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Forty-spotted Pardalote (Pardalotus quadragintus)

The Forty-spotted Pardalote is a small, endangered Tasmanian passerine that depends on White Gum (Eucalyptus viminalis) forest and woodland for food and nesting. On development sites, clearing, removal of mature or dead trees, loss of hollow-bearing trees, fire and fragmentation can affect individuals, breeding territories and habitat connectivity.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Endangered.

Tasmania, Threatened Species Protection Act 1995: Endangered.

Breeding season

The following pattern applies broadly to Tasmanian populations. Timing can vary between sites and years, and breeding activity may begin in August.

Month values are January to December: 0 means not typical, 1 means occurs, and 2 means peak. The species is not migratory, but juveniles may disperse or wander locally.

  • Breeding and laying: Nesting activity may begin in August. Breeding generally occurs from September to January, with most egg laying in October.
  • Young in nest and dependent: Young are fledged by September in some accounts, and observations recorded fledging in late October. Fledglings may be fed for at least 8 days, become largely independent for food after about 11 days and remain in the natal territory for several weeks.
  • Juvenile movement: Juveniles are thought to wander locally outside the breeding season. Adults are relatively sedentary and rarely move between suitable patches.
  • Adult territorial activity: Pairs defend permanent territories centred on White Gum stands. Males are more vocal early in the breeding season, and both sexes may respond to playback.
  • Highest clearing risk: Clearing and disturbance are most likely to harm the species from September to January because pairs are territorial, nests are active and young may remain dependent after fledging. Cavity trees and White Gum habitat remain important outside this period.

Identification

The Forty-spotted Pardalote is a very small, active woodland bird that is often detected by its call before it is seen. It is most likely to be encountered in or near White Gum stands in eastern and south-eastern Tasmania.

Adults are generally olive green, with pale yellow around the eye, cheek and rump. The wings are blackish or brownish black with distinctive white spots. The body is rounded and the species lacks the prominent head markings seen on some other pardalotes.

The species is approximately 9 to 10 cm long and weighs about 10 to 12 g. Males and females have no apparent size or colour differences, although males produce a diagnostic mating call early in the breeding season.

Adult size: 9 to 10 cm long.

Adult weight: Approximately 10 to 12 g.

Sexual dimorphism: No apparent size or colour dimorphism.

Identification: Similar species

The Forty-spotted Pardalote can be confused with the Spotted Pardalote (Pardalotus punctatus) and, to a lesser degree, the Striated Pardalote (Pardalotus striatus). Compared with these species, it has no prominent head markings, a duller olive body colour and a rounder body shape.

Juvenile Spotted Pardalotes can be particularly difficult to separate. Identification should use the combination of plumage, call, habitat and behaviour rather than a single field mark.

Identification: Field signs and survey detection

The species is diurnally active but inconspicuous. Birds are usually seen in pairs or small flocks, or heard responding from White Gum crowns and branches. A clicking sound may be heard when birds are feeding, and males are more vocal during the breeding season.

Breeding birds use hollows in live or dead trees, as well as cavities in stumps, broken branches, fence posts and nest boxes. Ground holes are used only very rarely. A suspected nest cavity should not be inspected or disturbed without appropriate authorisation.

For presence surveys, broadcast playback in suitable habitat early in the morning is recommended, particularly during the breeding season. Area searches, transects and listening for unsolicited calls are also suitable. The national survey guideline specifies 10 hours over 5 days for broadcast surveys, or 20 hours over 4 days for area searches or transects in areas smaller than 50 ha.

Recommended broadcast effort: 10 hours over 5 days.

Recommended area search or transect effort: 20 hours over 4 days for sites smaller than 50 ha.

  • Look and listen in White Gum stands, especially where mature trees, dead limbs or nest boxes are present.
  • Record clicking feeding sounds, diagnostic calls, pairs defending cavities and birds carrying nesting material.
  • Treat active or suspected cavities as sensitive features and avoid disturbance around the tree until the site has been assessed.

