Balmattum Nature Conservation Reserve Interim Management Statement

THREATENED SPECIES CONSERVATION

TEMPERATE-WOODLAND BIRD COMMUNITY

The temperate-woodland bird community comprises a suite of bird species characteristically found within box-ironbark and box woodland communities on the inland slopes and plains of the Great Dividing

Range (Robinson & Traill 1996; Traill & Duncan 2000). It includes ‘…many species of nectar-feeder,

ground-seed feeder, open-ground insect-eaters and hollow nesters’, reflecting the ‘…long growing season and year-round availability of food, the preponderance of eucalypts and associated habitat components such as abundant tree hollows, peeling bark, nectar and other carbohydrates, the grassy ground-layer and the open structure of the vegetation.’ (Robinson & Traill 1996).

Because of the clearing of nearly all temperate woodlands for agriculture, the temperate-woodland bird community has become seriously threatened (Robinson 1993, 1994; Robinson & Traill 1996; Reid 1999; Traill & Duncan 2000), with many character species in Victoria being listed as threatened or in decline (SAC 2000). The woodland bird community is consequently itself now listed as a threatened ecological community in Victoria under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (SAC 2000). This listing comprises 24 species of bird considered to be woodland-dependent in Victoria and includes three of the key species of threatened bird recorded at Balmattum Reserve or nearby – Bush Stone-curlew Burhinus magnirostris, Swift Parrot Lathamus discolor, Grey-crowned Babbler Pomatostomus temporalis.
Of the other 21 species of woodland bird included in the listing seven have been recorded within five kilometres of the Reserve or on the Reserve itself – Painted Button-quail Turnix varia (Reserve), Little Lorikeet Glossopsitta pusilla (Reserve), Jacky Winter Microeca fascinans, Fuscous Honeyeater Lichenostomus fuscus, Brown-headed Honeyeater Melithreptus brevirostris pallidiceps, Black-chinned Honeyeater Melithreptus gularis and Brown Treecreeper Climacteris picumnus victoriae. A further seven species of woodland bird that have been identified as ‘decliners’ in recent studies have also been found within five kilometres of the Reserve or on the Reserve itself. These are Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax (Reserve), Australian Owlet-nightjar Aegotheles cristatus (Reserve), Dusky Woodswallow Artamus cyanopterus, Crested Shrike-tit Falcunculus frontatus, Varied Sittella Daphoenositta chrysoptera, Restless Flycatcher Myiagra inquieta and Southern Whiteface Aphelocephala leucopsis (Robinson 1994; Reid 1999).
The contribution of the Reserve to the conservation of all of these woodland bird species is significant and a major management aim should be to ensure that the Reserve is managed to provide suitable habitat for these species.
The broad ecological requirements for the 17 woodland bird species found close to or within the Reserve are listed in Appendix 4. In summary, the key features are:

• 
  Mature trees, both live and dead;
  
• 
  Hollow-bearing trees, logs and stumps;
  
• 
  Patches of dense tree and understorey cover of 10ha or more;
  
• 
  Abundant fallen timber;
  
• 
  Short grass cover (< 10 cm high) within the dense tree cover patches;
  
• 
  Maintenance of edge habitat and mosaic of dense patches and patches of nearly bare, open ground;
  
• 
  Additional patches of understorey and Buloke throughout the Reserve, including away from existing stands of eucalypts;
  
• 
  Additional patches of White Box as a nectar source; and
  
• 
  Vegetated links > 50 m wide between the Reserve and nearby creeks.
  

The key threats to the woodland bird community and its habitat within Balmattum Reserve comprise incremental loss of the mature eucalypts because of exposure and dieback, dense grass growth, predation by cats and foxes, and competition by Noisy Miners.

GREY-CROWNED BABBLER

The Grey-crowned Babbler is a communally-breeding species of woodland bird that requires about 4-20 ha of habitat to support each family group (Robinson et al in press). Its key habitat elements in the

eastern Riverina are:

• 
  fertile box woodland sites;
  
• 
  high numbers of mature box trees (on average, 10.9 trees/ha with a diameter greater than 90 cm and 26 trees/ha with a trunk diameter greater than 60 cm);
  
• 
  an understorey of eucalypt regeneration, Bulokes or Golden Wattles for nest sites and cover; and
  
• 
  short sparse ground layer of vegetation (< 10 cm high, < 40% cover).
  

Within Balmattum Reserve, the most suitable habitat occurs in Plains Grassy Woodland along Old Euroa Rd, the unused road along the eastern edge of the property and in scattered sites throughout the property where there are high densities of mature Grey Box and River Red Gum. One group of babblers currently lives along the northern edge of the Reserve while other groups have occupied habitat close to the shearing shed and along the unused road in the past five years.

The major threats to the Grey-crowned Babbler and its habitat within Balmattum Reserve are cat and fox predation, dense grass growth and incremental loss of the mature trees because of exposure and dieback. The major extrinsic threats to the species are local extinction of other babbler groups because of changed land use and increased rates of cat predation, and subsequent isolation of any groups found at Balmattum Reserve.
Across Victoria, the Grey-crowned Babbler population has declined in abundance by an estimated 94% in the last 200 years (Robinson et al. in press) and now consists of only 500 groups. Of the 84 populations of the species still found in Victoria, just six contain more than 20 family groups. Balmattum Reserve is part of the district that links two of these larger populations (Map 3) and its management for babbler conservation is therefore critical.

