Hi everyone
Further to Matin O'Brien's comments regarding the increased influx of
Lorikeets into Victoria the findings from the Atlas analyses also support
this.
As I have reported in the last 2 years there are three groups of birds that
have shown an increase over the last 20 years; Honeyeaters, Lorikeets and
Pigeons.
Particularly species along the east coast that rely on flowering/fruiting
plants.
Other species doing well are the Fairy-wrens and Thornbills.
Overall, the picture coming from the Atlas results is not the best. Out of
660 species looked at I have identified about 294 species (44%) that have
shown a decline over the last 20 years since the First Atlas and only 100
(15%) that have shown an increase. A further 85 species (13%) show no
apparent change, 45 species (7%) show state/regional variations, and 137
species (21% which includes 62 seabird species) where there is a lack of
data to work with.
This represents a net difference of about 30% of species in decline.
The Atlas results have consistently reflected what has been happening in
the real world from very early on in the Atlas project. These results
strongly suggest that there has been a net decline in species over the last
20 years. And this net decline is most likely to be attributable directly
or indirectly to human activity rather than natural cycles.
Analyses of NSW Bird Atlas data which spans 20 years also supports the
Atlas findings.
Given that this net decline is so large it seems plausible that this net
decline is unlikely to be reversed in the next 20 or so years.
The mainland states are showing the greatest declines, with Tasmania
fairing better.
For statistical purposes I divided all species into those showing a -ve
change and those showing a +ve change. For the mainland states (excluding
seabirds) about 65% of species showed a -ve change and 35% a +ve change.
For Tasmania (excluding seabirds) this was 54% -ve change and 46% +ve change.
Most species that migrate between Tasmania and the mainland show a decline
which suggests the declines are occuring on the mainland.
The non-passerine species are fairng the worst.
Particularly dryland ground dwelling species such as Emu, Richards Pipit,
Spotted Quail-thrush, Banded Lapwing. Think of a predominatly ground dwelling
species and it most likely has declined.
Many wetland birds, migratory and endemic waders, coastal birds, raptors,
nightbirds are showing strong declines.
Out of these bird groups mentioned only a handful of species are showing an
increase: Orange-footed Scrubfowl, Australian Brush-turkey, Indian Peafowl,
Brown Quail, Chestnut Teal, Mallard, Silver Gull, Kelp Gull.
Of the Cuckoos, The Common Koel and Channel-billed Cuckoo are showing an
increase.
Pigeons: 7 decreasing. 6 increasing such as Pied Imperial-Pigeon,
White-headed Pigeon, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Bar-shouldered Dove, Spotted
Turtle-Dove, Barbary Dove. The Feral Pigeon is showing a decline.
Parrots: 13 decreasing. 12 increasing such as Rainbow Lorikeet,
Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Musk Lorikeet, Purple-crowned Lorikeet,
Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Long-billed
Corella, Australian King-Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Western Rosella,
Red-capped Parrot, Budgerigar.
Honeyeaters: 19 decreasing. 25 increasing such as Red Wattlebird, Little
Wattlebird, Yellow Wattlebird, Helmeted Friarbird, Noisy Friarbird, Noisy
Miner, Spiny-cheeked H/E, Scarlet H/E, Black H/E, Pied H/E, Dusky H/E,
Brown H/E, Brown-backed H/E, Rufous-banded H/E, Rufous-throated H/E, Lewins
H/E, Yellow-spotted H/E, Graceful H/E, Yellow-faced H/E, Yellow-thraoted
H/E, Grey-fronted H/E, Yellow H/E, Eastern Spinebill, Western Spinebill.
Wrens: 2 decreasing, 4 increasing such as Superb, Red-winged, Red-backed,
Purpe-crowned Fairy-wrens.
Thornbills: 6 decreasing. 6 increasing such as Brown Gerygone, Fairy
Gerygone, Western Thornbill, Brown Thornbill, Inland Thornbill, Tasmanian
Thornbill.
Pardalotes: 3 increasing Spotted Pardalote, Striated pardalote, Red-browed
pardalote.
Scrubwrens: 6 decreasing,1 increasing White-browed Scrubwren.
Woodswallows: all 6 decreasing.
Treecreepers: all 7 decreasing.
Babblers: 2 decreasing. Halls Babbler possibly increasing.
Robins: 10 decreasing. 2 increasing such as Eastern Yellow Robin,
White-breasted Robin.
Finches: 10 decreasing, 2 increasing such as Star Finch, Crimson Finch.
Whistlers: 4 decreasing. 4 increasing such as Gilbets Whistler, Grey
Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Crested Bellbird.
Flycatchers: 7 decreasing. 2 increasing such as Grey Fantail, Shining
Flycatcher.
Cuckoo-shrikes: 4 decreasing. 1 increasing Varied Triller.
Corvids: 1 decreasing. 2 increasing such as Torresian Crow, Little Raven.
Butcherbird: 2 decreasing. 5 increasing such as Grey Butcherbird, Black
Butcherbird, Black-backed Butcherbird, Pied Currawong, Magpie.
Apostlebird and White-winged Chough decreasing.
Orioles: 2 increasing Yellow Oriole, Figbird.
Spangled Drongo increasing.
Bowerbirds: 4 decreasing. 3 increasing such as Green Catbird, Satin
Bowerbird, Great Bowerbird.
Common Mynah and Blackbird increasing.
Starling, Song Thrush, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Skylark all decreasing.
Kingfishers, Dollarbird, Bee-eater generally decreasing.
Swifts decreasing.
Swallows: 3 decreasing. Barn Swallow possibly increasing.
There is a wealth of information in the Atlas databases which is revealing
some interesting findings.
Cheers
Rory
*****************************************
Rory Poulter
Database Custodian
Birds Australia Atlas Project
415 Riversdale Road
Hawthorn East, Victoria, Australia 3123
Ph (03) 9882 2622
Fax (03) 9882 2677
www.birdsaustralia.com.au
Please support the Endangered Species Appeal by donating at ay branch of
the National Australia Bank, by phoning 1300 730 075 or on line at
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