Use of nesting resources in an Australian arid-zone landbird community

We investigated the use of nesting resources in a landbird community arid zone near Peery Lake, northwestern New South Wales. Over 3.5-year period (1990–1994), which encompassed pre-drought, drought and post-drought conditions, we recorded 504 active nests 51 breeding species, including open- (45% all species), hollow- (27%), mud- (8%), ground- (8%) tunnel-nesters (4%), species that nested both open hollows (8%). Almost 90% observed were located run-on habitats – major creeklines minor creeklines. Forty-two in, 24 only habitats. Only 23 much more extensive surrounding run-off habitats, but six areas. Most (90%) plants, perennials, with 408 live plants 47 dead plants. The included 20 tree shrub ≥0.5 m tall 4 subshrub grass <0.5 tall. (88%) perennial trees >4 often low down (only 47% at heights m). Different bird favoured different plant species. Favoured River Red Gum Eucalyptus camaldulensis for hollow-nesters, Whitewood Atalaya hemiglauca Black Box largiflorens mud-nesters. Though fewer <4 tall, they wider variety (16 species) than larger number (14 species). Some nomadic vegetation which, though perennial, died back was unavailable dry times. To support requirements birds, to retain diversity arid-zone floristic structural needs be maintained. This will difficult achieve if current pattern ongoing, incremental loss shrubs continues zone, particularly as rate is likely exacerbated by impacts climate change.