Kangaroo Island Rapid Bird Assessments, February 2020 - March 2020 Rebecca L. Boulton, Thomas J. Hunt, Luke J. Ireland and Janelle L. Thomas
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Kangaroo Island Rapid Bird Assessments,
February 2020
March 2020
Rebecca L. Boulton, Thomas J. Hunt, Luke J. Ireland and
Janelle L. Thomas
Report produced by BirdLife Australia Suite 2-05 60 Leicester Street Carlton VIC 3053 T (03) 9347 0757 W www.birdlife.org.au © BirdLife Australia. This report is copyright. Apart from any fair dealings for the purposes of private study, research, criticism, or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without prior written permission. Enquiries to BirdLife Australia. This report is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/deed.en). Recommended citation Boulton, R. L., Hunt, T. J., Ireland, L. J. and Thomas, J. L. (2020). Kangaroo Island Rapid Bird Assessments, February 2020. Birdlife Australia, Melbourne. Disclaimers Every effort has been undertaken to ensure that the information presented within this publication is accurate. BirdLife Australia does not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence that may arise from relying on any information in this publication. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of BirdLife Australia and do not necessarily reflect those of the Western Local Land Services. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the contents of this publication are factually correct, BirdLife Australia does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the contents, and shall not be liable for any loss or damage that may be occasioned directly or indirectly through the use of, or reliance on, the contents of this publication. Acknowledgments This project was supported by the Department of Environment and Water. February 2020
Contents Introduction................................................................................................................. 1 Methods ...................................................................................................................... 3 Results........................................................................................................................ 4 Discussion ................................................................................................................... 22 Recommendations ........................................................................................................ 23 References .................................................................................................................. 24 Appendix I ................................................................................................................... 25 February 2020
Introduction Wildfires fuelled by catastrophic fire conditions and below average rainfall swept across Kangaroo Island from the 20th of December 2019. Over several weeks, the fires burnt 210,606 ha, just under half of the island, including the vast majority of Flinders Chase National Park and Ravine des Casoars Wilderness Protection Area. Wildfires at this scale were last seen in the western parks of Kangaroo Island in 2007 when the majority of these two parks burnt (Fig. 1a). However, the 2007 fires were reasonably contained within the park boundaries, only burning 75,000 ha and burnt with much less intensity leaving a small but connected mosaic of unburnt habitat, particularly within the central Flinders Chase region (Fig. 1b). The 2019/2020 wildfires by comparison burnt with much more intensity, hence the inability to contain the fires within the park boundaries (Fig. 1c). As a result, large areas of native vegetation on private land was also burnt. Kangaroo Island, particularly the western half, has retained relatively high coverage and quality of its native vegetation, resulting in many species of animal and plants being either unique to the island (both species and subspecies) or faring considerably better than their mainland counterparts. The ecological impact of these fires – in addition to the economic impact, especially through tourism –is therefore likely to be high. Initial fire mapping has shown many bird species have lost major proportions of their habitat on Kangaroo Island. Understanding where these birds may now be residing within the burnt landscape is an important step towards enacting threat abatement actions and will provide baseline data to assess their future recovery and recolonisation as the habitat regenerates. February 2020 1
a b
Figure 1. Fire severity index using Landsat (see methods below) a)
comparison of 2007 fire scar with 2019/2020 fire scar, b) fire severity
index for 2007 fire and c) fire severity index for 2019/2020 fire. Maps
produced by L. Ireland.
