The birds of a remnant of native vegetation on the eastern Swan coastal plain

11 Pages·1995·2.1 MB·

by  P R Mawson

THE BIRDS OF A REMNANT OF NATIVE VEGETATION ON
THE EASTERN SWAN COASTAL PLAIN
By P.R. MAWSON* and M.C. MASSAM.
Agriculture Protection Board of Western Australia, Bougainvillea Avenue,
Forrestfield 6058.
* Present address: 5a Canni Place, Willetton, 6155
ABSTRACT
A three year study of the avifauna of a 13.8 ha. reserve on the eastern edge of the
Swan Coastal Plain 15 km east of Perth, Western Australia recorded 55 species of
bird, of which 21 were resident and 17 bred. Despite being surrounded by
suburban housing development nearly a quarter of the species present are those
normally associated with undisturbed forest communities. This study shows
that, given adequate protection, even small reserves can provide suitable habitats
for a large number of bird species within a suburban environment.
INTRODUCTION owned by the State Government and
Within the Perth metropolitan area managed by the Agriculture
few areas contain native vegetation Protection Board of Western
which provides suitable habitat for Australia (APB). The APB complex at
native birds. Reserves such as Kings Forrestfield covers an area of 13.8 ha.,
Park (400 ha.), Bold Park (300+ ha.) and of which approximately 8 ha. remain
Whiteman Park (390 ha.) are obvious as natural vegetation. The site was
exceptions but share a common fate partially cleared and developed for
with smaller reserves in that they are use by the APB in 1970.
isolated from one another. Most birds
The vegetation is mature and in most
which inhabit such reserves can move
places heath forms a dense cover to
out into the surrounding suburbs
about one metre high. Within the
but few species are capable of moving
small area encompassed by the site
from one reserve to another. For many
there is considerable variation in
species of birds their continued
the vegetation associations. Open
survival in the metropolitan area is
Banksia woodland over low heath,
dependent on the preservation and
open Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginataj
management of these reserves.
woodland over low heath and low
This paper describes the avifauna of a
heath alone, are all represented. A
small reserve on the eastern part of
detailed description of the site, a
the Swan Coastal Plain at
vegetation map and a complete list of
Forrestfield, adjacent to the Darling
the plant species present have been
Scarp (Figure 1).
published previously (Robinson and
Mawson 1992). The last fire to burn
SITE DESCRIPTION
through the area occurred in the
The reserve (No. 29815) occurs on land summer of 1969/70.
37
Figurel.The location of the variousreservesin thePerth Metropolitan area in relation to thePerth
central business district (CBD).
38
METHODS families. The names of species
recorded, the months and years that
Observations were made op¬
they were recorded, a comment on
portunistically during each month
the abundance and status of each
from January 1990 to December 1992.
species and whether it bred at the site
Initially records were kept of the
are given in Table 1.
species present during each month
and any signs of breeding occurring
at the site. Additional data on the Resident and Breeding Species
abundance of each species were Twenty-one species were recorded as
collected when the site was included resident at the site and of those seven
in the Australian Bird Census (ABC), (Laughing Turtle-dove, Yellow-
a project co-ordinated by the Royal rumped Thornhill, Red Wattlebird,
Australasian Ornithologists Union Brown Honeyeater, Silvereye,
and begun in 1991. Surveys for the Australian Magpie, Australian Raven)
ABC project were conducted on one were considered common. All seven
day in each month. common resident species were
A species was recorded as being recorded breeding at the site. Ten
present if it was within the (out of 14) uncommon resident
boundaries of the site even if only species (Red-capped Parrot, Port
observed flying overhead. A species Lincoln Ringneck, Welcome
was considered to be breeding at the Swallow, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike,
site if nests were observed, adults Willie Wagtail, Western Gerygone,
were seen taking food to nests, or Singing Honeyeater, Striated
newly fledged young were observed Pardalote, Magpie Lark and Grey
within the boundaries of the site. Butcherbird) also bred at the site.
A species was considered ‘resident’ if The three species of cuckoo and the
it was recorded at the site for 10 or Sacred Kingfisher may also breed at
more months in the year, and the site, but we have been unable to
common if it was recorded in confirm this.
numbers greater than 10 birds
(‘uncommon’ for less than 10 birds).
