A fauna survey in Yarrara Flora and Fauna Reserve and adjacent reserves in North-Western Victoria: Fauna Survey Group contribution No. 27

In 2014, the Fauna Survey Group of the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria undertook a fauna survey in the Yarrara area in far north-western Victoria. Although this was a general survey, of particular interest were the White-browed Treecreeper and Major Mitchell's Cockatoo. The surveys included bird counts along 15 transects previously established for the monitoring of the treecreeper population, as well as three pitfall lines, the use of Elliott traps, harp traps, remote cameras and active searching. Ninety-five vertebrate species were detected, including 10 species listed under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988, either as an individual species or part of a listed community. Over 50 detections of White-browed Treecreeper were recorded. There were no detections of Major Mitchell's Cockatoo. Four specimens of Little Pied Bat were captured and released. This species had not previously been recorded in the Victorian Biodiversity Atlas and is listed as endangered in South Australia and vulnerable in New South Wales. The survey helped to document the vertebrate faunal composition of this area and added new species to existing lists for the Yarrara, Mallanbool and Meringur Flora and Fauna Reserves. The results highlight the important role that smaller conservation reserves play in conserving biodiversity in the Mallee landscape. The Victorian Naturalist 133 (1), 2016, 10-20)