Few studies have been published about woodland bird assemblages in north-east Queensland. Here we present results of a census of birds in eucalypt woodland at Koah over three two-month periods. A 12.8 ha property was surveyed in three 2-ha plots, birds in each plot being counted for 20 minutes on nine occasions within each two-month period. 20-min 2-ha area searches are a nationally recommended method for censusing woodland birds, but adequate replication is required for local studies. Incidental observations were also recorded over seven years. Assemblage data provided strong discrimination over time and between plots notwithstanding little variation in vegetation between them, but only limited discrimination at the level of species. Fifty-four species were detected in plot surveys and 138 species opportunistically over seven years. The species assemblage differed markedly from that of a similar study 35 km away for reasons that are unclear. Our study suggests that nine replicate counts using this standard protocol is a good level of replication with which to document changes in the avifauna over time and at local scales.