Long‐term monitoring in endangered woodlands shows effects of multi‐scale drivers on bird occupancy

Aims The effect of spatial scale on the location and abundance species has long been a major topic interest in ecology. Accounting for key drivers at multiple scales is critical rigorous description patterns distribution biodiversity change. We quantified effects potential bird occupancy across geographically dispersed, but heavily disturbed fragmented ecosystem. Location Threatened Box-Gum Grassy Woodlands south-eastern Australia, which stretch 9° latitude (~900 km). Taxon Birds (Class Aves). Methods grouped data from four monitoring studies birds that spanned 10–22 years Woodlands. then employed joint modelling to investigate multi-species responses environmental measured patch, landscape regional scales, selected combinations all three. Results show Woodlands: vegetation structure influences beyond presence despotic Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala); woodland cover more important than productivity topographic position; sensitive combination average climate, seasonality, summer winter extremes; there limited redundancy between different scales. Species differ most their response Miner, high temperatures nearby cover. Main Conclusions Quantifying influence act valuable understanding occurrence. Fine-scale can benefit considering climate biogeographical context research occurs. Conversely, large-scale should recognise downscaling projections continental patch requires careful consideration role patch-scale vegetation.