Byron Flora and Fauna Study 1999 - Byron Shire Council

A GREENPRINT FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
6.1.3 Swamp sclerophyll forest, woodland and coastal scrub species
The distributions of species associated with swamp sclerophyll forest and woodland and coastal scrub such
as the Wallum Tree Frog, Freshwater Snake, Little Bronze-cuckoo, Forest Kingfisher, Yellow Thornbill
Acanthiza nana, Little Friarbird, Brown Honeyeater Lichmera indistincta, Striped Honeyeater, White-breasted
Woodswallow, Common Planigale, Long-nosed Potoroo Potorous tridactylus and Common Blossom-bat reflect
the narrow coastal distribution of these vegetation types in the Shire. A similar pattern is evident with
vertebrates representative of heathland and sedgeland, including the Wallum Froglet, Freycinet’s Frog, the
Common Scaly-foot Pygopus lepidopodus, Swamp Harrier Circus approximans, Horsfield’s Bronze-cuckoo
Chrysococcyx basalis, Southern Emu-wren, White-cheeked Honeyeater Phylidonyris nigra and Grassland Melomys.
6.1.4 Freshwater species
Most of the suite of species dependent on riparian habitats, which include the Red-eyed Tree Frog Litoria
chloris, Pearson’s Tree Frog Litoria pearsoniana, Eastern Water Dragon Physignathis leseurii, Eastern Water
Skink Eulamprus quoyii, Black Bittern Ixobrychus flavicollis, Azure Kingfisher Alcedo azurea, Platypus Ornithorhynchus
anatinus, Large-footed Myotis Myotis adversus and Water Rat Hydromys chrysogaster, occur along drainage lines
throughout the Shire. However, some such as the Red-eyed Tree Frog and Pearson’s Tree Frog are restricted
to the upper sections of catchments and are absent from low elevations and the coast.
Species dependent on freshwater habitats provided by rivers, creeks, swamps and lagoons include the Pacific
Black Duck Anas superciliosa, Australasian Grebe Tachybaptus novaehollandiae, White-faced Heron Egretta
novaehollandiae, Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia, Lewin’s Rail Rallus pectoralis, Spotless Crake Porzana tabuensis,
Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa, Latham’s Snipe Gallinago hardwickii, Black-fronted Dotterel Elseyornis
melanops, Clamorous Reed-warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus and Little Grassbird Megalurus gramineus. These
species are distributed throughout the Shire although most reach their highest densities at lower elevations
on floodplains and the coastal plain, where their habitats are best developed.
6.1.5 Ephemeral habitat species
Another suite of species found throughout Byron Shire are those characteristic of ephemeral habitats
dominated by introduced grasses and weeds, which usually result from land clearing. Examples of these
species are the Common Eastern Froglet , introduced Cane Toad Bufo marinus, Robust Ctenotus, Eastern
Brown Snake, Brown Quail Coturnix ypsilophora, Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis, Black-shouldered
Kite Elanus axillaris, Buff-banded Rail Gallirallus philippensis, Crested Pigeon, Galah, Pheasant Coucal Centropus
phasianinus, Grass Owl, Red-backed Fairy-wren, Chestnut-breasted Mannikin, Tawny Grassbird Megalurus
timoriensis and the introduced Fox Vulpes vulpes and Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus. They are most abundant at
mid to low elevations where clearing for agricultural development and settlement are concentrated.
6.1.6 Saltmarsh, mangrove, estuaries and marine shore species
Saltmarshes, mangroves, estuaries and sandy and rocky marine shores define the occurrence of a particular
group of birds in the Shire, resulting in narrow coastal distributions for species such as the Great Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carbo, Australian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus, Little Egret Egretta garzetta, Eastern Reef Egret
Egretta sacra, Striated Heron Butoroides striatus, Osprey Pandion haliaetus, Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus, Bartailed
Godwit Limosa lapponica, Whimbrel Numenius madagascariensis (Photo 22), Red Knot Calidrus canutus,
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata, Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus longirostris, Sooty Oystercatcher
Haematopus fuliginosus, Red-capped Plover Charadrius ruficapillus, Silver Gull Larus novaehollandiae, Crested
Tern Sterna bergii, Common Tern Sterna hirundo, Little Tern Sterna albifrons and Mangrove Gerygone Gerygone
levigaster.
6.1.7 Ecological guilds
The ecological guilds among vertebrates in Byron Shire are also influenced by the extent of habitats present.
Wet forests, particularly rainforests, are responsible for the large components of frugivores and leaf litter
foragers, represented by species such as the White-headed Pigeon Columba leucomela, Brown Cuckoo-dove,
Australian King-parrot, Common Koel Eudynamys scolopacea, Barred Cuckoo-shrike Coracina lineata, Figbird
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