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Satin Flycatcher (Myiagra cyanoleuca)

The Satin Flycatcher is a migratory passerine of eastern Australia. It breeds in south-eastern Australia and Tasmania, winters in north-eastern Queensland and Papua New Guinea, and may occur on development sites where treed gullies, watercourses, woodland or forest remnants are retained. Clearing can remove habitat used during migration and may fragment movement routes between treed remnants.

Conservation status

South Australia, National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972: Endangered.

Breeding season

Timing varies across the species' range. The supplied information gives movement periods for Queensland and south-east Queensland, but does not provide exact breeding or dependent-young periods.

Month values are January to December. A value of 0 means not typical or not documented, 1 means occurs, and 2 means the documented movement period is most concentrated.

  • Northward movement and Queensland arrival: The species may move north from February to May. It may arrive in Queensland from August to November, with the cited account identifying this as the usual arrival window in Queensland.
  • Australian wintering and migration presence: The species winters in north-eastern Queensland before moving to Papua New Guinea. The supplied material states that it often leaves south-east Queensland in April, although northward movement can occur from February to May.
  • Highest clearing risk: Potential risk is highest when the species is present in Australian treed habitat during migration or winter. The supplied documents do not define a species-specific peak clearing-risk period, so the marked months reflect documented Australian presence and movement rather than a confirmed breeding-risk window.

Identification

The supplied documents provide taxonomic, habitat and behaviour information, but do not provide a plumage description, body measurements, weight, call description or diagnostic comparison with similar flycatchers. Identification in the field should therefore be confirmed with an Australian bird field guide or an experienced ornithologist.

The species is a migratory flycatcher that usually moves singly or in small groups through treetops. It generally remains in the canopy and subcanopy rather than feeding on the ground.

Scientific name: Myiagra cyanoleuca

Typical movement: Singly or in small groups through treetops

Usual flight and feeding zone: Canopy and subcanopy, generally below the wind turbine rotor swept area in the cited wind farm assessment

Identification: Distinguishing features and field signs

No species-specific plumage measurements, weight, call, nest description, tracks, scats or other field signs are provided in the supplied documents. A bird seen actively sallying from canopy or subcanopy perches for flying insects may fit the documented behaviour, but this behaviour alone is not diagnostic.

  • Record the location, habitat, perch height, flight direction, group size and photographs where possible.
  • Treat records based only on a brief flycatcher sighting as unconfirmed unless the bird can be identified reliably in the field or from a clear photograph.

Distribution: National range

The Satin Flycatcher has a broad but scattered distribution along the eastern side of Australia. Its distribution changes seasonally, with breeding in the south-east and Tasmania and wintering farther north.

In Australia, the species breeds in south-eastern Australia and Tasmania. It occurs in Queensland mainly during migration and winter, with records and suitable habitat extending through eastern Queensland.

  • Relevant Australian regions include Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and eastern Queensland.
  • The supplied material describes the species as widespread along the east coast but scattered, rather than continuously distributed.

Distribution: Known records and population

At the Callide Wind Farm study area in central Queensland, the species was not recorded during the survey period. Two records occurred within 10 kilometres of the study-area boundary, and another record occurred about 40 kilometres away at Kroombit Tops National Park. The assessment considered the species an occasional visitor where suitable habitat was present.

Estimated population: 170,000 birds

Callide study-area records: No records during the survey period

Nearby records: Two records within 10 kilometres and one record about 40 kilometres away at Kroombit Tops National Park

Habitat: Habitat types

Satin Flycatchers use treed habitats with a developed canopy and subcanopy. Gullies and watercourses are particularly relevant on development sites because they can retain taller, denser vegetation within otherwise open woodland.

Breeding habitat includes heavily vegetated gullies in eucalypt-dominated forests and taller woodlands. During migration, the species also occurs in coastal forests, woodlands, mangroves, drier woodlands and open forests.

