Volume 5: The fauna of the blue mountains special areas · Fauna of the Blue Mountains Special Areas - Blackheath, Katoomba & Woodford Creek 1 1 Summary 1.1 Fauna Species Priorities

Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna of the Greater Southern Sydney Region

VOLUME 5

The Fauna of theBlue Mountains Special Areas Blackheath, Katoomba and Woodford Creek

Summary of findings and recommendations

A joint project between the Sydney Catchment Authority and Parks and Wildlife Group of the Department of Environment and Climate Change. Special Areas Strategic Plan of Management (SASPoM) Research and Data Program: Project No: RD01

Information and Assessment Section Metropolitan Branch Climate Change and Environment Protection Group Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW)

September 2007

Acknowledgments

This report has been prepared by the Information and Assessment Section, Metropolitan Branch of the Climate Change and Environment Protection Group, Department of Environment and Climate Change.

Information and Assessment Section

Julie Ravallion (Section Manager)

Daniel Connolly (Coordinator Biodiversity Survey and Data)

Peter Ewin (GIS and Database Officer)

Project Team

Kylie Madden (Fauna Programs Officer)

Nick Corkish (Field Team Leader)

Helen Achurch (Field Team Leader)

Elizabeth Magarey (Field Team Leader)

Report Writing and Habitat Mapping

Kylie Madden, Peter Ewin, Daniel Connolly

Report Editing

Martin Schulz, Peter Ewin

Map Production

Cate Ewin, Bob Wilson

Cover Design and Formatting

Kerry Oakes

Special thanks to:

Staff of the Sydney Catchment Authority, in particular Alan Benson, George Dodds, Ross Wallis, Tony Kondek, Brian Waldron, Kirk Newport, Glen Caparero, Loretta Galleen, Dennis Ashton, Chris Chafer, Andrew Simson and Martin Krogh and all staff at the Warragamba and Cordeaux Offices.

Parks and Wildlife Group, particularly Bob Conroy and staff from the Kanangra, Nattai, Upper Mountains, Illawarra, Royal and Hawkesbury Area offices.

The many private landholders that allowed access to their properties.

The hardworking and dedicated volunteers who assisted us throughout the project.

Thank you to all contributors to the Atlas of NSW Wildlife and others who gave data toward this project. We are indebted to the many wildlife, pest species and land management experts who generously gave advice.

For a full list of acknowledgements, please see Volume One.

This report may be referenced as follows:

DECC (2007) Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna of the Greater Southern Sydney Region: Volume 5 – The Fauna of the Blue Mountains Special Areas. A joint project between the Sydney Catchment Authority and the Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW) (DECC) under the Special Areas Strategic Plan of Management (SASPoM) by the Information and Assessment Section, Metropolitan Branch, Climate Change and Environment Protection Group, DECC, Hurstville.

All photographs are held by DECC and are copyright of the photographer. To obtain a copy please contact the Bioregional Data Group Coordinator, DECC Hurstville.

Cover Photo

Woodford Creek Special Area. © G. Steenbeeke

ISBN 978 1 74122 603 4 DECC 2007/474

Fauna of the Blue Mountains Special Areas - Blackheath, Katoomba & Woodford Creek i

Contents 1 Summary .................................................................................................................................1

1.1 FAUNA SPECIES PRIORITIES ............................................................................................................. 1

1.2 PRIORITY FAUNA HABITAT AND PRIORITY FAUNA POPULATIONS ......................................................... 1

1.3 KEY THREATENING PROCESSES ....................................................................................................... 1

1.4 FIRE MANAGEMENT AND FAUNA........................................................................................................ 1

1.5 RECOVERY PLANNING ACTIONS........................................................................................................ 1

1.6 PEST SPECIES AND BIODIVERSITY .................................................................................................... 22 Introduction ............................................................................................................................3

2.1 BACKGROUND.................................................................................................................................. 3

2.2 OBJECTIVES .................................................................................................................................... 3

2.3 THE WOODFORD CREEK SPECIAL AREA............................................................................................ 3

2.4 THE KATOOMBA SPECIAL AREA ........................................................................................................ 3

2.5 THE BLACKHEATH SPECIAL AREA ..................................................................................................... 4

2.6 HOW TO USE THIS DOCUMENT ......................................................................................................... 43 Native Fauna ...........................................................................................................................7

3.1 SUMMARY OF SURVEY EFFORT......................................................................................................... 7

3.2 NATIVE SPECIES INVENTORY ............................................................................................................ 7

3.3 THREATENED SPECIES INVENTORY ................................................................................................... 9

3.4 PATTERNS IN NATIVE FAUNA DISTRIBUTION..................................................................................... 114 Species Conservation Status..............................................................................................12

4.1 OVERVIEW..................................................................................................................................... 12

4.2 SETTING PRIORITIES FOR CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT.......................................................... 125 Priority Fauna Habitats and Populations ...........................................................................15

5.1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................. 155.1.1 How can priority fauna habitats be used in conservation management? ...................................15

5.2 PRIORITY FAUNA HABITATS IN THE BLUE MOUNTAINS SPECIAL AREAS ............................................. 155.2.1 Priority Habitat: Upland Swamps ...............................................................................................15

5.3 PRIORITY FAUNA POPULATIONS...................................................................................................... 165.3.1 Blue Mountains Water Skink in Katoomba and Blackheath Special Areas ................................16

6 Managing Native Species and Habitats..............................................................................186.1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................. 18

6.2 KEY THREATENING PROCESSES ..................................................................................................... 18

6.3 THREAT ABATEMENT PLANS ........................................................................................................... 19

6.4 MANAGEMENT APPROACH FOR THE BLUE MOUNTAINS SPECIAL AREAS ............................................ 19

6.5 LAND ACQUISITION STRATEGIES AND FAUNA................................................................................... 20

6.6 ECOLOGICAL REHABILITATION AND RESTORATION (INCLUDING WEED MANAGEMENT)........................ 20

6.7 PREVENTING FURTHER DISTURBANCE ............................................................................................ 21

6.8 FIRE MANAGEMENT AND FAUNA...................................................................................................... 216.8.1 Overview....................................................................................................................................216.8.2 Upland Swamps and Fire Management .....................................................................................226.8.3 Priority populations and Fire ......................................................................................................22

6.9 RESEARCH AND MONITORING ......................................................................................................... 22

Fauna of the Blue Mountains Special Areas - Blackheath, Katoomba & Woodford Creekii

6.10 RECOVERY PLANNING ACTIONS RELEVANT TO THE BLUE MOUNTAINS SPECIAL AREAS...................... 226.10.1 Blue Mountains Water Skink ..................................................................................................... 226.10.2 Large Forest Owls ..................................................................................................................... 236.10.3 Barking Owl ............................................................................................................................... 246.10.4 Regent Honeyeater ................................................................................................................... 24

7 Pest Species Management ..................................................................................................257.1 SPECIES INVENTORY...................................................................................................................... 25

7.2 FERAL PREDATOR DIETS................................................................................................................ 26

7.3 PRIORITY PEST SPECIES................................................................................................................ 267.3.1 Foxes......................................................................................................................................... 277.3.2 Feral Cats.................................................................................................................................. 277.3.3 Wild Dogs .................................................................................................................................. 277.3.4 Rabbits ...................................................................................................................................... 27

7.4 POTENTIAL FUTURE PESTS ............................................................................................................ 28

7.5 PRIORITY SITES FOR PEST CONTROL ............................................................................................. 287.5.1 Upland Swamps ........................................................................................................................ 287.5.2 Blue Mountains Water Skink ..................................................................................................... 28

8 Future Survey Work and Monitoring ..................................................................................298.1 THREATENED AND PRIORITY FAUNA................................................................................................ 29

8.1.1 Blue Mountains Water Skink ..................................................................................................... 298.1.2 Stuttering Frog and Littlejohn’s Tree Frog ................................................................................. 298.1.3 Confirming the presence of other threatened fauna .................................................................. 29

9 References ............................................................................................................................309.1 REPORTS IN THE SERIES................................................................................................................ 30

9.2 OTHER REFERENCES..................................................................................................................... 3010 List of Acronyms..................................................................................................................3311 Appendices ...........................................................................................................................34

List of MapsMap 1: Blue Mountains Special Areas features and elevations .................................................................................. 5 Map2: Schedule 1 & 2 lands and NPWS Estate. ....................................................................................................... 6 Map 3: Fauna Survey Sites......................................................................................................................................... 8 Map 4: Key Fauna Habitats....................................................................................................................................... 17

List of Tables Table 1: Numbers of native fauna species confirmed to occur in the Blue Mountains Special Areas. .......................... 7Table 2: Threatened vertebrate fauna found in the Blue Mountains Special Areas. ................................................... 10Table 3: Species of Conservation Concern in the Blue Mountains Special Areas. ..................................................... 13Table 4: Introduced vertebrate fauna confirmed to occur in the Blue Mountains Special Areas ................................. 25Table 5: Priority vertebrate pest species in the Blue Mountains Special Areas........................................................... 26

Fauna of the Blue Mountains Special Areas - Blackheath, Katoomba & Woodford Creek 1

1 Summary 1.1 Fauna Species Priorities

� The highest priority fauna species in the Blue Mountains Special Areas is the Blue Mountains Water Skink. This very rare endemic reptile should be managed at a site by site level.

� The Broad-headed Snake, Littlejohn’s Tree Frog and Spotted-tailed Quoll are high regional priorities and have significant habitat within one or more of the catchments. They are also high priorities for conservation management, which may be primarily achieved through threat mitigation.

� The Stuttering Frog is possibly locally extinct in the Blue Mountains Special Areas, but will be the highest conservation priority if populations are rediscovered. Habitat still exists in the area and targeted surveys are required to confirm its persistence.

� The Beautiful Firetail, Red-crowned Toadlet and Southern Emu-wren are moderately high or moderate conservation priorities with significant habitat in the Blue Mountains Special Areas. They require management at a habitat level.

� In addition, the Large-eared Pied Bat, Large-footed Myotis and Eastern Pygmy-possum are predicted to occur, though there are no confirmed records. Should they be discovered in the Special Areas, they are also priorities for conservation management.

1.2 Priority Fauna Habitat and Priority Fauna Populations

� There is one priority fauna habitat within the Blue Mountains Special Areas: Upland Swamp.

� Important fauna populations are the Blue Mountains Water Skink in the Blackheath and Katoomba Special Areas.

� Land acquisition for the conservation of fauna should aim to include additional Priority Fauna Habitats and Priority Fauna Populations.

� Weed control, restoration and amelioration of impacts should also focus on Upland Swamps and populations of the Blue Mountains Water Skink.

1.3 Key Threatening Processes

� There are 12 Key Threatening Processes operating in the Blue Mountains Special Areas.

� Collection of bushrock is the most important Key Threatening Processes in the Blue Mountains Special Areas. Restricting access to the catchments has been a successful means of controlling this activity in the past. Bushrock collection should continue be strictly controlled in all areas, but particularly around known sites for the Broad-headed Snake (Woodford Creek Special Area) and mapped high-quality habitat for this species.

� High frequency fires is a Key Threatening Process applicable in these Special Areas. Close proximity to urban areas and relative ease of access means there is more opportunity for arson and high frequency fire. Continued restrictions to public access will help reduce this threat, though all are contiguous with bushland on private land or the Blue Mountains National Park.

1.4 Fire Management and Fauna

� Fire management should aim for a mosaic of fire regimes.

� Mosaic burning should retain examples of all fauna habitats in a long unburnt state.

� Fire planning should recognise the role of unburnt refugia have in the recolonisation of burnt landscapes particularly after intense and widespread wildfire.

� Refugia should remain unburnt for more than four years following extensive and intense wildfire.

� Focused fire management should be directed toward Priority Fauna Habitats, particularly Upland Swamps.

� Carefully considered fire management should be given to isolated populations of the very rare Blue Mountains Water Skink.

1.5 Recovery Planning Actions

� Recovery plans for the Blue Mountains Water Skink and Large Forest Owls are relevant to the Blue Mountains Special Areas.

� Most recovery planning actions for the Blue Mountains Water Skink are relevant to populations in the Blue Mountains Special Areas. These

The Broad-headed Snake is one of the highest priority fauna species in the Blue Mountains Special Areas. © N. Williams

Fauna of the Blue Mountains Special Areas - Blackheath, Katoomba & Woodford Creek2

include further surveys, model refinement, threat identification and amelioration and community involvement and education.

� Large Forest Owls of the Blue Mountains Special Areas are subject to few threats. They require few recovery actions other than preventing the loss of habitat and hollow-bearing trees.

1.6 Pest Species and Biodiversity

� Control of feral predators and all other introduced species should be focused on sites or habitats of particular conservation significance.

� Feral predator control is most important where there are isolated populations of species that are a) the highest conservation priority in the Region, and b) are thought to be threatened by introduced predators.

� In the Blue Mountains Special Areas, the most important pest species for active management control is the Fox, followed by the Feral Cat.

� The most important fauna habitat for pest species control is the high diversity Upland Swamps that are home to a variety of small mammals, ground-frequenting birds and herpetofauna that are rare elsewhere within the Region.

� The most important sites for feral predator control are Upland Swamps with known populations of the Blue Mountains Water Skink.

� Feral predator control is most important in the period following a fire when open vegetation affords little cover to native species.

� Fox and Rabbit control should be undertaken simultaneously in these Special Areas.

� All the Blue Mountains Special Areas have potential habitat for the Rusa Deer, which has the potential to become a serious threat to biodiversity should it establish in the future.

� The Eurasian Blackbird is established in the Special Areas. It has the potential to colonise undisturbed vegetation, spreading fruiting weeds. Controlling infestations of Privet and Blackberry may assist in the control of this bird.

Populations of the Blue Mountains Water Skink are the highest priority for targeted conservation action © S. Nally/DECC


2 Introduction 2.1 Background

The Woodford Creek, Katoomba and Blackheath Special Areas are important for the conservation of wildlife. A total of 224 native terrestrial vertebrate species have been confirmed within these catchments, or within a one-kilometre distance of their boundaries. This is a high diversity given the small geographic area covered.

The Woodford Creek, Katoomba and Blackheath Special Areas are different from the much larger Warragamba Special Area. They are situated in the mid to highest elevations of the Blue Mountains sandstone Plateau and receive more annual rainfall than any part of Warragamba. This combination of factors has led to the formation of distinctive environments represented in few other places in the Blue Mountains. The high elevation Upland Swamps that characterise these Special Areas provide habitat for species that are rare or absent through the remainder of the Blue Mountains, including the Blue Mountains Water Skink, Beautiful Firetail, Red-crowned Toadlet, Giant Burrowing Frog and Southern Emu-wren. Overall, the fauna of the Blue Mountains Special Areas is more similar to the Metropolitan Special Area than Warragamba. A unique challenge for biodiversity management in the Woodford Creek, Katoomba and Blackheath Special Areas is their small size and proximity to urban development.

This document represents one report in a series of five that have been generated by a joint undertaking between the Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) and the Sydney Catchment Authority. This project has sought to document the fauna values and management issues that are associated with the water catchments, known as Special Areas, surrounding Sydney. This document describes issues relating to the smallest three Special Areas, the Woodford Creek, Katoomba and Blackheath Special Areas (also known as the Blue Mountains Special Areas).

2.2 Objectives

The Special Areas Strategic Plan of Management (SASPoM) was implemented by the NSW Minister for the Environment in May 2001 (Sydney Catchment Authority and NPWS 2001) and provides a basis for the joint management of the Special Area by the Sydney Catchment Authority and DECC. The environmental management strategies for the Special Areas recognised a shortfall in information regarding biodiversity. This project has addressed the vertebrate fauna component of this.

The purpose of this document is to summarise the main findings of the fauna survey and data analysis (Volumes 1 and 2) as they apply to the Woodford Creek, Katoomba and Blackheath Special Areas. The following document:

� lists all vertebrate fauna species recorded in the Special Areas and highlights those listed as threatened under State or Commonwealth legislation;

� provides a ranking of priority fauna species for land managers and planners working in the Special Areas;

� identifies and maps the most important native fauna habitats;

� presents a series of management recommendations to guide land management and assessment for fauna conservation;

� reviews pest species issues in the Special Area as they relate to the conservation of biodiversity;

� gives recommendations on the management of feral species;

2.3 The Woodford Creek Special Area

The Woodford Creek Special Area consists of the stored waters of Lake Woodford, and the catchments of Woodford and Bulls Creeks. It covers approximately 1050 ha and is located north of the townships of Hazelbrook, Woodford and Linden in the Blue Mountains. The majority is covered by native vegetation; however the southern ridgeline is urbanised (see Maps 1 and 2). The Woodford Creek Special Area is jointly managed by the Sydney Catchment Authority and DECC, with over 50 percent being part of the Blue Mountains National Park (NP).

