A SECOND ATLAS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS PROJECT
Dear All,
Birds Australia has been given a strong indication by the Federal Government
that it will receive funding early next year to initiate a second Atlas of
Australian Birds Project. It will be a vital tool for the protection and
management of our wildlife and their habitats.
What is the Atlas of Australian Birds?
It is a record of the distribution and relative abundance of every
Australian bird species in a given period of time - a good indicator of the
health of the environment. The original Australian Bird Atlas Project, was
co-ordinated by Birds Australia (then the RAOU) from 1977 to 1981 and the
results were published in 1984. Over 3,000 bird-watchers collected a total
of 3 million atlas records in the first comprehensive bird survey of any
continent.
Why a New Atlas?
The original results are now up to 20 years old and in that time over 10
million hectares of native vegetation have been cleared. As a result of this
and other influences, the status? of many bird species have changed, but are
yet to be documented. It is now time to update this information to help
governments and communities act on the most appropriate and pressing
conservation issues.
Besides, atlassing is adventurous and fun! Bird-watchers around the country
have asked Birds Australia to begin a new atlas and now it?s about to get
underway!
When Will it Start?
We hope that funds for the project will be available by the end of this
year. It is planned to officially launch the project in mid-1998, following
a workshop early in the year to discuss project methods and co-ordination.
What Can You Do Right Now?
· Watch out for the December 1997 issue of Wingspan where there will be a
feature article about the new Atlas project.
· Start planning those bird-watching trips to remote locations, as well as
to your favourite regular bird-watching spots.
· Spread the word to friends and colleagues ... a new Atlas will get
underway in 1998.
Such a project cannot be accomplished without Birds Australia working in
collaboration with other bird groups and natural history societies around
the country. Today, Brian Snape (President of Birds Australia) sent letters
to all these clubs (as well as to all regional groups of Birds Australia),
seeking their interest in participating in the project. Please let me know
if your club has not received such an invitation by the end of next week and
I'll arrange for one to be sent out to you.
I will keep you all posted as new developments occur.
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Dr Stephen Ambrose
Research and Conservation Manager
Birds Australia (Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union)
Australian Bird Research Centre
415 Riversdale Road,
Hawthorn East,
VIC 3123.
Tel: +61 3 9882 2622
Fax: +61 3 9882 2677
Email: S.Ambrose <> (at work)
<> (at home)
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