolus); offices at Ballarat, Beaufort and Dayles- this may be related to a lack of ford provided information on vegetation "and interspecific competition because Bush Rats, tracks as the usual well as observations on fauna. inhabitants of tall open-forest, are Joan Dixon, Allan absent from Mt Cole. McEvey and John Coventry made valuable comments The western portion of the Langi Ghiran on the manuscript and allowed information Block and all the Inverleigh Block are covered to be obtained from the mammal, bird and reptile by woodland having an understorey of native collections of the National Museum of Victoria. grasses. This habitat was once more extensive in The following people provided information the Ballarat area and is becoming quite rare on the vertebrate fauna of the survey throughout all of western Victoria. These area: Ted and Stella Bedggood, Peter woodlands in the survey area now have few Billing, Roger Bilney, John Clements, Amis Heislers, mammals, reptiles or amphibians but they do Laurie contain and Betty Millar, Harold Parnaby, Ivan Tiley, a large number of species of birds, David Thomas, Roger Thomas and and may be important in the future for attempt- Clayton ing White. reintroductions of mammals such as the Quoll and Gunn's Bandicoot. The many people who have sent specimens The to the National Museum or Fisheries and Wild- Ballarat area now has only one public life Division and members of reserve (Lake Goldsmith State Game Reserve) the Australian Bird-banding Scheme and set aside specifically for wildlife conservation. RAOU Nest Record Scheme have The Inverleigh Block has been recommended contributed considerably to the as a flora distribution and breeding records in the present reserve to be managed by the account. National Parks Service (Land Conservation Council 1977) and this may enable the exist- Sources of Information ing wildlife community to remain intact if Al, Anonymous, 1961. Field notes. Creswick excur- recreation pressures are not too great. It should sion. Bird Observer 359 (Oct.): 4. be noted that the A2. 1974. CI Lib third most populous urban t functions. Raster cwnp area in 1974. Bird Observer 511 (June): 2-3. Victoria (Ballarat) is located in the A3. 1975. This and that. Linton, I Novem- survey area and that there are few large ber. Bird • public Observer 529 (Dec ) 94 A4. Arnold, reserves catering specifically for recreation. N., 1974. Club functions. Linton 9th and J Oth Therefore areas very February. Bird Observer 509 (April): valuable for wildlife may 4-6. VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE BALLARAT AREA. VICTORIA 65

A5. Atkins, K. W., 1954. Excursion to Creswick. F3 Fisheries and Wildlilh Division ( FWD ),

Victorian Nat. 71 : 55-56. Minis i ry eor Conservation (Victoria). In- A6. Austin, C. N., 1953. The Black Falcon and cludes information from the survey conducted some other raptorcs in south-wesl Victoria. Emit between February 1976 and January 1977, spe- 53: 77-80, cimens lodged al the Arthur Rylah Institute for A7. AUSTRAI IAN BlRD-BANDING ScTllMT. Records held Environ menial Research and information con- by CSIRO, Division of Wildlife Research. tained in Division files. F4. Fi i ay, D., 1932. Lesser Phalanger Bl. B., C. [= Barrett, C. ?]. 1926. Introduction of The Flying 97-101. British birds. Victorian Nat. 43: 190-191. ('Sugar Squirrel'). Victorian /Vaf. 49: B2. Bf.dggood, S., naturalist of Ballarat, personal F5. , 1934. The Brush-tailed Phascogale communication. first record of breeding habits. Victoriatt Nat. 51: 89-100. B3. BENTLEY, A., 1978. An introduction to the Deer F6. , 1949. The Yellow-fooled Marsupial of Australia with special referenc-- to Victoria. Mouse. Victorian Nat. 65: 273-277. 2nd edition. The Koetong Trust, Forests Com- F7. , 1972. Nightwatchmen of Bush and mission, Melbourne. Plain. Taplinger, New York. B4. Billing, P., Forests Commission, Victoria ( Beau- F8. Forests Commission, Victoria, undated. Mt fort), personal communication. Cole State Forest. [Pamphlet containing a sec- B5. Bilney, R. J., Fisheries and Wildlife Officer at tion on the wildlife of the Mount Cole State Bairnsdalc, personal communication. Forest.] B6. Bird Observers Clue (Various 1950- Authors). G1. Geeeong Field Naiuraiists Club and WEST- 1970. Reports tilled either 'Notes on Swifts' or 1 ERN Victorian Field Naturalists' Club's 'Swift Survey published annually in the B'xd Association, 1972. Proposed preservation of Observer. Mount Cole Range ( Reserve Fores! ). [Mimeo- B7. Blackie, H. J., 1942. A nesting oddity. Vic- graphed submission to the Minister for Forests.] torian Nat. 58: 148. G2. Grant, M., 1978. Red-backed Kingfisher near B8. Brook, A. J., 1975. The distribution of anuran Ballarat. Bird Observer 556 (March): 122. 104- amphibians in Victoria. Victorian Nat. 92: G3. Greenfield, W., J. Greenfield, R. Cantor, E. 120.. Marriott and D. Shanks, 1957. Beaufort, Vic. B9. Bureau of Meteorology. 1975. Climatic aver- in World bird day, district bird lists, 1955-1956: ages, Australia. Metric edition. Australian Gov- 60. Supplement to Bird Observer. ernment Publishing Service. Canberra. G4. Greenwood, A. J., 1910. Cuckoo feeding young. CI. Clarke, G., 1963. Powerful Owl in western Vic- Victorian Nat. 27: 16.

toria. Aust. Bird W . 2: 26. G5. Greer. A. E., 1974. The generic relationships of Wildlife Officer at C2. Clements. J., Fisheries and the scincid lizard genus Leiolopisma and its Ballarat, personal communication. relatives. Aust. J. Zool. Sup.pl. Ser. No. 31: 1-67. C3. Cogger, H. G., 1975. Reptiles and Amphibians HI. Heislers, A., Research Co-ordinalor, National

of Australia. A. H. and A. W. Reed, Sydney. Parks Service, Victoria ( Melbourne), personal C4. Coi.lister. ML, 1975. Club activities. Junior communication. camp at Linton. Bird Observer 519 (Feb.): 14. H2. Hill, G. F., 1907. Birds of Ararat District. Part C5. Condon, H. T., 1975. Checklist of the birds of I. Emu 6: 176-179. Australia, I. Non-passerines. RAOU, Melbourne. Jl. Johnson, A. E., 1955a. V 16b. Ballarat, Vic. /// C6. Costermans, E., 1972. F.N.C.V. excursion to World bird day, district bird lists, 1954: 24. Mt. Napier and Mt. Fccles (Easter 1971). Vic- Supplement to Bird Observer.

torian Nat. 89: 77-83. J2. . 1955b. VI6c. Ballarat, Vic. In World C7. Cowley, R. D., 1959. Creswick excursion. Bird bird day. district bird lists. 1954: 24-25. Supple- Observer 331 (June). ment to Bird Observer.

C8. , 1960a. Birds of the Creswick District. Kl. King, D. F., 1976. A record of fauna observed [Unpublished report held by the Victorian School at Inverleigh Common, July 1975. Gccloni> Nat. of Forestry at Creswick.] 12: 85-90.

1 977. Final re- C9. , 1960b. Nesting of the Flame Robin at LI. Land Conservation Council, Creswick, Victoria. Aust. Bird W. 1: 114-116. commendation, Melbourne Study Area. Govern- Printer, CIO , 1971. Birds and forest management. ment Melbourne. Aust. For. 35: 234-250. L2. Lang, C. L., 1932. White-browed Babbler. Emu specimens held CI 1 . Creswick School of Forestry, 32: 70. for demonstration purposes. L3. Llewellyn, L. C, 1975. Recent observations on Dl. Dawson, D. and J. R. Wheeler. 1957. VI6e. the Plains-wanderer, with a review of its past Ballarat, Lake Wendouree, Vic. In World bird and present status. Emu 75: 137-142. day, district bird lists, 1955-1956: 69. Supplement MI Mammal Survey Group F.N.C.V., 1974. Un- to Bird Observer. published report on mammal trapping and spot- D2. D'Ombrain, E. A., 1926. The vanishing Plain- lighting in the Mt Langi Ghiran Block during wanderer. Emu 26: 59-63. 15-17 June 1974. F1. Feather, L.. 1977-1978. Melbourne Cup week- M2. Millar, L., naturalist at Beaufort, personal com- munication. end at Linton. Bird Observer 553-554 (Dec- Jan.): 106. M3 Millar, L. and I. They, 1971. Birds of the F2. Fisher. T., 1914. About birds. Victorian Nat. 31: colony. [Unpublished list of birds on a privately 96. owned area of forest near Beaufort.] 66 A. M. GILMORE, W. B. EMISON and J. R. WHEELER

M4. 1972-1973. Birds at 'Lake Tl. Tarr, H. E., 1950. The distribution of foreign Wongan'. [Unpublished lisl of birds on Lake birds in Australia. Emu 49: 189-198. Wongan from July 1972 to June 1973.] T2. Thomas, R., 1970. Trip to Linton, Vic. Bird Nl. National Museum op Victoria (NMV). Re- Observer 459 (Feb.): 5-6. cords of specimens of mammals, reptiles, and T3. , 1972. Trip to Linton— 12th Novem- amphibians lodged in the museum are included ber, 1972. Bird Observer (Dec): 4. in the annotated lists. Specimen records for birds T4. , 1973. The making of a bird list. are incomplete. Gee- long Nat. 10: 37. N2. Norris, K. C, W. B. Emison and B. W. 15. , 1974. Some notes on the Starling. [= M.] Bren, 1977. A preliminary survey of Geelong Nat. 10: 88-89. the population of Peregrine Falcons in Victoria. T6. , naturalist, formerly of Ballarat, per- Emu 77: 86-87. sonal communication; including an undated list PL Parnabv, H., naturalist, formerly of Daylesford, of birds on Lake Goldsmith. personal communication. WL Wakefield, N. A., 1963a. The Australian P2. Payne, H. W., 1931. The birds of Creswick, Vic Pigmy-possums. Victorian Nat. 80: 99-116. Emu 30: 228-232. — W2. , 1963b. Along the by-ways with the P3. Pescott, T., 1977. Plain Wanderer at Inverleigh. editor. Rufous Fantails records. Victorian Nat. Geelong Nat. 13: 99. 80: 192. [Information in a note from Mrs E. Bedggood of RL Rawlinson, P. A., 1975. Two new lizard species Ballarat.]

from the genus Leiolopisma (Scincidae: Lygo- W3. , 1963c. Along the by-ways with the sominae) in southeastern Australia and Tas- editor. Fantails at Ballarat. Victorian Nat. 80: mania. Mem. Nat. Mus. Vict. 36: 1-16. 37-38. [Information in a note from Mrs B. Strange R2. -, La Trobe University, personal com- of Ballarat.] munication. W4. Wheeler, J. R., of 72 James St., Belmont, R3. Ride, W. D. L., 1970. A guide to the native Victoria, unpublished data. W5. , mammals of Australia. Oxford University Press, undated. Birds of Ballarat and dis- Melbourne. trict. [Unpublished list of birds in the Ballarat district with notes R4. Robinson, L., 1955. The Grass-parrots {Neo- on distribution, habitat and breeding.] phema). Part one. Bird Observer 287 (Oct.).

R5. W6. . Ross, J. A., 1930. A record of the Purple- 3 various dates between 1957 and 1976. crowned Pigeon for Victoria. Emu 30: 66. Nature notes published in the newspaper, the R6. Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union Ballarat Courier. (RAOU) Council, 1913. Quails in Victoria. W7. , 1953a. VT6a. Ballarat, Vic. In World Emu 12: 202-203. bird day, district bird lists, 1952: 7. Supplement R7. Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union to Bird Observer.

(RAOU), nest record cards. W8. , 1953b. V32. Beaufort, Vic. In World R8. Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union bird day, district bird lists, 1952: 11. Supplement (RAOU), 1978. Recommended English names to Bird Observer. for Australian birds. Emu 11 Supplement: 245- W9. . 1954. Field notes. Mountain Thrush 313. nesting. Bird Observer (Oct.). R9. Russell, P., 1957. V75b. W10. Beaufort, Vic. In , 1955a. V16d. Ballarat, Vic. In World World bird day, district bird lists, 1955-1956: bird day, district bird lists, 1954: 25. Supplement 73-74. Supplement to Bird Observer. to Bird Observer. 51. Schodde, R., 1975. Interim list Wll. of Australian 1 1955b. V75. Beaufort and Lake songbirds. Passerines. RAOU, Melbourne. Goldsmith, Vic. In World bird day, district bird 52. Simpson, K. G. and G. T. Smith, 1964. Bat man- lists, 1954: 37. Supplement to Bird Observer. dible from Mt. Widderin Cave, Skipton, Victoria W12.— , 1955c. V76. Snake Valley—Carng- Victorian Nat. 81: 78-79. ham, Vic. In World bird day, district bird lists, 53. Smith, R. (Mr and Mrs) and Mr and Mrs J. R. 1954: 37-38. Supplement to Bird Observer. Wheeler, 1957. V108. Learmonth and Lexton, W13. , 1955d. V79. Creswick-Newlyn, Vic. Vic. In World bird day, district bird lists, 1955- In World bird day, district bird lists, 1954: 38. 1956: 66. Supplement to Bird Observer. Supplement to Bird Observer. 54. Sonsee, A. and J. R. Wheeler, 1953. V34. W14. , 1957a. V75a. Beaufort, Vic. /// Kooroocheang, via Creswick, Vic. In World World bird day, district bird lists, 1955-1956: bird day, district bird lists, 1952: 11. Supplement 60. Supplement to Bird Observer to Bird Observer. W15 - 1 1957b. V76a. Carngham, Vic. In 55. Specht, R. L., 1970. Vegetation. In The Austra- World bird day, district bird lists, 1955-1956: lian environment. CS1RO, Melbourne. 60-61. Supplement to Bird Observer. 56. Specht, R. L., E. M. Roe and V. H. Boughton, W16. , 1957c. V34b. Smeaton, Kooroo- 1974. Conservation of major plant communities cheang, Newlyn, Vic. In World bird day, dis- in Australia and Papua New Guinea. Aust. J. trict bird lists, 1955-1956: 70. Supplement Bot. to Supplement no. 7. Bird Observer. 57. Stewart, H. C. E., 1950. Inverleigh trip. Bird W17. , 1957d. V107a. Carranballac-Skipton- Observer (April). Beaufort, Vic. In World bird day, district bird 58. Strange, B., 1966. Honey-eaters at Ballarat lists, 1955-1956: 78. Supplement to Bird Ob- Victorian Nat. 83: 202. server. VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE BALLARAT AREA, VICTORIA 67

W18. 1958a. Further notes on the Little of Mt Langi Ghiran, 1 km SW of Ben Nevis Bittern {Ixobrychns minutus). Bird Observer 315 (Feb.). and the Inverleigh Block (FWD survey; Par- - VVI9. — , 1958b. Grazing swans. Bird Ob- naby pers. comm.; Wheeler unpublished data). server 315 (Feb.). Habitat. Open-forest and woodland. W20. 1959a. Vl6g, Ballarat, Vic. In World bird day, district bird lists, 1957-1958: 31. Sup- plement to Bird Observer. ORNITHORHYNCHIDAE W21 — 1959b. VI 07b. Carranballac, Stone- Omithorhynchns analinus. Platypus. leigh, Buln Gherin and Lake Goldsmith, Vic. distribution. and In World bird day, district bird lists, 1957- Abundance and Common 1958: 38. Supplement to Bird Observer. widespread. Recorded from Hepburn Lagoon,

W22. , 1959c. Little Bitterns south. move Beaufort, Ballarat, Newlyn, Mt Emu Creek A us t. Bird W. 1: 53. near Skipton, Fiery Creek near Raglan, W23. , 1960. Blue-billed Ducks at Lake Wendouree, Ballarat. Emu 60: 281-284. Woady Yaloak River and Lake Wendouree. W24. , 1968. Club excursion to historic Lai Habitat. Aquatic. Lai. Geelong Nat. 5: 56-60. Information sources. B2; C2; F3; M2; NI; W25. , 1971a. Darters recorded on Lake Wendouree, Ballarat. Geelong Nat. 8: 58. W4.

W26. , 1971b. Grey Fantails breeding in suburban garden. Geelong Nat. 8: 82-84. DASYURIDAE

W27. , 1973. Bird list— Inverleigh and dis- trict (radius 10 miles). In The Inverleigh Com- Dasyurus macalatus. Tiger Cat. mon, plant and bird lists (mimeographed by the Abundance and distribution. Only one Geelong Field Naturalists Club). record from "The Meadows'' Rokewood on W28. , 1977. Club excursion to Mt Cole. Geelong Nat. 14: 79-81. 3 April 1964 (FWD specimen). W29. Wheeler, J. R. (Mr and Mrs), 1959. Vl()8a. Habitat. Open-forest. Learmonth, Waubra, Livingston, Ercildoune, Lexton, Vic. In World bird day, district bird Dasyurus viverrinus. QuolK lists, 1957-1958: 38-39. Supplement to Bird Observer. Abundance and distribution. Once com- W30. Wheeler, J. R. and R. Thomas, 1975. Mt Cole mon and widespread, now presumed extinct campout Jan. 17th, 18th, 19th, 1975. Geelong in the survey area. The following account was Nat. 11: 101-107. W3 I.Wheeler, W. R., 1954. Report of outings. published by Wheeler in the Ballarat Courier Barunah Plains, Hesse. Bird Observer (Oct.). (3/4/65) : "Native cats were often seen W32. , 1967. A handlist of the birds of perched on fence posts on moonlit nights Victoria. Melbourne University Press, Melbourne.

