Who s living on my land? report for Canyonleigh workshop

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1 Who s living on my land? report for Canyonleigh workshop Complied by Margot Law (citizen science officer) Introduction Who s living on my land? is a citizen science project run by the National Parks Association of NSW (NPA NSW) that aims to increase the participation of landholders in conservation initiatives like habitat retention and restoration and pest control. The main objective of the project is to survey private land for wildlife by engaging landholders as citizen scientists and training them how to use infrared motion detection cameras to document the presence of native and pest animal species on their property. Landholders are encouraged to use the results of the survey to alter their land management practice. All the results are uploaded to the NSW BioNET Atlas which can be accessed by researchers, government and the public. We trained landholders in camera trapping techniques and deployed fifteen infrared motion detecting cameras across various private land tenures in the Canyonleigh district to survey local fauna in April Nine properties participated in this citizen science project by surveying for wildlife activity on their land and this report provides an overview of the results. NPA NSW delivers the Who s living on my land? in partnership with the Great Eastern Ranges Initiative, Wingecarribee Shire Council, Land for Wildlife, Office of Environment and Heritage and South East Local Land Services through funding from the Community, Industry and Partnership fund. Southern Highlands Great Eastern Ranges Link The Southern Highlands region is a crucial East-West link between the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and Morton National Park. The area was historically cleared for farming, but more recent urban expansion has led to further clearing. The Southern Highlands contains a series of significant fragments of remnant woodland vegetation on private and public land that act as stepping stones for flora and fauna to move through the landscape. Fragmentation of habitat can have many negative impacts on native species including; genetic deterioration (loss of diversity and increased inbreeding); changed landscape processes and disturbance regimes; increased edge effects; increase abundance of invasive species; and altered species interactions affecting pollination, seed dispersal, predation and competition. Common vertebrate pest species in the region include feral deer, foxes, goats, rabbits, cats and pigs. All these species can impact both the biodiversity value of the region as well as agricultural practices. Many landholders in the Southern Highlands are working with the Wingecarribee Shire Council, Land for Wildlife, Great Eastern Ranges and South East Local Land Services to improve the condition of native vegetation on their properties with the aim of improving the quality of habitat for wildlife through a range of processes including: fencing out stock from native vegetation; removing invasive weeds, planting appropriate locally sourced native species; and improving the connectedness of corridors in the area. 1

2 Methods Landholders from the Canyonleigh district attended a workshop on the 2 nd of April 2016 to participate in the Who s living on my land? survey (Figure 1). Each participating landholder was trained to use infrared motion detecting cameras to survey their land for wildlife. The landholders were issued one of the two camera models: Keepguard SG-680 or Reconyx HC500. The cameras were mounted 1-1.3m above the ground and focused on a lure station. The lure station contained a ball of peanut butter, honey, oats and fish sauce which was replaced twice during the survey. The lure was encased in a PVC vent cowl and was secured to the ground with two tent pegs. Each landholder was instructed to set the camera to take three photographs when an animal triggered the camera with an interval of 3 seconds between triggers. The cameras were deployed for a fortnight and two checks were conducted within this time. As each trigger initiated a set of three photographs, each set of three photographs is referred to as a DETECTION EVENT. Following the completion of the project, the NPA analysed the images and gathered species presence data for each property. If wildlife was captured in an image, then it was sorted into either native mammal, reptile, bird or introduced species group and subsequently classified to species. Some images of wildlife were left unidentified because of poor image quality. Photographs of people, livestock and domesticated animals were excluded from the survey. False triggers of the camera may be caused by wind, dappled shading, low hanging branches, etc. Figure 1. Distribution of 15 cameras in the Canyonleigh Who s living on my land? Workshop. Image sourced from Google Earth. Discussion of Results Nine properties participated in the Canyonleigh Who s living on my land? wildlife survey. Twenty four species were detected from 10,739 photographs, including eight native mammal species, ten native bird species and six introduced species. 2

3 Native Mammal Species Native Mammal Results All landholders detected native mammal species on their property (Figure 2). By far the most exciting result is the Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus; see creature feature section), which is a vulnerable species in NSW. The most common native mammal species detected in the Canyonleigh survey was the Common Wombat (Vombatus ursinus; 9 properties) and Swamp Wallaby (Wallabia bicolor; 9 properties). Two other macropods were detected in the survey: Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus; 7 properties) and Red-necked Wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus; 1 properties).two types of possums were identified from the photographs the Common Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula; 4 properties) and Common Ringtail Possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus; 2 properties). The only small mammal detected in the survey was a single Bush Rat (Rattus fuscipes). Bush Rat Koala Red-necked Wallaby Ringtail Possum Brushtail Possum Eastern Grey Kangaroo Swamp Wallaby Wombat Number of properties each species was dected on Figure 2. Native mammal species detected at properties (n=9) participating in the 2016 Canyonleigh survey. Native Bird Results We detected ten species of birds in this Who s living on my land? survey, all of which were only detected at single properties. As this survey is designed to target ground dwelling mammals; it is surprising that we observed so many bird species. The pair of Spotted Quail Thrush (Cinclosoma punctatum) was the most unusual bird we found, as it is usually quite shy. The other bird species that we detected in the survey were: Australian Magpie (Cracticus tibicen) Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata) Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius) Grey Shrike-thrush (Colluricincla harmonica) Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca) Superb Lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae) White-necked Heron (Ardea pacifica) White-winged Chough (Corcorax melanorhamphos) Wonga Pigeon (Leucosarcia melanoleuca) 3

