Table Of ContentBIRD USAGE OF PLANTED TREEBELTS ON FARMLAND
AT FRANKLAND, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
By RITA WATKINS
5 Gulf Way, Leschenault W.A. 6233
ABSTRACT
A study of the response of birds to corridors of trees across
farmland over a time of 8 years shows how birds have
adapted to the new conditions and made use of the trees for
shelter, home territories, nests, food source and protection.
INTRODUCTION this study was undertaken is
In recent years there has been called “Payneham Vale”, (34°16'S,
considerable interest in the fate of 117°05'E.), situated in the
native bird communities on lands Frankland district, in the shire of
managed for primary production Cranbrook and is owned by Ron
and Suzanne Watkins. Ron took
(Saunders and Ingram 1995;
over the running of the farm in
Newby 1999). Most of these studies
1973. At that time, some salt
have been negatively slanted,
encroachment was becoming
focussing on the survival of birds
in fragmented remnants of native evident and he developed a
vegetation with very few of the remedial program to deal with it,
studies having examined the called an Integrated Whole Farm
value of revegetation programs to Plan. His work has gained inter¬
native birds. Farmers in Western national recognition (Churchill
Australia have been replanting Scholarship, National Environ¬
tree and understorey species on mental Award and several other
farms in Western Australia for awards, the most prestigious being
nearly 20 years now. In many of United Nations Global 500
those early plantings the species Award). There is ongoing
development and refinement of
used were native to Australia, but
the system, with further drainage
not necessarily to Western
Australia, or a combination of and re-afforestation having been
both, as is the case in this study. In added, including planting along
more recent times there has been creek lines and salt areas and
much more emphasis on planting introducing Paulownia, carobs and
olives.
local plant species both to increase
the likelihood of establishment An overview of the farm’s
and to better provide for the activities and a map of the
native fauna. The property where planted and natural timber belts
179
are presented in Watkins and lower the water table; and
Watkins (2003).
• The large catchment of water
This study was carried out in an thus provided is stored in
attempt to document: dams to be available for
(1) The diversity and numbers of irrigation, aquaculture, etc. or
birds using the planted allowed to enter existing
treebelts; waterways if surplus to
requirement.
(2) The different ways the trees
were used (eg. sources of The study began in winter 1989 on
nectar, seeds, insects and the four drains established at that
shelter); time with their adjacent treebelts.
Each treebelt has a length of
(3) The value of different tree
about 1.6 kms and a width of 12
species to birds; and
metres.
(4) Changes in bird species
Twenty surveys (one per season in
diversity and population
each year) were conducted over 5
numbers over time.
complete years, 1989/90, 1990/91,
1991/92, 1996 and 1997. Counting
was done by walking beside the
METHODS
treebelt recording numbers and
The principles of the Integrated species of birds either seen or
Whole Farm Plan are: heard. Birds were recorded as
• Survey of the property to being either in the treebelt, in the
ascertain significant landscape paddock or remnant bush
features; adjacent to the drain for a
distance of about 75 metres, or
• Drains put in along a gradient
flying overhead, and were listed
and dug to clay depth, so that
in these separate categories.
water can be moved into
Treebelts were counted
catchment, e.g. dam or creek.
consecutively, in the same order
The distance between the
each time and with the four
drains is determined by
surveys completed on the same
significant features of the
day on each occasion. Surveys
land to control excessive run¬
took about 60 - 75 minutes for
off, which causes soil erosion;
each treebelt.
• Twelve metre wide tree belts
alongside and downslope of
the drains provide windbreak,
TREE PLANTINGS
shelter, act as pumps and may
provide habitat for birds, The trees used to establish the
native mammals, and other treebelts were planted as seedlings,
wildlife. The tree belts are with two rows of Eucalyptus, of
situated immediately below various species, one row of Acacia,
the drains, which is the driest and one of tagasaste
part of the paddock, so the (Chamaecytisus palmensis) (Table 1).
plant roots will go deep to All treebelts were fenced to
take up water from below and exclude stock.