  • Prioritise assessment of tall eucalypt woodland and forest in or near gullies.
  • Inspect treed watercourses, drainage lines and connected woodland remnants, including vegetation outside the proposed clearing footprint.
  • Do not assume that open woodland is unsuitable, because the species can use drier woodland and open forest during migration.

Habitat: Structural features

The documents identify mature or taller vegetation, canopy and subcanopy habitat, heavily vegetated gullies, and connected treed areas as the main habitat features. They do not provide a minimum tree height, stem diameter, elevation limit or required patch size.

  • Map tall canopy, subcanopy, gully vegetation and treed links between remnants before clearing.
  • Retain canopy continuity where practicable, particularly along gullies and watercourses.
  • Include nearby retained vegetation in the impact assessment because the species can move between remnants across cleared ground.

Foraging habitat: Diet and feeding method

The Satin Flycatcher feeds above ground in the canopy and subcanopy. It is an aerial insect hunter and foliage gleaner, so clearing that removes tall trees can reduce both perches and feeding surfaces.

The species feeds arboreally. It usually sallies from a perch to take prey in the air, or picks prey from foliage and branches. The supplied documents describe its prey generally as aerial or foliage-dwelling invertebrates and do not identify particular prey species or food plants.

  • Search the canopy and subcanopy when assessing potential use of a site.
  • Record repeated sallies, canopy foraging and use of individual perches during fauna surveys.
  • Avoid relying only on ground-based searches, because the species rarely comes to the ground to feed.

Foraging habitat: Foraging area

No species-specific home-range size, foraging radius or daily travel distance is provided. The assessment notes movement between remnant treed vegetation across cleared ground and use of treed habitats below the rotor swept area.

  • Assess the proposed clearing together with nearby treed remnants, gullies and movement links.
  • Consider temporary loss of canopy perches and feeding surfaces as well as permanent vegetation removal.

Breeding habitat: Breeding habitat

The supplied documents identify the broad breeding distribution and breeding habitat, but do not provide nest, clutch, incubation, fledging or maturity details. Avoid assuming that a bird using a site during migration is breeding there.

The species breeds in south-eastern Australia and Tasmania. In Australia it is associated with heavily vegetated gullies in eucalypt-dominated forest and taller woodland. The documents do not state whether the Callide study-area habitat is used for breeding.

  • Treat heavily vegetated gullies and taller eucalypt woodland as potential breeding habitat where the species is present in the breeding range.
  • Confirm breeding use through targeted observations of territorial behaviour, nest building, adults carrying food or dependent young before clearing.
  • Protect retained canopy and subcanopy habitat around any confirmed nest or breeding activity in accordance with project approvals and fauna handling procedures.

Breeding habitat: Breeding biology

The supplied documents do not state the breeding months, clutch size, incubation period, fledging period, age at maturity or lifespan.

Breeding range: South-eastern Australia and Tasmania

Breeding season: Not stated in the supplied documents

Clutch size: Not stated

Incubation: Not stated

Age at maturity: Not stated

Lifespan: Not stated

Sheltering habitat: Likely shelter features

The supplied documents do not describe specific roosts, nests, hollows or shelter sites for the Satin Flycatcher. Available information indicates that the species remains closely associated with trees, canopy and subcanopy habitat while moving and feeding.

The species uses treed habitats and moves through treetops. Specific nest and roost structures, including tree size, hollow dimensions and preferred ground cover, are not provided.

  • Inspect dense canopy and subcanopy vegetation, gully trees and woodland remnants for active birds before clearing.
  • Retain connected treed cover where practicable, especially along watercourses and gullies.
  • Do not remove a tree solely because no nest is visible, because the documents do not establish that nests are readily detectable or restricted to hollows.

Sheltering habitat: Site protection

During migration, the species may cross cleared ground between remnant treed vegetation. Retained trees therefore have value as movement and stopping habitat even where breeding is not confirmed.

  • Stage clearing to avoid removing all connected treed cover from a gully or watercourse at once.
  • Maintain escape routes to retained vegetation when fauna are being released from an active clearing front.

