Fauna

Protecting Fauna on Wild Mountains

All native fauna species found in Wild Mountains Nature Reserve are protected.

Native fauna will not be fed.

Food and general waste will not be disposed of in the Wild Mountains Nature Reserve. The storage or containment of waste will be undertaken in a way such that wildlife will not have access to it.

Rare and threatened fauna species that have been found in the area, or are likely to use the area, are to be considered when planning any educational or land management activity. Impacts on these species will be avoided. Special projects may be undertaken from time to time on the recovery of these species. Wild Mountains actively participates in any recovery initiatives and regular surveys. Fauna surveys at Wild Mountains will not use tape recorded call-back techniques for territorial species as these may cause unacceptable stress.

At Wild Mountains, under Nature Conservation Act 1992 these fauna species are identified as having special significance:

Coxen’s Fig Parrot (Cyclopsitta diophthalma coxeni) - Endangered and could be extinct

Coxen’s Fig Parrot (Cyclopsitta diophthalma coxeni) - Endangered and could be extinct

Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) - Regionally Vulnerable

Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) - Regionally Vulnerable

Spotted-tailed Quoll (Dasyurus maculatus maculatus) - Vulnerable

Spotted-tailed Quoll (Dasyurus maculatus maculatus) - Vulnerable

Glossy Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami) - Vulnerable

Glossy Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami) - Vulnerable

Sooty Owl (Tyto tenebricosa) - Rare

Sooty Owl (Tyto tenebricosa) - Rare

Albert’s Lyrebird (Menura alberti) - Rare

Albert’s Lyrebird (Menura alberti) - Rare

Grey Goshawk (Accipiter novaehollandiae) - Rare

Grey Goshawk (Accipiter novaehollandiae) - Rare

Loveridge’s Mountain Frog (Philoria loveridgei) - Rare

Loveridge’s Mountain Frog (Philoria loveridgei) - Rare

Fletcher’s Frog (Lechriodus fletcheri) - Rare

Fletcher’s Frog (Lechriodus fletcheri) - Rare

Stephen’s Banded Snake (Hoplocephalus stephensii) - Rare

Stephen’s Banded Snake (Hoplocephalus stephensii) - Rare

Notes on conservation of select fauna species at Wild Mountains.

Spotted-tailed Quoll

(Dasyurus maculatus maculatus)
The Spotted-tailed Quoll is a solitary marsupial carnivore that ranges widely over large territories of up to 1,000 Ha. Territories are known to overlap. It favours wet forests but also moves through woodland. Like a large cat with spots, it is very proficient in climbing trees. It uses tree hollows and caves for shelter and for den sites. It tends to be affected by competition from wild dogs. It is also quite partial to domestic chooks, and has been destroyed as vermin in the past.

Glossy Black Cockatoo

(Calyptorhynchus lathami)
These birds eat Allocasuarina seeds and need to drink water every day. They tend to be creatures of habit and use the same feed trees and same drinking spots from year to year. They breed in winter every second year and usually produce one offspring. Large tree hollows are needed for breeding.

Favoured feed trees can be identified by the copious quantities of chewed seed cones that litter the ground around the tree. Allocasuarinas need to be 7 years old before they produce abundant seed, so fire exclusion is vital. However, they germinate in disturbed areas so the food resource tends to move around in the landscape as trees mature and die.

Sooty Owl

(Tyto tenebricosa)
A secretive bird of thick rainforest, the Sooty Owl depends on a healthy mammal fauna for survival. As a peak predator, it is naturally in low densities, and pairs aggressively hold large territories. Old growth forests are the key to its conservation. They nest in large hollows.

Albert’s Lyrebird

(Menura alberti)
A shy bird of mountain rainforests and the logo for Beaudesert Shire. It eats various insects and gastropods found in leaf litter and must forage over large areas. Males claim territories during winter and can be readily surveyed by their loud musical territory calls. A lack of disturbance from human activities, few pest animals and unfragmented habitat will ensure their survival.

Grey Goshawk

(Accipiter novaehollandiae)
Pairs hold large territories that usually include a mixture of rainforest and wet sclerophyll.  Nests are often used repeatedly, but may be abandoned if subject to disturbance. The Grey Goshawk preys on birds and small mammals, usually in dense forest. Species survival depends on a lack of disturbance and dense old growth forests.

