Professional Documents
Culture Documents
LIMITED
SNARK PROJECT
FAUNA ASSESSMENT
Prepared for:
Prepared by:
August 2011
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Macarthur Minerals Limited (Macarthur) is engaged in the exploration and development of
mineral resources in the Lake Giles Project area located within the Ularring District of the
North Coolgardie Mineral Field. The Lake Giles Project area is located approximately 450
km northeast of Perth and 100 km west of Menzies.
Within the Lake Giles Project Area, a northern section known as the Snark deposit area
is reported to have an Inferred Mineral Resource of 7.1 million tonnes of iron ore at 55.9%
Fe. The current tenements in the Snark Project Area include Mining Leases 30/243,
30/213, 30/214 and 30/215, and Exploration Licences 30/240 and 30/324 and all are
100% owned by Macarthur Iron Ore Pty Ltd.
In order to further pursue mining opportunities in the Snark Project area, Macarthur
commissioned Keith Lindbeck and Associates (KLA) to undertake a comprehensive Level
2 fauna assessment of the vegetated areas.
In accordance with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Statement and
Guidelines, multiple seasonal surveys are required.
This survey satisfied the
requirements for an autumn survey, taking advantage of recent, heavy rainfall events.
The scope of work for the fauna assessment was to:
generally describe the vegetation associations in the study area;
identify habitat that may be of significance to fauna indigenous to Western
Australia;
identify any habitats of particular conservation significance for fauna within the
study area;
prepare a fauna inventory (baseline information) of the area using a combined
approach of desk-top research including a review of existing literature and site
specific, seasonal fauna surveys comprising a suite of established survey
techniques;
identify fauna of conservation significance in the area,
provide a risk assessment to determine potential impacts to fauna of conservation
significance; and
provide recommendations, including the management of perceived impacts to
fauna habitats and fauna of conservation significance within the study area.
Results
Pitfall traps, aluminium box traps, funnel traps and cage traps were open collectively for a
total of 2840 trap nights.
The systematic surveys recorded 12 reptile species, five native terrestrial mammal
species and one non-native terrestrial mammal species, six species of bats and 30 bird
species, giving a total of 55 vertebrate fauna species.
The reptiles captured comprised four dragon species (Agamidae), two diplodactylid
species (Diplodactylidae), and six species of skink (Scincidae) totalling 38 individuals. No
reptile species of conservation significance were recorded.
Overall, the trap rate for the autumn survey was low (1.3%) which is not surprising given
the cooler temperatures at that time of the year. The numbers of reptile captures between
sites did not differ dramatically. However, more were captured at the southern-most site
ii
(Site 4) than at all other sites where disturbance may have been less than at the
remaining sites. While the flora survey did not extend to this area, the vegetation
association at this site was determined to be Acacia shrubland and not significantly
different generally to vegetation elsewhere in the Snark Project area.
For the terrestrial mammals, five species of native terrestrial mammals representing two
families and totalling eight individuals were captured. Within the Family Dasyuridae,
Pseudantechinus macdonnellensis Fat-tailed Pseudantechinus and Sminthopsis dolichura
Little Long-tailed Dunnart were captured and with the Family Muridae, two species of
hopping mice, Notomys alexis Spinifex Hopping Mouse and Notomys mitchellii Mitchells
Hopping Mouse were captured, in addition to Pseudomys hermannsburgensis Sandy
Inland Mouse.
The capture of eight individual mammals during this period translates into a trap rate of
0.28%, which suggests that at the time of the survey the area supported very low numbers
of mammals. However, as up to five species of native mammal were captured, diversity
of species present in relation to numbers of mammals caught was relatively high. Only
one species of non-native mammal, Mus musculus House Mouse was captured.
Anabat detectors record the presence of bats, rather than the numbers present. Bats
were recorded at all of the seven trapping grid sites with between four and six species
recorded at each site. Thus, it is reasonable to assume that the diversity of bats present
extends throughout the vegetated areas of the study area.
Armstrong and Konishi (2011) highlight the difficulties in distinguishing the differences in
some calls. For example, the calls of the Long-eared bats Nyctophilus spp. are typically
difficult to identify to species, and those recorded may be attributed to the Lesser Longeared Bat Nyctophilus geoffroyi or the central Greater Long-eared Bat N. major tor which
is listed under Priority 4 of DECs Priority Fauna List
Excluding the possibilities for the un-identified Nyctophilis species, no mammals of
conservation significance were recorded during the survey.
Systematic bird surveys were conducted immediately after sunrise and again in the late
afternoons. The bird censuses yielded a total of 418 individuals of 29 species from 14
Families. One Cinclosoma castanotus Chestnut Quail-thrush was captured in a cage trap
that brings these totals collectively to 419 individual birds numbering 30 species from 15
Families.
The results of the 20 minute morning surveys indicated that passerines (n = 289)
represent a majority (93.5%) of species recorded in the area with only 20 individuals from
two Families accounting for the non-passerines (6.5%).
Within the passerines,
Acanthizids accounted for more birds (n = 101, 34.9%) than all other species. The most
ubiquitous of the Acanthizids was Smicrornis brevirostris Weebill with 57 birds recorded,
representing 56% of this group. Following the Acanthizids, the Malurids, represented by
Malurus splendens Splendid Fairy-wren and M. lamberti Variegated Fairy-wren accounted
for 26.6% of all the birds recorded, collectively totalling 77 birds. The Priority 4 listed
Oreoica gutturalis Crested Bellbird was recorded 29 times accounting for 10% of the birds
recorded. The remaining species all recorded less than 10% each of the total number of
birds recorded.
During the afternoon surveys only one non-passerine (Australian Ringneck) was recorded
resulting in 97% being passerines. Similar to the results from the morning surveys, the
Acanthizids outnumbered all other passerines. While a flock (n = ~20) of unidentified
Thornbills inflated the numbers of Acanthizids, the Weebill (n = 15) and Inland Thornbill (n
iii
= 13) accounted for the majority of the remaining Acanthizids. Only the Splendid Fairywren Malurus splendens outnumbered these species with 21 being recorded.
Notwithstanding the current level of disturbance from exploration and other associated
mining activities, the total number of birds recorded during the systematic sampling
suggests that resources and/or habitat required were adequate to maintain the numbers
and diversity present.
Of the birds considered of conservation significance listed for the area, evidence of the
Malleefowl Leipoa ocellata was found and the Crested Bellbird Oreoica gutteralis was
recorded at every site and opportunistically. While five inactive Malleefowl mounds were
identified in the Snark Project area, and one in the Lake Giles Project area, unconfirmed
sightings of Malleefowls have been reported in the area.
Evidence of fauna recorded opportunistically include one amphibian (Pseudophyrne
occidentalis Western Toadlet) recorded at the granite outcrop within 15 km from the
survey area. Of the reptiles recorded opportunistically, four individuals of Caimanops
amphiboluroides, one Ctenophorus scutulatus and one Ctenotus sp. were recorded. For
the mammals, one Pseudantechinus macdonnelliensis, macropod droppings, Rabbit
Oryctolagus cuniculus droppings, diggings and warrens, and Dog Canis sp. droppings that
comprised unidentified grey fur were recorded.
Opportunistic recordings of birds accounted for 29 species. Of these, six were not
recorded during the systematic bird surveys, in addition to the sightings of (inactive)
Malleefowl mounds. Conversely, seven bird species recorded during the systematic
surveys were not seen opportunistically
The overall condition of the vegetation within the survey area is described as Excellent
(Keighery 1994). While the removal of up to 140 hectares of native vegetation will impact
on fauna, the vegetation cannot be considered to be significant habitat for fauna
indigenous to Western Australia.
Recommendations
The following general recommendations apply in the case of any major disturbance to
large areas of native vegetation as a consequence of the proposed development for the
Snark Project:
Any clearing be minimised in extent given that the abundance and diversity of
species lost will be proportional to the amount of habitat cleared;
Where possible, all infrastructure associated with the development of the mining
operation be aligned preferentially to areas of existing disturbance;
Where possible, access routes be aligned to existing tracks and other barriers or
follow the boundaries of broad-scale intact native vegetation;
A rehabilitation plan is developed that progressively rehabilitates areas as soon as
they are no longer required;
All members of the work force on site attend an environmental induction to ensure
they are familiar with the value of native vegetation to fauna indigenous to Western
Australia. This should include awareness of driving restrictions, ensuring that offroad driving is minimised, fire prevention is actively practised, and appropriate
responses are followed in the event of an accident involving fauna: and
A comprehensive Level 2 fauna survey be conducted in Spring to satisfy EPA
requirements.
iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page No.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY..ii
1.0
1.1
1.2
1.3
2.0
INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... 1
BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................. 1
SCOPE OF STUDY ........................................................................................................... 1
PURPOSE OF THIS REPORT .......................................................................................... 3
EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ................................................................................................... 4
2.1
CLIMATE............................................................................................................................ 4
2.1.1 Temperature ................................................................................................................. 4
2.1.2 Rainfall .......................................................................................................................... 9
2.2
INTERIM BIOGEOGRAPHIC REGIONALISATION OF AUSTRALIA ............................. 11
2.3
FLORA AND VEGETATION MAPPING .......................................................................... 12
2.3.1 Site selection .............................................................................................................. 14
3.0
4.0
4.1
DATABASE SEARCHES ................................................................................................. 24
4.2
SURVEY TIMING ............................................................................................................. 24
4.3
FAUNA SURVEY TEAM .................................................................................................. 24
4.4
FAUNA SAMPLING ......................................................................................................... 25
4.4.1 Reconnaissance survey ............................................................................................. 25
4.4.2 Systematic censuring.................................................................................................. 25
4.4.3 Birds surveying ........................................................................................................... 30
4.4.4 Bat surveying .............................................................................................................. 31
4.4.5 Spotlighting survey ..................................................................................................... 32
4.5
SURVEY LIMITATIONS ................................................................................................... 32
5.0
5.1
OVERVIEW OF VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE SURVEY AREA ................................ 33
5.2
AMPHIBIANS ................................................................................................................... 35
5.2.1 The assemblage ......................................................................................................... 35
5.2.2 Discussion .................................................................................................................. 35
5.3
REPTILES ........................................................................................................................ 36
5.3.1 The assemblage ......................................................................................................... 36
5.3.2 Discussion .................................................................................................................. 38
5.4
MAMMALS ....................................................................................................................... 40
5.4.1 The assemblage ......................................................................................................... 40
5.4.2 Discussion .................................................................................................................. 43
5.5
BIRDS .............................................................................................................................. 45
5.5.1 The assemblages ....................................................................................................... 45
5.5.2 Discussion .................................................................................................................. 51
5.6
SPOTLIGHTING .............................................................................................................. 53
5.6.1 The assemblages ....................................................................................................... 53
5.6.2 Discussion .................................................................................................................. 53
6.0
6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4
7.0
FIGURES
Figure 1 - Location of Lake Giles Project Area ...................................................................... 2
Figure 2 Regional Area showing Mount Manning Range Nature Reserve ......................... 5
Figure 3 Location of Snark Project Area and Mt Manning Range Nature Reserve ............ 6
Figure 4 - Trapping locations within the Snark Project area and location of Malleefowl
mounds .................................................................................................................. 7
Figure 5 - Mean maximum and minimum temperatures at Menzies Meteorological Station . 8
Figure 6 - Mean maximum and minimum temperatures at Leonora Meteorological Station . 8
Figure 7 - Rainfall data for Menzies and Leonora Meteorological Stations ......................... 10
Figure 8 - Vegetation communities identified in Snark Project area .................................... 13
Figure 9 - Schematic diagram of trapping unit configuration for Sites 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7 .... 27
Figure 10 - Schematic diagram of trapping unit configuration for Site 3 .............................. 28
Figure 11 - Number of individual terrestrial vertebrates recorded during the systematic
surveys ................................................................................................................ 33
Figure 12 - Species accumulation curve for reptiles captured during the systematic fauna
survey .................................................................................................................. 39
Figure 13 - Species accumulation curve for non-volant native and non-native mammals
captured during the systematic fauna survey ...................................................... 44
Figure 14- Species accumulation curve for birds recorded during the Autumn 2011 fauna
surveys ................................................................................................................ 52
TABLES
Table 1 - Daily temperatures for selected dates in May 2011 for Leonora ............................ 9
Table 2 - Trapping sites, number of hectares and percent representation of vegetation
communities ........................................................................................................ 15
Table 3 - Site numbers and their associated vegetation descriptions ................................. 16
Table 4 - Previous studies in the vicinity of the Lake Giles Project area ............................. 23
Table 5 - Trapping grid locations and trapping effort ........................................................... 29
Table 6 - Dates and times of systematic birds censuses commenced at each site............. 31
Table 7 - Dates bat calls were recorded at each site........................................................... 32
Table 8 - Dates and duration of spotlighting forays, including numbers of personnel involved
............................................................................................................................ 32
Table 9 - Number of individual terrestrial vertebrates recorded at each site ....................... 34
Table 10 - Reptiles species recorded (including method) during systematic fauna survey . 37
Table 11 - Mammal species recorded (including method) during the systematic fauna
survey .................................................................................................................. 42
Table 12 - Site by species matrix of bat identifications recorded during the systematic fauna
survey .................................................................................................................. 42
Table 13 - Avifauna species recorded during systematic sampling ..................................... 46
Table 14 Comparative bird recordings between opportunistic sightings and systematic
sampling .............................................................................................................. 48
Table 15 - Malleefowl Mound Locations .............................................................................. 49
Table 16 - Conservation significant terrestrial fauna potentially occurring in the study area
............................................................................................................................ 54
PLATES
Plate 1 - Site 1
Plate 2 - Site 2
Plate 3 - Site 3
Plate 4 - Site 4
Plate 5 - Site 5
Plate 6 - Site 6
Plate 7 - Site 7
Plate 8 - Site 8 Banded Iron Formation surrounded by tall Allocasuarina scrub (S3) ......... 20
Plate 9 - Site 9 Banded Iron Formation surrounded by tall Allocasuarina scrub (S3) ......... 21
Plate 10 - Site 10 Banded Iron Formation surrounded by Open Acacia scrub (S6) ............ 21
Plate 11 - Site 11 Banded Iron Formation surrounded by Allocasuarina scrub (S4) ........... 22
Plate 12 Malleefowl Mound # 1......................................................................................... 49
Plate 13 - Malleefowl Mound # 2 ......................................................................................... 49
Plate 14 - Malleefowl Mound # 3 ......................................................................................... 50
Plate 15 - Malleefowl Mound # 4 ......................................................................................... 50
Plate 16 - Malleefowl Mound # 5 ......................................................................................... 50
Plate 17 - Malleefowl Mound # 6 outside of Snark Project area .......................................... 51
APPENDICES
APPENDIX A Vegetation Communities identified during Flora Survey (Mattiske 2011) .... 63
APPENDIX B Keighery, B.J. (1994) Vegetation Condition Scales ...................................... 66
APPENDIX C Categories used in the assessment of conservation status .......................... 68
APPENDIX D Species likely to occur in the area and species identified in the area ........... 71
APPENDIX E Department of Environment and Conservation Regulation 17 Permit .......... 84
APPENDIX F Annotated List Amphibians......................................................................... 88
APPENDIX G Annotated List Reptiles .............................................................................. 90
APPENDIX H Annotated List Mammals ........................................................................... 92
APPENDIX I Annotated List Birds .................................................................................... 95
viii
1.0
1.1
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND
SCOPE OF STUDY
1.3
This report describes the methodology employed for one seasonal fauna survey of the area
encompassing the proposed mine and associated infrastructure relating to the Snark Project.
