Australian Wildlife Services

Emus on Angas Downs

grw — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 01:41:42 +0000

In August 2010, Anangu Rangers took delivery of 20 emu chicks from an Emu farm in WA. They were flown into Ayers ROck airport by Qantas and driven to the Angas Downs Indigenous Protected Area. Emu populations are very low on Angas Downs as is the case in much of the Northern Territory. They are an important species to the local Anangu and traditional owners and to ecological processes. They have probably suffered from over hunting, due to the supplementation of traditional hunting methods with rifles and vehicles. Increasing the amount of important species such as emu and red kangaroo on Angas Downs is important to Anangu and is a key part of the Angas Downs Indigenous Protected Area Plan of Management: Angas Downs IPA Plan of Management - PDF 31.41 MB - 2009-07-08

In combination with land management and control of feral animals, Anangu rangers will implement an emu breeding program to increase emus in the landscape. Australian Wildlife Services is providing scientific support for this program. After successful breeding, the emus will be released into a larger sanctuary area on Angas Downs. Angas Downs rangers also received an egg incubator which will be used for increasing breeding success in following years. The chicks and incubator were bought with donations provided by the Rotary Club of Canberra Burley Griffin.

Quandongs and emus

There also has been much interest in the Emu’s ability to help regenerate Quandongs (Santalum acuminatum). Local knowledge has suggested that emus may increase the success of Quandong germination after the seed is eaten and has passed through the gut – this could be due to a combination of seed coat break down and being deposited in rich nutrient filled dung. But Quandongs need more than dung to establish – they need plenty of water, protection from grazing and, as they are a parasitic plant, they need to find a host to tap into with its roots (usually mulga or other shrubs). Emus also help to disperse the seeds across the landscape. It is a goal of Angas Downs to increase bush tucker species such as Quandong and will trial use of emus in Quandong regeneration in coming years. Also this subject has been researched by the Alice Springs Desert Park - Media Release.

ABC News Radio reports on the Emu-Quandong project and be heard here: Bush Telegraph and A Country Hour.

Emu Updates

The Emus which arrived at the Angas Downs Emu Sanctuary as baby chicks in August 2010 are doing well and growing up fast. Local chicks from the Alice Springs region have also been added for a bit of local genetics. The Angas Downs Rangers have been feeding and caring for the birds who have now lost all their stripes and look more and more like adult emus. Cheeky like them too! See photos and Video Link (below) to see their progress to March 2012.

Emu Video: Angas Emus growing up – March 2012 update

Photo courtesy of Gordon Sanders, Aug 2010.

Angas Downs Reptile and Bird Species Checklists

grw — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 05:22:00 +0000

Reptile and Birding checklists for Angas Downs IPA current to March 2012 are now available through the AWS website. The tally to date is 99 bird species observed (includes vagrant species) and 51 reptiles species. Angas Downs is an excellent diverse landscape and we are slowly learning its potential as a sustainable use conservation area.

If you are travelling through Angas Downs on the Red Centre Way, Luritja and Ernest Giles Roads or the Lasseter Hwy and spot a particular species of interest, let us know researchofficer@awt.com.au. Guided tours with AWS and Anangu Rangers can be set up given plenty of notice (contact us).

Angas Downs Reptile Checklist - PDF 728.54 kB - 2012-04-19
Angas Downs Birding Checklist - PDF 789.75 kB - 2012-04-19

Also see Angas Downs Reptile Surveys

Cybertracker training with Budj Bim Rangers, Winda-mara Aboriginal Corp, SW Victoria

grw — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 05:13:08 +0000

AWS have provided Cybertracker training to the Winda-mara Aboriginal Corporation’s Budj Bim Rangers in Heywood, south-west Victoria. Cybertracker is an easy way of collecting field-based GPS data for nearly any purpose. The Working on Country (WoC) rangers (see environment.gov.au) got together and worked out what information they wanted to collect – then with help from AWS learnt about how to tailor the Cybertracker to be useful. The rangers have since been trialing the new Cybertracker in the field. They can collect data on a wide variety of topics including cultural and heritage site maintenance, weed and pest control and revegetation. The rangers aim to collect data that shows the great work they do for the environment and cultural maintenance under the Australian Government’s Indigenous Protected Area, Working on Country and National Heritage Landscape programs.

Contact AWS Jenny Smits for more information researchofficer@awt.com.au. See also: Cybertracker on Angas Downs IPA Northern Territory.

Reptile trapping Angas Downs IPA — Late season March’12

grw — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 04:57:57 +0000

AWS and Angas Downs rangers undertook late season reptile trapping on Angas Downs IPA in March ’12 in order to better understand species occurrence and abundance throughout the year. Traps consisted of drift nets with combination of pitfall (buckets) and funnel traps. Results were surprising with many of the species caught in November 2011 no longer present, and new species not caught before now showing up in the landscape. New species not caught before on Angas Downs included the narrow banded sand swimmer Eremiascincus fasciolatus, the first live capture of a Yellow-faced Whipsnake Demansia psammophis (juvenile), Canegrass Dragon Diporiphora winneckei and Ctenotus brooksi. Species count for Angas Downs is now: 51 reptile species, 4 amphibians, 99 birds and 10 native mammals (including 1 bat).

Encouragingly, species not seen since 2010 were trapped including Pale Knob-tailed Gecko Nephrurus laevissimus, Desert Banded Snake Simoselaps anomalus and Interior Blind Snake Ramphotyphlops endoterus. Interestingly, no small marsupials or mammals were captured during the period although remote IR photographic capture of Spinifex hopping mice and track evidence show they are still in the landscape. More trapping is planned for October-December 2012.

