Hi Dave and Peter,
Thanks for your responses, I deeply appreciate hearing that others care
about the local wild-life and are doing something to help. Peter, many
sympathies for the waders and their nests that you mentioned. What a
terrible shame.
Dave, my experience with the local council has not been too bad. Last year
I rang the local council (in the Brisbane area) about the lack of signs and
some suspected local dog attacks on fledgling wild birds. I learned that the
council will enforce the fines if a member of the public contacts them,
giving them details such as the location of the off-leash dog's walking
path, times that the offense occurs, etc. I believe that the dog owners are
indeed approached (within the week, the council said) and most probably
fined.
In any case, the dogs I was becoming very concerned about during the
fledgling season have disappeared from my area, for some months now. They
have been since replaced by several regulars, so I guess I'll have to make
another call around breeding season. I can't think of anything else to do
aside from hassling dog owners myself, which I don't feel comfortable doing.
Keep up the good work, Dave.
Cheers
Belinda
On Feb 19, 2008 9:52 AM, Dave Torr <> wrote:
> Thanks Belinda.
>
> I agree that we have to communicate not just with dog clubs but also with
> councils - some are better than others at designating various types of dog
> areas (off-lead, on-lead and banned) and some are better than others at
> enforcing the rules. Our local council has in theory a fine selection of
> on-lead and off-lead areas but in 4 years of living here (mostly with my
> dogs on lead for various reasons) I have yet to see anyone enforce the
> rules. Like it or not dog owners (most of them) pay license fees and so
> probably have more clout with councils than birders!
>
> And it is not just councils of course - National Parks are an area where I
> often see illegal dogs and few rangers!
>
> On 19/02/2008, Belinda Cassidy <> wrote:
>
> > Hi Dave,
> >
> > One thing leaps out at me in my local area, which is rich with local
> > birdlife, is the lack of signage around parks and council forests,
> > indicating that they are not to be used as off-leash areas for dogs. The
> > signs need not be alienating or rude; and could indicate the following:
> >
> > -The fines involved
> > -That the area is policed by the local council.
> > -That local bird-life and other native wild-life breed here and are
> > vulnerable to death via dog attacks. (and may be endangered)
> > -The nearest off-leash dog walking area
> > -Thank the dog owner in advance for their care and concern for local
> > wildlife.
> >
> > Those are just some thoughts. Most Dog owners who run their dogs
> > off-leash
> > are caring animal lovers, and that is why they give their dogs a run
> > rather
> > than keep them couped up in little yards.
> >
> > Keep up the good work Dave. Its wonderful to hear what you are doing for
> > our
> > wild-life.
> >
> > Cheers
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Feb 18, 2008 8:51 PM, <> wrote:
> >
> > > Send birding-aus mailing list submissions to
> > >
> > >
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> > >
> > >
> > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> > > than "Re: Contents of birding-aus digest..."
> > >
> > >
> > > T
> > >
> > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> > >
> > > Message: 1
> > > Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2008 12:45:17 +1100
> > > From: "Dave Torr" <>
> > > Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] of companion animals and wildlife -
> > > especiallyoftheendangered variety
> > > To: "Peter Shute" <>
> > > Cc: Birding-aus <>
> > > Message-ID:
> > > <>
> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
> > >
> > > Wearing my "hat" as a director of BOCA (Bird Observation and
> > Conservation
> > > Australia - www.birdobservers.org.au) I am pleased to be able to
> > report
> > > that
> > > we have decided to look in detail at what we - as a national
> > organisation
> > > -
> > > can do. Some of our branches have already been working on local
> > > initiatives
> > > and I hope that we can develop a plan in consultation with the major
> > dog
> > > clubs that will help to improve the situation.
> > >
> > > If anyone has any detailed thoughts about the matter which might be of
> > use
> > > to us in developing our plans then I would love to hear from them.
> > >
> > > Dave
> > >
> > > On 18/02/2008, Dave Torr <> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > OK - I misunderstood your reference to "The survival of the very
> > > > occasional
> > > > locally rare bird that's common further north. The possible
> > > > recolonisation (if that's a word) of the area by this and other
> > unknown
> > > > species.".
> > > > It is very hard to justify a big campaign to protect a vagrant. It
> > is
> > > easy
> > > > to justify one to protect rare endemics. And I think most suburban
> > parks
> > > are
> > > > not the key areas - I'd rather protect areas with rare birds. I
> > don't
> > > think
> > > > you'll ever get people to stop letting their dog off lead in the
> > local
> > > park
> > > > (whatever the council rules!) as it is hard to justify that they
> > might
> > > > disturb Red Wattlebirds (for example). If there is such a a campaign
> > it
> > > > needs to focus on specific species and specific areas - if you say
> > "you
> > > > shouldn't let your dog off anywhere" you will fail. If you say "it
> > is
> > > > important that you don't let your dog off here at this time of year
> > > because
> > > > of Hooded Plovers but there is a good spot for your dog 2 km away)
> > you
> > > MIGHT
> > > > influence a few people.
> > > >
> > > > On 18/02/2008, Peter Shute <> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Dave Torr wrote on Monday, 18 February 2008 10:43 AM:
> > > > >
> > > > > > I think there is a lot more at stake for us (and I speak as a
> > dog
> > > > > > owner!). Dogs threaten species like the Hooded Plover and the
> > Fairy
> > > > > > Tern on their nesting grounds - both are endangered endemics (I
> > > > > > think??) and rely heavily on undisturbed coastal areas.
> > > > >
> > > > > Yes but to a non-birders these are the "unknown species" I
> > referred
> > > to.
> > > > > They're either invisible or look like seagulls to
> > non-birders. You'd
> > > > > have to convince them not only that these species either already
> > exist
> > > > > in the area or might return to it, but that it's important that
> > they
> > > do.
> > > > > I was also thinking more about suburban parks than that kind of
> > > habitat.
> > > > >
> > > > > > I am not sure what sort of "Agreement" we could have - I think
> > all
> > > we
> > > > > > can do is spread the message that dogs and birds do not mix well
> > and
> > > > > > whilst this may not matter too much in some areas in others it
> > is
> > > > > > critical to the species survival. I would point out that horses
> > and
> > > > > > 4WD on beaches are also large threats to these species!
> > > > >
> > > > > I was thinking initially that we'd need the agreement of whoever
> > runs
> > > > > these clubs in order to even start getting our views through to
> > their
> > > > > members via their newsletters, etc. I would imagine there might
> > be a
> > > > > bit of a seige mentality to get past.
> > > > >
> > > > > As a not entirely relevant example, here's a quote from the
> > secretary
> > > of
> > > > > a motorcycle club from the article in yesterday's Age about the
> > > proposed
> > > > > outer ring road being discussed in another thread:
> > > > > "We have already lost one track used by the club for 30 years
> > because
> > > an
> > > > > environmental impact statement found the legless lizard and golden
> > sun
> > > > > moth there," said Ms Heaney.
> > > > > "Now they want to build a freeway through it?"
> > > > >
> > > > > Peter Shute
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > ===============================
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