It documents the current knowledge of the potentially-occurring and surveyed fauna in the
broader area and provides the results of the Autumn 2011 survey conducted in the subject
area. It also provides recommendations that include minimising impacts of the proposed
project on fauna habitat and assemblages.
The report is intended as a supporting document to accompany Macarthurs mining
approvals submissions to satisfy statutory requirements.
The survey is subject to limitations and these are discussed in more detail in the appropriate
sections.
2.0
EXISTING ENVIRONMENT
The Snark Project area lies immediately east of the Lake Giles playa lake system
approximately 100 km west of Menzies in the Goldfields district of Western Australia. It is
located north east of the Mount Manning Nature Reserve (36208) and the newly formed
Mining Reserve (50929) (Figures 2 and 3). The operations will be carried out on Unallocated
Crown Land (UCL) on the mining and exploration tenements M30/243, M30/213, M30/214,
M30/215, E30/240 and E30/324 (Figure 3).
The Snark Project area extends in an east-west direction approximately 9 km long and
approximately 2.5 km wide (Figure 4).
2.1
CLIMATE
The area encompassing Snark is located close to the delineation between the DesertIntermediate and Semi-Desert Mediterranean bioclimatic regions, also described as semiarid (Beard 1990). The area is dry for the majority of the year and beneficial rains fall in late
summer to early winter (Beard 1990).
The nearest official meteorological station is located at Menzies, approximately 100 km east
of the survey area. Recordings of the local climatic conditions commenced at Menzies in
1896 and ended in 2009 (Bureau of Meteorology 2011). The next closest station is Leonora,
approximately 160 km southeast of Snark which has records from 1898 and continues to
monitor climatic conditions to date (Bureau of Meteorology 2011). Data from both stations is
presented in this report.
2.1.1 Temperature
For Menzies, the mean annual minimum temperature is 12.6oC and the mean annual
maximum temperature is 26.3oC (Figure 5). The coldest month is July (mean minimum
temperature 5.3oC), the hottest is January (mean maximum temperature 35.1oC), and diurnal
temperature variations are relatively consistent throughout the year (Figure 5). Diurnal
temperature variations for Leonora mirror those of Menzies. However, Leonora recorded
overall slightly higher temperatures with the mean annual minimum being 13.9oC, mean
annual maximum 27.9oC, coldest temperature 6.1oC also in July and hottest also in January
at 37.1oC (Figure 6).
Figure 3 Location of Snark Project Area and Mt Manning Range Nature Reserve
Figure 4 - Trapping locations within the Snark Project area and location of Malleefowl mounds
Mean minimum and maximum temperatures for the survey periods were relatively consistent
with those historically for May. The mean minimum temperature for the May 2011 survey
period was 10oC, compared to 10.2oC mean minimum recorded over the last 62 years for the
area, and the mean maximum temperature for the May survey period (21.8oC) was similar to
the long-term average of 22.8oC (Bureau of Meteorology 2011). Table 1 lists the minimum
and maximum temperature recordings for the periods spanning the fauna survey (4 May
2011 to 14 May 2011).
Table 1 - Daily temperatures for selected
dates in May 2011 for Leonora
2011
Temperature
Date
Min C
Max C
4-May
9.1
21.1
5-May
9.4
24.6
6-May
11.4
25.2
7-May
12.2
23.6
8-May
10.6
23.2
9-May
7.2
22.0
10-May
8.6
22.3
11-May
10.2
20.0
12-May
8.6
19.8
13-May
9.0
18.2
14-May
13.2
20.2
2.1.2 Rainfall
The annual average rainfall at Menzies is 249.8 mm which falls on approximately 32.1 rain
days (Bureau of Meteorology 2011). Leonora is located approximately 100 km north of
Menzies and the annual average rainfall and number of rain days is marginally less with
235.5 mm falling on approximately 29.8 rain days. More rain (>20 mm per month) falls in the
first half of the year than in the second half (<20 mm per month) and this amount does not
vary greatly (Figure 7).
Rainfall in the preceding 12 months does not conform to long term averages: below-average
rainfall was recorded for May 2010 (15.0 mm), June 2010 (12.4 mm), March 2011 (3.4 mm),
April 2011 (13.8 mm) and May 2011 (12.8 mm) and above-average rainfall was recorded for
September 2010 (37.2 mm), December 2010 (32.8 mm), January 2011 (38.2 mm) with an
excessive amount recorded for February 2011 (190.7 mm) (Figure 7).
While only 12.8 mm rain was recorded for May 2011, no rain was recorded during the period
of the Snark survey and certainly no rain fell while on site.
200
180
160
Rainfall(mm)
140
120
2011
100
2010
80
MeanMenzies1896 2009
60
MeanLeonora18922011
40
20
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Month
10
2.2
The Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA) divides the Australian
continent into 85 bioregions and 403 subregions (Department of the Environment, Water,
Heritage and the Arts 2009). The Snark Project area is located at the southern end of the
Murchison IBRA region within the Murchison 1 (MUR1) East Murchison subregion (Cowan
2001) immediately north of the Coolgardie 2 (COO2) Southern Cross subregion within the
Coolgardie IBRA region (Cowan et al. 2001). Due to Snarks close proximity to both regions,
both have been presented below.
The East Murchison bioregion which totals over seven million hectares is characterised by
Mulga Woodlands often rich in ephemerals, hummock grasslands, saltbush shrublands and
Halosarcia shrubland (Cowan 2001). The area is characterised by:
internal drainage,
extensive areas of elevated red desert sandplains with minimal dune development,
salt lake systems that are associated with the occluded Paleodrainage system, and
broad plains of red-brown soils and breakaway complexes as well as red sandplains
(Cowan 2001).
The subregion is rich and diverse in both its flora and fauna. However, most species are
wide ranging and usually occur in at least one, and often several, adjoining subregions
(Cowan 2001). Notwithstanding this, known special values in relation to the landscape,
ecosystem, species and genetic values in the subregion include:
Rare Features such as calcrete aquifers in the northern parts that support a large
variety of Short Range Endemic (SRE) subterranean aquatic fauna,
Rare terrestrial species include Great Desert Skink Egernia kintorei, Malleefowl
Leipoa ocellata, Alexandras Parrot Polytelis alexandrae, Mulgara Dasycercus
cristicauda and Yellow-bellied Black Snake Pseudechis butleri, and
Lake Barlee which represents a most important breeding site for Banded Stilts
Cladorhynchus leucocephalus and refugia for many other water birds (Burbidge and
Fuller 1982 cited in Cowan 2001).
The Coolgardie 2 subregion is located on the Southern Cross Terrains of the Yilgarn Craton
(Cowan et al. 2001). The area is characterised by fairly flat relief with only slight undulating
uplands divided by wide valleys with bands of low greenstone hills. The valleys consist of
Quaternary duplex and gradational soils with chains of saline playa-lakes. Around the salt
lakes and on the greenstone hills and valleys, diverse Eucalyptus woodlands can be found,
while on the salt lakes dwarfed shrublands of samphire occur. Within the upper levels of the
landscape, eroded remnants of a lateritic duricrust have produced yellow sandplains, gravelly
sandplains and laterite breakaways. The vegetation associated with uplands includes
Mallees, shrub-heaths of Allocasuarina, Melaleuca and Acacia species, with many endemic
acacias and Myrtaceae.
This subregional area extends over 7,041,232 ha and known special values in relation to the
landscape, ecosystem, species and genetic values in the subregion include:
Rare Features such as arid woodlands and rare vertebrates including Chuditch,
Slender-billed Thornbill, Major Mitchells Cockatoo and Malleefowl,
Centres of endemism for Ctenotus xenopleura, Nephrurus stellatus, bandedironstone hill flora, sandplain acacias and Myrtaceae and goldfields woodlands, and
High Species and Ecosystem Diversity represented by banded ironstone ranges,
ephemeral flora communities of Tertiary sandplain scrubs and of valley floor
woodlands (Cowan et al. 2001).
11
2.3
The project area is located within the Coolgardie Botanical Province of the southwest
Interzone as defined by Beard (1990). Beard (op. cit.) describes the Coolgardie Botanical
Province as gently undulating with occasional ranges of low hills, with sandplains in the
western part and some large playa lakes, with principally brown calcareous earths. The
underlying geology is derived from Proterozoic granite and gneiss of the Fraser Range Block
and Archaean granite with infolded volcanic and meta-sediments of the Yilgarn Block (Beard
1990). Ironstone outcropping and banded ironstone formation ranges are common in the
wider area (Mattiske 2011).
Mattiske (2011) conducted flora and vegetation surveys of the Snark Project area in
February, March and May 2011. A total of 64 sampling sites were surveyed in addition to
opportunistic collections of plants previously unrecorded. Survey sites consisted of 25 m x
25 m quadrats.
Fourteen plant communities were defined within the area surveyed and an additional distinct
Eucalypt woodland community was identified outside of the survey area (Mattiske 2011).
These vegetation communities were broadly classified as Shrublands (S1 to S7) and
Woodlands (W1 to W8) (Figure 8). Descriptions of each vegetation community are provided
in Appendix A.
A total of 124 vascular plant taxa from 57 plant genera and 28 plant families were recorded
within the survey area (Mattiske 2011). The majority of taxa were recorded within the
Fabaceae (17 taxa), Chenopodiaceae (15 taxa) and Myrtaceae (12 taxa) Families. No
Declared Rare Flora (DRF) species were recorded within the survey area. However, two
Priority Flora species Banksia arborea (P4) and Grevillea erectiloba (P4) were recorded in
the Snark Project area.