c
February 2020
2
Methods FIRE SEVERITY CALCULATION METHODS: Fire severity maps were created to assist in selecting unburnt or partially unburnt patches within the fire scar in which to target search effort. These maps were created by calculating the Normalised Burn Ratio (NBR) designed to highlight burnt areas and estimate burn severity. Near-infrared (NIR) and shortwave-infrared (SWIR) wavelength bands from Landsat 7 (for 2007) and Landsat 8 (for 2019) satellite imagery were used to calculate the following formulae for delta NBR: Pre-fire NBR = (NIR - SWIR) / (NIR + SWIR) Post-fire NBR = (NIR - SWIR) / (NIR + SWIR) Delta NBR = Pre-fire NBR – Post-fire NBR Healthy vegetation before the fire has very high near-infrared reflectance and low reflectance in the shortwave infrared part of the spectrum, in contrast to recently burned areas that have a low reflectance in the near-infrared and high reflectance in the shortwave infrared band. The NBR is calculated for images before the fire (pre-fire NBR) and for images after the fire (post-fire NBR) and the post-fire image is subtracted from the pre-fire image to create the differenced (or delta) NBR (dNBR) image. dNBR can be used for burn severity assessment, as areas with higher dNBR values indicate more severe damage whereas areas with negative dNBR values might show increased vegetation productivity. BIRD SURVEYS: From the 20–28th February 2020, three experienced ecologists undertook bird surveys across Kangaroo Island (Fig. 2 & 3). The major objective was targeted surveys of unburnt vegetation on public land within the fire scar to determine what species were still present. Given the nature of the fire, these unburnt patches varied considerably both in size and vegetation composition. Surveys were guided by maps provided by Department of Environment and Water that depicted prioritised unburnt patches within parks (Fig. 2), a fire severity map produced by Luke Ireland (Fig. 1c) and ease of access. Unburnt patches ranged in size from approximately 2 ha (Remarkable Rocks patch) to 1200 ha (“A-Wedge”). For smaller patches the whole area was traversed, but for larger patches a subsample was surveyed. Given the different sizes and vegetation structure, with some sites being almost impenetrable, standardised surveys were not possible. Where feasible, surveys followed the standardised 2 ha, 20 min active area search method (Loyn 1985) or a 500 m area search. Area searches generally lasted between 20–60 min to allow for good coverage of the patch; if the area was large enough each observer surveyed a different section (>500m apart). Incidental records of target species (Southern Emu-wren, Beautiful Firetails, Western Bassian Thrush, and Western Whipbird) were also taken. Call playback was occasionally used in suitable habitat to help locate Southern Emu-wren and Western Whipbird. February 2020 3
Figure 2. Priority unburnt patches within the park’s boundaries targeted during the rapid bird assessments, Kangaroo Island, South Australia, 20–28th February 2020. Map produced by D. Thompson (DEW). Distance to historic records of priority species (Table 1) dictated patch priority level. Results In total, 145 sites were surveyed, with 35 of these outside the fire area (Fig. 3). A mixture of incidental sightings of target species (n = 58), 2 ha 20 min surveys (n = 41) and 500 m area searches (n = 46) were undertaken. Table 1 lists the Kangaroo Island subspecies and other species of conservation concern identified by BirdLife Australia and the Department of Environment and Water and recorded during the surveys, with a total of 77 species and 2,654 individual birds recorded (see Appendix I). In general, the fire severity map was accurate. At times, areas that were depicted as having burnt at low severity, were tall Sugar Gums (Eucalyptus cladocalyx) with canopy leaves still attached but scorched, with little to no understorey remaining (Fig. 7). An area off Shackle Road in Ravine des Casoars Wilderness Protection Area was the only location where the surveyors found ‘patchily’ burnt vegetation, which was supporting Southern Emu-wrens and Western Whipbirds (see photos below). It was also around this area that the only Bassian Thrush were detected near a burnt-out swamp along Bull Creek. February 2020 4
Lathami CP
Western
River CP
Cape
Borda
A-Wedge
Shackle Rd
Simpson
CP
West Bay
Seal Bay Cape
Cape Vivonne
CP Gantheaume
Bouguer Bay CP
Cape du
Wilderness
Couedic
PA CP
Figure 3. Bird survey sites across Kangaroo Island, South Australia from the 20–28th February
2020. Fire severity is depicted on the western end of the island where surveys were concentrated
within Flinders Chase National Park and Ravine des Casoars Wilderness Protection Area. Yellow
circles enclose a group of surveys within unburnt vegetation within the fire scar and blue circles
enclose a group of surveys outside fire area.
February 2020 5
Table 1. List of Kangaroo Island subspecies and other species of conservation concern observed
during the 145 surveys, 35 outside the fire area, from 20–28th February 2020.
