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)NVASIVE 3PECIES
#OMPILED BY 0ENNY /LSEN !NDREW 3ILCOCKS AND -ICHAEL 7ESTON
3UPPLEMENT TO 7INGSPAN VOL NO $ECEMBER 4HE 3TATE OF !USTRALIAS "IRDS 4HE 3TATE OF !USTRALIAS "IRDS 4HE 3TATE OF !USTRALIAS "IRDS
)NVASIVE SPECIES A SPECIES WHICH AS A RESULT OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES HAS ESTABLISHED BEYOND ITS NORMAL DISTRIBUTION OR ABUNDANCE AND CONSEQUENTLY MAY DAMAGE VALUED ENVIRONMENTAL AGRICULTURAL OR PERSONAL RESOURCES
4HE 3TATE OF !USTRALIAS "IRDS SERIES PRESENTS AN OVERVIEW OF THE STATUS OF !USTRALIAS BIRDS THE MAJOR THREATS THEY FACE AND THE CONSERVATION ACTIONS NEEDED 4HIS FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT FOCUSES ON INVASIVE SPECIES !USTRALIA HAS HUNDREDS OF INVASIVE PLANTS AND ANIMALS BOTH NATIVE AND INTRODUCED 3OME HAVE BEEN BROUGHT PURPOSELY OTHERS HITCHHIKED 4HE MAJORITY SIMPLY TOOK THE MANY OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED BY HUMAN ALTERATION OF THE LANDSCAPE )NVASIVE SPECIES ARE CONSIDERED TO BE THE GREATEST THREAT TO BIODIVERSITY AFTER HABITAT LOSS THEY ALSO EXACT A MASSIVE TOLL ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION 3OME OF THE MOST ABUNDANT INVADERS COMPETE WITH OR PREY UPON NATIVE BIRDS OR ALTER THEIR HABITAT )NTRODUCED PREDATORS PLANTS AND COMPETITORS ARE CONSERVATIVELY ESTIMATED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE THREATENED STATUS OF SOME AND BIRD TAXA SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES RESPECTIVELY 9ET INVASIVE PLANTS AND ANIMALS MAY PROVIDE FOOD AND HABITAT FOR NATIVE BIRDS IN ALREADY DEGRADED NATURAL SYSTEMS AND SOME NATIVE BIRDS THEMSELVES BECOME INVASIVE )N SITUATIONS WHERE THREATENED NATIVE BIRDS REQUIRE PROTECTION STRATEGIES SUCH AS DIRECT CONTROL OR ERADICATION AND PROTECTION FROM THE INVADER ARE USEFUL ON A SMALL SCALE SUCH AS ON ISLANDS OR AT NEST SITES (OWEVER THE ISSUES ARE OFTEN COMPLEX AND REQUIRE LONG TERM INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT FOR EFFECTIVE BROAD SCALE ENVIRONMENTAL OUTCOMES 4HE TRUE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF INVADERS THEIR INTERACTION WITH OTHER THREATENING PROCESSES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CONTROL OF WIDESPREAD PESTS AND THE LEVEL OF CONTROL NEEDED ARE POORLY UNDERSTOOD /FTEN PEST PROBLEMS ARE THE RESULT OF A GENERAL ECOLOGICAL MALAISE BROUGHT BY HUMAN DESTRUCTION OF NATURAL HABITATS AND THE SYSTEMS THAT REGULATE THEM )N MANY CASES RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT OF HABITATS OFFERS THE GREATEST HOPE OF LIMITING THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY INVASIVE SPECIES "IOLOGICAL CONTROL AND BETTER TARGETED AND MORE SUSTAINED CONTROL OF INVADERS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL OUTCOMES OFFER SOME HOPE )MPORTANTLY IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL !USTRALIANS TO PREVENT FURTHER INTRODUCTIONS INCLUDING MORE CAREFUL SCREENING OF PLANTS FOR FARM AND GARDEN AND TO REACT QUICKLY TO QUELL NEW INCURSIONS 'REATER COOPERATION AND UNIFORMITY IN LEGISLATION AND POLICY WILL BE NECESSARY BEFORE REAL PROGRESS IN ADDRESSING PEST PROBLEMS CAN BE MADE FOR THE SOCIAL ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFIT OF THE NATION "EYOND THAT IT IS INEVITABLE THAT MANY OF TODAYS INVASIVE SPECIES ARE LIKELY TO BE DOMINANT COMPONENTS OF FUTURE LANDSCAPES OPPORTUNISTIC SPECIES THAT PROSPER IN A HUMAN DOMINATED ENVIRONMENT WITH A PEST AND WEED ECOLOGY
7ATER (YACINTH PROVIDES A NESTING PLATFORM FOR THE EGGS OF AN INCUBATING #OMB CRESTED *ACANA ONE OF THE FEW SPECIES TO BENEFIT FROM THE HIGHLY INVASIVE AQUATIC +%9 0/).43 WEED FROM 3OUTH !MERICA WHICH IS CHOKING THE LIFE FROM THIS WATERHOLE 0HOTO BY 'RAEME #HAPMAN )NVASIVE SPECIES BRING MIXED NEWS FOR !USTRALIAS BIRDS /UR %VERY !USTRALIAN CAN HELP BY BEING VIGILANT FOR NEW INVASIVE THREATS )NTRODUCED PASTURE GRASSES ARE INVADING NORTHERN GRASSLANDS (ABITAT CHANGE WILL CONTINUE TO FAVOUR SOME NATIVE INVASIVE CONTINENT HAS AN ABUNDANCE OF INVASIVE SPECIES SOME OF WHICH ARE AND ALERTING AUTHORITIES MAKING THEIR YARDS INVASIVE UNFRIENDLY AND WOODLANDS INCREASING FIRE EXTENT AND INTENSITY MODIFYING SPECIES HARMFUL SOME BENIGN AND MANY WHOSE IMPACTS ARE UNKNOWN CONTROLLING THEIR PETS AND BECOMING INVOLVED IN THREATENED BIRD AND DESTROYING NATIVE HABITATS 3OME CURRENT PEST CONTROL ACTIVITIES MAY ULTIMATELY BE RECOVERY EFFORTS !PPLICATIONS TO IMPORT POTENTIALLY DAMAGING INVASIVE SPECIES EXACERBATING PEST PROBLEMS &AVOURABLE NEWS CONTINUE TO BE MADE AND ACCIDENTAL ARRIVALS ARE AN ONGOING THREAT 3OME CURRENT CONTROL EFFORTS ARE POORLY TARGETED AND HAVE LITTLE 4HE !USTRALIAN 'OVERNMENT HAS IDENTIFIED A NUMBER OF +EY 5NFAVOURABLE NEWS )MPROVEMENTS COULD BE MADE WITH RESPECT TO SURVEILLANCE AND OR NO ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFIT 4HREATENING 0ROCESSES INCLUDING A RANGE OF INVASIVE SPECIES THAT )NVASIVE SPECIES ARE RECOGNISED AS A NATIONAL PROBLEM OFTEN EARLY INTERVENTION TO ELIMINATE NEWLY ESTABLISHED INFESTATIONS OF IMPACT ON NATIVE BIRDS AND IS TAKING ACTION TO ADDRESS THEM REQUIRING A COOPERATIVE RESPONSE TO THEIR MANAGEMENT AND THE INVASIVE SPECIES 5NCERTAIN NEWS 4HERE ARE A NUMBER OF CASES WHERE INVASIVE SPECIES AND THEIR MANAGEMENT OF A WHOLE SUITE OF INTERRELATED ENVIRONMENTAL 4HE 2ED &OX RECENTLY INTRODUCED TO FORMERLY FOX FREE 4ASMANIA 4HE TRUE ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF INVASIVE IMPACTS HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVELY MANAGED TO PROTECT THREATENED PROBLEMS IS APPARENTLY BUILDING IN NUMBERS IN THAT 3TATE POSING A MASSIVE PLANTS AND ANIMALS AND THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH EACH OTHER BIRDS AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME ERADICATIONS OF INVASIVE SPECIES &OR MOST INVASIVE SPECIES ERADICATION IS NOT CURRENTLY FEASIBLE THREAT TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND AGRICULTURE %FFORTS TO ERADICATE IT AND OTHER CHANGES TO THE LAND ARE POORLY KNOWN AND REQUIRE FROM ISLANDS AND THESE SPECIES ARE LIKELY TO REMAIN IN !USTRALIA 4HUS ARE PROVING DIFFICULT BUT MUST NOT BE ABANDONED GREATER FUNDING FURTHER STUDY 1UARANTINE MEASURES ARE IN PLACE AT OUR BORDERS AND SPECIFICALLY FOR ANY MANAGEMENT WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE LONG TERM AND MAY FOR ERADICATION IS ESSENTIAL 4HE EFFECTIVENESS OF MANY CONTROL EFFORTS IS UNKNOWN ASSESSMENT SOME IMPORTANT ISLANDS AND EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO PREVENT THE ULTIMATELY BE INEFFECTIVE 2ABBITS ARE DESTROYING -ACQUARIE )SLANDS FRAGILE VEGETATION OF EFFECTIVENESS INCLUDING COST EFFECTIVENESS SHOULD BE A SPREAD OF CERTAIN INVASIVE SPECIES !CCORDING TO 4HE !CTION 0LAN FOR !USTRALIAN "IRDS CAUSING EROSION AND EXPOSURE WHICH THREATENS ITS SEABIRDS 0LANS COMPONENT OF ANY CONTROL PROGRAM 3OME NEW INFESTATIONS OF INVASIVE SPECIES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED INTRODUCED PREDATORS THREATEN SOME BIRD TAXA !BOUT TO CONTROL RABBITS ARE STALLED BY FUNDING DISPUTES .OT ALL OF THE EXOTIC BIRD SPECIES HELD IN CAPTIVITY HAVE BEEN AND ELIMINATED ONE QUARTER OF BIRDS LISTED AS THREATENED NATIONALLY UNDER THE #OMMON 3TARLINGS HAVE BROKEN CONTAINMENT LINES AND HAVE ASSESSED FOR THEIR CAPACITY TO ESTABLISH IN THE WILD AND THE SECURITY 3OME INVASIVE PLANTS PROVIDE FOOD AND HABITAT FOR NATIVE BIRDS AND %NVIRONMENT 0ROTECTION AND "IODIVERSITY #ONSERVATION !CT ARE ESTABLISHED POPULATIONS IN 7ESTERN !USTRALIA EFFORTS ARE OF HIGH RISK BIRDS SEEMS INADEQUATE SOME INVASIVE ANIMALS PROVIDE FOOD FOR PREDATORY NATIVE BIRDS CONSIDERED TO BE UNDER THREAT OR POTENTIALLY UNDER THREAT FROM UNDERWAY TO ELIMINATE THEM BUT THE TASK IS DAUNTING 4HE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE SPREAD OF CURRENTLY AND 4ARGETED CONTROL MEASURES CAN BE EFFECTIVE AGAINST SOME INVASIVE PREDATION OR HABITAT ALTERATION BY JUST SIX INVASIVE ANIMAL SPECIES "ARBARY $OVES POTENTIALLY A HIGHLY INVASIVE SPECIES HAVE POTENTIALLY INVASIVE SPECIES ARE DIFFICULT TO PREDICT SPECIES IN SITUATIONS WHERE REINVASION IS LIMITED OR ENVIRONMENTAL 4HERE IS A NEED FOR RISK ASSESSMENTS TO BE CONDUCTED ON BECOME ESTABLISHED IN THE WILD SINCE THE FIRST FERAL BIRD TO 2ETENTION AND RESTORATION OF A GREATER AREA OF NATURAL HABITAT IS ASSETS CAN BE PROTECTED PROVIDED SURVEILLANCE AND SOME MEASURE OF ALREADY IMPORTED EXOTIC PASTURE GRASSES NOT YET CLASSIFIED AS @WEEDS ESTABLISH IN THE .ORTHERN 4ERRITORYAND NO EFFORT IS BEING MADE LIKELY TO EVENTUALLY HELP TO CURB THE SELF SPREAD OF NATIVE INVADERS ONGOING EFFORT IS MAINTAINED AND WHERE NECESSARY CONTROL IMPOSED ON THEIR SOWING AND SPREAD TO ELIMINATE THEM BUT COMMITMENT TO THIS GOAL IS UNCERTAIN 4HE 3TATE OF !USTRALIAS "IRDS 4HE 3TATE OF !USTRALIAS "IRDS
)NTRODUCED ANIMALS AND PLANTS 4HE MAIN AREAS A OF INVASION BY THE !T LEAST INTRODUCED VERTEBRATES AND MANY GO UNRECOGNISED FOR THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT THREE GREATEST ).42/$5#4)/. INVERTEBRATES HAVE ESTABLISHED WILD POPULATIONS BECAUSE BY ALTERING HABITATS THEIR IMPACT IS OFTEN VERTEBRATE ON MAINLAND !USTRALIA 3OME HAVE BECOME LONG TERM AND SUBTLE ! 'AMBA GRASSED PLAIN LOOKS THREATS TO THE 3).#% ")2$3 !5342!,)! HAS PRODUCED AN ANNUAL 3TATE OF ENVIRONMENTAL PESTS THAT ADVERSELY AFFECT BIRD INFINITELY MORE BENIGN THAN A CAT BUT ITS IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENT A !USTRALIAS "IRDS 3/!" REPORT 4HE REPORTS COLLATE AND DISSEMINATE POPULATIONS BY PREDATION OR COMPETITION SOME WILDLIFE IS OFTEN GREATER FOX B FERAL CAT INFORMATION ON TRENDS IN BIRD POPULATIONS TO INFORM !USTRALIANS OF THE ALSO HAVE POTENTIAL TO SPREAD DISEASE TO WILD !CCORDING TO 4HE !CTION 0LAN FOR !USTRALIAN C FERAL RABBIT STATUS OF THEIR BIRDS AND HELP BRING ABOUT IMPROVED UNDERSTANDING AND BIRDS &EW OFFER ANY BENEFITS TO NATIVE BIRDS THE "IRDS INTRODUCED PREDATORS THREATEN SOME B THE POPULATIONS OF WHICH ARE BETTER MANAGEMENT OF THE LAND FOR BIRDS AND OTHER BIOTA 4HEY ALSO EXCEPTIONS BEING FISH THAT MAY REPLACE DEPLETED BIRD TAXA INTRODUCED COMPETITORS THREATEN THE TO SOME EXTENT PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO THE DEDICATED THOUSANDS WHO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME NATIVE FISHES AND SEVERAL BIRDS RODENTS RABBITS SURVIVAL OF ANOTHER SPECIES AND INTRODUCED AND SIMILAR FERAL ANIMALS CONSUMED BY RAPTORS AND PLANTS THREATEN AT LEAST SPECIES ALMOST CERTAINLY INTERDEPENDENT AND SKILLS TO MONITOR BIRDS 4HE FIRST 3/!" WAS AN OVERVIEW 3OURCE 2OBLEY OF THE STATE OF THE NATIONS BIRDS AND THE INTENTION IS TO REVISIT THOSE OTHER PREDATORY BIRDS AN UNDERESTIMATE GIVEN THE INSIDIOUS NATURE OF THE 4HERE ARE OVER WEED SPECIES IN IMPACT SOME INVASIVE PLANTS ON WILDLIFE ET AL FINDINGS IN TO ASSESS CHANGE 4HE INTERIM REPORTS ADDRESS THEMES OF SEE P !USTRALIA 7EED MANAGEMENT IS COORDINATED !BOUT ONE QUARTER OF BIRDS LISTED AS NATIONAL CONSERVATION IMPORTANCE TO BIRDS THROUGH THE .ATIONAL 7EEDS 3TRATEGY UNDER WHICH THREATENED NATIONALLY UNDER THE %NVIRONMENTAL C 3/!" DEALT WITH POSSIBLY THE MOST SEVERE CHALLENGE TO A LIST OF 7EEDS OF .ATIONAL 3IGNIFICANCE 7/.3 0ROTECTION AND "IODIVERSITY #ONSERVATION !CT ARE !USTRALIAS BIRDSHABITAT LOSS AND FRAGMENTATIONWHICH IS THREATENING HAS BEEN DEVELOPED 4HESE ARE OR SO WEED CONSIDERED TO BE UNDER THREAT FROM PREDATION OR 7HITE BACKED 7OODSWALLOW NESTS DUG OUT BY FOXES THE LIGHT SANDY LOAM MAKES A SUITE OF WOODLAND BIRDS PREDICTED TO FACE INCREASED RATES OF POPULATION SPECIES SUCH AS ,ANTANA "ITOU "USH "LACKBERRY HABITAT ALTERATION BY