BOBO RIVER BANDING STATION

Pale-yellow Robin (Tregellasia capito) and Logging Impact Study
                            
  Pale-yellow Robin Tregellasia capito                                                                 Young Male Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis

Aims and Methods:
The study is in two parts which will be carried out in parallel. The aim of the first part is to gather morphometric data. This will include:

1) Ageing using plumage, moult, feather wear, breeding condition and measurements;
2) Sexing using cloacal protuberance and measurement;
3) Measurements? using, tail length, wing length, head-bill length, tarsus length and weight.

The second part of the study will examine the movement patterns of this species using colour banding. The project will study the movements of birds in areas of old growth antarctic beech forest (1 site) and nearby regrowth forest (1 site). The study will also examine the habitat requirements of this species and determine if this bird is confined to a particular forest type or disturbance history.

The study will also examine the interaction between the pale-yellow robin and the eastern yellow robin to determine if there is any competition between these species within the same habitat and whether or not the disturbance affects this balance. The project will examine if any other species of bird affects the population density of the pale-yellow robin within a given area. This will be done by banding the by-catch and examining the recapture rate and movement of these species within each site.

These objectives will be achieved by using colour banding (pale-yellow robin) with field observation, catch rates, recovery rate and movements within the study area. It is impossible to give an idea of how many pale-yellow robins are to be banded as there is no detailed information on population density for this species.

Results:
The project hopes to achieve two outcomes. One is a Bird in the Hand (published in Corella, Journal of the Australian Bird Study Association) for ageing and sexing for this species while the other is to gain an understanding of habitat requirements and whether other species (eg. eastern yellow robin) compete directly with the pale-yellow robin. The numbers required to achieve this will depend on population size at the study site and results from my other project at Clouds Creek will help me in this process.

Vegetation of the site:

The site has a rich and diverse flora with:-

- remnant vegetation
- rare flora species and communities
- vegetation species/communities - distribution, diversity
 

This remnant area is a particularly important genetic resource in relation to the Nothofagus moorei (Antarctic Beech) species. It is found here at an altitude (RL 470-490m) which is lower than most occurrences of Antarctic Beech stands.

The site has three uncommon rainforest communities:-

Cool Temperate Rainforest (Nothofagus moorei-Ceratopetalum apetalum-Tristaniopsis collina/Antarctic Beech- Coachwood- Hill Water Gum).

Warm Temperate Rainforest communities with Backhousia myrtifolia (Grey Myrtle) as a dominant species.

Warm Temperate Rainforest (Acacia melanoxylon -Ceratopetalum apetalum - Araucaria cunninghamii/Blackwood - Coachwood - Hoop Pine) which contains unusually large specimens of Blackwoods as a dominant species.

This area has a very important low altitude stand of Antarctic Beech Nothofagus moorei and the presence of three rare flora species, Dorrigo Daisy Bush Olearia flocktoniae, Dorrigo Laurel Cryptocarya dorrigoensis and Dorrigo Waratah Alloxylon pinnatum.

This forest community has large areas of old growth (wet sclerophyll and rainforest) and has been preliminarily assessed by officers of NPWS, who indicated that it contains some of the best old growth patches in the north-east of NSW in relation to tree size, lack of disturbance and general health.  The brushbox specimens have gained considerable size with one having a dbh of 2.8m.

Logging:

The study site has had a history of logging but the site has large areas of unlogged forest, some parts of mature regrowth and regenerating forest.

Fauna of the site:

There have been 75 species of bird, 16 species of mammal and 22 species of reptiles and amphibians recorded within the area in question.  Of these, 11 are listed on the The Threatened Species Conservation Act .

The Bobo river, which runs along the boundary of this private forested land, provides a focus for a number of species of endangered frogs, as well as a refuge for the aquatic fauna of the river system.  The large hollow bearing trees provide shelter and nesting sites for a number of these threatened species species adding to the importance of this area remaining intact to ensure the local survival of these endangered fauna.