I agree with Andrew that camels are the problem in our
deserts. Cattle don't survive very well in most areas, certainly in
the centre and north. Cattle are interesting.
Anna Plains Station is an IBA (Important Bird Area). It is
recognised that cattle play an important part in making it such a
suitable site for the large numbers of Oriental Plover, Little Curlew
and in some seasons Oriental Pratincole for which it has been
nominated. What happened before cattle? My understanding is that
buffle grass (and possibly other grasses) were introduced which took
over large areas of what was presumably suitable native grasses and
other low vegetation. Nobody has found a way to control buffle
grass, and in any case it would never happen on pastoral leases in
the Kimberley.
Lake McLarty south of Perth is also an IBA. DEC released a
management plan a few years ago for this reserve. There has been
considerable debate over whether there should continue to be some
cattle there each year, as they keep down the areas of typha that
have been encroaching and maintain the habitat for the large numbers
of shorebirds for which the lake has been nominated as an IBA.
I believe that cattle are also part of the management plan for one of
the wetland IBAs in NSW. Can't remember the name at the moment.
We need to recognise that the environment in some areas has been
irreversibly changed, and that cattle may need to be part of the
management of these areas. However in my opinion, the northern and
central deserts have not been irreversibly changed at this stage, and
I believe that camels are a major threat and they should be removed.
_________________________________________________________________
Frank O'Connor Birding WA http://birdingwa.iinet.net.au
Phone : (08) 9386 5694 Email :
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