Avifauna survey – spring 2016–autumn 2017 · Web viewA total of 12 species were recorded during the 2016-2017 monitoring compared with a previous list of five species in the

Avifauna Surveys City of Sydney

City of SydneyTown Hall House456 Kent StreetSydney NSW 2000

Spring 2016 – Autumn 2017 Fauna Monitoring

Executive SummaryNiche Environment and Heritage (Niche) were engaged by the Council of the City of Sydney (the ‘City’) to undertake avifauna and other fauna monitoring at its bush restoration sites, parks and other open space. This report documents the findings for the monitoring during spring 2016 and autumn 2017 surveys.

The aim of the monitoring is to deliver comprehensive avifauna surveys across the LGA to inform the City on how priority avifauna species are tracking against baseline data. One of the three focus areas of the City’s Urban Ecology Strategic Action Plan was on fauna and specifically to increase the distribution and abundance of eight priority fauna species across the LGA, comprising:

• Frogs (Green and Golden Bell Frog and others)

• Grey-headed Flying-fox

• Powerful Owl

• Small birds

• Microbats

• Long-nosed Bandicoot

• Freshwater wetland birds

• Reptiles.

Eighteen sites were monitored for diurnal birds and six sites were selected for the monitoring of nocturnal birds and mammals. A total of 92 fauna species were detected during the spring 2016 and autumn 2017 monitoring. This list comprised 76 birds (including 14 unique community sightings), eight mammals, four reptiles and five amphibians. Fifty-six species of diurnal birds were observed during daylight counts with the additional 20 species observed off site or outside survey times. Three nocturnal bird species were detected within city parkland and all six nocturnal sites had at least one of two native possum species present. The Grey-headed Flying-fox was detected at all sites. The introduced Fox, Black Rat and Brown Rat were detected at some sites.

Active bush restoration and management of habitat has occurred throughout the City, improving the quality of habitat for priority fauna groups such as small bird species. Ongoing fauna monitoring throughout the City will prove invaluable to assess the response of bird assemblages to habitat restoration efforts and to guide future management. Systematic annual spring bird surveys are recommended.

1 / Avifauna Surveys for the City of Sydney

Glossary and abbreviations

EPBC Act Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

GPS Geographic Positioning Systems

Niche Niche Environment and Heritage

OEH Office of Environment and Heritage

Threatened biodiversity Threatened species, populations and ecological communities as listed on the TSC and/or EPBC Acts

TSC Act NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995


ContentsExecutive Summary.....................................................................................................1

Glossary and abbreviations.........................................................................................2

1. Introduction..............................................................................................................4

2. Methods...................................................................................................................5

3. Literature review......................................................................................................8

4. Survey results........................................................................................................10

5. Discussion..............................................................................................................30

6. References.............................................................................................................39

Appendix 1. Monitoring locations...............................................................................41

Appendix 2. City of Sydney Species List...................................................................52


1. Introduction1.1 OverviewNiche Environment and Heritage (Niche) were engaged by the Council of the City of Sydney (the ‘City’) to undertake avifauna monitoring at its bush restoration sites, parks and other open space and review the results of past fauna surveys and studies conducted in the City of Sydney LGA (LGA) including a review of the habitat availability at each study site.

1.2 ObjectivesThe objective of the spring and autumn monitoring is to deliver comprehensive avifauna surveys across the LGA to inform the City on how priority avifauna species are tracking against baseline data.

1.3 BackgroundBaseline data was collated by the City, determined through fauna surveys undertaken within parks and other public land throughout the LGA in late 2010 and early 2011. Sites were selected based on the size, presence and diversity of indigenous vegetation and other habitat features, connectivity and/or distribution within the LGA. A total of 99 fauna species was confirmed in the LGA including 87 native and 12 introduced species, comprising:

• 70 bird species, including seven introduced species

• 13 mammal species (with an additional two unconfirmed), including five introduced species

• 11 reptile species

• 5 frog species.

The City’s Urban Ecology Strategic Action Plan (City of Sydney 2014) was adopted in 2014. One of its three focus areas was on fauna and specifically to increase the distribution and abundance of eight priority fauna species across the LGA, comprising:

• The Green and Golden Bell Frog and other frogs such as the Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog and Peron’s Tree Frog

• Grey-headed Flying-fox

• Powerful Owl

• Long-nosed Bandicoot

• Microbats such as Gould’s Wattled Bat, Eastern Freetail-bat, and Little Forest Bat

• Small birds such as the Superb Fairy-wren, New Holland Honeyeater and Silvereye

• Freshwater wetland birds such as the Australian Reed-warbler, Black-fronted Dotterel, Black-winged Stilt, Buff-banded Rail and Royal Spoonbill

• Reptiles such as the Eastern Blue-tongue, Bar-sided Skink and Gully Skink.

The City has established a target of maintaining or increasing indigenous fauna species diversity, abundance and distribution by 2023 based on its 2012 baseline.


2. Methods2.1 Study areaThe City of Sydney LGA lies within the greater Sydney Basin Bioregion. The LGA encompasses the central business district and surrounding inner city suburbs including Pyrmont, stretching west to the suburbs of Glebe and Newtown, south to Alexandria and Rosebery and east to Elizabeth Bay. Although biodiversity has been greatly reduced from its original state, some significant vegetation and many fauna species remain, with the potential to conserve and enhance these existing biodiversity values (City of Sydney 2014).

2.2 Literature reviewPrior to undertaking field surveys, a review of relevant literature and databases was undertaken to determine the past distribution patterns of birds and mammals within the LGA. The following sources were reviewed:

• Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) BioNet Atlas of NSW Wildlife

• EPBC Act Protected Matters Search Tool

• Past survey reports from the City of Sydney 2010 to 2013 survey effort

• BirdLife Australia database including consultation with the Birds in Backyards project (particularly the Powerful Owl project)

• Peer reviewed scientific literature.

2.3 Site selectionBaseline data was determined through fauna surveys undertaken within parks and other public land at 35 sites throughout the LGA in late 2010 and early 2011. Sites were selected based on the size, presence and diversity of indigenous vegetation and other habitat features, connectivity and/or distribution within the LGA. In consultation with the City, monitoring sites were refined for the spring 2016 and autumn 2017 surveys based on priority avifauna species. The survey sites include open parkland, bushland restoration sites and urban neighbourhoods containing street trees and private gardens. Sites selected for the 2016-2017 monitoring are listed in Table 1.

2.4 LimitationsBecause our site selection was not identical to the baseline sites, some sites did not have baseline data. Statistical analysis of data was not considered suitable because we were unable to test the data power with the number of repeat visits (2) undertaken in each season. However, we are able to see some clear trends in the data.

This study did not implement targeted searches for reptiles. Rather records were gathered opportunistically during other survey activity.


Table 1. Survey sites in the City of Sydney LGA

Site Landscape Survey type

Alexandria Canal, Alexandria Waterway Diurnal

Angel Street Community Centre, Newtown

Community garden Diurnal

Arthur Paddy Reserve, Glebe

Parkland/bush restoration Diurnal

Bannerman Crescent Reserve, Rosebery


Beare Park, Elizabeth Bay

Open parkland Diurnal

Federal Park, Glebe Parkland/bush restoration Diurnal & nocturnal

Glebe, near Arthur Paddy Reserve

Urban neighbourhood Diurnal

Glebe Foreshore, Glebe Parkland/bush restoration Diurnal

Kimberley Grove Reserve, Rosebery


Newtown, near Angel Street Urban neighbourhood Diurnal

Orphan School Creek, Forest Lodge


Perry Park, Alexandria Open parkland Diurnal

Quarry Master Drive, Pyrmont

Parkland/bush restoration Diurnal & nocturnal

Rosebery, near Kimberley Reserve

Urban neighbourhood Diurnal

Rushcutters Bay Park, Rushcutters Bay

Open parkland Diurnal & nocturnal

Southern Cross Drive Reserve, Rosebery

Open parkland Diurnal & nocturnal

Sydney Park, Alexandria Parkland/bush restoration Diurnal & nocturnal

Ultimo Community Garden, Ultimo

Community garden Diurnal

Victoria Park, Camperdown Open parkland Nocturnal


2.5 Field surveySurveys were focused on avifauna identification with the inclusion of incidental reporting of frogs, reptiles, invertebrates and mammals. Monitoring locations and survey tracks were recorded using a handheld GPS.

Avifauna surveyTwo targeted avifaunal surveys were undertaken at each site (Table 1) within each season: Spring 2016 and Autumn 2017. Systematic bird surveys were conducted using a nested bird count methodology with the 2 ha/20 minute method (preferred methodology by BirdLife Australia). This involves starting with a fixed point count of birds in distance categories out to 50 m for a 10 minute period. Birds further away are also noted and counted if they can be seen to fall within the larger 2 ha area. This was the main quantitative component of the method for detecting and recording birds on the site. Including this component of the count would allow the calculation of bird densities.

The second component is to continue the search for the remainder of a 2 ha area for a further 10 minutes. The 2 ha area was custom shaped to suit the site. Birds outside the site were also recorded (presence/absence only) and additional search time was allocated to walking through the remainder of a patch where the site was not fully representing the range of conditions present in the patch. Birds were detected by calls, non-vocal cues and by sight. Where possible, surveys were completed within the first four hours after sunrise.

Nocturnal surveyTwo targeted nocturnal surveys were undertaken at each site (Table 1) within each season; one pre-dawn survey and one post-dusk survey. Methods consisted of targeted spotlighting for 20 to 30 minutes at each site combined with call playback for owls at selected sites and in appropriate seasons. Southern Boobook and Masked Owl was played in spring. Powerful Owl and Masked Owl was played in autumn. Playback was not done at one site in Pyrmont due to the disturbance that would have been caused to the local residents surrounding the small Carmichael Park.

Spotlights used were LED models with maximum output of 900 lumens in an 8 degree beam.


3. Literature review3.1 Threatened speciesSeven threatened species have been recorded (Atlas of NSW Wildlife) within the boundary of the City of Sydney LGA, in addition to 106 threatened or migratory fauna which are predicted to occur or have habitat within 2 km of the LGA. This list comprised five amphibians, five reptiles, 86 birds, and 17 mammals. The most frequently recorded threatened species within the LGA include the Grey-headed Flying-fox, Powerful Owl and Green and Golden Bell Frog.