None of the plant communities mapped by Mattiske (2011) resemble any of the Threatened
Ecological Communities (TEC) listed under the Federal Environmental Protection and
Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999 or on the Department of Environment and
Conservation (DEC) Database. However, one Priority Ecological Community (PEC) the
Lake Giles vegetation complexes (banded ironstone formations) has been recorded within
the Lake Giles Area (Outback Ecology 2010). A second PEC, the Banded Ironstone Hills
with Banksia arborea Priority 1 PEC also has the potential to occur in or around the survey
area. The locations (and implications) of these PECs cannot be confirmed as there is limited
information on these communities available from DEC.
No introduced (exotic) taxa were recorded in the survey areas.
12
13
14
Trapping
Site
8,9
5,11
2
3,7,10
Vegetation
group
Hectares
afterMattiske(2011)
%
Shrublands
%
Total
Shrublands
S1
372.59
S2
17.52
S3
98.06
S4
1286.76
S5
3.75
S6
247.88
S7
37.54
Subtotal
2064.1
18.05
0.85
4.75
62.34
0.18
12.01
1.82
100.00
14.46
0.68
3.80
49.93
0.15
9.62
1.46
80.09
Woodlands
W1
67.48
W2
29.35
W3
32.46
W4
154.9
W5
120.36
W6
13.74
W7
35.45
W8
59.52
Subtotal
513.26
Total 2577.36
13.15
5.72
6.32
30.18
23.45
2.68
6.91
11.60
100.00
2.62
1.14
1.26
6.01
4.67
0.53
1.38
2.31
19.91
100.00
15
Site
10
11
Vegetation descriptions
W5: Open woodland of Eucalyptus salubris with occasional Allocasuarina
campestris over Acacia tetragonophylla, Eremophila oldfieldii subsp. angustifolia,
Alyxia buxifolia, Santalum spicatum over Prostanthera althoferi subsp. althoferi,
Enchylaena sp., Maireana ?trichoptera and Ptilotus obovatus var. obovatus on flat
to lower slopes with fine ironstone pebbles
S5: Tall mixed scrub of Acacia ramulosa var. ramulosa, Acacia tetragonophylla,
Acacia ?ayersiana, Acacia burkittii and Acacia aneura with emergent Eucalyptus
griffithsii and Eucalyptus stricklandii over Solanum lasiophyllum, Sida ectogama,
Ptilotus obovatus var. obovatus and Sida spodochroma on flat to lower slopes with
red-brown clay soils
S6: Open scrub of Acacia ayersiana, Acacia cockertoniana, Acacia tetragonophylla
and Eremophila oppositifolia subsp. angustifolia over Eremophila latrobei subsp.
latrobei, Eremophila decipiens subsp. decipiens, Prostanthera althoferi subsp.
althoferi and Philotheca brucei subsp. brucei over Olearia humilis on mid- to upper
slopes
Acacia shrubland with emergent Eucalypts*
S4: Scrub of Allocasuarina campestris, Allocasuarina dielsiana, Acacia burkittii,
Acacia ramulosa var. ramulosa and Acacia aneura with occasional emergent
Eucalyptus capillosa subsp. capillosa and Eucalyptus stricklandii over Acacia
tetragonophylla, Dodonaea rigida and Scaevola spinescens over Ptilotus obovatus
var. obovatus and Sida calyxhymenia on flat to mid slopes with ironstone pebbles
S1: Open scrub of Acacia ramulosa var. ramulosa and Acacia aneura over
Philotheca brucei subsp. brucei, Dodonaea rigida, Eremophila alternifolia and
Eremophila latrobei ?subsp. latrobei over Olearia humilis on flats to low natural
relief with compact light brown clay soils
S6: Open scrub of Acacia ayersiana, Acacia cockertoniana, Acacia tetragonophylla
and Eremophila oppositifolia subsp. angustifolia over Eremophila latrobei subsp.
latrobei, Eremophila decipiens subsp. decipiens, Prostanthera althoferi subsp.
althoferi and Philotheca brucei subsp. brucei over Olearia humilis on mid- to upper
slopes
Area of Banded Iron Formation surrounded by tall scrub of Allocasuarina
acutivalvis subsp. acutivalvis, Acacia quadrimarginea, Acacia ramulosa var.
ramulosa, Acacia aneura var. aneura with emergent Brachychiton gregorii over
Philotheca brucei subsp. brucei, Eremophila latrobei subsp. latrobei, Acacia
tetragonophylla and Dodonaea rigida over Sida ectogama, Cheilanthes brownii and
Olearia muelleri on mid slopes to ridges with gravelly clays (S3)
Area of Banded Iron Formation surrounded by tall scrub of Allocasuarina
acutivalvis subsp. acutivalvis, Acacia quadrimarginea, Acacia ramulosa var.
ramulosa, Acacia aneura var. aneura with emergent Brachychiton gregorii over
Philotheca brucei subsp. brucei, Eremophila latrobei subsp. latrobei, Acacia
tetragonophylla and Dodonaea rigida over Sida ectogama, Cheilanthes brownii and
Olearia muelleri on mid slopes to ridges with gravelly clays (S3)
Area of Banded Iron Formation surrounded by open scrub of Acacia ayersiana,
Acacia cockertoniana, Acacia tetragonophylla and Eremophila oppositifolia subsp.
angustifolia over Eremophila latrobei subsp. latrobei, Eremophila decipiens subsp.
decipiens, Prostanthera althoferi subsp. althoferi and Philotheca brucei subsp.
brucei over Olearia humilis on mid- to upper slopes (S6)
Area of Banded Iron Formation surrounded by Scrub of Allocasuarina campestris,
Allocasuarina dielsiana, Acacia burkittii, Acacia ramulosa var. ramulosa and Acacia
aneura with occasional emergent Eucalyptus capillosa subsp. capillosa and
Eucalyptus stricklandii over Acacia tetragonophylla, Dodonaea rigida and Scaevola
spinescens over Ptilotus obovatus var. obovatus and Sida calyxhymenia on flat to
mid slopes with ironstone pebbles (S4)
16
17
18
19
20
21
3.0
LITERATURE REVIEW
The Snark Project area is surrounded by pastoral leases to the east and west with Mount
Manning Nature Reserve to the southwest and other mining operations within close
proximity. In addition to the Level 1 desktop fauna assessment of the Lake Giles Project
area (Outback Ecology 2011), previous vertebrate surveys have been completed
regionally as part of environmental impact assessments of operational mines and
exploration projects. With reference to the Snark Project area, these include fauna
surveys conducted within:
the Barlee-Menzies study area by the Biological Surveys Committee (Burbidge et
al. 1995),
the Helena and Aurora Range (Chapman and Pronk 1997),
the Carina Prospect area in the Yilgarn (Ninox 2009) and
Deception Deposit area for Cliffs Asia Pacific Iron Ore Pty Ltd (Biota 2011).
In addition, the EPA (2007) prepared ministerial advice on areas of highest conservation
value in the proposed extensions to Mount Manning Nature Reserve.
Faunal
assemblages from this report have also been considered.
The locations of these studies and their descriptions are briefly summarised in Table 4.
Fauna recorded from these surveys is included in Appendix D and comparisons are
discussed in each section.
22
Table 4 - Previous studies in the vicinity of the Lake Giles Project area
Citation
EPA (2007)
Ninox (2009)
Biota (2011)
Title
Description of Study
23
Survey Effort
Sites and Quadrats with
trapping, bird census and
opportunistic sightings over
three survey periods: Winter
1979, Spring 1980 and Late
Summer 1981.
Eleven sites in five habitats
with three transects and
quadrats in primary habitats.
Literature review.
4.0
4.1
SURVEY METHODOLOGY
DATABASE SEARCHES
The online EPBC Protected Matters Search Tool was used to determine any species
listed under the EPBC Act 1999 for the area.
A search was commissioned of the Threatened and Priority Fauna Database held by the
DEC as recognised under the Western Australian Wildlife Conservation Act (WCA) 1950
and considered by the DEC as species of conservation significance.
DECs NatureMap was searched for records of fauna specimens vouchered at the
Western Australian Museum and the Birds Australia Atlas Database was searched for bird
species listed within the survey area.
Categories and descriptions of the conservation status of fauna species are provided in
Appendix C and the results of the databases searches are shown in Appendix D. As the
subject area does not enter marine systems, obligate marine animals have been excluded
from the results presented in this report.
4.2
SURVEY TIMING
EPA Guidance Statement No. 56 states that the most important seasonal activity times for
many faunal groups are related to rainfall and temperature (EPA 2004). A survey in the
season that follows the season of maximum rainfall is generally the most productive and
important survey time. Therefore, and conventionally, fauna surveys are conducted biseasonally in spring and autumn.
The climate of the Murchison/Coolgardie region is generally described as semi-arid
(Beard 1990). Rainfall is approximately 250 mm per annum and mostly falls between
January and June (Section 2.1). While rainfall in the previous 12 months does not
conform to long-term averages, with some below-average recordings and other above
average recordings, above average rainfall was recorded in December 2010, January
2011, and an amount of rain well exceeding the average was recorded in February 2011
(~190 mm). Timing of the survey was, therefore, optimal being undertaken during the
autumn months following a recent maximum rainfall event.
The fauna survey was conducted over a ten-day period from 4 May to 14 May 2011.
4.3
The team assisting with the establishment of the trapping grids and conducting the
Autumn 2011 survey comprised Dr Vi Saffer, Erica MacIntyre and Hamish Burnett from
KLA. Merri Bartlett from KLA assisted with the first four days of the survey, Ryan Bowden
from Orbit Drilling assisted with the mechanical digging of the holes for the pit traps, Stuart
Miller and Brooke Willis from Macarthur assisted with the installation of the trapping
equipment (first two days of the survey) and Stuart McKinnon from Macarthur assisted
with the removal of traps (last two days of the survey).
A LICENCE TO TAKE FAUNA FOR SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES SF008006 was issued to
Dr Vi Saffer as an instrument under Regulation 17 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 to
undertake this survey (Appendix E). Authorised persons associated with the licence
included Erica MacIntyre, Merri Bartlett and Hamish Burnett.
Analysis of bat recordings was completed by Dr Kyle Armstrong and Yuki Konishi of
Specialised Zoological.
24
4.4
FAUNA SAMPLING
As per the recommendations of the EPA (2004) and EPA and DEC (2010), the
nomenclature and taxonomic order presented in this report are based on the Western
Australian Museums Checklist of the Vertebrates of Western Australia for herpetofauna
and mammals and Christidis and Boles (2008) for avifauna. The authorities used for
herprtofauna are Doughty and Maryan (2010) and for mammals How et al. (2010).
KLA acknowledges that the taxonomy of Western Australia vertebrates is continually
being revised and the taxonomy of some of the species listed in the document might have
changed since the publication of this report.
4.4.1 Reconnaissance survey
In accordance with EPA Position Statement No. 3 (EPA 2004), a reconnaissance survey
was conducted by Dr Vi Saffer following receipt of the results of the desktop study. Two
days were spent within the Snark Project area to delineate key fauna values, to determine
fauna habitat types and to determine trapping site locations.
One mammal species and 17 species of birds were identified during the reconnaissance
survey and are listed in Appendix D.
4.4.2 Systematic censuring
The extensive diversity of Australias terrestrial habitats is such that no single approach
accurately samples all species within a community (Garden et al. 2007). It is
acknowledged that surveys aimed at detecting multiple species must employ a suitable
combination of survey methods (see Garden et al. 2007).
In order to maximise the capture rate of diverse faunal species, systematic fauna
sampling was undertaken using four trapping techniques:
Pitfall traps (20 L buckets buried in the ground with the rims flush with the ground
surface),
Funnel traps,
Elliot-type aluminium box traps (8cm x 9 cm x 32 cm), and
Medium and large cage traps.
The systematic fauna sampling consisted of seven trapping grids (Sites 1 to 7) and an
additional four smaller sites (Sites 8 to 11) located across the Snark Project area (Figure
4). The additional smaller sites were located within areas of Banded Iron Formation (BIF)
where the use of conventional trapping grids was not achievable.
The design of the trapping grids was developed in consultation with Jan Henry of Ninox
Wildlife Consulting (Ninox). As Ninox had been commissioned to conduct fauna surveys
elsewhere in the Lake Giles Project area, the trapping design was developed that was
consistent with that to be used by Ninox so that comparisons can be made between sites.
Trapping grids conventionally comprised 16 pitfall traps, 12 funnel traps, 16 aluminium
box traps and four large cage traps (Figure 9). This pattern was achieved for six of the
seven trapping grid sites except Site 3 due to the presence of a drainage line and hard
ground that was resistant to digging for the pitfall traps. For Site 3, 15 pitfall traps, 10
funnel traps, 8 aluminium box traps and four large cage traps were used (Figure 10). A
6m x 30cm drift line fence was extended over all buckets at all sites to increase the
efficacy of the pitfall traps. In spite of the use of mechanical equipment, five locations at
Site 1 and three locations at Site 5 could not be excavated deep enough to accommodate
a 20 L bucket. In these instances, buckets were submerged as low as possible and the
tops were sawn off.