4 Introduced Species Introduced Species Results We found seven introduced species in the 2016 Canyonleigh Who s living on my land? survey which included a mixture of types: carnivores and herbivores; hooved and soft footed; and, large and small (Figure 3). The most common introduced species were the European Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes; 7 properties) and Fallow Deer (Dama dama; 7 properties). We observed male, female and juvenile Fallow Deer, which indicates that there is viable breeding populations. European Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus; 3 properties) and European Hares (Lepus europaeus; 1 property) were only found at a few properties. Feral cats (Felis catus) were found at a two properties but we observed at least three individuals. European Hare Black Rat Feral Cat Rabbit Fallow Deer Red Fox Number of properties each species was dected on Figure 3. Introduced species detected at properties (n=9) participating in the 2016 Canyonleigh Who s living on my land? survey. 4

5 Creature Feature: Koala Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) are one of Australia s most iconic species. This tree-dwelling marsupial inhabits a range of eucalyptus-dominated environments spanning the length of the Australian continent from the far northern tropical rainforests of Queensland right through to the semi-arid communities of South Australia and in the Southern Highlands! Primary Koala feed trees in the Southern Highlands include the Grey Gum (Eucalyptus punctata), Forest Red Gum (E. tereticornis) and Ribbon Gum (E. viminalis). Koalas occur naturally in four states - Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia - but the health and status of koala populations differ substantially across the continent. Victoria and South Australia have large and thriving koala populations, unlike Queensland and New South Wales where koala populations are in decline and are listed as vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act Threats to Koalas The main threat to Koala population survival is habitat loss and land clearing. When valuable feed and shelter trees are lost to land clearing; ksoalas have to travel further on the ground between trees. Koalas are most vulnerable on the ground, where they are susceptible to predator attack and car collisions. Climate change is another significant threat to Koalas, as it may accelerate extreme weather events like bushfires and heat waves. Some Koala populations have a high incidence of chlamydia which can lead to infertility. Koalas in the Southern Highlands Koalas have a long history in the Southern Highlands. The name Koala is derived from the local Figure 4. Koala records in the Southern Highlands. Sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia. Figure 5. Koala from Canyonleigh Who s living on my land? survey. Aboriginal word for them Colo - and the first European sighting of a Koala was from the Bargo region in Since then, their population has been affected by land clearing for urban and agricultural development, bushfires and chlamydia. The Southern Highlands Koala Conservation Project has been researching local Koalas since 2013 in partnership with the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, Wingecarribee Shire Council, The University of Sydney and The Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife. The project monitors the Southern Highlands Koala population, how they move through the landscape and where their high quality habitat is. Their research will help authorities inform land management decisions to ensure Koalas populations are protected. To stay up to date, or to report a Koala sighting like their Facebook page! 5

6 Taking the next step Found some amazing native species on your land? There are many fun and creative ways to encourage native species to move in and share your property. Here are some ideas: Contact Landcare groups Landcare adopts a community based approach to habitat management and restoration helping to improve the sustainability of agricultural and other activities. Get in touch with your local Landcare group for access to interesting workshops (e.g. weed management, pest management) and learn more about weeding and planting. For more information or to find your local landcare group, please visit: Get involved in the Land for Wildlife program This program encourages participation of landholders who own properties with half a hectare or more of native bush land. The properties can be agriculture land or small blocks of bush. This is completely free and with no effects on the property title. The Land for Wildlife program links landholders with likeminded people, provide useful information and invitations to workshops. For more information, please contact Wingecarribee Shire Council or refer to the flyer that we have included in your pack. Contact: Karen Guymer (Bushland Project Officer) on or Karen.Guymer@wsc.nsw.gov.au Start your own animal monitoring program Keep an eye on what species you have on your property. There are many websites and smart phone apps out there that you can use to help you keep a record. For example: the Atlas of Living Australia or inaturalist. Check out the NPA s Survey Techniques for Citizen Scientists (available at for a one stop shop on animal monitoring techniques written in plain English. Initiate your own habitat improvements You will be surprised how simple steps could make huge impacts on the habitat and environment. Books can be a useful resource for the Do-It-Yourself enthusiasts. The books listed below contain some good information on ways to improve habitat for wildlife and learn more about wildlife on your land. 6