W33. , 1973. The Black-tailed Native Hen before 1900 at Emu Hill Station south of recent invasion. Geelong Nat. 10: 45-50. Linton towards Mannibadar . . . both Native

W34. , 1974. Victorian records of the Plain in Wanderer. Geelong Nat. 11: 29-35. and Tiger cats were known the Mortchup Vic- in W35. , 1975. The Darter in southern district about the 1880's". Wheeler the toria. Geelong Nat. 12: 57-62. Ballarat Courier (8/5/65) gives the follow- of the Letter- W36. , 1977. Victorian records winged Kite. Geelong Nat. 14: 57-63. ing report by Mr A. Sonsee: "An old friend University at W37. White, C. M., Brigham Young of mine at Kooroocheang . . . informed me personal communication. Provo, Utah (U.S.A.), that Native cats were common in stone fences, W38. Wilkinson, J., Raglan, personal communica- tion. stone heaps and basalt outcrops in that dis- trict but they all disappeared in the early 1900V. Appendix 1 Habitat. Woodland and grassland with piles in the Annotated list of Mammals of stones. Ballarat area Phascogale tapoataja. Tuan. TACHYGLOSSIDAE Abundance and distribution. Infrequently Tachyglossus aculeatus. Echidna. recorded but widespread in the survey area. Abundance and distribution. Common and Recorded from 2 km SW of Mt Buangor, widespread. Recorded from 15 km NNW of Linton, Elmhurst, Beaufort, Pyrenees Highway Mt Cole, 3 km SSW of Mt Langi Ghiran, near 25 km ENE of Ararat, 3 km E of Ararat and Mt Erip, 5 5 km W of Daylesford, 2 km NW Stockyard Hill (FWD survey, specimens and .

68 A. M. GILMORB, W. B. EMISON and J. R. WHEELER

files; NMV specimens; Clements pers. comm.). Sminthopsis crassicaudata. Fat-tailed Dunnart. Fleay (1934) mentions one trapped at Abundance and distribution. Infrequently Smeaton and a road kill on the Western High- recorded but widespread. Recorded from way at Gordon. Ararat, Beaufort, Cape Clear, 8 km NE of Habitat. Open-forest and woodland. Beaufort, Smythesdale and Elaine (FWD and NMV specimens; Wheeler in Bailarat Courier Antechinus flavipes. 12/9/64). Yellow-footed Antechinus. Habitat. Grassland, where it shelters beneath Abundance and distribution. Uncommon rocks and logs. and restricted to the NW corner of the survey area. Recorded from Ararat, Mt Cole Range- PERAMELIDAE Warrak and 2 km NW of Mt Langi Ghiran (FWD specimens and files; NMV specimens). Perameles gunnii. Gunn's Bandicoot. Fleay (1949) mentions seeing them in the Abundance and distribution. Once com- stony rises between Smeaton and Campbell- mon and widespread, now presumed extinct town, and Millar (pers. comm.) reports them in the survey area. Recorded from Beaufort, from Stockyard Hill. near Trawalla and near Mt Emu (NMV speci- Habitat. Open-forest with sparse ground mens). Wheeler in the Bailarat Courier cover. (23/9/67) mentions Barred Bandicoots found on the railway line between Pittong and Skip- Antechinus stnartii. Brown Antechinus. ton. Another colony was known at Carngham Abundance and distribution. Common and towards Mena Park. widespread in the north and east of the survey Habitat. Grassland and woodland. area. Recorded from Snake Valley, 15 km SSW of Daylesford, 2 km ENE of Creswick, VOMBATIDAE 2 km SE of Mt Langi Ghiran, 2 km NW of Mt Langi Ghiran, Mt Erip State Forest and Vombatus ursinus. Wombat. throughout the Mt Cole Block (FWD survey Abundance and distribution. Restricted to the and specimens). NE corner of the survey area where it is either Habitat. Tall open-forest and open-forest. rare or extinct. No evidence of it was found in the survey area during the FWD survey although it was recorded Antechinus swainsonii. Swainson's Antechinus. just east of the boundary. It has occurred further west Abundance and distribution. Occurs near because Fleay (1972) mentions Wombats in the northern part of the eastern boundary wet sclerophyll forest near Moorabool Reser- (Heislers pers. comm.) but the stronghold of voir in this 1924. species in the survey area is the Mt Cole Habitat. Tall open-forest and open-forest. State Forest. Recorded from 3 km E of Mt Buangor, 2 km SW of Mt Buangor and 1 km NEofMtCole (FWD survey). PHASCOLARCTIDAE Habitat. Tall open-forest, especially in gullies. Phascolarctos cinereus. Koala. Abundance and distribution. Widespread Sminthopsis murina. Mouse Dunnart. but patchy distribution. Recorded from 15 Abundance and distribution. Rarely re- km N of Mt Cole, Dereel, 2 km E of Creswick, corded. One was collected from beneath a Mt Buninyong, 2 km SE of Mt Langi Ghiran, piece of bark in a bush paddock 15 km SW 2 km NW of Mt Langi Ghiran, Lai Lai State of Mt Buninyong on 15/1/1964 (FWD speci- Forest and Mt Cole State Forest 4 km S of men) and 2 were found beneath a sheet of Elmhurst (FWD survey and specimen; Wheeler iron in Mt Erip State Forest 14 km SW of in Bailarat Courier 22/4/76 and 30/5/70). Smythesdale on 31/3/1 976 (FWD survey) Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest and Habitat. Open-forest. woodland. VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE BALLARA T AREA, VICTORIA 69

PHALANGERIDAE Schoinobates volans. Greater Glider. Trichosurus vulpecula. Brush-tailed Possum. Abundance and distribution. The NE Abundance and distribution. Widespread boundary of the survey area is at the western this species. The western- and common. Recorded from Mt Cole State edge of the range of is Koorweingu- Forest, Mt Erip State Forest, Cape Clear, Mt most known occurrence at (Heislers pers. comm.). Bute, Ararat, 10 km NNE of Ararat, 2 km E boorah Reservoir of Creswick, 2 km SE of Mt Langi Ghiran and Habitat. Tall open-forest. Inverleigh Common (FWD survey and files; BURRAMY1DAE NMV specimens). Acrobates pygmaeus. Feather-tailed Glider. Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest, wood- Abundance and distribution. Widespread land and urban areas. but rarely seen. Recorded from Happy Valley, PETAURIDAE Trawalla State Forest, Gordon, Linton, Enfield State Forest and Willaura (FWD and NMV Pseudocheirus peregrinus. Ring-tailed Possum. specimens; Wheeler in Ballarat Courier Abundance and distribution. Widespread 6/4/68). and common. Recorded from Cole State Mt Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest and Forest, 3 km W of Spargo Creek, 2 km NW woodland. of Barkstead, Mt Erip State Forest, Mt Bunin- yong, Mt Bute—W of Linton, Ararat, 2 km E Cercartetus nanus. Eastern Pigmy Possum. of Creswick and 2 km W of Beaufort (FWD Abundance and distribution. Widespread survey; NMV specimens). but not commonly encountered. Recorded Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest and from Smythesdale, Snake Valley, Enfield, woodland. Ballarat area and Scarsdale (FWD specimens; Wheeler in Ballarat Courier 4/4/70). Petaunts breviceps. Sugar Glider. Habitat. Open-forest. Abundance and distribution. Widespread and common. Recorded from Mt Cole State MACROPODIDAE Forest, 4 km W of Enfield, Smythesdale, Macropus giganteus. Eastern Grey Kangaroo. Beaufort, Happy Valley, Mt Helen, Mt Clear Abundance and distribution. Widespread and Creswick. and common. Recorded from all blocks of Habitat. Tall open-forest and open-forest. public land in the survey area (FWD survey). Information sources. B4; C2; CI 1; F3; W6. Habitat. Open-forest, woodland and tall open- forest. Petaurus australis. Yellow-bellied Glider. Abundance and distribution. If present, Macropus rufogriseus. Red-necked Wallaby. restricted and rare. Only indirect evidence for Abundance and distribution. Restricted State the presence of this species in Mt Cole and uncommon. Recorded only in the Mt Cole Forest exists. trees with rows of bites, Two State Forest ( FWD survey) although once Yellow-bellied which were possibly made by common in the Ben Major-Trawalla Block Gliders, were found along Buckingham's near Mt Lonarch (Clements pers. comm.). Creek Road 3 km S of Ben Nevis (FWD sur- Habitat. Tall open-forest and open-forest. vey). A "glider tree" has also been reported along Hutching's Track 3 km N of Mt Cole Wallabia bicolor. Black Wallaby. (Millar pers. comm.). The species is also Abundance and distribution. Widespread listed as occurring in the Mt Cole area by the and common. Recorded from all blocks of Ceelong F.N.C. and Western Victorian public land except the Ararat and Mt Langi F.N.C.A. (1972) but details are not given. Ghiran blocks (FWD survey). Confirmation of the presence of this species Habitat. Tall open-forest and open-forest in the survey area is required. wherever there is a dense understorey about Habitat. Tall open-forest. 1 m high. 70 A. M. GILMORH, W. B. EMISON and J. R. WHEELER PTEROPODIDAE MOLOSSIDAE Pteropusscapulatus. Red Fruit Bat. Tadarida australis. White-striped Bat. Abundance and distribution. Occasional Abundance and distribution. Uncommon. individuals stray into the area. There is an Recorded from 4 km S of Elmhurst and Stock- NMV specimen from Piggoreet and Wheeler yard Hill— I 5 km S of Trawalla State Forest in the Ballarat Courier (26/5/73) mentions (FWD survey and specimens). unidentified fruit bats from Ararat and Lake Habitat. Open-forest and woodland. Boiac. LEPORIDAE VESPERTILIONIDAE Lepus europaeus. Hare. Pipistrellus tasmaniensis. Abundance and distribution. Probably Tasmanian Pipistrelle. widespread and uncommon. None recorded Abundance and distribution. Recorded during the FWD survey, but Wheeler (unpub- from 6 km W of Daylesford, Enfield State lished data) indicates they occur in the Forest— 5 km SW of Enfield and Mt Cole Carngham, Beaufort and Carranballac area. State Forest—4 km S of Elmhurst (FWD Records from districts adjacent to the survey survey; NMV specimen). area suggest they are present throughout. An Habitat. Tall open-forest and open-forest. introduced species. Habitat. Woodland and grassland. Eptesicus piimilus. Little Bat. Abundance and distribution. Widespread Oryctolagus cuniculus. Rabbit. and common. Recorded from 4 km S of Elm- Abundance and distribution. Widespread hurst, 2 of km SE Mt Langi Ghiran, Mt Bunin- and common. Recorded from all blocks in the yong, Creswick and 5 km W of Daylesford survey area (FWD survey). An introduced (FWD survey and specimens; NMV speci- species. mens). Habitat. Open-forest, woodland and Habitat. Tall open-forest and open-forest. grass- land. Only occurs in tall open-forest along the Chalinolobus gouldii. Gould's Wattled Bat. edge of tracks. Abundance and distribution. Common. Recorded from 4 km S of Elmhurst, 5 km SW MURIDAE of Enfield and Ballarat (FWD survey and Rattus juscipes. Bush Rat. specimens). Abundance and distribution. Restricted Habitat. Tall open-forest and open-forest. to the NE of the survey area where it is com- mon in Minlopteris schreibersii. Bent-winged Bat. the western end of the Wombat State Abundance and distribution. Rare. Only Forest. Recorded from 15 km SSW of Dayles- ford and recorded at Buninyong (FWD specimen) and 3 km W of Spargo (FWD survey). a jawbone was found in a lava cave on Mt A record from the Enfield State Forest (Bedg- goodpers. Widderin near Skipton by Simpson and Smith comm.) requires confirmation. (1964). Habitat. Tall open-forest and open-forest. Rattus Habitat. This bat lives in caves, man-made rattus. Black Rat. tunnels and mine shafts. Abundance and distribution. Widespread Nyctophilus geoffroyl. Lesser Long-eared Bat. and common. Recorded from Snake Valley, 2 Abundance and distribution. Common. km E of Creswick, 15 km SSW of Daylesford, Recorded from Ballarat, Mt Buninyong, Elm- Mt Erip, Woady Yallock River—7 km SSE of hurst, Creswick, Smythesdale, 2 km E of Linton, 4 km N of Linton, 3 5 km E of Mt Creswick, 7 km SW of Spargo Hotel and 5 km Buangor, 6 km NE of Mt Cole, 3 km NW SW of Enfield (FWD survey and specimens; of Barkstead, 2 km SW of Mt Buangor and NMV specimens). 2 km N of Mt Cole (FWD survey and speci- Habitat. Open-forest. mens). An introduced species. 2

VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE BALLARAT AREA, VICTORIA 71

Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest, CAN I DAE aquatic (reed beds) and suburban environ- Vulpes vulpes. Fox. ments. This species is usually found in natural Abundance and distribution. Widespread environments that have been disturbed, for and common. Recorded from 2 km W of example mining or recent logging. Spargo, Barkstead, 2 km NW of Barkstead, Mt Erip State Forest, 5 km NNE of Cape Rattus lutreolus. Swamp Rat. Clear, 5 km NNW of Cape Clear and 2 km Abundance and distribution. Restricted NW of Inverleigh (FWD survey). An intro- and common. Recorded from 2 km SE of Mt duced species. Langi Ghiran, 3 km N of Mt Cole, 2 km SW Habitat. Occurs in all habitats.

of Mt Buangor and 1 km NE of Mt Cole (FWD survey). FELIDAE Habitat. Tall open-forest and open-forest. Felts catus. Cat. Mus muscultts. House Mouse. Abundance and distribution. Widespread and common. Recorded from 2 km NW of Abundance and distribution. Widespread Inverleigh and 2 km NW of Mt Langi Ghiran and common. Recorded from 5 5 km S of (FWD survey and files). An introduced species. Smythesdale, Mt Langi Ghiran, Linton and Habitat. Occurs in all habitats. 3 km NW of Barkstead (FWD survey and CERVIDAE specimens). An introduced species. Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest, wood- Cervus unicolor. Sambar Deer. land, grassland and suburban environments. Abundance and distribution. Restricted Usually only found in forested environments to Mt Cole State Forest and Mt Langi Ghiran that have been disturbed. Forest Park (FWD survey and files). It is sug- gested by Bentley (1978) that the present population of Sambar Deer in the Mt Cole Hydromys chrysogaster. Eastern Water Rat. State Forest originated from a liberation at Abundance and distribution. Widespread Ercildoune near Burrumbeet in 1871. and uncommon. Recorded from Lake Wen- Habitat. Tall open-forest. douree, Flax Mill Swamp, Hepburn Lagoon, Cervus elephas. Red Deer. 3 km N of Mt Cole, 5 km NNW of Cape Clear, 3 km SW of Cape Clear and Eaton's Dam— Abundance and distribution. Has spread km NE of Creswick (FWD survey; Heislers from earlier liberations in the western district, pers. comm.; Wheeler unpublished data). but the population has declined in farmlands

Habitat. Aquatic. and it is now restricted to the Enfield and Ben Major-Trawalla Blocks (Clements pers. comm.). Bentley (1978) provides the follow- SCIURIDAE ing information; "A small herd of red deer Sciura carolinensis. Grey Squirrel. inhabits the timbered country and pine plan- Abundance and distribution. Once re- tations in the Shire of Grenville south of stricted to the gardens in Ballarat; it now Ballarat. The deer are descendants of those appears that they are no longer present in the once held by Philip Russell on his property survey area. They were introduced on 24 Carngham, Snake Valley. In 1 890 about November 1936 by Mr T. Beaumont, who twenty deer were moved to Langi Willi the in brought individuals from "Rippon Lea" property of George Russell near Linton . . . Melbourne; the latest sightings were in 1966 The Langi Willi deer were liberated in the (FWD files; Wheeler in Ballarat Courier Linton forest about 1914. Very occasionally 29/2/64). red deer have been reported seen in the Mt Habitat. Suburban parks with many northern Cole State Forest." hemisphere trees. Habitat. Open-forest. .

72 A. M. GILMORK, W. B, EMISON and J. K. WHKELER Appendix 2 PELECANIDAE Annotated list of Birds in the Ballarat area Pelecanus conspicillatus. Australian Pelican. Abundance and DROMAIIDAE distribution. Uncommon; usually on large bodies of water. Dromaius novaehollandiae. Emu. Habitat. Aquatic. Abundance Information and DISTRIBUTION. Survival in sources. A2; C8; F3* T6* W5- the survey area is doubtful. W15;W20; W29. Information sources. W4; W5; W9. ANHINGIDAE PODJCIPEDIDAE Anhinga melanogaster. Darter. Abundance and distribution. Rare; a few Podiceps crisiatus. Great Crested Grebe. sightings of single birds are reported in the Abundance and distribution. Uncommon. literature and Wheeler (unpublished data) has Regular summer visitor to Lake Wendouree recorded it on Lake Wendouree, Creswick occasional elsewhere. In 1972 the population Lakes and on Woady Yaioak Creek on Lake near Wendouree consisted of 45 adults and Piggoreet. young 10 of the year (Wheeler unpublished Habitat. Aquatic. data). Breeding. Not recorded in the survey Habitat. area, Aquatic. but just to the north it occasionally nests in Breeding. It nests regularly on Lake River Red Wen- Gums near Clunes (Thomas pers. douree; see RAOU nest record cards for comm.). details. A pair also has been recorded by Information sources. A2; C8* T6- W4- W5- Wheeler (Ballarat ' Courier 16/1/58) as nest- W25;W35. ' ing at Newlyn. Information PHALACROCORACIDAE sources. C2; C8* R7 R9- T6 W4; W5; W6; W20; W28; W29. Phalacrocorax carbo. Great Cormorant. Abundance and distribution. Common and Potiocephalus poliocephalus. widespread. Hoary-headed Grebe. Habitat. Aquatic. Abundance and Breeding. distribution. Common and Not recorded in the survey area, widespread. but just to the north it nests near Clunes Habitat. Aquatic. ( Thomas pers. comm. ) Breeding. Recorded nesting at Stoneleigh Information sources. C8; Dl; J2; M4* R9 Lake and Carranballac T6; W5; Swamps ( Wheeler W7; Wll; W13; W20; W21; W27"' unpublished data). W28; W29. Information sources. C8; F3; 12- P2* R9- Phalacrocorax S3; S4; T6; W4; W5; W6; W7; w'llfWlV varius. Pied Cormorant. W20; W21; W29. Abundance and distribution. Rare; reported at Lakes Wendouree, Learmonth, Burrumbeet, Tachyhaptus novaehollandiae, Goldsmith, Bolac and at Buln Gherin (Wheeler unpublished data). Australasian Grebe. Habitat. Aquatic. Abundance and distribution. Common and widespread. Information sources. T6; W4; W5. Habitat. Aquatic. Phalacrocorax Breeding. sulcirostris. It regularly nests in the survey area Little Black Cormorant. particularly on margins of farm ponds. Also Abundance and distribution. see Table 4. Uncommon and widespread. Information sources. A2; C8 F3' GL J2- Habitat. Aquatic. M4; P2; R7; T2; T6; W4; W5; W7; W8; W13-' Information sources. DL F3- T6- WS- W7- WI7; 9 ' W20; ; W2 1 W27; W28; W29. W20. ' VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE BALLARAT AREA, VICTORIA 73

Phalacrocorax melanoleucos. Egretta intermedia. Intermediate Egret. Little Pied Cormorant. Abundance and distribution. Rare; recorded Abundance and distribution. Common and near Skipton (Anon. 1974) and at Lake Gold- widespread. smith, Cockpits Lagoon, Lake Wendouree, Habitat. Aquatic. Buln Gherin and Lake Burrumbeet (Wheeler Information sources. A2; C8; Dl; F3; Gl; unpublished data). J2; R9; T6; W5; W6; W7; W8; W12; W13; Habitat. Aquatic. W17; W20; W21; W27; W28; W29. Information sources. A2; T6; W4; W5.