Koala

(Phascolarctos cinereus)
A mammal related to the Wombat, it lives in dry eucalypt forests and specialises by relying solely on eucalyptus leaves. A number of eucalypt species are used as food. Koalas can usually defend themselves, with large claws and powerful arms. Wedge-tailed Eagles are known to take young Koalas as food, otherwise there are no other predators. Koalas are prone to being hit by cars as they cross our many roads, especially in urban areas. They tend to move around between trees on a daily basis, and may be attacked on the ground by large dogs in the urban landscape. Koalas in stressed habitats are also susceptible to a disease called Chlamydia which causes blindness and infertility. In rural areas with adequate tree density and few roads, Koalas ought to be safely conserved. They are naturally in low numbers with a density of one Koala per 3 hectares.

Wild Mountains Fauna List

  • 1. Australian brush-turkey ( Alectura lathamii )

    2. Painted button-quail (Tunix varia)

    3. Brown Quail ( Coturnix australis )

    4. Rose-crowned fruit–dove ( Ptilinopus regina )

    5. Purple-crowned fruit-dove ( Ptilinopus superbus )

    6. Wompoo pidgeon ( Ptilinopus magnificus )

    7. Brown pidgeon ( Macropygia amboinensis )

    8. Emerald dove ( Chalcophaps indica )

    9. Topknot pigeon ( Lopholaimus antarcticus )

    10. White-headed pigeon ( Columba leucomela )

    11. Wonga pigeon ( Leucosarcia melanoleuca )

    12. Common bronzewing ( Phaps chalcoptera )

    13. Yellow-tailed black-cockatoo ( Calyptorhynchus funereus )

    14. Red-tailed black-cockatoo ( Calyptorhynchus magnificus)

    15. Glossy black-cockatoo ( Calyptorhynchus lathami)

    16. Sulphur-crested cockatoo ( Cacatua galerita )

    17. Rainbow lorikeet ( Trichoglossus haematodus )

    18. Scaly-breasted lorikeet ( Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus )

    19. Little lorikeet ( Glossopsitta pusilla )

    20. Coxen’s fig-parrot, race coxeni (Psittaculirostris diophthalma)

    21. Australian king-parrot ( Alisterus scapularis )

    22. Crimson rosella ( Platycercus elegans )

    23. Eastern rosella ( Platycercus eximius )

    24. Pale-headed rosella ( Platycercus adscitus )

    25. Brush cuckoo ( Cuculus variolosus )

    26. Fan-tailed cuckoo ( Cuculus pyrrhophanus )

    27. Chestnut-breasted cuckoo ( Cuculus castaneiventris )

    28. Horsfield’s bronze-cuckoo ( Chrysococcyx basalis)

    29. Little bronze-cockoo ( Chrysococcyx malayanus )

    30. Shining-bronze cuckoo race plagosus ( Chrysococcyx lucidus )

    31. Channel-billed cuckoo ( Scythrops novaehollandiae )

    32. Pheasant coucal ( Centropus phasianinus )

    33. Southern boobook ( Ninox novaeseelandiae )

    34. Tawny frogmouth ( Podargus strigoides )

    35. Barn owl ( Tyto alba )

    36. Sooty owl ( Tyto tenebricosa )

    37. Grass owl ( Tyto longimembris 0

    38. Barking owl ( Ninox connivens )

    39. Australian owlet-nightjar ( Aegotheles cristatus )

    40. White-throated nightjar ( Caprimulgus mystacalis )

    41. Spine-tailed swift (Hirundapus caudacutus )

    42. Laughing kookaburra ( Dacelo novaeguineae )

    43. Forest kingfisher (Halcyon macleayii )

    44. Sacred kingfisher (Halcyon sancta )

    45. Dollarbird ( Eurystomus orientalis )

    46. Rainbow bee-eater ( Merops ornatus )

    47. Noisy pitta ( Pitta versicolor )

    48. Albert’s lyrebird ( Menura alberti )

    49. Cicadabird ( Coracina tenuirostris )

    50. Russet-tailed thrush ( Zoothera heinei )

    51. Rose robin ( Petroica rosea )

    52. Eastern yellow robin ( Eopsaltria australis )