25
The four smaller sites (Sites 8 to 11) consisted of three pairs of traps at each site with two
pairs comprising an aluminium box trap and medium cage trap and the third pair
comprising an aluminium box trap and a large cage trap.
All traps in the trapping grids were open for eight consecutive nights, overlapping for
seven nights, and the BIF-located traps were all open for seven consecutive nights. The
overall trapping effort is shown in Table 5.
26
27
28
Site
Site 1:
Site 2:
Site 3:
Site 4:
Site 5:
Site 6:
Site 7:
Location
Trap type
Date opened
Date closed
Total
trapping
effort
2948'31.5"S
Pit
6-May
12-May
128
11954'50.8"E
Funnel
6-May
12-May
96
Aluminium box
6-May
12-May
128
Cage (large)
6-May
12-May
32
2948'48.7"S
Pit
6-May
12-May
128
11955'23.5"E
Funnel
6-May
12-May
96
Aluminium box
6-May
12-May
128
Cage (large)
6-May
12-May
32
2949'04.3"S
Pit
6-May
12-May
128
11956'17.7"E
Funnel
6-May
12-May
80
Aluminium box
6-May
12-May
96
Cage (large)
6-May
12-May
32
2950'20.3"S
Pit
6-May
12-May
128
11956'23.7"E
Funnel
6-May
12-May
96
Aluminium box
6-May
12-May
128
Cage (large)
6-May
12-May
32
2949'08.2"S
Pit
7-May
13-May
120
11957'39.0"E
Funnel
7-May
13-May
112
Aluminium box
7-May
13-May
128
Cage (large)
7-May
13-May
32
2949'16.1"S
Pit
7-May
13-May
128
11958'39.3"E
Funnel
7-May
13-May
96
Aluminium box
7-May
13-May
128
Cage (large)
7-May
13-May
32
2949'45.5"S
Pit
7-May
13-May
128
11959'49.0"E
Funnel
7-May
13-May
96
Aluminium box
7-May
13-May
128
Cage (large)
7-May
13-May
32
Sub-total
29
2648
Date opened
Date closed
Total
trapping
effort
Aluminium box
7-May
13-May
24
Cage (medium)
7-May
13-May
16
Cage (large)
7-May
13-May
2949'14.4"S
Aluminium box
7-May
13-May
24
11955'57.7"E
Cage (medium)
7-May
13-May
16
Cage (large)
7-May
13-May
2949'07.0"S
Aluminium box
7-May
13-May
24
11956'21.7"E
Cage (medium)
7-May
13-May
16
Cage (large)
7-May
13-May
2949'33.9"S
Aluminium box
7-May
13-May
24
11957'30.5"E
Cage (medium)
7-May
13-May
16
Cage (large)
7-May
13-May
Site
Location
Trap type
Site 8
2948'36.6"S
11955'09.2"E
Site 9
Site 10
Site 11
Sub-total
GRAND
TOTAL
192
2840
All traps were checked as soon after sunrise as possible each morning. Universal bait
was placed in all aluminium box traps and cage traps and renewed at least once during
the eight-day survey, and when required.
Opportunistic observations were carried out when inspecting traps on site, when travelling
between sites and when conducting bird surveys in the area. Hand-foraging for reptiles
was conducted opportunistically and during spot-lighting forays and included turning over
rocks and logs, peeling off bark, etc. Opportunistic observations were also made at
nearby granite outcrops, Johnson Rocks (~12 km west of Snark) and Hospital Rocks (~15
km east of Snark). Other than opportunistic observations of invertebrates and retrieval of
invertebrates in trapping equipment, no systematic searching and/or recording of
invertebrates was required or conducted.
4.4.3 Birds surveying
Surveying of birds was carried out using a combination of techniques including:
Four, 20 minute, 2 ha surveys at each of the seven trapping grid sites in
accordance with Atlas Search Methods for the Atlas of Australian Birds.
Censuses were commenced as soon after sunrise as practicable and
commencement was rotated through the sites to reduce time of day bias where
practicable (Table 6).
Two, 30 minute area surveys within 100 metres of each of the seven trapping grid
sites each evening before sunset (Table 6).
Opportunistic observations when inspecting traps on site, when travelling between
sites and in the area, and when conducting other surveys in the area.
30
Table 6 - Dates and times of systematic birds censuses commenced at each site
Autumn AM 2011*
Date:
7-May
8-May
9-May
10-May
11-May
12-May
13-May
Total
(mins)
Time commenced
Site
(hrs)*
730
650
815
950
650
910
650
850
80
825
730
925
80
725
915
815
915
840
80
655
740
80
805
655
80
655
810
735
915
80
730
850
655
825
80
560
Total
* Censuses continued for 20 minutes at each site.
Autumn PM 2011**
Date:
7-May
8-May
9-May
10-May
11-May
12-May
13-May
Time commenced
Site
Total
(mins)
(hrs)*
1630
1610
60
1655
1550
1630
1600
1540
1645
1610
60
60
4
5
1640
1555
1645
60
60
1655
60
1605
Total
** Censuses continued for 30 minutes within 100 m of each site.
60
420
31
Site
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Autumn2011
Unit1
Unit2
10May 8May
4May
6May
8May
9May
11May 4May
9May 11May
6May
7May
7May 10May
Date
Time
commenced
(hrs)
Duration
4-May
2000
1 hr 30 min
Number of
observers,
including
driver
4
6-May
2005
1 hr 45 min
7 hr
8-May
1950
1 hr 55 min
5 hr 45 min
10-May
2010
1 hr 35 min
4 hr 45 min
TOTAL
4.5
Total (hrs)
6 hr
23 hr 30 min
SURVEY LIMITATIONS
Not all areas of the Snark area were ground-truthed or sampled equally for fauna.
Vehicular access, road conditions and rocky terrain prevented sampling in the centre of all
associations, and regular checking of fauna traps in these areas would, therefore, not
have been possible. In addition, information in relation to vegetation communities was not
available at the time of trapping grid selection with the result that not all communities were
surveyed (Section 2.3.1). Notwithstanding this, seven trapping grids were located along
the length of the Snark Project area in addition to four sites that were located on the BIF
ridges.
As indicated above (Section 4.2.2), not all sites could accommodate the same trapping
grid pattern. Where buckets could not be installed, other grid patterns and trapping
techniques (funnels and medium-sized cages) were used so that the overall trapping effort
was not compromised.
32
5.0
5.1
Overall, 71 individuals from 18 non-volant terrestrial species were captured during the
systematic sampling, in addition to one bird species that was captured in a cage trap at
Site 1. Of the bird species, 419 individuals representing 15 Families were recorded during
the systematic sampling.
Figure 11 provides a visual representation of the number of fauna recorded from each
major vertebrate group and Table 9 provides a summary of the number of species
recorded for each of the seven trapping grid sites and four additional sites. A summary of
all species known and likely to be present in the survey areas is provided in Appendix D.
This includes a summary of all the results of the data searches, all species recorded
during regional surveys, all species recorded during the reconnaissance survey and all
species recorded during the systematic sampling, opportunistic sightings and evidence,
and spotlighting.
Annotated lists of amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds appear in Appendices F, G, H
and I respectively.
450
Numberofspecies
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
Amphibians
Reptiles
Native
Mammals
Nonnative
Mammals
Birds
FaunalGroup
33
Site 1
Site 2
Site 3
Site 4
Site 5
Site 6
Site 7
Site 8
Site 9
Site 10
Site 11
Reptiles
10
38
Native mammals
Non-native mammals
24
Birds
Caged
AM
34
47
38
44
66
41
39
309
PM
41
14
12
18
13
109
84
73
49
68
89
64
60
489
Total
34
Total
5.2
AMPHIBIANS
35
5.3
REPTILES
36
Table 10 - Reptiles species recorded (including method) during systematic fauna survey
Site 1
Site 2
Site 3
Site 4
Site 5
Site 6
Site 7
Site 8
Site 9
Site 10
Site 11
Ctenophorus scutulatus
Caimanops amphiboluroides
Pogona minor
Diplodactylus pulcher
Lucasium stenodactylum
Cryptoblepharus plagiocephalus
Ctenotus grandis
Ctenotus leonhardii
Ctenotus mimetes
Ctenotus schomburgkii
Menetia greyii
Pitfall
Aluminium box
Funnel
Cage
Total
10
Cumulative total
11
14
24
32
33
38
38
38
38
38
Family
Species
Agamidae
Ctenophorus reticulatus
Diplodactylidae
Scincidae
Common Name
Western Netted
Dragon
Trapping method
37
5.3.2 Discussion
A total of 38 individual reptiles were captured during the systematic survey. Given the
different trapping techniques and that the traps were open for a total of 2840 trap nights,
the trap rate of 1.3% was particularly low. Being ectotherms, reptiles are most active
during higher temperatures between September and April (EPA and DEC 2010).
However, it is recognised that this survey was particularly aimed at being an Autumn
survey and that more reptile species are likely to be more active during the warmer
months. Notwithstanding this, up to twelve species were captured with skink species (n =
6) outnumbering the agamids (n = 4), and only two species of diplodactilydids captured.
The numbers of reptile captures between sites did not differ dramatically. However, more
were captured at Site 4 than at all other sites. This site was located immediately south of
the main disturbance area which has and continues to be subject to drilling and
associated vehicular movement. The flora survey did not include this area (Mattiske
2011). However, the vegetation association at Site 4 was determined to be Acacia
shrubland and not significantly different generally to vegetation elsewhere in the Snark
Project area.
While the EPA and DEC (2010) Technical Guide suggests that pitfall trapping is not
particularly effective during cooler times of the year, all but two individual reptiles were
captured using this trapping technique. The remaining two reptiles were captured in
funnels traps. Not surprisingly, no reptiles were captured in aluminium box traps or cage
traps.
No reptile species of conservation are listed for the area using the EPBC Protected
Matters Search Tool or listed on the DEC Threatened and Priority Fauna Database. None
of the species captured or seen opportunistically were identified as species of
conservation significance.
Forty species of reptiles have been vouchered at the Western Australian Museum for this
area and include nine species of Agamidae, six of Diplodactylidae, one of
Carphodactylidae, three of Gekkonidae, two of Pygopodidae, sixteen of Scincidae, one of
Varanidae and two of Elapidae (Appendix D). Of these species, 32 were not captured or
sighted during the survey and, conversely, of the species captured, three have not been
vouchered with the Western Australian Museum for this area (Lucasium stenodactylum,
Ctenotus grandis and Ctenotus mimetes).
Overall, it is not surprising that more reptiles have been vouchered at the Western
Australian Museum for this area than have been collected over many years and in all
seasons, rather than the species captured during this eight day survey. Notwithstanding
this, species accumulation curves for reptiles captured during this limited-day survey
indicate that 75% of species were captured by the second night of trapping and 92% were
captured by the fourth night of trapping with only one more species captured on the
seventh night of trapping (Figure 12). These results suggest that a trapping period of
eight consecutive nights is sufficient and likely to record a reasonable representation of
the majority of the reptiles in the local area at the time. Seasonal trapping, conducted
over many years, would be required to determine the full complement of reptiles that
utilise this habitat.
The many variables associated with other studies in the area in relation to timing and
duration of surveys and to trapping techniques, make comparisons difficult. In addition,
as, for example, the Biological Surveys Committee study (Burbidge et al. 1995) was
conducted in 1979, taxonomic name changes make particular species difficult to trace.
Notwithstanding this, other surveys also conducted during the cooler months of autumn
have captured as few as 3 reptiles (Ninox 2009) and as many as 41 individuals (Biota
2011). Of the species captured during the present survey, only one species Lucasium
38
stenodactylum has not been recorded for this area on the Western Australian Museum
database or during all other regional surveys in the area (Burbidge et al. 1995, Biota 2011,
Chapman and Pronk 1997 or Ninox 2009). The distribution of this species extends
throughout South Australia and patchily through the Northern Territory and in the north of
Western Australia, with this occurrence at Snark towards the southern extent of its range
in this State.
14
Numberofspecies
12
10
8
6
4
2
1
Numberofdays
39
5.4
MAMMALS
40
Armstrong and Konishi (2011) highlight the difficulties in distinguishing the differences in
some calls. For example, calls of Gould's Wattled Bat Chalinolobus gouldii are similar to
those of the inland Freetail-bat Mormopterus sp. 3. Notwithstanding this, positive
identifications of both species were made from other high quality diagnostic call
sequences. The calls of the Long-eared bats Nyctophilus spp. are typically difficult to
identify to species, and those recorded may be attributed to the Lesser Long-eared Bat
Nyctophilus geoffroyi or the central Greater Long-eared Bat N. major tor which is listed
under Priority 4 of DECs Priority Fauna List.
