Martin et al.
As a member of FCIAG, I too was a little surprised to see this
statement when the brochures were first produced. Since then I discovered
this was initiated by another member of FCIAG who is not a COG member but does
bird surveys at Tidbinbilla.
I informed Chris Davey about this and we agreed that a baseline
survey with ongoing surveys would be worthwhile ( provided I am prepared to put
my money where my mouth is and do some coordinating). Chris has
undertaken to examine the site to determine the best type of survey so that the
longer term records have relevance. Unfortunately there are
considerable restrictions on access to the site currently , for understandable
reasons, and calendars of Presidents of both organisations are full, so the
coordination to effect this has yet to be achieved. For instance, I am
away for the next 2 weeks plus and I am aware that Chris is likewise occupied
until the end of the month.
Having been on site and also clearly decided this is a
worthwhile project, but understanding that there are member of COG who have
reservations about the concept of CIAG (and suggest we will only find a white
elephant with splashes of red), I think we would be remiss in not
observing what happens over the years as this develops. The results will
contribute to knowledge that we do not have now.
For instance it will prove or disprove your suggestion that it
will be of limited interest to the local avifauna. I think that it will
actually be more attractive to some species, and am quite prepared to be
surprised as to which those are, based on my own observations in arboretums
around the world. The diversity of species of trees with the accompanying
gardens (ultimately 100 of each), and hence the landscape, will provide
opportunities that will only become apparent with the test of time. The
patchwork nature of CIAG is not the same as extensive monocultural forests of Pinus
Radiata or other commercial endeavours. Keep in mind that Canberra
gardens have provided some food sources that natives did not have available
before.
Without pre-empting what kind of surveys will be done, I would
entertain expressions of interest from COG members who might want to be involved
in surveys, once we determine what kind will be most effective.
Shaun Bagley
From: martin butterfield
[
Sent: Monday, 6 October 2008 7:59 PM
To: COG-L
Subject: [canberrabirds] Frieds of the Canberra International Arboretum
and Gardens
A friend has handed me a copy of a flyer by this
organisation, apparently being handed out at Floriade. I was intrigued to
see that oe of their interest groups is "Bird observation and
documentation". Has COG got any arrangements with this group so that
their observations enter the COG database?
Looking at the list of species they mention in the flyer (including ginkgo,
sequoia, dracena, various oaks) it would seem to be an area of limited interest
to most of the local avifauna.
Martin
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