Nycticorax caledonicus. Rufous Night Heron. ARDEIDAE Abundance and distribution. Uncommon and Ardea pacifica. Pacific Heron. widespread. Abundance and distribution. Uncommon Habitat. Aquatic. Information sources. A3; C2; P2; T3; and widespread. Numbers appear to fluctuate, C8; possibly nomadic. T6;W4;W5;W6;W2I;W27. Habitat. Aquatic and grassland. Ixobrychus minutus. Little Bittern. Breeding. It nests in the survey area (Thomas Abundance and distribution. Rare; one or pers. comm.; Wheeler unpublished data). two seen at Lake Wendouree in 1957 and in Information sources. A2; C8; F3; Gl; G2; 1960 and one recorded at Happy Valley in M3; R9; T6; W4; W5; W13; W21; W27; 1966 (Wheeler in Ballarat Courier 15/11/75). W28; W29; W30. Habitat. Aquatic. Information sources. T6; W5; W6; W18; Ardea novaehollandiae. White-faced Heron. W20; W22. Abundance and distribution. Common and widespread. Botaurus poiciloptiius. Australasian Bittern. Abundance and distribution. Rare Habitat. Aquatic and grassland. and widespread. Breeding. It nests in the survey area; see Habitat. Aquatic. RAOU nest record cards for details of nests Breeding. A nest record card contains near Beaufort. RAOU details of a nest near Streatham. Information sources. A2; C4; C8; Dl; F3 Information sources. C8; R7; T6; W4; W5. Gl; G2; Jl; J2; M3; M4; P2; R7; R9; S4; T2 T3; T6; W5; W8; Wll; W12; W13; W14 W15; W17; W20; W21; W27; W28; W29 PLATALEIDAE W30. Plegadis jalcinellus. Glossy Ibis. Abundance and distribution. Rare; recorded Ardeola ibis. Cattle Egret. from Lake Wendouree and near Skipton Abundance and distribution. Uncommon (Wheeler in Ballarat Courier 6/11/65 and and widespread. Numbers are increasing 6/5/67), near Streatham (Anon. 1974) and (Thomas pers. comm.; Wheeler unpublished Lake Learmonth and Buln Gherin (Wheeler data). unpublished data). Habitat. Aquatic and grassland. Habitat. Aquatic and grassland. Information sources. A3; T6; W4; W5; W6. Information sources. A3; T6; W4; W5; W6.

Egretta alba. Great Egret. Threskiornis aethiopica. Sacred Ibis. Abundance and distribution. Uncommon Abundance and distribution. Uncommon and widespread. Numbers appear to fluctuate, and widespread; numbers appear to fluctuate, possibly nomadic (Thomas pers. comm.). possibly nomadic (Thomas pers. comm,). Habitat. Aquatic and grassland. Habitat. Aquatic and grassland. Information sources. C8; F3; G2; T6; W4; Breeding. It nests in the survey area at Buln W5; W21; W29. Gherin (Wheeler unpublished data). 74 A. M. GILMORE, W. B. BMISON and J. R. WHEELER

Information sources. C8; F3; Gl; G2; M4; remained for 3 days at Buln Gherin in Novem- T2; T6; W4; W5; W20; W2I; W27; W28; ber 1969 (Wheeler unpublished data). W29. Habitat. Aquatic.

Threskiornis spinicollis. Straw-necked Ibis. Cygnus atratus. Black Swan. Abundance and distribution. Common and Abundance and distribution. Common and widespread; numbers appear to fluctuate, widespread. possibly nomadic (Thomas pers. comm.). Habitat. Aquatic and grassland. Habitat. Aquatic and grassland. Breeding. A common nesting species in the Breeding. A large breeding colony was re- survey area. ported by Wheeler (Ballarat Courier 8/1/66) Information sources. A2; C8; Dl; F3; Gl near Streatham in J2: 1964/65 and 1965/66; it M4; P2; R7; R9; S3; S4; T2; T6; W4; has also nested at Buln Gherin (Wheeler un- W5; W7; W8; Wll; W13; W14; W15; W16; published data). W17; W19; W20; W21; W27; W28; W29. Information sources. A2; C8; F3; Gl* G2* Jl; Stictonetta naevosa. Freckled P2; R9; T3; T6; W4; W5; W6; W15; W20 : Duck. W21; W27; W2S; W29. Abundance and distribution. Rare; recorded by Wheeler (Ballarat Courier 19/9/64) at Platalea regia. Royal Spoonbill. Beaufort, Burrumbeet, Carranballac, Strea- Abundance and distribution. Rare; recorded tham and Skipton. Also at Lake Wongan by Wheeler (Ballarat Courier 11/7/70) near (Clements pers. comm.). Lake Burrumbeet in 1953, at Beaufort Lake Habitat. Aquatic. and Lake Wendouree in 1969 and by Grant Information sources. C2; T6; W4; W5; W6. (1978) near Lexton in 1977. Also listed at Cereopsis novaehollandiae. Mena Park Swamp, Lake Learmonth, Lake Cape Barren Goldsmith and Buln Gherin (Wheeler unpub- Goose. lished data). Abundance and distribution. Rare; recorded by Wheeler Habitat. Aquatic. (Ballarat Courier 19/9/64, 9/J/71 and 17/3/73) at Information sources. G2; T6; W4; W5; W6. Burrumbeet, Langi Kal Kal, Carranballac, Wallinduc, Mt Bute, Platalea flavipes. Yellow-billed Spoonbill. Lexton and near Ballarat. As many as 30 or Abundance and distribution. Uncommon 40 have been seen at Lake Wongan (Clements and widespread. pers. comm.). Also listed at Cardigan, Strea- Habitat. Aquatic. tham Swamps and Skipton Swamps (Wheeler Breeding. It nested at Beaufort Lake in 1967 unpublished data). (Wheeler unpublished data). Habitat. Grassland and aquatic. Information sources. C8; F3; G2; M3- M4* Information sources. C2; T6; W4; W5; W6. T6; W4; W5; W20; W21; W27; W28. Tadorna tadornoides. Australian Shelduck. ANATIDAE Abundance and distribution. Common and widespread. Anseranas semipalmata. Magpie Goose. Habitat. Aquatic and grassland. Abundance and distribution. Survival in Breeding. A common nesting species in the the survey area is doubtful. It disappeared from survey area. Lake Wendouree in the 1890s (Wheeler un- Information sources. A3; C2; C7; C8; published data). Fl; F3; Gl; M3; M4; P2; R9; S3; S4; T6;'w4; Information sources. W4; W5. W5; W6; W8; Wll; W13; W14; W15; W16; W17; W19; Dendrocygna eytoni. Plumed Whistling-Duck. W21; W27; W28; W29. Abundance and distribution. Rare. A flock Anas superciliosa. Pacific Black Duck. of 10 remained for a week near Tourello dur- Abundance and distribution. ing Common and February 1958 and another flock of 8 widespread. .

VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE BALLARAT AREA, VICTORIA 75

Habitat. Aquatic and grassland. Information sources. A3; C2; T6; W4; W5; Breeding. A common nesting species in the W6;W11; W17; W21; W29. survey area. Aythya australis. Hardhead. Information sources. A2; A3; A4; C2; C4; Abundance and distribution. Uncommon C8; Dl; F3; Gl; J2; M3; P2; R7; R9; S3; S4; T2; T6; W4; W5; W6; W7; W8; Wll; W13; and widespread; numbers fluctuate. In 1957 an estimated 15,000 remained many months W14; W15; W16; W17; W19; W20; W21; W27; W28; W29. on Lake Learmonth and in 1977 500 were on Lake Wendouree (Wheeler unpublished Anas platyrhynchos. Mallard. data). Abundance and distribution. Accidental. Habitat. Aquatic. One bird was on Lake Wendouree in April Breeding. It nested on Lake Wendouree in 1970 (Wheeler unpublished data). This is an 1956, 1961, 1962 and 1969 (Wheeler unpub- introduced species which should not be allowed lished data). to become established because of its propen- Information sources. A3; C2; C8; F3; J2; sity to interbreed with Anas siiperciliosa. T6; W4; W5; W6; W7; Wll; W13; W17; Habitat. Aquatic. W20; W21; W27; W29.

Anas gibberifrons. Grey Teal. Chenonetta jubata. Maned Duck. Abundance and distribution. Common and Abundance and distribution. Uncommon widespread. and widespread. Habitat. Aquatic and grassland. Habitat. Aquatic and grassland. Breeding. A common nesting species in the Information sources. C8; F3; Gl; R9; S4; survey area. T6;W4; W5; W21;W27. Information sources. A3; C2; C8; F3; J2; M4; P2; R9; T6; W4; W5; W8; Wll; W13; Oxyura australis. Blue-billed Duck. W16; W17; W20; W21; W27; W28; W29. Abundance and distribution. A regular summer visitor to Lake Wendouree, usually Anas castanea. Chestnut Teal. arriving in July and August and leaving in Abundance distribution. Uncommon and March or April. Uncommon elsewhere in the recent and widespread; more observed in survey area. years (Thomas pers. comm.). Habitat. Aquatic. Habitat. Aquatic. Breeding. It nests at Lake Wendouree and Breeding. It has nested on Skipton swamps Stoneleigh Lake (Wheeler unpublished data). ( Wheeler unpublished data) Information sources. A3; A5; C2; J2; T6; Information sources. C2; F3; T6; W4; W5. W4; W5; W6; W7; W20; W23.

Anas rhynchotis. Australasian Shoveller. Biziura lobata. Musk Duck. Abundance and distribution. Uncommon Abundance and distribution. Common and and widespread. widespread. Habitat. Aquatic and grassland. Habitat. Aquatic. nesting at Lakes Gold- Breeding. Recorded Breeding. It nests at Lake Wendouree and smith and Burrumbeet (Wheeler unpublished Cockpits Lagoon (Wheeler unpublished data). data). Information sources. A2; A3; C6; C8; F3 Information sources. C2; C7; C8; F3; J2; J2; M4; P2; R9; S3; T6; W4; W5; W7; W13 M4; P2; T6; W4; W5; W20; W21; W27. W15; W17; W19; W20; W21; W27; W28 Malacorhynchus membranaceus. W29. Pink-eared Duck. ACCIPITRIDAE Abundance and distribution. Uncommon and widespread. Elanus notatus. Black-shouldered Kite. Habitat. Aquatic. Abundance and distribution. Uncommon . .

76 A. M. GILMORF, W. B. EMISON and J. R. WHEELER and widespread; numbers appear to fluctuate, A ccipiter cirrhocephalus. possibly nomadic (Thomas pers. comm. ) Collared Sparrowhawk. Habitat. Grassland and woodland. Abundance and distribution. Rare and Breeding. It nests in the survey area. widespread. In recent FWD survey it was re- Information sources. C8; F3; Gl; M3; M4- corded in the Enfield Block. S7; T6; W5; Wl 1; W20; W27; W28; W29. Habitat. Open-forest, woodland and intro- duced pines. Elanus scriptus. Letter-winged Kite. Breeding. Recorded Abundance and distribution. Rare; one nesting near Beaufort and Buln Gherin (Wheeler undated). recorded at Langi Kal Kal in 1952 and a pair Information sources. F3; at Mt Mercer in 1970 (Wheeler in Ballarat M3; P2; T6: W5 W14. Courier 9/8/75). An influx of this species into Victoria occurred in 1977 and it was recorded Accipiter novaehollandiae. Grey Goshawk. in the survey area at Skipton and Beaufort Abundance and distribution. Rare; recorded (Wheeler, W. R. 1977). at Creswick, around Ballarat and Linton Park Habitat. Grassland. (Wheeler in Ballarat Courier 8/4/67 and Information sources. T6; W5; W6; W36. 28/3/70). Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest Milvus migrans. Black Kite. and grassland. Abundance and distribution. Rare; recorded Breeding. Reported to have nested at Inver- near Linton (Wheeler unpublished data), Mt may (near Ballarat) in the 1940s (Wheeler Cole (Geelong F.N.C. and Western Victoria in Ballarat Courier 28/3/70) F.N.C.A. 1972) and east of Streatham (Austin 1953). Information sources. T6; W5; W6. Habitat. Grassland. A quila audax. Wedge-tailed Eagle. Information sources. A6; G ; W5. 1 Abundance and distribution. Common and

widespread. In recent survey it Haliastur sphenurus. Whistling Kite. FWD was re- corded in the Mt Cole, Ben Abundance and distribution. Common and Major-Trawalla, widespread. Langi Ghiran, Enfield and Creswick Blocks. In recent FWD survey it was re- Habitat. It corded in the Ararat Block. soars over all habitats, but most nesting and hunting Habitat. Grassland and woodland. activities occur in tall open- Breeding. forest, open-forest, woodland and grassland. A common nesting species in the survey area. Breeding. It nests in the survey area. Information sources. A2; Information sources. A2; A4; C7* C8 Fl A4; C2; C4; C8 F3; F8; Gl; Ml; F3; Gl; M3; R9; S7; T2; T6; W5; W7;'w8 M4; P2; R9; S7; T2; T3 T6; W5; W6; W14; W15; W16; W17; W20; W21; W23 Wll; W14; W15; W16; W27 W27; W29. W29; W30.

Hieraaetus morphnoides. Little Eagle. Accipiter fasciatus. Brown Goshawk. Abundance and Abundance distribution. Uncommon and distribution. Common and and widespread. widespread. In recent FWD survey it was re- Habitat. Grassland. corded in the Mt Cole, Enfield, Creswick and Information sources. Al; C8; F3; T6" W5* Inverleigh Blocks. W16;W27. Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest, wood- land, introduced pines and grassland. Circus assimilis. Spotted Harrier. Breeding. A common nesting species in the Abundance and distribution. Rare; recently survey area. reported from North Creswick ( Cowley Information sources. A2; A4; C8; F3- Gl* 1960a), Ross Creek (Wheeler in Kl; M3; R7; Ballarat T2; T3; T6; W5; W14; W27-' Courier 16/8/76) and Hadden W30. (Wheeler unpublished data). .

VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE BALLARAT AREA, VICTORIA 77

Habitat. Grassland. Breeding. A common nesting species in the Information sources. C8; T6; W4; W5; W6. survey area. Information sources. Al; A2; A4; C8; F3 Circus aeruginosas. Marsh Harrier. Gl; M3; M4; P2; R9; S3; S4; S7; T2; T3 Abundance and distribution. Common and widespread. T6; W5; W8; Wll; W12; W13; W14; W15 W16; W17; W21; W27; W28; W29; W30: Habitat. Grassland and aquatic. W31. Breeding. A common nesting species in the survey area. Falco cenchroides. Australian Kestrel. Information sources. C8; Dl; F3; Gl; J2 Abundance and distribution. Uncommon M4; R7; S7; T6; W4; W5; W8; W13; W15 and widespread. W16; W17; W20; W21; W23; W27; W29 Habitat. Grassland. W30. Information sources. A2; C8; F3; Gl; M3; M4; S4; T6; FALCONIDAE W5; W8; W14; W16; W21; W27. Falco subniger. Black Falcon. PHASIANIDAE Abundance and distribution. Rare; recorded Coturnix novaezelandiae. Stubble Quail. in Creswick area in 1958 (Cowley 1960a), Abundance and distribution. Common and near Blowhard and Ballarat in 1954 (Wheeler widespread; numbers appear to be greater dur- unpublished data), and near Skipton in 1951 ing the summer, probably nomadic. (Austin 1953). Habitat. Grassland. Habitat. Grassland. Breeding. Adults with young were seen in the Information sources. A6; C8; T6; W4; W5. Inverleigh Block during recent FWD survey; also recorded with young at Skipton in 1912 Falco peregrinus. Peregrine Falcon. (RAOU Council 1913). Wheeler (unpub- Abundance and distribution. Uncommon lished data) has recorded nesting at Burrum- and widespread. beet, Newlyn and Buln Gherin. Habitat. Open-forest, woodland, introduced Information sources. A2; F3; Gl; M3; P2; pines, grassland and aquatic. R6; R9; T6; W4; W5; W27; W31. Breeding. It nests in the survey area. Information sources. A2; A3; C2; C8; F3; Coturnix australis. Brown Quail. Gl; H2; M3; N2; T2; T6; W5; W6; W17; Abundance and distribution. Rare; recorded W27. at Mt Emu, Lake Goldsmith, Buln Gherin and Mt Bute (Wheeler unpublished data) Falco longipennis. Australian Hobby. Habitat. Grassland and aquatic. Abundance and distribution. Uncommon Breeding. Recorded nesting at Mt Bute and widespread. (Wheeler unpublished data). Habitat. Open-forest, woodland, introduced Information sources. T6; W4; W5. pines and grassland/suburban. Breeding. It nested near Lake Wendouree in Coturnix chinensis. King Quail. 1954 (Wheeler unpublished data). Abundance and distribution. Accidental; Information sources. C8; Gl; Kl; M4; T6; recorded at Creswick (Payne 1931) and in W4; W5; W20; W27. Ballarat in 1930 and Windermere in 1928 (Wheeler in Ballarat Courier 29/4/67). Falco berigora. Falcon. Brown Habitat. Recorded in introduced pines at Abundance and distribution. Common and Creswick (Payne 1931). widespread. In recent FWD survey it was re- Information sources. P2; W5; W6. corded in the Ben Major-Trawalla, Enfield and Inverleigh Blocks. TURNICIDAE Habitat. Open-forest, woodland and grass- Turnix maculosa. Red-backed Button-quail. land. Abundance and distribution. Accidental; 78 A. M. GILMORE, W. B. EMISON and J. R. WHEELER

reported at Dowling near Ballarat in 1930 Habitat. Grassland. (Wheeler 1967). Information sources. D2; L3; Nl; P3; T6; Information sources. W5; W32. W5; W34.

