NATIVE ANIMALS OF WOODY ISLAND

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1 NATIVE ANIMALS OF WOODY ISLAND A wide variety of bird life is sighted on the island, from land dwellers to those dependent on the sea. LAND BIRDS Brown Quail Synoicus ypsilophorus Occurs mainly on the eastern part of the island in open areas of wild oats. Its persistent calls and habit of bursting out from underfoot make it easy to find. Nests on island. Western Silvereye Zosteropd gouldi Another common nesting bird resident on the island. Recherche Cape Barren Goose Cereopsis novaehollandiae grisea A rare subspecies of the more common Cape Barren Goose found in the eastern states, the Recherche Cape Barren goose is larger and has different colouring. On Woody Island they are sometimes seen on the granite shores of the eastern bay and will allow fairly close viewing but may become hostile when nesting. Singing Honeyeater Meliphaga virescens Less abundant than the New Holland Honeyeater due to differences in their social structure but do occur in pairs throughout the island.

2 Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena Very common nesting bird resident on all parts of the island. Rock Parrot Neophema petrophila Small flocks of up to 12 birds are sometimes seen on the island. Spotted Pardalote (male left, female right) Pardalotus punctatus Red- Eared Firetail Finch Staganopleura oculata Found around the campsite. Often drinks from the water fountain. New Holland Honey Eater Phylidonyris novaehollandiae Probably the most abundant bird on the island. Noisy groups are found in all habitats. Nests can sometimes be seen only one metre above ground level in the melaleuca trees.

3 Brush Bronzewing Pghaps elegans Not as common as it was in the early 50's probably due to the changing environment following the cessation of grazing. Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis Very common in the tall eucalyptus and acacia stands on the eastern portion of the island. Fan- tailed Cuckoo Cuculus flabelliformis Sacred Kingfisher Halcyon sancta Australian Raven (crow) Corvus coronoides Sometimes sighted on the wooded eastern half of the island. Australian Nankeen Kestrel Falco cenchroides

4 Brown Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus Pairs of these birds often sighted and possibly nest on the island. Barn Owl Tyto alba A pair is sometimes sighted on the island although they are not a common sighting. SEABIRDS Sooty Oystercatcher Haematopus fuliginosus Very vocal birds seen on the south western tip of the island. Silver Gull Larus novaehollandiae Commonly seen in all area of the archipelago, sharing the south eastern tip of island with the sooty oystercatchers.

5 Pacific Gull (adult left, juvenile right) Larus pacificus These birds have the habit of dropping gastropods onto granite outcrops to expose the snail which it then eats. The shell cracking platforms occur on the south western and south eastern tips of the island. Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia Although not resident on the island, these birds are often seen flying along the southern coast of the island. White- bellied Sea Eagle Haiaeetus leucogaster Sighted in waters around the island and also breeds on the island. Black- faced Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscenscens

6 Little penguin Eudyptula minor Smallest penguin of the 18 species in the world and the only one to nest in Australia. Leaves its nest to go fishing at dawn, returning at dusk. Flesh- footed Shearwater Puffinus carneipes Occupied burrows of the shearwaters are sighted on the south coast of the island where soil is relatively deep. The island population increases at night and becomes quite vocal. REPTILES Are conspicuous on Woody Island due to the abundance of granite outcrops. Skinks Egerbua multiscutata Are abundant and because of their size and diurnal activity they are the most commonly seen lizard. Sighted on the whole island and particularly noticable on large granite rocks. Barking Gecko Gymnodactylus milii Common on the eastern sheltered side of the island.

7 Marbled Gecko Phyllodactylus marmoratus At night this gecko is often sighted on granite rocks even on the shore. It inhabits the whole island but more common on the eastern side. Grey s Skink Lygosma labillardiere Often seen on large granite outcrops and under rocks throughout the island. Four-toed Skink Lygosoma quadridigitatum Not commonly seen as they reside under the soil most of the time.

8 MAMMALS A few species of mammals are resident on the island. Ship Rat Rattus rattus alexandrinus Large numbers of these mammals are seen on the island and are the bane of the kiosk operators, but not in plague proportions. Ash- Grey Mouse Pseudonyms albocinereus This small rodent is native to the island and found in almost all areas. Western Grey Kangaroo Macropus fuliginusus An introduced species as the island is too small to support a viable population.