There have been records in the last few
years of Magpie Geese spreading out to their former range, even as far south as
the Murrumbidgee irrigation system. I
can not confirm this but I feel confident that some one in the group could confirm
or deny this for sure.
However there are now breeding Magpie
Geese in the Shortland? Wetlands on the northern border on Newcastle.
These have been here for several years now
and migrated into the area by their own accord.
Magpie Geese were also a good food source
which probably helped their demise in some areas.
Even in SE Queensland
they have dramatically increased in numbers in the last few years.
John Cummings
Mission Australia
Ph 02 6230 0182
Fax 02 6230 0181
Mob 0402 181 002
Email m("missionaustralia.com.au","cummingsj");">
The great
tragedy of life is not death, but what we let die inside of us while we live.
From:
[
Sent: Thursday, 11 August 2005
4:36 PM
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds]
[UNCLASSIFIED]RE: [canberrabirds] Magpie Geese at Tidbinbilla ACT
They are captive,
If I remember rightly most of the original
magpie geese were pinioned, so the birds can never fly. Some of the
birds wings were clipped and regrew but they hung with their buddies. As a
flocking species they dont really have anywhere to go. Before the fires
there were 21 or 22, now there are 21 or 22.
The wetlands area was not very affected by
the fires and the waterbirds were OK.
The musk ducks are also captive.
Most other birds are not captive and
introduced themselves and can fly in and out.
The closest I know of magpie geese is the
SE corner of Qld which is nowhere near here. Over the years development and
draining of wetlands presumably were the reason for the magpie geese
distribution contracting northwards greatly. They used to occur quite far
south.
The rangers saying they are not captive is
really based on technicalities to apease tourists but in reality they are.
Benj Whitworth
From: Philip
Veerman [
Sent: Thursday, 11 August 2005
3:23 PM
To: Alastair Smith; 'Nicholas
Talbot';
Subject: [canberrabirds] Magpie
Geese at Tidbinbilla ACT
That is intriguing. I wonder whether any other the former
captive Magpie Geese there, survived the fire (they were breeding there before
that). If not and new ones have not been brought in, could any new birds there
be of wild origin?
