New Parrot Species
DNA experts from Australia have discovered that dwindling populations of ground parrots in Western Australia belong to a different species than those found in the rest of the country, a find with important conservation implications. A team of researchers from the University of Adelaide and the Australian Wildlife Conservancy used DNA from 160-year-old museum specimens to learn of distinct differences between the ground parrots in the east and west and that the western populations should be recognized as a new species. It has been named Pezoporus flaviventris. The DNA study suggests the two species diverged from each other some 2 million years ago. "Our findings demonstrate that museum collections, some going back more than 150 years, continue to be relevant and can provide critical information for understanding and conserving the world's biodiversity into the future," said team member Jeremy Austin, of the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA at the University of Adelaide.
While excited about the discovery, researchers were also concerned for the survival of these newly classified birds."The discovery has major conservation implications," said team member Stephen Murphy of the Australian Wildlife Conservancy. "The western ground parrot has declined rapidly in the last 20 years; there are now only about 110 birds surviving in the wild, and most of these are confined to a single national park. It is now one of the world's rarest birds." *Our Amazing Planet
Monday, December 6, 2010
Birds Fight Back 7/12/10
Birds Fight Back
A decade-long survey has found key species of birds that were in trouble because of land clearing and grazing are on the way back. For the past decade, David Lindenmayer and a team of scientists from the Australian National University have been keeping a close watch on woodland birds, studying 300 sites across 150 farms over a 10-year period. Over that time, many species that were considered to be in trouble have reappeared, including the speckled warbler, the diamond firetail and the rufous whistler. "In some cases we've seen the reporting rate, which is the number of times we record the birds on our sites, double, triple, even quadruple on some of these farms where there's been these kinds of interventions," Professor Lindenmayer said while visiting a property near Boorowa in southern New South Wales. "The fantastic thing is it is telling us now about the kinds of things that we might need to alter slightly on farms to actually have really good environmental outcomes." And it is not just birds that are reappearing. Reptiles are also being monitored and are also making a comeback.
"It's been a really buoyant year as far as the rainfall and things have been going on," scientist Geoffrey Kay said. "So we're picking up blind snakes and pink-tailed worm lizards. These are species that very rarely come up. They're subterranean and the moisture is really pulling them to the surface." The key to this biodiversity comeback is the landholder. Graziers and farmers are helping regenerate the land, replant the vegetation and grasslands, and over 10 years that has paid off. Grazier Neil Stuart signed up to the Federal Government's Environmental Stewardship Program and he is now taking great pleasure in watching the dramatic turnaround. "It gets you more involved because the more they find the more excited they get about the birds, reptiles, grasses and whatever," he said. "You go to some of these sites and you see these incredible wildflowers, that are endangered, growing. "I reckon it's great, and I just like talking to other people who are involved with this and they get a bit excited, because it's the first time they're seeing something happening." *ABC
A decade-long survey has found key species of birds that were in trouble because of land clearing and grazing are on the way back. For the past decade, David Lindenmayer and a team of scientists from the Australian National University have been keeping a close watch on woodland birds, studying 300 sites across 150 farms over a 10-year period. Over that time, many species that were considered to be in trouble have reappeared, including the speckled warbler, the diamond firetail and the rufous whistler. "In some cases we've seen the reporting rate, which is the number of times we record the birds on our sites, double, triple, even quadruple on some of these farms where there's been these kinds of interventions," Professor Lindenmayer said while visiting a property near Boorowa in southern New South Wales. "The fantastic thing is it is telling us now about the kinds of things that we might need to alter slightly on farms to actually have really good environmental outcomes." And it is not just birds that are reappearing. Reptiles are also being monitored and are also making a comeback.
