Just to clarify my earlier statement - in the study by Twigg & King (1991),
the emus were feeding on the Gastrolobium seeds, not the researchers! :)
(Thought I might clear that up before Phillip V has a chance to query it).
:)
Cheers,
Stephen
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of Dave Torr
Sent: Wednesday, 16 May 2012 2:18 PM
To: Stephen Ambrose
Cc: Birding Aus
Subject: Poisonous Aussie birds.
Interesting observation Stephen - since Emu is not an uncommon meat in some
of the "native game" restaurants in some parts of Aus then hopefully
someone knows the answer - although I guess they are probably farmed rather
than wild ones?
On 16 May 2012 14:06, Stephen Ambrose <> wrote:
> The poison in Gastrolobium is sodium fluoroacetate (also known as 1080).
In
> Australia, natural occurrences of sodium fluoroacetate occurs mostly in
> Gastrolobium species, and nearly all species in this genus are restricted
> in
> distribution to South-western Australia. Twigg & King (1991) found that
> Emus also had a high tolerance to the poison when feeding on Gastrolobium
> seeds, but I don't know if it accumulates in the Emu's body, is
metabolised
> or excreted.
>
> Stephen Ambrose
> Ryde, NSW
>
> Reference:
>
> Twigg, L.E. & D.R. King (1991). The impact of fluoroacetate-bearing
> vegetation on native Australian fauna: a review. Oikos 61: 412-430
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From:
> On Behalf Of Steve Clark
> Sent: Wednesday, 16 May 2012 9:49 AM
> To: Sonja Ross; Birding Aus;
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Bass Straight migrants and poisonous Aussie
> birds
> - birdng myths?
>
> G'day Sonja and Anthea
>
> Thanks for your replies.
>
> I'm aware of the Gastrolobium poison bush in WA. Anthea has turned up
> this reference
>
> http://www.publish.csiro.au/?act=view_file&file_id=MU942057.pdf
>
> which is good evidence that the pigeons accumulate poison from the
> seeds of Gastrolobium bilobum in Western Australia.
>
> Further questions:
>
> Has anyone ever extracted poison from a Bronzewing and analysed it?
> What is the situation in other parts of the Bronzewings' range?
> Why are Pitohuis claimed to be the first known poisonous birds? This
> article mentions others (including Bronzewings):
>
>
>
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Publications/ZooGoer/2001/2/intoxnewguineabirds.cf
> m
>
> It seems that others were known or suspected earlier but the chemical
> in Pitohui poison was the first to be identified.
>
> There appears to be no conclusive evidence that Flame Robins migrate
> across Bass Strait unless Anthea can track down the unpublished
> research of Balmford and Dennett. I wouldn't be at all suprised if
> they do cross the Strait but it would be nice to have evidence.
>
> Cheers
> Steve
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