Evidence of mammals seen opportunistically during the survey was limited to one
Pseudantechinus macdonnellensis which was seen in an area of BIF close to the current
camp. In addition, macropod droppings, Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus droppings,
diggings and warrens, and Dog Canis sp. droppings that contained unidentified grey fur
were recorded. All sightings are included in Appendix D.
.
41
Table 11 - Mammal species recorded (including method) during the systematic fauna survey
Family
Species
Common Name
Site 1
Site 2
Site 3
Site 4
Site 5
Site 6
Site 7
Site 8
Site 9
Site 10
Site 11
Dasyuridae
Pseudantechinus macdonnellensis
Notomys mitchellii
House Mouse
Spinifex Hopping
Mouse
Mitchell's Hopping
Mouse
Pseudomys hermannsburgensis
Pitfall
Aluminium box
Funnel
Cage
Total
Cumulative total
12
20
23
27
30
30
32
32
32
Sminthopsis dolichura
Muridae
Mus musculus*
Notomys alexis
Fat-tailed
Pseudantechinus
Little Long-tailed
Dunnart
Trapping method
* introduced species
Table 12 - Site by species matrix of bat identifications recorded during the systematic fauna survey
Family
Species
Common Name
Site 1
Anabat
Vespertilionidae
Site 2
Site 3
Site 4
Site 5
Site 6
Site 7
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 1
Unit 2
Chalinolobus gouldii
Chalinolobus morio
Nyctophilus sp.
Long-eared Bat
NC
NC
NC
NC
Vespadelus baverstocki
NC
NC
NC
NC
NC
NC
NC
NC
NC
NC
NC
NC
NC
NC
NC
Molossidae
Mormopterus sp. 3
Tadarida australis
White-striped Freetail-bat
42
5.4.2 Discussion
Four different trap types were open for a total of 2840 trap nights during the eight-day
survey. The capture of eight individual mammals during this period translates into a trap
rate of 0.28%, which suggests that at the time of the survey the area supported very low
numbers of mammals. However, as up to five species of native mammal were captured,
diversity of species present in relation to numbers of mammals caught was relatively high.
Given the low numbers of mammals captured, it is difficult to comment on any significance
of spatial differences. However, more mammals were captured to the west of the Snark
area than to the east. Interestingly, there appeared to be more disturbance in the western
part of the Project area during the time of the survey with more tracks and exploration
drilling sites than in the east. Based on the vegetation communities mapped by Mattiske
(2011), there does not appear to be any correlation between the distribution of mammals
captured and different vegetation groups across the length of the area surveyed.
For this and many fauna surveys, pitfall traps and aluminium box traps are the most
effective in capturing small mammals (EPA and DEC 2011). However, some species have
a penchant for particular traps. In this study, for example, all three Sminthopsis dolichura
were captured only in pitfall traps, and both species of hopping mouse and both
Pseudantechinus macdonnellensis were captured only in aluminium box traps. No
mammals were captured in funnel or cage traps.
In addition to the conventional trapping grid sites, four smaller sites were located within
areas of BIF. It is interesting to note that the two individual P. macdonnellensis were
captured in one of the BIF sites (Site 9) and a third P. macdonnellensis was seen
opportunistically in a BIF range. With reference to distributional maps, the Snark area
appears to be at the western extent of the range of this species (van Dyck and Strahan
2008). van Dyck and Strahan (2008) also report that P. macdonnellensis occurs in red
sandplains. While this species does not appear on any list of Threatened fauna for either
the State or Federally, it could be argued that the impact on this species may be greater
than on other local species that do not favour only BIF but occupy possibly BIF but also
other habitat types. However, as P. macdonnellensis does not appear on any Threatened
fauna list and that not all BIF in the area will be removed, the conservation status of this
species is not likely to be affected by the proposed mining activity in the Snark area.
Indeed, using the EPBC Protected Matters Search Tool and interrogating the DEC
Threatened and Priority Fauna Database, no mammal species of conservation are listed for
the area. None of the other species captured or seen opportunistically were identified as
species of conservation significance.
Only one species of non-native mammal was captured. Mus musculus populations are
known to fluctuate enormously according to climate and food availability. While they do
breed opportunistically, many are born from October to April (Menkhorst and Knight 2004).
This is consistent with the large number of M. musculus captured during the survey. While
the majority (75%) of M. musculus were captured in aluminium box traps, none were
captured in the aluminium box traps located within the BIF areas.
Unconfirmed, anecdotal reports suggest that cats, dogs and foxes occur in the vicinity of the
Snark area. While dog droppings were recorded in the area, no individuals or evidence of
any of the other feral species were seen during the survey. Notwithstanding this, the low
number of mammals in the area may be attributable to a degree of predation.
Given the low numbers of mammals captured, it is not surprising that a species
accumulation curve did not reach its asymptote during the eight day survey (Figure 13). Up
to 50% of species were captured after the first night and no more were captured until the
fifth night of trapping: one new species was captured on each of the following nights. While
it can be assumed that not many more species were present, many more trapping
43
programs spanning many more seasons would provide a more complete representation of
the mammal assemblage in the Snark area.
Numberofspecies
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
1
4
5
Numberofdays
Anabat detectors record the presence of bats, rather than the numbers present. Bats were
recorded at all seven sites, with two of the six species heard positively at all seven sites.
While some calls were positively identified, others require confirmation and some could be
one of two species. Notwithstanding this, it is reasonable to assume that the diversity of
bats present extends throughout the Snark area.
Eighteen species of mammals have been vouchered at the Western Australian Museum for
the area with ten being non-volant mammals and eight representing bats (Appendix D). Of
the non-volant mammals, only one dasyurid and three murid captured during this survey
have been vouchered at the Museum from the area, with Pseudantechinus
macdonnellensis and Notomys mitchellii not on the Museum list. For the bats, only
Chalinolobus gouldii, Vespadelus baverstocki and Tadarida australis have been vouchered
at the Museum.
As noted for the reptiles, comparisons with other studies are limited due to differences in
timing, trapping programs and taxonomic changes. Notwithstanding this, and reflected in
the Museum recordings, four of the six non-volant mammals have been captured elsewhere
during other regional surveys, but not P. macdonnellensis or N. mitchellii.
44
5.5
BIRDS
45
Psittacidae
Species
Common Name
Site 1
Site 2
Site 3
Site 4
Site 5
Site 6
Site 7
Am
2
Pm
Am
Pm
Am
Pm
Am
2
Pm
Am
7
Pm
1
Am
2
Pm
2
Am
2
Pm
Platycercus zonarius
Australian Ringneck
Platycercus varius
Mulga Parrot
Neophema elegans
Elegant Parrot
Cuculidae
Cuculus pallidus
Pallid Cuckoo
Climacteridae
Climacteris affinis
White-browed Treecreeper
Maluridae
Malurus splendens
Splendid Fairy-wren
15
10
Malurus lamberti
Variegated Fairy-wren
10
Pyrrholaemus brunneus
Redthroat
Smicrornis brevirostris
Weebill
11
10
Gerygone fusca
Western Gerygone
Acanthiza uropygialis
Chestnut-rumped Thornbill
Acanthiza apicalis
Inland Thornbill
Acanthiza spp.
Thornbills
20
Aphelocephala leucopsis
Southern Whiteface
Pardalotidae
Pardalotus striatus
Striated Pardalote
Meliphagidae
Lichenostomus virescens
Singing Honeyeater
Lichenostomus leucotis
White-eared Honeyeater
Acanthagenys rufogularis
Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater
Lichmera indistincta
Brown Honeyeater
Acanthizidae
Pomatostomidae
Pomatostomus superciliosus
White-browed Babbler
Campephagidae
Coracina novaehollandiae
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
Pachycephalidae
Pachycephala rufiventris
Rufous Whistler
46
Family
Species
Common Name
Site 1
Site 2
Site 3
Site 4
Site 5
Site 6
Site 7
Am
Pm
Am
1
Pm
Am
Pm
Am
2
Pm
Am
Pm
1
Am
1
Pm
Am
Pm
1
Colluricincla harmonica
Grey Shrike-thrush
Oreoica gutturalis
Crested Bellbird
Cracticus nigrogularis
Pied Butcherbird
Strepera versicolor
Grey Currawong
Dicruridae
Rhipidura fuliginosa
Grey Fantail
Corvidae
Corvus bennetti
Little Crow
Petroicidae
Petroica goodenovii
Red-capped Robin
Hooded Robin
Melanodryas cucullata
Cracticidae
Am Subtotal
34
47
38
44
66
41
39
Am Cumulative total
34
81
119
163
229
270
309
Pm Subtotal
41
14
12
18
13
Pm Cumulative total
41
55
60
66
78
96
109
Grand Total
75
47
136
179
229
307
366
418
All remaining species recorded during the afternoon surveys numbered five or less with only
one of four species recorded.
Given the flock of unidentified Thornbills, Site 1 recorded more birds than at all other sites
during the afternoon surveys. Excluding these Thornbills, Site 1 supported marginally more
birds (n = 21) than the other sites (18). The least number of birds was recorded at Site 3
(n = 5). More species were also recorded at Site 1 (n = 9), with the least number of species
(n = 2) recorded at Site 4. Interestingly, four species of birds were recorded at Site 3 where
the least number of birds was recorded.
Opportunistic recordings accounted for 29 bird species identified during the survey period
(Appendix D). Of these, six were not recorded during the systematic bird surveys (Table
14). In addition, evidence of Malleefowl was also seen opportunistically. Conversely,
seven bird species recorded during the systematic surveys were not seen opportunistically
(Table 14). The Chestnut Quail-thrush, while not recorded during the timed bird surveys,
was captured in one of the cage traps during the terrestrial trapping component of the
survey, and was recorded opportunistically.
Table 14 Comparative bird recordings between opportunistic sightings
and systematic sampling
Birdsspeciesrecordedopportunisticallybutnotduringsystematicsampling
Family
Scientific Name
Common Name
Climacteridae
Climacteris rufa
Rufous Treecreeper
Acanthizidae
Acanthiza chrysorrhoa
Yellow-rumped Thornbill
Neosittidae
Daphoenositta chrysoptera
Varied Sittella
Campephagidae
Lalage sueurii
White-winged Triller
Pachycephalidae
Pachycephala inornata
Gilbert's Whistler
Estrildidae
Taeniopygia guttata
Zebra Finch
Scientific Name
Common Name
Psittacidae
Neophema elegans
Elegant Parrot
Cuculidae
Cuculus pallidus
Pallid Cuckoo
Climacteridae
Climacteris affinis
White-browed Treecreeper
Acanthizidae
Aphelocephala leucopsis
Southern Whiteface
Meliphagidae
Lichenostomus virescens
Singing Honeyeater
Lichmera indistincta
Brown Honeyeater
Petroica multicolor
Scarlet Robin
Petroicidae
The most ubiquitous species recorded opportunistically was the Splendid Fairy Wren
Malurus splendens. Similar to systematic sampling results, far fewer non-passerines (two
Families) were recorded than passerine Families (n = 27) (Appendix D).
Of the birds considered of conservation significance listed for the area, evidence of the
Malleefowl Leipoa ocellata was found and the Crested Bellbird Oreoica gutteralis was
recorded at every site and opportunistically. The Crested Bellbird is listed as a Priority Four
species on the DEC Threatened and Priority Fauna Database.
Malleefowls are listed as a Threatened species under the EPBC Act 1999 and DEC
Threatened and Priority fauna Database. Unconfirmed sightings of Malleefowls have been
reported in the area (Cathy Galli pers comm.). During the survey period, five inactive, old
Malleefowl mounds were identified within the Snark Project area (Figure 4) and a further
48
mound (No. 6) was identified outside of the Snark Project area but within the Lake Giles
Project area (Plates 9 to 14). Table 15 provides the coordinates of all six Malleefowl
mounds.
50 J 784209 6698733
No. 2
50 J 784217 6695488
No. 3
50 J 783705 6695638
No. 4
50 J 787597 6697703
No. 5
50 J 787478 6697090
No. 6
51 J 211805 6676802
49
50
Interrogation of the Birds Australia Atlas database listed 43 species for the area (Appendix
D). Of those birds recorded collectively during the survey, 20 species were listed as having
been seen/heard in the area with an additional species seen opportunistically. Nine species
were seen during systematic surveys that were not on the Birds Australia list for the area
and a further six species not on the list were seen opportunistically (Appendix D).
