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

ABSTRACT Surveys were conducted for the Giant Burrowing Frog Heleioporus australiacus within 50 km of Nowra, on the south coast of New South Wales using a variety of methods. Thirty-eight 250 m transects were surveyed at night for 30 min each and 0–12 adult frogs were detected during these searches. Additional diurnal searches for tadpoles proved to be the most efficient method to detect the species and locate breeding sites. Of 102 sites surveyed, fragmented populations were found at 27 by the presence of tadpoles and adult frogs. The vegetation at these sites was woodland and open forest with a dense shrublayer of heath, but was often ecotonal. Forty-six percent of the sites were within 100 m of cliff edges/waterfalls. The lithology of sites where the frog was found varied from Hawkesbury, Nowra and Snapper Point sandstones. The exception was a population south of Ulladulla that occurs on undifferentiated sediments, but at that site exposed sandstone and a sandy overlay was present. The location of tadpoles indicated that adults were highly selective of the section of drainage line used for breeding. Often these sites consisted of a few small pools in non-perennial creeks. Breeding behaviour was associated with late summer and autumn rain, but in some sites reproduction did not occur annually. Based on distribution and habitat preference, the region has five discrete populations. Urban development has fragmented populations.

ABSTRACT Fauna surveys were conducted near the coastal village of Vincentia on the south coast of New South Wales from 2000 to 2014 in response to a proposal to extend a golf course. The surveys consisted of trapping ground-dwelling mammals along six, 200 m long transects and targeted surveys for the Eastern Bristlebird Dasyornis brachypterus and Ground Parrot Pezoporus wallicus . Eight native species of ground-dwelling mammal were trapped including the White-footed Dunnart Sminthopsis leucopus , Eastern Chestnut Mouse Pseudomys gracilicaudatus and Eastern Pygmy Possum Cercartetus nanus , species currently listed on the Threatened Species Conservation Act (1995) and the New Holland Mouse Pseudomys novaehollandiae listed as vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999). The most abundant mammals trapped were the Bush Rat Rattus fuscipes and the Brown Antechinus A. stuartii accounting for 67% and 14% of all Elliott trap captures, respectively. The survey provided the first live specimens of Eastern Chestnut Mouse in the region, a range extension of some 270 km south of the previous record. The total number of Bush Rats, Swamp Rats and House Mice trapped in Elliott traps varied significantly over the monitoring period and between different transects. Mean captures per night of Bush Rat and Swamp Rat, increased over the period of each survey. The site supports a high density of Eastern Bristlebird as evidenced by the number of calling birds and animals trapped. Two Ground Parrots were detected between 2000 and 2005, but not thereafter. Disturbance, particularly fire, may be important in determining the presence of Ground Parrots and White-footed Dunnart at this site.

Systematic (time constrained) and targeted surveys were conducted from 1996-2014 for the green and golden bell frog Litoria aurea on the Crookhaven River floodplain, east of Nowra on the south coast of New South Wales. In April 2008, a large number of metamorphlings were observed at Brundee Swamp Nature Reserve. This was followed by a significant recruitment of frogs so that by February 2010 L. aurea were recorded breeding nearby in Worrigee and Terara Swamps. At the end of April 2010 tens of thousands of metamorphling L. aurea dispersed from these wetlands across the floodplain. So-called explosive breeding events have been reported for this species before but never have they been documented. In December 2010 L. aurea again bred in Worrigee (and presumably Terara Swamp) and in early April 2011 adult and sub-adult animals appeared to have dispersed a distance of approximately 4 km south-west and 11 km to the south-east of Brundee Swamp. This expansion in distribution and abundance resulted in the recolonisation of historic L. aurea sites at Culburra and colonisation of other parts of the catchments where the species was never previously recorded. The recovery was not sustained and from March 2013 to March 2014 the species had declined in abundance and distribution. Most of the recorded breeding occurred in ephemeral wetlands: dispersal from these sites involved movements over highly modified rural and urban landscapes. Refuge sites populated outside the breeding events were strongly associated with stands of Cumbungi Typha spp. in drainage systems. These observations illustrate that historic and potential habitat of L. aurea should not be disregarded, even if the species has been absent for a considerable period. More effective management of L. aurea by government agencies requires a whole of landscape approach.