180
Table 1. Tree species used at the study site near Frankland, Western Australia.
Species marked with an asterisk (*) are not native to Western Australia, but are
native to other parts of Australia. Tagasaste is an exotic species.
Species Treebelt No.
1 (1985) 2 (1986-7) 3 (1987) 4 (1985)
Eucalyptus ivandoo Y Y Y -
E. muelleriana* Y - - -
E. maculata* Y Y Y Y
E. camaldulensis Y - - -
E. globulus* Y - Y Y
E. resinifera* Y - - -
E. melliodora* - Y
E. salgina* Y Y
Acacia microbotrya* Y Y Y -
TagasasteC/irtmaecystisus palmensis Y Y Y Y
The plantings in all four of the remnant vegetation remains in a 5
treebelts established successfully kms radius of the survey area.
and were, for the most part, quite There are five dams adjoining the
vigorous in growth. At the treebelts surveyed. Those on
commencement of the study the Treebelts 1, 2, and 4 are old
trees in Treebelt 1 were 4.5-6m tall,
established dams of
and had grown to about 12m by
approximately 1 - 2000 cubic
1997. Those in Treebelt 2 had metres. The dam on Treebelt 3 is a
grown from 2.5 - 4.5m tall to large dam used for irrigation and
about 9m by 1997, those in is approximately 30,000 cubic
treebelt 3 from 1.5-3m to 12-14m
metres.
and those in treebelt 4 from 9m to
Names of the native birds
12T4m.
mentioned in this study follows
The remnant vegetation included Christidis and Boles (1994).
in the survey is an area of 8
hectares from where Treebelt 1
starts and another 2 hectare area RESULTS
through which Treebelts 1 and 2
pass. There is a 3 hectare area BIRDS
through which Treebelt 4 passes. During the 22 surveys a total of
Apart from the bush already 8063 birds was recorded,
mentioned, “Payneham Vale” has representing 77 species (Table 2).
approximately 25 percent of land Two extra counts (one done in
left as native bush. The property spring 1992 and one in summer
adjoining on the north side of the 1996) have been included, so this
study site also has 25 percent is a list of birds actually recorded
uncleared, including a block of 37 in the treebelts during all surveys.
hectares. An estimated 15 percent For purposes of comparison
181
Tabic 2. Number of birds recorded (see text for explanation of abbreviations).
Species Years
Common Name Trees Padd RB Total 89/90 90/91 91/92 96 97 Status
Stubble Quail 8 4 12 * * * UR
(Cotnrnix pectoralis)
Musk Duck - 1 * V
(Biziura lobata)
Australian Shelduck — 138 * * * * CR
(Tadorna tadornoides)
Australian Wood Duck — 263 * * * * CR
(Chenonetta jubata)
Pacific Black Duck — 40 * * * * CR
(Anns superciliosa)
Grey Teal _ 43 * * * CR
(Anns gracilis)
_
Hardhead 2 * V
(Aythya australis)
Australasian Grebe 3 * V
(Tachybaf)tus novaehollandiae)
Little Pied Cormorant - 2 * V
(Phalacrocorax melanoleucos)
Pied Cormorant — 2 * V
(Phalacrocorax varius)
Little Black Cormorant - 1 * V
(Phalacrocorax sulcirostris)
Great Cormorant 11 * V
(Phalacrocorax carbo)
White-faced Heron - 12 * * * * UR
(Egrctta novaehollandiac)
Black-shouldered Kite 3 4 7 * * * V
(Elanus axillaris)
Brown Goshawk 1 1 * V
(Accipitcr fasciatus)
Wed^c-tailcd Ea^le 3 3 * * V
(Aqnila audax)
Brown Falcon 1 1 V
(Falco berigora)
Australian Hobby 2 2 * V
(Falco longipennis)
Peregrine Falcon 1 1 * V
