Where an action is likely to have a significant impact, and therefore determined to be a controlled action under the EPBC Act, additional surveys are likely to be required during assessment, particularly where high levels of uncertainty exist. Additional survey effort is likely to be required if loss of breeding habitat is proposed to occur, to establish the presence or absence of breeding birds. Where possible, undertaking additional surveys prior to referral may help to streamline the assessment of your action, including any offset obligations. These surveys should be carried out during the preferred time periods outlined in Table 2 and the results submitted in the referral. Where the presence or absence of breeding birds needs to be established, information must be provided concerning the use of hollows. Surveyors should look for and document evidence of chewing around the entrance of hollows and the presence of feathers at the base of the tree. Knocking on or raking the tree (scratching the tree truck with a pole) can elicit a response from a female who may be incubating eggs however this must be done during the day before mid-afternoon, as the female will leave the nest to be fed by the male. Where breeding is likely and there is evidence of presence, it is recommended that hollows be inspected directly. Surveys to determine presence or absence of breeding should always be undertaken by suitably experienced person(s). Table 2: Timing for surveys for black cockatoos Baudin’s Cockatoo Carnaby’s Cockatoo Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoo Swan Coastal to September January to July Any time of the year – – – Plain foraging habitat; may foraging habitat; night foraging habitat; night occur in breeding areas roosts; may occur after roosts; may be found of southern Swan July if breeding in local breeding in some Coastal Plain areas (e.g. Lake locations containing Clifton) suitable breeding tree species Wheatbelt Possible presence on July to February/March Possible presence on margins during breeding habitat and margins, depending – breeding season foraging habitat in upon resource (October to proximity availability - breeding breeding habitat and habitat and foraging foraging habitat in habitat in proximity proximity
Where an action is likely to have a significant impact, and therefore determined to be a controlled action under the EPBC Act, additional surveys are likely to be required during assessment, particularly where high levels of uncertainty exist. Additional survey effort is likely to be required if loss of breeding habitat is proposed to occur, to establish the presence or absence of breeding birds. Where possible, undertaking additional surveys prior to referral may help to streamline the assessment of your action, including any offset obligations. These surveys should be carried out during the preferred time periods outlined in Table 2 and the results submitted in the referral. Where the presence or absence of breeding birds needs to be established, information must be provided concerning the use of hollows. Surveyors should look for and document evidence of chewing around the entrance of hollows and the presence of feathers at the base of the tree. Knocking on or raking the tree (scratching the tree truck with a pole) can elicit a response from a female who may be incubating eggs however this must be done during the day before mid-afternoon, as the female will leave the nest to be fed by the male. Where breeding is likely and there is evidence of presence, it is recommended that hollows be inspected directly. Surveys to determine presence or absence of breeding should always be undertaken by suitably experienced person(s). Table 2: Timing for surveys for black cockatoos Baudin’s Cockatoo Carnaby’s Cockatoo Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoo Swan Coastal Plain to September – foraging habitat; may occur in breeding areas of southern Swan Coastal Plain January to July – foraging habitat; night roosts; may occur after July if breeding in local areas (e.g. Lake Clifton) Any time of the year – foraging habitat; night roosts; may be found breeding in some locations containing suitable breeding tree species Wheatbelt Possible presence on margins during breeding season (October to breeding habitat and foraging habitat in proximity July to February/March – breeding habitat and foraging habitat in proximity Possible presence on margins, depending upon resource availability - breeding habitat and foraging habitat in proximity
draft-revised-referral-guideline-black-cockatoos.docx