Excellent point Duncan!
I was going to bring this up during the "Ferals" thread we had on birding
aus recently.
Humans are the biggest "feral" in Australia, and our ability to transform
the environment allows for 'feral' species and some native species to
expand and maintain viable populations.
I think that rather than spending money trying to eradicate feral species,
the funds should be redirected towards habitat rejuvenation for endangered
species. Ferals are usually occupying a niche and keeping other systems in
check. Obviously some ferals can be competing with resources of native
species, and this needs to be weighed up accordingly.
On a related note, there was a flock of some 500-750 Starlings in
residential Leopold (Southern Victoria) last night. This is by far the
biggest flock of starlings i've ever seen. They were flying in swarms
like they do in Europe. Anyone know if this would be some type of
migration or breeding group?
Peter
Duncan Fraser <>
Sent by:
16/01/2008 12:26 PM
To
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Subject
[Birding-Aus] Re. Ibis
Yes, ibis can be a problem in parks etc, but a few words of praise for
them in the country. In the Macalister Irrigation District here in
Gippsland, ibis, both white and straw-necked are in their thousands, and
are the farmer's friends, consuming huge quantities of cockchafer grubs
in irrigated pastures, thereby eliminating the need for chemical
control. Straw-necked Ibis also do a good job in dry country, feeding on
grasshoppers/locusts.
Both species breed in large colonies at Dowd's Morass, but things are
not looking good for them there as the paperbarks where they nest are
dying out due to the increased salinity of the Gippsland Lakes and
associated wetlands. I'd hate to see them leave the paddocks and be
replaced by spray booms pumping out chemicals. DF.
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