As part of a larger study investigating the distribution and status of reptiles in northern Victoria, the effectiveness of three reptile census techniques was compared over 29 sites in remnant woodland and grassy woodland patches. These techniques revealed no significant differences in the number of species recorded, but differed markedly in estimates of abundance. Transect censusing and active searching techniques provided comparable density estimates overall, in contrast to estimates using spot censusing which were markedly greater. Skinks constituted most of the records for all three techniques, although active searching yielded the only species of gecko for the study. Reptile species showed distinct substrate preferences and vertical distribution. Cryptoblepharus carnabyi , for instance, revealed the greatest degree of arboreality of any of the study species, with specimens observed up to 6 m above ground-level. Statistical modelling indicated that certain microhabitat characteristics are potentially important determinants of reptile occurrence and abundance; for example, the abundance of Morethia boulengeri was found to be significantly related to stump density. The models presented here suggest a combination of transect censusing and active searching as the most suitable approach to reptile censusing in northern Victoria and provide a clear pointer to future analysis.

Birds are useful for testing ecological theory, monitoring environmental change, and establishing the basis of a national conservation programme. However, there are difficulties in estimating the numbers of terrestrial birds. Observer error and differences in spatial and temporal detectability are problems common to the census of birds throughout the world. Asynchronous reproduction and a high level of communal or co-operative nesting are special problems encountered in censuses of Australia’s terrestrial avifauna. Despite these unique features and the relatively recent use of bird censusing procedures in Australia, it appears that the census methods developed in the Northern Hemisphere are equally valid in Australia, suffering only from the same sources of error encountered in their use in America and Europe. This paper reviews the history of terrestrial bird censuses in Australia, describes the special problems encountered by Australian workers, and shows how counts of the terrestrial avifauna have been used to test ecological theory and develop conservation and management programmes for the continent’s biota. It concludes with some simple guidelines which, if followed, will facilitate the use and comparison of census results between projects and localities.

Predicting how animal species might respond to climate change is an important step in developing effective tools for managing biodiversity in a changing climate. This task is made difficult due to a lack of reliable data on the animals and how they will respond to changes in their habitat. The collections of animals in zoos are an important resource that can be used to address some of the gaps in our knowledge, particularly when integrated with field research and conservation planning. Zoos can increase our understanding of the impact of wildlife disease by conducting integrated disease surveillance programs and developing treatment or management options. Reproductive technologies, validated in zoos, can provide value added census data to inform on population viability and function as well as numbers. Determining species preferences and tolerance limits will also inform the triggers that are likely to instigate migration, adaptation or extinction. Zoos offer a controlled environment that allows the examination of the impacts of interdependent factors such as dietary requirements, water tolerance, response to stressors and treatment of disease. Further, zoos maintain species in captivity as insurance against catastrophe in the wild. With additional data, emphasis could be placed on keystone species which will improve climate change resilience for the ecosystem and catchment area. Finally, zoos provide a resource to communicate the implications of climate change to the public and bring about behaviour change. In total, the skills developed in intensively managing small populations and opportunities presented by well managed, captive populations are underutilised and will become more relevant in implementing mitigation strategies for the management of biodiversity under a changing climate.

Kings Park is a 400 ha reserve near the centre of the City of Perth, Western Australia. Two-hundred and sixtyseven hectares of the park remain as native vegetation and the park has a rich flora and fauna. Contributing importantly to the naturalness of Kings Park is its birdlife with more than 80 species having been recorded within the park's boundaries. Despite the large amount of native vegetation, Kings Park is not pristine and has been changed in many ways by human activities since the settlement of Perth by Europeans in 1829. These changes to the park, as well as changes to the urban matrix in which the park is found, coupled with regional changes outside the urban environment, have produced a dynamic and changing avifauna. Census data are available for a transect through Kings Park from 1928 to 2002. Between 1928 and 2002, 61 species of birds, excluding waterbirds, were recorded along the transect. Of these, 20 % increased in abundance and 40 % decreased with 10 species proceeding to local extinction. Since 1928, Kings Park and the urban landscape of Perth has been increasingly dominated by large nectar-feeding and seed-eating birds. Small insectivores, particularly ground and shrub foragers, have declined in abundance or become locally extinct. Despite the array of changes in the avifauna, the birds of Kings Park are as rich and probably as abundant as they were in 1928 when censuses commenced. The avifauna is just different. Keeping birds in Kings Park and the urban environment requires no special attention. However, if small birds and insectivores are desired, changes need to be made not only to the management of the park, but to the way vegetation in the urban matrix is managed. Foremost among the changes needed is the progressive replacement of exotic trees and shrubs along roads and in parks and gardens with indigenous species and the creation of complex foliage structures. This is necessary to foster an abundant arthropod fauna for insectivores to feed upon and to provide the kinds of habitats such birds require. Whether such changes are essential or even desirable depends on the reasons why people want birds about them in the city and suburbs. It may be that it is only important to have birds and not important as to which species are represented.