life in the darling riverine plains · diverse woodland remnants 14 the habitat: looking after our...

If you live in the Darling Riverine

Plains you live in the largest and

probably the flattest bioregion in

NSW. You live in the land of

contrasts; of droughts and flooding

rains; of flood loving eucalypts;

River Red Gum, Coolibah,

Black Box and Carbeen; and of

vast open plains.

Hopefully, after you have read this

booklet you will live in a place

that you know more about. You

will know more about over four

hundred species of native fauna

that make their home in the

Darling Riverine Plains, and you

will know more about how to look

after their habitat.

About the cover: The poster featured here on the cover illustrates the connections between the cultural andnatural environments within the Darling Riverine Plains Bioregion. It depicts the land uses, typical plants andanimals and some cultural values of the area. All these features depend on the riverine environments.

Life in the Darling Riverine Plains 2

Knowing what’s on your place: How the Camerons are looking

after their place

The Darling Riverine Plains Bioregion 4

Knowing what’s around you: Map of the Darling Riverine

Plains Bioregion

Native fauna in the Darling Riverine Plains 6

Native fauna: Native habitats

About this report 8

About this report: What is habitat? Looking after habitat on

your place

Northern Riverine Woodlands 10

The habitat: The importance of size: Typical species:

Threatened species

Southern Riverine Corridor 12

The habitat: Looking after a most important corridor: A whole

lot of holes: Typical species: Threatened species

Diverse Woodland Remnants 14

The habitat: Looking after our woodland birds: Disappearing emus:

Typical species: Threatened species and declining woodland birds

Simple Woodland Remnants 16

The habitat: Rehabilitating remnants: Typical species: Threatened

species: Declining woodland birds: How the Yates family are looking

after remnants: The benefits of not tidying up

Grasslands and Shrublands 18

The habitat: The hunting grounds: Typical species:

Threatened species: Outfoxed on Kalyanka

Red Country Woodlands 20

The habitat: Reptiles and refuge: Typical species: Threatened species

Wetlands 22

Wetland habitat: Wetlands of International Significance:

The Southerons and their wetland

Where to From Here? 24

Knowing you’re not alone: Where to get help: How biodiversity

information helps: Contacts and further information

Species Lists: fauna recorded since 1970 26

References and Acknowledgments 29

KNOWING WHAT’S ONYOUR PLACE

For many farmers and graziers knowing

what’s on their place not only makes them

better managers, it also makes them happier.

A recent personal experience highlighted

the importance of knowing what’s on your

place. Just as I was asked to complete writing

this my father-in-law died. He was much

loved by both his family and his community.

He had been a farmer all his life and proud

of his achievements. He inherited nothing

and worked hard to own his own farm.

Like many men of his generation he loved

being in the bush and spent as much time

there as a farm and a family would allow.

He was a skilled observer of nature. He

would often ask me about animals and

plants he had seen either around the farm

or on one of his bush trips. Many of the

animals he saw such as hopping mice and

small snakes are animals that you are

unlikely to find in that area today.

After his death I wished I had recorded

more of his nature observations. Their

importance to him and his family seemed

obvious. They had been part of the reason

he loved the bush and in particular his

farm. They had given him a sense of place

that many of us can only hope for. He knew

where he would be happy to live and happy

to die.

I have found many farmers and graziers to

have these same qualities. They have a

sense of place defined by family, community

and environment. They like knowing what

lives on their place and are happy and

proud to look out for them.

Hopefully this booklet will give you

some ideas on how to look after your

native fauna, many of which you may

never see or only see once in a lifetime but

you will know they are there. And

hopefully it will enable you and your

children and grandchildren to share in that

sense of place. – Jo Smith

We are certainly not your conventional farming family. We have resisted the urge to have that big ‘tidy up’.

We retain all of our standing dead timber and any fallen logs because we know how valuable these elements

are in the whole ecological and economical system. We have a whole farm plan and we have just begun to

implement the first stages. Retaining the existing vegetation and habitat areas is one of the key elements and

is our starting point.

We have identified the most valuable areas and we are fencing them out so they can be retained and regenerate.

These areas are still small when you consider the total size of the farm. It has taken hundreds, even thousands

of years for nature to create such a diverse, unique environment with so many tree hollows and such a variety

of plants. It is a beautiful spot to find hidden treasures such as sugar gliders, owls, birds, bats, lizards and frogs.

How can we ever hope to recreate such magnificence once it is removed. Such a powerful decision cannot be

made lightly.

We have begun to enhance the remnant vegetation with new tree plantings. We have been particular to choose

species that are appropriate to the local area and where possible we use seed of local provenance to keep the

local gene pool viable. This is not a simple concept to implement but not impossible. We see the need to plant

new trees on a property that already has an abundance of trees for many reasons. There are still areas with

inadequate shelter for crops and stock.

It is well known that increased production levels are achieved when systems have protection from adverse wind

conditions. Our farm plan has areas devoted to wind breaks and shelter areas for this purpose, a very long-

term plan but by tackling one stage at a time we are beginning to make a noticeable difference.

Ultimately, we anticipate our sustainability is improved by all of this groundwork. We intend to continue to focus

on our farming and grazing enterprises by producing and marketing our quality produce. By incorporating the

native environment we see that we are enhancing the whole property but immediately there is something

special when you have just sighted a special bird catching a meal or knowing a rare animal is comfortably going

about its business amongst your farming enterprise. The native flora and fauna are really not the threat we

sometimes can perceive them to be.

Carbeen woodland near Wee Waa

HOW THE CAMERONS ARE LOOKING AFTER THEIR PLACE –

Jim and Rhonda Cameron

We have a whole

farm plan – retaining

the existing

vegetation and

habitat areas is one

of the key elements

Darling

War

rego

Rive

r

Lake Denman

Lake Burkanoko

Lake NichebullaMurphys Lake

UtahLake

Paro

o

River

Tongo LakeMullawoolkaBasin

Yantabangee Lake

Poloko LakeGilpoko Lake

Peri Lake

Nine Mile Lake

Kopago Lake

Wongalara Lake

Poopelloe LakeGunyulkaLake

LakeWoytchugga

Crowl

Cr

Lake Cullamulcha

Lake Altiboulka

Lake YantaraLake Ulenia

Salt Lake

Bullea LakeLake Muck

Bancannia Lake

Coogee Lake

Willandra Creek

BOURKE

C

Wilcannia

BROKENHILL

Menindee

WhiteCliffs

Ivanhoe

Tibooburra

Milparinka

Wanaaring

Packsaddle

Tilpa

Coombah

E

Louth

STURT NATIONAL PARK

PINDERA DOWNSABORIGINAL AREA

MUTAWINTJIHISTORIC SITE

MUTAWINTJINATIONAL PARK

COTAURANDEENATURE RESERVE

PEERYNATIONALPARK

NOCOLECHENATURE RESERVE

GUNDABOOKANATIONAL PARK

YATHONATURRESERV

MOUNT GRENFELLHISTORIC SITE

KAJULIGAHNATURE RESERVEKINCHEGA

NATIONAL PARK

KNOWING WHAT’S AROUND YOU

When it comes to conserving native fauna, knowing what is around you is almost as

important as knowing what is on your own place. The Darling Riverine Plains is one of 80

different bioregions in Australia. Each bioregion has its own distinctive climate, geology,

landform, vegetation, fauna and land use.

Bioregions are considered to be ‘natural regions’ which are important for determining land

management and nature conservation needs on both a national and regional basis.

Your place lies within the Darling Riverine Plains Bioregion. It is surrounded by six

other bioregions.

