Creation of Buffers (Level 2) Actions - Monitoring Data Sheet

Flying-fox monitoring data sheet

Level 2 Management actions – creation of buffers

When conducting Level 2 management actions (creation of buffers), it is important to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of those actions.

Monitoring is essential to assess what has and what hasn’t worked when managing flying-fox camps (see Monitoring, evaluation and reporting fact sheet). This will aid the development of more effective management actions in the future.

Level 2 management actions should not be carried out with the aim of killing, harming or dispersing flying-foxes.

Licences or approvals may be required before you undertake Level 2 management actions at a flying-fox camp. Health and safety considerations should also be assessed. See the Level 2 Management Actions fact sheet for more details.

Monitoring conditions will often be stipulated in licence conditions, and are usually focused on assessing the response of flying-foxes to the management actions. These may include:

• Mapping the flying-fox camp including key features and how they are used by flying-foxes. To understand the impacts of management actions, this should be done before, duringand after the actions are implemented.
• Measuring area of roost vegetation removed through clearing, and area of additional habitat identified or revegetated. Count trees used previously for roosting, and for each tree the species, height, diameter of the trunk and radius of the canopy.
• Conducting detailed flying-fox counts including species present, numbers, condition of animals, and presence of pregnant females or females with young. Again, this should be done before, during and after the actions are implemented. Surveys should be conducted one month, six months and 12 months after the management actions are complete to understand the long-term impact of the management actions.
• Recording details of flying-fox behaviour during management activities, including signs of visible distress, injury or death.
• Surveying affected neighbours and the local community before and after management actions to monitor their response to the outcomes of the management actions as an integral part of the community engagement strategy.

Please send a copy of completed data sheets to the relevant Office of Environment and Heritageregional office that is responsible for issuing any certificates or licences for the work. Alternatively, data can be sent to:

Flying-fox camp location (address or GPS coordinates)
Flying-fox camp number
(see National Flying-fox monitoring viewer)
Map of the flying-fox campprior to management activities, showing key features, camp boundary, area of occupation by flying-foxes and other relevant information. See Appendix A for example. Date:
Map of the flying-fox camp prior to management activities, showing area of proposed vegetation removal and/or revegetation. See Appendix B for example.
Flying-fox population survey
Prior to Level 2 (creation of buffers) management actions
Date
Time
Surveyors
Flying-foxes present (yes/no)
Species present (Grey-Headed Flying-fox, Black flying-fox, Little Red flying fox)
Final count
Breeding status (presence of pregnant females or females with young)
Comments on condition of flying-foxes
Local community survey
Before Level 2 (creation of buffers) management actions
Date of survey
Number of people surveyed
Number of responses
Questions asked
Summary comments on survey responses
Flying-fox behaviour survey
During Level 2 (creation of buffers) management actions
Date(s)
Time(s)
Surveyors
Flying-foxes present (yes/no)
Species present (Grey-headed flying-fox, Black flying-fox, Little Red flying-foxy)
Breeding status (presence of pregnant females or females with young)
Comments on behaviour of flying-foxes during Level 2 (creation of buffers) management activities
Signs of visible injury, stress or death of flying-foxes during Level 2 (creation of buffers) management activities
Map of the flying-fox camp after management activities, showing key features, camp boundary, area of occupation by flying-foxes and other relevant information such as area of vegetation removed and area revegetated. See Appendix A for example. Date:
Flying-fox population survey
After Level 2 (creation of buffers) management actions
Date
Time
Surveyors
Flying-foxes present (yes/no)
Species present (Grey-headed flying-fox, Black flying-fox, Little Red Flying fox)
Final count
Breeding status (presence of pregnant females or females with young)
Comments on condition of flying-foxes
Local community survey
After Level 2 (creation of buffers) management actions
Date of survey
Number of people surveyed
Number of responses
Questions asked
Summary comments on survey responses

Appendix A

Example of a map of a flying-fox camp, showing key features, camp boundary, area of occupation by flying-foxes and other relevant information.Ecosure (2015) Cannes Reserve (Avalon) Flying-Fox Management Plan.

Appendix B

Example of a map of a flying-fox camp, showing area of proposed vegetation removal and/or revegetation. Ecosure (2015) Cannes Reserve (Avalon) Flying-Fox Management Plan.

OEH 2015/0724