Turnix varia. Painted Button-quail. RALL1DAE Abundance and distribution. Uncommon Rallus and philippensis. Buff-banded Rail. widespread. In recent FWD survey it was Abundance and distribution. Uncommon recorded in the Ben Major-Trawalla Block. and widespread. Habitat. Open-forest, woodland and intro- Habitat. Grassland and aquatic. duced pines. Breeding. Nesting recorded at Linton Breeding. It nests in the survey area. (Wheeler in Ballarat Courier 28/3/64), at Information sources. C8; F3; Gl; M3; P2; Newlyn in R7; T6; W5; W27. 1972 (RAOU nest record card) and at Cockpits Lagoon, Mt Rowan and Turnix melanogaster. Skipton Swamps (Wheeler unpublished data). Information Black-breasted Button-quail. sources. Gl; P2; R7; T6; W4; W5; W6. Abundance and distribution. Accidental; five were shot at Cardigan near Ballarat in Rallus pectoralis. Lewin's Rail. 1902 (Wheeler 1967). Abundance and distribution. Rare; recorded Information sources. W5; W32. in or near Ballarat at Gong Gong and the Flax Mill (Wheeler in Ballarat Courier 20/4/63 Turnix velox. Little Button-quail. and 27/1/68). Also listed at Miners Rest, Mt Abundance and distribution. Rare, with Rowan and Lake Burrumbeet (Wheeler un- occasional influxes of birds such as occurred published data). during December and January of 1954-55 Habitat. Aquatic. (Wheeler in Ballarat Courier 14/1 1/70). Breeding. It has nested at Miners Rest Habitat. Grassland. (Wheeler unpublished data). Breeding. Many nested in the Newlyn district Information sources. T6; W4; W5; W6. in 1954-55 (Wheeler in Ballarat Courier 14/11/70). Porzana pusilla. Baillon's Crake. Information sources. R6; T6; W5; W6. Abundance and distribution. Uncommon and widespread. Nomadic. Turnix pyrrhothorax. Habitat. Aquatic. Red-chested Button-quail. Breeding. It has nested at Lake Wendouree Abundance and distribution. Accidental; and Cockpits Lagoon (Wheeler unpublished seen at Dowling near Ballarat in 1 930 data). (Wheeler 1967) and in the Cressy-Bradvale Information sources. T6; W4; W5; W6* district (west of Cape Clear) in 1957 and near W20. Garibaldi in 1970 (Wheeler in Ballarat Courier 14/11/70). Porzana fluminea. Australian Crake. Abundance Information sources, W5; W6; W32. and distribution. Uncommon and widespread. Possibly nomadic. Habitat. Aquatic. PEDIONOMIDAE Breeding. An unfledged young was banded on the Hopkins River near Pedionomus torquatus. Plains-wanderer. Willaura in 1965 (Australian bird-banding scheme). Abundance and distribution. Rare; the Information sources. National Museum of Victoria has specimens A7; C8; Gl; T6' W4- W5; W6; W20. from Ballarat, Skipton and Shelford. The species was reported at Beaufort in 1922 Porzana tabuensis. Spotless Crake. (D'Ombrain and 1926) at Inverleigh in 1976 Abundance and distribution. Uncommon (Pescott 1977). and widespread. .

VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE BALLARAT AREA, VICTORIA 79

Habitat. Aquatic. GRUIDAE Breeding. Recorded nesting at Cockpits Grits rubicimdus. Brolga. Lagoon near Burrumbeet by Wheeler (Bal- Abundance and DISTRIBUTION, Uncommon larat Courier 25/4/70). and widespread. Information sources. C8; P2; T6;W4; W5; Habitat. Grassland and aquatic. W6. Breeding. It nests in the survey area (see Table 4). Gallinula ventralis. Black-tailed Native-hen. Information sources. A2; C2; Fl; F3; R7; Abundance and distribution. Nomadic with R9; T6; W4; W5; W6; W8; WI1; W17; W2I; irregular irruptions. W27; W29. Habitat. Grassland and aquatic. Information sources. M4; T6; W4; W5; W6; W33. OTIDIDAE Ardeotis australis. Australian Bustard.

distribution. Rare; it occa- Gallinula tenehrosa. Dusky Moorhen. Abundance and sionally still appears in the Rokewood-Mt Abundance and distribution. Common and area. Recorded in 1958 1966 widespread. Hesse 1954, and (Wheeler in Ballarat and Habitat. Aquatic. Courier 27/6/64 17/9/66). Breeding. Recorded nesting in the Inverleigh Habitat. Grassland. District (Wheeler 1973) and at Lake Wen- Breeding. In the past it nested in the douree (Wheeler unpublished data). Rokewood-Mt Hesse area (Wheeler in Information sources. A2; C4; C8; Dl; F3; Bal- larat Courier 17/9/66). J2; P2; T6; W4; W5; W7; W17; W20; W21; W27; W28; W29. Information sources, W5; W6; W3 1

Porphyrio porphyrio. Purple Swamphen. BURHINIDAE distribution. Common and Abundance and BurhiWis magnirostris. Bush Thick-knee. widespread. Abundance and distribution. Rare; recent Habitat. Grassland and aquatic. records are from Skipton, Lexton, Campbell- nesting in the Inverleigh Breeding. Recorded town, Carranballac, the Inverleigh district and District (Wheeler 1973) and at Lake Wen- Mt Emu. douree and Buln Gherin (Wheeler unpub- Habitat. Open-forest and woodland. lished data). Breeding. Two young hatched near Lexton C8; Dl Information sources. A2; A5; C6; in 1967 (Wheeler in Ballarat Courier F3; J2; P2; R9; S3; T6; W4; W5; W8; Wll 21/10/67; RAOU nest record card). W15; W17; W20; W21; W23; W27; W28 Information sources. R7; T6; W4; W5; W29. W6; W27.

Fulica atra. Eurasian Coot. ROSTRATULIDAE Abundance and distribution. Common and widespread. Rostratula benghalensis. Painted Snipe. Habitat. Aquatic. Abundance and distribution. Rare; recorded Breeding. Recorded nesting in the Inverleigh at Stoneleigh Swamps, Invermay, Ercildoune, District (Wheeler 1973) and at Lake Wen- near Lai Lai Falls, Miners Rest and Lake douree and Buln Gherin (Wheeler unpub- Burrumbeet (Wheeler unpublished data). lished data). NMV specimens are from Ballarat (1939) Information sources. A2; A3; C4; C8; Dl; and Wendouree (Flaxmill Swamp) in 1969. F2; F3; J2; P2; R9; S3; T6; W4; W5; W7; Habitat. Aquatic. Wll; W20; W21; W27; W28; W29. Information sources. Nl; T6; W4; W5; W6. 80 A. M. CilLMORH, W. B. EMISON and J. R. WHEELER

CHARADRIIDAE ( hanulrius ruficapillus. Red-capped Plover. Vanellus miles. Masked Lapwing. Abundance and distribution. Common and Abundanck and distribution. Common and widespread. widespread. Habitat, Aquatic.

Habitat. Grassland and aquatic. Breeding. Nesting has been documented at Breeding. A common nesting species in the several localities in the survey area. survey area. Information sources. F3; M4; R7; S4; T6; Information sources. A2; C8; F3; Gl; Jl; W4; W5; W8; Wl I; W15; W17; W2I; W29. M4; R7; R9; S3; S4; T2; T6; W4; W5; WsJ Characlrius melanops. Black-fronted Wll; WI2; W13; W14; W15; W16; WI7; Plover. Abundance and W20;W21; W27; W28; W29. distribution. Common and widespread. Vanellus tricolor. Banded Lapwing. Habitat. Aquatic. Abundance and distribution. Uncommon Breeding. Nesting has been documented at and several localities in the widespread. In recent FWD survey it was survey area. recorded near Naringal (west of Pitficld Information sources. A2; C7; C8; F3; Gl; Plains). P2; T6; W4; W5; W8; W13; W14; WIS; W20; Habitat. Grassland. W2I; W27. Breeding. Recorded nesting at Lake Gold- smith and at Buln Ghcrin (Wheeler unpub- RECURVIROSTRIDAE lished data). Himantopus himantopus. Black-winged Stilt. Information sources. C8; F3; M4; R7 T6 Abundance and distribution. Uncommon; W4;W5; W6; W8; W12; W21; W27. regularly observed on Lake Goldsmith, occa- sional elsewhere Ptuvialis clominica. Lesser Golden Plover. (Thomas pers. comm.). Habitat. Aquatic. Abundance and distribution. Accidental. 1 Breeding. Nesting Reported at 'Blythevale near Streatham by recorded at Lake Wongan (Millar and Tiley Bill Weatherly (Wheeler in Ballarat Courier 1972-73), Lake Goldsmith 13/3/65). (RAOU nest record card), Lake Bolac (Aus- Habitat. Aquatic. tralian bird-banding scheme) and Cockpits Lagoon and Buln Breeding. It nests in Siberia and northern Gherin (Wheeler unpub- North America. lished data). Information sources. A7; G2; M4; R7; R9; Erythrogonys ductus. Red-kneed Dotterel. T6; W4; W5; W6; W21; Abundance and distribution. Uncommon W28; W29. and widespread. Usually observed during Cladorhynchus leitcocepliahts. Banded Stilt. spring and summer. Abundance and distribution. Rare; recorded Habitat. Aquatic. at Carranballac, Lake Goldsmith and in the Information sources. M4; T6; W4; W5; W6. Langi Kal Kal-Burrumbeet area (Wheeler un- published data). Charadriiis hicinctus. Double-banded Plover. Habitat. Aquatic. Abundance and distribution. Uncommon. Recorded at Lake Wongan (Millar and Tiley Recurvirostra novaehollandiae. 1972-73), Lake Goldsmith (Thomas pers. Red-necked Avocet. comm, and Lake ) Burrumbeet, Cockpits Abundance and distribution. Uncommon Lagoon and Inverleigh Block (Wheeler un- and widespread. published data); a winter migrant to Victoria. Habitat. Aquatic. Habitat. Aquatic. Breeding. Nesting recorded at Lake Gold- Breeding. It nests in New Zealand. smith (Thomas pers. comm.; RAOU nest Information sources. M4; T6; W4- W5* W8- cards) and at Lake Bolac (Australian bird- W29. banding scheme). VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE BALLARAT AREA, VICTORIA 81

Information sources. A7; R7; T6; W4; W5; Calidris ruficollis. Red-necked Stint. W6;W8;W11;W21;W29. Abundance and distribution. Common on Lake Goldsmith, uncommon elsewhere. A SCOLOPACIDAE summer migrant to Victoria. Habitat. Aquatic. Tringa glareola. Wood Sandpiper. Breeding. It nests in Siberia and Alaska. Abundance and distribution. Rare, a sum- Information sources. M4; T6; W4; W5; mer migrant to Victoria. Recorded at Lake W8; WI7; W20; W21. Goldsmith (Wheeler 1967). Habitat. Aquatic. Calidris ferruginea. Curlew Sandpiper. Breeding. It nests in northern Eurasia. Abundance and distribution. Rare; recorded Information sources. T6; W5; W32. on Lakes Goldsmith (Thomas pers. comm.) and Wongan (Millar and Tiley 1972-73). A Tringa hypoleucos. Common Sandpiper. summer migrant to Victoria. Abundance and distribution. Rare, a sum- Habitat. Aquatic. mer migrant to Victoria. Recorded at Lake Breeding. It nests in Siberia. Wendouree in 1968 by Wheeler (Ballarat Information sources. M4; T6; W5. Courier 7/12/68). Habitat. Aquatic. LARIDAE Breeding. It nests in Eurasia and parts of Africa. Larus novaehollandiae. Silver Gull. Information sources. T6; W5; W6. Abundance and distribution. Common and widespread. Tringa nebularia. Greenshank. Habitat. Grassland and aquatic.

Abundance and distribution. Rare, a sum- Breeding. It nests on Lakes Goldsmith and mer migrant to Victoria. Recorded at Lake Bolac (Australian bird-banding scheme) and Goldsmith (Thomas pers. comm.; Anon. on the Streatham Swamps and at Buln Gherin 1975), and at Lake Wongan (Miller and Tiley (Wheeler unpublished data). 1972-73) and at the Streatham Swamps and Information sources. A2; A7; C8; F3; J J; Buln Gherin (Wheeler unpublished data). J2; M4; R9; S3; T6; W4; W5; W8; Wll; W13; Habitat. Aquatic. W15; W17; W20; W21; W29. Breeding. It nests in northern Eurasia. Information sources. A3; M4; T6; W4; W5. Chlidonias hybrida. Whiskered Tern. Abundance and distribution. Uncommon Gallinago hardwickii. Latham's Snipe. and widespread. Abundance and distribution. Uncommon Habitat. Aquatic. and widespread. Regularly recorded at Beau- Breeding. It has nested near Streatham, at fort Lake. A summer migrant to Victoria. Lake Bolac (Australian bird-banding scheme) Habitat. Grassland and aquatic. and on the Carranballac Swamps (Wheeler Breeding. It nests in Japan. unpublished data). Information sources. C8; Gl; M4; P2; R9; Information sources. A3; A7; M4; T6; W4; W5. T6; W4; W5; W6; W2 1 ; W27.

Calidris acuminata. Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. Gelochelidon nilotica. Gull-billed Tern. Abundance and distribution. Common at Abundance and distribution. Uncommon; Lakes Goldsmith and Wongan, occasional most records are from Lakes Goldsmith and elsewhere. A summer migrant to Victoria. Wongan. Habitat. Aquatic. Habitat. Aquatic. Breeding. It nests in Siberia. Breeding. It has nested on Lake Goldsmith Information sources. M4; T6; W4; W5; W6; (Australian bird-banding scheme; Wheeler in W20. Ballarat Courier 7/9/68). 82 A. M. GILMORE, W. B. EM1SON and J. R. WHEELER Information sources, A7; M4; R7 T4- T6 Phaps chalcoptera. Common Bronzewing. W5; W6. Abundance and distribution. Uncommon and widespread. In recent Hydroprogne caspia. Caspian Tern. FWD survey it was recorded in the Creswick, Ararat and Abundance and distribution. Rare; recorded Inver- leigh Blocks. from Lakes Goldsmith, Burrumbect and Wen- Habitat. Open-forest, douree (Wheeler unpublished data). woodland, introduced pines and Habitat. Aquatic. grassland. Breeding. Information sources, T6; W4; W5; W6. It nests near Creswick (Wheeler unpublished data). A nest was also found in COLUMBIDAE the Inverleigh Block during FWD survey. Information sources. Ptilinopus superbits. Superb Fruit Dove. A4; C8; F3 GL P? T2; T6; W4; W5; Abundance and distribution. Accidental; W27. one specimen was collected at Raglan in 1930 Phaps elegans. Brush Bronzewing. (Ross 1930). Abundance and distribution. Rare and widespread. Columba liria. Feral Pigeon. Habitat. Abundance and distribution. Common and Tall open-forest and open-forest. Breeding. widespread. An introduced species. It has nested near Linton (Thomas pers. comm.). Habitat. Suburban and farming areas. Information sources. Breeding. It nests in the Inverleigh District A2; A4; Gl; T6; W4; (Wheeler 1973). W5. Information sources. A2; F3; W5; W27. Ocyphaps lophotes. Crested Pigeon. Abundance and Streptopelia chinensis. Spotted Turtle-Dove. distribution. Accidental; recorded near Cape in Abundance and distribution. Common and Clear 1961 and near Smythesdale in widespread. An introduced species. 1968 (Wheeler unpublished data). Habitat. Suburban and grassland areas. Breeding. It nests in the Inverleigh District CACATUIDAE (Wheeler 1973). Calyptorhynchus Information sources. Jl; J2; W5 W7* W20- funereiis. W27. Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo. Abundance and distribution. Uncommon Geopelia placida. Peaceful Dove. and widespread. In recent FWD survey it was Abundance and distribution. Rare; recorded recorded in the Mt Cole, Ben Major-Trawalla at Bald Hills near Creswick in 1971 by and Enfield Blocks. Wheeler (Ballarat Courier 26/6/71), at Lin- Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest and ton (Wheeler unpublished data), and in the introduced pines. Ararat Block during recent FWD survey. Information sources. A2; F3; Gl; M3* R9- Habitat. Woodland and grassland. T6; W5; W27; W30. Information sources. F3; Gl; T6; W4* W5* W6. Callocephalon fimbriatum. Gang-gang Cockatoo. Geopelia cuneata. Diamond Dove. Abundance and distribution. Rare; two Abundance and distribution. Accidental; recorded flying over Ballarat in 1970 (Wheeler recorded at Miners Rest in 1965 and at Cres- in Ballarat Courier 18/4/70); also seen at wick in 1967 by Wheeler (Ballarat Courier Spargo Creek and near White Swan Reservoir 18/3/67); also Mt Cole and Linton (Wheeler (Wheeler unpublished data). Probably present unpublished data). in the Wombat Forest on NE side of survey Breeding. An adult with one young observed area. at Creswick. Habitat. Tall open-forest and open-forest. Information sources. W4; W5; W6. Information sources. T6; W4; W5; W6. .

VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE BALLARAT AREA, VICTORIA 83

Cacatua roseicapilla. Galah Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest, wood- Abundance and distribution. Uncommon land and trees remaining in grassland/suburban and widespread. In recent FWD survey we areas. recorded it at several localities on the basalt Information sources. C8; F3; Gl; M3; P2; plains and in the Ararat Block. T6; W5; W27; W30. Habitat. Woodland and grassland. Glossopsitta porphyrocephala. Breeding. It nests in the survey area. Purple-crowned Lorikeet. Information sources. A2; C8; F3; 01; Kl; Abundance distribution. M3; S4; T6; W5; W16; W17; W27; W28. and Uncommon and widespread. Nomadic. Cacatua tenuirostris. Long-billed Corclla. Habitat. Open-forest and woodland. Abundance and distribution. Uncommon; Information sources. C8; Gl; M3; T6; W5; most records arc from the basalt plains in the W21; W27; W30. western portion of the survey area. In recent Glossopsitta pusilla. Little Lorikeet. FWD survey it was also recorded in the Langi Abundance and distribution. Uncommon Ghiran and Ararat Blocks. and widespread. Nomadic. In recent FWD Habitat. Woodland and grassland. survey it was observed in the Ararat Block. Information sources. F3; Gl; G2; G3; M3; T6;W5; W28; W30. Habitat. Open-forest, woodland and trees remaining in grassland/suburban areas. Cacatua leadbeateri. Pink Cockatoo. Information sources. C8; F3; Gl; M3; T6; Abundance and distribution. Accidental; W4; W5; W27. a group of three was seen near Smythes Creek and later at Cambrian Hill during March 1961 POLYTELITIDAE (Wheeler unpublished data). Alisterus scapularis. Australian King Parrot. Cacatua galerita. Sulphur-crested Cockatoo. Abundance and distribution. Accidental; Abundance and distribution. Common and recorded at Enfield and Eganstown in 1967 widespread. In recent FWD survey it was re- by Wheeler (Ballarat Courier 5/8/67). corded in the Mt Cole, Ben Major-Trawalla, Nymphicus hollandicus. Cockatiel. Langi Ghiran, Creswick and Ararat Blocks. Abundance and distribution. Rare; recorded Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest, wood- near Skipton (Wheeler in Ballarat Courier land and grassland. 21/1/67), near Beaufort (Millar and Tiley Breeding. It nests in the survey area. 1971), in the Inverleigh District (Wheeler Information sources. C8; F3; Gl; Ml; M3; 1973) and at Carranballac and Buln Gherin M4; S3; T6; W5; W13; W14; W27; W28; (Wheeler unpublished data). Nomadic. W29; W30. Habitat. Open-forest, woodland and trees LORIIDAE remaining in grassland/suburban areas. Information sources. M3; W4; W5; W6; Trichoglossus haematodus. Rainbow Lorikeet. W27. Abundance and distribution. Rare; formerly in the Mt Cole-Beaufort area common PLATYCERCIDAE (Wheeler in Ballarat Courier 12/8/67). Also recorded in exotic trees in Ararat (Wheeler Melopsittacus undulatus. Budgerigar. unpublished data). Abundance and distribution. Rare; recorded Habitat. Open-forest and suburban garden. near Clunes (just north of survey area) by

Information sources. Gl; W4; W5; W6. Wheeler (Ballarat Courier 11/1 /64 ) , near Glossopsitta concitma. Musk Lorikeet. Beaufort (Millar and Tiley 1971), over Lake Abundance and distribution. Uncommon Wongan (Millar and Tiley 1972-73), in the and widespread. Nomadic. In recent FWD Inverleigh District (Wheeler 1973) and at specimen). survey it was recorded in the Ararat Block. Cardigan (NMV 84 A. M. GILMORE, W. B. EMISON and J. R. WHEELER

Habitat. Woodland and grassland. HABITAT, Woodland and grassland, particu- Information sources, M3 M4- N W5; larly where River Red Gums arc W6; W27. present. BREEDING. It nests in the survey area. Information sources. A2; C8; F3; Gl; Kl; Lathamus discolor. Swift Parrot. M3; P2; R9; S4; S7; T6; VV5; W8; WI4; WI6; Abundance and distribution. Rare; recorded W I 7; W2 I ; W27; W28; W29; W30. in the Mt Cole area (Gcelong F.N.C. and Western Victoria F.N.C.A. 1972), at Lake Ncophcma chrysostoma. Blue-winged Parrot. Wendouree (Wheeler unpublished data) and Abundance and distribution. Rare; Robin- in the Inverleigh District (Wheeler 1973). A son (1955) mentions a Hock of about 1000 winter migrant to Victoria. birds being near Skipton for two years. Also Habitat. Open-forest, woodland and trees recorded in the Mt Cole Block (Wheeler and remaining in grassland/suburban areas. Thomas 1975), in the InverJeigh District Breeding, It nests in Tasmania. (Wheeler 1973) and on Barunah Plains near Information sources. Gl; W4; W5; W27. Wingeel (Wheeler W. R. 1954). Habitat. Open-forest, woodland and grass- Platycercas elegans. Crimson Rosella. land. Abundance and distribution. Common and Information sources. R4; T6; WS W27- widespread. W30; W3I. Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest, wood- land, introduced pines and grassland/suburban Neophema elegans. Elegant Parrot. areas. Abundance and distribution. Rare and Breeding. widespread. It is a common nesting species in Apparently this species has de- the survey area. clined in numbers in the survey area because Robinson Information sources. A2; A4; C4; C8; CIO; ( 1955) comments that in 1886, F3; considerable Gl; KI; Ml; M3; P2; R7; S4; T2; T3* numbers of Elegant Parrots used

T6; ! to fly over Ascot, W5; Wl 1 W12; W13; W14; W16; W17 near Ballarat, both morning W27; W28; W29; W30. and evening. Habitat. Grassland. Platycercus eximius. Eastern Rosella. Information sources. R4; W4; W5; W3I. Abundance and distribution. Common and widespread. Mainly in trees remaining on the basalt CUCULIDAE plains, but during FWD survey we also recorded it in the Ararat and Inverleigh Cuculus pallidas. Pallid Cuckoo. Blocks. Abundance and distribution. Common and Habitat. Open-forest, woodland widespread. and grass- In FWD survey it was recorded land. in the Mt Cole Block. A summer migrant to Breeding. It is a common nesting species in Victoria. the survey area. Habitat. Open-forest, woodland, introduced Information sources. A2; A4; C4* Cfr F3* pines and grassland. Gl; J I; J2; Kl; M3; P2; R7; R9; S3; S4; T2; Breeding. It nests in the survey area. T3; T6; W5; W8; Wil; W12; WI3; W14- Information sources. Al; C4- C8' F3- Gl- W15; W16; W17; W21; W27; W28- W29- G4; J2; M3; P2; S4; T2; T3; T6; W5;'w6; W30. W17; W20; W27; W28.

Psephotus haematonotus. Red-rumped Parrot. Cuculus variolosus. Brush Cuckoo. Abundance and distribution. Common and Abundance and distribution. widespread Rare and on the basalt plains. It was also widespread. In FWD survey it was recorded recorded in the Ararat and Inverleigh Blocks in the Mt Cole Block. A summer during migrant to FWD survey. Victoria. VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE BALLARAT AREA, VICTORIA 85

Habitat. Tall open-forest and open-forest. Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest, wood- Information sources. F3; Gl; Ml- T3: T4- land, introduced pines and grassland. T6; W4; W5; W6. Breeding. Recorded nesting near Beaufort (RAOU nest record card Cuculus pynhophanus. Fan-tailed Cuckoo. ). Information sources. Al; A2; A3; A4; C8; Abundance and distribution. Common and CIO; Fl; F3; Gl; M3; R7; T2; T3; T6; W5; widespread. In recent FWD survey it was re- W15; W16; WI7; W27; W30. corded in the Mt Cole and Enfield Blocks. Mainly a summer migrant to Victoria, but STRIGIDAE some over-winter here. Ninox slrenua. Powerful Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest, wood- Owl. and land, introduced pines and grassland/suburban Abundance distribution. Common and areas. widespread. Recorded near Springmount, Wattle Flat, Spargo Creek, Elaine, near Lin- Breeding. It nests in the survey area. ton, near Beaufort, Mt Cole Forest and at Information sources. Al; A2; A4; C4; C8; McDonald Park west of Ararat (Wheeler in Dl; F3; Gl; M3; P2; S4; T2; T3; T6; W5; S12; W15; W17; W20; W27; W28; W29; Ballarat Courier 11/1/75). Also in the Langi W30. Ghiran Block (Mammal Survey Group F.N.C.V. 1974), near Creswick (FWD sur- vey) Chrysococcyx osculans. Black-eared Cuckoo. and in the Wombat Forest (Thomas pers. Abundance and distribution. Rare and comm. ). Habitat. Tall open-forest -forest. widespread. A summer migrant to Victoria. and open Habitat. Open-forest and woodland. Breeding. It nests near Beaufort. Breeding. Nesting recorded near Beaufort Information sources. A2; CI; F3; Gl; Ml; M3; R7; T2; T6; W5; W6. (Millar and Tiley 1971; RAOU nest record card). Ninox novaeseelandiae. Southern Boobook. Information sources. M3; R7; T2; T6; W5; W6; W27. Abundance and distribution. Common and widespread. In FWD survey it was seen in the Chrysococcyx basalts. Mt Cole Block. Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo. Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest, wood- Abundance and distribution. Common and land, introduced pines and trees remaining in widespread. In FWD survey it was recorded grasslands. in the Mt Cole and Langi Ghiran Blocks. A Breeding. It nests in the survey area. summer migrant to Victoria. Information sources. A2; C2; C4; C8; CIO; Habitat. Open-forest, woodland, introduced F3; Gl; M3; P2; R9; T6; W5; W10; W27; pines and grassland. W30. Breeding. Recorded nesting (the foster parents being Superb Fairy-wrens) at Inver- Ninox connivens. Barking Owl. may (Wheeler unpublished data). Abundance and distribution. Rare; three Information sources. Al; A3; A4; C8; CIO; records from the Enfield Block over the past F3; Gl; M3; P2; S4; T2; T3; T6; W4; W5; 50 years (Wheeler unpublished data). W12; W15; W17; W21; W27; W28; W29; Habitat. Woodland and grassland. W30. Information sources. T6; W4; W5.

Chrysococcyx lucidus. Shining Bronze-Cuckoo. TYTONIDAE Abundance and distribution. Common and Tyto alba. Barn Owl. widespread. In FWD survey it was recorded Abundance and distribution. Common and in the Mt Cole Block. A summer migrant to widespread. Victoria. Habitat. Grassland. 86 A. M. GILMORE, W. B. EMISON and J. R. WHEELER

Breeding, Recorded nesting at Waubra Junc- widespread. A summer migrant to Victoria. tion, Buln Gherin, Dowling and Scarsdale Habitat. An aerial species which flies over all (Wheeler unpublished data). habitats. Information sources, C2; C8; M3; P2; T6; Breeding. It nests in Asia and Japan. W4; W5; W2];W27. Information sources. B6; C8; F3; 01; P2; PODARGIDAE S7; T6; W5; W27.

Podargus strigoides. Tawny Frogmouth. Apus pacifictts. Fork-tailed Swift. Abundance and distribution. Uncommon Abundance and distribution. Rare and and widespread. In FWD survey it was re- widespread. A summer migrant to Victoria. corded in the Eniield Block. Habitat. An aerial species which flies over all Habitat, Open-forest, woodland and trees habitats. remaining in grassland areas. Breeding. It nests in Asia and Japan. Breeding. Recorded nesting near Streatham Information sources. B6; G 1 ; T6; W5. (Anon. 1975), near Beaufort (RAOU nest record cards) and in the Inverleigh District ALCEDINIDAE (Wheeler 1973). Ceyx azureus. Azure Kingfisher. Information sources. A3; C2; C8; CIO; F3; Abundance and distribution. Rare; recorded til; MI; M3; R7; R9; T6; YV5 \V6; WIS; at Mena Park Swamps in 1965 and at WI7; W27. Ballarat in 1953 (Wheeler unpublished data). Information sources. Aegotheles cristatus. Australian Owlet-nightjar. W4; W5; W6. Abundance and distribution. Uncommon Dacelo novaeguineae. Laughing Kookaburra. and widespread. During FWD survey it was Abundance and distribution. Common and recorded in the Enfield Block. widespread. During FWD survey it was re- Habitat. Open-forest and woodland. corded in all seven of the Crown Land Blocks BREEDING. Recorded nesting near Linton, Lai (Fig. 1 ) that were surveyed. Lai Falls, Snake Valley, Mt Cole, Enfield, Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest, wood- Waterloo and near Beaufort. land, introduced pines and grassland/suburban Information sources. A2; Fl; F3; GL MV areas. P2; R7; 16; YV4; W5; W6; W27 Breeding. A common nesting species in the CAPR1MULGIDAE survey area. Information sources. A2; A4; C8; CIO- F3 Caprimulgus mystacalis. Gl; Jl; J2; Kl; Ml; M3; P2; R7; R9; S3; S4 White-throated Nightjar. S7; T2; T3; T6; W5; W7; Abundance and W8; W10; Wll distribution. Accidental; W12; W13; W14; W15; W16; the one record W17; W20 for the survey area is an injured W21;W27;W28;W29;W30. bird found SE of the Creswick Forest at Glen- park Halcyon (Thomas pers. comm.; Wheeler in pyrrhopygia. Red-backed Kingfisher. Ballarat Courier 23/1 1/74). Abundance and distribution. Accidental; one recorded at Invermay near Ballarat in Caprimulgus gutiatus. Spotted Nightjar. November of 1977 (Grant 1978). Abundance and distribution. Accidental; recorded from Enfield Forest (Thomas pers. Halcyon sancta. Sacred Kingfisher. comm.; Wheeler in Ballarat Courier 26/5/73) Abundance and distribution. Common and and Invermay (Wheeler unpublished data). widespread. A summer migrant to Victoria. During APOD] DAE FWD survey it was recorded in the Mt Cole, Ben Major-Trawalla, Langi Ghiran and Hirundapits caitdacutus. Inverleigh Blocks. White-throated Needletail. Habitat. Open-forest, woodland, trees re- Abundance and distribution. Common and maining in grassland areas and aquatic. VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE BALLARAT AREA, VICTORIA 87

Breeding. Recorded nesting near Creswick Information sources. Bl; C8; M4; R9; Tl; (Cowley 1971), in the Inverleigh District T6; W5; W8; WI1; WI2; W13; WI4; W15; (Wheeler 1973), near Beaufort (Millar and W17; W20; W21; W27; W28; W29. Tiley 1971) and at Lake Wendouree and HIRUNDINIDAE Linton (Wheeler unpublished data). Information sources. A4; C4; C8; CIO; F3; Hirundo neoxena. Welcome Swallow. Gl; M3; P2; T2; T3; T6; W4; W5; W20; Abundance and distribution. Common and W27;W28. widespread. During FWD survey it was re- corded in the Ararat and Inverleigh Blocks. MEROPIDAE Habitat. Open-forest, woodland, introduced pines, grassland and aquatic. Merops ornatus. Rainbow Bee-eater. Breeding. A common nesting species in the Abundance and distribution. Uncommon survey area. and widespread. A summer migrant to Vic- Information sources. A2; A4; C8; Dl; F3 toria. During FWD survey it was recorded in Gl; Jl; J2; M3; M4; P2; R7; R9; S3; S4; S7 the Langi Ghiran and Inverleigh Blocks. T2; T3; T6; W4; W5; W7; W8; W10; Wll Habitat. Open-forest, woodland and grass- W12; W13; W14; W15; W16; W17; W20; land. W24; W27; W28; W29; W30. Breeding. Recorded nesting at Skipton, Snake Valley, in the Inverleigh District, along the Cecropis nigricans. Tree Martin. Creswick-Clunes Road and near Linton. Abundance and distribution. Common and Information sources. A3; A4; C4; C8; Fl; widespread. During FWD survey it was re- F3; Gl; T2; T3; T6; W4; W5; W6; W27; corded in the Langi Ghiran and Inverleigh W30. Blocks. Habitat. Woodland, grassland and aquatic. CORACIIDAE Breeding. Recorded nesting near Lake Gold- smith (RAOU nest record card), in the Inver- Eurystomus orientalis. Dollarbird. leigh District (Wheeler 1973), in the Creswick Abundance and distribution. Accidental; District ( Cowley 1 960a ) and at Beaufort a pair seen at Ercildoune in 1915 and one or Lake and Buln Gherin (Wheeler unpublished two seen at Trawalla in 1953 and 1958 data). (Wheeler in Ballarat Courier 9/9/67 and Information sources. A2; A4; C8; F3; Gl; 1/2/69). S4; T3; T6; W4; W5; W16; W27; W29. ALAUDIDAE Cecropis ariel. Fairy Martin. Mirajra javanica. Singing Bushlark. Abundance and distribution. Common and

Abundance and distribution. Rare, possibly widespread. During FWD survey it w r as re- nomadic (Thomas pers. comm.). Recorded corded in the Inverleigh Block. near Streatham in 1966 (Wheeler in Ballarat Habitat. Woodland, grassland and aquatic. Courier 22/1/66), near Beaufort in 1956 Breeding. A common nesting species in the (Russell 1957) and at Buln Gherin (Wheeler survey area. unpublished data). Information sources. A2; C8; Gl; J2; M3; Habitat. Crop and grass land. P2; R7; S7; T6; W4; W5; W14; W17; W20; Information sources. R9; T6; W4; W5; W6. W21; W27; W28; W29. Alauda arvensis. Skylark. MOTACILLIDAE Abundance and distribution. Common and widespread. An introduced species. Anthus novaeseelandiae. Richard's Pipit. Habitat. Crop and grass land. Abundance and distribution. Common and Breeding. Recorded nesting in the Inverleigh widespread. District (Wheeler 1973). Habitat. Crop and grass land. . .

