Nanangroe Plantation Plot Network: Bird Point Count Data, Southwest Slopes, NSW, Australia, 2012-2015

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Abstract: The Nanangroe Plantation Plot Network Bird Point Count Data contains counts of all birds seen and heard over five minute periods at each of the 0 m, 100 m and 200 m posts along a permanent 200 m transect at each site. Dawn bird counts are conducted every 1-2 years using repeated point interval counts, between 2012 and 2015. Repeated point counts by two different observers on two different days are undertaken. The distance that each bird was seen/heard at is recorded along with bird abundance and any anecdotal comments (e.g. breeding behaviour). Bird species presence/absence or detection rates within 50 m of the observer is commonly used for analysis.

The principle objective of the Nanangroe study is to directly quantify changes in woodland vertebrate assemblages and their relationships with habitat variables when the surrounding landscape matrix is converted from a semi-cleared grazing landscape to a landscape dominated by an exotic softwood plantation.

The study area is located in the Southwest Slopes of NSW west of Lake Burrinjuck and includes four exotic Pine Plantations (Nanangroe, Cotway, East Bungongo and Bungongo), as well as private properties adjacent those plantations. Repeated sampling of the vegetation structure and cover and selected vertebrate groups on all sites from 1998 has created a long term dataset.

A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Nanangroe Plantation Forest Plot Network’s full program is provided at Dawn bird counts are conducted every 1-2 years using repeated point interval counts, between 1998 and 2015.

Sampling method: Refer to Lindenmayer, DB, Cunningham, RB, MacGregor, C, Tribolet, C & Donnelly, CF 2001, ‘A prospective longitudinal study of landscape matrix effects on fauna in woodland remnants: experimental design and baseline data’, Biological Conservation, vol 101 no 2.

Study extent: Bird point count surveys were not conducted between 2008 and 2010 inclusive.

Project funding: Between 2012 and 2018 this project was part of, and funded through the Long Term Ecological Research Network (LTERN) a facility within the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN) and supported by the Australian Government through the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy.