Wildlife of Australia (Princeton Pocket Guides) - Softcover

Campbell, Iain; Woods, Sam

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9780691153537: Wildlife of Australia (Princeton Pocket Guides)
Softcover
ISBN 10: 0691153531 ISBN 13: 9780691153537
Publisher: Princeton University Press, 2013

Synopsis

The go-to introductory guide to Australia's diverse wildlife and habitats

Ideal for the nature-loving traveler, Wildlife of Australia is a handy photographic pocket guide to the most widely seen birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and habitats of Australia. The guide features more than 400 stunning color photographs, and coverage includes 350 birds, 70 mammals, 30 reptiles, and 16 frogs likely to be encountered in Australia's major tourist destinations. Accessible species accounts are useful for both general travelers and serious naturalists, and the invaluable habitat section describes the Australian bush and its specific wildlife. Animal species with similar features are placed on the same plates in order to aid identification. Wildlife of Australia is an indispensable and thorough resource for any nature enthusiast interested in this remarkable continent.


  • Easy-to-use pocket guide

  • More than 400 high-quality photographs

  • Accessible text aids identification

  • Habitat guide describes the Australian bush and its specific wildlife

  • Coverage includes the 350 birds, 70 mammals, 30 reptiles, and 16 frogs most likely to be seen on a trip around Australia


"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author

Iain Campbell, a native of Australia, lives in Quito, Ecuador, with his wife and children. The builder of the Tandayapa Bird Lodge and founder of Tropical Birding Tours, he serves as a nature guide to locations around the world. Sam Woods is a full-time nature guide for Tropical Birding Tours. He has led tours in Australia, South America, Asia, Africa, and North America.

From the Back Cover

"Well-organized and clear, this book is easy to navigate. The photographs are consistently good, the selection of species is judicious, and the valuable habitat section establishes the right context for the treatment of diverse fauna. This guide provides a good taste of the Australian wildlife experience for both the casual watcher and the experienced observer."--Alan McBride, coauthor of The Complete Guide to Finding the Birds of Australia

"This informative and easy-to-read book presents Australia's habitat and wildlife, not just for the fanatical birder or naturalist, but for the general reader as well. I was impressed by the habitat images and the fact that the book touches upon what would most likely be seen during a trip to Australia."--Tony Palliser, chairman of the Birdlife Australia Rarities Committee

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Wildlife of Australia

By Iain Campbell, Sam Woods

PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS

Copyright © 2013 Princeton University Press
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-691-15353-7

Contents

Preface and Acknowledgments................................................3
Vegetation Associations of Australia.......................................4
Habitats...................................................................6
Mammals....................................................................26
Birds......................................................................54
Amphibians.................................................................258
Reptiles...................................................................262
Abbreviations..............................................................276
Glossary...................................................................277
Further Reading............................................................279
Photo Credits..............................................................280
Index......................................................................281

Excerpt

CHAPTER 1

HABITATS


A. Sandy Cays and Barrier Reefs

Australia has two large barrier reef systems, one of which is located along thenorthwest Australian coastline, which is inaccessible and rarely visited. The other,the Great Barrier Reef, extends from east of Cape York Peninsula in ne. QLD, southto Gladstone in c. QLD. Parts of this massive reef system are very accessible andtherefore are some of the most popular tourist attractions in the country. In a veryfew localities within this large system the coral sands have become concentrated toform small sparsely vegetated sandy cays, or islands. These remote cays are incrediblyimportant for seabird colonies, as they provide safe areas free from land predators.In 2011 one of these well-visited islands, 4-acre Michaelmas Cay, near Cairns,held 160,000 breeding seabirds. More than thirty seabird species have beenrecorded there, with Sooty Terns and Brown Noddies providing the greatest numberof nesting birds in the colony. Other species regularly seen around thereinclude Great Crested, Lesser Crested, Little, Bridled, and Black-naped Terns;Great Frigatebirds; and Brown Boobies.


