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Management prescriptions for the swift parrot in production forests

ForewordAcknowledgementsSummary and Recommendations AbbreviationsIntroductionMethodologyResultsDiscussionRecommendationsReferencesAppendix 1: Project BriefAppendix 2: Locations of Eucalyptus globulus sites used by the swift parrotAppendix 3: Locations of Eucalyptus ovata sites used by the swift parrotAppendix 4: Swift parrot data sets Appendix 5: Nest site locations

Foreword

Under the National Forest Policy Statement signed by Tasmania in April 1995, the Tasmanian and Commonwealth governments agreed to a framework and a joint scientific and public consultation process for a comprehensive regional assessment (CRA) of Tasmanian forests leading to a negotiation of a Regional Forest Agreement for Tasmania.

The CRA information is being gathered in two separate assessment processes:

a social & economic assessment which covers issues such as social impacts, forest resources including wood, mineral and other resources, forest uses such as tourism and apiculture, and industry development options; and

an environment and heritage assessment which covers issues such as cultural heritage, biodiversity, endangered species, old growth, wilderness, national estate and world heritage.

This report is one of series of reports being produced for the environment and heritage assessment component of the CRA.

Acknowledgements

Funding for the project was provided by the Forest Biodiversity Unit of Environment Australia. Thank you to David Peters, Colin Reed, Gao Ruiping, Maria Moore and Therese Smith for assistance with modelling and mapping. Thank you also to Pamela Brodie and Peter Chinquini for data retrieval and manipulation. Andrew Blakesley (CRA Project Team), Geoff Larmour (EA), Sally Bryant (CRA Project Team) and Mark Neyland (CRA Project Team) provided administrative support and comments on the manuscript.

Summary and Recommendations

Species environmental domain analysis and the classification and ordination of habitat data was used to determine the foraging and nesting habitat of the swift parrot in forests in south-east Tasmania. Locality data from 215 Eucalyptus globulus foraging sites and 68 E. ovata foraging sites were used in the CORTEX modelling procedure. The resultant E. globulus environmental domain covered a narrow coastal strip along south east Tasmania, predominantly between Swansea and Dover. The physical environment of this strip is characterised by low rainfall, high annual mean temperature, low seasonality of rainfall and temperature, low elevation and relatively fertile soils. The E. ovata environmental domain also covered a narrow coastal strip in south east Tasmania, although it did not extend as far north. The physical environment of the E. ovata model was cooler and moister than that predicted by the E. globulus model.

The environmental domain for the E. globulus used by swift parrots in the breeding season covered 263,700 ha or 4% of the land mass of Tasmania. However, only 57,900 ha (39%) was covered with potentially suitable E. globulus forests. Only 6,000 ha of these E. globulus forests occur in dedicated conservation reserves, the largest being Maria Island National Park. Nearly three quarters (46,000 ha) of E. globulus foraging habitat occurred on private land.

Habitat data from 160 E. globulus and 44 E. ovata foraging sites, 24 nest sites and 20 null sites were classified using flexible UPGMA and ordinated using MDS. Five forest types were recognised; grassy E. globulus forests and shrubby E. globulus - E. obliqua forest, grassy E . ovata forest, shrubby E. obliqua - E. ovata forest and shrubby E. obliqua forest. Four of these communities related to foraging sites and one to nesting sites.

An analysis of nest and nest site data showed that swift parrots in south-eastern Tasmania frequently nest in hollows in E. obliqua, E. pulchella and E. globulus trees with a diameter at breast height over bark greater than 0.7 m. Nest trees were located in shrubby E . obliqua forest and grassy E. obliqua - E. ovata forests on slopes and ridges away from foraging sites. Only 2% of known nests have been recorded in dedicated conservation reserves, most were located in private and State forests.

The major conservation issue for the swift parrot is the protection of foraging and nesting habitat particularly as most of it occurs outside dedicated conservation reserves.

Recommendations

Protection and management of habitat

1. All grassy Eucalyptus globulus forest and grassy E. globulus - E. ovata forest within the breeding range of the swift parrot in south-east Tasmania as determined by the E. globulus environmental domain should be protected.

2. All grassy E. ovata forest and shrubby E. obliqua - E. ovata forest within the swift parrot breeding range in south-east Tasmania as determined by the E. ovata environmental domain should be protected.

3. All known nesting areas and nest sites should be protected. These include; The Thumbs, Ringrove Razorback, Blue Gum Spur in Wielangta; the Ferntree site, Robert's Hill on Bruny Island and the Gog Range in the mid north of the state. This

last location is the only known breeding area for the small northern population and as such is of high conservation value. Nest trees should be protected in patches of forest of at least one hectare. Where nest trees are close to each other (within 50 m ), the site should be protected as a patch with at least a 50 m buffer strip.

4. In other areas of suitable nesting habitat within south-east Tasmania (ie. within 10 km of the coast) the priority should be to retain habitat trees in shrubby E. obliqua forest on upper slopes and ridges. Habitat trees should be retained in intact patches which include several old trees and other trees of mixed age to provide an ongoing source of hollows. The current management prescription of retaining two patches per five hectares should be reassessed to see whether it is adequate.

Other actions

5. Swift parrot foraging habitat within the E. globulus and E. ovata environmental domains should be mapped, particularly grassy E. globulus forest, grassy E. globulus - E obliqua forest, shrubby E. obliqua - E. ovata forest and grassy E. ovata forest.

6. A strategy to provide an ongoing supply of suitable nest hollows should be developed. This will require an investigation to determine how many habitat trees and patches are required, how large they need to be and how they should be distributed through the landscape to maintain an adequate supply of hollows.

7. The foraging and nesting habitat of the small northern swift parrot breeding population should be determined.

Abbreviations

BIOCLIM a bioclimatic analysis and prediction system

CORTEX a species modelling program which defines environmental domains

CRA Comprehensive Regional Assessment

DBHOB Diameter at breast height over bark

EA Environment Australia

GARP Genetic algorithms for rule set prediction

GIS Geographic Information System

IUCN The World Conservation Union

MDS multi-dimensional scaling

PATN Pattern analysis package

PCC Principal axis correlation

PWS Parks and Wildlife Service, Tasmania

RFA Regional Forest Agreement

SEDA Species environmental domain analysis

SSH Semi- Strong- Hybrid multi-dimensional scaling

TASPAWS Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service Biological Records Scheme

UPGMA a hierarchical fusion program

Introduction

1.1 Description and Distribution1.2 Conservation status

1.3 Existing management guidelines

1.4 Project objectives

1.1 Description and Distribution

The swift parrot Lathamus discolor is a small, fast flying, nectivorous parrot which occurs in eucalypt forests in south-eastern Australia. The genus Lathamus is monotypic. Adult birds are on average 236 mm in length and weigh approximately 77 gm (Brereton 1996a). They are bright grass green, with red on the throat, chin and forehead and blue on the crown, the cheeks and wings. They also have red patches on the shoulder and under the wings and have a long pointed reddish brown tail.

The swift parrot breeds in Tasmania and migrates to mainland Australia in the autumn, where it is semi-nomadic, foraging in flowering eucalypts in Victoria and New South Wales during the winter. In some years, they are recorded in south-east South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory and southern Queensland (Brown 1989, Brereton 1996a, Tzaros & Davidson 1996). They return to Tasmania in late winter and early spring. The breeding season coincides with the flowering of Eucalyptus globulus. The nectar of this eucalypt is the main food for the parrots during this time. The main breeding range covers the east coast of Tasmania within the range of E. globulus, but a second small northern population of approximately 100 pairs is located in the north-west of the state between Launceston and Smithton (Fig. 1).

The nectar from E. ovata is also an important supplementary foraging resource. This species flowers earlier than E. globulus and is used when birds first arrive from the mainland, prior to breeding (Brown 1989, Brereton 1996a). E. ovata is also used extensively in years when E. globulus flowering is poor (Brereton 1996a). E. ovata is an important food source for the northern population where E. globulus does not naturally occur (Brown 1989, Brereton 1996a).

Swift parrots nest in hollows in old eucalypt trees. Breeding mostly takes place between October and December. On the east coast breeding areas range from Binalong Bay in the north to Ida Bay in the south including Tasman and Forestier Peninsulas, Bruny Island and Maria Island. Within this range, breeding swift parrots are concentrated in the area from Woodbridge in the south to Little Swanport in the north including Tasman and Forestier Peninsula, Bruny Island and Maria Island (Brown 1989, Brereton 1996a).

In the post breeding period, the swift parrot is opportunistic, appearing wherever there is a suitable nectar source in the west and north of the state (Brown 1989, Brereton 1996a).

Figure 1: Breeding distribution of the swift parrot (solid box = high density, hatched box = low density)

Swift parrots begin to leave Tasmania for the mainland in mid-February. They leave from the north-west coast and migrate through western Bass Strait arriving on the mainland around Port Phillip Bay including the Mornington Peninsula (Brown 1989, Tzaros and Davidson 1996). The birds appear to fly across Bass Strait during daylight hours without stopping.

1.2 Conservation status

The species is currently listed nationally and at a state level as vulnerable (Schedule 1 Commonwealth Endangered Species Protection Act 1992, Schedule 4 Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995). A census of the swift parrot population conducted in the 1995 breeding season located 940 pairs compared to a total of 1320 pairs counted during a previous survey in 1987 (Plowman 1996, Brown 1989).

The major threatening process in Tasmania is the loss of habitat within the restricted breeding distribution of the species. Within this area E. globulus forests continue to be fragmented and lost through land clearance for agriculture and urban and coastal subdivision. In addition, forestry operations are altering the age structure of forests, resulting in the loss of older trees which provide a substantial food resource. The loss of older trees also results in the loss of hollows. The loss of hollow bearing trees has been identified as a major threatening process for some forest dependent species (Taylor 1991, Gibbons & Lindenmayer 1995). The

impact of timber harvesting has been partially ameliorated since the implementation of management prescriptions for production forests in 1995 (Jackson and Taylor 1994). The swift parrot continues to suffer high mortality during the breeding season through collisions with windows, wire-mesh fences and vehicles (Brereton 1996a).

The conservation status of the swift parrot has been re-assessed using the IUCN "Red List" criteria (IUCN Species Survival Commission 1994) because of its small population and the continuing threats. The species fits the criteria for endangered, as the population is estimated to number less than 2500 mature individuals and there is a continuing decline in numbers of mature individuals. It has been recommended that the bird's status be changed from "Vulnerable" to "Endangered" (Brereton in prep).

1.3 Existing management guidelines

Management prescriptions for the swift parrot were originally formulated in April 1994 for inclusion in the "Threatened Fauna Manual" (Jackson & Taylor 1994) published by Forestry Tasmania. These interim prescriptions were prepared early in the implementation of the Swift Parrot Recovery Plan: Research Phase (Gaffney & Brown 1992) and were based on limited information. It was anticipated that the management prescriptions would be revised when more detailed habitat data became available.

The management recommendations for production forestry as outlined in Jackson & Taylor (1994) state that:

Foraging habitat can be divided into two types, depending on its importance to swift parrots:

- High priority foraging habitat consists of coastal dry sclerophyll forest with E. globulus greater than 30% of canopy species. Timber harvesting should be excluded from these areas if possible. If logging is to proceed, use partial logging with retention of 50% of all ages of E. globulus.