2.4 The Katoomba Special Area

The Katoomba Special Area lies east of the Great Western Highway, north west of Katoomba. It comprises three water storages along Cascade Creek covering an area of approximately 370 ha. The vast majority of this catchment persists in a natural state, and is jointly managed by the Sydney Catchment

The Woodford Creek Special Area is the lowest in elevation of the Blue Mountains Special Areas. © G. Steenbeeke


Authority and DECC, with most being part of the Blue Mountains NP (Maps 1 and 2).

2.5 The Blackheath Special Area

The Blackheath Special Area comprises two water storages, Lake Medlow and Lake Greaves and the catchments of Greaves, Adams and Young Creeks. It covers approximately 770 ha just north of the Katoomba Special Area and east of Medlow Bath. Like the other catchments of the Blue Mountains, it is jointly managed by the Sydney Catchment Authority and DECC. The vast majority is part of the Blue Mountains NP with the exception of a sector in the south west - the Medlow Bath urban area (Maps 1 and 2).

2.6 How to Use This Document

This document summarises project findings and recommendations for the management of vertebrate fauna within the Woodford Creek, Katoomba and Blackheath Special Areas.

Fauna species and habitats have been prioritised for conservation management. Detail is provided on issues that require management action for the conservation of biodiversity and pest species, including the implementation of threatened species recovery plans and threat abatement plans.

Detailed information on fauna survey techniques, results, conservation assessment methods and outcomes is available in Volume 1 – Background Report of this series (DECC 2007a).

Comprehensive information on each native species of conservation concern and pest species is provided in Volume 2 – Fauna of Conservation Concern and Priority Pest Species (DECC 2007b).

Management reports are also available for the Warragamba Special Area (Volume 3, DECC 2007c) and the Metropolitan, O’Hares Creek and Woronora Special Areas (Volume 4, DECC 2007d).

A general audience volume Threatened and Pest Animals of Greater Southern Sydney is also available (DEC 2007e).

This series is accompanied by maps of threatened species habitat, priority fauna habitat and corridors and linkages available in digital format for use in Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

The Mustard-bellied Snake has been recorded a number of times in the Woodford Creek Special Area. © A. Dudley


Map 1: Blue Mountains Special Areas - features and elevations.


Map2: Schedule 1 & 2 lands and NPWS Estate.


3 Native Fauna 3.1 Summary of Survey Effort

Vertebrate fauna surveys were conducted within the Woodford Creek, Katoomba and Blackheath Special Areas between 2002 and 2004. Throughout this relatively small area approximately 30 systematic sites were surveyed, covering all major habitat types. Prior to this, targeted survey efforts had been directed to rare and threatened fauna in the catchments (Smith and Smith 1998; Turton 1994a,b; LeBreton 1994, 1996). There now exists a good understanding of fauna species and habitats in these Special Areas. Map 3 details the distribution of survey sites (all surveys combined) within the Special Areas.

Systematic and opportunistic surveys were used to target diurnal and nocturnal birds, bats, reptiles, arboreal and terrestrial mammals, frogs and vertebrate pests. Some groups were well sampled by systematic techniques, such as the diurnal forest and woodland birds, the owls, most arboreal mammals, bats and reptiles. Other groups, particularly the frogs and large terrestrial mammals (including many vertebrate pests) were primarily recorded opportunistically.

3.2 Native Species Inventory

A complete species list of all native vertebrate fauna recorded within the Woodford Creek, Katoomba and Blackheath Special Areas is presented in Appendix A.A tally of records is provided as well as the current legal status of the species under the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Act (1974) or the Threatened Species Conservation Act (TSC) (1995). As each Special Area is small in size, species that have been recorded from a 1 km radius of each have also been noted. One hundred and eighty-three native terrestrial vertebrate fauna species have been found, with an additional 41 species detected in adjacent localities within 1 km of the boundaries of the Special Areas. This is a surprisingly large diversity given the small geographic area covered. The large number of species recorded is due to a number of factors: a) all three areas had already been the focus of targeted threatened species surveys (Smith and Smith 1998; Turton 1994a, b; LeBreton 1994, 1996); b) the proximity of urban areas means that observers are constantly documenting wildlife, including unusual and vagrant species that may only rarely visit the area; and c) Upland Swamps support a diverse array of fauna species and this habitat is present in all three Blue Mountains Special Areas.

The Woodford Creek Special Area has the greatest fauna diversity, with 169 species recorded (Table 1). This is the largest of the three, and has been subject to the most intensive survey prior to this project (Smith and Smith 1998). The Katoomba and Blackheath Special Areas have roughly half the number of species, with this difference largely attributable to a great disparity in the number of bird species recorded (Table 1).

Table 1: Numbers of native fauna species confirmed for the Blackheath, Katoomba and Woodford Creek Special Areas.

Blackheath Katoomba Woodford Creek

Frogs 4 6 11

Reptiles 16 14 24

Diurnal Birds 37 38 103

Nocturnal Birds 2 2 4

Arboreal Mammals 2 2 4

Terrestrial Mammals 5 3 7

Bats 11 4 8

Introduced Species 5 4 8

Total 82 73 169

For all three Special Areas, diurnal birds comprise the majority of species. Over 100 diurnal birds have been recorded in the Woodford Creek Special Area. Overall, the most frequently recorded diurnal bird was the New Holland Honeyeater, followed by the Eastern Spinebill, Yellow-faced Honeyeater and Crimson Rosella. This is reflective of the low, flowering sandstone woodlands and heaths that dominate the catchments. In contrast, the White-throated Treecreeper was by far the most common bird in the Warragamba Special Area – a species typical of taller woodlands and open forests.

Of the nocturnal birds, at least six different species have been recorded in or around the Woodford Creek, Blackheath and Katoomba Special Areas (Appendix A). By far the most commonly encountered species was the Southern Boobook, with 21 records. This was followed by the Tawny Frogmouth, another common species, even in urban areas.

There were a total of 26 native mammal species recorded from the Special Areas, 54% of which were bats. A high diversity of bats was surprising given the small geographic extent of the Special Areas, with typical species being the Gould's Wattled Bat, Large Forest Bat and Chocolate Wattled Bat. The most abundant arboreal mammal was the Common Ringtail Possum, again reflecting the low woodlands of the plateau. Common Brushtail Possums and Greater Gliders have also been recorded. The Bush Rat and the Spotted-tailed Quoll are the most commonly recorded ground-dwelling mammals. While the Bush Rat is indeed a common species, the high number of Spotted-tailed Quoll records in the Atlas of NSW Wildlife reflects a dedicated community survey for this rare and elusive species.


Map 3: Fauna Survey Sites.


There are 36 species of reptiles known from within or just outside the Blue Mountains Special Areas (Appendix A). This reflects the diversity of environments present and the extensive survey effort that has been expended over the years. Skinks are the most diverse and abundant group, with 18 species, ranging from the common and ubiquitous Dark-flecked Garden Sunskink to the threatened Blue Mountains Water Skink – a species confined to Upland Swamps. There is also a high diversity of snakes, with 10 species recorded, from the small and harmless Blackish Blind Snake to large venomous species such as the Mainland Tiger Snake and Red-bellied Black Snake. Of particular interest is the relatively large number of records of the Mustard-bellied Snakes, particularly from Woodford Creek. This species is rarely encountered elsewhere in Greater Southern Sydney.

The reptiles of the Woodford Creek, Blackheath and Katoomba Special Areas are the most distinctive group when compared to other Special Areas in the region. There are a number of species restricted to the higher elevation or higher rainfall parts of the Blue Mountains; and thus are rarely or never found within the Warragamba or Woronora Plateau Special Areas. These species include the Blotched Bluetongue, Highlands Copperhead and Blue Mountains Water Skink.

The frogs of the Blue Mountains Special Areas are also relatively diverse. This can be attributed to the relatively high rainfall compared to much of the Blue Mountains, the presence of Upland Swamps and the level of effort expended surveying this area. In total, 16 species have been confirmed from the three Special Areas or within a 1 km radius of their perimeter. An additional species, the Great Barred Frog, has been recorded by call in one survey (Smith and Smith 1998), although this is outside the known range of this species and requires confirmation. Eleven species have been recorded in the Woodford Creek Special Area, approximately twice as many as the Blackheath and Katoomba Special Areas. This higher diversity is probably related to the larger size of Woodford Creek Special Area, and the greater survey effort undertaken.

The most commonly recorded frog species was the Common Eastern Froglet. This was followed in the number of records by the Peron's Tree Frog and the highly vocal Keferstein's Tree Frog. The latter species is also sometimes known as the Bleating Tree Frog due to its persistent high-pitched mating call. Other noteworthy frogs are: a) Freycinet's Frog, which is a species closely associated with Upland Swamps and acidic environments and rarely found at high altitudes; and b) the Blue Mountains Tree Frog, an attractive tree frog that is particularly characteristic of the higher rainfall areas of the Blue Mountains.

3.3 Threatened Species Inventory

There are 17 threatened fauna species confirmed to occur within the Blue Mountains Special Areas (or from a 1 km radius of their perimeters) as listed under the TSC Act (1995) or Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act (1998). This includes three frogs, two reptiles, three diurnal birds, three nocturnal birds, two terrestrial mammals, and four bats (Table 2). Woodford Creek Special Area has the most threatened species recorded, with ten species, followed by Blackheath Special Area, with eight.

A further threatened species is the Stuttering Frog. This frog is only known from a very old museum record adjacent to the Woodford Creek Special Area. While it probably formerly occupied the Special Areas, no populations are now known. It has suffered major declines across its range, probably due to disease, and only remains at a handful of locations in the Blue Mountains. Additionally, there are old museum records of the Eastern Quoll from the Woodford Creek Special Area. This species is considered to be extinct across its entire former range in mainland Australia.

A final unconfirmed threatened species is the Yellow-bellied Sheathtail-bat (from a single ultrasonic detection call classed as ‘possible’) from the Blackheath Special Area. While this wide-ranging species may occasionally move through this area, it is highly unlikely that it is resident.

Five of the above species are classified as ‘Endangered’ under the TSC Act 1995. These species include the Blue Mountains Water Skink and Broad-headed Snake, both of which have high quality habitat in all three Special Areas. Others are the Stuttering Frog and Eastern Quoll, both of which appear to be extinct in the Special Areas, and the Regent Honeyeater, which is only known from a single location in the Woodford Creek Special Area (Smith and Smith 1998), where little appropriate habitat exists. This nomadic bird was presumably moving through the area en route to more suitable environments in the Capertee or Burragorang Valleys.

The fauna group with the largest number of threatened species is the bats, with four species confirmed from the Blue Mountains Special Areas. Another two threatened bats are predicted to occur. To a large extent this reflects the great number of vulnerable bat species within the Sydney Basin Bioregion, though it also reflects the high quality habitat that exists in these catchments.

The Blue Mountains Tree Frog is characteristic of the Blue Mountains Special Areas. © A. Dudley


Table 2: Threatened fauna found in the Blue Mountains Special Areas, showing legal status under the TSC Act (1995) and the number of records, including those from within a one kilometre radius of each Special Area. Potential = Species that have been predicted to occur from habitat models or because of confirmed records nearby.

Blackheath Katoomba Woodford Creek

Total

Common Name Scientific Name LegalStatus

Certainty Inside Within1km

Inside Within1km

Inside Within1km

Amphibians

Giant Burrowing Frog Heleioporusaustraliacus

Vulnerable Confirmed 1 1

Littlejohn's Tree Frog Litoria littlejohni Vulnerable Confirmed 2 2

Red-crowned Toadlet Pseudophryne australis Vulnerable Confirmed 1 1 5 4 11

Stuttering Frog Mixophyes balbus Endangered Confirmed 1 1

Reptiles

Blue Mountains Water skink

Eulamprus leuraensis Endangered Confirmed 1 1 1 3

Broad-headed Snake Hoplocephalusbungaroides

Endangered Confirmed 1 3 4

Diurnal Birds

Gang-gang Cockatoo Callocephalonfimbriatum

Vulnerable Confirmed 1 6 53 44 104

Glossy Black-cockatoo Calyptorhynchuslathami

Vulnerable Confirmed 1 5 6

Regent Honeyeater Xanthomyza phrygia Endangered Confirmed 1 1

Nocturnal Birds

Barking Owl Ninox connivens Vulnerable Confirmed 1 1

Powerful Owl Ninox strenua Vulnerable Confirmed 1 2 3

Sooty Owl Tyto tenebricosa Vulnerable Potential 1 1

Arboreal Mammals

Eastern Pygmy-possum

Cercartetus nanus Vulnerable Potential 0

Terrestrial Mammals

Eastern Quoll Dasyurus viverrinus Endangered Extinct 6 6

Spotted-tailed Quoll Dasyurus maculatus Vulnerable Confirmed 11 25 2 5 9 8 60

Bats

Eastern Bentwing-bat Miniopterus schreibersii Vulnerable Confirmed 2 2 1 5

Eastern False Pipistrelle

Falsistrellus tasmaniensis

Vulnerable Confirmed 1 1 1 1 4

Greater Broad-nosed Bat

Scoteanax rueppellii Vulnerable Confirmed 2 1 3

Grey-headed Flying-fox

Pteropus poliocephalus Vulnerable Confirmed 1 1

Yellow-bellied Sheathtail-bat

Saccolaimus flaviventris

Vulnerable Unconfirmed 1 1

Large-eared Pied Bat Chalinolobus dwyeri Vulnerable Potential 0

Large-footed Myotis Myotis adversus Vulnerable Potential 0


The most commonly recorded threatened species in the Special Areas is the Gang-gang Cockatoo. This Cockatoo has been recorded in or near all three Blue Mountains Special Areas, with 53 records from within the Woodford Creek Special Area alone. While some of these records may be re-recordings of the same individual, the Gang-gang Cockatoo has been found to be far more abundant throughout the Region than was previously thought. The Blue Mountains Special Areas, along with much of the Southern Blue Mountains, contains large amounts of high-quality habitat.

There are no threatened arboreal mammals known from the Blue Mountains Special Areas, though habitat has been predicted for the Eastern Pygmy-possum (see Volume 2 – Fauna of Conservation Concern and Priority Pest Species), and a record exists within 2 km of the Woodford Creek Special Area. It is likely that targeted survey using pitfall traps will detect the presence of this possum.

Each threatened species, along with other species of conservation concern, is addressed individually, in Volume 2. Habitat maps and sighting locations are also given in this document. Later in this report, Species of Conservation Concern have been prioritised for conservation management within the Woodford Creek, Katoomba and Blackheath Special Areas (Section 4).

3.4 Patterns in Native Fauna Distribution

The Woodford Creek, Katoomba and Blackheath Special Areas grade between two broad landscape and climatic zones that exist within the Greater Southern Sydney Region. These are the coastal hinterland sandstone plateau and montane and highland environments. The fauna species found exhibit elements of both these environments. The Coastal Hinterland describes the dissected sandstone plateau between approximately 200 and 800 m above sea level (asl), covering the Warragamba Special Area in the northern and eastern parts, and the Woronora Plateau. The Montane and Highland environments occur at elevations above 800 m asl and are characterised by a year-round cool climate. The

highest elevations in the Woodford Creek Special Area is 670 m, Katoomba Special Area is 900 m and Blackheath Special Area is 1050 m. Therefore the Blue Mountains Special Areas span the intergrade between the two broad landscape and climatic zones.

The intergrade between highland and coastal hinterland environments is reflected in the reptilian and amphibian fauna. For example, the Red-crowned Toadlet, Copper-tailed Ctenotus, White's Rock-skink and Mountain Heath Dragon are typical of the sandstone plateaux. All occur throughout the three Special Areas but particularly in the lower elevation Woodford Creek. As elevation increases towards Katoomba and Blackheath, many highland species are found, such as the Highlands Copperhead, Tussock Cool-skink and Blotched Bluetongue. It is also in the higher elevation catchments that the Blue Mountains Water Skink occurs.

