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FAUNA OF FRANKSTON RESERVOIR

Frankston Reservoir represents a significant-sized habitat block in its own right in its urban context. It should also, however, be considered as an element of a network of reserves, remnant vegetation and open space that provides the potential for wildlife to move through the area.

It is important to take a landscape view of the site’s potential role as fauna habitat, rather than an insular view limited to the site’s potential just within its own boundaries. All of the following information is taken from the Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna Survey of Frankston Reservoir, Moloney et al, 1993.

Vertebrate Species

Some species formerly recorded to have been within the site, may have been lost, eg Agile Antechinus (recorded in the 1970s but not during the 1990s), Southern Brown Bandicoot, Swamp Wallaby and Eastern Grey Kangaroo (for which there is very limited habitat). Some other native mammal species might persist but have not yet been recorded on the site, eg Feathertail Glider. In addition to Common Brushtail and Common Ringtail Possums which are widespread throughout suburban Melbourne, the site continues to support Koala, Sugar Gliders and Echidnas.

Birds

In excess of 60 bird species are recorded within the site. Two heathland species, rare in the Port Phillip Region, that could occur on the site in the context of the heathland complex habitat are Beautiful Firetail and Southern Emu-wren. While the habitat patch is small, the possible survival of those species on the site should not yet be discounted. The site provides habitat for resident breeding birds, regular breeding and non-breeding visitors and transient birds. It also provides foraging habitat for some species that move more or less freely through the landscape, especially water-birds and honeyeaters, and may form part of a larger home-range for relatively sparsely-distributed species such as raptors.

Beautiful Firetail - Purnell Collection © Australian Museum Southern Emu Wren Photo: Adam Bridger © OzBirds

http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/finder/display.cfm?id=318 http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/finder/display.cfm?id=140

Reptiles

The site supports several skink species, including Swamp Skink and several snake species including Brown Snake and Tiger Snake. It is postulated that there may also be Tree Dragons in the bush. There are a strong population of Common Snake-necked Tortoises within the site.

Tree Dragon - Photo by Peter Robertson © Museum Victoria Tiger Snake - Photo by Gary Bell © http://museumvictoria.com.au/bioinformatics/lizards/images/murillive2.htm

Snake-Necked Tortoise

Amphibians

There are 9 species thought to exist within the Reservoir including Peron’s Tree Frog and Striped Marsh Frog. The nationally threatened Growling Grass Frog occurs within the Reservoir and the Southern Toadlet, now regionally rare may still occur within the site.