Gary,
During the 1983 drought I saw inland dotterels on the Whyalla-Kimba road (lat
33o06.34"S in google earth). This and your observations are a long way south of
where I'd normally expect to see them. I'm hearing of black honeyeaters and
crimson chats further south than they are normally seen too. I remember these
and white-faced honeyeaters around my home town of Whyalla for the first time
in my experience during the 1983 drought too. Have others noticed this
happening elsewhere during this and past droughts too ?
Re. climate change versus strengthening protective legislation, I don't think
they're alternatives. We need both. Action on climate change will have a
long-term benefits. Better protective legislation will help ensure species to
survive in the shorter term, so they're still around to (hopefully) adapt to
whatever we allow the climate to become.
My two-bobs worth anyway. 😊
Greg
From: Gary Wright <>
To: birding-aus <>
Subject: [Birding-Aus] inland dotterels and global warming
I just saw three inland dotterels between Quorn and wilmington south
australia-many 100's of kilometres further south than I have ever seen them
before. The two seen well were in breeding plumage. I assume they have come
South due to lack of rain due to global warming.
since we have been allowed to move around SA I have been to three locations all
of which have had mainly dead vegetation and very few birds. These places are
Flinders Ranges, Gammon ranges and chowilla island in the Riverland.
I was aware of global warming and the drying of SA but seeing these areas has
hit me hard. The lack of birds in these places was to be expected when I saw
the landscape as we all know that birds need vegetation, vegetation needs
water. We need water. Camping in Gammons on a four day hike was an eerie
experience to be camped on a creekline, surrounded by dead trees and not a
sound. If anyone wants photos, I can send them.
Birdlife Australia appears to me to be focusing on a minor issue when they want
us to take action to stop the Federal government from weakening the
Environmental Protection Biodiversity and Conservation Act. Global warming has
already far outstripped any effects that this weakening will have.
I looked at Birdlife Australia's website and there is a policy on global
warming but I never receive an emaill update about global warming as an issue
that Birdlife is tackling. It is not listed under their campaigns.
I know many people on this forum agree that global warming is the bigggest
threat facing our birds (and the future of the birds, is not separate from our
future). I think Birdlife Australia should make it front and centre of their
activities.
Gary
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