88 A. M. GILMORE, W. B. EMISON and J. R. WHEELER

Breeding. Recorded nesting in the Jnverleigh MUSCICAPIDAE District (Wheeler 1973). Zoothera dauma. White's Thrush. Information SOURCES. A2; C8; F3; Gl* M4- Abundance and distribution. Uncommon; P2; R9; S3; S7; T6; W5; W6; W8; Wl I; WI2-' recorded at Creswick (including the recent W14; W15; W17; W20; W21; W27 W>8' FWD survey), in the Mt Cole and Langi W29; W3 1 Ghiran Blocks, at Ballarat and in the Inver- CAMPEPHAGIDAE leigh District. Coracinanovaehollandiae. Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest and introduced Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike. pines. Breeding. Abundance and distribution. Common and Recorded nesting at Creswick (Cowley 1960; J. widespread. During FWD survey it was re- Wheeler R. 1954; Wheeler corded in the Mt Cole, Ben Major-Trawalla, 1955d), in the Mt Cole Block (Wheeler and Creswick, Ararat and Inverleigh Blocks. Thomas 1975), in the Langi Ghiran (= Mt Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest, wood- Mistake) Block (Hill 1907) and at Ballarat land and grassland. (Wheeler 1955a). Breeding. Recorded nesting near Beaufort Information sources. C8; F3; Gl; H2; P2; T4; (RAOU nest record cards; Millar and Tiley T6; W5; W9; W10; W13; W14; W27;' 1971), in the Creswick District (Cowley W28; W30. 1960a) and in the Inverleigh District (Wheeler 1973). Tardus merula. Common Blackbird. Abundance and distribution. Information sources. A2; A4; C4; C8; CIO; Common and widespread. During survey it F3; Gl; Kl; M3; P2; R7; R9; S4; T2; T3; FWD was re- corded T6; W5; W13; W16; W17; W20; W21; W27* in the Creswick and Inverleigh Blocks. W28; W29; W30. An introduced species. Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest, intro- Coracina papuensis. duced pines and grassland/suburban areas. White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike. Breeding. Recorded nesting in the Creswick Abundance and distribution. Uncommon District (Cowley 1960a), in the Mt Cole Block and widespread. During FWD survey it was (Wheeler 1957a), in the Inverleigh District recorded in the Langi Ghiran and Ararat (Wheeler 1973) and at Ballarat (Johnson Blocks. 1955b). Habitat. Open-forest and woodland. Information sources. A2; A4; Bl; C8 DL Breeding. Reported nesting near Beaufort F3; Gl; Jl; J2; R9; S3; S4; Tl; T3; T6; (Thomas W5;' pers. comm.; Millar and Tiley 1971) W7; W12; W13; W14; W15; W16; W17; and W20; at Clunes (just north of the survey area) W21;W27;W28;W29;W30. (Thomas pers. comm.). Information sources. F3; M3; T6 W5 W27. Tardus philomelos. Song Thrush. Abundance and distribution. Rare; recorded Lalage sueurii. White-winged Triller. at Ballarat (Johnson 1955a) and Ararat (Tarr Abundance and distribution. Uncommon 1950). An introduced species. and widespread. A summer migrant to Victoria. Habitat. Suburban. Habitat. Information sources. Open-forest, woodland and trees J 1 ; Tl ; W5. remaining in grassland. Breeding. Recorded nesting at Dean, Lake Petroica rosea. Rose Robin. Wendouree, Invermay, Beaufort, Buln Gherin, Abundance and distribution. Rare; between Snake Valley and Linton (Wheeler unpub- 1954 and 1976 it was recorded at Ballarat lished data). (Botanic Gardens and Lake Wendouree), Lai Information sources. C4; C8; Fl; Gl- M3* Lai, Creswick, Mt Clear, Inverleigh and Tra- P2;T3;T6;W4;W5 W27. ; walla (Wheeler in Ballarat Courier 7/2/76) VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE BALLARAT AREA, VICTORIA 89

Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest and Petroica goodenovii. Red-capped Robin. suburban areas. Abundance and distribution. Rare; recorded Information sources. T6; W5; W6; W27. during summer at Creswick (Payne 1931), near Linton (Wheeler unpublished data), Lake Petroica rodinogaster. Pink Robin. Wendouree in Ballarat (Thomas 1973) and Abundance and distribution. Uncommon a pair noted at Piggoreet in 1964 by Wheeler and widespread. (Ballarat Courier 28/3/69), Habitat. Tall open-forest and introduced Habitat. Open-forest, woodland, introduced pines. pines and grassland/suburban areas. Breeding. An old nesting record exists for Information sources. P2; T4; T6; W4; W5; White Swan Reservoir (Wheeler unpublished W6. data). Information sources. C7; C8; Gl; T6; W4; W5; W10; W12; W13; W16; W27. Melanodryas cucidlata. Hooded Robin. Abundance and distribution. Uncommon and widespread. During FWD survey it was Petroica phoenicea. Flame Robin. recorded in the Ararat Block. Abundance and distribution. Common and Habitat. Woodland and grassland. widespread during winter. Numbers decline Breeding. Recorded nesting near Linton during summer with some adults remaining in (RAOU nest record cards). the dense forests in the Mt Cole and Creswick Information sources. A2; A4; F3; M3; R7; Blocks. During FWD survey it was recorded T2; T3; T6; W5; W6; W16; W27; W29. in the Mt Cole Block. Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest, wood- land and grassland/suburban areas. Eopsaltria australis. Eastern Yellow Robin. Breeding. Recorded nesting in the Creswick Abundance and distribution. Common and widespread. Block (Cowley 1960a and 1960b) and in the During FWD survey it was re- Mt Cole Block (RAOU nest record cards; corded in the Mt Cole, Ben Major-Trawalla, Geelong F.N.C. and Western Victoria F.N.C.A. Langi Ghiran, Enfield, Creswick and Ararat 1972). Blocks. Information sources. A2; C7; C8; C9; F3; Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest, wood- Gl; J2; Ml; M3; P2; R7; S3; T6; W5; W8; land and introduced pines. W12; W13; W14; W15; W16; W17; W21; Breeding. A common nesting species in the W27; W28; W29; W30; W31. survey area. Information sources. A2; A3; A4; C4; C8; Petroica multicolor. Scarlet Robin. F3; Gl; Ml; M3; P2; R7; S3; S4; T2; T3; T6; Abundance and distribution. Common and W5; W12; W13; W14; W16; W17; W20; W21; W27; W28; W29; W30. widespread. During FWD survey it was re- corded in the Mt Cole, Ben Major-Trawalla, Langi Ghiran, Enfield, Creswick and Ararat Microeca leucophaea. Jacky Winter. Blocks. Abundance and distribution. Common and Habitat. Open-forest, woodland, introduced widespread. During FWD survey it was re- pines and grassland/suburban areas. corded in the Ben Major-Trawalla, Langi Breeding. Recorded nesting near Beaufort Ghiran, Enfield, Ararat and Inverleigh Blocks. (Millar and Tiley 1971), near Creswick (Cow- Habitat. Open-forest, woodland and grass- land. ley 1971 ) and in the Inverleigh District (Wheeler 1973). Breeding. Recorded nesting near Beaufort Information sources. A2; A4; C7; C8; CIO; (Millar and Tiley 1971), in the Inverleigh F3; Gl; Jl; Kl; M3; P2; R9; S3; S4; T2; T3; District (Wheeler 1973) and near Linton T4; T6; W5; W8; W10; Wll; W12; W13; (Thomas 1970; Anon. 1975). W14; W15; W16; W17; W27; W29; W30. Information sources. A2; A3; A4; C4; F3; 90 A. M. G1LMORE, W. B. EM (SON ajid J. R. WHEELER

01; Kl; M3; S3; S4; T2; T3; T6; W5; W8; corded in the Mt Cole, Ben Major-Trawalla, Wll; W12; W15; WI6; W27; W28; W29; Langi Ghiran (nesting) and W30. Enfield Blocks. Mainly seen during spring and summer. Habitat. Tall Falcunculus jrontatus. Crested Shrike-tit. open-forest, open-forest, wood- land, introduced Abundance and distribution. Common and pines and grassland/suburban widespread. areas. During FWD survey it was re- Breeding. A corded in all seven blocks of Crown Land that common nesting species in the we surveyed. survey area. Information sources. Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest, wood- A2; A4; C4; C8; F3; Gl; J2; M3; P2; R7; R9; land, introduced pines and grassland areas T2; T3; T6; W5; where trees remain. W20; W27; W28; W29; W30 BREEDING. Recorded nesting in the Inverleigh Colluricincla harmonica. Grey Shrike-thrush. District (Wheeler 1973) and near Beaufort Abundance and distribution. (RAOU nest record card; Millar and Common and Tilevy widespread. 1971). During FWD survey it was re- corded in all seven Crown Land Blocks Information sources. A2; A4; C4; C8; CIO* that we surveyed. F3; Gl; Ml; M3; P2; R7; S3; S4; T2; T3; T6; Habitat. Tall open-forest, W5; W8; W13; W20; W21; W27; W28; W29* open-forest, wood- W30. land, introduced pines and grassland/suburban areas.

Pachycephala olivacea. Olive Whistler. Breeding. A common nesting species in the Abundance and distribution. Rare; recorded survey area. from the Information Wombat Forest which is on the north- sources. Al; A2; A4; B3 C8 F3; east boundary of the survey area (Thomas Gl; Jl; J2; Kl; Ml; M3; P2; R7; S3; S4 pers. comm.) and Spargo Creek (Wheeler T2; T3 T6; W5; W8; W10; Wll; W12; W13 unpublished data). W14; W15; W16; W17; W20; W21; W27 Habitat. Tall open-forest. W28; W29; W30. Information sources. T6; W4; W5. Myiagra rubecula. Leaden Flycatcher. Pachycephala pectoralis. Golden Whistler. Abundance and distribution. Rare; recorded Abundance and distribution. Common and at Mt Cole, near Linton, near Creswick and widespread. at Invermay During FWD survey it was re- (Wheeler in Ballarat Courier corded in the Mt Cole, Langi Ghiran, Enfield, 2/1/71 ). A summer migrant to Victoria. Creswick and Ararat Blocks. Habitat. Open-forest and woodland. Breeding. Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest, wood- Recorded nesting at Invermay land, introduced pines and grassland/suburban 'many years ago' (Wheeler in Ballarat Courier areas. 2/1/71). Breeding. Recorded nesting in the Creswick Information sources. W5; W6. area (Cowley 1960a), in the Mt Cole Block Myiagra cyanoleuca. Satin Flycatcher. (FWD survey), near Linton (RAOU nest Abundance and distribution. Uncommon record card) and in the Inverleigh District and widespread. During (Wheeler 1973). FWD survey it was recorded in the Mt Cole Block. A summer Information sources. Al A2; A4; C4- C8 migrant to Victoria. F3; Gl; Jl; J2; Kl; M3; P2; R7; R9 ; S3; S4 Habitat. Tall open-forest, T2; T3; T6; W5; W12; W14; W15; W16; W20 open-forest and W27;W28;W29;W30;W31. woodland. Breeding. Recorded nesting near Beaufort Pachycephala rufiventris. Rufous Whistler. (RAOU nest record card; Millar and Tiley Abundance and distribution. Common and 1971), at Mt Cole (Wheeler and Thomas widespread. During FWD survey it was re- 1975), in the Inverleigh District (Wheeler .

VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE BALLARAT AREA, VICTORIA 91

1973), in the Creswick area (Cowley 1971) Rhipidura leucophrys. Willie Wagtail. and near Linton (Thomas 1970). Abundance and distribution. Common and Information sources. A2; A3; A4; C4; C8 widespread. During FWD survey it was re- CIO; F3; Gl; M3; R7; T2; T3; T6; W5; W6; corded in the Ben Major-Trawalla, Langi W27; W28; W29. Ghiran, Enfield, Ararat and Inverleigh Blocks. Habitat. Woodland and grassland/suburban Myiagra inquieta. Restless Flycatcher. areas. Abundance and distribution. Common and Breeding. A common nesting species in the widespread. During FWD survey it was re- survey area. corded in the Ben Major-Trawalla, Langi Information sources. A2; C7; C8; F3; Gl Ghiran, Enfield, Ararat and Inverleigh Blocks. Jl; J2; Kl; M3; M4; R7; R9; S3; S4; T2; T6 Habitat. Open-forest, woodland, introduced W5; W7; W8; Wll; W13; W14; W15; W16 pines and grassland. W17; W20; W21; W27; W28; W29; W30. Breeding. A common nesting species in the ORTHONYCHIDAE survey area. Cinclosoma Information sources. Al; A2; A4; C8; F3 punctatum. Spotted Quail-thrush. Abundance and distribution. Uncommon; Kl; M3; M4; P2; R7; R9; S3; T2; T3; T4 T6; W5; W8; W13; W14; W15; W16; W17 most records come from the Creswick and W21; W27; W29; W30; W31. Enfield Blocks (including sightings in both blocks during FWD survey) Habitat. Open-forest and introduced pines. Rhipidura rufifrons. Rufous Fantail. Breeding. Recorded nesting in the Creswick Abundance and distribution. Uncommon; (Cowley 1960a) and Enfield (Bedggood pers. most records are from the Cole Mt and Cres- comm.) Blocks. wick Blocks. During survey it was re- FWD Information sources, A2; B2; C7; C8; F3; corded in the Mt Cole Block. A summer N1;T6;W5; W6. migrant to Victoria. Habitat. Tall open-forest. TIMALIIDAE Breeding. It nests in the Mt Cole Block (see Pomatostomus superciliosus. information sources) and single records also White-browed Babbler. exist for Ballarat (Wakefield 1963c) and Abundance and distribution. Uncommon; Creswick (Wheeler unpublished data). recorded from Campbelltown by Wheeler Information sources. C8; F3; F8; Gl; R7; (Ballarat Courier 6/5/67), from the Ararat T6; W2; W3; W4; W5; W28; W30. Block (FWD survey) and from the Ben Major- Trawalla Block (Wheeler unpublished data), Rhipidura juliginosa. Grey Fantail. Habitat. Open-forest and woodland. Abundance and distribution. Common and Breeding. Recorded nesting at Campbelltown widespread. During FWD survey it was re- in 1967 (Wheeler in Ballarat Courier 6/5/67). corded in the Mt Cole, Ben Major-Trawalla, There is a general reference to nesting in the Langi Ghiran, Enfield and Creswick Blocks. Ararat District (Lang 1932) but a precise Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest, wood- locality is not given. land, introduced pines and grassland/suburban Information sources. F3; L2; T6; W4; W5; areas. W6. Breeding. A common nesting species in the survey area. SYLVIIDAE Information sources. Al; A2; A3; A4; C8 Acrocephalus stentoreus. Dl; F3; Gl; J2; M3; P2; R7; R9; S4; S7; T2 Clamorous Reed-Warbler. T3; T6; W3; W5; W10; W13; W14; W15 Abundance and distribution. Common and W16; W17; W20; W21; W26; W27; W28 widespread. A summer migrant to Victoria. W30. Habitat. Aquatic. .

92 A. M. GILMORE, W. B. BMISON and J. R. WHRFLER

Breeding. Recorded nesting at Lake Wen- MALURIDAE dource in Ballarat (RAOU nest record cards) Malitnts dyaneus. Superb Fairy-wren. and in the Inverieigh District (Wheeler 1973). Abundance and distribution. Common and Information sources. C8; Dl; F2; J2; P2; ' widespread. During FWD survey it was re- R7; R9; T6; W4; W5; W20; W21; W27; W28 corded in all seven Crown Land Blocks that Megalurus grarnineus. Little Grassbird. wc surveyed. Abundance and distribution. Common and Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest, wood- widespread. land, introduced pines and grassland/suburban Habitat. Grassland and aquatic. areas. Breeding. Recorded nesting at Lake Wen- Breeding. A common nesting species in the douree (RAOU nest record card), Flaxmill survey area. Swamp (Wheeler unpublished data) and in the Information sources. A2; A4; C4; C8; F3; [nverleigh District (Wheeler 1973). Gl; Kl; M3; P2; R7; S3; S4; T2; T3; T4; T6; Information sources. C8; Gl; J2; P2; R7 W5; W12; W13; WI4; WI5; W16; W17; W20; T6; W4; W5; W7; W20; W27; W28. W27; W28; W29; W30.

Cisticola exilis, Golden-headed Cisticola. AC ANTHIZIDAE Abundance and distribution. Uncommon Sericornis frontalis. White-browed Scrubwren. and widespread. Abundance and distribution. Common and HABITAT. Grassland and aquatic. widespread. During FWD survey it was re- Breeding. Recorded nesting near Lake Gold- corded in the Mt Cole, Ben Major-Trawalla, smith (Feather 1977-78), near Beaufort by Langi Ghiran, Enfield and Creswick Blocks. Wheeler (Ballarat Courier 11/3/67), at Buln Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest, wood- Gherin (Wheeler unpublished data) and in land, introduced pines and grassland/suburban the Inverieigh District (Wheeler 197^3). areas. Information sources. C7; C8; Fl; T6- W4 Breeding. A common W5; W6; W15; W27. nesting species in the survey area. Cinclorhamphtts mathewsi. Rufous Songlark. Information sources. Al; A2; A4; C8 F3 Abundance and distribution. Uncommon; Gl; M3; P2; R7; S4; T2; T3; T6; W5; W12 recorded in the Creswick area (Payne 1931)' W13; W14; W15; W20; W27; W28; W29 near Beaufort (NMV specimen; Millar and W30. Tiley 1971 ), in the Inverieigh District (Wheeler Sericornis juliginosus. Calamanthus. 1973; FWD survey) and at Lake Wendouree Abundance and distribution. Uncommon (Thomas pers. comm.). A summer migrant to and widespread. Victoria. Habitat. Grassland. Habitat. Open-forest, woodland and grass- Breeding. land. Recorded nesting at Streatham (Wheeler unpublished data). Information sources. F3; M3 P2* T6* W5 - W27. Information sources. C8; Gl; T6; W4 W5- W13;W17;W20; W21;W27.

Cinclorhamphus cruralis. Brown Songlark. Sericornis sagittatus. Speckled Warbler. Abundance and distribution. Common and Abundance and distribution. Common and widespread. A summer migrant to Victoria. widespread. During FWD survey it was re- Habitat. Grassland. corded in the Ben Major-Trawalla, Langi Breeding. Recorded nesting near Beaufort Ghiran and Ararat Blocks. (RAOU nest record cards) and at Buln Gherin Habitat. Open-forest, woodland and intro- ( Wheeler unpublished data) duced pines. Information sources. C8; M3; M4; Nl* R7* Breeding. Recorded nesting near Beaufort T6; W4; W5; W6; W27; W29. (Millar and Tiley 1971). . .

VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE BALLARAT AREA, VICTORIA 93

Information sources. A2; A4; C4; C8; Fl; BREEDING. Recorded nesting near White Swan F3; M3; T2; T3; T6; W5; W6; WI5; W16; Reservoir (Wheeler unpublished data). W17;W27;W29. Information SOURCES. M3; T6; VV4; W5.

