Greetings all,
I read with special interest any bustard posts on the list as my
PhD addresses their ecology in relation to fire and land
productivity?.may the debate continue!
There are obviously a number of factors that threaten bustards
and other ground birds and the relative influence of each
spatially and temporally is cleary subject to debate. Just
briefly, one factor that has not been mentioned and I believe may
be under-estimated relates to inadvertent interference by human
activities i.e. disturbance by humans and livestock of displaying
and nesting birds. The few studies on our species (predominantly
by Max Downes in the 80's) note that the species' nesting success
is quite vulnerable to human interference as they readily desert
nests. Studies on bustards o/s suggest likewise.
If anyone has direct experiences regarding effects of
interference on displaying birds in the wild and/or nesting
females I'd be pleased to hear about them.
Hooroo
mark
-----------------------------------------------
Mark Ziembicki
Dept. of Environmental Biology
University of Adelaide
Adelaide, S.A. 5005
AUSTRALIA
Tel: (+61 8) 8303 5279
Fax: (+61 8) 8303 6222
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