The OBP is one thing; the Australasian Bittern is another. The latest
population estimates have it at below 1000 – for the whole of Australia!
The BA website says: “The Australasian Bittern is threatened across its
range by loss and degradation of suitable wetlands. This poorly know species
is listed as Endangered at the global level (IUCN Red List), but not
currently listed under the [Australian] EPBC Act. The distribution of the
species from the first Atlas (1977-1981) and the New Atlas August 1998 to
July 2003 and August 2003 to July 2008 are shown below. The number of
10-minute grids in which the species was recorded has decreased between each
five year period.” (go to the BA website if you want to see the maps
mentioned)
In HANZAB most paragraphs on the AB start with phrases like “Poorly known”,
“No detailed studies”, “Apparently” and “Probably”. Not very reassuring.
Will the Australian Bittern be declared Endangered in Australia? Well, I
believe it has been in NSW but not yet in Vic. Why not in Vic? Well, a cynic
would suggest that to declare it in Vic would require prime duck hunting
habitat (Reedy Lake, Geelong etc) to be closed to hunting, and that is not
likely to happen. Sadly even the water buy back scheme is not helping it
across its NSW range as an old stronghold used to be the Riverina rice
farms.
It seems there is a chance that Sean’s 2 year old daughter may never get to
see an Australasian Bittern in the wild either.
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/soon-to-be-exparrot-extinct-in-the-wild-within-five-years-20100504-u71g.html
Oh, sorry, of course she may yet see them in the wild. There are some in New
Zealand.
Do you have the AB on your Australian life list yet? Better hurry then. Oh,
and if you do see one please make sure that you report the location to BA.
Sigh
Jen
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