Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00635:reg:1:p5
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00635
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 1 (pt 5/23)
Character Range: 15697–18705

there are four known key breeding areas where the species is regularly recorded. These are the Bundarra-Barraba, Capertee Valley and Hunter Valley districts in New South Wales, and the Chiltern area in north-east Victoria. Breeding has also been regularly recorded in the Cement Mills-Durakai area west of Warwick, southern Queensland and in the Australian Capital Territory. Table 2 lists the regularly used areas, and surrounding subsidiary areas, used by the species.

3.3 Population trends

The regent honeyeater comprises a single population, with some exchange of individuals between regularly used areas (Garnett et al., 2011). The first population estimates for the regent honeyeater were formulated based on surveys conducted in the late 1980s; at the time it was thought there were approximately 1500 individuals across south-east Australia (Webster and Menkhorst 1992). As at 2010, the total population size is estimated at 350–400 mature individuals (Garnett et al., 2011; Regent Honeyeater Recovery Team, unpublished data), which represents a significant decline over the last 15-20 years.

Formerly distributed throughout the temperate woodlands and forests in south-eastern Australia, from the Adelaide region (South Australia) to 100 km north of Brisbane (Queensland). Current distribution shows that there has been a clear and continuing contraction in the regent honeyeater's range with species northern extent primarily restricted to the Gore-Karara region south of Brisbane and the species no longer being found in South Australia (Franklin et al., 1989; Regent Honeyeater Recovery Team, unpublished data). The distribution of the regent honeyeater is now extremely patchy with a small number of known breeding sites (Figure 1).

3.4 Biology and Ecology

3.4.1  Longevity
Generation length is estimated at eight years, but this estimate is considered to be of low reliability (Garnett et al., 2011). Observations of banded birds indicate that the regent honeyeater can live for over 10 years in the wild (Geering 2005, pers. comm.; Higgins et al., 2001; Recovery Team, unpublished data).

3.4.2   Diet
Like other species of honeyeater, the regent honeyeater utilises a variety of food resources. Its diet primarily consists of nectar, but also includes invertebrates (mostly insects) and their exudates (e.g. lerps and honeydew), and occasionally fruit. Its time spent foraging for nectar ranges from 10% to 90% depending on availability. Nectar is obtained chiefly from eucalypts and mistletoe, and regent honeyeaters appear reliant on select species which provide reliable nectar flows. Regent honeyeaters prefer taller and larger diameter trees for foraging, as these typically produce more nectar (Franklin et al., 1989; Webster & Menkhorst 1992; Menkhorst et al., 1999; Oliver 2000).

3.4.3  Movement patterns and habitat use
There appears to be regular movements by the species but there is also a high level of variability in the timing and pattern of movements between years,