|
There has been one Magpie Goose virtually resident
at the Edithvale Wetlands, SE of Melbourne (MELWAY 93 D8) for many months/years
but during our monthly survey on 10 March 2006, Andrew Silcocks & I saw
another 6 fly in.
Other notable birds present that day
included 1 Intermediate Egret, 3 Spotless Crakes, 1 Buff-banded Rail, 17
Marsh Sandpipers, 4 Common Greenshank, 5 Wood Sandpipers and 7 Red-kneed Dotterels. Interestingly, there were
only 10 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers in conditions and at a time when hundreds were
to be expected (they were obviously elsewhere) and only 1 Latham's Snipe
compared with 26 seventeen days previously. I reckon the Snipe had headed
north for Japan!
Mike Carter
30 Canadian Bay Road
Mt
Eliza VIC 3930
Ph: (03) 9787
7136
Email:
From:
To:
Sent: Friday, March 17, 2006 11:55
AM
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
|
