The status of Gould's petrel, Pterodroma leucoptera leucoptera, on Cabbage Tree Island, New South Wales

1995 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 601 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Priddel ◽  
N Carlile ◽  
C Davey ◽  
P Fullagar
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Output ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Breeding Population ◽  
Tree Island ◽  
South Wales ◽  
The Status ◽  
Marginal Improvement ◽  
Main Population ◽  
Cabbage Tree

Gould's petrel, Pterodroma leucoptera leucoptera, breeds only on Cabbage Tree Island, New South Wales. Annual surveys to estimate the size of the breeding population and the reproductive output were conducted between 1989 and 1992. Annual estimates of the total number of pairs breeding in the two gullies containing the main population were between 122 +/- 20 (s.e.) and 202 +/- 26. Breeding success was less than 20% between 1989 and 1991, but rose to 24.7% in 1992. This marginal improvement may be the result of management action undertaken to reduce mortality of breeding adults and fledglings. The total population is estimated to have declined from 2004 (95% confidence limits: 1464,3185) in 1970 to 1479 (1250,1815) in 1992, a decline of 26% in 22 years. The reasons for this decline are unclear.

Ecological attributes of the threatened fauna of New South Wales

1997 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Lunney ◽  
A. L. Curtin ◽  
D. Fisher ◽  
D. Ayers ◽  
C. R. Dickman
Keyword(s):  
Threatened Species ◽  
New South ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Western Region ◽  
Northeastern Region ◽  
Ecological Attributes ◽  
South Wales ◽  
The Status ◽  
Threatened Fauna

The aims of this study were to identify common ecological patterns among threatened fauna in New South Wales, and to identify priority areas for research and management by determining which regions and habitats contain high numbers of threatened fauna. Threatened and non-threatened fauna were taken from the listings of Lunney et al. (1996, 1997). Species were categorized into weight classes, diet groups, habitats and regions and by level of knowledge available about them. All regions and habitats of the State contain threatened species. The northeastern region of New South Wales contains the greatest number of threatened species but the western region has suffered the most extinctions, especially of mammals. Species that historically inhabited a greater number of regions are less likely to be currently threatened or to be extinct than those with restricted distributions, and large species are more likely to be threatened than smaller species. The best predictors of a threatened mammals species were seeds and vegetation in the diet, heavier body weight, and ground-dwelling, burrowing, and rock pile/cave-dwelling habits. The Critical Weight Range (35?5 500g), although strongly associated with extinction of non-volant mammals, was not the most important predictor. Lord Howe Island held the highest proportion of threatened and extinct birds. Factors showing the strongest associations for threatened birds were carnivory, large size, and distribution in the southeastern region. The most poorly-known region for birds was the north-east, and the least known habitat was shrubland (including mallee, heath and chenopod shrubland). The status of reptiles was poorly known in all regions, especially the western region. Frogs were also poorly known in all regions. Frogs were most at risk if they were large, inhabited closed forest or occurred in the central or northeastern region. The study further revealed little association between particular ecological attributes and conservation status. This indicates that there are complex and pervasive threats affecting the status of New South Wales fauna. Research and management priority status could be argued for all regions and most habitats in the State, but the western or northeastern regions may face the most problems depending on the criteria used (e.g., past extinctions, number vs proportion of threatened species). Further, the conservation status of birds, reptiles and frogs is in particular need of attention from researchers.

The status of myxomatosis at Urana, New South Wales, from 1968 until 1971

1972 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 391 ◽  
Author(s):  
RT Williams ◽  
I Parer
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Great Majority ◽  
Latent Virus ◽  
Rabbit Population ◽  
South Wales ◽  
The Status

Epizootics of myxomatosis which occurred each year from 1968 until 1971 in a rabbit population inhabiting a 700-acre study site at Urana, N.S.W., were studied. Transmission was rapid in 1968 and 1969, Anopheles annulipes being the vector, and the peak of these epizootics occurred in early November. Transmission in 1970 was primarily by the flea Spilopsyllus cuniculi, and was slower, but the midpoint of the epizootic still occurred in early November. In 1971 the epizootic peaked in late December, transmission was rapid, and the vector was unknown. Each year, about 75% of the susceptible animals older than 3 months of age at the time of the epizootic contracted myxomatosis; of these, 60% recovered, and of the recoveries, 20% died between the time of recovery (early December) and 1 January. Fewer animals (16-55 %) under 3 months of age were seen with myxomatosis; of these, about 50% were seen to recover, and a large proportion (from 25 to 45%) of animals seen to recover died before 1 January each year. The great majority of animals not seen to contract myxomatosis probably died from other causes without being exposed to the disease. These data indicate that myxomatosis killed very few animals directly during these epizootics, and that other factors were responsible for the majority of deaths which occurred during the epizootic period. In 1968, 1969, and 1970, reactivation of latent virus in animals which had previously recovered from myxomatosis was probably the source of the virus which initiated the epizootics.

