2 March 2026
This project has been a long time coming... about 40 years to be exact!
Just in time for Landcare's 40th anniversary, our Revegetation Evaluation project is well underway, assessing exactly what makes a successful planting in the Wimmera. Funded by the Wimmera CMA and National Heritage Trust, eight revegetation sites (each at least 10-15 years old) in the Upper Wimmera have been selected to be evaluated. With decades of growth behind them, these sites offer a unique window into how historic plantings develop into functioning habitats.
The project asks a crucial question: What site characteristics drive ecological success? We are taking a close look at factors like the "edge effect" (the ratio of a site's area to its boundary - i.e. is it big and round or is it long and skinny?) and how surrounding land use impacts the biodiversity within the revegetation area.
Phase 1: Tuning in to Bird Biodiversity
The first phase of the evaluation focuses on determining what bird species have moved into these established sites. To do this, we are utilizing some high-tech assistance. We have deployed solar-powered, off-grid "BirdPuc" acoustic monitoring stations at all eight sites. These devices record audio continuously, 24/7, and use AI (BirdNet) to identify bird species based on their calls. This provides us with an extensive, round-the-clock dataset of the avian community utilizing the plantings.
Linking Habitat Structure to Wildlife
As the acoustic data flows in, we are comparing it to detailed, on-the-ground measurements. Our team is conducting standardized habitat structure surveys to assess vegetation quality across three layers: the canopy, midstory, and understory. This will show us how differences in habitat structure—for example, a site with dense canopy cover versus a site with a highly diverse native understory—influence the specific types of bird species returning to the sites.
Assessing Plant Survival
In addition to assessing the current habitat structure, the project is also looking back at the initial plantings. We have developed a protocol to estimate historic plantout survival rates. By walking transects along old riplines, we are calculating survival percentages and mapping "gaps." This data will be incredibly valuable when we sit down with landholders this winter to capture their observations, site history, and management insights.
As the project progresses, we will also look at other indicators of habitat quality and biodiversity such as springtime understory diversity of flowers, and nocturnal animals such as gliders. Keep your eye out for citizen science opportunities coming later in the year.
Shaping the Future of Revegetation
By combining AI acoustic monitoring, habitat assessments, and local landholder knowledge, this project hopes to provide a comprehensive picture of what works best in our region.
The insights gained from examining these 40 years of Landcare history will help us make data-driven recommendations to ensure the highest-performing, most ecologically valuable revegetation projects in the Wimmera for decades to come!
Elia Pirtle
Landcare Facilitator