This morning i noticed that the 5 mallard hybrids that haunt the
carillon area had moved upstream and crossed a busy road and were rooting
around at the base of the traffic lights at one of the busiest intersections in
Canberra.
Re the SD, Ian Fraser’s frequent postings on the dangers
of this species have been a model of environmental advocacy, becoming more
sharply honed with each airing.
From: Peter Ormay [
Sent: Monday, 25 May 2009 2:48 PM
To: martin butterfield; COG List
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] May Notes
Thank
you for extracting the info on Spotted Doves.
I
think I missed most of the discussion on the species. What kind of
problems do Spotted Doves pose to the environment, other species and the
economy i e possible spread of poultry diseases by visiting poultry yards
etc? Should we be concerned about their increase?
The
writing was on the wall with Indian Mynas (i e what a pest they were in areas
where they were abundant) when they were first noted in Manuka but neither the
local government nor COG were concerned about them. If they were
they didn't do anything about them.
When
I started working in the Wildlife Research unit ca 1984 one of my first tasks
was to remove feral ducks (mallards and it's various colour forms) and
geese from the local lakes at the instigation of COG because they were
concerned that Mallards would hybridise with the Black Ducks and the geese
may go feral. Their removal was quite successfull. In NZ there are hardly
any pure Black Ducks left due to hybridisation with the introduced Mallards and
feral geese are abundant.
If
it turns out that there is good evidence that Spotted Doves are a threat to
native species and/or the economy then in my humble opinion, COG should
make it known to the local government and persue the matter .
-----
Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, May 25, 2009
10:08 AM
Subject: [canberrabirds] May
Notes
Folks
Herewith my article for this month.
Martin
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