Woodland Restoration Plot Network: Bird Survey Data (Winter), Western Sydney Parklands (Western Sydney Regional Park), Australia, 2014
Abstract: The Woodland Restoration Plot Network Winter Bird Survey Data Package contains bird point count survey data for thirty 0.1 hectare sites which were established on retired farmland that includes a mosaic of restored vegetation (native plantings) of varying ages juxtaposed with patches of remnant vegetation and untreated, abandoned pasture. All sites were originally woodland prior to agricultural development about 200 years ago.
The Woodland Restoration Plot Network research plots commenced in 1992 and have been revisited every 3-4 years since 2001. A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Woodland Restoration Plot Network’s full program is provided at https://doi.org/10.25911/5c36e5688ff89.
Greening Australia, pers. comm.). All sites were slashed and sprayed with glyphosate before planting was undertaken. Twenty-six indigenous trees and shrub species, propagated to tubestock from local seed sources, were planted mechanically in rows after the pasture began to break down. The mix of planted species varied across the landscape, the aim being to match species with soils and topographic positions occupied by their wild populations. All plants were weed matted with a recycled paper disc and surrounded by a protective plastic sleeve. Maintenance sprays of glyphosate were applied in spring and autumn for two-three years after planting to reduce competition from weeds in the vicinity of plants. To reduce the risk of fire, mechanical slashing was carried out amongst the plantings and hazard reduction fires were lit in areas surrounding plantings at approximately annual intervals. Since the late 1990s, cattle have been reintroduced into the southern areas of plantings, but fencing has been constructed to exclude livestock from some restoration areas and remnants (D. Williams, Greening Australia, pers. comm.). Cattle continue to be excluded from the northern areas of plantings.
The study landscape therefore comprises a mosaic of patches including untreated pastures, remnant woodlands with various histories of past disturbance and a chronosequence of restoration plantings with dates of origin from 1992 to 2002.
The aims of the study design were to sample management treatments (untreated pasture, the chronosequence of restored vegetation and remnant woodland) across four primary locations (Hoxton Park, Plough and Harrow Property, Western Sydney Regional Park and Prospect Reservoir). A fully randomised orthogonal sampling design was not possible because all management treatments were not represented at each of the four primary locations. Sample sites representing different management treatments were therefore situated haphazardly within patches, to sample areas with similar topography (upper and mid slopes) to minimise environmental variation that may potentially confound management effects. The first set of vegetation surveys were carried out in 2001 (25 sites), with repeat surveys of new haphazardly selected sites to sample the same patch types in 2004 (54 sites), 2009 (24 sites) and 2012 (30 sites). The total number of sites varied between surveys depending on available resources, but the proportional stratification among patch types and ages remained the same. Invertebrates were sampled in late 2002 and 2009. Soils were sampled in 2010 by collaborators at UWS. A survey of avifauna commenced in 2013.
Study extent: The study site is located on retired farmland that includes a mosaic of restored vegetation (native plantings) of varying ages juxtaposed with patches of remnant vegetation and untreated, abandoned pasture. During their period of pastoral management (prior to 1990), the sites have been grazed by cattle, fertilised and planted with exotic pasture grasses, particularly Phalaris species. All sites were originally woodland prior to agricultural development about 200 years ago. Restoration projects commenced in the area in 1992 with a stated goal of ‘re-establishment of native vegetation’ (Perkins 1997). The restoration plantings were carried out in a pattern designed to connect remnant patches of woodland, which were also the primary sources of seed for tubestock. To evaluate success against the above goal, we therefore identified the remnants as suitable reference sites to which the restored sites were expected to increase their resemblance in composition and structure over time. Disturbance resulting from past agricultural practices in the area have impacted upon remnant patches to varying degrees, but these were the best available examples of native woodland in the region. Untreated pasture is defined as a control, from which restored sites are expected to become increasingly dissimilar in species composition and vegetation structure with time.
The Woodland Restoration Plot Network research plots commenced in 1992 and have been revisited every 3-4 years since 2001.
Project fundingSince 2012 this project has been part of the Long Term Ecological Research Network (LTERN). This work was supported by the Australian Government’s Terrestrial Ecosystems Research Network (www.tern.org.au) – an Australian research infrastructure facility established under the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy and Education Infrastructure Fund–Super Science Initiative through the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education. Project name Woodland Restoration Plot Network
Type
collection
Title
Woodland Restoration Plot Network: Bird Survey Data (Winter), Western Sydney Parklands (Western Sydney Regional Park), Australia, 2014
Alternate Title
Woodland Restoration Plot Network: Winter Bird Survey Data, 2014
Collection Type
Dataset
Access Privileges
Long Term Ecological Research Network
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
10.25911/5c3c04e1e1c33
Website Address
https://datacommons.anu.edu.au/
Metadata Language
English
Data Language
English
Brief Description
The Woodland Restoration Plot Network Winter Bird Survey Data Package contains bird point count survey data for thirty 0.1 hectare sites which were established on retired farmland that includes a mosaic of restored vegetation (native plantings) of varying ages juxtaposed with patches of remnant vegetation and untreated, abandoned pasture. All sites were originally woodland prior to agricultural development about 200 years ago.