    53. Pale-yellow robin ( Tregellasia capito )

    54. Golden whistler ( Pachycephala pectoralis )

    55. Rufous whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris )

    56. Grey shrike-thrush ( Colluricincla harmonica )

    57. Little shrike-thrush (Colluricincla megarhyncha )

    58. Scaly shrike-thrush ( Zoothera dauma )

    59. Crested shrike-tit ( Falcunculus frontatus )

    60. Black-faced monarch Flycatcher ( Monarcha melanopsis )

    61. Spectacled monarch Flycathcher( Monarcha trivirgatus )

    62. Leaden flycatcher ( Myiagra rubecula )

    63. Satin flycatcher ( Myiagra cyanoleuca )

    64. Rufous fantail ( Rhipidura rufifrons )

    65. Grey fantail ( Rhipidura fuliginosa )

    66. Willie wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys )

    67. Black-faced cuckoo-shrike ( Coracina lineata )

    68. Varied triller ( Lalagae leucomela )

    69. Logrunner ( Orthonyx temminckii )

    70. Eastern whipbird ( Psophodes olivaceus )

    71. Variegated wren ( Malurus lamberti )

    72. Red-backed wren ( Malurus melanocephalus )

    73. Superb-blue wren (Malurus cyaneus )

    74. Large-billed scrubwren ( Sericornis magnirostris )

    75. Yellow-throated scrubwren ( Sericornis citreogularis )

    76. White-browed Scrubwren ( Sericornis frontalis )

    77. Brown gerygone ( Gerygone mouki )

    78. White-throated gerygone ( Gerygone olivacea )

    79. Brown thornbill ( Acanthiza pusilla )

    80. Buff-rumped thornbill ( Acanthiza reguloides )

    81. Yellow thornbill ( Acanthiza nana )

    82. Striated thornbill ( Acanthiza lineata )

    83. Varied sittella ( Daphoenositta chrysoptera )

    84. White-throated treecreeper ( Cormobates leucophaea )

    85. Noisy friarbird ( Philomen corniculatus )

    86. Bell miner ( Manorina melanophrys )

    87. Lewin’s honeyeater ( Meliphaga lewinii )

    88. Yellow-faced honeyeater ( Lichenostomus chrysops )

    89. White-naped honeyeater ( Melithreptus lunatus )

    90. Scarlet honeyeater ( Myzomela erythrocephala )

    91. Eastern spinebill ( Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris )

    92. Mistletoebird ( Dicaeum hirundinaceum )

    93. Silvereye ( Zosterops lateralis )

    94. Red-browed firetail ( Emblema temporalis )

    95. Double-barred finch ( Poephila bichenovii )

    96. Olive-backed oriole ( Oriolus sagittatus )

    97. Spangled drongo ( Dicrurus hottentottus )

    98. Satin bowerbird ( Ptilonorhynchus violaceus )

    99. Regent bowerbird ( Sericulus chrysocephalus )

    100. Green catbird ( Ailuroedus crassirostris )

    101. Paradise riflebird ( Ptiloris paradiseus )

    102. Australian magpie ( Gymnorhina tibicen )

    103. Pied currawong ( Strepera graculina )

    104. Torresian crow ( Corvus orru )

    105. Figbird ( Sphecotheres viridis )

    106. Brown falcon ( Falco berigora )

    107. Collared sparrowhawk ( Accipiter cirrhocephalus )

    108. Grey goshawk ( Accipiter novaehollandiae )

    109. Pacific baza ( Avecida subcristata )

    110. Peregrine falcon ( Falco peregrinus )

    111. Wedge-tailed eagle ( Aquila audax )

    112. Whistling kite ( Haliastur sphenurus )

    113. Spotted pardalote (Pardalotus punctatus )

    114. Striated pardalote ( Pardalotus striatus )

  • 115. Nankeen night heron ( Nycticorax caledonicus )

    116. White-faced heron ( Ardea novaehollandiae )

    117. White-breasted sea-eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster )

    118. Comb-crested jacana ( Irediparra gallinacea )

  • 1. A leaf-tailed gecko ( Saltuarius swaini )

