SURVEY METHODOLOGY

Fauna was surveyed between 29 September and 20 October 1994. The survey methodology is outlined in full in Appendix 1. The following techniques were used:

Survey method Survey effort
Active searching (direct evidence) 4 search-hours
Active searching (indirect evidence) 8 predator scats analysed
3 herbivore scats analysed
1 owl pellet analysed
2 skeletal remains analysed
1 hair sample analysed
Elliott trapping 50 trap-nights
Hair-tubing 1200 tube-nights
Spotlighting 2.25 spotlight hours

RESULTS

Results of the fauna survey work are presented in Appendix 1. The recorded native fauna comprise 18 bird species, three mammal species and three reptile species. In addition, introduced species recorded include four bird species and five mammal species. No amphibian species were recorded on the island during the present study.

An additional 13 native bird species have been recorded for the local area on the DCNR Atlas of Victorian Wildlife.

SIGNIFICANT SPECIES

All native species recorded for the study are considered to be of local significance. of the species recorded are considered be of regional, state or national significance.

The Brown Goshawk and Australian Hobby have been recorded for the local area (Atlas of Victorian Wildlife 1994). Both species are uncommon in the Melbourne region. Records of both species in the vicinity of Herring Island are likely to be rare. A number of significant species are listed in DCE (1991) as occurring in the local area including the Swift Parrot (listed as regional significance in DCE 1991, considered to be state significance), Long-billed Corella (listed as state significance in DCE 1991, considered to be regional significance). The records of these two species in the local area were not confirmed by data on the Atlas of Victorian Wildlife collected in the Present study (see Appendix 1). Herring Island does not represent critical habitat for either species.