Parakeet breeding program 'disaster'
stevem
in Environmental Impact Statement
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Greg Roberts
January 11, 2008
PARROT experts say an aviary breeding program intended to save one of Australia’s rarest birds has ended in disaster, with the Norfolk Island parakeet teetering on the brink of extinction.
Some of the last surviving parakeets died after being caught for breeding in aviaries on Norfolk Island. While authorities claim the program was successful and that the wild parakeet population had ballooned to more than 200, experts believe the real figure could be fewer than 20.
The Norfolk Island parakeet is found only on the small Pacific island, an Australian territory.
A National Parks and Wildlife Service captive breeding program began in the 1980s after surveys put the population at between 16 and 30.
The plan was to hatch and raise young birds for release back into the wild, but no parakeets have been released. At the same time, at least 11 captive birds have died.
Leading parrot expert Joe Forshaw, who initiated the program but is now retired, said he was dismayed at its failure.
“They had no qualified aviculturalists working with this and that’s why it’s a disaster.” Dr Forshaw said that during a visit to the island last month, he conducted surveys for wild parrots. “I believe there are fewer birds now than in a 1978 census that we did,” he said.
“There are supposed to be more than 200 but there is nothing to support that. The surveys have not been done.” Dr Forshaw said the nestlings of some of the few surviving wild birds were suffering from a potentially fatal beak and feather disease.
Several of the birds that died in captivity were examined by New Zealand veterinarian Bryan Gartrell.
Dr Gartrell said he could not comment on the parakeet deaths because of professional obligations. However, he said parrots caught in the wild often died of diseases arising from bacterial and viral infections, and an incorrect diet was often a key factor.
Norfolk Island National Park manager Brooke Watson admitted an official wild parakeet population estimate of between 200 and 250 was not based on surveys.
“Maybe there are only 20 or 30 but we believe it is more,” Mr Watson said.
Six parakeets remain in captivity in the island’s Botanic Gardens, where their aviary is often visited by wild birds. Mr Watson said the park’s service was talking to Sydney’s Taronga Zoo about the prospects of reviving the program.
stevem
Traveston dam may breach birds agreement: environment consultant
Posted October 23, 2007
An opponent of the proposed Traveston Crossing dam says the Federal Environment Minister should not approve its construction because it could breach international agreements signed by the Commonwealth.
Environmental consultant Dr John Kingston says the wetlands area at the mouth of the Mary River, in south-east Queensland, is home to a rare migratory bird species.
Dr Kingston says there is evidence the habitat of the endangered eastern curlew would be at risk if the Mary River is dammed.
“We’re supporting 5 per cent of the estimated world population,” he said.
“This falls directly under the federal Minister’s responsibility, because of the migratory birds agreements that we have signed with China and Japan.”
stevem
Securing the Long-term Protection of the Daly River (PDF)
Options for conservation and appropriate development in the Daley River Catchment, Northern Territory
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Ramsar listing for wetlands
Ramsar listing is an international process for identifying and protecting wetlands.
Inclusion on the list means that the wetland must be managed to promote conservation including, where appropriate, its ‘wise’ or sustainable use. It also means that the Commonwealth EPBC Act is triggered by any action that may impact directly or indirectly upon a Ramsar site. Following Queensland Conservation Council Inc v Minister for the Environment & Heritage [2003] FCA 1463 (the “Nathan Dam” case), the Commonwealth Minister must consider the ‘whole, cumulated and continuing’ effect of actions, including indirect consequences, in his or her deliberations over proposed development that may impact on a Ramsar site.
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Protection for migratory birds — JAMBA and CAMBA
Australia currently has two bilateral agreements relating to conservation of migratory birds, the Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of Japan for the Protection of Migratory Birds in Danger of Extinction and their Environment or “JAMBA” was made with Japan in 1974, while a similar “CAMBA” agreement was made with China in 1986.
JAMBA, CAMBA and other bilateral or multilateral agreements and initiatives across flyways have provided a mechanism for pursuing conservation outcomes for migratory birds, particularly shorebirds. One of the priority actions is development of the East Asian-Australasian shorebird site network (Wetlands International - Asia Pacific 2001).
Management of shorebird sites is expected to be of a similar vein to that of a Ramsar listed site (as in fact the listing criteria is basically the same — see Ramsar section above, though additional criteria relating to ‘staging sites’, where birds stop for brief periods to replenish their energy, are also included).
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Reader Comments (2)
"An impact on the ecological character of a declared Ramsar wetland is significant if:
"• there is a major and measurable change in the natural hydrological regime of the
wetland (e.g. changes to the timing, duration and frequency of ground and surface
water flows to and within the wetland)
• the habitat or lifecycle of native species, including invertebrate fauna and fish species, dependent on the wetland is seriously affected migratory birds are dependent on invertebrates , interestingly there is no discussion in appendix f 6 re this issue , they just highlight the pottential for reduced flows and invertebrates, the key is the defintion of serious, the EPBC gives no direction on this.