Distribution: Current range and strongholds

The Forty-spotted Pardalote is endemic to Tasmania. Its current distribution is highly restricted compared with its historical range across eastern Tasmania and King Island.

The species currently occurs in three broad areas: Bruny Island and nearby mainland Tasmania, Maria Island, and Flinders Island in the Strzelecki Range. Bruny Island records include Partridge and Snake Islands, Tinderbox Peninsula, Coningham Peninsula and nearby mainland sites including Ida Bay and Howden.

Maria Island is a major stronghold and is entirely within Maria Island National Park. Bruny Island supports another major population across a mixture of reserves, State Forest and private land. Mainland sites are smaller and include Tinderbox and Southport or Ida Bay. The Flinders Island population is poorly known and was assessed as non-viable in the draft recovery plan.

  • State: Tasmania only, including offshore islands in Bass Strait.
  • Geographic setting: low coastal and near-coastal eastern and south-eastern Tasmania, plus Flinders Island.
  • Bioregional description: the supplied documents do not assign the species to named IBRA bioregions, so project assessments should use current Tasmanian distribution mapping and local records.

Distribution: Population and trend

Historical population estimates differ between sources and survey periods. The 1996 habitat modelling report cited approximately 3,500 individuals and described the population as relatively stable over the preceding decade. Later material reported approximately 1,500 birds and a 60 per cent decline over 18 years, while the 2022 draft recovery plan describes continuing contraction in area of occupancy and population size without providing a single current total.

The species' estimated extent of occurrence is 17,000 km², with an area of occupancy of 208 km². The extent of occurrence was assessed as stable with medium reliability, while area of occupancy had a contracting trend.

Earlier population estimate: Approximately 3,500 individuals, reported in the 1996 habitat modelling report.

Later population estimate: Approximately 1,500 birds, reported in material cited by Edworthy.

Extent of occurrence: Approximately 17,000 km², with an estimated range of 14,000 to 20,000 km².

Area of occupancy: Approximately 208 km², with an estimated range of 200 to 220 km².

Population trend: Area of occupancy is contracting. The population is concentrated mainly on Bruny Island and Maria Island.

Habitat: Vegetation communities

Forty-spotted Pardalotes are specialists of White Gum habitat. Suitable habitat may be present as continuous forest, open woodland, small patches, clumps or even individual White Gum trees, but isolated patches may be difficult for adults to reach.

The species occurs in dry sclerophyll forest and open woodland where White Gum is dominant or at least present. White Gum may be mixed with Blue Gum (Eucalyptus globulus), Black Gum (Eucalyptus ovata), Eucalyptus amygdalina, Black Gum or related dry forest species, Eucalyptus obliqua and Eucalyptus pulchella.

The habitat modelling identified five White Gum community types as potential habitat. The largest was Eucalyptus pulchella, Eucalyptus globulus and Eucalyptus viminalis grassy shrubby dry sclerophyll forest, often on dolerite. Other types included White Gum grassy forest, White Gum forest with Eucalyptus obliqua, White Gum and Eucalyptus ovata forest, and coastal shrubby forest on Holocene sand.

  • Dry sclerophyll forest and grassy woodland with White Gum.
  • Grassy or herb-rich ground layers, sometimes with sedges, shrubs or a more open understorey.
  • Mixed eucalypt forest where White Gum remains present.
  • Small White Gum patches, clumps and individual trees within otherwise cleared or modified areas.

Habitat: Structure and environmental setting

Mature trees with hollows are preferred. The species has been recorded only where White Gum canopy cover was at least 10 per cent in the habitat modelling study. Habitat can occur in second-growth forest, but reduced cavity availability may limit breeding.

The modelled environmental domain was a narrow coastal band, usually within 5 km of the coast and with the highest probability within 3 km. It was associated with low elevation, shallow gentle slopes, low rainfall, high mean annual temperature and relatively fertile soils, often with a sandy component.

Modelled coastal setting: Usually within 5 km of the coast, with highest occurrence probability within 3 km.

Modelled elevation: Sea level to less than 350 m above sea level.