The Grey-headed Flying-fox is Australia’s only endemic flying-fox, occurring in eastern Australia from Rockhampton in Queensland to Melbourne in Victoria (DotE 2016). Grey-headed Flying-foxes are highly mobile, migrating hundreds of kilometres between areas of nectar flow. As such, only a small proportion of this range may be used at any one time. Grey-headed Flying-foxes appear to be highly adaptable to changes in their habitat. There is evidence that not all individuals migrate where the diversity of food resources is high (Eby & Lunney 2002; Parry-Jones & Augee 2001). While urbanisation and habitat modification is often associated with a decline in biodiversity, some native species such as flying-foxes can adapt successfully in urban environments. Streetscape plantings of major cities support a diverse range of food plants and camps with continuous populations can be found in the suburbs and Botanic Gardens in Sydney, as well as in Melbourne and Brisbane. Parry-Jones & Augee (2001) reported substantial numbers of flying-foxes present throughout the year at Gordon, suburban Sydney, in response to the variety of foods available throughout the year in the Sydney region in comparison with less urbanised areas. Similarly in Melbourne, urbanisation has resulted in an increase in abundance and diversity of food for the Grey-headed Flying-fox, likely enabling the southward extension of the species’ geographical range (Williams et al. 2006). The increased availability of nectar and pollen was further suggested as an explanation for the increase in abundance of Rainbow Lorikeets and Red Wattlebirds in the Melbourne area (Williams et al. 2006).

The Powerful Owl is Australia’s largest owl, occurring in eastern Australia from south-eastern Queensland to South Australia. They are found throughout the suburbs of Sydney, particularly where remnant bushland is nearby. Since 2011, the Powerful Owl Project (co-managed by BirdLife Australia’s Birds in Backyards program and the Threatened Bird Network) has collected critical data on Sydney’s Powerful Owl population. In 2014, Powerful Owls were located at 60 breeding sites across Greater Sydney, and had an average fledging rate of 1.22 chicks per year (with 70% of chicks fledging between mid-August and late September; Bain et al. 2014). Breeding sites were found to be concentrated in two areas, the northern suburbs/Hills District and the Sutherland/Hurstville area. The two closest locations for sightings of Powerful Owl around the City of Sydney LGA are the Botanic Gardens and Centennial Park. The pair at the Botanic Gardens have never successfully bred, with failed breeding recorded in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 (Bain et al. 2014; BirdLife Australia 2015). The Centennial Park pair had a failed breeding attempt in 2014 and there was no breeding attempt in 2015. In 2016 the pair attempted to breed with a chick observed in the hollow, but then appeared to have failed. The adult male was noted to have been killed by a car a month before (pers. comm. Dr Holly Parson, BirdLife Australia 10/10/2016). Breeding sites were typically characterised by greater tree cover, higher density of hollow-bearing trees and prey abundance compared to non-breeding sites. Potential foraging habitat was widespread particularly in the leafy suburbs of northern Sydney, however the


availability of large hollows for nesting is a limiting factor for urban Powerful Owls (Bain et al. 2014).

3.2 Impact of urbanisation: Historical bird assemblages in SydneyUrbanisation is one of the fastest growing land uses, with over half of the world’s human population now living in urban areas (UN 2016). Habitat fragmentation and loss caused by urbanisation has been the source of global biodiversity depletion (Ormond et al. 2014), with accelerated rates of species extinction (Pimm & Raven 2000). Interest in the impact of urbanisation on biodiversity has risen, with bird assemblages particularly well studied (Evans et al. 2009). Urbanisation is typically associated with a rapid transformation of natural environments to industrial and commercial habitats dominated by roads and buildings with little vegetation, with remaining parks and gardens characterised by a mix of native and exotic structure (Major & Parsons 2010). The importance of the preservation of “green spaces” and wildlife corridors in the city landscape has grown recognition in maintaining species assemblages and reducing the rate of local extinctions (Sushinsky et al. 2013).

Bird communities in urban environments are typically characterised by low species richness, though relatively high abundances (Ormond et al. 2014; Anderies et al. 2007). Urbanisation is often associated with a loss of species present before development, particularly ground-nesting species, habitat specialists and those that require large areas of intact habitat (Evans et al. 2009). The structure of urban bird communities is said to be attributed to birds having different adaptability thresholds where some birds, known as “urban exploiters”, are able to adapt to the urban environment, enabling a rapid increase in abundance (Ormond et al. 2014).

Major & Parsons (2010) studied changes in the bird community of Sydney associated with urbanisation, by comparing the pre- 1900 bird community determined from the ornithological databases of the Australian Museum and Museum Victoria, with the bird community of 1998-99 determined from BirdLife Australia’s Atlas database. A total of 152 species of birds were detected in the Greater Sydney study area. The most notable difference between the two periods was a shift in body size, with large species making up a greater proportion of the recent bird community than small birds. There was a decline in small species within bird groupings (e.g. small insectivores) while there was an increase in groupings dominated by larger species (e.g. parrots). Of the 10 most commonly collected species, none of the historical species appeared in the contemporary list. The historical list was dominated by small birds, including the Superb Fairy-wren, New Holland Honeyeater, Eastern Yellow Robin and Golden Whistlers. Contrastingly, the contemporary list was dominated by the Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Noisy Miner and Rainbow Lorikeet, in addition to three exotic species. The decline of small insectivores and honeyeaters has been a common observation in studies of birds in urban environments in Australia (White et al. 2005; Sushinsky et al. 2013; Parsons et al. 2003). Active restoration and management of habitat for small bird species has occurred throughout the City, e.g. public parks at Forest Lodge and Glebe. Ongoing avifauna monitoring throughout the City will prove invaluable to assess the habitat restoration and guide future management.


4. Survey resultsA total of 92 fauna species were detected during the spring 2016 and autumn 2017 monitoring (Appendix 2). This list comprised 76 birds (including 14 unique community sightings), eight mammals, four reptiles and five amphibians. Of these, six are listed threatened or migratory species under the TSC Act and/or EPBC Act, and 12 are introduced species.

Neither the spring nor autumn survey recorded all species of birds. Seven bird species were exotic with a further two exotic species records from community sightings. A further four native species were invasive species that would not have occurred naturally in the Sydney of City LGA.

The location of monitoring sites and a photo of each location are provided in Appendix 1.

Many species recorded have adapted well to the urban environment, while some species only occurred at a small number of sites. The most abundant species include Grey-headed Flying-fox, Rainbow Lorikeet and Noisy Miner which were recorded at every monitoring location. Figbird, Australian Magpie, Australian Raven, Pied Currawong and the introduced Common Myna were also abundant or widespread. The only widespread and abundant insectivorous bird was the Welcome Swallow.

4.1 Spring 2016A total of 43 species were recorded during the spring avifauna monitoring, including five exotic species. Sydney Park had the highest diversity of bird species including the greatest diversity of small birds, while Newtown urban neighbourhood had the lowest. Counts of species recorded at each monitoring location are provided in Table3. A total of 11 species were detected during nocturnal monitoring, including two birds, five frogs and six mammals (three exotic). The Grey-headed Flying-fox was the most abundant species, recorded at every monitoring site. Counts of species recorded at each monitoring location are provided in Table 4.

Weather conditions during monitoring were generally calm, suitable for detecting bird and nocturnal mammal activity, apart from occasional scattered light showers during surveys on the 28th October 2016 (where possible, surveys were postponed until clear conditions returned). A summary of weather conditions during the monitoring period are summarised in Table 2.Table 2. Weather conditions during field surveys

Date Temp (oC) Rainfall Wind (km/hr)Diurnal26/10/2016 17 nil 1128/10/2016 16 Scattered light showers 19Nocturnal26/10/2016 20 nil 2204/11/2016 22 nil 11


Table 3. Spring 2016 avifauna survey results. “0” indicates a species was detected but outside the count area