Aside from this elevational effect, the fauna is typical of the rocky sandstone woodlands, heaths, swamps and forests that are found throughout the entire mid to upper Blue Mountains. The low woodlands and heaths have a plethora of flowering shrubs and hence a diversity of nectar-loving honeyeaters, with common species including the New Holland Honeyeater, Eastern Spinebill, Brown-headed Honeyeater and White-naped Honeyeater. The prevalence of the woodland-inhabiting Common Ringtail Possum and Sugar Glider supports this pattern. However, there are also species more representative of the taller forests of the coastal hinterland, particularly in the Woodford Creek Special Area. These species are primarily confined to denser vegetation along watercourses and lower slopes and include the Brown Cuckoo-dove, Brown Gerygone, Black-faced Monarch, Yellow-throated Scrubwren and Greater Glider.

The most distinctive group of fauna is that associated with the high-elevation Upland Swamps. Typical fauna of these swamps include the Beautiful Firetail, Red-crowned Toadlet, Blue Mountains Water Skink, Swamp Rat, Dusky Antechinus and the Southern Emu-wren. All these species are adapted to the low, thick, waterlogged vegetation that occurs in the Upland Swamps of the Blue Mountains.

The Blotched Bluetongue is only found at high altitudes in the Greater Southern Sydney Region. © G. Steenbeeke

The Eastern Pygmy-possum is predicted to occur, though no records currently exist. This individual was found on the nearby Kings Tableland. © T. Holloway


4 Species Conservation Status 4.1 Overview

Land managers are now faced with an overwhelmingly large list of threatened fauna species. However, threatened species do not all warrant equivalent management attention. Furthermore, priorities vary from one region to another, as does the management response required.

Volume 1 - Background Report of this series reviewed all terrestrial fauna known to occur in the Greater Southern Sydney Region, identifying a preliminary list of Species of Conservation Concern. This list included any species listed as a threatened species under State or Federal legislation; species thought to be declining regionally or locally based on existing literature and knowledge of expert field ecologists; species thought to impact on water quality; and species of cultural interest, particularly to Indigenous communities. Table 3 lists all Species of Conservation Concern that are known or predicted to occur in the Woodford Creek, Katoomba and Blackheath Special Areas and details key threats and key locations within those Areas. The importance of the Blue Mountains Special Areas to the long-term survival of the species in the Greater Southern Sydney Region has been summarised in the final column. This has been derived from figures detailing how much high-quality habitat is present, and the proportion of habitat in the Region that occurs in the Woodford Creek, Katoomba and Woodford Creek Special Areas (Appendix B). Each of the species listed in Table 3 are described in detail, along with maps of distribution, in Volume 2 - Fauna of Conservation Concern and Priority Pest Species.

4.2 Setting Priorities for Conservation and Management

When setting the conservation priorities for the Greater Southern Sydney Region, including the Special Areas of the Blue Mountains, factors included for consideration were:

1. the level of decline within the Region;

2. the level of threat to remaining populations;

3. the total amount of habitat in the Region;

4. the importance of the Region to the overall survival of the species in question; and

5. the amount of habitat that has already been lost.

This process has been described in detail in Volume1. The list of Species of Conservation Concern has been reviewed and filtered following the survey and habitat mapping. A prioritised list of species for the Blue Mountains Special Areas is presented in Table 3.

Almost half of the 92 Species of Conservation Concern for the Greater Southern Sydney Region have been recorded or have been modelled as potentially occurring within the Woodford Creek, Katoomba or Blackheath Special Areas. However, the contribution this area makes to the overall conservation of these

species is generally small. For example, few species have more than 1% of their total high quality habitat in the region within the three Special Areas combined. There are some important exceptions to this, the most significant being the Blue Mountains Water Skink. This skink is a very high priority at a regional level, only occurring in the high elevation Upland Swamps of the Blue Mountains. Around 7% of the total habitat in the Region occurs within the Special Areas and some of the most important known populations exist within Katoomba and Blackheath Special Areas.

Of those species considered to be the HighestConservation Priority at a regional level (see Volume2), only two have been found in the vicinity of the Blue Mountains Special Areas: the Stuttering Frog and Regent Honeyeater. The former species is known from old museum specimens, though there is a recent confirmed record from less than 9 km north of the Blackheath Special Area. This extremely rare frog is close to extinction in Greater Southern Sydney with only two known populations remaining. The Stuttering Frog was once widespread throughout the rainforests and taller moist forests of the Blue Mountains but has suffered a severe decline over the last 20 years (see species profile, Volume 2). Should any populations of this frog be confirmed within the Blue Mountains Special Areas they will be the outstanding priority for conservation management. The latter species, the Regent Honeyeater, is only known from a single record from a backyard in the Woodford Creek Special Area. The Blue Mountains Special Areas provide no high quality habitat for this honeyeater, such as winter-flowering eucalypts, and it likely to be no more than a very infrequent visitor.

There are five species of High Conservation Priority confirmed from Blue Mountains Special Areas: the Blue Mountains Water Skink, Spotted-tailed Quoll, Littlejohn's Tree Frog, Barking Owl and Broad-headed Snake. Two populations of the Blue Mountains Water Skink occur in Upland Swamps in the Blackheath and Katoomba Special Areas (Section 5). The Spotted-tailed Quoll does not have an extensive amount of habitat within these Special Areas, but the large

Sandstone Woodland in the Woodford Creek Special Area. © G. Steenbeeke


number of records indicates that the areas may be of particular significance, particularly the Woodford Creek Special Area. Littlejohn's Tree Frog is a very rare species within the Blue Mountains and the Sydney Basin as a whole. There are records within 1 km of the Blackheath Special Area, and suitable habitat within all three; hence this species should be a very high priority for conservation management. The Broad-headed Snake has been recorded in and adjacent to the Woodford Creek Special Area and this cryptic species is doubtlessly resident in this area. The Barking Owl is known from a single location within the Blackheath

Special Area. However, no high quality habitat for this species is present and it is likely to be only an infrequent visitor.

Further to this, a number of Moderately High and Moderate Conservation Priority species occur in the Special Areas (Table 3), though most have only limited high quality habitat present. Another species in this category, the Eastern Pygmy-possum, is predicted to have important habitat in the Blue Mountains Special Areas, although there are no confirmed records.

Table 3: Species of Conservation Concern in the Woodford Creek, Katoomba and Blackheath Special Areas ranked as to their conservation priority in the Greater Southern Sydney Region. The importance of the Woodford Creek, Katoomba and Blackheath Special Areas to the regional conservation of a species is given in the last column. Within each category, species are ranked. Important = 10-39% of high quality habitat occurs within these Special Areas; Limited = 1 – 9%. Species listed as ‘Potential’ in the last column are either predicted to occur due to high quality habitat being present or are known from adjacent localities but have not yet been recorded within the Special Areas.

Priority Species Key Threats in Blue Mountains Special Areas

Key locations in Blue Mountains Special Areas

Significance of Blue Mountains Special Areas

Stuttering Frog Disease, habitat loss Woodford Creek – historic record

Important (possibly locally extinct)

Highest Regent Honeyeater N/A Woodford Creek – single

record from garden Limited

Blue Mountains Water Skink Habitat loss, degradation from urbanisation

Blackheath and Katoomba Important

Littlejohn's Tree Frog Disease, Plague Minnow Blackheath, Katoomba and Woodford Creek

Important (potential)

Spotted-tailed Quoll Competition and predation from feral predators, 1080 baiting? road mortality

Blackheath, Katoomba and Woodford Creek

Important

Broad-headed Snake Collection, bushrock removal


Important

Barking Owl Habitat loss Blackheath Limited

Large-eared Pied Bat Habitat loss Woodford Creek Limited (potential)

High

Large-footed Myotis Habitat loss, water quality Woodford Creek Limited (potential)

Beautiful Firetail Habitat loss, frequent fire Woodford Creek, Katoomba and Blackheath

Limited - important locally

Eastern False Pipistrelle Habitat loss Blackheath, Katoomba and Woodford Creek

Limited

Grey-headed Flying-fox Habitat loss Woodford Creek, Katoomba and Blackheath

Limited

Turquoise Parrot Habitat loss Blackheath Limited (potential)

Moderately High

Greater Broad-nosed Bat Habitat loss Blackheath and Katoomba Limited

Giant Burrowing Frog Restricted habitat Woodford Creek Limited (potential)

Southern Emu-wren Frequent fire, restricted habitat, predation from feral and domestic cats


Limited, important locally


Priority Species Key Threats in Blue Mountains Special Areas

Key locations in Blue Mountains Special Areas

Significance of Blue Mountains Special Areas

Red-crowned Toadlet Restricted habitat, disease Woodford Creek, Katoomba and Blackheath

Limited, important locally

Eastern Pygmy-possum Restricted habitat, frequent fire, predation from Foxes, feral and domestic cats

Woodford Creek, Katoomba and Blackheath

Important (potential)

Tawny-crowned Honeyeater Restricted habitat Blackheath Limited (potential)

Flame Robin Habitat loss Blackheath, Katoomba and Woodford Creek

Limited

Rockwarbler Restricted habitat Woodford Creek Limited

Rosenberg's Goanna Restricted habitat, introduced predators

Woodford Creek Limited (potential)

Moderate

Sooty Owl Restricted habitat Woodford Creek Limited (potential)

Highlands Copperhead Secure Katoomba and Blackheath Limited

Mainland Tiger Snake Secure Blackheath and Woodford Creek

Limited

Spotted Quail-thrush Secure Blackheath, Katoomba and Woodford Creek

Limited

Gang-gang Cockatoo Secure Blackheath, Katoomba and Woodford Creek

Limited

Superb Lyrebird Secure Blackheath, Katoomba and Woodford Creek

Limited

Satin Bowerbird Secure Blackheath, Katoomba and Woodford Creek

Limited

Eastern Snake-necked Turtle Secure Katoomba Limited

Red-browed Treecreeper Secure Blackheath, Katoomba and Woodford Creek

Limited

Short-beaked Echidna Secure Blackheath and Katoomba Limited

Eastern Grey Kangaroo Secure Grassy Woodland, clearing and other

Limited

Varied Sittella Secure Blackheath, Katoomba and Woodford Creek

Limited

Long-nosed Bandicoot Secure? Blackheath, Katoomba and Woodford Creek

Limited (important locally)

Painted Button-quail Secure Woodford Creek Limited

Powerful Owl Secure Blackheath and Woodford Creek

Limited

Platypus Secure (with exceptions) Woodford Creek Limited (potential)

Glossy Black-Cockatoo Secure Woodford Creek Limited

B bron's Toadlet Secure Blackheath and Katoomba Limited

Greater Glider Secure Woodford Creek Limited

Lower

Eastern Bentwing-bat Secure (excepting communal roost sites)

Woodford Creek Limited


5 Priority Fauna Habitats and Populations

5.1 Introduction

A fauna habitat is a broad environment utilised by a suite of fauna with similar habitat requirements. PriorityFauna Habitats are those that have exceptional importance for the conservation of vertebrate fauna, particularly threatened species. Given limited resources, protection and enhancement of priority fauna habitats will generate the maximum benefit to threatened species conservation and to vertebrate diversity in the region.

Fauna habitats vary widely in their spatial extent, with some being naturally restricted and others heavily depleted due to clearing. They also vary greatly in the level of modification and the number of threatened fauna. These disparities are largely because Key Threatening Processes operate unequally across the landscape, with habitats that occur on fertile soils and in coastal areas experiencing the greatest disruption. The result of this is that a few environments will provide habitat for a disproportionately large number of threatened species. For example, across the Greater Southern Sydney Region, just four Priority Habitats support 32 of the 45 threatened species (see Volume1 – Background Report).

5.1.1 How can priority fauna habitats be used in conservation management?

Priority fauna habitats may be used to guide conservation efforts toward areas that will have the greatest outcomes for fauna. Within the Greater Southern Sydney Region, the preservation of habitats identified in this section will have the maximum benefit to threatened fauna, and will help ensure that vertebrate diversity is maintained in the long-term.

Identification of priority fauna habitats may inform land management actions, including:

� land acquisition strategies - by highlighting areas that provide maximum benefit to priority fauna and vertebrate diversity;

� pest-species management - allow for control programs that are targeted towards areas that will benefit vertebrate diversity and the greatest number of priority fauna;

� fire management - by highlighting environments that require special attention with regard to appropriate fire regimes;

� threatened species management - by highlighting areas that are of greatest importance as habitat for species listed under the TSC Act (1995); and

� management of Key Threatening Processes - by highlighting areas that require special attention with regard to the mitigation of Key Threatening Processes.

5.2 Priority Fauna Habitats in the Blue Mountains Special Areas

One Priority Fauna Habitat of the Greater Southern Sydney Region occurs within the Blue Mountains Special Areas: Upland Swamps. These swamps are an important feature of all three Special Areas (Map 4). For further details on how all Priority Fauna Habitats were identified and mapped, see Volume 1.

5.2.1 Priority Habitat: Upland Swamps

Upland Swamps contain a unique array of fauna, many of which are of conservation concern. Within the Blue Mountains Special Areas, these swamps are important habitat for at least 10 known or potentially occurring fauna species of conservation concern, including the Blue Mountains Water Skink, Beautiful Firetail, and Giant Burrowing Frog (Table 3). Some of these species, particularly the Blue Mountains Water Skink, are entirely restricted to this environment.

Within the Greater Southern Sydney Region, Upland Swamps mostly occur in the higher rainfall sandstone plateaux of the Woronora. They also occur in the mid to upper Blue Mountains, including the Woodford Creek, Katoomba and Blackheath Special Areas. The Greater Southern Sydney Region contains a large amount of this unusual habitat compared to other parts of New South Wales. Within the Blue Mountains, these three catchments are extremely important to the conservation of this Priority Fauna Habitat.

Upland Swamps are fragile environments that are very sensitive to disturbance, particularly changes in hydrology and overly frequent fire. Although all Upland Swamps are potentially important fauna habitat, patches that are known to be utilised by fauna species listed in Table 3 are of the highest conservation value within the Greater Southern Sydney Region.

Upland Swamps are a Priority Fauna Habitat in the Blue Mountains Special Areas. They are unique environments that are naturally restricted in distribution. © DECC


At a regional scale, the most important Key Threatening Process that impacts on Upland Swamps is ecological consequences of high frequency fires.Inappropriate fire regimes have been implicated in the decline and local extinction of a number of priority species from this habitat (Volume 2 – Fauna of Conservation Concern and Priority Pest Species).However, at a local level, alteration to natural flow regimes of rivers, streams, floodplains and wetlands is the Key Threatening Process likely to be having the greatest impact. Urban development primarily occurs along ridgetops within or adjacent to all three Blue Mountains Special Areas. Roads or walking tracks frequently traverse Upland Swamps and therefore may impact on fauna populations by interfering with waterflow regimes, allow increased access by introduced predators, including domestic cats, and encourage interference of some fauna by some of the nearby residents. All these threats combined may potentially have a major impact on some populations of Upland Swamp fauna, in particular the Blue Mountains Water Skink.

Other Key Threatening Processes that have a great potential to impact on all Upland Swamp species is predation by the Fox and predation by Feral Cats.

5.3 Priority Fauna Populations

5.3.1 Blue Mountains Water Skink in Katoomba and Blackheath Special Areas

The Blue Mountains Water Skink is a highly specialised, endemic species that is considered to be one of the rarest lizards in Australia (NPWS 2001a). It is a medium-sized, semi-aquatic species with bold yellow markings. It occupies a single habitat type: high elevation Upland Swamps in the mid and upper Blue Mountains and on the Newnes Plateau. This habitat type is naturally fragmented and isolated, resulting in individual populations being vulnerable to local extinction. For more information on the Blue Mountains Water Skink refer to Volume 2.

There are single populations of the Blue Mountains Water Skink known from both the Blackheath and Katoomba Special Areas. Given the rarity of this skink and its poor ability to disperse, these populations should be managed individually. Habitat modelling has predicted over 80 ha of suitable habitat within

Blackheath Special Area, while the Katoomba Special Area is considered to contain roughly one quarter of this amount. While it is likely that further populations exist, many apparently suitable swamps are unoccupied. It appears that the occurrence of the Blue Mountains Water Skink is dependent on the size and wetness of the swamp, and the isolation of particular swamps from other sites supporting this species. Small, dry and isolated swamps are the least likely to be occupied (NPWS 2001a).

Given the likelihood that further populations exist in the Special Areas, any new populations discovered in the future should also be subject to targeted management. Additionally, there has also been suitable habitat predicted to occur within the Woodford Creek Special Area. However, this Special Area is close to the lowest elevation at which this species has been found (560 m asl). Due to the presence of potentially suitable habitat and records of this lizard from nearby Hazelbrook, it is recommended that targeted searches of the Special Area be conducted.

