BDBSA Project Metadata Detail

Survey/Project Number: 827          Total No. of Sites: 117
Survey/Project Name: BCU Diamond Firetail Surveys - AMLR
Abstract: The Diamond Firetail Stagonopleura guttata (hereafter DFT) occurs in lightly timbered grasslands across south-eastern Australia. In South Australia it occurs mainly in the South East, Mount Lofty Ranges north to the southern Flinders Ranges, southern Yorke Peninsula and west to Eyre Peninsula (Blakers et al. 1984). The national Bird Action Plan considers the DFT Near Threatened (Garnett and Crowley 2000) and it is part of a suite of temperate woodland birds that have declined across south-eastern Australia (e.g. Ford et al. 2001). The DFT is listed as Vulnerable under the schedules of the South Australian National Parks and Wildlife Act (1972). The DFT has also declined in the Mount Lofty Region. The second Bird Atlas of the Adelaide Region (Paton et al. 1994) found a decline in the southern part of the region, although the overall number of records were similar. My analysis of recent Birds SA records suggest that populations within several reserves have been lost over the last 10 years or so, namely Charleston Scrub, Manning, Aldinga Scrub, Scott and Cox Scrub. The ecology of the DFT is poorly studied (Higgins et al 2006). DFT forage on the ground where grass and other herbaceous seed are sought. In a comparison of the diet of firetail finches in the Mount Lofty Ranges, Read (1994) found that DFT eat seed from a variety of native and introduced plants, particularly Chenopodium pumilio, Erodium crinitum, Austrodanthonia sp and Digitaria ciliaris. Given the variety of diet, Read (1994) suggested the species decline was not related to a shortage of food. Studies elsewhere (Higgins et al. 2006) suggest a wide range of native grass seed is eaten, particularly Austrodanthonia spp. Sexes of DFT are similar (Higgins et al. 2006) although experienced aviculturalists suggest that females have browner tails and flatter heads. Calls of males are also higher pitched. DFT occur in pairs when breeding (usually spring, but probably throughout year Higgins et al. 2006) and gather in groups of up to 50 birds outside the breeding season. DFT are mainly sedentary although there is some evidence for local movements into drier sites post breeding (O Gorman 1981, Higgins et al. 2006). Rix (1976) considered it mostly departed Sandy Creek CP post breeding. DFT nest mainly in trees, with favoured sites being in clumps of mistletoe (Cooney and Waston 2005). Other favoured sites in the region are in the outer branches of Drooping Sheoaks (eg de Vries et al. 2010, McGuire & Kleindorfer 2007) and in ornamental Banksia speciosa (McGuire & Kleindorfer 2007). Targetted surveys focussing on refuge areas of DFT in the Adelaide Mount Lofty Ranges NRM region were undertaken in autumn-winter 2011 (Carpenter 2011). The aim of the 2011 survey was to undertake targetted surveys focussing on refuge areas of DFT in the Adelaide Mount Lofty Ranges NRM region, and to assess floristic and structural diversity of those areas. That survey concluded that there were few Diamond Firetails at few sites in the region, but suggested that numbers may have been low because of post-breeding dispersal outside of the region. A second survey survey was therefore undertaken in summer when it was thought that greatest numbers may occur.
 
Start Date: 21/04/2011      End Date: 01/01/2020
Survey Type: Fauna only
   
Study Area Description: 2011 21 April Charleston Scrub CP and Woodside district 28 April Kaiser Stuhl CP and surrounds and Keyneton 2 June Altona Scrub and Sandy Creek CP 23 June Nain Range and Moppa 28 June Para Wirra NP and Roachdale Reserve 29 June Manning Reserve and McLaren Vale district 1 July Encounter Bay district 14 July Barossa Reservoir and Sandy Creek CP 2012 12 January Charleston Scrub CP and Woodside district 13 January Sandy Creek CP (N end) 1 February Altona Scrub 2 February Kaiser Stuhl CP and Karinya Hills 9 February Flaxman Valley, Menglers Hill, Moppa district 13 February Para Wirra NP and Barossa Reservoir, Sandy Creek CP (S end) 2 March Kapunda District (Light Range, Taylor s Gap) and Nain Range 29 March Cromer CP and Porter Scrub CP
Objectives
         Vegetation: *** No vegetation survey objectives recorded
         Fauna: Refer to Abstract.
Methodology
         Vegetation: *** No vegetation methodology recorded
         Fauna: 2011 Survey Records of Diamond Firetails were sourced from the Mount Lofty Ranges region from published sources, the Biological Survey database, Birds Australia atlas records, South Australian Ornithological Association records and personal observations. Sites of recent records were used as a focus for field surveys. Surveys were confined to the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges NRM region, which excludes most of the eastern side of the Mount Lofty Ranges. Eight day surveys were conducted between April and July 2001 in the following districts. 21 April Charleston Scrub CP and Woodside district 28 April Kaiser Stuhl CP and surrounds and Keyneton 2 June Altona Scrub and Sandy Creek CP 23 June Nain Range and Moppa 28 June Para Wirra NP and Roachdale Reserve 29 June Manning Reserve and McLaren Vale district 1 July Encounter Bay district 14 July Barossa Reservoir and Sandy Creek CP A GPS was used to locate sites. At each site all birds seen and heard were recorded. The presence of DFT was determined by imitating calls. These consist of a high pitched ascending and repeated whistles. DFT presence was confirmed by their responding whistles (usually within 1 minute) and birds flying to an exposed perch near the observer. At DFT sites information was also collected on vegetation type, dominant plants and cover. 2012 Survey Sites of records from Carpenter (2011) were used as a focus for field surveys. In addition some new sites were investigated.These included revegetated private land near Flaxman Valley, the Karinya Hills on the eastern edge of the Adelaide - Mount Lofty Ranges NRM region and the Light Range near Kapunda. Eight day surveys were conducted between January and March 2012 in the following districts. 12-Jan Charleston Scrub CP and Woodside district -13 January Sandy Creek CP (N end) -1 February Altona Scrub -2 February Kaiser Stuhl CP and Karinya Hills -9 February Flaxman Valley, Menglers Hill, Moppa district -13 February Para Wirra NP and Barossa Reservoir, Sandy Creek CP (S end) 2 March Kapunda District (Light Range, Taylor s Gap) and Nain Range -29 March Cromer CP and Porter Scrub CP A GPS was used to locate sites. At each site all birds seen and heard were recorded. The presence of DFT was determined by imitating calls. These consist of a high pitched ascending and repeated whistles. Their responding whistles and birds flying to an exposed perch near the observer confirmed DFT presence. At DFT sites information was also collected on vegetation type, dominant plants and cover.

Data Distribution Rules: Public Dataset
Project Basis: Unknown :
Information Authority: Department for Environment and Heritage (BDBSA:Adelaide) - Blackhill Office - Regional Ecologist