Woodland Bird Identification and Survey Methods …birdlife.org.au/documents/WB-Identification_and_Survey_Techniques... · Woodland Bird Identification and Survey ... 1. Getting to

Woodland Bird Identification and Survey Methods

WorkshopApril 2015

Welcome!Welcome!

W dl d Bi d Id tifi ti d S M th d W k hWoodland Bird Identification and Survey Methods Workshop

BirdLife Australia’s Woodland Birds for Biodiversity project

The aim of WBfB is to: Enhance the conservation of threatened and declining woodland birds in the temperate region of south-eastern Australia

This project funded by:

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Workshop SummaryWorkshop Summary

1. Getting to know woodland birds and their habitat 1. Getting to know woodland birds and their habitat - what are temperate woodlands and ‘woodland birds’?- why are they so threatened?

4. Then we go birding!!

2. Survey techniques for birds in temperate woodlands - woodland bird monitoring – the why’s and how’s - getting startedgetting started- Regent Honeyeater habitat

3 Identification tips for birds in south-eastern Australia’s temperate 3. Identification tips for birds in south-eastern Australia s temperate woodlands- sight recognitioncall recognitioncall recognition- useful “clues”- some tricky species- some rare/important species- some rare/important species

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1. What are temperate woodlands

d and ‘woodland birds’? woodland birds ?

What are temperate woodlands?What are temperate woodlands?

• Widely spaced trees whose crowns do not overlap• Open forests are also “woodlands” in Australia

• Open understorey and sparse ground layer• Mainly on inland slopes of Great Divide /

adjacent plains (e.g. Liverpool Plains / Cowra Woodlands) and drier flatter areas Cowra Woodlands) and drier, flatter areas in coastal catchments (e.g. Capertee / Hunter Valleys)

• Almost all of temperate woodlands in psouth-east Australia are dominated by eucalypts, occasionally interspersed with native cypress pine, sheoak or buloke

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Woodlands ain’t woodlandsWoodlands ain t woodlands

•Numerous different types of woodlands exist

•Most have a dominant species (e.g. ironbark) but also comprise a range but also comprise a range of co-existent species(e.g. stringybark, box etc)

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Temperate woodlands = dry open forestsTemperate woodlands = dry open forests

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A precious and diverse but exploited ecosystemA precious and diverse but exploited ecosystem

• Once, Melbourne to Sydney was an almost continuous woodland• Most of these woodlands have gone, especially those on fertile lowlands, and much of

what remains is highly modifiedT t dl d th t th t d t i A t li • Temperate woodlands are now among the most threatened ecosystems in Australia

• Over 85% has been cleared

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Birds of temperate woodlandsBirds of temperate woodlands

These woodlands are threatened…

…but they are also very diverse

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Seasonal changes are a characteristic part of temperate woodlands• Fluctuations in bird fauna are driven by climatic changes which in turn influence food

availabilityDiff t t f t lifi d b diff t i i t • Different types of movement are exemplified by different species – some are migratory, others are nomadic while others again display irregular and localised movements

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Autumn winter migrantsAutumn-winter migrants• Arrive March-April and depart around October. • Typically from cooler climates (altitudinal migrants, e.g. Flame Robin)• Migratory nectar feeders are a distinctive component of this group attracted • Migratory nectar-feeders are a distinctive component of this group, attracted

by flowering eucalypts (e.g. Swift Parrot)

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Spring-summer migrants• Arrive around September-October, depart around March-April• Typically from warmer northern regionsTypically from warmer northern regions• Most are breeding migrants (e.g. Pallid Cuckoo, White-browed Woodswallow,

Rufous Whistler, Sacred Kingfisher)

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Prominent guilds of birds in woodlandsProminent guilds of birds in woodlandsNectar-feeders (~20% of the woodland bird fauna)• Over 30 species of ‘honeyeaters’, including wattlebirds and friarbirds• Five species of nectar-feeding parrots (lorikeets and the Swift Parrot)Five species of nectar feeding parrots (lorikeets and the Swift Parrot)

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Ground-foragers and ground-nesters• Form around half of the woodland bird fauna• Dependant on features of the ground-layer such as Dependant on features of the ground layer such as sparse grass cover, patchy understorey, woody / leafy debris• Many of the most iconic woodland birds are ground-foragers

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Hollow-dependant species • Form around 15% of the woodland bird fauna• Hollow-bearing trees play an important role in providing habitat in woodlands• Tiny holes and crevices used by small species such as Striated Pardalote and

Owlet Nightjar, and large hollows are important for birds such as owls.