JUST SIX INVASIVE ANIMALS SEE DIGGING EASY 5NLESS THE SWALLOWS FIND BANKS M OR SO HIGH THEY ARE AT RISK DECLINE AS REMAINING HABITAT PATCHES AGE AND ERODE 4HE REPORT WAS 3ALVINIA AND -IMOSA IDENTIFIED AS ALREADY CAUSING GRAPH ALL LISTED AS +EY 4HREATENING 0ROCESSES 0HOTOS BY 'RAEME #HAPMAN LAUNCHED AT THE !USTRALASIAN /RNITHOLOGICAL #ONFERENCE IN .EW SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE ALL OF THOSE SEE P AMONGST OTHER CHALLENGES TO THEIR :EALAND AND HAS BEEN WIDELY DISTRIBUTED AND WELL RECEIVED 3INCE THEN CURRENTLY LISTED HAVE POTENTIAL TO SPREAD FURTHER SURVIVAL ! FEW OF THESE INVASIVE INTRODUCED THERE HAS BEEN A LITTLE GOOD NEWS )N THE EASTERN 3TATES CLEARING REFORMS SPECIES KNOWN &URTHER THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CONTROL ACTIONS AGAINST 4HE LIST DOES NOT INCLUDE INTRODUCED PASTURE MAMMALS OCCUR ALMOST !USTRALIA WIDE SEE FOX ARE IN PLACE AND THE CHALLENGE WILL BE TO ENSURE THAT THEY BRING ABOUT INVASIVES IS SELDOM MEASURED IN TERMS OF THE REDUCTION IN THE ENVIRON GRASSES SUCH AS 'AMBA 0ARA "UFFEL -ISSION AND RABBITCAT MAPS AT RIGHT EFFECTIVE RESTORATION AND RETENTION OF REMAINING WOODLANDS )N THE MENTAL OR ECONOMIC DAMAGE CAUSED INSTEAD NUMBERS OF OPERATIONS OR 'RADER 'RASSES WHICH ARE AMONGST THE WORST )NTRODUCED BIRDS ARE MOST PREVALENT IN MORE 4HE PROPORTION OF RECORDS AFTER IN THE !TLAS NORTH GRAZING AND FIRE MANAGEMENT ARE PRIORITIES FOR WOODLAND SUSTAIN ANIMALS OR ACRES REMOVED OR TREATED ARE TALLIED WHICH MAY BE UNRELATED ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS 3OME WEEDS HAVE AN TEMPERATE PARTS OF !USTRALIA PARTICULARLY AROUND OF !USTRALIAN "IRDS THAT WERE OF INTRODUCED EXOTIC ABILITY THESE ARE LINKED TO THE SPREAD OF EXOTIC PASTURE GRASSES AN ISSUE TO THE DEGREE OF DAMAGE #ONTROL CAN SOMETIMES BE WELL TARGETED FOR ADVERSE EFFECT ON BIRDS OTHERS ENHANCE HABITAT MAJOR CENTRES OF HUMAN POPULATION SEE MAP BIRDS SUCH AS THE 3TARLING #OMMON -YNA AND (OUSE ALSO ADDRESSED IN THIS REPORT ON INVASIVE SPECIES EXAMPLE WHERE INVASIVE PLANTS OR ANIMALS ENDANGER RARE BIRDS BUT A FOR CERTAIN BIRDS OR PROVIDE SURROGATES FOR LOST BELOW MANY ARE COMMENSAL IE DEPENDENT ON 3PARROW 4HESE ARE AVERAGES ACROSS .ATURAL 2ESOURCE -ANAGEMENT .2- REGIONSTHE !USTRALIAN 'OVERN -UCH OF !USTRALIAS AGRICULTURAL COUNTRY CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE NATIVE VEGETATION IN DEGRADED AREAS -ANY WEEDS HUMANS AND HUMAN HABITATS SUITE OF INTERRELATED THREATS MAY ALL REQUIRE MANAGEMENT ACTION DEALING MENTS UNITS FOR REGIONAL INVESTMENT IN MANAGEMENT THE CUMULATIVE EFFECTS OF SEVERAL YEARS OF BELOW AVERAGE RAINFALL 'ROUND WITH ONE THREAT ALONE MAY SIMPLY EXACERBATE ANOTHER OF BIODIVERSITY AND OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES 'REATEST COVER IN PARTICULAR HAS SUFFERED BUT LOWERED STOCKING RATES HAVE EASED ! NUMBER OF MAJOR INVADERS SUCH AS FOXES CATS RABBITS SEE MAPS )NTRODUCED NON NATIVE VERTEBRATE SPECIES THAT HAVE ESTABLISHED WIDESPREAD CONCENTRATIONS ARE NEAR LONG SETTLED CENTRES OF HUMAN THE SITUATION SOMEWHAT )F RAINFALL IMPROVES THERE IS THE PROMISE OF OPPOSITE PIGS AND BEES ARE SO WIDESPREAD THAT THEIR ERADICATION IS NOT POPULATIONS ON MAINLAND !USTRALIA THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ESTABLISHED SPECIES IS POPULATION AND FARMING LANDS 7ESTERN !USTRALIA HAS IMPROVED CONDITIONS FOR BIRDS BUT ALSO FOR INVASIVE SPECIES WHICH ARE FEASIBLE EXCEPT FROM ISLANDS .OR IN MANY CASES IS THEIR MANAGEMENT GIVEN IN BRACKETS !DDITIONAL SPECIES HAVE ESTABLISHED LOCALISED POPULATIONS ON THE MANAGED TO REMAIN RELATIVELY FREE OF INTRODUCED BIRDS OFTEN THE EARLIEST TO RESPOND LIKELY TO BE FULLY EFFECTIVE IN THE LONG TERM EXCEPT IN VERY CIRCUMSCRIBED MAINLAND OR ON ISLANDS "ASED ON "OMFORD AND (ART BUT THAT IS CHANGING SEE LOWER BOX PP n !N INVASIVE SPECIES IS ONE THAT OCCURS AND THRIVES OUTSIDE ITS AREAS WHERE IT CAN BE SUSTAINED -AMMALS "IRDS !MPHIBIANS 0ROPORTION OF 2ECORDS NORMAL GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AS A RESULT OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES )T MAY 4HREATS TO NATIVE BIRDS ARE THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF THIS REPORT BUT &ERAL #AT #OMMON 3TARLING #ANE 4OAD OR MAY NOT BE A PEST THAT IS CAUSE DAMAGE TO VALUED ENVIRONMENTAL THE AGRICULTURAL IMPACTS OF INVASIVE NATIVE BIRDS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT AGRICULTURAL OR PERSONAL RESOURCES )NVASIVE SPECIES INCLUDE FERAL ANIMALS %UROPEAN 2ED &OX #OMMON -YNA CAN ALSO HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL AND ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS !ND WHAT OF THE INCLUDING INVERTEBRATES WEEDS AND INTRODUCED DISEASES AND PARASITES DILEMMA PRESENTED BY EXOTIC BIRDS IN CITIES AND URBAN CENTRES WHERE %UROPEAN 2ABBIT -ALLARD "LACK 2AT 2OCK $OVE &ERAL &RESHWATER FISHES SEE P AND LOWER BOX AT RIGHT ON P .OT ONLY CAN NATIVE BIRDS THEY MAY DO NO SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENTARE "ROWN 2AT 0IGEON %UROPEAN #ARP SUFFER SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE FROM INVASIVE SPECIES BUT THEY CAN THEMSELVES THEY ACCEPTABLE &ERAL 'OAT 3POTTED 4URTLE $OVE -OSQUITOFISH BECOME INVASIVE SEE TOP P 4HERE ARE HUNDREDS OF INVASIVE .OT LEAST MANY OF THE ILL EFFECTS OF INVASIVE SPECIES ARE THE DIRECT &ERAL 0IG 3ENEGAL 4URTLE $OVE -OZAMBIQUE 4ILAPIA INTRODUCED AND NATIVE SPECIES AND THEY CONTINUE TO INCREASE BUT ONLY CONSEQUENCE OF HUMAN ALTERATION OF THE LANDTHE CREATION OF ARTIFICIAL $INGO&ERAL $OG #OMMON "LACKBIRD 7EATHER ,OACH A FEW PRESENT A SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO THE ENVIRONMENT .EVERTHELESS ENVIRONMENTS AND LOSS FRAGMENTATION AND DEGRADATION OF NATURAL (OUSE -OUSE (OUSE 3PARROW 4ENCH WHEN THEY DO HAVE AN IMPACT IT CAN BE DEVASTATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT HABITATSWHICH FACILITATES THE ESTABLISHMENT AND SPREAD OF THE INVADERS &ERAL (ORSE 3KYLARK 2EDFIN 0ERCH AND THE ECONOMY AND ALL BUT IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL )N THE RANGELANDS AND MORE POPULATED AREAS THERE IS A TREND TOWARDS LOSS &ERAL $ONKEY %URASIAN 4REE 3PARROW 2AINBOW 4ROUT (ERE WE PRESENT EXAMPLES OF JUST A FEW OF THE ISSUES AND OPINIONS OF NATIVE HABITAT SPECIALISTS AND THEIR REPLACEMENT IN ABUNDANCE BUT &ERAL "UFFALO .UTMEG -ANNIKIN "ROWN 4ROUT CONCERNING INVASIVE SPECIES IN !USTRALIA PARTICULARLY AS THEY RELATE TO NOT DIVERSITY BY NATIVE AND INTRODUCED GENERALISTS FAVOURED BY HUMAN &ERAL #AMEL %UROPEAN 'OLDFINCH 'OLDFISH BIRDS 4HE PROBLEMS ARE COMPLEX AND THE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS LIMITED MODIFICATION OF THE LANDSCAPE )N SUCH SITUATIONS ATTEMPTS TO CONTROL &ERAL #ATTLE %UROPEAN 'REENFINCH 'UPPY %UROPEAN "ROWN (ARE )NVASIVE SPECIES ARE WIDELY REGARDED AS SECOND ONLY TO HABITAT LOSS AS INVADERS ARE ULTIMATELY LIMITED IN THEIR SUCCESS IF NOT DOOMED TO FAILURE THE GREATEST THREAT TO BIRDS 9ET ONLY RARELY IS THE REAL IMPACT OF INVASIVE UNLESS NATURAL HABITATS CAN BE RESTORED !USTRALIAN 7HITE )BIS THRIVE IN RUBBISH DUMPS AND CITY PARKS THEY HAVE INVADED CITIES AND EXPANDED THEIR RANGE INTO THE SOUTH WEST 7ESTERN !USTRALIA AND 4ASMANIA 0HOTO BY 'RAEME #HAPMAN
.UMBER OF LISTED THREATNED SPECIES
2ABBITS #ATS &OXES 'OATS 0IGS
4HE NUMBER OF THREATENED BIRD TAXA UNDER CONFIRMED OR PERCEIVED THREAT FROM SIX WIDESPREAD INVASIVE ANIMALS OUT OF A TOTAL OF EXTANT BIRDS LISTED UNDER THE %NVIRONMENT 0ROTECTION AND "IODIVERSITY #ONSERVATION !CT ALSO SEE 4ABLE P 4HESE SPECIES PRIMARILY THREATEN BIRDS THROUGH THE HABITAT DAMAGE THEY CAUSE 4HE 3TATE OF !USTRALIAS "IRDS 4HE 3TATE OF !USTRALIAS "IRDS
4WO INVADERS A NATIVE INVASIVE SPECIES THE #RESTED 0IGEON HAS SPREAD WIDELY INTO FARMLANDS BUT IS PERCEIVED AS A BENIGN INVADER (ERE IT FINDS A SAFE NESTING PLACE IN AN INTRODUCED INVADER THE SPINY "OXTHORN 0HOTO BY 'RAEME #HAPMAN
4RANSLOCATED AND SELF SPREADING NATIVE BIRDS .ATIVE SPECIES CAN BECOME INVASIVE WHEN THEY INCREASE THEIR NATURAL RANGE OR ABUNDANCE BECAUSE OF HUMAN ALTERATION OF THE LANDSCAPE OR WHEN THEY HAVE BEEN DELIBERATELY INTRODUCED TO PLACES WHERE THEY DO NOT NATURALLY OCCUR AND ESTABLISH WILD POPULATIONS %XAMPLES OF @SUCCESSFUL DELIBERATE INTRODUCTIONS INCLUDE #RIMSON 2OSELLAS TO .ORFOLK )SLAND ,AUGHING +OOKABURRA 2ED BROWED &INCH ,ONG BILLED #ORELLA AND 2AINBOW ,ORIKEET TO 7ESTERN !USTRALIA 'ANG GANG #OCKATOO TO +ANGAROO )SLAND AND !USTRALIAN "RUSH TURKEY TO 3OUTH !USTRALIA 3CALY BREASTED ,ORIKEET TO 7ATER CLEARING AND PASTORALISM ENCOURAGE A GENERAL INCREASE 6ICTORIA ,AUGHING +OOKABURRA AND 3UPERB ,YREBIRD SEE MAP AT LOWER LEFT AND EXPANSION IN DISTRIBUTION TO 4ASMANIA AND -ASKED /WL TO ,ORD (OWE )SLAND 4HE GREATEST NUMBERS OF COMMENSAL SPECIES SUCH AS OF TRANSLOCATED SPECIES OCCUR IN 4ASMANIA AND THE SOUTH WEST OF 7ESTERN !USTRALIAN -AGPIE 'ALAH AND #RESTED 0IGEON WHICH REPLACE !USTRALIABOTH ARE CENTRES OF HUMAN POPULATION ISOLATED BY NATURAL WOODLAND SPECIES ACROSS THE BARRIERS FROM THE REST OF !USTRALIA LANDSCAPE 4HE #RESTED 0IGEON !T LEAST TWO OF THESE TRANSLOCATED SPECIES HAVE BECOME SERIOUS THREATS WAS ORIGINALLY A SPECIES OF SEMI ARID AND ARID !USTRALIA THAT HAS TO LOCAL BIRDS -ASKED /WLS INTRODUCED TO ,ORD (OWE )SLAND TO CONTROL 0IGS DESTROY WETLAND HABITAT FOR WATERBIRDS 0HOTO BY 2OHAN #LARKE SPREAD TO OCCUPY MUCH OF THE RATS PREY ON THE ENDANGERED WOODHEN AND #RIMSON 2OSELLAS EXCLUDE MAINLAND IT IS STILL SPREADING ENDANGERED 'REEN 0ARROTS AKA 2ED CROWNED 0ARRAKEET FROM NEST HOLES SOUTHWARDS IN 6ICTORIA AND ON .ORFOLK )SLAND /THER SPECIES HAVE BECOME SERIOUS ECONOMIC PESTS OF SOUTH EAST .EW 3OUTH 7ALES 4HE MAP SHOWS #RESTED FORESTRY AND AGRICULTURE AND COMPETE WITH LOCAL SPECIES FOR SCARCE TREE ).6!3)6% 30%#)%3 !3 (!")4!4 -/$)&)%23 0IGEON RECORDS IN THE !TLAS OF HOLLOWS 4HERE IS EVEN CONCERN THAT BY SCRATCHING OVER LARGE AMOUNTS OF !USTRALIAN "IRDS n LEAF LITTER SOIL AND ROCKS LYREBIRDS MAY BE ALTERING THE 4ASMANIAN FORESTS )NVASIVE SPECIES CAN ALTER BIRD HABITATS IN A VARIETY OF WAYS MAKING THEM MUD FLATS IN SOUTH EASTERN !USTRALIA #ORD 'RASS THREATENS TO DIMINISH PURPLE CIRCLES AND AFTER UNSUITABLE OR LESS PRODUCTIVE FOR SOME OF THE NATIVE BIRDS THEY SUPPORT FEEDING HABITAT OF INTERNATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITIES OF WADING BIRDS RED CIRCLES THEY HAVE INVADED ! GREAT NUMBER OF NATIVE SPECIES HAVE CHANGED IN DISTRIBUTION AND AND FACILITATING THE INVASION ANDOR UNNATURAL INCREASE OF OTHERS 'RAZING BY CONVERTING MUD FLATS INTO GRASSLAND 4HE HIGHLY INVASIVE 4AMARISK TREE ABUNDANCE SINCE %UROPEAN SETTLEMENT SOME ARE CONSIDERED INVASIVE AND AND TRAMPLING BY LIVESTOCK AND FERAL RABBITS GOATS BUFFALO HORSES HAS SPREAD ALONG SEVERAL HUNDRED KILOMETRES OF THE &INKE 2IVER REDUCING SOME ARE VIEWED AS ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIAL OR ECONOMIC PESTS 'ALAHS ,ITTLE AND PIGS ALTER BIRD HABITATS BOTH TERRESTRIAL AND AQUATIC THEY CHANGE NATIVE BIRD REPTILE AND PLANT DIVERSITY 4HESE ARE JUST A FEW OF MANY #ORELLAS !USTRALIAN 2INGNECKS 0IED #URRAWONGS AND .OISY -INERS ARE JUST VEGETATION STRUCTURE AND COMPOSITION AND EXPOSE NATIVE BIRDS OR THEIR EXAMPLES !LTERNATIVELY IN DEGRADED HABITATS INVASIVE EXOTIC PLANTS CAN 2ECORDS AFTER IN THE !TLAS OF !USTRALIAN "IRDS SHOWING THE NATURAL PURPLE AND SOME OF THE MORE NOTICEABLE EXAMPLES THEY CONTINUE THEIR EXPANSION AND NESTS TO INCREASED RISK OF PREDATION PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED BIRD HABITATFOOD SHELTER AND NESTING PLACESAND INTRODUCED RED DISTRIBUTIONS OF THE 3UPERB MAY PREY UPON OR EXCLUDE LOCAL SPECIES FROM HABITAT OR NEST HOLES 4HE &EW IF ANY !USTRALIAN ECOSYSTEMS ARE UNTOUCHED BY WEEDS ASSIST REGENERATION .ATIVE PLANTS CAN BECOME INVASIVE WHERE NATURAL ,YREBIRD 4HERE ARE CONCERNS THAT @EARTHWORKS #ATTLE %GRET SELF INTRODUCED TO !USTRALIA AND #RESTED 0IGEON SPREADING )NTRODUCED PLANTS SUCH AS "UFFEL 'RASS AND 3ALVINIA CAN CHOKE OUT NATIVE GRAZING AND FIRE REGIMES ARE DISRUPTED SEE P AT LOWER LEFT OR WHERE THEY BY THIS SEEMINGLY BENIGN !USTRALIAN ICON MAY ALTER 4ASMANIAN FORESTS COASTWARDS IN SOUTH EASTERN !USTRALIA SEE MAP TOP LEFT SEEM MORE BENIGN PLANTS AND ANIMALS AND ALTER ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES SEE BELOW /N TIDAL ARE DELIBERATELY PLANTED AWAY FROM THEIR ORIGINAL HABITAT