B. Mangrove

An intertidal wooded habitat concentrated on the north and northeast coastlines ofAustralia. More than twenty species of mangrove occur in the Cape York Peninsula(in the far northeast), and only a handful of species extend as far as NSW near thesouthern limit of the habitat. Forest formation varies from monotypic clusters totall forests with multiple, well-developed stories (i.e., canopy, midstory, and under-story),all of which have a muddy substrate with conspicuous lenticels (emergentroots). Good mangrove systems can be found around Darwin, Brisbane, andCairns, which have boardwalks that allow access to birds such as Australian YellowWhite-eye, Collared Kingfisher, Mangrove Honeyeater, Large-billed Gerygone, andLittle Kingfisher. In general, mangroves are well protected, owing to their inaccessibility,except in eastern Australia, where there has been extensive clearing for touristdevelopment (e.g., Surfer's Paradise and the Gold Coast, QLD).


C. Coastlines

Most of western, southern, and southeastern Australia (including TAS) is dominatedby rocky coastlines and clean sandy beaches. The beaches tend to be dominatedby shorebirds such as Pied Oystercatcher and Whimbrel, and in habituatedparts of Australia are very prone to human disturbance. This has had an adverseeffect on sensitive birds such as Hooded Plover. Rocky coastlines are less prone tohuman disturbance and therefore provide refuge for species such as fur seals, nestingSooty Oystercatchers, and colonies of Black-faced Cormorants. Rocky headlandsare also good places to look for pelagic species such as whales, albatrosses,and shearwaters.


A. Alpine Heath

Alpine heath occurs along the mountain ridges, above the tree line, from LamingtonNational Park (QLD) south to, and including, TAS. This habitat generally compriseswaist- to head-high dense shrubs, with occasional scattered trees. Goodexamples are found at Barren Grounds (NSW), Snowy Mountains (NSW), andCradle Mountain National Park and Mount Wellington on Tasmania. Althoughalpine heath is generally low in species diversity, and few species are restricted tothis habitat, some of them are more abundant or conspicuous there, such as BeautifulFiretail, Flame Robin, Striated Heathwren, and Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo.Some rarer species are found only in this habitat, such as the scarce and secretiveEastern Bristlebird, and Corroboree Frog.


B. Coastal Heath

A widespread habitat that extends from north of Perth all the way around thesouth coast to c. QLD that grows on sand-dominated soils. The most extensiveexamples can be found where there is a strong Mediterranean climate, such as s.NSW, TAS, and southernmost WA. In general appearance and structure, coastalheath is similar to alpine heath, but the former is much more diverse in terms ofboth plant and animal life. Although the climate is often wet in these areas, theplants show adaptations to avoid desiccation in these windy environments. Banksiasare common, but in shrub form, such as Banksia eriquofolia and Banksia serrate,which are very important for nectarivorous birds like honeyeaters. Reptilesthat can be expected in this habitat include Red-bellied Black-Snake, DeathAdders, Short-beaked Echidna, Red-necked Wallaby, and Rufous-bellied Pademelon.Typical birds from this habitat include Swamp Harrier, New Holland Honeyeater,White-cheeked Honeyeater, Little Wattlebird, and Red-eared Firetail (in WAonly).


C. Coastal Scrub

Essentially a denser, more forestlike form of coastal heath. It generally forms inmicroenvironments within coastal heaths, where there is greater protection fromwind, and in local areas with higher clay content in the soil. Coastal scrub is dominatedby banskias in tree form such as Banksia intergefolia. Inside these smallenclaves of microhabitat it genuinely feels lush and rainforest-like, as reflected inthe bird and animal community. Eastern Yellow Robin, Lewin's Honeyeater, SpangledDrongo, Blue-tongued Skink, and Brown Snakes are found there, all of whichare less abundant in the surrounding heath.


