BDBSA Project Metadata Detail

Survey/Project Number: 1136          Total No. of Sites: 1007
Survey/Project Name: Mount Lofty Ranges Low Rainfall Grassy Woodland Bird Monitoring
Abstract: Birds in lower rainfall grassy woodlands were identified as a priority for restoration by the Landscape Assessment Framework conducted for the Mount Lofty Ranges (MLR; Rogers 2011). As a result, broad-scale restoration has been undertaken in grassy woodland areas in the northern and eastern MLR as part of the Paddock Tree Project, and similar plantings at Hutton Vale near Angaston and Frahns Farm at Monarto. This research project aims to monitor the effect of these restoration activities on seven declining woodland bird species indicative of lower rainfall grassy woodlands: Brown Treecreeper, Chestnut-rumped Thornbill, Diamond Firetail, Hooded Robin, Jacky Winter, Restless Flycatcher and Southern Whiteface.
 
Start Date: 01/09/2017      End Date: 01/01/2020
Survey Type: Fauna only
   
Study Area Description: A ca. 20 km wide strip spanning the eastern edge of the Mount Lofty Ranges from Strathalbyn to Eudunda.
Objectives
         Vegetation: *** No vegetation survey objectives recorded
         Fauna: Refer to Abstract.
Methodology
         Vegetation: *** No vegetation methodology recorded
         Fauna: Broadly, the aim was to determine the effect of restoration activities by comparing the birds present in and around revegetated areas around the time of planting, to those present in the future when the plants are mature. To do this, a combinational approach was employed using formal 2 ha, 20 minute surveys for birds able to be adequately detected and modelled via this approach, and additional opportunistic data for species unable to be adequately detected by this method. 165 sites were surveyed four times each between September 2017 and February 2018 using the 2 ha, 20 minute method. In each survey, all bird species seen or heard were recorded and delineated into four categories: 1) inside the survey area and survey time (Time In/Space In), 2) inside the survey time but outside the survey site (Time In/Space Out), 3) outside the survey time but inside the survey site (Time Out/Space In), and 4) outside the survey time and site but nearby (Time Out/Space Out). For entry into BDBSA, records in category 1 (Time In/Space In) were entered as Survey (SU), with spatial reliability of 51-100 m reflecting the 2 ha (80 m radius) survey site. Other categories were entered as Opportune (OP), with the Space Out categories 2 and 4 entered with spatial reliability of 101-250 m reflecting the greater distance at which they were recorded, and the Time Out/Space In category was entered with spatial reliability of 51-100 m corresponding to the presence within the 80 m radius survey site. As BDBSA does not accept easting/northing/site type combinations with different spatial reliabilities, the eastings and northings for category 3 (Time Out/Space In) were changed by adding 0.001 to differentiate these from the other opportune records collected at survey sites (categories 2 and 4). Opportunistic data away from survey sites were also collected in the surrounding landscape during the same time period. These records were entered into BDBSA as OP, but with a larger spatial reliability (251-500 m) to reflect the broader area over which they were often collected. All data categories were delineated in the Location Comments. Data were collected using the Collector for ArcGIS smartphone App.

Data Distribution Rules: Public Dataset
Project Basis: Fauna : Monitoring - Fauna/Ecosystem (ie species records - usually re-visited for ongoing monitoring) NOTE:NON Std Svy methodology may have been used.
Fauna : Habitat rehabilitation/restoration
Information Authority: Department for Environment and Heritage (BDBSA:Adelaide) - Cleland Office
Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management (NRM) Region