canberrabirds

Spotted (Turtle) Doves

To: <>
Subject: Spotted (Turtle) Doves
From: "Lia Battisson" <>
Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2011 07:18:18 +1100

Perhaps it’s worth talking to Bill to ask if CIMAG is interested in giving some thought to this pest species as well, given their philosophy.  We know from experience that the department won’t consider it until, like every introduced species ever introduced, it is beyond redemption.

 


From: Philip Veerman [
Sent: Sunday, 30 January 2011 12:09 AM
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] Spotted (Turtle) Doves

 

Yes something should be done about the Spotted Dove before they become any more established than they already are in the ACT. Surely it is naive to even imagine that the NSW gov will have funds to contribute to that, given all their problems.

 

I don't see why a group tackling the STD problem (there is a joke in there somewhere) should take away from the Myna issue. They are separate problems and surely the same strategies won't work. Surely they won't be attracted (in any practical sense) by the same bait and won't respond the same way socially. A bait that will attract STD will surely come closer to also attracting Crested Pigeons than Mynas. That seems so obvious to me. I know shooting isn't a good option within Canberra suburbs but that may be the most efficient way of reducing the STD.

 

Even if the STD is increasing and I would rather they not become common here such as how annoyingly prevalent they are in Melbourne for example, so is the Crested Pigeon increasing and so it is hard to show an actual problem - are the STD impacting on anything?. 

 

Philip

 

-----Original Message-----From: Chris Davey [ Sent: Saturday, 29 January 2011 11:41 PM
To: Mark Clayton; 'hot line'
     Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Spotted (Turtle) Doves

Mark,

 

I agree with your comments that something should be done about the Spotted Dove before they become any more established than they already are in the ACT.  But what can be done?

 

The Department responsible has already been approached by COG with data supplied from the GBS indicating the birds' increase in the ACT but their reply is

 

1) Demonstrate to us the problem

2) Little we can do about the problem unless NSW comes on side (referring to the Spotted Dove in Queanbeyan).

 

From past experiences the Department tells me that NSW will not come on side with these types of problems.  Queanbeyan is a long way from Sydney.  It did not happen with Brumby issues in Namadge nor with the Common Myna.

 

The other option we have is to set up another Common Myna type group in the ACT.  This of course is possible but will it take pressure away from CIMAG and we end up with two groups neither of which have the impact they should have?  I believe it will and given the good work being one by CIMAG the last thing we want is a reduction in trapping pressure.  In fact, the fewer the birds the greater is the trapping pressure required.

 

One question I have and that is can Mynas and Turtle Doves be captured in the same trap and with the same type of bait.  I suspect not.

 

I am afraid there is little that I can see we can do at this stage.  I believe the only thing we can do is to demonstrate with solid evidence that the Spotted Dove is having an adverse impact on native species.  How hard would that be?

 

Chris