How bird communities change in relation to vegetation change Project Summary Project 1.2.1.4 Scarlet Robin. Photo: Patrick Kavanagh_CC by 2.0_Flickr Research in Brief Why is the research superb parrot. However, as many threatened species have different This project will examine how needed? nesting behaviour and foraging bird communities change at Millions of hectares of land worldwide patterns, it is not well understood woodland restoration sites are cleared of vegetation and exist in what bird species benefit from tree in south-eastern Australia. a highly degraded condition leading plantings and whether their habitat The project will use long-term to loss of biodiversity. In response, requirements are met. datasets to compare changes billions of dollars are spent annually In Australia, land clearing has resulted in the assemblage of woodland by governments and natural resource in the loss of approximately 85% of birds that occupy tree plantings management organisations to ‘white box–yellow box–Blakely’s red with birds that occupy stands actively restore degraded agricultural gum grassy woodland and derived of remnant vegetation. In landscapes. However, the long-term native grassland’ (box gum grassy particular the research will effectiveness of restoring farming woodlands), and what remains investigate: 1) Does bird landscapes for biodiversity is poorly on private property is often highly species richness in plantings understood for the majority of degraded and impacted by ongoing change over time? 2) Does restored ecosystems worldwide. grazing or other threats. the size and shape of the tree Understanding what species planting influence bird species recolonise restored areas is important Actively restoring landscapes that richness over time? 3) Are there as it is often unclear whether these have been extensive cleared is one changes in the occurrence areas support similar species to that part of the solution to reversing loss of individual bird species over of intact areas, support populations of of biodiversity. Organisations such time? 4) Are temporal changes threatened species or whether they as Landcare groups, Local Land in bird species linked to support very different communities. Services, Catchment Management particular life-history attributes Authorities and Greening Australia Habitat restoration has the potential such as body size, nesting have been actively engaged in tree to help reverse the decline of many behaviour and diet? planting programs for the past threatened woodland species such three decades which has resulted as the brown treecreeper and Jacky Winter. Photo: Damian Michael in substantial increases in native The new information that will weather effects. In conjunction with vegetation cover in some regions. emerge from this research will help the bird surveys detailed vegetation However, little information exists on inform future restoration programs assessment are made to link changes what makes an effective tree planting and property vegetation planning in bird communities with changes in for woodland bird communities, throughout the box gum grassy vegetation. Other variables such as and how do different species’ woodland of south-eastern Australia. planting age, planting size and shape, assemblages change over time planting location and planting species Findings from this project will as tree planting mature and shrub composition will be collected and also be disseminated through species senesce or regenerate. used to evaluate changes in the bird public landholder presentations, community. How will the research formal workshops and other communications, including a book Who is involved? help? that focuses on the response of This research will provide new wildlife to restoration programs. • Holbrook Landcare Network information on how bird communities • Murray Local Land Services change over time as tree plantings What research activities continue to mature and the vegetation are being undertaken? • Riverina Local Land Services structure changes. Previous research Bird surveys are being undertaken in south-eastern Australia has found Where is the research across a broad range of tree plantings that many declining woodland species and stands of remnant vegetation in happening? such as the Diamond Firetail, Southern the South-west Slopes of New South The research is being conducted in Whiteface, Jacky Winter, Scarlet Robin, Wales. Bird surveys commenced the South-west Slopes bioregions of Hooded Robin and Eastern Yellow in 2001 and are conducted during southern New South Wales. Robin will utilise tree plantings within both the winter and spring months several years of them being planted. to account for migratory species. When is the research However, few long-term studies exist Surveys are also conducted by two to inform the future trajectories of happening? different observers on two separate woodland bird communities. days to account for observer bias and The project will run for three years, Do these species disappear until 2021. once tree plantings reach a certain age, or do undesirable species such as the hyper-aggressive noisy minor colonise the tree plantings as they begin to mature? What are the implications of such changes for perpetuating the recovery of threatened birds in agricultural regions? These are some of the questions this research will help answer. Further Information For more information please contact [email protected] Ungrazed planting with phalaris. Photo: Damian Michael This project is supported through funding from the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Programme..