"It's been a really buoyant year as far as the rainfall and things have been going on," scientist Geoffrey Kay said. "So we're picking up blind snakes and pink-tailed worm lizards. These are species that very rarely come up. They're subterranean and the moisture is really pulling them to the surface." The key to this biodiversity comeback is the landholder. Graziers and farmers are helping regenerate the land, replant the vegetation and grasslands, and over 10 years that has paid off. Grazier Neil Stuart signed up to the Federal Government's Environmental Stewardship Program and he is now taking great pleasure in watching the dramatic turnaround. "It gets you more involved because the more they find the more excited they get about the birds, reptiles, grasses and whatever," he said. "You go to some of these sites and you see these incredible wildflowers, that are endangered, growing. "I reckon it's great, and I just like talking to other people who are involved with this and they get a bit excited, because it's the first time they're seeing something happening." *ABC
Rare Albino Kookaburras 7/12/10
Albino Kookaburras
ITt's a rare double act - two blue-winged albino baby kookaburras have shown up at a wildlife sanctuary at Ravenshoe in far north Queensland. Eagles Nest Wildlife Hospital founder Harry Kunz, who is caring for the pair, believes they are the only ones in captivity in Australia. "No one I have spoken to has ever heard of, or seen albino blue wing kookaburras before. There are a few albino laughing kookaburras around but not the blue-winged variety – so these guys are extremely rare." Mr Kunz said albino birds rarely live long in the wild because they have no camouflage and are an easy target. *Cairns Post
Birds
Flooding in the New South Wales central west has led to the Macquarie Marshes experiencing their best conditions in 10 years. The Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water says around 50,000 hectares of land in the marshes are currently flooded and if the wet weather continues the floodwaters could surpass the record of 150,000 hectares set 11 years ago. The Conservation Officer, Debbie Love, says more than 35,000 waterbirds including ibis, egrets and cormorants are breeding and are expected to remain in the wetlands until next April. But she says the current flooding is not enough to repair years of damage from the drought. "There's been a lot of changes over the last 20 to 30 years and loss of wetland vegetation," she said.
"We're starting to see some re-establishment in areas that have been degraded, the marsh is capable of recovery, it's just whether the seasons and our capacity to deliver water will be sufficient to really return the marshes to a more resilient state." She says the rain needs to continue in the long term. "The amount of water that we have been able to deliver to the marsh either through environmental flows or through the rainfall that brought tributary flows into the system has meant that the wettest areas of the marsh are looking quite healthy and it's those areas on the margins, the next zone out, that we're really starting to see some changes in now with the bigger (flood) events that are lasting longer." *ABC
ITt's a rare double act - two blue-winged albino baby kookaburras have shown up at a wildlife sanctuary at Ravenshoe in far north Queensland. Eagles Nest Wildlife Hospital founder Harry Kunz, who is caring for the pair, believes they are the only ones in captivity in Australia. "No one I have spoken to has ever heard of, or seen albino blue wing kookaburras before. There are a few albino laughing kookaburras around but not the blue-winged variety – so these guys are extremely rare." Mr Kunz said albino birds rarely live long in the wild because they have no camouflage and are an easy target. *Cairns Post
Birds
Flooding in the New South Wales central west has led to the Macquarie Marshes experiencing their best conditions in 10 years. The Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water says around 50,000 hectares of land in the marshes are currently flooded and if the wet weather continues the floodwaters could surpass the record of 150,000 hectares set 11 years ago. The Conservation Officer, Debbie Love, says more than 35,000 waterbirds including ibis, egrets and cormorants are breeding and are expected to remain in the wetlands until next April. But she says the current flooding is not enough to repair years of damage from the drought. "There's been a lot of changes over the last 20 to 30 years and loss of wetland vegetation," she said.
"We're starting to see some re-establishment in areas that have been degraded, the marsh is capable of recovery, it's just whether the seasons and our capacity to deliver water will be sufficient to really return the marshes to a more resilient state." She says the rain needs to continue in the long term. "The amount of water that we have been able to deliver to the marsh either through environmental flows or through the rainfall that brought tributary flows into the system has meant that the wettest areas of the marsh are looking quite healthy and it's those areas on the margins, the next zone out, that we're really starting to see some changes in now with the bigger (flood) events that are lasting longer." *ABC
Asian Crow Sighted 7/12/10
Asian Crow Sighted
An Asian bird capable of killing calves and kid goats is on the loose in North Queensland after reaching Australia by boat. Biosecurity Queensland has enlisted the help of birdwatchers to find an Indian house crow, seen in Innisfail almost eight weeks ago. Birds Australia North Queensland secretary Ivor Preston said he spotted the pest being hassled by native species at Flying Fish Point on October 11th. Mr Preston, who has seen house crows in their native Malaysia and Vietnam, said he knew the bird was not local, but was shocked once he realised its identity.
