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

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