Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L01094:body:0:p13
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L01094
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 40198–43161

re-used in successive seasons, and it is likely that pairs remain together for several years (Woinarski & Bulman 1985). Generation length is estimated at 2.1 years (range 1.6–2.6 years) (Bird et al. 2020).

Breeding attempts can fail when nests are flooded or preyed upon (Milledge 1978; Woinarski & Bulman 1985), or when nests are neglected by their parents because of frequent territorial disputes with other birds including striated pardalotes and Petrochelidon nigricans (tree martins) (Blakers et al. 1984, Edworthy 2016). Reduction in the availability of manna during unsuitable conditions can also cause breeding attempts to fail. Manna can be lost during strong winds and dissolved during extended periods of heavy rain (Woinarski & Bulman, 1985), causing nestling mortality (F Alves 2023. pers comm 25 July). In some breeding areas, a lack of suitable nesting sites may force birds to nest in suboptimal sites that are more prone to disturbance and consequently, they are less likely to fledge young successfully (Milledge 1978; Bulman et al. 1986).

Parasitism of nestlings by the larvae of an ectoparasitic fly (Passeromyia longicornis) is the main cause of nestling mortality in areas of high parasite prevalence (Edworthy et al. 2019). In areas of high prevalence, the larvae exploit 87% of forty-spotted pardalote nestlings, resulting in 81% mortality in parasitized nests (Edworthy et al. 2019).

2.8.3 Movement patterns
Forty-spotted pardalote pairs are territorial, and relatively sedentary at permanently occupied sites (Bryant et al. 2021). Territory sizes have only been quantified on Bruny Island where, in one high-density population, territories of pairs ranged from 0.3 to 1.6 ha in size (Woinarski & Bulman 1985).

A recent genetic study on the species detected similar genetic diversity and low genetic differentiation across Bruny Island and adjacent populations (Tinderbox, Southport and Partridge Island), showing connectivity among these populations. The more isolated Maria Island had slightly lower genetic diversity and higher differentiation from the other remaining populations. Migrants from Bruny Island detected on mainland sites further confirmed movement between southern populations (Alves et al. 2023).

2.8.4 Fire regime
Forty-spotted pardalotes rely on white gum for food and habitat, so it is important to prevent fire reaching the canopy of mature white gum trees. To avoid hot burns which can damage forty-spotted pardalote habitat, cool patchwork burning on an 8–14 year interval is recommended to prevent build-up and reduce fuel loads. Where time since last fire exceeds 20 years and fuel loads are already very high, extreme care needs to be taken in reducing fuel loads through burning. Manual removal of fuel loads around mature white gum trees in critical forty-spotted pardalote habitat may be considered as an alternative.

2.9 Habitat critical to the survival
Habitat critical to the survival of a species