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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 106(2)

Breeding and population parameters of robins in a woodland remnant in northern New South Wales, Australia

S. J. S. Debus
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

Division of Zoology, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia. Email: sdebus@une.edu.au

Emu 106(2) 147-156 https://doi.org/10.1071/MU04013
Submitted: 3 March 2004  Accepted: 23 March 2006   Published: 19 May 2006

Abstract

Breeding and population parameters of the Scarlet Robin (Petroica multicolor) and Eastern Yellow Robin (Eopsaltria australis) were studied by colour-banding and nest monitoring at Imbota Nature Reserve, a 270-ha woodland remnant, on the New England Tableland of New South Wales in 2000–02. Yellow Robin density was one pair or group to ~30 ha, or 0.1 bird ha–1, with pairs or groups occupying home-ranges of ~5–6 ha. Scarlet Robin density was one pair to ~25 ha or 0.08 bird ha–1, with pairs occupying home-ranges of ~10 ha. Yellow Robins laid in August–January, mainly August–November, and fledging reached a peak in September–October; Scarlet Robins laid in August–December, with a peak of laying and fledging in September–October. Nesting success was 33% for Yellow Robins (n = 40 nesting attempts), with overall production of 0.6 fledglings per attempt, and 9% for Scarlet Robins (n = 45), with production of 0.1 fledglings per attempt; Mayfield values for nest-survival were 24% and 8% respectively. Predation, frequently by medium-sized or large birds, was the main cause of nest-failure (71% for Yellow Robins, 86% for Scarlet Robins). Fledgling survival to independence was 73% for Yellow Robins and 64% for Scarlet Robins. Annual survival of adult Yellow Robins averaged 71%; that of Scarlet Robins was 58%. The Yellow Robin population in Imbota may be self-sustaining, whereas the Scarlet Robin population may depend on immigration.


Acknowledgments

This study formed part of a Ph.D. project, supported by an Australian Postgraduate Award (administered by UNE) and by the Division of Zoology, UNE. The following provided field assistance: Justin and Julianne Billing, Ben Boland, Will Buchanan, Lachlan Debus, Tshering Dorji, Sandy Hamdorf, Annette and Matt Harrison, Andrew Ley, Greg Lollback, Karyn Moore, David Page and the Northern NSW Bird Banders, Jim Palmer, Gabriela Shuster, Atsuko Takemoto, Bruce Taylor, Kihoko Tokue, Steve Trémont and the TAFE team, Annie vander Meulen, Paul Webber, and the Birds Australia Northern NSW Group. Neighbours of Imbota, the Burton and Moffitt families, permitted field-work on their land. Peter Burr (UNE) supplied weather data, and Alan Hill (NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Armidale) provided GIS mapping. The project was aided financially by the Stuart Leslie Bird Research Awards (Birds Australia), the NSW Field Ornithologists Club research grants, the Joyce W. Vickery Scientific Research Fund (Linnean Society of NSW) and the NSW NPWS (Western Directorate, Dubbo), and in kind (with gratis mist-nets and colour-bands) by the Australian Bird Study Association’s Fund for Avian Research. The research was conducted under UNE Animal Ethics permits AEC 2000/0081, 01/042 and 02/074, with authorisation from NSW NPWS, State Forests of NSW, and the Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme. Hugh Ford supervised the project and critically reviewed drafts, Doug Armstrong commented helpfully on the relevant thesis chapter, and Eleanor Russell and three other referees helpfully reviewed the manuscript.


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