Register      Login
Emu Emu Society
Journal of BirdLife Australia
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > MU > MU05039
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 106(1)

Foraging ecology of ground-feeding woodland birds in temperate woodlands of southern Australia

Mark J. Antos A B and Andrew F. Bennett A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Landscape Ecology Research Group, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Vic. 3125, Australia.

B Corresponding author. Present address: Birds Australia, 415 Riversdale Road, Hawthorn East, Vic. 3123, Australia. Email: antos@deakin.edu.au orm.antos@birdsaustralia.com.au

Emu 106(1) 29-40 https://doi.org/10.1071/MU05039
Submitted: 3 August 2005  Accepted: 2 December 2005   Published: 10 March 2006

Abstract

Ground-foraging birds of temperate woodlands of southern Australia are prominent among bird species considered to be susceptible to population decline. We examined the foraging ecology, including foraging substrates, actions and heights, of 13 ground-foraging species at four woodland sites in northern Victoria. Nine species are regarded as declining in southern Australia and four are considered common. Ten foraging substrates were identified, of which leaf-litter (54% of observations) and bare ground (17%) were most frequently used. In all woodland sites, litter was used more frequently than expected from its proportional cover. Bare ground was frequently used as a substrate by individual species, and fallen timber and grass were important for some species. Most species were generalists in their use of substrates. Six foraging actions were observed, of which gleaning and pouncing were most frequently recorded. All species foraged close to the ground and four foraged almost entirely at ground level. For pouncing birds, dead branches and fallen timber were the most important launch substrates from which pouncing actions were initiated. Eight of the 13 species differed in some aspect of their foraging ecology between woodland sites, especially in relation to the use of substrates (seven species). Fewer species (four) displayed differences in foraging ecology between seasons, with the greatest seasonal variation being in use of foraging substrates (three species). Overall, no significant differences were evident in the foraging ecologies of common and declining species. Species in both groups encompassed a wide range of foraging behaviours. Owing to this range in foraging ecology, the conservation of diverse assemblages of ground-foraging birds requires the maintenance of heterogeneous ground layers and careful management of disturbance processes.


Acknowledgments

Logistical and financial support for this research was provided by the School of Ecology and Environment, Deakin University. We are also grateful for financial support provided by the Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment, the Stuart Leslie Research Fund and Birds Australia’s VicGroup Research Fund. Three anonymous referees provided comments that improved this manuscript. Dr John White provided useful advice throughout the course of this research.


References

Abensperg-Traun, M. , Smith, G. T. , and Main, B. Y. (2000a). Terrestrial arthropods in a fragmented landscape: a review of ecological research in the western Australian central wheatbelt. Pacific Conservation Biology 6, 102–119.
Abensperg-Traun M., Smith G. T., Steven D. E., and Atkins L. (2000b). Different woodland types, different grazing effects? Plants and soil and litter arthropods in remnant woodlands in the Western Australian wheatbelt. In ‘Temperate Eucalypt Woodlands in Australia’. (Eds R. J. Hobbs and C. J. Yates.) pp. 225–234. (Surrey Beatty: Sydney.)

Antos, M. J. , and Bennett, A. F. (2005). How important are different types of temperate woodlands for ground-foraging birds? Wildlife Research 32, 557–572.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Bell H. L. (1985). The social organization and foraging behaviour of three syntopic thornbills Acanthiza spp. In ‘Birds of Eucalypt Forests and Woodlands: Ecology, Conservation, Management’. (Eds A. Keast, H. F. Recher, H. Ford and D. Saunders.) pp. 151–163. (Surrey Beatty: Sydney.)

Bennett, A. F. , and Ford, L. A. (1997). Land use, habitat change and the conservation of birds in fragmented rural environments: a landscape perspective from the Nortern Plains, Victoria, Australia. Pacific Conservation Biology 3, 244–261.
Clarke K. R., and Warwick R. M. (1994). ‘Change in Marine Communities: An Approach to Statistical Analysis and Interpretation.’ (Plymouth Marine Laboratory: Plymouth, UK.)

Cousin, J. A. (2004). Pounce site characteristics of the Western Yellow Robin Eopsaltria griseogularis: the importance of assessing foraging microhabitat. Pacific Conservation Biology 10, 21–27.
DNRE (Department of Natural Resources and Environment) (2001). ‘Mid-Murray Forest Management Area Proposed Forest Management Plan.’ (Department of Natural Resources and Environment: Melbourne.)

