Australia's Raptors: Diurnal Birds of Prey and Owls
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xvi Australia’s Raptors: Diurnal Birds of Prey and Owls Birds Australia Conservation Statement No. 2 24 WINGSPAN / December 1997 December 1997 / WINGSPAN 25 bird electrocution and collision mortality due to power assets: REFERENCES the Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax and Grey Goshawk Accipiter novaehollandiae in Tasmania, Australia’. In: 2nd General texts: International Conference on Raptors, Urbino, Italy, October AUSTRALIA’S Debus, S. (1998), Birds of Prey of Australia: A Field Guide, OUP, 1996, Raptor Research Foundation, Provo. Melbourne. 21. Gaffney, R. (1994), ‘Community support to manage forests Higgins, P. J. (ed.) (in press), Handbook of Australian, New for nesting Wedge-tailed Eagles Aquila audax fleayi in RAPTORS: Zealand and Antarctic Birds, vol. IV, Parrots to Dollarbird, OUP, Tasmania’. In: A. Norton (ed), Conserving Biological Diversity Melbourne. in Temperate Forest Ecosystems, Centre for Resource and Hollands, D. (1984), Eagles, Hawks and Falcons of Australia, Environmental Science, Australian National University, Nelson, Melbourne. DIURNAL BIRDS Canberra, pp. 87–8. Hollands, D. (1991), Birds of the Night: Owls, Frogmouths and 22. Mooney, N. J. & Taylor, R. J. (1996), ‘Value of nest site Nightjars of Australia, Reed, Balgowlah. protection in ameliorating the effects of forestry operations on Marchant, S. & Higgins, P. J. (1993), Handbook of Australian, the Wedge-tailed Eagle in Tasmania’. In: D. Bird, D. Varland OF PREY AND New Zealand and Antarctic Birds, vol. II, Raptors to Lapwings, & J. Negro (eds), Raptors in Human Landscapes, Academic OUP, Melbourne. Press, New York, pp. 275–82. Olsen, P. (1995), Australian Birds of Prey, University of New 23. Olsen, P. & Olsen, J. (1978), ‘Alleviating the impact of OWLS South Wales Press, Sydney. human disturbance on the breeding Peregrine Falcon: I. Schodde, R. & Mason, I. (1981), Nocturnal Birds of Australia, Ornithologists’, Corella 2, pp. 1–7. Lansdowne, Melbourne. 24. Holdsworth, M. & Marmion, P. (1993), ‘Raptors and by Penny Olsen Specific references: education in Tasmania’. In: P. Olsen (ed), Australian Raptor 1. Blakers, M., Davies, S. J. J. F & Reilly, P. N. (1984), The Atlas Studies, Australasian Raptor Association, RAOU, Melbourne, of Australian Birds, MUP, Melbourne. pp. 220–6. SUMMARY: Raptors (birds of prey) fall into two 2. Baker-Gabb, D. J. & Steele, W. K. (1996), ‘Monitoring the 25. Norman, J., Christidis, L., Westerman, M. & Hill, F. A. R. natural groups, diurnal species and owls, which relative abundance, distribution and movements of Australian (in press), ‘Molecular analysis confirms the species status of birds of prey’, Australian Nature Conservation Agency Project the Christmas Island Hawk-Owl Ninox natalis’, Emu. have similar habits, but are unrelated. As no. FPP 110, RAOU, Melbourne. 26. Norman, J., Olsen, P. & Christidis, L. (in press), ‘Molecular predators they are important components of 3. Collar, N. J., Crosby, M. J. & Stattersfeld, A. J. (1994), Birds genetics confirms taxonomic affinities of the endangered ecosystems, but this role sometimes brings to Watch 2: The World List of Threatened Birds, Birdlife Norfolk Island Boobook Ninox novaeseelandiae undulata’, Conservation Series no. 4, Birdlife International, Cambridge. Biological Conservation. them into conflict with humans, both as 4. Hill, R. (1996), A Recovery Plan for the Christmas Island 27. Aumann, T., Mooney, N. J. & Olsen, P. D. (1989), ‘The legal perceived pests and as untargeted victims Hawk-Owl, RAOU, Melbourne. status of birds of prey in Australia’. In: B.-U. Meyburg & R. of programs to control other pests. 5. Hill, R. (1996), A Recovery Plan for the Christmas Island D. Chancellor (eds), Raptors in the Modern World, World Goshawk, RAOU, Melbourne. Working Group on Birds of Prey, Berlin, pp. 591–6. Discounting rare vagrants, Australia 6. Olsen, P. (1997), Recovery Plan for the Norfolk Island Boobook 28. Brereton, R. N. & Mooney, N. J. (1994), ‘Conservation of and its territories host 35 species of Owl Ninox novaeseelandiae undulata, Environment the nesting habitat of the Grey Goshawk (Accipiter novaehol- birds of prey: 24 diurnal raptors and Australia, Canberra. landiae) in Tasmanian State Forests’, Tasforests 6, pp. 79–91. 7. Gaffney, R. F. & Mooney, N. J. (1992), The Wedge-tailed 29. Jackson, J. & Taylor, R. (1994), Threatened Fauna Manual for 11 owls, many of which are endemic. Nine Eagle Recovery Plan: Management Phase, Department of Parks, Production Forests in Tasmania, Forest Practices Board, species and as many subspecies are listed as Wildlife and Heritage, Hobart. Hobart. threatened nationally and/or regionally. 