Sev

LakeCopeton

GwydirRiver

Hor

ton

Riv

er

River

Bundarra

Namoi River

LakeKeepit

Mooki

River

GwydirRiver

Moomin

Creek

Gil GilCreek

Croppa

CreekM

acintyreRiver

NamoiRiver

Boh

ena

Cre

ek

Barwon

Riv

er

Castlereagh

RiverM

erri Merri

Creek

Macquarie

River

RiverTalbragar

Macquarie

River

River

Turon

Nar

ran

Riv

er

Bokhara

Riv

er

Culgoa

River

Bogan

River

River

River

LakeBurrendong

SINGLETON

INVERELL

Bendemeer

TAMWORTH

Manilla

Barraba

Bingara

WarialdaMOREE

Boggabilla

NARRABRI

GUNNEDAH

Boggabri

COONABARABRAN

Baradine

Pilliga

WeeWaa

Walgett

Collarenebri

Coonamble

GilgandraWarren

Nyngan

DUBBO

Dunedoo

Narromine

Peak Hill

PARKES

WELLINGTON

Molong

Trundle

Condobolin

Kandos

Rylstone

MUDGEE

Gulgong

Coolah

Merriwa

MUSWELLBROOK

SCONE

Murrurundi

Quirindi

WerrisCreek

Cessnock

Binnaway

Gulargambone

Trangie

Brewarrina

Ashford

Byrock

LightningRidge

CULGOANATIONALPARK

NARRAN LAKENATURE RESERVE

KAPUTARNATIONALPARK

MIDKINNR

CAREUNGANATURERESERVE

BOOMI, BOOMI WEST,BORONGA NRs

PLANCHONELLANATURE RESERVE

ARAKOOLANATURERESERVE

GAMILAROINATURERESERVE

PILLIGANATURERESERVE

BRIGALOWPARK NR

WARRUMBUNGLENATIONALPARK

BINNAWAYNATURE RESERVE

WEETALIBAHNATURE RESERVE

DAPPERNATURE RESERVE

GOOBANGNATIONAL PARK

WOOGOONNATURE RESERVE

TOLLINGONATURE RESERVE

QUANDANATURE RESERVE

NNIEEE

ROUND HILLNATURERESERVE

MACQUARIEMARSHESNATURERESERVE

St George

WESTERNDIVISION

CENTRALDIVISION

THE DARLING RIVERINE PLAINS BIOREGION (*shaded green in the above map)

The Darling Riverine Plains Bioregion covers 10,550,000 hectares, which is approximately

1.4% of Australia. Most of the bioregion (88%) is located within NSW with two small lobes

extending into Queensland. The bioregion is characterized by extensive floodplains of 10

major rivers: the Barwon-Darling, Culgoa, Birrie, Bokhara, Narran, Gwydir, Namoi,

Castlereagh, Macquarie and Bogan. In 1884 the bioregion in NSW was divided into the

Central and Western Divisions. It essentially divides freehold land (Central Division) from

leasehold (Western Division). This line has had enormous consequences for biodiversity

conservation. Within the bioregion more than 60% of native vegetation in the Central

Division has been cleared, while in the Western Division it is estimated that 10 – 20% of

native vegetation has been cleared.

the

bioregion is

characterised

by extensive

floodplains of

ten major river

NATIVE FAUNA

Historical records (not including

archaeological records) of native animals

from the Darling Riverine Plains go back

about 150 years giving us some idea of the

species that have and still live in the

bioregion. But most of the information on

fauna of the bioregion has come from

surveys conducted in the last 20 years.

Surveys were specifically designed for the

Darling Riverine Plains Bioregion Project

so as to complement existing information.

Since 1970 there have been 435 native

animal species including 47 threatened

species and 18 introduced animal species

recorded in the bioregion. The results

show that the bioregion has a real mix of

eastern and western fauna. That is, species

commonly found in the eastern woodlands

and those more often found in inland areas.

The other general result is the difference

in biodiversity between the Central and

Western Division. The link between the

presence of native vegetation and native

fauna is critical so the loss of

native vegetation in the Central Division

has resulted in a decline in fauna.

NATIVE HABITATS

The survey results show that within

the bioregion seven major habitat types

are important for fauna:

• Northern Riverine Woodlands

• Southern Riverine Corridor

• Diverse Woodland Remnants

• Simple Woodland Remnants

• Red Country Woodlands

• Grasslands and Shrublands

• Wetlands

There are likely to be other habitat

types that are important for native fauna

but they are likely to be small and have

not yet been surveyed.

FAT TAILED DUNNART (M P )

EGRETS (B. Johnson)

BANDY BANDY (M. Ellis)

BROAD-BANDED SAND SWIMMER (A. Dudley)

SMOOTH KNOB-TAILED GECKO (M. Maher)

BLACK-FRONTED DOTTEREL (M. Maher)

HOLY CROSS TOAD (A. Dudley)

TAWNY FROGMOUTH (M. Maher)

CARPET PYTHON (M. Maher)

WOOD GECKO (J. Little)

EURO (M. Cooper)PINK COCKATOO

GREEN TREE FROG (M. Pennay)

COMMON DUNNART (D. Paull)

GILBERT’S DRAGON (A. Dudley)

BROLGA (M. Maher)

DE VIS BANDED SNAKE (J. Little)

LESSER LONG-EARED BAT (A. Dudley)

EASTERN BLUE-TONGUED LIZARD (A. Dudley)

SALMON STRIPED FROG (A. Dudley)

ABOUT THIS REPORT

The rest of this report will provide

information for each of the habitat types

listed on page 6. It will include a general

description of the habitat and some

information on how to look after that

habitat type. There are lists of the

typical and threatened fauna species found

in each habitat as well as lists of the

declining woodland birds found in the

woodland remnants.

The typical fauna list includes species that

are commonly encountered and occur in

more than 65% of sites in that habitat

type. The threatened species are those

listed under the NSW Threatened Species

Conservation Act (1995). The declining

woodland birds are those listed by Reid

(2000). A full list of fauna found in the

Darling Riverine Plains Bioregion since

1970 can be found in the species lists

starting on page 26.

This report has highlighted the major

habitat types and fauna found in the

Darling Riverine Plains. There is more

information on the bioregion, its flora and

vegetation communities. This will be

available in subsequent reports from the

Dubbo office of the NSW National Parks

and Wildlife Service.

WHAT IS HABITAT?

Habitat is most simply defined as the place

where an animal or plant lives. Habitat

conservation aims to look after an animal

or plant’s natural habitat so that they may

continue to live in the place where they

naturally occur.

Many native animals, particularly birds

and bats, complicate this rather simple

concept by living in many places. For

instance, Red-tailed Black-cockatoos roost

and breed in large old River Red Gums

along the Darling River, however they

most often feed on the open plains and

grasslands several kilometres from the river.

Little Pied Bats are known to roost in trees,

caves and old buildings and feed in a range

of vegetation types including woodlands,

shrublands, cypress pine forests and mallee.

The Narrow-nosed Planigale (a small

marsupial, pictured below) lives

underground in the heavy, cracking grey

clays of floodplains and lakebeds feeding

both under and on the surface, mostly on

insects and spiders. In the Darling Riverine

Plains, healthy and diverse native

vegetation will provide the most important

habitat for native fauna.

COOLIBAH WOODLAND (A Fox) NARROW NOSED PLANIGALE (M Pennay) SOIL CRACKS (J Smith)

CO

MM

ON

RIN

GTA

IL P

OSS

UM

(J.

Mor

ris)

LOOKING AFTER HABITAT ON YOUR PLACE

There are many management changes you can make on your place that will benefit native

fauna. Some of these are relatively simple and others require more effort and motivation.

Here are some habitat conservation tips.

• Retain native vegetation. Aim for 10 – 30% local native

vegetation cover on your property. Keep this vegetation in

patches as large as possible, at least 10ha. If possible link

smaller patches with wide strips of vegetation, particularly

along watercourses.

• Fence areas you want to conserve. This allows greater

control over the frequency, intensity and duration of grazing,

improves pest species management and increases the chance

for natural regeneration.

• Conserve areas that represent the range of habitat types on

your property (e.g. wetlands, grasslands and woodlands) and

provide the greatest diversity of habitat (e.g. tree hollows,

fallen timber and shrubs).

• Find out what species live on your property and research their habitat requirements.

The more you know about these species, the more appropriate habitat you can provide

for them.

• Monitor and record your conservation efforts so that you and others can learn from

the experience. Document what rehabilitation methods work and what doesn’t. Take

photographs at fixed points to monitor changes, compile species lists and record any

changes as the area regenerates.

• There are many more things you can do to conserve habitat for native animals. Some

specific points are included in the remainder of this report, but if you want more help,

then look on page 24 – ‘Where to from here’.

PIED CORMORANTS NESTING

habitat is a

simple concept

made complex by

an animal’s need

to do different

things in

different places

THE HABITAT

The Northern Riverine Woodlands are

found throughout the northwest of the

bioregion north of Bourke and the Barwon

River. They are only found in the Western

Division.

This habitat type includes the River Red

Gum woodlands and the extensive

Coolibah – Black Box woodlands on the

floodplains on the Barwon-Darling, Narran

and Culgoa Rivers. They are different from

all other woodlands in the bioregion

because they are large and relatively intact

tracts of native vegetation. In fact the

riverine woodlands on the Culgoa River

floodplain are the largest and least disturbed

area of contiguous Coolibah woodland left

in NSW.