Vagrant Species
The location of this site relevant to
Twenty of the species recorded were
other nearby remnants and
vagrants which were present for only
significant reserves mentioned in the
a few days at a time during any one
text is shown in Figure 1. A
of a number of months in any year
comparison of the bird community
(eg most of the raptors), or were
of this site is made with several well
recorded only once or twice (eg
known large reserves within the
Yellow-plumed Honeyeater, New
Perth metropolitan area (Table 2).
Holland Honeyeater, White-cheeked
Nomenclature follows that of
Honeyeater, Varied Sitella, Western
Blakers et al. (1984).
Thornhill, Golden Whistler and
White-fronted Chat). None of the
vagrant species bred at the site
RESULTS
although the Collared Sparrowhawk
A total of 55 species of bird were and the Brown Goshawk which were
recorded during the period 1990- observed were mostly in immature
1992, representing 43 genera from 25 plumage. The Silver Gull was
39
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43
recorded in the area presumably the site. The major attraction of the
because of the close proximity of the site for the Sparrowhawks and
Forrestfield land-fill site. However, Goshawks was the high numbers of
despite the close proximity of the Laughing Turtle-doves, which they
land-fill site only two Silver Gulls preyed on. The close proximity to the
were seen flying overhead during the Darling Scarp and its large areas of
three years of the study. uncleared forest combined with the
numerous grassed road verges of
nearby highways undoubtedly
Migrant and Seasonal Species
contributed to the greater numbers
Eight species can be considered as of raptor species visiting this site.
either migratory or seasonal visitors
The fact that so many of the species
to the site. None of the three species
(20 of 55) using the site are vagrant
of cuckoo has been recorded calling
species is surprising. This suggests
at the site for more than a few days at
that reserves such as this, small
a time. The Sacred Kingfisher and
though they are, are important
Rainbow Bee-eater both arrive in
refuges or stop-over points for highly
October and remain until mid- to
mobile species such as the
late summer.
honeyeaters and migratory species
The arrival and departure of the such as the cuckoos, the Kingfisher
Little Wattlebird and the Western and Bee-eater. Serventy and Whittell
Spinebill were closely correlated (1976) state that Pallid Cuckoos arrive
with the flowering of one of three in Perth at the end of May and depart
species of large Banksia (B. attenuata, B. by early November. At this site they
menziesii and B. burdettii (introduced)) have only been recorded calling in
which grow at the site. August and September which is the
The Grey Fantail is present for most beginning of the breeding season for
of the year but seldom recorded this species. A similar situation
during the summer months. applies to the two species of Bronze-
cuckoo as they have only been
recorded calling at the site in the
months of September and October.
DISCUSSION
There are several species of birds
This study shows that a large number
which nest at this site which are
of bird species (55) will utilise areas as
known hosts for these cuckoos. The
small as 13.8 ha. The number of species
preferred host of the Pallid Cuckoo is
recorded from this site is comparable
the Red Wattlebird, of Horsefield's
to the avifauna of much larger
Bronze-cuckoo the Splendid Fairy-
reserves and is richer than some
Wren (absent from this site), and of
notable reserves in the metropolitan
the Shining Bronze-cuckoo the
area such as Kings Park (Table 2).
Yellow-rumped Thornbill (Brooker
The number of species of raptors and Brooker 1989). Although both
recorded from this site is greater than the Red Wattlebird and the Yellow-
that recorded from any of the rumped Thornbill are common
reserves listed in Table 2. However, all residents at Forrestfield these species
but two species (Collared may not be numerous enough to
Sparrowhawk and Brown Goshawk) support breeding for the Pallid and
were only ever recorded flying over Shining Bronze-cuckoo.
44
The presence of Mistletoe birds all development of the site and the
year round is of interest. There are a surrounding housing estate, include
few Stalked Mistletoe (A myema Scarlet Robin (Petroica multicolor),
miquelii) plants present at this site, but Western Yellow Robin (Eosaltria
not enough to provide food all year griseogularis), Grey Shrike-thrush
round. This suggests that this species (Colluricincla harmonica), Weebill
is able to survive on other food (Smicrornis brevirostris) and Splendid
sources available at the site or in the Fairy-wren (Malurus splendens), and
surrounding suburban gardens. We possibly the Inland Thornbill
have not found any nests of this (Acanthiza apicalis) and White-browed
species but both adult males and Scrubwren (Sericornis frontalis).
