On the subject of doing the right thing by private property owners,
could someone please clarify the laws regarding public access along the
banks of rivers and creeks that pass through private property. My
understanding is that this is Crown land. If so, then are you still
trespassing if you do not have the the property owner's permission?
On another matter, there is a well-established breeding population of
Long-billed Corellas around Highfields, just north of Toowoomba, in SE
Queensland, that have been around for more than a decade. I dare say
the novelty of their presence here is outweighed by the increased
competition they place on the regular species for food and nesting
sites, so personally I won't mind at all if they become "locally
threatened" or "extinct". However, assuming this population will
continue to thrive, when, if ever, are such groups deemed to be
satellite populations of wild birds rather than feral offspring of
aviary escapees?
The obvious reason for asking is for listing purposes, e.g. do they
count for the Atlas? Is seeing one of these feral birds as 'tickable'
as seeing one in its natural range? Or does it all boil down to a
matter of conscience? How do birders, particularly those visiting
Australia, deal with the dilemma of seeing the ferals, but not the
natural population?
Thanks in advance.
Michael Atzeni
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