The primary threats to the populations of the Blue Mountains Water Skink within the Blue Mountains Special Areas is encroaching urban development, alteration of the hydrology of Upland Swamps and predation by domestic and feral Cats (NPWS 2001a; Volume 2). The implementation of recovery planning actions within these Special Areas is considered in detail later in this document.

The endangered Blue Mountains Water Skink is known from isolated populations in the Blackheath and Katoomba Special Areas. © S. Nally/DECC


Map 4: Key Fauna Habitats.


6 Managing Native Species and Habitats 6.1 Introduction

Many approaches may be taken to the conservation of biodiversity. These include: preventing disturbance and clearing of fauna habitats, acquiring private land that contains fauna habitat, rehabilitating fauna habitats, controlling weeds and vertebrate and invertebrate pest species, managing fire and further research and monitoring. Applying these approaches widely is difficult, even for smaller management zones such as the Blue Mountains Special Areas. Rather, the successful management of biodiversity is achieved by targeting action toward species and habitats that are most unique and the most vulnerable. Some priorities are set by legislative responsibilities under the TSC Act (1995). These have been determined with a statewide perspective via an independent Scientific Committee. This Act also identifies Key Threatening Processes that impact on threatened species.

The purpose of this section is to provide a management approach to the fauna specifically for the Blue Mountains Special Areas. It highlights the most important species and the most serious threatening processes operating in the catchments.

6.2 Key Threatening Processes

A Key Threatening Process is defined under the TSC Act (1995) and EPBC Act (1999) as a process that threatens, or could threaten, the survival or evolutionary development of species, populations or ecological communities. Such processes represent another element used to assess fauna species conservation status. Appendix C summarises the Key Threatening Processes currently listed under the TSC Act (1995) that impact on the threatened fauna species known to occur in the Blue Mountains Special Areas. The most serious Key Threatening Processes relate to the habitat disturbance, impacts of feral animal predation, the spread of introduced weeds and alteration to hydrological regimes.

Some Key Threatening Processes are particularly significant within the Blackheath, Katoomba and Woodford Creek Special Areas. Probably the most important threats operating relate to competition and/or predation by the Fox and domestic and Feral Cat; both of which are thought to impact on the survival of a number of priority fauna species. Another Key Threatening Process that is highly relevant is the alteration of flow regimes, which may impact on Upland Swamps, a priority habitat that is very important in these Special Areas.

For a large part of the Special Areas, due to current land tenure the clearing of native vegetation is relatively unimportant, except for the freehold land around the fringes of the Woodford Creek and Blackheath Special Areas. Nevertheless, this threat is highly significant due to the number of species potentially affected (Appendix C).

Infection of frogs by Chytrid Fungus causing the disease chytridiomycosis is a further Key Threatening Process that is particularly relevant to the Blue Mountains Special Areas (NSW Scientific Committee 2003a). There are old records of the Stuttering Frog, a species that is known to by affected by Chytrid Fungus (see Volume 2 – Fauna of Conservation Concern and Priority Pest Species), from the vicinity of the Woodford Creek Special Area. In addition, there are a number of other frog species from the Special Areas that may be affected, including the vulnerable Littlejohn’s Tree Frog. All frog surveys or activities that may involve contact with frogs should be undertaken with strict adherence to the frog hygiene protocol to prevent the spread of this deadly disease (NPWS 2001c).

A Key Threatening Process that is particularly relevant for the Blue Mountains Special Areas is the removal of bushrock (NSW Scientific Committee 1999a). This is a significant threat to the survival of the Broad-headed

The Red-crowned Toadlet is a vulnerable frog that is characteristic of the Blue Mountains Special Areas. © M. Schulz

The Green Stream Frog is currently common in the Blue Mountains Special Areas, although it is one of many species that may be infected and killed by Chytrid Fungus. © N. Williams


Snake (Shine et al. 1998). Bushrock collection is particularly problematic in areas that adjoin human habitation or close to public road access, such as frequently occurs in and around the Blue Mountains Special Areas. Access restrictions are an effective way of limiting illegal collection of bushrock, and to this point this activity has been largely controlled in the Blue Mountains Special Area. It is very important that bushrock removal continue to be controlled in the future.

The Broad-headed Snake is one of Australia’s rarest reptiles. The Blue Mountains between Hazelbrook and Mt Blackheath contains some of the best Broad-headed Snake habitat anywhere in its range. It has been located in the Woodford Creek Special Area, and high quality habitat has been mapped within all of the Blue Mountains Special Areas (see Volume 2). For this reason bushrock removal is the most important Key Threatening Processes to be managed within the Blue Mountains Special Areas.

6.3 Threat Abatement Plans

There are several Threat Abatement Plans relevant to the Blue Mountains Special Areas. The first is the Threat Abatement Plan for predation by the Red Fox (NPWS 2001b; DEH 1999a). The application of this Threat Abatement Plan is particularly pertinent given the high conservation value Upland Swamps that occur. Upland Swamps have been shown to contain an assemblage of fauna species that is particularly impacted by feral predators, especially the Fox (see Volume 1 – Background Report). Other relevant Threat Abatement Plans for the Blackheath, Katoomba and Woodford Creek Special Areas are:

� Predation by Feral Cats (DEH 1999b);

� Infection of amphibians with Chytrid Fungus resulting in chytridiomycosis (Draft) (DEH 2004);

� Competition and Land degradation by the Feral Rabbit (DEH 1999c); and

� Beak and Feather Disease affecting endangered psittacine species (DEH 2005a).

6.4 Management Approach for the Blue Mountains Special Areas

Given limited resources, benefits to biodiversity will be greatest if conservation actions are implemented in a strategic way - to the highest conservation value fauna habitats and populations in the region (Figure 1). This project has identified habitats, populations and other environments that are priorities for conservation management within the Blue Mountains Special Areas. There are relatively fewer priorities for the Blue Mountains Special Areas than for the Warragamba Special Area as there are fewer habitats, threatened species and key threats.

Figure 1: Diagram showing a range of conservation actions (in blue) and where resources are best directed in order to achieve the maximum benefits to biodiversity within the Blue Mountains Special Areas.

L a n d a c q u is i t io n

F i r e m a n a g e m e n tP e s t s p e c ie s c o n t r o l

R e h a b i l i t a t io nP r e v e n t f u r t h e r

d is t u r b a n c e

I M P O R T A N T S I T E S A N D H A B I T A T S

P r io r i t y F a u n a H a b i t a t s

U p la n d S w a m p s

P r io r i t y P o p u la t io n sB l u e M o u n t a i n s W a t e r S k in k

Bushrock removal must be prevented in the Blue Mountains Special Areas to stop the disappearance of the Broad-headed Snake – one of Australia’s rarest reptiles. © N. Williams


6.5 Land Acquisition Strategies and Fauna

Acquiring land for the reserve system is a key means of protecting important fauna habitats and helping ensure the long-term viability of fauna populations. Acquisitions will maximise the benefits for conservation where they target Priority Fauna Habitats, Corridors and/or Priority Fauna Populations or sites. In the Blue Mountains Special Areas, acquisitions of the priority fauna habitat, Upland Swamps, will offer the greatest gains to the reservation status of high conservation priority fauna, particularly if they are a known site, or adjacent to a known site of the Blue Mountains Water Skink. For example, in the Blackheath Special Area, the land use zoning adjacent to the swamp where Blue Mountains Water Skink are known allows for further development. Such development is likely to be deleterious to the Blackheath population of this species.

The Blue Mountains Special Areas contain some of the best high elevation Upland Swamps in the Region. Future development of the reserve system that serves the maximum benefit to biodiversity (and hence ecosystem health) should target sites that fulfil as many of the criteria below as possible.

Potential land acquisitions should be judged against the following criteria:

Key Criteria:

1. The land has been identified as a Priority Fauna Habitat (Upland Swamp).

2. The land is a site of a priority population (Blue Mountains Water Skink).

Additional Criteria:

3. The land includes, or is proximate to, a watercourse.

4. The land is an important link between existing protected areas.

5. The land is part of, or linked to, a large remnant (> 50 ha).

6. The land is well connected to an area of extensive continuous vegetation cover (gaps of cleared land no greater than 600 m).

7. The land supports fauna habitats that are relatively undisturbed, including the ground cover and understorey layers.

8. The areas are known to support species of conservation concern (Table 3).

6.6 Ecological Rehabilitation and Restoration (including Weed Management)

Any rehabilitation and restoration of fauna habitats in the Blue Mountains Special Areas should be focused on Priority Fauna Habitats (Upland Swamps) or sites

that support priority fauna populations (in this instance, the Blue Mountains Water Skink).

Natural regeneration, assisted regeneration and reconstruction can improve connectivity and/or condition of disturbed and fragmented vegetation. The application of these techniques to the Upland Swamps of the three Blue Mountains Special Areas offers the greatest gains to fauna. The primary form of rehabilitation and restoration that is appropriate for this habitat, and the Special Areas in general is Assisted Regeneration, which involves active intervention in order help an ecosystem recover from perturbation, with the main focus being the control of weed species, sedimentation and water quality. The Upland Swamps of the Blue Mountains are particularly susceptible to changes in hydrology and to disturbance from nearby development. Weed species such as Pampas Grass can be a problem in Upland Swamps, generally only where there has been disturbance.

In addition, fruiting weed species, such as Blackberry, Small-leafed Privet and Large-leafed Privet are problematic, particularly in moist areas. Control of these species should focus on creeklines that transport fruit downstream into undisturbed vegetation. Infestations of the above weeds also support populations of introduced fruit-eating birds, such as the Eurasian Blackbird and Red-whiskered Bulbul. These birds are capable of spreading weeds into surrounding bushland.

The most serious weeds in the Blue Mountains Special Areas are Scotch Broom, Blackberry and Large and Small-leafed Privet (Sydney Catchment Authority and NPWS 2001). Scotch Broom is a serious weed of the Upper Blue Mountains. This species can tolerate a range of soil conditions, forming dense stands and dramatically reducing biodiversity. Scotch Broom is known to form thickets around subalpine wetlands in the Barrington Tops area. Should a similar situation occur in the Blue Mountains, this weed could significantly impact on habitat of the Blue Mountains Water Skink. A range of controls are being trialled in the Shoalhaven, Victoria and at Barrington Tops (Corey 2003) that may eventually be suitable for application in the Blue Mountains Special Areas.

Reconstruction of the original native vegetation cover is a long-term strategy that may be used to improve the viability of fauna habitats, but is probably of limited value for Upland Swamps which are diverse and rarely completely denuded of vegetation. Rather, reconstruction of vegetation communities within the Blackheath, Katoomba and Woodford Creek Special Areas is likely to be most beneficial around creeks and other waterways, particularly those that leading into Upland Swamps. This management approach will have the duel benefit of improving the water quality for the Upland Swamps and water storage.

A site of particular interest regarding the restoration and/or reconstruction of native vegetation is the pine plantation in the Blackheath Special Area. This plantation is adjacent to one of only two known sites for the Blue Mountains Water Skink within the Blue Mountains Special Areas. Rehabilitation of this site would likely provide significant benefits to the Blue Mountains Water Skink.


6.7 Preventing Further Disturbance

Preventing further disturbance to an environment is an important way of managing for the conservation of biodiversity. This is particularly pertinent for the Blue Mountains Special Areas because of their small size and proximity to human habitation. Mitigating disturbance may take many forms. For example, preventing damage caused by illegal access of the Special Areas for dog walking, horse riding or trail bike riding, preventing illegal land clearance, preventing the removal of dead wood (firewood collection) and trees, preventing or mitigating erosion caused by track formation, preventing the escape into bushland of garden plants and preventing rubbish dumping and other pollution. All of these potential disturbances are widespread, and are difficult and expensive to control, with urban areas located within the Special Areas themselves, and a large human population nearby.

A particular problem for the Blue Mountains Special Areas is septic tank discharge overflowing into creeks and swamps (NPWS 2001a). As with other conservation management activities, maximum benefits will be achieved if resources are directed toward Priority Fauna Habitats and sites of priority fauna populations – in this instance Upland Swamps and populations of the Blue Mountains Water Skink. The specific management of these sites is addressed later in this document (see Sections 6.8, 6.10).

Additionally, any area that has been identified as high quality habitat for the Broad-headed Snake is a priority for preventing the collection of bushrock and the illegal collection of reptiles. This activity affects a range of fauna and ideally should be controlled in all environments. However, the highest priority for enforcement should be those areas mapped as high quality Broad-headed Snake habitat and areas where this snake has been located in the past (see Volume2). Other activities, such as illegal horse riding and trail bike riding can also damage rock outcrops.

6.8 Fire Management and Fauna

6.8.1 Overview

The impact of wildfire and controlled burning on native and introduced fauna remains poorly understood. Post-fire monitoring of fauna in the Special Areas of the Woronora Plateau (DEC 2004; DECC in prep.) compares the fauna composition of unburnt vegetation to that following extensive and severe wildfires. The impact of frequent fire on fauna is even less understood, though it has been implicated in the decline of a number of species in the Region.

General recommendations for fire management for the conservation of biodiversity within the Blue Mountains Special Areas are based on the study from the Woronora Plateau (DEC 2004; DECC in prep.). The Woronora Plateau has similar Sandstone Woodlands and Forests, Heaths and Upland Swamps (and similar fauna) as the Katoomba, Blackheath and Woodford Creek Special Areas. Notable exceptions are the Blue Mountains Water Skink and higher altitude species, such as the Tussock Skink which are only found in the Blue Mountains. On the Woronora Plateau, the impact on fauna is dependent on fire intensity, with high intensity fires affecting fauna assemblages more than low or moderate intensity fires. Groups that appeared to be particularly susceptible to high intensity fire were the arboreal mammals, shrub-frequenting birds and litter-dwelling skinks. For some species, recovery is very slow, with little increase in numbers three years after the fires. The study on the Woronora Plateau highlights the importance of unburnt refugia in the recolonisation of burnt areas. Unburnt refugia remain important for many years after the fire as a source of recolonisation and augmenting the food and habitat of individuals occupying resource-poor burnt areas. This is evident from the fact that even after four years, some severely burnt areas have not been recolonised by species found there before the fires. Maintaining unburnt refugia is particularly important after hot and extensive wildfire. When few unburnt refugia remain, maintaining these in an unburnt state for many years is particularly important.

Recommendations for general Fire Management within the Blue Mountains Special Areas include:

� Fire management should aim for a mosaic of fire regimes in order to maintain a diversity of faunahabitats.

� Mosaic burning should aim to retain examples of all key fauna habitats in a region in a long unburnt state; for example Upland Swamps, Tall Open Forests, Sandstone Woodlands and Heaths.

� Fire management should recognise the crucial role that unburnt refugia have in the recolonisation of burnt landscapes, particularly after widespread and intense wildfire.

� When only small areas are left unburnt after widespread and intense wildfire, these should remain in an unburnt state for as long as possible (greater than four years) in order to provide source populations for the recolonisation of burnt areas, and to augment food resources and habitat of burnt areas.

Rock outcrops, such as this one, are habitat for the Broad-headed Snake. They may be damaged by bush-rock collection, illegal reptile collecting and trail bike and horse riding. © K. Madden


6.8.2 Upland Swamps and Fire Management

Detailed fire management, like most conservation actions, is only tenable when directed to sites or habitats of the highest conservation importance. In the Blue Mountains Special Areas there is only one Priority Fauna Habitat when it comes to the management of fire; Upland Swamps. Many species from this habitat are thought to have declined due to overly frequent fire (see Volume 1).

The Blue Mountains Special Areas are important for the conservation of high elevation Upland Swamps. This Priority Fauna Habitat contains populations of rare species, in particular the Blue Mountains Water Skink, which may be threatened by overly frequent fire. The Eastern Pygmy-possum and Beautiful Firetail are additional species from the Upland Swamps that may be threatened by fire. On the Woronora Plateau, there have been extinctions and declines of species from Upland Swamps that have been linked to fire.

It is unknown exactly why species from Upland Swamps appear to be particularly susceptible to inappropriate fire regimes. It is certain that the patchy distribution of Upland Swamps makes recolonisation difficult in the event of local extinction. However, widespread fires would have occurred in the Region (see discussion on Fire in Volume 1). It is likely that there has been a synergistic effect of fire, or inappropriate fire regimes, and the introduction of feral predators. It is also likely that the high numbers of ground-dwelling species found in Upland Swamps are particularly vulnerable to predation by Feral Cats and Foxes, especially once the habitat has been opened up by fire. These factors probably act in synchrony, leading to this environment requiring special attention regarding fire management.

