The NSW Koala Priority Population Monitoring program is an important long-term initiative focused on 20 priority koala populations identified in the NSW Koala Strategy. The program aims to improve understanding of long-term trends in koala occupancy and habitat suitability, providing robust data on population status at both regional and statewide scales using acoustic surveys (passive acoustic recording devices, song meter minis) to monitor koala occupancy at approximately 2,000 sites. The 20 high-priority koala population areas are monitored on alternative years, maintaining a biennial monitoring cycle.

Priority Population Monitoring data for 8 sites in 2023

This dataset represents eight priority monitoring areas sampled in 2023:

• Ballina/Byron
• Armidale
• Liverpool Plains
• Southern Highlands
• Blue Mountains (Lower)
• Southwest Sydney
• Narrandera
• Far South Coast

Each passive acoustic recording device recorded between 7 and 21 nights (16 ± 1 sampling nights) between September and late November to capture the breeding season when male koalas are most vocal. Passive acoustic recording devices were programmed to record from sunset to sunrise, coinciding with the peak daily calling period of koalas. Note: Byron/Ballina forms one priority monitoring area as part of this program, however appears as two distinct areas in this dataset.