BUSH STONE-CURLEW

The Bush Stone-curlew is a large, long-lived ground-feeding and ground-nesting bird. Although a pair’s home range typically measures more than 200 ha, much of that land may include open paddocks. The

species’ prime habitat requirements are small patches of tree cover for shelter, abundant fallen timber and very short (< 10 cm high) grass cover. Within Balmattum Reserve, these habitat elements are best

represented next to Old Euroa Road, along the unused road along the eastern edge of the property and

among some of the dense stands of trees scattered through the Reserve. The major threats to the Stone-curlew and its habitat within the Reserve are fox predation, dense grass growth and weed invasion by grasses such as *Phalaris aquatica.
A pair of Bush Stone-curlews used to live in the White Box patch near the shearing shed but has not been observed in the last five years. Recent sightings elsewhere in the district are shown in Map 3.

SWIFT PARROT

This nationally endangered parrot breeds in Tasmania but spends the winter months in the temperate woodlands of southeastern mainland Australia. Its main winter food sources are eucalypt-nectar and lerps and the local distribution of the species varies annually depending on where eucalypts are

flowering most heavily. Two of the key food trees for the species are Grey Box (flowering or lerp

infested in autumn) and White Box (flowering in winter). The other key habitat elements on the mainland appear to be dense canopy cover or high connectivity at a local scale, and mature trees. The major threats to the Swift Parrot and its habitat within Balmattum Reserve are loss of mature trees and competition from Noisy Miners.

Swift Parrots have not been recorded from Balmattum Reserve but have been recorded feeding on flowering White Box only one kilometre away. Groups of up to 40 birds are regularly seen in the Violet Town and Euroa districts and are likely to use the Reserve.

Map 3. Current and Recent Locations of Threatened Fauna

Violet Town

BALMATTUM NCR

Euroa

Grey-crowned Babbler Bush Stone-curlew

OTHER SIGNIFICANT FAUNA

There has been very limited survey for fauna on the Reserve. It is possible that it supports populations of a number of other notable species including reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. There are anecdotal records of Fat-tailed Dunnarts in the local area and there is suitable habitat on the site for this

species. Squirrel Gliders (endangered in Victoria) and Tree Goannas are moderately common in

districts to the north and west of the Reserve.

FRAGRANT LEEK-ORCHID

Fragrant Leek-orchid (Prasophyllum suaveolens) is a highly endangered orchid, to 25 cm tall, with a single onion-like leaf and a spike of 10-25 green and red-brown flowers. Flowering is in September to

October. Descriptions of this species can be found in Lunt et al (1998) and Backhouse and Jeanes

(1995).
Fragrant Leek-orchid is regarded as endangered in Victoria (NRE 2000) and nationally and is listed as endangered under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. It occurs in fertile grassy areas of the Victorian Volcanic Plain, Victorian Midlands and the Riverina. Most populations are in remnant grasslands on rail and road reserves and contain just a few plants. A relatively large population occurs in the Terrick Terrick National Park.

At Balmattum a small population of Fragrant Leek-orchid has been recorded on the road reserve of the Old Euroa Road (Map 4). Suitable habitat also occurs within the Reserve, adjacent to the population. Threats may include the small population size, illegal collection, prolonged stock grazing, accidental destruction during road maintenance or construction and weed invasion.

SWAMP BILLY BUTTONS

Swamp Billy Buttons (Craspedia paludicola) is an erect, perennial herb, to 75 cm tall, with narrow leaves at the base of and along red to purple flower stems, that bear a large, yellow, hemispherical flower. Flowering is from September to February. Descriptions of this species can be found in Lunt et al (1998)

and Foreman and Entwisle (1999).
Swamp Billy Buttons is regarded as vulnerable in Victoria (NRE 2000). It occurs in swampy areas and drainage lines usually in heavy clay soils. It is widespread and occurs in the Victorian Volcanic Plain, Victorian Midlands, Wimmera, Wannon, Gippsland, East Gippsland and the Riverina, and also in sub- alpine bogs in the eastern highlands and snowfields.
At Balmattum there is a large population of Swamp Billy-buttons occurring in gilgai wetlands (Map 4). Threats may include prolonged or heavy stock grazing and weed invasion.

BULOKE

Buloke (Allocasuarina luehmannii) is a long-lived, dioecious tree from 5-15 metres tall with furrowed bark and ascending branchlets to 40cm long. Descriptions of this species can be found in Lunt et al (1998)

and Walsh and Entwisle (1996).
Buloke is regarded as vulnerable in Victoria (NRE 2000) and is listed under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act. It is widespread in the Wimmera, Mallee and northern Victoria with small populations west of Melbourne.
Ten mature trees have been located within Balmattum (Map 4) and other plants occur on the Old Euroa Road. These individuals are generally healthy and both male and female plants are present. A large number of seedlings to 1.5m high occur in the vicinity of one Buloke in the central west of the Reserve. Threats to the species within the Reserve include intense or repeated burning and rabbits and stock preventing recruitment.

INTERIM MANAGEMENT DIRECTION – THREATENED SPECIES

Maintain and enhance habitat for rare or threatened flora and fauna and control or eliminate processes that threaten populations of these species. Ensure that the Reserve is managed to provide suitable habitat for woodland fauna occurring in the region.

Map 4. Threatened Flora

Maher’s Road

Old Euroa Road

Boundary
Buloke Allocasuarina luehmannii (seedlings)
Fragrant Leek-orchid Prasophyllum suaveolens (approximate location)	0	200m	400m	600m	800m

Major areas of Swamp Billy-buttons Craspedia paludicola

8.