WILDLIFE

Hervey Bay is home to hundreds of native wildlife, many of them are common, but some are threatened due to loss of habitat or fragmentation caused by development. Council is actively working to conserve threatened populations and well as maintaining the natural environment for all native wildlife.

Conservation Partnerships Program
Did you know that Queensland's remnant bushland is owned by over 70% of private landholders? That means YOU can play an important role in protecting the state's biodiversity by establishing a Land for Wildlife, Nature Refuges or Conservation Covenants on your property.
 

Flying Foxes
Hervey Bay is home to a colony of flying foxes located at Tooan Tooan Creek, Pialba. Flying Fox play an important role in maintaining biodiversity of Hervey Bay's and Fraser Island's native forest. The Tooan Tooan Creek colony is home to three species of flying foxes:

• Black flying fox - a common species and permanent resident of the colony
• Little red flying fox - a common species and temporary resident of the colony
• Grey-headed flying fox - a nationally 'vulnerable' species and temporary resident of the colony

The Hervey Bay Flying Fox Advisory Group helps to manage the Tooan Tooan Creek colony for the benefit of the Hervey Bay community and the species'.

Koalas
Surveys have indicated that koalas are present in Hervey Bay in the area centred on Booral, however the full extent of the population is not known. The future of our koala population is also uncertain due to threats including loss of habitat, fragmentation of habitat, increased vehicular traffic, domestic and wild dogs, disease and fire.

More koala surveys are planned and the Council has recently produced a Koala Action Plan with a range of responses to the key threats.The aim of the Action Plan is to set achievable goals for Council's involvement in the preservation, protection and extension of Hervey Bay's koala population.

Koala conservation will require commitment and action from all levels of government in cooperation with the local community.  The Council can make an important contribution through its role in development assessment and approval, planning for public infrastructure projects, organising volunteers and the provision of community incentives, education and advice.

The draft Koala Action Plan is available for viewing at the Council Administration Centre at 77 Tavistock Street and Council Libraries or you can click here  to download the plan.

Input about the draft Koala Action Plan is sought from anyone interested in koala conservation in Hervey Bay. The consultation period will finish in mid December, and it is expected that the finalised Action Plan will be considered by Council for adoption early next year.

Written comments should be addressed to the Council Vegetation Management Officer and sent to PO Box 1943, Hervey Bay, Qld 4655 or delivered to our office at 77 Tavistock Street. For more information, call the Vegetation Management Officer on 07 4197 4502. 

BIRDS
Hervey Bay and surrounds boast one of the largest concentrations of bird species in the country with over 300 species identified. A list of birds, including endangered, vulnerable and rare bird species, along with information about popular birdwatching areas is contained in the Birds of the Bay brochure.
Click here to download Birds of the Bay.
Click here for a list of birds spotted at popular Arkarra Lagoons .

Black-breasted Button-quail
The Black-breasted Button quail is a threatened species in Queensland. Because this species is restricted to vine and rainforest habitats, its range within Hervey Bay is small. Habitat loss and disturbance have been the principle factors in the decline of the Black-breasted Button-quail, and are still affecting its distribution and abundance today.

The Friends of the Vine Forest are actively trying to conserve this species in the Ted and Maud Mungomery Vine Forest. Contact the Community Environment Officer for more information on (07) 4125 9703.

Click here for the Black-Breasted Button-Quail information
Click here for Black-Breasted Button-Quail recording sheet

White Ibis Management
For the White Management Fact Sheet click here

Reports and Resources

Wildlife Under Threat
Flying Fox Annual Calendar	831 KB
Flying Fox Artificial Roost PowerPoint Presentation	1.19 MB
Animals of the Vine Forest	408 KB