A. Tropical Rainforest

Tropical rainforest is confined to a small coastal area of Cape York Peninsula and amore extensive area known as the Wet Tropics in the Cairns region of ne. QLD. Itis characterized by a large variety of evergreen trees that form a thick canopy and arelatively open understory, owing to poor light penetration. It appears much likethe picture postcard images of rainforest in the tropics of the world, such as thatfound in New Guinea, Borneo, and the Amazon. The animal life is highly specialized,often found only in this habitat, and shows a greater affinity with the island ofNew Guinea to the north than it does with the drier regions through the rest ofAustralia. Indeed, some bird species are even migratory between Australia andNew Guinea, such as Buff-breasted Paradise-Kingfisher, Chestnut-breastedCuckoo, Channel-billed Cuckoo, and Red-bellied Pitta. Other spectacular residentbirds and families that are representative of New Guinea forests include the mightySouthern Cassowary, Noisy Pitta, and Spotted Catbird. Mammals are representedby some very distinct species, such as Striped Possum, Lumholtz's Tree Kangaroo,Musky Rat-Kangaroo, Red-legged Pademelon, Spectacled Flying Fox, and the possumlikecuscus. Reptiles and amphibians are also well represented by Jungguy TreeFrog, velvet geckos, and Boyd's Forest Dragon. Good examples of this habitatinclude the Daintree/Cape Tribulation area of QLD.


B. Montane Rainforest

Also known as subtropical rainforest, it occurs in the high mountains of the AthertonTablelands (ne. QLD) and continues in isolated pockets southward into c.NSW. In the south of this range it occurs at lower elevations than in the warmernorth, being found right down to the coast around n. NSW (e.g., the Big Scrub).This habitat has undergone extensive clearing for timber production, cane farming,and dairy farming, and only very small pockets now remain. Good examples ofthis habitat can be found around the Atherton Tablelands in Curtain Fig, MountLewis, Mount Hypipamee National Park, and Lake Barrine; and in s. QLD at LamingtonNational Park. Lowland remnants occur around the Mount Warning/ Murwillumbahin n. NSW. Some of the animals represented in this habitat includeVictoria's Riflebird, Australian Logrunner, Chowchilla, Regent Bowerbird, GreenCatbird, Great Barred Frog, Lesueur's Frog, Mountain Brushtail Possum, and Red-leggedPademelon.


C. Tropical Palm Forest

A microhabitat within rainforests, including both tropical and montane rainforests.Although the microhabitat looks highly distinctive in terms of plant life, the animallife is very similar to that found in the surrounding rainforests. In n. QLD it can bea good place to find Striped Possum, Northern Brown Bandicoot, Orange-footedScrubfowl, Papuan Frogmouth, and Carpet Python. In s. QLD and n. NSW, such ason Mount Tamborine, tropical palm forests can be good places to search forAlbert's Lyrebird and Marbled Frogmouth. Probably the most accessible patch ofthis kind of forest can be found within the Centenary Lakes complex withinCairns.


A., B., and C. Wet Eucalypt Forests

Eucalypt forests are also known as sclerophyl forests. They are found from coastale. QLD to VIC, all over TAS, and in sw. WA. Although very variable, these forestsshare the characteristic of being dominated by several tall eucalypt canopy speciesand having an understory of many other plant families. Viewed from a distance theforest looks very different from rainforest, but the distinction can be gradual, withrainforest within the gullies and eucalypt on the ridges. Up close the understoryplant composition can be similar to that of rainforests, with some of the same speciesrepresented—and therefore similar animals as well—but the canopy is muchmore open, because it comprises straighter, slimmer-trunked trees that bearsmaller leaves, which leads to a more extensive, denser understory than in the well-shadedrainforests. Therefore, in some areas (e.g., Mount Lewis, QLD) the distinctionbetween wet eucalypt forest and rainforest is gradual and inconspicuous.Furthermore, so-called rainforests of Tasmania (photo A), are in fact largely weteucalypt forests with some rainforest species represented in the understory andcanopy. In the Blue Mountains of NSW (photo B) and the jarrah forests of sw. WA(photo C) the distinction is far clearer, with massive stands of monotypic eucalyptcanopy trees, little midstory, and a thick understory. Birds typical of these highlyvariable environments include Superb Lyrebird, Scarlet Robin, Superb Fairywren,Eastern Spinebill, Yellow Wattlebird, and Black-headed Honeyeater. The classic weteucalypt forest animal is the Koala, with others such as Platypus, Common Wombat,Common Ringtail Possum, and Red-necked Wallaby also occurring, in additionto the distinctive Pink-tongued Skink.


