MW Yering Backswamp Bat Activity Survey

EcoAerial was engaged by Melbourne Water to undertake a microbat survey at the Yering Backswamp. The monitoring entailed the deployment of five bat detectors over a period of 10-weeks (November 2020 ~ January 2021). The survey is part of a suite of bat surveys undertaken over the last 2-years on Melbourne Water land at Running Creek, Yan Yean, Toorourrong, Silvan, Cardinia, and Sugarloaf Reservoirs and Christmas Hills.

The Yering Backswamp is 4.5 hectares in size and is 4.5 kilometres south-west of the township of Yarra Glen, and 50 kilometres north-east of Melbourne. The site, owned and managed by Melbourne Water, is elongated in shape, and follows the course of the Yarra River, which is on the eastern boundary. The site is 580 metres long and 120 metres wide and accessed via the Maroondah Aqueduct track. 

The Yering Backswamp is significant due to the presence of threatened flora and fauna. The objective of the survey was to monitor bat activity as water receded in the Yering Backswamp.

A total of 9,208 files were attributed to bat calls over the duration of the monitoring, with half recorded next to a permanent waterbody, the Yarra River. Nine species of microbat were identified by their distinctive bat call signature. The Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 listed Eastern Bent-winged Bat Miniopterus orianae oceanensis was recorded at three of the six bat detector locations and the regionally significant Large-footed Myotis; Myotis macropus potentially based on a bat call on the banks of the Yarra River.