The project
Through this project we are working with landholders to protect and enhance key nesting habitat and food resources for Vulnerable large forest owls across the Richmond-Clarence Lowlands. The project is working to ensure the survival of three Vulnerable species: the Barking Owl (Ninox connivens), Masked Owl (Tyto novaehollandiae) and the Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua). Within the project area there is a priority zone in the north, see map below, that is focusing on protecting nest sites of the Barking Owl.
Stay up to date
The extreme dry conditions have meant an early start to the fire season and people across our project area were on alert with both the Myrtle Creek and Shark Creek Fires coming close but not directly affecting properties in our project. That all changed with the Busby’s Flat/ Rappeville and Long Gully / Drake fires in October.
These fires, which eventually joined, have impacted many landholders and communities involved in this project, and as a team we wish to convey our sympathy and support during this time. These fires do highlight the importance of this work as many threatened species will be affected, and hollow-bearing trees lost. Of the 3 properties (and 4 song meters) directly affected from that event, only 1 song meter was lost. Please don't try to recover or remove any equipment placed on your property, Pete will assess when and if equipment needs to be removed if possible, with our priority being the safety of everyone involved.
As fires continue to burn across NSW this is also a timely reminder to make sure your Bush Fire Survival Plan is up to date, follow the RFS Bush Fire Survival Guide or head to the Fires Near Me website for the latest updates.
Subscribe to the Large Forest Owls Project newsletter to see pictures from the project, results from the sound meters, project updates and achievements and other useful resources. Email ltremain@nature.org.au to join the mailing list.
Head to our SoundCloud page to listen to the latest recordings captured by our sound meters, including a Barking Owl, Masked Owl and Koala call.
Learn about the value of hollows and how you can help protect them by downloading the Hotspots Fire Project fact sheet: Protecting Our Hollows.
Project launch
On the 4th of April, 2019, the Large Forest Owls Project was launched at the Aranyani Bison Adventure Tourist Park in Myrtle Creek. The event brought together landholders from across the Richmond Clarence-Lowlands to ask questions, hear from experts and learn more about the project. At the end of the day there was a successful spotlighting session where one of the target species, four Barking Owls, was spotted.
The importance of owls
The presence of resident populations of large forest owls in a landscape is a good indicator of healthy and functional forest ecosystems. The Vulnerable Barking Owl has declined across most of its historic range in NSW, with only two remaining strongholds; one in the Pilliga Forest, and one in the Richmond-Clarence Lowlands, specifically in the coastal Clarence Valley (Coldstream River and Shark Creek catchments) and in the Richmond Valley between Bundjalung National Park and the Upper Bungawalbin Creek catchment.
Barking Owls require intact, healthy forests and woodlands, and are a flagship species for the conservation and management of functioning mature forest ecosystems. The lowlands of the Richmond and Clarence catchments are a key stronghold for the Barking Owl, with significant populations of the Vulnerable Powerful Owl and Masked Owl also present. This is one of very few landscapes in NSW with healthy populations of the large forest owls. This assemblage of owls is supported by a diverse prey base of small to medium-sized native mammals and birds which make up a large proportion of their diet, especially when breeding. To ensure the survival of the Barking Owl there is an urgent need to protect and maintain the connectivity of habitat across the Richmond-Clarence Lowlands and to actively protect large hollow-bearing trees.
This project is contributing to the conservation and connectivity of populations of these large forest owls while also benefitting a range of other threatened arboreal marsupials including the Brush-tailed Phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa), Greater Glider (Petauroides volans), Yellow-bellied Glider (Petaurus australis) and Squirrel Glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) across the project area.
Working together
Funding from the Office of Environment and Heritage, through the Saving Our Species program, is enabling us to connect with landholders across the Richmond-Clarence Lowlands region and provide them with the training and tools to monitor and maintain populations of these critical species on their properties for the long-term.
The project consolidates and builds on strategic partnerships formed over the last decade across northern NSW. These partnerships include government and non-government organisations and Indigenous and non-Indigenous private landholders. The program is run by NCC with support from Office of Environment and Heritage - Saving Our Species program and the NSW Rural Fire Service. Many landholders have already been engaged with NCC through our Hotspots Fire Project, Firesticks program and the Upper Coldstream Biodiversity Program.
Tools for the future – support for landholders
Landholders involved in the project can participate in different ways. Throughout the life of the project landholders are able to participate in training workshops and community events, and are supported to carry out key activities on their properties. Some key activities include:
- Participation in long-term acoustic monitoring using Song meters to record Owl and other threatened species calls
- Property Fire Management Plans through Hotspots program with RFS and NCC to highlight and protect built and environmental assets specifically hollow-bearing trees
- Identify owl nest sites and significant areas of hollow-bearing trees for monitoring and protection
- Installation and monitoring of nest boxes for small arboreal mammals
- Strategic weed management and restoration works on key habitats and environmental assets particularly after fire
- Citizen science data collection on threatened fauna assemblages within owl territories
Online: Expression of Interest Form
Print: Expression of Interest Form
Resources
Bird Life Australia have produce a useful fact sheet on bird friendly rodent control. Access the fact sheet here.
Learn about the value of hollows and how you can help protect them by downloading the Hotspots Fire Project fact sheet: Protecting Our Hollows.
Newsletters
Spring 2019
The project area
For more information get in touch with:
Pete Knock, NCC Large Forest Owls Project Coordinator, on (02) 66490981 or at pknock@nature.org.au
Kevin Taylor, NCC Hotspots Fire Project Ecologist, on (02) 6655 6539 or at ktaylor@nature.org.au
Kate McShea, NCC Healthy Ecosystems Program Coordinator, on (02) 9516 0359 or at kmcshea@nature.org.au
This project has been supported by the New South Wales Government's Saving our Species program through the Office of Environment and Heritage.