Locally significant species

Hunted close to extinction in the early 1900’s, Koalas were reintroduced across Victoria including in the Macedon Ranges. Unfortunately, pressure from habitat destruction, road accidents, pet dogs and disease means that Koala numbers appear to be decreasing. You can help koalas by improving the habitat on your property. Koalas need many healthy mature trees for food and shelter.

The Brush-tailed Phascogale is a small carnivorous marsupial that is found in the woodlands of eastern and south-eastern Australia. Their preferred habitat is Box-Ironbark forests and grassy and shrubby woodland. Phascogales, and especially males, have large and exclusive home ranges, up to 100 ha in some localities, and therefore occur at relatively low densities. All male Phascogales die-off every year in about July – August after a brief but intense mating period. This combination of species-ecological factors (i.e. large home range, low density and annual male die-off) with habitat loss and predation by foxes and cats has resulted in their decline and listing on the State Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act as vulnerable.

Woodland birds are typically associated with woodlands and forests of temperate southern Australia. The continuing decline of species within this group is of significant concern. One species within this group is the Brown Treecreeper, which is widespread in eastern Australia, occupying a range of eucalypt-dominated forests and woodlands. It is especially abundant in those habitats with open grassy understorey and large amounts of dead and fallen timber. Brown Treecreepers are gregarious and live in social groups of up to eight to 12 individuals, and forage extensively on the ground and in trees for insects, primarily ants. Brown Treecreepers nest in hollows in standing trees.

The Greater Glider is the largest of Australia’s gliding possums. The diet of the Greater Glider is almost entirely leaves of eucalypt trees, and they have relatively small home ranges of just a few hectares. They prefer to move from tree to tree by gliding. The Greater Glider is considered a vulnerable species, as the loss of habitat is a major threat.

While elusive in nature, the Sugar Glider is relatively common in areas where there are plenty of nesting hollows and a variety of flowering plants. They feed on invertebrates, nectar, manna and occasionally on small birds.

The Powerful Owl is Australia’s largest owl which occupies eucalypt forest and woodland, has home ranges of 400 – 4000 ha in size, and utilises large hollows in trees for breeding. A top-order carnivore, the Powerful Owl is reliant on possums and gliders for most of its food. Its occurrence and successful rearing of young in an area is indicative of good populations of its prey. Large forest owls are often considered as indicator species, because of their reliance on forest and woodland and a reliable prey source.

These beautiful birds were once widespread but only occur in small pockets of the Macedon Ranges. They feed on seeding grasses, small fruits and invertebrates. Loss of native grassland habitat is a major contributor to the loss of these birds.

The Eastern Grey Kangaroo can be found widely across Victoria, including the Macedon Ranges. They live in mobs of 10 or more and are found in habitats ranging from semi-arid mallee scrub through to woodlands and farmland areas. Hanging Rock, or Mount Diogenes as it is also known, is a great place to spot a Kangaroo.

Victorian Threatened Species Advisory List (VIC)

EX = Extinct
RX = Regionally Extinct
CR = Critically Endangered
EN =  Endangered
VU = Vulnerable
NT = Near Threatened
DD = Data Deficient

State Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (FFG)

Listed = included on the Threatened List
Nominated = nominated for inclusion on the Threatened List

Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC)

CR = Critically Endangered
EN = Endangered
VU = Vulnerable