Threats: Clearing and fragmentation

The supplied assessments identify habitat removal, fragmentation and potential turbine collision as relevant development pathways. The cited wind farm assessment rated collision and indirect impacts for the Satin Flycatcher as very low because it generally forages and moves within the canopy, but this does not remove the need to manage clearing impacts.

Clearing tall woodland, forest, gully vegetation or watercourse vegetation can remove canopy and subcanopy habitat. Fragmentation can reduce movement links between remnant treed areas, although the species can cross cleared ground during migration.

  • Avoid clearing heavily vegetated gullies and treed watercourses where practicable.
  • Retain connected canopy between woodland remnants.
  • Clearly mark no-go vegetation and prevent machinery encroachment into retained canopy and root zones.
  • Schedule clearing after a pre-clearance inspection by an appropriately qualified fauna ecologist or spotter catcher.

Threats: Collision and construction disturbance

The cited wind farm assessment considered collision and indirect operational impacts very low because the species forages and moves within the canopy. The assessment also noted that it was not recorded in the study area during the survey period, although suitable habitat and nearby records were present.

  • Use site records and habitat mapping to determine whether additional bird monitoring is needed before construction or operation.
  • Record fly-throughs, repeated use of canopy corridors and any injured or dead birds during construction and operation.
  • Apply project-specific fauna handling, injury response and incident reporting procedures.

Threats: Other threat pathways

The supplied documents do not identify species-specific effects from roads, fire, introduced predators, disease or hydrology change. These pathways should still be assessed where a project removes or modifies the forest, woodland, gully or watercourse habitat used by the species.

  • Assess road widening, traffic and night works where they remove or isolate treed habitat.
  • Assess fire regimes and hydrology changes where they alter gully vegetation, canopy condition or watercourse vegetation.
  • Control domestic animals and introduced predators around retained habitat in accordance with the project environmental management plan.

Survey methodology: 1. Diurnal habitat and detection survey

The Satin Flycatcher is a migratory, canopy-foraging passerine. Survey effort should focus on eucalypt woodland, forested gullies and treed watercourses, including habitat retained beside the disturbance footprint.

Search suitable habitat during daylight, especially woodland that intersects gullies and watercourses.

Record visual sightings and calls from the ground, with attention to the canopy and subcanopy. The species usually forages high in trees by sallying for flying insects or taking prey from foliage and branches.

Survey retained vegetation, the proposed clearing footprint and connected treed habitat around the footprint. Map all records, habitat patches, watercourses, gullies and likely movement routes across cleared ground between treed remnants.

Habitat: Heavily vegetated gullies in eucalypt forest and taller woodland, plus coastal forest, woodland, mangroves, drier woodland and open forest during migration.

Foraging level: Mainly canopy and subcanopy; rarely feeds on the ground.

Callide Wind Farm records: Not recorded in the study area, with two records within 10 kilometres and another approximately 40 kilometres away.

  • Undertake surveys in the periods when the species may be present in Queensland, with particular attention from August to November and again before departure, commonly February to May, noting that timing varies between regions.
  • Avoid treating a failed survey as evidence of absence because the species was not recorded during the Callide Wind Farm survey period despite suitable habitat and records within 10 kilometres.

Survey methodology: 2. Seasonal utilisation survey

Use repeated fixed observation points or transects that provide views through the canopy and subcanopy of suitable habitat. Record survey date, start and finish time, weather, wind, cloud, visibility, observer effort and the area searched.

Record each individual, behaviour, height band, direction of travel, habitat used and whether it is foraging, roosting, moving through the site or crossing cleared ground.

Where the project could affect listed migratory fauna, use a Before, After, Control, Impact design where practicable. Include comparable reference sites in retained or unaffected habitat.

Documented minimum for the Callide Wind Farm assessment: At least 24 months, with each relevant season covered and up to 8 survey events specified in the Commonwealth request; four events were completed across spring and autumn over 24 months.

Detection limitation: The species may move singly or in small groups through treetops and may move at night during migration.

