Top End Adventure 29Th August – 4Th September 2018
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2007 Birds in a Changing Climate
T HE S TATE OF A USTRALIA ’ S B IRDS 2 0 0 7 Birds in a Changing Climate Compiled by Penny Olsen Supplement to Wingspan, vol. 14, no. 4, December 2007 2 The State of Australia’s Birds 2007 The State of Australia’s Birds 2007 3 The term climate change is commonly used to refer to shifts in modern climate, including the rise in average surface temperature known as global warming or the enhanced greenhouse effect. We use it here to refer to anthropogenic climate change, under the presumption that it is overwhelmingly caused by humans and hence has potential to largely be stabilised or reversed. The State of Australia’s Birds report series presents an overview of the status of the nation’s birds, the major threats they face and the conservation actions needed. This fifth annual report focuses on climate change. The climate is always changing and birds respond by adapting and evolving. However, at least since the very early 1900s the surface temperature of the earth has been warming at a rate unprecedented in human history, bringing with it shifts in local, regional and global weather systems. The vast majority of scientists agree that this is almost all attributable to the release of excessive amounts of greenhouse gases through human activity, particularly the use of fossil fuels and deforestation. Australia has warmed by 0.9 ° C since 1900, most rapidly since 1950, and is expected to warm a further 1 ° C over the next two decades. Signs of this change are already reflected in the distribution and abundance of some of our birds and in the timing of their breeding and migration, in line with changes observed in other biota. -
Whistler3 Frontcover
The Whistler is the occasionally issued journal of the Hunter Bird Observers Club Inc. ISSN 1835-7385 The aims of the Hunter Bird Observers Club (HBOC), which is affiliated with Bird Observation and Conservation Australia, are: To encourage and further the study and conservation of Australian birds and their habitat To encourage bird observing as a leisure-time activity HBOC is administered by a Committee: Executive: Committee Members: President: Paul Baird Craig Anderson Vice-President: Grant Brosie Liz Crawford Secretary: Tom Clarke Ann Lindsey Treasurer: Rowley Smith Robert McDonald Ian Martin Mick Roderick Publication of The Whistler is supported by a Sub-committee: Mike Newman (Joint Editor) Harold Tarrant (Joint Editor) Liz Crawford (Production Manager) Chris Herbert (Cover design) Liz Huxtable Ann Lindsey Jenny Powers Mick Roderick Alan Stuart Authors wishing to submit manuscripts for consideration for publication should consult Instructions for Authors on page 61 and submit to the Editors: Mike Newman [email protected] and/or Harold Tarrant [email protected] Authors wishing to contribute articles of general bird and birdwatching news to the club newsletter, which has 6 issues per year, should submit to the Newsletter Editor: Liz Crawford [email protected] © Hunter Bird Observers Club Inc. PO Box 24 New Lambton NSW 2305 Website: www.hboc.org.au Front cover: Australian Painted Snipe Rostratula australis – Photo: Ann Lindsey Back cover: Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva - Photo: Chris Herbert The Whistler is proudly supported by the Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority Editorial The Whistler 3 (2009): i-ii The Whistler – Editorial The Editors are pleased to provide our members hopefully make good reading now, but will and other ornithological enthusiasts with the third certainly provide a useful point of reference for issue of the club’s emerging journal. -
Phenological Shifts Conserve Thermal Niches in North American Birds and Reshape Expectations for Climate-Driven Range Shifts
