UCML Microbat Monitoring Report 2020 Ulan Coal Mines Limited © ECO LOGICAL AUSTRALIA PTY LTD 1 UCML Microbat Monitoring Report 2020 | Ulan Coal Mines Limited DOCUMENT TRACKING Project Name UCML Microbat Monitoring Report 2020 Project Number MUD20-17635 Project Manager Tom Kelly Prepared by Tom Kelly, Dr Rod Armistead Reviewed by Dr Frank Lemckert Approved by Rachel Murray Status Final Version Number v3 Last saved on 29 March 2021 This report should be cited as ‘Eco Logical Australia 2021. UCML Microbat Monitoring Report 2020. Prepared for Ulan Coal Mines Limited.’ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This document has been prepared by Eco Logical Australia Pty Ltd with support from Ulan Coal Mines Limited. Disclaimer This document may only be used for the purpose for which it was commissioned and in accordance with the contract between Eco Logical Australia Pty Ltd and Ulan Coal Mines Limited . The scope of services was defined in consultation with Ulan Coal Mines Limited , by time and budgetary constraints imposed by the client, and the availability of reports and other data on the subject area. Changes to available information, legislation and schedules are made on an ongoing basis and readers should obtain up to date information. Eco Logical Australia Pty Ltd accepts no liability or responsibility whatsoever for or in respect of any use of or reliance upon this report and its supporting material by any third party. Information provided is not intended to be a substitute for site specific assessment or legal advice in relation to any matter. Unauthorised use of this report in any form is prohibited. Template 2.8.1 © ECO LOGICAL AUSTRALIA PTY LTD i UCML Microbat Monitoring Report 2020 | Ulan Coal Mines Limited Contents 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 8 1.1 Background ........................................................................................................................................... 8 1.2 Purpose of this monitoring report ........................................................................................................ 8 1.3 Updates to 2020 monitoring program ................................................................................................ 10 2. Methods ................................................................................................................................... 12 2.1 Control sites ........................................................................................................................................ 12 2.2 Impact sites ......................................................................................................................................... 12 2.3 Acoustic call data analysis ................................................................................................................... 17 2.4 Survey limitations ............................................................................................................................... 18 2.5 Weather conditions ............................................................................................................................ 20 3. Results ...................................................................................................................................... 21 3.1 Control sites ........................................................................................................................................ 21 3.2 Impact sites ......................................................................................................................................... 23 4. Discussion ................................................................................................................................. 29 4.1 Provision of threatened species habitat ............................................................................................. 29 4.2 Targeted threatened cave-roosting microbat species activity ............................................................ 30 4.2.1 Large-eared Pied Bat ....................................................................................................................................... 31 4.2.2 Large Bent-winged Bat .................................................................................................................................... 32 5. Conclusion and Recommendations ............................................................................................. 34 5.1 General conclusions and recommendations....................................................................................... 34 5.2 Provision of threatened species habitat ............................................................................................. 34 5.3 Targeted threatened cave-roosting microbat species activity ............................................................ 34 References ................................................................................................................................................ 36 Appendix A Acoustic call data ........................................................................................................ 38 Appendix B Anabat call profiles ..................................................................................................... 43 Appendix C Harp trapping data ...................................................................................................... 51 Appendix D Photographs ............................................................................................................... 52 List of Figures Figure 1: The northern portion of targeted cliffline monitoring sites monitored during 2020 ............... 15 Figure 2: The southern portion of targeted cliffline monitoring sites monitored during 2020 ............... 16 © ECO LOGICAL AUSTRALIA PTY LTD ii UCML Microbat Monitoring Report 2020 | Ulan Coal Mines Limited Figure 3: Monthly and cumulative rainfall totals for 2019, 2020 and long-term mean dating back to 1906 (UCML 2021; BOM 2021) ......................................................................................................................... 20 Figure 4: Mean Large-eared Pied Bat call activity (calls per night) across all monitoring sites, 2013 – 2020 .................................................................................................................................................................. 31 Figure 5: Mean Large-eared Pied Bat call activity across both control and impact sites, 2013 – 2020 ... 32 Figure 6: Mean Large Bent-winged Bat call activity (calls per night) across all monitoring sites, 2013 – 2020 .......................................................................................................................................................... 32 Figure 7: Mean Large Bent-winged Bat call activity across both control and impact sites, 2013 – 2020 33 Figure 8: Call profile for Austronomus australis (White-striped Free-tailed Bat) recorded at UWLW7h at 2338 (23:38 p.m.) on 14 December 2020. ............................................................................................... 43 Figure 9: Call profile for Chalinolobus dwyeri (Large-eared Pied Bat) recorded at UWLW7h at 2140 (9.40 p.m.) on 14 December 2020. ................................................................................................................... 43 Figure 10: Call profile for Chalinolobus gouldii (Gould’s Wattled Bat) recorded at BD6 at 2116 (9:16 p.m.) on 9 December 2020. ............................................................................................................................... 44 Figure 11: Call profile for Chalinolobus morio (Chocolate Wattled Bat) recorded at BD6 at 2202 (10:02 p.m.) on 16 September 2020. .................................................................................................................. 44 Figure 12: Call profile for Miniopterus orianae oceanensis (Large Bent-winged Bat) recorded at BD6 at 0359 (3:59 a.m.) on 10 December 2020. ................................................................................................. 45 Figure 13: Potential call profile for Nyctophilus corbeni (Corben’s Long-eared Bat) / Nyctophilus gouldii (Gould’s Long-eared Bat) / Nyctophilus geoffroyi (Lesser Long-eared Bat) recorded at UWLW7h at 0148 (1:48 a.m.) on 17 December 2020. .......................................................................................................... 45 Figure 14: Call profile for Ozimops species complex (this is a call profile that can most likely be attributed to Ozimops ridei (Ride’s Free-tailed Bat)) recorded at UWLW7h at 0352 (3:52 a.m.) on 15 December 2020. ......................................................................................................................................................... 46 Figure 15: Call profile for Rhinolophus megaphyllus (Eastern Horseshoe Bat) recorded at UWLW7h at 0030 (12:30 a.m.) on 18 December 2020. ............................................................................................... 46 Figure 16: Potential call profile for Saccolaimus flaviventris (Yellow-bellied Sheath-tailed Bat) (lower frequency call Fc =20 kHz) with Vespadelus vulturnus (Little Forest Bat) (higher frequency call at Fc = ~47 kHz) recorded on Impact Site UWLW5j at 0306 (3:06 a.m.) on 5 December 2020. ................................ 47 Figure 17: Potential call profile for Scoteanax rueppellii