- Medium priority habitat is dry sclerophyll forest with E. globulus greater than 10% and less than 30% of canopy species. These areas may be partially logged, but with maximum retention of E. globulus.

Foraging habitat retention

- In forest areas, retain intact patches of habitat around large, old E. globulus. Patches should include a minimum of three mature and/or old growth trees and any associated younger trees. Retention of at least two patches per five hectares is recommended.

- On the boundary with agricultural land, retained habitat patches should include E. globulus trees along the boundary, as these edge trees tend to have a larger canopy and thus flower more prolifically than forest trees (see Figure 7.1).

Fig. 7.1. Habitat retention for swift parrot on forest/farmland boundary (from Jackson and Taylor 1994).

- On areas to be converted to farmland remnant E. globulus trees and patches should be retained.

Nesting habitat retention

- Timber harvesting should be excluded from an area of at least one hectare around known nest trees. In areas of nesting habitat, the priority should be to retain habitat trees on upper slopes and ridges. Habitat trees should be retained in intact patches which include several old trees and other trees of mixed age. There should be at least two such patches per five hectares.

The Forest Practices Board Zoologist is required to be notified if any proposed logging areas contain suitable breeding or foraging habitat. All Timber Harvesting Plans for areas containing potential swift parrot habitat are reviewed by the the Parks and Wildlife Service specialist and the appropriate management prescriptions implemented based on the above recommendations. However, these prescriptions are only valid for the life of the timber harvesting plan and private land holders are not bound to maintain retained habitat except where it is included in a Private Timber Reserve. There are currently no conservation measures available to protect swift parrot habitat on private land from non-forestry clearing (eg. for agriculture).

1.4 Project objectives

The aim of the project was to define the E. globulus foraging habitat and the nesting habitat of the swift parrot in production forests and use this information to revise the interim management prescriptions for the conservation of its habitat. Full details of the project brief including objectives and terms of reference are given in Appendix 1.

Four main tasks were undertaken in this project:

1. Site and vegetation data were collated for the foraging habitat of the swift parrot during the breeding season in south-eastern Tasmania. Field work was undertaken to fill gaps in this data set where they were identified.

2. Environmental domain analysis was carried out to define the physical environmental of E. globulus used by foraging swift parrots during the breeding season.

3. Ordination and classification techniques were used to determine the floristic and structural characteristics of the foraging habitat of the swift parrot within the environmental domain.

4. Nest and nest site data were collated and analysed to characterise the nesting habitat of the swift parrot.

This project conforms with the objectives and actions of the Swift Parrot Recovery Plan, in particular Actions 3.2.1 and 3.2.2 in Brereton (1996b).

Methodology

2.1 Data collection 2.1.1 Locality data 2.1.2 Habitat description

2.2 Species Environmental Domain Analysis

2.3 Environmental domain mapping

2.4 Analysis of foraging habitat data

2.5 Nesting habitat

2.1 Data collection

2.1.1 Locality data

Locality data from sites where swift parrots had been recorded foraging on flowering E. globulus and E. ovata during the breeding season were obtained from the Tasmanian Wildlife Atlas (a flora and fauna database maintained by PWS). This data was collated and checked for accuracy. The locations of E. globulus sites are listed in Appendix 2 and E. ovata sites are listed in Appendix 3. This data set included information about the location, the type of foraging (eg. probing in flowers for nectar, gleaning for lerps), the species of forage tree, tree age, patch type and land tenure. The information collected from each site is listed in Appendix 4.

2.1.2 Habitat description

Habitat information was collated for E. globulus and E. ovata foraging sites from the Tasmanian Wildlife Atlas and included data on vegetation structure, cover, abundance and floristics. This data set was checked to see if it adequately covered the breeding range of the swift parrot in south-eastern Tasmania. Gaps in this data set were identified and field surveys undertaken to fill them. This data was also entered onto the Tasmanian Wildlife Atlas.

For each 30 m radius plot centred on the foraging tree, a proforma was completed which included a record of the heights, cover and identities of a range of habitat components. These comprised vegetation, rocks, litter and habitat trees (an old eucalypt, dead or live with severe crown damage and hollows). The habitat information collected from each site is also listed in Appendix 4.

Null sites were included in the data set. A null site was defined as a site where E. globulus was present but outside the known breeding range of swift parrots. The data collated for the null sites was the same as for presence sites. The null data set was compiled from the Tasmanian Wildlife Atlas.


Species environmental domain analysis (SEDA) was employed to define the physical environment of the E. globulus and the E. ovata used by foraging swift parrots during the breeding season. SEDA is a form of modelling which combines artificial intelligence techniques with the BIOCLIM approach. Descriptions and discussion of the BIOCLIM method and its use in wildlife conservation can be found in Nix (1986), Lindenmayer et al. (1989), Busby (1991), and Brereton et al. (1995).

SEDA represents environments as discrete envelopes bounded by the range limits of a number of environmental variables. The CORTEX modelling procedure developed by David Peters (GIS Unit, PWS) was used to carry out the SEDA. CORTEX uses the rule based genetic algorithm modelling tool (GARP - Genetic Algorithms for Rule set Prediction) to define environmental envelopes.

CORTEX uses locality data of swift parrots feeding in E. globulus from the foraging data set and the environmental variables calculated from the 200 metre grid cell Tasmanian GIS surfaces to find combinations of ranges and/or categories of variables which imply either the presence or absence of the species. The environmental variables were generated by the Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies at the Australian National University and they include topography (elevation, slope, aspect, relief), climate (annual and seasonal precipitation and temperature) and substrate (parent geology and soil nutrient potential). The CORTEX procedure uses 13 environmental variables (Table 1).

Table 1 Environmental variables used in CORTEX

1. Digital elevation model - coarse

2. Digital elevation model - normalised

3. Digital elevation model - smoothed

4. Digital elevation model - relief

5. Digital elevation model - slope

6. Digital elevation model - aspect

7. Topographic wetness index

8. Annual mean temperature

9. Annual mean rainfall

10. Annual temperature range

11. Co-efficient of variation of mean monthly rainfall

12. Soil fertility index

13. Geology

The map of Tasmania (including the offshore islands) used in the CORTEX procedure is divided into 1 km grid cells (1 km x 1 km). The 1 km cell estimates for each variable are medians for the continuous variables and modes for the categorical variables (eg. geology). Only positive cells were used in the procedure. A positive cell was one that contained an observation (eg. a swift parrot foraging in E. globulus). All other cells were regarded as null cells.

The inputs are submitted to the CORTEX procedure and species environmental envelopes are formulated as conjunctions of environmental variable ranges (for continuous variables) and variable classes (for categorical variables). Initially, an environmental envelope which encloses all the observations for a species is constructed. Then, one by one, outlying observations are identified and removed and new environmental envelopes are constructed by finding the observation which when removed, maximally increases the certainty of finding the remaining observations in the new, smaller environmental envelope within which they are located. Outlying observations are removed until only an inlying core of observations remains.

The result of this process is an ordered set of species-environmental envelopes which reflect an increasing certainty of finding at least one record on any grid cell within each successive environmental envelope. Each grid cell for which a prediction is sought is tested to find the most inlying (highest ranking) environmental envelope within which it falls.

The environmental domain describes the broadest estimate of the distribution of a species as characterised by the environmental variables included in the CORTEX procedure. The actual habitat of the species is likely to be much less, because the biological determinants of a species habitat, such as vegetation and interactions between species are not included in the analysis, although these attributes will be influenced by the physical environment.

2.3 Environmental domain mapping

The environmental domain of the E. globulus used by the swift parrot was overlayed with forest type and land tenure using GIS techniques to obtain estimates of the area of suitable vegetation and reservation status of these forest types. The land tenure categories that were used are defined in Table 2.

The overlay procedure was not carried out for the E. ovata environmental domain because this habitat was seen as supplementary to the primary E. globulus habitat. The E. ovata modelling was carried out primarily to show the close relationship between it and the E. globulus habitat.

The maps used to carry out the overlays were the forest community, cleared land and land tenure maps (1:25 000) compiled in 1996 during the CRA process.

Table 2 CRA land tenure categories used in this study

CRA land tenure category Status

Dedicated reserves Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area

National Park

Forest Reserve*

Game Reserve

Nature Reserve

State Reserve

Historic Site

Wellington Park

Informal reserves Coastal Reserve

Other Crown Reserve

State Recreation Area

Protected Area

Conservation Area

Wildlife Sanctuaries

Recommended Areas for Protection (RAP's)

Municipal Reserves

Water Reserves

Forestry Tasmania protection zones

Other public land State Forest

Hydro-electric Commission Land

Uncommitted Crown Land

Commonwealth Land

Private land Freehold Land

Source: PLUC 1996a

*Forest Reserves have the same security as reserves under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1970 ie. they can only be repealed with the approval of both houses of parliament.

2.4 Analysis of foraging habitat data

The habitat data was collated by site. Abundance measures for each species in each of nine height classes (0-0.1m, 0.1-0.3m, 0.3-1m, 1-2.5m, 2.5-5m, 5-8m, 8-15m, 15-27m, 27-41m, >41m) were obtained by applying an algorithm to the dominance codes for each species, in each height class. Each species, in each height class was given a dominance code of high (greater than 50% cover), medium (between 10 and 50% cover) and low (less than 10% cover).

The algorithm used was:

if all dominance codes in the height class were low, then each species scored 7% of total cover;

if one species was high and one species was medium, the high species scored 55% of the total cover and the medium species scored 45%,

if one species was high and there were no medium species, the high species scored 100% of total cover;

if one species was high and two or more species were medium, then the high species scored 50% of total cover and the medium species scored 50% divided by the number of species;

if no species was high, then the medium species scored 100% divided by the number of species.

The data were then transformed by taking the log of the dominance score.

The floristic and structural information from swift parrot foraging and nesting sites was first classified to obtain an indication of the types of forests used by swift parrots and then ordinated to examine the similarities or differences between the E. globulus and E. ovata communities used by foraging birds and also the forest communities used by nesting birds. Null sites were also included in the ordination to see if there were similarities with E. globulus communities not known to be used by swift parrots.

The methods used to classify and ordinate the data were carried out using programs available in PATN (Belbin 1995). Flexible UPGMA (Belbin 1984) is an agglomerative hierarchical fusion strategy. Semi- Strong- Hybrid multi-dimensional scaling (SSH) is an ordination program that permits combinations of ordinal (monotone), interval or ratio scaling (Belbin 1982). Principal axis correlation (PCC) was used to see how the species fitted the ordination space. PCC is a multiple-linear regression program which finds the location of the best fitted vector in the ordination space (Belbin 1995). The PCC provides two pieces of information, the direction of best fit and the correlation with that direction. The correlation co-efficient gives an indication of the significance each species in the ordination.

2.5 Nesting habitat

Nest and nest site data were compiled from the Tasmanian Wildlife Atlas, unpublished and published sources including Brereton (1996a), Wilson & Rounsevell (1984) and Brown (1989). The following data, where they were available, were extracted: the location and altitude of the nest site; the species, height and diameter at breast height over bark (dbhob) of the nest tree; the height of the nest hollow; the estimated height and width of the nest entrance hole; the aspect of the entrance and the tree. The nest and nest site information collected from each site is provided in Appendix 4.

