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Coxens Fig Parrot sightings 2003

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Subject: Coxens Fig Parrot sightings 2003
From: "Lyndy or Graeme" <>
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2004 02:46:37 +0000
In December 2003 an experienced bird watcher, familiar with local parrots, reported sighting two Coxens Fig Parrots in a fig tree at Paradise on the Burnett River SE. Qld. The observer used the name Red Faced Parrot, apparently an old name according to Ian Gynther. The observer was not overly keen to report the sighting, despite his confidence, to avoid being involved in any controversy.

In Sept. 2003 myself, a biologist, and my colleague observed two sitting Coxens Fig Parrots in a callistemon on the Burnett River SE. Qld. Whilst my area of specialisation is not ornithology many years of practice and training to observe fauna combined with the fact that this species looks unlike any other provides reasonable grounds for the acceptance of the sighting by the Recovery Team.

A sitting Coxens can not be confused with a lorikeet. The most significant feature to observe in this bird is the beak which has the form of a "parrot" not a lorikeet.

The Coxens has been sighted numerous times in the Burnett area along the river and some distance from the river on Binjour Plateau. I have traced local knowledge of the bird back to the 1960's.

The most unforunate aspect of the current situation is the present ongoing destruction of the habitat for the construction of Paradise Dam. The EIS for the dam stated the birds may be in the area and the former federal Environment Minister, David Kemp, agreed to large scale fig-marcotting project to provide immediate fruiting plants as a food source to replace the cleared figs. Gayndah Landcare has offered to undertake the project for the dam proponent, Burnett Water Pty Ltd (Qld. Dept. of State Development), however, Gayndah Landcare has recently been informed by BW Pty Ltd that they will not undertake the marcotting project. BW Pty Ltd claims their own surveys for the Coxens have found no animals and therefore marcotting is not required. This is despite the fact their surveys were not conducted using the methodology described in the Recovery Plan, the extremely small likelihood of observing an animal, the recommendation by the former minister and the fact that fig trees are also utilised by many other species of birds.

Considering one of the aims of the EPBC Act is to use the Precautionary Principle, BW Pty Ltd should undertake the marcotting project. Whether the latest sightings are accepted as positive or not the aim of this aspect of the Act is to avoid environmental damage to vulnerable species when all the facts are not before us. Ergo: err on the side of caution. I feel this simply illustrates the initial intention of the project which was a political act and therefore unable to deal seriously with sustainability issues.

For more details on this issue see ECOS Nov./Dec. 2004.

Graeme Armstrong
07 4140 8175


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