A. Karri Forest

Karri is a very distinctive type of wet eucalypt forest that is confined to extremesouthwestern WA. Karri trees are a truly massive eucalypt species and are the largestof all Australian trees. Karri is also one of the tallest hardwood trees on Earth.This kind of forest is literally dominated by this one large tree species, making it avery striking habitat, characterized by the karris' enormous trunks, with fewbranches present except at the very highest levels, no midstory, and a sparse understorydominated by wattle trees (acacia). On the ground the prevalent cover is providedby ferns. Karri forest is generally depauperate in terms of animal species,although some western bird specialties can be found there, like Western Spinebill,Western Yellow Robin, and Western Thornbill, as well as more widespread speciessuch as White-cheeked Honeyeater. These forests are centered on Pemberton in sw.WA.


B. Open Eucalypt Forest

These forests are found bordering wet habitats (including wet eucalypt forest, rainforest,and heaths) inland from the coast in a broad arc covering eastern and southernAustralia, but are absent from the exceptionally dry areas of the south aroundthe Great Australia Bight. (i.e., all of eastern Australia around to Adelaide, and thenagain from Esperance around to Perth). Any drive between Brisbane and Melbournewill be spent mostly in this habitat. A very open wooded habitat, with scatteredtrees, usually dominated by just a few slim-trunked eucalypt trees. It alsogenerally has an extensive grassy understory. This is the habitat generally picturedwhen tourists think of the classic Aussie bush scene. It has been extensively clearedfor sheep farming. This is a very diverse habitat with many animals, includingKoala, Euro, Whiptail Wallaby, Peron's Tree Frog, Eastern Brown Snake, and EasternStriped Skink, to name but a few. Birds found there include Spotted Pardalote,Glossy Black Cockatoo, Scarlet Honeyeater, Crested Shrike-Tit, Gray Butcherbird,and the familiar Noisy Miner.


C. Monsoon Forest

Dense forests found only on the coastal extremities of northern Australia that growin areas with pronounced dry and wet seasons, and shed their leaves during the dryseason. They occur in four distinct localities: most often along dry creek beds indry terrains (Howard Springs, NT); along sandstone escarpments (NourlangieRock, Kakadau NP); in low-lying areas along the coast (East Point, Darwin), andaround the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Cape York Peninsula within shallow,almost indiscernible, broad depressions. Monsoon forests are characterized by athick canopy, although they are generally shorter overall than tropical rainforests,and have a shady, vine-dominated, open understory with a deep and extensivelayer of leaf litter. Birds typical of this restricted habitat include the gorgeous RainbowPitta, Buff-sided Robin, and the striking but localized Black-banded Fruit-Dove(found only around escarpments). In the Cape York Peninsula, where theseareas are found in depressions, the species composition reflects that found in thesurrounding rainforest, such as Magnificent Riflebird, Fawn-breasted Bowerbird,Yellow-billed Kingfisher, and Green-backed Honeyeater. All these species are rareand local and restricted to Cape York Peninsula.


A. Tropical Wetland

These are large expanses of water, often containing mats of floating vegetation—sometimesbordered by reeds in shallow areas, and pandanus where there aresteeper banks—found in the humid tropical regions of northern and northeasternAustralia. Lilies are a major component, so this habitat is important for Comb-crestedJacanas, often referred to as "Lily-trotters," as well as Magpie-Geese andGreen Pygmy-Geese. Massive congregations of Magpie-Geese can occur in suchareas, numbering in the tens of thousands. Close inspection of pandanus can revealNorthern Water Dragon. Pandanus also provides an important nesting habitat forCrimson Finch. Many of these wetland areas are temporal (e.g., Marmuluk inKakadu NP), containing water only in the December to April wet season, whileothers are permanent, like Mareeba Wetlands in QLD and Yellow Waters Billabongin Kakadu National Park, which has water year-round. Artificial wetlands like FoggDam in the NT provide a similar habitat. These are very important for waterbirdsespecially, and in some areas (e.g., Yellow Waters) they provide great opportunitiesfor exploring by boat, where kingfishers, cranes, herons, egrets, whistling-ducks,and dotterels can be seen congregating in significant numbers and feeding alongsidespectacular wildlife such as Australia's most feared predator, the EstuarineCrocodile.


