Table 10.6Records of Grey-headed Flying-fox in the Lower Hunter

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12.

12.1.1Existing Information

Information on camp locations was compiled from databases and records held by ecologists with experience of the Lower Hunter. There are two formally-recognised databases containing information about GHFF camps. The National Camp Database (DSEWPaC undated_b), which is administered by DSEWPaC, contains 269 entries for camps across VIC, NSW, QLD, SA and ACT. The OEH’s GHFF camp database (DECCW 2010a) lists camps that have been used by GHFF or the Black Flying-fox (Pteropus alecto) since 1990. The majority of the camps listed on the OEH database were documented during national GHFF surveys conducted between 1998 and 2005. A further update occurred in 2006/7 (shape file metadata, available through the OEH Spatial Data website). This data is accompanied by a camp-boundary spatial data file (DECCW 20010b). The OEH camp database has recently been updated as a result of a national GHFF camp census held in February 2013 (refer to Section 4.3.2).
Both the national and state databases show 12 camp locations within the Lower Hunter and an additional 18 within 50 km of the Lower Hunter. The OEH database provides some data about each camp, including:

• 
  accuracy of location (1 = very accurate, within 50 m; 2 = within 500 m; 3 = approximate);
  
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  species of flying-fox observed in the camp (GHFF, Black Flying-fox, Little Red Flying-fox – P. scapulatus);
  
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  an assessment against criteria for listing as critical to the survival (CTS) of the GHFF as set out in the draft Recovery Plan (DECCW 2010c) under the Commonwealth EPBC Act;
  
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  occupation pattern (disused, rare, irregular, annual, continuous, unknown; term undefined); and
  
• 
  location details (LGA, map sheet, latitude / longitude and MGA easting / northing).
  

A review was undertaken of the existing information regarding GHFF camp locations and various individuals, groups and agencies with an interest in flying-foxes provided input. These included wildlife carers, local ecologists, flying-fox enthusiasts, the HCRCMA and the Parks and Wildlife Group of OEH. Work to verify camp locations and characteristics was undertaken for the purposes of this study in October and November 2012 by contacting persons familiar with each site. In cases where the accuracy of location data was poor or the camps were newly-established, site information was verified by field inspection and discussions with landholders.

Table 12.2Grey-headed Flying-fox Camps in the Lower Hunter

12.3.1Seasonality

Flying-foxes occupy the majority of camps in the Lower Hunter on a seasonal basis. Exceptions to this pattern are the camp at Blackbutt Reserve in urban Newcastle, which is occupied continuously, and a recently-established camp at Lorn, which also appears to support a consistent flying-fox presence. In the majority of years, GHFF numbers in the Lower Hunter are highest in the warmer months of spring, summer and autumn, and all but the two continuously-occupied camps are empty in winter. This general trend is also evident when examining the dates of GHFF records from the Lower Hunter (refer to Table 10.4).
It is significant that GHFF are consistently present in the Lower Hunter from spring to autumn, as this coincides with birthing and raising of young. Actions that affect maternity camps (camps used by females during late pregnancy, birth and periods when young are dependent) potentially affect the reproductive output of the GHFF population. Twelve camps in the Lower Hunter are known to support breeding females (maternity camps):

East Cessnock	Blackbutt Reserve
Millfield	Fullerton Cove
Martinsville	Medowie
Morisset	Snapper Island
Hannan Street	Raymond Terrace
Lorn	Tocal

The presence of breeding females has not been confirmed at Throsby, Anna Bay or Bobs Farm due to access issues. However, each of these camps is occupied during the maternity season in sufficient numbers to make the presence of breeding females highly likely.

Typical vegetation characteristics of flying-fox roosting habitat (Eby 2002, Eby & Lunney 2002, Hall & Richards 2000, Peacock 2004, Roberts 2005) include:

• 
  closed canopy (rainforest, mangroves, floodplain or riparian forest dominated by Casuarina spp. or Melaleuca quinquenervia);
  
• 
  continuous canopy area >1 ha (ideally >10 ha in size); and
  
• 
  canopy height >5 m.
  

Whilst most camps in the Lower Hunter comprise of typical vegetation characteristics as described above, there are some exceptions:

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  the canopy height at the East Cessnock camp is atypically low, at approximately 5 m;
  
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  the extent of vegetation at the Hannan Street and Lorn camps is notably small; both contain approximately 0.2 ha of canopy vegetation that is open in structure and whose major components comprise of introduced species; and
  
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  the Tocal camp site includes Flooded Gum planted in the early 1990s. These plantings were approximately 20 years old when this camp was first used.
  

Table 12.4Vegetation Supporting Lower Hunter GHFF Camps

Typical characteristics of flying-fox roosting habitat (Eby 2002, Eby & Lunney 2002, Hall & Richards 2000, Peacock 2004, Roberts 2005) include:

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  within 50 km of the coast or at elevation <65 m;
  
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  close proximity to waterways (<500 m), commonly rivers or creeks;
  
• 
  level topography, <5˚ incline; and
  
• 
  positioned within nightly commuting distance (generally <20 km) of sufficient food resources to support the population of a communal roost.
  

GHFF camps in the Lower Hunter conform to these generalised camp characteristics (refer to Table 12.5). Seventeen of the camps occur within the coastal floodplain or areas associated with the coastal floodplain.