The role of intense nest predation in the decline of Scarlet Robins and Eastern Yellow Robins in remnant woodland near Armidale, New South Wales

2006 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 279 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. J. S. Debus
Keyword(s):  
New England ◽  
Nest Predation ◽  
New South ◽  
Nest Success ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Breeding Population ◽  
Woodland Birds ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Predator Exclusion

A study of open-nesting Eastern Yellow Robins Eopsaltria australis and Scarlet Robins Petroica multicolor, on the New England Tablelands of New South Wales in 2000?02, found low breeding success typical of eucalypt woodland birds. The role of intense nest predation in the loss of birds from woodland fragments was investigated by means of predator-exclusion cages at robin nests, culling of Pied Currawongs Strepera graculina, and monitoring of fledging and recruitment in the robins. Nest-cages significantly improved nest success (86% vs 20%) and fledging rate (1.6 vs 0.3 fledglings per attempt) for both robin species combined (n = 7 caged, 20 uncaged). For both robin species combined, culling of currawongs produced a twofold difference in nest success (33% vs 14%), a higher fledging rate (0.5 vs 0.3 per attempt), and a five-day difference in mean nest survival (18 vs 13 days) (n = 62 nests), although sample sizes for nests in the cull treatment (n = 18) were small and nest predation continued. Although the robin breeding population had not increased one year after the cull, the pool of Yellow Robin recruits in 2001?03, after enhanced fledging success, produced two emigrants to a patch where Yellow Robins had become extinct. Management to assist the conservation of open-nesting woodland birds should address control of currawongs.

MOrtality of captive-raised malleefowl, Leipoa ocellata, released into a mallee remnant within the wheat-belt of New South Wales

1994 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 543 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Priddel ◽  
R Wheeler
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Breeding Population ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Introduced Predators ◽  
Local Abundance ◽  
Disjunct Populations ◽  
Marked Decline ◽  
Improvement In Survival

Loss, fragmentation and degradation of mallee habitat within the New South Wales wheat-belt have caused a marked decline in the range and local abundance of malleefowl, Leipoa ocellata. Small disjunct populations of malleefowl now occupy small isolated remnants of suitable habitat. and several of these populations have become locally extinct in recent times. Young captive-reared malleefowl(8-184 days old) were experimentally released in March and June 1988 into a 558-ha remnant of mallee vegetation. The remnant contained a small but declining population of rnalleefowl. From the first day after release, malleefowl were found dead, and mortality continued at a rapid rate until none remained alive. Of the 31 released, 16 (52%) were dead after 7 days, at least 22 (71%) were dead after 11 days, and none survived longer than 107 days. In all, 94% of malleefowl were killed by predators: 26-39% by raptors, and 55-68% by introduced predators, principally foxes, Vulpes vulpes. No improvement in survival was evident when malleefowl were given supplementary food. Relying principally on camouflage, young malleefowl have no effective defence or escape behaviour to evade ground-dwelling predators such as the fox. By imposing severe predation pressure on young malleefowl, foxes are likely to be curtailing recruitment into the breeding population. Such a situation must inevitably lead to the further localised extinction of small disjunct populations of malleefowl. Foxes are thus a major threat to the continuance of remnant populations of malleefowl within the wheat-belt of New South Wales.

Changes to the status of birds in the Tapitallee region on the south coast of New South Wales from 1928 to 2020

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garry Daly
Keyword(s):  
Red Fox ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Local Area ◽  
South Coast ◽  
Native Vegetation ◽  
The South ◽  
South Wales ◽  
The Status ◽  
Local Residents

ABSTRACT Aubrey Elliott (1910–1943), a passionate ‘bird-man’, lived in the suburb of Tapitallee on the south coast of New South Wales until 1940. During that period he and his brother, Arthur kept notes on the birds in the local area and devised a hide that was mounted on a utility that enabled them to take close-up photographs. To augment his observations Elliott interviewed local residents and collated information on the status of the area’s birds. In 1985 I purchased the property next to where Elliott lived and was given access to his notes. This paper presents a comparison of avifauna in the Tapitallee area between 1926–40 and 1985–2020. During that time there have been changes in the distribution and abundance of many birds. Fourteen species have become locally extinct while 28 have colonised/recolonised the area. Combining Aubrey’s and our data a total of 194 species of bird have been recorded in the area. Dams have been constructed and native vegetation has regrown on the steeper slopes. These actions have expanded the habitat for aquatic and forest dependant species but disadvantaged those that occupy grasslands. The Red Fox Vulpes vulpes colonised the area in 1907 and is implicated in the local extinction of the Bush Stone Curlew Burhinus grallarius. Wildfire in January 2020 burnt a relatively small portion of the Tapitallee area but these fires burnt an extensive area of southern NSW and Victoria. These fires were likely to be responsible for the decline in the numbers of Yellow-faced Honeyeaters Caligavis chrysops and White-naped Honeyeater Melithreptus lunatus migrating north in the autumn of that year.

An Overview of The Status and Management of Rock-wallabies (Petrogale) In New South Wales.

1996 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 163
Author(s):  
L. Dovey ◽  
V. Wong ◽  
P. Bayne
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Major Threat ◽  
The North ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Management Plans ◽  
The Status ◽  
The Media ◽  
Recovery Program

Two species of rock-wallabies occur in New South Wales; the Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby Petrogale xanthopus in the far west and the Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby Petrogale penicillata in the east. Both species have contracted in distribution and abundance across their former range and are threatened in NSW. The P. xanthopus population in NSW now comprises only two sub-populations. Removal of large numbers of goats, thought to be the primary threat, has not halted the wallaby's decline. Fox and cat predation is now considered the major threat. Fox control is currently being conducted. P. penicillata has undergone a dramatic and continuing decline from being common throughout south-eastern Australia to currently being extremely rare in the southern and western parts of its range and found only in isolated colonies throughout the north of its range. Predation (particularly fox, but including dog and cat), once again, is considered the major threat. A recovery program has been commenced involving the media and wider community in locating extant colonies, as well as developing and implementing Population Management Plans. This program has documented further local extinctions and extremely low numbers of individuals in colonies in the southern and western parts of the range. While no surviving colonies are known between the Shoalhaven area and the Victorian border, there remain more and larger colonies in the north of the state.

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