Detection of high density of Yellow-bellied gliders at Mt Jersey, 07.11.16 Surveyors: Dave Caldwell, Joe Henderson, Ed Hill. Method: A spotlighting and call-playback transect was walked through coupe 891-512-0004 “Boarfish” on the night of 07.11.16 by Dave Caldwell and Joe Henderson. The survey took place between 2235 and 0116 hours. Temperature was cool, there was no cloud cover, no wind, the moon was at approximately ½ full and low to the west. Call-playback was at intervals of approximately 130 metres, by way of a megaphone and an mp3 player. Two calls were used to elicit a response from Yellow-bellied gliders; a Sooty owl territorial call, and a Yellow-bellied glider aggressive territorial call. A silent period between calls was used to listen for responses. Spotlighting was carried out for the duration of the survey. When gliders were heard calling, a location was recorded on a handheld Garmin GPS 64s. Bearing was taken with a sighting compass. Time, location, approximate distance, bearing, and number of individuals and species were recorded on a data sheet. A Cannon 7D camera with 250mm zoom lens was on hand to photograph fauna. Ed Hill arrived at Mt. Jersey rd at 00:20am and walked down a freshly pushed in snig track at the northern end of the coupe. Mr. Hill heard three unique individual Yellow Bellied Gliders call and recorded detection times, waypoints, bearings and distance estimates. Mr. Hill heard two individuals calling from the northern end of the coupe and one individual calling from the southern end. Results Eight Yellow-bellied gliders were recorded during the survey within a distance of approximately 600m. Post survey data analysis indicates that it is possible that two of these, YBG07 and YBG08 may have been the same individual. Ed Hill recorded three individual Yellow Bellied Gliders as incidental observations. At waypoint YBG_01(EH) Mr. Hill heard two Yellow Bellied Gliders calling from different directions in the northern end of the coupe at 00:31, these gliders could be unique individuals, separate from those recorded by Mr. Henderson and Mr. Caldwell. At the time (00:31) these two gliders were heard by Mr. Hill the other surveyors were at the other end of the coupe and did not hear a Yellow Bellied Glider in this time period. This indicates the individuals recorded by Mr. Hill were separate from those recorded at the southern end of the coupe by the other surveyors. It is unclear

if these individuals were recorded previously by the other surveyors, it is quite possible however they have not been included in the cumulative results total. Their presence is nevertheless important to note. Mr. Hill’s third aural detection of a Yellow Bellied Glider could also be a unique individual, however as it is unclear it has not been included in the cumulative total. Several other species were sighted during the transect, including Greater glider, Feathertail glider, Mountain Brushtail possum and young, and a Long Footed Potoroo with pouch young. The Long footed Potoroo was seen at a distance of just 4 feet under dense low shrubs, it was small size (approximately 40cm high), had long feet, pale creamy underbelly, brown body fur and large pouch young. Other species identified were Boobook owl, Owlet Nightjar, Feather Tail Glider and Sugar glider.

Forest in “Boarfish” coupe prior to commencement of logging

Figure 1: Results table of species encountered on survey.

    Time   Species   Waypoint   Bearing   Distance   Co-­‐ordinates*  Cumulative  

number  of  YBG  Observation  

1   23:11   Petaurus  australis   YBG01   330   >50m  0646355  5868586  

1  heard  

2   23:17   Petaurus  australis   YBG02   335   <50m  0646354  5868590  

2  heard  

3   23:17   Petaurus  australis   YBG03   315   <50m  0646354  5868590  

3  heard  

4   23:23   Petaurus  australis   YBG04   285   <50m  0646354  5868590  

4  heard  

5   23:35   Petauroides  volans       NA   NA  0646270  5868528  

 sighted  

6   00:05   Petaurus  australis   YBG05   280   >50m  0646157  5868428  

5  heard  

7   00:05   Petaurus  australis   YBG06   280   >50m  0646157  5868428  

6  heard  

8   00:17   Petaurus  breviceps       205   >50m  0646106  5868334  

 heard  

9   00:21   Petaurus  australis   YBG07   265   >50m  0646107    5868308  

7  heard  

10   00:21  Trichosaurus  cunninghami  

    NA   >50m  0646107  5868307  

 sighted  

11   00:41   Potorous  longipes       NA   NA  0645988  5868198  

 sighted  

12   00:58   Petaurus  australis   YBG08   340   >100m  0646097  5868107  

8  heard  

13   01:03   Acrobates  pygmaeus       NA   NA  0646145  5868071  

 sighted  

14+    00:31     Petaurus  australis     YBG01(EH)      270   50m      0646445  5868741    

1  (EH)  heard  

15+    00:31     Petaurus  australis     YBG01(EH)      330    50m  0646445  5868741    

2  (EH)    heard  

 16+    01:03   Petaurus  australis        YBG02(EH)    210   50m    0646305  5868247    

3  (EH)  heard  

*  Datum  UTM/UPS  GDA94                

 +Incidental  records  by  Ed  Hill  (EH)                

Figure 2: Map of coupe 891-512-0004 “Boarfish” showing locations of threatened species. Note: Points are labelled with waypoint name followed by the time of the record. (eg YBG_01_2311). For unique individuals heard from the same way point labels use the way point name of the first individual followed by the number of the cumulative tally of individuals, then followed by the time (eg YBG_02,3_2317, 4_2323) = YBG_02 and YBG_03 heard at 2317, YBG_04 heard at 2323.  

Discussion/ Recommendations: The results of this survey show a number of protected species including a high density of Yellow Bellied Gliders occupying the forest within coupe 891-512-0004 “Boarfish”. This high density of Yellow Bellied Gliders (more than 6) triggers the detection based zoning management actions detailed in the Planning Standards for timber harvesting operations in Victoria’s State forests 2014. Specifically Table 4 Detection based FMZ rules for fauna, page 47:

“EstablishჼaჼSPZჼofჼapproximatelyჼ100ჼhaჼofჼsuitableჼ ჼჼhabitatჼwhereჼverifiedჼrecordsჼreportჼmoreჼthanჼ0.2ჼ

individualsჼperჼhectare,ჼmoreჼthanჼ5ჼindividualsჼperჼkmჼჼ orჼmoreჼthanჼ7ჼindividualsჼperჼhourჼofჼspotlighting,ჼorჼ

whereჼsubstantialჼpopulationsჼareჼlocated in isolated or unusual habitat.”1

As logging has already commenced in this coupe significant damage has already occurred in high density Yellow Bellied Glider habitat. An extensive network of snig tracks has been pushed into the forest and logging machinery has created several large cleared areas. A number of large old trees have been pushed over or cut. It is critically important the logging immediately ceases in this coupe so the required Special Protection Zone can be implemented for Yellow Bellied Gliders. Any further logging could impact the Yellow Bellied Glider population in this area and upon forest required to be placed within a Special Protection Zone. Logging has commenced unlawfully and will continue unlawfully until DELWP take appropriate regulatory action.

                                                                                                               1 The State of Victoria Department of Environment and Primary Industries 2014, Planning Standards for timber harvesting operations in Victoria’s State forests 2014 Appendix 5 to the Management Standards and Procedures for timber harvesting operations in Victoria’s State forests 2014, P. 47

Appendix: Images of fauna photographed on survey

Mountain Brushtail and young (Dave Caldwell)

Greater Glider (Dave Caldwell)

Feathertail Glider (Dave Caldwell)

Mountain Brushtail Possum (Dave Caldwell)