TYPICAL SPECIES

Galah

Willie Wagtail

Grey Shrike-thrush

Magpie Lark

Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike

White-plumed Honeyeater

Pied Butcherbird

Australian Magpie

Australian Raven

THREATENED SPECIES

Barking Owl

Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo

Stripe-faced Dunnart

Koala

Little Pied Bat

Large areas of

native

vegetation are

essential for the

survival of

native species

CU

LGO

A R

IVER

(A

. Fox

)

LITTLE PIED BAT (M. Ellis)

THE IMPORTANCE OF SIZE

When it comes to biodiversity

conservation, size is important. Large areas

of native vegetation (>1000ha) are essential

for the survival of native fauna species.

Research on woodland birds has shown

that large areas of native vegetation now

bear the responsibility for the survival of

many declining bird species in the wheat-

sheep belt of southeast Australia.

The home range or territory of an animal

can give an indication of the size a

vegetation remnant needs to be for

providing habitat. For example, Grey-

crowned Babblers’ home range size varies

from 2 – 53 hectares depending upon its

family group size. Bush Stone-curlews utilise

home ranges of between 250 – 500 hectares

and defend nest territories of 10 – 25

hectares, while Barking Owls range up to

five kilometres from their roost site when

searching for food.

THE HABITAT

Below Bourke, the Darling Riverine Plains

Bioregion follows the Darling River down

to the Menindee Lakes. Compared to the

rest of the bioregion it is a narrow corridor

down the floodplain. River Red Gum line

the banks of the river, major channels and

billabongs. Black Box woodlands dominate

the floodplain. There are extensive areas

of Lignum swamp as well as many red sandy

rises on the floodplain. Small ephemeral

lakes are common along with the

Menindee Lakes system consisting of ten

large lakes.

LOOKING AFTER A MOSTIMPORTANT CORRIDOR

There has been much written about the

importance of wildlife corridors, some of

which has overrated their value, but in the

Darling Riverine Plains Bioregion none is

more important than the riverine corridor.

It is important for the maintenance of

river health, for the migration and

breeding of many native fauna and for its

cultural significance.

You can look after your riverine corridor

by ensuring it is a minimum of 50 metres

wide or 3–5 trees wide on either side of

the river. It should contain a range of shrub

species of varying sizes and it should ideally

link up with large areas of native vegetation

on the floodplain.

DARLING RIVER (M. Maher)

A WHOLE LOT OF HOLES

Hollows form in dead and living trees and

can take more than 100 years to form, which

means they are not quickly replaced. Selection

of hollows varies from species to species

depending on entrance size and shape.

Red-tailed Black-cockatoos and Common

Brushtail Possums need a hollow entrance

around 15cm in diameter, while 3cm is enough

to keep a Sugar Glider happy.

Hollow depth and height above the ground also

influence hollow use, while the degree of insulation

is especially important for reptiles and bats. Research

indicates around 3-10 hollow-bearing trees, with as

many as 30 different sized hollows per hectare, are

sufficient to sustain a diverse wildlife population.

of all the wildlife

corridors, none is more

important than the

riverine corridor

GOULD’S WATTLED BAT (A. Dudley)

TYPICAL SPECIES

Peaceful Dove

Crested Pigeon

Little Corella

Galah

Red-rumped Parrot

Australian Owlet-nightjar

Rainbow Bee-eater

Sacred Kingfisher

Willie Wagtail

Grey Shrike-thrush

Magpie Lark



Yellow-throated Miner

Australian Raven

Lesser Long-eared Bat

Gould’s Wattled Bat

Little Broad-nosed Bat

Little Forest Bat

Tree Dtella

Bynoe’s Gecko

Boulenger’s Skink

THREATENED SPECIES

Black-breasted Buzzard

Masked Owl

Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo

Pink Cockatoo


Inland Forest Bat

Little Pied Bat

THE HABITAT

The diverse woodland remnants occur in

the Central Division of the bioregion and

are essentially the remnants that provide

good quality habitat for a range of native

species, particularly woodland birds. They

occur on a variety of soil types ranging

from clays to sandy soils and include canopy

trees such as Bimble Box, Baradine Red

Gum, Cypress Pine, Belah, Coolibah and

Black Box.

The presence of shrubs in the understorey

is one of the main reasons they are good

quality habitat. The shrub species include

Emu-bush, Deane’s Wattle, River Cooba,

Western Boobialla and Wilga.

LOOKING AFTER OURWOODLAND BIRDS

Numerous studies in the past decade have

shown a rapid decline in many of the once

common woodland birds. A recent study

in the NSW wheat-sheep belt (which

includes a large part of the Darling Riverine

Plains Bioregion) found 20 species were

in serious trouble. Some of these included

Red-capped Robin, Hooded Robin, Eastern

Yellow Robin, Jacky Winter, Restless

Flycatcher and Brown Treecreeper.

Diversity of woodland birds is related to

remnant area, shrub cover and density of

tree hollows, the more of each the better.

Looking after woodland birds means

looking after remnants that are larger than

10 hectares. Ensure such remnants have

more than 20% shrub cover, leave fallen

trees and branches and avoid heavy

continuous grazing.

SPOTTED GRASS FROG (A D dl ) PALE HEADED SNAKE (A D dl )

DISAPPEARING EMUS

It is hard to believe, but emus are now

declining in numbers in the wheat-sheep

belt of NSW. Although they are still found

in good numbers in the west of the Darling

Riverine Plains Bioregion, they are being

recorded from fewer areas and in lower

numbers in the eastern sections of the

bioregion. Emus have completely

disappeared from some agricultural lands

in Victoria and now only occur in farmland

where patches of woodland remain.

TYPICAL SPECIES


Willie Wagtail

Magpie Lark


Weebill

Yellow Thornbill

Mistletoebird

Striped Honeyeater


Grey Butcherbird

Striated Pardalote

Eastern Grey Kangaroo

Gould’s Wattled Bat

Little Forest Bat

Tree Skink

Boulenger’s Skink

Spotted Grass Frog

THREATENED SPECIES

Barking Owl

Glossy Black-Cockatoo

Yellow-bellied Sheathtail-bat

Little Pied Bat

Pale-headed Snake

Grey-crowned Babbler

Diamond Firetail

DECLINING WOODLANDBIRDS

Emu

Painted Button-quail

Restless Flycatcher

Jacky Winter

Red-capped Robin

Hooded Robin

Eastern Yellow Robin

Rufous Whistler

Crested Bellbird

White-browed Babbler

Southern Whiteface

Chestnut-rumped Thornbill

White-browed Woodswallow

Dusky Woodswallow

Varied Sitella

Brown Treecreeper

looking after

woodland birds

means protecting

remnants that

are larger

than 10ha

GREY-CROWNED BABBLER (L. Kelly)

YELLOW-BELLIED SHEATHTAIL-BAT (M. Maher)

THE HABITAT

The simple woodland remnants mainly

occur within the Central Division and are

the most common habitat type in the

bioregion. They are described as simple

because they often have little or no shrub

layer due to either clearing or grazing for

long periods of time. As a result they are

missing many of the woodland birds that

inhabit the diverse woodlands. The birds

that dominate these woodlands are those

that cope well with disturbance such as

Noisy Miners, Crested Pigeons and Galahs.

The canopy trees include Coolibah, Belah,

Bimble Box, Cypress Pine and Wilga.

The shrub understorey is often absent or

may contain some Lignum, Budda or

Warrior Bush.

REHABILITATING REMNANTS

Although the simple woodlands do not

provide habitat for many woodland birds

now, they can be rehabilitated. By

removing stock and allowing natural

regeneration, bird diversity can be re-

established, although this may take 15–25

years. By planting local native shrubs

(particularly wattles), leaving fallen dead

trees and branches and allowing natural

regeneration, woodland birds will return

more quickly. If you do want to

rehabilitate a remnant, make it a big one.

It should be at least 10 hectares (25 acres)

to be worthwhile.

THE BENEFITS OF NOT TIDYING UP

The urge to tidy up a paddock full of shrubs

and dead timber is often very strong but

there are good reasons to leave it alone.

Shrubs and grasses can form effective

windbreaks that help reduce erosion,

provide shade and shelter for both stock

and wildlife and stabilise banks in riparian

zones. Some wattle (Acacia) species help

to fix nitrogen into the soil. Small

insectivorous birds such as the Red-capped

Robin and Crested Bellbird prefer areas

with shrubs for nesting and avoiding

predators. Dead and fallen timber provide

homes and food for small animals such as

the Stripe-faced Dunnart, ground dwelling

birds such as the Bush Stone-curlew and

reptiles such as Boulenger’s Skink.