White Gum canopy cover: The habitat study recorded the species only where White Gum cover was at least 10 per cent.

Modelled environmental domain: Approximately 81,400 ha, of which 26,417 ha contained potential White Gum habitat.

  • Retain living and dead hollow-bearing trees, large limbs, stumps and fallen timber associated with White Gum stands.
  • Retain connected tree cover between White Gum patches because adults rarely cross cleared areas.
  • Assess individual White Gum trees and small clumps, not only mapped forest polygons.

Foraging habitat: Diet and feeding sites

White Gum is the main foraging resource. Adults feed in the canopy and foliage and use White Gum products and associated invertebrates to feed themselves and their young.

The diet includes manna, lerp and leaf-dwelling invertebrates. Manna is a sugary residue or secretion associated with insect attack and with incisions made by pardalotes at the bases of White Gum leaf petioles. Lerp is the protective covering produced by psyllids.

Manna and lerp are high in carbohydrates and sugars and are used extensively by adults when feeding young. Birds forage mainly in White Gum foliage and branches, often producing a clicking sound while feeding.

  • Retain healthy White Gum crowns, branchlets and foliage that provide manna, lerp and invertebrates.
  • Avoid pruning or removing White Gum trees and large branches during the breeding season where birds are present.
  • Inspect small White Gum patches and isolated trees for feeding activity, not only for nests.

Foraging habitat: Foraging range and movement

Adults defend permanent breeding territories centred on White Gum stands. The reported mean territory area is approximately 0.7 ha, with territories ranging from 0.3 to 1.6 ha in a high-density Bruny Island population.

Adults are more sedentary than other pardalotes and rarely move between suitable habitat patches. Juveniles may wander locally outside the breeding season, but banding records were all within 10 km of banding sites.

Mean breeding territory: Approximately 0.7 ha.

Reported territory range: 0.3 to 1.6 ha.

Banding recoveries: All 67 reported recoveries were within 10 km of banding sites.

Breeding habitat: Breeding biology

Breeding pairs need White Gum habitat with suitable nest cavities and enough food-bearing foliage within a defended territory. Breeding activity begins in late winter or early spring and can continue into summer.

Pairs are socially monogamous during the breeding season and may remain together for several years. They can raise one to two broods per year. Nesting activity begins in early August in some accounts, while the survey guideline gives a general breeding season of September to January.

The supplied documents do not provide confirmed values for clutch size, incubation period, age at first breeding or lifespan. These fields should not be inferred during project assessment.

Breeding season: Generally September to January. Nesting activity may begin in early August.

Egg laying: September to December, mostly in October.

Broods: One to two broods per year.

Clutch size: Not stated in the supplied documents.

Incubation period: Not stated in the supplied documents.

Age at maturity: Not stated in the supplied documents.

Lifespan: Not stated in the supplied documents.

Breeding habitat: Breeding habitat features

Nests are usually in tree hollows, including hollows in live or dead White Gums and other trees. Birds also use cavities in stumps, broken branches, fence posts and nest boxes. Ground holes are very rarely used.

The best breeding habitat combines mature or dead hollow-bearing trees with nearby White Gum foliage for feeding. Nest cavities can be in small patches, but fragmentation and limited cavity supply increase competition with Striated Pardalotes and other cavity users.

Nest takeover rate: Striated Pardalotes usurped approximately 10 per cent of monitored Forty-spotted Pardalote nesting attempts, with rates of approximately 15 to 17 per cent in some Bruny Island and mainland areas.

Timing of takeovers: Approximately 80 per cent occurred during nest building before eggs were laid.

  • Retain all potential nest trees and cavities within and around White Gum territories.
  • Maintain a buffer around active nests and avoid removing trees, pruning large limbs or generating sustained construction noise near occupied cavities during breeding.
  • Treat nest boxes as breeding habitat and monitor them for both Forty-spotted and Striated Pardalotes before relocation or maintenance.

Sheltering habitat: Cavities and trees

The species shelters and roosts in tree cavities and dense White Gum foliage. Cavities used for nesting may also be used after fledging, including for short periods by young birds.