A survey of the bird and non-flying mammal fauna in Pomingalarna Park, a small woodland remnant near Wagga Wagga, on the New South Wales South Western Slopes, recorded 91 native bird species and five native mammal species. Three introduced bird species and eight introduced mammal species were also recorded. The woodland is an association of Western Grey Box Eucalyptus microcarpa, Biakely's Red Gum E. blakelyi and White Cypress Pin0 Callitris glaucophylla. The results highlight the significance of small remnants for the conservation of biological diversity in the New South Wales South Western Slopes region.

Coomonderry Swamp, the largest freshwater coastal wetland in New South Wales, lies 15 km north east of Nowra. The wetland and its catchment are utilized for a number of purposes including dairy farming, beef cattle production, turf farming, plant nurseries and a national park. Coomonderry Swamp provides habitat for several species of fauna currently recognized as endangered in New South Wales including the Green and Golden Bell Frog ( Litoria aurea ). There have been several attempts to drain the wetland in order to convert the area to other land uses including dairying, a golf course and housing. Currently there is a proposal to rezone part of the wetland's catchment from rural to rural residential. All such proposals would compromise to some extent the habitat value of this significant wetland. If regional biodiversity is to be maintained planning authorities, need to adopt local environmental planning instruments that protect habitats identified as significant for rare and endangered species such as L. aurea .

Surveys targeting 24 threatened fauna species were conducted in riparian (37 study sites) and mallee (3 study sites) vegetation communities in State Forests and other Crown timber lands in south-western New South Wales. The surveys were successful in locating eleven of the targeted threatened species and two non-target species. Five threatened species (four birds and one mammal) were recorded within the mallee study sites and seven from the riparian study sites (one amphibian, one reptile, three birds and two mammals). The surveys extended the known distribution of the Brush-tailed Phascogale Phascogale tapoatafa and Squirrel Glider Petaurus norfolcensis in New South Wales.

This paper outlines the development in 2001 of a management policy for the Yellow-bellied Glider Petaurus australis in the Eurobodalla Shire in response to case studies conducted by the author for a development proposal. The proposal to clear habitat for a school indicated that significant impact on the Yellow-bellied Glider was likely after addressing the “eight part test” under section 5A of the NSW Environmental Planning & Assessment Act (1979). The subsequent Species Impact Statement placed the impacts of the development into a regional context in respect to the distribution of the glider and included an estimate of population size and identified a habitat corridor in the Broulee area. The local government then requested concurrence from the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. A ‘condition of concurrence’ was that a policy be developed by the Local Government Authority to conserve Yellow-bellied Glider habitat in the Broulee subregion. The policy to conserve the Yellow-bellied Glider in the Broulee area identified a major limitation in the EP&A Act, that is, the failure to consider the cumulative impact of development.

A survey of the mammal fauna in the coastal forests and adjacent farmland in the Seven Mile Beach/Comerong Island area, near Nowra on the New South Wales south coast, recorded 22 native and 7 introduced species. lnsectivorous bats (10 species) comprised 45Y. of the native species recorded. Previous records and reports of a further nine native and one introduced species are documented, including several which are now extinct in the area. Conservation of the surviving native mammal fauna is dependent on the protection and management of the remaining remnants of the original vegetation.

Ten State Forests on the south-west slops 01 New South Wales were surveyed for bats at 39 forest sites and 24 water-bodies using ultra-sonic bat detectors, harp-traps, mist-nets and trip-lines. Thirteen species of bats were recorded for the region. Many species were widespread. with six of the 13 species recorded at more than 50% of sites; however four occurred at less than 20% of sites. Each State Forest sampled supported at least eight species. The species of bats present were representative of the biogeographical region of the study area, lying in the transitional zone between moist climates of the east and arid environments to the west. Within the range of elevations sampled (390-1 419 m). Chalinolobus gouldii, Vespadelus vulturnus, Mormopterus planiceps lp and Scotorepens balstoni were either absent or maintained lower activity levels above 1000 m. Bat activity and species richness was also low in forests typical of the most extreme climate (Snow Gum/Black Sallee), however no differences were found between forests with other floristic associations. Structural complexity appeared more important. as it was related to greater activity levels and higher species richness. Targetting water-bodies increased the efficiency of our survey as the number of bat passes recorded over water-bodies was three times greater than at forest sites. The use of Delay Switches revealed temporal differences in activity for a number of species. it is suggested that bat surveys should attempt to sample the entire night and only Compare activity recorded in the same time period.

