A baseline survey of the bats of Sydney Olympic Park was conducted over 2001-2002 to provide information on the occurrence, distribution and abundance of the various microbat species present in the Parklands throughout the year. Bats had last been surveyed at Sydney Olympic Park in the pre-development surveys of 1993. Large-scale site remediation and redevelopment works since these surveys significantly changed the nature of the land and its habitats, and created a need to update bat species information to better manage biodiversity values.
Surveys were conducted over three seasons of 2001-2002, within the Newington Nature Reserve, Bicentennial Park and the Brickpit. Survey techniques included:
Eight species of microbats were identified during the surveys, including two threatened species. Neither of these species had been recorded at Sydney Olympic Park prior to 2001. Newington Nature Reserve and the Brickpit had a high level of bat activity, however activity within Bicentennial Park was lower than expected, given the apparent high habitat value of the mangrove forest.
Females Lesser long-eared bats were radiotracked to roost sites within the roof cavities of a number of heritage buildings adjacent to Newington Nature Reserve, whereas males of this species were generally tracked to roosts under the bark of large, dead Swamp Oak trees (Casuarina glauca) within the Reserve. Maternity roosts of the Gould's Wattled Bat, White-striped Mastiff Bat, Little Freetail Bat and Lesser Long-eared Bat were identified within some of the heritage buildings adjacent to the Reserve. The large Bent-wing Bat was identified roosting within stormwater drains in areas close to Sydney Olympic Park.
Bat Species recorded during the seasonal bat surveys of Sydney Olympic Park 2001-2002.
|
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Brickpit |
Newington Nature Reserve |
Bicentennial Park | ||||||
|
S |
A |
W |
S |
A |
W |
S |
A |
W | ||
|
Family MOLOSSIDAE |
||||||||||
|
White-striped Mastiff Bat |
Tadarida australis |
E |
E |
E |
E |
E |
||||
|
Little Freetail Bat |
Mormopterus sp.1 |
E |
E |
E |
E |
E |
E |
E |
E | |
|
Family VESPERTILIONIDAE |
||||||||||
|
Gould's Wattled Bat |
Chalinolobus gouldii |
E |
E |
E |
E, H |
E |
E |
E |
||
|
Chocolate Wattled Bat |
Chalinolobus morio |
E |
||||||||
|
Little Bent-wing Bat* |
Miniopterus australis |
E |
||||||||
|
Large Bent-wing Bat* |
Miniopterus schreibersii |
E |
E |
E |
E |
E |
E | |||
|
Lesser Long-eared Bat |
Nyctophilus geoffroyi |
H |
H |
H |
||||||
|
Eastern Broad-nosed Bat |
Scotorepens orion |
E |
E |
|||||||
KEY: E Detected from Echolocation call; H Captured in Harp trap
* Species listed as Vulnerable on Schedule 2 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.
S summer, A autumn, W winter survey period
Results of the study add to the knowledge of the biodiversity values of the Parklands, and will be used in the planning, design and management of works and activities within the Parklands. The study also informs education and interpretation programs run in the Parklands. Some of the habitat management issues being considered are protection of significant roost sites, provision of artificial roost boxes, extension of forested feeding areas, and minimisation of lighting in sensitive areas.