Effects of intensive logging on birds in Eucalypt forest near Bega, New South Wales

Abstract

Birds were censused in mature forest and in regenerating forest 10-15 years after intensive logging. In gullies the number of species recorded per census was similar in both mature and regenerating forest, while on ridges, where fewer species were recorded per census than in gullies, an average of 20% fewer species were recorded per census in regenerating forest. In gullies eight species were found to be less abundant and nine species more abundant in regenerating forest, while on ridges 12 species were found to be less abundant and only two species more abundant. The species that were less abundant in regenerating forest were mostly birds that feed in mature eucalypts. The species that were more abundant were mostly birds characteristic of dense vegetation. In the regenerating forest 14 of the 40 most frequently recorded species were feeding mainly in the retained trees, the density of which was 5/ha on ridges and 12/ha in gullies. At least three species were nesting in hollows in the retained trees. If no trees had been left, there would have been far fewer birds in the regenerating forest. The retention of such trees is an effective procedure for reducing the adverse effects of logging on birds.