No. of surveys Sites within No. of
Species
detected fire scar individuals
KI Superb Fairy-wren 77 62 245
KI Spotted Scrubwren 77 58 177
KI New Holland Honeyeater 73 61 330
KI Southern Emu-wren 41 37 108
KI Brown Thornbill 40 29 81
KI Grey Currawong 35 26 45
KI Striated Thornbill 34 28 105
KI Western Whipbird 28 25 42
KI Crimson Rosella 24 24 89
KI Shy Heathwren 24 24 31
KI Red Wattlebird 21 12 42
KI Purple-gaped Honeyeater 16 9 46
KI Brown-headed Honeyeater 14 13 48
Beautiful Firetail 14 14 26
KI White-eared Honeyeater 10 10 15
Eastern Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo 3 3 30
KI Glossy Black-Cockatoo 2 2 9
KI Little Wattlebird 2 2 3
South-eastern Boobook 2 0 2
Western Bassian Thrush 1 1 2
February 2020 6
KANGAROO ISLAND SOUTHERN EMU-WREN Stipiturus malachurus halmaturinus Baxter (2015) describes the Southern Emu-wren as moderately common in the south and west coastal mallee heath from Cape Willoughby west to Cape du Couedic and north to Cape Borda, along the north coast from Cape Borda to Western River Conservation Park, and throughout stunted whipstick mallee/stringybark growing on the ironstone plateau. A male Kangaroo Island Southern Emu-wren (Stipiturus malachurus halmaturinus) using Slender Honey-myrtle (Melaleuca gibbosa) at Vivonne Bay Conservation Reserve. Photo T. Hunt. Southern Emu-wrens were encountered in nearly all the survey areas within the fire scar, except Lathami Conservation Park and Western River Conservation Park (Fig. 4). They did not respond readily to call playback if used, but frequently responded with alarm calls or song to the observer walking through the habitat. They were often associated with fairy-wrens, and at times produced very similar calls which made detection and recording numbers challenging. Outside the fire area emu-wrens were detected in three sites at Seal Bay, and a single bird was heard at Cape Gantheaume Wilderness Area. The eastern end of the island receives less rainfall than the north-west, and conditions here appeared drier. These patches likely support lower densities of birds than the west, an observation supported by D. Paton (pers. comm.). February 2020 7
Figure 4. Survey sites where Kangaroo Island Southern Emu-wrens were detected (blue dots) across Kangaroo Island, South Australia, 20–28th February 2020. February 2020 8
Typical habitat Southern Emu-wrens were in during Kangaroo Island surveys
Low open shrubland. Olearia axillaris, Leucopogon parviflorus, also Melaleuca lanceolata open shrubland
containing Correa backhouseana var. orbicularis, Goodenia varia, also containing Melaleuca gibbosa and Goodenia varia.
Myoporum insulare and Lasiopetalum schulzenii. Southeast corner of Southeast corner of Cape Bouger Wilderness Area.
Cape Bouger Wilderness Area.
Low open coastal shrubland containing Leucopogon Low open coastal shrubland containing Leucopogon
parviflorus, Correa backhouseana var. orbicularis, parviflorus, Correa backhouseana var. orbicularis, Goodenia
Goodenia varia, Myoporum insulare and Olearia axillaris. varia, Myoporum insulare and Olearia axillaris. Near
Cape du Couedic, approximately 500 m south of the lighthouse. Remarkable Rocks.