Habitat information was collated for known nest sites where it was available. Field surveys were carried out at known nest sites where habitat data had not been collected. Only those sites where the nest tree could be located were surveyed. The same habitat data were collected as for foraging sites and included information about species composition and cover abundance.

Results

3.1 Species Environmental Domain Analysis 3.1.1 The environmental domain of Eucalyptus globulus used by the swift

parrot during the breeding season 3.1.2 The environmental domain of Eucalyptus ovata used by the swift

parrot during the breeding season 3.1.3 Status of swift parrot Eucalyptus globulus habitat

3.2 Foraging habitat analysis 3.2.1 Flexible UPGMA and MDS analysis

3.3 Nests and nest sites 3.3.1 Nest trees and nests 3.3.2 Orientation and aspect of nest hollow 3.3.3 Nest site location 3.3.4 Forest type 3.3.5 Tenure of nest sites.


Locality information for use in species environmental domain modelling was available from 215 sites where swift parrots had been recorded foraging on flowering Eucalyptus globulus during the breeding season and from 68 sites where they had been recorded foraging on flowering E. ovata. The two data sets were submitted to the CORTEX procedure. The results of the CORTEX procedure are presented in Figs. 3 and 4

3.1.1 The environmental domain of Eucalyptus globulus used by the swift parrot during the breeding season

The environmental domain of Eucalyptus globulus used by the swift parrot is the near coastal area of south-east Tasmania (Fig. 3). It extends southwards from Swansea in a narrow coastal band to Southport and includes Tasman and Forestier Peninsulas, Bruny Island and Maria Island, although outliers of the domain extend northwards as far as St. Helens. The band rarely extends more than 5 km from the coast, the exceptions being the area between Sorell and Marion Bay and the strip extending up the Derwent River to New Norfolk.

The environmental domain can be characterised as:

low elevation (sea level to 250 m asl);

shallow concave slopes on all aspects;

relatively fertile soils;

dry, with a low mean annual rainfall (530 - 723 mm);

relatively warm, with a high mean annual temperature, (mean annual minimum temperature range 7.6-9.4•C, mean annual maximum temperature range 14.7-17.6•C);

and low seasonality of rainfall and temperature.

3.1.2 The environmental domain of Eucalyptus ovata used by the swift parrot during the breeding season

The environmental domain of E. ovata used by the swift parrot is similar to the E. globulus domain. It is the near coastal area of south-east Tasmania (Fig. 4). E. ovata and E. globulus sites were often close to each other and occasionally the localities were the same. However, the E. ovata environmental domain has a more southerly range than the E. globulus domain. It extends south from Triabunna in a narrow band to Ida Bay and includes Tasman and Forestier Peninsulas and Bruny Island.

Fig. 3 The Eucalyptus globulus and swift parrot model ('+' are observation sites)

Fig. 4 The Eucalyptus ovata and swift parrot model ('+' are observation sites)

The environmental domain of the E. ovata used by the swift parrot can be characterised as:

low elevation (sea level to 250 m asl);

shallow slopes on all aspects except south facing;

relatively fertile soils which are moister than those in the E. globulus domain.

warm climate (mean annual minimum temperature range 5.8-8.7•C, mean annual maximum temperature range 14.7-16.8•C) which ranges from dry to moist (mean annual rainfall 676-948 mm).

3.1.3 Status of swift parrot Eucalyptus globulus habitat

The results from overlaying the CRA forest community and land tenure maps are summarised in Tables 3 to 5. The area covered by the environmental domain of the E. globulus used by the swift parrot during the breeding season is 264 000 ha (4% of Tasmania's land mass including the offshore islands) of which 148 000 ha (56%) is forested (Table 3). The remaining 115 600 ha (44%) within the E. globulus and swift parrot environmental domain is land that has been cleared of forest.

Table 3 The area of forest cover within the environmental domain

Land type Area (ha) % cover of domain

Land area of Tasmania 6 812 600 -

Total area of environmental domain 263 700 -

Cleared area in environmental domain 115 600 44

Forested area in environmental domain 148 100 56

Two CRA forest communities containing E. globulus represent potentially suitable habitat for the swift parrot (Table 4). They are grassy E. globulus forest and E. pulchella - E. globulus - E. viminalis grassy shrubby dry forest. Thus, potential swift parrot habitat within the environmental domain is only 57 900 ha or 39% of the forested area which is less than 1% of the total land area of Tasmania. The locations of these forest types covered by the E. globulus model are shown in Fig. 5.

Grassy E. globulus forest is dominated by E. globulus, with E. amygdalina and E. viminalis present in drier forest types (PLUC 1996b). The understorey is dominated by grasses. This forest community occupies 9 600 ha or 6% of the forested area within the E. globulus and swift parrot environmental domain.

Fig. 5 Potential swift parrot foraging habitat within the environmental domain of the Eucalyptus globulus used by the swift parrot

E. pulchella - E. globulus - E. viminalis grassy shrubby dry forest is defined by the presence of E. pulchella (PLUC 1996b). This forest community occurs almost exclusively on dolerite. The understorey can be grassy, sedgey or shrubby (PLUC 1996b). Suitable habitat for the swift parrot in this community is where E. globulus is dominant or co-dominant (see section 3.2). Thus, the area of available swift parrot habitat will be less than the 48 300 ha (33% of the forested area) occupied by the E. pulchella - E. globulus - E. viminalis grassy shrubby dry forest community because it includes forests in which E. globulus is a minor component or is not present.

Table 4 Area of swift parrot foraging habitat within the E. globulus and swift parrot environmental domain

CRA vegetation type Area (ha)% of forested area in domain

Grassy Eucalyptus globulus forest 9 600 6

E. pulchella - E. globulus - E. viminalis grassy shrubby dry forest 48 300 33

Total 57 900 39

The amount of swift parrot habitat contained in secure dedicated reserves is 6 000 ha (10% of the potential swift parrot habitat), and 0.1% of the land area of Tasmania (Table 5). The majority of this reserved habitat occurs in Maria Island National Park. The greatest proportion (80%) of swift parrot habitat occurs on private land. The area of swift parrot habitat on private land equates to about 0.7% of the land mass of Tasmania.

Table 5 Land tenure of swift parrot foraging habitat within the environmental domain

CRA land tenure categories Area (ha)% of swift parrot habitat in domain

Conservation reserves 6 000 10

Other reserves 2 200 4

Unreserved public land 3 700 6

Private land 46 000 80

3.2 Foraging habitat analysis

Detailed habitat information was collated from 160 E. globulus and 44 E. ovata foraging sites, including vegetation structure, cover/abundance and floristic information within the environmental domain of the swift parrot. A further 20 null sites were included in the data set.

3.2.1 Flexible UPGMA and MDS analysis

Seven groups or recognisable forest types were determined from the initial UPGMA analysis. The null sites came out as one separate group. The null sites were all comprised of shrubby Eucalyptus delegatensis - E. globulus forest where E. amygdalina and E. tenuiramis are occasionally present. The shrub layer is open. Species include Acacia dealbata, Bedfordia salicina, Exocarpos cupressiformis, Cyathodes sp and Pultenaea juniperina. The ground layer is sparse and is dominated by Lomandra longifolia and Pteridium esculentum. This forest type is the shrubby Eucalyptus delegatensis forest community described by Duncan and Brown (1985). It occurs on upper slopes and ridges above 300 m in south-east Tasmania.

The MDS confirmed that the null sites were different from the rest of the sites and resulted in a high stress level. The null sites were omitted from further analysis.

Six UPGMA groups were determined from the remaining data set. The six groups are:

Group 1. Grassy Eucalyptus globulus - E obliqua forest (n=53). E. amygdalina, E. pulchella, E. viminalis and E. ovata were occasionally present. The shrub layer is moderately dense. Common medium tall shrub species included Acacia dealbata, A. melanoxylon, Exocarpos cupressiformis, Cassinia aculeata, Pomaderris apetala and Bedfordia salicina. Tussock grasses are abundant and dominate the ground layer. Pteridium esculentum is also a common component of the ground layer. This forest type is an intergrade between the grassy E. globulus - E. viminalis forest and the doleritic sub-community of shrubby E. obliqua forest described by Duncan and Brown (1985). In the south-east, shrubby E. obliqua forest typically occurs on the foothills of ranges, on the margins of gullies and slopes with a north-east or south-west aspect (Duncan and Brown 1985).

Group 2. Shrubby Eucalyptus obliqua - E. ovata forest (n=41). E. globulus and E. pulchella are occasionally present. The shrub layer is moderately dense and includes Acacia melanoxylon, Leptospermum lanigerum, Melaleuca squarrosa and Goodenia ovata. The shrubs Pomaderris apetala and Bedfordia salicina are also occasionally present. The ground layer is dominated by Gahnia sp, Pteridium esculentum, Lomandra longifolia, Lepidosperma sp and tussock grasses. The shrub and ground layer species are indicative of damp sites. This forest type has affinities with the shrubby E. obliqua forest described by Duncan and Brown (1985). However, its occurrence is typically localised, in low lying areas and along drainage lines.

Group 3. Shrubby Eucalyptus obliqua forest (n=12). E. amygdalina and E. delegatensis are occasionally present. The shrub layer is open. The tall shrub layer is dominated by Bedfordia salicina. Other shrub species include Lomatia tinctoria, Cyathodes sp, Pultenaea juniperina, Leptospermum scoparium and Banksia marginata. The ground layer is sparse and is dominated by grasses and herbs and Pteridium esculentum is often present. This forest type is also one of the doleritic sub-communities of shrubby E. obliqua forest described by Duncan and Brown (1985). However, it differs from group 1 in that E. obliqua is dominant and other eucalypt species are uncommon and the shrub layer is less diverse. This forest type occurs on upper slopes and ridges.

Group 4. Eucalyptus globulus in pasture (n=29). This community comprised small stands of trees in paddocks where the understorey consists almost entirely of pasture grasses.

Group 5. Grassy Eucalyptus ovata forest (n=22). E. globulus, E. pulchella and E. obliqua were occasionally present. Shrubs are sparse and include Acacia melanoxylon, A. dealbata, A. verticillata, Bursaria spinosa and Leptospermum scoparium, The ground layer is dense and is dominated by tussock grasses particularly Poa sp, Lomandra longifolia and Lepidosperma sp. This forest type is one of the E. pulchella communities described by Duncan and Brown (1985). Its occurrence is typically localised in drainage basins, soaks and hollows.

Group 6. Grassy Eucalyptus globulus forest (n=68). E. viminalis and E. pulchella are occasionally present. The shrub layer is sparse. Species that are most frequently recorded include Acacia verticillata, A. dealbata, Bursaria spinosa and Allocasuarina verticillata. The ground layer is dense and is dominated by tussock grasses, mostly Poa sp. and Themeda triandra. Lomandra longifolia and Lepidosperma sp are also abundant. The low shrubs Astroloma humifusum and Acrotriche serrulata are frequently recorded in this forest type. This forest type is the grassy E. globulus/E. viminalis forest community described by Duncan and

Brown (1985). It occurs locally in south-east Tasmania in coastal and hinterland areas.

