canberrabirds

Grebes at Callum Brae

To: sandra henderson <>
Subject: Grebes at Callum Brae
From: Rob Geraghty via Canberrabirds <>
Date: Sat, 9 Oct 2021 08:10:35 +0000
I've had one experience of dogs loose without an owner at Callum Brae. I suspect that they belong to the farm across the road. They took themselves for a swim in the dam

On Sat, 9 Oct 2021, 17:16 sandra henderson, <> wrote:
Dogs are not allowed in Callum Brae, and I’ve only ever encountered them twice, so not really an issue. 
Sandra

On Saturday, 9 October 2021, Philip Veerman <> wrote:

I don’t know the site, so I could well be wrong in interpreting the situation of risk. Australasian Grebes do often nest in little dams and seem pretty secure about it. However, I suspect you are giving little credit to the birds’ ability to choose their own site. I also suspect that you are over sure about that “if they build a nest in that spot, they’re going to be disturbed by people”. Do people regularly go into the water at that spot? Do dogs go in there? I suspect dogs are a bigger threat. I also suspect that putting up a sign won’t reduce the proximity of people. A sign is likely to either be ignored by the majority of people who aren’t interested or attract increased attention and proximity of the few that are interested. A sign that asks people to go away is not typically well-received by everyone and so reactions might be counterproductive. It is not as if this is a rare species. Signs don’t work very well with dogs either. Not every nest is going to be successful anyway.

 

Philip

 

From: Canberrabirds [ On Behalf Of regeraghty--- via Canberrabirds
Sent: Friday, 8 October, 2021 9:44 PM
To: Canberra Birds
Subject: [Canberrabirds] Grebes at Callum Brae

 

I’ve been watching an Australasian Grebe keeping a lonely vigil in the dam which is roughly in the middle of the reserve. Today, he has a friend, and they seem to be determined to hang out in the reeds on the corner of the dam closest to the nearby dirt road. I think they may be nesting or planning to nest, and if they build a nest in that spot, they’re going to be disturbed by people. I’m wondering if a sign could be put up asking people to stay away from the dam to allow the birds to nest in peace? As much as I want to get more photos of the pair, they may fail to clutch or lose their clutch. Thoughts?

 

 

Attachment: ATT00001.txt
Description: ATT00001.txt

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>
Admin

The University of NSW School of Computer and Engineering takes no responsibility for the contents of this archive. It is purely a compilation of material sent by many people to the Canberra Ornithologists Group mailing list. It has not been checked for accuracy nor its content verified in any way. If you wish to get material removed from the archive or have other queries about the list contact David McDonald, list manager, phone (02) 6231 8904 or email . If you can not contact David McDonald e-mail Andrew Taylor at this address: andrewt@cse.unsw.EDU.AU