birding-aus
Mention of seaside rubbish and birds reminds me of what I observed on the
beaches of far south west Tasmania while doing volunteer work down there on
Orange-bellied Parrots a few years ago.
The coast was over 10km away from the bird hide and made a good return walk
after morning observations. The southern coast here had lots of fishing
related rubbish. Clearly thrown overboard.
Some items were:
Endless blue strapping - which I gather is used to hold blocks of bait
together by tuna fishing boats.
fishing knives, fluorescent tubes (cuttlefish boats?), netting, timber
blocks, etc. Some of the rubbish had South American origins judging from
the language we could see on some items.
Peter Menkhorst has recently been back down to the South West and came
across an inflatable boat dashed on the rocks while assisting in beach
litter surveys. No lost sailors (or skeletons!) were present!
Bird content? The Hooded Plover, White-faced Heron and Forest Ravens we
saw on the beach at Cox Bight were the farthest south I've seen these
species in Australia.
Martin O'Brien
Executive Scientific Officer
Scientific Advisory Committee
Threatened Species Program
Department of Natural Resources and Environment
4/250 Victoria Pde.,
East Melbourne, 3002
Victoria, AUSTRALIA
tel: +61 3 9412 4567
fax: +61 3 9412 4586
e-mail:
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