| Survey/Project Number: | 192 Total No. of Sites: 52 |
| Survey/Project Name: | Cape Barren Goose (Wyndgate, Hindmarsh Island) |
| Abstract: | Within South Australia the majority of CBG breed on off shore islands during winter and then disperse to the mainland in summer. Cape Barren geese have traditional breeding islands and also have their traditional areas on the mainland. The majority of the birds which breed in the Sir Joseph Banks Groups make the hazardous journey across Spencer Gulf, Yorke Peninsula and St Vincent Gulf to spend the summer around Lakes Alexandrina and Albert at the mouth of the River Murray within the Coorong National Park (Kluske 1996). Geese in the Park, specifically the Wyndgate property graze in flocks, which congregate loosely, and may number from 2 to nearly 1000 (Storr 2002; Letch 2007). Goose numbers however appear to have increased over recent years from an average of 200 birds in 1997-98 to 771 in 2002-03 (Storr 2002), with over 50% observed on neighbouring properties to the boundary of Wyndgate in 2002-03. Anecdotal evidence suggests numbers have continued to increase, however since 2005 consistent and targeted monitoring appears to have been limited, and numbers may be in decline. This project aims to understand how many Cape Barren Geese (Cereopsis novaehollandiae) use the state-government owned Wyndgate property on Hindmarsh Island, adjacent to the Coorong National Park, south-east of Adelaide South Australia; and subsequently use this information to manage the habitat for goose populations and reporting. |
| Start Date: | 03/11/1997 End Date: 31/12/2015 |
| Survey Type: | Vegetation and Fauna |
| Study Area Description: | The data collection is carried out on Wyndgate and some adjoining land, Coorong NP |
| Objectives | |||
| Vegetation: | Brief details on paddock condition are recorded to understand preferred habitat of the Geese. | ||
| Fauna: | To monitor Goose numbers for managment and reporting. | ||
| Methodology | |||
| Vegetation: | Abbreviations used to describe crop condition in Tree Health module of survey: CT=Crop type, (valid values: DO= dired off; GR=green PH=pasture height, (values entered: S=short, below ankle; M=medium, ankle to knee high; H=high, above knee) PD=Pasture Density, (values entered: BG= bare ground; SP= sparse; M= medium; D= dense) | ||
| Fauna: | The number of geese is counted at the end of each month. A vehicle is driven into a paddock and a spotting scope used to do a head count from at least 50m. The data collection is carried out from the same site - a centroid for each paddock, usually elevated to obtain the best view. Their behaviour is recorded. | ||
| Data Distribution Rules: | Public Dataset |
| Project Basis: | Fauna : Fauna species/population Study (ie trapping records over time period for species study). NOTE:NON Std Svy methodology may have been used. |
| Information Authority: | Department for Environment and Heritage (BDBSA:Adelaide) - Hindmarsh Island Office |