females were seen regularly. The Scarlet Robin, Western Yellow
Nearly two thirds (13 of 21) of the Robin and Splendid Fairy-Wren were
resident species recorded are species once regularly recorded in Kings Park
normally associated with (Recher and Serventy 1991, Tingay and
undisturbed forest habitat, while Tingay 1982). Scarlet Robins, Splendid
only eight could be considered as Fairy-Wrens, Weebills and Grey
species which have adapted to the Shrike-thrush have all been recorded
‘edge’ environments provided by from the Bushmead Rifle Range
suburban gardens and parkland. The (Halpern et al 1991) which is only 5.5
list of species present at the site km north of the Forrestfield site. The
appears similar to one which might absence of these species may be a
be expected from any undisturbed reflection of the very small size of the
forest or woodland. However, close Forrestfield site. The Inland Thornbill
examination shows that several and White-browed Scrubwren both
small insectivorous species from the require dense, long unburnt,
families Muscicapidae, Acanthizidae shrublands in which to live. It is
and Maluridae which are normally possible that the vegetation at this site
recorded in forest habitat are absent. is only now approaching an age and
structure suitable for these species.
The species which may once have
been present prior to the The large edge to surface area ratio at
Table 2. Numbers of species of birds (excluding waterbirds) recorded at Forrestfield and which
have also been recorded from other significant reserves in the Perth metropolitan area.
Reserve Area No. Species No. Species Reference
(ha.) in Common
This study 14 53
- -
Kings Park 400 29 25 Recher and
Serventy 1991.
Bold Park 300+ 61 43 How and Dell 1990.
Whiteman Park 390 73 48 Arnold etal 1991.
Bushmead Rifle 297 60 40 Halpern et al 1991.
Range site
Reserve No. 6 17 17 Turpin 1990.
3694
45
this site may also be a factor this remnant with the amendment to
contributing to the low numbers of the vesting has not affected the APB’s
some of the species normally operations but will be of benefit to
associated with forest (eg. Grey Fantail, the native flora and fauna. Similar
Rufous Whistler, Western Gerygone, legal protection of other small
Yellow-rumped Thornhill) and the remnants within the metropolitan
greater abundance of species which area could make a considerable
have benefited from the creation of contribution to preserving other
‘edges' between habitats such as forest communities of native flora and
and suburban gardens (eg. Magpie, fauna. Studies such as this, and others
Australian Raven, Brown Honeyeater, like it (e.g. Turpin 1990), are needed to
Laughing Turtle Dove). This type of provide the documented evidence to
community structure, numerically support such changes to the vestings
dominated by 'edge' specialists, has of the remaining remnants in the
been recorded in other parts of metropolitan area.
Australia where remnants of forest
have become virtual islands in seas of
suburban development (Catterall et al. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
1991, Kavanagh et al. 1985, Howe 1986).
This study would not have been
possible without the generous
support of the Agriculture
CONCLUSION
Protection Board of Western
The continued survival of several of Australia. Our thanks go to Toni
the species recorded here will depend Lumsden for her help in prepearing
on the preservation of the native the figure. This paper benefited from
vegetation of this site in the same comments to an earlier draft made by
condition as it is in now. This will Mike Brooker and Denis Saunders.
mean continued exclusion of wildfire,
prevention of weed invasion and no
development of areas covered by REFERENCES
native vegetation. To this end, and in
ARNOLD, G.W., SMITH, G.T. and
recognition of the high quality of the
BROOKER, M.G. 1991. Whiteman
native vegetation in this remnant,
Park Funa Survey. CSIRO, Division
the vesting for this site has recently
ofWildlife and Ecology. Perth,
been amended to read “for the use of
the Agriculture Protection Board of Western Australia.
Western Australia and conservation" BLAKERS, M„ DAVIES, S.J.J.F., and
(Government Gazette 23/4/93). REILLY, P.N. 1984. The Atlas of
The uncertain future of the Australian Birds. Royal Australasian
Bushmead Rifle Range site, combined Ornithologists Union and
with plans to develop parts of a series Melbourne University Press.
of reserves one kilometre west of the
BROOKER, M G. and BROOKER, L.C.
Forrestfield site (which abut the Roe
1989. Cuckoo hosts in Australia. Aust.
Freeway) into an industrial site will
Zool. Rev. 2:1-67.
further isolate this remnant. What
effect these changes will have on the CATTERALL, C.P., GREEN, R.J. and
bird community of this site is JONES, D.N. 1991. Habitat use by birds
unknown. Increasing the security of across a forest-suburb interface in
46