Download Fauna Conservation Enclosure report

Denmark Office
Tel: (08) 9848 3310 Fax: (08) 9848 3455
972 South Coast Hwy
PO Box 577 Denmark, WA 6333
[email protected]
www.greenskills.org.au
ABN 68 989 519 966
The Balijup Fauna Conservation Enclosure Project
16 March 2014
-
The Proposal In Brief
Location
Balijup Farm, 7 km south east of Tenterden, Great Southern Region, WA
Length of Fence
4.2 km
Area of Enclosure
110 ha
Land Vesting
Private land (approval and involvement of the owners of Balijup- Alan
Hordacre, Richard Hordacre & Anne Vanderbyl)
Project Proponent
Green Skills Inc with Basil Schur as Projects manager.
Project NRM local
organization
Gillamii Centre, Cranbrook
Regional NRM
organization
South Coast NRM
Project Scientific
Advisory Committee
Sylvia Leighton, Sarah Comer, Dr Manda Page, Dr Nic Dunlop
Project organisational
Links
Gillamii Centre; Pardelup Prison Farm (WA Dept of Corrective Services;
South Coast NRM; Land For Wildlife Program; Department of Parks and
Wildlife; Gondwana Link Ltd;
Contact: Basil Schur [email protected], 08 98483310 www.greenskills.org.au
1
CONTENTS
THE PROPOSAL IN BRIEF
1
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
3
INTRODUCTION
4
PURPOSE OF THE BALIJUP FAUNA CONSERVATION ENCLOSURE PROJECT
5
BACKGROUND: THE GONDWANA LINK PROJECT
7
FORESTS TO STIRLINGS OPERATIONAL AREA
7
SELECTION PROCESS - BALIJUP FAUNA CONSERVATION ENCLOSURE PROJECT
8
MAPS OF THREE LOCATIONS CONSIDERED
MAPS SHOWING SURVEYING WORK COMPLETED
EVALUATION OF FAUNA SPECIES FOR INCLUSION IN THE PROPOSED BALIJUP FAUNA ENCLOSURE
11
12
14
PHOTOGRAPHS OF PROPOSED FAUNA ENCLOSURE SITE
18
TYPE OF FENCE TO BE CONSTRUCTED
20
PHOTOGRAPHS OF FENCING TYPES
21
APPENDICES
22
APPENDIX 1: INDIVIDUAL FAUNA ASSESSMENTS
APPENDIX 2: BALIJUP PHOTO MONITORING POINTS: WORKSHOP 20 –21ST FEBRUARY 2014
APPENDIX 3: NOTES ON SIZES OF REMNANTS TO FULFILL THE ‘HOME RANGE’ REQUIREMENTS OF VARIOUS NATIVE FAUNA
SPECIES
APPENDIX 4: SUPPORT FROM PARDELUP PRISON FARM
APPENDIX 5: A CITIZEN SCIENCE BASED ECOLOGICAL MONITORING FRAMEWORK FOR BALIJUP
22
32
2
36
38
39
Executive Summary
To help address the critical threats to smaller marsupials in the Gondwana Link‟s Forest to Stirlings region of WA, Green
Skills has initiated the Balijup Fauna Conservation Enclosure project, the BFCE project. The research to establish this enclosure is
based on a decade of work researching, planning and supporting biodiversity restoration in the Forest to Stirlings region of
Gondwana Link.
A scientific and technical advisory committee is guiding the project. The proposal aims to securely fence a carefully selected
110 ha bush-land area on Balijup farm near Tenterden WA. This farm has an area of 919 ha of which 585 ha are under remnant
vegetation or re-vegetation and a further 102 ha are wetlands. Bushland on the property was covenanted under the State
Government‟s clearing ban legislation for the Upper Kent catchment in the 1980s. The landowning family has agreed to
develop a legally binding agreement to safeguard public investment and involvement in this fauna conservation initiative.
The main vegetation types in the enclosure area include Jarrah forest, Wandoo woodland, Flat Topped Yate woodland and
Mallee vegetation communities. Green Skills has worked with the landowning family since 2010 to assist with fencing off all
the bush-land on the property, to undertake biological survey and ecological mapping, undertaking feral bee colony surveys
and eradication, and wetland assessments.
After careful consideration it has been decided to choose a floppy top fence 1.8m high with 450 mm apron on the ground
either side of the fence to prevent cats and foxes from entering and wildlife from leaving. Early stages of the project involve
funding and installing the fence, removal of Western Grey kangaroos, foxes and cats, and baseline fauna and vegetation
monitoring. This will be followed by the reintroduction of Quenda (Southern Brown Bandicoot) with the aim of establishing a
breeding colony of this species.
Careful monitoring and management of Quenda populations would be undertaken with the aim of relocating groups of
individuals when numbers have built up sufficiently. Relocation sites within Balijup and elsewhere along Gondwana Link
corridor, will be prioritized based on levels of predator control, habitat suitability, ongoing management capability and other
factors.
Key management objectives for the project include to:
1) provide a vermin free, high quality bushland enclosure to facilitate scientifically based monitoring and research to be
conducted on forest ecosystem and native fauna recovery following cat and fox removal.
2) establish a viable breeding colony of Quenda (Southern Brown bandicoot) in the enclosure, that would provide a source
of animals for re-establishing other populations on the property and in the district.
3) establish a „citizen science‟ community-based monitoring program at Balijup to study the management benefits of i) reestablishing Quenda as a soil burrowing marsupial in ecosystem functioning and ii) other ecological benefits of feral
predator removal.
4) establish the enclosure as part of biodiversity facilities and resources at Balijup that would help service the demand for
ongoing collaborative environmental education and scientific programs in the Great Southern. The intention is for the
facility to inspire adults and youth, both regional and local, to expand local and regional support for biodiversity
restoration programs across the Gondwana Link area.
5) provide a site to facilitate long term collaborative scientific research in ecological studies and restoration that supports the
ongoing implementation of the Conservation Action Plan for the Gondwana Forests to Stirlings area. Conservation targets
include Jarrah/Marri forest, Wandoo woodland, the Upper Kent and North Stirlings wetland suites, Brush-tailed Wallaby,
Carnaby‟s Cockatoo, Stirling Range Outliers and Proteaceous rich vegetation
see http://www.greenskills.org.au/pub/gl/ncp.html
Other conservation priority species considered for possible reintroduction to Balijup in the future include Tammar Wallaby,
Brush Tailed Phascogale, Western Ring tailed Possum and Brush tailed Possum (with Woylie, Black Gloved Wallaby and
other fauna species also assessed but of much less likely suitability for the BFCE).
The current project proposal is based on the technical advisory committee‟s advice that it would be best for the Balijup project
to focus on demonstrating the conservation and community engagement benefits of fox and cat control, reintroducing
Quenda (Southern Brown Bandicoot) and to establish the associated fauna and vegetation monitoring programs with
particular focus on investigating the forest conservation benefits of re-establishing native soil burrowing animals.
The project forms part of a bigger fauna conservation effort in Forest to Stirling including fox control programs. . The BFCE
project complements an additional project on the Brush Wallaby, which Gillamii Centre is currently surveying the
distribution of across the subregion and which NRM groups including Green Skills are installing Wallaby friendly gates in
fences designed to prevent stock accessing remnant bushland while still allowing Wallaby movement.
3
Introduction
South Western Australia faces critical conservation challenges in conserving small to medium sized marsupial
mammals species, as well as a range of threatened bird species. One of the most pressing threatening processes is
predation by feral animals particularly introduced foxes and cats.
Around Australia and including WA, there are a number of projects demonstrating the usefulness of feral
predator proof enclosures in native fauna conservation.
This project proposal involves Green Skills (www.greenskills.org.au) coordinating the funding and establishment of
a „fauna enclosure‟ project on Balijup. This proposal would involve a feral predator proof fence of 4.19 km in
length to be installed around 109.8 ha of bushland in the north eastern section of the property.
The proposal is that it would be funded through grants and by donations and in addition to establishment of the
Enclosure itself, the project includes a longer term planning, for scientific research, community education and
engagement, fauna introductions, monitoring maintenance, feral animal control, and relocation.
Location of the project Balijup (Hordacre property) Tenterden WA
Map 1: Location of the project Balijup (Hordacre property) 6km south west of Tenterden WA
4
Purpose of the Balijup Fauna Conservation Enclosure Project
To help address the critical threats to smaller marsupials in the Gondwana Link’s Forest to Stirlings region of WA, Green
Skills has initiated the Balijup Fauna Conservation Enclosure project or BFCE project for short. The research to establish
this enclosure is based on nearly a decade of work researching, planning and supporting biodiversity restoration in the Forest
to Stirling’s region of Gondwana Link.
A scientific and technical advisory committee is guiding the project. The proposal aims to securely fence a carefully selected
110 hectare bush-land area on Balijup farm near Tenterden. This farm has an area of 919ha of which 585 hectares are under
remnant vegetation or re-vegetation and a further 102 hectares are wetlands. Bush-land on the property was covenanted
under the State Government’s clearing ban legislation for the Upper Kent catchment in the 1980s. The landowning family
has agreed to develop a legally binding agreement to safeguard public investment and involvement in this fauna conservation
initiative.
