Abundance of Eastern Bristlebirds in Relation to Habitat and Fire History

Abstract

Eastern Bristlebirds were counted in Jervis Bay Territory along transects that were located in areas that had been burnt recently (i.e. 0-7 years ago) and in areas that had last burnt longer ago (i.e. 13-14 years ago). Most of the reserve had not burnt for at least 13 years. The transects in recently burnt areas were never more than about 300 m from older unburnt areas. The close proximity of transects in the recently burnt areas to older burnt areas, where Eastern Bristlebirds are apparently relatively abundant, may explain the observed absence of a significant effect of time since the last fire on bristlebird numbers. Combining the results of this study with those of a similar study in Barren Ground Nature Reserve (Brarnwell et al. 1992), suggests that densities increase with increasing time since the last fire up to about 9 years and then remain relatively constant for at least another four years. These two studies also support the view that Eastern Bristlebirds commonly occur in areas where woodland adjoins heath and in areas of relatively mature heath.