Phenological shifts conserve thermal niches in North American birds and reshape expectations for climate-driven range shifts Jacob B. Socolara,1, Peter N. Epanchinb, Steven R. Beissingerc,d, and Morgan W. Tingleya aDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269; bOffice of Global Climate Change, US Agency for International Development, Washington, DC 20523; cDepartment of Environmental Science, Policy & Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720; and dMuseum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720 Edited by Hugh P. Possingham, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia, and approved October 10, 2017 (received for review April 14, 2017) Species respond to climate change in two dominant ways: range another opportunity to track temperature by shifting thermally shifts in latitude or elevation and phenological shifts of life-history constrained life-history events (e.g., nesting in birds) to colder times events. Range shifts are widely viewed as the principal mechanism of year (Fig. 1). This might be the case even if the main adaptive for thermal niche tracking, and phenological shifts in birds and significance of phenological shifts involves resource tracking. other consumers are widely understood as the principal mecha- However, species do not have unrestricted flexibility to adjust nism for tracking temporal peaks in biotic resources. However, their phenology to track temperature. Phenological timing of life- phenological and range shifts each present simultaneous oppor- history events is not always behaviorally plastic or evolutionarily tunities for temperature and resource tracking, although the labile (21). Moreover, consumers face demographic consequences possible role for phenological shifts in thermal niche tracking has if reproduction is not adequately timed with peaks in biotic re- been widely overlooked. -
Driving Holidays in the Northern Territory the Northern Territory Is the Ultimate Drive Holiday Destination
Driving holidays in the Northern Territory The Northern Territory is the ultimate drive holiday destination A driving holiday is one of the best ways to see the Northern Territory. Whether you are a keen adventurer longing for open road or you just want to take your time and tick off some of those bucket list items – the NT has something for everyone. Top things to include on a drive holiday to the NT Discover rich Aboriginal cultural experiences Try tantalizing local produce Contents and bush tucker infused cuisine Swim in outback waterholes and explore incredible waterfalls Short Drives (2 - 5 days) Check out one of the many quirky NT events A Waterfall hopping around Litchfield National Park 6 Follow one of the unique B Kakadu National Park Explorer 8 art trails in the NT C Visit Katherine and Nitmiluk National Park 10 Immerse in the extensive military D Alice Springs Explorer 12 history of the NT E Uluru and Kings Canyon Highlights 14 F Uluru and Kings Canyon – Red Centre Way 16 Long Drives (6+ days) G Victoria River region – Savannah Way 20 H Kakadu and Katherine – Nature’s Way 22 I Katherine and Arnhem – Arnhem Way 24 J Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Katherine regions – Binns Track 26 K Alice Springs to Darwin – Explorers Way 28 Parks and reserves facilities and activities 32 Festivals and Events 2020 36 2 Sealed road Garig Gunak Barlu Unsealed road National Park 4WD road (Permit required) Tiwi Islands ARAFURA SEA Melville Island Bathurst VAN DIEMEN Cobourg Island Peninsula GULF Maningrida BEAGLE GULF Djukbinj National Park Milingimbi -
Tropical Birding Tour Report
AUSTRALIA’S TOP END Victoria River to Kakadu 9 – 17 October 2009 Tour Leader: Iain Campbell Having run the Northern Territory trip every year since 2005, and multiple times in some years, I figured it really is about time that I wrote a trip report for this tour. The tour program changed this year as it was just so dry in central Australia, we decided to limit the tour to the Top End where the birding is always spectacular, and skip the Central Australia section where birding is beginning to feel like pulling teeth; so you end up with a shorter but jam-packed tour laden with parrots, pigeons, finches, and honeyeaters. Throw in some amazing scenery, rock art, big crocs, and thriving aboriginal culture you have a fantastic tour. As for the list, we pretty much got everything, as this is the kind of tour where by the nature of the birding, you can leave with very few gaps in the list. 9 October: Around Darwin The Top End trip started around three in the afternoon, and the very first thing we did was shoot out to Fogg Dam. This is a wetlands to behold, as you drive along a causeway with hundreds of Intermediate Egrets, Magpie-Geese, Pied Herons, Green Pygmy-geese, Royal Spoonbills, Rajah Shelducks, and Comb-crested Jacanas all close and very easy to see. While we were watching the waterbirds, we had tens of Whistling Kites and Black Kites circling overhead. When I was a child birder and thought of the Top End, Fogg Dam and it's birds was the image in my mind, so it is always great to see the reaction of others when they see it for the first time. -