Groups 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 all contain swift parrot foraging sites, either Eucalyptus globulus or E. ovata. Group 3 contains swift parrot nest sites, although some nests were recorded from groups 2 and 6. Fig. 6 shows the ordination of sites (axis 1 and axis 2) with the UPGMA groups superimposed. The MDS analysis showed that the groups display clustering. Groups 2 and 3 appear to be the most different and are clustered away from other groups. Groups 1, 4 and 6 (the E. globulus forest types) overlapped indicating that they shared some attributes, although group 1 was clustered away from the other two. Group 5 also shared some similarities with group 6.

Principal correlation coefficients for species exceeding 0.5 were plotted (Table 6, Fig. 7). The principal taxa separating the groups appears to be E. obliqua and Pteridium esculentum for group 3, E. globulus and E. obliqua for group 1, E. ovata and E. obliqua for group 2, E. globulus, Astroloma humifusum, grass and saggs for groups 4 and 6 and E. ovata and saggs for group 5.

Table 6 Principal correlation coefficients for species which exceed 0.5

Variables Code Correlation coefficient

Eucalyptus obliqua euca-obli 0.6614

Eucalyptus globulus euca-glob 0.6487

Saggs saggs 0.6389

Astroloma humifusum astro-humi 0.6371

Eucalyptus ovata euca-ovat 0.6349

Grass grass 0.6304

Pteridium esculentum pter-escu 0.5639

3.3 Nests and nest sites

Detailed nest, site and habitat information was collated for 24 nests. Nest and nest site information was collated for an additional 22 nests. Nest information was obtained from a further 17 nests from the swift parrot egg collection of R.H. Green (in Brown 1989).

3.3.1 Nest trees and nests

Nests were most frequently located in E. obliqua trees; 39% of nests were recorded in this eucalypt species (Table 7). Other frequently used species were E. pulchella and E. globulus. All three species of eucalypts are abundant and widespread within the breeding range of the swift parrot.

Table 7 Nest tree species

Species % n

Eucalyptus obliqua 39 25

Eucalyptus pulchella 28 18

Eucalyptus globulus 23 15

Eucalyptus amygdalina 2 1

Eucalyptus viminalis 2 1

Eucalyptus ovata 2 1

dead stags 4 3

(n=64)

Nests were most often recorded in hollows in branches (76%), the remainder were in hollows in trunks. Nests were found in old eucalypts with a diameter at breast height over bark (Dbhob) of between 0.5 - 3.05 m (mean=1.2±0.6 m, Table 8). Ninety-six per cent of nests were in trees with a Dbhob greater than 0.7 m. Entrance holes to nests were generally small, with a mean horizontal diameter 10±4 cm and a mean vertical diameter 10±4 cm.

Table 8 Characteristics of trees and hollow entrances used by swift parrots

Height of tree (m)29±9 (44)

15-45

Dbhob of tree (m)1.2±0.6 (25)

0.5-3.05

Height of entrance above ground (m)15±6 (61)

6-35

Horizontal diameter of entrance (cm)10±4 (15)

4-20

Vertical diameter of entrance (cm)10±4(15)

4-20

Values are mean±SD(n) with ranges given below.

3.3.2 Orientation and aspect of nest hollow

Nest trees were significantly (65%, Table 9) more likely to occur on a northerly to easterly aspect (c=14.3, P<0.001). A significant number (54%) of nest hollows faced north (c=3.7, P<0.1).

Table 9 Nest hollow orientation and aspect of nest tree

Direction Aspect of nest tree Nest hollow direction

% n % n

north 30 13 34 13

north-east 19 8 10 4

east 16 7 8 3

south-east 2 1 8 3

south 12 5 10 4

south-west 16 7 5 2

west 5 2 13 5

north-west - 0 10 4

Total 43 38

3.3.3 Nest site location

The distribution of known swift parrot nest sites is shown in Fig. 8. The localities of nest sites are listed in Appendix 5. Nests are usually located away from foraging areas. The distance between nest sites and the nearest known foraging site ranged from less than 1 km to 8.5 km (Fig 9). Only 10% of nests were more than 7 km from the nearest known foraging site

Fig. 8 Swift parrot nest sites

and 59% of nests were less than 1 km from the nearest known foraging site.

All nest sites in south-east Tasmania were within 8 km of the coast (Fig 10). Nest sites ranged in altitude from 5-500 m (Fig 10). Most nest sites (90%) occur above 100 m asl and the highest recorded nest site was at 500 m asl. Nest sites were mostly situated on slopes and ridges (87%, Table 10). Sites on ridges and slopes had a greater mean number of trees with hollows than trees on flatlands and in gullies, however, the sample size on flatland and gullies was very small, (Table 11).

Table 10 Location of swift parrot nest sites in the landscape

Ridge Slope Flatland Gully

n 7 30 3 2

% 17 71 7 5

(n=42)

Table 11 Number of trees with hollows within 30 m diameter plot around nest trees

Ridge Slope Flatland Gully

3±2 (6) 5±2 (9) 3 (1) 1 (1)

2-8 1-6

Values are mean±SD (n) with range below

3.3.4 Forest type

The majority of nest sites (83%) were located in E. obliqua forests with either shrubby or grassy understoreys (Table 12). Other eucalypt species commonly present were E. amygdalina and E. pulchella. Nest sites were also recorded in E. globulus grassy dry forest. Nest sites were mostly located in patches of forest greater than 100 ha (77% of nests, Table 13).

Table 12 Forest type in which nest trees were located

UPGMA group Forest type % n

2 Grassy E. obliqua - E. ovata forest 37 9

3 Shrubby E. obliqua forest 46 11

6 Grassy E. globulus forest 17 4

Table 13 Patch type

Patch type % n

coastal - -

riparian - -

roadside - -

1 tree - -

<1 ha - -

1-10 ha 14 3

10-50 ha 5 1

50-100 ha - -

>100 ha 81 17

(n=21)

3.3.5 Tenure of nest sites.

Breeding sites were mainly located outside reserves in private forests and state forests (67% and 29% respectively). Only 2% of known nests have been recorded in dedicated conservation reserves (Table 14). One nest was located in Maria Island National Park.

Table 14 Tenure of nest sites

Land tenure % n

Dedicated reserves 2 1

Informal reserves 2 1

Other public land 36 15

Private land 60 25

(n=42)

Discussion

4.1 Foraging habitat of the swift parrot 4.1.1 Eucalyptus globulus foraging habitat 4.1.2 Eucalyptus ovata foraging habitat

4.2 Nesting habitat of the swift parrot

4.3 Reservation status

4.4 Management issues

4.1 Foraging habitat of the swift parrot

4.1.1 Eucalyptus globulus foraging habitat

The environmental domain of the E. globulus used by the swift parrot during the breeding season occurs as a narrow band down the south-east coast of Tasmania predominantly between Swansea and Dover including the Forestier and Tasman Peninsulas and Maria and Bruny Islands. This band extends no more than 5 km inland except for an area between Marion Bay and Sorell where the band expands up to 10 km. This environmental domain is characterised by low rainfall, high annual mean temperature, low seasonality of rainfall and temperature, low elevation and relatively fertile soils.

Within this environmental domain swift parrots are using three E. globulus forest types, two of which are predominantly natural communities; shrubby E. globulus - E. obliqua forest and grassy E. globulus forest. The remaining forest type is a disturbance community of remnant E. globulus trees in pasture land. Within the grassy E. globulus forest, by definition E. globulus is always dominant, that is it comprises 50% or more of canopy cover. In the grassy E. globulus - E. obliqua forests it is either dominant or co-dominant, that is it shares dominance with the other canopy eucalypts.

The results of this study indicate that the south-east breeding population of swift parrots is not using E. globulus over its entire range but is restricted to grassy E. globulus forests within a narrow near-coastal band.

4.1.2 Eucalyptus ovata foraging habitat

The environmental domain of the E. ovata used by the swift parrot during the breeding season also occurs as a narrow band down the south-east coast of Tasmania, predominantly between Triabunna and Ida Bay including the Forestier and Tasman Peninsulas and Bruny Island. This domain is wetter and cooler than the E. globulus and swift parrot domain and is more restricted in that it does not extend as far north. This reflects the drier conditions that occur along the northern part of the east coast. Eucalyptus ovata prefers moist sites and its occurrence is typically localised in drainage basins, soaks and hollows.

Within this environmental domain swift parrots are using two E. ovata forest types; shrubby E. obliqua - E. ovata forest and grassy Eucalyptus ovata forest. E.

ovata is dominant or co-dominant in the shrubby E. obliqua - E. ovata forest and dominant in the grassy E. ovata forests. These forests are located near, and often border, E. globulus forests used by swift parrots as indicated by the overlapping distribution of the environmental domains of the two species.

The results of the study indicate that the use of E. ovata forests by swift parrots during the breeding season is influenced by the proximity of E. globulus foraging habitat.

4.2 Nesting habitat of the swift parrot

Swift parrots in south-eastern Tasmania frequently nest in hollows in E. obliqua, E. pulchella and E. globulus trees with a dbhob greater than 0.7 m. Nest hollows are more likely to be north facing and in trees on north facing slopes in shrubby E. obliqua forest and grassy E. obliqua - E. ovata forest. Forests on slopes and ridges away from foraging sites and in patches of greater than 100 ha are most often used by nesting swift parrots. Trees on upper slopes and ridges are more exposed and thus tend to suffer more fire and wind damage. Fire damaged trees tend to have a greater number of hollows (Taylor & Haseler 1993). Nest sites have also been recorded less often in grassy Eucalyptus globulus forests.

The more frequent use of north-facing nest hollows and aspects is most likely a response to weather conditions. In Tasmania, the prevailing weather is from the south-west. Generally, swift parrot nest hollows that faced a direction other than north were on aspects that faced away from the prevailing weather. In addition north facing hollows and aspects get more sun and are consequently warmer. In south-eastern Tasmania the spring months are still relatively cool. The mean maximum temperature in spring for Hobart is 16.8•C and the mean minimum temperature is 7.7•C (Bureau of Meteorology 1993).

The higher than expected frequency of use of north facing hollows has also been observed for the forty-spotted pardalote Pardalotus quadragintus. Brown (1986) noted that 68% of 37 pardalote nest hollows located, faced north to north-east. Mooney and Holdsworth (1991) reported that wedge-tailed eagles nest on slopes in the lee of the prevailing wind direction. Rendell and Robertson (1994), in their review of cavity entrance orientation in northern-hemisphere birds, concluded that the influence of cavity entrance orientation on hole-nesting birds is ambiguous. However, it does appear that local environmental conditions do affect the choice of nest-hollow direction in some species. It is not possible to make definite conclusions about the influence of hollow direction and aspect of tree in the choice of nest sites by swift parrots without a knowledge of all suitable hollows and whether they are randomly distributed.

The swift parrot is in part, a communally-nesting species. It is not unusual to find more than one pair nesting in close proximity. In 1983 four pairs were nesting in close proximity at Mount Nelson; two pairs were nesting in the same tree (Wilson & Rounsevell 1984). In the 1987/88 breeding season five pairs were recorded nesting at a site in Ferntree (Brown 1989). In 1993/94 three pairs were recorded nesting at the Thumbs; two pairs in the same tree. Large numbers of swift parrots regularly nest on Roberts Hill on North Bruny Island.

The same nest sites may be used, although not every year. For example, no swift parrots were recorded at the Ferntree site in the year after the 1987/88 season yet there were nesting birds present in the 1992/93 season. The choice of nest site in any particular year is likely to be related to the proximity of foraging sites and the lack of a suitable local food source will preclude the use of a nesting area.