The main vegetation types in the enclosure area include Jarrah forest, Wandoo woodland, Flat Topped Yate woodland and
Mallee vegetation communities. Green Skills has worked with the landowning family since 2010 to assist with fencing off all
the bush-land on the property, to undertake biological survey and ecological mapping, undertaking feral bee colony surveys
and eradication, and wetland assessment.
After careful consideration it has been decided to choose a floppy top fence 1.8m high with 450 mm apron on the ground
either side of the fence to prevent cats and foxes from entering and wildlife from leaving. Early stages of the project involve
funding and installing the fence, removal of Western Grey kangaroos, foxes and cats, and baseline fauna and vegetation
monitoring. This would be followed by the reintroduction of Quenda (Southern Brown Bandicoot) with the aim of
establishing a breeding colony of this species.
Careful monitoring and management of Quenda populations would be undertaken with the aim of relocating out groups of
individuals when numbers have built up sufficiently. Relocation sites within Balijup and elsewhere along Gondwana Link
corridor, will be prioritized based on level of predator control, habitat suitability, ongoing management capability and other
factors.
Key management objectives for the project include to:
1) provide a vermin free, high quality bushland enclosure to facilitate scientifically based monitoring and
research to be conducted on forest ecosystem and native fauna recovery following cat and fox removal.
2) establish a viable breeding colony of Quenda (Southern Brown bandicoot) in the enclosure, that would
provide a source of animals for re-establishing other populations on the property and in the district.
3) establish a „citizen science‟ community-based monitoring program at Balijup to study the management
benefits of i) re-establishing Quenda as a soil burrowing marsupial in ecosystem functioning and ii) other
ecological benefits of feral predator removal.
4) establish the enclosure as part of biodiversity facilities and resources at Balijup that would help service the
demand for ongoing collaborative environmental education and scientific programs in the Great Southern.
The intention is for the facility to inspire adults and youth, both regional and local, to expand local and
regional support for biodiversity restoration programs across the Gondwana Link area.
5) provide a site to facilitate long term collaborative scientific research in ecological studies and restoration that
supports the ongoing implementation of the Conservation Action Plan for the Gondwana Forests to Stirlings
area. Conservation targets include Jarrah/Marri forest, Wandoo woodland, the Upper Kent and North
Stirlings wetland suites, Brush-tailed Wallaby, Carnaby‟s Cockatoo, Stirling Range Outliers and Proteaceous
rich vegetation see http://www.greenskills.org.au/pub/gl/ncp.html
Other conservation priority species considered for possible reintroduction to Balijup at some future date
included Tammar Wallaby, Brush Tailed Phascogale, Western Ring tailed Possum and Brush tailed possum
(with Woylie, Black Gloved Wallaby and other fauna species also assessed but of much less likely suitability for
the BFCE).
The current project proposal is based on the technical advisory committee‟s advice that it would be best for the
Balijup project to focus on demonstrating the conservation and community engagement benefits of fox and cat
control, reintroducing Quenda (Southern Brown Bandicoot) and to establish the associated fauna and vegetation
monitoring programs with particular focus on investigating the forest conservation benefits of re-establishing
native soil burrowing animals.
5
Stages of the Project
Stage 1 is to undertake required Environmental Planning assessment and Approval processes for the project
(Completed) .
Stage 2 is to fund and install the fence. Quotations from two Tenterden/Kendenup fencing contractors have been
obtained to install the fence. Pardelup Prison Farm has agreed to provide labour to assist with the fencing (see
letter below). The project will involve providing an ongoing contract the fencing contractor to monitor and
maintain the fence on a regular basis (either fortnightly or monthly depending on need). Access to the sanctuary
enclose will be via a dedicated track through a locked gate/dieback hygiene site on the Tenterden-Nunijup Road
7 km south west of Tenterden.
Stage 3 will then involve a period of i) ensuring all cats and foxes are eliminated from the area and ii) surveying
the area to establish base line monitoring information on vegetation and fauna. This will entail implementing a
detailed monitoring program developed with the assistance of WA‟s Citizen Science program.
Stage 4 will involve sourcing (with Department of Parks and Wildlife support and approval) reintroducing
Quenda back into the enclosure area, sourced from appropriate populations. Ongoing scientific monitoring of
the fauna and flora withing in the enclosure according to a monitoring plan. There will also be associated
community based educational events and activities associated with the BFCEP.
Stage 5 will involve the monitoring and care for reintroduced Quenda animals with a view to encouraging
population growth. Ongoing scientific monitoring of the fauna and flora withing in the enclosure according to a
monitoring plan.
Stage 6 will involve transfer of animals from within the enclosure to other suitable private bush-land sites where
cat and fox baiting is being undertaken. It is intended that this would include the remaining more than 450
hectares of bushland, wetland and reforestation areas on Balijup itself. Ongoing scientific monitoring of the fauna
and flora withing in the enclosure according to a monitoring plan.
Access to the fauna enclosure site would be provided for the purposes of ecological restoration monitoring and
community education, but would be regulated to ensure appropriate dieback hygiene standards are maintained.
Balijup now has a dieback hygiene plan in place for the overall property, with an installed wash-down facility
and locked gates ensuring regulated access to the property. Surveys of the property indicate that the property has
no know locations of dieback occurrence.
In order to assist obtaining public and philanthropic funding for the proposal, it is planned that a covenant be
placed on the area of the fauna sanctuary to safeguard its long term conservation management objective. The
Department of Parks and Wildlife is the agency best suited to for such covenanting. The landowning family has
agreed to develop a legally binding agreement to safeguard public investment and involvement in this fauna
conservation initiative.
6
Background: The Gondwana Link project
Gondwana Link is a landscape scale project which aims to maintain and restore ecological linkage across south
Western Australia, from the Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park between Cape Leeuwin and Cape Naturaliste in
the west to the Great Western Woodlands bordering the Nullarbor Plain in the east (Figure 1) (Gondwana Link
N.D.).
This area is divided into 8 key operational areas (Figure 2) with different partner organisations working within
each one on local conservation projects (Gondwana Link N.D.). Gondwana Link Ltd coordinates the project and
part of their role is to ensure consistent and complementary management of threats such as habitat
fragmentation, dryland salinity and degradation of waterways across the whole Link (Gondwana Link 2010a).
Map 2: The Gondwana Link area
Map 3: Gondwana Link operational areas
Forests to Stirlings operational area
The Forests to Stirlings operational area is situated between the western end of the Stirling Range and the
northern edge of the forests of the Mount Frankland, Mount Roe and Mount Lindesay National Parks
(Gondwana Link N.D.). This area has largely been cleared for agriculture. Conservation strategies for the Forests
to Stirlings operational area include:
Protecting remnants on privately owned property, principally by fencing them to exclude agricultural
livestock (Gondwana Link 2009)
Supporting other conservation-friendly action such as revegetation, alley planting, and tree farming
particularly with native species and particularly where the treed areas link or buffer existing remnants
(Gondwana Link 2009)
Purchasing land to create conservation reserves which may incorporate all of the above strategies and
also serve an educational function (Gondwana Link 2009)
7
Selection Process - Balijup Fauna Conservation Enclosure project
Considerable biological survey work has already been carried out on Balijup farm. Green Skills has completed an assessment
for Balijup, as well as having a wetland assessment for the area prepared by consultant, Ruhi Ferdowsian (see
http://www.greenskills.org.au/pub/upper-kent/uk2.pdf). In addition the Land For Wildlife program of the Department of
Parks and Wildlife have provided a report on Balijup’s fauna and flora, prepared by Sylvia Leighton. These reports attest to
the biodiversity significance of the property’s bushland. Green Skills held a survey weekend on Balijup in March 2012 and
Land for Wildlife has coordinated a fauna trapping program on Balijup in 2012/2013.
Green Skills has undertaken an assessment of properties in the Shire of Cranbook in terms of selecting priority sites for fauna
conservation (fauna reintroduction potential formed 10/60 of the score; a more general conservation value was being
assessed). This is reported in the following document:
Xanthe Bourne and Basil Schur (March 2013) Prioritising ecological restoration using property assessments: Development
and application of a methodology for prioritising property assessments for ecological restoration and connectivity links:
Gondwana Link Forests to Stirlings, Green Skills. See http://www.greenskills.org.au/pub/gl/per.html
Map 4: Properties in the Frankland-Cranbrook sub-region of Gondwana Link assessed for conservation value and suitability for
establishing a fauna sanctuary. Balijup is Property No 9 on the map
Balijup scored 54.5 (Table 5 on page 15 of the report Prioritising ecological restoration using property assessments,
available via link above), highest of the 18 properties assessed. The wetlands and bushland on this property are of
outstanding regional conservation significance.
8
Property assessment number
2012/09
Name of farm
Balijup
Name of landowners
Alan Hordacre, Richard Hordacre & Anne Vanderbyl
Location number of property/s
Nunijup Road, via Tenterden; Hay Location 791
Area of target property (ha)
Total ha 919ha Area of Remnants 585 Wetland Area 102 Total R+W 687ha
Map of property for which assessment was undertaken
Photos from the property (Jarrah/Marri, Wandoo, proteaceous and wetland riparian veg types)
Table 1: Property Asssessment of Balijup.
