Hi all,
I have had a very strong response from my rfi below, and thank all the
people who have contributed to an interesting offline discussion.
In brief, there are few examples of migratory shorebirds using smooth
concrete structures, but they do occur in places. Barwits don't like
wooden platforms. Most usage of sea walls made of rock is in places
where the substrate is rough and uneven. It's possible that the
attraction of rock walls is the isolation from security issues.
I am wary of comparing shorebird usage of concrete structures in
Australia with those in the northern hemisphere, as our summer heat may
make some concrete structures impossibly hot for migratory shorebirds to
stand on.
Some interesting artificial structures can be attractive to shorebirds.
For example, an abandoned boat wreck, in the right situation, can
attract roosting birds. Wooden posts and possibly post and rail
structures can be acceptable.
My gut feeling is that disturbance factors and loss of natural habitat
may make artificial structures attractive to shorebirds, rather than a
natural preference for them.
Cheers,
Jill Dening
Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
26° 51' 41"S 152° 56' 00"E
On 6/12/2010 12:07 PM, Jill Dening wrote:
Hi Everyone,
Please, I need information if you could take a moment to think.
Does anyone know of a situation where coastal migratory shorebird flocks
roost regularly on cement structures, as in a sea wall or revetment
wall? It doesn't have to be in Australia, although that would be better
if possible.
If there is such a situation, the next thing I would like to know, if
possible, is which species are prepared to stand on concrete.
Taking the question further, I would like to hear from people who know
of shorebirds roosting on other artificial structures or surfaces. I'm
not asking about birds like cormorants or pelicans, rather, migratory
shorebirds.
The answers may help in informing for an upcoming proposed artificial
roost. And no, I am NOT building another artificial roost, not me. The
politics of the last one turned me into an old woman.
Cheers,
Jill
===============================
To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
send the message:
unsubscribe
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to:
http://birding-aus.org
===============================
|
