Conservation Science W. Aust. 8 (1) : 11–21 (2011) © The Government of Western Australia, 2011 Terrestrial bird assemblages of the semi-arid woodlands and Acacia sandplains in the southern rangelands of Western Australia JACQUELINE D RICHARDS 1 , NEIL HAMILTON 2 , PHIL J FULLER 2 , DAVE ALGAR 2 AND JANE PRINCE 3 1 Australian Wildlife Conservancy, PO Box 8070, Subiaco East, Western Australia 6008 jacqueline.richards@bigpond.com 2 Department of Environment and Conservation, PO Box 51, Wanneroo, Western Australia 6065 neil.hamilton@dec.wa.gov.au 3 School of Animal Biology, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, Western Australia 6009 jprince@cyllene.uwa.edu.au ABSTRACT As part of a broader study involving the control of introduced predators, the seasonal presence of avian fauna was monitored in winter and spring during 2006 and 2007 at two study sites. The two sites, Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary and Karara–Lochada Pastoral Stations, are located in the semi-arid Eucalyptus woodlands and Acacia shrublands within the Avon–Wheatbelt and Yalgoo bioregions of Western Australia. Sixty-eight bird species were recorded at Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary and 60 species at Karara–Lochada Pastoral Stations; 94 species in total at the two sites. Bird species were recorded at 24 quadrats within four land system types represented at each of the study sites. Fifty-one of the species were present at both sites while 17 occurred only at Mt Gibson and nine only at Karara–Lochada, despite apparently similar habitat at the two locations. Opportunistic records of nesting species were also recorded. Keywords: avian, conservation, pastoral, predator control, survey, wheatbelt. INTRODUCTION The Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) and Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC), in partnership with the Invasive Animals Co-operative Research Centre (IA CRC), commenced a project in 2006 to investigate techniques for the sustained control of introduced predators in the southern rangelands of Western Australia (Richards & Algar 2008). At the treatment site, AWC’s Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary, a strategy for the control of introduced predators was implemented. At the control site nearby, DEC’s Karara– Lochada Pastoral Stations, which has a similar suite of land system types, introduced predators were not controlled. As part of this broader project to control the feral cat (Felis catus), fox (Vulpes vulpes) and wild dog (Canis familiaris), the abundance of their prey items (small mammals, reptiles, birds and invertebrates) was monitored at both sites within the semi-arid Eucalyptus woodlands and sandplains dominated by Acacia shrublands. These vegetation types characterize the semi-arid southern rangelands to the north of the wheatbelt zone in Western Australia. Other results of the broader project will be reported elsewhere, including papers within the same volume of this journal. Bird fauna in the region has been documented after a number of unpublished, small-scale surveys conducted in association with mining companies (and other organizations such as DEC, AWC and Bush Heritage Australia) for particular reserves within the region and surrounding areas. In particular, information on bird species assemblages has been provided by DEC and the Western Australian Museum for areas to the north (Carnarvon Basin; Burbidge et al. 2000), east (Goldfields; Burbidge et al. 1995), south (Wheatbelt; e.g. Dell et al. 1979; Kitchener et al. 1979) and west (vacant Crown Land at White Wells; Burbidge et al. 1989). In this paper we document the bird species assemblages in 24 quadrats at two study sites (Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary and Karara–Lochada Pastoral Stations) within the semi-arid southern rangelands immediately to the north of the wheatbelt zone in Western Australia, and describe how the composition of these assemblages varies across land system types within and between the properties.