THE speckled warblers arrived first. Then came the red-capped robins, followed by the rufous whistlers and the grey fantails.

For the past 10 years, ecologist Damian Michael has watched, and listened, as native woodland birds, including many rare and vulnerable species, returned to farms across the eastern states.

Winging it back "home" ... a rufous whistler. Credit:Georgia Stynes

His observations were part of a decade-long survey of 193 sites on farms throughout NSW, southern Queensland and northern Victoria which found a significant increase in bird biodiversity in areas where property owners had replanted native woodland vegetation or reduced livestock grazing and encouraged regrowth.

The program leader, David Lindenmayer, said the study's results suggested the fate of many endangered birds could be reversed with the right management.