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.
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