Common Name

Sydn

ey P

ark

Alex

andr

ia C

anal

Bann

erm

an C

resc

ent R

eser

ve

Kim

berle

y Gr

ove

Rese

rve

Rose

bery

Urb

an

Fede

ral P

ark

Rush

cutt

ers B

ay P

ark

Gleb

e Fo

resh

ore

Perr

y Pa

rk

Ange

l St C

omm

unity

Cen

tre

Sout

hern

Cro

ss P

ark

Bear

e Pa

rk

Qua

rry

Mas

ter D

rive

Ulti

mo

Com

mun

ity G

arde

n

Orp

han

Scho

ol C

reek

Arth

ur P

addy

Res

erve

Gleb

e ur

ban

neig

hbou

rhoo

d

New

tow

n U

rban

Gran

d To

tal

Pacific Black Duck

2 2 4

Little Pied Cormorant

1 1

Pied Cormorant

1 1

Little Black Cormorant

2 0 2

Great Cormorant

1 1

Australian Pelican

0 2 2

White-faced Heron

1 0 1

Australian White Ibis

1 1 4 1 5 0 1 1 0 0 14

Dusky Moorhen

9 9

Masked Lapwing

2 3 2 2 1 2 12

Silver Gull 0 6 0 3 0 9

Rock Dove 2 3 1 5 8 5 1 2 3 30

Spotted Turtle-Dove

0 2 1 5 8 1 2 19

Crested Pigeon

0 2 2

Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo

4 4

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

0 12 12

Cockatiel 1 1

Rainbow Lorikeet

3 4 3 16 4 15 8 13 4 16 4 15 10 2 15 10 17 13 172

Common Koel

1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 7

Laughing Kookaburra

0 1 0 0 1 1 3

Superb Fairy-wren

0 5 4 2 11

Spotted Pardalote

0 2 1 3

Red Wattlebird

1 5 6 1 2 1 16


Common Name

Sydn

ey P

ark

Alex

andr

ia C

anal

Bann

erm

an C

resc

ent R

eser

ve

Kim

berle

y Gr

ove

Rese

rve

Rose

bery

Urb

an

Fede

ral P

ark

Rush

cutt

ers B

ay P

ark

Gleb

e Fo

resh

ore

Perr

y Pa

rk

Ange

l St C

omm

unity

Cen

tre

Sout

hern

Cro

ss P

ark

Bear

e Pa

rk

Qua

rry

Mas

ter D

rive

Ulti

mo

Com

mun

ity G

arde

n

Orp

han

Scho

ol C

reek

Arth

ur P

addy

Res

erve

Gleb

e ur

ban

neig

hbou

rhoo

d

New

tow

n U

rban

Gran

d To

tal

Little Wattlebird

3 3 6

Noisy Miner

4 4 3 11 2 14 8 11 10 4 16 3 14 20 17 22 14 11 188

New Holland Honeyeater

0 3 12 4 2 2 2 1 26

Magpie-lark

4 2 4 2 2 4 2 0 3 23

Willie Wagtail

2 2 3 1 1 2 0 0 11

Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike

1 1 1 1 1 5

Olive-backed Oriole

1 1

Figbird 2 2 2 1 3 4 4 4 9 2 5 38

Grey Butcherbird

1 1 2 1 1 1 7

Australian Magpie

1 1 3 4 1 3 1 2 1 3 20

Pied Currawong

3 0 0 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 0 11 3 1 2 2 32

Australian Raven

0 0 4 2 0 0 0 2 1 0 2 0 2 13

House Sparrow

5 2 7

Welcome Swallow

11 4 4 2 1 6 2 2 1 1 1 35

Fairy Martin

4 12 16

Red-whiskered Bulbul

1 1 2

Australian Reed-Warbler

2 2

Silvereye 8 2 1 11

Common Starling

2 2 8 6 2 4 24

Common Myna

1 3 2 0 9 26 4 6 1 2 0 12 66

Total birds in 40 minutes

55 54 59 61 54 108

60 54 39 35 39 24 40 38 41 37 50 29 869

Native species

20 17 15 16 13 19 17 15 13 10 11 9 8 7 6 5 5 5 38

Total species

23 20 19 20 17 23 20 18 14 10 12 9 8 8 6 8 7 5 43


Common Name

Sydn

ey P

ark

Alex

andr

ia C

anal

Bann

erm

an C

resc

ent R

eser

ve

Kim

berle

y Gr

ove

Rese

rve

Rose

bery

Urb

an

Fede

ral P

ark

Rush

cutt

ers B

ay P

ark

Gleb

e Fo

resh

ore

Perr

y Pa

rk

Ange

l St C

omm

unity

Cen

tre

Sout

hern

Cro

ss P

ark

Bear

e Pa

rk

Qua

rry

Mas

ter D

rive

Ulti

mo

Com

mun

ity G

arde

n

Orp

han

Scho

ol C

reek

Arth

ur P

addy

Res

erve

Gleb

e ur

ban

neig

hbou

rhoo

d

New

tow

n U

rban

Gran

d To

tal

Exotic Species

3 3 4 4 4 4 3 3 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 3 2 0 5

Small Native Bush Birds

5 4 4 3 3 2 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6


Table 4. Spring nocturnal survey results

Federal Park Quarry Master Drive Rushcutters Bay Southern Cross

Drive Sydney Park Victoria Park

Scientific name Common name Post-dusk

Pre-dawn

Post-dusk

Pre-dawn

Post-dusk

Pre-dawn

Post-dusk

Pre-dawn

Post-dusk

Pre-dawn

Post-dusk

Pre-dawn

Crinia signifera Eastern Froglet XLimnodynastes peronii Striped Marsh Frog X X X

Litoria fallax Eastern Sedge Frog X X XLitoria peronii Emerald-spotted

Tree Frog X X X X

Eudynamys orientalis Eastern Koel 1 1

Podargus strigoides Tawny Frogmouth 1Pseudocheirus peregrinus

Common Ringtail Possum 3 2

Trichosurus vulpecula

Common Brushtail Possum 1 4 4 5 2

Pteropus poliocephalus+

Grey-headed Flying-fox 4 9 1 2 16 9 2 10 7 13 15

Rattus norvegicus* Brown Rat 1 2Rattus rattus* Black Rat 1 9 2Felis catus* Feral Cat 1

X = presence only recorded* = introduced species+ = threatened species


4.2 Autumn 2017A total of 52 species were recorded during the spring avifauna monitoring, including six exotic species. Again, Sydney Park had the highest diversity of bird species, while Quarry Master Drive had the lowest. Counts of species recorded at each monitoring location are provided in Table 6. A total of 13 species were detected during nocturnal monitoring, including two birds, three frogs and eight mammals (four exotic). The Grey-headed Flying-fox was the most abundant species, recorded at every monitoring site. Counts of species recorded at each monitoring location are provided in Table 7.

Weather conditions during autumn monitoring were generally calm, suitable for detecting bird and nocturnal mammal activity, apart from occasional scattered light showers during nocturnal surveys on the 29th March 2017. Again, as far as was possible, surveys were postponed until clear conditions returned. A summary of weather conditions during the monitoring period are summarised in Table 5.Table 5. Weather conditions during field surveys

Date Temp (oC) Rainfall Wind (km/hr)Diurnal22/03/2017 20 nil 429/03/2017 22 nil 9Nocturnal27/03/2017 20 nil 1329/03/2017 21 Scattered light showers 2

Table 6. Autumn 2017 avifauna monitoring results. “0” indicates a species was detected but outside the count area

Common Name

Sydn

ey P

ark

Kim

berle

y Gr

ove

Rese

rve

Alex

andr

ia C

anal

Rose

bery

Urb

an

Bann

erm

an C

resc

ent R

eser

ve

Rush

cutt

ers B

ay P

ark

Fede

ral P

ark

Gleb

e Fo

resh

ore

Arth

ur P

addy

Res

erve

New

tow

n U

rban

Orp

han

Scho

ol C

reek

Sout

hern

Cro

ss D

rive

Rese

rve

Ulti

mo

Com

mun

ity G

arde

n

Ange

l Str

eet C

omm

unity

Cen

tre

Bear

e Pa

rk

Gleb

e ur

ban

neig

hbou

rhoo

d

Perr

y Pa

rk

Qua

rry

Mas

ter D

rive

Gran

d To

tal

Black Swan 2 2

Pacific Black Duck

10 2 12

Hardhead 4 4

Australasian Grebe

2 2

Rock Dove 2 0 2 4 0 0 3 2 0 2 0 4 19

Spotted Dove

0 4 3 1 0 0 8

Crested Pigeon

1 0 1

Australasian Darter

0 2 2


0 0 0 0

Great Cormorant

1 1


Common Name

Sydn

ey P

ark

Kim

berle

y Gr

ove

Rese

rve

Alex

andr

ia C

anal

Rose

bery

Urb

an

Bann

erm

an C

resc

ent R

eser

ve

Rush

cutt

ers B

ay P

ark

Fede

ral P

ark

Gleb

e Fo

resh

ore

Arth

ur P

addy

Res

erve

New

tow

n U

rban

Orp

han

Scho

ol C

reek

Sout

hern

Cro

ss D

rive

Rese

rve

Ulti

mo

Com

mun

ity G

arde

n

Ange

l Str

eet C

omm

unity

Cen

tre

Bear

e Pa

rk

Gleb

e ur

ban

neig

hbou

rhoo

d

Perr

y Pa

rk

Qua

rry

Mas

ter D

rive

Gran

d To

tal


0 1 1

Eastern Great Egret

1 1

White-faced Heron

1 1 1 3


0 2 1 6 2 7 1 1 0 20

Purple Swamphen

0 0

Dusky Moorhen

4 4

Eurasian Coot

4 4

Masked Lapwing

2 0 2 2 3 0 9

Crested Tern

0 0

Silver Gull 2 2 0 5 2 0 11

Galah 1 1

Little Corella 1 0 2 0 0 8 11


3 2 6 4 15

Rainbow Lorikeet

2 10 4 4 7 8 13 7 6 21 17 4 2 29 6 10 22 6 178

Musk Lorikeet

2 4 4 0 9 6 9 34

Crimson Rosella

0 1 1

Eastern Rosella

1 1

Eastern Koel 1 1

Laughing Kookaburra

1 1 1 1 1 5

Rainbow Bee-eater

0 0

Superb Fairy-wren

3 2 5

Spotted Pardalote

1 2 1 4

Noisy Miner 6 4 2 2 3 15 10 4 5 6 5 4 12 8 3 16 4 10 119

Little Wattlebird

2 2

Red Wattlebird

8 3 4 15


8 2 1 11

Black-faced 3 1 4


Common Name

Sydn

ey P

ark

Kim

berle

y Gr

ove

Rese

rve

Alex

andr

ia C

anal

Rose

bery

Urb

an

Bann

erm

an C

resc

ent R

eser

ve

Rush

cutt

ers B

ay P

ark

Fede

ral P

ark

Gleb

e Fo

resh

ore

Arth

ur P

addy

Res

erve

New

tow

n U

rban

Orp

han

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Cuckoo-shrike

Australasian Figbird

2 1 1 2 1 1 0 1 2 2 6 0 3 22

Olive-backed Oriole

1 1

Grey Butcherbird

2 1 1 1 2 1 2 3 2 3 18

Australian Magpie

2 1 0 4 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 0 1 1 20

Pied Currawong

1 1 1 1 1 2 4 0 1 1 2 1 1 5 22

Willie Wagtail

3 3 1 1 1 0 1 10

Australian Raven

0 4 1 1 0 0 0 3 0 1 2 12

Magpie-lark 4 2 1 1 3 1 12


2 2

Silvereye 2 2 1 5

Welcome Swallow

2 11 0 22 1 2 2 0 0 6 0 0 46

Red-whiskered Bulbul

0 0

Common Blackbird

1 1

Common Starling

8 2 2 12

Common Myna

14 10 4 4 6 38 6 1 2 5 4 3 97

Total birds in 40 minutes

63 93 44 53 36 55 75 34 19 49 39 16 20 59 22 45 39 30 791

Native species

27 22 19 14 14 14 14 10 8 8 8 7 7 11 9 8 8 7 46

Total species

29 27 21 18 16 16 17 11 10 10 8 10 8 12 9 11 9 8 52

Exotic Species

2 5 2 4 2 2 3 1 2 2 0 3 1 1 0 3 1 1 6

Small Native Bush Birds

6 6 4 4 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 8


Table 7. Autumn nocturnal survey results

Federal Park Quarry Master Drive Rushcutters Bay Southern Cross

Drive Sydney Park Victoria Park

Scientific name Common name Post-dusk

Pre-dawn

Post-dusk

Pre-dawn

Post-dusk

Pre-dawn

Post-dusk

Pre-dawn

Post-dusk

Pre-dawn

Post-dusk

Pre-dawn

Limnodynastes peronii Striped Marsh Frog X X X

Litoria fallax Eastern Sedge Frog XLitoria latopalmata Broad-palmed Rocket

Frog X

Litoria peronii Emerald-spotted Tree Frog X

Ninox novaeseelandiae

Southern Boobook 1

Ninox strenua+ Powerful Owl 1Pseudocheirus peregrinus

Common Ringtail Possum 1 4 2

Trichosurus vulpecula

Common Brushtail Possum 6 4 1 1 1

Pteropus poliocephalus+

Grey-headed Flying-fox 12 8 3 26 27 1 3 13 15 21 20

Microchiroptera Microbat sp. 1 2Rattus norvegicus* Brown Rat 1Rattus rattus* Black Rat 2 2 1 1 1 2Vulpes vulpes* Fox 1Felis catus* Feral cat 1 1