Timber production forests and adjacent lands of the south-west slopes New South Wales were surveyed tor frogs and reptiles over three periods during 1994/95. Hand and aural surveys targeted the habitats of eight endangered species known from or considered likely to occur within the region. Eleven species of frog and eighteen species of reptile were located during the survey. but only one of these was a listed threatened species (with another being recorded incidentally after the survey period). However, the presence of suitable habitat indicated that four other threatened species could be present in the area. It is suggested that continued habitat alteration through gazing and agricultural practices may be having the greatest impact on the herpetotauna of the area and hat a suitable reserve system is required incorporating known a likely sites for each species. It is recommended that grazing should be phased out of some state forest areas and burning regimes modified to provide a diversity of habitats.

Ellis et al . (2007) classified the fauna of south western New South Wales into a management related structure of specialised and generalist species assemblages. The broad description of this system was presented in the paper but the detailed assignment of species to the various groups and the relationships between the groups was not published when supplementary material was not produced with the book. To prevent the loss of this information, which is important for applying the results of this study to other situations, the assignment of species to broad management groups and assemblages is now published as Table 1 (below). The relationship between specialist assemblages, which would be actively conserved through appropriate vegetation and/or water management, and their relation to vegetation types was presented in the original publication. The relationship between vegetation types and generalist assemblages, which would accrue benefits from actions for specialist assemblages in the same vegetation type, is given in Table 2 (below). Habitat mapping through broad vegetation types was thought not to adequately reflect the requirements of shorebirds and no analysis of their distribution was attempted.

The New South Wales South Western Slopes bioregion has been significantly altered by agricultural development and is likely to experience additional significant impacts as a result of anthropogenic climate change. A simple inventory survey of the vertebrate fauna of Currawananna State Forest, a small woodland remnant on the Murrumbidgee River in the south of the bioregion, over the period 2002-2010 identified 172 vertebrate fauna species. This included three species of national conservation concern (the Trout Cod Maccullochella macquariensis , Murray Cod Maccullochella peelii and Superb Parrot Polytelis swainsonii ) and another 16 species (5 fishes, 8 birds and 3 mammals) of state-level concern, as well as diverse frog, reptile, woodland and wetland bird and microchiropteran bat assemblages. This study demonstrates that even small remnants play an important role in supporting biodiversity in agricultural landscapes.

Baseline surveys of reptiles, birds and small mammals that occur in Dune Mallee woodlands in the Lower Murray Darling catchment of south-western New South Wales were conducted at 60 sites between October 2007 and March 2008. These surveys comprise the first round of a catchmentwide monitoring programme to obtain a measure of the distribution and abundance of 21 priority threatened fauna species that inhabit Dune Mallee Woodlands. A total of 127 fauna species were recorded, which included 19 of the possible 21 threatened fauna species. The 127 species comprised 37 reptile species, 15 bat species, three small mammal species and 72 bird species. The mean species richness recorded at each three hectare survey site for birds was 14.7, reptiles 7.1, small ground dwelling mammals 0.5 and bats 3.0. Mean abundance for birds was 42.7, reptiles 13.1, small ground dwelling mammals 1.0 and microbats 3.7. These surveys represent the most comprehensive inventory of fauna of the Dune Mallee Woodlands of the Lower Murray Darling catchment. Furthermore, these surveys are a platform upon which to detect changes in abundance and persistence of priority threatened fauna species, as a way of measuring outcomes of property management agreements and offset reserves where land management has been enhanced by actions such as exotic herbivore removal and predator control.

This survey aimed to determine whether Barking Owls McGregor. Ninox connivens are still declining in south-west NSW; and if there are resident pairs of Powerful Owls Ninox strenua present in south-west NSW State Forests. Surveys for Barking Owls were conducted in and around eight locations they had been detected in 2004. During August 2008, call playback for Barking Owls was conducted in 175 sites at and surrounding these locations for a single night each. Powerful Owl calls were played at 12 of these sites. From the eight locations where Barking Owls were detected in 2004, only one was detected in 2008. A Powerful Owl was detected at one site during surveys and a pair seen there the following year, suggesting residency. In regards to the initial aims, Barking Owls appear to be declining, and Powerful Owls are present in south-west NSW State Forests. This needs to be incorporated into conservation strategies for both species.