(ITCHING A RIDE HIDDEN INTRODUCTIONS 0ANDORAS BOX THE SPREAD OF EXOTIC PASTURE GRASSES 2ECENT SEIZURES BY THE $EPARTMENT OF THE %NVIRONMENT AND (ERITAGE OF 7E CAN NOW LOOK BACK AND SEE MYOPIA AND FOLLY IN THE ACTIONS OF THE 4HERE IS NOTHING INHERENTLY WRONG WITH !FRICAN OR 3OUTH !MERICAN EXOTIC PARROTS THAT WERE SUSPECTED TO HAVE BEEN ILLEGALLY IMPORTED OR WERE !CCLIMATISATION 3OCIETIES OF THE LATE NINETEENTH CENTURY THAT INTRODUCED TO GRASSES "UT THERE IS A PROBLEM WHEN THESE GRASSES ARE TRANSPLANTED TO THE PROGENY OF BIRDS THAT HAD BEEN ILLEGALLY IMPORTED HAVE HIGHLIGHTED THE UNHOMELY !NTIPODES SUCH FAMILIAR SPECIES AS SPARROWS AND STARLINGS !USTRALIA 4HIS IS EXACERBATED WHEN THE QUALITIES MOST SOUGHT ARE AS FOLLOWS THE RISK OF INTRODUCING NEW VIRULENT DISEASES TO CAPTIVE AND WILD NATIVE FOXES AND CATS BLACKBIRDS AND GORSE 7E CAN WONDER AT THE STARTLING SELF CAPABLE OF RAPID SPREAD OF PRODUCING RELATIVELY LARGE BIOMASS AND OF OUT !USTRALIAN BIRDS 4HIS RISK IS OF PARTICULAR SIGNIFICANCE TO RECOVERY EFFORTS FOR INTEREST AND LACK OF CONCERN OF THOSE WHO WITH CARE AND ENTHUSIASM COMPETING EXISTING PLANTS CAN OCCUR ACROSS MANY ENVIRONMENTS AND WITH CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES SUCH AS THE /RANGE BELLIED 0ARROT /"0 INTRODUCED #ANE 4OADS TO 1UEENSLAND IN THE S 7E CAN THINK THAT WIDE CLIMATIC RANGES HAVE HIGH REPRODUCTIVE OUTPUT AND CAN WITHSTAND %ARLY IN AT A CAPTIVE BREEDING FACILITY THE DEATH OF OF THIS RECKLESSNESS WAS A FEATURE OF AN EARLIER LESS ENLIGHTENED AGE AND THAT GRAZING AT HIGH STOCKING LEVELS -ANY OF THESE ARE THE QUALITIES THAT CHARAC /"0 CHICKS DESTINED FOR RELEASE RAISED CONCERNS THAT AN EXOTIC DISEASE WAS ACTIONS WE MIGHT TAKE NOW WOULD BE MORE RESPONSIBLE AND NOT TROUBLE TERISE WEED SPECIES AND INDEED THE HISTORY OF PASTURE PLANT INTRODUCTIONS TO INVOLVED $ESPITE TESTING THE CAUSE REMAINS A MYSTERY ALTHOUGH A TYPE OF GENERATIONS HENCE !USTRALIA IS NOTABLE FOR PRODUCING MORE WEEDS THAN BENEFICIAL SPECIES AVIAN HERPES REMAINS A POSSIBILITY AND THE COLONY IS BEING KEPT QUARANTINED "UT IF WE HAVE LEARNT ANY LESSONS FROM THESE MISTAKES WE REMAIN )N THE RANGELANDS OF NORTHERN AND CENTRAL !USTRALIA THE EXOTIC PASTURE 4HE CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT OF DISEASES IN THE CAPTIVE /"0 POPULATION AND UNCERTAIN AND IRRESOLUTE ABOUT APPLYING THEM 0ERHAPS THE WORST LEGACY PLANTS OF MOST ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN ARE 'AMBA 0ARA "UFFEL -ISSION THE RISK OF TRANSFER OF DISEASE FROM INTRODUCED SPECIES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED WE WILL LEAVE IS THE ESTABLISHMENT ACROSS MUCH OF !USTRALIA OF EXOTIC AND 'RADER 'RASSES AND /LIVE (YMENACHNE -ANY OF THESE SPECIES AND AS HIGH PRIORITIES FOR PREVENTATIVE ACTION 4HEY HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED THROUGH PASTURE GRASSES COURTESY OF THE CURRENT DELIBERATE SPREAD 7HILE MOST PARTICULARLY 'AMBA "UFFEL AND -ISSION 'RASSES ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF DRAFT QUARANTINE PROTOCOLS FOR THE HOUSING OF SEIZED PEOPLE WOULD RECOGNISE THAT TOADS OR FOXES ARE UN !USTRALIAN AND @NASTY FUEL LOADS FAR HIGHER THAN THOSE OF NATIVE GRASSES )N THESE FIRE PRONE EXOTIC PARROTS AND DRAFT HYGIENE PROTOCOLS FOR THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF A LANDSCAPE CHANGED FROM !USTRALIAN GRASSES TO EXOTIC ONES MAY GO ENVIRONMENTS SUCH FUEL LOADS SUPPORT FIRES WITH AN INTENSITY UP TO TIMES DISEASES PARTICULARLY BEAK AND FEATHER DISEASE IN !USTRALIAN BIRDS UNNOTICED OR SEEM RELATIVELY BENIGN GREATER THAN IN NATIVE VEGETATION HENCE THE IMPACTS AND EXTENT OF THESE "9 #(2)3 4:!2/3 "IRDS !USTRALIA 6ICTORIA '!229 #2/33 5NIVERSITY 4HE !USTRALIA -AGPIE ISNT GENERALLY THOUGHT OF AS AN INVASIVE SPECIES YET IT IS 3INCE %UROPEAN SETTLEMENT OF !USTRALIA THERE HAS BEEN AN FIRES ARE NOW ON AN UNPRECEDENTED SCALE OF 3YDNEY .EW 3OUTH 7ALES AND -!2+ (/,$37/24( $EPARTMENT OF SUPER ABUNDANT IN OUR CITIES AND FARMLANDS AND HAS ESTABLISHED IN .EW :EALAND UNDERSTANDABLE URGE TO INCREASE THE PRODUCTIVITY OF THIS LARGELY INFERTILE 3OCIETY MAY PERHAPS REASONABLY COUNTENANCE THE COLLATERAL ENVIRON 0RIMARY )NDUSTRIES AND 7ATER 4ASMANIA 0HOTO BY -ICHAEL 7ESTON CONTINENT 4HIS OBJECTIVE HAS BEEN ADDRESSED IN MANY WAYS BUT PROBABLY MENTAL DAMAGE CAUSED BY EXOTIC PASTURE GRASSES AS PART OF THE RECOGNITION THE MOST PERVASIVE HAS BEEN THE ATTEMPT TO TRANSFORM THE NATIVE THAT LANDS ALLOCATED TO PASTORALISM SHOULD BE MANAGED PRIMARILY TO VEGETATION AND LANDSCAPES INTO PASTURES DOMINATED BY GRASSES FROM %XPORTING POTENTIAL PESTS (OPE FOR THE FUTURE A TINY /RANGE MAXIMISE PASTORAL PRODUCTIVITY "UT I THE EXOTIC PASTURE GRASSES GENERALLY /NE COUNTRYS EXPORT IS ANOTHERS IMPORT AND ONE COUNTRYS NATIVE BELLIED 0ARROT CHICK ONE OF ONLY OTHER CONTINENTS PARTICULARLY !FRICA 3OUTH !MERICA AND !SIA )N A RECENT DO NOT STAY CONTAINED WITHIN THE PADDOCKS IN WHICH THEY WERE FIRST SOWN BIRD CAN BE ANOTHERS PEST !USTRALIAN BIRDS HAVE CAUSED THEIR SHARE OF A FEW HUNDRED INDIVIDUALS OF THE PAPER #3)2/ RESEARCHERS 'ARRY #OOK AND ,ESLEY $IAS HAVE CHRONICLED THE INDEED MOST SPREAD WIDELY BECOMING PARTICULAR PESTS ON !BORIGINAL AND PROBLEMS OVERSEAS &OR EXAMPLE IN .EW :EALAND 2AINBOW ,ORIKEETS SPECIES THAT REMAIN !N UNKNOWN CAMPAIGN BY PASTORALISTS PASTORAL AGENCIES AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENTISTS CONSERVATION LANDS WHERE THE RELATIVE LACK OF GRAZING ANIMALS MEANS THAT COMPETE FOR HOLLOWS WITH NATIVE BIRDS AND !USTRALIAN -AGPIES CREATE DISEASE KILLED OF THIS YEARS TO REPLACE NATIVE VEGETATION WITH EXOTIC GRASSES ACROSS MUCH OF THE THEIR IMPACT IS MAGNIFIED II THESE GRASSES DO NOT NECESSARILY INCREASE A HAZARD FOR AIRCRAFT AMONG OTHER DIFFICULTIES 4HE RISK OF ESTABLISHMENT CAPTIVE CROP BRED FOR RELEASE TO THE CONTINENT #OOK AND $IAS HAVE DOCUMENTED THOUSANDS OF INTRODUCTIONS PASTORAL PRODUCTION IN THE LONG TERM AND ONCE WIDELY ESTABLISHED ARE ALL OF !USTRALIAN SPECIES IN OTHER COUNTRIES NEEDS TO BE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED WILD 0HOTO BY *ON 3TARKS INCLUDING A GREATER NUMBER OF EXOTIC GRASS SPECIES THAN CONSTITUTE THE BUT IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE AND III A VERY HIGH PROPORTION OF LANDS FOR IN APPLICATIONS TO EXPORT BIRDS #ALLS TO EXPORT PEST SPECIES SUCH AS ENTIRE !USTRALIAN NATIVE GRASS FLORA &OR THE RANGELANDS OF NORTHERN AND EXAMPLE NEARLY IN THE .ORTHERN 4ERRITORY IN THE RANGELANDS IS ALLOTTED COCKATOOS CONTINUE AND OFTEN DISREGARD THE RISK THAT THEY WILL ESTABLISH CENTRAL !USTRALIA THIS CAMPAIGN LARGELY STARTED IN THE S AND HAS TO PASTORALISM SUCH THAT SOME NATIVE SPECIES AND HABITATS OCCUR NOWHERE FERAL POPULATIONS OVERSEAS CONTINUED APACE ELSE OTHER THAN ON PASTORAL LANDS 4HE 3TATE OF !USTRALIAS "IRDS 4HE 3TATE OF !USTRALIAS "IRDS
2ABBITS AND THEIR PREDATORS 2ABBITS WERE INTRODUCED TO 6ICTORIA IN AND WITHIN YEARS HAD SPREAD ACROSS ALL BUT THE FAR NORTH OF THE CONTINENT 4HEY STRIPPED THE LAND AND DRAMATICALLY CHANGED THE VEGETATION &EW NATIVE PLANTS AND ANIMALS WOULD HAVE BEEN UNAFFECTED BY SUCH GROSS CHANGES TO THEIR HABITS AND THEY REMAIN SO BUT SOME PREDATORY NATIVE SPECIES SUCH AS THE 7EDGE TAILED %AGLE BENEFITED FROM THE ABUNDANCE OF A MEATY PERFECTLY SIZED RELATIVELY EASILY CAPTURED ANIMALS WHICH REPLACED SIMILARLY SIZED NATIVE MAMMALS THAT EARLIER HAD GONE EXTINCT &ERAL &ALLOW $EER AMONGST PHALARIS BOTH INVASIVE SPECIES THAT CAN PROFOUNDLY ALTER NATIVE HABITATS 4HE MYXOMA VIRUS WAS RELEASED IN &ALLOW $EER HAVE ESTABLISHED POPULATIONS IN EASTERN !USTRALIA 4HEY HAVE POTENTIAL TO BECOME SIGNIFICANT AND IS STILL HELPING TO KEEP THE LID ON RABBIT PESTS AND SHOULD BE REMOVED BEFORE THEY SPREAD FURTHER 0HOTO BY 0ETER -ERRITT POPULATIONS PARTICULARLY IN WETTER AREAS AS IS THE RECENTLY INTRODUCED 2ABBIT (AEMOR RHAGIC $ISEASE 2($ WHICH IS MORE EFFECTIVE 0ROLIFERATION OF NATIVE SCRUB IN DRYLANDS 2($ HAS FREED SOME DRIER AREAS @4HE OVERSTOCKING OF THE COUNTRY COUPLED WITH PINE )N SUCH LANDSCAPES GRASSLAND BIRDS CAN BE FROM HIGH DENSITIES OF RABBITS ALLOWING FOR THE RABBITS PREVENTED THE GROWTH OF GRASS TO DISADVANTAGED AND REPLACED TO SOME EXTENT BY EXAMPLE REGENERATION OF SEEDLING TREES ON ANYTHING LIKE ITS FORMER EXTENT AND SO CAUSED WOODLAND INSECTIVORES THE BARREN RIDGES IN THE -ULGA NEAR "ROKEN A CESSATION OF BUSHFIRES WHICH HAD FORMERLY 2ESTORATION OF MOSAICS RATHER THAN (ILL BUT NOT IN THE LOWER COUNTRY WHERE SHEEP OCCURRED PERIODICALLY AND SO AFFORDED THE WHOLESCALE ERADICATION OF THE SCRUB IS USUALLY GRAZE )N THE WAKE OF THE VIRUS PREDATORS OF NOXIOUS SCRUB A CHANCE OF MAKING A HEADWAY THE RECOMMENDED MANAGEMENT OPTION AND 0ANDORAS BOX CONT THE RABBIT SUCH AS FOXES AND 7EDGE TAILED 2OYAL #OMMISSION QUOTED IN .OBLE WILL BENEFIT BIRDS AND PRODUCTION 4HIS CAN BE %AGLES HAVE DECLINED IN THESE LOCALISED AREAS ACHIEVED BY SYSTEMATIC STRATEGIES TO CONTROL 7HILE THERE ARE NATIONAL STANDARDS AND CONSTRAINTS INCLUDING WEED BUT ARE UNAFFECTED WHERE THERE IS SUFFICIENT GRAZING AND ALLOW SOME FUEL BUILD UP FOR RISK ASSESSMENT PROTOCOLS ON THE DIRECT IMPORTATION OF PLANTS FROM ALTERNATIVE PREY OR POCKETS OF RABBITS TO SUSTAIN 0ROLIFERATION OF NATIVE SCRUB HAS LONG BEEN PRESCRIBED FIRE PROMOTION OF LARGER PROPERTIES OVERSEAS THIS DOES NOT PICK UP THE MANY THOUSANDS OF EXOTIC PLANT SPECIES THEM 4HE LONG TERM PROGNOSIS IS THAT THE VIRUS A PROBLEM PARTICULARLY IN SEMI ARID AREAS AND ACCEPTANCE OF SOME SCRUB AND RESTORATION AND CULTIVARS THAT ARE ALREADY HERE )N MOST CASES THERE ARE NO NATIONAL WILL BECOME LESS EFFECTIVE OVER TIME AND IT IS "RIGALOW 7HITE #YPRESS (OPBUSH AND OF A GREATER DIVERSITY TO THE LANDSCAPE STANDARDS OR REGULATIONS FOR THE CONTINUING DELIBERATE SPREAD OF THESE ANTICIPATED THAT RABBIT POPULATIONS WILL RECOVER 4URPENTINE ARE JUST A FEW OF SEVERAL SHRUBBY !S WITH ALL NATIVE INVADERS IN THEIR PLANTS AND LITTLE CONSISTENCY BETWEEN 3TATES IN THEIR MANAGEMENT 4HE MORE RAPIDLY WHERE EAGLES AND OTHER PREDATORS NATIVE SPECIES THAT HAVE INCREASED IN DENSITY PLACE THESE WOODY SPECIES ARE A VALUABLE EXCEPTION IS WHEN AN EXOTIC PASTURE GRASS IS DECLARED AS A WEED BUT BY ARE SCARCE (ENCE VIGILANCE IS NECESSARY AND AND DISTRIBUTION WITHIN THEIR NATURAL RANGE PART OF THEIR ECOSYSTEM ! FURTHER PARADOX THAT STAGE IT IS OFTEN TOO LATE 2ETROSPECTIVELY WE CAN SEE A RECURRING THE OPPORTUNITY SHOULD NOT BE MISSED TO KEEP GENERALLY LINKED TO OVERGRAZING AND DECREASED IS THAT "RIGALOW IS AN ENDANGERED ECOLOGICAL PATTERN AN EXOTIC PASTURE SPECIES IS INTRODUCED WIDELY PLANTED FOUND TO RABBIT DENSITIES LOW BY INTEGRATING OTHER FIRE FREQUENCY AND EXTENT SINCE %UROPEANS COMMUNITY BE MORE DETRIMENTAL THAN USEFUL AND ULTIMATELY RECOGNISED AS A WEED THAT CONTROL METHODS TOOK OVER MANAGEMENT OF THE LAND )N THE SHOULD BE REMOVED CASE OF 7HITE #YPRESS RING BARKING AND &URTHER READING )F THESE EXOTIC GRASSES SUPPORT A RICH BIOTA IN !FRICA OR 3OUTH !MERICA CLEARING OF EUCALYPTS AND A SERIES OF WET YEARS +EITH $ /CEAN 3HORES TO $ESERT $UNES WHY SHOULD WE WORRY ABOUT THEIR SPREAD HERE 4HE ANSWER SHOULD BE THAT ENCOURAGED GERMINATION APPEAR TO BE 4HE .ATIVE 6EGETATION OF .EW 3OUTH 7ALES OBVIOUS THAT OUR !USTRALIAN BIRDS AND OTHER BIOTA HAVE ADAPTED TO THE CAUSE EXTINCTION OF SOME OF THE NATIVE AND THE !