A rare bat last recorded in Cockburn more than 30 years ago is among abundant and diverse native fauna recorded during surveys in bushland reserves in the City of Cockburn’s eastern and central suburbs.
The near threatened Western False Pipistrelle bat was recorded at Banksia Eucalypt Woodland reserve in Aubin Grove.
The mammal is not commonly sighted in Perth and was last recorded in Cockburn in 1993, at the Harry Waring Marsupial Reserve in Wattleup.
A variety of birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals of local and conservation significance were recorded in 2024 as part of annual surveys commissioned by the City since 2019.
Completed by independent consultants on a rotational basis at City-managed reserves, the surveys help manage local and conservation-level species and identify threats, including feral animals.
Other conservation-level species observed in the surveys included Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo, Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, Peregrine Falcon, Rainbow Bee-eater, the Perth Lined-Slider skink and Quenda at reserves in Aubin Grove, Banjup, Beeliar, Hammond Park, Success and Treeby.
Locally significant fauna observations included a huge range of birds and several first-time recordings, King’s Skink, the Southwestern Cool Skink, and the Quacking Frog not usually detected on the Swan Coastal Plain.
Western Grey Kangaroo were observed at Clementine Park, Banksia Eucalypt Woodland Reserve and Frankland Reserve, demonstrating good ecosystem health and habitat connection.
City of Cockburn Acting Service Manager - Sustainability, Rafeena Boyle, said the surveys enabled the City to identify threats including cats, foxes, rabbits, rats and mice, plus opportunities for related community and landholder education.
The surveys make recommendations for feral animal management including fox and rabbit control, plus encouraging cat owners to keep their felines contained to help preserve native fauna.
“Official records of our local wildlife demonstrate the importance of managing fauna, particularly those of conservation significance, along with managing domestic cats and feral animals,” Ms Boyle said.
“Measuring fauna presence at particular reserves is a good indicator of how well a reserve is functioning as an ecosystem. It also demonstrates how well the City’s bushland crew maintains these reserves which are highly valued by the local community and important for safeguarding all species.
“It helps us plan weed management and revegetation to provide good quality habitat for fauna we want to attract and which already occur, including ways to create better habitat connections to nearby bushland reserves.”
The City aims to re-survey its reserves every five years to monitor any changes in the fauna population.
Other reserve highlights include:
Banksia Eucalypt Woodland Reserve, Aubin Grove –
- 3 amphibians, 17 reptile, 13 mammals, 48 bird species
- 87 potential habitat trees, five potentially with hollows and 13 with hollows up to and over 10cm
- 26ha of potential feeding habitat for Carnaby and Forest Red-tailed cockatoo
- A high density of bat species, 7 in total
- Very high quenda population
Frankland Reserve, Hammond Park –
- 2 amphibians, 16 reptile, 10 mammals, 26 bird species
- 10 potential habitat trees, two may contain hollows, one with a hollow up to 10cm
- 19ha of potential feeding habitat for Carnaby and Forest Red-tailed cockatoo
- High microbat diversity, 6 species detected
- Large flock of 16 Carnaby’s cockatoo observed feeding
- Peregrine Falcon pair observed roosting in communications tower
Beeliar Reserve, Beeliar –
- 4 reptile, 1 mammal, 17 bird species in this small reserve with good range of fauna due to closeness to large remnant bushland
- 7 habitat trees, one hollow suitable for Red-tailed Black Cockatoo breeding
- 1.3ha of potential feeding habitat for Carnaby and Forest Red-tailed cockatoo
Bosworth Reserve, Banjup –
- 5 reptile, 1 mammal, 26 bird species in this small reserve with reasonable fauna, quality remnant vegetation and connectivity to other reserves
- 1 potential habitat tree
- 1ha feeding habitat for Carnaby and Forest Red-tailed cockatoo
- 6 news bird species recorded
Clementine Park, Treeby –
- 5 reptile, 4 mammals, 30 bird species in this small reserve with potential to support diverse fauna
- 10 potential habitat trees, 4 with hollows
- 9.5ha of potential feeding habitat for Carnaby and Forest Red-tailed cockatoo
- 80%+ of the reserve contains high quality Banksia woodlands containing a rich and diverse shrub and low ground cover understorey
Emma Treeby Reserve, Banjup –
- 7 reptile, 1 mammal, 32 bird species in this small reserve with reasonable fauna assemblage
- 2 potential roosting trees for Forest Red-tailed cockatoo
- 1.3ha of potential feeding habitat for Carnaby and Forest Red-tailed cockatoo
- Presence of King’s Skink significant due to few unknown local populations due to urban development
- Rainbow Bee-eater observed nesting in adjacent reserve
Jubilee Park, Success –
- 6 amphibians, 1 reptile, 2 mammals, 39 bird species at this small reserve with high amphibian and bird diversity
- 60 potential habitat trees, two with hollows, five with potential hollows
- 2.76ha of potential feeding habitat for Carnaby and Forest Red-tailed cockatoo
- Quacking frog and Southwestern Cool Skink detected.
Caption: Black-faced Woodswallow eggs in a nest at Clementine Park, Treeby.
Caption: A quenda at Clementine Park, Treeby.