Bird Abundances in Primary and Secondary Growths in Papua New Guinea: a Preliminary Assessment
Mongabay.com Open Access Journal - Tropical Conservation Science Vol.3 (4):373-388, 2010 Research Article Bird abundances in primary and secondary growths in Papua New Guinea: a preliminary assessment Kateřina Tvardíková1 1 Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biological Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, CZ- 370 05 České Budějovice. Email: <[email protected] Abstract Papua New Guinea is the third largest remaining area of tropical forest after the Amazon and Congo basins. However, the growing intensity of large-scale slash-and-burn agriculture and logging call for conservation research to assess how local people´s traditional land-use practices result in conservation of local biodiversity, of which a species-rich and diverse component is the avian community. With this in mind, I conducted a preliminary survey of birds in small-scale secondary plots and in adjacent primary forest in Wanang Conservation Area in Papua New Guinea. I used mist-netting, point counts, and transect walks to compare the bird communities of 7-year-old secondary growth, and neighboring primary forest. The preliminary survey lasted 10 days and was conducted during the dry season (July) of 2008. I found no significant differences in summed bird abundances between forest types. However, species richness was higher in primary forest (98 species) than in secondary (78 species). The response of individual feeding guilds was also variable. Two habitats differed mainly in presence of canopy frugivores, which were more abundant (more than 80%) in primary than in secondary forests. A large difference (70%) was found also in understory and mid-story insectivores. Species occurring mainly in secondary forest were Hooded Butcherbird (Cracticus cassicus), Brown Oriole (Oriolus szalayi), and Helmeted Friarbird (Philemon buceroides). -
AUSTRALIA Queensland & Top End June 22 – July 4, 2013
Sunrise Birding LLC AUSTRALIA Queensland & Top End June 22 – July 4, 2013 TRIP REPORT Sunrise Birding LLC, PO Box 274, Cos Cob, CT 06807 USA www.sunrisebirding.com 203.453.6724 Sunrise Birding LLC www.sunrisebirding.com AUSTRALIA Queensland & Top End TRIP REPORT June 22 – July 4, 2013 Leaders: Gina Nichol, Steve Bird & Barry Davies HIGHLIGHTS : BIRDS MAMMALS • Rainbow Pitta • Duck-billed Platypus • Gouldian Finch • Sugar Gliders • Hooded Parrot • Striped Possum • Golden Bowerbird • Dingo • Australian Bustard • Small-eared Rock Wallaby • Papuan Frogmouth • Tawny Frogmouth MOMENTS & EXPERIENCES • Chowchilla • Thousands of Brown Noddies and • Spotted Harrier Sooty Terns at Michaelmas Cay • Chestnut-quilled Rock Pigeon • Tawny Frogmouths too close to • Pied Heron believe • Black-necked Stork • Tens of thousands of ducks and • Black-breasted Buzzard geese at Hasties Swamp • Beach Stone Curlew • The Chowchilla dawn chorus • Northern Rosella • Wompoo Fruit Dove on a nest • Double-eyed Fig Parrot • Golden Bowerbird male preening • Lovely Fairywren above our heads! • White-lined Honeyeater • Spotted Harrier flying along with • Fernwren the bus at close range • Arafura Fantail • Victoria's Riflebird displaying • Barking Owl • Aboriginal Art at Kakadu • Victoria's Riflebird Rarities • Cotton Pygmy Goose at Catana Wetland • Freckled Duck at Hastie’s Swamp • Masked Booby at Michaelmas Cay Day 1, June 22 – Cairns area Paul, Darryl, Gina and Steve arrived on the previous day and this morning before breakfast, we walked from our hotel to the Cairns Esplanade before breakfast. Just outside the hotel were male and female Brown Sunrise Birding LLC, PO Box 274, Cos Cob, CT 06807 USA www.sunrisebirding.com 203.453.6724 Honeyeaters and flocks of Rainbow Lorikeets flying over as we crossed the streets heading toward the waterfront. -
Darwin and Northern Territory (06/22/2019 – 07/06/2019) – Birding Report