9
Map 5: Proposed Enclosure Site on Balijup Property, Tenterden. Option 4191 m covering 109.8 ha (approximating to
4.2km for 110ha)
10
Maps of three locations considered
Two previous fence location options were considered before Option C was chosen.
Map 6: Option A - Considered too be too small
Map 7: Option B - Considered too expensive and difficult to fence.
Map 8: Option C - Considered ideal because it included additional areas of native grasses,and thus a greater diversity of habitat
types
11
Maps showing surveying work completed
Considerable biological survey work has already been conducted on Balijup.
Map 9: Vegetation mapping on Balijup (based on survey work carried out in March 2013)
Map 10: Wetland Assessments have been undertaken on the many lakes and swamps on the property.
12
Map 11: Balijup showing
revegetaton work (Eucalypts, sandalwood) previously undertaken
Map 12: Balijup showing bushland fencing undertaken between 2011 and 2013 on Balijup (over 10km)
13
Evaluation of Fauna Species for inclusion in the proposed Balijup Fauna Enclosure
This section of the report evaluates the suitability of different fauna species for possible inclusion in the Balijup
Fauna Conservation project.
The report on the evaluation process was put together by Xanthe Bourne and Basil Schur and follows on from a
meeting held in October attended by Alan Hordacre, Sarah Comer, Sylvia Leighton and Basil Schur with input
from Dr Manda Page. The provision of information by Peter Mawson, Penny Hussey and Sandra Gilfilan is also
gratefully acknowledged.
1.
Southern Brown Bandicoot (Quenda)
2.
Western Ringtail Possum
3.
Woylie (Brush-tailed Bettong, Brush-tailed Rat Kangaroo)
4.
Tammar Wallaby
5.
Black-gloved Wallaby
6.
Honey Possum (Noolbenger, Honey Mouse)
7.
Brush-tailed Phascogale
8.
Numbat (Walpurti, Banded Anteater)
9.
Echidna
10. Chuditch
14
1 Southern Brown Bandicoot (Quenda)
2 Western Ringtail Possum
3 Woylie (Brush-tailed Bettong, Brush-tailed Rat Kangaroo)
4 Tammar Wallaby
5 Black-gloved Wallaby (Brush-tailed Wallaby; Western Brush
Wallaby; Kwoora)
6 Honey Possum (Noolbenger, Honey Mouse)
7 Brush-tailed Phascogale (Wambenger, Tuan)
8 Numbat (Walpurti, Banded Anteater)
9 Echidna (Short-beaked Echidna, Spiny Anteater)
10 Chuditch (Western Quoll, Native Cat)
Table 2: Summary of ratings for each species considered
1
1
1
1
1
1
Total Score (/9)
Ease of management
Adequacy of size of
sanctuary
Habitat suitability in
sanctuary
Species
Conservation
priority
Historical /current
presence at Balijup
Rating for each category (see below)
2
1
2
2
2
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
7
6
5
6
0.5
1
2
5.5
0.5
2
2
2
1
1
2
0.5
0
0
1
1
2
1
1
3.5
6
4.5
3
2
Ratings:
Historical/current presence at Balijup
Yes = 1
No = 0
Conservation priority:
Specific CAP Target, or IUCN Status other than Least Concern = 1
No specific conservation priority = 0
Habitat suitability in sanctuary
Highly suitable = 2
Moderately suitable = 1
Marginally or not suitable = 0
Adequacy of size of sanctuary
Could support breeding population (with management required for dispersal of excess), or where animals could self
disperse = 2
Could support a minimum of one or a small number of breeding pair (but management required for dispersal of
offspring) = 1
Would support one or less individuals = 0
Ease of management
Known current breeding programs (source of animals) AND known suitable sites in the Forest to Stirlings area for
relocation AND known to be relatively easy to monitor, trap and relocate = 3
2 of the above = 2
1 of the above = 1
None of the above = 0
Note: Species scoring 6 or above may be suitable for possible re introduction for the BFCE project. This includes
the following: Quenda (Southern Brown Bandicoot), Western Ringtailed possum, Tammar Wallaby, and Brush
Tailed Phascogale. However Quenda scored highest and is considered the appropriate species for reintroduction
into the enclosure project.
15
Table 1 Provisional assessment of the suitability of the Balijup fauna sanctuary proposal in terms of fulfilling the
‘home range’ and habitat requirements of various fauna species
Species
Notes on Suitability
Provisional
assessment of
suitability ranking:
* worthy of further
consideration
** favourable
*** very favourable
1 Southern Brown Bandicoot (Quenda) - require
remnants of about 1.5 - 5 ha. This range varies
between males and females. They are not overly
territorial and appear to be happy in most habitats
ranging from drainage lines up into higher elevations
with no permanent water source.
Balijup - could accommodate
several Quenda, possibly a
stable breeding population.
Translocation of newly weaned
young should be considered as
they reproduce quickly and
mortality can be high when the
young fail to establish feeding
territories.
Balijup - size should be
sufficient. Other information
suggests they build dreys in the
mid to upper canopy.
*** appears to be a very
favourable species for
this location
Balijup - size should be
sufficient.
** but for population size
to be carefully capped
with excess individuals
moved to outside the
fence at Balijup and other
suitable locations
** but for population size
to be carefully capped
with excess individuals
moved to outside the
fence at Balijup and other
suitable locations
2 Ring-tailed Possum - Similar to a brush tail possum
but is very much less mobile. Use grass tree
(blackboy) skirts to sleep under during the day.
Sometimes, if they haven‟t found a suitable place to
sleep before daylight, they just curl up at the base of a
tree and have a sleep - this is why they are so
vulnerable to foxes.
3 Woylies - Remnants of at least 2 ha in size. They
have a lot of overlap with territories. They nest in the
middle of bush thickets. Sometimes they nest in
hollow logs.
may be suitable
4 Tammar Wallaby - Require remnants of 50 - 100 ha
in size. This wallaby is a grazer so likes to have the
combination of an open paddock to feed off and
bushland with a continuous cover of understorey to
hide in. They make nests in the middle of a thicket.
Occurs in family groups.
Balijup - size is probably
adequate, presence of suitable
clear areas and continuous
understorey requires
assessment.
5 Western Brush-tailed Wallaby - Require remnants
of 50 - 100 ha in size. Depend on protective cover
from the vegetation. Their territories are about 500
square metres and they can often spend their whole
life in the same home boundary. Can occur in the
same area as the Tammar Wallaby because they have
very different food sources. The brush tailed wallaby
are browsers and feed on shrubs and flowers. They
prefer to be solitary or sometimes a mother and baby
are seen feeding together. They don‟t like the open
paddock environment.
6 Honey Possums and Pygmy Possums - Size of
remnant required is dependent on the quantity of
suitable nectar producing plants within the remnant.
Tend to move through areas following the food
source. Move up to 200 metres a night. Not territorial.
Balijup - assessment required of
whether there is sufficient
suitably dense/continuous
mid/lower storey vegetation.
* but for the population
to be kept to a small
number of individuals
Balijup - need to assess the
vegetation in relation to Honey
Possum food sources; presence,
abundance, location, seasonal
coverage of flowering times.
* probably not suitable
because of insufficient
diversity of vegetation
types
8 Numbats - require remnants of 100ha or more.
Prefer jarrah and wandoo woodland with log debris.
Habitat requires healthy leaf litter to keep the termite
population happy, so numbats have enough food.
Balijup- size is almost adequate,
though probably not for a self
sustaining breeding population.
Vegetation type is suitable;
presence of logs and health of
litter layer requires assessment.
Balijup - no indication is give
here on size. Deadfall and leaf
Probably not suitable
9 Echidna - These animals seem to be extremely
hardy. Have been sighted crossing open paddocks in
16
Not suitable
the middle of the wheat belt. If they have no suitable
cover, they just dig themselves in underground. Their
only requirement is a good supply of termites. This
requires remnants that have good leaf and wood
cover to keep the termites happy.
10 Chuditch - at this stage chuditch are being
relocated into areas of 10 000 ha or larger. Prefer sites
with a good freshwater source. Chuditch appear to be
very mobile. One animal which was relocated in Cape
Arid National Park was found 180 kilometres away in
a chook pen at Salmon Gums.
Brush-tailed Phascogale (Wambenger, Tuan)
litter health should be assessed;
and if numbats are to be
introduced, information should
be sought about how well their
food source (termites) is
partitioned between the two
species.
Balijup - size is unlikely to be
adequate, more recent research
and practices could be
Investigated.
Not suitable
Would be suitable if
adults can move
over/through fence.
Dunnarts - Move about 50 - 100 metres a night. Have
been found surviving quite happily under rock and
wood piles in the middle of paddocks.
Not currently under
consideration for Balijup
Native Mice and Bush Rats - Require sandy soils to
dig their burrows. Prefer dense undergrowth. Bush
rats are quite territorial and aggressive toward other
species. The hopping mice also prefer open spaces for
increased, fast mobility.