Fire management of Upland Swamps in the Blackheath, Katoomba and Woodford Creek Special Areas should:

� Always aim to leave some of this distinctive and important habitat in an unburnt state, with a plan to create a mosaic of fire histories within the Upland Swamp habitat, not just the general area.

� Allow at least four years between fires; though it is important that some parts of the Upland Swamp mosaic remain unburnt for much longer (Baker 2000).

6.8.3 Priority populations and Fire

Fire management is of great importance when dealing with isolated populations of extremely rare species, as local extinction due to fire would be catastrophic. The most important populations within the Blue Mountains Special Areas are that of the Blue Mountains Water Skink within the Blackheath and Katoomba Special Areas. The Blue Mountains are a fire prone environment, and the Blue Mountains Water Skink presumably has adaptations to survive fire, such as sheltering in water-filled burrows (LeBreton 1996). This species is not specialised for any particular seral stage in the post-fire vegetative succession. Nevertheless, should a population be driven to extinction by fire, it will be very difficult for sites to be recolonised as known

colonies are separated by significant distances of non-core habitat (NPWS 2001a). Under post-European land management, these skink populations are probably subject to a greater frequency of fire than to which they are adapted. In addition, the decreased vegetation cover post fire is likely to afford greater predation opportunities for domestic and Feral Cats and Foxes (NPWS 2001a). Specific actions regarding fire management for the conservation of this species are given in Section 6.10.1.

Additionally, should any populations of the Stuttering Frog be rediscovered in the Blue Mountains Special Areas, they will be very high priorities for considered fire management, with fire exclusion from their creekside habitat likely to be the ideal situation.

6.9 Research and Monitoring

A core conservation action is research and monitoring of populations or habitats of concern. Future research and monitoring in the Blue Mountains Special Areas should be directed toward: a) high priority fauna species, as identified in this project; b) Priority Fauna Habitats (Upland Swamps), and c) Priority Fauna Populations. There has already been considerable research into the Blue Mountains Water Skink (LeBreton 1994, 1996; NPWS 2001a) though it remains poorly known and further work is still needed on this cryptic and endangered species.

Some suggested programs for research and monitoring within the Woodford Creek, Katoomba and Blackheath Special Areas are given later in this document (Section 9).

6.10 Recovery Planning Actions relevant to the Blue Mountains Special Areas

There are a number of relevant fauna Recovery Plans for the Blue Mountains Special Areas

6.10.1 Blue Mountains Water Skink

The Blue Mountains Water Skink is a highly specialised, endemic species and one of the rarest lizards in Australia (NPWS 2001a). It occupies a single habitat type: high elevation Upland Swamps in the mid

Upland Swamps may be severely impacted by frequent fire, especially if they are dominated by Banksia species that are killed outright by fire. © DECC


and upper Blue Mountains and on the Newnes Plateau. This habitat type is naturally fragmented and isolated, meaning that individual populations of this lizard are vulnerable to local extinction. In recognition of the above facts, a Recovery Plan has been prepared for this species, outlining the key actions that need to be taken to help ensure its long-term survival (NPWS 2001a).

The Blue Mountains Water Skink is threatened because it occurs in small and isolated populations, many of which are close to the urban settlements of the Blue Mountains. The proximity to developed areas means that swamps are prone to disturbance due to altered drainage patterns, pollution, and weed invasion and there is an increased predation risk from domestic and Feral Cats and Foxes. Inappropriate fire regimes are also thought to potentially threaten the species (LeBreton 1994, NPWS 2001a).

The mapping of high quality habitat undertaken for this project, both within the Blue Mountains Special Areas and regionally (Volume 2), has gone a long way to fulfilling the objectives outlined in the Recovery Plan relating to defining suitable habitat for the species.

The Blue Mountains Special Areas contain extremely important habitat for the Blue Mountains Water Skink. These areas support single populations in the Blackheath and Katoomba Special Areas. Additional high quality habitat is predicted to occur in all three Special Areas (Appendix B). Known and potential populations are likely to be threatened by most, if not all, Key Threatening Processes outlined in the Recovery Plan (NPWS 2001a).

Recommended recovery actions within the Blackheath, Katoomba and Woodford Creek Special Areas include:

� Maps of high-quality habitat should be used to target further survey in order to locate additional populations. This action will help to establish the full extent of the populations present in these areas.

� Information gained from future survey work should be used to refine the existing model.

� At the two known populations, threats should be identified, documented and ameliorated.

� Restoration of native vegetation at the site of the pine plantation adjacent to the known population in the Blackheath Special Area should be progressively carried out over the long term.

� Trail construction should be avoided through any modelled habitat for the Blue Mountains Water Skink.

� Any disruption to the hydrology, pollution or sedimentation (including stormwater and septic inflows) of the Upland Swamps in the Special Areas should be avoided.

� Illegal access should be tightly controlled around known populations, and other predicted habitat.

� Collection of firewood should be discouraged in suitable habitat.

� In the vicinity of the two populations, community education should be conducted regarding the impact of domestic cats on the Blue Mountains Water Skink.

� In the vicinity of the two populations a regular Feral Cat trapping program should be instigated.

� Fire management of Upland Swamps should aim to retain a mosaic of burn regimes.

� Monitoring the two known populations would provide valuable information on the dynamics of this poorly known species.

� Further research into this species should be encouraged, particularly in regard to response to disturbance, population dynamics and habitat usage.

6.10.2 Large Forest Owls

The chief threat to the Large Forest Owls across their range is loss of habitat and nesting resources. In addition, the draft recovery plan (DEC 2005) for the large forest owls suggests that fire may negatively affect habitat and prey densities for the Powerful and Sooty Owl, both of which have been recorded in or adjacent to the Blue Mountains Special Areas. This project has found that Powerful Owls are widespread throughout the Region and are in far higher abundance than previously thought. Therefore, loss of individual territories or nesting resources and prey is unlikely to be catastrophic for the regional viability of this species. In the Blue Mountains Special Areas, this owl was recorded in the Woodford Creek Special Area and just outside the Blackheath Special Area.

The Sooty Owl is naturally uncommon as suitable wet forest habitat is sparsely distributed in the Region. In the Blue Mountains Special Areas, it was only recorded adjacent to the Blackheath Special Area. Suitable habitat has been modelled in the Blackheath and Woodford Creek Special Areas and it is likely that these areas are used at least occasionally. Further

Feral and domestic Cats may impact on populations of the Blue Mountains Water Skink. © M. Schulz


survey work would confirm if permanent territories exist in these areas.

The Sooty Owl primarily occupies mesic habitats in sheltered gullies that are naturally protected from wildfirefire. Therefore, no specific recommendations or planning are required with respect to fire management and this owl.

One of the core objectives of the Recovery Plan is to model and map owl habitat, validate with surveys, and to undertake a regional assessment of owl populations. This project has largely fulfilled these objectives; finding the Sooty and Powerful Owls to be relatively common and secure throughout much of the Region (Volume 2). Both species have been recorded within or adjacent to the Blue Mountains Special Areas.

The third large forest owl, the Masked Owl, is rare at a regional scale. There are no records of this species within the Blue Mountains Special Areas. However, some habitat has been predicted to be present in the Woodford Creek Special Area (Volume 2). It is possible that this owl may occasionally utilise this habitat, though due to the size of suitable habitat it is unlikely to be resident.

There are few recovery planning actions required for the long-term survival of these Large Forest Owls in the Blue Mountains Special Areas. However, management for these species may be enhanced by:

� Minimising the loss of native vegetation within the Special Areas, particularly that modelled as high quality habitat (see Volume 2).

� Retaining dead and hollow-bearing trees, even in semi-cleared country, and isolated trees on private land.

� Validation of the existing Large Forest Owl models using further surveys within the Blue Mountains Special Areas.

6.10.3 Barking Owl

The Barking Owl is an extremely rare species within the Region, with most records occurring in the semi-cleared woodlands of the Burragorang Valley and Bindook Highlands, Scotts Main Range and on the Cumberland Plain. There is one record for the Barking Owl within the Blackheath Special Area. This species is not thought to use the Special Areas of the Blue Mountains with regularity and no high-quality habitat is exists in these areas (Volume 2). For this reason, there are no recovery actions specific to this species to be implemented within the Blackheath, Woodford Creek or Katoomba Special Areas.

6.10.4 Regent Honeyeater

The Regent Honeyeater is critically endangered at a national level, with less than 1500 birds thought to remain (Garnett and Crowley 2000). High quality habitat for this species exists in the Grassy Box Woodlands of the Burragorang Valley, Capertee Valley and in the winter flowering eucalypt woodlands of the coast.

There is no high quality habitat for the Regent Honeyeater predicted within the Blue Mountains Special Areas. However, this species is highly nomadic as indicated by a single record from a backyard within the Woodford Creek Special Area (Smith and Smith 1998). Given its habitat preferences, this honeyeater is considered to only visit the area enroute to more favourable habitats. Therefore, there are no recovery actions specific to the Regent Honeyeater to be implemented within the Woodford Creek, Katoomba or Blackheath Special Areas.

The Powerful Owl – one of the ‘large forest owls’ found in the Blue Mountains Special Areas. © N. Williams


7 Pest Species Management 7.1 Species Inventory

There are 15 species of introduced terrestrial vertebrates confirmed to occur within or adjacent to the Blackheath, Katoomba or Woodford Creek Special Areas (Table 4). Woodford Creek Special Area has the greatest number of introduced and pest species, with all 15 species recorded from within or adjacent to its boundaries. This reflects the urban development within this Special Area that encourages some introduced bird species, such as the House Sparrow and Common Myna. In contrast the Blackheath Special Area has only had five introduced vertebrate species recorded; all of which are mammals.

There are fewer introduced species recorded from the Blackheath and Katoomba Special Areas as the vegetation is more intact. In particular, most of the introduced bird species are unlikely to penetrate into undisturbed sandstone bushland (see Volume 1 –

Background Report; Volume 2 – Fauna of Conservation Concern and Priority Pest Species).In this region, Common Myna, Spotted Turtle-dove, House Sparrow, Domestic Pigeon, Red-whiskered Bulbul and Common Starling are rarely found far from human habitation. This may be due to a combination of a lack of open ground, and the lack of suitable feeding and nesting sites.

Of the introduced bird species found in the Blue Mountains Special Areas, only one has the potential to significantly impact on biodiversity outside of the disturbed areas, the Eurasian Blackbird. This species will penetrate undisturbed bushland, and is expanding its range within the Region. A major concern is that the Eurasian Blackbird will aid in the spread fruiting weed species, such as Blackberry and Lantana and aggressively compete with native birds such as the Bassian Thrush. Further information (including habitat maps) for the Eurasian Blackbird and all other major pest species is available in Volume 2.

Table 4: Introduced vertebrate fauna confirmed to occur in the Blue Mountains Special Areas, and from a 1 km buffer around each.

Blackheath Katoomba Woodford Creek Total

Common Name Scientific Name Inside within 1km

inside Within1km

inside Within1km

Black Rat Rattus rattus 1 1 - - - 5 7

Feral Cat Felis catus 1 - 1 - - 3 5

Wild Dog (Feral Dog/Dingo) Canis lupus 11 - 8 1 8 1 29

Fox Vulpes vulpes 1 - 4 2 2 2 11

Horse Equus caballus - - - - - 2 2

House Mouse Mus musculus - - 1 - 1 2

Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus 3 - 6 - - 1 10

Common Myna Acridotheres tristis - - - 2 34 94 130

Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris - - - - 1 1 2

Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula - - - 5 14 11 30

House Sparrow Passer domesticus - - - 2 15 16 33

Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus - - - - - 1 1

Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus - - - 4 65 65 134

Domestic Pigeon Columba livia - - - 1 - 16 17

Spotted Turtle-Dove Streptopelia chinensis - - - 1 13 29 43


There are seven introduced mammal species recorded in or adjacent to the Blue Mountains Special Areas. In particular, there are a large number of records of Dogs and Foxes. At least some of the Dog, Cat and Horse records are likely to be domestic animals.

It is possible that there are further introduced species yet to be formally documented within the Blue Mountains Special Areas, such as the Brown Rat. Further to this, habitat modelling suggests that there is suitable habitat for the Rusa Deer, should they reach the Blue Mountains.

Some of the species listed in Table 4 are considered to be pest species, while others probably have a negligible impact on biodiversity, water quality or economic activities. The former species are reviewed in detail in Volume 1 and Volume 2 along with maps of predicted distribution.

7.2 Feral Predator Diets

Volume 1 presents an analysis of the diets of Foxes and Feral Dogs/Dingoes within the Greater Southern Sydney Region. This analysis compares the diet of feral predators region-wide, and then for the different landscapes and environments within this area. All three of the Blue Mountains Special Areas are situated within a single broad landscape – the Sandstone Plateau of the Southern Blue Mountains. Across the Greater Southern Sydney Region, Foxes were found to consume a greater range of prey than Feral Dogs/Dingoes. In particular, a far greater proportion of the diet of Foxes comprised small- and medium-sized mammals, birds, reptiles and insects. Diet was found to vary widely from one landscape to another, reflecting prey availability.

In the area analysed as the Southern Blue Mountains Plateaux, including the sandstone environments of the Blackheath, Katoomba and Woodford Creek Special Areas, both Feral Dogs/Dingoes and Foxes consumed a wide variety of prey, such as the Swamp Wallaby, Common Ringtail Possum, Brown Antechinus, Bush Rat, Common Brushtail Possum and Greater Glider. In general, the prey species composition in these environments was similar to that in the Woronora Plateau, further to the east. However, there were a number of key differences; perhaps the most important being the complete absence of Long-nosed Bandicoot from the Blue Mountains. For more details on the analysis of scats from the Southern Blue Mountains Plateau (see Volume 1). Consequently, for the

conservation and maintenance of fauna diversity, Foxes are considered to be a higher priority for control than Wild Dogs in the Blue Mountains Special Areas. The impact of domestic dogs on fauna of conservation significance within the three Special Areas is not known.

7.3 Priority Pest Species

The control of pest species in the Blue Mountains Special Areas has many overlapping priorities, including the maintenance of biodiversity and water quality, while meeting the desires of private landholders. Here, the management of pests will be considered primarily with regards to impacts on biodiversity and threatened vertebrate fauna. Priorities for the control of vertebrate and invertebrate pests may be set in two ways. Firstly, introduced species may be ranked as to their impact on biodiversity or threatened species and priorities established. Secondly, priority sites or habitats can be selected where control of pests will achieve the maximum benefit for biodiversity.

Of the introduced animals known to occur in the Blue Mountains Special Areas, less than half are considered to be of serious concern for the protection of biodiversity in these areas. Some present a current threat, while others have the potential to expand their populations and become serious pests in the future. These species have been listed in Table 5 and each is addressed individually in Volume 2. Below is a discussion of each of these species in relation to the Blue Mountains Special Areas.

Table 5: Priority terrestrial vertebrate pest species in the Woodford Creek, Blackheath and Katoomba Special Areas, showing introduced species that are currently recognised as significant threat to biodiversity, and species that are expanding their range and have the potential to be significant pests.

FoxCatFeral Dog (not including Dingo) Priority Pest Species

Rabbit

Rusa DeerPotential Future Pests

Eurasian Blackbird

The Long-nosed Bandicoot was never found in predator scats in the Southern Blue Mountains, perhaps reflecting a scarcity in the area. © N. Williams


7.3.1 Foxes

Foxes are listed as a Key Threatening Process under the TSC Act (1995) and EPBC Act (1999) and are also listed as a pest species under the RLP Act (1998) (NSW Scientific Committee 1998). They are known to impact on a range of native species, in particular small- and medium-sized mammals, ground-frequenting birds, reptiles and freshwater turtles are impacted (Dickman 1996; NPWS 2001b).

Foxes are likely to have been partly responsible for the decline of a number of species in the Blue Mountains Special Areas, including the Spotted-tailed Quoll and Long-nosed Bandicoot. They are a high priority for control with regards to the conservation of biodiversity. The study of predator diets conducted during this project has found that Foxes consumed a vastly different array of prey species in different parts of the Region. In the Burragorang and Wollondilly Valleys, Foxes consumed mostly Eastern Grey Kangaroos, larger wallabies and Rabbits. Meanwhile, in the heaths and woodlands of the sandstone plateaux (including the Blue Mountains Special Areas), Rabbits were a smaller component of the diet, and a greater range of species were consumed, including many small mammals and birds. This result is reflective of the different prey species that are available in these environments. These preliminary findings indicate that the control of Foxes is likely to be a higher priority in the sandstone heaths and woodlands, and Upland Swamps, such as occur in the Blackheath, Katoomba and Woodford Creek Special Areas.

