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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