canberrabirds

Jerrabomberra Wetlands

To:
Subject: Jerrabomberra Wetlands
From: studiovogue <>
Date: Wed, 11 May 2005 23:25:11 +1000
A big thankyou to B Whitworth for comprehensively answering my Jerrabomberra Wetlands Survey.  More submissions are sought to gain a balanced view of  thoughts and feelings regarding the Heritage v alue of the Jerra Wetlands environment.  If you feel the questionaire is too long (it is) just fill in the information that you can provide.
Please keep in mind that I have forwarded this  survey to "Peddle Power" as well.
Thankyou and regards,
John Schilling
im("studiovogue.com.au","info");">


Hello Everyone,

 

My name is John Schilling and I am currently working on a submission through the University of Canberra to list the Jerrabomberra Wetlands as a National Heritage Precinct and to upgrade the current National Estate listing.  I am also investigating the reasons why the Jerrabomberra Wetlands do not qualify for listing with Ramsar.

 

If you can find the time I would greatly appreciate your filling in the attached questionnaire and emailing it back to me at this address

If a question is outside your knowledge base or you do not have a comment please leave the line blank.

 

 

Question 1       Will expanding the Jerrabomberra Wetlands to the East increase the numbers of bird species labeled as potentially hazardous to aircraft?  List from the Bird Hazard Investigation Unit CAA, is provided………………………………………………………………………………

Australian Pelican

Darter

Rufous Night Heron

Sacred Ibis

Straw necked Ibis

 

Silver Gull

Black Swan

Masked Lapwing

Migratory Waders

Cormorants

 

Black Duck

Other large duck species

Royal Spoonbill

White-bellied Sea Eagle

 

White faced Heron

Marsh harrier

Yellow Billed Spoonbill

 

 

2. Is it possible to construct an artificial wetland environment that would not encourage the above listed bird species to live there?......................................................

3. Can you describe this type of wetland environment?.......................................................

4. Are you aware of the Griffin Plan to extend the wetlands onto the pasture land to Dairy Flat Road in a “Centennial Park” style?.........................................

5. Do you think this is advantageous for bird populations?..............................................................................

This extension to the wetlands will possibly include an extension to the current cycle path. 

6. Do you think this is a good idea?.........................................................  

7. if not, how do you envisage allowing residents a closer look at the proposed wetlands extension?............................................................................................

8. How often would you visit the wetlands each year?.........................................................

9. Is there sufficient parking/access?....................................................................................

9a. Are there adequate facilities for visitors?……………………………………………

10. Do the current numbers of visitors to the wetlands pose a threat to any species?......................

11. Which species in particular and why?..........................................................................

12. Are the bird viewing hides adequate?....................

13. Could they be improved?...............................

14. Are there any areas where an additional viewing hide would be useful?.........................................................

15. How could this threat be reduced?.........................................................

16. Have you seen evidence of  predatory animals like foxes and cats in the wetlands?.........................................

17. Do you think the current 1080 baiting scheme is satisfactory?.....................................

18. What other measures should be introduced to reduce the risks posed by foxes?........................................................................

19. Would you like to see the Jerrabomberra Wetlands fenced to keep foxes out?......................................

20. Are the exotic tree species planted in the wetlands a threat to any bird species?..............................................

21. Do you consider removing these exotic tree species to be warranted or not?..................................................

22. Should the wetlands be essentially a native vegetation area, or is the proposed park environment suitable for wetland bird species?……………………………………….

23.Is there enough community awareness of the Jerrabomberra Wetlands?......................................................

24. Do you consider community education of bird habitats as a positive program?.................................

25. or do you consider greater numbers of visitors as intrusive and threatening to the wetlands environment?...............................................

26. Do you have any ideas on the perfect wetland environment for Jerrabomberra Wetlands, keeping in mind the close proximity of development, roads, water uses, and airport?………………………………………………………………………………..

27. How important do you consider the Jerrabomberra wetlands to be in the overall ecology of wetland areas in the ACT region?.............................................................................

28. In other words, are their any bird species that rely greatly on the Jerrabomberra wetlands for food, nesting, protection or roosting?...............................................................

29. When visiting the Jerrabomberra Wetlands how do you feel?........

30. Do you enjoy the tranquility?..........................................

31. Do you experience a feeling of excitement as you hope to see new or rare species?..............................................................................

32. Do you feel a sense of peace and contentment?...........................

33. Do you still feel in awe of nature?.............................................................

34. Do you feel a sense of “Place” as you experience the ambiance of the wetlands?..................................................

35. Do you feel relieved to see a small part of nature preserved from development?.............................................

36. How many bird species do you know use the Jerrabomberra wetlands for nesting?....................................................-

37. Please name them and approximate breeding pairs if known?........................................................

38. Are you aware of any bird species that were originally found along the Molonglo river that are now extinct from the region?..............................................

39. If yes, would you like to see a program introduced to reintroduce this bird to the wetlands?.........................................................................

40.Are islands useful in providing predator free zones for nesting?....................................

41. Should more cycle paths be introduced into the wetlands?................................................................

42. Do you feel the priority for creating the wetlands was for the people, or for the flora and fauna now found there?..............................................

43. Do you feel the Kingston foreshore development is a threat to the wetlands?...............................................

44. Should all future building development be restricted from approaching the waters edge in all Canberra Lakes, ponds and waterways?...............................................................................

45. If yes, why?.................................................................................................................

46. In your opinion how many water birds in total regularly use the Jerrabomberra wetlands?......................

47. Do you know if the Jerrabomberra wetlands support at least 1% of any endangered species?.........................

48. Do you know if the Jerrabomberra wetlands supports plants and or animals at a critical stage in their life cycles or provides refuge in adverse conditions such as severe drought.?...................................

49.Are you aware of any other threats to the Jerrabomberra wetlands?……………………………

Which bird species habitat would you like to see developed in this region?....................................

50 Any further comments on the Jerrabomberra wetlands and bird species in this area would be greatly appreciated…………………………………………………………….

51. How important are the Sewage treatment ponds in the breeding cycle of selected Jerrabomberra water birds?..................

52. How important are the Jerrabomberra Wetlands in the ongoing survival of Latham’s Snipe?..................

53. How important are the ponds and small lakes created in the ACT to water birds, and is there a better way of utilizing these wet areas, such as creating islands, more reed beds, mud flats etc?...............................

54. What long term measures must be addressed and or introduced to preserve wetlands into the next century?................................................................................

Thank you for taking the time to fill out this survey.

 

Thanks and regards,

John Schilling

  Student, University of Canberra.Cultural Heritage Management


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