5.5.2 Discussion
Season and rainfall were taken into account when planning the optimal time for conducting
this survey. Above average rainfall was recorded for December 2010 and January 2011
with an excessive amount recorded for February 2011. Conventionally, surveys are
undertaken in autumn and spring. Given the recent rainfall, this survey was planned in the
autumn months to take advantage of the average and rainfalls well above average of the
previous months. While the flowering of any particular floral species was not specifically
considered, the overall vegetative response to the rainfall was certainly evident within the
Snark area.
The bird censuses yielded a total of 419 individuals of 30 species from 15 Families. The
majority of birds were passerines (>90%) and this trend was consistent for both the morning
observations, at each site and observations undertaken before sunset. Within the
passerines, collectively, 35% were represented by Acanthizids with the Weebill accounting
for 56% of this group, followed by the two species of Fairy-wren that accounted for 26.6% of
all birds recorded. Acanthizids are primarily insectivores and food resources particularly
following the vegetative response to the recent, above average rainfall were evidently
sufficient to support numbers of these species.
The distribution of birds throughout the Snark area was not remarkably different between
sites but did appear somewhat patchy with numbers recorded as low as 34 (Site 1) and up
to 66 (Site 5) for the morning surveys. Excluding a flock of unidentified Thornbills, the
evening results showed a similar patchy distribution across the Snark Project area with the
lowest number recorded being 5 at Site 3 and the highest number of 21 at Site 1. These
results suggest that there is no significant correlation between distribution of birds across
the length of the area surveyed and the vegetation communities as identified by Mattiske
(2011). The results of the morning and evening surveys did indicate that late afternoon was
not an effective time for sampling bird populations and sampling as soon after sunrise as
possible produced the best results.
Of the species of conservation significance, evidence of Malleefowl was recorded, and the
characteristic call of the Crested Bellbird was heard throughout the survey area. No other
51
species of conservation significance or evidence of their presence was recorded during the
survey. These species and other species of conservation significance listed to potentially
occur in the area will be discussed in Section 6.1.
A species accumulation curve for birds recorded during the Autumn 2011 Survey (Figure
14) indicates that 66% of species were recorded after the first day of observations and up to
90% recorded on the second day. The third and fourth mornings had one and two
additional species respectively that were recorded. As mentioned previously, no species
were recorded during the afternoon sessions that had not been recorded during the
morning surveys and that sampling at this time did not provide any additional results.
Based on these results and the time of year, it is likely that a reasonable representation of
the majority of the birds were sighted that were in the survey area over the time period
surveyed. It is likely that different species may be present at different times of the year,
including migratory species. The undertaking of an additional comprehensive survey during
the spring months will provide further baseline information that will satisfy EPA
requirements.
Only one bird species Gerygone fusca Western Gerygone has been vouchered at the
Western Australian Museum for the area and this species was recorded during the
systematic sampling and was recorded opportunistically (Appendix D).
Sixteen bird species were recorded during the reconnaissance survey conducted by KLA in
May 2011 and all these species were seen and heard during the surveys.
As noted elsewhere, a comparison with other surveys is limited given the seasonal,
temporal and habitat differences. Notwithstanding this and excluding species associated
with water bodies, other regional surveys have listed a total of 58 additional species
collectively that were not recorded during this autumn survey (Appendix D). Interestingly,
only one species (Polytelis anthopeplus Elegant Parrot) was recorded during the survey
that has not been recorded during previous regional surveys, but does appear on the Birds
Australia list for the area.
Numberofspecies
29
27
25
23
21
19
17
1
Numberofdays
Figure 14- Species accumulation curve for birds recorded during the
Autumn 2011 fauna surveys
52
5.6
SPOTLIGHTING
6.0
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
6.1
Fauna of Conservation Significance
Native fauna species that are rare, threatened with extinction, or have high conservation
value are protected by law under the Federal EPBC Act 1999, in addition to the Western
Australia WCA 1950.
The EPBC Act 1999 lists two terrestrial bird species and four migratory bird species of
national importance likely to occur within the area of the proposed mining activity, and the
DEC Threatened and Priority Fauna Database lists three threatened bird species (Table
16). A short description of each of the species follows, with the potential impact on their
conservation status:
Distribution: The Malleefowl was once broadly distributed across the southern half of the
Australian continent, but has undergone significant range reduction and now occupy
semi-arid regions of southern Australia where mallee eucalypts form the dominant
vegetation (Birds Australia 2011).
Ecology: The Malleefowl is a large, ground-dwelling bird that roosts in trees but rarely
flies. The species is omnivorous and typically has a large home range in woodlands or
shrublands that have a deep layer of leaf litter which is used in building nesting mounds.
Mounds are up to one metre in height and 3m to 5 m in diameter. Breeding occurs from
September to April and chicks emerge independently, approximately seven weeks after
hatching.
Clearing of habitat, fox predation and the degradation of habitat by fire and overgrazing
by feral livestock has reduced Malleefowl numbers considerably.
53
Table 16 - Conservation significant terrestrial fauna potentially occurring in the study area
SPECIES
CONSERVATION
SIGNIFICANCE
COMMON NAME
PREVIOUS RECORD
EPBC
WCA
DEC
Vulnerable/
Migratory
S1
2007 Ularring
S4
AVIFAUNA
Leipoa ocellata
Malleefowl
Apus pacificus
Fork-tailed Swift
Migratory
Great Egret
Migratory
Ardea ibis
Cattle Egret
Migratory
Falco peregrinus
Peregrine Falcon
Merops ornatus
Rainbow Bee-eater
Slender-billed Thornbill
Crested Bellbird
Migratory
Vulnerable
P4
54
1980 Mt Manning
Likelihood of occurrence: The most recent record of Malleefowl on the DEC Threatened
and Priority Fauna Database lists a day sighting on the side of the road at Ularring in
2007. Ularring is approximately 50 km southeast of Snark. More recent (2010)
unconfirmed sightings of Malleefowl have been reported in the area (Cathy Galli pers
comm.) Five old and inactive mounds were recorded within the Snark project area and
a further old, abandoned mound was identified south of the project area (Section 5.5).
The possible presence of this species is addressed in the recommendations.
Potential Impacts: The potential impacts of the proposed mining activity on this species
will be more accurately determined following actions taken as suggested in the
recommendations. However, if Malleefowl were to be present in the area, it is unlikely
that the overall conservation status of this species will be altered by the proposed
mining activity.
Likelihood of occurrence: Given the preferred habitat of this species, it is not likely to
occur within the survey area.
Potential Impacts: The conservation status of this species is not likely to be altered by
the proposed mining activity in the survey area.
56
Distribution: Greater part of the State but not the wetter regions (north and west
Kimberley, Darling Range and deep South-West).
Ecology: This sedentary and solitary species inhabits the drier mallee woodlands and
heaths of the southern parts of Western Australia. It forages mainly on the ground,
primarily for insects, and breeds from March through to December across the State.
Likelihood of occurrence: The Crested Bellbird was seen and heard during the Level 2
survey at all survey sites.
Potential Impacts: The Crested Bellbird (southern) is listed as a Priority 4 species on
the DEC Threatened and Priority Fauna database for the Goldfields, Midwest,
Wheatbelt and South Coast. While the Snark areas falls within the Goldfields region,
the conservation classification refers principally to areas where the preferred habitat of
the Crested Bellbird has been disturbed, particularly by clearing of native vegetation
and resultant fragmentation.
The area proposed to be impacted is relatively
undisturbed and large tracts of undisturbed native vegetation are present and will
remain intact adjacent to the mining operations. The large home range and mobility of
the Crested Bellbird strongly suggests that its conservation classification will not be
compromised by the proposed mining activities at Snark.
The Protected Matters Search Tool for the EPBC Act 1999 also lists the Goat Capra hircus,
Cat Felis catus, Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus and Fox Vulpes vulpes as invasive species
for the area. While unconfirmed anecdotal reports suggest that cats, dogs and foxes have
been seen in the area, none were seen and no evidence of their presence was identified
during the survey. Notwithstanding this, a program to control feral animals may be
considered by Macarthur, particularly when mining activities are underway and at least the
Cat and Fox may be attracted to the (camp) area by human activity and waste.
6.2
Potential Impacts
The EPA objective for terrestrial fauna is to maintain the abundance, species diversity and
geographical distribution of terrestrial fauna and protect specially protected (Threatened)
fauna consistent with the provision of the WCA 1950.
As part of the development of mining operations for the Snark Project, the clearing and
removal of approximately 140 ha of native vegetation is anticipated. It is inevitable that
there will be some localised loss of fauna due to direct mortality arising from clearing of the
vegetation and construction activities for the mining operations. However, for those
vertebrate taxa that cannot move away from any disturbances, and in relation to potential
impacts implied in Section 6.1, it is unlikely that the loss of individuals associated with the
direct mortalities and compromise of proximal habitat values would be sufficient to affect the
overall conservation status of any of the species recorded from the survey area.
Similarly, the ongoing impacts from mining activities including vehicular movements, noise
and associated dust generation and machinery noise are not likely to alter the conservation
status of any species that may persist in adjacent areas. Any invasion and dispersal of
weed species may cause deterioration of the condition of the remaining vegetation and the
invasion and/or spread of non-native mammals pose a threat to indigenous species in terms
of predation and resource limitation.
58
6.3
Development of mining operations and associated infrastructure will result in the loss of
native vegetation, removal of faunal habitat, fragmentation of currently contiguous habitat
and loss of areas for dispersal of native fauna.
The overall condition of the vegetation within the survey area can generally be described as
Excellent with most disturbances within the area related directly to recent exploration
activity and associated tracks.
None of the vegetation groups identified have been recognised as TECs as defined in the
EPBC Act 1999, nor are any recognised as TECs endorsed by the Western Australian
Minister of Environment. Only one PEC, the Lake Giles vegetation complexes (banded
ironstone formations) located within the Lake Giles Project Area is listed on the DEC
database. A second PEC, the Banded Ironstone Hills with Banksia arborea Priority 1 PEC
also has the potential to occur in or around the survey area. However, the locations (and
implications) of these PECs cannot be confirmed as there is limited information on these
communities available from the DEC (Mattiske 2011). No DRF were identified in the survey
area and only two Priority 4 species were recorded. The vegetation communities are
generally described as shrubland and woodland and are extensive locally. Cowan (2001)
reports that most species within at least the East Murchison bioregion are wide ranging and
usually occur in at least one, and often several, adjoining subregions. Thus, there appear
to be no unique, restricted or fauna-specific habitat types within the Snark or local area.
Thus, while the removal of up to 140 ha of this native vegetation in overall Excellent
condition will impact on indigenous fauna, the vegetation cannot be considered to be
significant habitat in a regional context.
Additionally, as discussed elsewhere in this report, fauna of conservation significance that
may use this habitat are unlikely to be compromised by the removal of the vegetation for the
proposed mining activities.
It is also recognised that within a regional context, the Mount Manning Nature Reserve
(~198,000 ha) and, for example, the Helena-Aurora Conservation Park (~92,000 ha) (Figure
2) are managed by DEC and, as such, provide similar habitat for local fauna in secure
tenure.
59
6.4
Recommendations
The following general recommendations apply in the case of any major disturbance to large
areas of native vegetation, as a consequence of the proposed development for the Snark
Project:
Any clearing be minimised in extent given that the abundance and diversity of
species lost will be proportional to the amount of habitat cleared;
Where possible, all infrastructure associated with the development of the mining
operation be aligned preferentially to areas of existing disturbance;
Where possible, access routes be aligned to existing tracks and other barriers or
follow the boundaries of broad-scale intact native vegetation;
A rehabilitation plan is developed that progressively rehabilitates areas as soon as
they are no longer required;
All members of the work force on site attend an environmental induction to ensure
they are familiar with the value of native vegetation to fauna indigenous to Western
Australia. This should include awareness of driving restrictions, ensuring that offroad driving is minimised, fire prevention is actively practised, and appropriate
responses are followed in the event of an accident involving fauna: and
A comprehensive Level 2 fauna survey be conducted in spring to satisfy EPA
requirements.
In addition, specific recommendations are made in relation to the Malleefowl:
A targeted Malleefowl survey should be undertaken by a suitably qualified team to
determine the actual number and status of mounds within the Snark Project area
including a 100m buffer area.
Following this survey and given the evidence of Malleefowl within the zone of
impact, a referral should be submitted to the Federal Department of Sustainability,
Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPAC) for approval in
accordance with the EPBC Act 1999.
Pending the results of the targeted Malleefowl survey and outcome of the
DSEWPAC referral, a Malleefowl Management Plan be developed and
implemented.
60
7.0
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EPA (2007). Advice on areas of the highest conservation value in the proposed extensions
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Environmental Protection Authority and Department of Environment and Conservation
(2010) Technical Guide - Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna Surveys for Environmental
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Garden, J.G., McAlpine, C.A. and Possingham, H.P. (2007). Using multiple survey
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cost-efficient combinations? Wildlife Research 34: 218-227.