7 Author(s): David B Lindenmayer Publisher: CSIRO Publishing, 176 pages (Description extracted from CSIRO website) This book brings together extensive scientific learning on what makes a good farm for biodiversity. Based on thirteen years of intensive research, it breaks the discussion into chapters on key environmental and vegetation assets and then discusses how to make these assets better for biodiversity. It is written in an engaging style and includes colour photographs and information boxes. It will be an important reference for landholders, hobby farmers, vineyard owners, naturalists interested in birds and other native animals, people from Catchment Management Authorities, natural resource managers and policy makers. Author(s): Barbara Triggs Publisher: Oxford Publishing (Description extracted from book vendor website) This book contains hundreds of illustrations and is organized in an accessible format for easy identification of the visible traces left by Australian mammals in their passage. The author provides all the information needed to identify mammals anywhere in Australia, using only the tracks or other signs these animals leave behind. This is an indispensable guide for bushwalkers, naturalists, students, zoologists, and other professionals -- in fact, it will appeal to anyone who ever wanted a better understanding of Australia's unique mammal fauna. Have you detected pest species on your property? Pest species have significant impacts on our native species. While habitat improvement initiatives can encourage a variety of native animals to move into your property, managing pest species is important to sustain their populations. So, what can you do? Contact your local council or government agencies for information and assistance South East Local Land Services (SE LLS) NSW Government SE LLS provides advice on pest plant and animal management and focuses on building the knowledge and skills of landholders and the community. You can join Feral Fighters, an initiative developed by SE LLS, which seeks to strategically target feral species through community coordinated baiting and control programs. For more information, please visit: Local council Your local council is often a great starting point if you decide to uptake pest management efforts on your property. They would be able to point you in the right direction and discuss the various options available 7

8 to you. Informing yourself about the various pest management methods helps to improve your understanding and hopefully consider pest control. Department of Primary Industries (DPI) NSW Government DPI provides various resources, information and useful links about pest animal species and their management. For more information, please visit: Visit websites for useful resources The need for effective management of pest species is recognised in both National and State biodiversity management plans. In light of this, there has been a considerable increase in the number of websites with useful documents, fact sheets and information about the range of pest species prevalent in Australia. Invasive Species Council This website provides information on current projects dealing with pest management, fact sheets, and other interesting resources surrounding current issues dealing with invasive animal species, weeds and climate change. For more information, please visit: PestSmart This website has an extensive amount of information on pest animal species. There is a searchable database containing resources such as research papers, images, and management strategies. Other useful tools include PestSmart toolkit providing guidance on best-practice for pest management, PestMaps and many more. You can also download a FREE Mobile App, called Field Guide to Pest Animals of Australia. For more information, please visit: Use infrared cameras to monitor before and after effects of pest management Infrared cameras are a great monitoring tool to measure the before and after effects following pest control activities such as fox baiting or pig baiting. Using cameras before initiating pest control: To identify the native species living on your property To identify the pest species living on your property To identify the target areas for fox baiting using lures To identify the potential non-target species (e.g. native species, domestic dogs) visiting the bait stations Using cameras after completion of pest control: Monitor if the density of pest species have decreased significantly after a pest control activity like baiting (i.e. foxes may colonise freshly baited areas very quickly from adjacent lands) 8

9 Monitor if there is an increase of native species on your property In instances where more than one feral species were found at a property, it is critical to consider integrated pest control measures. For example, rabbits are a great food source for the Red fox. Reducing fox numbers alone may lead to a significant increase in the rabbit population leading to soil erosion (from burrowing) and severe damage to native vegetation from browsing. Hence, control for both rabbits and foxes should be considered when undertaking pest management. Pest control can be both time and resource intensive. It is much more effective and efficient to carry out pest control initiatives in collaboration with your neighbours. It is highly recommended that you discuss such options when contacting someone for assistance and speak with your neighbours to pool all available resources. Collaborative pest control initiatives may prove to be more cost and time efficient. We wish to thank everyone who generously gave their time to participate in this project! We have included a selection of images for your enjoyment. 9

10 A selection of images from the Canyonleigh Survey: Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) Native Species Red-necked Wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus) Native Species Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) Introduced species Spotted Quail-Thrush (Cinclosoma punctatum) Native Species 10

11 Male Superb Lyre Bird (Menura novaehollandiae) Native Species Wombat (Vombatus ursinus) Native species Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) Native Species Fallow Deer (Dama dama) Introduced Species 11