#4 $EPARTMENT OF %NVIRONMENT THE COMPLEX AND NUANCED SET OF RESOURCES OFFERED BY !USTRALIAN PLANTS ! CASCADE OF THREATS MAMMAL GRAZERS OF YOUNG CYPRESS PINE SUCH AND #ONSERVATION (URSTVILLE IN NATURAL LANDSCAPES &OR EXAMPLE 'OULDIAN &INCHES DEPEND UPON THE 0ISONIA FRUITS AND 'OULDS 0ETREL AS THE "ETTONG MAY ALSO HAVE CONTRIBUTED .OBLE * 4HE $ELICATE AND .OXIOUS 3CRUB SEQUENTIAL AVAILABILITY OF SEEDS FROM ACROSS A LOCAL SPECTRUM OF NATIVE 4HE INTRODUCTION OF RABBITS TO #ABBAGE &IRE SENSITIVE SPECIES SUCH AS #YPRESS 0INE AND #3)2/ 3TUDIES ON NATIVE 4REE AND 3HRUB GRASSES 7HERE ANY SPECIES IN THIS SET OF GRASSES IS DIMINISHED THAT 4REE )SLANDA HA ISLAND OFFSHORE FROM OTHER PLANTS UNPALATABLE TO LIVESTOCK SPREAD 0ROLIFERATION IN THE 3EMI !RID 7OODLANDS CONTINUING SEQUENCE MAY BE INTERRUPTED AND THE FINCH POPULATION BECOMES THE ENTRANCE TO 0ORT 3TEPHENS .EW 3OUTH INTO GRASSLANDS CONVERTING VEGETATION MOSAICS OF %ASTERN !USTRALIA #3)2/ 7ILDLIFE AND UNVIABLE !LTHOUGH MUCH REMAINS TO BE INVESTIGATED A SERIES OF RECENT 7ALESIN SEVERELY DEGRADED THE PRIMARY INTO EXTENSIVE UNPRODUCTIVE MONOCULTURES OF %COLOGY #ANBERRA STUDIES HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT THE SPREAD OF EXOTIC GRASSES MAY GENERALLY NESTING HABITAT OF THE ENDANGERED 'OULDS LEAD TO REDUCTION IN THE DIVERSITY OF NATIVE PLANTS AN INCREASE IN FIRE 0ETREL REMOVING THE UNDERSTOREY AND EXPOSING THE PETRELS TO AVIAN PREDATORS 2ABBIT GRAZING SEVERITY WITH CONSEQUENTIAL CHANGES IN VEGETATION CHARACTERISTICS AND 4HE SIGN FLAGS A CONTROL PROGRAM FOR +IKUYU AN !FRICAN GRASS INTRODUCED TO ,ORD (OWE )SLAND WHERE IT ALSO PREVENTED REGENERATION OF THE RAINFOREST CHANGES IN THE COMPOSITION AND AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES FOR BIRDS 0ARTIC SMOTHERS &LESH FOOTED 3HEARWATER MUTTONBIRD BREEDING HABITAT 0HOTO BY -ICHAEL 7ESTON ULARLY IN WETLANDS EXOTIC PASTURE GRASSES MAY ALSO CHOKE THE LANDSCAPE CANOPY AND ALLOWED INVASION BY EXOTIC PLANT REDUCING ACCESS TO FORAGING SITES FOR A BROAD RANGE OF BIRDS 4HESE PROBLEMS SPECIES )N THE PETREL BREEDING POPULATION ARE BECOMING APPARENT AS THE EXOTIC GRASSES SPREAD /N CURRENT TRENDS WAS ABOUT PAIRS n OF NUMBERS THAT SPREAD WILL CONTINUE INEXORABLY AND THE PROBLEMS WE SEE NOW WILL BE RECORDED IN THE S %NTANGLEMENT IN THE GREATLY MAGNIFIED IN DECADES TO COME STICKY FRUITS OF THE INTRODUCED "IRD LIME 4REE AND "9 */(. 7/).!23+) "IODIVERSITY #ONSERVATION 'ROUP .ORTHERN 4ERRITORY PREDATION BY 0IED #URRAWONGS AND !USTRALIAN $EPARTMENT OF .ATURAL 2ESOURCES %NVIRONMENT AND THE !RTS 0ALMERSTON 2AVENS WERE IMPOSING A RATE OF ADULT AND .ORTHERN 4ERRITORY NESTLING MORTALITY THAT WAS UNSUSTAINABLE 4HE REMOVAL OF "IRDLIME 4REES IN THE AREA OF THE &URTHER READING 4OP ! JUVENILE #RIMSON &INCH ONE OF SEVERAL GRANIVOROUS SPECIES THAT MAY BE COLONY AND CONTROL OF CURRAWONGS ALLOWED A #OOK ' $IAS , 4URNER 2EVIEW .O )T WAS NO ACCIDENT DECLINING ACROSS NORTHERN !USTRALIA 4HE PROLIFERATION OF RANK EXOTIC GRASSES SUCH RAPID INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF BREEDING BIRDS DELIBERATE PLANT INTRODUCTIONS BY !USTRALIAN GOVERNMENT AGENCIES DURING AS 'AMBA 'RASS TO SOME EXTENT REPLACES NATIVE HABITATS FAVOURED BY THE FINCH AND THE NUMBER OF YOUNG FLEDGED SUCH THAT THE THE TH CENTURY !USTRALIAN *OURNAL OF "OTANY n BUT DESTROYED BY LIVESTOCK FERAL PIGS AND OTHER THREATS (OWEVER THE EXOTIC NUMBER OF PAIRS HAD RECOVERED TO IN ,ONSDALE 7- )NVITING TROUBLE INTRODUCED PASTURE WEEDS IN GRASSES FORM MONOCULTURES THAT ARE BIOLOGICALLY IMPOVERISHED DO NOT REPLICATE 2ABBITS WERE ERADICATED BY NORTHERN !USTRALIA !USTRALIAN *OURNAL OF %COLOGY n THE NATURAL SEQUENCE OF SEEDING OF NATIVE GRASSES AND PRODUCE MUCH FIERCER FIRES ,OW 4 4ROPICAL PASTURE PLANTS AS WEEDS 4ROPICAL 'RASSLANDS n 0HOTO BY 'RAEME #HAPMAN &URTHER READING !BOVE %XOTIC PASTURE GRASSES ARE SPREADING ACROSS NORTHERN WOODLANDS AND #ARLILE . 0RIDDEL $ -ORTALITY OF ADULT 2OSSITER .! 3ETTERFIELD 3! $OUGLAS -- (UTLEY ," 4ESTING THE SAVANNAS ALTERING HABITAT FOR BIRDS AND INCREASING THE EXTENT AND SEVERITY OF FIRES 'OULDS 0ETRELS 0TERODROMA LEUCOPTERA GRASS FIRE CYCLE ALIEN GRASS INVASION IN THE TROPICAL SAVANNAS OF NORTHERN "LACK +ITES REAP A TEMPORARY HARVEST OF SMALL ANIMALS FLEEING THE FLAMES LEUCOPTERA AT THE NESTING SITE ON #ABBAGE 4REE !USTRALIA $IVERSITY AND $ISTRIBUTIONS n 0HOTO BY .ICHOLAS "IRKS 7ILDFLIGHT )SLAND .EW 3OUTH 7ALES %MU n 4HE 3TATE OF !USTRALIAS "IRDS 4HE 3TATE OF !USTRALIAS "IRDS
2ATS AND SEABIRDS ).6!3)6% 30%#)%3 !3 02%$!4/23 4HREE SPECIES OF INTRODUCED RAT "LACK 2AT "ROWN 2AT AND TO LESSER EXTENT 0OLYNESIAN 2AT PREY UPON &OXES CATS AND RATS ARE THE MAIN INTRODUCED PREDATORS TO !USTRALIA )T IS THE EGGS AND CHICKS OF NUMEROUS SPECIES OF ALBATROSS AND PETRELS /N -ACQUARIE )SLAND "LACK RATS INHABIT OFTEN SAID THAT FOXES CAUSE GREATER DAMAGE TO WILDLIFE THAN CATS POINTING 2EPORTING 2ATE THE TUSSOCK GRASSLANDS UTILISED BY MOST ALBATROSS TO THE LACK OF EXTINCTIONS IN 4ASMANIA AND ON +ANGAROO )SLAND WHERE AND PETREL SPECIES AND OPPORTUNISTICALLY PREY UPON THERE HAVE BEEN CATS BUT NO FOXES FOR THE PAST YEARS IN CONTRAST TO EGGS AND UNATTENDED CHICKS PRINCIPALLY OF THE THE MAINLAND (OWEVER THE EVIDENCE RESTS ON MAMMAL EXTINCTIONS AND MAY NOT APPLY TO BIRDS #ERTAINLY CATS ON SOME FOX FREE ISLANDS HAVE SMALLER BURROWING PETRELS "LACK 2ATS ALSO OCCUR ON &OX ABUNDANCE ,ORD (OWE AND .ORFOLK )SLANDS 4HEY ARE THOUGHT HAD A MAJOR IMPACT ON BIRDS AS THEY CAN HAVE IN @ISLANDS OF HABITAT ON ,OW THE MAINLAND -EDIUM TO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE LOSS OF +ERMADEC 0ETRELS (IGH ,ITTLE 3HEARWATERS AND 7HITE BELLIED 3TORM 0ETRELS .OBODY DOUBTS THAT INTRODUCED PREDATORS SUCH AS FOXES AND CATS FROM ,ORD (OWE )SLAND AND ,ITTLE 3HEARWATER FROM KILL A MULTITUDE OF BIRDS THROUGHOUT !USTRALIA AND DIET STUDIES YIELD .ORFOLK )SLAND LONG LISTS OF SPECIES CONSUMED BUT THIS IS NOT EVIDENCE FOR IMPACT ON ,OCALISED CONTROL PROGRAMS FOR RATS HAVE BEEN POPULATIONS SEE P "IRDS ON THE !USTRALIAN MAINLAND HAVE EVOLVED RUNNING ON -ACQUARIE .ORFOLK AND ,ORD (OWE WITH A SUITE OF CLEVER PREDATORS AND A CERTAIN LEVEL OF PREDATION IS )SLANDS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS BUT THE NATURE OF THE NATURAL EVEN NECESSARY 4O AN UNKNOWN EXTENT INTRODUCED MAMMALS TERRAIN AND VEGETATION AND THE SIZE OF THE ISLANDS REPLACE NATIVE MAMMALIAN HUNTERS OF BIRDS MOST OF WHICH ARE EXTINCT HAS MEANT THAT A PERMANENT SOLUTIONERADICATION (OWEVER THIS SHOULD NOT BE CAUSE FOR COMPLACENCY 7HERE NATIVE BIRDS OF RATSHAS NOT BEEN ATTEMPTED ARE IN LOW NUMBERS OR HAVE EVOLVED IN THE ABSENCE OF MAMMALIAN )T IS ESSENTIAL TO PROTECT SEABIRD POPULATIONS ON PREDATORS PREDATION BY INTRODUCED MAMMALS CAN BE DEVASTATING ADJACENT OFFSHORE ISLANDS AND STACKS WHICH CURRENTLY 'ROUND NESTERS ARE MOST AT RISK FROM FOXES SEE "USH 3TONE CURLEW MAP FREE OF RATS BY MAINTAINING STRICT QUARANTINE AT RIGHT ALSO LOWER P BUT CATS IN PARTICULAR CAN CLIMB TO TREE NESTS &OXES GREATEST IMPACT APPEARS TO BE ON GROUND NESTING BIRDS SUCH AS THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL VISITORS AND WORKERS !BOVE 4HE ,ORD (OWE )SLAND 7OODHEN POPULATION STAND AT JUST UNDER UP FROM LESS THAN IN THE SEE P "USH 3TONE CURLEW 4HE "USH 3TONE CURLEW WAS ONCE NUMEROUS ACROSS MUCH OF S AS THE RESULT OF THE CONTROL OF INVASIVE SPECIES 0HOTO BY )AN (UTTON )SLAND BIRDS HAVE BEEN LESS FORTUNATE THAN THOSE ON THE MAINLAND THE MAINLAND EXCEPT THE ARID INLAND ALTHOUGH GROUNDCOVER CHANGES ARE ALSO &URTHER READING )SLAND BIRD FAUNAS ARE OFTEN NAÆVE TO MAMMALIAN PREDATORS AND HAVE LOW INVOLVED IT HAS DECLINED DRAMATICALLY WHERE THERE ARE FOXES 7HERE FOXES ARE "AKER '" 'ALES 2 (AMILTON 3 7ILKINSON 6 "ELOW )NVASIVE SPECIES INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH NATIVE SPECIESHERE A CAT STRUGGLES TO CARRY RATES OF BREEDING THAT DO NOT ALLOW FOR MUCH MORTALITY FROM PREDATION ABSENT SUCH AS ON +ANGAROO )SLAND OR AT LOW DENSITIES SUCH AS ACROSS MUCH OF !LBATROSSES AND PETRELS IN !USTRALIA A A LARGE RABBIT "OTH ARE WATCHED BY HOPEFUL SCAVENGING RAVENS AND A MAGPIE #ATS RATS PIGS AND ANTS THREATEN SEVERAL BIRDS ON !USTRALIAS ISLANDS SUCH THE NORTH THE STONE CURLEW IS REPORTED MUCH MORE FREQUENTLY 4HE GRAPH SHOWS REVIEW OF THEIR CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT 0HOTO BY .ICHOLAS "IRKS 7ILDFLIGHT AS #HRISTMAS .ORFOLK AND ,ORD (OWE SEE PP AND 4HE RECENT THE "USH 3TONE CURLEW REPORTING RATE AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE FOX HATCHED %MU n WILLFUL INTRODUCTION OF FOXES TO 4ASMANIA GIVES CAUSE FOR GREAT CONCERN AREA 2EPORTING RATE IS THE NUMBER OF SURVEYS DURING WHICH THE STONE CURLEW WAS SEE 0REVENTING )NVASION SECTION RECORDED AS A PERCENTAGE OF ALL SURVEYS IN THAT DEGREE BLOCK EXTRACTED FROM THE "IRDS !USTRALIA !TLAS OF !USTRALIAN "IRDS FOX DISTRIBUTION IS FROM %NVIRONMENTAL )N URBAN AREAS UNCONTROLLED PET CATS AND DOGS OPERATE AS INVASIVE 2ESOURCE )NFORMATION .ETWORK $EPARTMENT OF THE %NVIRONMENT AND (ERITAGE PREDATORS SEE P 2OBLEY ET AL 0IGS AND ,ORD (OWE )SLAND 7OODHENS !N INCREASE IN PREDATORS MAY PUT PRESSURE ON PREY SPECIES REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE PREDATOR IS NATIVE OR INTRODUCED &OR 0IGS AND GOATS WERE INTRODUCED TO ,ORD (OWE )SLAND FOR FOOD AND LATER WENT WILD CAUSING EXAMPLE PREDATION BY INCREASINGLY ABUNDANT 0IED #URRAWONGS HAS EXTENSIVE VEGETATION AND HABITAT CHANGES BEEN IMPLICATED IN THE DECLINE OF NATIVE BUSH BIRD POPULATIONS AND NUMBERS DO ALSO BUT CATS REMAIN RELATIVELY STABLE 4HIS IS BECAUSE CATS "Y THE LATE S THERE WERE LESS THAN ,ORD ARE LESS DEPENDENT ON RABBITS AND MORE EASILY INCREASE THEIR TAKE OF OTHER 3ILVER 'ULLS AN EXCEPTIONALLY ABUNDANT SPECIES THAT EXPLOITS EVEN THE (OWE )SLAND 7OODHENS LEFT CONFINED TO THE PREY SUCH AS NATIVE BIRDS AND REPTILES (ENCE CONTROL OF FOXES ALONE IS MOST INLAND OF WETLANDS AND PREYS HEAVILY UPON THE EGGS AND CHICKS OF SUMMIT OF THE ISLANDS TWO MOUNTAINS -OUNT COLONIALLY BREEDING BIRDS SUCH AS "ANDED 3TILT "UT AS YET THERE IS NO LIKELY TO RESULT IN AN INCREASE IN CAT NUMBERS AND THEIR IMPACT ON BIRDS 'OWER AND -OUNT ,IDGBIRD "ECAUSE THE PIGS EVIDENCE THAT ANY OF THESE NATIVE INVADERS CAUSE POPULATION DECLINES IN 3IMILARLY THE BROAD SCALE DINGOWILD DOG CONTROL UNDERTAKEN IN MOST DID NOT OCCUR AT THESE HEIGHTS THROUGH THEIR THEIR PREY SEE P 4HIS MAY SOUND UNLIKELY BUT COMMON SPECIES CAN 3TATES IS LIKELY TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASING THE ABUNDANCE OF FOXES AND PREDATION AND DESTRUCTION OF HABITAT PIGS BE REMARKABLY RESILIENT FERAL CATS TO THE DETRIMENT OF CONSERVATION AND LAMB PRODUCTION BECAME THE PRIME SUSPECT IN DECLINE OF THE 0REDATORS INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER AS WELL AS WITH THEIR PREY WOODHEN POPULATION POPULATIONS AND THIS HAS IMPLICATIONS FOR THEIR IMPACT AND CONTROL &URTHER READING )N A CAPTIVE BREEDING PROGRAM WAS $INGOES ARE THOUGHT TO SUPPRESS FOX POPULATIONS AND CAT POPULATIONS $ICKMAN #2 /VERVIEW OF THE )MPACTS OF &ERAL #ATS ON !USTRALIAN INITIATED WITH THREE HEALTHY PAIRS OF WOODHENS CAN BE KEPT IN CHECK BY FOXES &OR EXAMPLE BOTH CATS AND FOXES PREY .ATIVE &AUNA !USTRALIAN .ATURE #ONSERVATION !GENCY #ANBERRA BROUGHT DOWN FROM -OUNT 'OWER BY HELICOPTER ON RABBITS 4YPICALLY WHEN RABBIT NUMBERS ARE HIGH SO TOO ARE FOXES 2EDDIEX " &ORSYTH $- 2EVIEW OF %XISTING 2ED &OX &ERAL 4HEY BEGAN LAYING EGGS A FEW WEEKS AFTER ARRIVING BUT CAT NUMBERS ARE SUPPRESSED 7HEN RABBIT POPULATIONS CRASH FOX #AT &ERAL 2ABBIT &ERAL 0IG AND &ERAL 'OAT #ONTROL IN !USTRALIA )) AND BY LATE HEALTHY CHICKS HAD HATCHED )NFORMATION 'APS &INAL 2EPORT FOR THE !USTRALIAN 'OVERNMENT )N TWO PAIRS OF THE CAPTIVE BRED BIRDS WERE RELEASED IN AN AREA UNDER THE CLIFFS OF 0ETS OR PESTS UNCONTROLLED DOMESTIC PETS CAN BE THE MOST ABUNDANT INTRODUCED $EPARTMENT OF THE %NVIRONMENT AND (ERITAGE #ANBERRA PREDATOR IN SOME AREAS SUCH AS ON SOUTHERN !USTRALIAN BEACHES WHERE THIS DOG 2EDDIEX " &ORSYTH $- -C$ONALD -ADDEN % %INODER ,$ -OUNT 'OWER IDENTIFIED AS THE BEST SITE FOR A HAS DESTROYED A 0IED /YSTERCATCHER NEST 0HOTO BY 0RISCILLA 0ARK "IRDS 4ASMANIA 'RIFFIOEN 0! #HICK 22 2OBLEY !