Attachment 6 - Ecological Assessment

                           Ecological Assessment – Attunga Heights



3.2.3.6 Nocturnal Bird and Mammal Playback
This methodology was employed to target the Powerful Owl and Koala. Nocturnal
playback sessions were conducted on three separate nights.

On commencement of each playback session a 10-minute listening period was
undertaken, followed by the broadcast of pre-recorded calls. The call was played for
three minutes, followed by a two-minute listening period. After the calls had been
played, each observer scanned the immediate area by spotlight for ten (10) minutes. The
location where playback was broadcast from is shown in FIGURE 7.


3.2.3.7 Spotlighting
This methodology was employed to target nocturnal fauna including reptiles, birds,
amphibians and terrestrial and arboreal mammals.

Spotlighting involved two or three observers traversing the entire site on foot with 50W
spotlights on three separate nights, for a total of nine and a half (9.5) person hours
during the survey period.


3.2.3.8 Elliott Trapping
This methodology was employed to target small and medium terrestrial mammals. Type A
Elliott traps were set at approximately 10 m apart. Traps were baited with peanut
butter, rolled oats, honey and pistachio essence and set in place for four nights. Traps
were cleared early each morning, and trapped animals were identified and released at
the point of capture. In total, twenty-five (25) traps were set, providing 100 trap nights
across the study site. Elliott traplines are shown in FIGURE 7.


3.2.3.9 Faecal Pellet (Scat) Searches
This methodology was designed to target medium and large terrestrial mammals.
Predator and non-predator scat searches were undertaken during all visits to systematic
sites. Scat searches were typically undertaken whilst traversing Elliott sampling
transects, for a survey effort of approximately two hours per systematic survey site per
survey period.


3.2.3.10 Pitfall Trapping
Pitfall trapping was employed to target small mammals, amphibians and reptiles, and in
particular, Wallum Froglets, Wallum Sedgefrogs, Cooloola Sedgefrogs and Ophioscincus
truncatus.

Pitfall trap-lines were set at three sites incorporating open dry and wet forest land. Trap
lines consisted of five (5) holes at two (2) sites and four (4) holes at the third site. They
were approximately 50 cm deep, and were lined with plastic sheeting, set five (5) metres
apart and connected by an appropriate drift fence. Pitfall lines were left open for four
nights and checked each morning for captures which were identified and released. In
total sixty (60) pitfall trap nights were achieved over the survey period. Pitfall traplines
are shown in FIGURE 7.


Job No: Q12038/Rw1                       JWA Pty Ltd                                      18