Bird populations of a logged and unlogged forest mosaic at Eden, New South Wales
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Bird counts were made in alternate logged (clearfelled) and unlogged small coupes in the Eden Forestry District. Populations of some bird species were greatly altered as a result of logging and remained so for the duration of the study (1976-1980). The differences in the avifauna were greatest immediately after logging. There were fewer bird species and individuals in the logged compared to the unlogged coupes. As vegetation on the logged plots regenerated, the number of species and the number of birds increased. Four years after logging 78% of the species present in unlogged forest occurred on the logged plots.
The adverse effects of logging were greatest on birds which require tree hollows for nesting, on species which forage in the forest canopy, and on birds which forage in litter on the ground. In general, non-passerines were affected more seriously than passerines. Species favoured by logging were those normally inhabiting open disturbed situations or requiring dense ground or shrub vegetation. The dense eucalypt regeneration following logging provided additional nesting and foraging sites for some honeyeaters.
Coupe size in an alternate coupe logging operation may be an important factor affecting bird populations. The bird density of some species was lower in the small unlogged coupes than in nearby unlogged forest.