Model‐based estimates of bird diversity reveal benefits from disparate, landscape‐scale restoration activities

Introduction Re‐establishment of native vegetation is a core element of ecosystem restoration activities globally. While the biodiversity benefits of vegetation re‐establishment have been well studied at the local scale, the benefits arising from disparate projects implemented across landscapes have received less attention. Objectives Here, we present a model‐based approach to estimate bird responses to landscape‐scale, long‐term revegetation efforts in the endangered Box‐Gum Grassy Woodland ecosystem of south‐eastern Australia. Methods Using satellite data, we first estimated changes in woodland extent between 1992 and 2017 in a 152 km 2 agricultural region. Then, using an occupancy model for 60 bird species trained on approximately 5000 expert surveys, we estimated a landscape‐scale average occupancy probability for each species and a landscape‐scale summary of bird diversity. Results Our analysis estimated that 7% of our landscapes transitioned from woodland‐free to woodland‐supporting areas due to restoration efforts and another 8% transitioned due to other factors, such as natural regeneration. Among five vulnerable bird species included in the occupancy model, the Brown Treecreeper and Dusky Woodswallow exhibited an overall decline in average occupancy probability between 1992 and 2017 despite benefiting from restoration activities. The Diamond Firetail increased overall since 1992, in part due to the restoration projects, and the Superb Parrot demonstrated gains independent of restoration projects. These findings quantify the bird diversity gained in our study region from approximately 1.5 million Australian dollars invested in incentive programs between 1992 and 2017.