On a property that already boasts significant habitat for birds (around 150 species sighted at the spring Birds on Farms survey), a casual visitor to the EcoGipps farm might wonder why we have been busy strapping salvaged hollow logs to tree branches. After all, birds can live in any kind of tree … can’t they?
Well, yes and no. It all depends on the bird! Around 15% of Australian bird species rely on tree hollows for shelter and breeding. On the EcoGipps farm, Striated Pardalotes, King Parrots, Kookaburras and a pair of broody Wood Ducks are just some of the bird species on the lookout for hollows to call home.
Mature eucalypts form the ideal hollows for nesting, but it takes time – hollows start to form when trees reach around 90 years old, with the smallest hollows taking up to 120 years to develop. More suitable, larger hollows can be found in very mature trees, often 2-300 years of age. With many of these giants having been felled for farmland, timber harvesting and urban development, hollows are in short supply.
Hollows ready to goEnd caps being installedEnd cap in placeLarge hollow for lizardsHollow installed Hollow in large eucalypt
At EcoGipps, we engaged local arborist, Agile Tree Works, to help strategically install a series of salvaged eucalyptus hollows into trees around the farm to encourage birdlife to shelter and nest. Although one hollow was so heavy, it ended up on the ground to be a future home for lizards! A wooden end cap was attached to each piece to ensure the hollow was more secure and cosy for their new inhabitants.
Salvaging existing hollows bound for the firewood heap is just one option for improving habitat for hollow-loving birds. Purpose-built nesting boxes also provide a suitable home for birds. For the boxes to be most effective, it’s important to build boxes to suit specific species. Your local Landcare group may be able to help with plans for nesting boxes. For those of you in Gippsland, Maffra & District Landcare Network have put together Nest Boxes for Gippsland Region; an excellent place to start.
Over the coming months, the EcoGipps team will monitor these hollows to see who has made themselves at home.
Check out this entertaining YouTube video by our South Gippsland friends at the Tarwin River Forest, which celebrates the importance of bird hollows.
BirdLife Australia’s Birds on Farms project works with rural landholders to protect and restore agricultural landscapes and create bird-friendly habitat for woodland bird species.
Landholders can take part in seasonal surveys with Birds on Farms supporting farmers along the way, providing resources and mentors to help locate and identify birds. The information collected during the surveys is used to not only monitor the health of woodland bird species populations, but to create habitat plans, identify areas of value and assist landholders to create bird-friendly habitat.
EcoGipps has been conducting seasonal Birds on Farms surveys since 2018. Beginning with 4 survey sites and roughly 10 bird species identified on each site, EcoGipps now has 13 survey sites, with an average of 20 birds identified on each site, depending on the season.
Heather considers Birds on Farms to be an important seasonal activity at EcoGipps.
“Participating in the bird surveys requires us to quickly tune into the birds around us. We only have 20 minutes on each site to identify birds, which can be quite intense”, says Heather.
“Our knowledge of local and migratory bird species has definitely improved as a result of the bird surveys”.
Sharing knowledge and capacity building amongst the EcoGipps team is another important aspect of Birds on Farms surveys. Jim and Heather are fortunate to have some of Gippsland’s most active and knowledgeable bird-watchers help with the seasonal surveys, and they willingly share their passion with others.
EcoLands Collective People and Purpose team member, Louise Spensley, says: “I love participating in the EcoGipps birds surveys! It’s such a beautiful day, and I appreciate the time to be immersed in the landscapes and really leaning into the visual and auditory experience of listening and looking for birds. The company is also top tier, and each time I learn a little bit more about these beautiful birds and landscapes.”
Swift Parrots (photo with thanks to Dan Brown)Gang Gang Cockatoo
The Birds on Farms surveys occur in summer, autumn, winter and spring. In the seven years that they have been taking part, over 139 different species of birds have been identified at EcoGipps, including the critically endangered Swift Parrot, Gang Gang Cockatoo, Rufous Fantail, Crested Shrike-tit, Painted Button-quail, Bassian Thrush, Leaden Fly-catcher and Spotted Quail-thrush, plus birds like the Channel-billed Cuckoo, which is out of its normal range.
