A Landscape Approach to Determine the Ecological Value of Paddock Trees Summary Report Years 1 & 2

The influence of distance of scattered trees from woodland patches on bird activity in those trees was investigated. Scattered trees at all distances up to 500 m from woodland patches were used by birds, but abundance and species richness changed with distance. Relationships were not linear; both abundance and species richness were lowest at patch edges (average of 2.5 birds and 2 species per tree) and in trees 0-100 m from patches (5 birds and 4 species per tree). They increased with distance to peak between 100 m and 300 m (8 birds and 5 species per tree), before decreasing again slightly at further distances (300-500 m) to an average of 7 birds and 5 species per tree. No single tree or landscape parameters strongly determined the presence of birds in trees, and multiple characteristics may interact to influence the use of scattered trees by birds. Observations of directions of bird movement between scattered trees were also made, with a greater proportion (80%) of movements directed perpendicular than parallel to patch edges. Directions of movements may have been partially determined by the location of larger woodland patches, with the birds using scattered trees as stepping stones between larger areas of habitat, and also for providing additional food or nesting resources. There is no simple indicator of which trees in the landscape are most valuable, and all are valuable to birds to some extent. These results have important implications for clearance assessment as they identify landscape factors as important in determining the value of scattered trees for birds. A Landscape Approach to Determine the Ecological Value of Paddock Trees

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