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Foliage-gleaners• Represent a significant proportion of the woodland bird fauna• Species include whistlers, cuckoo-shrikes, cuckoos, gerygones, pardalotes, thornbills• These birds are specially adapted to forage on eucalypt and acacia foliage in search of

small invertebrates• Often assemble in mixed-species foraging flocks

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Woodland habitat for birds Woodland habitat for birds

Different vegetation communities attract different birds• Associate with particular communities, driven either by floristic or structural attributes

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Woodland habitat for birds Woodland habitat for birds

Structure = the physical form of the habitat Woodlands provide a number of critical structural resources for birds, more so than other habitat types, for example:

Di f i b t t ( li b t k l )– Diverse foraging substrates (canopy, limbs, trunks, logs)– Large spreading tree crowns– Numerous tree-hollows of a range of sizes and shapes

G f d f fl i– Greater frequency and amount of tree flowering– Ground litter accumulation

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Birds of temperate woodlands - summaryBirds of temperate woodlands - summary

• ~ 250-300 species of birds use the temperate woodlands 250 300 species of birds use the temperate woodlands

• Are one of the most diverse habitats in southern Australia

• BUT…at least one in five woodland bird species listed as threatened or shown to be declining (more likely one in four)

Key message:Key message:Temperate woodlands are both biodiverse andare both biodiverse and highly threatened

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2. Survey techniques for

birds in

temperate woodlandstemperate woodlands

Woodland Bird Monitoring Woodland Bird Monitoring

Why Monitor?Birds are excellent indicators of the condition and change to the natural environment:environment:

• Broad-scale(e g impacts of climate change)(e.g. impacts of climate change)

• Medium-scale( l d h ds(e.g. landscape processes such as vegetation connectivity and configuration) Patch Size

Bird

• Fine-scale(e.g. habitat management at site scale, tree-planting / revegetation) tree planting / revegetation)

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Monitoring methodsMost appropriate method depends on objectives of the monitoring Diff t t f it i i l dDifferent types of monitoring include:• Habitat/area (e.g. woodland types or ‘site’ surveys)• Threat-based (e.g. fire, grazing, edge effects)

S i b d ( R H S if P )• Species-based (e.g. Regent Honeyeater, Swift Parrot)

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Monitoring methods• 20 minute / 2 hectare surveys are the most important and promoted survey type:

- standardised across the country (has been for 17 years, millions of surveys)standardised across the country (has been for 17 years, millions of surveys)- best suited for targeted surveys at specific sites- provide the most “robust” data (e.g. can stand up to scrutiny)

• 500m area searches (added flexibility) better to detect threatened or cryptic species• 500m area searches (added flexibility), better to detect threatened or cryptic species

Regardless of survey area size,it is important to maintain consistencyit is important to maintain consistency

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Site selection• Choose sites which are representative of a particular habitat• Use a degree of randomness in site selection and include sites with different attributes,

f l for example: - regeneration- mature trees

d i- grazed sites- ungrazed sites

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What to record?• Survey and geographic data (date, time, coordinates etc.)• Habitat– very important for tracking changes (even basic descriptions are of use)• Presence/absence data for birds will tell us something• Count data will tell us more (minimum number of individuals seen on all surveys)

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Frequency and duration of monitoringFrequency and duration of monitoring• Conduct seasonally at the very least to detect bird movements:• Best results come from sites that have been regularly surveyed in a consistent manner• Long term monitoring delivers best results• Long-term monitoring delivers best results

• But….any information contributes to the broader picture…

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What happens with the data?What happens with the data?• Atlas of Australian Birds database (managed by BirdLife Australia)• Approved methodology and different monitoring options• Allows data to be used more broadly (e.g. HBOC)Allows data to be used more broadly (e.g. HBOC)• Observers able to house and access their data• Data-sharing agreements with other databases (e.g. ALA)

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Applications of woodland bird data• Data used by a wide range of researchers• Provides opportunities for evidence-based decision-making• Informs publications such as State of Australia’s Birds • Woodland Birds for Biodiversity project• Swift Parrot & Regent Honeyeater monitoring programs• Also ecological consultants and regulators • Widely used in listings of threatened bird species

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How to get involved• BirdLife Australia monitoring programs • Atlas of Australian Birds• Local/regional monitoring programs (e.g. Cowra

Woodland Birds Program)• Threatened species programs (e.g. SP/RH)

I Bi d A i i• Important Bird Area monitoring• Or, just start your own surveys….