Brush Tailed Possum - Remnant needs to be at least 2
ha in size. The males are quite territorial and do not
allow territory overlap. Females will allow territory
overlap however if nesting hollows are short in
supply, the possum will aggressively defend her
territory.
Antechinus - Remnants of at least 2 ha. Prefer
wooded areas with a good upper canopy. Tend to
build up populations very quickly. When the young
are too large and heavy they are deposited by the
female into a den.
Not currently under
consideration for Balijup
Not currently under
consideration for Balijup
Not currently under
consideration for Balijup
17
*** Suitable - already
present
Photographs of proposed Fauna Enclosure site
Photograph 1: Boundary fence
on north side of proposed
Enclosure. Note Wandoo
woodland habitat to the right.
March 2012.
Photograph 2: Inspection of
Wandoo tree in proposed
enclosure area indicated that
brush tailed possums appear to
occur on site.
Photograph 3: Looking into
proposed enclosure area (Jarrah
trees and understorey in good
condition) from northern
boundary of proposed site.
18
Photograph 4: Existing track
along west side of the site
Photograph 5: Existing track
on south side of proposed
Enclosure boundary
Photograph 6: East side of
Enclosure boundary proposal
(bordering Jefferies property).
Photograph 7: South east
corner of the proposal
enclosure site (bordering
Jefferies) is salinity affected.
19
Type of Fence to be Constructed
The fence type will be designed to be the most economically efficient way of achieving feral fox and cat exclusion
and based on the review report quoted below. As rabbits do not appear to occur on the site and can be relatively
easily controlled, the fence does not need to be rabbit proof, which represents a financial saving to the project.
A review of cost effective fencing for feral animal exclusion is available at
http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/b39c119e-c58a-4473-9507-db68da31a95c/files/fencing.pdf
The final recommend fence proposed for the Balijup Fauna Conservation Project is a floppy top fence 1.8m high
with 450 mm apron on the ground either side of the fence to prevent vermin from entering and wildlife from
leaving.
The method of constructing the fence is proposed as follows: A single roll of 900 x 1.4 x 4 netting is rolled out on
the flat graded ground. A single HT wire is strained down the middle of this. Pickets are erected at 8 metres apart
along the wire and 6 plain wires are erected. 1200 x 1.4 x 4 cm mesh is then stood up and clipped on. Finally a
lighter mesh is put above this 900 x 1.2 x 5cm which allows 300mm for the floppy top to hang outwards. The
floppy top is held out with a 4mm heavy wire bent to the frame every 4 metres. Recommend steel strainers and
struts.
20
Photographs of fencing types
Photograph 8: Alan Hordacre
at Manypeaks National Park
Potorro Fauna Enclosure
Fence Dec 2013
Photograph 9: Closeup at
Manypeaks Fauna Enclosure
Fence
Photograph 10: Manypeaks
Fauna Enclosure Fence
Photograph 11: Note the
curved mesh at the top. The
fence also has electric wires on
the outside.
21
Appendices
Appendix 1: Individual Fauna Assessments
1 Southern Brown Bandicoot (Quenda) Isoodon obesulus
Habitat requirements
Total home range area for
individuals/male/female/breeding
pair/social group; normally and during
breeding
Diet- required food sources; normally
and during breeding
Type of habitat required by adultsnormally
Natural population structure
Type of habitat required for successful
breeding; including mating through to
raising young
Water requirements and ability to
survive droughts
Social structure
Minimum size for healthy breeding
population
Maximum population likely to be
supported at Balijup
Breeding information:
Breeding behaviour
Number of young
Frequency of breeding/litters
Require remnants of about 1.5 - 5 ha. This range varies between males and
females. They are not overly territorial. Around 5ha for a population, but
larger is better.
Comments: Balijup could accommodate several Quenda, possibly a stable
breeding population. Translocation of newly weaned young should be
considered as they reproduce quickly and mortality can be high when the
young fail to establish feeding territories.
Omnivorous: invertebrates, fungi, bulbs; will also take young house mice.
Wide range of vegetation types including forest, woodland, shrub and
heath. Requires a rich ground level and soil invertebrate population, so
dense leaf litter important. Requires dense low vegetation for daytime
shelter.
Young are carried in the pouch until weaning; no special requirements.
Usually found in areas adjacent to water, though this may be due to the
denser vegetation that occurs there.
Generally solitary. A male‟s large home range may support the territories
of several females.
Breed winter to early summer. Litters of up to 6, usually only 2 survive
until weaning (as the pouch becomes overcrowded). Infants carried in the
pouch until weaning. Young disperse at 2 months and are soon sexually
mature. High mortality rate in young who do not find feeding territories.
Females may have 3 litters per year. Lifespan 3-4 years.
Care of young by parent/s
Survival rates under ideal
conditions
Conservation
IUCN Red List status and reasoning
Key threats
Known, current breeding programs and
other conservation programs targeting
species
Conservation recommendations,
recovery plan key points
Least Concern because, although the species is declining in many areas, it
has a wide distribution, presumed large population, occurs in a number of
protected areas, and it is unlikely to be declining at the rate required to
qualify for listing in a threatened category.
Introduced predators- foxes and cats; changes to fire regime (they benefited
from traditional Aboriginal burning practices due to the food sources
found in areas regenerating after fires); clearing of native vegetation;
habitat modification.
The species occurs in a number of protected areas, has been successfully
reintroduced to a number of locations. Reintroduced at Karakamia and
Paruna. Captive breeding at Barna Mia (Dryandra). Occurs at Perup and
Dryandra, Whiteman Park.
Monitoring important, especially for subspecies which are particularly at
risk. Reintroduction, predator control, fire management, maintenance of
habitat integrity, preservation of habitat all important.
Y
History at Balijup- whether and where
currently or previously recorded or known.
IUCN Red List http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/40553/0
Friend, T., Morris, K., van Weenen, J., Winter, J. & Menkhorst, P. 2008. Isoodon obesulus. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of
Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 26 November 2013.
22
2 Western Ringtail Possum Pseudocheirus occidentalis
Habitat requirements
Total home range area for
individuals/male/female/breeding
pair/social group; normally and during
breeding
Diet- required food sources; normally
and during breeding
Type of habitat required by adultsnormally
Natural population structure
Type of habitat required for successful
breeding; including mating through to
raising young
Water requirements and ability to
survive droughts
Social structure
Conservation
Minimum size for healthy breeding
population
Maximum population likely to be
supported at Balijup
Breeding information:
Breeding behaviour
Number of young
Frequency of breeding/litters
Care of young by parent/s
Survival rates under ideal
conditions
IUCN Red List status and reasoning
Key threats
Known, current breeding programs and
other conservation programs targeting
species
Conservation recommendations,
recovery plan key points
Remnant needs to be at least 20 - 50ha depending on quality and diversity
of habitat. Home range size variable, larger in low density populations.
Folivore- leaves, fruit and flowers. Prefers peppermint, otherwise other
myrtaceous vegetation.
Habitat includes Peppermint forest and woodland, Tuart forest (typically
with a Peppermint mid-story), Jarrah, Wandoo and Marri forest. Prefers
dense, lush vegetation in drainage lines (or gardens). Requires mediumsized hollows 3-6m off the ground. If hollows not available, eg in
Peppermint woodland, it may build a drey. If it cannot find a suitable
resting site by dawn, it may just curl up at the base of a tree or in sedges.
Will use nest boxes.
In the Albany area this species occurs out of drainage lines, and occupies a
diverse range of habitat types. May have been seen in the yate swamps [at
Balijup?]. The climate at Mt Barker is similar 727mm mean rainfall pa at Mt
Barker and 799mm at Albany. Ringtails occur across to
Cheynes/Waychincup and it is certainly dryer out there than areas further
west. (Sarah Comer, pers. comm.)
Construct dreys (built of vegetation, usually in the mid to upper canopy)
for nesting, may use hollows, stumps and logs if available. May nest in
roofs in urban areas.
Usually sociable, several individuals may live close together - female
young remain in mother‟s home range, male young disperse age 7 months.
Reproduction year-round, greatest number of young born in late autumn
and winter, least in late summer. One or more litters per year. Litters 1-3,
most commonly 1. Young emerge permanently from the pouch at 3-4
months, then are carried on their mothers back for several weeks. Lifespan
can be >6y.
Vulnerable, because of their extent of occurrence <20 000km2; severely
fragmented distribution, continuing decline in area of occupancy, extent
and quality of habitat, number of mature individuals.
In coastal areas, habitat loss and fragmentation due to urban development;
inland populations are threatened by habitat modification and timber
harvesting. Predation by foxes; in areas where foxes are controlled,
predation by pythons and cats. Increasing fire intensities and burning
operations associated with logging or clearing.
Has been subject of translocation programs, however no demonstrated
success. Reintroduced at Karakamia. Occurs at Perup.
Monitoring, including population response to fox control and other
management practices, and at relocation sites, required. Identification of
high conservation value sites for this species required. Minimisation of
development impacts; public education in relevant areas suggested.
Y
History at Balijup- whether and where
currently or previously recorded or known.
IUCN Red List http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/18492/0
Morris, K., Burbidge, A. & Friend, T. 2008. Pseudocheirus occidentalis. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Version 2013.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 26 November 2013.
