RFI Magpie Geese in Sthn Australia - 2006

A request for list members.

Some observers may be aware that Magpie Geese have been reported in Victoria this year in far greater numbers (up to 1000 birds) than since they were exterminated from se Australia back in about 1920.

As it is important to keep track of the currently increasing numbers of this species in Victoria, I'm encouraging all observers to report any sightings they have of Magpie Geese from South Australia, southern New South Wales and anywhere in Victoria.

Magpie Geese have been formally recognised as a threatened species in Victoria under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (and I can provide a brief conservation assessment of the species to interested observers if required) so sightings of the species need to be reported to the Atlas of Victorian Wildlife.

I'm particularly interested in 
- whether observers are aware of any government breeding programs for Magpie Goose from South Australia (Victoria undertook a breeding program for geese in the past)
- observations of Magpie Geese from South Australia and southern New South Wales and 
- whether observers believe numbers of this goose have increased in their regions in recent years.

So far this year (in Victoria), Magpie Geese have been reported from Lake Elingamite (near Cobden, sw Victoria) and at Serendip Sanctuary near Geelong

This may assist in helping us understand where the large numbers of Magpie Geese are originating from, particularly as there has been no reports of any large scale breeding by the species in Victoria.

cheers

Martin O'Brien
Threatened Species & Communities Section
Department of Sustainability and Environment
2/8 Nicholson St. (PO Box 500), East Melbourne  3002

Tel: 9637 9869

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