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So we can see why it is usefulSo….we can see why it is useful…

Now to get startedNow, to get starteddoing bird surveysg y

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Getting StartedGetting Started

BinocularsBinoculars

Possibly the most important “birder’s tool”birder s tool …

Various options with different sizes, zooms etczooms etc

As always, what ever suits the Individual’s needsIndividual’s needs….

…but for woodland birding (where there is good light), 10x are ideal (8x are also popular) ideal (8x are also popular).

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Nik 10 42Nikon 10x42

Bushnell 10x42Bushnell 10x42

Swarovski 10x42

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Field Guides

The “Big 4”…and/or new The Big 4 …and/or new “apps”

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Notebook and penNotebook and pen

Spiral-bound works well

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“Optional Extras”

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Some things you may be wondering…

Do I record birds flying over?

What about birds just off site, or ones I can’t tell where they are?j , y

Do I record numbers of birds? If so, what about ones I only hear?, y

What does 2ha look like? Or 500m from a point – how big is that?What does 2ha look like? Or 500m from a point how big is that?

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What does 2ha look like?

20,000sq m = ~140mx140m OR 100mx200m or 400mx50m…

500m from a point = 70.85hap

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Dean’s visual of 2ha method??????200mDean s visual of 2ha method??????200m

100100m

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Regent Honeyeater habitat and search methodsRegent Honeyeater habitat and search methods

Probably the most important ‘woodland bird’ to search for is the Regent Honeyeater

We will talk about identification later…

…but here we will talk about habitat and some tips on searching for thisrare and highly g yendangered species

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Regent Honeyeaters rely on flowering Eucalypts for nectarRegent Honeyeaters rely on flowering Eucalypts for nectar

The seemingly most important trees for the Regent Honeyeater include:include:

• Mugga Ironbark (Eucalyptus sideroxylon) • White Box (E. albens)• Yellow Box (E melliodora)• Yellow Box (E. melliodora)• Spotted Gum (Corymbia maculata)• Swamp Mahogany (E. robusta)

+ various other EucalyptsE.g. Red Stringybark Eucalyptus macrorhynchaEucalyptus macrorhyncha

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Regent Honeyeater habitat and search methods

But also important, are mistletoes:


But also important, are mistletoes:

Mistletoes important for the species include:• Needle-leaf Mistletoe, Amyema cambagei on River She-oak, Needle leaf Mistletoe, Amyema cambagei on River She oak,

Casuarina cunninghamiana• Box Mistletoe, A. miquelii• Long-flower Mistletoe, Dendropthoe vitellinao g o e st etoe, e d opt oe te a

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• Will also eat lerp / other insects


• Will also eat lerp / other insects

• Other plant flowers (but usually when pretty desperate!)when pretty desperate!)

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But they have theirBut they have their

favourite habitat types….

Where their favourite trees occur….

And these include (broadly)…

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Grassy White Box woodlandsGrassy White Box woodlands

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Box Ironbark woodlandsBox Ironbark woodlands

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River She-oak forestsRiver She oak forests

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Spotted Gum Ironbark forestsSpotted Gum Ironbark forests

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Swamp Mahogany forestsSwamp Mahogany forests

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Key species – Mugga Ironbark E sideroxylonKey species Mugga Ironbark E. sideroxylon

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Key species – Mugga Ironbark E sideroxylonKey species Mugga Ironbark E. sideroxylon

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Key species – White Box E albensKey species White Box E. albens

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Key species – White Box E albensKey species White Box E. albens

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Key species – Yellow Box E melliodoraKey species Yellow Box E. melliodora

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Key species – Yellow Box E melliodoraKey species Yellow Box E. melliodora

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Key species – Spotted Gum C maculataKey species Spotted Gum C. maculata

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Key species – Swamp Mahogany E robustaKey species Swamp Mahogany E. robusta

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Key species – MistletoesKey species MistletoesAmyema miquelli

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Key species – MistletoesKey species Mistletoes

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Key species – MistletoesKey species MistletoesDendrophthoe vitellina

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Key species – MistletoesKey species MistletoesAmyema cambagei

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Maybe it’s time for a break???Maybe it s time for a break???

