What is the first thing you hear when you wake
up in the morning? Is it the hum of traffic on a nearby road? The sound of
your family making breakfast? Dogs barking? If you have a garden with
trees or shrubs, or live near a park, one of the first things you probably
hear is the morning song of the resident birds. One of the greatest
pleasures of camping outdoors is to awake to the dawn chorus of birds.
Each choir member has a different song, but all fit together to form a
melodious symphony that celebrates the sunrise. Have you ever wondered
what it would be like without these songs?
In the agricultural region of southwestern
Australia, the songs of numerous birds that were once common are heard no
longer. The islands of remnant native vegetation that dots the wheatbelt
of Western Australia are not sufficient to support all bird species. Many
islands have lost the most harmonious part of their treasure. Birds that
have declined in abundance include the Western Yellow Robin (Photo 1),
Crested Shrike-tit (Photo 2) and Rufous Treecreeper. These particular
species commonly use open woodland habitat. This habitat was cleared for
farming because it was associated with the most fertile soils. Only a
small percentage of woodland remains and woodland bird species have few
places in the wheatbelt to call home.
Woodland patches provide birds with food,
shelter and nesting sites. Food is obtained from the branches and leaves
of trees, flowers and from the ground. It includes nectar, seeds and
insects. Shelter is provided by shrubs, the canopy of trees, or hollows in
branches and tree trunks. Many birds also build their nests inside hollows
because this provides protection from predators, rain and wind. Clearing
woodland means less food, less shelter and fewer nest sites for birds.
Some birds are able to cope with living in small or degraded patches of
woodland, but most can not. These are the species whose morning song has
not been heard for many years.
It is not all bad news. Many of the birds that
have been lost from the agricultural region of southwestern Australia
still occur in National Parks and nature reserves. However, these areas
are not large enough to ensure that all species will continue to survive
into the future. If we can improve the woodland habitat in agricultural
districts so that it is again suitable for most birds, we may see the
return of many species to these landscapes. Once again, these birds would
join the morning chorus to herald the dawn.
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