In Britain Canada Geese were introduced in the C19 and are now
extremely common everywhere. They particularly like flooded gravel
pits (of which there are 1000s in se England), because they are a safe
refuge from foxes, and are usually surrounded by grass (for feeding).
As they are so numerous they naturally displace native species, and
where they move into more natural wetlands they eat the vegetation and
introduce too many nutrients into the water (by pooing) so making
these areas less useable by native waterfowl and other birds.
In Australia they would be able to exist on any medium sized farm dam
in the coastal areas, they would breed up and move into more natural
wetlands, endangering species such as Pink-eared Ducks, Freckled Ducks
&c.
And they would be disease vectors.
Time to reinstate the waterfowl hunt (but only for these individuals).
John Leonard
On 09/01/2008, Gordon and Pam <> wrote:
> Two questions, actually:
>
>
>
> 1. I realise they breed prolifically, but just what is the problem with
> them? Do they harm other wildlife or other birds that were here first? Or do
> folk just not like them?
>
>
>
> 2. Some were calling them 'feral'. If they get here under their own
> steam, then do they really qualify as 'feral'? After arrival here seems to
> be entirely natural.
>
>
>
> Cheers
>
> Gordon
>
> Gordon Cain
>
> Schofields
>
> NW Sydney
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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--
John Leonard
Canberra
Australia
www.jleonard.net
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