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