Woodland birds such as the Crested Shrike-

tit prefer foraging for insects under the bark

of standing timber, while Hooded Robins

prefer to forage among dead and fallen

timber. All these insectivorous species

contribute to the control of pasture pests.

TYPICAL SPECIES

Crested Pigeon

Galah


Noisy Miner

Apostlebird

Australian Magpie

Boulenger’s Skink

THREATENED SPECIES

Bush Stone-curlew

Black-breasted Buzzard

Barking Owl

Masked Owl

Glossy Black-Cockatoo

Superb Parrot


Koala


Little Pied Bat

Inland Forest Bat

Pale-headed Snake

Diamond Firetail

Grey-crowned Babbler

DECLINING WOODLAND BIRDS

Emu

Painted Button-quail

Restless Flycatcher

Jacky Winter

Red-capped Robin

Hooded Robin

Eastern Yellow Robin

Rufous Whistler

Crested Shrike-tit

Crested Bellbird

Southern Whiteface

Chestnut-rumped Thornbill

White-browed Woodswallow

Brown Treecreeper

HOW THE YATES ARE LOOKING AFTER THEIRVEGETATION REMNANTS –Bill and Anne Yates

The Yates family manages 8000 ha of cropping and grazing

land northwest of Moree. The family first arrived in 1899

and any development for grazing and latterly for broadacre

cropping, has had an emphasis on the retention of native

vegetation for windbreaks and pasture stability. As the

enterprise has switched to farming, less productive land on

sandy ridges has been left with trees (also serving as valuable

stock refuges in time of wet cultivations) and corridors have

been left adjoining public land and around all cultivated

paddocks to include all vegetation types.

Currently Bill is involved with regional planning through the

Moree Regional Vegetation Committee and sees that as an

important way of heightening awareness of the need to

retain vegetation. He believes planning to retain a proportion

of all vegetation types (including grasslands), in corridors, on

both private and public land will enhance biodiversity and

ecosystem stability. No longer is it adequate to leave small

fragmented pieces of vegetation completely devoid of native

species or habitat (including dead or fallen material) on the

basis that they are least productive to cropping or pasture

or whether trees are small or large. The Yates have found

that short duration grazing favours native vegetation retention

and regeneration.

YATES’ PROPERTY ‘DELVIN’

LINED EARLESS DRAGON (M. Cooper)

THE HUNTING GROUNDS

It has been estimated that 99% of original

grassland vegetation in NSW has been

cleared, cultivated or altered by heavy

grazing. Very few remaining native

grasslands exist in large patches

(>500 hectares); most are small areas such

as cemeteries and roadside reserves.

The grasslands were once important

hunting and gathering grounds for

Aboriginal people.

THE HABITAT

The grasslands and shrublands occur

throughout the bioregion on soils ranging

from cracking grey clays to red sands. Typical

species are native grasses such as Mitchell

Grass, Spear Grass and Warrego Summer

Grass and shrubs such as Old Man Saltbush,

Bluebush, Lignum and Canegrass. They are

the extensive areas of open country naturally

lacking trees and not the patches of

grassland created through clearing the

woodlands. Many of the fauna species found

in this habitat type are specialists at

surviving on the open plains.

TYPICAL SPECIES

Brown Songlark

Golden-headed Cisticola

Richard’s Pipit

Singing Bushlark

Narrow-nosed Planigale

Thick-tailed Gecko

Lined Earless Dragon

THREATENED SPECIES

Forrest’s Mouse

THE HUNTING GROUNDS (cont’d)

Yam Daisies were common grassland plants

and a major part of the aboriginal diet.

Aboriginal women would collect up to

2000 plants or 8 kilograms of tuber a day.

Today this plant is almost absent from the

grasslands. The high level of disturbance

in this habitat type has resulted in the fox

being one of the most common species

found in the grasslands and shrublands.

They have become the hunting grounds

of a different sort!

Very few remaining

native grasslands

exist in large

patches greater

than 500ha

OUTFOXED ON KALYANKA –Mark Etheridge and Mog Davies

We began 1080 meat baiting for foxes soon after Mog and

I took over Kalyanka in 1995. We commenced baiting

knowing that there were large numbers of foxes on the

property, counts of 50 foxes during a 2 hour spotlighting stint

were not uncommon. We know that foxes readily take new

lambs especially the first born of a set of twins. We also

anticipated a positive effect on small wildlife presuming that

less foxes and cats mean more small animals on the property.

Our initial baitings were closely monitored to determine

species coming into the bait trail. Two things became

immediately apparent, firstly that the baits were only taken

by foxes [and some cats]. Secondly, that we had lots of foxes

as initially all baits were taken by daylight. It was going to

take several baitings to get fox numbers under control. We

have now settled into an annual program of two baitings per

year : April – May when young foxes are finding their new

territories and August – September, prior to lambing.

The cost of these baitings is the time it takes to prepare and

lay the baits – approximately 4 person days per year. We find

that meat baits are best laid late in the day and into the night

to improve the chance of a fox taking a particular bait. Baits

are laid along station tracks from a vehicle towing a carcass,

thereby creating a trail. 1000 or so baits are laid at intervals

of 300 – 500 metres, taking approximately 15 hours.

After six years of baiting we now don’t see any foxes or cats,

our kangaroo shooter says that it is rare to see a fox on

Kalyanka, except in autumn when young foxes are on the

move. We were concerned at first that our baiting program

would be ineffective because not all of our neighbours were

baiting, however it would appear that baiting is quite effective

all the same. I’d guess that if all our neighbours were baiting

then we would only have to bait every year or so. The effects

of reducing fox and cat numbers on wildlife populations are

difficult to monitor.

(However, many studies have shown increases in native wildlife

when fox numbers are lowered. Ed.)

BYNOES GECKO (J. Little)

REPTILES AND REFUGE

If you wanted to list the good qualities of

the red country woodlands from a

biodiversity point of view, reptile habitat

and flood refuge would top the list. Thirty-

five species of reptiles (including 13 gecko

species) live in the red country. It is well

known that most reptiles don’t like getting

their feet wet so this habitat is more suitable

than most others in the bioregion. It also

has a diverse understorey often with rocks,

logs and litter, which is good for providing

food and shelter for many native animals

like reptiles and woodland birds. The red

country is flood refuge for both wildlife

and stock. During big floods every patch

of red country is critical for their survival.

The red country woodlands need to be

managed in much the same way as the

diverse woodland remnants.

THE HABITAT

There are many patches of red country

in the vast floodplains of the bioregion

that provide relief in more ways than

one. They include the red ridge country

around Lightning Ridge, Collarenebri

and the sandplains on the western edge

of the bioregion. The habitat they provide

has much in common with the diverse

woodland remnants but they also have

some unique qualities. The canopy trees

include Black and White Cypress Pine,

Bimble Box, Mulga, Brigalow and Gidgee.

They have a good shrub understorey

including Wilga, Mulga, Budda,

Turpentine and Native Cherry.

Retain dead

standing and fallen

timber, as many

species depend on

the leaf litter for

shelter and food

CYPRESS PINE WOODLAND (A, Fox)

TYPICAL SPECIES


Willie Wagtail

Singing Honeyeater

Striped Honeyeater


Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater

Grey Butcherbird

Australian Magpie

Australian Raven

Tree Dtella

Bynoe’s Gecko

THREATENED SPECIES

Bush Stone-curlew

Pink Cockatoo



STRIPE-FACED DUNNART (G. Bywater)

TREE DTELLA (A. Dudley)

SALT

BUSH

AN

D G

IDG

EE C

OU

NT

RY (

A, F

ox)

There are

hundreds of

wetland areas in

the bioregion -

each with its own

habitat value for

native fauna

STRAW-NECKEDIBIS NESTS/MACQUARIEMARSHES(B. Johnson)

WETLAND HABITAT

The wetlands in the Darling Riverine Plains

include rivers, waterholes, billabongs,

anabranches, overflows, channels, swamps,

braids, marshes and lakes, both freshwater

and saline. There are many hundred such

wetlands in the bioregion, some less than

one hectare, with the biggest more than

250,000 hectares. Each one will have its

own habitat value for native fauna.

WETLANDS OF INTERNATIONALSIGNIFICANCE

The largest wetlands in the bioregion are

the Gwydir Wetlands, Narran Lakes,

Macquarie Marshes and Menindee Lakes.

