From: Martin on 30/05/2000 10:21 AM
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Subject: Woodland bird declines in Victoria (Aust.)
Judie Peets posting on the Birds Australia project addressing declines in
woodland birds has a corollary in Victoria.
The Victorian Scientific Advisory Committee has recommended that 5 species of
woodland bird be added to the Schedule 2 of the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act
1988. The species are:
Apostlebird
Speckled Warbler
Hooded Robin
Diamond Firetail, and
Crested Bellbird
Each of these species has shown marked declines in range across the state and
these declines are continuing where suitable habitat still exists. The
Preliminary Recommendation Reports outlining the Committee's decisions will be
published in Victorian papers in the coming weeks and a public comment period of
30 days will follow. I will post again to inform list members of the
availability of these reports.
A sobering paper by Julian Reid (1999) notes a number of causes for the decline
of woodland species across NSW and makesseveral recommendations to arrest the
loss of woodland birds. These causes are also operating in Victoria on a
similiar scale. Reid notes that:
'...the ongoing decline in habitat quality at the patch level is likely to be
the proximate threatening process that needs most urgent atention. Stock
grazing pressure is considered the biggest single risk factor in this respect.'
I recommend Reids paper for anyone interested in the conservation of our
woodland fauna.
Ref:
Reid, J. R. W. (1999) Threatened and declining birds in the NSW Sheep-wheat
belt: I Diagnosis, characteristics and management. Cosultancy report to the NSW
National Parks and Wildlife Service. CSIRO Wildlife and Ecology Canberra.
Martin O'Brien
Executive Scientific Officer - Scientific Advisory Committee
Parks Flora and Fauna Division
Department of Natural Resources and Environment
4/250 Victoria Pde.,
East Melbourne 3002
AUSTRALIA
Tel: 9412 4567
Fax: 9412 4586
(prefixes: Interstate 03 International 613)
email:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Visit the Biodiversity section of the Department of Natural Resources and
Environment at:
http://www.nre.vic.gov.au/web/root/domino/cm_da/nrenpa.nsf/frameset/NRE+Plants+and+Animals?OpenDocument
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