I am all in favour of increasing housing density in the more established
suburbs - the people who live there tend to complain but the alternative is
more sprawl onto undeveloped land. Undoubtedly we are losing habitat in the
established suburbs. But my point was more about the Western Plains where
housing is taking over from (mainly non native) grassland and will probably
in 10 years time (if we get any rain) lead to a boom in habitat for birds
that like urban gardens!
2008/5/19 Peter Shute <>:
> I think Wendy's point was that the urban gardens Song Thrushes like
> (need?) are being gradually removed and replaced with higher density
> housing that has little or no garden. No idea how much of a factor this
> is yet, but dual occupancy developments are very common in Melbourne
> now, where a house on a large block is supplemented by a second house
> (or more) where the back garden was. Theoretically, every such
> development should increase the size of the territory necessary to
> support a thrush.
>
> I also agree with Wendy that such developments are necessary to reduce
> the need to develop the green wedges, etc, but I'm not comfortable that
> the loss of gardens isn't being compensated for with equivalent planting
> in parks, etc. These should, of course, be designed for native birds,
> not Song Thrushes.
>
> Peter Shute
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From:
> On Behalf Of Dave Torr
> Sent: Monday, 19 May 2008 1:16 PM
> To: Wendy
> Cc: Birding-aus
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Song Thrush: Friday Bird in Focus
>
> Whilst I agree with most of your comments about the sprawl in the
> western plains of Melbourne, I think this has little to do with Song
> Thrush decline.
> They are a bird of established gardens and woodlands and most of the
> area being destroyed is grassland. Indeed - with a lot od new gardens
> there may end being more Song Thrush territory in years to come! The
> Thrush has declined in developed areas throughout Melbourne (I live in
> Werribee in an established area and they have declined a lot - they also
> used to be in the wooded areas of the Western Treatment Plant but are
> now scarce). Drought seems the answer - my wife is a keen gardener and
> is no longer troubled by snails so the connection seems obvious (but of
> course may not be!)
>
> 2008/5/19 Wendy <>:
>
> > Tim Dolby wrote ...
> > "The dry conditions in Melbourne, and the fact that we do not water
> > our gardens any more, may well be the reason that Song Thrush numbers
> > have dropped in Melbourne."
> >
> > Other factor would be urban infill/higher urban density, and resultant
>
> > loss or shrinking of house block gardens. While sadly this is not
> > great for urban wildlife, I support it as it helps control urban
> > sprawl.
> > The current massive growth around Melbourne in the Werribee, Hume and
> > Epping corridors, often in previous Green Wedge areas, is horrendous.
> > Large areas of very rare and significant remnant vegetation is being
> > destroyed, in particular Western Basalt Plains Grassland and Red Gum
> > Grassy Woodland.
> > Habitat to many rare and endangered animals and plants. Infrastructure
>
> > development to support this sprawl further exacerbates the habitat
> > loss not to mention the other adverse environmental contributions
> > (e.g. more roads -
> > greenhouse)
> > Wendy Moore
> >
> > ===============================
> > www.birding-aus.org
> > birding-aus.blogspot.com
> >
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