4.3 Reservation status

The amount of potential E. globulus foraging habitat within the environmental domain of the swift parrot in secure dedicated reserves is 6 000 ha. This amounts to 10% of the potential swift parrot habitat and is about 0.1% of the total land area of Tasmania. The greatest proportion (80%) of E. globulus foraging habitat occurs on private land.

The nesting habitat of the swift parrot is also not secure; only 2% of 42 known nests are located in dedicated conservation reserves. Breeding sites have been mostly recorded from outside reserves in private forests and State forests. The only recorded breeding site in a conservation reserve is in Maria Island National Park. Maria Island is regularly used by up to 200 swift parrots when the E. globulus is in flower and it is likely that many more birds nest on the island during times of abundant flowering as evidenced by the sighting of ten juveniles on the island in February 1994 (Brereton 1996a).

4.4 Management issues

The long term viability of the swift parrot population is dependent on the retention of foraging and nesting habitat within south-east Tasmania. Therefore, the priority for the conservation of the swift parrot is the protection of grassy E. globulus forest and grassy and shrubby E. ovata forests within the E. globulus and E. ovata environmental domains. Over three quarters of E. globulus forest potentially used by swift parrots occurs on private forested land. These forests continue to be cleared for agriculture and residential development and they are also affected by forestry operations. At present there are no controls on the clearing of native bushland in Tasmania.

Timber harvesting on private and Crown land is subject to the provisions of the Forest Practices Code (Forestry Commission 1993). The code requires that threatened species are considered when Timber Harvesting Plans are being prepared. Management recommendations for the conservation of threatened species are outlined in the "Threatened fauna manual for production forests in Tasmania" (Jackson & Taylor 1994). However, the Forest Practices Code (Forestry Commission 1993) does not provide long term security for swift parrot habitat on private land that is not registered as a Private Timber Reserve. There is no requirement to retain an area as production forest once a Timber Harvesting Plan expires. A land owner can clear retained habitat, once the Timber Harvesting Plan expires, unless the land is within a Private Timber Reserve, in which case the habitat must be retained.

The protection of known nest trees and sites should be a priority for nesting habitat. The practice of retaining hollow bearing trees (habitat trees) in patches in logged dry forests has been shown to enhance the protection of habitat trees (Gibbons & Lindenmayer 1995). Patches should be at least large enough to contain several habitat trees and other trees of mixed age. However, it is not known whether the current prescription of retaining at least two such patches per five hectares will maintain an adequate supply of hollows. Gibbons and Lindenmayer (1995) suggest that a successful strategy for the long term supply of nest hollows in logged forest will require an understanding of the following:

· the period it takes a tree to develop suitable hollows;

· the rate of mortality of hollow bearing trees in logged forest;

· which stems are most likely to develop hollows;

· which stems are most likely to persist in a stand.

Recommendations

5.1 Protection and management of habitat

5.2 Other actions

5.1 Protection and management of habitat

1. All grassy Eucalyptus globulus forest and grassy E. globulus - E. ovata forest within the breeding range of the swift parrot in south-east Tasmania as determined by the E. globulus environmental domain should be protected.

2. All grassy Eucalyptus ovata forest and shrubby E. obliqua - ovata forest within the swift parrot breeding range in south-east Tasmania as determined by the E. ovata environmental domain should be protected.

3. All known nesting areas and nest sites should be protected. These include; The Thumbs, Ringrove Razorback, Blue Gum Spur in Weilangta; the Ferntree site, Robert's Hill on Bruny Island and the Gog Range in the mid-north of the state. This last location is the only known breeding area for the small northern population and as such is of high conservation value. Nest trees should be protected in patches of forest of at least one hectare. Where nest trees are close to each other (within 50 m), the site should be protected as a patch with at least a 50 m buffer strip surrounding it.

4. In other areas of suitable nesting habitat within south-east Tasmania (ie. within 10 km of the coast) the priority should be to retain habitat trees in shrubby E. obliqua forest on upper slopes and ridges. Habitat trees should be retained in intact patches which include several old trees and other trees of mixed age to provide an ongoing source of hollows. The current management prescription of retaining two patches per five hectares should be reassessed to see whether it is adequate.

5.2 Other actions

5. Swift parrot foraging habitat within the E. globulus and E. ovata environmental domains should be mapped, particularly grassy E. globulus forest, grassy E. globulus - E obliqua forest, shrubby E. obliqua - E. ovata forest and grassy E. ovata forest.

6. A strategy to provide an ongoing supply of suitable nest hollows should be developed. This will require an investigation to determine how many habitat trees and patches are required, how large they need to be and how they should be distributed through the landscape to maintain an adequate supply of hollows.

7. The foraging and nesting habitat of the small northern swift parrot breeding population should be determined.

References

Belbin L. (1991). Semi-strong Hybrid Scaling, a new ordination algorithm. Journal of Vegetation Science, 2:491-496.

Belbin, L. (1984). FUSE: A FORTRAN program for agglomerative fusion. Computers and Computing, 104(4):361-284.

Belbin, L. (1995). PATN: Pattern Analysis Package. Division of Wildlife and Ecology, CSIRO, Canberra, Australia.

Brereton, R. (1996a). The Swift Parrot Lathamus discolor in south-east Tasmania. Unpublished report to Australian Nature Conservation Agency.

Brereton, R. (1996b). Swift Parrot Recovery Plan: 1997-1999. Parks and Wildlife Service, Tasmania.

Brereton, R. (in prep). A breeding range census of the Swift Parrot Lathamus discolor in 1995 with comments on its conservation status.

Brereton, R., Bennett, S. and Mansergh, I. (1995). Enhanced greenhouse climate change and its potential effect on selected fauna of south-eastern Australia: a trend analysis. Biological Conservation 72(3):339-354.

Brown, P.B. (1986). The Forty-spotted Pardalote in Tasmania. Wildlife Division Technical Report 86/4. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Tasmania.

Brown, P.B. (1989). The Swift Parrot Lathamus discolor (White): A report on its ecology, distribution and status, including management considerations. Technical Report, Department of Lands, Parks and Wildlife.

Busby, J.R. (1991). BIOCLIM - A bioclimatic analysis & prediction system. in C.R. Margules & M.P. Austin (eds). Nature Conservation: cost effective surveys and data analysis. pp 64-68. CSIRO, Melbourne.

Duncan, F. and Brown, M.J. (1985) Dry sclerophyll vegetation in Tasmania: Extent and conservation status of communities. Wildlife Division Technical Report 85/1. National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Forestry Commission (1993). Forest Practices Code. Forestry Commission, Tasmania.

Gaffney, R.F. and Brown, P.B. (1992). The Swift Parrot Recovery Plan: Research Phase. Department of Parks, Wildlife and Heritage, Tasmania.

Gibbons, P and Lindenmayer, D.B. (1995). Forest management and the retention of trees for the conservation of hollow dependant fauna. Working Paper 1995/2. Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies, Australian National University.

IUCN Species Survival Commission. (1994). IUCN Red List Categories. IUCN.

Jackson, J. and Taylor, R. (1994). Threatened fauna manual for production forest in Tasmania. Forest Practices Unit for the Forest Practices Board. Forestry Tasmania, Hobart.

Lindenmayer, D.B., Nix, H.A., McMahon, J.P. and Hutchinson, M.F. (1990). Bioclimatic modelling and wildlife conservation and management - a case study on Leadbeaters Possum, Gymnobelideus leadbeateri. in T.W. Clark & J.H. Seebeck (eds). Management and conservation of small populations. Chicago Zoological Society. Illinois, USA.

Mooney, N. and Holdsworth, M. (1991). The effects of disturbance on nesting wedge-tailed eagles (Aquila audax fleayi) in Tasmania. Tasforests 3:25-31.

Nix, H. (1986). A biogeographic analysis of Australian elapid snakes, in R. Longmore (ed). Atlas of elapid snakes of Australia. Australia Flora and Fauna Series. No. 7. pp 4-15. Bureau of Flora and Fauna, Canberra.

Peters, D. (1983). TASFORHAB. in K. Myers, C.R. Margules and I. Musto (eds). Survey Methods for Nature Conservation. Vol 1. CSIRO, Melbourne.

Plowman, C. (1996). Swift Parrot census - 1995 breeding season. Unpublished report to Parks and Wildlife Service, Tasmania.

PLUC (Tasmanian Public Land Use Commission). (1996a). Tasmanian-Commonwealth Regional Forest Agreement Background Report Part C. Environment and Heritage Report Vol. I. Tasmanian Public Land Use Commission, Hobart, in conjunction with Commonwealth Forests Taskforce, Canberra.

PLUC (Tasmanian Public Land Use Commission). (1996b). Tasmanian-Commonwealth Regional Forest Agreement Background Report Part C. Environment and Heritage Report Vol. II. Tasmanian Public Land Use Commission, Hobart, in conjunction with Commonwealth Forests Taskforce, Canberra.

Rendall, W. B. and Robertson, R. J. (1994). Cavity-entrance orientation and nest site use by secondary hole-nesting birds. Journal of Field Ornithology 65(1):27-35.

Taylor, R. and Haseler, M. (1993). Occurrence of potential nest trees and their use by birds in sclerophyll forest in north-east Tasmania. Australian Forestry 56(2):165-171.

Taylor, R.J. (1991). Fauna conservation in Production Forests in Tasmania. Forestry Commission, Tasmania.

Tzaros, C. and Davidson, I.R. (1996). A report on the winter survey of the Swift Parrot Lathamus discolor in Victoria, 1995. DNRE, Melbourne.

Wilson, R.I. and Rounsevell, D.E. (1984). Breeding habitat requirements of four endemic bird species in Tasmanian dry sclerophyll forests: Green Rosella, Dusky Robin, Yellow Wattlebird and Swift Parrot. Unpublished report to the Tasmanian National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Appendix 1: Project Brief

Preparation of management prescriptions for the swift parrot in representative forest types.

CRA - Endangered Species Project Code - ES05

1. Title

Preparation of management prescriptions for the swift parrot in representative forest types.

2. Principal Investigator

Raymond Brereton, Wildlife Branch, Parks and Wildlife Service in collaboration with the PWS GIS unit, CRA Project Team and Steering Committee.

3. Location of work:

Representative forest types throughout Tasmania.

4. Project Objectives

To revise and refine the interim management prescriptions for the conservation of swift parrot habitat. This project conforms with the objectives and actions of the Swift Parrot Recovery Plan (see Action 3.2.2 and 3.4.4, Attachment 1).

5. Background

The swift parrot Lathamus discolor is a forest dependant species whose breeding range occurs within Tasmania's production forests, predominantly in eastern Tasmania. A small breeding population (approximately 100 pairs) occurs in the north-west of the state between Launceston and Smithton. The species is currently listed nationally as vulnerable however the results of a census in the 1995 breeding season in Tasmania places the species in the endangered category according to the most recent IUCN guidelines (IUCN 1994). There are now less than 1000 pairs (Plowman 1995). The major threatening process has been the loss of habitat. Approximately 50% of the environmental domain of the swift parrot has been cleared (Brereton 1996). The remaining forested area is still being cleared and logged. Additional pressure has been placed on the population with the annual loss of 20 or more adult birds through collisions with windows, chain link fences and vehicles in urban areas (Brereton 1996).