At a regional level, the Blue Mountains Special Areas rate highly for the control of Foxes, due to the presence of Upland Swamps, a high diversity environment with many ground-dwelling species. However, any control must be conducted with great care given the extant Spotted-tailed Quoll population in the area (for more information see Volume 2).

7.3.2 Feral Cats

Predation by Feral Cats is listed as Key Threatening Process under the TSC Act (1995), and the EPBC Act (1999). Additionally, this species has been listed by the

World Conservation Union as among 100 of the ‘World’s Worst Invaders’ (IUCN 2005). Predation by the Feral Cat has been implicated in the extinction and decline of many species of mammals and birds on islands around Australia, and in New South Wales has been linked to the disappearance of thirteen species of mammal and four species of birds (NSW Scientific Committee 2000c).

In the Blue Mountains Special Areas, the impact of Feral Cats remains poorly understood, particularly due to the difficulty of locating scats for analysis. Consequently, it is likely that they have already had substantial impacts on small- and medium-sized mammals, small reptiles and ground-frequenting birds. The Feral Cat is considered to impact on the Blue Mountains Water Skink (NPWS 2001a). Control of the Feral Cat is very difficult, though attention should be directed toward the two known populations of the Blue Mountains Water Skink in the Blackheath and Katoomba Special Areas. Should any populations of Long-nosed Potoroo or other endangered small- or medium-sized mammals or ground-frequenting birds be rediscovered in the Blue Mountains Special Area, they will require control of Feral Cats. Additionally, domestic cats are likely to adversely impact on a variety of fauna species, including the Blue Mountains Water Skink in sections of the Special Areas adjacent to urban development.

7.3.3 Wild Dogs

Wild Dogs have been declared a pest species throughout NSW under the RLP Act (1998). Although they are not listed as a Key Threatening Process they are known to impact on a number of threatened mammal and bird species. It has also been suggested that Feral Dogs/Dingoes regulate populations of their prey species, such as the Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Rabbit, Pig, deer species and Foxes.

Wild Dogs are not known to impact on any threatened species in the Blue Mountains Special Areas (Volume2). Investigations into the diets of Feral Dogs/Dingoes across the sandstone plateaux of the Blue Mountains suggest they consume a smaller range of prey species than the Fox. In the Blue Mountains sandstone plateaux, Feral Dogs/Dingoes primarily prey on the Common Brushtail Possum and Eastern Grey Kangaroo.

7.3.4 Rabbits

The Rabbit has been listed by the World Conservation Union as among 100 of the ‘World’s Worst Invaders’ (IUCN 2005). Competition and grazing by this species is listed as a Key Threatening Process under the TSC Act (1995), while competition and land degradation by this species is listed under the EPBC Act (1999). The Rabbit causes significant land degradation by altering the structure and composition of vegetation communities, removing above and below ground plant biomass, preventing plant regeneration, ring-barking of trees and shrubs and digging of burrows. All of these impacts contribute to soil erosion. They compete for food and/or shelter with some native fauna species, and are thought to have contributed to the extinction of several small mammals (NSW Scientific Committee 2002b). Feral Rabbits form the major component of the diet of Feral Cats and Foxes in many areas and can

For the conservation of biodiversity, the Fox is the highest priority for control in the Blue Mountains Special Areas, especially in Upland Swamps. © N. Williams


maintain populations of these predators at high levels. Sharp declines in Rabbit numbers (such as those caused by disease outbreaks) can force these introduced predators to switch to predominantly indigenous fauna species (Smith and Quin 1996).

Within the Blue Mountains Special Areas, Rabbits are not uncommon; particularly in areas where the native vegetation has been cleared or the understorey has been removed. However, Rabbits rarely reach high numbers in undisturbed sandstone environments or Upland Swamps. Consequently, they are considered to be a low priority pest species in this area. Nonetheless, Foxes predate on Rabbits within the Blue Mountains, and any control of Rabbit populations must include concomitant control of Foxes.

7.4 Potential Future Pests

There are two introduced species that may become serious pests in the Blue Mountains Special Areas in the future: the Rusa Deer and Eurasian Blackbird. Other species of deer, such as the Fallow and Red Deer may also become highly problematic. However, at this stage, little information exists on these species. Habitat modelling has shown that Rusa Deer have potential habitat throughout much of the Southern Blue Mountains including the Blue Mountains Special Areas (see Volume 2). Potential damage to biodiversity cannot be overstated should these species reach high numbers. Deer species are the highest priorities for control within the Blue Mountains Special Areas as potential exists to avoid any further losses to biodiversity before these species become established.

The Eurasian Blackbird is a native of Europe and India and has been established in the Sydney area for about 60 years. This bird is often associated with gardens, parks and orchards. However, it has the ability to survive in relatively undisturbed areas of native vegetation and hence may pose a significant threat to native species. This may be through direct competition with species such as Bassian Thrush through preying on native invertebrates (Garnett and Crowley 2000). It is implicated in the spread of weed species that bear fruit. Blackberry, Small-leafed Privet and Large-leafed Privet are already problematic within the Blue Mountains Special Areas (Sydney Catchment Authority and NPWS 2001) and are likely to be further spread by the Eurasian Blackbird.

The Eurasian Blackbird is continuing to expand its range in mainland Australia and impacts may not yet be fully realised. Most records within the Blue Mountains Special Areas are from in or around the Woodford Creek Special Area. This probably reflects the greater amount of moist forest within this area.

Within the Blue Mountains Special Areas, the Eurasian Blackbird is the only introduced bird species considered to be a high priority pest species. At this stage, impacts are speculative, though it should be considered to be a serious potential problem.

7.5 Priority Sites for Pest Control

Like the other management actions for the protection of biodiversity, the general control of pest species is best directed toward specific sites or habitats of special

concern. Upland Swamps are the Priority Habitat for targeted pest control in the Blackheath, Katoomba and Woodford Creek Special Areas.

7.5.1 Upland Swamps

Upland Swamps are a characteristic habitat of the Blue Mountains Special Areas and support an array fauna that is particularly threatened by predation from Foxes and Feral Cats (see Volume 1). Species that would benefit from Fox and Feral Cat control in Upland Swamps of the Blue Mountains Special Areas include the Eastern Pygmy-possum, Blue Mountains Water Skink, Beautiful Firetail and Southern Emu-wren.

Control of pest species within Upland Swamp is most important in the years immediately following fire. At this time, populations of native animals are at their lowest and are at their most vulnerable to local extinction. Fire opens up the Upland Swamp habitat allowing access and easy hunting for Foxes, Feral Cats and Feral Dogs. Coordinated control efforts that covered all Upland Swamps of the Southern Blue Mountains would be beneficial.


As previously detailed, there are two known populations of the Blue Mountains Water Skink within the Blue Mountains Special Areas. This species is strongly associated with Upland Swamps, a priority environment for the control of pest species. Blue Mountains Water Skink are thought to be particularly threatened by predation by Feral Cats (NPWS 2001a). Targeted trapping of Feral Cats and Foxes around the two known skink populations would be beneficial to this highly threatened species.

Burnt Upland Swamp in the Katoomba Special Area – a high priority habitat for pest control. © DECC


8 Future Survey Work and Monitoring 8.1 Threatened and Priority Fauna

The following species would benefit from dedicated further survey and search efforts. Habitat identified during this project should be used to target these searches. Most of these species are poorly sampled using systematic methods.


The Blue Mountains Water Skink is poorly sampled by the standard systematic methods employed during this project. Modelled habitat should be used to identify sites for survey using pit and possibly Elliott trapping. Larger, wetter swamps close to swamps with known populations are the most likely to be occupied (LeBreton 1994) and should be targeted as a priority.

It is also important to determine whether the Woodford Creek Special Area contains populations of this extremely rare skink. Many of the swamps within this Special Area have been identified as potential habitat, and there is a record from nearby Hazelbrook. Identification of further populations of this species is a high priority.

8.1.2 Stuttering Frog and Littlejohn’s Tree Frog

All rare frogs require further targeted searches under suitable weather conditions, in particular, the Stuttering Frog and Littlejohn’s Tree Frog. The fauna survey component of this project was entirely conducted under drought conditions, when many frogs are inactive for long periods of time.

Moist forest along Woodford Creek is a particularly high priority for survey for the Stuttering Frog. This frog has markedly declined and is now extremely rare, particularly in the south of its range (see Volume 2 – Fauna of Conservation Concern and Priority Pest Species). It is now known from only a handful of locations in the Sydney Basin. Historic records from around the Woodford Creek catchment make this a high priority for further searches. These should occur in spring and summer on warm nights after heavy rain.

Littlejohn’s Tree Frog is also likely to occur in any of the three Blue Mountains Special Areas. This species is extremely rare in the Sydney Basin, especially in the Blue Mountains (see Volume 2). It has been found infected with Frog Chytrid Fungus on the Woronora Plateau (DECC 2007).

On the Woronora Plateau Littlejohn’s Tree Frog is most-often associated with Upland Swamps. Elsewhere they are known to use a variety of habitats, including forest. It is one of the least-often recorded frogs in NSW (Lemckert 2005). It remains unclear when this species is most likely to be vocalising since it has been recorded breeding in every month of the year. However, there is some evidence of an activity peak between February and April (Lemckert 2005). Recent targeted surveys on the Woronora Plateau found individuals calling at a number of locations after heavy rain in mid to late September (DECC 2007).

It is recommended that searches be undertaken for this frog in all the Blue Mountains Special Areas. Watercourses associated with Upland Swamps should be targeted, though it should be remembered that this species can use many habitat types, including artificial ponds and dams.

8.1.3 Confirming the presence of other threatened fauna

Habitat modelling indicates that high quality habitat exists in the Blue Mountains Special Areas the Eastern Pygmy-possum, though there are no records at present. Additionally, habitat was predicted for seven additional species of conservation concern. These species are the Large-eared Pied Bat, Large-footed Myotis, Turquoise Parrot, Giant Burrowing Frog, Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, Rosenberg’s Goanna and the Sooty Owl. It is recommended that targeted surveys be undertaken to ascertain the presence of these species within the Special Areas. Where populations are found, management recommendations could be implemented as presented in Volume 2.

Does the endangered Stuttering Frog still occur in the Woodford Creek area or is it locally extinct? © N. Williams

The Blue Mountains Special Areas contain good habitat for the Littlejohn’s Tree Frog – a very rare frog that is difficult to detect © H. Jessup


9 References 9.1 Reports in the Series: Terrestrial

Vertebrate Fauna of the Greater Southern Sydney Region

Volume 1: DECC (2007a) Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna of the Greater Southern Sydney Region. Volume One: Background Report. A joint project between the Sydney Catchment Authority and the Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW) (DECC) under the Special Areas Strategic Plan of Management (SASPoM) by Information and Assessment Section, Metropolitan Branch, Climate Change and Environment Protection Group, DECC, Hurstville.

Volume 2: DECC (2007b) Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna of the Greater Southern Sydney Region. Volume Two: Fauna of Conservation Concern and Priority Pest Species. A joint project between the Sydney Catchment Authority and the Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW) (DECC) under the Special Areas Strategic Plan of Management (SASPoM) by Information and Assessment Section, Metropolitan Branch, Climate Change and Environment Protection Group, DECC, Hurstville.

Volume 3: DECC (2007c) Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna of the Greater Southern Sydney Region. Volume Three: The Fauna of the Warragamba Special Area. A joint project between the Sydney Catchment Authority and the Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW) (DECC) under the Special Areas Strategic Plan of Management (SASPoM) by Information and Assessment Section, Metropolitan Branch, Climate Change and Environment Protection Group, DECC, Hurstville.

Volume 4: DECC (2007d) Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna of the Greater Southern Sydney Region. Volume Four: The Fauna of the Metropolitan, O'Hares Creek and Woronora Special Areas. A joint project between the Sydney Catchment Authority and the Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW) (DECC) under the Special Areas Strategic Plan of Management (SASPoM) by Information and Assessment Section, Metropolitan Branch, Climate Change and Environment Protection Group, DECC, Hurstville.

General Audience Volume: DECC (2007e) Threatened and Pest Animals of Greater Southern Sydney. DECC, Hurstville.

9.2 Other References

Baker, J. (2000) The Eastern Bristlebird: cover-dependent and fire-sensitive. Emu 100: 286-298.

Chalmers, R.M., Thomas, A.L., Butler, B.A., Davies, Morel, M.C.G. (2005) Identification of Cryptosporidium parvum genotype 2 in domestic horses. The Veterinary Record 156: 49-50.

Corey, S. (2003) Weed Control: Friendly Bugs join Scotch Broom clean-up. Farming Ahead 135: 53-54.

DEC (2004) Post-Fire Study of the Fauna of the Woronora Plateau. Progress Report – July 2004. Ajoint management project between the Sydney Catchment Authority and NPWS under the Special Areas Strategic Plan of Management: Project No. RD04. Unpublished Report by the Conservation Assessment and Data Unit, Environment Protection and Regulation Division, Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW), Hurstville.

DEC (2005) Draft Recovery Plan for the Large Forest Owls: Powerful Owl Ninox strenua Sooty Owl Tyto tenebricosa Masked Owl Tyto novaehollandiae. DEC, Sydney.

DEC (2006) Giant Burrowing Frog (Heleioporus australiacus). Draft Recovery Plan. DEC, Hurstville.

DECC (2007) The Vertebrate Fauna of the Dharawal Reserves and Adjacent Public Lands. A project funded by the Illawarra Area, Parks and Wildlife Group. Information and Assessment Section, Metropolitan Climate Change and Environment Protection Group, Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW).

DECC (in prep.) Post-fire fauna monitoring in the Woronora Plateau. DECC, Hurstville.

DEH (1999a) Threat abatement plan for predation by feral foxes. Biodiversity Group, Environment Australia, Canberra.http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/tap/foxes/index.html Accessed 25/11/05.

DEH (1999b) Threat abatement plan for predation by feral cats. Biodiversity Group, Environment Australia, Canberra.http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/tap/cats/index.html Accessed 25/11/05.

DEH (1999c) Threat abatement plan for competition and land degradation by feral rabbits. Biodiversity Group, Environment Australia, Canberra. http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/tap/rabbits/index.html Accessed 25/11/05.

DEH (2004) Draft Threat Abatement Plan for Infection of amphibians with chytrid fungus resulting in chytridiomycosis. Department of the Environment and Heritage, Canberra.http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/tap/amphibians/index.html Accessed 25/11/05.

DEH (2005a) Threat Abatement Plan for Beak and Feather Disease affecting endangered psittacine species. Department of the Environment and Heritage, Canberra.http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/tap/beak-feather/index.html Accessed 25/11/05.


Dickman, C. R. (1996) Impact of exotic generalist predators on the native fauna of Australia. Wildlife Biology 2: 185-195.

Garnett, S.T. and Crowley, G.M. (2000) The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2000. Environment Australia, Canberra.

IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) (2005) 100 of the World's Worst Invasive Alien Species, IUCN, The Gland, Switzerland. http://www.issg.org/database/species/search.asp?st=100ss&fr=1&sts Accessed 16/06/05,

LeBreton, M. (1994) Endangered Fauna Survey of the Blackheath and Katoomba Water Board Catchment Areas, Blue Mountains, NSW: Amphibians and Reptiles. A report for the Water Board (Blue Mountains) by Matthew LeBreton, University of NSW, Sydney.

LeBreton, M. (1996) Habitat and distribution of the Blue Mountains Swamp Skink (Eulamprus leuraensis)Unpublished BSc Hons thesis, University of NSW, Sydney.

Lemckert, F. (2005) The biology and conservation status of the Heath Frog, Litoria littlejohni.Herpetofauna 34: 99-104.

NPWS (2001a) Blue Mountains Water Skink (Eulamprus leuraensis) Recovery Plan. NSW NPWS, Hurstville.

NPWS (2001b) Threat abatement plan for predation by the Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes). NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurstville. http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/Predation+by+the+red+fox+-+final+threat+abatement+plan Accessed 25/11/05.

NPWS (2001c) Hygiene protocol for the control of disease in frogs. Information Circular No. 6. NSW NPWS, Hurstville.

