Skip to content

Restoring bird habitat in south-west WA

Angela Sanders (Ecologist)
Published 23 Oct 2016 by Angela Sanders (Ecologist)

Bird surveys of restored farmland are always full of surprises and this year was no exception. As a Gondwana Link Ecologist, I've been doing bird surveys at Monjebup, Chingarrup, Beringa and Yarraweyah Falls over the past two weeks.

The surveys have occurred a bit later this year owing to the wild, wet and windy weather that's seen the local gravel roads closed to heavy traffic many times this winter and spring.

During the fine, still mornings I am out from just before sunrise until around 9am recording the birds that have returned to a landscape that's been transformed from cleared paddocks to native vegetation.

Some of the restoration is getting on towards 10 years old and the bird activity has changed each year.

This year is the year of the Tawney-crowned Honeyeater and they are present in their hundreds nesting in the denser sections of the revegetated areas. In previous years its been the New-Holland Honeyeater that has taken first place for the most abundant species.

Another first for the surveys was the presence of many exuberant Rufous Songlarks in the 4-year-old revegetation on Monjebup North and at times their incessant calls drowned out other birds at the site.

This songlark is an uncommon visitor to this part of the world although they occur throughout the continent.

A Malleefowl calling during one of the surveys in a bush site is by far the most exciting find so far this year. Although they're common on the Gondwana Link properties, their calls are rarely heard, especially during an 'official' survey. With a few more survey days to go who knows what surprises are still in store?

Rufous Songlark. Photo Ian Mayo. Rufous Songlark. Photo Ian Mayo.
Angela Sanders and volunteer Bill Thomson doing a bird survey in restored farmland. Angela Sanders and volunteer Bill Thomson doing a bird survey in restored farmland.

Recent stories

Orange bellied Parrot. Photo Bruce Thomson.

07/09/2023 07/09/2023

The threatened species we don’t talk about

Every year on Threatened Species Day, a certain group of animals get a lot of attention. We’re shifting the focus to the lesser knowns. Just as intriguing, but rarely in the headlines.

Read More
Wattle blossoms.

01/09/2023 01/09/2023

National Wattle Day

Wattle is Australia’s national floral emblem and the common name for the genus Acacia. Acacia forest covers a total of 9.8 million hectares and there are over 1200 species of wattles!

Read More
Pilungah Reserve aerial view

22/08/2023 22/08/2023

ABC News: special wildlife reserve application

In a bid to stop mining projects, Wangkamadla traditional owners and Bush Heritage are lodging a special wildlife reserve application with the QLD government.

Read More
Seedlings for revegetation work.

16/08/2023 16/08/2023

An update on Eurardy's 1 million tree project

On Eurardy Reserve, Nanda Country, Western Australia, a project began four years ago to plant one million trees and shrubs. In 2019 we partnered with Carbon Positive Australia, a WA-based charity, to create the largest revegetation project in Bush Heritage's history.

Read More
Stephen Kearney

15/08/2023 15/08/2023

Applying science for conservation

This year’s Science Week theme is ‘Innovation: Powering Future Industries’. We’ve spoken with three early-career scientists and interns at Bush Heritage who are helping to create a better future by applying their scientific knowledge to conservation.

Read More
Ferns and rock orchids

19/07/2023 19/07/2023

First time on Brogo

Brogo Reserve is on Yuin Country – so every visit is an opportunity to get to know the lands and waters that my Ancestors knew like the backs of their hands. I'm based in Sydney - it's hard for me to live so far away from Yuin Country. This is something that Aboriginal people feel deep in their spirit and blood, like something tugging you back in that direction, back where you belong.

Read More
Aunty Lynette Nixon

06/07/2023 06/07/2023

NAIDOC Week 2023: For our Elders

This NAIDOC Week, we were lucky enough to hear directly from Elders themselves, as well as Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people who sent in powerful words from their ancestral homelands. Their wise reflections spoke to this year’s theme ‘For our Elders’, touching on the importance of listening, keeping language alive and how traditional cultural practices and knowledge can help address environmental challenges.

Read More
Loading...
{{itemsInCart}} Items - {{formatCurrency(grandTotal)}}