Each of these wetlands regularly support

and provide breeding habitat for more than

100,000 waterbirds. Three of these

wetlands, the Gwydir Wetlands, Narran

Lakes and Macquarie Marshes are listed

under the Ramsar Convention, which

means they are internationally recognised

for their wetland values.

LIGNUM AT NARRAN LAKES (J. Smith)

MACQUARIE MARSHES (B. Johnson)

NARRAN LAKES (J. Smith)

THE SOUTHERON’S AND THEIR WETLAND – Bruce and Jen Southeron

I first came into the watercourse country west of Moree in 1954. To a young stockman’s

eyes it was near to paradise – large mobs of cattle and sheep and waterbirds in countless

flocks.

The Gwydir River was virtually uncontrolled by man, so a flood or fresh in the river came

through and ran on until the river was empty which sometimes took months. Our only

indication of a fresh coming down the river was the number of birds feeding on the lead

of the water. Although we still had droughts, a good fall of rain in the catchment of the

New England would keep the watercourse green and fresh.

In the mid 1970s Copeton Dam was built on the Gwydir River east of Bundarra. Very few

people at the time had any idea of the effect this development would have on the

watercourse country. When the dam was filled there was little call for the water, then the

spillway started to breakdown.

The dam level was soon lowered so that a continual flow of water was poured into the

wetlands for a period of approximately 4 years. This inundation killed thousands of Coolibah

trees, some that were hundreds of years old. The irrigation industry started to grow. In

a very short period of time a wetlands area of well in excess of 100,000 acres died until

no more than 2000 acres remained and this was only when the flow was greater than the

pumps could draw out.

I think I can best describe the effect this had on our own wetlands with the following

figures. This country has been grazed since the 1840s. One paddock when mustered

would produce 1000 head of fat cattle -steers, cows and weaners – with the fats going

straight to market. By the early 1990s after about fifteen years of these changed conditions

the same area was carrying 150 cows and we had to crop to fatten calves.

The same devastation affected the fauna with the

rookeries dying, the Red-bellied Black Snake and

the Water Rat colonies vanishing and the Platypus

at the end of the river gone.

The wetland was a very sorry place. In those

days the environment was a dirty word only

spoken about by mad greenies. Fortunately things

have changed and in 1995 a change of policy and

government thinking has turned the issue around

and we now have a new set of rules that seem

to work for both the environment and the irrigation

industry.

The wetlands will never be as large as it was but

I know what we have now will survive and I feel

proud to think that my family helped to preserve it.

I hope that my great grandchildren will learn to ride through this country as my children

and grandchildren have ridden with me and that we will be able to keep it as it is now for

many generations.

we now have

a set of rules

that seem to

work for both

the

environment

and the

irrigation

industry

KNOWING YOU’RE NOT ALONE

Looking after your place is a job you

shouldn’t have to do alone. The cost of

retaining, managing or rehabilitating native

vegetation for wildlife habitat, shade and

shelter, the prevention and mitigation of

land degradation and the maintenance of

water quality may be greater than the direct

benefit to you but there will almost certainly

be economic benefits for the wider

community. Most landholders recognise

they have a duty of care on their place but

they need financial incentives or assistance

provided by the wider community to meet

the gap.

WHERE TO GET HELP

Long term financial incentives are currently

being discussed and investigated. The

assistance that is currently available is in

the form of government incentive programs

such as the NSW Native Vegetation

Management Fund and the

Commonwealth Natural Heritage Trust.

You can contact your local National Parks

and Wildlife Service or Department of

Land and Water Conservation office about

these schemes or contact Greening

Australia (a non-government organisation)

to find out more about financial

assistance for establishing and maintaining

native vegetation.

HOW BIODIVERSITYINFORMATION HELPS

The information collected throughout the

Darling Riverine Plains Project will benefit

both individuals and organizations.

Examples of how this information is being

used include:

• By Regional Vegetation Committees

who are preparing regional vegetation

management plans.

• By River Management Committees

who are preparing river

management plans.

• By Catchment Management

Boards who are preparing

catchment blueprints.

• For a conservation assessment of the

Darling Riverine Plains under the

guidance of the NSW State

Biodiversity Strategy.

• By individual landholders who are

undertaking farm plans or property

management plans.

• For use in threatened species

recovery plans.

• For on ground native vegetation and

wildlife protection work.

The more we know about where native

species are found and the habitats they use,

the better. The Atlas of NSW Wildlife is

a statewide database of plants and animals

managed by the NSW National Parks and

Wildlife Service. You can contribute to the

database by keeping accurate records of

plants and animals you observe on your

place and submitting these to the Atlas.

For more information on the Atlas, contact

your local NPWS office or visit the website

at:www.wildlifeatlas.npws.nsw.gov.au/about.html

FURTHER INFORMATION

If you want information or advice on

managing native vegetation for native

animals in the Darling Riverine Plains, or

if you want further reports from the Darling

Riverine Plains project, then contact:

NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service

Western Directorate

48 – 52 Wingewarra St.

PO Box 2111 DUBBO NSW 2830

Phone: (02) 6883 5330

OTHER CONTACTS

Greening Australia

PO Box 307, COBAR NSW 2835

ph (02) 6836 1575

PO Box 1305, BATHURST, NSW, 2795

ph (02) 6332 9488

Nature Conservation Council of NSW

NSW Environment Centre, Lvl 5,

362 Kent St, SYDNEY, NSW, 2000

ph (02) 9279 2466

Community Biodiversity Network

PO Box Q995

QVB Post Office, SYDNEY, NSW, 1230

ph (02) 9262 4743

FIND OUT ABOUT PLANTS AND ANIMALS ON YOUR PLACE(M. Cooper)

(RLPB: F. Lawrence)

(D. Geering)

FENCING REMNANTS OF NATIVE VEGETATION AND HABITAT

FROGS AMPHIBIATree Frogs HylidaeWaterholding Frog Cyclorana platycephalaWarty Waterholding Frog Cyclorana verrucosaGiant Waterholding Frog Cyclorana novaehollandiaeStriped Burrowing Frog Litoria alboguttataGreen Tree Frog Litoria caeruleaBroad-palmed Frog Litoria latopalmataPeron's Tree Frog Litoria peroniiDesert Tree Frog Litoria rubella

Southern Frog MyobatrachidaeBrown Froglet Crinia deserticolaPlains Froglet Crinia parinsigniferaCommon Eastern Froglet Crinia signiferaSloane’s Toadlet Crinia sloaneiBarking Marsh Frog Limnodynastes fletcheriGiant Pobblebonk Limnodynastes interiorisOrnate Burrowing Frog Limnodynastes ornatusSalmon Striped Frog Limnodynastes salminiSpotted Grass Frog Limnodynastes tasmaniensisCommon Spadefoot Toad Neobatrachus sudelliCrucifix Frog (Holy Cross Toad) Notaden bennettiiSmall-headed Toadlet Uperoleia capitulataWrinkled Toadlet Uperoleia rugosa

REPTILES REPTILIATurtles ChelidaeBroad-shelled River Turtle Chelodina expansaLong-necked Tortoise Chelodina longicollisSaw-shelled Tortoise Elseya latisternumMurray Turtle Emydura macquarii

Geckoes GekkonidaeMarbled Gecko Christinus marmoratusGecko Diplodactylus byrneiSpiny-tailed Gecko Diplodactylus ciliarisEastern Spiny-tailed Gecko Diplodactylus intermediusSteindachner’s gecko Diplodactylus steindachneriTessellated Gecko Diplodactylus tessellatusWood Gecko Diplodactylus vittatusSoft-tailed Gecko Diplodactylus williamsiNorthern Dtella Gehyra dubiaTree Dtella Gehyra variegataBynoe's Gecko Heteronotia binoeiBeaded Gecko Lucasium damaeumSmooth Knob-tailed Gecko Nephrurus levisMarbled Velvet Gecko Oedura marmorataOcellated Velvet Gecko Oedura monilisBeaked Gecko Rhynchoedura ornataThick-tailed Gecko Underwoodisaurus milii

Legless Lizards PygopodidaeLegless lizard Delma tinctaBurton's Legless Lizard Lialis burtonisCommon Scaly-foot Pygopus lepidopodusHooded Scaly-foot Pygopus nigricepsOlive Legless Lizard Delma inornata

Dragons AgamidaeJacky Lizard Amphibolurus muricatusNobbi Amphibolurus nobbiCentral Netted Dragon Ctenophorus nuchalisPainted Dragon Ctenophorus pictusGilbert's Dragon Lophognathus gilbertiEastern Water Dragon Physignathus lesueuriiBearded Dragon (Jew Lizard) Pogona barbataCentral Bearded Dragon Pogona vitticepsLined Earless Dragon Tympanocryptis lineataEarless dragon Tympanocryptis tetraporophora