A Biosecurity Queensland spokeswoman said the crow, which hails from central Asia, is considered a "major pest". It is working with local authorities and birdwatchers to find the pest which, if not caught, could have a devastating effect on the state's agriculture. "The pest is known to raid crops such as wheat, maize and sunflower as well as causing severe damage to vegetables and fruit crops including mango, guava, pawpaw, fig, apple, pear, grape and stone fruit," she said. A national animal pest alert says the house crow can kill animals. "The house crow will attack and kill poultry, new-born calves and kid goats," the alert reads.*
An Asian bird capable of killing calves and kid goats is on the loose in North Queensland after reaching Australia by boat. Biosecurity Queensland has enlisted the help of birdwatchers to find an Indian house crow, seen in Innisfail almost eight weeks ago. Birds Australia North Queensland secretary Ivor Preston said he spotted the pest being hassled by native species at Flying Fish Point on October 11th. Mr Preston, who has seen house crows in their native Malaysia and Vietnam, said he knew the bird was not local, but was shocked once he realised its identity.
A Biosecurity Queensland spokeswoman said the crow, which hails from central Asia, is considered a "major pest". It is working with local authorities and birdwatchers to find the pest which, if not caught, could have a devastating effect on the state's agriculture. "The pest is known to raid crops such as wheat, maize and sunflower as well as causing severe damage to vegetables and fruit crops including mango, guava, pawpaw, fig, apple, pear, grape and stone fruit," she said. A national animal pest alert says the house crow can kill animals. "The house crow will attack and kill poultry, new-born calves and kid goats," the alert reads.*
Penguins 7/12/10
Penguins
Seven little penguins from the endangered colony at Manly have been found dead and a dog attack has been blamed for at least some of the massacre. The penguins - three breeding pairs and a chick - were found dead on the Harbour shoreline at Federation Point near Oceanworld. Three penguins were found dead on Friday, one on Saturday and another three on Sunday. Preliminary results from a post mortem examination at Taronga Zoo of three of the birds discovered on Friday found they had apparently been killed by a dog. Dogs had been banned from the foreshore at Federation Point to try to protect the penguins which dig their nests there, separate from other breeding areas at Manly. The National Parks and Wildlife Service has appealed for witnesses who may have been in the area last Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Manly's little penguins are the last mainland breeding colony in New South Wales.
Seven little penguins from the endangered colony at Manly have been found dead and a dog attack has been blamed for at least some of the massacre. The penguins - three breeding pairs and a chick - were found dead on the Harbour shoreline at Federation Point near Oceanworld. Three penguins were found dead on Friday, one on Saturday and another three on Sunday. Preliminary results from a post mortem examination at Taronga Zoo of three of the birds discovered on Friday found they had apparently been killed by a dog. Dogs had been banned from the foreshore at Federation Point to try to protect the penguins which dig their nests there, separate from other breeding areas at Manly. The National Parks and Wildlife Service has appealed for witnesses who may have been in the area last Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Manly's little penguins are the last mainland breeding colony in New South Wales.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Birds Poisoned....Collateral Damage Okayed
It has been revealed about 300 native birds were poisoned during a pest eradication program on sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island. Parks and Wildlife Officers travelled to the island in May for a three-month baiting program to eradicate rabbits, rats and mice. However, poor weather conditions hampered baiting efforts and the team had to leave early. The project manager Keith Springer says about eight per cent of the planned baits were laid. He says while it made a dent in rodent numbers, some native bird species were affected. "The main ones were kelp gulls but we did expect that they would take some bait," he said. "We expected a small number of ducks to take bait, and while a small number did, it was less than we expected. Mr Springer says officers will return to the island to complete the program in April. *ABC
Seagulls Killed in Tasmania 1/9/10
Tasmanian Seagulls Killed
Seagulls living in a large colony at the Domain slipyards are about to get their marching orders from Tasports, as animal activists express anger over culling that has already taken place at Macquarie Point.
Tasports says the growing number of gulls near its operations at Macquarie Wharf is posing health, safety and environmental threats to Tasports employees. At the Domain slipyards, there were anecdotal reports of gulls attacking bike riders on the nearby intercity cycleway. Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania has accused Tasports of engaging in a "top-secret seagull massacre" at Macquarie Point. AACT spokesman Chris Simcox said he believed birds had been poisoned and shot during the cull. "There were reports of dead birds floating in the harbour last weekend, following a suspected poisoning event," Mr Simcox said. "While we are told that seagulls are being targeted, it is clear that they are not the only ones being killed."
