RFI Magpie Geese in Sthn Australia - 2006

Hi Martin, 

On the 9th February, 2006, there were
approximately 20 Magpie Geese at Hospital Swamp at Connewarre (part of
the Lake Connewarre/Reedy Lake system).

Thankfully they departed before the
duck shooters could get at them!

Regards, 

Peter

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17/03/2006 11:55 AM

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Subject	[BIRDING-AUS] 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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