Goannas VaranidaeGould's Goanna (Sand Monitor) Varanus gouldiiBlack-headed Monitor Varanus tristisLace Monitor Varanus varius

Skinks ScincidaeFive-clawed Worm-skink Anomalopus mackayiSouthern Rainbow Skink Carlia tetradactylaCarnaby’s Wall Skink Cryptoblepharus carnabyiWall Skink Cryptoblepharus plagiocephalusStriped skink Ctenotus allotropisStriped skink Ctenotus ingramiStriped skink Ctenotus leonhardiiRoyal Skink Ctenotus regiusStriped Skink Ctenotus robustusStriped skink Ctenotus schomburgkiiStriped skink Ctenotus strauchii varius

Skink Egernia modestaTree Skink Egernia striolataNarrow-banded Sand Swimmer Eremiascincus fasciolatusBroad-banded Sand Swimmer Eremiascincus richardsoniiEastern Water Skink Eulamprus quoyiiBarred-sided Skink Eulamprus tenuisDelicate Skink Lampropholis delicataBurrowing skink Lerista labialisMueller’s Skink Lerista muelleriSpotted Burrowing Skink Lerista punctatovittataBurrowing skink Lerista xanthuraGrey's Skink Menetia greyiiSkink Morethia adelaidensisBoulenger’s Skink Morethia boulengeriSkink Proablepharus kinghorniWestern Blue-tongued Lizard Tiliqua occipitalisEastern Blue-tongued Lizard Tiliqua scincoidesShingle-back Lizard Trachydosaurus rugosus

Blind snakes TyphlopidaeBlind snake Ramphotyphlops bituberculatusBlind snake Ramphotyphlops ligatusBlind snake Ramphotyphlops proximusBlind snake Ramphotyphlops wiedii

Pythons BoidaeWoma Aspidites ramsayiStimson's Python Liasis stimsoniCarpet Python Morelia spilota variegata

Rear-fanged Snakes ColubridaeGreen Tree Snake Dendrelaphis punctulata

Front-fanged Snakes ElapidaeCommon Death Adder Acanthophis antarcticusYellow-faced Whip Snake Demansia psammophisDe Vis Banded Snake Denisonia devisiSnake Drysdalia rhodogasterRed-naped Snake Furina diademaGrey Snake Hemiaspis dameliiPale-headed Snake Hoplocephalus bitorquatusEastern Tiger Snake Notechis scutatusMulga (King Brown) Snake Pseudechis australisSpotted Black Snake Pseudechis guttatusRed-bellied Black Snake Pseudechis porphyriacusRinged Brown Snake Pseudonaja modestaWestern Brown Snake (Gwardar) Pseudonaja nuchalisEastern Brown Snake Pseudonaja textilisCoral Snake Simoselaps australisBlack-headed Snake Suta spectabilis spectabilisSnake Suta spectabilis dyweriCurl (Myall) Snake Suta sutaBandy-bandy Vermicella annulata

MAMMALS MAMMALIAEgg-laying Mammals MonotremataPlatypus Ornithorhynchus anatinusShort-beaked Echidna Tachyglossus aculeatus

Marsupials MarsupialiaYellow-footed Antechinus Antechinus flavipesSpotted-tailed Quoll Dasyurus maculatusBrush-tailed Phascogale Phascogale tapoatafaPaucident Planigale Planigale gilesiNarrow-nosed Planigale Planigale tenuirostrisFat-tailed Dunnart Sminthopsis crassicaudataStripe-faced Dunnart Sminthopsis macrouraCommon Dunnart Sminthopsis murinaKoala Phascolarctos cinereusCommon Wombat Vombatus ursinusSugar Glider Petaurus brevicepsSquirrel Glider Petaurus norfolcensisCommon Ringtail Possum Pseudocheirus peregrinusCommon Brushtail Possum Trichosurus vulpeculaFeathertail Glider Acrobates pygmaeusWestern Grey Kangaroo Macropus fuliginosusEastern Grey Kangaroo Macropus giganteusEuro Macropus robustusRed-necked Wallaby Macropus rufogriseusRed Kangaroo Macropus rufusSwamp Wallaby Wallabia bicolour

Placentals EutheriaLittle Red Flying-fox Pteropus scapulatusYellow-bellied Sheathtail-bat Saccolaimus flaviventrisBat Mormopterus species 3Bat Mormopterus species 4White-Striped Mastiff-bat Tadarida australis

Gould's Wattled Bat Chalinolobus gouldiiLittle Pied Bat Chalinolobus picatusInland Eptesicus Vespadelus baverstockiLittle Forest Eptesicus Vespadelus vulturnusLesser Long-eared Bat Nyctophilus geoffroyiGould's Long-eared Bat Nyctophilus gouldiWestern Broad-nosed Bat Scotorepens balstoniLittle Broad-nosed Bat Scotorepens greyiiWater Rat Hydromys chrysogasterForrest's Mouse Leggadina forrestiPale Field-rat Rattus tunneyi

Introduced Placental MammalsBrown Hare Lepus capensisRabbit Oryctolagus cuniculusFeral Dog Canis familiarisFox Vulpes vulpesFeral Cat Felis catusFeral Horse Equus caballusFeral Pig Sus scrofaFeral Goat Capra hircusFeral Cattle Bos taurusHouse Mouse Mus musculusBlack Rat Rattus rattus

BIRDS AVESFlightless BirdsEmu Dromaius novaehollandiae

WaterbirdsGreat Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatusHoary-headed Grebe Poliocephalus poliocephalusAustralasian Grebe Tachybaptus novahollandiaeAustralian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatusDarter Anhinga melanogasterGreat Cormorant Phalacrocorax carboPied Cormorant Phalacrocorax variusLittle Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostrisLittle Pied Cormorant PhalacrocoraxmelanoleucosRed-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon rubricaudaPacific Heron Ardea pacificaWhite-faced Heron Ardea novaehollandiaePied Heron Ardea picataCattle Egret Ardeola ibisGreat Egret Egretta albaLittle Egret Egretta garzettaIntermediate Egret Egretta intermediaRufous Night Heron Nycticorax caledonicusLittle Bittern Ixobrychus minutusBlack Bittern Dupetor flavicollisAustralasian Bittern Botaurus poiciloptilusBlack-necked Stork Xenorhynchus asiaticusGlossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellusSacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicaStraw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollisRoyal Spoonbill Platalea regiaYellow-billed Spoonbill Platalea flavipesMagpie Goose Anseranas semipalmataWandering Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna arcuataPlumed Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna eytoniBlack Swan Cygnus atratusFreckled Duck Stictonetta naevosaAustralian Shelduck Tadorna tadornoidesPacific Black Duck Anas superciliosaGrey Teal Anas gibberifronsChestnut Teal Anas castaneaAustralasian Shoveler Anas rhynchotisPink-eared Duck Malacorhynchus membranaceusCotton Pygmy-goose Nettapus coromandelianusGreen Pygmy-goose Nettapus pulchellusHardhead Aythya australisManed Duck Chenonetta jubataBlue-billed Duck Oxyura australisMusk Duck Biziura lobata

Birds of PreyOsprey Pandion haliaetusBlack-shouldered Kite Elanus notatusLetter-winged Kite Elanus scriptusPacific Baza Aviceda subcristataBlack Kite Milvus migransSquare-tailed Kite Lophoictinia isuraBlack-breasted Buzzard Hamirostra melanosternonWhistling Kite Haliastur sphenurusBrown Goshawk Accipiter fasciatusCollared Sparrowhawk Accipiter cirrhocephalus

Grey Goshawk Accipiter novaehollandiaeRed Goshawk Ertyhrotriochis radiatusWhite-bellied Sea-Eagle Haliaeetus leucogasterWedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audaxLittle Eagle Hieraaetus morphnoidesSpotted Harrier Circus assimilisMarsh Harrier Circus aeruginosusBlack Falcon Falco subnigerPeregrine Falcon Falco peregrinusAustralian Hobby Falco longipennisGrey Falcon Falco hypoleucosBrown Falcon Falco berigoraAustralian Kestrel Falco cenchroides

Mound-building BirdsMalleefowl Leipoa ocellata

QuailStubble Quail Coturnix novaezealandiaeBrown Quail Coturnix australisKing Quail Coturnix chinensisPainted Button-quail Turnix variaLittle Button-quail Turnix veloxRed-chested Button-quail Turnix pyrrhothorax