(Falco peregrinus)
Nankeen Kestrel 1 1 * V
(Falco cenchroides)
Eurasian Coot - l V
(Fulica atra)
182
Species Years
Common Name T rees Padd RB Total 89/90 90/91 91/92 96 97 Statu
Little Button-Quail 2 2 * V
(Turnix velox)
Painted Button-Quail 2 2 * V
(Turnix varia)
Black-fronted Dotterel - 8 * * UR
(Elseyornis melanops)
Common Bronzewing 135 4 139 * * * * * CR
(P/iaps chalcoptera)
Crested Pigeon 12 9 21 * * * * UR
(Ocyphaps lop/iotes)
Red-tailed Black Cockatoo 13 13 * * V
(Calyptorhynchus banksii
Short-billedBlack-Cockatoo 19 19 * * V
(Calyptorhynchus latirostris)
Purple-crowned Lorikeet 38 3 27 68 * * * CR
(Glossopsitta porphyrocephala)
Regent Parrot 26 4 6 36 * * * * * CR
(Polytelis an tl\ ope plus)
Western Rosella 253 9 14 276 * * * * * CR
(Platcercus ictcrotis)
Australian Ringncck 1016 187 119 1322 * * * * * CR
(Barnardius zonarius)
Red-capped Parrot 89 8 22 119 * * * * * CR
(Purpureiceplialus spur ins)
Elegant Parrot 41 5 46 * * * * * CR
(Neophema elcgans)
Shining Bronze-Cuckoo 4 6 10 * * * S
(Chrysococcyx lucidus)
Laughing Kookaburra 21 18 12 51 * * * * * CR
(Dacelo novaeguineae)
Rufous Treecreeper 4 1 19 24 * * * UR
(Climacteris rufa)
Splendid Fairy-wren 367 14 381 * * * * * CR
(Malurus splendcns)
Spotted Pardalote 5 1 6 * V
(Pardalotus punctatus)
Striated Pardalote 19 4 43 66 * * * * * CR
(Pardalotus striatus)
183
Table 2 (cont.)
Species Years
Common Name T rees Padd RB Total 89/90 90/91 91/92 96 97 Statu:
White-browed Scrub-wren 5 5 * * V
(Sericornis frontalis)
Western Gerygone 82 9 66 157 * * * * * CR
(Gerygone fusca)
Inland Thornbill 56 9 65 * * * * * CR
(Acanthiza apicalis)
Western Thornbill 15 4 19 * * * * * UR
(Acanthiza inornata)
Yellow-rumped Thornbill 408 16 43 467 * * * * * CR
(Acanthiza chrysorrhoa)
Singing Honeyeatcr 242 9 7 258 * * * * * CR
(Lichenostomus virescens)
Yellow-plumed Honeyeater 25 25 * V
(Lichenostomt4s ornatus)
Brown-headed Honeyeater 51 51 * * * * * CR
(Melithreptus brevirostris)
White-naped Honeyeatcr 150 4 53 207 * * * * * CR
(Melithreptus lunatiis)
Red Wattlebird 59 27 14 100 * * * * * CR
(Anthochaera carunculata)
Brown Honeyeater 1202 10 37 1249 * * * * * CR
(Lichmera indistincta)
New Holland Honeyeatcr 4 1 5 * * V
(Phylidonyris novaehollandia e)
Western Spinebill 2 2 * V
(Acanthorhynchus superciliosus)
White-fronted Chat 4 4 * V
(Ephthianura albifrons)
Western Yellow Robin 4 4 * * UR
(Eopsaltria griseogularis)
Scarlet Robin 70 7 77 * * * * * CR
(Perroica multicolor)
Red-capped Robin 4 4 * * V
(Petroica goodenovii)
White-browed Babbler 6 6 * * V
(Pomatostomus superciliosus)
Varied Sittella 31 10 6 47 * * V
(Daphoenositta chrysoptera)
Golden Whistler 43 2 21 66 * * * * * CR
(Pachycephala pectoralis)
184
Species Years
Common Name Trees Padd RB Total 89/90 90/91 91/92 96 97 Status
Rufous Whistler 12 1 10 23 * * * * * UR
(Pachycephala rufiventris)
Grey Shrike-thrush 15 1 5 21 * * * * * UR
(Colluricincla harmonica)
Grey Fantail 123 1 19 143 * * * * * CR
(Rhipidura fuliginosa)
Willie Wagtail 79 11 5 95 * * * * * CR
(Rhipidura leucophrys)
Magpie-lark 15 64 12 91 * * * * * CR
(Grallina cyanoleuca)
Restless Flycatcher 7 2 1 10 * * * * UR
(Myiagra inqiiieta)
Australian Magpie 58 274 79 411 * * * * * CR
(Gymnorhina tibiccn)