February 2020
921-Feb-2020. Single female Southern Emu-wren flushed from the centre of overgrown track (off top of Ravine Road, near Cape Borda). Small area 20 x 30 m of unburnt vegetation. A couple of other strips of unburnt vegetation along Ravine Road 2 x 20 m. 22-Feb-2020. Northern end of Shackle Road, Ravine des Casoars was one of the only areas observed where fire intensity was low with small (5 x 10 m) unburnt patches scattered throughout the scorched vegetation. a) Single Southern Emu-wren observed, and 3-6 Western Whipbirds heard calling in vicinity. b) Southern Emu-wren observed foraging and moving through narrow roadside vegetation strip containing Banksia ornata, Allocasuarina striata and Calytrix tetragona. 24-Feb-2020. Four Southern Emu-wrens located in the unburnt area directly west of Cape du Couedic lighthouse. Emu-wrens were found in similar habitat further south towards Admirals Arch and in a small (2 ha) unburnt patch west of Remarkable Rocks. February 2020 10
KANGAROO ISLAND WESTERN WHIPBIRD Psophodes nigrogularis lashamri Baxter (2015) describes the Western Whipbird as uncommon, occurring mostly along the south and west coastal mallee belt from Cape Borda to Cape du Couedic and then east to Cape Willoughby. It is also widespread, albeit in lower density, throughout the elevated plateau of Flinders Chase National Park and along north coast from Cape Borda east to Western River Conservation Park. Isolated occurrences in the more fragmented eastern districts include Beyeria Conservation Park, Nepean Conservation Park/Western Cove and Point Morrison area. An immature Kangaroo Island Western Whipbird (Psophodes nigrogularis lashamri) in low coastal heath at Cape du Couedic, Flinders Chase National Park. Photo T. Hunt. Western Whipbirds were encountered in nearly all the survey areas within the fire scar, except Lathami Conservation Park (Fig. 5). They were relatively responsive to call playback when used, though patience was required to detect them as they often skulked silently around the observer or only called after playback finished (up to 20 minutes later). Outside the fire area whipbirds were detected at two sites in Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park and a single site at Simpson Conservation Park. Two whipbirds were found in small patches of scorched vegetation near roadsides on Cape du Couedic (see photos below), indicating birds are at least attempting to move through the landscape. However, these observations were never far from larger areas of intact habitat, so the capacity for these birds to move between isolated remnants of unburnt vegetation is unknown. February 2020 11
Figure 5. Survey sites where Kangaroo Island Western Whipbirds were detected (purple stars) across Kangaroo Island, South Australia, 20–28th February 2020. February 2020 12
Typical habitat Western Whipbirds were found in during surveys
Taller Melaleuca lanceolata open shrubland also containing Correa Eucalyptus diversifolia mallee also containing Acacia paradoxa,
backhouseana var. orbicularis and Leucopogon parviflorus. Pair of Melaleuca lanceolata, Choretrum glomeratum, Hakea rostrata and
duetting whipbirds heard here. Feral cat (Felis catus) and Allocasuarina verticillata. West Bay area, Flinders Chase National
Rosenberg’s Goanna (Varanus rosenbergi) tracks were also recorded Park.
at the site. Vivonne Bay Conservation Park.
February 2020
13Typical habitat Western Whipbirds were found in during surveys
One Western Whipbird seen moving through a narrow strip of burnt Melaleuca lanceolata and Eucalyptus diversifolia open shrubland also
roadside vegetation. This strip contains Melaleuca lanceolata and containing Lasiopetalum discolour and Melaleuca gibbosa. One
Lasiopetalum discolour. Cape du Couedic area, approximately 1.4 km Western Whipbird observed flying across the road into a small patch
northeast of Cape du Couedic Lighthouse. of unburnt vegetation. Other patches of unburnt vegetation persist
nearby. Cape du Couedic area, approximately 1.5 km north of the
lighthouse.