23
3 Woylie (Brush-tailed Bettong, Brush-tailed Rat Kangaroo) Bettongia penicillata
Habitat requirements
Total home range area for
individuals/male/female/breeding
pair/social group; normally and during
breeding
Diet- required food sources; normally
and during breeding
Type of habitat required by adultsnormally
Natural population structure
Type of habitat required for successful
breeding; including mating through to
raising young
Water requirements and ability to
survive droughts
Social structure
Minimum size for healthy breeding
population
Maximum population likely to be
supported at Balijup
Breeding information:
Breeding behaviour
Number of young
Remnants of at least 2Ha in size for an individual?? They have a lot of
overlap with territories. 150Ha is a good minimum for a population??
(Balijup may be suitable depending on extent of suitable habitat. (Peter
Mawson, pers. comm.)
Subterranean fungi, bulbs, tubers, seeds and insects. Enhance ecological
health by distributing mycorrhizal spores through digging, consumption
and excretion.
Formerly distributed over a range of habitats from desert spinifex
grasslands to forests. Now restricted to forests and open woodlands in WA
and mallee shrublands in SA with clumped low understorey of tussock
grasses or low woody scrub. An intact ground layer with leaf litter
and bulbous plants is essential to provide food. Elaborate nests are built in
the middle of bush thickets or sometimes in hollow logs, requiring cover
for daytime rest. They may benefit from open areas for foraging.
Breed throughout the year producing 2-3 litters per year. Carry a single
pouch young and an embryo in the womb, like kangaroos. Young spend
14 weeks in the pouch and several more weeks at heel. Young reach sexual
maturity by 6 months. Lifespan 4-6 years.
Frequency of breeding/litters
Care of young by parent/s
Survival rates under ideal
conditions
Conservation
IUCN Red List status and reasoning
Key threats
Known, current breeding programs and
other conservation programs targeting
species
Critically Endangered because of drastic, ongoing population decline,
estimated at >80% in 10 years which are unexplained, though appear to be
density dependent. National status: Endangered (Mt Gibson brochure)
Historically, declines were due to fox and cat predation, habitat destruction
and alteration, changes to fire regimes, competition with feral and domestic
animals, and possibly disease. Relict populations were associated with
Gastrolobium shrubs which may have reduced both predation and
competition. Recent dramatic declines are unexplained, though it is hoped
they may stabilise when populations reach a low density, as the declines
appear to be density related. Stochastic events and genetic viability may
threaten small reintroduced populations.
Natural populations remaining at Dryandra Woodland, Perup NR and
Tutanning NR; translocated to 46 sites in WA, 12 in SA and 3 in NSW, with
mixed success. Intensive research is investigating recent declines and the
roles of predation, food resources and disease. Potential new translocation
sites are being investigated. Reintroduced at Karakamia and Paruna. Will
be reintroduced at Mt Gibson. Captive breeding is occurring at Kanyana
and Barna Mia (Dryandra). Occurs at Perup and Dryandra.
Ongoing fox control and understanding the role of predation by cats is
important.
?
Conservation recommendations,
recovery plan key points
History at Balijup- whether and where
currently or previously recorded or known.
IUCN Red List http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/2785/0 Wayne, A., Friend, T., Burbidge, A., Morris, K. & van Weenen, J. 2008.
Bettongia penicillata. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on
28 November 2013.
http://www.sciencewa.net.au/topics/environment-a-conservation/item/265-toxoplasma-blamed-for-woylie-decline.html article
http://kanyanawildlife.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=136:kanyana-woylie-breeding&catid=57:woylies
Kanyana breeding program
24
4 Tammar Wallaby Macropus eugenii
Habitat requirements
Total home range area for
individuals/male/female/breeding
pair/social group; normally and during
breeding
Diet- required food sources; normally
and during breeding
Type of habitat required by adultsnormally
Natural population structure
Type of habitat required for successful
breeding; including mating through to
raising young
Water requirements and ability to
survive droughts
Social structure
Minimum size for a healthy breeding
population
Maximum population likely to be
supported at Balijup
Breeding information:
Breeding behaviour
Number of young
Frequency of breeding/litters
Require remnants of 50 - 100 ha in size. “Tammar wallabies breed quickly
and would trash a site if they couldn‟t disperse. “ (Peter Mawson, pers.
comm.)
Grazer- grasses and other soft palatable soft plants.
Coastal scrub, heath, dry sclerophyll forest and mallee woodlands.
Requires open grassy areas for grazing and low dense vegetation for
daytime shelter. Some suitable shelter vegetation can become too open if
long unburnt, and is suitably dense when regenerating after fire.
They make nests in the middle of a thicket.
Island populations have been observed drinking sea water with no ill
effects! (Johnson & Thomson-Dans)
Occurs in loose family groups.
A single young is produced once a year and the joey is suckled for 8-9
months before leaving the pouch. Dormant embryos are carried, as in
kangaroos, but do not immediately begin to develop. Young born Jan to
Mar, leave pouch Sep to Oct. Females are immediately sexually mature;
males begin breeding at 2y. Male lifespan 11y, female 14y.
Care of young by parent/s
Survival rates under ideal
conditions
Conservation
IUCN Red List status and reasoning
Key threats
Known, current breeding programs and
other conservation programs targeting
species
Least concern due to wide distribution, presumed large population and
occurrence in a number of protected areas; unlikely to be declining at
nearly the rate required to qualify for a threatened category listing.
Declines due to land clearing, settlers‟ fires, predation by introduced
predators- cats and foxes, hunting by early settlers. Current threats include
predation by foxes in some parts of its range (mainland), inappropriate fire
regimes. Species considered agricultural pest on Kangaroo Island.
Occurs on some islands of the Houtman Abrolhos and Recherche
Archipelago and on Kangaroo Island, Tutanning, Boyagin and Perup
Nature Reserves and Fitzgerald River NP on the mainland and several
Forest, NP and island reintroduction sites. Feral populations exist in NZ.
Reintroduced at Karakamia and Paruna. Occurs at Dryandra and Perup.
Fox control on mainland, continued reintroduction programs, maintenance
of appropriate fire regimes within its habitat.
?
Conservation recommendations,
recovery plan key points
History at Balijup- whether and where
currently or previously recorded or known.
IUCN Red List http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/41512/0
Morris, K., Friend, T., Burbidge, A. & van Weenen, J. 2008. Macropus eugenii. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Version 2013.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 28 November 2013.
25
5 Black-gloved Wallaby (Brush-tailed Wallaby; Western Brush Wallaby; Kwoora) Macropus irma
Habitat requirements
Total home range area for
individuals/male/female/breeding
pair/social group; normally and during
breeding
Diet- required food sources; normally
and during breeding
Type of habitat required by adultsnormally
Natural population structure
Type of habitat required for successful
breeding; including mating through to
raising young
Water requirements and ability to
survive droughts
Social structure
Minimum size for a healthy breeding
population
Maximum population likely to be
supported at Balijup
Breeding information:
Require remnants of 50 - 100 ha in size. Their territories are about 5000
square metres and they can often spend their whole life in the same home
boundary. “I did not find any scats of black-gloved wallabies in the „fauna
sanctuary‟ . The vegetation was largely too open ie. there was not sufficient
mid-dense ground cover of approximately 0.5-1m height, either continuous
or in clumps for suitable sheltering sites. There was a small patch of
sufficiently dense understorey in the east of the patch (see map), but this is
only about 7ha so it is not sufficiently large and too isolated from other
suitable habitat for BG wallabies to make use of. At Whiteman Park north
of Perth, BG wallaby home ranges range from 32Ha in females to 69ha in
males, and the area used in a night ranged from 5.3 has in females to 9.9ha
in males. Ranges are not known for southern populations, but would likely
be similar.. I didn't have time to look at the whole property, so there is still
a possibility that BG wallabies occur closer to the lakes where the
vegetation is a bit denser.” (Sandra Gilfillan, pers. comm.)
Can occur in the same area as the Tammar Wallaby because they have very
different food sources. The brush tailed wallaby are browsers and feed on
shrubs and flowers. Feeds close to cover and is rarely seen in paddocks.
Requires dense shrubby cover adjacent to small open areas, thus Wandoo
wet flats often ideal. Other suitable habitats are open forest and woodland,
mallee, heathland, low open grasses, and scrubby thickets. Avoids
pastureland and forests with dense undergrowth.
They prefer to be solitary; sometimes a mother and baby are seen feeding
together.
A single joey is born around Apr - May.
Breeding behaviour
Number of young
Frequency of breeding/litters
Care of young by parent/s
Survival rates under ideal
conditions
Conservation
IUCN Red List status and reasoning
Key threats
Known, current breeding programs and
other conservation programs targeting
species
Conservation recommendations,
recovery plan key points
History at Balijup- whether and where
currently or previously recorded or known.
Least Concern because of its wide distribution, presumed large population,
occurrence in a number of protected areas, and because its population is
considered to be stable, or perhaps still increasing, as a result of fox control
programs.
Fox predation of juveniles, land clearing for agriculture which has caused
population- and habitat- fragmentation.
Present at Karakamia, has increased in numbers since the reserve‟s
establishment. Present at Paruna, occurs at Whiteman Park.
