Byron Flora and Fauna Study 1999 - Byron Shire Council

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BYRON FLORA AND FAUNA STUDY, 1999 Appendix 11 Examples of profiles of Threatened fauna species recorded in Byron Shire CONTENTS Square-tailed Kite Lophoictinia isura Glossy Black-cockatoo Calyptorhynchus lathami Powerful Owl Ninox strenua Koala Phascolarctos cinereus Little Bentwing-bat Miniopterus australis Common Bentwing-bat Miniopterus schreibersii Greater Broad-nosed Bat Scoteanax rueppellii Square-tailed Kite Lophoictinia isura Regional distribution and abundance. The Square-tailed Kite is widely but very sparsely distributed throughout northeastern New South Wales from the coastal plains to the tablelands (Debus et al. 1993). Concentrations of records are known from dry habitats in the lower valleys of major rivers such as the Clarence, Hastings and Manning (ANSWW database) and the region is considered a stronghold for the species in New South Wales (Debus et al. 1993). General ecology (habitat, shelter, diet, territory, breeding, movements). The Square-tailed Kite occurs mainly in structurally diverse, moist to dry sclerophyll forests and woodlands (Debus et al. 1993, Marchant and Higgins 1993). However, it has also been recorded in coastal complex vegetation which includes shrublands and heathlands (Marchant and Higgins 1993). In coastal north-eastern New South Wales most records are from Spotted Gum, Grey Ironbark and dry Blackbutt forests (Debus et al. 1993; G. Clancy, A. Gilmore, D. Milledge unpubl. data) and its occurrence appears to be associated with the more productive sites in these forests on flatter topography (Debus et al. 1993, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 1994). The species feeds predominantly on adult and nestling birds and large insects snatched from the foliage of forest and woodland trees during its slow, gliding, harrier-like flight just above or through gaps in the canopy (Debus et al. 1993, Marchant and Higgins 1993). It has been observed hunting about stands of flowering eucalypts, which have attracted concentrations of nectivorous, and insectivorous birds, particularly honeyeaters (Debus et al. 1993, CSIRO Division of Wildlife and Ecology 1996; D. Milledge unpubl. data). Territories are typically very large and have been estimated at many tens of square kilometres (Debus and Czechura 1989). The nest is usually constructed in a substantial fork in the upper branches of a mature eucalypt, from 10-30 m above the ground and an average of two young are raised to fledging. Sometimes the same nest is used in consecutive years or a new nest may be constructed close to a previously used site. Fidelity to a particular stand of trees for breeding is a characteristic of the species (Debus et al. 1993). Movements of the Square-tailed Kite are not clearly understood although coastal northern New South Wales appears to be an over-wintering area for some individuals (Debus et al. 1993), perhaps from southern New South Wales and the tablelands. Conservation status and threatening processes. The Square-tailed Kite is listed on Schedule 2 of the TSC Act, 1995 as Vulnerable. The original reasons for its listing as an endangered species were ‘population reduced to a critical level; poor recovery potential; threatening processes severe; ecological specialist’ (NSW Scientific Committee). The principal threats to the species appear to be the loss of habitat or structural simplification of habitat within its extensive territory and the loss of individual trees or stands used for nesting. The loss of old-growth stands may be an important factor because of the concentrations of prey species such as honeyeaters attracted to the prolific nectar flows from flowering old trees. Loss of habitat through clearing for agriculture remains a significant problem in the region, but probably the structural simplification of public and private forests associated with intensive timber harvesting currently poses the greatest threat to the conservation of this species in north-eastern New South Wales. 213
A GREENPRINT FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE The Square-tailed Kite appears to tolerate human presence close to the nest site (Debus and Czechura 1989; G. Clancy, S. Debus, D. Milledge unpubl. data) although activities such as egg collecting and shooting could pose a significant threat because of the low rate of recruitment. Local distribution and abundance. The Square-tailed Kite appears to be an irregular visitor to Byron Shire, occurring mainly as single individuals in coastal areas. There are no breeding records although two birds (an adult and juvenile) were present in the Marshall’s Ridges-Billinudgel Nature Reserve area during October 1993 (A. Gilmore unpubl. data). These may have been an adult with progeny from the pair which has been regularly recorded further north in the Pottsville-Cudgen area (CSIRO Division of Wildlife and Ecology 1996, M. Fitzgerald unpubl. data), and northern coastal areas of Byron Shire may represent the periphery of their breeding territory. Local ecology and conservation significance of the study area. In Byron Shire, habitat for the Square-tailed Kite is provided by coastal dry to moist sclerophyll forests and, to a lesser extent, by swamp sclerophyll forests and associated shrublands and heathlands. Substantial areas of these vegetation types are included in Billinudgel and Tyagarah Nature Reserves but larger stands of suitable habitat, particularly eucalypts, exist in the Marshalls Ridges area, along the Brunswick River to Mullumbimby and west of Brunswick Heads, and in the Tyagarah, Skinners Shoot, Taylors Lake and Broken Head areas. Although the species does not appear to breed in the Shire, stands of coastal eucalypts probably represent a significant resource for migrating and dispersing non-breeding adults and immatures and are particularly important to conserve because of their overall scarcity in far north-eastern New South Wales. 214
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Byron Flora and Fauna Study 1999 - Byron Shire Council

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