The Atlas clearly shows that the European Goldfinch has been declining
over the last few decades and even contracting in range. Although still
considered common it has declined strongly of the order of 50% since the
70's in NSW and Victoria, and moderate declines in SA and Tasmania. It has
virtually disappeared from the Brisbane region and declined in north east
NSW. It may have disappeared from the Eyre Peninsula and Port Augusta areas
of SA. Only the Perth metropolitan area shows an increase.
It is still common in Adelaide, Melbourne, Hobart, Canberra and Sydney.
Rory
At 05:29 12/4/2002 +1000, you wrote:
> On my morning train trip to work I noticed a European Goldfinch I have
>not seen them that often in Sydney and looked up my copy of J Long,
>Introduced Birds of the World, to get the full story of introductions. I
>was intrigued there to read that the NSW populations were not introduced
>but were dispersals and that the dispersal routes into country towns seem
>to have been along the rail lines. Now this is not that silly, given
>that this bird is a seed eater, but I was wondering just how much study
>had been done of the role played by the rail lines in the dispersal of
>both weeds and feral animals, both birds and mammals. Any comments? What
>is the current status of the European Goldfinch too? Is it increasing or
>decreasing in numbers and range? It sure seems content in the Canberra
>region. Brian Everingham
>PO Box 269
>Engadine
>NSW 2233
>Australia
>
>+61 2 95209341
*****************************************
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
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