Hi, everyone -
I have noticed that some posts to the list refer to introduced birds in
fairly disparaging or dismissive terms. This bothers me slightly. It's not
that I disagree with the feeling that they are usually unwanted, and
frequently harmful, additions to our avifauna, but that the attitude that
they are beneath contempt may be counterproductive.
I suspect that, historically, introduced species have been under-recorded.
The appearance of House Sparrows or Common Mynas in a country town may often
have been overlooked, even by knowledgeable birdos. In this way the
original - and continuing - patterns of spread are obscured.
So - a plea for all of us who list birds seen or heard on any kind of
occasion, time period or location, whether in our 'little black books' or in
a database, to be comprehensive. Introduced species, like it or not, are
now part of our birdlife and need to be noticed and noted. It may be
emotionally satisfying to see them as enemies, but let us also give them due
respect as agents of change in our environment.
Cheers, Hugo.
Hugo Phillipps,
Birds Australia Conservation & Liaison,
Australian Bird Research Centre,
415 Riversdale Road,
Hawthorn East, VIC 3123, Australia.
Tel: +61 3 9882 2622. Fax: +61 3 9882 2677.
Email: <>
Web Homepage: http://www.vicnet.net.au/~birdsaus
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