It's not so much a debate as a discussion, though it has gone off topic a bit.
I don't think anyone suggested that Ibis were anything good or bad but the
increase in numbers would seem to be indicative of a wider problem, that is
causing the decline of many other species (a fact that we would probably agree
is a bad thing). It seems abundantly clear to me that access to more / better
quality food is causing the increase and since the birds feed in farmland, this
would suggest an expanding monoculture. Are there any farmers on birding-aus
who can shed light on possible reasons for this?
Simon.
> From: > To: > Date: Thu, 17
> Jan 2008 09:51:32 +1300> Subject: [Birding-Aus] The Great Ibis Debate> > Like
> Duncan I have often watched the Straw-necked and Oz ibis in action on
> farmland but more out west. Last August I had the sheer pleasure of watching
> literally thousands return to a diminished Lake Cargellico after their daily
> agricultural toil. The back drop of brilliant sunsets gave their appearance
> out of the western sky the flavour of the flight of the valkaryrie. > > More
> prosaic investigation the following day found them systematically drilling
> fields in organised foraging lines. The larvae/insect reduction of a couple
> of hundred birds per field per day would be impressive enough without the
> efficiency of their constant nitrogen deposits and direct drilling. The only
> deposits from chemical sprays are leaky crankcases and carbon/particulates. >
> > Peter's points about who are the real ferals is well taken and a constant
> source of interest when dealing with the jihad against the Indian Miner. We
> have some comprehensive gas chambers and cages being promoted to
> Landcare/Bushcare local government and uncle tom cobbly. What proof there is
> that this bird actually does anything other than expand into habitat niches
> created by another feral's obsession with concrete is unclear. I remember a
> Johannesburg ornithologist telling a seminar that if Jo-burgers removed all
> the Indian Miners they would have no bird song at all as nothing else could
> live in the suburbs. Perhaps its just their suspicious middle eastern
> appearance?> > My suburban backyard brooks no Acridotheres tristris as we
> have that unproblematic native - Manorina melanchephala doing what it has
> always done naturally.......> > Just so I don't get the wrong label for these
> comments I have to euthanase ferals on a regular basis because my licence
> requires it - not always because there is much science to why they are a
> problem. > > Chris Lloyd> Training Officer> WIRES> PO Box 260> Forestville
> NSW 2087> ==========www.birding-aus.org> birding-aus.blogspot.com> > To
> unsubscribe from this mailing list, > send the message:> unsubscribe > (in
> the body of the message, with no Subject line)> to:
> > ==========
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