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