February 2020
1425-Feb-2020. At least three Western Whipbirds located here in thick unburnt vegetation dominated by Eucalyptus diversifolia, Melaleuca lanceolata and Olearia axillaris, Vivonne Bay Conservation Area. Emu-wrens were found in the same area but closer to the cliffs in coastal scrubland; Melaleuca lanceolata, Leucopogon parviflorus, Olearia axillaris, Correa pulchella. 27-Feb-2020. Cape Gantheaume Western Whipbird site; Eucalyptus diversifolia, Melaleuca lanceolata, Hakea mitchellii, Spyridium sp. February 2020 15
Western Bassian Thrush Zoothera lunulata halmaturina Baxter (2015) describes the Bassian Thrush as uncommon, occurring in mostly secluded, forested river valleys of western Kangaroo Island. Only a single pair of thrush were located during the surveys (Fig. 6), in a burnt-out swamp off Shackle Road (see photo below). Gullies in the fire fared badly, with dry conditions and plenty of fuel resulting in mostly consumed understory vegetation. This contrasts with the 2007 fires where fire mapping indicates much of the gully and creekline vegetation was less severely burnt by the fire. Bassian Thrush detection is likely to be reduced during the non-breeding season, with targeted surveys using acoustic recorders preferable from May when birds begin breeding (R. Boulton pers. comm. from Mt Lofty Ranges). Figure 6. Survey sites where Western Bassian Thrush (pink cross), Glossy-Black Cockatoos (red triangle) and Kangaroo Island Little Wattlebirds (green star) were detected across Kangaroo Island, South Australia, 20-28th February 2020. February 2020 16
Western Bassian Thrush, Bull Creek. Photo T. Hunt. 22-Feb-2020. a) The swamp along Bull Creek where a pair of Western Bassian Thrush were observed foraging, Ravine des Casoars Wilderness Protection Area, and b) Rocky River gully in Flinders Chase National Park. February 2020 17
Kangaroo Island Little Wattlebird Anthochaera chrysoptera halmaturina Only two Little Wattlebirds were found during the surveys (Fig. 6). Historic records for Little Wattlebird tended to concentrate on Flinders Chase National Park area, an area significantly burnt. The species is likely to be relatively mobile, whether this should have made them more abundant or less is unknown as extensive searches in the eastern end of the island were not undertaken to address an easterly movement after the fire. Kangaroo Island Glossy Black-Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus lathami halmaturinus Glossy Black-Cockatoos were found in two locations (Fig. 6). Eight birds were seen along a gully on Cape Borda Road in the north-west of the island. The area was not completely consumed, although most of the understorey was, with only the Sugar Gums (Eucalyptus cladocalyx) still retaining their leaves (Fig. 7). A Glossy Black-Cockatoo nest box was intact on a nearby tree. The second recording was birds heard near Lathami Conservation Park, a known feeding and breeding area for Glossy Black-Cockatoos. It must be noted that these rapid assessment surveys did not specifically target Glossy Black-Cockatoos as the Recovery Team were already undertaking their own survey work at the time. A male Kangaroo Island Glossy Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami halmaturinus), foraging on revegetated Drooping Sheoak (Allocasuarina verticillata), Cygnet River. Photo T. Hunt. February 2020 18
Figure 7. Gully on Cape Borda road where Glossy Black-Cockatoos were observed. The Sugar Gums (Eucalyptus cladocalyx) retain a scorched canopy but most of the understorey has been consumed by fire. Kangaroo Island Shy Heathwren Calamanthus cautus halmaturina Shy Heathwren were detected in unburnt patches particularly in the north-west of the island (Fig. 8) and were sometimes detected in small strips of unburnt roadside vegetation. One observation was recorded of a Shy Heathwren foraging for invertebrates in the fire scar about 500 metres from the nearest patch of unburnt vegetation (see Fig. 9). February 2020 19
Figure 8. Survey sites where Kangaroo Island Shy Heathwrens were detected (red cross) across Kangaroo Island, South Australia, 20-28th February 2020. Figure 9. Kangaroo Island Shy Heathwren (Calamanthus cautus halmaturina) foraging for invertebrates in the fire scar, Cape Borda. Photo T. Hunt. February 2020 20
Beautiful Firetail Stagonopleura bella Beautiful Firetails were encountered relatively frequently in most sites on the north-west of the island (Fig. 10). None were detected outside the fire area. Beautiful Firetail (Stagonopleura bella) foraging for seeds, Cape Borda Lighthouse. Photo T. Hunt. Figure 10. Survey sites where Beautiful Firetails were detected (red diamond) across Kangaroo Island, South Australia, 20-28th February 2020. February 2020 21