X = presence only recorded* = introduced species+ = threatened species


A number of new species were recorded in the LGA compared with the baseline monitoring in 2010-2011, while some species were absent which had been recorded previously, including:

New species recordedsince baseline monitoring

Species absentcompared to baseline

Owls

Southern Boobooka

Kingfishers, Dollarbird and Bee-eater

Sacred Kingfisherb

Dollarbirdb

Rainbow Bee-eatera

Small bush birds, honeyeaters

Spotted Pardalotea

Rufous FantailbRed-browed Finchb

Fairy Martina

Golden-headed Cisticolab

White-plumed Honeyeater

Orioles

Olive-backed Oriolea

Wetland species

Great Cormoranta

White-necked Heronb

Nankeen Night Heronb

Spotless Crakeb

Australian Wood DuckPlumed Whistling-duck

Grey TealChestnut TealCattle Egret

Royal SpoonbillBuff-banded RailBlack-winged Stilt

Black-fronted Dotterel

Parrots

Musk Lorikeeta

Crimson Rosellaa

Eastern Rosellaa

Birds of prey

Pacific Bazab Black-shouldered KiteNankeen KestrelPeregrine Falcon

Terns

Crested Terna

a = Recorded by Niche during 2016-2017 monitoringb = Community observation


Plate 1: The Southern Boobook Owl was detected during this study but was absent from the 2011 baseline data

ReptilesA number of skinks were observed during bird surveys. However, only a few of these were able to be identified to species. A number of sites had Lampropholis skinks. The majority of those in Sydney Park were able to be confirmed as Lampropholis guichenoti. Others were seen at Beare Park, Bannerman Crescent and the Glebe Foreshore but may have included a second species (Lampropholis delicata). A Wall Skink (Cryptoblepharus) was also seen at the Glebe Foreshore but could not be identified to species. A third genus of skink was seen outside the Angel Street community garden. It was a Water Skink, presumably Eulamprus quoyii, however as it was being dismembered by a Pied Currawong, this was difficult to confirm.


Plate 2: Garden Skinks (Lampropholis guichenoti) were abundant in Sydney Park and some other reserves.

Plate 3: Short-necked Turtles (Emydura macquarii) at the Sydney Park wetlands.

A species of turtle was seen in the artificial wetlands at Sydney Park. These were a form of Emydura macquarii, the Short-necked Turtle. There were a number of specimens present of varying sizes and it was presumed that they were breeding at the site. However it is unlikely that they are a naturally sourced population of this highly aquatic species. The turtles would need to be captured to identify their provenance amongst this widespread and diverse turtle species group.


4.3 Site details

Alexandria Canal, AlexandriaAlexandria Canal is an artificial waterway south of the city CBD. The canal is largely surrounded by industrial sites and commercial buildings, though patches of shrubs, casuarinas and eucalypts provide habitat for a range of bird groups. A diversity of waterbirds were recorded during the 2016-2017 monitoring, including Australasian Darter, Cormorants and Herons. There was also a good diversity of small bird species, including Silvereye, Willie Wagtail, New Holland Honeyeater and Spotted Pardalote.

Plate 4: This bank of sand and building waste was the site of Spotted Pardalote nests visible as the dark holes in the steepest part of the bank. Construction vehicles were driving within half a metre of the nests.

Angel Street Community Centre and Newtown urban neighbourhoodAngel Street Community Centre is a community garden site with dense plantings of native and exotic vegetation in the suburb of Newtown. The surrounding urban neighbourhood contains streetscape vegetation and small parks used for public recreation. Dominant species in the 2016-2017 monitoring include Rainbow Lorikeet, Noisy Miner and Pied Currawong. There was a general lack of small species present apart from one Silvereye recorded at the Angel Street Community Centre. A Pied Currawong was observed preying upon a water skink at this location.

Arthur Paddy Reserve and Glebe urban neighbourhoodArthur Paddy Reserve is a small parkland in the inner western suburb of Glebe. The park features an open lawn with scattered trees including exotics and indigenous plantings, with some naturally occurring vegetation associated with coastal


sandstone rocky outcrop including ferns and Port Jackson Figs. The park has undergone a gradual transformation with an increasing diversity of locally indigenous shrubs and ground cover planted by volunteers from the Glebe Society’s Blue Wren Group and the broader community.

Plate 5: Noisy Miner are well adapted to urban life, here seen scavenging moths caught in spider web around a park light.

There was the same number of species recorded during the 2016-2017 monitoring as there was during the baseline monitoring (12 species). There was generally a low abundance of birds recorded on the site and a similar species assemblage to baseline monitoring, with large native species dominant (Rainbow Lorikeet and Noisy Miner) and a lack of small birds.

Despite the noise disturbance from heavy vehicular traffic, the streetscapes of Glebe urban neighbourhood provide important patches of habitat for birds including large fig trees. Again, there was a dominance of the large native urban adapters including Rainbow Lorikeets (feeding in trees on private property), Pied Currawongs and Noisy Miners. There was a high abundance of exotic species, with Common Myna observed nesting in rooftops during spring surveys in 2016.

Bannerman Crescent Reserve, Southern Cross Drive Reserve, Kimberley Grove Reserve and Rosebery urban neighbourhoodBannerman Crescent Reserve, Southern Cross Drive Reserve and Kimberley Grove Reserve are small parkland sites providing connectivity to indigenous vegetation along Southern Cross Drive and the Australian and Eastlakes Golf Courses. Indigenous plantings have increased the quality of habitat particularly for small bush birds. Flowering eucalypts, fig trees, melaleuca and bottlebrush were abundant during both spring and autumn monitoring in Kimberley Grove Reserve. However, the plantings in the Bannerman Crescent Reserve give a more seasonal flowering weighted towards spring which is visible in the seasonal bird results.

Bannerman Crescent Reserve, Kimberley Grove Reserve and the surrounding Rosebery urban neighbourhood had the highest abundance and diversity of small birds in 2016-2017 monitoring, including Superb Fairy Wren, New Holland Honeyeater, Silvereye and Spotted Pardalote. A large flock of Australian White Ibis were nesting in date palms on private property during both spring and autumn monitoring events.


Plate 6: New Holland Honeyeater was the only small honeyeater observed during the formal surveys. They were commonly observed around the Rosebery reserves

Bannerman Crescent Reserve is the only site in this area which baseline data was collected. A total of 23 species were recorded in the 2016-2017 monitoring compared to 13 recorded in the baseline surveys. There was a good diversity of both small and large natives, including Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo and Little Corella which had not previously been recorded.

Southern Cross Drive Reserve generally had a low diversity and abundance of birds, though a notable species recorded was the Olive-backed Oriole. Small numbers of the vulnerable Grey-headed Flying-fox and Common Brushtail Possum were recorded during nocturnal monitoring. Vegetation largely consisted of canopy trees (casuarinas and wattles common) with little understorey growth, although there were recent plantings.

Beare Park, Elizabeth BayBeare Park is a small open parkland in Elizabeth Bay with plantings of palms and fig trees. The park contains fairly low biodiversity values with high disturbance of human activity and off-leash dog areas. A total of 12 species were recorded during the 2016-2017 monitoring compared with a previous list of five species in the baseline monitoring. Large natives dominated the list, with Rainbow Lorikeet, Pied Currawong and Noisy Miner the most abundant species. The small areas with ground covers and shrubs do support a population of small skinks which in turn attracted the attention of a Laughing Kookaburra.


Plate 7: Laughing Kookaburra perched at Beare Park while hunting Lampropholis skinks.

Federal Park, GlebeFederal Park is a large parkland site containing public recreation facilities with surrounding bush restoration sites maintained by Glebe Bushcare Group volunteers. Planted and naturally regenerating Coastal Saltmarsh (endangered ecological community) occurs in a small constructed wetland, along Johnstons Creek Canal and on the foreshore of Rozelle Bay, providing potential foraging and roosting habitat for wading birds. Planted and naturally regenerating stands of mangroves Avicennia marina also occurs on the foreshore.

A total of 27 bird species were recorded during the 2016-2017 avifauna monitoring, compared to a previous list of 14 species recorded in the baseline monitoring. Notable new species recorded in this round of monitoring include the Musk Lorikeet, White-faced Heron, Great Egret, New Holland Honeyeater and Figbird. Of all monitoring locations, Federal Park contained the highest abundance of the introduced Common Myna. Many were found to be nesting under the bridge of the Light Rail. Fruiting fig trees throughout the park provide good foraging resources for the vulnerable Grey-headed Flying-fox, recorded during both the spring and autumn nocturnal surveys.