Dusky Woodswallow 6 1 7 * * V
(Artamus cyanopterus)
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike 2 4 6 12 * * * UR
(Coracina novaehollandiae)
White-winged Triller 1 1 * S
(Lalage sueurii)
Australian Raven 31 167 39 237 * * * * * CR
(Corvus coronoides)
Welcome Swallow 10 3 13 * * UR
(Hirundo neoxena)
Tree Martin 113 41 56 210 * * * * * CR
(Petrochelidon nigricans)
Silvereye 727 13 740 * * * * * CR
(Zosterops lateralis)
Rufous Songlark 6 2 8 * * S
(Cinclorhamphus mathewsi)
Brown Songlark 11 34 45 * * * S
(Cinclorhamphus cruralis)
Richard’s Pipit 4 16 20 * * * * * CR
(Anthus novaeseclaj\diae)
Totals Bird Numbers-. 5766 969 799 8063
Species Total: 62 37 34 77
185
between treebelts and seasons others not observed. A Shining
these extra two surveys were not Bronze-Cuckoo was observed
included in the other data, of four being fed by Inland Thornhills
complete seasons/years. The first
• Rest and shelter
three columns list the number of
• Corridors between remnant
birds counted in the treebelt,
bush and revegetated areas.
(Trees), paddock (Padd) and
remnant bush (RB); * shows the
years in which birds were
PADDOCKS
recorded. V = vagrant (N<10), U =
uncommon (N=10 - 30), C = 969 birds of 37 species were
common (N=> 30), R = resident, S = counted in the adjoining paddock.
seasonal. Resident denotes birds These included Richard’s Pipit,
known to be resident on this or a Brown Songlark, Magpie-lark,
neighbouring farm, not Australian Magpie and Australian
necessarily resident in the Raven, which were also recorded
Treebelt. in the treebelts and the last three
in the remnant bush, but were in
bigger numbers in the paddocks.
TREEBELTS No species was exclusive to the
paddock. Most were in the mature
The treebelts provided habitat for
eucalypts, which have been left in
5750 birds of 56 species, excluding
the paddocks and moving
waterbirds and raptors. Although
between them and treebelts. The
raptors are recorded in treebelts or
paddocks adjacent to the treebelts
paddock, they were flying over
contain isolated E. wandoo, E.
those areas and seen so seldom
marginata and E. calophylla. With
that there are insufficient data to
the eucalypts, acacia and tagasaste
ascertain their use of the treebelts.
in the treebelts, they give a spread
Tree Martins are also usually
of flowering times covering much
recorded flying but are included,
of the year. The old paddock trees
because they are seen frequently
also have useful nesting hollows.
and are probably resident and
Some birds were observed feeding
foraging for insects that may be
on the ground, such as Australian
there as a result of the extra
Ringneck, Western Rosella,
vegetation provided by the
Elegant Parrot, Yellow-rumped
treebelts or remnant bush.
Thornbill, Scarlet Robin, Willie
Treebelts provided the following
Wagtail, and Splendid Fairy-wren.
benefits:
• Nectar, seeds and insects,
animal, bird and egg prey REMNANT BUSH
• Territories for species such as,
799 birds of 34 species were
Splendid Fairy-wren, Grey
recorded in Remnant Bush. All
Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Scarlet
were also recorded in the treebelts,
Robin, Inland Thornhill
including Rufous Treecreeper.
