hi Denise,
yes, it is a real shame to hear about the continued & steady decline of these
gorgeous birds in your region...I've noticed it myself just between 2 Top End
visits in 2005 & again in 2008 - in 2008 they were much much harder to locate
in Kakadu NP than they'd been just a few years prior...
i believe the western race yellow-faced blauwii is also struggling to hang in
there...in late 2008 I came across some 50-60 birds in one tight flock getting
ready to roost at Surveyor's Pool on the Mitchell Plateau - the next morning
George Swann told me that that was a very remarkable record & that he hadn't
heard of such numbers of this race for many many years...!!
a similar plight, which has been well documented, has hit the southern race of
the very closely related Squatter Pigeon, especially south of about Townsville
down to far northern NSW...
has anybody else noticed decreases in numbers of blauwii Partidge Pigeon out
there or does any one else have anything to add...??
cheers,
martin cachard,
cairns
0428 782 808
> From:
> Date: Mon, 5 May 2014 21:15:19 +0930
> To:
> Subject: [Birding-Aus] Partridge Pigeon possibly under threat
>
> Hi all
>
>
>
> I've started a petition on behalf of the fast disappearing eastern subspecies
> of the Partridge Pigeon.
>
> Would member please sign it and pass it on? Here's the link:
>
> http://www.change.org/petitions/northern-territory-government-conduct-eis-on-partridge-pigeon-in-the-vicinity-of-berry-springs-darwin-river
>
> Here's why it's important:
>
>
> Partridge Pigeon is one of those birds that birdwatchers travel to the Top
> End to see. This red-faced cutie used to be found across the Top End, but is
> now restricted to a very few areas; it has declined by 30% in monitored
> sites within Kakadu National Park. A major cause appears to be exotic
> grasses that result in intense fires that cause habitat destruction. No
> studies have been carried out on this bird since the early 2000s. Then its
> IUCN status was 'vulnerable’.
>
> Darwin River, Northern Territory, appears to have a healthy population of
> Partridge Pigeon, possibly because most landholders control weeds and fire.
> But a 600-110 man "workers' village/caravan park" is proposed for Darwin
> River, carrying a largely enhanced risk of more habitat destruction. This
> bird's very existence may now be endangered. An EIS and further biological
> survey is needed urgently to establish this bird's status.
>
>
> You can sign my petition by clicking here.
>
> Thanks
> Denise Lawungkurr Goodfellow
>
>
> Denise Lawungkurr Goodfellow
> PO Box 71
> Darwin River, NT, Australia 0841
>
> PhD candidate
> Vice-chair Wildlife Tourism Australia
>
>
>
>
>
>
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