Report on Nocturnal Survey for Arboreal Mammals and Forest Owl Species
Study location
Bungywarr Road – bordering Errinundra National Park
Coupe Number
885-511-0011
Date
March 13, 2009
Organisation
Fauna and Flora Research Collective – East Gippsland
Motive of research
The aim of this study is to ascertain and verify if coupe 885-5110011 supports rare or endangered fauna listed in the East
Gippsland Forest Management Plan.
Aim of study
The aim of this study is to investigate and verify whether the coupe
near Bungywarr Road has a high density of arboreal mammals or
forest owls and can be determined as significant habitat for these
species.
The goal of this study is to show the presence or absence of the
species shown in table 1 and in what numbers they occur. Other
species observed during this study are also included in the findings
of this study shown in table 2.
Nocturnal Survey Report Arboreal Animals and Forest Owls: Bungywarr Road
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Table 1: Studied species
Method of Study
Common name
Scientific name
Powerful Owl
Ninox strenua
Sooty Owl
Tyto tenebricosa
Masked Owl
Ninox novaehollandiae
Greater Glider
Petauroides volans
Yellow bellied Glider
Petaurus australis
The survey is done with the aid of acoustic equipment and spotlights.
The goal is to observe individual animals visually by the reflection of
the eye, or vocally by the response of species specific call played
from a megaphone.
The fieldwork is ideally preformed on warm nights without rain on
which higher activity can be recorded. Fieldwork should be
commenced at dusk and is continued for at least two hours
throughout the site.
Date and time of
nocturnal survey
8 March 2009 8:45pm – 12:00pm
Weather conditions
nocturnal survey
Calm, mild evening, no wind and approximately 15 C
Surveyors of
nocturnal activity:
March 9, 2009
Mr. A. Lincoln, Mr. P. Calle, Mr. J.C.W. Cöp BSc.
Used method
Study
Spotlighting commenced at 8:45pm along the road for approximately
600 meters until 9:17. Observations where recorded whilst walking in
a southerly direction.
of
o
At 9:17 we broke from spotlighting to reposition to a point more
westerly and deeper into the coup. This took some time on account
of the dense understorey vegetation. At 10:50 we recommenced
spotlighting until 12:00pm.
Auditory observations with the aid of acoustic equipment where done
whilst exiting the site.
Nocturnal Survey Report Arboreal Animals and Forest Owls: Bungywarr Road
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Study location
The study location is situated near the Bungywarr Road Easterly outside
Errinundra National Park. The studied area is indicated in figure 1 at map
location X: 671.1 / Y: 5862.2 .
Figure 1: Study area
Ref.: Timber Release
Plan Cann River Map
N
5862
671
Habitat
description
The study location consisted of mixed age wet sclerophyll forest.
Results of
nocturnal survey
During the nocturnal survey on the 8th of March between 8:45pm and
9:17pm 7 Greater Gliders where visually observed. After relocation
westerly from the road in the coupe another 5 Greater Gliders where
observed. Whilst returning to our starting point another Greater Glider was
observed in a new location. This last finding was done approximately 100
meters from the first observation at 8:50 pm and is probably a different
animal to earlier observations.
During the observation 11 calls of Yellow Bellied Gliders and 2 calls of
Sugar Gliders where heard.
Two Mountain Brushtail Possums, heard and seen.
One species of forest owl, the Southern Boobook Owl was heard.
All recorded species are noted in table 2.
Table 2:
species
Recorded
Time
record
of
Common name
Observation
method
8:45
Yellow Bellied Glider
Auditory
8:47
Yellow Bellied Glider
Auditory
Nocturnal Survey Report Arboreal Animals and Forest Owls: Bungywarr Road
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8:50
Greater Glider
Visual
8:52
Sugar Glider
Auditory
8:55
Yellow Bellied Glider
Auditory
8:55
Yellow Bellied Glider
Auditory
8:56
Southern Boobook Owl
Auditory
8:56
Southern Boobook Owl
Auditory
8:56
Mountain Brushtail
Possum
Visual
8:57
Greater Glider
Visual
9:00
Greater Glider
Visual
9:02
Greater Glider
Visual
9:05
Greater Glider
Visual
9:05
Greater Glider
Visual
9:05
Yellow Bellied Glider
Auditory
9:10
Yellow Bellied Glider
Auditory
9:12
Greater Glider
Visual
9:15
Southern Boobook Owl
Auditory
9:17
Mountain Brushtail
Possum
Visual
Intermission to reposition to Higher Westerly position
within coup
10:55
Yellow Bellied Glider
Auditory
11:00
Greater Glider
Visual
11:05
Greater Glider
Visual
11:07
Yellow Bellied Glider
Auditory
11:09
Mountain Brushtail
Possum
Auditory
11:11
Sugar Glider
Auditory
11:15
Yellow Bellied Glider
Auditory
11:16
Greater Glider
Visual
11:17
Southern Boobook Owl
Auditory
11:30
Yellow Bellied Glider
Auditory
11:30
Yellow Bellied Glider
Auditory
11:46
Greater Glider
Visual
11:48
Greater Glider
Visual
12:00
Greater Glider
Visual. Last
observation
whilst walking
out 100 meter
away from first
observation
Nocturnal Survey Report Arboreal Animals and Forest Owls: Bungywarr Road
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Conclusions
The coupe number 885 – 511 – 0011 represents a high density of arboreal
th
mammals. Our preliminary survey on the 8 of March 2009 showed the
area to be important habitat which supported high numbers of gliders.
In total 12 (possibly 13) Greater Gliders and 11 calls of Yellow Bellied
Gliders where observed over a length of 1 kilometer in the coupe.
According to the Forest Management Plan this habitat for Greater Glider
and Yellow Bellied Glider at the studied location should be protected.
Authors:
Mr. P. Calle, Mr. A. Lincoln
Nocturnal Survey Report Arboreal Animals and Forest Owls: Bungywarr Road
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