B. Temperate Billabong

These permanent oxbow lakes in temperate Australia lack the floating vegetation oftheir tropical counterparts and therefore often hold a mix of species different fromthat found in tropical wetlands. Waterbirds are often the most visible wildlife inthese areas, where congregations of ibis, ducks, rails, herons, and shorebirds occur.The composition of these groups may be quite different from that found in tropicalwetlands, however. For example, few whistling-ducks are seen, although temperateduck species such as Blue-billed, and Musk Ducks, and Australian Shoveler can befound along with others such as Red-necked Avocet and Yellow-billed Spoonbill.In inland Australia the borders of these wetlands are dominated by Red RiverGums, and it is this tree that forms a crucial habitat for hole-nesting birds in theregion such as Superb Parrot, the yellow form of Crimson Rosella, Regent Parrot,Pink Cockatoo, and White-browed and Masked Woodswallows. Barking Owls andSouthern Boobooks also often are found at their highest concentrations in theseareas with abundant nesting sites. Because such areas are important water sourcesfor animals, a variety of wallabies and other mammals may be seen around dawnand dusk in such areas.


C. Inland Dry River

Inland dry rivers can also comprise a significant component of Red River Gumsand therefore can be similar to temperate billabongs (see preceding section); however,they rarely contain water. Some flow for short periods only every few years.Thus these habitats are of little importance for waterbirds and as local sources ofwater for animals, although they retain their importance for hole-nesting bird species.They occur throughout inland Australia.


A. open Woodland

A mixed woodland that usually comprises acacias, cypress pines, and eucalypts,although generally with no dominant canopy species. It is often disheveled lookingwith trees of varying heights and a great variety of tree species and tree forms—somemultistemmed, others single-trunked. The canopy is not closed, and there isa significant development of the midstory. Although there is little understory, usuallythere is a substantial cover of grasses on the ground, with minimal leaf litter.As this habitat is so varied, it takes many different forms, and many different namesare applied to it. The most common form is known as Brigalow, found in c. NSWup to c.s. QLD. This habitat is diverse in terms of animal life, with birds such asWestern Gerygone, Varied Sittella, and Yellow-rumped Thornbill, as well as reptileslike Eastern Bearded Dragon and Burn's Dragon. Mammals are represented byEastern Gray Kangaroo, and Feral Pigs are a prominent pest there.


B. Mallee

Mallee is a localized type of scrublike woodland dominated by a few mallee speciesof eucalypts and forms a distinctive structure. It is a dangerously uniform habitat,in which it is remarkably easy to get lost, comprising medium-height (3–6 m/10–20ft high), multi-stemmed eucalypts that grow out from the base in a coppice-likefashion. Although appearing impenetrable from the edges, mallee is quite openwhen within it and easy to walk in, as there is limited understory, and the ground isflat and open, with a scattering of tinder-dry leaf litter that is neither deep or extensive.Mallee is found around the southern coast of Australia but also substantiallyinland in areas with a Mediterranean climate, with little rain in the winter (April toAugust) and almost no rain through summer. Mallee occurs in flat, very sandy,soils. In terms of plant life it is depauperate, as few other species are able to grow inthis stressed sandy and dry environment. Much of the wildlife that occurs is specializedto this habitat. Notable bird species include Malleefowl, Chestnut Quail-Thrush,Red-lored Whistler, Purple-gaped Honeyeater, Black-eared Miner, and ShyHeathwren. Many reptile species are found only there, and although Shinglebackcan be found in other habitats, it is often abundant in mallee. Mallee has becomeseverely fragmented from the pressures of wheat farming, although large tracts stillexist in VIC (e.g., Little Desert NP) and SA (e.g., Gluepot Reserve).

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Excerpted from Wildlife of Australia by Iain Campbell, Sam Woods. Copyright © 2013 by Princeton University Press. Excerpted by permission of PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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Publisher
Princeton University Press
Publication date
2013
Language
English
ISBN 10 
0691153531
ISBN 13 
9780691153537
Binding
Paperback
Number of pages
288
Rating
  • 3.62 out of 5 stars
    8 ratings by Goodreads