    2. Bearded dragon ( pogona barbata )

    3. A skink ( Calyptotis scutirostrum )

    4. A skink ( Coeranoscincus reticulatus )

    5. Pink-tongued skink ( Cyclodomorphus gerrardii )

    6. Land mullet ( Egernia major )

    7. Eastern grass skink ( Lampropholis delicata )

    8. A skink ( Ophioscincus truncatus )

    9. Tryon’s skink ( Eulamprus murrayi )

    10. Challenger skink ( Saproscincus challengeri )

    11. A skink ( Cautula zia )

    12. Major skink ( Egernia frerei )

    13. A skink ( Eulamprus martini )

    14. Eastern water dragon ( Physignathus lesueurii )

    15. A skink ( Saproscincus rosei )

    16. Southern rainforest dragon ( Gonocephalus spinipes )

    17. Lace monitor ( Varanus varius )

    18. Carpet python ( Morelia spilota )

    19. Golden-crowned snake ( Cacophis squamulosus )

    20. White-crowned snake ( Cacophis harriettae )

    21. Dwarf-crowned snake ( Cacophis krefftii )

    22. Red-bellied Black snake ( Pseudechis porphyriacus )

    23. Rough-scaled snake ( Tropidechis carinatus )

    24. Green Tree snake ( Dendrelaphis punctulatus )

    25. Blind snake ( Ramphotyphlops sp. )

    26. Yellow-faced whip snake ( Demansia psammophis )

    27. Small-eyed nake ( Cryptophis nigrescens )

    28. Stephen’s banded snake ( Hoplocephalus stephensii )

    29. Eastern brown snake ( Pseudonaja textilis )

    30. Brown tree snake ( Boiga irregularis )

  • 1. Loveridge’s mountain frog ( Kyarranus loveridgei )

    2. Fletcher’s frog ( Lechriodus fletcheri )

    3. Ornate burrowing Frog ( Limnodynastes ornatus )

    4. Striped marsh frog ( Limnodynastes peronii )

    5. Scarlet-sided pobblebonk ( Limnodynastes terraereginae )

    6. Great Barred river frog ( Mixophyes fasciolatus )

    7. Red-backed pseudophryne ( Pseudophryne coriacea )

    8. Trilling toadlet ( Uperoleia fusca )

    9. Common green tree frog ( Litoria caerulea )

    10. Red-eye tree frog ( Litoria chloris )

    11. Eastern dwarf tree Frog ( Litoria fallax )

    12. Graceful tree frog ( Litoria gracilenta )

    13. Broad-palmed rocket frog ( Litoria latopalmata )

    14. Stony creek frog ( Litoria lesueuri )

    15. Emerald-spotted tree frog ( Litoria peronii )

    16. Whirring tree frog ( Litoria revelata )

    17. Purple tree frog ( Litoria rubella )

    18. Laughing tree frog ( Litoria tyleri )

    19. Cane toad ( Bufo marinus )

  • 1. Short-beaked echidna ( Tachyglossu aculeatus )

    2. Long-nosed bandicoot ( Perameles nasuta )

    3. Koala ( Phascolarctos cinereus )

    4. Common ringtail possum ( Pseudocheirus peregrinus )

    5. Sugar glider ( Petaurus breviceps )

    6. Mountain brushtail possum ( Trichosurus caninus )

    7. Red-necked pademelon ( Thylogale thetis )

    8. Whiptail wallaby ( Macropus parryi )

    9. Red-necked wallaby ( Macropus rufogriseus )

    10. Swamp wallaby ( Wallabia bicolor )

    11. Brown antechinus ( Antechinus stuartii )

    12. Dusky antechinus ( Antechinus swainsonii )

    13. Fawn –footed melomys ( Melomys cervinipes )

    14. Bush rat ( Rattus fuscipes )

    15. Swamp rat ( Rattus lutreolus )

    16. Dingo ( Canis familiaris dingo )

    17. Eastern horseshoe-bat ( Rhinolophus megaphyllus )

    18. White-striped mastiff-bat ( Tadarida australis )

    19. A mastiff-bat (Mormopterus sp. )

    20. Gould’s long-eared bat ( Nyctophilus gouldi )

    21. Common bent-wing bat ( Miniopterus schreibersii )

    22. Little bent-wing bat ( Miniopterus australis )

    23. Gould’s wattled bat ( Chalinolobus gouldii )

    24. Greater broad-nosed bat ( Scoteanax rueppellii )

    25. Little cave eptesicus ( Eptesicus pumilis )

    26. Large forest eptesicus ( Eptesicus darlingtoni )

Wild Mountains Options for Monitoring

Things to consider when implementing a monitoring plan:-

  • What do you intend to use the information collected for

  • Keep it simple

  • Use a standard technique

  • Does it need specialised skills

  • Where will you keep the information collected?

  • How will you use the information collected?

  • What will it cost in time and money to maintain?