Captive bred Green and Golden Bell Frog Litoria aurea tadpoles were introduced to a coastal wetland near Pambula on the far south coast of New South Wales. The reintroduction involved the release of approximately 5000 captive-bred tadpoles and subsequent monitoring. Before the reintroduction could take place several requirements had to be satisfied. A re-introduction proposal was prepared for the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) and independently reviewed by two referees, pre-release surveys of frogs were undertaken to determine if L. aurea existed on the site and to ascertain if the pathogen Bactrachochytrium dendrobatiodis (chytrid) was present within the endemic frog population. The captive bred tadpoles were tested for the presence of chytrid prior to release. The water quality was tested at the proposed release site and potential predators were removed. The project required maintenance and breeding of the captive population, and post release surveys. The project took 4.5 years from submission of the proposal to the first release of tadpoles and to date has cost approximately $190K, of which only $37K was funded. It is anticipated that ongoing costs will be in the order of $25K per year for the next four years (2007-11). Details of the project costs and chronology of actions are given in order to assist others who wish to undertake similar projects. So far two adults have been detected 13 months post-release.

We surveyed a population of the Green and Golden Bell Frog Litoria aurea in and around two coastal lagoons at Meroo National Park on the south coast of New South Wales. Six survey sessions were conducted between 2002 and 2008. Seven 250 m transects located around the edge of the lakes were surveyed at night for 30 minutes each. The first two survey sessions were conducted when the lakes were closed to the sea and their water levels relatively high. The next two survey sessions were conducted when Meroo Lake was open to the sea and the final one when the lake was closed but the water level low. All surveys were conducted after periods of rain to increase the probability of detecting frogs, particularly L. aurea . A total of 54 L. aurea was detected in December 2002 and 46 in February 2003. Breeding activity was observed at five sites. Recently metamorphosed frogs were observed during the late summer survey in 2003. Litoria aurea bred in brackish water having a salinity of 3 parts per thousand and existed within an environment that contained marine species of fish. A subset of three sites was resurveyed in November 2003 and February 2004 and 2007. Breeding activity was not observed during 2003 and 2004 and only 3-4 frogs were detected. Breeding was recorded in 2007 but no recruitment occurred. No breeding activity was recorded in 2008. Surveys for L. aurea should be conducted after periods of intense rain in spring to maximise detectability. For coastal lagoons this should co-incide with periods when they are closed to the sea and the elevated water level floods shallow sedgelands. Major management issues for this population include a more comprehensive assessment of population size and habitat use, artificial opening of the lakes and the potential for the Plague Minnow Gambusia holbrooki to colonise the waterbodies from farms higher up in the catchment.

We monitored populations of the Heath Frog Litoria littlejohni in conservation reserves near Nowra on the south coast of New South Wales. Thirteen 250 m transects located along perennial creeks were surveyed at night once a year for 30 minutes each from 2001 to 2006. The sites covered a range of altitudes and vegetation communities and were surveyed between late August and October. The area has a relatively high population density of L. littlejohni , with animals being detected at 12 of the 13 sites. A period of below average rainfall overlapped the census period from 2002 to 2006 and a wild fire in January 2002 burnt 12 of the study sites. The number of frogs detected after the fire declined from 100 to 46. Subsequent surveys found that the population recovered but not to pre-fire densities. Breeding was evident during each survey by the presence of amplecting frogs, eggs and/or recently hatched tadpoles. Larger tadpoles possibly from the previous year's breeding were detected at some sites. One amplexed pair was retained and laid a total of 194 eggs, which hatched 10-12 days later. The reproductive effort (clutch mass divided by female post partum mass) was 0.34. No L. littlejohni were detected below 130 metres elevation. In 2005 the Plague Minnow Gambusia holbrooki was found at one site and in 2006 the Yabbie Cherax destructorwas found at another site. Predation of eggs and tadpoles from these introduced species may impact on the population of Heath Frog.

A survey of large forest owls was conducted at 261 survey points within State forests of south-western New South Wales, and an additional 10 sites within the Wagga Wagga Local Government Area in May-June 2004. A combination of listening, playback of recorded calls and spotlighting was used. Barking Owls Ninox connivens were recorded primarily from River Red Gum Eucalyptus camaldulensis vegetation associations (n = 8) and once from mixed Western Grey Box Eucalyptus microcarpa / River Red Gum association. No records of the Powerful Owl N. strenua or the Masked Owl Tyto novaehollandiae were obtained. Four other nocturnal bird species were recorded during the surveys: Southern Boobook N. novaeseelandiae (n = 74), Barn Owl T. alba (n = 61), Australian Owlet-nightjar Aegotheles cristatus (n = 46) and Tawny Frogmouth Podargus strigoides (n = 8). In light of the low frequency of Barking Owls recorded in this and other recent surveys, consideration needs to be given to upgrading the classification of the Barking Owl under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act to “Endangered” subject to the undertaking of more comprehensive whole-of-landscape survey, including private lands and conservation reserves.