Fauna Survey (Level 2) Phase 1 (November 2013) and Phase 2 (March 2014) Medcalf Vanadium Mining Project Audalia Resources Ltd NOVEMBER 2017 Report Number: SF 009534 B VERSION 2 On behalf of: Audalia Resources Limited PO Box 354 WEST PERTH WA 6872 Prepared by: Greg Harewood Zoologist A.B.N. 95 536 627 336 PO Box 755 BUNBURY WA 6231 M: 0402 141 197 E: [email protected] AUDALIA MEDCALF PROJECT – FAUNA SURVEY - PHASE 1 & 2 – NOVEMBER 2017 – V2 TABLE OF CONTENTS SUMMARY ...................................................................................................... III 1. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 1 1.1 BACKGROUND ......................................................................................... 1 1.2 STUDY AREA ............................................................................................ 1 1.3 SURVEY SCOPE ....................................................................................... 1 2. METHODS ................................................................................................. 3 2.1 FAUNA INVENTORY - DESKTOP REVIEW ............................................. 3 2.1.1 Database Searches ................................................................................ 3 2.1.2 Previous Fauna Surveys in the Area ...................................................... 3 2.2 FAUNA INVENTORY – DETAILED FAUNA SURVEY .............................. 5 2.2.1 Survey Timing and Weather ................................................................... 5 2.2.2 Survey Team........................................................................................... 6 2.2.3 Site Selection .......................................................................................... 6 2.2.4 Ground Fauna Survey ............................................................................. 9 2.2.5 Targeted Survey - Chuditch .................................................................. 11 2.2.6 Bird Surveys ......................................................................................... 11 2.2.7 Targeted Survey - Malleefowl ............................................................... 12 2.2.8 Acoustic Bat Recordings ....................................................................... 12 2.2.9 Motion Sensing Cameras...................................................................... 12 2.2.10 Spotlighting/Head Torching ................................................................. 13 2.2.11 Targeted and Opportunistic Surveys ................................................... 13 2.2.12 Potential Short-Range Endemic Invertebrates .................................... 13 2.3 FAUNA CONSERVATION CATEGORIES .............................................. 14 AUDALIA MEDCALF PROJECT – FAUNA SURVEY - PHASE 1 & 2 – NOVEMBER 2017 – V2 2.4 LIKELIHOOD OF OCCURRENCE – VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF CONSERVATION SIGNIFICANCE .......................................................... 14 2.5 TAXONOMY AND NOMENCLATURE ..................................................... 15 2.6 SURVEY LIMITATIONS ........................................................................... 15 3. REGIONAL CONTEXT ............................................................................ 17 3.1 BIOGEOGRAPHIC SETTING .................................................................. 17 3.2 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT .................................................................... 18 3.2.1 Climate .................................................................................................. 18 3.2.2 Topography, Land Systems and Geology ............................................. 18 3.2.3 Vegetation Mapping .............................................................................. 19 3.3 CONSERVATION RESERVES IN THE AREA ........................................ 19 4. SURVEY RESULTS ................................................................................. 20 4.1 FAUNA INVENTORY - DESKTOP REVIEW ........................................... 20 4.2 FAUNA INVENTORY – DETAILED FAUNA SURVEY ............................ 21 4.2.1 Amphibians ........................................................................................... 22 4.2.2 Reptiles ................................................................................................. 22 4.2.3 Birds ...................................................................................................... 22 4.2.4 Native Non-Volant Mammals ................................................................ 23 4.2.5 Bats ....................................................................................................... 24 4.2.6 Introduced Mammals ............................................................................ 