Management prescriptions for the swift parrot were originally formulated in April 1994 for inclusion in the "Threatened Fauna Manual" (Jackson and Taylor 1994). These interim prescriptions were prepared early in the implementation of the swift parrot research plan which had begun in late September 1993 and were based on limited information. It was anticipated that the management recommendations would be revised when specific habitat data became available.

6. Study Design and Methods

Type of study and survey design.

Data from TASFORHAB plots from sites visited during the research plan will be compiled and used to identify and classify Eucalyptus globulus and E. ovata habitats used by foraging swift parrots within the swift parrot environmental domain. Habitat data has been collected from the foraging range of the swift parrot used during the breeding season. Any gaps in the data set will be identified and filled by additional surveys.

Data Analysis

Classification and ordination programs such as flexible UPGMA (Belbin 1994) and Semi- Strong- Hybrid multi-dimensional scaling (Belbin 1991) will be used to analyse and characterise swift parrot habitat data.

The swift parrot environmental domain analysis will be re-run using the CORTEX procedure and will incorporate high resolution land classification and vegetation data derived from Landsat and the new vegetation map produced in the CRA process. Some of the surfaces used in the original domain analysis are quite coarse. For example, the cleared land surface was mapped at 1 km2 resolution and the forest type was derived from the Resource Assessment Commission Vegetation Map (VEGRAC) compiled in 1990. The revised environmental domain will also be used to form the baseline from which changes to the habitat and numbers of swift parrots will be monitored.

Data will also be used in other components of the CRA Biodiversity Assessments such as Species Distribution Modelling.

Tasks Duration Completed by

Collate existing data and identify gaps 2 weeks June

Collect and enter additional habitat information 2 mths September

Data analysis, modelling & mapping 2 mths October

Management recommendations and report 1.5 mth November

6 mths

7. Outcomes

Management recommendations for the swift parrot in production forests within the revised environmental domain (mapped and electronic format).

A copy of management recommendations attached to the Swift Parrot Recovery Plan.

A better understanding of habitat requirements and utilisation by the swift parrot for use by forest managers.

Electronic and/or map products suitable for contributing to national estate thematic assessments will also be produced as negotiated with the AHC.

A report documenting the project and its outcomes.

