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HomeResearch and CollectionsTerrestrial Ecology

The value of remnant vegetation for birds in the New South Wales wheatbelt

This project investigates the relationship between remnant native vegetation and the distribution and abundance of birds in the Forbes area of the New South Wales wheatbelt. In addition the project has measured the activity of nest predators through a community-based experiment using artificial nests.

Study sites for the project were selected from those included on the vegetation map of the Forbes 1:250,000 map sheet* (see reference below). With the collaboration of local landholders 195 patches of remnant vegetation (see map below) were surveyed for birds in Spring and Autumn from 1996 - 1997 (92 on public land, 103 on private land).

The green coloured remnants represent the sites at which bird surveys were conducted.

In all 36,000 individual birds were recorded, comprising 131 species (See table). Of these, 18 species were waterbirds and 113 species were bushbirds. Three threatened species were detected, the Superb Parrot, the Turquoise Parrot and the Painted Honeyeater.

The bird species that were found within a remnant varied depending on the type of vegetation. (See Table) Bird diversity is therefore dependent on a diversity of vegetation types. For example, small open nesting insect feeders like the Red-capped Robin, Weebill and Brown Thornbill were found in the dense understorey common in White Cypress Pine woodlands. Large insectivores, Noisy Miners and parrots were least common in these vegetation types. Large River Red Gum forests with their number of old trees offered important resources for hollow nesting birds like parrots and Laughing Kookaburras.

The bird community also differed significantly between remnants of different size. (See table) The area effect was not as pronounced as the effect of vegetation type, and was exhibited only in three vegetation types. Large remnants (>400 ha) of River Red Gum Forests, White Cypress Pine Woodlands, and Dwyers Red Gum and Pine Woodlands, were distinct from small remnants (<50 ha). Medium remnants (200-200 ha) were intermediate between the two. Honeyeaters were more common in large remnants and Australian Magpies were more common in small remnants.

Another part of this project was carried out by local primary school students who set out artificial nests with eggs in woodland remnants across the region. The artificial nests were built to resemble those of Red-capped Robins. After 14 days 86% of eggs showed signs of predation, mostly by birds, with the highest rates occurring in narrow roadside strips of vegetation.

In summary, the main findings of our project indicated:

• a need to protect and enlarge existing remnants to help to conserve less abundant species.
• a need to maintain a variety of vegetation types as different bird species prefer different vegetation types.
• a need to protect and re-establish understorey vegetation in which small birds shelter.
• a need to protect and re-establish hollow bearing trees which parrots, Laughing Kookaburras and Sacred Kingfishers require for nesting.
• a need to recognise the importance of remnants on private land, e.g. of the 162 Superb Parrots counted in our surveys, 130 were seen in remnants on private land.

This project has been supported by the New South Wales Government through its Environmental Trusts and was conducted by Australian Museum Staff, Fiona Christie, Greg Gowing and Richard Major. Invaluable volunteer assistance was given by Leah Morgan, Dindy Bouttagy, John Pogonoski, Bronwyn Hendry, Jeremy Little, Jennifer Foster, John Adams, Terry-Anne Richardson, Tim Martin and Sam Davis who gave up their time to participate in fieldwork.

Reference: * Sivertsen, D. & Metcalfe, L. (1995) Natural vegetation of the southern wheat-belt (Forbes and Cargelligo 1:250 000 map sheets). Cunninghamia 4(1):103-128

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