Monitoring Suitable for Volunteers and Staff involvement:

Water Sampling: Using Water Watch or Healthy Waterways methodology 

Photo Sites: Permanent photo sites ( DPI&F Grasscheck design may be a useful standard) To record areas of interest e.g. vegetation change, the effects of fire and progress of regeneration sites.

Animal Calls: Recording frog and bat calls that can be sent to an expert of interpretation. (May need to borrow Anabat recording gear from QPWS)

Incidental records: Fauna and flora:- Use a standardised recording sheet (Nature Search template may be handy) Establish a spreadsheet on the Wild Mountains computer (if not already established)

Soil Plot: Establish  a network if areas suitable for soil plot observations. Plots can be activated at various times throughout the year

Weather observations: Rainfall and temperature recordings. Maintain at a permanent location in a book or on computer

Monitoring Suitable for Groups with Expertise

Bird Observations: Establish a regular (annual/seasonal) visit by a Bird Observers group or the Fassifern Field Naturalists.

Incidental records: Fauna and flora:- Use a standardised recording sheet (Nature Search template may be handy) Establish a spreadsheet on the Wild Mountains computer (if not already established)

Specialised Species or land form specific monitoring: University groups and individuals: Recording information specific to their area of interest.

Protocols for Frog Conservation

Native frog species found in high altitude rainforests of Eastern Australia are particularly susceptible to the introduced Chytrid Fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis), which has caused a number of extinctions in recent years. The fungus is a water-borne pathogen, and therefore activities involving streams and water need to be carefully considered. Protocols will need to be adopted for managing the rainforest portions of the covenant area and for any activities involving frogs.  Essentially, cleanliness and quarantine are the two key aspects of frog conservation. See Schedule 2 for the Chytrid Fungus Protocol.

Land management activities and educational activities will need to be assessed for risk of impacting on frog species.

Chytrid Fungus Protocol for Frog Conservation

Chytrid Fungus (pronounced “Ki-trid”) is an introduced menace thought to be responsible for recent extinctions of frog species in Eastern Australian mountain rainforests.  It is a real threat to the conservation of frogs and may yet prove catastrophic. Our native frogs have not been exposed to it before and therefore are very susceptible. The fungus is listed as a Key Threatening Process in NSW.

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is a species of fungus in the phylum Chytridiomycota (and thus all members are labeled “chytrids”) that likes cool and wet conditions, like those in high altitude mountain rainforests. It is prevalent above 400m and often more active in winter. The pathogen is water-bourne and more likely to affect stream-associated frogs.

This fungus causes a fatal disease in adult frogs called chytridiomycosis. It attacks keratin, a common protein found in nearly all animals, and humans have it in callouses on the skin. Adult frogs have keratin in areas exposed to wear, such as hands and feet and where legs rub against the body. Tadpoles have keratin on mouthparts and on hands and feet as they form.  The fungus establishes in both tadpoles and, fatally, in adult frogs and affects respiration through the skin as well as attacking the nervous system.

Frogs that have probably become extinct in recent times are – Southern Dayfrog (Taudactylus diurnus), and Southern Platypus Frog (Rheobatrachus silus).  It is thought that chytrid fungus may be the cause.

To prevent the fungus from spreading, sensible protocols need to be followed when either moving around in the mountains or when handling frogs or keeping tadpoles. The protocol assumes that not all frogs in an infected pond have the chytrid fungus, and the infective load of a water body may not be high enough to cause cross-contamination of individuals.

Protocols

A. Movement and Land Management: [for moving between creek systems]

  • Footwear must be cleaned and disinfected with a solution of benzalkonium chloride (Toilet Duck, Sanpic, New Clenz, Pine Clean), without letting any solution enter a water body. Changing footwear and bagging between sites might be a practical alternative.

  • Equipment must be cleaned and disinfected or used only once.

  • Vehicle wheels must be cleaned and disinfected between sites, if moving from an infected site into a fungus-free area.  Footwear must be cleaned before getting into a car.

  • Foreign Materials (especially water from a different area) must not be brought into the rainforest.

  • Clean Up Before & After to prevent spreading the fungus to other regions or even other countries.

B. Handling Frogs:

  • Disposable Gloves – one for each frog. Or hands cleaned and disinfected and dried (don’t allow disinfectant to touch frogs).

  • One bag – one frog and dispose.

  • One bag – one tadpole and dispose.

  • Don’t release frogs into the wild from another area.

References: 

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service: Hygiene Protocol for the Control of Disease in Frogs, August 2001.