For those who might not have noticed, Denis gained a handsome
commendation in the C/Times (10 Sept) for his nature blogspot at www.peonyden.blogspot.com. This little
chatgroup has some hidden assets.
From: Denis Wilson [
Sent: Monday, 29 September 2008 9:15 PM
To: chat line
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Woodland survey - Mulligans Flat
Thanks
for the thought provoking bulletin.
You
commented: Both gerygones were present as is usual.
It
reminded me of being with my father, bird banding in the Campbell shooting
range area, back in the early 1960s when we caught the first ever Western
Gerygone ("Western Warbler" then) seen in Canberra.
Now
their presence is regarded as "normal".
Similar
comments could be made about the Crested Pigeons, (perhaps our most successful
recent invader?) I remember that one would never see them in Canberra, but
driving to Cowra or Parkes you would see them routinely. The same could be said
about Superb Parrots, Peaceful Doves, and many other species.
By
contrast, Brown Tree Creepers and Hooded Robins were common there, back in the
"good old days".
Now,
whether these trends are due to global warming (if so, it has been far more
gradual and longer standing trend than most people acknowledge) or
else land clearing - such issues are speculative. But whatever the reason,
the facts are clear.
I
am glad that COG has an extensive records system to keep track of these things,
for memories such as mine eventually go fuzzy. But Philip and the other keepers
of the records have something permanent and important.
I
know am sounding terribly old, (which I am not - I just started young - younger
even than Tobias) - but it is all true.
By
the way, Mark Clayton was another youngster, but I started just a bit
earlier than he did. So I look forward to many years of future
contributions from Tobias.
