Re: decline of song thrush, I noted in London when I lived there in the
1960s-70s, a sharp decline. In my garden central London, a nesting pair
were killed by my own cats (apologies, still feel guilty) but the
blackbirds were not caught, to my knowledge. Generally, they were (and
still maybe) in decline in the UK and I think one reason is they are
much more subject to cat capture. Urbanisation in Australia could mean
more cats, hence less thrush.
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
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