Bringing Back : FACT SHEET 1 Focus Farm Surveys 2006

The Murrumbidgee CMA together with the Grain & Graze project helps you maximise profitability and Natural Resource Management on your farm.

Birds are a vital component in helping you to maximise Natural Resource Management (NRM) on your farm. Birds are known as ‘indicator species’, and a large variety of birds present on your farm can indicate a high diversity of trees, shrubs, mammals, reptiles, frogs and invertebrates. Birds provide many benefits on-farm ranging from agricultural insect pest control to tree health, which is intimately linked with Natural Resource Management (NRM).

Survey Findings Remnant Quality Affects Species Diversity In Autumn and Winter 2006 bird surveys While the survey findings demonstrated that the presence of were undertaken on the five Focus Farms remnant vegetation is the most influential factor in bird species (Tootool, Tarcutta, Sebastopol, Coolamon & diversity, the off-farm remnant vegetation (reference) sites Euroley Bridge) as part of the harboured more species than the on farm remnants. Biodiversity in Grain and Graze (BiGG) The condition of remnants is a critical factor in relation to project. species diversity. While the on-farm remnant vegetation had an The surveys have returned very positive overstorey of trees, it often had less fallen timber and results, with native vegetation patches on mid-storey (e.g Wattles, Bursaria, etc), a large proportion of exotic three of the five farms supporting ground cover, which reduced some of the habitat value. In populations of the Superb Parrot, Brown comparison the off-farm remnant vegetation consisted of over- Treecreeper or Grey-crowned Babbler, all of storey (e.g. Eucalypts), extensive mid-storey, native ground cover which are listed as vulnerable in NSW. (e.g. Spear Grasses) and fallen timber, all of which are essential habitat components for a variety of bird species. Both the Autumn and Winter surveys demonstrated that the presence of The bird surveys also demonstrated that differences in remnant remnant vegetation on and off-farm is the quality had the greatest effect on the presence and diversity of most influential factor contributing to bird small bird species (e.g. , & Red-capped species diversity. Robin). These species rely on mid-storey The surveys also highlighted the importance plants, ground cover of remnant quality, size and connectivity in and fallen timber for relation to the diversity of bird species foraging, roosting, present. In addition there were very few breeding and exotic bird protection from species predators, found to be Did you know? including present on A species listed as ‘vulnerable’ in NSW is larger more and off the likely to become endangered unless the aggressive farms. circumstances and factors threatening its birds. survival or evolutionary development cease to operate.

Above: This remnant demonstrates a good mix of over- storey, mid-storey, native ground cover and fallen timber. Photo. S.Hobgen FACT SHEET 1

Exotic Vs Native Species Autumn 2006 Bird Survey Results During both the Autumn and Winter survey periods a total of 73 native bird species were recorded, 12 compared to 3 exotic bird species (Common Starling, 10 s Coolamon e House Sparrow & Common Blackbird). Interestingly i c

e 8 Euroley Bridge

the exotic bird species were recorded in small groups p S 6 Sebastapol

as opposed to the large flocks seen in urban areas. d r i

B Tarcutta

4 These findings imply that the mixed farming zone has . o Tootool the potential to increase native bird species numbers N 2 and diversity rapidly through revegetation activities 0 due to minimal competition with exotic species for C C R R P P PP PP RR RR RR habitat. Management Type

Bigger is Better Winter 2006 Bird Survey Results Remnant size is an important factor for bird species diversity. While small isolated patches may provide 12 habitat for a range of bird species, the larger the 10 patch the more species present (remnant quality s Coolamon e i

c 8 dependent). The on-farm remnant vegetation patches e Euroley Bridge p S of the five Focus Farms are generally smaller than the 6 Sebastapol d r off-farm remnants surveyed, accounting for the i

B 4 Tarcutta .

increase in species present at these sites. o

N 2 Tootool 0 Connectivity is Important C C R R P P PP PP RR RR RR Connectivity of remnant vegetation patches is also an Management Type important factor to consider when looking at bird species diversity on farm. The on-farm remnant sites surveyed were generally more isolated than the Above: 2006 Autumn & Winter Survey Results off-farm remnant sites, which are connected to other C — Crop patches of vegetation in the landscape. P — Pasture Phase R — On-farm Remnant PP — Permanent Pasture RR — Off-farm Reference Remnant Connecting areas of on farm remnant vegetation to other patches, such as Bringing Back Birds References Barett, G.2000. Birds on farms- Did you know? roadsides or neighbouring Keep an eye out for our series of Fact Sheets Ecological Management Some species of bird patches will increase the area for Australian Sustainability. become restricted to and diversity of vegetation detailing how you can Supplement to Wingspan vol.10, no.4, encourage vulnerable Dec.2000. Birds Australia, Hawthorn remnant patches making it more suitable for birds East. because they can’t to live, feed and breed in. bird species back onto fly through open your farm. Species in- Fredenberger, David & Stol, Jacqui Savernake & Native Dog (SAND). 2002. areas (e.g. crops) to Corridors of native clude the Superb Parrot, vegetation at least 30m wide Farmscapes Project: Integrating reach other patches. Grey-crowned production and biodiversity. CSIRO These species of have been found to be the most Babbler, Brown Sustainable Ecosystems. successful for encouraging bird birds are extremely Treecreeper and Streatfield, S. ed. 2001, Bringing Birds vulnerable to local species diversity. Diamond Firetail. Back-A Glovebox Guide. Greening extinction. Australia.

For further information contact: Sheila de Lange - Murrumbidgee CMA Cassie West - Murrumbidgee CMA or visit these websites: Catchment Officer (Grain & Graze) Catchment Officer (Grain & Graze) www.murrumbidgee.cma.nsw.gov.au Murrumbidgee CMA Leeton office Murrumbidgee CMA Henty office www.farmlink.com.au Ph: (02) 6953 0766 Ph: (02) 6929 3555 www.grainandgraze.com.au Mob: 0428 265 040 Mob: 0427 012 862 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Grain and Graze Murrumbidgee partners: Printed December 2006. Correct at time of printing.