A Tasports spokeswoman confirmed that 13 seagulls were killed at Macquarie Point by a licensed pest controller, who shot the birds at night using a silenced rifle. No poison was used and the seagull relocation and cull was not kept secret, with the public alerted via Tasports' electronic noticeboard at the wharf, the spokeswoman said. The relocation of the Domain slipyards' gull colony is set to begin early this week. A licensed pest controller will try to move the birds by using nets initially. The relocation will take place under a permit issued to Tasports by the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment. A department spokesman said the permit allowed for the controlled culling of seagulls during a six-month period across all ports under Tasports' jurisdiction in Tasmania. It allows for measures including the removal and disposal of eggs, trapping with nets, and shooting. Poison can be used only allowed where it poses no threat to humans and wildlife other than gulls. Tasports manager of safety, health and environment John Johnston said the birds could also carry disease in their faeces, which presented a health risk to humans. *Mercury
Seagulls living in a large colony at the Domain slipyards are about to get their marching orders from Tasports, as animal activists express anger over culling that has already taken place at Macquarie Point.
Tasports says the growing number of gulls near its operations at Macquarie Wharf is posing health, safety and environmental threats to Tasports employees. At the Domain slipyards, there were anecdotal reports of gulls attacking bike riders on the nearby intercity cycleway. Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania has accused Tasports of engaging in a "top-secret seagull massacre" at Macquarie Point. AACT spokesman Chris Simcox said he believed birds had been poisoned and shot during the cull. "There were reports of dead birds floating in the harbour last weekend, following a suspected poisoning event," Mr Simcox said. "While we are told that seagulls are being targeted, it is clear that they are not the only ones being killed."
A Tasports spokeswoman confirmed that 13 seagulls were killed at Macquarie Point by a licensed pest controller, who shot the birds at night using a silenced rifle. No poison was used and the seagull relocation and cull was not kept secret, with the public alerted via Tasports' electronic noticeboard at the wharf, the spokeswoman said. The relocation of the Domain slipyards' gull colony is set to begin early this week. A licensed pest controller will try to move the birds by using nets initially. The relocation will take place under a permit issued to Tasports by the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment. A department spokesman said the permit allowed for the controlled culling of seagulls during a six-month period across all ports under Tasports' jurisdiction in Tasmania. It allows for measures including the removal and disposal of eggs, trapping with nets, and shooting. Poison can be used only allowed where it poses no threat to humans and wildlife other than gulls. Tasports manager of safety, health and environment John Johnston said the birds could also carry disease in their faeces, which presented a health risk to humans. *Mercury
Monday, August 9, 2010
Bird News 10/810
Cockatoos
Urgent action needs to be taken to address problem cockatoos keeping hospital patients awake and annoying people at Atherton. Flocks of sulphur-crested cockatoos, numbering in the thousands, have been causing havoc along Cook St. Tablelands Regional Council has applied to the Environmental Protection Agency to use a scare gun to disperse the birds, but Cr Len Curtis said the process had to move faster. *Cairns Post
Banded Plovers
There are fears a critical breeding ground for a vulnerable bird species found only in Australia could be threatened if open-slather mining is allowed on Lake Torrens. In the past 70 years there have been only 10 recorded breeding events of the wading bird the banded stilt - the latest two months ago when an estimated 150,000 birds descended on the lake in SA's Far North. But there are now concerns that this already threatened bird could have its important habitat put at risk if plans to plunder minerals from the lake's bed get into full gear.
The State Government last month approved a mining exploration licence for Straits Resources and Argonaut Resources to drill on the lake bed for minerals including copper and gold. Australasian Waders Studies Group spokesman Clive Minton said mining on the lake bed would be "criminal" as the banded stilt only breeds in salt lakes which have been inundated with fresh water causing dormant brine shrimp eggs to hatch, providing a feeding bonanza for the young. The Aboriginal Kokatha Mula Nations Land Council chairman Andrew Starkey said his people had a number of sites registered in the area that would be threatened by the mining. "Our concern is the precedent this will set for the rest of the lakes," he said. * Adelaide Now
Bird Diets
Some birds radically change their diets just before their winter migrations, gorging themselves on antioxidant-rich berries to prepare for their long journeys, researchers have found. "[The] results support the hypothesis that some migratory birds may actively select deeply-pigmented fruits as a signal for meals that are rich in antioxidants," researcher Navindra Seeram of the University of Rhode Island said. "These disease-fighting antioxidants may help the birds combat stress and inflammation that they experience during long flights." "It has been known for some time, this phenomenon of birds switching to fruits in the fall," said study co-author Scott McWilliams, a bird researcher. The phenomenon is particularly striking because sparrows, thrushes, warblers and other birds with beaks highly specialized for eating insects suddenly begin using them to pick berries instead. A single bird can consume up to three times its weight in berries per day -- the equivalent of a human being consuming more than 300 pounds-worth of food. *NaturalNews Read more http://www.naturalnews.com/029391_birds_superfoods.html
Urgent action needs to be taken to address problem cockatoos keeping hospital patients awake and annoying people at Atherton. Flocks of sulphur-crested cockatoos, numbering in the thousands, have been causing havoc along Cook St. Tablelands Regional Council has applied to the Environmental Protection Agency to use a scare gun to disperse the birds, but Cr Len Curtis said the process had to move faster. *Cairns Post
Banded Plovers
There are fears a critical breeding ground for a vulnerable bird species found only in Australia could be threatened if open-slather mining is allowed on Lake Torrens. In the past 70 years there have been only 10 recorded breeding events of the wading bird the banded stilt - the latest two months ago when an estimated 150,000 birds descended on the lake in SA's Far North. But there are now concerns that this already threatened bird could have its important habitat put at risk if plans to plunder minerals from the lake's bed get into full gear.