Known shelter and nest sites include hollows in live or dead trees, cavities in stumps and broken branches, fence posts and artificial nest boxes. The documents do not provide a standard entrance diameter, cavity depth or tree diameter for this species.

Newly fledged birds remain in their natal territory for several weeks. One fledgling re-entered its nest box five days after fledging, and adults have been observed with fledglings re-entering a natural cavity at dusk, probably to roost.

Fledgling dependence: Fledglings were fed for at least 8 days and first appeared independent of adults for food about 11 days after fledging.

Post-fledging shelter: Young birds remained within the natal territory for several weeks in the reported observations.

  • Retain live and dead hollow-bearing trees, dead limbs, stumps and posts within White Gum habitat.
  • Do not fell or move a cavity-bearing tree until it has been assessed for current or recent use.
  • Check nest boxes and natural cavities during pre-clearing surveys, especially from August to January.

Sheltering habitat: Cavity competition

Cavity availability is reduced in second-growth forest. Striated Pardalotes are the dominant competitor for nest cavities and can evict Forty-spotted Pardalotes, remove or crush eggs, and occupy the cavity after takeover.

Nest boxes can provide additional shelter and breeding sites, but their placement may increase competition if they concentrate both species. Box designs and placement should be based on local monitoring and the dimensions of natural cavities used by Forty-spotted Pardalotes.

  • Record the tree species, tree condition, cavity height, entrance orientation and evidence of current use for each cavity feature.
  • Avoid assuming that an unused-looking cavity is unimportant, because birds may use cavities intermittently for roosting or later breeding attempts.
  • Do not remove or relocate nest boxes during the breeding season without species-specific advice and approval.

Threats: Clearing and fragmentation

The main project risks are loss and fragmentation of White Gum habitat, removal of hollow-bearing trees, fire and disturbance during breeding. The species has a small and highly separated population, so losses at a single occupied patch can have wider consequences.

Clearing for agriculture, urban expansion, coastal subdivision, infrastructure and recreation has removed much of the historical habitat. Private land contains a large proportion of potential habitat, and small patches may be unprotected.

The species rarely crosses cleared areas and adults rarely move between suitable patches. Removing individual White Gums, narrow connections or mature trees within a patch can therefore reduce feeding habitat, nest sites and movement opportunities.

Potential habitat on private land: The 1996 model identified 19,436 ha of potential White Gum habitat on private land within the modelled domain.

Securely reserved potential habitat: The same model identified 3,754 ha in A1 conservation reserves, less than 5 per cent of the modelled environmental domain.

  • Avoid clearing White Gum forest, woodland, clumps and individual mature trees within the species' current and modelled range.
  • Retain connected tree cover between occupied or potentially suitable patches.
  • Map White Gum trees, hollow-bearing trees and active territories before finalising construction footprints, access tracks and services.

Threats: Fire and vegetation decline

Wildfire is identified as the primary threat to habitat in the draft recovery plan, with more than 80 per cent of occupied habitat reported to be at risk of fire. Severe, intense fires reaching the canopy can damage White Gums, remove hollows and reduce food resources.

Drought, climate change and declining White Gum health may reduce manna, lerp, foliage and cavity-bearing trees. Fire frequency and intensity can also alter the grassy and shrubby structure of dry forest.

Occupied habitat at fire risk: More than 80 per cent, according to the 2022 draft recovery plan.

Occupied habitat burnt since 1969: Approximately 17 per cent, according to the same source.

  • Prepare fire management measures that protect White Gum crowns, mature trees, dead hollow-bearing trees and occupied patches from severe canopy fire.
  • Avoid fuel reduction or other burning that could remove occupied habitat without a species-specific assessment.
  • Retain a range of tree age classes and dead wood while managing immediate safety risks.

Threats: Breeding threats and disturbance

Removal of nest trees, vibration, noise, access and repeated disturbance near cavities can disrupt breeding, particularly during nest building and laying. Striated Pardalotes can usurp approximately 10 per cent of monitored Forty-spotted Pardalote nests, with most takeovers occurring before eggs are laid.

