Central Gippsland Bird Studies

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"The Lake Wellington Wetlands Restoration  Bird Study Project"

Aim

  To establish base line data on the existing bird populations to include: 

• The range and extent of the existing species.
• Site fidelity of existing populations
• Whether existing populations are sustained in communities large enough for long term viability
• To assess the effect of the present level of habitat degradation on the ability of existing species to maintain viable populations.
• To assess the effect of broken (no longer contiguous) habitat on the ability of existing species to maintain their former geographic range and genetic diversity.

To analyse the progressive effect of habitat restoration programs to be implemented over a prolonged period by Watermark Inc. and others.

To establish the level of population movement across degraded habitat as compared with movement over reasonably or relatively un-spoiled habitat.

To allow for the analysis of long-term trends in the bird population and the effect of the restoration of habitat.

To provide an analysis of the site fidelity of residents and occasional visitors.

To analyse the extent of use and the importance of the study area to migrant species.

To provide regular data on bird populations in Dowds Morass as support for the Victoria University (Assoc. Prof Paul Boon), and Monash University  (Dr Paul Bailey) in their research project on Innovative techniques for managing multiple threats to high-value aquatic systems.

To establish a number of regular observer teams who monitor the movement of the colour banded birds.

Method  

By undertaking a program of banding and intensive observation in the short and long term covering six prime sites within the field of study

    01    Clive Disher Park – Perry Bridge

    02    The Clydebank morass

    03    The Heart morass

    04    Dowds morass adjacent to the Heart morass  

    05    In the property of Mr Brian Frawley and the adjacent Western end of Dowds morass between the Heart morass and Sale Common.

    06    In the Sale Common Reserve.

By maintaining long term banding and recovery program alongside observation of the small bush bird communities in the study area allowing analysis of movements, individual longevity and site fidelity over the proposed initial study period of five years.

By utilizing a location identifying colour banding program of five indicator species at sites 02, 03 and 06

Brown Thornbill

Yellow-rumped Thornbill

Yellow-faced Honeyeater

White-browed Scrubwren

Little Wattlebird  

The project commenced in April 2002 with banding by two teams lead by A class banders operating on a fortnightly basis at all sites for the first three months.

By having the project commence in the month of April no interference to nesting birds occurs and the largest number of first year birds are recorded.

The second (observation) phase commenced with two teams of bird observers almost immediately with a monthly recording at all sites in place by May 2002.

While the initial project duration is five years it is intended that this project will continue for a much longer period, maybe 20 years or more, to allow real and valid analysis of long-term trends in the bird population and the effect of the restoration of habitat in these significant wetland areas.

Valuable information will be available in the short term (2 to 5 years) in respect to species range and relative numbers, site fidelity and ability of different species to move across degraded areas of former wetland.

All data collected are freely available to other researchers as they are gathered