From: Martin on 01/14/2002 09:36 AM
To:
cc:
Subject: Magpie Goose distribution - Vic. (Aust.)
Richard Nowotny asks about the Magpie Goose and its provenance in Victoria.
The old Atlas of Victorian Birds (1987) has the following comments about Magpie
Goose Anseranas semipalmata:
'In 1885, Magpie Geese were described as nesting in parts of Western Victoria in
'...incalculable numbers...' and during times of flood were said to be on the
Gippsland Lakes. By the early 1900s they had disappeared from the state. Today
most, and probably all, sightings are of birds (or their progeny) that have been
released at various sites in attempts to re-establish them. Natural populations
are now mainly restricted to tropical areas...' 'Habitat modification, shooting
and conflict with agriculture are usually thought to have caused the extirpation
of this species from southeastern Australia.'
Magpie Geese have been bred at Serendip and recent 'unassisted' or natural
breeding has been at the Western Treatment Plant, Werribee.
Since the publication of the Victorian Atlas more recent Atlas of Victorian
Wildlife data shows the species to have made a minor comeback of sorts in
Victoria. Distribution maps for the species show recent records as far east as
Lakes Entrance and west to Portland. Old records (eg. Gunbower Forest) from the
1970s-1980s in the north of the state haven't been repeated and most
observations are from the southern part of the state. 'Hotspots' for the
species in Victoria are the Corangamite Lakes area west of Colac in western
Victoria.
My impressions are that the species exists in small numbers in Victoria given
the area it covers.
Martin O'Brien
Scientific Advisory Committee
Department of Natural Resources and Environment
4/250 Victoria Pde.,
East Melbourne 3002
Tel: 9412 4567 Fax: 9412 4586
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Visit the Flora and Fauna Guarantee section of the
Department of Natural Resources and Environment at:
http://www.nre.vic.gov.au/plntanml/native/ffg.htm
Birding-Aus is on the Web at
www.shc.melb.catholic.edu.au/home/birding/index.html
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message
"unsubscribe birding-aus" (no quotes, no Subject line)
to
|