Continued fox control; monitoring of abundance
Y
IUCN Red List http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/12626/0
Morris, K., Friend, T. & Burbidge, A. 2008. Macropus irma. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Version 2013.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 29 November 2013.
26
6 Honey Possum (Noolbenger, Honey Mouse) Tarsipes rostratus
Habitat requirements
Total home range area for
individuals/male/female/breeding
pair/social group; normally and during
breeding
Diet- required food sources; normally
and during breeding
Type of habitat required by adultsnormally
Natural population structure
Type of habitat required for successful
breeding; including mating through to
raising young
Water requirements and ability to
survive droughts
Social structure
Minimum size for a healthy breeding
population
Maximum population likely to be
supported at Balijup
Breeding information:
Breeding behaviour
Required remnant size probably at least 25Ha of suitable vegetation.
Nectar and some pollen. Requires nectar every day of the year, thus must
have a wide diversity of nectar-producing plants.
Diverse vegetation communities on coastal sand plain heaths, mallee,
banksia woodland. High diversity of flowering plants is essential to
provide food every day. Can move up to 200m a night to where plants are
in flower. Requires daytime shelter in small hollows, often in Balga skirts,
sometimes in abandoned birds‟ nests. Animals may become torpid in cold
weather.
Breed any time of year, when food sources are abundant, producing
possibly 2 litters or 2-3 young per year.
Number of young
Frequency of breeding/litters
Care of young by parent/s
Survival rates under ideal
conditions
Conservation
IUCN Red List status and reasoning
Key threats
Known, current breeding programs and
other conservation programs targeting
species
Conservation recommendations,
recovery plan key points
Least Concern because of wide distribution, presumed large population,
occurrence in a number of protected areas, unlikely to be declining at
nearly the rate required to qualify for a threatened listing.
No major threats. Affected by changes to fire regime, destruction of habitat
by Phytophthora Dieback, predation by cats and foxes.
Present at Paruna, occurs at Whiteman Park.
The species occurs in many protected areas which should be managed to
reduce the risk of extensive and frequent wildfires.
History at Balijup- whether and where
Y
currently or previously recorded or known.
IUCN Red List http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/40583/0
Friend, T., Morris, K., Burbidge, A. & McKenzie, N. 2008. Tarsipes rostratus. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Version 2013.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 01 December 2013.
27
7 Brush-tailed Phascogale (Wambenger, Tuan) Phascogale tapoatafa
Habitat requirements
Total home range area for
individuals/male/female/breeding
pair/social group; normally and during
breeding
Diet- required food sources; normally
and during breeding
Type of habitat required by adultsnormally
Natural population structure
Type of habitat required for successful
breeding; including mating through to
raising young
Water requirements and ability to
survive droughts
Social structure
Minimum size for a healthy breeding
population
Maximum population likely to be
supported at Balijup
Breeding information:
Breeding behaviour
Number of young
Frequency of breeding/litters
Care of young by parent/s
Remanat size required is at least 200Ha. Reproductively viable populations
require large areas of suitable habitat due to male home ranges often being
greater than 100Ha. Wambengers (brush-tailed phascogales) are known
from similar habitat to than contained in the proposed fenced area; a
specimen was recently collected near Hyden. There should be plenty of
suitable hollow-bearing trees in the NW of the property for this species,
and it is highly likely that they would be able to climb over or through a
predator exclusion fence (similar to Dibber at Norman‟s) so it could be a
good location for reintroduction if they aren‟t there (Sarah Comer‟s
feedback by email Dec 2023) Peter Mawson (pers.comm) had previously
suggested that Balijup would not be suitable for Brush-tailed Phascogales
as the habitat is not wet or tall enough; and that Red-tailed Phascogales
may be an option.
Invertebrates; occasionally other small animals such as small roosting
birds. Have been known to attack and kill domestic poultry.
Largely confined to dry sclerophyll forests and open woodlands containing
hollow-bearing trees; occurs more rarely in wetter forests. Arboreal. Prefers
dense crown vegetation; can leap up to 2m and will come to the ground to
move from tree to tree. Require small hollows (possibly several per
individual), often high up. Will use nest boxes.
Largely solitary.
Intensive mating in Jun/Jul produces litters of 8 (3-8 in sw WA). Males die
soon after breeding; females can live up to 3 years but usually only
produce one litter. Young spend 2 months in the pouch and are then
deposited into a suitable hollow. Dispersal occurs over summer and breed
in their first year. In WA, population fluctuates markedly in response to
climatic conditions
Survival rates under ideal
conditions
Conservation
IUCN Red List status and reasoning
Key threats
Known, current breeding programs and
other conservation programs targeting
species
Conservation recommendations,
recovery plan key points
Near threatened because it is in decline, but <30% over 10 years; decline
due to habitat clearance, degradation, fragmentation, impact of introduced
predators. Close to qualifying for Vulnerable.
Reduction in area of occupancy due to habitat clearing and fragmentation,
also habitat alteration due to logging and mining. Greatest current threat is
the increasing decline in availability of hollow-bearing trees. Predation by
foxes and cats. Male die-off makes populations particularly susceptible to
stochastic events
Development of suitable survey techniques to assist improvement of
knowledge, identification of key habitats and populations, determining the
relative importance of threatening processes.
Y
History at Balijup- whether and where
currently or previously recorded or known.
IUCN Red List http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/16890/0
Menkhorst, P., Rhind, S. & Ellis, M. 2008. Phascogale tapoatafa. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version
2013.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 29 November 2013.
28
8 Numbat (Walpurti, Banded Anteater) Myrmecobius fasciatus
Habitat requirements
Total home range area for
individuals/male/female/breeding
pair/social group; normally and during
breeding
Diet- required food sources; normally
and during breeding
Type of habitat required by adultsnormally
Natural population structure
Type of habitat required for successful
breeding; including mating through to
raising young
Water requirements and ability to
survive droughts
Social structure
Minimum size for a healthy breeding
population
Maximum population likely to be
supported at Balijup
Breeding information:
Breeding behaviour
Number of young
Frequency of breeding/litters
50-100ha per animal, possibly as little as 25Ha in Jarrah, probably at least
3000 ha for a viable population. “numbats could not be sustained on such a
small site” (Peter Mawson, pers. comm.)
Up to 20,000 termites per day, foraged in dead trees, logs, leaf litter and
underground galleries.
Formerly widespread across arid and semi-arid climate zones. Now
restricted to 2 native (Perup and Dryandra) and several reintroduced sites.
Formerly semi-arid and arid woodlands (Eucalyptus and Acacia) and
grasslands (Triodia and Plectrachne); now restricted to Eucalypt
woodlands in the wettest periphery of former range. Wandoo woodland is
prime habitat. Hollow logs are now important as a refuge from foxes; the
burrows of other animals are also used. A good litter layer for a healthy
termite population is essential.
Generally solitary.
Males range a long way from home prior to breeding season to search for
females. Four young are usually born Jan-Mar and are attached to teats
until furred, then transferred to a lined chamber at the end of a 1-2 metrelong burrow while their mother hunts. Young are independent by Oct,
disperse by end of year.
Care of young by parent/s
Survival rates under ideal
conditions
Conservation
IUCN Red List status and reasoning
Key threats
Known, current breeding programs and
other conservation programs targeting
species
Endangered due to population likely to be <1000 mature individuals; at
one of two native sites, Dryandra, the population has undergone a drastic,
continuing, unexplained decline. National status: Vulnerable (Mt Gibson
brochure)
Predation by foxes, changed fire regimes, habitat destruction, introduced
rabbits, elevated raptor numbers, frequent fires which reduce the number
of logs for shelter. Unknown causes of decline at Dryandra, thought to be
predation by feral cats.
Captive breeding occurs at Perth Zoo. Occurs naturally in protected areas
(Perup and Dryandra). Have been reintroduced at several sites in southwestern Western Australia and fenced sites in SA and NSW. Reintroduced
at Karakamia. Will be reintroduced at Mt Gibson.
Fox control is essential. Increasing the number of self-sustaining
populations to 9 and the overall population to 4000are recovery objectives.
?
Conservation recommendations,
recovery plan key points
History at Balijup- whether and where
currently or previously recorded or known.
IUCN Red List http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/14222/0
Friend, T. & Burbidge, A. 2008. Myrmecobius fasciatus. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2.
<www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 01 December 2013.
29
9 Echidna (Short-beaked Echidna, Spiny Anteater) Tachyglossus aculeatus
Habitat requirements
Total home range area for
individuals/male/female/breeding
pair/social group; normally and during
breeding
Diet- required food sources; normally
and during breeding
Type of habitat required by adultsnormally
Natural population structure
Type of habitat required for successful
breeding; including mating through to
raising young
Water requirements and ability to
survive droughts
Social structure
Minimum size for a healthy breeding
population
Maximum population likely to be
supported at Balijup
Breeding information:
Breeding behaviour
Number of young
At least 200ha, providing there are termites. Nomadic, can cross 1 km-wide
paddocks, moves when food exhausted or searching for mate. “echidnas
do not respect fences at all and will just bulldoze their way out and back as
they see fit which could place other species at risk if the integrity of any
fence is breeched” (Peter Mawson, pers. comm)
Eats 10,000 termites a day, by pulling apart termite nests.