8. Anon. (nd), Living with Wildlife (one each on eagles and 30. Garnett, S. (ed.) (1993), Threatened and Extinct Birds of hawks), Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service, Hobart. Australia, RAOU Report no. 82, RAOU and ANPWS, Unobtrusive but vigilant management, through the 9. Maciejewski, S. E. (1997), ‘The Grass Owl Tyto capensis in Canberra. preservation of adequate areas of well-maintained north-eastern New South Wales’. In: G. Czechura & S. habitat, is the critical conservation priority for all Debus (eds), Australian Raptor Studies II, Birds Australia Monograph no. 3, RAOU, Melbourne, pp. 54–70. species. This not only involves protection of 10. Debus, S. J. S. & Chafer, C. J. (1994), ‘The Powerful Owl relatively undisturbed habitats, but better Ninox strenua in New South Wales’, Australian Birds 28 management of agricultural land and (supplement), pp. 21–38. 11. Kavanagh, R. P. & Bamkin, K. L. (1995), ‘Distribution of harvested forests according to the nocturnal forest birds and mammals in relation to the logging principles of ecologically sustainable mosaic in south-eastern New South Wales, Australia’, development, and more conservation- CONSERVATION THROUGH KNOWLEDGE Biological Conservation 71, pp. 41–53. conscious development of residential areas, 12. Kavanagh, R. P., Debus, S. J. S., Tweedie, T. & Webster, R. ACN 004 076 475 (1995), ‘Distribution of nocturnal forest birds and mammals 415 Riversdale Road, Hawthorn East, Vic. 3123 to the benefit of all users, including raptors. in north-eastern New South Wales; relationships with Tel: (03) 9882 2622; Fax: (03) 9882 2677 Disturbance of nest sites should be avoided, environmental variables and management history’, Wildlife Email: [email protected] particularly those of threatened species and Research 22, pp. 359–77. Birds Australia Home Page: http://www.vicnet.net.au/~birdsaus 13. Silveira, C. E. (1997), Targeted Assessments of Key Threatened subspecies. For a few taxa, such as the Vertebrate Fauna in Relation to the North-east and Founded in 1901, Birds Australia (Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union) is Australia’s oldest national conservation Norfolk Island Boobook and the Benalla–Mansfield Forest Management Area (one each on organisation, dedicated to the study and conservation of native Tasmanian subspecies of Wedge-tailed Barking Owl, Sooty Owl and Powerful Owl), Arthur Rylah birds and their habitat. New members are welcome. Institute, DNRE, Melbourne. Eagle, the protection and maintenance 14. Robinson, D. & Traill, B. (1996), Conserving Woodland Birds of individual nest sites is essential. in the Wheat and Sheep Belts of Southern Australia, RAOU Other areas of need are: research Conservation Statement no. 10, RAOU, Melbourne Australasian 15. Debus, S. J. S. (1997), ‘The Barking Owl in New South Raptor Association into the status and conservation Wales’, Australian Birds 30, pp. 53–80. The Australasian Raptor Association (ARA) is a semi-autonomous requirements of some species, and the 16. Anon. (1998), Report to RCD Management Group, March group of Birds Australia. It was founded in 1979 to act as a focus 1998, National RCD Monitoring and Surveillance Program for those with an interest in diurnal and nocturnal raptors of the identification of significant breeding and and Epidemiology Program, Bureau of Resource Sciences, Australian region. The ARA’s broad aims are to promote raptor wintering areas; research into the consequences of Canberra. research, conservation and management and to foster management initiatives, such as fire regimes, grazing 17. Olsen, P. (1998), Australia’s Pest Animals: New Solutions to communication and co-operation in the region. For further Old Problems, Kangaroo Press, Sydney. information, contact Birds Australia National Office. pressure and pest management on raptors and other 18. Olsen, P., Fuller, P. & Marples, T. G. (1993), ‘Pesticide-related ARA Home Page: http: //www.tasweb.com.au/ara/index.htm wildlife; education to increase understanding of raptors’ eggshell thinning in Australian raptors’, Emu 93, pp. 1–11. Birds Australia Conservation Statements provide information ecological role and intrinsic value; and promotion of the 19. Avian Power Line Interaction Committee (1996), Suggested about issues relating to the conservation of Australasian birds and Practices for Raptor Protection on Power Lines: the State of the their habitat, and suggest solutions to problems. White-bellied Sea-Eagle in its element. Wilderness areas, use of raptor-safe techniques and poisons to control Art in 1996, Edison Electric Institute and Raptor Research Wingspan is the quarterly membership magazine of conserved for the benefit of all their inhabitants, pests, and of non-destructive measures to minimise Foundation, Washington, DC. Birds Australia. Additional copies of this Conservation Statement are are the most natural way to leave space for raptors. livestock losses to raptor