Darwin and Northern Territory (06/22/2019 – 07/06/2019) – Birding Report Participants: Corey Callaghan and Diane Callaghan Email: [email protected] Overview: At an Australasian Ornithological Conference in Geelong, November 2017, they announced that the next conference would be in Darwin in 2019. I immediately booked it in the calendar that that is when I would do the typical Darwin birding trip. Diane was on board, and so we decided to do a solid birding trip before the conference in early July. There are some tricky ‘must-get’ birds here, and overall we did pretty well. We ended with 198 species for the trip, and got pretty much all the critical top end birds. Didn’t get any of the mangrove specialties (e.g., whistlers, and fantail), but I was still pleased with how we did. Highlights included all the finches that we saw, and the great spread of waterbirds. Chestnut Rail was also a highlight. When I went to the conference, I dropped Diane off to go hiking at Litchfield National Park, but before that we did a 10 day trip, driving out to Timber Creek and then back. Read below for day- by-day highlights, some photos, and various birding locations. Any hyperlinks should take you to the associated location and/or eBird checklists, which would provide precise coordinates and sometimes more detailed location notes. *Note: I follow the eBird/clements taxonomy, which differs in bird names from IOC. Blue-faced Honeyeater Day 1 (June 22nd, 2019): Flight from Sydney to Darwin We had an early flight from Sydney and got into Darwin at about 2:00 PM. -
PARKS and WILDLIFE COMMISSION of the NORTHERN TERRITORY Annual Report 2013-14
PARKS AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY Annual Report 2013-14 The Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory is responsible for the management, protection and sustainable development of the Territory’s parks and reserves. The Commission provides high-quality, unique recreational, cultural, and natural experiences, which enhance tourism, create greater opportunities for recreation, protect important natural assets, and deliver economic benefits for the entire Northern Territory community. The Parks and Wildlife Commission works closely with a range of stakeholders to facilitate opportunities for development, while conserving the intrinsic natural and cultural values of the parks estate. The Commission also oversees the sustainable management of native wildlife throughout the Northern Territory. The Commission works closely with the community to ensure ongoing education and appropriate management of the Territory’s wildlife, through the administration of the permit system, effective management of pest wildlife, protection of native populations, and enforcement of illegal activities. Purpose of the Report The Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory has achieved significant outcomes against our environmental, community and visitor goals. The report focuses on recognising our achievements against our strategic goals and outcomes, while also acknowledging regional highlights that have resulted in outcomes for conservation, management, visitor satisfaction, tourism, or community engagement. Pursuant to section 28 of the Public Sector Employment and Management Act, the report aims to inform Parliament, Territorians, and other stakeholders of: • The primary functions and responsibilities of the Commission; • Significant activities undertaken during the year highlighting specific achievements against budget outputs; and • The Commission’s fiscal management and performance. -
Birds and Landscape Change: Benchmarking Study of Birds in Revegetated Sites Near Bacchus Marsh, Victoria
grow west Birds and Landscape Change: Benchmarking study of birds in revegetated sites near Bacchus Marsh, Victoria. 1 Birds and Landscape Change: bench- marking study of birds in revegetated sites near Bacchus Marsh, Victoria. Richard H. Loyn, Edward G. McNabb, Charles E. Silveira, Marilyn Hewish, Dean Hewish and Jennifer Sheridan. Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Department of Sustainability & Environment PO Box 137 Heidelberg VIC 3084 For The Grow West Project Port Phillip and Westernport CMA February 2007 2 Summary Bird surveys were conducted on 78 sites in the heavily cleared landscape near Bacchus Marsh (west of Melbourne, Victoria) to document the bird fauna in the early stages of the Grow West revegetation program. Surveys were conducted in summer 2005/06 and winter 2006. The sites represented eight habitats in the landscape (cleared farmland; landcare revegetation or farm forestry aged 0-2 years; landcare revegetation or farm forestry aged 4- 8 years; revegetation aged 10-50 years; remnant forest patches in farmland; and extensive forest). Forest and woodland birds were most common in the latter three habitats, and their numbers increased with stand age in plantations. Open-country birds were most common in remnant forest patches (which they used for nesting and shelter) and were also common in paddocks (where they dispersed to feed), and less so in revegetation aged 0-2 years (with some exceptions, e.g. Richard’s Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae). Some bird species retain precarious footholds in the entire landscape, and were found at few sites in low numbers. Some of these species favoured revegetation aged 4-8 years (e.g. -
A Preliminary Risk Assessment of Cane Toads in Kakadu National Park Scientist Report 164, Supervising Scientist, Darwin NT
supervising scientist 164 report A preliminary risk assessment of cane toads in Kakadu National Park RA van Dam, DJ Walden & GW Begg supervising scientist national centre for tropical wetland research This report has been prepared by staff of the Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist (eriss) as part of our commitment to the National Centre for Tropical Wetland Research Rick A van Dam Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist, Locked Bag 2, Jabiru NT 0886, Australia (Present address: Sinclair Knight Merz, 100 Christie St, St Leonards NSW 2065, Australia) David J Walden Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist, GPO Box 461, Darwin NT 0801, Australia George W Begg Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist, GPO Box 461, Darwin NT 0801, Australia This report should be cited as follows: van Dam RA, Walden DJ & Begg GW 2002 A preliminary risk assessment of cane toads in Kakadu National Park Scientist Report 164, Supervising Scientist, Darwin NT The Supervising Scientist is part of Environment Australia, the environmental program of the Commonwealth Department of Environment and Heritage © Commonwealth of Australia 2002 Supervising Scientist Environment Australia GPO Box 461, Darwin NT 0801 Australia ISSN 1325-1554 ISBN 0 642 24370 0 This work is copyright Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Supervising Scientist Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction -
Kakadu National Park Management Plan 2007–2014 Akadu Is Aboriginal Kland
Kakadu Board of Management Kakadu National Park MANAGEMENT PLAN 2007–2014 PLAN MANAGEMENT KAKADU NATIONAL PARK MANAGEMENT PLAN 2007–2014 Design Direction Design 3888 Photos Comb-crested Jacana: Michael Nelson Magpie Goose: Greg Miles Orchid: Michael Nelson Termite mound: Michael Nelson Darter: Michael Nelson Lotus flower: Michael Nelson Fire management: Michael Nelson Tourists at Ubirr art site: Michael Nelson Paperbark trees: Michael Nelson Tourists at Ubirr lookout: Peter Wellings West Alligator Head main beach: Greg Miles 4WD at Gunlom Falls: Michael Nelson Artwork Guided walk: Emily Scheibe Ranger at rock art site: Kristina Williams Fire management: Rhiannon Compton Ranger in boat: Justin Giumelli Pandanus and tree: William Suitor Chapter Pages Photos: Ian Oswald-Jacobs Artwork Lotus flowers and birdlife (page 1): Kodi Nadji Water lily leaves on wetland (page 15): Gail Rotumah Crocodile and landscape (page 17): Curtis Yarrbar Park use – featuring Frilled lizard (page 152): Christine Marie Alangate Designed by Design Direction Printed by CanPrint on Monza Satin (100 per cent recycled stock, from plantation timber) Kakadu National Park MANAGEMENT PLAN 2007–2014 © director of national Parks 2007 iSBn: 978 06 42 55 33 94 this work is copyright. apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process, re-used or redistributed without prior written permission from the director of national Parks. any permitted reproduction must acknowledge the source of any such material reproduced and include a copy of the original copyright notice. requests and enquiries concerning reproduction and copyright should be addressed to: the assistant Secretary Parks australia north gPo Box 1260 darwin nt 0801 director of national Parks australian business number: 13051 694 963 this management Plan provides the general public and Park users/visitors with information about how the Park will be managed for the next seven years.