Plate 8: The introduced Common Myna was the third most common bird during this study and particularly abundant at Federal Park

Glebe Foreshore, GlebeGlebe Foreshore, situated on Rozelle Bay, is a priority site of the City of Sydney with high biodiversity values identified during baseline surveys (City of Sydney 2014). The site contains a good diversity of locally indigenous flora species with recent plantings and bush restoration work. Large fig trees provide good foraging resources for birds and flying foxes. There is a high level of recreational use with public walkways, cycling and picnic areas.

A total of 21 species of birds were recorded during the 2016-2017 monitoring, compared to 11 recorded during baseline surveys. Notable new species recorded in this round of monitoring include the Musk Lorikeet, New Holland Honeyeater and Figbird.

Orphan School Creek, Forest LodgeOrphan School Creek is a priority site in the City of Sydney with high biodiversity values identified during baseline surveys with its potential for the regeneration of shrubs to provide habitat for small bird species such as Superb Fairy Wrens and New Holland Honeyeaters (City of Sydney 2014). The site has undergone significant restoration including work by the volunteer group Friends of Orphan School Creek.

There was a low diversity of bird species recorded during the 2016-2017 monitoring, with eight species recorded compared to 14 in the baseline monitoring. There was an absence of small bird species, with the Rainbow Lorikeet dominant in both the baseline surveys and the 2016-2017 monitoring. Noisy Miner were nesting during the spring surveys, with an adult observed feeding three young.


Perry Park, AlexandriaPerry Park is a medium sized open parkland in the suburb of Alexandria. Construction of a new sports stadium had begun during the autumn 2017 monitoring event, with a large section of the park fenced off. The park was considered to contain moderate biodiversity values, with Casuarinas containing small hollows and flowering Swamp Mahogany providing good foraging resources for birds. A total of 14 species were recorded compared to nine recorded during baseline surveys. Large native species dominated the list, with Rainbow Lorikeet, Noisy Miner and Figbirds the most abundant. The absence of small bird species reflected the lack of understorey vegetation.

Plate 9: Juvenile Australasian Figbirds were present in Perry Park and most other sites with fig trees indicating the local population is breeding successfully.

Quarry Master Drive, PyrmontQuarry Master Drive (centred on Carmichael Park) is a priority site of the City of Sydney with high biodiversity values identified during baseline surveys (City of Sydney 2014). This small parkland site in the inner city suburb of Pyrmont contains sandstone cliffs and outcrops with naturally occurring associated flora species. Mature fig and eucalypt trees provide foraging and roosting habitat for birds and mammals.

Eleven species of birds were recorded in the 2016-2017 monitoring compared to four recorded in baseline surveys. Large native bird species dominated the species list, including Noisy Miner, Australian Magpie and Grey Butcherbird (nesting in spring), as well as the highest abundance of Pied Currawong recorded at any site. Small numbers of Grey-headed Flying-fox were recorded during nocturnal surveys; and the site supported the highest abundance of Common Brushtail Possum.


Plate 10: The abundant Common Brushtail Possums of Carmichael Park make use of the rock features for daytime shelter.

Rushcutters Bay Park, Rushcutters BayRushcutters Bay Park is an open parkland located on the waterfront of Rushcutters Bay. Large Moreton Bay Figs provide foraging habitat for the threatened Grey-headed Flying-fox, with the highest abundance recorded of all sites monitored. There was greater activity during nocturnal surveys in autumn compared to spring, with additional species recorded including a call response of Powerful Owl, Common Ringtail Possum and an unidentified microbat species.

A total of 23 bird species were detected during the 2016-2017 monitoring, compared to 14 species recorded during baseline monitoring. There was a dominance of large native birds and urban exploiters including Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (major roost site), Rainbow Lorikeet, Australian White Ibis, and Noisy Miner. The absence of small bird species reflected the lack of suitable habitat (understorey vegetation).


Plate 11: Grey-headed Flying-fox were detected at all nocturnal survey sites, but were particularly abundant in the large Ficus and Melaleuca trees of Rushcutters Bay Park

Sydney Park, AlexandriaSydney Park is a priority site of the City of Sydney with high biodiversity values identified during baseline surveys (City of Sydney 2014). Sydney Park is a large parkland situated on a previous brick-pit and landfill site, with diverse indigenous plantings, constructed wetlands and ponds with aquatic and fringing vegetation providing a range of fauna habitats. The park is used heavily for recreational use, with multiple sports fields, dog walking areas and cycling paths.

A total of 35 bird species were detected during the 2016-2017 monitoring compared with 25 species identified during baseline monitoring. Sydney Park had the highest diversity of birds of all monitoring locations, with only a small proportion of these being exotic species (two species). A number of small bird species were detected, including the Silvereye, Spotted Pardalote and Superb Fairy-wren. Notable new species recorded for the 2016-2017 monitoring period included Hardhead and Eastern Rosella. There was a good diversity of waterbirds utilising the ponds, including nesting Dusky Moorhen.

The Grey-headed Flying-fox was commonly sighted during nocturnal surveys in addition to Common Ringtail Possums and two unidentified microbat species. Notably, the Common Brushtail Possum was not recorded during monitoring events (also absent during baseline monitoring) while it was abundant elsewhere in the LGA.


Plate 12: Common Ringtail Possum was only commonly detected in Sydney Park.

All of the frog species detected during the surveys were present in Sydney Park.

Ultimo Community Garden, UltimoUltimo Community Garden is one of 23 community gardens run by volunteers throughout the City, located in the inner urban suburb of Ultimo. The small garden is surrounded by a number of casuarinas and eucalypts, though there is a lack of understorey vegetation to provide habitat for small bird species. There was a low abundance and diversity of birds recorded during the 2016-2017 monitoring, with the Rainbow Lorikeet and Noisy Miner dominant. Noisy Miners were nesting during spring surveys. A flock of Fairy Martins were observed during spring surveys.

Victoria Park, CamperdownVictoria Park is an open parkland in the inner city suburb of Camperdown with abundant fig trees providing good resources for foraging and nesting fauna. Victoria Park was a targeted site for nocturnal monitoring only. In autumn, the artificial ponds had been drained for cleaning.

Grey-headed Flying-fox and Brushtail Possum were abundant during both spring and autumn surveys. A Southern Boobook was found foraging during spring surveys. The introduced Black Rat and Brown Rat were frequently observed. Issues with feral species control and the impact on predators are discussed further in Section 5.


5. Discussion5.1 Priority speciesThe most abundant species recorded during the 2016-2017 monitoring include the threatened Grey-headed Flying-fox, Rainbow Lorikeet and Noisy Miner that were recorded at every monitoring location. Figbird, Australian Magpie, Australian Raven, Pied Currawong and the introduced Common Myna were also recorded on the majority of surveys. Most of these species are good urban adapters and are unlikely to have occurred in such large numbers in the past (Major & Parsons 2010).

Grey-headed Flying-foxThe Grey-headed Flying-fox had the highest abundance of all mammals recorded at the nocturnal monitoring sites, occurring at every location surveyed. Mature fig trees throughout the LGA are providing good foraging resources supported by Melaleuca quinquenervia and Angophora and Eucalyptus species.

Small birdsThe highest diversity of small birds were detected at reserves in Rosebery and in Sydney Park with reasonable diversity occurring in the small patches of trees, weeds and shrubs scattered along the Alexandria canal site. Wattlebirds and wrens were abundant where there were dense shrubs in Kimberley Grove Reserve. The importance of streetscape vegetation and plantings in private dwellings was evident in Rosebery where a high abundance and diversity of small birds were present. Streetscapes in the urban neighbourhood of Rosebery provided good foraging resources, with flowering bottlebrush and banksias common but most importantly these and other plants provide good cover.

Cover resources are important as refuges for small birds and also provide the potential of nesting sites. Superb Fairy-wrens were seen displaying nesting behaviour at Bannerman Crescent although the exact location of the nest was not seen. Spotted Pardalotes were found nesting in a sandy embankment on the construction site at Alexandria Canal. Both nesting events were during the spring survey.

The small native birds fall into a number of foraging guilds. Willie Wagtails feed on aerial insects and spiders. Superb Fairy Wrens take invertebrates from stems, leaves and on the ground and New Holland Honeyeaters forage for nectar and insects, often those associated with flowers. Pardalotes are foliage gleaners for psyllids and their lerp. Silvereyes are more generalist but make significant use of fruit resources. However, there are a number of foraging guilds without representative species.

There are no trunk invertebrate feeders like treecreepers or sittellas present. Litter turning birds are largely absent except for the recent records of Brush Turkey. Robins, whistlers, shrike-thrush etc. which fill a range of foraging niches appear to be completely absent.

Wetland birdsSydney Park ponds provided habitat for a diversity of waterbirds particularly ducks, grebe and the larger aquatic rails. Saltmarsh and mangroves at Glebe Foreshore and Johnstons Canal provide potential habitat for wading birds.


Plate 13: Hardhead (ducks) resting on a pond wall at Sydney Park.

Plate 14: Purple Swamphen occupied the ephemeral wetland area at Sydney Park while the Eurasian Coot and Moorhen occupied environments around the main ponds.

Plate 15: Australasian Grebe.at Sydney Park


Plate 16: White-faced Heron were seen utilising a number of unplanned wetlands in spring.

Powerful OwlOnly one call response to Powerful Owl playback was heard during this study. That was in Rushcutters Bay. There is good non-breeding habitat for Powerful Owls in Sydney Park with a good abundance of Common Ringtail Possums but a lack of large hollow trees. A community supplied observation of a young adult Powerful Owl confirmed that they are using the Sydney Park area.

The abundance of Grey-headed Flying-fox in all reserves in the area probably guarantees there will be suitable food supplies for these owls. However, tree hollows suitable for breeding are probably the most vital resource required to turn the City area into a source population rather than the sink population that it currently appears to be. Sink populations are those that have a net inflow of individuals, drawing individuals from net exporter populations (Pulliam 1988). Sink populations are typically those with adequate food resources but have limited breeding resources (as in this case) or high mortality or both.

FrogsNo targeted surveys were undertaken for frogs, however, opportunistic observations of five species were recorded during diurnal and nocturnal surveys. Most abundant were the Slender Green Tree Frog, Peron’s Tree Frog, Eastern Froglet and the Striped Marsh Frog, all recorded at Sydney Park. Single individuals of the Broad-palmed Rocket Frog were detected around the artificial wetlands at Sydney Park including one calling during the day in autumn.