The State Government last month approved a mining exploration licence for Straits Resources and Argonaut Resources to drill on the lake bed for minerals including copper and gold. Australasian Waders Studies Group spokesman Clive Minton said mining on the lake bed would be "criminal" as the banded stilt only breeds in salt lakes which have been inundated with fresh water causing dormant brine shrimp eggs to hatch, providing a feeding bonanza for the young. The Aboriginal Kokatha Mula Nations Land Council chairman Andrew Starkey said his people had a number of sites registered in the area that would be threatened by the mining. "Our concern is the precedent this will set for the rest of the lakes," he said. * Adelaide Now
Bird Diets
Some birds radically change their diets just before their winter migrations, gorging themselves on antioxidant-rich berries to prepare for their long journeys, researchers have found. "[The] results support the hypothesis that some migratory birds may actively select deeply-pigmented fruits as a signal for meals that are rich in antioxidants," researcher Navindra Seeram of the University of Rhode Island said. "These disease-fighting antioxidants may help the birds combat stress and inflammation that they experience during long flights." "It has been known for some time, this phenomenon of birds switching to fruits in the fall," said study co-author Scott McWilliams, a bird researcher. The phenomenon is particularly striking because sparrows, thrushes, warblers and other birds with beaks highly specialized for eating insects suddenly begin using them to pick berries instead. A single bird can consume up to three times its weight in berries per day -- the equivalent of a human being consuming more than 300 pounds-worth of food. *NaturalNews Read more http://www.naturalnews.com/029391_birds_superfoods.html
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Albatrosses 4/3/10
Albatross A growing number of the majestic and endangered wandering albatross are being horrifically injured or killed by discarded fishing hooks. Tasmanian wildlife officers this week released the second albatross in as many weeks to have been injured by a hook. The latest victim was successfully released near Eaglehawk Neck after being found in the same area on February 21 by a bird-watching group. Wildlife biologist Rachael Alderman said it was another reminder for fishermen to be aware of ways to minimise the threat to the endangered seabird.
"This wandering albatross was actually lucky as many birds which are hooked in fishery operations simply drown," Ms Alderman said. She said that even if the seabirds did survive the initial hooking incident, they often died later of infection. Ms Alderman said the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment was contacted after the bird watchers captured the wandering albatross and she was able to work with a local vet to remove the seven-centimetre hook. Late last year a Tasmanian shy albatross was found with a fishing hook embedded in its bill and was successfully rescued off the North-West Coast. Ms Alderman said assessment of the hook in the latest incident indicated it was of the type used in commercial tuna fishing operations. The wandering albatross is found right across the Southern Ocean, including Antarctic, sub-Antarctic and sub-tropical waters. Young birds often remain at sea for five to 10 years before returning to the islands where they were born to breed. Fishery interactions have been identified as one of the threats to their survival. Since 1994 the species of albatross listed as threatened has increased from seven to 18 of the 22 species. Globally it is estimated interactions with long-line fisheries kill about 100,000 albatrosses each year. *Mercury
Meanshile an Australian wildlife foundation has some helpful hints to keep the ``clowns of the bird world'' content. Australia's Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife chief executive Leonie Gale said many young rainbow lorikeets were learning to fly in the area and the colourful birds could be amusing when they fed or took a bath. She suggested residents could grow native plants such as banksias, grevilleas and bottlebrushes to attract the birds. To learn more about growing native plants for wildlife go to http://www.australian-backyard-wildlife.com
Finches Found A birdwatcher credited with rediscovering an endangered finch species in north-west Queensland says he is not sure if the birds are recovering. Birds Australia northern secretary Ivor Preston found about 60 gouldian finches on a property north-west of Mount Isa, the first time they have been seen in almost 15 years. Habitat changes have been blamed for the disappearance of the colourful finches across many inland parts of the far north. Mr Preston says its possible there are other groups of the finches in isolated areas. "The particular property was not over-grazed there was a good range of waterholes, there was a good range of suitable trees for nesting and a good range of grass for them to feed off, so if that situation continues there is no reason to think birds couldn't continue to expand," he said. Still common in the Northern Territory and Western Australian Kimberley, the finches have disappeared across much of the inland north Queensland range. Mr Preston says healthy populations could still be found in isolated areas. "There have been plenty of cases in the past where people have thought birds are extinct and they've turned up, so it could well be but they've just been in much smaller numbers and simply haven't been seen ... the ratio of hectares to birdwatchers is pretty high," he said. *ABC