Principally woodlands and heathlands in sw WA. Occurs in various open
woodland types, savannah, semi-arid and arid areas, rainforest and
agricultural areas. Shelters in hollow logs and under thick bushes. Fallen
wood, leaf litter and termite mounds are required.
Requires safe resting sites under boulders or in hollow logs (large entrance
size).
Solitary.
Breeding is Jul/Aug. Female lays a single egg, directly into their “pouch”
(a skin fold) The egg hatches after 10 days and the young are suckled. At
first they are carried, later they are left in a burrow. Young disperse in
summer aged about 6 months.
Frequency of breeding/litters
Care of young by parent/s
Survival rates under ideal
conditions
Conservation
IUCN Red List status and reasoning
Key threats
Known, current breeding programs and
other conservation programs targeting
species
Conservation recommendations,
recovery plan key points
History at Balijup- whether and where
currently or previously recorded or known.
Least Concern because of wide distribution, broad habitat tolerance, large
population, occurrence within protected areas, lack of major threats, not
thought to be in decline.
No major threats in Australia. Some overhunting may occur in New
Guinea.
Present at Karakamia and Paruna, Dryandra, Whiteman Park.
Monitoring of road deaths on main tourist roads. Adequate protection
within protected areas in Australia. In New Guinea, most protected areas
are too small to host viable populations.
?
IUCN Red List http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/41312/0
Aplin, K., Dickman, C., Salas, L. & Helgen, K. 2008. Tachyglossus aculeatus. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of
Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 01 December 2013.
“There was no evidence of echidna (by diggings)” (Sandra Gilfillan, pers. comm.)
30
10 Chuditch (Western Quoll, Native Cat) Dasyurus geoffrooii
Habitat requirements
Total home range area for
individuals/male/female/breeding
pair/social group; normally and during
breeding
Diet- required food sources; normally
and during breeding
Type of habitat required by adultsnormally
Natural population structure
Type of habitat required for successful
breeding; including mating through to
raising young
Water requirements and ability to
survive droughts
Social structure
Minimum size for a healthy breeding
population
Maximum population likely to be
supported at Balijup
Breeding information:
Breeding behaviour
Number of young
Frequency of breeding/litters
At least 1000ha, forages widely, 10,000ha best for a chance of a viable
population. Normally territorial. Very mobile. “Chuditch require 1000 ha
for a single male and fences would not keep them in.” (Peter Mawson, pers.
comm.)
Top level carnivore; opportunistic diet, including small mammals, birds,
lizards, frogs, invertebrates and carrion. Hunts on the ground and in trees.
Also scavenge from rubbish bins.
Restricted to Jarrah forest and drier woodlands and mallee shrublands of
the central and southern Wheatbelt. Their former range suggests the ability
to occupy a wide range of habitats including deserts, woodlands, mallee
shrublands, sclerophyll forests and coastal areas. Occurs in degraded
areas, often patrols roadsides and are known scavengers. Requires a
medium hollow at ground level, or will dig a burrow under log or stump.
Will also use old birds' nests. Both sexes need many den sites within their
home range.
Prefer sites with a good freshwater source, though do not need drinking
water (possible conflicting information).
Generally solitary.
Some populations are under 100, the species probably occurs naturally in
small populations and these have a tendency to fluctuation.
Animals breed from one year old. Mating is in late autumn and early
winter. Individuals will cover large distances looking for a mate. Litters of
6 are carried in a small pouch for 9 weeks then remain at the nest site.
Females construct burrows during pregnancy, Young disperse around 22
weeks. Females maintain non-overlapping core areas in their home range.
Care of young by parent/s
Survival rates under ideal conditions
Conservation
IUCN Red List status and reasoning
Key threats
Known, current breeding programs and
other conservation programs targeting
species
Near Threatened: Population still <10 000. Almost qualifies as Threatened.
National status: Vulnerable (Mt Gibson Brochure)
Habitat alteration due to clearing, grazing and frequent wildfire; incursion
of foxes after fire, competition for food with foxes and cats, hunting by
early settlers, poisoning have contributed to decline.
Consideration of habitat requirements occurs during rehabilitation after
bauxite mining; habitat management research focusing on prescribed
burning and timber harvesting impacts in Jarrah forest is underway; fox
control has been shown to be beneficial, monitoring occurs in Jarrah forest
sites, captive breeding occurs at Perth Zoo, translocation to Julimar
Conservation Park have been successful. Has recolonised Karakamia.
Present at Paruna, has increased numbers since the establishment of the
reserve. Will be reintroduced at Mt Gibson. Occurs ar Perup.
Monitoring needs implementing in the Wheatbelt; research into
distribution and requirements in the semi-arid zone are required.
To be determined
Conservation recommendations,
recovery plan key points
History at Balijup- whether and where
currently or previously recorded or known.
IUCN Red List http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/6294/0
Morris, K., Burbidge, A. & Hamilton, S. 2008. Dasyurus geoffroii. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version
2013.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 01 December 2013.
References:
IUCN Red List pages for each animal
Hussey, P & Mawson, P (2004) Wildlife Note 11- Requirements for Native Mammals Land for Wildlife
Nevill, S et al (2005) Guide to the Wildlife of the Perth Region Simon Nevill Publications
Johnson, B & Thomson-Dans, C (2003) Mammals of the South-West CALM
Christensen, L (ed) (199?) Wildlife identikit: South-west Jarrah Forests and Nearby Woodlands
CALM (for the Perup Wildlife Trust)
AWC (2012/13) Mt Gibson Endangered Wildlife Restoration Project
Websites for conservation reserves including Karakamia, Paruna, Dryandra, Perup, Kanyana, Whiteman Park
31
Appendix 2: Balijup Photo Monitoring Points: Workshop 20 –21st February 2014
Basil Schur, Dr Nic Dunlop and Tim Gamblin
Photo Monitoring Point Methods
A triangle of 3 markers (star-pickets for example) of equal length is constructed in a position to capture ground
storey, mid-storey and some upper-story in the distance where possible. The bearing is maintained for all photo
points. The apex of the triangle (red circle) is where the photo is taken at a defined height, in this project 1.5m
(Figure 1).
The camera‟s field of view (red lines) are standardised by lining it up with the two markers 6m apart at 8 metres
from the apex. The photos should ideally be taken at the same time of day to best capture the vegetation with
similar light. Markers can be numbered with tape and/or metal tags and this is important where the vegetation
can make difficult to see.
Figure 1: The photo-point design.
This method was used to establish photo monitoring points at 10 locations at Balijup (Figure 1, Table 1).
Figure 2: Camera field of view. Markers may need tape to highlight their location in dense vegetation.
32
Table 1. Coordinates of 10 photo-points established at Balijup, inside and outside the Balijup Fauna Conservation
Enclosure.
Photo
Fauna Enclosure
Label
Description
Easting
Northing
Zone Elevation
Number Location
PP1
Wetland # 6
459
Outside
543918.15
6191019.20
-50
251
PP2
Wetland # 13
463
Outside
545139.81
6190874.19
-50
244
Banksia on white
PP3
466
Outside
sands
546003.59
6190985.84
-50
252
Banksia on white
PP4
467
Outside
sands
546167.18
6191398.21
-50
252
Revegetation PP5
470
Edge/Inside
sandalwood
546191.31
6192076.40
-50
250
PP6
Salt edge
472
Inside
546598.03
6192636.59
-50
253
PP7
Jarrah slope
473
Inside
546599.27
6193087.35
-50
272
PP8
Jarrah/Wandoo
474
Inside
546077.80
6193153.26
-50
275
Mallee/Jarrah/
PP9
477
Inside
Wandoo
545626.16
6193158.03
-50
268
PP10
Wetland #2
479
Outside
545342.27
6191388.07
-50
250
Photograph 12: Overview of Photo-points.
Photograph 13: Photo-points at 10 locations at Balijup. Photo points 5-9 are inside the proposed fauna enclosure.
33
Photograph 14: Photo Points
Photos taken 20 Feb 2014
Photograph 15: Photo point 5
Photograph 16: Photo point 6
34
Photograph 17: Photo
point 7
Photograph 18: Photo
point 8
35
Appendix 3: Notes On Sizes Of Remnants To Fulfill The ‘Home Range’ Requirements
Of Various Native Fauna Species
Numbats - require remnants of 100ha or more. Prefer jarrah and wandoo woodland with log debris. Habitat requires healthy
leaf litter to keep the termite population happy, so numbats have enough food.
Chuditch - at this stage chuditch are being relocated into areas of 10 000 ha or larger. Prefer sites with a good freshwater
source. Chuditch appear to be very mobile. One animal which was relocated in Cape Arid National Park was found 180
kilometres away in a chook pen at Salmon Gums.
Southern Brown Bandicoot (Quenda) - require remnants of about 1.5 - 5 ha. This range varies between males and females.
They are not overly territorial and appear to be happy in most habitats ranging from drainage lines up into higher elevations
with no permanent water source.
Honey Possums and Pygmy Possums - Size of remnant required is dependent on the quantity of suitable nectar producing
plants within the remnant. Tend to move through areas following the food source. Move up to 200 metres a night. Not
territorial.