* 2EVIEW OF %XISTING NEW WOODHEN COLONY 4HE BIRDS SURVIVED AND BY 2ED &OX &ERAL #AT &ERAL 2ABBIT &ERAL 0IG AND &ERAL 'OAT #ONTROL WOODHENS HAD BEEN RELEASED AND THE IN !USTRALIA ) !UDIT !RTHUR 2YLAH )NSTITUTE FOR %NVIRONMENTAL BREEDING FACILITY WAS CLOSED 2ESEARCH $EPARTMENT OF 3USTAINABILITY AND %NVIRONMENT -EANWHILE FERAL PIGS AND CATS WERE -ELBOURNE ERADICATED THE FERAL GOAT POPULATION WAS SIGNIF 2ISBEY $! #ALVER -# 3HORT * 4HE IMPACT OF CATS AND FOXES ICANTLY REDUCED AND DOMESTIC CATS WERE PHASED OUT 4HE POPULATION OF WOODHENS REACHED OVER ON THE SMALL VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF (ERISSON 0RONG 7ESTERN !USTRALIA ) IN !LTHOUGH IT HAS DECLINED SOMEWHAT %XPLORING POTENTIAL IMPACT USING DIET 7ILDLIFE 2ESEARCH n SINCE THE BIRDS ARE AGAIN LIVING IN MANY PARTS OF 2OBLEY ! 2EDDIEX " !RTHUR 4 0ECH 2 &ORSYTH $ THE ISLAND INCLUDING RESIDENTS BACKYARDS )NTERACTIONS BETWEEN &ERAL #ATS &OXES .ATIVE #ARNIVORES AND 2ABBITS IN !USTRALIA &INAL 2EPORT FOR THE !USTRALIAN 'OVERNMENT $EPARTMENT OF &URTHER READING THE %NVIRONMENT AND (ERITAGE #ANBERRA (UTTON ) "IRDS OF ,ORD (OWE )SLAND 0AST AND 0RESENT 4HE !UTHOR ,ORD (OWE )SLAND -C!LLAN )!7 #URTIS "2 (UTTON ) #OOPER 2- 4HE "IRDS OF THE ,ORD (OWE )SLAND GROUP ! 2EVIEW OF 2ECORDS !USTRALIAN &IELD /RNITHOLOGY SUPPLEMENT 4HE 3TATE OF !USTRALIAS "IRDS 4HE 3TATE OF !USTRALIAS "IRDS
#ATS AND COCKATOO CHICKS 4HE EXTENT OF DAMAGE THAT FERAL CATS CAUSE TO NATIVE BIRDS IN !USTRALIA IS LARGELY UNKNOWN (OWEVER IT SHOULD NOT BE ASSUMED THAT LARGE SIZE OR NESTING IN TREE HOLLOWS PROVIDES PROTECTION FROM PREDATION 4HE 7ESTERN !USTRALIAN WHEATBELT FORM OF THE 2ED TAILED "LACK #OCKATOO WEIGHS OVER G AND NESTS IN HOLLOWS IN TREES YET IT IS SUBJECT TO PREDATION BY FERAL CATS "ETWEEN AND #3)2/ $IVISION OF 7ILDLIFE 2ESEARCH UNDERTOOK A STUDY OF ITS ECOLOGY 4HE BREEDING BIOLOGY WAS STUDIED ON SEVERAL PATCHES OF WOODLAND AROUND .EREENO (ILL NEAR THE TOWN OF 4HREE 3PRINGS IN THE NORTHERN WHEATBELT $URING THAT PERIOD NESTING ATTEMPTS WERE MONITORED /F THESE AT LEAST WERE KNOWN TO HAVE FAILED BECAUSE OF PREDATION ON CHICKS BY FERAL CATS 4HE WORST SEASON WAS THE SPRING OF WHERE OF THE NESTING ATTEMPTS FAILED BECAUSE OF CAT PREDATION 0REDATION WAS CONFIRMED AS THE CAUSE OF DEATH BY THE PRESENCE OF CATS IN NEST HOLLOWS WITH THE REMAINS OF FRESHLY KILLED CHICKS AND OR FRESH CAT SCRATCH MARKS ON THE SIDES OF TREES LEADING TO THE HOLLOWS WHERE CHICKS HAD BEEN TAKEN "9 $%.)3 ! 3!5.$%23 7EETANGERA !#4
&URTHER READING 3AUNDERS $! 2ED TAILED "LACK #OCKATOO BREEDING TWICE A YEAR IN THE SOUTH WEST OF 7ESTERN !USTRALIA %MU n 3AUNDERS $! 3MITH '4 2OWLEY ) 4HE AVAILABILITY AND DIMENSIONS OF TREE HOLLOWS THAT PROVIDE NEST SITES FOR COCKATOOS 0SITTACIFORMES IN 7ESTERN !USTRALIA !USTRALIAN 7ILDLIFE 2ESEARCH n
,EFT ! GULL WITH EVIL INTENT HARASSES NESTING "ANDED 3TILTS )N PARTS OF !USTRALIA 3ILVER 'ULLS HAVE BECOME SUPERABUNDANT BECAUSE THEY BENEFIT FROM THE CHANGES WROUGHT BY HUMANS THEIR INCREASED NUMBERS ,IKE MOST INVASIVE ANIMALS FOXES ARE BOLD AND ADAPTABLE 4HEY EAT ALMOST ANYTHING ORGANIC FROM SMALL TO SOMETIMES POSE A SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO POPULATIONS OF OTHER GROUND NESTING BIRDS 0HOTO BY 'RAHAM #ARPENTER MEDIUM SIZED BIRDS AND MAMMALS TO INSECTS FRUIT AND CARRION (ERE A FOX DEFENDS THE REMAINS OF A KANGAROO AND + "ELCHAMBERS FROM RAVENS AND A 7EDGE TAILED %AGLE 0HOTO BY .ICHOLAS "IRKS 7ILDFLIGHT "ELOW %VEN DOMESTIC CATS CAN HARM WILDLIFE SUCH AS THIS BEACH NESTING (OODED 0LOVER 0HOTO BY -ICHAEL 7ESTON
#ATS AND BIRDS MANAGEMENT BEGINS AT HOME
4HE TIME OF ARRIVAL OF CATS IN !USTRALIA IS OFTEN %STIMATES OF THE NUMBERS OF PREY AND MANAGING DOMESTIC CATS $OMESTIC CATS MAKE DEBATED BUT THE CURRENT VIEW IS THAT THEY ARRIVED DENSITIES OF FERAL CATS ARE MUCH HARDER TO OBTAIN GREAT COMPANION ANIMALS AND SOME SIMPLE AND ESTABLISHED WIDESPREAD FERAL POPULATIONS (OME RANGES OF FERAL CATS ARE TYPICALLY IN THE ACTIONS CAN GREATLY IMPROVE THEIR WELFARE AND AFTER %UROPEAN COLONISATION IN .OW DOMESTIC VICINITY OF n KM BUT BECAUSE OF OVERLAPPING ALSO PREVENT THEM FROM HUNTING URBAN WILDLIFE AND FERAL CATS ARE WIDESPREAD FERAL CATS ARE FOUND HOME RANGES DENSITIES ARE PROBABLY IN THE $ESEXED CATS LIVE LONGER ON AVERAGE AND TEND ACROSS THE CONTINENT IN ALL HABITATS AND ON MANY VICINITY OF n FERAL CAT PER KM OR n TO STRAY LESS SO DESEXING IS BENEFICIAL AND OFFSHORE ISLANDS 4HEIR SPREAD AND COLONISATION FERAL CATS PER HECTARE !SSUMING FERAL CATS PREVENTS OVER PRODUCTION OF KITTENS 0ROVIDING OF THE CONTINENT WAS PROBABLY FACILITATED WHEN CONSUME ABOUT PREY ITEMS PER YEAR IN AREAS IDENTIFICATION TO CATS EITHER A DISC ON A COLLAR OR LARGE NUMBERS WERE RELEASED IN PARTS OF WESTERN WHERE RABBITS ARE PLENTIFUL IT WILL BE MUCH LESS A MICROCHIP HELPS AUTHORITIES IDENTIFY OWNED .EW 3OUTH 7ALES IN THE S IN A VAIN ATTEMPT TO THAN THIS FERAL CATS MAY CROP ABOUT n PREY CATS AND RETURN THEM TO THEIR OWNERS WHICH IS CONTROL AN OUTBREAK OF RABBITS AND AGAIN ON THE ITEMS ANNUALLY PER HECTARE 4HUS A FREE RANGING OF BENEFIT TO BOTH THE CAT AND THE OWNER 4HE .ULLARBOR IN THE EARLY S 4HE PRINCIPAL PERIOD DOMESTIC CAT POPULATION IS LIKELY TO EXERT A MUCH COMMON PLOY OF PLACING BELLS ON A CATS COLLAR TO OF INVASION OF THE ARID ZONE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN HIGHER PREDATION PRESSURE ON FAUNA IN URBAN PREVENT IT FROM HUNTING HOWEVER IS LIMITED IN THE LAST DECADE OF THE TH CENTURY AND THE FIRST OF AREAS THAN FERAL CATS DO AWAY FROM URBAN AREAS ITS EFFECTIVENESSCATS WITH BELLS CAN STILL HUNT THE TH 4HERE IS A GOOD REASON FOR THIS /WNERS PROVIDE SUCCESSFULLY #ONTAINMENT IS THE ONLY ACTION 2ECORDS OF THE PREY ITEMS BROUGHT HOME BY THEIR CATS WITH FOOD AND SO UNCOUPLE DOMESTIC THAT PREVENTS THEM FROM HUNTING $OMESTIC DOMESTIC CATS AND EXAMINATION OF STOMACH CONTENTS CATS FROM THE VAGARIES OF A FLUCTUATING FOOD CATS CAN BE KEPT INDOORS WITHOUT HARDSHIP AND OF FERAL CATS PROVIDE A PHENOMENAL INVENTORY OF THE SUPPLY SO THAT THEY CAN POTENTIALLY TAKE FAUNA OWNERS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO PROVIDE THEM SPECIES OF !USTRALIAN ANIMALS THAT ARE VULNERABLE AT A RATE THAT IS UNSUSTAINABLE &ERAL CATS ON THE WITH A STIMULATING INSIDE ENVIRONMENT PERHAPS TO CAT PREDATION !T LEAST SPECIES OF BIRDS OTHER HAND MUST CONTEND WITH FLUCTUATIONS IN EXTENDING TO AN ENCLOSED AREA OUTSIDE 4HIS NOT MAMMALS REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS AS WELL AS THEIR FOOD SUPPLY AND THEIR POPULATION DENSITIES ONLY PREVENTS OWNED CATS FROM KILLING BUT STOPS VARIOUS INVERTEBRATES ARE TAKEN 4HE MAJORITY OF ARE ULTIMATELY LIMITED BY PREY AVAILABILITY 7HEN THEM ROAMING SO THEY CANNOT SPRAY DEFAECATE OR CATS PREY ITEMS ARE LESS THAN G IN BODY MASS ONE PREY SPECIES BECOMES SCARCE FERAL CATS ARE FIGHT ON NEIGHBOURING PROPERTIES OR RUN THE RISK BUT THEY WILL CAPTURE PREY UP TO THEIR OWN BODY LIKELY TO SWITCH TO ANOTHER OR TO BE FORCED TO OF BEING HIT BY A CAR ALL OF WHICH IS GOOD FOR THE MASSES n KG ! WIDE VARIETY OF BUSH BIRDS AS MOVE TO OTHER AREAS WELFARE OF THE CAT AND FOR NEIGHBOURLY RELATIONS WELL AS WATERBIRDS AND SEABIRDS ARE INCLUDED IN 4HE EXTENT TO WHICH CATS HAVE CONTRIBUTED )N THIS WAY CATS CAN BE APPRECIATED FOR THE THESE INVENTORIES "UT THESE INVENTORIES DO NOT AND CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO EXTINCTIONS GREAT COMPANION ANIMALS THAT THEY ARE WITHOUT PROVIDE A FIRM BASIS ON WHICH TO ASSESS THE EXTENT OF !USTRALIAN FAUNA WILL ALWAYS BE DEBATED CONTRIBUTING TO THE LOSS OF !USTRALIAS WILDLIFE TO WHICH PREDATION BY CATS THREATEN NATIVE SPECIES .ONETHELESS ATTEMPTS TO RE ESTABLISH "9 $!6)$ 0!4/. AND $!.)%, 2/'%23 !DELAIDE 4HE AVERAGE NUMBERS OF PREY COLLECTED BY POPULATIONS OF REGIONALLY EXTINCT FAUNA PARTIC 5NIVERSITY 3OUTH !USTRALIA POPULATIONS OF DOMESTIC CATS IN !USTRALIA RANGES ULARLY SMALL TO MEDIUM SIZED MAMMALS HAVE FROM FIVE TO ITEMS PER CAT PER YEAR ABOUT LARGELY FAILED EXCEPT WHERE EXCLUSION FENCING IS &URTHER READING OF WHICH ARE BIRDS )N URBAN AREAS THERE ARE USED BECAUSE OF AN INABILITY TO ELIMINATE FERAL !BBOTT ) /RIGIN AND SPREAD OF THE CAT AT LEAST TWO CATS PER HECTARE SO THESE FIGURES CATS BY OTHER MEANS 5NLIKE FOXES FERAL CATS &ELIS CATUS ON MAINLAND !USTRALIA WITH A SUGGEST DOMESTIC CATS HARVEST A MINIMUM OF ARE NOT EASILY BAITED $EVELOPING ATTRACTIVE CAT DISCUSSION OF THE MAGNITUDE OF ITS EARLY IMPACT n VERTEBRATE PREY ITEMS PER HECTARE WHICH SPECIFIC BAITS OR BIOLOGICAL CONTROL MAY PROVIDE ON NATIVE FAUNA 7ILDLIFE 2ESEARCH n INCLUDES UP TO BIRDS PER HECTARE PER YEAR A SOME HOPE BUT THESE MUST BE HUMANE AND THE 0ATON $# 4HE IMPACT OF DOMESTIC AND HIGH PROPORTION OF THE BIRD POPULATION IN URBAN DOMESTIC CAT POPULATION MUST BE PROTECTED AND FERAL CATS ON WILDLIFE 0P n IN 1UEENSLAND AREAS 4HIS IS LIKELY TO BE AN UNDERESTIMATE SINCE APPROPRIATELY MANAGED $EPARTMENT OF %NVIRONMENT AND (ERITAGE #AT NOT ALL PREY ITEMS WILL BE BROUGHT HOME FOR CAT 4HE FIRST STEP IN DEVELOPING AN !USTRALIA -ANAGEMENT 7ORKSHOP 0ROCEEDINGS !USTRALIAN OWNERS TO DOCUMENT WIDE PROGRAM TO CONTROL FERAL CATS STARTS WITH .ATURE #ONSERVATION !GENCY #ANBERRA 4HE 3TATE OF !USTRALIAS "IRDS 4HE 3TATE OF !USTRALIAS "IRDS
#OMPETITION FOR NEST HOLES 'ALAHS AND INTRODUCED ,ONG BILLED #ORELLAS ARE EXTENDING THEIR RANGE IN THE 7EST !USTRALIAN WHEATBELT %ARLIER BREEDING AND MORE AGGRESSIVE NATURES ALLOW THEM TO OUST #ARNABYS "LACK #OCKATOOS 3HORT BILLED "LACK #OCKATOO -UIRS #ORELLA SOUTHERN 7ESTERN #ORELLA AND OTHER ENDANGERED LOCAL SPECIES FROM THEIR TRADITIONAL NEST HOLLOWS 7HILE HABITAT THROUGH CLEARING AND RESULTING DETERIORATION OF REMAINING WOODLAND FRAGMENTS IS THE CAUSE OF THE COCKATOOS DECLINES SUCH COMPETITION MAY PROVE TO BE THE STRAW THAT BREAKS THE CAMELS BACK
,ITTLE #ORELLAS HAVE SPREAD GREATLY AS NATURAL LANDSCAPES ARE TURNED TO FARMLAND THE CORELLA COMPETES FOR SCARCE NEST HOLES WITH OTHER NATIVE SPECIES AND IS AN AGRICULTURAL PEST SEE PP n 0HOTO BY ,YNN 0EDLER
4HE HYBRID OFFSPRING OF A CROSS BETWEEN A RARE "LACK EARED -INER AND A COMMON 9ELLOW THROATED -INER AT "IRDS !USTRALIAS 'LUEPOT 3TATION ALTERATION OF HABITAT HAS BROUGHT
