Wearing my "hat" as a director of BOCA (Bird Observation and Conservation
Australia - www.birdobservers.org.au) I am pleased to be able to report that
we have decided to look in detail at what we - as a national organisation -
can do. Some of our branches have already been working on local initiatives
and I hope that we can develop a plan in consultation with the major dog
clubs that will help to improve the situation.
If anyone has any detailed thoughts about the matter which might be of use
to us in developing our plans then I would love to hear from them.
Dave
On 18/02/2008, Dave Torr <> wrote:
>
> OK - I misunderstood your reference to "The survival of the very
> occasional
> locally rare bird that's common further north. The possible
> recolonisation (if that's a word) of the area by this and other unknown
> species.".
> It is very hard to justify a big campaign to protect a vagrant. It is easy
> to justify one to protect rare endemics. And I think most suburban parks are
> not the key areas - I'd rather protect areas with rare birds. I don't think
> you'll ever get people to stop letting their dog off lead in the local park
> (whatever the council rules!) as it is hard to justify that they might
> disturb Red Wattlebirds (for example). If there is such a a campaign it
> needs to focus on specific species and specific areas - if you say "you
> shouldn't let your dog off anywhere" you will fail. If you say "it is
> important that you don't let your dog off here at this time of year because
> of Hooded Plovers but there is a good spot for your dog 2 km away) you MIGHT
> influence a few people.
>
> On 18/02/2008, Peter Shute <> wrote:
> >
> > Dave Torr wrote on Monday, 18 February 2008 10:43 AM:
> >
> > > I think there is a lot more at stake for us (and I speak as a dog
> > > owner!). Dogs threaten species like the Hooded Plover and the Fairy
> > > Tern on their nesting grounds - both are endangered endemics (I
> > > think??) and rely heavily on undisturbed coastal areas.
> >
> > Yes but to a non-birders these are the "unknown species" I referred to.
> > They're either invisible or look like seagulls to non-birders. You'd
> > have to convince them not only that these species either already exist
> > in the area or might return to it, but that it's important that they do.
> > I was also thinking more about suburban parks than that kind of habitat.
> >
> > > I am not sure what sort of "Agreement" we could have - I think all we
> > > can do is spread the message that dogs and birds do not mix well and
> > > whilst this may not matter too much in some areas in others it is
> > > critical to the species survival. I would point out that horses and
> > > 4WD on beaches are also large threats to these species!
> >
> > I was thinking initially that we'd need the agreement of whoever runs
> > these clubs in order to even start getting our views through to their
> > members via their newsletters, etc. I would imagine there might be a
> > bit of a seige mentality to get past.
> >
> > As a not entirely relevant example, here's a quote from the secretary of
> > a motorcycle club from the article in yesterday's Age about the proposed
> > outer ring road being discussed in another thread:
> > "We have already lost one track used by the club for 30 years because an
> > environmental impact statement found the legless lizard and golden sun
> > moth there," said Ms Heaney.
> > "Now they want to build a freeway through it?"
> >
> > Peter Shute
> >
>
>
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