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 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 three unique individual Yellow Bellied Gliders call and recorded detection times, waypoints, bearings and distance estimates. Mr. Hill 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 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 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 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* 1 23:11 Petaurus australis YBG01 330 >50m 2 23:17 Petaurus australis YBG02 335 <50m 3 23:17 Petaurus australis YBG03 315 <50m 4 23:23 Petaurus australis YBG04 285 <50m 5 23:35 Petauroides volans NA NA 6 00:05 Petaurus australis YBG05 280 >50m 7 00:05 Petaurus australis YBG06 280 >50m 8 00:17 Petaurus breviceps 205 >50m 9 00:21 Petaurus australis YBG07 265 >50m 10 00:21 Trichosaurus cunninghami NA >50m 11 00:41 Potorous longipes NA NA 12 00:58 Petaurus australis YBG08 340 >100m 13 01:03 Acrobates pygmaeus NA NA 14+ 00:31 Petaurus australis YBG01(EH) 270 50m 15+ 00:31 Petaurus australis YBG01(EH) 330 50m 16+ 01:03 Petaurus australis YBG02(EH) 210 50m * Datum UTM/UPS GDA94 +Incidental records by Ed Hill (EH) 0646355 5868586 0646354 5868590 0646354 5868590 0646354 5868590 0646270 5868528 0646157 5868428 0646157 5868428 0646106 5868334 0646107 5868308 0646107 5868307 0645988 5868198 0646097 5868107 0646145 5868071 0646445 5868741 0646445 5868741 0646305 5868247 Cumulative number of YBG 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 (EH) 2 (EH) 3 (EH) Observation
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 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 at 2317, YBG_04 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)