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3. Identification tips for birdsp

in south eastern Australia’s in south-eastern Australia s

temperate woodlands

In the field tipsIn the field tips

There are 2 ways of getting the best views of a birdThere are 2 ways of getting the best views of a bird

1. High magnification / better quality binoculars

Remember the trade-offs we spoke about earlier?

It’s all about what you are most comfortable withIt s all about what you are most comfortable with.

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In the field tipsIn the field tips

There are 2 ways of getting the best views of a birdThere are 2 ways of getting the best views of a bird

2. Getting closer to the bird (or the bird closer to you)

Sometimes it is tempting to walk towards a bird, but mostoften it is best to observe and decide if this can be done

Some birds are more (and less) approachable than others.

A lot of the time the best thing to do is be quiet andA lot of the time, the best thing to do is be quiet andinconspicuous and let the bird(s) come to you

Thi l k h ‘ hi ’ f bi d (bi d fid llThis also works when ‘searching’ for birds (birds confide, callsheard more easily)

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Sight RecognitionSight Recognition

Seeing is believing and obviously recognising a bird when you see one is very important…but remember…

…the important term here is “recognition”.

Over time you will learn to recognise birds – i.e. you won’t y g yreally be “identifying” them any more.

You don’t need to know a bird’sfeatures intimately to be able torecognise it.

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The basics to start with “identification”…

Size

Shapep

Colour / Tones/

Behavioure a ou

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SizeSometimes a good idea to think relative to a familiar species.E.g. sparrow for smaller birds, magpie-lark for medium, crow/raven for larger. / g

Can be the most important feature on separating p gdifficult species (e.g. Brown Goshawk vs Collared Sparrowhawk) vs Collared Sparrowhawk)

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Shape – Often can be brokeninto binomials.

E.g. long-tailed/short-tailed, g g / ,big-headed/small-headed, broad-winged/narrow-winged, long billed/short billed, g / ,long legs/short legs etc

Some are defining Some are defining features, e.g. presence of a crest, cocked tail, forked tail etc.

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Colour / Tones / Features • Feathers

- look for key features in the feathers (e.g. wing bars?)y ( g g )- mottled appearance / pale patches could mean a juv.

• Bare parts (bill, legs) • Eye colour / markings around eyey / g y• White edges to tail etc…

Any features that are obvious that may help you distinguish the Any features that are obvious that may help you distinguish the bird from others are useful.

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But, be careful…e.g. with too much emphasis on colour and sizeBut, be careful…e.g. with too much emphasis on colour and size

When first encountering a new bird, that colour and sizenew bird, that colour and sizecan often be your enemy.

The distribution of colour The distribution of colour and markings, overallshape and comparative size and habitat are more and habitat are more important than exact colour or size matching to a field guidematching to a field guide

Light can have a huge impact on colours and even impression of i d h size and shape

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Behaviour – can be critical information, especially for difficult to identify / see birds.

Where was the bird? In a tree? If so, where in the tree?,

On ground? On briefly, or for an extended period? Did the bird ‘travel’ on the ground?g

Was it creeping up or down a branch?

Flight pattern – how was it flying? How did it hold its wings?

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Jacky Winter is an example of a non-descript bird that can be‘recognised’ by behaviour recognised by behaviour.

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Also important is habitat and rangeAlso important is…habitat and range

Although a bird should be identified for what it is, not what it should be, habitat and range are often very useful in narrowing down an identification.g

E.g. although a Brown Gerygone looks virtually identical to a Western Gerygone which looks virtually identical to a Mangrove Western Gerygone which looks virtually identical to a Mangrove Gerygone…

their habitats and ranges …their habitats and ranges do not overlap.