Appendix 2: Locations of Eucalyptus globulus sites used by the swift parrot

Record ID Easting Northing

TASMAP

1:25 000 Date Locality

477 528600 5244300 Derwent 23/9/93 Taroona

819 564400 5250700 Dunalley 30/10/95 1.5k W of Dunalley

823 564400 5250900 Dunalley 30/10/95 1.5k W of Dunalley

882 524500 5253200 Derwent 27/9/93 Mount Stuart

883 529200 5253900 Derwent 25/9/93 Montagu Bay

884 528600 5244300 Derwent 28/9/93 Taroona

885 529200 5253900 Derwent 29/9/93 Montagu Bay



888 576400 5281200 Orford 7/10/93 1k N of Rheban on Rheban Road

889 576400 5281400 Orford 7/10/93 1.2k N of Rheban on Rheban Road

890 574300 5289300

Prosser 7/10/93

800m W of Louisville Point on Louisville Road

891 573700 5289500

Prosser 7/10/93

1.4k W of Louisville Point on Louisville Road

892 573800 5291300 Prosser 7/10/93 Double Creek

894 528600 5244300 Derwent 12/10/93 Taroona

895 526200 5249700 Derwent 12/10/93 Sandy Bay

896 528100 5244000 Derwent 12/10/93 Taroona

899 524700 5221900

Barnes Bay 10/11/93

1.5k NW of Roberts Hill on Bruny Island

901 519400 5221700 D'Entrecasteaux 10/11/93 Woodbridge on Peppermint Bay

902 577300 5273100 Sandspit 16/11/93 Boot Bay

907 576500 5272400 Sandspit 16/11/93 500m NW of Cockle Bay

908 570800 5262600 Kellevie 18/10/93 1k S of Franks Marsh

909 571900 5288300 Orford 13/10/93 Orford

910 571900 5264800 Kellevie 15/10/93 Eagles Beach

911 609600 5432500 Binalong 20/10/93 Binalong Bay

912 607400 5398000 Ironhouse 20/10/93 Four Mile Creek

913 609600 5395400 Ironhouse 3/11/93 3k N of Little Beach

914 607400 5397900 Ironhouse 20/10/93 Four Mile Creek

915 609600 5432500 Binalong 8/10/93 Binalong Bay

917 571300 5300500 Little Swanport 21/1/94 Barings Hill

918 526200 5235200 Blackmans Bay 19/1/94 Tinderbox Hills



924 572200 5281900 Orford 18/1/94 Three Thumbs

927 567700 5247800 Murdunna 15/10/93 1k NW of Jimmys Hill

928 569900 5248100 Murdunna 13/1/94 .5k SE of Mount Forestier

929 567700 5247800 Murdunna 19/11/93 1k NW of Jimmys Hill

933 565800 5298300 Little Swanport 16/12/93 Bluestone Tier

934 579100 5250400 Dunalley 19/11/93 .5k W of Goat Hill Creek

941 586900 5284500 Maria 9/12/93 .5k SW of Darlington


TASMAP


942 586400 5283300 Maria 9/12/93 .5k E of Howells Point

943 586100 5283200 Maria 9/12/93 .3k E of Howells Point

946 586300 5282600 Maria 9/12/93 1k W of Marra Hill

948 585000 5280900 Maria 9/12/93 Four Mile Beach

949 588700 5281600 Maria 9/12/93 1.5k NE of Monah Hill

950 587200 5280500 Maria 9/12/93 Monah Hill

956 578900 5251100 Dunalley 19/11/93 Lagoon Bay


958 589100 5284700 Maria 8/12/93 Skipping Ridge


965 575100 5314400 Little Swanport 22/10/93 Bresnehans Road

966 526400 5241200 Derwent 27/10/93 Kingston Beach

967 526600 5239400 Blackmans Bay 27/10/93 Blackmans Bay

968 526700 5239100 Blackmans Bay 27/10/93 Blackmans Bay

970 585500 5326200 Freycinet 20/10/93 Thirty Acre Creek

975 587300 5282200 Maria 10/2/94 Marra Hill

976 588400 5281700 Maria 10/2/94 2.4k NW of Mount Maria

977 588300 5281700 Maria 10/2/94 2.5k NW of Mount Maria

978 588700 5281600 Maria 10/2/94 2k NW of Mount Maria

993 524900 5222300

Barnes Bay 1/2/94

2k NW of Roberts Hill on Bruny Island

994 528900 5228800 Barnes Bay 1/2/94 Dennes Hill on Bruny Island

995 525100 5222400

Barnes Bay 1/2/94

2k NW of Roberts Hill on Bruny Island

999 530300 5222100 Barnes Bay 27/10/93 1k NE of Missionary Hills

1001 526500 5221300

Barnes Bay 10/11/93

.5k E of Roberts Hill on Bruny Island


1006 524300 5221600 Barnes Bay 10/11/93 2k NW of Roberts Hill

1007 526100 5222500 Barnes Bay 10/11/93 Sykes Cove

1008 526500 5222300 Barnes Bay 10/11/93 Sykes Cove

1010 586600 5283600 Maria 10/12/93 Counsel Creek



1018 588500 5281400 Maria 10/2/94 1k NE of Monah Hill

1019 589200 5281400 Maria 10/12/93 1.5k NW of Little Peak

1023 587600 5282000 Maria 9/12/93 .5k E of Marra Hill

1046 573800 5308500 Little Swanport 18/10/87 2k SE of Shingle Hill

1053 577900 5312800 Little Swanport 4/12/87 Little Swanport

1054 582800 5321000

Freycinet 4/12/87

1.5k SW of Mayfield Bay on Buxton River

1055 554700 5265900 Prosser 30/11/87 1.5k SW of Heans Hill

1056 527800 5223200 Barnes Bay 30/8/85 Lodge Hill on Bruny Island

1057 561300 5269400 Prosser 30/11/87 1k S of Nugent

1058 527400 5222400 Barnes Bay 30/8/85 .6k SW of Lodge Hill




1132 523000 5221300 D'Entrecasteaux 23/11/87 Apollo Bay

1133 525700 5203600

D'Entrecasteaux 11/8/87

Cooleys Gully on Adventure Bay Road


TASMAP


1134 526200 5201800 D'Entrecasteaux 6/1/88 Coal Point on Bruny Island

1135 525500 5199900


1k NW of Adventure Bay on Coolangatta Road

1136 524700 5199300


1k W of Adventure Bay on Coolangatta Road

1137 521300 5197400


2k SE of Lunawanna on Coolangatta Road

1138 516000 5190700 D'Entrecasteaux 11/1/86 Cloudy Bay Lagoon

1139 518100 5198400 D'Entrecasteaux 9/10/85 Lunawanna

1140 519200 5201400 D'Entrecasteaux 15/8/87 Pybus Hill

1141 522400 5203500


1k S of Adams Saddle on Musketts Road

1142 529300 5224400 D'Entrecasteaux 24/8/87 McCrackens Creek

1143 530300 5226300


1.5k NE of Barnes Bay on Barnes Bay Road

1144 530200 5223300 D'Entrecasteaux 21/8/85 Cockatoo Hill

1145 523000 5222900 D'Entrecasteaux 20/8/86 Roberts Point

1146 569900 5223700 Storm Bay 8/12/87 Stewarts Bay

1147 569300 5222400 Storm Bay 8/12/87 Mason Cove

1148 569200 5222100 Storm Bay 8/12/87 Mason Cove

1149 568700 5221300 Storm Bay 8/12/87 Carnarvon Bay

1150 564300 5224100 Storm Bay 8/12/87 Benjafields Marsh

1151 562400 5223400 Storm Bay 8/12/87 1k NE of Benjafields Ridge

1152 562300 5222900 Storm Bay 8/12/87 1k E of Benjafields Ridge

1153 560300 5228300 Storm Bay 8/12/87 Nubeena

1154 560200 5229400 Storm Bay 8/12/87 2k N of Nubeena on Nubeena Road

1155 560800 5231700

Storm Bay 8/12/87

2k SW of Premaydena on Nubeena Road

1156 561100 5231800

Storm Bay 8/12/87

2k SW of Premaydena on Nubeena Road

1157 562800 5232700 Storm Bay 8/12/87 Premaydena

1159 564300 5230300

Storm Bay 8/12/87

1k N of Grooms Hill on Nubeena Back Road

1160 570800 5263900 Prosser 30/11/87 Franks Marsh

1161 571700 5264600 Prosser 30/11/87 .5k SE of Eagles Sugarloaf

1162 573200 5267800 Prosser 30/11/87 1k SE of Mount Jacob

1163 551500 5260300 Prosser 30/11/87 Forcett

1164 542600 5272700

Prosser 29/10/87

2k SE of Black Charlies Sugarloaf

1165 552500 5281400 Prosser 29/10/87 Stringy Bark Bottom

1166 552200 5280900 Prosser 29/10/87 Stringy Bark Bottom

1167 571700 5286700 Prosser 29/10/87 Orford

1168 574200 5284800 Prosser 29/10/87 Two Mile Creek on Spring Beach

1169 575300 5283700 Prosser 29/10/87 Stapleton Beach

1170 575200 5280900 Prosser 29/10/87 Half Rung

Sugarloaf

1171 575700 5279400 Prosser 29/10/87 Rheban

1172 574500 5278700

Prosser 29/10/87

1.5k SW of Rheban on Griffiths Rivulet

1173 574500 5277000

Prosser 29/10/87

3k E of Loafers Hill on Rheban Road


TASMAP


1174 576500 5276800

Prosser 29/10/87

2.5k N of Earlham Hill on Rheban Road

1175 573100 5276400

Prosser 29/10/87

1.5k SE of Loafers Hill on Sandspit River

1178 574000 5280700 Prosser 29/10/87 1k SW of Half Rung Sugarloaf

1179 574500 5283400 Prosser 29/10/87 1k SW of Stapleton Beach

1180 574300 5289400 Prosser 29/10/87 1k W of Louisville Point

1181 581700 5308600 Little Swanport 18/10/87 2k SE of Corner Hill

1182 541600 5271300 Prosser 29/10/87 Silver Hill

1183 500700 5210600


2k NW of Mount Esperance on Sledge Hill Road

1185 497500 5191300 Huon 17/10/87 Southport

1186 497600 5191200 Huon 17/10/87 Southport

1187 495800 5189700 Huon 17/10/87 2k SW of Southport

1188 501300 5193700 D'Entrecasteaux 11/10/87 Lady Bay

1189 506000 5205300 D'Entrecasteaux 17/10/87 1.5k E of Torbul Hill

1193 502000 5213300 D'Entrecasteaux 17/10/87 Brooks Bay

1194 498900 5209200

Huon 18/1/88

1k NE of Storm Hill on Hopetoun Road

1195 491700 5217800 Huon 17/10/87 Honeywood Hill

1198 525200 5233200 D'Entrecasteaux 1/10/87 Tinderbox Hills

1199 525700 5232600 D'Entrecasteaux 11/9/87 Tinderbox

1200 525700 5255300 Derwent 15/9/87 Cornelian Bay

1201 522800 5258000 Derwent 24/10/87 Elwick Bay

1202 516900 5258400 Derwent 8/9/79 2k NE of Collinsvale

1203 519200 5259800 Derwent 15/9/87 Berriedale

1204 504900 5263200 Derwent 23/9/87 New Norfolk

1205 525700 5259400 Derwent 25/10/87 Risdon Cove

1206 528300 5257000 Derwent 18/10/87 Geilston Bay

1207 523800 5250700 Derwent 15/9/87 South Hobart

1209 525900 5221500 D'Entrecasteaux 28/9/87 Roberts Hill

1211 525500 5222800 D'Entrecasteaux 28/9/87 .5k SW of Rosebanks Beach

1212 524500 5222600 D'Entrecasteaux 28/8/85 Apollo Bay

1213 527300 5221900 D'Entrecasteaux 29/8/85 Lodge Hill

1214 529600 5228200 D'Entrecasteaux 20/8/85 Waterview Hill

1215 528900 5229200 D'Entrecasteaux 23/8/85 Dennes Hill

1216 526700 5227200 D'Entrecasteaux 9/9/85 1.5k SW of Lowes Hill

1217 604200 5402200

Break O'Day 4/12/87

2.5k SW of Falmouth on Falmouth Road

1218 603700 5401900

Break O'Day 4/12/87

3k SW of Falmouth on Falmouth Road

1219 602200 5400200 Break O'Day 4/12/87 St Marys Pass

1220 606200 5384100 Break O'Day 4/12/87 Piccaninny Creek

1221 528200 5247300 Derwent 15/10/87 Mount Nelson

1222 525500 5247700 Derwent 15/10/87 Mount Nelson

1223 519300 5221000 D'Entrecasteaux 8/9/87 Woodbridge

1224 517200 5221700 D'Entrecasteaux 20/8/87 2k W of Woodbridge

1225 519000 5227200 D'Entrecasteaux 10/12/87 Oyster Cove

1226 524200 5229300 D'Entrecasteaux 1/12/87 Snug Point

1227 525700 5234700 D'Entrecasteaux 11/9/87 Tinderbox Hills

1228 523200 5242200 Derwent 17/10/87 2k W of Kingston


TASMAP


1229 523200 5242200 Derwent 17/10/87 2k W of Kingston

3218 586600 5558200 Lady Barron 4/10/91 Whitemark on Flinders Island

3236 519400 5221500 D'Entrecasteaux 12/10/87 Woodbridge

8298 526200 5252100 Hobart 18/10/94 Hobart

8300 504500 5234500 D'entrecasteaux 14/10/94 1 SE of Huonville

9809 587600 5285000 Maria 7/9/95 Darlington

9922 501100 5217200 Lymington 1/11/95 Petcheys Bay

9924 499800 5222900 Geeveston 1/11/95 Glaziers Bay

9926 500800 5217700 Lymington 1/11/95 Petcheys Bay

9927 501900 5216800 Lymington 1/11/95 Wheatleys Bay

9928 503600 5215300

Lymington 1/11/95

1k NE of Poverty Point on Cygnet Coast Road

9929 503400 5215500 Lymington 27/10/95 Black Jack Ridge

9930 506500 5218600

Lymington 27/10/95

1k N of Langdons Point on Lymington Road

9939 511800 5212500 Lymington 7/12/95 Garden Island Creek

9942 512300 5208500 Dover 7/12/95 Verona Sands

9943 570800 5262600 Kellevie 13/11/95 .5k SW of Franks Marsh

9944 519500 5209900 Dover 7/12/95 Gordon


9946 519400 5209900 Dover 7/12/95 Gordon

9947 569400 5260900 Kellevie 13/11/95 1k W of Marchwiel Marsh

9948 571500 5286200 Orford 21/11/95 1.3k S of Orford

9950 567200 5249700 Murdunna 16/11/95 Murdochs Hill

9951 575500 5237500 Taranna 16/11/95 Lufra Cove

9952 570000 5260800 Kellevie 13/11/95 .5k W of Marchwiel Marsh

9953 548600 5269600 Sorell 12/11/95 1k E of Flat Top Hill

9955 561300 5269600 Kellevie 14/11/95 4k N of Iles Tier on Kellevie Road

9957 570700 5262600 Kellevie 31/10/95 1k SW of Franks Marsh

9958 570800 5262600 Kellevie 9/11/95 1k SW of Franks Marsh

10209 564300 5250700 Dunalley 12/11/95 1.5k W of Dunalley on

Fulham Road

10210 563800 5250500 Dunalley 12/11/95 2k W of Dunalley on Fulham Road

10211 564300 5250800 Dunalley 12/11/95 1.5k W of Dunalley on Fulham Road

10212 568900 5259900 Dunalley 6/10/95 Burnt Hill Road

10213 571800 5264700 Kellevie 6/10/95 Cockle Bay Track

10214 569900 5260800 Kellevie 6/10/95 Marchwiel Road








10231 515600 5208200 Dover 8/12/95 2k E of Ninepin Point

10252 579800 5313200 Royalty 9/11/95 Little Swanport

10253 579800 5313200 Royalty 12/11/95 Little Swanport


TASMAP


10259 572500 5266800 Kellevie 22/12/95 500m NW of Pine

Creek Beach

10278 537900 5242200 Taroona 14/1/96 Mortimer Bay

10279 523500 5247200 Taroona 14/1/96 Ridgeway

10281 533300 5253300 Hobart 1/2/93 Howrah

10282 533200 5253100 Hobart 1/2/93 Howrah

10296 525300 5232600 Blackmans Bay 12/11/95 Tinderbox

10299 512400 5221500 Cygnet 27/10/95 Nicholls Rivulet

10300 511300 5221000 Cygnet 27/10/95 Nicholls Rivulet

10301 521200 5227700 Barnes Bay 27/10/95 Benbows Road

10461 528700 5244300 Taroona 3/9/95 Taroona

10478 532900 5252100 Hobart 6/9/95 Howrah

10479 530100 5252700 Hobart 6/9/95 Bellerive

10480 529100 5254200 Hobart 3/9/95 Rosny

10517 526800 5251600 Hobart 25/8/95 Hobart

10518 522500 5250300 Hobart 10/11/95 5k SW of Hobart

10520 524500 5253500 Hobart 22/11/95 Mount Stuart

10521 523700 5257700 Hobart 28/10/95 Royal Showground

10522 526800 5251600 Hobart 22/8/95 Hobart

11029 527600 5243800 Taroona 12/11/95 1k N of Alum Cliffs

11030 528300 5244300 Taroona 12/11/95 Taroona Beach

11031 527700 5243600 Taroona 12/11/95 1k N of Alum Cliffs

11032 523400 5242400 Taroona 12/11/95 4k W of Alum Cliffs

11033 528700 5245800

Taroona 12/11/95

1.5k W of Taroona Beach on Channel Highway

11034 528900 5248900 Taroona 12/11/95 Sandy Bay Point

11040 582000 5315300 Lisdillon 7/1/96 Saltworks Beach

11045 525600 5255900 Hobart 27/9/95 New Town Bay




This data has been lodged in the PWS Wildlife Atlas.

Appendix 3: Locations of Eucalyptus ovata sites used by the swift parrot


TASMAP

1:25 000 date locality

1158 563400 5232900 Storm Bay 8/12/87 Premaydena

1177 572800 5276000 Prosser 29/10/87 1.5k SE of Loafers Hill

1184 492900 5189700 Huon 17/10/87 Ida Bay

1190 506500 5206600 D'Entrecasteaux 17/10/87 Roaring Bay

1191 507400 5207900 D'Entrecasteaux 17/10/87 Surveyors Bay

1192 506700 5207000 D'Entrecasteaux 17/10/87 Roaring Bay

1196 498200 5221300 Huon 17/10/87 Port Huon

1197 497700 5221600 Huon 17/10/87 Port Huon

3457 524100 5235200 Blackmans Bay 10/9/94 Howden

3458 498200 5221300 Geeveston 9/9/94 Shipwrights Point

7461 523900 5204300 Adventure Bay 24/11/94 2k S of Driscolls Hill

8266 497000 5217900 Waterloo 21/9/94 Cairns Bay

8267 497500 5217000 Waterloo 21/10/94 Waterloo Bay

8270 507100 5206900 Dover 30/10/94 Roaring Bay Beach

8275 498100 5221400 Geeveston 21/9/94 Shipwrights Point

8276 496000 5220900 Geeveston 21/9/94 Kermandie

8278 574500 5278600 Sandspit 29/9/94 2k SW of Rheban on Rheban Rd

8279 574000 5280100 Orford 11/10/94 2k W of Rheban

8280 574000 5279900 Sandspit 11/10/94 2k W of Rheban

8281 573800 5278700 Sandspit 11/10/94 2k SW of Rheban

8287 576400 5280500 Orford 5/10/94 1k N of Rheban on Rheban Rd

8288 576400 5280500 Orford 29/9/94 1k N of Rheban on Rheban Rd

8290 576500 5280500 Orford 12/10/94 1k N of Rheban

8291 571800 5288200 Orford 12/10/94 Orford on Prosser River



8296 576600 5280500 Orford 12/10/94 1k N of Rheban

8301 525500 5248600 Taroona 18/10/94 Proctors Saddle on Mount nelson

8302 525300 5248400 Taroona 18/10/94 Proctors Saddle on Mount Nelson

8303 525400 5248600 Taroona 16/10/94 Proctors Saddle

8304 525400 5248700 Taroona 18/10/94 Proctors Saddle on Mount Nelson

8305 574500 5278600 Sandspit 24/10/94 2k SW of Rheban



8310 519300 5197800 Partridge 24/11/94 1k SE of Lunawanna

8311 529000 5198600 Fluted Cape 24/11/94 Cookville


8313 529200 5199100 Fluted Cape 24/11/94 1k SW of Grass Point

8314 529500 5199500 Fluted Cape 24/11/94 .5k SW of Grass Point

8315 524200 5205300 Adventure Bay 24/11/94 1.5k SE of Driscolls Hill

8316 518900 5200600 Dover 24/11/94 1k S of Pybus Hill

8317 518900 5198200 Partridge 24/11/94 Lunawanna

8318 530600 5225500 Barnes Bay 29/11/94 1.5k E of Barnes Bay


TASMAP

1:25 000 date locality



8327 530300 5222100 Barnes Bay 24/11/94 .5k E of Missionary Hills on Bruny Island

