Aims: Monitor
bird movement through the south west corridor. To determine if imminent mining
in Marradong Timber Reserve will impact on the study site.
Site Description:
Marradong Timber Reserve, 1927ha in
area, is a Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) managed forest
block located in the eastern Darling Plateau on lateritic upland.
The reserve has a general overstorey vegetation structure of Jarrah-Marri
forest with some isolated Wandoo open woodland areas and is nearly all
surrounded by agricultural land.
The banding study area (32o49’S, 116o25’E) is in a ca 10ha Wandoo enclave
on the north side of Morts Road and is located approximately 6km WSW of
Boddington.
Results of the Research (so
far):
Banding at Marradong Timber Reserve - June 1995 to February 2007
When submitting my application to the Banding Office for
starting a banding project in Marradong Timber Reserve, one question asked me to
estimate the number of birds to be banded. From local enquiries it was suggested
I respond with 1000 birds over a 3 year period. Yeah! Right! Some 11 years 3
months and 14 days later in October 2006, this magic number was finally
realised. WBA members attending meetings held at Murdoch University campus will
recall during banders’ roundup that Marradong generally was quoted being
"a bit quiet" or words to that effect.
Marradong Timber Reserve is a Department of Environment and
Conservation (DEC) managed 1927ha forest block located in lateritic upland of
the eastern Darling plateau. The reserve is approximately 6km wsw from the small
mining town of Boddington which is some 123km south east of Perth, Western
Australia. My banding site (32o 48’ S, 116o 29’ E) is located in a 10ha
enclave of Wandoo (Euc. wandoo) within the general Jarrah / Marri (Euc.
marginata / Corymbia calophylla) of the reserve.
Banding activity in the first 5 years ranged between 21 and
23 visits per year with at least 1 visit every month. Following acceptance of my
second banding project at home in Boddington, starting July 2000, Marradong
visits were limited to 1 visit per month. With the exception of May and June
2003 when on long service leave, banding has continued each month to the present
time. Banding statistics to February 2007 include 186 banding sessions, 380 x
12m nets laid (predominantly a 2 net operation), 935 rain free banding hours for
1021 birds (refer table) consisting of 34 species.
Project aims were centred on monitoring movement of birds
through the Darling Range corridor and the effects of prescribed burning by DEC
or of wildfires. However, with Worsley Alumina’s Boddington Bauxite Mine
planning to start mining some nearby parts of Marradong Timber Reserve with
associated bauxite conveyor extension through or near the banding area in 2010,
the project scope probably will need changing to one based on the effects of
mining activities.
