Hi all,
Much misrepresentation has apparently been printed in news media about
the bad management of the grasslands of Terrick Terrick National Park
(I was birding at Binna Burra in Lamington National Park when this
issue hit the press).
Despite what has been reported, sheep HAVE been retained on the
national park's grasslands ever since the private properties were
purchased for inclusion in the park.
Before the past wet summers, the sheep were removed in spring when
indigenous wildflowers were in bud and not returned until about Easter
time.
Trust for Nature has also grazed sheep on its indigenous grassland
properties.
There have been few wildflowers on the grasslands this Spring and
last. Before the recent summer rains ~ during the drought years ~ the
Spring grassland display on the Terricks grasslands was sensational:
many of the park's paddocks were awash with all the colours of the
rainbow. Native peas, lemon beauty heads, everlastings and the like
covered large areas.
During the 15 years of drought, Plains-wanderer numbers appeared to be
increasing and, toward the end of the drought, it was usually possible
to locate a Plains-wanderer within a few minutes of commencing a search.
Over the past two summers, when rainfall in this usually dry area was
well above-average, much of the area around Terricks was flooded.
Parts of the grassland paddocks were flooded. This has resulted in a
prolific growth of native grasses, resulting in a changed composition
of the biomass. Conditions are no longer suitable to meet the needs of
the Plains-wanderer. It demands space with mosses and bare ground
between grassland tussocks. For food, it needs the seeds of various
herbacious palnts.
To help reduce the biomass, over the past two years or so, sheep have
been left in the park without being removed over the summer period.
Some areas have been slashed. Some paddocks have been burnt to reduce
the grass cover. Further burns are planned for Autumn.
There has been an extensive fox-baiting programme (liver baits
followed by 1080 baits), covering both the national park and private
properties, over a 50km radius. Most land-holders took part in the
baiting programme ~ they were provided with free baits. Surveys over
two 100km transects carried out prior to the baiting and afterwards
indicate a substantial drop in the number of foxes and rabbits. The
collapse in rabbit numbers is partly due to an outbreak of myxamatosis.
Volunteers survey the grasslands at Terricks quarterly, counting the
number of Plains-wanderers and other grassland animals observed.
The latest grassland survey was completed about a week ago. Lots of
Stubble Quail were observed, many of them breeding. Some Little and
some Red-chested Button-Quail were observed. But only one female
Plains-wanderer was observed.
Over the past two years, surveys in Terricks, on the Patho Plains, at
Oolambeyan and elsewhere, including on private grazed properties, have
located very few Plains-wanderers. Perhaps they have located to sites
unknown. Perhaps most have died. Alarm bells should be ringing.
But to claim a lack of management effort is to blame is rather unfair
and untrue. To claim that sheep were removed when the park was created
and only recently reintroduced is incorrect. To blame Parks Victoriaor
its rangers for the collapse in Plains-wanderer numbers is unfair.
Keith Stockwell
Secretary
Friends of Terrick Terrick National Park Inc.
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