I am working with DR JK on this, as they appear to have ignored birds
However the data presented seems to be missing some pretty important migratory birds compared to local knowledge that has been collected over the years by the Hervey Bay Birdwatchers. The following list highlights some of the apparent differences.
Migratory Bird Species in EPBC Act, Identified by Hervey Bay Birdwatchers, EIS Table 9.8, Common Name
Family Accipitridae
Accipiter fasciatus Occasional Not included Brown Goshawk:
Accipiter novaehoflandiae Rare Not included Grey Goshawk
Aquila audax Occasional Not included Wedge-tailed Eagle
Elanus notatus Occasional Not included Black-shouldered Kite
Elanus scriptus Rare Not included Letter-winged Kite
Haliastur Indus Common Not included Brahminy Kite
Haliastur sphenurus Common Not included Whistling Kite
Lophoictinia isura Occasional Not included Square-tailed Kite
Milvus migrans Occasional Not included Black Kite
FamilyCharadriidae
Charadrius bicinctus Rare Not included Double-banded Plover
Charadrius ruficapillus Common Not included Red-capped Plover
Erythrogonys cinctus Occasional Not included Red-kneed Dotterel
Pluvialis dominic Occasional Not included Golden Plover
Pluvialis squatarola Rare High Likelihood Grey Plover
Vanellus miles Common Not included Masked Lapwing
Family Falconidae
Faico berigora Occasional Not included Brown Falcon
Falco cenchroides Rare Not included Australian Kestrel
Falco hypoleucus Rare Not included Grey Falcon
Falco longipennis Occasional Not included Australian Hobby
Falco peregrinus Common Not included Peregrine Falcon
Falco subniger Rare Not included Black Falcon
Family Recurvirostridae
Himantopus leucocephalus Ocassional Not included Black-winged Stilt
Recurvirostra novaehollandiae Rare Not included Red-necked Avocet
Family Scolopacidae
Arenaria interpres Common Not included Ruddy Turnstone
Calidris acuminata Common Not included Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Sandening : (Calidris alba) Rare Not included Sandening
Calidris canutus Common Not included Red Knot
Calidns femiginea Occasional Not included Curlew Sandpiper
Calidris ruficollis Common Not included Red-necked Stint
Calidris subminuta Rare Not included Long-toed Stint
Calidris tenuirostris Common Not included Great Knot
Gallinago hardwickii Occasional Moderate likelihood Latham's Snipe
Limicola falcinellus Occasional Not included Broad-billed Sandpiper
Limosa lapponica Common High likelihood Bar-tailed Godwit
Limosa limosa Occasional Not included Black-tailed Godwit
Numenius madagascariensis Common High likelihood Eastern Curlew
Numenius minutus Rare Not included Little Curlew
Numenius phaeopus Common Moderate likelihood Whimbrel
Tringa brevipes Common High likelihood Grey-tailed Tattler
Tringa glareola) Rare Not included Wood Sandpiper
Tringa hypoleucos Rare Not included Common Sandpiper
Tringa incana Rare Not included Wandering Tattler
Tringa nebularia Common High likelihood Greenshank
Tringa stagnatilis Occasional Not included Marsh Sandpiper
Tringa terek Common High likelihood Terek Sandpiper: (Tringa terek?? Xenus cinereus???)
Family Grus
Grus rubicundus Occasional Not included Brolga
Unspecified Families
Glareola maldivarum Rare Not included Oriental Pratincole
Sterna albifrons Occasional Moderate likelyhood Little Tern
There has been no on-ground survey work carried out on the listed Migratory and Marine Species within the Great Sandy Strait Region. This is a significant flaw in the EIS considering the likely direct impacts from damming the Mary on the downstream Ramsar listed Great Sandy Strait Region from changes in:
* Hydrology (Change in total flows, Change in seasonal timing of flows, Short term fluctuations in flows and Change in extreme high and low flows)
* Downstream morphology of riverbed and banks, delta, estuary and coastline due to altered sediment load
*Changes in downstream water quality, effects on river temperature, nutrient load, turbidity, dissolved gases, concentration of heavy metals and minerals
*Changes in downstream morphology caused by altered flow pattern
*Changes in downstream water quality caused by altered flow patterns
*Reductions in riverine/riparian/floodplain habitat diversity, especially because of elimination of floods
Recommendation
That a comprehensive study, including on-ground survey work, be carried out on the listed Migratory and Marine Species within the Great Sandy Strait Region
What's a migratory bird going to do when it can't get a decent feed at the Great Sandy before it has to fly home?