  • Complete surveys in each relevant season over at least 24 months where the project assessment requires site utilisation data, following the Callide Wind Farm approach of four survey events across spring, the early wet season, and autumn, the late wet season, over 24 months.
  • Include the proposed turbine, road, compound, transmission and clearing areas, with sufficient visibility to assess the likely disturbance footprint and nearby retained habitat.
  • Schedule surveys in suitable weather and record conditions that could reduce detection, including strong wind, heavy rain, poor visibility or dense foliage.

Survey methodology: 3. Targeted construction pre-clearance check

Before each clearing stage, inspect the footprint and an appropriate adjoining retained-habitat area for Satin Flycatchers using the canopy, subcanopy, gullies and treed watercourses.

Use a suitably qualified ecologist to check for birds that are present, roosting or repeatedly moving through the work area, and to identify habitat that should be retained.

Repeat the check if clearing is delayed, the season changes, or the work area is altered.

  • Use direct observation and call detection as the primary methods because the available project evidence describes an arboreal species and does not provide a species-specific trapping, spotlighting or nest-search protocol.
  • Do not use ground-based trapping as a method for this species unless a suitably qualified ecologist and the relevant wildlife authority approve a separate method.

Survey methodology: Minimum effort and reporting

  • Prepare a site-specific survey design that states the survey area, points or transects, dates, duration, observers, weather, visibility and detection method.
  • Record all sightings and calls, including records outside the clearing footprint, with coordinates, habitat type, behaviour, height and direction of movement.
  • Submit verified records to the relevant state or territory wildlife database and provide records required by the project approval, fauna management plan and land manager.
  • Retain negative results, effort data, photographs, maps and observer qualifications so that absence claims can be assessed against the effort completed.
  • Obtain advice from the relevant state or territory wildlife authority before using any capture, handling or relocation method.

Before habitat disturbance: Avoid and minimise

Treat suitable treed gullies, watercourses and connected woodland as potential Satin Flycatcher habitat. The species is not listed under the EPBC Act in the supplied project information, but it is identified as migratory and is listed as Endangered in South Australia in the supplied record.

Retain heavily vegetated gullies, treed watercourses, taller eucalypt woodland and links between treed remnants wherever practicable.

Keep clearing away from canopy and subcanopy habitat used for foraging and movement, particularly where woodland intersects a gully or watercourse.

Avoid creating isolated vegetation remnants or removing narrow treed links that allow birds to move between habitat patches and across cleared ground.

Prevent unnecessary removal of mature trees and dense vegetation in and beside the disturbance footprint, even where no bird is detected during the pre-clearance check.

  • Prioritise avoidance of habitat that provides continuous canopy, subcanopy cover or a sheltered route along a gully or watercourse.
  • Use the smallest practicable clearing footprint and clearly mark retained vegetation before machinery enters the site.
  • Set project-specific no-go areas and buffers through the environmental management plan, using advice from the project ecologist and relevant state authority where the supplied documents do not specify a distance.

Before habitat disturbance: Approvals and planning

Confirm the species status in the relevant state or territory before works start, because the supplied information identifies a South Australian Endangered listing and migratory status but does not provide state rules for every jurisdiction.

Check whether the project, action or species records trigger state wildlife permits, threatened fauna approvals, vegetation clearing controls or a fauna management plan.

The supplied documents do not identify the species as nationally threatened under the EPBC Act, but obtain a current EPBC Protected Matters or species-status check before finalising the approval pathway.

  • Obtain written advice where the project may affect migratory bird habitat, particularly if it could substantially modify habitat, disrupt movement or cause mortality.
  • Include the species in the project fauna management plan, clearing plan, incident response procedure and environmental induction.
  • Stage clearing so that survey results can be reviewed before each work area is released.

Before habitat disturbance: Site preparation

Complete and document a pre-clearance survey immediately before each clearing stage, with attention to the canopy, subcanopy, gullies and watercourses.

Mark retained habitat, watercourse vegetation, exclusion areas and approved access routes on the ground and in the work plans.

