STATISTICAL FACTS

SOME STATISTICAL FACTS ON RURAL CONSERVATION ISSUES ADOPTED AT DALTON PARK SINCE 1987 WITH REFERENCE TO THE BIRDS AUSTRALIA'S GUIDELINES FOR SUSTAINABILITY:

The walks may be complemented by written assignments, based directly on the walks, or on information we supply - through this web page.

1. Local native vegetation should cover at least 30% of the total farm area.
   
   The Natural Habitat (400a) with its native vegetation occupies 70% of the farm area. In this area selective grazing has been maintained till 1997 when domestic stock was finally removed and the area is now part of the Oolong Sanctuary. 70 acres over 30% of the grassy woodlands of the Animal Farm (210a) have been excluded from grazing since 1987 to allow the regeneration of the original vegetation. A mix of different tree ages, including large old trees and young, regenerating trees are scattered throughout. Fallen trees have been left to decompose.
   
   
2. Re-create local conditions.
   
   0ver 20 acres within the Animal Farm have been used to establish a waterfowl reserve and wetlands have been designed along waterways and have been protected by electrified vermin proof fence. 18 dams and a lake with two islands, allow the breeding of the large variety of waterfowl reintroduced on the property.
   
   
3. Exclude high impact land uses from at least 30% of the farm area.
   
   The woodland with its healthy understorey of the Natural Habitat has been protected from the damage by livestock grazing. The grassy woodlands of the Animal Farm have been damaged and deprived of their shrub understorey by past management with the exception of the low production land (70a) excluded from grazing since 1987 where they have been able to regenerate.
   
   
4. Maintain native pastures and avoid heavy grazing.
   
   Native pasture is essential for the survival of birds in temperate Australia and native grasslands are the most endangered ecosystems in Australia. Although no superphosphate has been applied since 1987, 50% of the native grass species have already been replaced in the past by introduced species such as sub-clover.
   
   
5. Native vegetation cover should be in patches of at least 10 hectares (25 acres) and linked by strips at least 50m wide.
   
   Although 30% of the Animal Farm is in a single large patch of 70 acres, a plan will be adopted in the near future to make patches as large as possible across the grassland, linked by strips of native vegetation protected from grazing.
   
   
6. Manage at least 10% of the farm area for wildlife.
   
   The preservation of as much habitat diversity as possible at Dalton Park has resulted in an above average richness in wildlife. For instance specialists from Birds Australia are cataloguing over 200 bird species present on site.
   
   
7. Maintain a range of tree ages.
   
   Large, old trees carry a tangle of bark and leaves through which birds will forage for food and when they flower, will draw birds from many kilometres away. The increase in bird diversity throughout the property is associated with an increase in the diversity of mammals, such as bats, gliders, possums, as well as lizards, frogs, and bark invertebrates.
   
   
8. Leave fallen trees to break down naturally.
   
   The understorey together with fallen trees are left in place to protect birds and other wildlife and regular baiting is undertaken on all sites of Dalton Park to control vermin.
   
   
9. Maintain shrub cover over at least one-third of the area within a patch of farm trees.
   
   This method will be adopted in the revegetation of the patches and strips when extending the Bird Reserve into the Animal Farm.
   
   
10. Maintain native vegetation around water.
    
    An intensive revegetation program with trees, shrubs and native grass cover will be undertaken in the immediate catchment of the wetland and along small gullies where 18 dams have been added.