VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PLAN for Bidjigal Reserve - Land

Vegetation Management Plan - Bidjigal Reserve4.2 Fauna4.2.1 Broad-scale Fauna HabitatsRocky Eucalypt WoodlandDominant vegetation Type: Hinterland Sandstone Gully ForestTotal Area: ~148ha (1481313m 2 )The Rocky Eucalypt Woodland is the dominant fauna habitat type throughout Bidjigal Reserve. Thishabitat extends beyond the Reserve into adjoining land owned variously by Department of Planning,RTA, BHSC, the Commonwealth, and Bankstown District Sports Club: this bushland forming part of alocal wildlife corridor for any animals foraging or moving through this area. In some areas, mainlyalong the urban-bushland interface, the Rocky Eucalypt Woodland has been heavily modified,leaving cleared, Asset Protection Zones and often dense weed thickets at the bushland edges wherelight levels are highest.The groundcover within the Rocky Eucalypt Woodland habitat consists of mostly native grasses andforbs, these being of a moderate to high density and 0.25–0.5 metres in height. Native grassesprovide an important foraging habitat for a range of ground-foraging birds and the Swamp Wallaby,which is known to occur within the Reserve. Ground debris, leaf litter and fallen logs are all presentwithin the Rocky Eucalypt Woodland in high densities.Due to the moderately undisturbed nature of the core bushland in the Reserve, there are scatteredareas of accumulated logs and fallen timbers. Such areas form sub-habitats within the RockyEucalypt Woodland, and are of high value to reptiles, small mammals and invertebrates.Associated with the Rocky Eucalypt Woodland is a series of sandstone outcrops, overhangs andbenches, all containing a number of suitable sheltering crevices, caves and ledges suitable for smallbats, mammals and reptiles. These species are also likely to shelter under the large vehicular bridgesprovided by the Hills Motorway (M2) and Renown Road, which intersect the Reserve.The canopy layer consists mostly of native species and is of moderate density, up to 25 metres inheight. Trees in this habitat are generally widely spaced with the canopy foliage cover blocking outbetween 40-60% of the light. This fairly open canopy allows light to filter to the groundcover speciesand provides basking areas for reptiles.Angophora costata (Sydney Red Gum), Syncarpia glomulifera (Turpentine) and Eucalyptus pilularis(Blackbutt) are the three (3) commonly-occurring canopy trees within Bidjigal Reserve. These treesare used by a large number of bird and mammal species for nesting, perching and roosting. A largepopulation of White-throated Treecreepers (Cormobates leucophaeus) occurs within the Reserve,particularly in those areas dominated by Syncarpia glomulifera (Turpentine), where this bird wasobserved searching for insects in the rough bark.The Rocky Eucalypt Woodland takes on a heath-like structure in the Central Section, ManagementZone 2; supporting a number of Banksia and Grevillea species. Due to the large sources of nectarproducingplants, this habitat attracts Honeyeaters such as the New Holland Honeyeater(Phylidonyris novae-hollandiae), Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carnunculata) and Eastern SpinebillUBM Ecological Consultants Pty Ltd 56