THE TWO INTO CONTACT 0HOTO BY 'RAEME #HAPMAN (ONEYBEES AND BIRDS FOOD AND TREE HOLES NO SIMPLE ANSWERS ).6!3)6% 30%#)%3 !3 #/-0%4)4/23 "OTH FERAL AND MANAGED HONEYBEE HIVES ARE WIDESPREAD ACROSS !USTRALIA 4HESE INTRODUCED BEES HARVEST NECTAR ANDOR POLLEN FROM THE FLOWERS OF A WIDE VARIETY OF !USTRALIAN PLANTS -ANY OF THESE PLANTS PROVIDE FLORAL 3OME INVASIVE SPECIES COMPETE FOR RESOURCES WITH NON INVASIVE /NE INSIDIOUS FORM OF COMPETITION IS AT THE GENETIC LEVEL WHERE RESOURCES FOR HONEYEATERS AND LORIKEETS AS WELL AS A WIDE VARIETY OF SPECIES 4HESE RESOURCES MAY BE FOOD OR BREEDING SITES ROOSTS OR SPACE INVASIVE SPECIES HYBRIDISE WITH OTHER SPECIES AND THEIR GENES EFFECTIVELY OTHER NATIVE FAUNA "Y CONSUMING NECTAR AND POLLEN HONEYBEES HAVE #OMPETITION FOR FOOD HAS NOT BEEN WELL STUDIED THOUGH IT HAS BEEN COMPETE WITH THE ENDEMIC ONES 4HE INTRODUCED -ALLARD SOMETIMES THE POTENTIAL TO COMPETE WITH NATIVE FAUNA AND MAY ALSO DISRUPT OR SUGGESTED FOR EXAMPLE THAT INTRODUCED BEES COMPETE WITH NECTAR HYBRIDISES WITH THE ENDEMIC 0ACIFIC "LACK $UCK WHICH DESPITE THIS ALTER POLLINATION SERVICES OF PLANTS 4HIS HAS SPARKED CONSIDERABLE DEBATE FEEDING BIRDS SEE PP AND AND FERAL GOATS SHEEP AND RABBITS REMAINS COMMON IN !USTRALIA THOUGH HYBRIDISATION IS A SIGNIFICANT AMONGST CONSERVATIONISTS ECOLOGISTS AND THE APIARY INDUSTRY SINCE MANY COMPETE WITH -ALLEEFOWL )NTRODUCED SEED EATERS SUCH AS DOVES THREAT TO THE SPECIES IN .EW :EALAND 4HE ALTERATION OF HABITAT IN THE APIARISTS DEPEND ON ACCESS TO NATIVE FORESTS AND RESERVES 7ITHOUT THAT SPARROWS AND FINCHES COULD COMPETE FOR SEED WITH NATIVE GRANIVORES SUCH -ALLEE OF 3OUTH !USTRALIA AND 6ICTORIA IS THOUGHT TO HAVE BROUGHT THE ACCESS APIARISTS MAY BE UNABLE TO PROVIDE STRONG HIVES AT SPECIFIC TIMES OF AS THE /RANGE BELLIED 0ARROT 4HE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED PARROT FORAGES COMMON 9ELLOW THROATED -INER INTO CONTACT WITH THE THREATENED "LACK THE YEAR TO POLLINATE VARIOUS HORTICULTURAL CROPS SUCH AS ALMONDS ON SALTMARSH IN COASTAL SOUTH EASTERN !USTRALIA WHERE LARGE NUMBERS OF EARED -INER AND SUBSEQUENT HYBRIDISATION THREATENS ONE OF !USTRALIAS 4HE EXTENT OF ANY COMPETITION BETWEEN HONEYBEES AND NATIVE INTRODUCED 'OLD AND 'REEN &INCHES AND (OUSE 3PARROWS ALSO FEED SEE MOST ENDANGERED BIRDS 3TARLINGS AND MYNAS POTENTIALLY COMPETE WITH NATIVE SPECIES FOR TREE HOLES )N THE FAUNA FOR FLORAL RESOURCES WILL DEPEND ON THE IMPORTANCE OF PARTICULAR GRAPH BELOW )N OF SURVEYS DURING WHICH AN /RANGE BELLIED 0ARROT EAST BOTH SPECIES PARTICULARLY THE 3TARLING OCCUR IN REGIONS WITH HIGH NUMBERS OF FLORAL RESOURCES TO THE SURVIVAL AND REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS OF VARIOUS WAS RECORDED AT LEAST ONE OTHER INTRODUCED SPECIES WAS ALSO PRESENT AND 2EFERENCES SPECIES DEPENDENT ON TREE HOLES TO BREED 4HE PERCENTAGES OF !TLAS OF !USTRALIAN NATIVE FAUNA AND WHETHER HARVESTING OF THESE RESOURCES BY HONEYBEES THEN USUALLY IN GREATER NUMBERS )N 1UEENSLAND COMPETITION FROM #OULSON 2 #OULSON ' $IETS OF 0ACIFIC 'ULL ,ARUS PACIFICUS "IRDS RECORDS SINCE THAT ARE OF HOLLOW NESTING SPECIES AVERAGED ACROSS .2- SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES THE ABILITY OF NATIVE FAUNA TO HARVEST THE RESOURCES THE INTRODUCED .UTMEG -ANNIKIN HAS BEEN BLAMED FOR DECLINES IN THE AND THE +ELP 'ULL ,ARUS DOMINICANUS IN 4ASMANIA %MU n REGIONS ARE SHOWN ON THE BASE MAP WITH THE DISTRIBUTION OF TWO TREE HOLE USURPERS THEY NEED )F HONEYBEES WERE ONLY REMOVING A SMALL PROPORTION OF #HESTNUT BREASTED -ANNIKIN :EBRA &INCH $OUBLE BARRED &INCH AND #RISP ( ,ILL ! #ITY SLICKER HABITAT USE AND FORAGING IN URBAN THE #OMMON -YNA BLACK CIRCLES AND #OMMON 3TARLING BLUE CIRCLES OVERLAID THE AVAILABLE NECTAR AND POLLEN THEN THEY WOULD BE UNLIKELY TO HAVE A 2ED BROWED &INCH #OMMON -YNAS !CRIDOTHERES TRISTIS #ORELLA n SIGNIFICANT EFFECT (OWEVER THIS IS OFTEN NOT THE CASEHONEYBEES CAN (OWEVER CO OCCURRENCE AND SIMILAR DIETARY COMPOSITION DOES 'IBBONS 0 ,INDENMAYER $ 4REE (OLLOWS AND 7ILDLIFE REMOVE MORE THAN OF THE NECTAR ANDOR POLLEN PRODUCED BY SOME NOT ALWAYS LEAD TO INTENSE COMPETITION &OR EXAMPLE THE +ELP 'ULL #ONSERVATION IN !USTRALIA #3)2/ -ELBOURNE PLANT SPECIES WHICH APPARENTLY ESTABLISHED IN !USTRALIA IN THE S MAY EAT THE )F ABUNDANT HONEYBEES CAN DEPLETE SUPPLIES TO SUCH A LOW LEVEL SAME FOOD TYPES AS THE ENDEMIC 0ACIFIC 'ULL BUT EATS THEM IN DIFFERENT THAT THERE IS INSUFFICIENT NECTAR PRESENT TO MEET THE MUCH HIGHER ENERGY PROPORTIONS AND APPARENTLY PREFERS TO FORAGE IN DIFFERENT HABITATS ! )NTRODUCED FOOD COMPETITORS OCCUR AT MOST /RANGE BELLIED 0ARROT LOCATIONS REQUIREMENTS OF BIRDS (ONEYEATERS AND LORIKEETS BEING WARM BLOODED CAN VISIT FLOWERS FROM DAWN AND WILL OFTEN FORAGE FOR AN HOUR OR MORE STUDY OF #OMMON -YNAS IN -ELBOURNE SHOWED THAT ALTHOUGH THEY WERE 4HE GRAPH SHOWS THE OCCURRENCE OF THREE INTRODUCED GRANIVORES RECORDED ON THE SURVEYS DURING WHICH /RANGE BELLIED PARROTS WERE RECORDED PRIOR TO HONEYBEES ARRIVING 4HIS GIVES THE BIRDS AN ADVANTAGE BUT THE AGGRESSIVE TO OTHER SPECIES TIMES PER HOUR THEY WERE NOT CONSIDERED 3OURCE !TLAS OF !USTRALIAN "IRDS HONEYBEES CAN OUT COMPETE THEM FOR MOST OF THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY TO BE EXCLUDING OTHER BIRDS FROM FOOD RESOURCES ALSO SEE TOP P .EW (OLLAND (ONEYEATERS EXPAND THEIR FEEDING TERRITORIES #OMPETITION FOR BREEDING SITES IS WELL KNOWN FOR HOLLOW NESTING ACCORDING TO THE SCALE OF NECTAR LOSS TO HONEYBEES AND HARVEST MOST OF SPECIES 3TUDIES HAVE FOUND THAT MYNAS OCCUPIED UP TO OF HOLLOWS IN THE FOOD THEY NEED DURING THE FIRST PART OF THE DAY 4HUS PATCHES OF URBAN !#4 AND STARLINGS OCCUPIED OF HOLLOWS IN A SECTION OF RIVERINE FLOWERING PLANTS MAY SUPPORT FEWER HONEYEATERS WHEN HONEYBEES ARE WOODLAND IN 3OUTH !USTRALIA !ROUND !LICE 3PRINGS 2OCK $OVES NEST IN ACTIVE !DULT MALE HONEYEATERS ARE DOMINANT TO FEMALES HENCE WHEN TREE HOLLOWS ALONG THE 4ODD 2IVER 4HE FERAL HONEYBEE OCCUPIED n OF RESOURCES ARE SCARCE FEMALES ARE DISADVANTAGED AND SEX RATIOS MAY HOLLOWS IN VARIOUS PARTS OF 6ICTORIA AND CAN EVEN DISPLACE LARGE BIRDS SUCH BECOME BIASED TOWARDS MALES AS 4AWNY &ROGMOUTHS )NVASIVE NATIVE BIRDS AND MAMMALS EG "RUSH TAIL 4HESE INSTANCES OF A COMPETITIVE INTERACTION NEED TO BE BALANCED .OT ONLY ARE THEY INCREASING IN ABUNDANCE IN MANY CITIES BUT 2AINBOW ,ORIKEETS AGAINST SITUATIONS WHERE HONEYBEES HAVE NO MEASURABLE EFFECT ON 0OSSUM ADD TO THE COMPETITION SEE TOP P AND 2AINBOW ,ORIKEET AND HAVE ESTABLISHED IN SOUTH WESTERN !USTRALIA THANKS TO TRANSPORTATION AND STARLINGMYNA MAPS OPPOSITE WHICH IS EXACERBATED BY THE LIMITED SUPPLY OF ARTIFICIAL FEEDING BY HUMANS "IGGER AND MARKEDLY MORE AGGRESSIVE THAN THE NATIVE FAUNA "ECAUSE OF EXTENSIVE CLEARANCE OF NATIVE VEGETATION THIS CRITICAL RESOURCE .ONETHELESS SOME OF THESE SPECIES USE DIFFERENT TYPES OF NATIVE 7ESTERN 2OSELLA THE LORIKEETS ARE LIKELY TO OUTCOMPETE AND DISPLACE THEM NATURAL SYSTEMS ARE NOW SERIOUSLY PERTURBED 0LANT POLLINATOR TREE HOLES AND ALTHOUGH IT IS OFTEN SUSPECTED SUCH COMPETITION HAS SELDOM (OUSE 3PARROW %UROPEAN 'OLDFINCH %UROPEAN 'REENFINCH !TLAS OF !USTRALIAN "IRDS RECORDS SINCE SHOWING THE NATURAL RANGE PURPLE INTERACTIONS ARE PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE TO PERTURBATIONS AND IN MANY BEEN DEMONSTRATED TO BE A THREAT TO ENTIRE SPECIES EG SEE PP AND CIRCLES AND THE INTRODUCED EXPANDING POPULATION IN THE 0ERTH AREA RED CIRCLES SYSTEMS THERE ARE NOW INADEQUATE NUMBERS OF BIRDS TO FULLY SERVICE 4HE 3TATE OF !USTRALIAS "IRDS 4HE 3TATE OF !USTRALIAS "IRDS
(ONEYBEES AND BIRDS CONT "UMBLEBEES A NEW THREAT TO BIRDS THE POLLINATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE PLANTS INCLUDING VARIOUS EUCALYPTS 4WO SPECIES OF SOCIAL BEE HAVE ESTABLISHED IN !USTRALIA )NTRODUCED IN 02%6%.4).' ).6!3)/. BANKSIAS GREVILLEAS AND HEATHS PARTICULARLY WINTER FLOWERING SPECIES THE S THE 7ESTERN (ONEYBEE IS ALMOST UBIQUITOUS AND A %URASIAN .ECTAR ACCUMULATES AND CAN DRIP UNEXPLOITED FROM FLOWERS )N THESE SPECIES OF BUMBLEBEE HAS BECOME WIDESPREAD AND ABUNDANT IN 4ASMANIA )NTRODUCTION OF EXOTIC SPECIES IS NOT A THING OF THE PAST THE RISK THAT SITUATIONS REMOVAL OF NECTAR AND POLLEN BY HONEYBEES HAS NO IMPACT ON FOLLOWING ITS INTRODUCTION IN "OTH BEES FEED ON NECTAR AND POLLEN MORE INVASIVE SPECIES WILL ARRIVE IN !USTRALIA CONTINUES SEE TOP P THE NUMBERS OF NATIVE FAUNA VISITING FLOWERS )N FACT THE HONEYBEES MAY FROM A WIDE VARIETY OF INTRODUCED AND NATIVE PLANTS .UMEROUS SPECIES %VEN WORSE PESTS COULD ARRIVE 4HE ESTABLISHMENT OF WILD POPULATIONS ACTUALLY PROVIDE SOME POLLINATION SERVICES TO THE PLANTS ALLOWING HIGHER OF !USTRALIAN BIRDS ALSO USE NECTAR AS A CARBOHYDRATE SOURCE AND SEVERAL OF EFFICIENT PREDATORS SUCH AS -USTELIDS STOATS AND WEASELS COULD RATES OF SEED PRODUCTION !USTRALIAN PARROTS OBTAIN PROTEIN FROM POLLEN (ENCE THE BEES ARE POTENTIAL BRING ABOUT THE DEVASTATION OF BIRDS SUCH AS THAT SEEN IN .EW :EALAND 'IVEN THE CHANGED CONDITIONS THERE IS NO SIMPLE RULE ABOUT WHETHER COMPETITORS WITH MANY NATIVE BIRDS FOR CARBOHYDRATES ANDOR PROTEIN )N ADDITION SEVERAL INVADERS ALREADY IN !USTRALIA ARE POISED TO INVADE HONEYBEES SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED IN NATURAL SYSTEMS 0ERHAPS "EING SMALLER THAN BIRDS BEES CONTINUE TO FORAGE AT NECTAR STANDING OTHER PARTS FOR EXAMPLE BUMBLEBEES IN 4ASMANIA THREATEN TO INVADE THE THE SAFEST OPTION IS TO ALLOW CONTINUED ACCESS TO THOSE NATURAL AREAS CROPS BELOW THAT AT WHICH BIRDS CAN FORAGE EFFICIENTLY .EVERTHELESS THE MAINLAND AND #OMMON -YNAS THREATEN TO INVADE 4ASMANIA #OMMON CURRENTLY BEING USED BY APIARISTS BUT TO SET ASIDE OTHER REPRESENTATIVE CAPACITY OF BIRDS TO FORAGE EARLIER IN THE DAY THAN HONEYBEES AND WHEN IT IS 3TARLINGS HAVE BEEN PREVENTED FROM INVADING 7ESTERN !USTRALIA UNTIL AREAS TO BE FREE OF HONEYBEES )N THESE LATTER AREAS ALL MANAGED HIVES TOO COLD FOR HONEYBEE ACTIVITY AFFORDS THEM SOME ESCAPE FROM COMPETITION RECENTLY SEE LOWER PP n AND "ARBARY $OVES ARE NEWLY ESTABLISHED COULD BE EXCLUDED FOR A KM BUFFER ZONE AND ALL FERAL COLONIES SOUGHT (OWEVER IN THE CASE OF BUMBLEBEES THEIR COMPETITIVE IMPACT ON OUT AND REMOVED -ONITORING THE RESPONSES OF THE FLORA AND FAUNA TO BIRDS IS INCREASED BY AN ABILITY TO FORAGE AT LOWER TEMPERATURES THAN OTHER IN !DELAIDE !LICE 3PRINGS AND 4ENNANT #REEK THE REMOVAL OF HONEYBEES WOULD PROVIDE A STRONG BASIS FOR SUBSEQUENT INSECTS "UMBLEBEES ARE ABLE TO TAKE NECTAR AND POLLEN EARLIER IN THE DAY 0REVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE 4HE BEST WAY TO ACHIEVE THIS IS TO MANAGEMENT OF HONEYBEES IN OTHER AREAS 4HE FOCUS OF MANAGEMENT THAN HONEYBEES AND WHEN IT IS TOO COLD FOR HONEYBEES TO FORAGE THEREBY CONTROL IMPORTATIONS INTO !USTRALIA RESPOND QUICKLY TO NEW INCURSIONS PROGRAMS HOWEVER SHOULD BE ON FERAL COLONIES OF HONEYBEES RATHER REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT BIRDS CAN FORAGE IN THE ABSENCE OF EXOTIC AND PREVENT THE SPREAD OF ALREADY ESTABLISHED INVASIVES TO CURRENTLY THAN MANAGED COLONIES BECAUSE COLONIES OF FERAL HONEYBEES ARE PRESENT BEES &OR THIS REASON THE COMPETITIVE IMPACT OF BUMBLEBEES PROBABLY ISOLATED HABITATS SUCH AS ISLANDS /PPORTUNITIES TO REMOVE EXOTIC SPECIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR INCLUDING PERIODS WHEN LITTLE IS FLOWERING AND EXCEEDS THAT OF HONEYBEES FROM THE WILD BEFORE THEY BECOME PESTS ARE BEST TAKEN WHEN NUMBERS COMPETITION IS LIKELY TO BE GREATEST "EEKEEPERS ON THE OTHER HAND !T LEAST TWO NATIONALLY ENDANGERED BIRDSTHE 3WIFT 0ARROT AND ARE LOW 4HIS OPPORTUNITY WAS MISSED WITH SLEEPER SPECIES SUCH AS THE TYPICALLY SHIFT THEIR MANAGED HIVES FROM ONE LOCATION TO THE NEXT EVERY ONE 2EGENT (ONEYEATERARE POTENTIALLY AT RISK FROM COMPETITION BY BEES 9ELLOW #RAZY !NT ON #HRISTMAS )SLAND AND -IMOSA ON THE MAINLAND TO THREE MONTHS TO EXPLOIT FLOWERING PEAKS OF DIFFERENT PLANT SPECIES 4HE BIRDS BREEDING IS RESTRICTED LARGELY TO TIMES OF SPRING NECTAR FLOWS WHICH EXPLODED OR MORE YEARS AFTER THEY BECAME ESTABLISHED AND NOW !N )NDIAN 2INGNECK 0ARAKEET PERCHES ON A BACKYARD CLOTHES LINE SEE PP n )N ADDITION TO USING FLORAL RESOURCES FERAL