How, R.A., Cooper, N.K. and Bannister, J.L. (2008). Checklist of the Mammals of Western
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Keighery, B.J. (1994). Bushland Plant Survey; A guide to plant community survey for the
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Mattiske (2011). Flora and Vegetation Mapping of the Snark Deposit and New Campsite,
Lake Giles Survey Area. Unpublished Report, July 2011. Mattiske Consulting Pty, Ltd,
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McKilligan, N. (2005). Herons, Egrets and Bitterns. Their Biology and Conservation in
Australia. CSIRO Publishing, Victoria.
Menkhorst, P. and Knight, F. (2004). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia.Oxford
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Ninox (2009). A Fauna Survey of the Carina Prospect Yilgarn Iron Ore Project.
Unpublished report for Polaris Metals, July 2009. Ninox Wildlife Consulting, Perth.
Outback Ecology (2010). Lake Giles Terrestrial Fauna (including Short Range Endemics)
Desktop Study. Unpublished report for Macarthur Minerals Limited, November 2010.
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Tyler, M.J. and Doughty, P. (2009). Field Guide to Frogs of Western Australia. Western
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62
APPENDIX A
Vegetation Communities identified during Flora Survey
(Mattiske 2011)
63
64
65
APPENDIX B
Keighery, B.J. (1994) Vegetation Condition Scales
66
67
APPENDIX C
Categories used in the assessment of conservation status
68
IUCN categories (based on review by Mace and Stuart 1994) as used for the
Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999 and the
WA Wildlife Conservation Act 1950.
Extinct. Taxa not definitely located in the wild during the past 50 years.
Extinct in the Wild. Taxa known to survive only in captivity.
Critically Endangered. Taxa facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild in the
immediate future.
Endangered. Taxa facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.
Vulnerable. Taxa facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future.
Near Threatened. Taxa that risk becoming Vulnerable in the wild.
Conservation Dependent.
Endangered, but whose true status cannot be determined without more information.
Least Concern. Taxa that are not Threatened.
adequately surveyed, or for which sufficient knowledge is available, and which are
considered not currently threatened or in need of special protection, but could be if present
circumstances change.
Priority 5. Taxa in need of monitoring. Taxa which are not considered threatened but are
subject to a specific conservation program, the cessation of which would result in the
species becoming threatened within five years (IUCN Conservation Dependent).
69
JAMBA The agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of
Japan for the Protection of Migratory Birds in Danger of Extinction and their Environment.
Australian Treaty Series 1981 No 6.
CAMBA The agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the
People's Republic of China for the Protection of Migratory Birds and their Environment.
Australian Treaty Series 1988 No 22.
ROKAMBA The agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of
the Republic of Korea on the Protection of Migratory Birds and their Environment.
Australian Treaty Series 2007 ATS 24.
70
APPENDIX D
Species likely to occur in the area and species identified in the area
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AMPHIBIANS
LIMNODYNASTIDAE
Heleioporus albopunctatus
Neobatrachus sp.
Neobatrachus kunapalari
Kunapalari Frog
Neobatrachus sutor
Shoemaker Frog
Neobatrachus wilsmorei
Plonking Frog
MYOBATRACHIDAE
Pseudophryne occidentalis
Western Toadlet
REPTILES
AGAMIDAE
Caimanops amphiboluroides
Ctenophorus cristatus
Bicycle Dragon
Ctenophorus fordi
Ctenophorus isolepis
Crested Dragon
Ctenophorus ornatus
Ctenophorus reticulatus
Ctenophorus salinarum
Pogona minor
Pebble Dragon
Clawless Gecko
Diplodactylus granariensis
Diplodactylus pulcher
Lucasium maini
Lucasium stenodactylum
Oedura reticulata
Ctenophorus scutulatus
Moloch horridus
Tympanocryptis cephalus
Thorny Devil
DIPLODACTYLIDAE
Crenadactylus ocellatus subsp. ocellatus
Rhynchoedura ornata
Beaked Gecko
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Strophurus elderi
Strophurus intermedius
Gehyra purpurascens
Gehyra variegata
Delma australis
Delma butleri
Cryptoblepharus buchananii
Cryptoblepharus plagiocephalus
Ctenotus atlas
Ctenotus grandis
Ctenotus leonhardii
Ctenotus mimetes
Ctenotus schomburgkii
Ctenotus uber
Ctenotus xenopleura
Cyclodomorphus branchialis
Strophurus assimilis
CARPHODACTYLIDAE
Nephrurus milii
Barking Gecko
Nephrurus vertebralis
GEKKONIDAE
Heteronotia binoei
Bynoe's Gecko
PYGOPODIDAE
Lialis burtonis
Pygopus lepidopodus
Pygopus nigriceps
SCINCIDAE
Pygmy Spiny-tailed
Skink
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Hemiergis millewae
Lerista kingi
Lerista macropisthopus
Lerista muelleri
Lerista timida
Liopholis inornata
Menetia greyii
Morethia butleri
Morethia obscura
Ramphotyphlops australis
Ramphotyphlops bicolor
Ramphotyphlops bituberculatus
Ramphotyphlops hamatus
Eremiascincus richardsonii
VARANIDAE
Varanus caudolineatus
Varanus giganteus
Varanus gouldii
Perentie
Bungarra or Sand
Monitor
Racehorse Monitor
TYPHLOPIDAE
BOIDAE
Antaresia stimsoni
Stimson's Python
ELAPIDAE
Brachyurophis semifasciatus
Demansia psammophis
Neelaps bimaculatus
Yellow-faced
Whipsnake
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Parasuta gouldii
Parsuta monachus
Paroplocephalus atriceps
Pseudonaja modesta
Pseudonaja nuchalis
Simoselaps bertholdi
Suta fasciata
Rosen's Snake
Echidna
Dasyurus geoffroii
Western Quoll,
Chuditch
Ningaui ridei
Wongai Ningaui
Ningaui yvonneae
Southern Ningaui
Fat-tailed
Pseudantechinus
Sminthopsis dolichura
Fat-tailed Dunnart
Little long-tailed
Dunnart
Sminthopsis hirtipes
Hairy-footed Dunnart
Sminthopsis longicaudata
Long-tailed Dunnart
Sminthopsis macroura
Stripe-faced Dunnart
Macropus fuliginosus
Western Grey
Kangaroo
Euro
Macropus rufus
Red Kangaroo
MAMMALS
TACHYGLOSSIDAE
Tachyglossus aculeatus
DASYURIDAE
Pseudantechinus macdonnellensis
Sminthopsis crassicaudata
MACROPODIDAE
PHALANGERIDAE
Trichosurus vulpecula
BURRAMYIDAE
Cercartetus concinnus
Western Pygmypossum
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VESPERTILIONIDAE
Chalinolobus gouldii
Chalinolobus morio
Nyctophilus geoffroyi
Vespadelus regulus
Southern Freetail-bat
Scotorepens balstoni
MOLOSSIDAE
Mormopterus planiceps
Mormopterus sp. 3
Mormopterus sp. 4
White-striped
Freetailed-bat
Leporillus apicalis
Mus musculus*
Notomys mitchellii
House Mouse
Spinifex Hoppingmouse
Mitchell's Hoppingmouse
Pseudomys albocinereus
Ash-grey Mouse
Pseudomys bolami
Bolam's Mouse
Pseudomys hermannsburgensis
Rabbit
Dingo
Dog
Vulpes vulpes*
Red Fox
Tadarida australis
MURIDAE
Notomys alexis
LEPORIDAE
Oryctolagus cuniculus*
CANIDAE
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FELIDAE
Cat
Bos taurus*
European Cattle
Capra hircus*
Goat
Ovis aries
Sheep
One-humped Camel
Emu
Malleefowl
Cygnus atratus
Black Swan
Tadorna tadornoides
Australian Shelduck
Chenonetta jubata
Malacorhynchus membranaceus
Pink-eared Duck
Anas gracilis
Grey Teal
Anas superciliosa
Aythya australis
Hardhead
Hoary-headed Grebe
Phaps chalcoptera
Common Bronzewing
Ocyphaps lophotes
Crested Pigeon
Tawny Frogmouth
Felis catus*
BOVIDAE
CAMELIDAE
Camelus dromedarius*
AVIFAUNA
CASUARIIDAE
Dromaius novaehollandiae
MEGAPODIIDAE
Leipoa ocellata
ANATIDAE
PODICIPEDIDAE
Poliocephalus poliocephalus
COLUMBIDAE
PODARGIDAE
Podargus strigoides
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EUROSTOPODIDAE
Spotted Nightjar
Australian Owletnightjar
Fork-tailed Swift
Ardea pacifica
White-necked Heron
Ardea modesta
Ardea ibis
Cattle Egret
Egretta novaehollandiae
White-faced Heron
Hamirostra melanosternon
Square-tailed Kite
Black-breasted
Buzzard
Haliastur sphenurus
Whistling Kite
Accipiter fasciatus
Brown Goshawk
Accipiter cirrocephalus
Collared Sparrowhawk
Aquila morphnoides
Little Eagle
Aquila audax
Wedge-tailed Eagle
Circus assimilis
Spotted Harrier
Falco cenchroides
Australian Kestrel
Falco berigora
Brown Falcon
Falco longipennis
Australian Hobby
Falco peregrinus
Peregrine Falcon
Eurasian Coot
Eurostopodus argus
AEGOTHELIDAE
Aegotheles cristatus
APODIDAE
Apus pacificus
ARDEIDAE
ACCIPITRIDAE
Lophoictinia isura
FALCONIDAE
RALLIDAE
Fulica atra
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OTIDIDAE
Australian Bustard
Himantopus himantopus
Black-winged Stilt
Recurvirostra novaehollandiae
Red-necked Avocet
Cladorhynchus leucocephalus
Banded Stilt
Charadrius ruficapillus
Red-capped Plover
Elseyornis melanops
Black-fronted Dotterel
Thinornis rubricollis
Hooded Plover
Erythrogonys cinctus
Red-kneed Dotterel
Vanellus tricolor
Banded Lapwing
Little Button-quail
Silver Gull
Ardeotis australis
RECURVIROSTRIDAE
CHARADRIIDAE
TURNICIDAE
Turnix velox
LARIDAE
Larus novaehollandiae
CACATUIDAE
Lophochroa leadbeateri
Red-tailed Black
Cockatoo
Major Mitchell's
Cockatoo
Eolophus roseicapillus
Galah
Nymphicus hollandicus
Cockatiel
Glossopsitta porphyrocephala
Purple-crowned
Lorikeet
Polytelis anthopeplus
Regent Parrot
Platycercus icterotis
Western Rosella
Barnardius zonarius
Australian Ringneck
Psephotus varius
Mulga Parrot
Melopsittacus undulatus
Budgerigar
Neopsephotus bourkii
Bourke's Parrot
Calyptorhynchus banksii
PSITTACIFORMES
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Polytelis anthopeplus
Elegant Parrot
Neophema splendida
Scarlet-chested Parrot
Chalcites basalis
Horsfield's Bronze
Cuckoo
Chalcites osculans
Black-eared Cuckoo
Cacomantis pallidus
Pallid Cuckoo
Red-backed Kingfisher
Rainbow Bee-eater
Climacteris affinis
White-browed
Treecreeper
rufa affinis
Rufous Treecreeper
Western Bowerbird
Malurus leucopterus
Splendid Fairy-wren
White-winged Fairywren
Malurus lamberti
Variegated Fairy-wren
Hylacola cauta
Shy Heathwren
Calamanthus campestris
Rufous Fieldwren
Pyrrholaemus brunneus
Redthroat
Smicrornis brevirostris
Weebill
Gerygone fusca
Western Gerygone
CULCULIDAE
STRIGIDAE
Ninox novaeseelandiae
HALCYONIDAE
Todiramphus pyrrhopygius
MEROPIDAE
Merops ornatus
CLIMACTERIDAE
PTILONORHYNCHIDAE
Ptilonorhynchus guttatus
MALURIDAE
Malurus splendens
ACANTHIZIDAE
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Acanthiza uropygialis
Slaty-backed Thornbill
Yellow-rumped
Thornbill
Chestnut-rumped
Thornbill
Acanthiza iredalei
Slender-billed Thornbill
Acanthiza apicalis
Inland Thornbill
Aphelocephala leucopsis
Southern Whiteface
Pardalotus punctatus
Spotted Pardalote
Pardalotus striatus
Striated Pardalote
Certhionyx variegatus
Pied Honeyeater
Lichenostomus virescens
Singing Honeyeater
White-eared
Honeyeater
Yellow-plumed
Honeyeater
Grey-fronted
Honeyeater
White-fronted
Honeyeater
Acanthagenys rufogularis
Yellow-throated Miner
Spiny-cheeked
Honeyeater
Anthochaera carunculata
Red Wattlebird
Epthianura tricolor
Crimson Chat
Epthianura albifrons
White-fronted Chat
Sugomel niger
Black Honeyeater
Lichmera indistincta
Brown Honeyeater
Brown-headed
Honeyeater
White-browed Babbler
Chestnut Quail-thrush
Chestnut-breasted
Quail-thrush
Acanthiza robustirostris
Acanthiza chrysorrhoa
PARDALOTIDAE
MELIPHAGIDAE
Lichenostomus leucotis
Lichenostomus ornatus
Lichenostomus plumulus
Purnella albifrons
Manorina flavigula
Melithreptus brevirostris
POMATOSTOMIDAE
Pomatostomus superciliosus
PSOPHODIDAE
Cinclosoma castanotus
Cinclosoma castaneothorax
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NEOSITTIDAE
Varied Sittella
Coracina novaehollandiae
Ground Cuckoo-shrike
Black-faced Cuckooshrike
Lalage sueurii
White-winged Triller
Pachycephala inornata
Gilbert's Whistler
Pachycephala rufiventris
Rufous Whistler
Colluricincla harmonica
Grey Shrike-thrush
Oreoica gutturalis
Crested Bellbird
Artamus cinereus
Masked Woodswallow
Black-faced
Woodswallow
Artamus cyanopterus
Dusky Woodswallow
Artamus minor
Little Woodswallow
Cracticus torquatus
Grey Butcherbird
Cracticus nigrogularis
Pied Butcherbird
Cracticus tibicen
Australian Magpie
Strepera versicolor
Grey Currawong
Rhipidura albiscapa
Grey Fantail
Rhipidura leucophrys
Willie Wagtail
Corvus coronoides
Australian Raven
Corvus bennetti
Little Crow
Corvus orru
Torresian Crow
Magpie-lark
Daphoenositta chrysoptera
CAMPEPHAGIDAE
Coracina maxima
PACHYCEPHALIDAE
ARTAMIDAE
Artamus personatus
RHIPIDURIDAE
CORVIDAE
MONARCHIDAE
Grallina cyanoleuca
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PETROICIDAE
Microeca fascinans
Jacky Winter
Petroica boodang
Scarlet Robin
Petroica goodenovii
Red-capped Robin
Melanodryas cucullata
Hooded Robin
Eopsaltria griseogularis
Hirundo neoxena
Welcome Swallow
Petrochelidon ariel
Fairy Martin
Petrochelidon nigricans
Tree Martin
Cincloramphus mathewsi
Rufous Songlark
Cincloramphus cruralis
Brown Songlark
Mistletoebird
Zebra Finch
Australian Pipit
HIRUNDINIDAE
MEGALURIDAE
NECTARINIIDAE
Dicaeum hirundinaceum
ESTRILDIDAE
Taeniopygia guttata
MOTACILLIDAE
Anthus novaseelandiae
83
APPENDIX E
Department of Environment and Conservation Regulation 17 Permit
84
85
86
87
APPENDIX F
Annotated List Amphibians
88
MYOBATRACHIDAE
Pseudophyrne occidentalis Western Toadlet
The characteristic call of this species was heard during a vist to Hospital Rocks,
approximately 10 km from the survey area. Up to five males were heard calling from
beneath moss beds adjacent to standing water within the granite outcrops at two
separate locations. Multiple egg burrows were sighted within the two locations.