Smicrornis brevirostris. Weebi 1 1 Acanthiza reguloides. Buff-rumped Thornbill. Abundance and distribution. Uncommon. Abundance and distribution. Common and Recorded from just north of the survey area widespread. During FWD survey it was re- at Clunes (Thomas pers. comm.), near Linton corded in the Mt Cole, Ben Major-Trawalla, (Thomas 1970), in the Inverleigh District Langi Ghiran, Enfield, Creswick and Ararat (Wheeler 1973) and in the Langi Ghiran Blocks. Block (FWD survey). Habitat. Open-forest, woodland and intro- Habitat. Open-forest and woodland. duced pines. Information sources. F3; T2; T6; W5; W27. Breeding. Recorded nesting near Beaufort Gerygone jusca. Western Gerygone. (Millar and Tiley 1971), near Stockyard Hill Abundance and distribution. Accidental; (Wheeler 1957b), near Creswick (Cowley recorded at Waubra Junction in the 1930s by 1960a) and in the Inverleigh District (Wheeler Len Harvey and at Mt Beckworth (just north 1973). of the survey area) in 1971 (Wheeler unpub- Information sources. A2; A4; C8; F3; Gl; lished data). M3; P2; S3; T2; T3; T6; W5; W10; W12; W13; W14; W15; W16; W17; W27; W29; W30. Gerygone olivacea. White-throated Gerygone. Abundance and distribution. Rare; recorded Acanthiza chrysorrhoa. at Waubra Junction and near White Swan Yellow-rumped Thornbill. Reservoir in the 1930s by Len Harvey and at Abundance and distribution. Common and Linton in 1957 by Gordon Clarke (Wheeler widespread. During FWD survey it was re- unpublished data) corded in the Langi Ghiran Block. Habitat. Open-forest. Habitat. Grassland, occasionally woodland and edges of introduced pine plantations. Acanthiza pusilla. Brown Thornbill. Breeding. A common nesting species in the Abundance and distribution. Common and survey area. widespread. During FWD survey it was re- Information sources. A2; C8; F3; Gl; Jl corded in the Mt Cole, Ben Major-Trawalla, J2; Ml; M3; R7; R9; S3; S4; S7; T2; T3; T6 Langi Ghiran, Enfield, Creswick and Ararat W5; W8; W10; Wll; W12; W13; W14; W15 Blocks. W16; W17; W20; W21; W27; W28; W29 Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest, wood- W30. land, introduced pines and grassland/suburban areas. Acanthiza nana. Yellow Thornbill. Breeding. A common nesting species in the Abundance and distribution. Uncommon survey area. Information sources. A2; A4; C8; F3; Gl; and widespread. Habitat. Open-forest and trees and shrubs Jl; J2; M3; P2; R7; S3; S4; T2; T3; T6; W5; W7; W8; W10; Wll; W12; W13; W14; W15; remaining in grasslands. sources. A2; A4; C8; Gl; M3; W16; W20; W27; W28; W29; W30. Information T6; W5;W27;W28;W30. Acanthiza uropygialis. Chestnut-rumped Thornbill. Acanthiza lineata. Striated Thornbill. Abundance and distribution. Rare; recorded Abundance and distribution. Common and from near Beaufort (Millar and Tiley 1971) widespread. During FWD survey it was re- and from Creswick and near White Swan corded in the Mt Cole, Ben Major-Trawalla, Reservoir (Wheeler unpublished data). Langi Ghiran, Enfield, Creswick and Ararat Habitat. Open-forest and woodland. Blocks. 94 A. M. GILMORK, W. B. EMISON ajid J. R. WHEELER

Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest, wood- F3; Gl; Kl; M3; P2; R9; S3; S4; T2; T3; T6; land, introduced pines and grassland/suburban W5; WX; W10; Wll; W12; W13; WI4; W15; areas. WI6; W17; W20; W27; W28; W29; W30.

Breeding. Recorded nesting in the Creswick area (Cowley 1960a) and in the Ben Major- Climacteris erythrops. Trawalla Block (RAOU nest record card). Red-browed Treecreeper. Information sources. Al; A2; A4; C8; F3 Abundance and distribution. Uncommon Gl; M3; R7; T3; T6; W5; W10; Wll; W12 and restricted mainly to the Wombat Forest W13; W15; W16; W17; W20; W27; W28 in the Creswick Block (Thomas pers. comm.; W29; W30. FWD survey), although there also has been a report from the Enfield Block (Wheeler in Aphelocephala leucopsis. Southern Whiteface. Ballarat Courier 30/4/66) which requires Abundance and distribution. Uncommon confirmation. and widespread. Habitat. Tall open-forest. Habitat. Grassland. Information sources. F3; T6; W5; W6. Information sources. T6; W5; W6; W27- W29. Climacteris picumnus. Brown Treecreeper. Abundance and distribution. Common and NEOSITTIDAE widespread. During FWD survey it was re- corded in the Ben Major-Trawalla, Langi Daphoenositta chrysoptera. Varied Sittella. Ghiran, Enfield and Ararat Abundance and distribution. Common Blocks. and Habitat. widespread. Open-forest and woodland. During FWD survey it was re- Breeding. Recorded nesting near corded in the Ben Major-Trawalla, Langi Beaufort (Millar and Tiley 1971) and in the Inverleigh Ghiran, Enfield, Creswick and Ararat Blocks. District (Wheeler 1973). Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest, wood- Information sources. A2; F3; Ml; M3; S3- land and trees remaining in grassland areas. S4; T4; T6; W5; W6; Breeding. Recorded nesting W14; W16; W27; W29;' near Beaufort W30. (Millar and Tiley 1971; RAOU nest record cards) and in the Inverleigh District (Wheeler 1973). MELIPHAGIDAE Information sources. A2; A3; A4; C8; CIO* Anthochaera carunculata. Red Wattlebird. F3; Gl; Kl; Ml; : M3; R7; T2; T3; T6; W5, Abundance and distribution. Common and W27. widespread. During FWD survey it was re- CLIMACTERIDAE corded in the Mt Cole, Langi Ghiran, Ararat and Inverleigh Blocks. Climacteris leucophaea. Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest, wood- White-throated Treecreeper. land, introduced pines and grassland/suburban Abundance and distribution. Common and areas. widespread. During FWD survey it was re- Breeding. corded in the Mt Cole, Ben Major-Trawalla, Recorded nesting near Beaufort (Millar and Tiley Langi Ghiran, Enfield, Creswick and Ararat 1971; RAOU nest record Blocks. cards) and in the Inverleigh District (Wheeler 1973). Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest and introduced pines. Information sources. A2; A4; C8; Dl- F3 Gl; Jl; J2; M3; P2; Breeding. Recorded nesting near Beaufort R7; R9; S3; S4; S8; T2 T3; T6; W5; W7; W8; (Millar and Tiley 1971), in the Creswick area W10; Wll; W14; W15 W17; W20; W21; W27; (Cowley 1971) and in the Inverleigh District W28; W29; W30. (Wheeler 1973). Anthochaera chrysoptera. Little Wattlebird. Information sources. A2; A4; C7; C8; CIO; Abundance and distribution. Accidental; .

VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE BALLARAT AREA, VICTORIA 95 recorded at Lake Wendouree in Ballarat by Wll; W12; W14; W15; W17; W27; W28; Thomas (1973). W29; W30. Habitat. Open-forest. Information sources. T4; T6; W5. Lichenostomus virescens. Singing Honeyeater. Abundance and distribution. Rare; recorded A canthagenys rufogularis. at Skipton, Buln Gherin and Lake Goldsmith Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater. (Wheeler in Ballarat Courier 17/8/68; Abundance and distribution. Rare; recorded Wheeler 1957c). at Ballarat in 1974 (Wheeler in Ballarat Habitat. Grassland/suburban areas. Courier 20/7/74) and at Barunah Plains near Breeding. Recorded nesting at Stoneleigh in Wingeel in 1954 (Wheeler W. R. 1954). 1970 (Wheeler unpublished data). Nomadic. Information sources. T6; W4; W5; W6; Habitat. Open-forest and suburban. W17. Information sources. T6; W6; W3 1 Xanthomyza phrygia. Regent Honeyeater. Lichenostomus leucotis. Abundance and distribution. Rare; recorded White-eared Honeyeater. near Beaufort (Millar and Tiley 1971) and at Abundance and distribution. Common and Lake Wendouree in Ballarat (Thomas 1973). widespread. During FWD survey it was re- Habitat. Open-forest and woodland. corded at Mt Cole, Langi Ghiran, Enfield, Information sources. M3; T4; T6; W5. Creswick, Ararat and Inverleigh Blocks. Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest, wood- Manorina melanocephala. Noisy Miner. land, introduced pines and grassland/suburban Abundance and distribution. Common and areas. widespread. During survey it was re- FWD Breeding. Recorded nesting near Creswick corded in the Inverleigh Block. (Cowley 1960a), in the Inverleigh District Habitat. Woodland and trees remaining in (Wheeler 1973) and in the Ben Major- grasslands. Trawalla Block (RAOU nest record card). Breeding. Recorded nesting near Beaufort Information sources. A2; A4; C8; F3; Gl; (RAOU nest record cards), in the Inverleigh Kl; Ml; M3; P2; R7; S8; T2; T3; T6; W5; District (Wheeler 1973) and in Sugar Gum W12; W14; W16; W20; W21; W27; W30. plantations west of Ballarat (Wheeler unpub- lished data). Lichenostomus melanops. Information sources. A2; C8; F3; Gl; M3; Yellow-tufted Honeyeater. P2; R7; S4; S7; T6; W4; W5; W8; W13; W14; Abundance and distribution. Uncommon W16; W17; W21; W27; W30. and widespread. During FWD survey it was recorded in the Langi Ghiran and Ararat Lichenostomus chrysops. Blocks. Yellow-faced Honeyeater. Habitat. Open-forest and woodland. Abundance and distribution. Common and Information sources. C8; F3; M3; S8; T6; widespread. During FWD survey it was re- W5;W29. corded in the Mt Cole, Ben Major-Trawalla, Langi Ghiran, Enfield, Ararat and Inverleigh Lichenostomus ornatus. Blocks. Yellow-plumed Honeyeater. Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest, wood- Abundance and distribution. Accidental; land, introduced pines and grassland/suburban recorded at Beaufort in 1968 (Wheeler un- areas. published data). Breeding. A common nesting species in the survey area. Lichenostomus fuscus. Fuscous Honeyeater. Information sources. A2; A3; A4; C4; C8; Abundance and distribution. Common and F3; Gl; M3; P2; R7; S4; S8; T2; T3; T6; W5; widespread. During FWD survey it was re- 96 A. M. G1LMORE, W. B. EMISON and J. R. WHEELER

corded in the Mt Cole, Ben Major-Trawalla, widespread. During FWD survey it was re- Langi Ghiran and Ararat Blocks. corded in the Mt Cole, Ben Major-Trawalla, HABITAT, Open-forest and woodland. Langi Ghiran, Enfield, Creswick and Ararat Breeding. Recorded nesting near Beaufort Blocks. (RAOU nest record cards; Millar and Tiley HABITAT, Tall open-forest, open-forest, wood- 1971). land and trees remaining in grassland/suburban Information sources. F3; Gl; M3; P2; R7; areas. S3;T6;W5;W16;W21;W29. Breeding. Recorded nesting near Beaufort

(Millar and Tiley 1971 ), in the Mt Cole Block Lichenostomus penicillatus. (Wheeler J. R. 1977), in the Inverleigh Dis- White-plumed Honeycater. trict (Wheeler 1973) and near Creswick Abundance and distribution. Common and (Cowley 1960a). widespread. During FWD survey it was re- Information sources. A2; A3; A4; C4; C8 corded in the Enfield, Ararat and Inverleigh F3; Gl; M3; P2; S3; S4; T2; T3; T6; W5; Blocks. W8 W12; W13; W14; WI5; W17; Habitat. W27; W28 Woodlands and trees remaining in W29; W30. grassland/suburban areas. Particularly abun- dant in River Red Gum areas. Grantiella picta. Painted Honeyeater. Breeding. Recorded nesting near Beaufort Abundance and distribution. Uncommon; (Millar and Tiley 1971; RAOU nest record recorded from Linton, Piggoreet and near card), at Buln Gherin (Wheeler J. R. 1977) Beaufort. and in the Inverleigh District (Wheeler 1973). Habitat. Open-forest, woodland and trees Information sources. A2; C8; F3; Gl; M3 remaining in grasslands. M4; R7; S3; S7; T6; W5; W13; W14; W17; Breeding. It has nested near Linton (Wheeler

W2 ; W27; W28; 1 W29; W30. in Ballarat Courier 24/3/73) and near Beau- fort (RAOU nest record card). Melithreptus gularis. Information sources. A3; PI; R7; T2* T6 Black-chinned Honeyeater. W5; W6. Abundance and distribution. Uncommon; recorded north of the survey area at Clunes Phylidonyris pyrrhoptera. Crescent Honeyeater. (Thomas pers. comm.), at Lake Wendouree Abundance and distribution. Uncommon; in Ballarat (Thomas 1973) and in the Ararat recorded mainly at Mt Cole (including FWD Block (FWD survey). survey) with occasional sightings at Creswick Habitat. Open-forest and woodland. (Cowley 1960a), near Beaufort (Wheeler Information sources. F3; T4; T6; W5. 1953b and 1955b) and' Enfield (Strange 1966). Melithreptus brevirostris. Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest and Brown-headed Honeyeater. occasionally suburban areas. Abundance and distribution. Common and Breeding. Recorded nesting in the Mt Cole widespread. During FWD survey it was re- Block (RAOU nest record cards). corded in the Langi Ghiran, Enfield and Cres- Information sources. C8; F3; Gl; R7 S8- wick Blocks. T6;W5;W8 ; W11;W28;W30. Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest, wood- Phylidonyris land and trees remaining in grassland/suburban novaehollandiae. areas. New Holland Honeyeater. Abundance Information sources. Al; A2; A4; C7- C8* and distribution. Uncommon F3; and widespread. Gl; Kl; M3; S7; T3; T6; W5; W27; W29;' During FWD survey it was W30. recorded in the Langi Ghiran, Enfield and Ararat Blocks. Melithreptus lunatus. White-naped Honeyeater. Habitat. Open-forest, woodland and occasion- Abundance and distribution. Common and ally suburban gardens. .

VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE BALLARAT AREA, VICTORIA 97

Breeding. It nests in the Inverleigh District Abundance and distribution. Uncommon (Wheeler 1973). and widespread. During FWD survey it was Information sources. Al; A2; A4; C8; F3; recorded in the Langi Ghiran and Enfield Gl; M3; S8; T3; T6; W5; W27; W30. Blocks. Habitat. Phylidonyris melanops. Open-forest (particularly box forest) and woodland. Tawny-crowned Honeyeater. Breeding. Recorded nesting Ballarat Abundance and distribution. Rare; recorded in (Wheeler 1955a). in Ballarat, Skipton and at Buln Gherin Information sources. A2; A3; A4; C4; C8; (Wheeler Ballarat Courier 10/8/68 and CIO; F3; Gl; M3; P2; T2; T3; T6; W5; W10; 1 7/8/68; Wheeler unpublished data) W27; W30. Habitat. Suburban gardens. Breeding. It has nested at Buln Gherin PARDALOTIDAE (Wheeler unpublished data). Pardalotus punctatus. Spotted Information sources. Gl; T6; W4; W5; W6. Pardalote. Abundance and distribution. Common and Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris. widespread. During FWD survey it was re- Eastern Spinebill. corded in the Mt Cole, Ben Major-Trawalla, Abundance and distribution. Common and Langi Ghiran, Enfield and Ararat Blocks. Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest, widespread. During FWD survey it was re- wood- corded in the Mt Cole, Langi Ghiran, Enfield, land and trees remaining in grassland/suburban Creswick and Ararat Blocks. areas. Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest, wood- Breeding. A common nesting species in the land, introduced pines and grassland/suburban survey area. areas. Information sources. A2; A3; A4; C8; F3; Breeding. A common nesting species in the Gl; Kl; M3; P2; S3; S7; T2; T3; T6; W5; survey area. W8; Wl 3; W14; W15; W17; W27; W30. Information sources. Al; A2; A3; A4; C8 Pardalotus striatus. Striated Pardalote. F2; F3; Gl; Jl; J2; M3; P2; R7; S4; S8; T3 Abundance and distribution. Common and T6; W5; W10; W14; W15; W20; W27; W28 widespread. During FWD survey it was re- W30. corded in the Mt Cole, Ben Major-Trawalla, EPHTHIANURIDAE Langi Ghiran, Enfield, Ararat and Inverleigh Ephthianura albijrons. White-fronted Chat. Blocks. Abundance and distribution. Common and Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest, wood- widespread. land and trees remaining in grassland/suburban Habitat. Mainly grassland, but occasionally areas. Breeding. A common nesting species in the recorded in introduced pines and on mud fiats survey area. along margins of standing water. Information sources. A2; A3; A4; C4; C8; Breeding. Nesting recorded at Lake Wongan F3; Gl; M3; P2; R7; S7; T2; T3; T6; (Millar and Tiley 1972-73), Lake Goldsmith W5; W20; W21; W29; ( W16; W17; W27; W30. RAOU nest record card ) , near Beaufort (RAOU nest record cards) and in the Inver- ZOSTEROPIDAE leigh District (Wheeler 1973). Information sources. A2; C8; F3; Gl; M3 Zosterops lateralis. Silvereye. M4; P2; R7; R9; S3; T6; W4; W5; W8; Wll Abundance and distribution. Common and W12; W14; W15; W17; W21; W27; W28 widespread. During FWD survey it was re- W29. corded in the Mt Cole and Enfield Blocks. Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest, wood- DICAEIDAE land, introduced pines and grassland/suburban Dicaeum hirundinaceum. Mistletoebird. areas. f)H A. M. (ilLMORF, W. B. FMISON and J. K. WHHFLHR

BREEDrNG. Recorded nesting in the Crcswick PLOCEIDAE area (Cowley 1960a). Emblema temporalis. Rcd-browcd Firctail. Information sources. A I; A2; A4; C8; F3; Abundance and distribution. Common and (il; J2; M3; P2; R9; S8; T6; W5; WI2; W!4; widespread. During FWD survey it was re- WI6; W20; W27; W30. corded in the Mt Cole, Ben Major-Trawalla, Langi Ghiran, Enfield and Inverleigh (nesting) FRINGILLIDAE Blocks, HABITAT, Tall open-forest, open-forest, wood- ( *arduelis carduelis. European Goldfinch. land, introduced pines and grassland. ABUNDANCE and DISTRIBUTION. Common and BREEDING. A common nesting species in the widespread. An introduced spceics. During survey area. ; I WI) survey it was recorded in the Inverleigh Information sources. I; A2; A4; Block. A C4; C8; F3; Gl; M3; P2; R7; S4; T2; T3; T4; T6; Habitat. Grassland and introduced pines., W5; WI3; WI4; W15; W27; W28; W30. BREEDING. A common nesting species in the survey area. Emblema guttata. Diamond Firctail. Information sources. A2; A4; C8; F3; Gl; Abundance and distribution. Uncommon Ji; J2; Kl; M3; M4; P2; R7; S3; R9; S4; T2; and widespread. During FWD survey it was T3; T6; VV5; W8; W10; W12; WI3; W14; recorded in the Ararat and Inverleigh Blocks. WIS; WI6; WI7; W20; W2 1 ; W27; W28; HABITAT. Woodland and grassland. W29; W30. BREEDING, Recorded nesting near Beaufort (RAOU nest record card; Millar and Tiley ( and 'arduelis chloris. European Greenfinch. 1971) in the Inverleigh Block (FWD survey). Abundance and distribution. Uncommon and widespread. An introduced species. Information sources. C4; F3; Gl; M3; R7; S4; T6; W5; W27. HABITAT, Grassland, suburban areas and intro- duced pines. STURNIDAE BREEDING. Recorded nesting in the Fnverleigh Stumus vulgaris. Common Starling. District (Wheeler 1973). Abundance and distribution. Common and Information sources. A4; C8; Gl; J I; P2; widespread. An introduced species. T1;T6;W5; W8; W13; W20; W27; W29, Habitat. Grassland and suburban areas. BREEDING. A common nesting species in the PASSERIDAE survey area. Information Passer domesticus. I louse Sparrow. sources. A2; C8; Dl; F3; Gl Abundance and distribution. Common and J I; J2; M3; M4; P2; R7; R9; S3; S4; T5; T6 widespread. An introduced species. W5; W7; W8; WII; WI2; WI3; W14; WI5 Habitat. Grassland and suburban. WI6; W17; W20; W21; W27; W28; W29 W30. BREEDING* Recorded nesting in the Creswick area (Cowley 1960a) and in the Inverleigh Aer'ulotheres tristis. Common Myna. District (Wheeler 1973). Abundance and distribution. Rare; two seen Information sources. A2; C8; Dl; F3; Gl; in Ballarat in the 1950s (Wheeler unpublished J I; J2; P2; R9; T2; T3; T6; W5; WX; WII; (lata). WI2; WI3; WI4; W15; WI6; WI7; W20; Habitat. Suburban areas.

