The conservation and management of eucalypt forest birds: resource requirements for nesting and foraging

Abstract

The management and conservation of birds in eucalypt forests managed for timber prog duction has emphasized the retention of trees with hollows (habitat trees) and the reservation of old-growth forest in reserves and corridors for species requiring mature forest or hollows for nesting. Although these measures are important, they may not provide the full range of resources required by the eucalypt forest avifauna. In addition to using tree hollows as nest sites, forest birds have specific requirements for nesting materials (e.g., spider web, lichen), for nest sites other than tree hollows, for foraging sites, and for kinds of prey. Nest and foraging sites, nesting materials and prey may be associated with mature or overmature trees, but not exclusively with habitat trees. Ensuring that these resources are available requires modification of existing wildlife management programmes and needs to begin with the recognition by forest managers that forest ecosystems are complex and each species has different requirements. A priority is the identification of an agreed set of goals and objectives for the conservation and management of forest wildlife by conservationists, forest managers and wildlife biologists.

Thinning, fire and birds in Boola Boola State Forest, Victoria, Australia

“…Gully areas are also less likely to have been affected by wildfire. Hence retained forest patches within coupes may contain stands of mature forest with old-growth characteristics, such as large, old, hollow-bearing trees, which are important to many fauna species (Loyn 1985a(Loyn , 2000Smith 1985a;Recher 1991;Kavanagh 2005).…”

Birds, garden plants and suburban bushlots: where good intentions meet unexpected outcomes

“…Both involve the role of spatial structure of habitats. First, the presence of local physical structure and complexity is essential to provide substrates for moving, foraging, resting, breeding, and avoiding predators, that suit the morphology and behaviour of particular bird species (Weins 1989;Recher 1991). The combined architectural forms of different plant species and ages growing together in a forest creates a complex layered structure that is an important characteristic of forest habitats.…”

“…Second, individual animals require a patch of habitat that meets all their requirements for living on a daily, seasonal or annual basis, including sufficient area to provide food and other essential resources in the long-term (Weins 1989;Recher 1991). The size and nature of this patch will depend on the type of species involved, and also on its ability to move rapidly between patches.…”

Bird Populations Density in Thinned, Unthinned and Old Lowland Regrowth Forest, East Gippsland, Victoria

“…The response of forest avifauna to disturbance from timber harvesting has been well documented in southeastern Australia (Pattemore & Kikkawa 1975;Loyn et al 1980;Loyn 1980;Kavanagh et al 1985;Recher 1991;Loyn 1993). One major effect of harvesting is the simplification of the forest structure by decreasing the complexity of the vegetation profile (Recher 1991).…”

“…One major effect of harvesting is the simplification of the forest structure by decreasing the complexity of the vegetation profile (Recher 1991). This shift towards a more homogenous, even-aged stand alters the foraging, nesting and breeding resources available to forest birds and in most cases reduces species diversity and density (Recher 1991).…”