This is absolutely extraordinary! When the roo culls are on, there are signs at every gate warning people.
One would think the AFP might be able to use the Defence Dept firing range for their practice.
I must say, Martin, you were either brave or foolhardy to have remained in the precinct after the first bang.
ML
From: martin butterfield [
Sent: Tuesday, 13 September 2011 4:12 PM
To: COG List
Subject: [canberrabirds] Be careful at Finch Central!!
I decided to visit Finch Central (near Coppins Crossing for any new members) this morning, mainly to see if any Barn Owls might be roosting in the big dead trees. When I got to the gate there was a bit of red fabric on the fence which I assumed to be something to do with the nice graded state of the track in (or possibly the agricultural work going on in the paddocks above the track). When I got about 700m along the track there was a loud bang (like a shotgun being fired) which caused me some concern. About a minute later I heard a lesser bang and then saw a flash in the air followed 3 seconds later by another loud bang. Someone was firing starshells from a mortar!
Cutting to the chase when I got a little closer to the defunct sewage works there were a cluster of people there and that was the source of the bangs. Something very like small arms fire then happened - which I actually think was some more fireworks so I got down to the river where there was some solid earth between me and whatever these hooligans/idiots ( I suspect members of AFP training someone in something) were up to. There were several more starshells fired over the next 30 minutes.
I called into the Stromlo Parks Depot to report this. I made two points to the Ranger I spoke to:
- There was no warning that the people in the sewage were firing explosives around (so expect no warning if they are using firearms). I see this as incredibly dangerous.
- There are raptors nesting in the area (( saw a pair of Kestrels in the River Valley on my way back to the car and I am certain that having starshells fired high into the sky would be likely to disturb them.
One of the very pleasant and concerned Parks people was going to email AFP - who had notified the Parks Office they'd be doing something there this morning - and point a few things out to them. I shall pass on whatever advice I get back from the Parks people, but in the meantime I suggest anyone planning to go birding at Finch Central be very very wary.
I didn't see any owls but did see the aforementioned Kestrels and, back near Coppings Crossing, a single Black-shouldered Kite. I also called in at Stromlo Forest park looking for Chats. I failed on that but did flush 3 Brown Quail and spotted a single Hardhead on the large dam. 3 Pipits were on the grass running track and at least 3 Skylarks were singing their hearts out up above.
Martin