"This wandering albatross was actually lucky as many birds which are hooked in fishery operations simply drown," Ms Alderman said. She said that even if the seabirds did survive the initial hooking incident, they often died later of infection. Ms Alderman said the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment was contacted after the bird watchers captured the wandering albatross and she was able to work with a local vet to remove the seven-centimetre hook. Late last year a Tasmanian shy albatross was found with a fishing hook embedded in its bill and was successfully rescued off the North-West Coast. Ms Alderman said assessment of the hook in the latest incident indicated it was of the type used in commercial tuna fishing operations. The wandering albatross is found right across the Southern Ocean, including Antarctic, sub-Antarctic and sub-tropical waters. Young birds often remain at sea for five to 10 years before returning to the islands where they were born to breed. Fishery interactions have been identified as one of the threats to their survival. Since 1994 the species of albatross listed as threatened has increased from seven to 18 of the 22 species. Globally it is estimated interactions with long-line fisheries kill about 100,000 albatrosses each year. *Mercury
Meanshile an Australian wildlife foundation has some helpful hints to keep the ``clowns of the bird world'' content. Australia's Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife chief executive Leonie Gale said many young rainbow lorikeets were learning to fly in the area and the colourful birds could be amusing when they fed or took a bath. She suggested residents could grow native plants such as banksias, grevilleas and bottlebrushes to attract the birds. To learn more about growing native plants for wildlife go to http://www.australian-backyard-wildlife.com
Finches Found A birdwatcher credited with rediscovering an endangered finch species in north-west Queensland says he is not sure if the birds are recovering. Birds Australia northern secretary Ivor Preston found about 60 gouldian finches on a property north-west of Mount Isa, the first time they have been seen in almost 15 years. Habitat changes have been blamed for the disappearance of the colourful finches across many inland parts of the far north. Mr Preston says its possible there are other groups of the finches in isolated areas. "The particular property was not over-grazed there was a good range of waterholes, there was a good range of suitable trees for nesting and a good range of grass for them to feed off, so if that situation continues there is no reason to think birds couldn't continue to expand," he said. Still common in the Northern Territory and Western Australian Kimberley, the finches have disappeared across much of the inland north Queensland range. Mr Preston says healthy populations could still be found in isolated areas. "There have been plenty of cases in the past where people have thought birds are extinct and they've turned up, so it could well be but they've just been in much smaller numbers and simply haven't been seen ... the ratio of hectares to birdwatchers is pretty high," he said. *ABC
Monday, January 4, 2010
duck and Geese shooting, 5/1/10
Magpie Geese Hunting
The shooting season for NT ducks and geese ended on the 31st December. More than 30,000 magpie geese and about 2000 ducks are believed to have been shot by 1850 hunters during the four-month season. There about two million geese in the NT, the Government claims. The Natural Resources Department said hunters now had to lodge their permit returns on how many birds were shot. The Government claims a "sustainable harvest" limit was between 10 and 14 per cent of the goose population.
Meanwhile the Victorian governemtn has declared duck shooting season from March 20 to May 30, two weeks shorter than normal. Australian wildlife groups have condemned the decision, and protests are likely. *WPAA
The shooting season for NT ducks and geese ended on the 31st December. More than 30,000 magpie geese and about 2000 ducks are believed to have been shot by 1850 hunters during the four-month season. There about two million geese in the NT, the Government claims. The Natural Resources Department said hunters now had to lodge their permit returns on how many birds were shot. The Government claims a "sustainable harvest" limit was between 10 and 14 per cent of the goose population.
Meanwhile the Victorian governemtn has declared duck shooting season from March 20 to May 30, two weeks shorter than normal. Australian wildlife groups have condemned the decision, and protests are likely. *WPAA
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)