An ectoparasitic fly, Passeromyia longicornis, can kill a large proportion of nestlings during the breeding season. Competition with aggressive native birds and predation by introduced species are also identified threats.

Nest takeover frequency: Approximately 10 per cent overall, rising to approximately 15 to 17 per cent in some Bruny Island and mainland areas.

Main takeover stage: Approximately 80 per cent occurred during nest building before egg laying.

  • Schedule vegetation removal and high-disturbance works outside September to January where practicable.
  • If works cannot be avoided during breeding, complete targeted surveys of White Gum habitat and cavities and establish site-specific exclusion and monitoring measures.
  • Do not remove active nests, eggs, nestlings or occupied nest boxes without the required approvals and specialist direction.

Threats: Small populations and isolation

The remaining populations are concentrated mainly on Bruny Island and Maria Island, with smaller mainland and Flinders Island populations. Small, separated populations are more exposed to local fire, disease, poor breeding seasons and loss of habitat.

A site may be important even where only a few birds are detected. The species can occupy small White Gum patches, and absence during one survey does not by itself demonstrate that a patch is unused.

  • Use recent records, habitat mapping and targeted surveys together when assessing a project site.
  • Consider direct loss, edge effects and connectivity to nearby White Gum patches, not only the area of vegetation cleared.
  • Refer uncertain records or potential habitat to the relevant Tasmanian threatened species authority and the project ecologist.

Survey methodology: 1. Habitat inspection and area searches

Survey the Forty-spotted Pardalote in suitable White Gum habitat before works that may clear, burn, fragment or disturb habitat. The species is inconspicuous, but males are more vocal during breeding and both sexes can respond to playback.

First map all dry sclerophyll forest and open woodland containing White Gum, Eucalyptus viminalis, including small patches and individual mature trees.

Prioritise low coastal habitat in eastern Tasmania, usually within 5 km of the coast, with mature trees, hollows, a moderate to low shrub layer and a grassy or herb-rich ground layer.

Conduct area searches or transect point surveys early in the morning, when birds are active and calling.

Search for birds in pairs or small flocks, listen for the distinctive call and clicking sounds made while feeding, and inspect White Gums for birds feeding around the bases of leaf petioles.

Use the guideline effort of 20 hours over 4 days for areas of less than 50 ha.

Treat a failure to detect the species as inconclusive where suitable White Gum habitat is present, because the species is inconspicuous and may occur in small patches.

Recommended effort: 20 hours over 4 days

Recommended survey area: Areas of less than 50 ha

Typical survey period: September to January, with egg laying mainly in October

Survey methodology: 2. Playback surveys

Use broadcast playback in suitable White Gum habitat early in the morning during the breeding season.

Listen for solicited responses after each broadcast and record both calling and silent observations.

Use the guideline effort of 10 hours over 5 days.

Keep playback controlled and stop if birds show sustained agitation or repeated defensive behaviour around a nest or territory.

Recommended effort: 10 hours over 5 days

Most effective period: Breeding season, generally September to January

Detection response: Both sexes respond to playback calls, with males more vocal during breeding

Survey methodology: 3. Nest, hollow and habitat feature checks

Inspect mature and dead White Gums for hollows, and check small cavities in stumps, broken branches and fence posts where access is safe.

Record hollow-bearing trees, likely nest cavities, White Gum canopy cover, tree condition and the extent of connected suitable vegetation before disturbance.

Do not climb, open or otherwise disturb a suspected nest during the breeding season unless this is authorised under the project fauna management plan.

Use the presence of suitable habitat as a trigger for further targeted survey, even where the initial search detects no birds.

