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Rushworth Bird Banding Project

RUSHWORTH STATE FOREST -
BIRD HABITAT USE STUDY

Project Officer: Joan Sandbrink.
Aims: Objectives are to:
Uncover seasonal and annual use of differing components of the forest by migratory and resident birds.
Uncover patterns of use and effect of habitat impact by eucalypt oil and firewood harvesting, fire drought, fluctuation m invertebrate populations, and degradation through mining operations, over a long-term period.
Uncover changes in use by sedentary and transient birds due to climate fluctuations.
Record longevity and demography of sedentary species.
Determine survival and recruitment estimates for common sedentary species and compare with other regions.
Assess dispersal rates of immature birds from the forest.
Assess annual variation in breeding success and bird numbers generally.
Determine the extent to which large forest remnants act as a source of new birds to re-stock remnant vegetation.
Uncover changes in moult and appearance that may occur due to changes in the forest environment.
Educate and train new banders.

Funding: Birds Australia -VICGroup and volunteers.

Camping at Rushworth
The campfire burns throughout the chilly winter months.

The location of fieldwork is the Rushworth State Forest in central Victoria, containing Yellow Gum -Grey Box woodland, Box -lronbark woodland, and mallee. Study methods used include mist-netting birds for banding and for recording measurements and plumage details, regular observation and census, searching for nests in the breeding season, and recording plant flowering, weather details and any phenomena that may impact on the forest's use or bird population numbers.

Learning is part of the enjoyment of banding weekends.

The Banding Team consists of a core of four licensed Banders with another four licensed Banders serving on an irregular basis. At present there are only two trainees, one of whom is almost ready to graduate to an A-Class Licence. Others, who have not yet applied for banding licences, come when they can on a regular basis. During the past year, we have had approximately 50 visitors, including. Some of these have been overseas visitors. Others have been students looking for experience and to observe banding techniques and some have been graduates wanting to do volunteer work to include on their CV. Unlike previous years, we were not visited by student classes during the year.

Measuring a wattlebird
Joan Sandbrink (at right) takes a student through the delicate art of measuring a wattlebird in full breeding plumage.

Due to drought conditions in the area in 1997, the avian population had plummeted by 1998. This decrease continued throughout 1999.  However, it appears that 1999-2000 breeding season has been a good one with adequate food supplies, and many birds are still breeding as at mid-February 2000. This suggests that the populations are on the rise again, but we will not be able to confirm this until spring 2000, after winter has taken its toll of young birds. Retraps are low again, which is to be expected with arise in the population of young birds. Monitoring the rise and fall of populations is part of our project aim and we are gratified to have commenced the project shortly before the drought and to have recorded the average population size beforehand. This has put us in a good position to be able to monitor how long it takes a population to recover after drought.

Source -1999 Annual Report of Birds Australia

Diary of Proposed Dates:

Next Banding Dates 2005:

Ring Charles Sandbrink for details and site location on (03) 9813 5488.


Site Maps:
Site A
SIte B
Site C
Site D
Site E

Images of Rushworth:

Bird List:

© 2001-2 Aquila Audax Associates Pty Ltd/ Rushworth Bird Banding Project