Declines in common species

[Ian Montgomery <>]

On Friday, April 12, 2002, at 11:51 AM, Philip A. Veerman wrote:

> From the 18 years of continuous GBS data in Canberra, the Goldfinch has shown a decline but that is not easy to interpret. It is largely based on the fact that it was especially abundant in 1981-82. That being the first year of the GBS, it is impossible to know whether it was just an odd year. After 1982-83 it has been basically stable here. Unlike say the Starling and House Sparrow, whose abundance has crashed over the same period.
> Philip

I wonder whether Starlings and House Sparrows have suffered from competition with Common Mynas.  It would be interesting to see if there were any correlations between changes in range and abundance of these 3 species.  It's my feeling that Starlings suffer when Mynas move in.

Cheers,
Ian

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Ian Montgomery, Townsville, North Queensland, Australia
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