Install exclusion fencing where it can keep machinery and personnel out of retained habitat without blocking required fauna movement.

Brief the fauna spotter catcher, supervisors and machine operators on the species' appearance, canopy use, migratory timing and stop-work procedure.

  • Inspect for birds that are present or repeatedly using the area, and record any flight path between treed remnants and nearby habitat.
  • Schedule the most disruptive works outside periods of known local use where practicable, using local survey results rather than assuming that the species is absent outside a particular month.
  • Control dust, noise, lighting and unnecessary night work near retained treed habitat.

During habitat disturbance: Daily controls and supervision

Use a staged, supervised clearing process. The fauna spotter catcher should be able to see the active work area and communicate directly with the machine operator and site supervisor.

Complete a daily pre-start check of exclusion fencing, marked habitat, weather, active work areas and any new fauna records.

Keep the fauna spotter catcher present during clearing of suitable habitat and positioned where the canopy, subcanopy and ground beneath the work area can be monitored.

Clear in small, controlled stages towards retained habitat where safe, allowing mobile fauna to move away from machinery.

Use a spotter catcher who is authorised under the relevant state or territory requirements for fauna handling and relocation.

  • Stop machinery before the spotter catcher enters the exclusion zone or approaches a tree, log, rock pile or other habitat feature.
  • Maintain direct radio or visual contact between the spotter catcher, machine operator and supervisor.
  • Do not allow workers to chase, net or handle a Satin Flycatcher unless the person is authorised and the action is necessary for animal welfare or approved fauna management.

During habitat disturbance: If a bird is found

Stop work in the immediate area if a Satin Flycatcher is perched, repeatedly flying through the work zone, injured or trapped.

Allow an uninjured bird to leave naturally where it can move into nearby retained vegetation without being driven towards traffic, machinery or other hazards.

If handling is necessary, use only an authorised and suitably trained person, minimise handling time and follow the approved fauna management plan and state permit conditions.

Take an injured bird to an appropriately qualified veterinarian or contact an authorised wildlife carer through the project emergency procedure.

  • Record the species, location, time, behaviour, condition, action taken, release location and personnel involved.
  • Do not relocate a healthy bird simply because it is present if it can safely leave the work area by itself.
  • Use a nearby retained habitat release site only when relocation is authorised and the spotter catcher considers the bird fit for release.

During habitat disturbance: Habitat features and stop-work triggers

Treat mature trees, dense canopy, logs, rocks, ground cover, watercourse vegetation and connected treed links as potential supporting habitat, even though the supplied documents do not identify a species-specific nest or roost feature.

Do not remove or damage retained habitat, watercourse vegetation or marked exclusion areas without approval from the environmental officer and project ecologist.

Stop work and reassess if the species is found using the clearing area, if repeated movements through the work zone are observed, or if an injured or dead bird is discovered.

Stop work if clearing extends outside the approved footprint, exclusion fencing fails, weather reduces visibility, or the spotter catcher cannot safely monitor the active area.

  • Escalate any repeated record, mortality, collision or disturbance event to the environmental officer and approval holder on the same day.
  • Update the clearing sequence, exclusion area or management controls before restarting where the trigger indicates a risk to the species.
  • Do not assume that absence from the ground means absence from the site because the species forages mainly in the canopy and subcanopy.

After habitat disturbance: Post-clearance checks

Check the completed work area and retained habitat after each clearing stage. Use the results to adjust later stages and the project fauna management plan.

Inspect the cleared area, retained vegetation, access tracks and watercourse edges for injured or dead birds, displaced fauna, damaged exclusion fencing and unapproved vegetation damage.

Complete a follow-up check after machinery leaves the area and after any event that could cause collision or disturbance.

Map the final clearing boundary and all retained habitat, including treed gullies, watercourses and links between remnants.

  • Treat any dead or injured bird as a reportable fauna incident under the project approval and fauna management plan.
  • Investigate whether the incident involved clearing, vehicle movement, overhead infrastructure, lighting or loss of a movement route.
  • Repair exclusion fencing and reinstate damaged retained habitat controls before the next work stage.

