Without knowing the details of OBP and the area they occur in in Melbourne its
hard to comment but when I was working for the RSPB in the UK was involved in
setting up viewing projects for a wide range of species in all sorts of
settings. The RPSB have done "Aren't Birds Brilliant" events everywhere from
the centre of London to look at breeding Peregrines and House Sparrows through
to halfway up a mountain side for breeding eagles and cliff edges for vast
seabird colonies. They work very well and are a great way to attract interest
and support from the wider public. What has been done as well is if the target
species is not really suitable for this type of event is to either set up a
live camera feed into a centre or use another readily seen species as the "in"
to encourage people along and then when staff talk to the public they can raise
awareness of the target species. When dpne well they are a superb tool for
getting wider popular support.
Dom
________________________________
From: Peter Shute <>
To: 'Simon Mustoe' <>; ""
<>; ""
<>
Sent: Tuesday, 4 December 2012, 10:26
Subject: Threatened species and the OBP
Simon, you may be right - it's always the least visible species that are the
hardest to make the public care about - but what sort of infrastructure could
be set up now to view wild OBPs near Melbourne? I think if you could set up a
hide and charge entry fees for a guaranteed look at a free flying OBP, you'd
have a long queue at the door.
It's easy with seals and penguins, but perhaps this species just isn't suitable
for this kind of thing.
Peter Shute
> -----Original Message-----
> From:
> On Behalf Of
> Simon Mustoe
> Sent: Tuesday, 4 December 2012 10:17 AM
> To: ;
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Threatened species and the OBP
>
>
> Debbie,
> I disagree with Flannery and others. Australia does care.
> Conservation bodies, scientists, national parks and others
> have had control of wildlife for too long. We have made it
> more and more difficult for anyone to engage with, learn
> about or understand nature. Orange-bellied Parrot is a case
> example. For years, areas near Melbourne where these birds
> occur have been fenced off to public - even when they were
> more numerous. In other parts of the world there would have
> been visitor infrastructure and hides put up and a concerted
> effort by the conservation groups to show people the birds.
> Just recently, BirdLife has been concerned about the number
> of people being able to access the WTP (when only just over
> 300 people have keys). Meanwhile, critically endangered birds
> exist in places where tens of thousands of visitors go at
> places like Mai Po in Hong Kong or Titchwell in the UK.
> Before Australians attempt to engage or connect people we
> hastily impose regulations to 'protect' wildlife by fencing
> it off (physically or regulatory). Here's another brutal
> example - DSE is currently chasing teenagers for climbing on
> the back of a dead Humpback Whale on the Great Ocean Road.
> Natural curiosity drives kids to do that sort of thing and
> whist a slap on the wrist might be called for, the parents
> can do that. Instead however, DSE has ensured these teenagers
> and all their friends will hate conservationists for the rest
> of their lives. Plus, a strong and clear message has been
> sent to every Victorian - if you pass within 300m of a whale
> carcass you can be prosecuted. In much of the state my kids
> can't even collect shells on beaches any more.
> What is the world coming to?
> As conservationists, we have to take a long hard look at
> ourselves and wonder if we are to blame for the lack of
> 'care'. If we cared more, would we encourage people to engage
> with wildlife rather than loving animals to death, meanwhile
> ensuring that only us and our closest friends get to enjoy
> the experience?
> Regards,
> Simon.
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> Simon Mustoe
> Tel: +61 (0) 405220830 | Skype simonmustoe | Email
>
>
> Visit BIRD-O at http://www.bird-o.com
> Follow BIRD-O on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/birdodotcom
> Like BIRD-O on Facebook? Visit
> http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/pages/Bird-O/117732794921095
> Email BIRD-O at
>
>
>
>
>
> > From:
> > To:
> > Date: Mon, 3 Dec 2012 21:05:59 +1100
> > Subject: [Birding-Aus] Threatened species and the OBP
> >
> >
> >
> http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-30/fears-for-the-orange-bellied-par
> > rot/4401966 The ABC's 7.30 Tasmania screened this 8-minute
> segment on
> > Friday night, which neatly dovetails Tim Flannery's
> concerns about a looming extinction crisis (detailed in the
> current Quarterly Essay), with the plight of the
> Orange-bellied Parrot.
> > Covers several important issues and features Mark
> Holdsworth, the Tasmanian coordinator of the OBP Recovery Program.
> > This should have aired nation-wide. I agree with Flannery
> that we as a nation don't care nearly enough; nobody is
> accountable for dropping the ball on threatened species.
>
> > ===============================
> >
> > To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message:
> > unsubscribe
> > (in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
> > to:
> >
> > http://birding-aus.org
> > ===============================
>
> ===============================
>
> To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
> send the message:
> unsubscribe
> (in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
> to:
>
> http://birding-aus.org
> ===============================
>
===============================
To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
send the message:
unsubscribe
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to:
http://birding-aus.org
===============================
===============================
To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
send the message:
unsubscribe
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to:
http://birding-aus.org
===============================
|
