Grassy Woodlands are the dominate plant community type throughout the West Hume Landcare area. Many local projects have focused on Grassy Woodlands and the critters that rely on them. This has included the Grassy Woodlands Project, the Burrumbuttock Squirrel Glider LAMP project, and the Birdlife Australia Southern NSW Birds on Farms Project: Saving the Nectar Sippers.

The following case studies are some examples of what locals have done on their farms and the likely critters that will ultimately benefit from the work. The benefits of course, also contribute to the farm in the form of shelterbelts, increase in wildlife which can contribute to farm health and productivity and the livability and enjoyment of the farm.

A grassy woodland is an open woodland community (sometimes occurring as a forest formation), in which the most obvious species are one or more of the following: White Box Eucalyptus albens, Yellow Box E. melliodora and Blakely's Red Gum E. blakelyi. Intact sites contain a high diversity of plant species, including the main tree species, additional tree species, some shrub species, several climbing plant species, many grasses and a very high diversity of herbs. The community also includes a range of mammal, bird, reptile, frog and invertebrate fauna species. Intact stands that contain diverse upper and mid-storeys and groundlayers are rare.

Case Study: Ash and Sheena Peach

This site is a steep gully that had a scattering of remnant trees, some erosion and a hint of native grass cover. It was unproductive and difficult to manage with the farming operations when it was part of the paddock. The gully was fenced out from the paddocks and planted with trees and shrubs. It did take two attempts at planting.

Now the area has changed dramatically and where once only a small number of birds were recorded, in only 12 months this jumped to X.

Ash said “this site excited me as it was unproductive and had more value as habitat and a natural ecosystem. Now we have native grasses and the creek stabilising. This project opened my radar to other possibilities with other projects such as Birds on Farms. Now we are seeing the proof in the results”

This site will also create a connection from Walla Gum Swamp all the up to the Walbundrie- Culcairn Rd which will support birds such as Flame Robins. These small birds like to site on fence lines to pounce on their prey. Robins need safe places to fly to feel secure from predators and shrubby corridors will provide this value habitat.

Case study: Joe Corrigan

Joe had a hilltop site that had a remnant stand of White Box trees and signs of native grasses. This hilltop was a stock camp and the bare ground was vulnerable to erosion. These types of sites have enourmous potential to improve in condtion quickly once set grazing is removed. With the succesful planting of understoey into this site habiat has been created for many small birds to return and not be bullied by Noisy Minors and Butcher Birds. As a result of this sites improvement Joe has noticed less need for pesticides. A win for everyone.

One of our grassy woodland birds that will benefit from this site will include Double-barred Finch. Double-barred finches are ground forages and feed on the seed of native grasses. They rely on thick pockets of shrubs to shelter, nest and roost in. Interestingly according to Birds of Australia “The Michael Morcombe eGuide to Australian Birds” nests are often built near to active wasp nests!