Grassland BirdsAustralian Bustard Ardeotis australisBush Thick-knee Burhinus magnirostris

Swamp Birds and WadersBuff-banded Rail Rallus philippensisLewin's Rail Rallus pectoralisBaillon's Crake Porzana pusillaAustralian Crake Porzana flumineaSpotless Crake Porzana tabuensisBlack-tailed Native-hen Gallinula ventralisDusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosaPurple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrioEurasian Coot Fulica atraBrolga Grus rubicundusPainted Snipe Rostratula benghalensisMasked Lapwing Vanellus milesBanded Lapwing Vanellus tricolorRed-kneed Dotterel Erythogonys cinctusMongolian Plover Charadrius mongolusDouble-banded Plover Charadrius bicinctusRed-capped Plover Charadrius ruficapillusBlack-fronted Plover Charadrius melanopsInland Dotterel Peltohyas australisBlack-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopusBanded Stilt Cladorynchus leucocephalusRed-necked Avocet Recurvirostra vaehollandiaeBlack-tailed Godwit Limosa limosaSanderling Calidris albaAustralian Pratincole Stiltia isabellaSilver Gull Larus novaehollandiaeFranklin’s Gull Larus pipixcanWhiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridaGull-billed Tern Gelochelidon niloticaCaspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia

Pigeons & DovesPeaceful Dove Geopelia placidaDiamond Dove Geopelia cuneataBar-shouldered Dove Geopelia humeralisCommon Bronzewing Phaps chalcopteraFlock Bronzewing Phaps histrionicaCrested Pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes

ParrotsRed-tailed Black-Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus magnificusGlossy Black-Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus lathamiYellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus funereusGalah Cacatua roseicapillaLittle Corella Cacatua sanguineaPink Cockatoo Cacatua leadbeateriSulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galeritaRainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodusScaly-breasted Lorikeet Trichoglossus chlorolepidotusLittle Lorikeet Glossopsitta pusillaAustralian King-Parrot Alisterus scapularisRed-winged Parrot Aprosmictus erythropterusSuperb Parrot Polytelis swainsoniiRegent Parrot Polytelis anthopeplusCockatiel Nymphicus hollandicusBudgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus

LEGEND

ThreatenedSpecies

Species ofconservationconcern in theWesternDivision

Decliningwoodland birdsList adapted from DraftDRP Background Report(Kerle et al 2002)

Crimson Rosella Platycercus elegansYellow Rosella Platycercus elegansEastern Rosella Platycercus eximiusPale-headed Rosella Platycercus adscitusMallee Ringneck Barnardius barnardiRed-rumped Parrot Psephotus haematonotusMulga Parrot Psephotus variusBlue Bonnet Northiella haematogasterBourke's Parrot Neophema bourkiiBlue-winged Parrot Neophema chrysostomaTurquoise Parrot Neophema pulchella

CuckoosPallid Cuckoo Cuculus pallidusBrush Cuckoo Cuculus variolosusFan-tailed Cuckoo Cuculus pyrrhophanusBlack-eared Cuckoo Chrysococcyx osculansHorsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo Chrysococcyx basalisShining Bronze-Cuckoo Chrysococcyx lucidusChannel-billed Cuckoo Scythrops novaehollandiaeCommon Koel Eudynamis scolopacea

Night BirdsSouthern Boobrook Ninox novaeseelandiaeBarking Owl Ninox connivensBarn Owl Tyto albaGrass Owl Tyto capensisMasked Owl Tyto novaehollandiaeTawny Frogmouth Podargus strigoidesAustralian Owlet-nightjar Aegotheles cristatusSpotted Nightjar Caprimulgus guttatusWhite-throated Nightjar Caprimulgus mysticalis

KingfishersAzure Kingfisher Ceyx azureaLaughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineaeForest Kingfisher Halcyon macleayiiRed-backed Kingfisher Halcyon pyrrhopygiaSacred Kingfisher Halcyon sanctaRainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatusDollarbird Eurystomus orientalis

SongbirdsSinging Bushlark Mirafa javanicaWhite-backed Swallow Cheramoeca leucosternumWelcome Swallow Hirundo neoxenaTree Martin Cecropis nigricansFairy Martin Cecropis arielRichard's Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiaeBlack-faced Cuckoo-shrike Coracina novaehollandiaeWhite-bellied Cuckoo-shrike Coracina papuensisCicadabird Coracina tenuirostrisGround Cuckoo-shrike Coracina maximaWhite-winged Triller Lalage sueuriiFlame Robin Petroica phoeniceaScarlet Robin Petroica multicolorRose Robin Petroica rodinogasterRed-capped Robin Petroica goodenoviiHooded Robin Melanodryas cucullataEastern Yellow Robin Eopsaltria australisJacky Winter Microeca leucophaeaCrested Shrike-tit Falcunculus frontatusGilbert's Whistler Pachycephala inornataGolden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralisRufous Whistler Pachycephala rufiventrisGrey Shrike-thrush Colluricincla harmonicaCrested Bellbird Oreoica gutturalisLeaden Flycatcher Myiagra rubeculaSatin Flycatcher Myiagra cyanoleucaRestless Flycatcher Myiagra inquietaRufous Fantail Rhipidura rufifronsGrey Fantail Rhipidura fuliginosaWillie Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrysChirruping Wedgebill Psophodes cristatusChestnut-breasted Quail-thrush Cinclosoma castaneothoraxGrey-crowned Babbler Pomatostomus temporalisWhite-browed Babbler Pomatostomus superciliosusChestnut-crowned Babbler Pomatostomus ruficepsClamorous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreusTawny Grassbird Megalurus timoriensisLittle Grassbird Megalurus gramineusGolden-headed Cisticola Cisticola exilisRufous Songlark Cinclorhamphus mathewsiBrown Songlark Cinclorhamphus cruralisSuperb Fairy Wren Malurus cyaneusSplendid FairyWren Malurus splendensVariegated Fairy Wren Malurus lamberti

White-winged Fairy Wren Malurus leucopterusWhite-browed Scrubwren Sericornis frontalisChestnut-rumped Hylacola Sericornis pyrrhopygiusRedthroat Sericornis brunneusRufous Fieldwren Calamanthus campestrisSpeckled Warbler Sericornis sagittatusWeebill Smicrornis brevirostrisWestern Gerygone Gerygone fuscaWhite-throated Gerygone Gerygone olivaceaInland Thornbill Acanthiza apicaBrown Thornbill Acanthiza pusillaChestnut-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza uropygialisBuff-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza reguloidesYellow-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza chrysorrhoaYellow Thornbill Acanthiza nanaSouthern Whiteface Aphelocephala leucopsisVaried Sittella Daphoenositta chrysopteraWhite-throated Treecreeper Climacteris leucophaeaWhite-browed Treecreeper Climacteris affinisBrown Treecreeper Climacteris picumnusRed Wattlebird Anthochaera carunculataSpiny-cheeked Honeyeater Acanthagenys rufogularisStriped Honeyeater Plectorhyncha lanceolataNoisy Friarbird Philemon corniculatusLittle Friarbird Philemon citreogularisBlue-faced Honeyeater Entomyzona cyanotisNoisy Miner Manorina melanocephalaYellow-throated Miner Manorina flavigulaYellow-faced Honeyeater Lichenostomus chrysopsSinging Honeyeater Lichenostomus virescensWhite-eared Honeyeater Lichenostomus leucotisYellow-plumed Honeyeater Lichenostomus ornatusGrey-fronted Honeyeater Lichenostomus plumulusFuscous Honeyeater Lichenostomus fuscusWhite-plumed Honeyeater Lichenostomus penicillatusBlack-chinned Honeyeater Melithreptus gularisBrown-headed Honeyeater Melithreptus brevirostrisWhite-naped Honeyeater Melithreptus lunatusBrown Honeyeater Lichmera indistinctaPainted Honeyeater Grantiella pictaWhite-fronted Honeyeater Phylidonyris albifronsBlack Honeyeater Certhionyx nigerCrimson Chat Ephthianura tricolorOrange Chat Ephthianura aurifronsWhite-fronted Chat Ephthianura albifronsMistletoebird Dicaeum hirundinaceumSpotted Pardalote Pardalotus punctatusYellow-rumped Pardalote Pardalotus punctatus xanthopygusRed-browed Pardalote Pardalotus rubricatusStriated Pardalote Pardalotus striatusSilvereye Zosterops lateralisRed-browed Firetail Emblema temporalisDiamond Firetail Emblema guttataZebra Finch Poephila guttataDouble-barred Finch Poephila bichenoviiChestnut-breasted Mannikin Lonchura castaneothoraxPlum-headed Finch Aidemosyne modestaOlive-backed Oriole Oriolus sagittatusSpangled Drongo Dicrurus hottentottusSpotted Bowerbird Chlamydera maculataWhite-winged Chough Corcorax melanorhamphosApostlebird Struthidea cinereaAustralian Magpie Lark Grallina cyanoleucaWhite-breasted Woodswallow Artamus personatusMasked Woodswallow Artamus personatusWhite-browed Woodswallow Artamus superciliosusBlack-faced Woodswallow Artamus cinereusDusky Woodswallow Artamus cyanopterusLittle Woodswallow Artamus minorGrey Butcherbird Cracticus torquatusPied Butcherbird Cracticus nigrogularisAustralian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicenPied Currawong Strepera graculinaAustralian Raven Corvus coronoidesLittle Raven Corvus melloriLittle Crow Corvus bennettiTorresian Crow Corvis orru