Nest period: Nesting activity begins in early August, with young generally fledged by September; the broader breeding season is September to January

Typical territory: About 0.7 ha, with a recorded range of 0.3 to 1.6 ha

Key food tree: Eucalyptus viminalis, which provides manna, lerp and leaf-dwelling invertebrates

Survey methodology: Minimum effort and reporting

  • Use the recommended effort that matches the survey method, and explain any departure from it in the ecological assessment.
  • Record survey dates, start and finish times, observers, weather, method, playback duration, transect or search area, habitat condition, White Gum abundance, hollows and all detections or non-detections.
  • Map each detection and each area of potentially suitable habitat using coordinates accurate enough to guide site protection and construction controls.
  • Submit confirmed records and relevant negative survey information to the relevant Tasmanian wildlife database and follow current state data submission requirements.
  • Report the species as a listed matter requiring project review if it is detected, or if suitable habitat may be impacted, and retain the original field data and photographs.

Before habitat disturbance: Avoid and minimise

Treat White Gum habitat as a potential impact area before clearing, construction, access formation, fire or other ground disturbance. The species is Endangered under both the EPBC Act and Tasmanian legislation.

Typical distribution of suitable habitat: Low coastal areas of eastern Tasmania, rarely farther than 5 km from the coast

Known movement constraint: All 67 banding recoveries were within 10 km of banding sites

Preferred tree: White Gum, Eucalyptus viminalis

  • Redesign the activity first to retain mature and dead White Gums, hollow-bearing trees, small White Gum patches and connected woodland.
  • Avoid clearing dry coastal White Gum forest and woodland, particularly habitat within 5 km of the coast and areas containing mature trees with hollows.
  • Retain live and dead trees because the species forages in White Gums and nests in hollows in live or dead trees, stumps, broken branches and other cavities.
  • Keep retained habitat connected where practicable, because adults are relatively sedentary, rarely move between suitable patches and rarely cross cleared areas.
  • Do not assume that a small patch or an individual White Gum is unimportant, because small pockets and individual trees can provide habitat.

Before habitat disturbance: Approvals and work planning

  • Check whether the action is likely to significantly impact the Endangered species or its habitat and obtain project-specific EPBC Act advice, referral or approval where required.
  • Check Tasmanian threatened species requirements, permits and approvals before survey, handling, clearing or relocation work begins.
  • Prepare a fauna management plan that identifies retained habitat, survey effort, exclusion areas, fauna spotter catcher authority, stop-work triggers, handling procedures and reporting contacts.
  • Schedule clearing and high-noise works outside the breeding season where practicable, noting that breeding generally occurs from September to January and nesting activity may begin in early August.
  • Stage works so that retained White Gum habitat and escape routes remain available while each work area is cleared.

Before habitat disturbance: Pre-clearance preparation

  • Complete the targeted survey before finalising clearing limits, including early morning playback and area searches in suitable habitat.
  • Mark retained White Gums, hollow-bearing trees, likely nest cavities, habitat patches and no-go areas on plans and on the ground.
  • Install exclusion fencing or other visible controls around retained habitat where machinery, vehicles, spoil or materials could enter it.
  • Brief machinery operators and the fauna spotter catcher on the species’ appearance, call, habitat, nest locations, stop-work triggers and escalation process.
  • Inspect nest boxes, tree cavities and other artificial or natural nest features before disturbance, and include them in the fauna management plan.

During habitat disturbance: Daily controls and machinery interface

Use a trained fauna spotter catcher to control the interface between machinery and retained habitat. The spotter catcher must have authority to stop work whenever an animal, nest or habitat feature is at risk.

  • Hold a daily pre-start briefing covering the approved clearing boundary, retained White Gums, exclusion zones, access routes and fauna observations from the previous shift.
  • Keep the fauna spotter catcher in a position where the operator can see and act on the direction to stop.
  • Clear progressively in short sections, inspect each section before machinery enters it and keep machinery out of retained habitat and exclusion zones.
  • Use low-speed, controlled movement near hollow-bearing trees, nest boxes, logs, stumps and dense ground cover.
  • Stop work immediately if the spotter catcher cannot safely inspect the next area, loses visual contact with the work face or identifies an unexpected habitat feature.

