birding-aus

Local councils catch up

To: "birds" <>
Subject: Local councils catch up
From: "Tony Russell" <>
Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2002 08:52:49 +1030
Hi all, for some months now I have been reporting on the local irruption of
Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos into Adelaide's East and North East suburbs,
presumably caused by a shortage of food in their normal Adelaide Hills
habitat.
I see today that the free "Messenger" newspaper carries an article about
this irruption, only three months late, with Burnside councillors claiming
fame for noticing the phenomenon.
Not sure how I feel about that, but at least they got a half page mention,
albeit relegated to page 6.

Also covered in the same issue is the problems for birds caused by the
emptying of Thorndon Park Reservoir over the last six months, which has been
reduced to a disgusting sludgy mess.

Some (lucky) underweight birds are being caught and looked after by local
residents while the Campbelltown Council and the defunct SA Govt haggle over
the cost of refilling the muddy hole.
Meanwhile birds which normally frequented the reservoir are now seeking food
and water in surrounding gardens. I've had a group of two adults and eight
juvenile Pacific Black Ducks around my place for the last two months,
looking rather lost but doing OK, even the foxes haven't caught them yet.

It was originally decided to empty the reservoir on the basis that some twit
thought it might be leaking and the dam wall might be in need of repair.
Engineering study has detected nothing wrong, but apparently it costs some
$7million to refill a dam which cost only half a million to empty ! beats
me.
We really should be more concerned about the geese we elect to office.

Tony.

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