After habitat disturbance: Monitoring and reporting

Continue site utilisation monitoring where the project approval or Bird and Bat Management Plan requires before and after comparison.

Use comparable reference sites where practicable so that changes in use can be separated from seasonal variation and broader movement patterns.

Report survey effort, records, incidents, habitat loss, retained habitat and management responses to the approval holder and relevant regulator.

  • Maintain the Before, After, Control, Impact dataset where that design forms part of the project approval or management plan.
  • Submit verified records to the relevant state or territory wildlife database.
  • Review the results after each construction stage and amend controls if the species is recorded using the affected habitat.

After habitat disturbance: Offsets and residual impacts

Assess residual loss of suitable woodland, gully or watercourse habitat under the applicable state, territory or Commonwealth approval framework.

Do not use an offset as a substitute for avoiding and minimising clearing of occupied or suitable habitat.

Where an offset or rehabilitation commitment applies, specify the habitat type, location, protection period, management actions and monitoring measures.

  • Obtain approval for any offset proposal before relying on it to address residual impacts.
  • Include migratory bird habitat values in the residual impact assessment where the project could affect movement or foraging habitat.

Rehabilitation actions: Restore habitat structure

Rehabilitation should restore connected, structurally diverse woodland and gully habitat used by a canopy and subcanopy insectivore. The supplied documents do not name plant species or provide a Satin Flycatcher nest-box prescription, so local reference vegetation and an ecologist's design should guide species selection and structure.

Re-establish locally occurring eucalypt woodland and taller woodland appropriate to the site, with understorey and midstorey structure that reconnects retained trees along gullies and watercourses.

Use local provenance plants selected from nearby reference vegetation and approved by the project ecologist or land manager.

Restore a layered canopy and subcanopy over time because the species forages by sallying for insects and taking prey from foliage and branches.

Reinstate natural drainage and protect revegetated watercourse margins from machinery, grazing and erosion.

  • Prioritise links between retained treed remnants rather than isolated planting blocks where the project has removed a movement route.
  • Do not plant rainforest as a default, because the supplied project assessment states that the species is generally absent from rainforest.
  • Replace failed plants and control competing weeds until the rehabilitation area is established.

Rehabilitation actions: Habitat features and threat control

Retain suitable fallen timber and natural ground cover where they do not create a safety or fire hazard, recognising that the supplied documents do not identify a Satin Flycatcher-specific dependence on logs, rocks, hollows or nest boxes.

Do not install nest boxes unless local surveys identify a need and a qualified ecologist provides a design, placement and maintenance plan; the supplied documents describe foraging habitat but do not document nest-box requirements.

Control invasive plants and prevent introduced predators, domestic animals and stock from damaging revegetation or retained habitat, using site-appropriate methods and approvals.

Manage fire in accordance with the site's ecological fire plan, protecting developing woodland, gullies and watercourse vegetation from avoidable high-intensity fire.

  • Use fencing or other controls to exclude grazing where grazing would prevent canopy, midstorey or watercourse recovery.
  • Keep rehabilitation areas connected to retained vegetation and free of unnecessary night lighting.
  • Remove temporary construction materials and reinstate approved habitat features after works finish.

Rehabilitation actions: Monitoring and success measures

Monitor plant survival, weed cover, canopy and subcanopy development, watercourse condition, connectivity and use by Satin Flycatchers during the period required by the approval.

Repeat bird surveys using consistent locations, seasons and effort so that records can be compared with the pre-construction baseline.

Use local reference habitat to set measurable rehabilitation targets where the approval does not specify them.

  • Record Satin Flycatcher sightings, calls, behaviour, height and movement between restored and retained vegetation.
  • Replace failed plants, repair erosion, maintain exclusion fencing and revise weed, predator or fire controls when monitoring shows that rehabilitation is not progressing.
  • Report rehabilitation outcomes and all species records to the approval holder, relevant regulator and relevant state or territory wildlife database.

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