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Watch birds closely and they will teach you what they look like.

Thing is, you actually do this every day…think about looking for a friend or a family member in a crowd of people…

You don’t need to identify them because you recognise the way they walk, their shape, size etc – just like birds

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Even just a quick look at these line drawings is enough to know what the bird is

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“JIZZ” (GISS) – General Impression of Shape and Size

The best thing to do is to learn the ‘jizz’ of familiar birds. g jA good example is the Noisy Miner

- very familiary- rather square-tailed- distinctive flight / gliding pattern- ‘busy’ busy - rarely perches motionless- almost unique in size for a bird with its behaviour patterns

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Sight Recognition

Othe familia bi ds to lea n the “ji ” on a e

Sight Recognition

Other familiar birds to learn the “jizz” on are:

Grey Fantail – “busy”, cocked tail, dipping flight

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Sight Recognition


Sight Recognition


Eastern Yellow Robin – classic “thickhead” to use a yardstick for other robins or whistlers, distinctive feeding behaviour

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Sight Recognition


Sight Recognition


Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike – distinctive flight, elongated shape, wing-shuffle, habits

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Sight Recognition


Sight Recognition


Yellow-faced Honeyeater – possibly the most familiar ‘small Honeyeater’ against which impressions of size, shape etc can be judged on other Honeyeaters

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Call RecognitionCall Recognition

Call recognition

Once learnt, the calls of woodland birds will be the

dominant way you will record birds in a given area.

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Call RecognitionCall Recognition

Call recognition

It also enables efficient surveyingy g(you may be able to do surveys eventually without binoculars!)

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Call recognitionCall recognition

Unfortunately, there is no easy way other than to go birding and learn the calls (some people might be able tolisten to recordings)

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Calls are useful not just for building a list of what’sabout, but also for when looking for rare, cryptic or ‘important’ species

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Some very useful calls to learn are:

Weebill (but all thornbills really)

Honeyeater flight calls (e.g. White-naped)

All cuckoos

Corvids – can be the only reliable way to separate these speciesy y p p

Pardalotes – often impossible to see!

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Useful “Clues”Useful Clues

There are often clues to the presence of birds in a woodland

E.g. Painted Button-quail ‘platelets’

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Useful “Clues”Useful Clues

Other “clues” might be:

- ‘Whitewash’ from roosting birds - Pellets from owls- Diggings, scratched leaf litter (large ground-dwellers)- Nests (many are distinct, e.g. the mud-nesters, finches)

Plus, it’s always a good idea to look for leads…things likeblossoming trees, seeding grasses, water-points (and maybeeven if there is water on the ground near a puddle?)g p )

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Some tricky species – “LBJs” – Little Brown JobsSome tricky species – LBJs – Little Brown Jobs

Thornbills, Gerygones

A quick guide to some useful A quick guide to some useful pointers in identifying these birds.

Paramount are habitat Paramount are habitat, colour of features and calls(shape and size not really useful)

These are birds that are both small and often difficult to get good views of.

Many thanks to Allan Richardson for assistance here.

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“LBJs” – Brown ThornbillLBJs – Brown Thornbill

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“LBJs” – Striated ThornbillLBJs – Striated Thornbill

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“LBJs” – Yellow ThornbillLBJs – Yellow Thornbill

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“LBJs” – Buff-rumped ThornbillLBJs – Buff-rumped Thornbill

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“LBJs” – Yellow-rumped ThornbillLBJs – Yellow-rumped Thornbill

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Some tricky species – WeebillSome tricky species – Weebill

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“LBJs” – White-throated GerygoneLBJs – White-throated Gerygone

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Spotted PardaloteSpotted Pardalote

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Striated PardaloteStriated Pardalote

Striated Pardalote

This one is theThis one is the Yellow-tipped Pardalote P. striatus striatus

Breeds only in Tassie, migrates to SE mainlandAustralia in autumn / winter(much like Swifties)

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Locally significant species – Diamond FiretailLocally significant species Diamond Firetail

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Our ‘rarest’ species – recognising Swift Parrots Our rarest species – recognising Swift Parrots