For previous survey results visit click here and for species checklists click here.

Remote IR Cameras and Foxes on Angas Downs IPA, Northern Territory

grw — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 06:49:33 +0000

AWS staff and Angas Downs rangers have installed some remote infrared cameras across Angas Downs to capture native and pest animal movements to watering points. The cameras, 12 MP Acorn LT1 Night Vision cameras, have a blue flash that is invisible to animals. It records photos and videos in both day and night mode. You can view here a video of what was captured on the cameras during March 2012.

Most captures were of birds, horses, cattle, dingos, cats and one “wiley” fox (see picture). Foxes haven’t previously been identified as occurring in the area. Beautiful videos of Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo, hooded robins and Bourke’s parrots are some of the bird highlights. We also captured horses chewing on one of our brand new cameras! Interestingly, no camels or kangaroos yet — this is likely due to the good season and abundance of water in the landscape.

The rangers will use the cameras to make management decisions such as where to set cat traps and to see which waters are important for native species and kuka (game species). The cameras will be even more successful when the landscape dries up.

Click here to see the Angas Downs remote camera video on youtube.com

Click here to see the Angas Downs remote camera sample video on Picasa

(please note you must be logged into a Google or Picasa account to access Picasa WebAlbums)

ABC Country Hour reported on Angas’ use of remote cameras – click here for transcript and audio.

Indigenous Heritage Project – Rotary support

grw — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 09:39:19 +0000

AWS is coordinating a survey of Angas Downs to locate Indigenous Heritage.

It is part of a story by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation at

http://www.abc.net.au/rural/content/2012/s3465990.htm

Australian Wildlife Services GIS, Spatial Information & Mapping Capabilities

grw — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 04:05:33 +0000

AWS has full GIS capability in house using ArcGIS (ArcMap, ArcInfo), Mapinfo, Manifold. We interface these programs with Google Earth for easy customer viewing and use. Our mapping and GIS work ranges from digitizing hand drawn maps, complex spatial model development and producing spatial wildlife density estimates. AWS also works with Cadastral and Topographic digital databases, Landsat and SPOT imagery and can provide vegetation and fire mapping services. And our GIS analyst is reasonably priced.

GIS Services Available

Spatial data capture, analysis and management
Cadastral and topographic database and map production
Digital elevation models
Map delineation and digitization – hand drawn maps, weeds, geology, vegetation, control and survey work, proposed development, hydrology etc
Georeferencing
Analysis of remotely sensed data for classification, mapping and evaluation/monitoring of environmental factors
(vegetation, landuse, fire etc)
Boolean logic; multi evaluation criteria and objective assessments and models to support decision-making
Landsat TM and ETM analysis.

Examples of spatial analysis projects:

Wildlife population and biodiversity density assessment analysis and mapping
Digitizing hand drawn weed and weed survey maps for report publication
Vegetation classification, analysis and thematic mapping
Cultural and management data capture
Soil and geology mapping, water resource mapping
Proposed flight lines for aerial surveys.

For map examples and more information download AWS’s GIS Capabilities AWS GIS Capability - PDF - 2011-02-03

Introducing (more) large herbivores to Australia?

grw — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:00:09 +0000

In a Comment in Nature: ‘Introduce large mammals and increase hunting pressure’, David Bowman is proposing a more holistic approach to managing Australia’s troubled ecosystem. He advocates introducing large mammals such as elephants, rhinoceros and even Komodo dragons to help consume flammable grasses and control feral-animal populations. At the same time, he recommends employing Aboriginal hunters who could help to control feral-animal populations and restore the traditional practice of patch burning.

AWS believes this proposal is fundementally flawed. For one, it over looks that the Australian climate and hence the productivity of the environment is intrinsically one of boom and bust on a massive scale. How would he feed and water these large animals during the recurring busts? They would starve and trash the landscape as they starved. The impact of camels cattle and buffalo during droughts is already very damaging.

We are all in favour of more science to actively managing landscapes, and support for Aboriginal traditional practice and Aboriginal land managers to increase preferred species. How about more kangaroos to eat the grasses? They don’t produce methane, are adapted to the consequences of climate variability by controlling their breeding, and they are already here.

New Scientist refers to AWS views.

Buffalo and Carbon Farming Opportunities

grw — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 01:39:26 +0000

AWS has conducted a preliminary assessment of a buffalo and pig control project in Arnhem Land to determine if it is both feasible and cost-effective under the Australian Government Carbon Farming Initiative. We have determined it could generate significant revenues for landowners and the Indigenous Rangers conducting the project.Our analysis advocates that Indigenous Protected Area managers proceed with an emission reduction project. Removal of buffalo could generate an income which would more than cover the costs of the control operation. Benefiting from subsequent carbon sequestration is more complex; monitoring and measurement are expensive and time consuming but the income is substantially larger.

The proposed Australian Government Indigenous Carbon Farming Fund is dedicated to helping Indigenous communities enter the carbon market. Details of this program are not yet available and success in obtaining funds will take time. In the mean time Indigenous landholders have the option of proceeding with commercial investors. Doing so would enable the project to continue quickly but at a cost to the size of eventual returns for carbon units sold.

Superb Parrots Habitat Study

grw — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 01:08:47 +0000

AWS is investigating landscape use by the Superb Parrot in the Boorowa-Rugby region, NSW. For more information contact researchofficer@awt.com.au.