NSW Scientific Committee (1998) Final determination to list predation by the European red fox as a key threatening process.http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/Predation+by+the+European+red+fox+key+threatening+process+declaration Accessed 24/10/05.

NSW Scientific Committee (1999) Final determination to list bushrock removal as a key threatening process.http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/Bushrock+removal+key+threatening+process+declaration Accessed 24/10/05.

NSW Scientific Committee (2000a) Final determination to list ecological consequences of high frequency fires as a key threatening process.http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/Ecological+consequences+of+high+frequency+fires+key+threatening+process+declaration Accessed 24/10/05.

NSW Scientific Committee (2000b) Final determination to list human-caused climate change as a key

threatening process.http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/Human+caused+climate+change+key+threatening+process+declaration Accessed 24/10/05.

NSW Scientific Committee (2000c) Final determination to list predation by feral cats as a key threatening process.http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/Predation+by+feral+cats+-+key+threatening+process+declaration Accessed 24/10/05.

NSW Scientific Committee (2001) Final determination to list clearing of native vegetation as a key threatening process.http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/Clearing+of+native+vegetation+key+threatening+process+declaration Accessed 24/10/05.

NSW Scientific Committee (2002a) Final determination to list alteration to the natural flow regimes of rivers, streams, floodplains and wetlands as a key threatening process.http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/Alteration+to+the+natural+flow+regimes+of+rivers%2C+streams%2C+floodplains+and+wetlands+key+threatening+process+declaration Accessed 24/10/05.

NSW Scientific Committee (2002b) Final determination to list competition and grazing by the feral European rabbit as a key threatening process.http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/Competition+and+grazing+by+the+feral+European+rabbit+key+threatening+process+declaration Accessed 24/10/05.

NSW Scientific Committee (2002c) Final determination to list competition from feral honeybees as a key threatening process.http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/Competition+from+feral+honeybees+-+key+threatening+process+declaration Accessed 24/10/05.

NSW Scientific Committee (2002d) Final determination to list infection by psittacine circoviral (beak and feather) disease affecting endangered psittacine species and populations as a key threatening process.http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/Infection+by+Psittacine+Circoviral+beak+and+feather+Disease+affecting+endangered+psittacine+species+and+populations+-+key+threatening+process+declaration Accessed 24/10/05.

NSW Scientific Committee (2003a) Final determination to list infection of frogs by amphibian chytrid causing the disease chytridiomycosis as a key threatening process.http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/Infection+of+frogs+by+amphibian+chytrid+causing+the+disease+chytridiomycosis+key+threatening+process+declaration Accessed 24/10/05.

NSW Scientific Committee (2003b) Final determination to list removal of dead wood and dead trees as a key threatening process.


http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/deadwood removal ktp Accessed 24/10/05.

Shine, R., Webb, J.K., Fitzgerald, M. and Sumner, J. (1998) The impact of bush-rock removal on an endangered snake species, Hoplocephalus bungaroides (Serpentes: Elapidae). Wildlife Research25: 285-295.

Smith, A.P., and Quin, D.G. (1996) Patterns and causes of extinction and decline in Australian conilurine rodents. Biological Conservation 77: 243-267.

Smith, P. and Smith, J. (1998) Flora and Fauna Survey of Woodford Special Area. Report to Sydney Water by P & J Smith Ecological Consultants, Sydney.

Sydney Catchment Authority and NPWS (2001) Special Areas Strategic Plan of Management (SASPoM) - Strategy. Unpublished report by the Sydney Catchment Authority and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Sydney.

Turton, M. (1994a) Endangered Species Survey of the Katoomba Catchment, Blue Mountains NSW. A report for the Water Board (Blue Mountains) by Margaret Turton

Turton, M. (1994b) Endangered Species Survey of the Blackheath Catchment, Blue Mountains NSW. A report for the Water Board (Blue Mountains) by Margaret Turton


10 List of Acronyms ASL Above sea level

DEC Department of Environment and Conservation, New South Wales (now part of DECC)

DECC Department of Environment and Climate Change, New South Wales

EPBC Act Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1998)

IUCN International Union for the Conservation of Nature

NP National Park

NPWS New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service

RLP Act Rural Lands Protection Act (1998)

SASPoM Special Areas Strategic Plan of Management

TSC Act NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act (1995)


11 Appendices Appendix A: Complete species list for the Blackheath, Katoomba and

Woodford Creek Special Areas, including species that have been recorded from a one-kilometre radius outside each area.

Number of Records Blackheath Katoomba Woodford

CreekTotal


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Amphibians

Bibron's Toadlet Pseudophryne bibronii P Confirmed 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 Blue Mountains Tree Frog Litoria citropa P Confirmed 1 2 0 0 7 1 11

Bullfrog Limnodynastes dumerilii P Confirmed 1 0 8 3 0 1 13

Common Eastern Froglet Crinia signifera P Confirmed 14 1 13 10 18 7 63

Freycinet's Frog Litoria freycineti P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 2 0 2

Giant Burrowing Frog Heleioporus australiacus V Confirmed 0 0 0 0 0 1 1

Great Barred Frog Mixophyes fasciolatus P Unconfirmed 0 0 0 0 1 1 2

Green Stream Frog Litoria phyllochroa P Confirmed 0 3 2 0 16 0 21

Keferstein's Tree Frog Litoria dentata P Confirmed 0 0 5 2 12 2 21

Lesueur's Frog Litoria lesueuri P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 3 0 3

Littlejohn's Tree Frog Litoria littlejohni V Confirmed 0 2 0 0 0 0 2

Peron's Tree Frog Litoria peronii P Confirmed 0 1 8 1 14 0 24

Red-crowned Toadlet Pseudophryne australis V Confirmed 0 1 0 1 5 4 11

Smooth Toadlet Uperoleia laevigata P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 0 2 2

Striped Marsh Frog Limnodynastes peronii P Confirmed 0 1 0 4 5 2 12

Stuttering Frog Mixophyes balbus E1 Unconfirmed 0 0 0 0 0 1 1

Tyler's Tree Frog Litoria tyleri P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 1 0 1

Verreaux's Tree Frog Litoria verreauxii P Confirmed 4 1 2 0 4 1 12

Reptiles

Bar-sided Forest-skink Eulamprus tenuis P Confirmed 0 0 0 1 0 1 2

Black Crevice-skink Egernia saxatilis P Confirmed 6 5 2 2 0 0 15

Blackish Blind Snake Ramphotyphlops nigrescens P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 1 2 3

Blotched Bluetongue Tiliqua nigrolutea P Confirmed 1 0 1 3 0 0 5 Blue Mountains Water Skink Eulamprus leuraensis E1 Confirmed 1 1 1 0 0 0 3

Broad-headed Snake Hoplocephalus bungaroides E1 Confirmed 0 0 0 0 1 3 4

Broad-tailed Gecko Phyllurus platurus P Confirmed 0 1 0 0 3 4 8

Common Bluetongue Tiliqua scincoides P Confirmed 0 2 0 0 2 2 6

Copper-tailed Ctenotus Ctenotus taeniolatus P Confirmed 3 1 0 2 43 5 54 Cunningham's Spiny-tailed Skink Egernia cunninghami P Confirmed 2 1 0 1 0 0 4

Dark-flecked Garden Sunskink

Lampropholis delicata P Confirmed 2 1 3 4 10 6 26

Eastern Brown Snake Pseudonaja textilis P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 4 0 4



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Eastern She-oak Skink Cyclodomorphus michaeli P Confirmed 0 0 1 0 1 3 5 Eastern Snake-necked Turtle Chelodina longicollis P Confirmed 0 0 1 1 0 0 2

Eastern Stone Gecko Diplodactylus vittatus P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 2 0 2

Eastern Water Dragon Physignathus lesueurii P Confirmed 0 1 1 1 8 0 11

Eastern Water-skink Eulamprus quoyii P Confirmed 0 0 0 1 8 4 13

Highlands Copperhead Austrelaps ramsayi P Confirmed 2 2 2 2 0 0 8

Jacky Lashtail Amphibolurus muricatus P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 11 0 11

Lesueur's Velvet Gecko Oedura lesueurii P Confirmed 0 2 0 0 6 2 10

Mainland Tiger Snake Notechis scutatus P Confirmed 1 0 0 1 2 0 4

Mountain Heath Dragon Tympanocryptis diemensis P Confirmed 4 0 3 1 14 4 26

Mustard-bellied Snake Drysdalia rhodogaster P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 3 4 7

Pale-flecked Garden Sunskink

Lampropholis guichenoti P Confirmed 13 1 2 1 9 4 30

Red-bellied Black Snake Pseudechis porphyriacus P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 3 1 4

Red-throated Cool-skink Bassiana platynota P Confirmed 3 3 3 1 3 2 15

Small-eyed Snake Rhinoplocephalusnigrescens

P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 2 1 3

Southern Death Adder Acanthophis antarcticus P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 1 5 6

Southern Scaly-foot Pygopus lepidopodus P Confirmed 0 1 0 0 0 0 1

Tussock Cool-skink Pseudemoia entrecasteauxii P Confirmed 5 1 3 3 0 0 12

Tussock Skink Pseudemoia pagenstecheri P Confirmed 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 Warm-temperate Water-skink Eulamprus heatwolei P Confirmed 7 2 4 8 0 0 21

Weasel Shadeskink Saproscincus mustelinus P Confirmed 8 1 0 3 12 3 27

White's Rock-skink Egernia whitii P Confirmed 5 0 1 0 16 0 22 Yellow-bellied Three-toed Skink Saiphos equalis P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 0 1 1

Yellow-faced Whipsnake Demansia psammophis P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 1 0 1

Diurnal Birds

Australasian Grebe Tachybaptusnovaehollandiae


Australian King-Parrot Alisterus scapularis P Confirmed 0 3 0 1 136 87 227

Australian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicen P Confirmed 1 3 2 7 184 98 295

Australian Raven Corvus coronoides P Confirmed 1 5 1 1 74 92 174

Australian Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus australis P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 0 1 1

Australian Wood Duck Chenonetta jubata P Confirmed 0 1 2 3 5 16 27

Azure Kingfisher Alcedo azurea P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 3 0 3

Bar-shouldered Dove Geopelia humeralis P Confirmed 0 1 0 0 1 1 3

Bassian Thrush Zoothera lunulata P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 3 3 6

Beautiful Firetail Stagonopleura bella P Confirmed 1 1 1 5 11 3 22

Bell Miner Manorina melanophrys P Confirmed 0 3 0 0 0 0 3 Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike Coracina novaehollandiae P Confirmed 0 2 0 2 40 34 78

Black-faced Monarch Monarcha melanopsis P Confirmed 0 1 0 0 16 2 19



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Brown Cuckoo-Dove Macropygia amboinensis P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 29 39 68

Brown Gerygone Gerygone mouki P Confirmed 0 3 0 0 8 1 12

Brown Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 5 5 10

Brown Thornbill Acanthiza pusilla P Confirmed 3 5 3 54 133 69 267

Brown-headed Honeyeater

Melithreptus brevirostris P Confirmed 1 0 1 1 23 1 27

Brush Bronzewing Phaps elegans P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 16 2 18

Brush Cuckoo Cacomantis variolosus P Confirmed 0 0 1 0 0 1 2

Buff-banded Rail Gallirallus philippensis P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 0 1 1

Buff-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza reguloides P Confirmed 0 1 0 1 0 0 2

Channel-billed Cuckoo Scythrops novaehollandiae P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 47 25 72

Chestnut-rumped Heathwren

Calamanthus pyrrhopygius P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 0 2 2

Cicadabird Coracina tenuirostris P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 2 0 2

Cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 0 1 1

Collared Sparrowhawk Accipiter cirrocephalus P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 0 6 6

Common Bronzewing Phaps chalcoptera P Confirmed 0 0 0 1 0 2 3

Crescent Honeyeater Phylidonyris pyrrhoptera P Confirmed 0 0 0 4 6 0 10

Crested Pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes P Confirmed 1 0 0 2 102 90 195

Crimson Rosella Platycercus elegans P Confirmed 3 6 5 9 208 102 333

Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 0 1 1

Double-barred Finch Taeniopygia bichenovii P Unconfirmed 0 0 0 0 1 0 1

Dusky Woodswallow Artamus cyanopterus P Confirmed 0 1 0 0 1 1 3

Eastern Rosella Platycercus adscitus eximius P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 5 0 5

Eastern Shrike-tit Falcunculus frontatus P Confirmed 0 1 0 0 5 0 6

Eastern Spinebill Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris P Confirmed 1 5 1 212 229 70 518

Eastern Whipbird Psophodes olivaceus P Confirmed 1 6 2 4 36 70 119

Eastern Yellow Robin Eopsaltria australis P Confirmed 3 2 2 25 82 19 133

Eurasian Coot Fulica atra P Confirmed 0 0 0 1 0 0 1

Fairy Martin Petrochelidon ariel P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 0 1 1

Fan-tailed Cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis P Confirmed 0 4 2 1 43 21 71

Flame Robin Petroica phoenicea P Confirmed 0 1 0 1 0 0 2

Forest Kingfisher Todiramphus macleayii P Confirmed 0 0 0 1 0 0 1

Galah Eolophus roseicapillus P Confirmed 1 0 0 3 103 36 143

Gang-gang Cockatoo Callocephalon fimbriatum V Confirmed 1 0 0 6 53 44 104

Glossy Black-Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus lathami V Confirmed 0 0 0 0 1 5 6

Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis P Confirmed 1 3 2 22 51 27 106

Golden-headed Cisticola Cisticola exilis P Confirmed 0 0 0 1 0 1 2

Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 2 1 3

Green Catbird Ailuroedus crassirostris P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 0 1 1

Grey Butcherbird Cracticus torquatus P Confirmed 0 0 2 0 107 92 201

Grey Currawong Strepera versicolor P Confirmed 2 2 0 4 12 4 24



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Grey Fantail Rhipidura albiscapa P Confirmed 3 1 1 16 72 18 111

Grey Goshawk Accipiter novaehollandiae P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 2 1 3

Grey Shrike-thrush Colluricincla harmonica P Confirmed 2 2 1 8 62 61 136

Grey Teal Anas gracilis P Confirmed 0 0 0 1 0 0 1

Hoary-headed Grebe Poliocephalus poliocephalus P Confirmed 0 0 1 1 0 0 2

Large-billed Scrubwren Sericornis magnirostris P Confirmed 0 2 0 1 6 0 9

Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae P Confirmed 2 2 1 4 132 93 234

Leaden Flycatcher Myiagra rubecula P Confirmed 0 0 1 1 10 2 14

Lewin's Honeyeater Meliphaga lewinii P Confirmed 1 2 0 10 64 81 158

Lewin's Rail Rallus pectoralis P Confirmed 0 0 0 1 0 0 1

Little Corella Cacatua sanguinea P Confirmed 0 0 0 1 0 0 1

Little Eagle Hieraaetus morphnoides P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 0 1 1

Little Friarbird Philemon citreogularis P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 0 1 1

Little Lor keet Glossopsitta pusilla P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 1 0 1

Little Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax melanoleucos P Confirmed 0 0 1 1 1 0 3

Little Wattlebird Anthochaera chrysoptera P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 11 43 54

Long-billed Corella Cacatua tenuirostris P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 8 1 9

Magpie-lark Grallina cyanoleuca P Confirmed 1 0 0 1 60 58 120

Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles P Confirmed 0 0 1 1 48 25 75

Mistletoebird Dicaeum hirundinaceum P Confirmed 0 0 0 11 1 12

New Holland Honeyeater Phylidonyrisnovaehollandiae

P Confirmed 0 5 3 248 355 65 676

Noisy Friarbird Philemon corniculatus P Confirmed 1 0 1 0 22 24 48

Noisy Miner Manorina melanocephala P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 0 3 3

Olive-backed Oriole Oriolus sagittatus P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 0 12 12

Pacific Baza Aviceda subcristata P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 1 1

Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa P Confirmed 0 0 0 1 5 6

Pacific Koel Eudynamys orientalis P Confirmed 0 1 0 1 48 25 75

Painted Button-quail Turnix varia P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 1 1 2

Peaceful Dove Geopelia placida P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 27 27

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus P Confirmed 0 0 1 0 1 2

Pied Butcherbird Cracticus nigrogularis P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 3 3

Pied Currawong Strepera graculina P Confirmed 3 5 10 11 194 98 321

Pilotbird Pycnoptilus floccosus P Confirmed 0 2 0 0 25 27

Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 1 1

Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus P Confirmed 0 0 0 1 105 32 138