Targeted surveys for either the Long-nosed Bandicoot, reptiles or microbats were not undertaken as part of the 2016-2017 monitoring.

5.2 Spring and autumn surveysThis survey was unusual in incorporating spring and autumn bird counts (as an indication of breeding and non-breeding seasons for many birds). Most bird surveys are conducted during bird breeding season. The results for diurnal birds were different between seasons with more species being detected on and off sites in autumn even though the total counts were down slightly. Calling activity might be


expected to be lower outside the breeding season with less territorial song. However, birds still communicate with location and warning calls and it is possible that with less territorial song, observers were able to detect more of the location calls and at a greater distance resulting in more species being detected.

Species that were clearly more abundant in autumn were the Musk Lorikeet which was not detected in spring but was on or near seven sites in autumn, and a selection of waterfowl that were observed at Sydney Park in autumn but not in spring. Musk lorikeets typically breed in spring and summer although this varies between regions and is usually tied to the flowering of locally dominant trees in suburban Sydney, Musk Lorikeets are known to breed in spring, utilising natural tree hollows in bushland remnants or even suburban backyards (Personal observation, MS). Our observations of this species were often in association with bottlebrush flowers (Callistemon). This would appear to be an example of non-breeding dispersal to sites with good nectar resources but a shortage of available nest hollows.

Waterfowl are well known for following rainfall or contracting to coastal areas during drought periods inland. February 2017 had experienced record temperatures and below average rainfall across most of NSW and this may have induced an influx of waterfowl to the Sydney region.

There were other species that were only detected in autumn, however the majority of these were of single birds or locations that we cannot place any weight on.

Only one species stands out as being a spring visitor. The Fairy Martin was detected at two sites in spring but none in autumn. This species is recognised as a spring breeder and may be a breeding visitor to the city.

Other species only detected during spring or in increased numbers are most likely the result of increased detectability due to territorial singing. Examples are the House Sparrow and the Figbird.

The spring counts yielded 79% of the species recorded within plots over all while the autumn counts yielded 84% of species. Thus there was value in having both the spring and autumn bird counts, however, the greater detectability of birds during spring counts would be more likely to yield consistent quantitative results.

When comparing this study with a broader community study of backyard birds in NSW (Birds in Backyards ABBC 2016), the 21 most common birds from that study were also detected on sites in this study.

5.3 The impact of exotic and invasive speciesThe bird surveys revealed all the usual exotic birds found in suburban Sydney. The Common Myna was the third most abundant bird, detected on all sites. Mynas and starlings reduce hollow availability for parrots and other native wildlife by filling tree hollows (and anthropogenic hollows) with nesting material as well as spreading bird lice. Blackbird, Bul-bul and sparrow were uncommon.

Rock Dove and Spotted Turtle-dove are possibly outcompeting native pigeons/doves. The only native pigeon detected during this study is not historically a Sydney local either. The Crested Pigeon is an open habitat specialist that has taken advantage of modified habitats to spread successfully into coastal habitats.

The Galah and Little Corella are also historically not Sydney locals having colonised coastal areas by a similar process to the Crested Pigeon. However, like the pigeon, they are probably not in direct competition with any other species indigenous to the local area.


Exotic mammals present in Sydney have all been identified as displacing our native wildlife either by predation or competition. Foxes and cats prey upon a wide range of native wildlife and compete with native predators such as the Spotted-tail Quoll.

Plate 17: The Black Rat is an excellent climber and is able to access birds’ nests where they eat the eggs or chicks after scaring the parents away.

Probably the most detrimental process to native birds is from nest predation by the introduced and arboreal Black Rat (Rattus rattus). Reptiles and frogs are also vulnerable to rodent attack, particularly during winter when their cold blooded nature leaves them vulnerable to predators that can access tree hollows or dig them up from under rocks or earth. The introduced rodents living at high densities due to the supplementary food sources of the urban environment may have an increased impact as predators.

The Black Rat was detected at a number of our nocturnal sites in inconsistent numbers between the spring and autumn surveys. Sydney City Council routinely uses rat baits to control the numbers of rodents in the city parks. During the nocturnal surveys we observed a Southern Boobook Owl catch and eat a young black rat. The owl ate the entire rat starting with the head and would have consumed any rodenticide contained in the rat digestive tract. Depending on the rodenticide used this could have variable outcomes for the owl, ranging from death to negligible.


Plate 18: Southern Boobook consuming a juvenile Black Rat by holding the body in its talons and progressively tearing chunks off starting with the head.

The ponds in Sydney Park are full of the exotic Plague Minnow (Gambusia holbrooki). Predation by the Plague Minnow is listed as a key threatening process under the TSC Act. While this species is present, it will limit the range of frog species that can breed in the large ponds, having been found to prey upon the eggs and tadpoles of Green and Golden Bell Frog (Litoria aurea), Bleating Tree Frog (Litoria dentata), Lesueur's Tree Frog (Litoria lesueuri) and Striped Marsh Frog (Limnodynastes peronii) (OEH 2011). The frog species present are either those that appear to have a natural resistance to fish predation such as the Eastern Sedge Frog (Litoria fallax) or are able to breed in small ephemeral puddles located away from the main ponds.

During this survey, Little Black Cormorants were observed preying upon Plague Minnow, taking them one at a time from below. Any Plague Minnow control measures will need to consider the impact on their predators or other species sharing the ponds.


Plate 19: Little Black Cormorant catching Gambusia at Sydney Park

5.4 Management strategies, revegetation, and habitat supplementationThe parks and reserves of the LGA serve various purposes which are potentially in conflict with each other. Sport and recreation, noise, water and light pollution attenuation and wildlife habitat and conservation are three broad areas that may conflict with one another. This report can only address management issues regarding wildlife and cannot take account of the other uses of the reserve land.

Trees and nest hollowsAll reserves and the three urban streetscapes studied, contain established trees. Fig trees have been widely planted throughout the city and in some locations are self-sown. Other trees both native and exotic are also widely planted. However, the majority of trees present are young trees, with few native trees older than 50 years. As a result, the structure of individual trees rarely contain large hollows although pseudo-hollows occur in fast growing fig and other exotic trees as well as cavities in rock and buildings. Hollows are required for breeding purposes by a number of the species detected during this study. The six local parrot species, Pacific Black Duck, Laughing Kookaburra, owls and pardalotes all make use of various types of hollows. Some of these species are already breeding in the LGA so clearly there are some hollows available of the birds are using other hollow like resources.

Because hollows typically form in old trees and there may be a safety conflict with trees containing decay, it seems reasonable that the tree hollows be provided by nest boxes mounted in young healthy trees. City of Sydney has already started trials of nest boxes in a couple of locations (such as bat roost boxes in Sydney Park and parrot nest boxes in Southern Cross Drive Reserve). It is recommended that the city continue introducing nest boxes to all the reserves provided they can be monitored for uptake by native or exotic wildlife. Exotic and invasive wildlife using boxes should be expelled and designs should endeavour to favour native species including those not currently residing in the LGA but historically present (e.g. Striated Pardalote).


Shrub and ground-cover plantingsA number of parks surveyed in this study have had recent additions to the shrub and groundcover layers. The most recent of these (Southern Cross Drive Reserve and parts of Sydney Park) are yet to show the full effects for the bird population. However, judging by the range and quantity of birdlife in two other reserves (Bannerman Crescent and Kimberley Grove) which have more advanced planting, the effects should be positive for small birds in particular and birds in general. Despite being small parks, Bannerman Crescent Reserve and Kimberley Grove Reserve, had consistently high numbers of small birds and native birds in general. This is almost certainly attributable to the structural and floristic diversity in these reserves combined with their location adjacent to the golf courses on the eastern side of Southern Cross Drive.

Unfortunately, the small birds do not seem to have penetrated to another small reserve at Orphan School Creek. Here the area has been well planted with a variety of shrubs and dense grasses. Possibly the low uptake of the reserve by native birds is due to poor connectivity or the low amount of similarly vegetated land in the area.

There has been extensive landscaping and shrub planting along the Glebe Foreshore. There were few small birds detected in this area. The foreshore is heavily utilised by runners, walkers and dog walkers. The amount of activity observed there may be responsible for frightening away the small birds as well as estuarine shore birds. Many dog walkers allow their dogs off the leash and this results in dogs invading the shrubby vegetation and intertidal zone where birds might potentially reside. Possibly a fence system like that implemented around the ephemeral wetlands at Sydney Park would solve the problem and allow the birds and dogs to co-exist.

Size and connectivityMany of the remaining reserves are too small or isolated to be expected to support a strong native bird population (Carmichael Park and Arthur Paddy Reserve). The community gardens also fall into that category but would particularly benefit from a stronger community of insect consuming birds.

Others such as Rushcutters Bay Park and Beare Park will always have seasonal people pressure that requires grassy open space. However, despite these parks having restricted connectivity and space, the gardens established around their edges are supporting wildlife such as the Common Ringtail Possum in Rushcutters Bay and abundant skinks at Beare Park.

Alexandria Canal is an example of a tiny area of vegetation supporting a range of small birds. The vegetation is not maintained as a garden but is just the remains after the development of that area. Its saving grace is probably that the canal and local streets provides a corridor of similar scraps of vegetation extending through to larger areas of open space. Unfortunately the corridors of street trees in the area have recently suffered a contraction with road widening works for the WestConnex project.

5.5 RecommendationsOngoing fauna monitoring throughout the City will prove invaluable to assess the response of bird assemblages to habitat restoration efforts and to guide future management. Systematic annual spring bird surveys are recommended. Consistency with the methodology used within the 2016-2017 monitoring event will allow future statistical analyses provided there are at least four counts in the one season.


Community sourced bird records have a valuable role to play to monitor for new species entering the city and detecting a decline in resident species. It is recommended that the City formalises these activities and provides training to volunteers so as they are able to provide data in the most useful manner.