Introduced BirdsMallard Anas platyrhynchosFeral Pigeon Columba liviaSpotted Turtle-Dove Streptopelia chinensisCommon Blackbird Turdus merulaHouse Sparrow Passer domesticusCommon Starling Sturnus vulgaris

LEGEND

ThreatenedSpecies

Species ofconservationconcern in theWesternDivision

Decliningwoodland birdsList adapted from DraftDRP Background Report(Kerle et al 2002)

REFERENCESArthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research. 2001.Menindee Lakes – Terrestrial Flora & Fauna. Interpretation andAssessment. Department of Land & Water Conservation. Dubbo.

Australian Museum, 2001. The value of remnant vegetation for birdsin the New South Wales wheatbelt.http://www.amonline.net.au/terrestrial_ecology/research/vegetation.htm

Ayers, D. Nash, S. & Baggett, K. 1996. Threatened Species ofWestern New South Wales. NSW National Parks and WildlifeService: Sydney.

Barrett, G. 2000. Birds on Farms. Birds Australia. HawthornEast, Victoria.

Bennett, A and Platt, S, 1999. Farm Planning and Wildlife. Landfor Wildlife Notes Series No LW0022. Department of NaturalResources & Environment, Vic.

Davidson, I and Robinson D., 1992. Flora & Fauna Guarantee:Action Statement 34 – Grey-crowned Babbler Pomatostamus temporalis.Department of Natural Resources & Environment, Vic.

Dick, R and Andrew, D. 1993. A Vertebrate Fauna Survey of theCulgoa and Birrie River Floodplains in NSW 1990-1992. OccasionalPaper No. 14 NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Dickman, C. R., Pressey, R. L., Lim, L. and Parnaby H. E. 1993.

Mammals of Particular Conservation Concern in the Western Division

of NSW. Biological Conservation 65, 219-248.

Ellis, M. and Wilson, P. 1992. An overview of the Vertebrate Faunaof the Brigalow Belt North-east of Bourke, NSW. Royal ZoologicalSociety of NSW Mammal Section: Sydney

Kerle, J.A. Gosper, C., Achurch, H and Laity, T. 2002, Draft DarlingRiverine Plains Background Report. Unpublished report. WesternRegional Assessment Unit, NSW National Parks and WildlifeService, Dubbo.

Kingsford, R., Thomas, R. and Wong, P. 1996. Significant Wetlandsfor Waterbirds in the Murray-Darling Basin. Murray-Darling BasinCommission. Canberra.

Reid, J. 2000. Threatened and Declining Birds in the NSW Sheep-Wheat Belt: Landscape Relationships – Modelling Bird Atlas Dataagainst Vegetation Cover. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Sydney.

Robinson, D. and Johnson, G., 1992. Flora & Fauna Guarantee:Action Statement 78 – Bush Stone-curlew Burhinus grallarius.Department of Natural Resources & Environment, Vic.

Sadlier, R.A., Pressey, R.L. and Whish, G.L. 1996. Reptiles and

Amphibians of Particular Conservation Concern in the Western Divison

of New South Wales: Distributions, Habitats, and Conservation Status.

Biological Conservation 69, 41-54.

Seddon, J., Briggs, S. and Doyle, S. 2001. Birds in WoodlandRemnants of the Central Wheat/Sheep Belt of NSW. Report to theNatural Heritage Trust. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service,Sydney.

Sheahan, M. 2000 Arrangements and Opportunities for NativeVegetation Management in NSW. Native Vegetation AdvisoryCouncil NSW. Sydney.

Siversten, D. 1994 The Native Vegetation Crisis in the Wheat Beltof NSW. Search Vol. 25, No. 1

Smith, J., Ellis, M., Ayers, D., Mazzer, T., Wallace, G., Langdon,A. and Cooper, M. 1998. The Fauna of Western NSW: The NorthernFloodplains Region NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Smith, P.J., Smith, J.E., Pressey, R.L. and Whish, G.L. 1995. Birds

of Particular Conservation Concern in the Western Divison of New

South Wales: Distributions, Habitats and Threats. Biological

Conservation 69, 315-338.

Smith, P., Wilson, B., Nadolny, C. and Lang, D. 2000. TheEcological Role of the Native Vegetation of NSW. Native VegetationAdvisory Council NSW. Sydney

Thackway, R. and Creswell, I. D. 1995. An Interim BiogeographicRegionalisation for Australia. Environment Australia. Canberra

Traill, B. J. and Duncan, S. 2000 Status of Birds in the NSWTemperate Woodlands Region. Consultancy report to NSW NationalParks and Wildlife Service. Sydney.

Wade, T. 1992. The Brigalow Outlier: A resource Inventory of theBrigalow Vegetation Communities West of the Culgoa River.Deptartment of Conservation and Land Mangement: Bourke.

WMB, Statewide, 1999. Wildlife needs natural tree hollows. Landfor Wildlife Notes Series No LW0006. Department of NaturalResources & Environment, Vic.

DISCLAIMEREvery effort has been made to ensure the information presented

in this publication is accurate and up to date. However the contents

of this publication should not be relied upon as the sole source of

information on the biodiversity of the Darling Riverine Plains and

further advice should be sought from suitably qualified professional

biologists. This publication is provided on the basis that its editors

and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service are not

responsible for the results of any actions taken on the basis of

information in this publication, nor any error in, or ommission

from this publication. This publication should in no way be regarded

as legal advice. The National Parks and Wildlife Service and the

editor expresly disclaim all liability and responsibility to any person

in respect of anything done or ommitted to be done by any persons

in reliance upon the contents of this publication.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Community members:

Thank you to the following the landholders that supported the Project: Bill & Anne Yates, Andrew & Anne Perry, Bruce & Jen Southeron,Jenny Anderson, John & Jo Searle, Jim & Kayleen Southeron, Jim & Rhonda Cameron, Malcolm & Judith Cameron, Richard Elrington,Trevor and Donna George, Diana Chase, Bruce and Tracey Hunt, Ian & Penny Marr, Mark Etheridge and Mog Davies, Ann & Warren Hull,George Thornton, Peter McLellan, John Baker, Scott Ridley and others. Your contribution has been invaluable, and was vital to the successof the project.

To the many volunteers that assisted the project team during the surveys, both from the community and government agencies, your time andeffort is much appreciated.

Thank you to the Rural Lands Protection Boards (in particular Dubbo, Moree, Narrabri and Nyngan) and State Forests for allowing us toconduct surveys on lands under their management.

Thank you to the NPWS regional staff and DLWC officers in the bioregion for their time, support, encouragement and assistance, and thanksto the Darling Riverine Plains Project Team for the survey work and contributions to this reprt.

Satellite Imagery: Geoimage Pty Ltd

ISBN: 0 7313 6437 6

© National Parks and Wildlife Service 2002

Cover artwork: The cover artwork was painted by Wendy Jennings who, once a medical technologist, progressed to studying nature with acamera and paintbrush. Realism and detail are a feature of Wendy’s work, down to the tiny insect that’s always there. Contact details:[email protected].

Text: Jo Smith Design: Charles Walsh Nature Tourism Services Report Coordination: Michele Cooper, Laura Kelly, Helen Achurch

Funding bodies:

Major funding contribution for community consultation from Natural Heritage Trust Grant. Supplementary funding from the NSW NationalParks and Wildlife Service. Biodiversity assessment funding from the NSW State Biodiversity Strategy.

life in the darling riverine plains · diverse woodland remnants 14 the habitat: looking after our...

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