Western Banders Association

Swanbourne Banding Project

Location: Swanbourne Rifle Range, Alfred Rd West, Swanbourne 

Supervising Bander: Boyd Wykes 

Contact Details: Boyd Wykes, (08) 9311 2252 (wk), boyd.wykes1@defence.gov.au

Aims: The aim of the project is to contribute to conservation of Perth’s bushland bird community by gaining information on the dynamics of populations in suburban bushland remnants.  The objectives are to investigate avian community demography in remnant urban bushland reserves of the western suburbs; determine use of and reliance on other bushland remnants and gardens by populations of the reserves; compile information on the age and morphology of the animals that are handled.

Site Description: Quindalup dunes with coastal heath vegetation including Calothamnus and Dryandra attracting honeyeaters. There are also stands of dense Acacia and Tuart supporting remnant populations of insectivores. The Swanbourne Rifle Range component of Campbell Barracks includes a tract of bushland approximately 74 ha in size that is contiguous with Bold Park and helps connect this major urban bushland remnant to the coast.  This bushland, which is listed under Bush Forever, is also important because it contains valued plant communities including Callitris preissii woodland, which is identified by DEC as a Threatened Community, and stands of Agonis flexuosa woodland, which is at the northern perimeter of its geographical range.  In addition to the Callitris shrublands and woodlands community and the Agonis woodlands community, the site supports extensive Dune Heath community.  But the most extensive communities are dominated by Acacia rostellifera scrub at various stages of maturity and varied extent of understory development.  Associated species include honeyeater attracting Calothamnus, Dryandra and Tempeltonia, and the dense understory supports a variety of insectivorous species now scarce elsewhere in the suburbs.