In Sydney Park, the high density of tree plantings in some areas has resulted in little to no understorey, as such only the most common species and particularly aggressive birds have thrived. Steps underway to establish areas of Eastern Suburbs Banksia Heathland are a move in the right direction for facilitating more uptake by small bird species. Any further areas of open grass that can be converted to shrublands or woodlands will also be beneficial both in Sydney Park and other parkland in the LGA. Reserves that would particularly lend themselves to this are Southern Cross Drive and Federal Park.

Provision of nest boxes for pardalotes, parrots and nocturnal birds should see a rapid improvement in the status of those species. Sydney Park is clearly lacking hollow tree resources and should be the priority for this remediation. Care will be required to ensure the nest boxes are not taken up by Common Myna and Common Starling or by Black Rat.

Introduced species pose a significant threat to native wildlife, mainly through predation but also through competition for resources or disturbance. As discussed in section 5.3, baiting of rat populations on public land poses a threat to owls predating on the rats. It is understood the City undertakes a regular program of monitoring, baiting and control of rat populations in the LGA, however consideration should be given to using multiple feed baits rather than single feed bait and selecting a poison such as Coumatetralyl which would be less likely to be harmful to owls foraging in the LGA. Single feed baits containing Brodifacoum and other second generation anticoagulants should be avoided as they have been implicated in owl declines world-wide.


6. ReferencesAnderies, J. M., Katti, M. and Shochat, E. (2007). Living in the city: Resource availability, predation, and bird population dynamics in urban areas. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 247, 36-49.

Bain, D., Kavanagh, R., Hardy, K. and Parsons, H. (2014). The Powerful Owl Project: Conserving owls in Sydney’s urban landscape. BirdLife Australia, Melbourne.

BirdLife Australia (2015). Powerful Owl Project Update – December 2015. BirdLife Australia, Melbourne.

City of Sydney (2014). Urban Ecology Strategic Action Plan. The City of Sydney Council, Sydney, NSW.

Department of the Environment (2016). Pteropus poliocephalus in Species Profile and Threats Database, Department of the Environment, Canberra. Available from: http://www.environment.gov.au/sprat

Eby, P. and Lunney, D. (2002). Managing the Grey-headed Flying-fox Pteropus poliocephalus as a threatened species: a context for the debate. Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales, Mosman NSW.

Evans, K. L., Newson, S. E. and Gaston, K. J. (2009). Habitat influences on urban avian assemblages. Ibis, 151, 19-39.

Major, R. E. and Parsons, H. (2010). What do museum specimens tell us about the impact of urbanisation? A comparison of the recent and historical bird communities of Sydney. Emu, 110, 92-103.

Office of Environment and Heritage (2011). Predation by the plague minnow (Gambusia holbrooki) - key threatening process listing. NSW OEH. Available from: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/PlagueMinnowKTPListing.htm

Ormond, S. E., Whatmough, R., Hudson, I. L., and Daniels, C. B. (2014). Environmental and Anthropogenic Impacts on Avifaunal Assemblages in an Urban Parkland, 1976 to 2007. Animals, 4, 119-130.

Parry-Jones, K. A. and Augee, M. L. (2001). Factors affecting the occupation of a colony site in Sydney, New South Wales by the Grey-headed Flying-fox Pteropus poliocephalus (Pteropodidae). Austral Ecology, 26, 47-55.

Pimm, S. L. and Raven, P. (2000). Extinction by numbers. Nature, 403, 843-845.

Pulliam, H.R. (1988). Sources, sinks, and population regulation. American Naturalist 132, 652-661

Sushinsky, J. R., Rhodes, J. R., Possingham, H. P., Gill, T. K. and Fuller, R. A. (2013). How should we grow cities to minimize their biodiversity impacts? Global Change Biology, 19, 401-410.

United Nations (2016). Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Available from: http://www.un.org/en/

White, J. G., Antos, M. J., Fitzsimons, J. A. and Palmer, G. C. (2005). Non-uniform bird assemblages in urban environments: the influence of streetscape vegetation. Landscape and Urban Planning, 71, 123-135.

Williams, N. S. G., McDonnell, M. J., Phelan, G. K., Keim, L. D. and Van Der Ree, R. (2006). Range expansion due to urbanization: Increased food resources attract


Grey-headed Flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) to Melbourne. Austral Ecology, 31, 190-198.


Appendix 1. Monitoring locationsSite Latitude LongitudeAlexandria Canal -33.9142 151.18955Angel Street Community Centre -33.9007 151.18009Arthur Paddy Reserve -33.8797 151.18265Bannerman Crescent Reserve -33.9196 151.21094Beare Park -33.8704 151.22934Federal Park -33.8738 151.17714Glebe Foreshore -33.8714 151.18047Glebe Urban -33.8810 151.18114Kimberley Grove Reserve -33.9166 151.21123Newtown Urban -33.9011 151.18110Orphan School Creek -33.8833 151.17849Perry Park -33.9081 151.19617Quarry Master Drive -33.8686 151.19036Rosebery Urban -33.9178 151.20928Rushcutters Bay Park -33.8754 151.23115Southern Cross Drive Reserve -33.9220 151.21116Sydney Park -33.9120 151.18422Ultimo Community Garden -33.8811 151.19746Victoria Park -33.8864 151.19287


Figure 1. Avifauna monitoring locations, City of Sydney


Photo 1. Alexandria Canal, Alexandria (diurnal monitoring site)

Photo 2. Angel Street Community Centre, Newtown (diurnal monitoring site)


Photo 3. Arthur Paddy Reserve, Glebe (diurnal monitoring site)

Photo 4. Bannerman Crescent Reserve, Rosebery (diurnal monitoring site)


Photo 5. Beare Park, Elizabeth Bay (diurnal monitoring site)

Photo 6. Federal Park, Annandale (diurnal and nocturnal monitoring site)


Photo 7. Glebe Foreshore, Glebe (diurnal monitoring site)

Photo 8. Glebe Urban Neighbourhood, Glebe (diurnal monitoring site)


Photo 9. Kimberley Grove Reserve, Rosebery (diurnal monitoring site)

Photo 10. Newtown Urban Neighbourhood, Newtown (diurnal monitoring site)


Photo 11. Orphan School Creek, Forest Lodge (diurnal monitoring site)


Photo 12. Perry Park, Alexandria (diurnal monitoring site)

Photo 13. Quarry Master Drive, Pyrmont (diurnal and nocturnal monitoring site)


Photo 14. Rosebery Urban Neighbourhood, Rosebery (diurnal monitoring site)

Photo 15. Rushcutters Bay Park, Rushcutters Bay (diurnal and nocturnal monitoring site)


Photo 16. Southern Cross Drive Reserve, Rosebery (diurnal and nocturnal monitoring site)

Photo 17. Sydney Park, Alexandria (diurnal and nocturnal monitoring site)


Photo 18. Ultimo Community Garden, Ultimo (diurnal monitoring site)

Appendix 2. City of Sydney Species List

Conservation Status

Database Results Baseline Data

2016-2017

Class Common Name Scientific Name TSC Act

EPBC Act

OEH Atlas/BA

Last recorded

City of Sydney

Spring-Autumn

Aves Australian Brush-turkey

Alectura lathami 16/09/2016 ^

Stubble Quail Coturnix pectoralis 15/03/2008

Brown Quail Coturnix ypsilophora

02/06/1992

King Quail Excalfactoria chinensis

02/06/1992

Little Button-quail Turnix velox 02/06/1992

Australian Wood Duck

Chenonetta jubata 09/11/2015

Wandering Whistling-Duck

Dendrocygna arcuata

09/11/2001

Plumed Whistling-duck

Dendrocygna eytoni

Musk Duck Biziura lobata 06/02/2006

Freckled Duck Stictonetta naevosa

V 03/02/2003

Black Swan Cygnus atratus 22/05/2015 Mute Swan* Cygnus olor 02/06/1983


Conservation Status


2016-2017

Magpie Goose Anseranas semipalmata

V 30/04/1988

Hardhead Aythya australis 24/05/2015 Pink-eared Duck Malacorhynchus

membranaceus 20/11/2003

Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa 24/05/2015 Domestic Goose* - 05/11/2005

Muscovy Duck* - 04/06/2002

Mallard* Anas platyrhynchos

05/11/2005

Grey Teal Anas gracilis 04/04/2006 Chestnut Teal Anas castanea 06/02/2006 Great Crested Grebe