8328 530400 5221800 Barnes Bay 24/11/94 .5k E of Missionary Hills on Bruny Island


8331 523800 5204200 Adventure Bay

15/12/94 2k SE of Driscolls Hill


8333 529100 5198900 Fluted Cape 15/12/94 East Cove



8339 497600 5221600 Geeveston 23/9/94 Port Huon


8385 518900 5199300 Partridge 29/10/94 1k N of Lunawanna


8400 496000 5220800 Geeveston 28/11/94 Kermandie

9049 523800 5204200 Adventure Bay

20/12/94 2k SE of Driscolls Hill on Bruny Island

9051 524000 5204300 Adventure Bay

20/12/94 2k SE of Driscolls Hill on Bruny Island

9931 501100 5237300 Huonville 3/10/95 Huon Valley Golf Course



10228 515600 5208300 Dover 8/12/95 2k NE of Ninepin Point

10229 511900 5212000 Lymington 8/12/95 Garden Island Sands


10526 526200 5248700 Taroona 20/9/95 Mount Nelson


Appendix 4: Swift parrot data sets

Foraging locality data set

The data form is based on the TASPAWS biological records scheme. The data has been lodged in the PWS Wildlife Atlas as the swift parrot (swp) project.

Locality data

Date

Grid Reference

The grid reference is the Australian Map Grid (AMG) easting and northing of the location.

Map Name

The name of the TASMAP map sheet used to determine the grid reference.

Accuracy

The accuracy of the grid reference measurement expressed in ± metres.

Locality

The general area of the location. It is used to verify the grid reference measurement. A locality is any place name which occurs on a TASMAP map sheet.

Altitude

The altitude of the location in metres.

Swift Parrot Details

Life Stage

Whether the birds are adults of juveniles, males or females.

Number of individuals

Forage Tree

The tree species the swift parrots were observed in, whether the tree was flowering and the percentage cover of the tree species within a 30 m radius. The percentage cover of other tree species within a 30 m radius of the tree the parrots were observed in.

Type of foraging.

01 probing in flowers for nectar

02 removing and gleaning on underside bark for honeydew

03 gleaning on leaves (note in general notes if birds are feeding on lerps, galls, insects, etc.)

04 no foraging observed

05 feeding on fruits

06 feeding on buds

Nest tree

The tree species the swift parrots were nesting in and the percentage cover of the tree species. The percentage cover of the tree species within a 30 m radius of the tree where the parrots were nesting. The height of the nest tree, height to the nest and the diameter of the tree at breast height (DBHOB).

Nest type

Whether the nest was in a spout, or a hollow in the trunk etc.

SP spout

TR hollow in trunk

BR hollow in branch

IH inspecting for hollows

SN suspected nest site

FY adult feeding young

The direction of the nest hole and if possible the hole diameter and depth of the hollow.

Tenure

The tenure of the land the site is on.

P - Private land

SF - State Forest

CR - Conservation reserve

OR - Other reserve

Age class

The age class of the tree and if applicable, the age class of forest. If the forest is of mixed age, record the appropriate age classes.

RGN - 30 years old

RGTH - 30 -110 years

OG - old growth, 110 years +

If mixed age, tick all age classes present.

Slope

The slope at the nest tree.

Patch size

<1 ha

1-10 ha

10-50 ha

50 - 100 ha

> 100 ha

Other site details

Landscape

Island Freshwater aquatic

Terrestrial

01 marine 21 lake 41 flatland (0 - 1•)

02 freshwater 22 tarn 42 gentle slope (2 - 5•)

23 dam 43 medium slope (6 - 20•)

Saltwater 24 river 44 steep slope (21 - 30•)

aquatic

11 sand beach 25 creek 45 very steep to precipitous (31-70•)

12 boulder beach 26 lagoon 46 cliff (71• +)

13 rock platform 27 swamp 47 ridge

14 headland 28 pool 48 gully

15 estuary 29 flooded plain 49 peak

16 tidal flat

17 lagoon Karst 99 Other (specify)

18 coastal waters 31 cave - twilight zone

19 open sea 32 cave - dark zone

33 doline

Rock type

Unconsolidated Sediments

Sedimentary Metamorphic Igneous

AL alluvium MU mudstone QU quartzite BA basalt

WS windblown sand

SA sandstone SC schist/phyllite DO dolerite

CO conglomerate GN gneiss GR granite

Z other rock (specify)

LI limestone

Soil

Soil texture is described according to the soil texture grading system in McDonald R.C., R.F. Isbell, J.G. Speight, J. Walker and M.S. Hopkins, 1984, Australian Soil and Land Survey Handbook, Inkata Press Pty. Ltd., Melbourne. The codes are:

10 Sands 30 Loams 50 Light Clays 70 Peat

11 sand 31 loam 51 sandy clay

12 loamy sand 32 silt loam 52 silty clay

13 sandy clay 33 sandy clay loam

53 light clay

20 Sandy Loams

40 Clay Loams 60 Medium-Heavy Clays

21 sandy loam 41 clay loam 61 medium clay

22 light sandy loam

42 silty clay loam 62 heavy clay

Vegetation type

Forest Non-forest Cleared land

110 conifer 210 woodland 310 pastures

120 rainforest 211 - grassy 320 gardens

121 - callidendrous

212 - heathy 330 crops

122 - implicate 213 - sedgey 340 orchard

123 - thamnic 220 wet scrub 350 eucalypt plantation

130 mixed forest 230 heathland 360 pine plantation

140 wet sclerophyll

231 - sclerophyllous 370 other (specify)

150 dry sclerophyll

232 - coniferous

151 - grassy 240 bolster heath (cushion plants)

998 bare ground

152 - heathy 250 grassland 999 other vegetation (specify)

153 - sedgey 260 moorland or sedgeland

154 - shrubby 270 fernland

280 herbfield

290 mossland

Aspect

N northerly W westerly E easterly

S southerly NW north-westerly NE north-easterly

X not applicable SW south-westerly SE south-easterly

Disturbance type

The disturbance type within the immediate area is recorded. The time since the disturbance occurred is also recorded, if known.

General Housing Agricultural

01 introduced weeds 21 city 41 grazing

02 camping site 22 suburban 42 - very light

03 erosion 23 country town 43 - moderate

04 landslide 24 semi-rural 44 - heavy

05 rubbish dump 25 rural 45 ploughing

06 windthrow 46 windrowing

07 quarries Forestry 47 cleared land

08 land reclamation 31 selective logging

09 flooding 32 clearfelling Fire

10 fertiliser used 33 plantation 51 wildfire

11 poison laid 52 regeneration burn

12 sealed road Other 53 hazard reduction burn

13 unsealed road 98 other disturbance (specify)

54 escaped burn

14 4WD track 99 no disturbance 55 unknown cause

15 walking track

Foraging habitat data set

The TASFORHAB system for collecting habitat data was used to plant species and habitat structure information (Peters 1983). The sites sampled were those listed in Appendix 1 and 2. The data has been lodged in the PWS Wildlife Atlas as the swift parrot TASFORHAB (swp-tfh) project. A TASFORHAB profile was filled in for a 30 m plot around each Eucalyptus globulus and E. ovata foraging site and for around each nest site.

For each plot the following information was collected:

Locality data

Date

Map name

The name of the TASMAP map sheet used to determine the grid reference.

Grid Reference

The grid reference is the Australian Map Grid (AMG) easting and northing of the location.

On a 30 m plot the following information was collected:

Habitat trees

The number of old eucalypts, dead or live with severe crown damage and hollows.

Floristic data

All trees and shrubs were identified to species level for each height class. The eleven TASFORHAB height classes are: 0-0.1m; 0.1-0.3m; 0.3-1.0m; 1.0-2.5m; 2.5-5m; 5-8m; 8-15m; 15-27m; 27-41m; 41-55m; 55+m.

Ground layer plants were identified to species if possible or placed in a group. The groups are: mosses or liverworts; wet ferns; cutting grass; hard ferns; saggs; grasses; herbs; litter.

Structural data

For each height class total cover was recorded. The individual contributions to the total cover by each species were scored by placing it in one of three of classes of dominance. The dominance codes were:

High if the species comprised more than half the total cover, i.e it was dominant.

Medium if the species comprised more than one tenth and less than half the total cover.

Low if the species comprised less than one tenth of the total cover.

Appendix 5: Nest site locations


TASMAP

1:25 000 Date Location

1 523900 5241700 Taroona 1981 Mortimer Bay

2 525700 5221900 Barnes Bay 1/10/87 Roberts Hill



5 540700 5240000 Cremorne 13/10/85 1.5k W of Clifton Beach

6 532000 5256900 Hobart 2/12/87 Meehan Range

7 527700 5220300 Barnes Bay 3/9/85 Robinsons Hill

8 525500 5247300 Taroona 1/11/83 .5k W of Mount Nelson




12 - - Barnes Bay 29/8/85 Roberts Hill

13 - - Taroona 6/10/87 Ferntree




17 - - Taroona 3/9/85 Strickland


1002 526400 5221100 Barnes Bay 10/11/93 .5k E of Roberts Hill





1029 522200 5246800 Derwent 9/11/93 Fern Tree


1031 569000 5272800 Sandspit 29/11/93 Blue Gum Spur



1034 565800 5298200 Little Swanport 16/12/93 Bluestone Tier






8265 554900 5231900 Communication 19/12/94 2k N of Roaring Beach

8324 522200 5246800 Derwent 18/11/94 Ferntree

9415 529900 5222300 Barnes Bay 3/9/85 Missionary Hills


9417 524300 5219900 Great Bay 6/9/85 Snake Bay

9418 520000 5200300 Dover 2/10/85 1.5k SE of Pybus Hill

9419 529600 5221700 Barnes Bay 3/9/85 Missionary Hills

10257 455900 5405000 Gog 28/11/95 4k NW of Magog

10292 455800 5405000 Gog 28/11/95 4k NW of Magog

10293 455800 5405000 Gog 28/11/95 4k NW of Magog

10294 457500 5405600

Gog 29/11/95

2.5k NW of Magog on Mersey River

10295 456100 5405100 Gog 29/11/95 4k NW of Magog


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