Red Wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata P Confirmed 2 2 1 21 155 97 278

Red-browed Finch Neochmia temporalis P Confirmed 0 1 0 12 98 20 131

Red-browed Treecreeper Climacteris erythrops P Confirmed 0 2 0 2 5 9

Red-capped Robin Petroica goodenovii P Unconfirmed 0 1 0 0 0 1

Regent Honeyeater Xanthomyza phrygia E1 Confirmed 0 0 0 0 1 1

Restless Flycatcher Myiagra inquieta P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 1 1



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Rockwarbler Origma solitaria P Confirmed 0 3 0 0 7 4 14

Rose Robin Petroica rosea P Confirmed 0 1 0 0 14 5 20

Rufous Fantail Rhipidura rufifrons P Confirmed 0 1 0 14 21 3 39

Rufous Whistler Pachycephala rufiventris P Confirmed 0 2 1 0 27 9 39

Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus P Confirmed 2 0 2 0 11 15

Satin Bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus violaceus P Confirmed 1 3 0 12 104 97 217

Satin Flycatcher Myiagra cyanoleuca P Confirmed 0 0 0 1 1 1 3

Scaly-breasted Lor keet Trichoglossuschlorolepidotus


Scarlet Robin Petroica boodang P Confirmed 2 2 0 0 0 4

Shining Bronze-Cuckoo Chalcites lucidus P Confirmed 1 0 0 0 9 1 11

Silvereye Zosterops lateralis P Confirmed 1 1 0 63 38 26 129

Southern Emu-wren Stipiturus malachurus P Confirmed 0 1 1 1 0 3

Spangled Drongo Dicrurus bracteatus P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 0 2 2

Spotted Pardalote Pardalotus punctatus P Confirmed 1 2 0 3 115 22 143

Spotted Quail-thrush Cinclosoma punctatum P Confirmed 0 2 0 2 2 6

Striated Pardalote Pardalotus striatus P Confirmed 0 0 0 1 2 1 4

Striated Thornbill Acanthiza lineata P Confirmed 2 3 2 39 60 16 122

Stubble Quail Coturnix pectoralis P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 0 1 1

Sulphur-crestedCockatoo

Cacatua galerita P Confirmed 1 0 0 3 139 94 237

Superb Fairy-wren Malurus cyaneus P Confirmed 0 0 0 4 4 1 9

Superb Lyrebird Menura novaehollandiae P Confirmed 0 5 0 0 36 44 85

Swamp Harrier Circus approximans P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 0 1 1

Tree Martin Petrochelidon nigricans P Confirmed 0 1 2 1 4 8 Unidentified Ground Thrush Zoothera dauma P Confirmed 0 1 0 0 0 1

Varied Sittella Daphoenositta chrysoptera P Confirmed 2 0 1 0 8 11

Variegated Fairy-wren Malurus lamberti P Confirmed 1 0 1 0 38 6 46

Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax P Confirmed 0 1 0 0 4 5

Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena P Confirmed 0 1 0 4 4 16 25 White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike Coracina papuensis P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 0 5 5

White-browed Scrubwren Sericornis frontalis P Confirmed 3 4 1 41 73 9 131

White-cheekedHoneyeater

Phylidonyris nigra P Confirmed 0 0 0 1 16 1 18

White-eared Honeyeater Lichenostomus leucotis P Confirmed 0 1 0 1 4 4 10

White-faced Heron Egretta novaehollandiae P Confirmed 0 0 0 1 1 8 10

White-headed Pigeon Columba leucomela P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 5 2 7

White-naped Honeyeater Melithreptus lunatus P Confirmed 1 0 0 25 17 21 64

White-necked Heron Ardea pacifica P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 1 0 1

White-plumedHoneyeater

Lichenostomus penicillatus P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 0 1 1

White-throated Needletail Hirundapus caudacutus P Confirmed 0 1 0 0 5 3 9



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White-throatedTreecreeper

Cormobates leucophaeus P Confirmed 3 6 3 10 73 25 120

White-winged Chough Corcorax melanorhamphos P Confirmed 0 1 0 0 0 0 1

Willie Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 15 5 20

Wonga Pigeon Leucosarcia melanoleuca P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 18 0 18

Yellow-faced Honeyeater Lichenostomus chrysops P Confirmed 1 2 2 38 218 59 320 Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus funereus P Confirmed 1 5 1 6 77 72 162

Yellow-throated Scrubwren

Sericornis citreogularis P Confirmed 0 3 0 0 5 0 8

Yellow-tufted Honeyeater Lichenostomus melanops P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 0 1 1

Nocturnal Birds

Australian Owlet-nightjar Aegotheles cristatus P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 4 0 4

Barking Owl Ninox connivens V Confirmed 1 0 0 0 0 0 1

Powerful Owl Ninox strenua V Confirmed 0 1 0 0 2 0 3

Sooty Owl Tyto tenebricosa V Confirmed 0 1 0 0 0 0 1

Southern Boobook Ninox boobook P Confirmed 0 1 1 0 20 32 54

Tawny Frogmouth Podargus strigoides P Confirmed 3 0 1 1 1 1 7

Arboreal Mammals

Common Brushtail Possum

Trichosurus vulpecula P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 5 3 8

Common Ringtail Possum

Pseudocheirus peregrinus P Confirmed 9 2 11 3 12 3 40

Greater Glider Petauroides volans P Confirmed 2 3 0 0 4 0 9

Sugar Glider Petaurus breviceps P Confirmed 0 0 1 0 4 4 9

Terrestrial Mammals

Brown Antechinus Antechinus stuartii P Confirmed 0 0 0 1 3 4 8

Bush Rat Rattus fuscipes P Confirmed 19 0 8 0 7 3 37

Common Wombat Vombatus ursinus P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 0 2 2

Dusky Antechinus Antechinus swainsonii P Confirmed 0 3 0 0 1 0 4

Eastern Quoll Dasyurus viverrinus E1 Confirmed 0 0 0 0 6 0 6

Long-nosed Bandicoot Perameles nasuta P Confirmed 1 0 0 2 2 3 8

Short-beaked Echidna Tachyglossus aculeatus P Confirmed 2 0 0 1 0 0 3

Spotted-tailed Quoll Dasyurus maculatus V Confirmed 11 25 2 5 9 8 60

Swamp Rat Rattus lutreolus P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 0 2 2

Swamp Wallaby Wallabia bicolor P Confirmed 3 0 6 2 8 5 24

Bats

Chocolate Wattled Bat Chalinolobus morio P Confirmed 1 0 2 0 2 2 7

Eastern Bentwing-bat Miniopterus schreibersii oceanensis

V Confirmed 2 0 0 2 0 1 5

Eastern Broad-nosed Bat Scotorepens orion P Confirmed 1 0 0 0 0 0 1

Eastern False Pipistrelle Falsistrellus tasmaniensis V Confirmed 1 0 0 1 1 1 4

Eastern Horseshoe-bat Rhinolophus megaphyllus P Confirmed 1 0 0 0 0 0 1

Gould's Long-eared Bat Nyctophilus gouldi P Confirmed 3 0 0 0 0 4 7



CreekTotal


ConfirmationStatus

Insi

de

with

in 1

km

insi

de

with

in 1

km

insi

de

with

in 1

km

Gould's Wattled Bat Chalinolobus gouldii P Confirmed 1 0 1 1 6 5 14

Greater Broad-nosed Bat Scoteanax rueppellii V Confirmed 2 0 0 1 0 0 3

Grey-headed Flying-fox Pteropus poliocephalus V Confirmed 0 0 0 0 1 0 1

Large Forest Bat Vespadelus darlingtoni P Confirmed 7 0 2 1 5 2 17

Little Forest Bat Vespadelus vulturnus P Confirmed 1 0 1 0 2 0 4

Little Red Flying-fox Pteropus scapulatus P Unconfirmed 0 0 0 0 0 1 1

Southern Forest Bat Vespadelus regulus P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 1 1 2

Undescribed mastiff-bat Mormopterus sp 1 P Confirmed 0 0 0 0 3 1 4

White-striped Freetail-bat Nyctinomus australis P Confirmed 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 Yellow-bellied Sheathtail-bat Saccolaimus flaviventris V Unconfirmed 1 0 0 0 0 0 1

Introduced Species

Black Rat Rattus rattus U Confirmed 1 1 0 0 0 5 7

Cat Felis catus U Confirmed 1 0 1 0 0 3 5

Wild Dog Canis lupus U Confirmed 11 0 8 1 8 1 29

Fox Vulpes vulpes U Confirmed 1 0 4 2 2 2 11

Horse Equus caballus U Confirmed 0 0 0 0 0 2 2

House Mouse Mus musculus U Confirmed 0 0 0 1 0 1 2

Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus U Confirmed 3 0 6 0 0 1 10

Common Myna Acridotheres tristis U Confirmed 0 0 0 2 34 94 130

Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris U Confirmed 0 0 0 0 1 1 2

Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula U Confirmed 0 0 0 5 14 11 30

House Sparrow Passer domesticus U Confirmed 0 0 0 2 15 16 33

Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus U Confirmed 0 0 0 0 0 1 1

Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus U Confirmed 0 0 0 4 65 65 134

Rock Dove Columba livia U Confirmed 0 0 0 1 0 16 17

Spotted Turtle-Dove Streptopelia chinensis U Confirmed 0 0 0 1 13 29 43

OVERALL TOTAL: 252 218 198 1090 5015 2827 9600 Legal Status P=Protected (NPWS Act,1974) E1=Endangered (TSC Act, 1995)V= Vulnerable (TSC Act, 1995)U= Unprotected E4 = Extinct (TSC Act 1995)

Confirmation Status Confirmed = Definitely recorded in Study Area Unconfirmed = Unable to confirm definite records, but possible (includes vagrants) Probable Error = Probable misidentification, location error or database coding error


Appendix B: Area of high quality habitat (HQH) for each Species of Conservation Concern within the Woodford Creek, Katoomba and Blackheath Special Areas.

Species of Conservation Concern

Are

a of

H

QH

in

Reg

ion

(ha)

Bla

ckhe

ath

(ha)

% in

B

lack

heat

h

Kat

oom

ba

(ha)

% in

K

atoo

mba

Woo

dfor

d C

reek

(ha)

% in

W

oodf

ord

Tota

l

Tota

l %

Blue Mountains Water skink 1918 86 4 19 1 30 2 134 7

Giant Burrowing Frog 77593 602 1 256 0 567 1 1426 2

Highlands Copperhead 71250 727 1 321 0 0 0 1048 1

Beautiful Firetail 55298 309 1 166 0 12 0 487 1

Mainland Tiger Snake 28640 133 0 31 0 41 0 205 1

Southern Emu-wren 25621 110 0 32 0 38 0 180 1

Red-crowned Toadlet 47620 196 0 70 0 27 0 293 1

Spotted Quail-thrush 160863 386 0 173 0 228 0 787 0

Flame Robin 138823 340 0 141 0 192 0 673 0

Gang-gang Cockatoo 231201 495 0 245 0 367 0 1106 0

Superb Lyrebird 359246 600 0 257 0 709 0 1567 0

Grey-headed Flying-fox 216181 187 0 50 0 693 0 930 0

Satin Bowerbird 120785 137 0 49 0 323 0 509 0

Broad-headed Snake 16614 54 0 0 0 15 0 69 0

Eastern Snake-necked Turtle

45940 62 0 16 0 112 0 191 0

Red-browed Treecreeper 140182 340 0 147 0 63 0 550 0

Short-beaked Echidna 341874 570 0 260 0 368 0 1198 0

Eastern Pygmy-possum 42437 120 0 12 0 7 0 139 0

Eastern Grey Kangaroo 289315 369 0 116 0 419 0 904 0

Varied Sittella 181987 279 0 113 0 176 0 567 0

Tawny-crowned Honeyeater 22640 64 0 1 0 1 0 65 0

Rockwarbler 15298 7 0 0 0 26 0 34 0

Large-eared Pied Bat 271357 179 0 48 0 281 0 508 0

Stuttering Frog 34142 8 0 0 0 42 0 50 0

Long-nosed Bandicoot 88636 66 0 50 0 6 0 122 0

Painted Button-quail 241161 0 0 0 0 318 0 318 0

Rosenberg's Goanna 45194 5 0 2 0 49 0 56 0

Powerful Owl 208733 7 0 0 0 202 0 210 0

Sooty Owl 15259 3 0 0 0 8 0 11 0

Masked Owl 244592 20 0 0 0 130 0 150 0

Platypus 7599 0 0 0 0 4 0 4 0

Glossy Black-Cockatoo 72237 0 0 0 0 12 0 12 0

Bibron's Toadlet 214084 11 0 11 0 7 0 29 0

Turquoise Parrot 49680 5 0 0 0 0 0 6 0

Greater Glider 174532 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 0


Appendix C: Key Threatening Processes that impact upon threatened species known to occur within or adjacent to the Blue Mountains Special Areas.

Key Threatening Process - Final Listings

ReferenceNSW Scientific Committee

Threatened fauna from Special Areas that are potentially affected (from Scientific Committee listing)

Further priority fauna from Blue Mountains Special Areas that may be affected

Priority Habitatsaffected

Bushrock removal 1999 Broad-headed Snake, Red-crowned Toadlet, Spotted-tailed Quoll.

s

Ecological consequences of high-frequency fires

2000a Blue Mountains Water Skink, Eastern Pygmy-possum, Glossy Black-Cockatoo, Spotted-tailed Quoll.

Beautiful Firetail, Long-nosed Bandicoot, Southern Emu-wren.

UplandSwamps

Predation by the Red Fox

1998a Blue Mountains Water Skink, Spotted-tailed Quoll.

Beautiful Firetail, Long-nosed Bandicoot, Painted Button-quail, Short-beaked Echidna, Southern Emu-wren, Spotted Quail-thrush.

UplandSwamps

Alteration to the natural flow regimes of rivers, streams, floodplains and wetlands

2002a Blue Mountains Water Skink, Giant Burrowing Frog, Littlejohn’s Tree Frog, Red-crowned Toadlet, Stuttering Frog.

Bibron’s Toadlet, Eastern Snake-necked Turtle, Southern Emu-wren.

UplandSwamps

Infection of frogs by amphibian chytrid causing the disease chytridiomycosis

2003a Littlejohn's Tree Frog, Stuttering Frog. UplandSwamps

Predation by Feral Cats 2000c Blue Mountains Water Skink, Spotted-tailed Quoll.

Beautiful Firetail, Long-nosed Bandicoot, Painted Button-quail, Short-beaked Echidna, Southern Emu-wren, Spotted Quail-thrush.

UplandSwamps

Human-caused climate change

2000b Blue Mountains Water Skink, Eastern False Pipistrelle, Gang-gang Cockatoo, Littlejohn’s Tree Frog, Sooty Owl, Stuttering Frog.

Bibron’s Toadlet, Flame Robin, Highland Copperhead, Red-browed Treecreeper, Rockwarbler, Southern Emu-wren.

UplandSwamps

Clearing of native vegetation

2001 All threatened species (see Table 2). All other Species of Conservation Concern (see Table 3).

UplandSwamps

Removal of dead wood and dead trees

2003b Barking Owl, Broad-headed Snake, Eastern False Pipistrelle, Eastern Pygmy-possum, Gang-gang Cockatoo, Glossy Black-Cockatoo, Greater Broad-nosed Bat, Masked Owl, Powerful Owl, Red-crowned Toadlet, Spotted-tailed Quoll, Turquoise Parrot.

Red-browed Treecreeper, Greater Glider.

Competition from feral honeybees

2002c Barking Owl, Broad-headed Snake, Eastern False Pipistrelle, Eastern Pygmy-possum, Gang-gang Cockatoo, Glossy Black-Cockatoo, Greater Broad-nosed Bat, Masked Owl, Powerful Owl, Red-crowned Toadlet, Spotted-tailed Quoll, Turquoise Parrot.

Greater Glider, Red-browed Treecreeper.

Infection by Psittacine circoviral (beak and feather) disease affecting endangered psittacine species and populations

2002d Gang-gang Cockatoo, Glossy Black-Cockatoo, Turquoise Parrot.

Competition and grazing by the feral European Rabbit

2002b Long-nosed Bandicoot, Painted Button-quail.

Documents

Volume 5: The fauna of the blue mountains special areas · Fauna of the Blue Mountains Special Areas - Blackheath, Katoomba & Woodford Creek 1 1 Summary 1.1 Fauna Species Priorities