Byron Flora and Fauna Study 1999 - Byron Shire Council

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BYRON FLORA AND FAUNA STUDY, 1999 infrequently detected during the survey. The White-striped Freetail-bat, which was detected at 13 sites, was the exception. This large species is likely to forage above the forest canopy, and is thought to range relatively further than other hollow utilising bat species, which could account for the greater number of records. However, the majority of sites at which this species was detected had low numbers of calls. 3. a number of species that are regarded as common and widely distributed in other areas of northeast NSW were recorded at very few sites, e.g. the Eastern Horseshoe Bat, Long-eared Bats, and the Eastern Forest Bat. 4. bats are widely distributed in the Shire, and bats were detected at all but 12 sites. 5. records were obtained for a number of significant species (discussed below), indicating that the Shire contains a significant assemblage of bat species. Particularly significant are records of the Large-eared Pied Bat, Yellow-bellied Sheathtail-bat, and Eastern Tube-nosed Bat. 6. the failure to detect some target species (e.g. Beccari’s Freetail-bat and the Eastern Cave Bat), and the low number of records of other species listed in Table 1 adds support to the view that such species are genuinely localised or rare in the Shire, and that this is not simply a reflection of lack of survey effort. Such comments do not necessarily apply to the Golden-tipped Bat, which is far less likely to be detected from calls. Target species that were detected during the survey are: Yellow-bellied Sheathtail-bat Detected at 3 of the 51 survey sites. A single pass was detected at each of two of these sites, but four passes were detected at site 3 (adjacent to Batson’s Quarry), where the species appeared to be flying along the main road clearing. It could not be determined whether the species was foraging at the latter site, but this had an unusually high level of activity. In nearly all instances, this species is recorded from a single call sequence per site, perhaps indicating a transient individual. Large-eared Pied Bat This species was located at site 34 in Mt Jeruselum National Park, and at site 35 at Doon Doon Saddle, on the western boundary of Byron Shire. This species roosts in caves and rock overhangs, and it may be significant that all three sites were at or near cliff faces. This species is uncommon and localised throughout its range in the State, and is infrequently detected despite past intensive survey effort (NSW NPWS 1994, 1995; Schulz et al. 1998). Eastern Freetail-bat Although the species is known to occur in Byron Shire, definite records were not obtained during the survey. Calls of two species, the Eastern Freetail-bat (Mormopterus norfolkensis) and an unnamed Freetail-bat (Mormopterus sp1, see Parnaby 1992) can be difficult to distinguish, although this is possible with some calls. These two species could not be distinguished in most instances from the calls obtained during the survey and definite identifications of the Eastern Freetail-bat were not made. However, the species has been recorded from Batson’s Quarry (Hoye 1993), Goonengerry National Park and Mt Jeruselum National Park (CSIRO 1996). Eastern Tube-nosed Bat Calls of the species have been recorded in Byron Shire from October to April (Milledge 1987), and the single record obtained during the survey on 1 May is several weeks later than usual (D. Milledge pers. comm.). The lack of records of this species is likely to be a consequence of the timing of the survey, although the species appears to be uncommon and localised in far north-eastern NSW. The single record of this species obtained during the survey was of an individual heard calling in a gully in wet sclerophyll forest with a rainforest understorey, near a dam off Mill Road, Goonengerry. 199
A GREENPRINT FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE Golden-tipped Bat Calls of this species were not detected during the survey, but the low intensity calls of the species hinder detection. An adult female was trapped in Wanganui Gorge on 13 April 1998. The only other locality record for Byron Shire appears to be at Snows Creek (D. Milledge pers comm.). Eastern Horseshoe Bat Although not a priority species in this survey, the Eastern Horseshoe Bat has been identified as of conservation significance in north-eastern NSW (Gilmore and Parnaby 1994) and should be listed as vulnerable on the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 due to the vulnerability of populations in subterranean roosts and the suspected significant decline of NSW populations during the past two decades (Spate and Eberhart in prep). The species was recorded at 3 of the 52 sites during the call survey, and in addition was trapped at site 20 and at a site in Wanganui Gorge. The low number of records was unexpected, as it was anticipated that the species, which is readily detected from calls, would have been more frequently encountered during the survey, based on survey results from other areas of north-eastern NSW. Although the survey was undertaken toward the end of the warm period of maximum anticipated bat activity, it is likely that the generally low numbers of bats detected was not primarily influenced by the timing of the survey as warm weather continued for an unusually long period into May during the survey period. For example, the results obtained at some sites, such as the six species detected at site 31b (Tyagarah Travelling Stock Reserve) on 6 May, are amongst the highest anticipated for surveys in mid summer while on the same night, low activity was noted at other sites on the same evening (e.g. site 49). REFERENCES CSIRO 1996. Murwillumbah Management Area. Fauna Survey 1995. Report prepared for State Forests of NSW, Inc. CSIRO Division of Wildlife and Ecology. Gilmore, A.M. and Parnaby, H.E. 1994. Vertebrate fauna of conservation concern in north-east NSW forests. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Hoye, G.A. 1993. An assessment of the bat fauna of the area proposed for extensions to the Batson Sand and Gravel Extraction Site near Byron Bay, New South Wales. Unpublished report to Bartrim and Martin Biological Studies. FBN Bat Surveys, Singleton. Milledge, D.R. 1987. Notes on the occurrence of the Queensland Tube-nosed Bat Nyctimene robinsoni in north-eastern New South Wales. Macroderma 3, 28-29. NSW NPWS. 1994. Fauna of north-east NSW forests. North East Forests Biodiversity Study Report No. 3, unpublished report, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. NSW NPWS. 1995. Vertebrates of Upper North East New South Wales. Report to Natural Resources Audit Council. Parnaby, H. E. 1992. An interim guide to identification of insectivorous bats of south-eastern Australia. Technical Reports of the Australian Museum No 8. 33pp. Spate, A., and Eberhart, S. in prep. Cave fauna of New South Wales. Nomination of key threatening processes, endangered ecological communities, endangered populations, and threatened species for inclusion on the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. Submission prepared for the Scientific Committee. Schulz, M., Hannah, D., Eyre, T., and Hogan, L. 1998. Significant bat results from Comprehensive Regional Assessment fauna surveys in the south-eastern Queensland biogeographic region. Eighth Australasian bat conference, Rockhampton. Abstract. 200
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Byron Flora and Fauna Study 1999 - Byron Shire Council

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