24 4.2.7 Potential Short-Range Endemic Invertebrates ...................................... 24 5. POTENTIAL IMPACTS ON VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF CONSERVATION SIGNIFICANCE ....................................................................................... 26 6. CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................... 28 7. REFERENCES ........................................................................................ 30 AUDALIA MEDCALF PROJECT – FAUNA SURVEY - PHASE 1 & 2 – NOVEMBER 2017 – V2 TABLES TABLE 1: Daily Temperatures and Rainfall at the Salmon Gums Weather Station During Phase 1 and Phase 2 Survey Periods (BOM 2014) TABLE 2: Summary of Trap Nights – Phase 1 & 2 TABLE 3: Fauna Survey Limitations and Constraints TABLE 4: Summary of Potential Vertebrate Fauna Species (as listed in Appendix D) TABLE 5: Number of Vertebrate Fauna Species Recorded TABLE 6: Status of SRE Target Invertebrates Collected Within the Study Area TABLE 7: Likelihood of Occurrence and Possible Impacts – Fauna Species of Conservation Significance FIGURES FIGURE 1: Study Area and Surrounds FIGURE 2: Study Area – Air Photo FIGURE 3: Survey Locations FIGURE 4 Mean Monthly Rainfall and Maximum and Minimum Temperatures (Salmon Gums Records 1932 – 2013, BOM 2014) FIGURE 5: Vegetation Communities (courtesy Botanica Consulting) FIGURE 6: Species of Conservation Significance - Observations FIGURE 7: Potential SRE Invertebrates – Collection Sites AUDALIA MEDCALF PROJECT – FAUNA SURVEY - PHASE 1 & 2 – NOVEMBER 2017 – V2 PLATES PLATE 1: Trap Site 1 (Burnt and unburnt Low woodland of Euclayptus salmonophloia over mixed shrubs – Clay Loam Plan bordering major creek line) PLATE 2: Trap Site 2 (Regrowth - mid open mallee woodland of Eucalyptus livida over mid open shrubland and open low shrubland - Hillslope/Hill Crest) PLATE 3: Trap Site 3 (Unburnt Mid mallee shrubland of Eucalyptus spp. over mid shrubland of Melaleuca pauperiflora and mixed low shrubland - Clay-Loam Plain.) PLATE 4: Trap Site 4 (Regrowth - mid open mallee woodland of Eucalyptus livida over mid open shrubland and open low shrubland - Hillslope bordering minor creek line) PLATE 5: Trap Site 5 (Regrowth mixed low shrubland on hillslope – Subtle Hill Slope) PLATE 6: Trap Site 6 (Burnt Low open woodland of Eucalyptus salmonophloia over mixed shrubs on clay loam plain – bordering minor creek line) APPENDICES APPENDIX A: Conservation Categories APPENDIX B: Fauna Trap and Recording Sites – Details APPENDIX C: DBCA & EPBC Database Search Results APPENDIX D: Vertebrate Fauna Observed or Potentially in Study Area APPENDIX E: Raw Vertebrate Trapping & Recording Results APPENDIX F: Invertebrate Specimens Collected APPENDIX G: Invertebrate Report – Phoenix Environmental Sciences (2014) AUDALIA MEDCALF PROJECT – FAUNA SURVEY - PHASE 1 & 2 – NOVEMBER 2017 – V2 Acronyms/Abbreviations: ALA: Atlas of Living Australia www.ala.org.au BA: Birdlife Australia (Formerly RAOU, Birds Australia). BC Bill: Biodiversity Conservation Bill (2015). WA Government. °C: Degrees Celsius. CALM: Department of Conservation and Land Management (now DBCA), WA Government. CAMBA: China Australia Migratory Bird Agreement 1998. CBD: Central Business District. DBCA: Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (formerly DPaW, DEC, CALM, DoE), WA Government DBH: Diametre at Breast Height – tree measurement. DEC: Department of Environment and Conservation (now DBCA), WA Government. DEH: Department of Environment and Heritage (now DotEE), Australian Government. DEP: Department of Environment Protection (now DER), WA Government. DER: Department of Environment Regulation (now DWER), WA Government. DEWHA: Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (now DotEE), Australian Government DMP: Department of Mines and Petroleum (formerly DoIR), WA Government. DoE: Department of Environment (now DWER/DBCA), WA Government. DoP: Department of Planning, WA Government. DotE: Department of the Environment (now DotEE), Australian Government. DotEE: Department of the Environment and Energy (formerly SEWPaC, DWEHA, DEH & DotE), Australian Government. DoIR: Department of Industry and Resources (now DMP), WA Government. DoW: Department of Water (now DWER), WA Government. DPaW: Department of Parks and Wildlife (now DBCA), WA Government. Page i AUDALIA MEDCALF PROJECT – FAUNA SURVEY - PHASE 1 & 2 – NOVEMBER 2017 – V2 DWER: Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (formed by the amalgamation of OEPA, DoW and DER), WA Government. EP Act: Environmental Protection Act 1986, WA Government. EPA: Environmental Protection Authority, WA Government. EPBC Act: Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, Australian Government. ha: Hectare (10,000