W2 I ; W27; W2S; W29; W30. Information sources. W4; W5. Passer montanus. Tree Sparrow. Abundance and distribution. Rare; recorded ORIOLIDAE in Ballarat (Wheeler unpublished data). Oriolus sagittatus* Olive-backed Oriole. Suburban HABITAT. garden. Abundance and distribution. Common and VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE BALLARAT AREA, VICTORIA 99 widespread. A summer migrant to Victoria, Information sources. A2; B3; C8; DI; F3 although some winter here. During FWD sur- Gl; Jl; J2; Kl; M3; M4; P2; R7; R9; S3; S4 vey it was recorded in the Mt Cole and Inver- S7; T2; T6; W5; W7; W8; W10; Wl I; W12 leigh (nesting) Blocks. W13; W14; W15; W16; W17; W20; W2! Habitat. Open-forest, woodland and trees W27; W28; W29; W30. remaining in grassland/suburban areas. Breeding. A common nesting species in the ARTAMIDAE survey area. Artamus superciliosus. Information sources. C4; C8; F3; Gl; M3; White-browed Woodswallow. R7; T2; T3; T6; W5; W6; W27. Abundance and distribution. Uncommon and nomadic. Recorded from the Creswick PARADISAEIDAE area, the Inverleigh District (including FWD Ptilonorhynchus violaceus. Satin Bowerbird. survey) and at Waterloo. Abundance and distribution. Accidental. Habitat. Woodland and grassland. Breeding. One recorded at Creswick in the 1960s by Recorded nesting at Waterloo Wheeler (Ballarat Courier 11/12/65). (Wheeler in Ballarat Courier 28/4/73) and Information sources. W5; W6. in the Inverleigh District (Wheeler 1973; FWD survey). CORCORACIDAE Information sources. C8; F3; Gl; P2; R7; T6; W5; W6; W27. Corcorax melanorhamphos. White-winged Chough. A rtamus cyanopterus. Dusky Woodswallow. Abundance and distribution. Common and Abundance and distribution. Common and

widespread. During FWD survey it was re- widespread. During FWD survey it was re- corded in the Mt Cole, Ben Major-Trawalla, corded in the Mt Cole, Ben Major-Trawalla, Langi Ghiran, Enfield, Creswick and Ararat Langi Ghiran, Enfield and Inverleigh (nesting) Blocks. Blocks. Habitat. Open-forest, woodland and, occa- Habitat. Open-forest, woodland and grass- sionally, introduced pines and grassland. land. Breeding. A common nesting species in the Breeding. A common nesting species in the survey area. survey area. Information sources. A2; C8; F3; CI; M3; Information sources. Al; A2; A4; C4; C8; R9; S4; T6; W5; W8; W12; W14; W16; W17; CIO; F3; Gl; M3; P2; R7; S4; T2; T3; T6; W27; W30. W5; W14; W15; W16; W17; W27; W29; W30.

Struthidea cinerea. Apostlebird. CRACTICIDAE Abundance and distribution. Accidental. Cracticus torquatus. Grey butcherbird. Reported from Lake Goldsmith and Smythes- Abundance and distribution. Uncommon dale (Wheeler in Ballarat Courier 27/2/71 ). and widespread. Information sources. W5; W6. Habitat. Open-forest, woodland and, parti- cularly, suburban areas. GRALLINIDAE Breeding. Recorded nesting in the Creswick area (Cowley 1960a) and in the Inverleigh Grallina cyanoleuca. Australian Magpie-lark. District (Wheeler 1973). Abundance and distribution. Common and Information sources. A2; C8; Dl; Gl; Jl; widespread. J2; Nl; P2; T6; W5; W7; W20; W27. Habitat. Woodland, grassland and margins of standing water. Gymnorhina tibicen. Australian Magpie. Breeding. A common nesting species in the Abundance and distribution. Common and survey area. widespread. During FWD survey it was re- 100 A. M. GILMORE, W. B. FMISON and J. R. WHEELER

corded in the Mt Cole, Ben Major-Trawalla, Corvus mellori. Little Raven. Enfield, Ararat and Inverleigh Blocks. Abundance and distribution. Common and Habitat. Open-forest, woodland, introduced widespread. pines and grassland/suburban areas. Habitat. Woodland and grassland. Breeding, A common nesting species in the Breeding. It nests in the Inverleigh District survey area. (Wheeler 1973). Information sources. A!; A2; A4; C8; Dl Information sources. A2; F3; Gl; M3; T6; F3; Gl; Jl; J2; MJ; M3; M4; P2; R9; S3 W5;W27; W28; W30. S4; S7; T2; T3; T6; W5; W8; WIO; Wll W12; W13; W14; W15; W16; W17; W20 Appendix 3 W2I; W27;W28; W29; W30. Annotated list of reptiles in the Ballarat area Strepera gracidina. Pied Currawong. CHELIDAE Abundance and distribution. Uncommon Chelodina and restricted to the Mt Cole area and, pos- longicollis. Long-necked Tortoise. sibly, the Wombat Forest (NE edge of survey Abundance and distribution. Reported from the area) during summer. More widely distributed Hopkins River and Mt Emu Creek although no specimens during winter when some visit orchard pro- are available (Clements pers. comm.). perties east of Ballarat each year (Thomas pers. comm.). Habitat. Aquatic. Habitat. Tall open-forest and open-forest GEKKONIDAE during summer and grassland/orchards during winter. Phyllodactylus marmoratus. Marbled Gecko.

Information sourcls. I ; P2; Abundance and distribution. G T6- WV W I I Only recorded W28. from the northern portion of the survey area. Recorded from Ararat, Mt Langi Ghiran, Elm- Strepera versicolor. Grey Currawong. hurst, 3 km NNE of Ben Nevis, 4 km S of Abundance and distribution. Common and Ben Nevis, 2 km S of Victoria Mill Scenic widespread. During FWD survey it was re- Reserve, Wallaby Caves— 1 km W of Mt corded in the Mt Cole, Ben Major-Trawalla, Buangor (FWD survey; NMV specimens). Langi Ghiran, Enfield, Creswick, Ararat and Habitat. Open-forest and woodland, found Inverleigh Blocks. beneath exfoliating granite or beneath bark on Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest, wood- stumps, in areas with a NW aspect. land, introduced pines and grassland. Breeding. Recorded nesting in the Creswick Underwoodisaurus milii. Thick-tailed Gecko. area (Cowley 1960a). Abundance and distribution. Restricted to Information sources. A2; C7; C8; F3; Gl; the northern portion of the survey area. Re- Jl; M3; P2; S4; T6; W5; W8; W10; Wll; corded from 3 km NW of Mt Langi Ghiran WI2; and W13; W14; W15; W20; W27; W29; Wallaby Caves— 1 km W of Mt Buangor W30. (FWD survey). Habitat. Open-forest and woodland CORVI DAE where granite outcrops, on slopes with a NW aspect. Corvus coronoides. Australian Raven. Abundance and distribution. Common and PYGOPODIDAE widespread. During FWD survey it was re- Delma impar. Spinifex Lizard. corded in the Ararat Block. Abundance and distribution. There is only Habitat. Open-forest, woodland, introduced one record from Westmere (NMV specimen) pines and grassland. but records from localities surrounding the Breeding. It nests in the survey area. survey area suggest that the species is wide- Information sources. A2; C8; F3; Gl; Ml- spread throughout the basalt plains. M3; P2; R7; T3; T6; W5; W27; W30. Habitat. Grassland. VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE BALLARAT AREA, VICTORIA 101

AGAM1DAE Ben Nevis Tower, 3 km S of Ben Nevis, 4 km Amphiholurus murkalus. Jacky Lizard. S of Ben Nevis. 3 km NNE of Ben Nevis, 7 Abundance and distribution. Widespread. km NW of Lookout Hill, 2 km NW of Mt Recorded from 3 km W of Mt Langi Ghiran, Buangor, 5 km SW of Ben Major, 5 km SSW of Waterloo, Wallaby 3 km SSW of Ben Nevis, 3 km W of Enfield, Ben Major, 5 km NE of

Caves— I km W of Mt Buangor and 5 km S of Berringa, Wallaby Caves— 1 km W of Mt specimens). Buangor and 2 km NW of Inverleigh (FWD Elmhurst ( FWD survey; NMV survey). Habitat. Open-forest with sparse ground cover, found beneath rocks logs embedded Habitat. Open-forest and woodland, fre- or quently beneath dry logs. in the soil.

SCINCIDAE Lamprophoiis guichenoti. Garden Skink. Abundance and distribution. Widespread. Ctenotus robustus. Large Striped Skink. Recorded from 10 km NNE of Ararat, 2 km Abundance and distribution. Restricted to NW of Mt Langi Ghiran, Ben Nevis, 15 km the NW of the survey area where it is un- W of Mt Buangor, 5 km SSW oi Ben Major, common. Recorded from 3 km NNE of Ben 3 km W of Enfield, 7 km SSW of Scarsdale and Nevis (FWD survey) and 11 km WNW of 1 of Barkstead (FWD survey; NMV Buangor (NMV specimen). km N specimens). Habitat. Open-forest and woodland; it shelters Habitat. Tall open-forest and open-forest, beneath rocks in areas with a NW aspect. where it forages amongst litter. Egernia cunninghami. Cunningham's Skink. Abundance and distribution. Rare and re- Leiolopisma coventryi. Coventry's Skink. stricted to the area called Devil's Kitchen near Abundance and DISTRIBUTION. Restricted to Piggoreet (FWD survey). higher altitudes in the northern part of the Habitat. Large basalt outcrops in grassland. survey area where it is uncommon. Recorded from 14 5 km S of Elmhurst, Raglan, 2 km E Egernia saxatilis. Black Rock Skink. of Creswick, 3 km W of Spargo Creek, 1 km Abundance and distribution. Uncommon N of Barkstead and Koorweinguboorah Reser- and restricted to higher altitudes in the north voir (FWD survey; NMV specimens). area. Recorded from 2 km NW of the survey Habitat. Tall open-forest and open-forest; Cole, 2 of Mt Buangor, 4 km of Mt km NW retreats to within decomposing logs. S of Ben Nevis, 2 km S of Victoria Mill Re-

serve and Wallaby Caves— 1 km W of Mt Leiolopisma entrecasteauxii. Grass Skink. Buangor (FWD survey; NMV specimens). Abundance and distribution. Widespread Habitat. Open-forest with large reck outcrops. and common. Recorded from 2 km N of Mt Cole, Ben Nevis Tower, 3 km S of Ben Nevis, Egernia whitii. White's Skink. summit of Cave Hill, 1 km S of Mt Langi Abundance and distribution. Common and Ghiran, 3 km W of Enfield, Koorweinguboorah widespread. Recorded from 0*5 km N of Mt Reservoir, 3 km W of Spargo, 1 km N of Clear Langi Ghiran, Ararat, Beaufort, Ben Nevis Barkstead and 1 1 km SW of Cape (FWD Tower, 4 km S of Ben Nevis, 1 km W of Little survey). and Habitat. Tall open-forest, open-forest, wood- Hard Hills, 1 1 km SW of Cape Clear Buangor land and grassland. Shelters within decom- Wallaby Caves— 1 km W of Mt (FWD survey; NMV specimens). posing logs and beneath rocks. Open-forest and grassland; it shelters Habitat. Leiolopisma trilineata. Three-lined Skink. in burrows or beneath rocks. Abundance and distribution. Uncommon Hemiergis decresiensis. Three-toed Skink. and widespread. Recorded from 3 km W of Abundance and distribution. Common in Mt Langi Ghiran, 5 km SSW of Ben Major, Beaufort, Raglan, Skipton and the NW of the survey area. Recorded from 25 km S of .

102 A. M. GILMORE, W. B. EMISON and J. R. WHEELER

Devil's Kitchen near Piggoreet (FWD survey; Recorded from 1 1 km SW of Cape Clear NMV specimens). (FWD survey). HABITAT. Woodland, grassland and clearings Habitat, Grassland; it shelters beneath basalt in open-forest. boulders.

Lerista bougainvillii. Bougainville's Skink. Trachydosaurus rugosus. Shingle-back. Abundance and distribution. Uncommon Abundance and distribution. Uncommon and widespread. Recorded from Ballarat, Ben and restricted to the NW of the survey area. Nevis Tower, 2 km S of Victoria Mill Reserve, Recorded from Mt Langi Ghiran, 2 km SW Wallaby Caves— 1 km W of Mt Buangor and of Mt Buangor, Raglan, Elmhurst and 3 km 3 km NW of Mt Langi Ghiran (FWD survey; NW of Mt Langi Ghiran (FWD survey; NMV NMV specimens). specimens). Habitat. Woodland and open-forest beneath Habitat. Woodland and open-forest. rocks embedded in soil. ELAP1DAE Pseudemoia spencerL Spencer's Skink. Austrelaps superha. Copperhead. Abundance and distribution. Rare and re- Abundance and distribution. Uncommon stricted to higher altitudes. Recorded from and widespread. Recorded from 4 km S of Ben Ben Nevis Tower (FWD survey) and Gilling- Nevis, 16 km NW of Ballarat, 8 km ENE of ham Road Raglan (NMV specimen). Cape Clear and Piggoreet (FWD survey; Habitat. Open-forest, where it lives in shrink- NMV specimens). age gaps in dead trees or beneath granite ex- Habitat. Open-forest and pasture with foliations. scat- tered trees. Sphenomorphus tympanum. Southern Water Drysdalia coronoides. White-lipped Snake. Skink (this is the "Cool Temperate" form Abundance and distribution. Uncommon of Rawlinson 1971). and restricted to higher altitudes in the northern Abundance and distribution. Common, re- part of the survey area. Recorded from 1 km stricted to higher altitudes in the north and NW of Mt Buangor (FWD survey) and Bun- east of the survey area. Recorded from 5 km garee (NMV specimen). of N Mt Langi Ghiran, 2 km N of Mt Cole, Habitat. Open-forest. S 3 km of Ben Nevis, The Glut, Lookout Hill, 2 km NW of Mt Buangor, 3 km W of Spargo| Notechis scutatus. Eastern Tiger Snake. Gillingham Road Abundance Raglan and 1 km W of Little and distribution. Common and Hard Hills (FWD survey; NMV specimens). widespread. Recorded from the Fern Tree Habitat. Tall Falls-Mt Cole open-forest and open-forest; it Forest Park, 2 km NNW of Mt shelters within decomposing logs and beneath Cole, S of Raglan, 2 km ESE of Beaufort and rocks. Devil's Kitchen near Piggoreet (FWD survey). Habitat. Open-forest. Tiliqua nigrolutea. Pseudechis porphyriacus. Blotched Blue-tongued Lizard. Abundance and distribution. Uncommon Red-bellied Black Snake. but Abundance and distribution. Rare but probably widespread in the north and east apparently widespread in the north of of the survey area. Recorded from Piggoreet the survey area. Recorded from Elmhurst, ( White pers. comm. ) 7 km E of Elmhurst, Habitat. Open-forest. 4 km S of Elmhurst and Devil's Kitchen near Piggoreet (FWD survey; Wheeler Tiliqua scincoides. in Ballarat Courier 13/4/63). Habitat. Open-forest, Eastern Blue-tongued Lizard. usually near water. Abundance and distribution. Uncommon Pseudonaja textilis. Eastern Brown Snake. but probably widespread in the survey area. Abundance and distribution. Common and VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE BALLARAT AREA, VICTORIA 103 widespread. Recorded from 3 km SSW of Mt survey; NMV specimens; King 1976). Langi Ghiran, 3 km S of Ben Nevis, 1 km S Habitat. Open-forest, woodland and grass- of Mt Buangor and at Lake Bolac (FWD land; usually found beneath rocks. survey). Habitat. Open-forest, woodland and grass- Explanation of Plates land. PLATE 3

Fig. I —Pasture land in the basalt plains with Lake Unechis flagellum. Little Whip Snake. Burrumbeet in the background. Abundance and distribution. Uncommon Fig. 2—Tall open-forest in the Mt Cole Block. and widespread. Recorded from Ararat, Mt PLATE 4 Langi Ghiran, 2 km NW of Mt Langi Ghiran, Fig. 3 Open-forest in the Ben Ma jor-Tra walla 0-5 km of Langi — N Mt Ghiran, 3 km NNE of Block. Ben Nevis, Stockyard Hill, 3 of km NW Mt Fig. 4—Feather-tailed Glider. This small arboreal Langi Ghiran and Inverleigh Common (FWD mammal is widespread in the Ballarat area. mi M n MlJS. I VT, VK 40 PLATE 5

- •

FIGURE 2 Ml M NAT. MUS. VICT. 40 PLATE 4

FIGURE 3

jlt^ FIGURE 4