• Nesting of the territory birds Also Western Yellow Robin,
mentioned and probably which was unexpected, as they
186
had to cross about 10 metres open counted either in the dams or in
space to enter the treebelt from the adjacent paddock. Although
the remnant bush. The amount of not actually using the treebelts
remnant bush in the area would they are mentioned as being part
contribute to the diversity of of the Whole Farm Plan. Of
species, even though much of the course, the dams provide drinking
understorey is denuded by grazing and bathing water for the birds
sheep, cattle and kangaroos. Many that use the treebelts.
birds using the treebelts for
foraging and shelter would not
find them suitable for nesting, eg. SEASONAL VARIATIONS
parrots, which would require nest
Winter counts were higher in all
holes in older, larger trees. Being
treebelts except No. 4, due
able to move between bush and
primarily to the flowering of
treebelt is an enormous advantage
tagasaste, which attracted large
for most birds and at the junction
numbers of Brown Honeyeater
of the two habitats was often
and Silvereye, with smaller
where many birds were recorded.
numbers of Red Wattlebird,
A Yellow-rumped Thornbill nest
Singing, Brown-headed, White-
was observed in E. wandoo in the
naped, New Holland, Yellow-
remnant bush of Treebelt 2.
plumed Honeyeaters and Western
Spinebill. It was particularly
obvious in Treebelt 1 where
DAMS
tagasaste was most advanced in
529 waterbirds of 14 species were the early part of the study.
Seasonal Variations in Bird Numbers
Figure 1. Numbers of birds recorded in each treebelt during each season of the
study (data combined for all years).
187
Honeyeaters and Silvereyes were study. It is particularly prone to
observed feeding on the nectar insect attack, mainly through the
provided by flowering eucalypts dry months. Inland, Western and
and tagasaste. The most Yellow-rumped Thorn bills,
commonly recorded species was Western Gerygone, and Striated
the Brown Honeyeater whose and Spotted Pardalotes were also
annual total numbers were observed feeding at flowers, but
generally high, beginning at 147 in this may have been in response to
1989/90, peaking at 285 in 1996 insects foraging in the flowers
and returning to 147 in 1997. rather than on the nectar sources
There was obvious seasonal itself.
variation in the numbers of
Granivorous bird species (parrots,
Brown Honeyeaters with large
pigeons and quail) were least
numbers present in winter and
numerous in the treebelts in
early spring when tagasaste is
spring when most species were
flowering and in very low
breeding in areas supporting
numbers in autumn. The Silver-
mature remnant woodland
eye and other honeyeaters showed
elsewhere in the landscape. Their
a similar trend, although there
numbers steadily increased during
were a few resident Singing
summer and autumn, peaking in
Honeyeater always to be found in
winter. In the Frankland district
the same area of treebelt.
sheep are usually hand fed grain
The smaller species of birds during late autumn until well
appeared to establish most, or all, into winter, because of
of their home territories within insufficient paddock feed at that
the treebelts, and a small number time. One of the winter records
were observed to nest there. was of 35 Australian Ringneck
Juvenile birds of several species feeding on a grain trail laid out
(Scarlet Robin, Grey Fantail, and
for sheep. In spring green stock
Splendid Fairy-wren) were
feed is abundant and
recorded within the treebelts
supplementary grain feeding
during the study
unnecessary. In summer the crops
Small insectivorous bird species are either ripe or harvested, with
were most abundant in summer shed grain on the ground and
and autumn. They colonised the again there is plenty available for
treebelts well, especially Splendid parrots. The Australian Ringneck
Fairy-wren (n=381) and Grey is the species most recorded, with
Fantail (n=143). Yellow-rumped Western Rosella and Red-capped
Thornbill (n=467) were always Parrot well represented. Since the
present foraging along the increase of cropping in the region,
treebelts, but may only have beginning in mid-1980s, parrot
nested in the remnant vegetation numbers, especially Australian
where their nests have been Ringneck, have steadily increased.
observed in E. wandoo. The During the period roughly 1960 to
wandoo in the treebelts, being a 1990, a large percentage of bush
slow growing species, is still only was cleared in the Cranbrook
about 3m tall at the end of the district and much of this is now
188