89
APPENDIX G
Annotated List Reptiles
90
AGAMIDAE
Ctenophorus reticulatus Western Netted Dragon
While C. reticulates was the most ubiquitous of reptiles captured, as few as one and no
more than three of this species were captured at Sites I to 6 with no individuals captured
at the remaining sites (Sites 7 11). At least two were also sighted opportunistically.
Ten of the eleven C. reticulatus were captured in pitfall traps with the remaining
individual captured in a funnel trap.
Ctenophorus scutulatus
All five C. scutulatus were captured in pitfall traps with two captured at Site 2, two at Site
7 and one at Site 5. C. scutulatus were also recorded opportunistically.
Caimanops amphiboluroides
One C. amphiboluroides was captured at Site 2 and one at Site 5 with four captured at
Site 4.
All were captured in pitfall traps.
This species was also recorded
opportunistically,
Pogona minor
One P. minor was captured at Site 2 and one at Site 5. Both were captured in pitfall
traps.
DIPLODACTYLIDAE
Diplodactylus pulcher
Three individual D. pulcher were captured with one at Site 1, one at Site 4 and one at
Site 5. All three were captured in pitfall traps
Lucasium stenodactylum
Only one L. stenodactylum was captured at Site 2 and in a pitfall trap. This species is
also known as the Sand-plain Gecko.
SCINCIDAE
Cryptoblepharus plagiocephalus
This arboreal skink is also known as Perons snake-eyed skink. Two individuals were
captured in pitfall traps at Site 3.
Ctenotus grandis
Within the genus Ctenotus, C. grandis is a reasonably large species with the typical
comb-like projections at the ear opening highly noticeable. One individual was captured
in a pitfall trap following the seventh night of trapping at Site 7.
Ctenotus leonhardii
Only one C. leonardii was captured in a pitfall trap and at Site 1. This species is also
known as Leonhards ctenotus.
Ctenotus mimetes
Three C. Mimetes were captured. Two were captured in pitfall traps with one at Site 2
and one at Site 5 and one was captured in a funnel trap at Site 4.
Ctenotus schomburgkii
Two C. schomburgkii were captured and both at Site 7. However, one was captured in a
pitfall trap and the other, a small juvenile, in a funnel trap.
Menetia greyii
Only one of this small species of skink was captured and that in a pitfall trap at Site 4
91
APPENDIX H
Annotated List Mammals
92
DASYURIDAE
Pseudantechinus macdonnellensis Fat-tailed Pseudantechinus
Two individual P. macdonnellensis were captured at Site 9 and one was recorded
opportunalistically in an area of BIF close to the current camp. The two individuals were
both captured in aluminium box traps. Interestingly when one of these two was released,
it ran under a rock which, where turned over, exposed the Pseudantechinus in a hole on
the undersurface of the rock (Plate X). Given the circumstances it was determined that
the animal must have been extremely familiar with the terrain and certainly that there
was a hole under the rock for refuge.
Sminthopsis dolichura Little Long-tailed Dunnart
All three individuals of this Dasyurid species were captured in the western portion of the
Snark area. Two were captured at Site 2 and one at Site 3, and all were captured in
pitfall traps.
MURIDAE
Mus musculus House Mouse
Mus musculus was the only non-native mammal captured and was the most ubiquitous
of the Murids all all the mammal species captured. Twenty-four individuals were
captured right across the Snake Project area with as few as two (Sites 2, 3 and 7) and
up to seven (Site 4) captured at any one site. Not surprisingly, none were captured in
funnel or cage traps and a majority (75%) were captured in aluminium box traps with the
remainder (25%) captured in pitfall traps.
Notomys alexis Spinifex Hopping Mouse
Only one Spinifex Hopping Mouse was captured in an aluminium box trap and Site 4.
Similar to other Murids, the population of the Spinifex Hopping Mouse can fluctuate
considerably. Following rain and an increase in food resources, populations can
increase exponentially.
Notomys mitchellii Mitchell's Hopping Mouse
Only one Mitchells Hopping Mouse was captured and that on the last night of trapping at
Site 7. This small murid was captured in an aluminium box trap.
Pseudomys hermannsburgensis Sandy Inland Mouse
Only one of this species was captured in a pitfall trap following the first nght of trapping
at Site 2.
MACROPODIDAE
Macropod droppings were scattered sparsely throughout the Snark Project area. Only
one Macropus robustus erubescens Euro was seen during the reconnaissance survey.
CHIROPTERA
The calls of six species of bats were recorded on two Anabats during the survey. Of
those calls positively identified:
Chalinolobus gouldii Gould's Wattled Bat
Gould's Wattled Bat was heard at four of the seven sites, namely Sites 1, 3, 5 and 6,
suggesting that this species utilises the extent of the Snark area and is not restricted to
any one area.
Chalinolobus morio Chocolate Wattled Bat
The Chocolate Wattled Bat was one of two species (Tadarida australis White-striped
Freetail-bat) that was recorded at all seven sites. Calls of this species were recorded on
all occasions (two different Anabats for one night at each site) except for one night at
Site 2.
93
94
APPENDIX I
Annotated List Birds
95
MEGAPODIDAE
Leipoa ocellata Malleefowl
While no Malleefowl were seen and no evidence of their recent presence was identified,
unconfirmed sightings of Malleefowls have been reported in the area (Cathy Galli pers
comm.). Five five inactive, old Malleefowl mounds were identified within the Snark
Project area and a further mound was identified outside of the Snark Project area but
within the Lake Giles Project area.
FALCONIDAE
Falco cenchroides Australian Kestrel
While this raptor was not recorded during any of the systematic sampling sessions, one
individual was recorded roosting during a spotlighting foray on one evening.
PSITTACIDAE
Barnardius zonarius Australian Ringneck
The Austalian Ringneck was seen and heard during the systematic sampling at all Sites
except Sites 2 and 3. It was also recorded opportunistically. Interestlingly, not many
birds were seen with usually only singletons and pairs recorded.
Platycercus varius Mulga Parrot
Two Mulga Parrots were seen at Site 7 and two were recorded opportunistically.
Neophema elegans Elegant Parrot
As recorded for the Mulga Parrots, two Elegant Parrots were seen at Site 7 and more
were recorded opportunistically. Both parrot species appeared to be passing through the
area rather than favouring the area for foraging and/or roosting.
CUCULIDAE
Cacomantis pallidus Pallid Cuckoo
One call of a Pallid Cuckoo was positively heard at Site 3 during the 20 minute morning
surveys and one bird was seen roosting during a spotlighting foray.
CLIMACTERIDAE
Climacteris affinis White-browed Treecreeper
One White-browed Treecreeper was seen during the morning surveys at Site 4 and one
during the afternoon surveys at Site 7.
Climacteris rufa Rufous Treecreeper
The Rufous Treecreeper was not recorded during the systematic surveys but an idividual
was seen opportunistically.
MALURIDAE
Malurus splendens Splendid Fairy-wren
The Splendid Wren was far more ubiquitous than the Variegated Wren and was recorded
at all sites and opportunistically.
Malurus lamberti Variegated Fairy-wren
The Variegated Wren was recorded only at Sites 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 and was also recorded
opportunistically.
ACANTHIZIDAE
Pyrrholaemus brunneus Redthroat
The Redthroat was recorded only throughout the central area of the Snark survey area at
Sites 3, 4, 5 and 6, and was recorded opportunistically.
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NEOSITTIDAE
Daphoenositta chrysoptera Varied Sittella
The Varied Sittella was not recorded during the systematic surveys but was recorded
opportunistically.
CAMPEPHAGIDAE
Coracina novaehollandiae Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
Up to eight Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes were recorded at Sites 4 and 7 and more were
seen opportunistically including a flock of about 12 birds.
PACHYCEPHALIDAE
Pachycephala rufiventris Rufous Whistler
The Rufous Whistler was recorded thoughout the survey area at Sites 2, 3, 5 and 7 and
was recorded opportunistically
Colluricincla harmonica Grey Shrike-thrush
The Grey Shrike-thrush was recorded both during the systematic surveys, except at
Sites 1 and 3, and opportunistically.
Oreoica gutturalis Crested Bellbird
The characteristic call of the Crested Bellbird was heard throughout the survey area at all
sites and opportunistically.
ARTAMIDAE
Cracticus nigrogularis Pied Butcherbird
The Pied Butcherbird was recorded only at Site 2 during the systematic surveys and only
at Site 5 opportunistically.
Strepera versicolour Grey Currawong
Few Grey Currawongs were recorded but these were seen and heard at all survey sites
and opportunistically.
RHIPIDURIDAE
Rhipidura fuliginosa Grey Fantail
This inquisitive bird was recorded at all sites, except Site 7, and was also recorded
opportunistically.
CORVIDAE
Corvus bennetti Little Crow
The Little Crow was recorded only at Sites 1 and 2 but was heard elsewhere
opportunistically.
PETROICIDAE
Petroica multicolour Scarlet Robin
Only two Scarlet Robins were seen during the systematic surveys at Site 6. Noe were
recorded opportunistically.
Petroica goodenovii Red-capped Robin
Red-capped Robins were recorded at Sites 4, 6 and 7 and were also recorded
opportunistically.
ESTRILDIDAE
Taeniopygia guttata Zebra Finch
Many Zebra Finch were seen and heard but only at Hospital Rocks within 10 km of the
Snark Survey area.
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