Podiceps cristatus 17/10/2003

Australasian Grebe

Tachybaptus novaehollandiae

09/11/2015

Hoary-headed Grebe

Poliocephaluspoliocephalus 07/01/1998

Little Penguin Eudyptula minor 24/04/2008

Australasian Darter

Anhinga novaehollandiae

10/01/2017

Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo

24/06/2015


Phalacrocorax sulcirostris

09/03/2015

Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax varius

10/01/2017


Microcarbo melanoleucos

22/01/2009

Australian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus

18/09/2016

White-necked Heron

Ardea pacifica 18/01/2003 ^

White-faced Heron

Egretta novaehollandiae

28/01/2016

Cattle Egret Ardea ibis M 24/10/1998 Little Egret Egretta garzetta 10/03/2015

Intermediate Egret

Ardea intermedia 31/07/2003

Eastern Great Egret

Ardea modesta M 22/05/2015

Nankeen Night Heron

Nycticorax caledonicus

02/06/1992 ^

Australian Little Bittern

Ixobrychus dubius 03/02/2003

Black Bittern Ixobrychus flavicollis

V 27/01/2003

Striated Heron Butorides striatus 13/01/2016 ^

Australasian Bittern

Botaurus poiciloptilus

E E 23/01/2003

Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis

30/08/2001


Threskiornis molucca

09/05/2010

Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia 15/04/2016


Conservation Status


2016-2017

Yellow-billed Spoonbill

Platalea flavipes 02/06/1992

Black-shouldered Kite

Elanus axillaris 03/11/2009

Whistling Kite Haliastur sphenurus

02/06/1992

Red Goshawk Erythrotriorchis radiatus

CE V 31/12/1794

Collared Sparrowhawk

Accipiter cirrocephalus

02/06/1992

Brown Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus 25/03/2015

Grey Goshawk Accipiter novaehollandiae

13/07/2003

Pacific Baza Aviceda subcristata

13/07/2015 ^

White-bellied Sea-Eagle

Haliaeetus leucogaster

V 25/06/2003 ^

Little Eagle Hieraaetus morphnoides

V 02/06/1992

Swamp Harrier Circus approximans

31/03/2003

Brown Falcon Falco berigora 02/11/2009

Nankeen Kestrel Falco cenchroides 10/05/2016

Australian Hobby Falco longipennis 09/05/2010

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 22/03/2015

Lewin's Rail Lewinia pectoralis 01/12/2002

Buff-banded Rail Gallirallus philippensis

06/09/2016

Baillon's Crake Porzana pusilla 12/01/2003

Australian Spotted Crake

Porzana fluminea 18/02/2003

Spotless Crake Porzana tabuensis 03/02/2003 ^

Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa

24/05/2015

Purple Swamphen Porphyrioporphyrio

28/10/2015

Eurasian Coot Fulica atra 24/05/2015 Latham's Snipe Gallinago

hardwickiiM 03/11/2009

Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica M / V 05/11/2005

Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus

11/05/2016

Little Curlew Numenius minutus M 02/06/1992

Common Greenshank

Tringa nebularia M 02/06/1992

Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis M 09/11/2003

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos M 03/02/2003

Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis M 28/12/1963

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper

Calidris acuminata M 03/02/2003

Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris melanotos M 02/06/1992


Conservation Status


2016-2017

Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda

02/06/1992

Red-kneed Dotterel

Erythrogonys cinctus

02/06/1992

Black-fronted Dotterel

Elseyornis melanops

05/06/2015

Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles 18/07/2016 Banded Lapwing Vanellus tricolor 02/06/1992

Red-capped Plover

Charadrius ruficapillus

03/12/1960

Double-banded Plover

Charadrius bicinctus

M 03/02/2003

Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola

M 03/11/2003

Silver Gull Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae

05/12/2016

Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida 18/01/2004

White-fronted Tern

Sterna striata 04/04/1992

Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii 16/01/2009 Common Tern Sterna hirundo M 02/06/1992

Little Tern Sternula albifrons E M 08/02/2003

Spotted Turtle-Dove*

Streptopelia chinensis

16/04/2015

Rock Dove* Columba livia 18/07/2016 Peaceful Dove Geopelia striata 20/05/2000

Bar-shouldered Dove

Geopelia humeralis

02/06/1983

Brown Cuckoo-Dove

Macropygia amboinensis

29/01/1991

Topknot Pigeon Lopholaimus antarcticus

02/06/1983

Crested Pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes 09/05/2010 Superb Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus

superbusV 03/04/2003

Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo

Calyptorhynchus funereus

12/08/2016


Cacatua galerita 12/01/2017

Little Corella Cacatua sanguinea 05/03/2015 Long-billed Corella Cacatua

tenuirostris 05/03/2015

Galah Eolophus roseicapillus

04/04/2006

Cockatiel Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus 24/05/2015 Musk Lorikeet Glossopsitta

concinna 30/07/2003

Swift Parrot Lathamus discolor E CE 25/06/2002

Australian King-Parrot

Alisterus scapularis 22/08/2001

Red-winged Parrot

Aprosmictus erythropterus 02/06/1983

Crimson Rosella Platycercus elegans

18/04/2015


Conservation Status


2016-2017

White Cheeked Rosella**

Platycercus adscitus

02/06/1983

Eastern Rosella Platycercus eximius

12/11/2002

Western Rosella**

Platycercus icterotis

22/04/1992

Australian Ringneck

Barnardius zonarius

02/07/1989

Red-rumped Parrot

Psephotus haematonotus

04/04/2003

Budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus

31/12/1996

Pallid Cuckoo Cacomantis pallidus

07/11/2002

Fan-tailed Cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis

02/06/1983

Brush Cuckoo Cacomantis variolosus

02/06/1983

Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo

Chalcites basalis 27/12/2002

Shining Bronze-Cuckoo

Chalcites lucidus 02/06/1983

Eastern Koel Eudynamys orientalis

04/01/2016

Channel-billed Cuckoo

Scythrops novaehollandiae 16/10/2014 ^

Powerful Owl Ninox strenua V 31/05/2015 Masked Owl Tyto

novaehollandiaeV 06/06/2003

Southern Boobook

Ninox novaeseelandiae

19/05/2015

Tawny Frogmouth Podargus strigoides

07/04/2015

White-throated Needletail

Hirundapus caudacutus

M 02/06/1983

Azure Kingfisher Ceyx azureus 31/12/1990

Laughing Kookaburra

Dacelo novaeguineae

16/11/2015

Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus

20/11/2014 ^

Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis

21/12/2000 ^

Rainbow Bee-eater

Merops ornatus M

Superb Fairy-wren Malurus cyaneus 16/01/2017 Variegated Fairy-wren

Malurus lamberti 23/12/2001

Southern Emu-wren

Stipiturus malachurus

02/06/1983

Spotted Pardalote Pardalotus punctatus

11/08/2016

Striated Pardalote Pardalotus striatus 02/02/2003

White-browed Scrubwren

Sericornis frontalis 27/08/2015

White-throated Gerygone

Gerygone albogularis

02/06/1983

Brown Gerygone Gerygone mouki 06/09/1991


Conservation Status


2016-2017

Yellow Thornbill Acanthiza nana 10/11/2002

Yellow-rumped Thornbill

Acanthiza chrysorrhoa

04/04/2006 ^

Little Wattlebird Anthochaera chrysoptera

04/04/2006

Red Wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata

04/09/2014

Noisy Friarbird Philemon corniculatus

23/06/1989

Regent Honeyeater

Anthochaera phrygia

CE CE 17/06/1996

Noisy Miner Manorina melanocephala

24/05/2015

Lewin's Honeyeater

Meliphaga lewinii 01/11/1998

Yellow-faced Honeyeater

Lichenostomus chrysops

04/04/2006

White-plumed Honeyeater

Lichenostomus penicillatus

17/04/2015

White-naped Honeyeater

Melithreptus lunatus

02/06/1983

Brown Honeyeater

Lichmera indistincta

27/09/1998


Phylidonyris novaehollandiae

22/11/2016

White-cheeked Honeyeater

Phylidonyris niger 23/12/2001

Eastern Spinebill Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris

03/07/2002

White-fronted Chat

Epthianura albifrons

V / EP 02/06/1983

Jacky Winter Microeca fascinans

22/01/1994

Rose Robin Petroica rosea 02/06/1983

Eastern Yellow Robin

Eopsaltria australis 11/01/2010

Eastern Whipbird Psophodes olivaceus

28/04/2003

Red-whiskered Bulbul*

Pycnonotus jocosus

15/09/2010

Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis

02/10/2000

Rufous Whistler Pachycephala rufiventris

23/08/2014 Black-faced Monarch

Monarcha melanopsis

M 24/11/2001

Satin Flycatcher Myiagra cyanoleuca

M 01/10/1992

Leaden Flycatcher Myiagra rubecula 01/04/1992

Restless Flycatcher

Myiagra inquieta 02/06/1983

Rufous Fantail Rhipidura rufifrons M 27/03/2003 ^

Willie Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys

16/05/2010

Grey Fantail Rhipidura albiscapa

30/09/2001

Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike

Coracina novaehollandiae

10/05/2016


Conservation Status


2016-2017

White-winged Triller

Lalage sueurii 07/11/2002

Australasian Figbird

Sphecotheres vieilloti

11/11/2014

Olive-backed Oriole

Oriolus sagittatus 14/09/2016

White-breasted Woodswallow

Artamus leucorynchus

13/09/1992

Masked Woodswallow

Artamus personatus

02/06/1983

Grey Butcherbird Cracticus torquatus

24/10/2015

Australian Magpie Cracticus tibicen 16/05/2010 Pied Currawong Strepera graculina 24/05/2015 Magpie-lark Grallina

cyanoleuca 24/05/2015

Australian Raven Corvus coronoides 16/04/2015 Little Raven Corvus mellori 12/11/2002

Spangled Drongo Dicrurus bracteatus

18/01/2016

Australian Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae

30/10/1999

Eurasian Blackbird*

Turdus merula 02/10/2000

Eurasian Skylark* Alauda arvensis 05/11/2009

Double-barred Finch

Taeniopygia bichenovii

02/06/1983

Red-browed Finch Neochmia temporalis

02/02/2003 ^

Crimson Finch** Neochmia phaeton V 02/06/1983

Zebra Finch** Taeniopygia guttata

02/06/1983

Java Finch** Lonchura oryzivora ^

Diamond Firetail Stagonopleura guttata

V 02/06/1983

Chestnut-breasted Mannikin

Lonchura castaneothorax

02/06/1983

Nutmeg Mannikin*

Lonchura punctulata

21/08/2003 ^

European Goldfinch*

Carduelis carduelis 02/02/2003

European Greenfinch*

Chloris chloris 04/04/2007

House Sparrow* Passer domesticus 20/06/2014 Mistletoebird Dicaeum

hirundinaceum 02/06/1983

Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena 18/07/2016 Tree Martin Petrochelidon

nigricans 28/11/2003

Fairy Martin Petrochelidon ariel 09/05/2010 Tawny Grassbird Megalurus

timoriensis 03/11/2003

Little Grassbird Megalurus gramineus

04/04/2007


Acrocephalus australis

14/09/2016


Conservation Status


2016-2017

Golden-headed Cisticola

Cisticola exilis 05/11/2009 ^

Silvereye Zosterops lateralis 28/10/2015 Common Myna* Sturnus tristis 05/12/2016 Common Starling* Sturnus vulgaris 09/05/2010 Yellow Wagtail species

Motacilla flava 02/02/2003

Zebra Finch** Taeniopygia guttata

KEY:

* Introduced species

** Outside species distribution therefore likely to be escaped captive

^ Community sighting or our sighting outside survey time

V Vulnerable species

E Endangered species

CE Critically endangered species

EP Endangered population

M Migratory species


Documents

Avifauna survey – spring 2016–autumn 2017 · Web viewA total of 12 species were recorded during the 2016-2017 monitoring compared with a previous list of five species in the