HONEYBEES POTENTIALLY PARTICULARLY THOSE OF EUCALYPTS )N SOUTH EASTERN 4ASMANIA BOTH BEES ARE COST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO CONTROL !N EMERGING POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL BEFORE FEEDING AT A BIRD FEEDER 3UCH FEEDING STATIONS CAN HELP EXOTIC SPECIES ESTABLISH COMPETE WITH NATIVE FAUNA INCLUDING BIRDS FOR TREE HOLES !LTHOUGH THERE THE MAJOR CONSUMERS OF NECTAR AND ALSO TAKE POLLEN FROM FLOWERS OF "LUE PROBLEM IS THE SPREAD OF SEVERAL SPECIES OF DEER AND SPREAD INTO THE BUSH 0HOTO BY -ARION -ASSAM ARE MANY CASES WHERE A PARTICULAR HOLLOW USED BY BIRDS IN ONE YEAR IS 'UM AND "LACK 'UM DURING THE BREEDING SEASON OF 3WIFT 0ARROTS WHEN THE 4HE PRINCIPAL !USTRALIAN 'OVERNMENT LEGISLATIVE INSTRUMENTS RELATING SUBSEQUENTLY TAKEN OVER BY A FERAL COLONY OF HONEYBEES THE EVIDENCE FOR FLOWERS OF THESE TWO GUMS ARE THE MAJOR FOOD SOURCES FOR THE PARROTS "Y TO IMPORT CONTROL ARE THE %NVIRONMENT 0ROTECTION AND "IODIVERSITY #ONSER THE ANTS AT .APIER ONLY ABOUT A YEAR AFTER THEY INVADED AND THEIR SERIOUS COMPETITION REMAINS WEAK $ID THE HONEYBEES DISPLACE THE BIRDS AND REDUCING FOOD AVAILABILITY TO 3WIFT 0ARROTS DURING THEIR BREEDING SEASON VATION !CT %0"# !CT AND THE 1UARANTINE !CT 4HE IMPORTATION ERADICATION COST ONLY M DID THAT STOP THOSE BIRDS FROM BREEDING OR DID THEY SIMPLY SHIFT TO ANOTHER THESE INTRODUCED BEES POTENTIALLY HAVE THE SAME EFFECT AS DESTRUCTION OF OF POTENTIALLY INVASIVE SPECIES IS REGULATED BY THE 1UARANTINE !CT WHICH s )NADEQUATE CONTINGENCY PLANS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL WEEDS PESTS NEARBY HOLLOW /R DID THE BIRDS INITIALLY ABANDON THE HOLLOW WHICH WAS "LUE 'UM AND "LACK 'UM FORESTS A FACTOR THAT HAS LONG BEEN CONSIDERED A PREVENTS OR CONTROLS THE ENTRY ESTABLISHMENT AND SPREAD OF PESTS AND DISEASES AND DISEASES !USTRALIA HAS EFFECTIVE CONTINGENCY PLANS IN PLACE TO SUBSEQUENTLY COLONISED BY BEES !NSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS HAVE NOT BEEN THREATENING PROCESS FOR THE 3WIFT 0ARROT THAT WILL OR COULD LIKELY CAUSE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO HUMANS PLANTS ANIMALS QUELL INCURSIONS BY AGRICULTURAL PESTS AND IS DEVELOPING A SYSTEM TO PROVIDED AND ARE CRITICAL TO ASSESSING THE EXTENT OF COMPETITION )N ADDITION #LIMATIC MODELLING SHOWS THAT THE POTENTIAL DISTRIBUTION OF BUMBLEBEES AND OTHER ASPECTS OF THE ENVIRONMENT SEE TOP P 4HE %0"# !CT ALSO COMBAT MARINE PESTS ! SIMILAR SET OF DEFENSES NEEDS TO BE DEVELOPED THE IMPACT OF HONEYBEES ON HOLLOW NESTING BIRDS REQUIRES AN UNDERSTANDING ENCOMPASSES ALMOST ALL AREAS FROM WHICH THE 2EGENT (ONEYEATER HAS BEEN PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK FOR THE REGULATION OF EXPORTS AND IMPORTS OF LIVE FOR OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL PESTS WEEDS AND DISEASES OF WHETHER SUITABLE HOLLOWS ARE THE KEY LIMITING FACTOR IN NESTING SUCCESS REPORTED SINCE %UROPEAN SETTLEMENT AND ALL OF THE KEY BREEDING AREAS FOR THIS ANIMALS AND PLANTS 5NDER THE !CT A LIST OF SPECIES SUITABLE FOR LIVE IMPORT s -ISMATCHES BETWEEN LAWS !USTRALIA LACKS AN EFFECTIVE NATIONAL RATHER THAN FOOD AVAILABILITY FOR EXAMPLE SPECIES SUGGESTING THAT IF BUMBLEBEES SPREAD TO THE !USTRALIAN MAINLAND THEY HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED SPECIES NOT ON THE LIST ARE PROHIBITED !PPLICATIONS FOR REGULATORY APPROACH TO TACKLING WEEDS PESTS AND DISEASES ,AWS VARY #LOSE INSPECTION INDICATES THAT THE HOLLOWS PREFERRED BY HONEYBEES COULD BECOME AN ADDITIONAL THREAT TO THE ENDANGERED HONEYEATER IMPORTATION OF POTENTIALLY INVASIVE SPECIES ARE CONTINUAL FROM 3TATE TO 3TATE AND THERE IS NO OVER ARCHING #OMMONWEALTH OFTEN DIFFER FROM THOSE USED BY NATIVE BIRDS %NTRANCES TO HOLLOWS USED BY "9 !.$2%7 ().'34/. (ONORARY 2ESEARCH !SSOCIATE 5NIVERSITY OF 4ASMANIA 7ITHIN !USTRALIA TRANSLOCATIONS OF INVASIVE SPECIES ALSO CONTINUE LAW 4HIS CREATES PROBLEMS FOR INDUSTRIES THAT TRADE NATIONALLY SUCH HONEYBEES FOR EXAMPLE ARE OFTEN NARROW AND FAR TOO SMALL FOR BIRDS TO AS THE NURSERY INDUSTRY AND LEADS TO SERIOUS ANOMALIES &URTHER READING TO OCCUR EITHER THROUGH ESCAPE FROM CAPTIVE OR CULTIVATED POPULATIONS GAIN ACCESS OR THE CAVITIES HAVE NO FLOOR ANDOR OPENINGS AT THE BOTTOM s )NADEQUATE PROTOCOLS TO DECIDE ERADICATION PRIORITIES AND WHO PAYS (INGSTON !" -C1UILLAN 0" $OES THE RECENTLY INTRODUCED RELEASE OF PETS UNINTENTIONAL ASSISTANCE OR MALICIOUS INTRODUCTIONS &URTHERMORE MANY OF THE BIRDS THAT USE CAVITIES OF SIMILAR VOLUME TO THOSE 7HEN A NEW PEST IS FOUND VITAL ACTION IS OFTEN DELAYED BY UNCERTAINTY BUMBLEBEE "OMBUS TERRESTRIS !PIDAE THREATEN !USTRALIAN ECOSYSTEMS #AREFUL SURVEILLANCE AND SWIFT ACTION CAN PREVENT THEIR ESTABLISHMENT USED BY FERAL HONEYBEES ARE ABUNDANT SPECIES 'ALAH 3ULPHUR CRESTED ABOUT WHICH AGENCY SHOULD ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY AND COST #OCKATOO CORELLAS ETC SUGGESTING THAT TREE HOLLOWS ARE NOT LIMITING !USTRALIAN *OURNAL OF %COLOGY n &OR EXAMPLE DETECTION OF #OMMON -YNAS IN NORTHERN 4ASMANIA s )NADEQUATE FUNDING FOR RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT OF ENVIRON FOR THEM )N THE FEW STUDIES WHERE SOME ASSESSMENT OF HOLLOW USE HAS -C#LAY ! #,)-%8 -ODELS TO 0REDICT THE 0OTENTIAL .ATURALISED 2ANGE PROMPTED A RAPID RESPONSE THAT APPEARS TO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY REMOVED MENTAL WEEDS AND PESTS BEEN MADE MANY UNOCCUPIED HOLLOWS WERE ALSO PRESENT (OWEVER OF THE %UROPEAN "UMBLEBEE "OMBUS TERRESTRIS , IN -AINLAND !USTRALIA THE NEW ARRIVALS WHICH WERE ALREADY NESTING 5NFORTUNATELY ALSO s ,ACK OF COMMUNITY AWARENESS -OST !USTRALIANS DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE CONTINUING LOSS OF RURAL TREES MANY OF WHICH CARRY HOLLOWS WITHOUT 2EPORT PREPARED FOR THE !USTRALIAN (YDROPONIC AND 'REENHOUSE !SSOCIATION IN 4ASMANIA RAPID AND CONCERTED ACTION AGAINST FOXES APPARENTLY REPLACEMENT MAY ULTIMATELY RESULT IN INCREASED COMPETITIVE INTERACTIONS 0ATON $# /VERVIEW OF &ERAL AND -ANAGED (ONEYBEES IN !USTRALIA DELIBERATELY INTRODUCED IN n HAS BEEN UNABLE TO STEM AN THE SCALE OF THE THREAT OVER A DIMINISHING RESOURCE 4HE SOLUTION THOUGH IS TO ADDRESS THE $ISTRIBUTION !BUNDANCE %XTENT OF )NTERACTIONS WITH .ATIVE "IOTA %VIDENCE APPARENTLY INCREASING POPULATION ALREADY ESTIMATED TO NUMBER AS UNDERLYING CAUSETHE LOSS OF THE MATURE HOLLOW BEARING TREES FROM RURAL OF )MPACTS AND &UTURE 2ESEARCH !USTRALIAN .ATURE #ONSERVATION !GENCY MANY AS 4HEIR SPREAD ACROSS THIS FORMERLY FOX FREE ISLAND WILL BE %VERYONE HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN THE EARLY DETECTION OF NEW POPULATIONS LANDSCAPES AND THE LACK OF RECRUITMENT FOR THESE TREESIN ADDITION TO #ANBERRA CATASTROPHIC 4HEIR ERADICATION SHOULD BE A NATIONAL PRIORITY ALTHOUGH IT OF INVASIVE SPECIESIF YOU SEE A PLANT OR ANIMAL THAT DOESNT BELONG 0ATON $# $ISRUPTION OF BIRD PLANT POLLINATION SYSTEMS IN SOUTHERN ADDRESSING THE INTERACTION BETWEEN BIRDS AND BEES IN USE OF HOLLOWS WILL BE A DIFFICULT TASK WHEN NUMBERS ARE LOW AND THE ISLAND IS LARGE CONTACT THE RELEVANT STATE AUTHORITIES IMMEDIATELY $O NOT FEED !USTRALIA #ONSERVATION "IOLOGY n "9 $!6)$ 0!4/. AND $!.)%, 2/'%23 !DELAIDE 5NIVERSITY 3OUTH !USTRALIA SEE P IT WILL BE EVEN MORE DIFFICULT WHEN NUMBERS HAVE INCREASED INTRODUCED BIRDS EVEN IF THEY ARE FRIENDLY AND ATTRACTIVE IF THEY SPREAD &ERAL HONEYBEES HAVE INVADED A TREE SPOUT FORMERLY USED BY PARROTS !USTRALIAS ISLANDS HAVE HAD A POOR HISTORY WITH RESPECT TO DELIBERATE THEY MAY DISPLACE NATIVE ANIMALS OR BECOME AN AGRICULTURAL PEST 0HOTO BY .ICHOLAS "IRKS 7ILDFLIGHT OR ACCIDENTAL INTRODUCTIONS 4HOSE FEW THAT ARE CURRENTLY FREE OF INVASIVES -AKE SURE PETS DO NOT ESCAPE AND NEVER DELIBERATELY RELEASE AN ANIMAL ARE VULNERABLE AND QUARANTINE EFFORTS ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF MANAGEMENT THAT IS NOT NATIVE TO THE AREA "E A RESPONSIBLE GARDENER SEE P OF THE THREAT OF INVASION &OR EXAMPLE A BREEDING SITE FOR 3OFT PLUMAGED 0ETRELS -AATSUYKER )SLAND 4ASMANIA IS FREE OF FERAL PREDATORS &URTHER READING (OWEVER ITS PROXIMITY TO MAINLAND 4ASMANIA KM OFF THE SOUTHERN !USTRALIAN "IOSECURITY 'ROUP )NVASIVE 7EEDS 0ESTS AND $ISEASES COAST MAKES THE ACCIDENTAL INTRODUCTION OF PREDATORS A SIGNIFICANT 3OLUTIONS TO 3ECURE !USTRALIA #2# FOR 0EST !NIMAL #ONTROL #2# FOR POTENTIAL THREAT )N ORDER TO REDUCE THE RISK OF UNINTENDED INTRODUCTIONS 7EED -ANAGEMENT AND 77& n !USTRALIA #ANBERRA QUARANTINE GUIDELINES HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED FOR VOLUNTEERS AND SUPPLY $%( 2ECOVERY 0LAN FOR THE &OLLOWING 3EABIRDS 2OUND )SLAND SERVICES THAT VISIT THE ISLAND 3IMILARLY SUB !NTARCTIC (EARD )SLAND 0ETREL 0TERODROMA ARMINJONIANA (ERALD 0ETREL 0TERODROMA HERALDICA HAS NO INTRODUCED VERTEBRATES SUCH AS CATS OR RABBITS 4HE PREVENTION !NTARCTIC 4ERN .EW :EALAND 3TERNA VITTATA BETHUNEI !NTARCTIC 4ERN OF INTRODUCTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH HUMAN VISITS IS A MAJOR ISSUE FOR THE )NDIAN /CEAN 3TERNA VITTATA VITTATA "LUE 0ETREL (ALOBAENA CAERULEA MANAGEMENT OF THE ISLAND AND STRICT PROTOCOLS ARE IN PLACE &AIRY 0RION SOUTHERN 0ACHYPTILA TUTUR SUBANTARCTICA (EARD 3HAG ! RECENT REVIEW BY THE !USTRALIAN "IOSECURITY 'ROUP IDENTIFIED 0HALACROCORAX NIVALIS -ACQUARIE 3HAG 0HALACROCORAX PURPURASCENS SEVERAL GAPS IN !USTRALIAS BIOSECURITY SHIELD 4HEY INCLUDED 3OFT PLUMAGED 0ETREL 0TERODROMA MOLLIS AND !USTRALIAN ,ESSER .ODDY s .O COMPREHENSIVE EARLY WARNING SURVEILLANCE !USTRALIA PAYS DEARLY !NOUS TENUIROSTRIS MELANOPS $EPARTMENT OF THE FOR NOT HAVING COMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL EARLY WARNING PROGRAMS %NVIRONMENT AND (ERITAGE #ANBERRA "ECAUSE &IRE !NTS IN "RISBANE WERE OVERLOOKED FOR SEVERAL YEARS 3AUNDERS ' ,ANE # (ARRIS 3 $ICKMAN # &OXES IN THEY WILL COST AT LEAST MILLION TO ERADICATE "Y COMPARISON 4ASMANIA ! 2EPORT ON AN )NCURSION BY AN )NVASIVE 3PECIES )NVASIVE .EW :EALANDS .ATIONAL )NVASIVE !NT 3URVEILLANCE 0ROGRAM DETECTED !NIMALS #OOPERATIVE 2ESEARCH #ENTRE 4HE 3TATE OF !USTRALIAS "IRDS 4HE 3TATE OF !USTRALIAS "IRDS