The Woodland Restoration Plot Network research plots commenced in 1992 and have been revisited every 3-4 years since 2001. A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Woodland Restoration Plot Network’s full program is provided at https://doi.org/10.25911/5c36e5688ff89.
The Woodland Restoration Plot Network research plots commenced in 1992 and have been revisited every 3-4 years since 2001. A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Woodland Restoration Plot Network’s full program is provided at https://doi.org/10.25911/5c36e5688ff89.
Full Description
Abstract: The Woodland Restoration Plot Network Winter Bird Survey Data Package contains bird point count survey data for thirty 0.1 hectare sites which were established on retired farmland that includes a mosaic of restored vegetation (native plantings) of varying ages juxtaposed with patches of remnant vegetation and untreated, abandoned pasture. All sites were originally woodland prior to agricultural development about 200 years ago.
The Woodland Restoration Plot Network research plots commenced in 1992 and have been revisited every 3-4 years since 2001. A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Woodland Restoration Plot Network’s full program is provided at https://doi.org/10.25911/5c36e5688ff89.
Greening Australia, pers. comm.). All sites were slashed and sprayed with glyphosate before planting was undertaken. Twenty-six indigenous trees and shrub species, propagated to tubestock from local seed sources, were planted mechanically in rows after the pasture began to break down. The mix of planted species varied across the landscape, the aim being to match species with soils and topographic positions occupied by their wild populations. All plants were weed matted with a recycled paper disc and surrounded by a protective plastic sleeve. Maintenance sprays of glyphosate were applied in spring and autumn for two-three years after planting to reduce competition from weeds in the vicinity of plants. To reduce the risk of fire, mechanical slashing was carried out amongst the plantings and hazard reduction fires were lit in areas surrounding plantings at approximately annual intervals. Since the late 1990s, cattle have been reintroduced into the southern areas of plantings, but fencing has been constructed to exclude livestock from some restoration areas and remnants (D. Williams, Greening Australia, pers. comm.). Cattle continue to be excluded from the northern areas of plantings.
The study landscape therefore comprises a mosaic of patches including untreated pastures, remnant woodlands with various histories of past disturbance and a chronosequence of restoration plantings with dates of origin from 1992 to 2002.
The aims of the study design were to sample management treatments (untreated pasture, the chronosequence of restored vegetation and remnant woodland) across four primary locations (Hoxton Park, Plough and Harrow Property, Western Sydney Regional Park and Prospect Reservoir). A fully randomised orthogonal sampling design was not possible because all management treatments were not represented at each of the four primary locations. Sample sites representing different management treatments were therefore situated haphazardly within patches, to sample areas with similar topography (upper and mid slopes) to minimise environmental variation that may potentially confound management effects. The first set of vegetation surveys were carried out in 2001 (25 sites), with repeat surveys of new haphazardly selected sites to sample the same patch types in 2004 (54 sites), 2009 (24 sites) and 2012 (30 sites). The total number of sites varied between surveys depending on available resources, but the proportional stratification among patch types and ages remained the same. Invertebrates were sampled in late 2002 and 2009. Soils were sampled in 2010 by collaborators at UWS. A survey of avifauna commenced in 2013.
Study extent: The study site is located on retired farmland that includes a mosaic of restored vegetation (native plantings) of varying ages juxtaposed with patches of remnant vegetation and untreated, abandoned pasture. During their period of pastoral management (prior to 1990), the sites have been grazed by cattle, fertilised and planted with exotic pasture grasses, particularly Phalaris species. All sites were originally woodland prior to agricultural development about 200 years ago. Restoration projects commenced in the area in 1992 with a stated goal of ‘re-establishment of native vegetation’ (Perkins 1997). The restoration plantings were carried out in a pattern designed to connect remnant patches of woodland, which were also the primary sources of seed for tubestock. To evaluate success against the above goal, we therefore identified the remnants as suitable reference sites to which the restored sites were expected to increase their resemblance in composition and structure over time. Disturbance resulting from past agricultural practices in the area have impacted upon remnant patches to varying degrees, but these were the best available examples of native woodland in the region. Untreated pasture is defined as a control, from which restored sites are expected to become increasingly dissimilar in species composition and vegetation structure with time.
The Woodland Restoration Plot Network research plots commenced in 1992 and have been revisited every 3-4 years since 2001.
Project fundingSince 2012 this project has been part of the Long Term Ecological Research Network (LTERN). This work was supported by the Australian Government’s Terrestrial Ecosystems Research Network (www.tern.org.au) – an Australian research infrastructure facility established under the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy and Education Infrastructure Fund–Super Science Initiative through the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education. Project name Woodland Restoration Plot Network
Methods
Plot set-up
1
Global Positioning Systems, Compass, Tape Measure, marking tape
Thirty 0.1 hectare sites which were established on retired farmland that includes a mosaic of restored vegetation (native plantings) of varying ages juxtaposed with patches of remnant vegetation and untreated, abandoned pasture. All sites were originally woodland prior to agricultural development about 200 years ago. This is part of a larger dataset that spans from 1992.