Little Lorikeet Scaly-breasted Lorikeet

Musk Lorikeet Swift Parrot 101

Swift Parrots in the area Swift Parrots in the area

South West Slopes

Important Bird Area

Recognised for importance toRecognised for importance toSwift Parrot Superb ParrotPainted Honeyeater Painted Honeyeater Diamond Firetail

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Swift Parrots in the area Swift Parrots in the area

Some importantsites immediately sites immediately to the west ofhere

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Our ‘rarest’ species – recognising Swift Parrots

Purple-crowned Lorikeet

Our rarest species – recognising Swift Parrots

Plumage differences include:

Purple-crowned Lorikeet

Little Lorikeet

Plumage differences include:- Red under wings and tail

Musk Lorikeet

Rainbow LorikeetScaly-breasted Lorikeet

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Our ‘rarest’ species – recognising Swift Parrots Our rarest species recognising Swift Parrots

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Blue edges to wingsS ll

Our rarest species recognising Swift Parrots

Yellow fringe

Blue edges to wingsSmall amount of

blue on f h dforehead

Red ‘mask’Red

above beak

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Our ‘rarest’ species – recognising Swift Parrots Our rarest species recognising Swift Parrots

Maroon pointy tail

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But as with most forest birds learning the call is perhaps the

Our rarest species – recognising Swift Parrots

But, as with most forest birds, learning the call is perhaps the most important thing.

Contact calls

Flight call

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Our ‘rarest’ species - recognising Regent HEs Our rarest species - recognising Regent HEs

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Regent Honeyeater decline

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Regent Honeyeater decline….

1400

1600

R² = 0.5224

1000

1200

600

800

400

0

200

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013


• Striking bird with bold scaly plumage pattern• Black head with bare facial patch• Black head with bare facial patch• Yellow patches in wing and tail• 20-24cm – a bit smaller/slighter than a Noisy Miner

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Identification

guide

forthcoming…

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New Holland Honeyeater Painted Honeyeater

White-cheeked Honeyeater

Regent Honeyeater

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Regent Honeyeaters in the areaRegent Honeyeaters in the area

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Regent Honeyeaters in the areaRegent Honeyeaters in the area

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Tips on finding Regent Honeyeaters Tips on finding Regent Honeyeaters

1. Find blossoming trees, preferably one of their ‘faves’

2. Look / listen for associated bird species – especially Noisy and Little Friarbirds, but also Little / Musk Lorikeetsbut also Little / Musk Lorikeets,Red Wattlebirds, White-naped HE etcp

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Tips on finding Regent Honeyeaters

3 Once in a “good position” get o e e in to hich bi ds a e

Tips on finding Regent Honeyeaters

3. Once in a “good position”, get your eye in to which birds are “controlling” different parts of a flowering tree. Regents will often be guarding an area, even standing up to larger HE’s. They are also likely to be near the tops of the trees.

4. Keep an eye on any dead trees, farm dams, small pools etc as Regents like these, especially mid-late afternoon.as Regents like these, especially mid late afternoon.

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Tips on finding Regent Honeyeaters Tips on finding Regent Honeyeaters

5. Get your eye in on friarbirds and smaller HE’s, then be alert for y y ,anything mid-sized flying about.

6. Whilst all of this is going on…….LISTEN INTENTLY!!!….LISTEN INTENTLY!!!

7. Be patient, stick with an area until you think you’ve worked it, th f bl f t t i t th tthen move on, preferably on foot, to inspect other trees.

If you think it is worthwhile, play a call, but be mindful If you think it is worthwhile, play a call, but be mindful (i.e. NEVER do if nesting is suspected or if you’re on a busy road).

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Some ‘important’ species - recognising Regent HEs Some important species recognising Regent HEs

Enough theory….time for some birding…

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Thanks for making it this farThanks for making it this far

S ifTo report Swift Parrots or Regent Honeyeaters

Freecall 1800 621 056 / [email protected] or0421 761237 / [email protected]

National RH/SP survey weekends for 2015:May 16-17August 1-2

(always the 3rd weekend in May and 1st weekend in August)

But happy for people to be looking any time…

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t

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Documents

Woodland Bird Identification and Survey Methods …birdlife.org.au/documents/WB-Identification_and_Survey_Techniques... · Woodland Bird Identification and Survey ... 1. Getting to