The project started in
June 2008 and is planned to continue for 2 years ending in June 2010. This
project will build on existing work about the impact mynas are having on
Australian native birds. It will also be of interest from a ?removal experiment?
standpoint, as often replication of removal experiments is extremely difficult
(due to work load and time constraints). Many removal experiments only look at
two or three replications per treatment, where as this experiment is aiming for
five. This level of replication would not be possible without the strong support
of CIMAG and Canberra Ornithologists Group (COG) volunteers.
From this project Kate hopes to answer questions on the size of
area that needs to be targeted for the removal of mynas. For example, is it
feasible to just concentrate on trapping one suburb at a time or do we need to
focus on a much larger area. Additionally, an understanding of how mynas adapt
to a reduction in numbers may hold the key to ensuring that reductions are long
lasting. For example, increased nesting success in removal areas may be a
problem and therefore destruction of nests may be required.
Kate is keen to get approximately 30 volunteers who have a good
knowledge of Canberra birds and are willing to help out with bird surveys. The
bird surveys will involve a 14 minute walk along a 1 km route, where the
observer counts all birds within 50m to the left and right of the survey
route. Surveys will be done every second month (Oct, Dec, Feb, Apr, June, Aug),
within the first 3 hours of sunrise. Each person will need to do 2 to 3 surveys
per survey months of the same area (Oct, Dec, Feb, Apr, June, Aug), therefore
12-18 for the year. People don't need to sign up for the entire 2 years of the
project and if they are away for the survey month Kate can do their survey or
arrange for it to be done. She will look to match people with suburbs that are
close to them so they can easily fit surveys in before work etc.
The suburbs being surveyed are Kaleen, Fraser, Hawker, Aranda,
Hackett, O'Connor, Campbell, Deakin, Red Hill, Pearce, Chapman, Bonython,
Fadden, Theodore and Kambah. Surveys will be in the adjoining nature reserves of
these suburbs or through the urban area running at a right-angle to the nature
reserve.
If you are interested or require further information, can you
please contact Kate at
