THE IMPACT OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT ON BIRD COMMUNITIES OF THREE VICTORIAN TOWNS – LILYDALE, COLDSTREAM AND MT EVELYN
| Posted: |
25/09/2021 |
| Author(s): |
Peter Mawson |
During 1982 an avifauna census was conducted in the outer Melbourne areas of
Lilydale, Coldstream and Mt Evelyn, Victoria. Data were collected along foot transects
at nine different sites. The sites were chosen to give a range of residential ages, from
predeveloped (before housing development had started) through to some of the oldest
residential areas in Lilydale which were in excess of 50 years of age. The objective was
to examine how the bird populations may change over time in response to changing habitat.
Introduced species such as Blackbird Turdus merula, Common Starling Sturnus vu/garls,
and House Sparrow Passer domesticus appeared to be the most adaptable species as
regards habitat use. Population density in developed areas was at times in excess of
five times that of undeveloped sites. but the greatest species diversity was found in the
undeveloped sites. Except for one site there appeared to be a steady increase in numbers
of individuals. numbers of species. biomass. and population density with increasing age of
residential areas. Comparisons were made between this and a similar study in Wagga
Wagga, N.S.W. (Jones 1981).
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