Discussion There appears to be justifiable concern for the long-term recovery of the bird populations on the western side of Kangaroo Island. Despite the ease of detecting some species in unburnt patches (even normally difficult species such as the emu-wrens and whipbirds) it is possible that these birds are in higher than normal densities in these refuges. They certainly appear to have the ability to retreat to even very small patches during or immediately after the fire, as was seen on private property where 20 emu-wrens were observed in a 20 x 20 m unburnt patch (P. Hodgens pers. comm.) Whether these densities are higher than normal, and how long these refuges can support these numbers of birds is unknown, as is their ability to sustain or support breeding birds during future breeding events. The extent and severity of the fire is much greater than the previous 2007 fire; after that event, low-intensity burns left a patchy mosaic of unburnt or scorched but connected vegetation throughout the western half of the island. The few corridors of vegetation remaining after the 2019/2020 fires are mostly limited to small, narrow strips along the cliff faces. Recovery will require birds to persist in small numbers in unburnt patches (possibly only 8–12 large sized patches) waiting for the surrounding vegetation to recover to levels where they can forage and then ultimately breed. How long this takes will depend on both the plant and bird species in question. Additional perturbations such as dry or unfavourable climatic conditions, competition for resources with conspecifics and other species, and increased predation due to reduced cover and increased numbers of predators in remnant vegetation will create further challenges for the persistence of these birds. Any movement of birds across the open and exposed areas of the fire scar, as well as any foraging that may occur as birds look for additional resources, will incur an increased risk of predation until the vegetation regenerates sufficiently to provide increased cover. It may take many months or years for the vegetation to reach this state. Relying on the eastern side of the island as a source of birds for recovery is ambiguous, as its unlikely to be as productive as the west with drier conditions and hence fewer birds dispersing. Distances between the eastern remnant patches on Dudley Peninsula and the regenerating vegetation in the west are likely prohibitive for these areas to act as viable source populations for most species. In addition, the open and cleared agricultural areas between remnant patches host few corridors of suitable habitat for birds to move through, particularly for those species of conservation concern, and any movement that does occur will also be accompanied by an increased risk of predation, harmful interactions with artificial structures (e.g. fencelines) and vehicle collisions across roads. This leaves Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park and Wilderness Protection Area as the only large, intact and connected habitat remaining. Though it couldn’t be comprehensively searched, the relatively low numbers of birds recorded in the eastern end of this area suggest it is unlikely to be a major source site for many of the priority species. The unburnt vegetation on private property to the north of the “A-Wedge” could play a major role in helping to repopulate the western side of the island. Much of this land is currently being managed for wildlife conservation, e.g. cat control implemented through Kangaroo Island Land for Wildlife. Similar cat management may help improve survival and breeding in unburnt patches within the parks as species cannot rely on dispersal from outside the fire area to replenish numbers. February 2020 22
Recommendations
With limited baseline monitoring of species’ distributions and abundances before the
2019/2020 fires, it is difficult to determine whether the densities of birds observed in these
surveys are unsustainably high for the given resources in an unburnt patch, if the
occurrences of species have shifted markedly, and what capacity each species of concern has
to disperse between patches. As such, continued standardised monitoring of these species is
important over the coming months and years to provide robust baseline information with
which to make recommendations for conservation actions, both in the wake of these fires and
for those fires that may occur on a similar scale in the future.
• Additional surveys in unburnt refuges April–May 2020; possibly utilising local
volunteers.
o Survey some of the smaller unburnt patches (e.g. along Shackle Road) to look
at bird numbers. If patch size and its ability to support bird’s medium-long
term is going to be a problem, birds will disappear from these smaller sites
first.
o Access and survey the unburnt areas in the Ravine Des Casoars, directly south
of Cape Borda. There is no road access to these sites, so they were not visited
during February due to time restraints.
o Comprehensive surveys on private properties managed for wildlife north of "A-
Wedge”.
o Re-survey February 2020 priority sites (selection based on ease of access,
importance for recolonisation); likely “A-Wedge”, Cape Borda, Cape du
Couedic, West Bay, Cape Bouguer and smaller patches along Shackle Road.
• Develop a monitoring program both within the burnt area to monitor recovery and the
unburnt eastern side of the island to assess its ability to help with recolonisation.
o No one survey method will be efficient at monitoring all bird species; notably,
the relatively low detectability of Western Whipbird and Western Bassian
Thrush during a small-scale standardised survey means their presence is likely
to be missed. A workaround may be to complete the standardised 2 ha, 20
min active area search method embedded within a 500 m area search. This is
a survey technique already used within Birdlife Australia’s Birddata system,
though note that the Embedded Survey method is not available when entering
observations in the mobile Birdata app.