Bird point count survey
2
Bird point count survey methods were employed (Pyke and Recher 1984). Point Count Stations are located within the centre of the 20 x 20 m floristic plots. After a one minute settling time, an observer surveys the area surrounding the Point Count Station for a 20 minute period. The species (and the sex and age if appropriate), method (visual or auditory), time (0-3 mins; 3-5 mins; 5-10 mins; 10-15 mins; 15- 20 mins), stratum (canopy; upper-understorey, mid-understorey, lower-understorey; ground), distance (<10 m; 10–20 m; 20–30 m; > 30 m) and orientation (N; NE; E; SE; S; SW; W; NW) from observer, and activity type, is recorded for the birds detected. Fly-overs, juveniles and flushes are recorded separately. Each of the Point Count Stations are surveyed a minimum of six times by two independent observers between sunrise and 10:00 am within a seasonal period. Sites within 500 m of each other are not surveyed during the same morning, and wherever possible, each station is surveyed at a different time on subsequent visits. The starting time, weather conditions (approx. temp, wind strength, precipitation), presence of flowering or fruiting plants, and an estimate of ambient noise is also recorded. Surveys are not conducted on days of rain (more than a drizzle), high wind, or fog.
File Descriptions
kwrt_birds_winter_2014_p162t313.csv
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| stand_age |
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| survey_date |
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| temperature |
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| wind |
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Contact Email
david.keith@environment.nsw.gov.au;
christopher.simpson@unsw.edu.au;
k.wilkins@unsw.edu.au;
mark.tozer@environment.nsw.gov.au;
r.woodward@unsw.edu.au;
david.keith@unsw.edu.au
Contact Address
Australian Wetlands, Rivers and Landscapes Centre,
School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences,
University of New South Wales
SYDNEY, NSW, 2052
Australia
Contact Phone Number
+61 2 9995 5000;
+61 409 159 334;
+61 2 9385 8435;
+61 2 9585 6496;
+61 2 9585 6051;
+61 2 9385 2111;
+61 427 856 498;
+61 428 810 214
Principal Investigator
David Keith
Supervisors
David Keith
Collaborators
Katy Wilkins;
Chris Simpson;
Dick Williams
Fields of Research
0501 - Ecological Applications;
0602 - Ecology;
0608 - Zoology
Keywords
GCMD:Earth Science > Biological Classification > Animals/Vertebrates > Birds;
LTERN Monitoring Theme:Birds;
LTERN Monitoring Theme:Invasive animals;
keyword:Bird point count;
keyword:Farmland;
keyword:Restored vegetation;
keyword:Native plantings;
keyword:Remnant vegetation;
keyword:Abandoned pasture;
keyword:Originally woodland;
Woodland Restoration;
Winter Bird Survey Data
Type of Research Activity
Pure basic research
Date Coverage
2014
Geospatial Location
Western Sydney Parklands (Western Sydney Regional Park), Australia
text
northlimit = -33.844866; southlimit = -33.908897; westlimit = 150.817755; eastLimit = 150.871493
iso19139dcmiBox
Date of data creation
2014-12-01
Year of data publication
2014
Creator(s) for Citation
Keith
David
Simpson
Chris
Wilkins
Katy
Tozer
Mark
Williams
Dick
Publisher for Citation
Long Term Ecological Research Network
Publications
See Pyke GH, Recher HF (1984), pp. 55-63 in Methods of censusing birds in Australia : proceedings of a symposium organised jointly by the Zoology Section of the ANZAAS and the Western Australian Group of the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union, May 17 1983 / edited by S.J.J.F. Davies (Dept of Conservation and Environment with the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union)
Methods of censusing birds in Australia
Other Related Identifiers
MorphoId:ltern2.249;
PackageId:162
Access Rights
Special Conditions: Prior to publication of research utilising this data, the data provider (David Keith) requests consultation.
Access Rights Type
Open
Rights held in and over the data
Creative Commons Licence (CC BY- Attribution) is assigned to this data. Details of the licence can be found at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Licence Type
CC-BY - Attribution (Version 4)
Licence
LTERN Deed: 13
Date of execution: 2014-04-30
Data Location
https://datacommons.anu.edu.au
Retention Period
Indefinitely
Data Management Plan
No
Status: Published
Published to:
Published to:
- Australian National University
- Australian National Data Service
Related items
- hasAssociationWith:
Woodland Restoration Plot Network: Sydney Basin data packages, 1992-2018 [anudc:5558] - hasAssociationWith:
Katy Wilkins [anudc:5600] - hasAssociationWith:
David Keith [anudc:5578] - hasAssociationWith:
Chris Simpson [anudc:5572] - hasAssociationWith:
Dick Williams [anudc:5581]