were near groups of nesting silver gulls Larus novaehollandiae (Sagar 1978; Higgins & Davies 1996; Garnett & Crowley 2000; Miskelly et al. 2001). Dispersion Often gregarious, forming flocks after breeding and in the non-breeding season. Breeding may be solitary or colonial. Detectability Conspicuous at sea and on land, particularly when in flocks. Recommended methods At sea, shipboard surveys. For inshore waters, boat transects and observation from onshore vantage points using telescopes. On land, area searches or transect surveys. Detection of flying birds, and nests. Scanning through mixed flocks of roosting or foraging terns is a potentially useful method of detection. Surveys of beach cast birds may provide an opportunity to detect this species, though they provide little information on origins of specimens as bodies are usually displaced by currents and winds. Colony sites are well documented, with the only Australian breeding occurring at (Higgins & Davies 1996). Survey effort guide Methods Hours Days Shipboard surveys 20 3 Inshore boat surveys 5 5 Roost site scans 8 10 Land-based sea observations* 8 4 Land-based area searches or transects** 12 4 * Most effective method to conduct during rough weather. ** In potential breeding areas, for sites up to 10 ha. Antipodean albatross Common name Antipodean albatross Scientific name Diomedea antipodensis Family Diomedeidae
Defend year-round territories that are about 18 ha on average. Generally seen in pairs or family groups. Detectability Nocturnally active. Secretive but tame and approachable day and night. Males often give a territorial call. Recommended methods Broadcast (playback) surveys are effective, especially in lead-up to breeding. Also, listening for unsolicited calls about dusk, beginning just before nightfall, especially early in the breeding season (that is, before egg laying). Survey effort guide Methods Hours Days Broadcast surveys* 2 2 * Conducted during the night, preferably about dusk. Coxen’s fig parrot Common name Coxen’s fig parrot Scientific name Cyclopsitta diophthalma coxeni Family Psittacidae EPBC Act status Endangered Distinctiveness Perched birds normally unmistakable if seen clearly, though some risk of confusion with little Glossopsitta pusilla, musk G. concinna and scaly-breasted Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus lorikeets. Confusion with lorikeets most likely in flight (Higgins 1999). Movements
Probably seasonal, altitudinal migrants (Holmes 1990; NSW NPWS 2002). However, movements may be a result of habitat decline and may vary with local food availability. Where food resources are capable of supporting a part or whole population throughout the year, altitudinal migrations may be reduced or absent (NSW NPWS 2002). In some highland areas, from August to February, birds may move to progressively higher altitudes following the wave of ripening fruit through the rainforests (Holmes 1995). Ripening fig and other fruit in the lowlands from March to about October may encourage the fig parrots to follow this food resource. Lowland figs have a winter fruiting peak and at this time, fig parrots may travel in search of food in small flocks (Holmes 1990). Breeding season Nest construction is thought to begin in August and breeding from October to December or January. Habitat Lowland subtropical rainforest, dry rainforest, littoral and developing littoral rainforest. Sub-littoral mixed scrub, riparian corridors in woodland, open woodland and otherwise cleared land, and urban and agricultural areas with fig trees (Holmes 1990; Garnett & Crowley 2000; NSW NPWS 2002). Dispersion Usually seen in pairs, especially in summer, or in small parties of up to seven, more common in winter (Holmes 1990). Detectability Quiet and unobtrusive when feeding. Sometimes noticed by quiet chattering calls and falling debris. May be noisy and conspicuous in flight. Recommended methods Search area for potential nesting trees or fruiting fig trees. Conduct watches of food trees, especially during early morning and late afternoon at dawn and dusk. These often involve observers lying on their back looking at the focal tree with binoculars. The birds are more likely to be heard than seen, and listening may also be an effective survey strategy as their calls are diagnostic. Falling fruit particles and fruit strips under trees may also indicate their presence. Surveys are organised regularly by the NSW NPWS in accordance with an established protocol (NSW NPWS 2002). These are done intermittently during the non-breeding season (January–July) to identify areas with evidence of recent nesting activity. These searches focus on preferred habitats within localities of recent, credible incidental sightings, or at localities judged to be potentially important based on knowledge of the bird’s past
Survey effort guide Methods Hours Days Shipboard surveys 15 3 Land-based sea observations* 8 4 * Most useful during periods of rough weather. Scarlet robin () Common name Scarlet robin () Scientific name Petroica multicolor multicolor Family Petroicidae EPBC Act status Vulnerable Distinctiveness No similar species on . Movements Present throughout year (Hermes 1985; Robinson 1997); presumably sedentary. Breeding season Late September to March (Moore 1981; Schodde et al. 1983; Robinson 1988, 1997). Habitat Mainly inhabit native rainforest, with lower densities in habitats dominated by palms Rhopalostylis baueri or exotic African olives Olea europaea, and very occasionally in exotic eucalypt forest (Robinson 1988, 1997; Major 1989). Dispersion Usually seen singly or in twos. Resident and defend territories year-round. Territory sizes in rainforest, 0.42 ha (n=4); palm, 0.73 ha (n=2), resulting in
most honeyeaters finches babblers bowerbirds Diurnal transect surveys along watercourses (kingfishers and swallows) or roads (other groups). For species with very low abundance of individuals or aggregations (for example, some finches), targeted searches for required habitat features such as waterholes. Organise watches of these features, especially in the early morning or late afternoon. Detection by call, sighting and indicative signs. Inconspicuous cuckoos fairy-wrens emu-wrens grasswrens warblers bristlebirds pittas thrushes robins whistlers thornbills treecreepers pardalotes Diurnal area searches or transect-point surveys in areas of favoured habitat in and around the study area. Detection mostly by sighting and calls. Early morning broadcast surveys for secretive species (for example, bristlebirds) within favoured habitat. Detect solicited calls and sightings. Usually most effective before and during the breeding season. Mist-netting in dense habitat for selected secretive species (for example grasswrens). BIO95.051