Correct me if I'm wrong, but nobody seems to have
raised a debate over the April 9 report in the Sydney Telegraph (by Simon
Benson, Environment Reporter), titled "Pesky cockatoos facing the
cull" - reproduced below. It refers to basically to plans to cull
Sacred Ibis, then the prospect of the cockies getting it too. Where is this
culling concept going to end? Why pick just on cockatoos - what about all
the other metro-dwelling species which have proliferated or dominated the
suburbs in recent times - e.g. Calcutta Mynahs, Noisy Miners, Willie
Wagtails, Rainbow Lorikeets, Grey Butcherbirds, Silver Gulls (I think the
last one is planned as well - I think they're cute shuffing in the
mudflats, but not so hanging around Maccas)
I understand that there's a
risk of a natural dramatic population drop due to disease if things are left
to nature (albeit in the artificial ecosystem), but I'm deeply inclined to
wish that it is left to the natural forces nonetheless. Anyway I doubt that
there's any real evidence of that, at least for bird populations in cities.
I truly believe in the old saying, that "every cloud has a silver
lining" (even if it is a cloud of s/c cockatoos). e.g. the only place
in my suburb where I can find white-plumed honeyeaters nesting is in the
spartanly-treed asphalt-covered carpark of the Coles supermarket (Caringbah,
NSW), and I put that down to the fact that the same trees are filthy with
introduced mynahs, which seems to keep the vicious native miners at bay. By
the way, great "heards" of Sacred Ibis can be seen grazing the
swamp at Towra reserve, and it's hard to reconcile this as "modified
behaviour". More likely due to them being forced to come east after
rural draining of their old time habitats.
verbatim quote:
"50 yrs ago
they were regarded as rare species. today they are bombarding the city and
fast becoming a public and environmental nuisance as their numbers continue
to increase unabated. Now for the 1st time, authorities are considering
plans to eradicate both the white ibis and the sulphur crested cockatoo -
despite their status as protected native birds. A management plan is now
being drafted to look at eradication methods for ibis which could include
special hormones in food or the disruption of eggs and nests. Special
permits have already been given to Centennial park, Botanic Gardens and
Taronga Zoo to eradicate ibis by a method involving destruction of eggs.
Authorities admitted the plan may attract criticism but claimed it was
necessary for the long term survival of the species as well as pest
management. Macquarie Uni is at the same time conducting the 1st ever
population study into cockatoo numbers in Sydney to determine whether they
need to be culled or controlled as well."It's not a
hard question to deal with," said National Parks and Wildlife Service
officer Geoff Ross who is heading the campaign. "It is a conservation
decision.......if we did nothing about bird densities it could become a big
problem. "We are looking at issues of ibis and cockatoos and there are
a lot of local areas having problems with these birds. "if the ibis are
seen to be above levels where they become sustainable, we need to ask how
many we need to remove. They are not only having an impact on the human
community but also on the other wildlfie communities." The NPWS is
working with the RSPCA to ensure any culling is conducted in a humane
way. Other agencies such as the zoo, Botanic Gardens and Centennial Pk Trust
are also involved in the program. The birds are responsible for pushing out
other wildlife, water polution through their droppings, damaging trees and
"interfering with people". When populations exceed sustainable
levels disease can occur, threatening the future of the species itself and
spreading it to other species. Mr Ross claims the ibis
in particular has managed to adapt to an urban environment and have
changed their breeding behaviour as a result. A spokesman for Centennial Pk
Trust confirmed it was looking at culling the birds which numbered up to 850
and had become a major pest. "But we won't do anything that isn't
humane," the spokesman said.
Regards
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