Fitri, L. , and Ford, H. A. (2003). Foraging behaviour of Hooded Robins Melanodryas cucullata in the northern tablelands of New South Wales. Corrella 27, 61–67.
Ford H. A. (1985). A synthesis of the foraging ecology and behaviour of birds in eucalypt forests and woodlands. In ‘Birds of Eucalypt Forests and Woodlands: Ecology, Conservation, Management’. (Eds A. Keast, H. F. Recher, H. Ford and D. Saunders.) pp. 323–331. (Surrey Beatty: Sydney.)

Ford, H. A. , Noske, S. , and Bridges, L. (1986). Foraging of birds in eucalypt woodlands in north-eastern New South Wales. Emu 86, 168–179.
Garnett S. T., and Crowley G. M. (2000). ‘The Action Plan For Australian Birds 2000.’ (Environment Australia: Canberra.)

Gill A. M., Woinarski J. C. Z., and York A. (1999). Australia’s Biodiversity – Responses to Fire. Biodiversity Technical Paper No. 1, Environment Australia, Canberra.

Kleintjes, P. K. , and Dahlsten, D. L. (1995). Within-season trends in the foraging behaviour of the Mountain Chickadee. Wilson Bulletin 107, 655–666.
Krebs C. J. (1999). ‘Ecological Methodology.’ (Addison Wesley Longman: Menlo Park, CA.)

LCC (Land Conservation Council) (1983). ‘Report on the Murray Valley Area.’ (Land Conservation Council: Melbourne.)

Luck, G. , Charmantier, A. , and Ezanno, P. (2001). Seasonal landscape differences in the foraging behaviour of the rufous treecreeper Climacteris rufa. Pacific Conservation Biology 7, 9–20.
Mac Nally R. C. (1995). ‘Ecological Versatility and Community Ecology.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.)

Mac Nally, R. (2000). Coexistence of a locally undifferentiated foraging guild: avian snatchers in a southeastern Australian forest. Austral Ecology 25, 69–82.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | McIntyre S., McIvor J. G., and Heard K. M. (Eds) (2002). ‘Managing and Conserving Grassy Woodlands.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)

Morrison, M. L. (1984). Influence of sample size and sampling design on analysis of avian foraging behaviour. Condor 86, 146–150.
Parks Victoria (2002). ‘Terrick Terrick National Park Management Plan.’ (Parks Victoria: Melbourne.)

Petit, L. J. , Petit, D. R. , Petit, K. E. , and Fleming, J. W. (1990). Annual variation in foraging ecology of Prothonotary Warblers during the breeding season. Auk 107, 146–152.
Reid J. R. W. (1999). Threatened and declining birds in the New South Wales sheep–wheat belt: 1. Diagnosis, characteristics and management. Consultancy report to NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, CSIRO Wildlife and Ecology, Canberra.

Robinson, D. (1992). Habitat use and foraging behaviour of the Scarlet Robin and the flame robin at a site of breeding-season sympatry. Wildlife Research 19, 377–395.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Robinson D. (1994). Research plan for threatened woodland birds of southeastern Australia. Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Technical Report Series No. 133, Deparment of Conservation and Natural Resources, Melbourne.

Robinson, D. , and Traill, B. J. (1996). Conserving woodland birds in the wheat and sheep belts of southern Australia. Wingspan 6, 1–16.Supplement
Wiens J. A. (1994). ‘The Ecology of Bird Communities. Vol. 1, Foundations and Patterns.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.)

Wooller, R. D. , and Calver, M. C. (1981). Feeding segregation within an assemblage of small birds in the Karri forest understorey. Australian Wildlife Research 8, 401–410.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Yates C. J., and Hobbs R. J. (2000). Temperate eucalypt woodlands in Australia – an overview. In ‘Temperate Eucalypt Woodlands in Australia’. (Eds R. J. Hobbs and C. J. Yates.) pp. 1–5. (Surrey Beatty: Sydney.)

Zanette, L. , Doyle, P. , and Tremont, S. M. (2000). Food shortage in small fragments: evidence from an area sensitive passerine. Ecology 81, 1654–1666.