LTERN Data Portal

The LTERN Desert Uplands Plot Network Bird Count Data contains bird fauna data for 50 permanent 1 hectare plots (60 prior to 2008) in Northern Queensland, Australia. This is part of a much larger dataset that spans from 2004 to 2013. The CSIRO permanent plots are situated in Tropical Ironbark Woodlands, and extend across four leasehold cattle properties that lie within an area approximately 50km by 50km. The plots represent three vegetation management strategies, namely: 1) clearing (where all trees and shrubs are removed); 2) thinning (where ground and mid-storey vegetation is removed); and 3) unmodified native woodlands where significant thinning or clearing has not occurred. Within each 1 ha site, eight five-minute diurnal bird counts are conducted over a four day period. Two counts are completed per day at each site: one count in the morning within three hours of sunrise and the other a minimum of three hours after this period and before sunset. The Desert Uplands research plots commenced in 2004, and have been revisited in 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2013. A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Tropical Rainforest Plot Network’s full program is provided at http://www.ltern.org.au/index.php/ltern-plot-networks/desert-uplands