During habitat disturbance: Fauna handling and relocation

Fledgling dependence: Fledglings were fed for at least 8 days and appeared largely independent for food from 11 days after fledging

Preferred release setting: Nearby retained White Gum habitat, subject to authorisation and the fauna management plan

Translocation control: Any planned translocation requires separate assessment, authorisation and an approved translocation plan

  • Stop work and establish a quiet exclusion area if a Forty-spotted Pardalote, active nest or occupied cavity is found.
  • Do not capture, handle or relocate the bird unless the person is authorised under the applicable permit, licence and fauna management plan.
  • Allow an uninjured bird to move into nearby retained White Gum habitat where it can do so safely, and do not chase it through retained vegetation.
  • If authorised handling is required, use the least disruptive method, keep handling time short and release the bird into suitable nearby retained habitat identified before works.
  • Do not move nestlings or fledglings as a routine measure, because fledglings may depend on adults for food and foraging skills for about 10 days after fledging.
  • Refer an injured bird promptly to a veterinarian or authorised wildlife carer, and document the transfer.

During habitat disturbance: Habitat features and stop-work triggers

  • Stop work around any hollow-bearing tree, nest box, stump, broken branch or fence-post cavity that may be occupied until the fauna spotter catcher and project ecologist determine the authorised response.
  • Do not fell or damage a White Gum containing an active nest or suspected nest cavity until the relevant approval holder or wildlife authority provides direction.
  • Retain logs, stumps and other cavity features where they are within the approved retention area, and do not bury, burn or move them without assessment.
  • Stop work if clearing would isolate a retained White Gum patch, remove an escape route or expose retained habitat to machinery, spoil or fire.
  • Stop work and notify the project environmental officer if a fire, smoke event or unapproved clearing enters retained habitat, because wildfire is identified as a primary threat.

During habitat disturbance: Records and notification

  • Record every detection, nest, cavity, handling event, injury, relocation, stop-work event and restart decision on the day it occurs.
  • Photograph and map relevant habitat features where this can be done without disturbing the bird or nest.
  • Record the bird’s condition, action taken, release location, authorisation used and the names of the fauna spotter catcher and receiving wildlife carer or veterinarian.
  • Notify the project environmental officer and the relevant approval authority of any threatened species interaction, unauthorised impact, injury or mortality.
  • Update the clearing map and fauna management plan when field conditions differ from the approved design.

After habitat disturbance: Post-clearance checks

Post-clearance work must confirm that no animals, active nests or retained habitat features were missed and that protection controls remain effective. Continue monitoring where the works affect occupied or connected White Gum habitat.

  • Inspect the cleared area and the edge of retained habitat after machinery leaves, looking for injured birds, active nests, damaged hollow-bearing trees and isolated White Gums.
  • Complete a final fauna spotter catcher inspection before removing exclusion fencing or allowing general access.
  • Check that retained White Gums, nest boxes, logs, stumps and access routes remain intact and free from spoil, mulch, sediment and construction materials.
  • If an animal or active nest is found after clearing, reinstate the exclusion area and apply the during-disturbance stop-work procedure.

After habitat disturbance: Monitoring and controls

Recorded nest competition: Striated Pardalotes usurped about 10 per cent of Forty-spotted Pardalote nesting attempts overall, with rates of about 15 to 17 per cent in some Bruny Island and mainland areas

Monitoring period: Give priority to September to January, the usual breeding season

  • Monitor retained habitat during the next breeding season where the project removed or disturbed nearby White Gum vegetation, occupied habitat or nest features.
  • Use early morning playback, area searches or transect point surveys consistent with the species survey guideline when monitoring is required.
  • Inspect nest boxes and known cavities for use, competition and damage, noting that Striated Pardalotes have usurped about 10 per cent of monitored Forty-spotted Pardalote nest sites.
  • Maintain exclusion fencing, no-go signage, access controls and fire controls for as long as specified in the fauna management plan.

After habitat disturbance: Reporting and offsets

  • Provide the approval holder with a completion report covering clearing extent, retained habitat, fauna interactions, injuries or deaths, nest outcomes, rehabilitation commitments and monitoring results.
  • Submit confirmed records to the relevant Tasmanian wildlife database and meet all EPBC Act and state reporting conditions.
  • If approved impacts remain after avoidance and mitigation, implement any offset, covenant, habitat protection or other compensation measure required by the approval.
  • Do not use an offset as a substitute for retaining occupied White Gum habitat and hollow-bearing trees on the project site.

