On Fri, 30 May 1997 22:55:52 -0700 benson <>
wrote:
>A New Zealnd collegue sent me newspaper article about the release of the
>Kokako on The island of Tiritiri in Hauraki Gulf.
>
>Apparently there are an estimated 2000 birds in New Zealand but only 400
>breeding pairs. The reason for their decline is stated in this story as
>habitat loss and predation of nests by rats and possums?
>
>Are possums predators of birds in Australia or is this purely a New
>Zealnd phenomon?
Dear Allan
I do not know how commonly possums prey on birds in Australia, but it certainly
does happen. I recall many years ago hearing a pair of Spotted Pardalotes that
were nesting in a hole in the wall of an old stable where I was living sounding
very
agitated. I went inside (the nest was accessible from inside the stable) and I
saw
a Brushtail Possum sitting on its haunches with a pardalote nestling in each
front
paw, one of them half eaten.
This occurred during the day, but there was little light inside, and possums
used
the stables as a denning area on most days.
How often this occurs in bush areas I could not say, but pardalote nests, at
least, would normally be inaccessible to possums.
Cheers
Ian
=======================================
Ian Temby
Wildlife Damage Control Officer
Secretary, BIRDS Australia Parrot Association
Flora and Fauna Branch
Department of Natural Resources and Environment
4/250 Victoria Parade
EAST MELBOURNE VIC 3002
AUSTRALIA
Phone 613 9412 4429
Fax 613 9412 4586
E-mail
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