Fauna Survey Program
There are 20 threatened fauna species (8 mammals, 8 birds, 2 frogs and 1 reptile) listed under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 that reside within the bushland of Hornsby Shire. A further 10 threatened species are also thought to live or holiday here. Development, land clearing, exotic species and climate change are some of the key threatening processes that are likely to impact on these species’ long-term survival in our bushland. Monitoring of these and other species is considered an important tool for the effective long-term management of their habitat.
Areas surveyed
Council’s Bushland and Biodiversity Team selected 10 Wildlife Protection Areas (WPA) for staff to survey during 2008-2009:
- Crosslands Reserve
- Dog Pound Creek, Hornsby
- Mt Kuring-gai Oval Bushland
- Turner Road Bushland, Berowra Heights
- Waitara Creek Bushland, Normanhurst
- Galston Recreation Reserve
- Arcadia Park Bushland, Arcadia
- Pennant Hills Park (including Bambarra Track)
- Furber Park and Crown Land, Berowra Creek
- One Tree Reach Wetland (Laughtondale/Wisemans Ferry)
Identified species
The following species were identified during these surveys:
Threated species
| Common name | Scientific name | TSC Act 1995 status |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Bent-wing Bat | Miniopterus schreibersii | Vulnerable |
| Powerful Owl | Ninox strenua | Vulnerable |
| Masked Owl | Tyto novaehollandiae | Vulnerable |
| Eastern False Pipistrelle | Falsistrellus tasmaniensis | Vulnerable |
| Grey-headed Flying-fox | Pteropus poliocephalus | Vulnerable |
| Glossy Black-Cockatoo | Calyptorhynchus lathami | Vulnerable |
| Spotted-tailed Quoll | Dasyurus maculatus | Vulnerable |
| Koala | Phascolarctos cinereus | Vulnerable |
| Greater Broad-nosed Bat | Scoteanax rueppellii | Vulnerable |
| Gang-gang Cockatoo | Callocephalon fimbriatum | Vulnerable |
| Yellow-bellied Sheathtail Bat | Saccolaimus flaviventris | Vulnerable |
| Eastern Freetail-bat | Mormopterus norfolkensis | Vulnerable |
| Giant Burrowing Frog | Heleioporus australiacus | Vulnerable |
| Red-crowned Toadlet | Pseudophryne australis | Vulnerable |
| Little Eagle | Hieraaetus morphnoides | Vulnerable |
| Little Lorikeet | Glossopsitta pusilla | Vulnerable |
Photos from left to right: Little Eagle (photo by Alex Fraser), Lace Monitor (photo by Alex Fraser), Little Lorikeet (photo by Lindsay Northop)
Introduced species
| Common name | Scientific name |
|---|---|
| Fox | Vulpes vulpes |
| Cat | Felis catus |
| European Rabbit | Oryctolagus cuniculus |
| Goats | Capra hircus |
| Dog | Canus lupis familiaris |
Future surveys
These survey results have provided a significant amount of baseline data to assist Council in the effective management of local bushland. Future surveys will continue to add to this level of detail and understanding. These surveys will continue to monitor the initial 10 sites and others while also undertaking targeted surveys for some of our more rare and cryptic species including:
- Eastern Pygmy Possum and glider – long-term monitoring nest box program
- Giant Burrowing Frog
- Heath Monitor, Broad-headed Snake and other reptiles
- Parrots, migratory woodland & wetland birds
- Common Dunnart and Southern Brown Bandicoot
- Large Forest Owls and other birds of prey
- Koala
For further information on this Fauna Survey and on how you can assist with fauna monitoring in your local bushland please contact Council's Environmental Scientist, Alex Fraser on (02) 9847 6542 or email afraser@hornsby.nsw.gov.au.
