Birds in a partly clearfelled dry eucalypt forest on dolerite in southeastern Tasmania

Abstract

An area of dry eucalypt forest on dolerite in southeastern Tasmania was clearfelled in 1981. A portion of this area was subsequently slash-burnt and aerially sown in 1982, whilst the rest of the area was left unburnt and unsown. A monthly bird census was conducted during 1983-1984 in surrounding uncut, mature forest and also on the clearfelled area. Species were recorded together with the habitat in which they occurred and the particular plant species being utilised. A total of 46 avian species were recorded during the monthly censuses, with most species and individuals being observed in the spring months. The numbers of species and individuals recorded on the burnt and unburnt clearfelled areas were low in comparison with those observed in the uncut forest. In general, those species able to utilise open-ground habitats tended to be the least affected by dearfelling followed by slash-burning. However, the unburnt clearfelled area provided foraging sites for certain species, in preference to the nearby slash-burnt area. Many individuaH~'recordedin the clearfelled areas made use of trees left standing after logging. The use of fire in dry forest management practice and the importance of cull trees are discussed.