Dunnarts - Move about 50 - 100 metres a night. Have been found surviving quite happily under rock and wood piles in the
middle of paddocks.
Native Mice and Bush Rats - Require sandy soils to dig their burrows. Prefer dense undergrowth. Bush rats are quite
territorial and aggressive toward other species. The hopping mice also prefer open spaces for increased, fast mobility.
Tammar Wallaby - Require remnants of 50 - 100 ha in size. This wallaby is a grazer so likes to have the combination of an
open paddocks to feed off and bushland with a continuous cover of understorey to hide in. They make nests in the middle of
a thicket. Occurs in family groups.
Western Brush Tailed Wallaby - Require remnants of 50 - 100 ha in size. Depend on protective cover from the vegetation.
Their territories are about 500 square metres and they can often spend their whole life in the same home boundary. Can occur
in the same area as the Tammar Wallaby because they have very different food sources. The brush tailed wallaby are
browsers and feed on shrubs and flowers. They prefers to be solitary or sometimes a mother and baby are seen feeding
together. They don’t like the open paddock environment.
Brush Tailed Possum - Remnant needs to be at least 2 ha in size. The males are quite territorial and do not allow territory
overlap. Females will allow territory overlap however if nesting hollows are short in supply, the possum will aggressively
defend her territory.
Ring Tailed Possum - Similar to a brush tail possum but is very much less mobile. Use grass tree (blackboy) skirts to sleep
under during the day. Sometimes, if they haven’t found a suitable place to sleep before daylight, they just curl up at the base
of a tree and have a sleep - this is why they are so vulnerable to foxes.
Woylies - Remnants of at least 2 ha in size. They have a lot of overlap with territories. They nest in the middle of bush
thickets. Sometimes they nest in hollow logs.
Echidna - These animals seem to be extremely hardy. Have been sighted crossing open paddocks in the middle of the wheat
belt. If they have no suitable cover, they just dig themselves in underground. Their only requirement is a good supply of
termites. This requires remnants which have good leaf and wood cover to keep the termites happy.
Antechinus - Remnants of at least 2 ha. Prefer wooded areas with a good upper canopy. Tend to build up populations very
quickly. When the young are too large and heavy they are deposited by the female into a den.
36
---------- Forwarded message ---------From: Peter Mawson <[email protected]>
Date: 29 November 2013 14:15
Subject: RE: Reference details for your document
To: xanthe bourne <[email protected]>
Hello Xanthe.
The document I provided you with that contained the information on individual species’ home range was an unpublished report
that I commissioned one of my staff to compile to help inform decision-making about potential reintroductions to private
property (we were dealing primarily with properties owned by Land for Wildlife registrants). It is important to remember that
the data in the document relate to the average home range of an individual animal (male or female) and not to the area that might
be required to support a viable population of a particular species. It is best to refer to that document as an unpublished DEC
report, and give the date (year) that it was prepared. Referring to grey literature is OK, when it is all that is available. That
information may have been published in the Land for Wildlife newsletter (Western Wildlife) but I can’t be sure on my memory of
that fact. Might pay to talk to Claire Hall at the DPaW office in Kensington (Perth) who should be able to confirm that for you
(tel. 9334 0333 for general enquiries and then ask to be put through to Claire).
One of the key issues with private property remnants is that they are often sub-optimal habitats because of past uses, or because
of their location in the landscape (one rocky or sandy soils with low soil moisture content) and that they often have a limited
range of vegetation communities.
A site of only 100ha in the Shire of Cranbrook would not be suitable for Tammar Wallabies, Ring-tailed Possums, Numbat,
Echidna, Brush-tailed Phascogale and Chuditch. Tammar wallabies breed quickly and would trash a site if they couldn’t
disperse. The climate is now completely wrong for ring-tail possums in the Cranbrook area, numbats could not be sustained on
such a small site and echidnas do not respect fences at all and will just bulldoze their way out and back as they see fit which
could place other species at risk if the intregrity of any fence is breeched. Chuditch require 1000 ha for a single male and fences
would not keep them in.
It may be suitable for Black Gloved, Quenda, Woylie, and Honey Possums depending on the extent and quality of habitat within
the fenced area. There are no pre-existing texts to refer to about what constitutes suitable habitat for particular species. We
always used GIS, veg assessments and examined the historical literature to get a feel for what might be possible. Then we did a
site visit, often at the worst time of year to see how bad things might get. Even then, some reintroductions were treated very
much as experiments and a failure with one or more species wasn’t considered unexpected.
Dr Peter Mawson
Director of Animal Health and Research
Perth Zoo
20 Labouchere Road, South Perth, Western Australia, 6151
Tel. +61 8 9474 0311
Mobile: 0418 904 563
E-mail: [email protected]
37
Appendix 4: Support from Pardelup Prison Farm
38
Appendix 5: A Citizen Science Based Ecological Monitoring Framework for Balijup
Draft framework developed by Dr Nic Dunlop (Subject to modification) v 5 March 2014
Balijup Farm is a critical asset in the implementation of the Forests to Stirlings operational area of the Gondwana
Link Project. Features within the privately owned land contribute to vary degrees to targets in the Conservation
Action Plan for the operational area. These include;
Wandoo associated vegetation communities
Part of the Upper Kent Wetland Suite
Proteaceae rich shrublands and woodlands
Jarrah / Marri associated vegetation communities
Carnaby‟s Black Cockatoo
Within this context a proposal has been developed to enclose 110 hectares of Wandoo, Jarrah / Marri and mallee
dominated vegetation within a feral-predator proof fence to provide a refuge for the existing small vertebrate fauna
(the enclosure project). A second objective for the enclosure project is to establish a secure area to husband source
populations of medium-weight range mammals for future re-introductions within the operational area. This report
provides a suggested ecological monitoring framework for the wetland suite and the enclosure project on Balijup
Farm.
Wetland Monitoring
There are at least 13 closed or open wetlands on Balijup Farm. The water quality in the perched lakes has not
changed significantly and these wetlands probably retain most of their original biodiversity values. However the
majority of the lakes lying lower in the landscape have been exposed to rising salinity and pH in the groundwater
and the decline in water quality has lead to the degradation of their biodiversity values. The residual and / or „novel‟
biodiversity values associated with these altered systems have not been assessed. A benchmark survey of macroinvertebrates and waterbirds would be necessary to refine objectives and the design of the long-term monitoring
protocol.
Existing Intact Freshwater Wetlands
Management Objective: Maintain existing ecological processes and biodiversity values.
Indicators
1.
2.
3.
4.
Water Quality (Maximum depth, salinity and PH in September)
Fringing vegetation cover and health (using triangular photo-monitoring sites incorporation 8*1m belt transect).
Macro-invertebrate functional groups (plankton net sampling in September, 5 replicates per wetland)
Water birds (September counts, 5 replicates per wetland).
High Salinity / PH wetlands
Management Objective: Improve water quality, protect residual or novel values
1.
2.
3.
4.
Water Quality (Maximum depth, salinity and PH in September)
Fringing vegetation cover and health (using triangular photo-monitoring sites incorporation 8*1m belt transect).
Macro-invertebrate functional groups (plankton net sampling in September, 5 replicates per wetland)
Water birds (September counts, 5 replicates per wetland).
Predator Exclusion Project
Enclosure Project – Impact of Predator Fence (including feral carnivore and Grey Kangaroo removal)
Management Objective: Increase the abundance of small vertebrates by excluding feral predators (in particular cats).
1. Numbers of feral predators in the area prior to fence construction and predator removal (5 motion-detector
cameras rotated through 20 observation posts – 12 days monitoring on a quarterly basis).
39
2.
3.
4.
Vegetation cover and health in September (using triangular photo-monitoring sites incorporation 8m belt
transect – 10 sites in vegetation inside the fence and 10 in non-wetland vegetation outside).
Small vertebrate abundance (10* 5 pit, 20m long pitfall and drift lines in sandier habitat areas) inside the fence,
immediately outside the fence and elsewhere in appropriate vegetation on Balijup Farm). Survey for 5 nights in
November. Total 150 trap/days per night = 750 trap/days per annum.
Forest / Woodland Indicator Bird Species (Count Western Yellow Robins and Rufous Treecreepers in 10
stratified random stationary observer circular census plots inside and 10 outside the fence in September). Plots
should be at least 100m apart.
Enclosure Project – Impact of translocated Quendas (Southern Brown Bandicoots), a medium weight range
mammal, on enclosed ecosystem
Management Objective: Establish genetically diverse breeding groups of Quendas, one of the medium weight range
mammals, without causing significant changes in other forest / woodland biodiversity values of the enclosed area.
1. Vegetation cover and health in September (using triangular photo-monitoring sites incorporation 8* 1m belt
transect – 10 sites in vegetation inside the fence and 10 in non-wetland vegetation outside).
2. Number and distribution of translocated animals (5 motion-detector cameras rotated through 20 observation
posts – 12 days monitoring on a quarterly basis).
3. Number of diggings and scats in 8*1m belt transects at photo-monitoring points inside the fence – during
September vegetation monitoring).
40