Bird assemblages in remnant and revegetated habitats in an extensively cleared landscape, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales.

Abstract

Extensive loss and degradation of native vegetation in the agricultural landscape of inland south-eastern Australia has resulted in significant losses in bird diversity and abundance. Native vegetation continues to be lost through the attrition of paddock trees, which constitute a large component of the remaining vegetation. The planting of native trees and shrubs is being undertaken as a means of halting the loss of biodiversity. However, the effectiveness of revegetation activities is still being assessed. A study in the Wagga Wagga area of New South Wales was undertaken to examine the relative value of remnant vegetation, farm plantings, paddock trees, and pasture for bird diversity. Species richness was highest in remnant vegetation, and was similar in planted vegetation and paddock trees. Relative abundance was similar across these three vegetation types. Species composition differed among all vegetation types, with planted and paddock tree sites having predominantly different sub-sets of the bird assemblage characteristic of remnant vegetation. The protection of remnant vegetation is essential for the conservation of the region’s avifauna, but plantings and paddock trees also have important values for birds. However, plantings and paddock trees support different bird assemblages and complement each other. While important in their own right, the current plantings of native vegetation should not be considered as off-setting the continued loss of paddock trees. Retention of the avifauna of the Wagga Wagga area would be assisted if remnant vegetation and paddock trees were protected and integrated with appropriately designed revegetation.