Rehabilitation actions: Restore White Gum habitat

Rehabilitation should rebuild White Gum woodland with mature tree recruitment, nesting cavities, food resources and connected habitat. It will not replace established mature trees quickly, so retain existing trees wherever possible and manage the site for long-term habitat development.

Key food resources: Manna, lerp and leaf-dwelling invertebrates associated with White Gum

Habitat structure: Dry sclerophyll forest or open woodland, usually with a moderate to low shrub layer and a dense, species-rich ground layer of grasses and herbs

  • Plant and protect Eucalyptus viminalis, White Gum, across cleared edges and suitable gaps within the species’ former or current habitat range.
  • Use local provenance and a mixed age structure where practicable, while retaining existing White Gums and other compatible eucalypts such as Eucalyptus globulus, E. pulchella, E. obliqua and E. ovata.
  • Restore a grassy or herb-rich ground layer and avoid creating dense shrub growth that changes the open woodland structure used by the species.
  • Reconnect retained White Gum patches with planted habitat where this is consistent with the approved restoration design.
  • Control weeds, prevent stock damage and protect new plantings from browsing, fire and construction traffic.

Rehabilitation actions: Replace nesting features

Known nest-site issue: Striated Pardalotes were the dominant competitor and took over about 10 per cent of monitored Forty-spotted Pardalote nest sites

Natural nest sites: Hollows in live or dead trees, and small cavities in stumps, broken branches and fence posts

  • Retain dead trees, stumps, broken branches and natural hollows wherever safe and consistent with the site design.
  • Install nest boxes only where the approved recovery or habitat plan identifies a need, and monitor use by Forty-spotted and Striated Pardalotes.
  • Design and place boxes to reduce access by larger or competing cavity nesters where this has been assessed by the project ecologist.
  • Do not assume that nest boxes alone improve breeding, because increased nest-site availability can also increase competition and density.
  • Inspect and maintain nest boxes outside the breeding season unless authorised monitoring is required.

Rehabilitation actions: Fire, pests and site management

Fire risk: Over 80 per cent of occupied habitat was identified as being at risk of fire in the draft recovery planning material

Fire management evidence: Severe, intense fires reaching the canopy are identified as a risk to White Gum habitat

  • Prepare a site-specific fire management plan that protects White Gum canopy, retained hollows and regenerating habitat from severe, intense fire.
  • Coordinate fire management with Tasmanian land managers and First Nations partners where appropriate, including cultural management and fire planning.
  • Prevent post-construction access, rubbish accumulation and activities that could increase fire ignition or damage retained trees.
  • Control introduced predators and aggressive competitors where authorised and supported by the approved management plan.
  • Monitor White Gum health, including canopy decline, drought stress and regeneration, because declining tree health can reduce food and nesting resources.

Rehabilitation actions: Rehabilitation monitoring and success measures

Population monitoring reference: A high-density population on northern Bruny Island was recorded at 1.57 breeding birds per hectare

Territory reference: Mean territory area was 0.7 ha, with a recorded range of 0.3 to 1.6 ha

  • Monitor planted White Gum survival, recruitment, canopy development, weed cover, ground-layer condition, hollow retention and nest-box condition at the intervals specified in the approval or rehabilitation plan.
  • Survey rehabilitated habitat during September to January using early morning playback and area searches or transects once vegetation is established and access is safe.
  • Measure whether the area retains connected White Gum habitat, supports mature tree recruitment and provides cavities or nest boxes suitable for the species.
  • Record Forty-spotted Pardalote detections, breeding activity, nest-box use and competition by Striated Pardalotes, and submit records to the relevant wildlife database.
  • Manage failed plantings, weed resurgence, browsing, erosion, fire damage or nest-box competition promptly rather than waiting for the next reporting cycle.

Sources