The standardised use of call playback for whipbirds and emu-wrens at the
beginning of the survey (e.g. 30 seconds of call playback coupled with 30
seconds of listening time for each species) may help increase detectability of
these species whilst keeping detectability between surveys consistent.
o Select priority unburnt patches for long-term monitoring. This monitoring
would require additional data on species abundance, something the 2 ha, 20
min methodology underestimates.
o The eastern sites could be accessed by volunteers as well as the more
accessible unburnt patches in the western half of the island. However,
experienced contractors are likely to be needed to undertake some of the
more detailed monitoring.
• Targeted Western Bassian Thrush surveys during winter months using AudioMoths.
February 2020 23• Cat control in unburnt priority patches.
• Coordinate habitat mapping (DEW & BirdLife) of difficult to access terrain (i.e. Cape
Gantheaume) and fire area.
References
Loyn, R. H. 1985. The 20-minute search: a simple method for counting forest birds.
Biological Survey Branch, State Forests and Lands Service.
February 2020 24Appendix I All birds (77 species) recorded during surveys on Kangaroo Island, South Australia 20-28th February 2020. Species Sum of Individuals Number of survey sites Australasian Gannet 1 1 Australian Magpie 15 9 Australian Pelican 3 3 Australian Pied Oystercatcher 1 1 Australian Raven 24 14 Australian Shelduck 52 1 Australian White Ibis 1 1 Bassian Thrush (Western) 2 1 Beautiful Firetail 26 14 Black-faced Cormorant 36 1 Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike 4 4 Brown Falcon 1 1 Brown Quail 1 1 Brown Thornbill (KI) 81 40 Brown-headed Honeyeater (KI) 48 14 Brush Bronzewing 1 1 Cape Barren Goose 2 1 Caspian Tern 1 1 Common Bronzewing 2 2 Common Starling 6 1 Crescent Honeyeater 89 31 Crested Tern 17 5 Crimson Rosella (KI) 89 24 Dusky Woodswallow 10 3 Eastern Spinebill 2 2 Elegant Parrot 3 2 European Goldfinch 4 3 Galah 32 7 Glossy Black-Cockatoo (KI) 9 2 Golden Whistler 36 28 Great Cormorant 2 2 Grey Currawong (KI) 45 35 Grey Fantail 26 21 Grey Shrike-thrush 8 5 Hooded Plover 8 5 House Sparrow 12 1 Indian Peafowl 6 1 Little Corella 15 1 Little Raven 30 11 Little Wattlebird (KI) 3 2 February 2020 25
Magpie-lark 1 1 Masked Lapwing 18 3 Nankeen Kestrel 2 2 New Holland Honeyeater (KI) 330 73 Osprey 3 3 Pacific Gull 12 6 Painted Button-quail 7 5 Peregrine Falcon 1 1 Pied Cormorant 4 2 Purple-crowned Lorikeet 217 26 Purple-gaped Honeyeater (KI) 46 16 Rainbow Lorikeet 49 11 Red Wattlebird (KI) 42 21 Red-browed Finch 4 2 Scarlet Robin 37 24 Shy Heathwren (KI) 31 24 Silver Gull 69 7 Silvereye 155 43 Sooty Oystercatcher 7 3 Southern Boobook 3 3 Southern Emu-wren (KI) 108 41 Spotted Pardalote 5 4 Spotted Scrubwren (KI) 177 77 Striated Pardalote 3 2 Striated Thornbill (KI) 105 34 Sulphur-crested Cockatoo 10 1 Superb Fairy-wren (KI) 245 77 Tawny-crowned Honeyeater 6 5 Tree Martin 34 11 Wedge-tailed Eagle 10 6 Welcome Swallow 47 23 Western Whipbird (KI) 42 28 White-bellied Sea-Eagle 5 4 White-eared Honeyeater (KI) 15 10 White-fronted Chat 12 2 Willie Wagtail 8 7 Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo 30 3 Total 2654 February 2020 26
You can also read
