If anyone wishes to contact me directly about this, by phone instead of
email, my mobile number is 0419516669.
Thanks,
Paul Dodd
From: Paul Dodd
Sent: Sunday, 8 February 2009 12:02 PM
To: 'Birding Aus'
Subject: Victorian Bushfires
Hi birders,
As you are doubtless aware, there have been incredibly ferocious bushfires
in Victoria this weekend. Amongst other places, the townships of Marysville,
Kinglake, Kinglake West and St Andrews have been wiped out. My sister lost
her home an all possessions between St Andrews and Kinglake - and I know of
others that have lost everything. There are also other people who live in
the area that have not been able to be contacted. Marysville apparently has
one building remaining. I'm unsure about the extent of damage to Kinglake
and St Andrews, but after speaking to my sister who is still trapped in the
township of Kinglake, they are "gone".
Vast areas of the Kinglake National Park and the Bunyip State Park have been
devastated - presumably along with the wildlife, including birds, of those
areas. I am currently unsure of the situation at Yellingbo (with its
remaining population of wild Helmeted Honeyeaters) - let's just hope that
the Bunyip fire and the Kinglake fire don't join up.
Healesville Sanctuary is closed today, not surprisingly. Apparently, their
collections of Orange-bellied Parrots, Helmeted Honeyeaters and endangered
mammals have been loaded onto vans and trucks for transport to Melbourne Zoo
today. The road from Melbourne to Healesville is still open, but beyond
Healesville it is closed.
Authorities are asking that people do not visit the fire-affected areas at
this time and to keep off the roads to allow essential services access.
As I realise that this is not strictly birding-related, if you want further
information or if you have further information, please contact me off-list.
Obviously, from a personal perspective, I am most up-to-date on the
Kinglake/St Andrews fire.
Thanks,
Paul Dodd
Docklands, Victoria
===============================
www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
send the message:
unsubscribe
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to:
===============================
|
