http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=News&story_id=163524&subclass=local&m=7&y=2002
Bird-watchers' grant to monitor woodland species
By DAVID McLENNAN
Four times a year, more than 100 bird-watchers search woodlands for hooded
robins and brown tree creepers in an effort to save these and other threatened
species.
Canberra Ornithological Group committee member and Woodland Avifaunal Monitoring
Project coordinator Jenny Bounds said there was anecdotal evidence that birds in
woodlands were in danger. She said the monitoring project, which began in 1996
and received $27,000 funding yesterday, would help prove that, and help find
ways to better protect the
birds.
The Government had a legislated responsibility to monitor and protect threatened
birds, such as the hooded robin and brown tree creeper, and this program was
part of that.
The program relied on more than 100 volunteers throughout the ACT and region.
They contributed to a database, which was analysed to determine if the ACT land
reservation system was effective in conserving the vulnerable and threatened
species.
Ms Bounds said the grant money would be used for contractors and specialists,
who did some of the ground work and coordination and who analysed the data.
Environment Minister Bill Wood said the Canberra Ornithological Group was one of
nine organisations to receive a total of $130,500 in grants to help build a
sustainable bush capital.
"In addition, funding for three major organisations - the Conservation Council
of the South-East Region and Canberra, the Environment Centre Library, and the
RSPCA (ACT) - has been moved from the grants program to a triennial contract
basis to better reflect the ongoing nature of the activities undertaken," he
said.
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