RE: Haze and migrating raptors

["Conole, Lawrie" <>]

> Pardon me if I this has already been discussed (I was off birding-aus
> for a
> few weeks, and am not on birdchat): but this is the second innocent
> mention
> I've seen of "the haze," without explanation that this has become a
> regular
> phenomenon, caused by massive forest fires in surrounding areas
> (presumably
> Sumatra and Borneo), a consequence of their forestry practices,
> exacerbated
> by the effects of the ENSO (El Nino Southern Oscillation).
> 
It's not an "innocent mention"; perhaps because there's no need to be
explicit about something that has occupied metres of editorial space in
the press in SE Asia & Australasia in recent weeks.  I think in this
region we're very well aware of the cause of the haze.  For eg.,
Australian "fireground managers" are on their way to the region courtesy
of the World Bank, to try & control some of the fires lit by plantation
& forestry companies, etc...

Cheers -- Lawrie