2ISK ASSESSMENTS FOR EXOTIC BIRDS 0IED #URRAWONGS ARE ONE OF MANY NATIVE SPECIES THAT ENJOY BERRIES OF INTRODUCED GARDEN PLANTS 4HE )NTRODUCED NON NATIVE BIRDS POSE MAJOR THREATS OF SECURITY ! NATIONAL APPROACH IS NECESSARY CURRAWONGS BENEFIT FROM THE NUTRITIOUS FOOD WHICH TO THE !USTRALIAN ENVIRONMENT AND AGRICULTURE TO ENSURE THAT BIRDS THAT HAVE SIGNIFICANT PEST IS OFTEN PRODUCED AT TIMES OF THE YEAR WHEN NATURAL 4WENTY SIX SPECIES OF EXOTIC BIRDS HAVE ALREADY POTENTIAL IN ONE PART OF !USTRALIA ARE NOT KEPT FOOD IS SCARCE AND HELP TO SPREAD THE SEEDS 0HOTO ESTABLISHED IN THE WILD IN !USTRALIA 3EVERAL OF UNDER LOW SECURITY IN OTHER REGIONS WHERE THEY BY 0ETER -ARSACK ,OCHMAN 4RANSPARENCIES THESE SPECIES ARE SIGNIFICANT PESTS INCLUDING THE COULD ESCAPE ESTABLISH AND SPREAD #OMMON "LACKBIRD (OUSE 3PARROW #OMMON 4HE "UREAU OF 2URAL 3CIENCES HAS -YNA AND THE #OMMON 3TARLING !N ADDITIONAL DEVELOPED A RISK ASSESSMENT MODEL TO SUPPORT EXOTIC BIRD SPECIES ARE HELD IN CAPTIVITY GOVERNMENT DECISIONS ABOUT WHICH EXOTIC BIRDS OR SIGHTINGS OF UNUSUAL BIRDS IN THEIR AREA 6ERTEBRATE 0ESTS #OMMITTEE INCLUDING BIRDS SPECIES SHOULD BE BANNED FROM IMPORT 4HE EARLIER ESCAPEES ARE DETECTED THE GREATER MANY SPECIES HELD IN LOW SECURITY CAGES IN INTO !USTRALIA OR KEPT HERE ONLY UNDER HIGH THE CHANCE THAT ERADICATION CAN BE ACHIEVED PRIVATE AVIARIES !N EXAMPLE OF AN EXOTIC BIRD SECURITY BECAUSE OF THEIR POTENTIAL TO ESTABLISH /NCE A POPULATION HAS ESTABLISHED A BREEDING 'ARDENERS WEEDS AND BIRDS COMMONLY KEPT AS A PET IN !USTRALIA IS THE )NDIAN WILD PEST POPULATIONS 4HE "OMFORD MODEL POPULATION THAT HAS SPREAD FROM THE RELEASE SITE 2INGNECK 0ARAKEET 4HIS SPECIES OCCURS NATURALLY EVALUATES A RANGE OF FACTORS FOR AN EXOTIC BIRD ERADICATION MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE "IRDS ARE ONE OF THE GREATEST DISPERSERS OF WEEDS THROUGHOUT !USTRALIA 4HEY EAT THE FLESHY FRUITS IN !FRICA AND )NDIA AND HAS ESTABLISHED IN THE SPECIES INCLUDING ITS CLIMATE MATCH TO !USTRALIA OF INVASIVE PLANTS AND DEPOSIT THE SEEDS IN ANOTHER AREA WHERE THEY GERMINATE AND GIVE RISE TO WILD IN MANY COUNTRIES AS A RESULT OF PET BIRDS ITS HISTORY OF ESTABLISHING EXOTIC POPULATIONS &URTHER READING NEW INFESTATIONS "IRDS THAT SPREAD WEEDS INCLUDE SILVEREYES CURRAWONGS HONEYEATERS FIGBIRDS ESCAPING "ETWEEN !PRIL AND 3EPTEMBER ELSEWHERE AND ITS PEST STATUS OVERSEAS TO "OMFORD - 2ISK !SSESSMENT FOR THE BOWERBIRDS CASSOWARIES AND FRUIT PIGEONS 4HEY ARE ATTRACTED BY BRIGHTLY COLOURED FRUITS RICH IN SUGARS )NDIAN 2INGNECK 0ARAKEETS WERE REMOVED CALCULATE A RISK SCORE OF LOW MODERATE SERIOUS )MPORT AND +EEPING OF %XOTIC 6ERTEBRATES IN OR OTHER NUTRIENTS SOME OF WHICH ARE AVAILABLE AT TIMES OF YEAR WHEN FRUIT IS OTHERWISE SCARCE 4HESE FROM THE WILD IN 0ERTH 7ESTERN !USTRALIA AFTER OR EXTREME 4HE !USTRALIAN 'OVERNMENT RECEIVES !USTRALIA "UREAU OF 2URAL 3CIENCES #ANBERRA FEATURES ALSO APPEAL TO GARDENERS SUCH THAT GARDENS AND BIRDS COMBINE TO CAUSE WEED INFESTATIONS IN SOME CASES MONTHS OF SURVIVAL AND A FURTHER FREQUENT APPLICATIONS TO ALLOW NEW EXOTIC BIRD +IRKPATRICK 7 -ARTIN ' )NDIAN 3OME BIRDS TURN TO INTRODUCED PLANTS WHERE LAND CLEARING AND URBANISATION HAVE REMOVED SEVEN WERE CONFIRMED AS STILL FLYING FREE 7ILD SPECIES TO BE IMPORTED INTO !USTRALIA 2ISK 2INGNECK 0ARAKEET 0ESTNOTE THE NATIVE FRUITS THAT ORIGINALLY SUSTAINED THEM )T IS IMPORTANT THAT LOCAL NATIVE FRUIT AND NECTAR POPULATIONS COULD COMPETE WITH NATIVE TREE ASSESSMENTS ARE CONDUCTED BEFORE AMENDMENTS $EPARTMENT OF !GRICULTURE AND $EPARTMENT BEARING TREES ARE INCLUDED IN BUSH RESTORATION AND URBAN PARKS AND GARDENS SO THAT BIRDS HOLLOW NESTING BIRDS AS WELL AS POTENTIALLY THAT ALLOW NEW SPECIES TO BE IMPORTED INTO GIVEN TO SPECIES CONSIDERED TO BE PESTS IN THEIR OF #ONSERVATION AND ,AND -ANAGEMENT THEN SPREAD NATIVE PLANTS 'ARDENERS NEED TO BE AWARE THAT PLANTS SUCH AS -OCK /RANGE IN DAMAGE GRAIN AND HORTICULTURAL CROPS !USTRALIA ARE MADE TO THE LIVE IMPORT LIST OVERSEAS RANGE )F BIRD KEEPERS ARE ALLOWED TO 7ESTERN !USTRALIA HTTPWWWAGRICWAGOV THE SUBTROPICS AND COTONEASTERS IN COOLER AREAS SUPPORT INCREASED ABUNDANCES OF BIRDS SUCH AS 'OVERNMENTS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO /NLY A SMALL NUMBER OF THE SPECIES OF HOLD SPECIES THAT HAVE A SERIOUS OR EXTREME AUPLSPORTALDOCSFOLDERIKMPPWVPBIRD CURRAWONGS THAT ALSO PREY ON NESTLING BIRDS AND SPREAD THE WEEDS INTO THE BUSH ENSURE THAT RISK ASSESSMENTS ARE CONDUCTED CAPTIVE EXOTIC BIRDS THAT ARE ALREADY PRESENT IN RISK SCORE THEY NEED TO BE EDUCATED ABOUT PSITTACULAPNPDF TO IDENTIFY SPECIES THAT POSE A HIGH THREAT OF !USTRALIA HAVE BEEN ASSESSED USING "OMFORDS THE IMPORTANCE OF ENSURING THAT THE BIRDS ARE 6ERTEBRATE 0ESTS #OMMITTEE ,IST OF %XOTIC &URTHER READING ESTABLISHING PEST POPULATIONS IF THEY SHOULD BE MODEL 4HE )NDIAN 2INGNECK 0ARAKEET HAS BEEN KEPT UNDER APPROPRIATE LEVELS OF SECURITY "IRD 6ERTEBRATE !NIMALS IN !USTRALIA HTTPWWW &RENCH + -AJOR 2% (ELY + 5SE OF NATIVE AND EXOTIC GARDEN PLANTS BY SUBURBAN NECTAR RELEASED FROM CAPTIVITY AND TO ENSURE THAT SUCH ASSESSED AND RECEIVED AN EXTREME RISK SCORE !LL KEEPERS LANDOWNERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ALSO FERALORGAUCONTENTPOLICYPOLICYCFM IVOROUS BIRDS "IOLOGICAL #ONSERVATION n SPECIES ARE EITHER KEPT OUT OF !USTRALIA OR IF EXOTIC BIRD SPECIES CURRENTLY PRESENT IN !USTRALIA NEED TO BE EDUCATED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF "9 -!29 "/-&/2$ 'OSPER #2 3TANSBURY #$ 6IVIAN 3MITH ' 3EED DISPERSAL OF FLESHY FRUITED INVASIVE PLANTS KEPT HERE THEY ARE HELD WITH APPROPRIATE LEVELS NEED TO BE ASSESSED WITH THE HIGHEST PRIORITY PROMPTLY REPORTING ANY ESCAPES OF EXOTIC AVIARY "UREAU OF 2URAL 3CIENCES #ANBERRA BY BIRDS CONTRIBUTING FACTORS AND MANAGEMENT OPTIONS $IVERSITY AND $ISTRIBUTIONS n
"ARBARIANS AT THE GATES &ERAL BIRD INCURSIONS IN 7ESTERN !USTRALIA
)N 7ESTERN !USTRALIA AT LEAST SPECIES OF BIRD INFESTATIONS OF MORE THAN BIRDS HAVE BEEN IMPORT VIA SHIPPING INTO 7ESTERN !USTRALIAN PORTS IN THE WILD IN 7ESTERN !USTRALIA WITH SMALL BEYOND THE $EPARTMENT OF !GRICULTURE HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED AND RELEASED INTO THE ERADICATED IN RECENT YEARS 3IMILARLY (OUSE )T HAS NOT BECOME ESTABLISHED IN THE WILD DUE TO GROUPS PERSISTING FOR MANY MONTHS AND ONE AND &OODS ABILITY TO MANAGE USING NORMAL WILD AND AT LEAST HAVE BECOME ESTABLISHED 3PARROWS AND #OMMON -YNAS ARE ESTABLISHED IN THE EFFORTS OF THE 7ESTERN !USTRALIAN AUTHORITIES GROUP WAS REPORTED TO HAVE BRED AND SUCCESSFULLY PROCEDURES )N *UNE A CABINET SUBMISSION 4HE 0EST !NIMAL #ONTROL #O OPERATIVE 2ESEARCH THE WILD IN EASTERN !USTRALIA BUT NOT IN 7ESTERN WHO REMOVE ALL BIRDS ON SIGHT AND THE VIGILANCE OF RAISED OFFSPRING -OST INFESTATIONS HAVE BEEN WAS SUCCESSFUL IN GAINING MILLION DOLLARS #ENTRE #2# RECENTLY ESTIMATED THAT THE !USTRALIA 4WO SIGNIFICANT INFESTATIONS ABOUT SHIPS MASTERS 4HE CROW IS LIKELY TO PREY ON NATIVE DETECTED AT BIRD FEEDERS MAINTAINED BY RESIDENTS FOR A CONTAINMENT AND SURVEILLANCE STRATEGY ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT OF AND BIRDS OF (OUSE 3PARROWS HAVE BEEN BIRD SPECIES AND HARASS OTHER SPECIES AND ARE REMOVED PRIMARILY BY TRAPPING TOTAL OPERATIONAL FUNDS MILLION PLUS UP TO OF THE WORST VERTEBRATE INVADERS WAS A MINIMUM ERADICATED IN RECENT YEARS AND OCCASIONAL MYNAS 4HE )NDIAN 2INGNECK IS WIDELY HELD IN 5NTIL THE 3TATE WAS FREE OF #OMMON OF ASSISTANCE FROM THE 7! $EPARTMENT OF MILLION PER YEAR ARRIVE AND ARE REMOVED )N ADDITION NATIVE CAPTIVITY BY BIRD FANCIERS AROUND !USTRALIA 3TARLINGS %ACH YEAR MANY BIRDS ARE DESTROYED OF %NVIRONMENT AND #ONSERVATION 3EVERAL NON NATIVE SPECIES ARRIVE FAIRLY SPECIES FROM THE EASTERN 3TATES SUCH AS THE INCLUDING 7ESTERN !USTRALIA (IGH NUMBERS IN WESTERN 3OUTH !USTRALIA AND EASTERN 4HE SITUATION IS COMPLICATED BY THE PRESENCE .ULLABOR REGULARLY BUT ARE REMOVED 4HE %URASIAN 4REE 2AINBOW ,ORIKEET AND ,ONG BILLED #ORELLA ARE OF THE COMMON GREEN COLOUR FORM MEAN THAT 7ESTERN !USTRALIA TO PREVENT MOVEMENT OVER OF MULTIPLE FLOCKS OF THIS WARY SPECIES AND THE 0LAIN 3PARROW IS AN ACCIDENTAL IMPORT VIA SHIPPING ALSO INVADING THE 3TATE THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE LITTLE VALUE AND ALTHOUGH THE .ULLARBOR INTO 7ESTERN !USTRALIA OVER DIFFICULTIES OF UNDERTAKING CONTROL ACTIVITIES IN INTO PORTS AND PROBABLY ALONG THE COAST ARRIVING 4HREE POTENTIALLY MORE DAMAGING EXOTIC HANDSOME THE BIRDS ARE NOISY )N COMBINATION INDIVIDUALS SO FAR "UT 3TARLINGS ARE LONG THE PAPERBARK SWAMPS THEY INHABIT 4HE STARLING REGULARLY SINCE AND VERY REGULARLY SINCE SPECIES ASSESSED AS POSING AN EXTREME THREAT WITH THE LIMITED ABILITY OF THE AUTHORITIES TO DISTANCE FLIERS AND SELF INTRODUCTION HAS LED TO EMERGENCY ALSO HIGHLIGHTS THE DIFFICULTIES OF 4REE 3PARROWS ARE ESTABLISHED IN THE TO AGRICULTURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT SEE ABOVE ENSURE THE RINGNECKS SECURE KEEPING THIS SMALL POPULATIONS BEING PERIODICALLY FOUND MOUNTING AN APPROPRIATE RESPONSE AGAINST A WILD IN 6ICTORIA AND .EW 3OUTH 7ALES BUT NOT CONTINUE TO THREATEN TO INVADE 4HE (OUSE #ROW INCREASES THE RISK OF ESCAPE OR RELEASE 4HE SOME OF WHICH HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY ERADICATED SPECIES THAT CAN BE HARD TO DETECT UNTIL NUMBERS IN 7ESTERN !USTRALIA WHERE TWO SIGNIFICANT OF SOUTHERN !SIA IS AN UNCOMMON ACCIDENTAL RINGNECK HAS BEEN REPORTED FROM MANY LOCATIONS AND ONE MAINTAINED AT A LOW LEVEL #ONDINGUP INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY 3TARLINGS WERE INTRODUCED BY ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETIES EAST OF %SPERANCE "9 -!2)/. -!33!- 0%4%2 -!73/. IN THE S AND SPREAD ACROSS THE TEMPERATE SOUTH (OWEVER IN A POPULATION WAS 7). +)2+0!42)#+AND !.$2%7 7//,./5'( EAST AND BEYOND 5NTIL RECENTLY A CONCERTED EFFORT DETECTED NEAR -UNGLINUP APPROXIMATELY 6ERTEBRATE 0EST 2ESEARCH 3ECTION $EPARTMENT TO PREVENT THEIR INVASION OF THE SOUTH WEST ASSISTED KM WEST OF %SPERANCE 2ESEARCH AND SURVEILLANCE OF !GRICULTURE AND &OOD &ORRESTFIELD AND BY THE NATURAL BARRIER OF THE .ULLARBOR 0LAIN HAS SHOWED THAT THE EXTENT OF THE INFESTATION WAS $EPARTMENT OF %NVIRONMENT AND #ONSERVATION BEEN SUCCESSFUL "UT NOW THIS ENVIRONMENTAL AND GREATER THAN INITIALLY THOUGHT $OCUMENTING THE +ENSINGTON 7ESTERN !USTRALIA AGRICULTURAL PEST HAS BREACHED THE BARRIERS AND IN THE INCREASED PROBLEM LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN THE LAST FEW YEARS HAS ESTABLISHED SUBSTANTIAL POPULATIONS RESOURCING OF THE 3TARLING #ONTROL 0ROJECT FROM IN DIFFICULT TO ACCESS AREAS IN THE %SPERANCE REGION IN TO IN 4HE MAP SHOWS RECORDS SINCE IN THE !TLAS OF 3INCE THE POPULATION WAS FIRST IDENTIFIED OVER !USTRALIAN "IRDS BIRDS HAVE BEEN REMOVED 4HEN EARLY IN TWO MORE POPULATIONS ONE IN THE #OOMALBIDGUP AREA ABOUT KM TO 3TARLINGS HAVE ESTABLISHED AT -UNGLINUP SWAMP THE EAST AND THE OTHER IN THE *ERDACUTTUP AREA WHERE THE TERRAIN MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO FIND AND KM TO THE WEST WERE DISCOVERED !NOTHER DESTROY THEM 0HOTOS BY -ARION -ASSAM LEFT AND WAS FOUND AT -ASON "AY ABOUT KM TO THE 2OHAN #LARKE FAR LEFT SOUTH WEST IN LATE -ARCH )N LATE &EBRUARY ! (OUSE #ROW WAS DETECTED AT 0ORT (EDLAND IN IT WAS DECIDED TO DECLARE THE SITUATION AND TWO WERE ON 2OTTNEST )SLAND IN -AY ALL AN EMERGENCY INCIDENT AS IT WAS CONSIDERED WERE REMOVED 0HOTO BY -ARION -ASSAM 4HE 3TATE OF !USTRALIAS "IRDS 4HE 3TATE OF !USTRALIAS "IRDS
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0EOPLE DETERMINE WHETHER AN ANIMAL BECOMES IS TOXIC AND @UGLY !S YET THERE IS LITTLE EVIDENCE A PEST EITHER BY MOVING IT PHYSICALLY BY THAT EITHER SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGE NATIVE BIRD MODIFYING HABITATS OR LAND USES OR BY ALTERING POPULATIONS 3TARLINGS HAVE BEEN HERE LONGER THEIR OWN PERCEPTIONS 7HAT IS A PEST TO ONE AND ATTRACT LESS INTEREST THAN MYNASPERHAPS PERSON MAY BE A VALUABLE RESOURCE TO ANOTHER WE HAVE BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO THEM &OR EXAMPLE A FERAL PIG MIGHT VIEWED AS #ONTROL EFFORTS ARE COSTLY AND TIME A VALUABLE RESOURCE BY HUNTERS AND MEAT CONSUMING AND FUNDING IS LIMITED (ENCE PROCESSORS BUT A PEST BY FARMERS OR LOVERS OF IT MUST BE DECIDED WHETHER THE THREAT POSED WETLANDS BIRDS 3UCH DIVERSITY OF OPINION IS BY AN INVASIVE SPECIES IS REAL OR PERCEIVED AND ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS THAT PAST PEST CONTROL HOW SIGNIFICANT IT IS SEE BELOW AND P AND HAS HAD VARYING SUCCESS LOWER PP n AND WHETHER CONTROL EFFORTS !TTITUDES TO ANIMALS WHETHER NATIVE OR ARE LIKELY TO BE EFFECTIVE IN ALLEVIATING THE INTRODUCED CHANGE WITH TIME AND CIRCUM IMPACT SEE NEXT SECTION #ONTROL OF )NVASIVE STANCE 'OOD EXAMPLES OF THIS ARE THE #OMMON 3PECIES AND A COMMITMENT MUST BE MADE TO -YNA WHICH HAS CAPTURED ATTENTION BY ITS MONITORING EFFECTIVENESS OTHERWISE THE EFFORT @COCKY BEHAVIOUR AND THE #ANE 4OAD WHICH IS LIKELY TO BE MISCONCEIVED AND MISDIRECTED
#HANGING PERCEPTIONS RAVENS STRUNG ALONG A FENCELINE IN THE SA LEFTOVER FROM A BYGONE ERA WHEN GAMEKEEPERS BELIEVED IT WAS A DETERRENT TO OTHER RAVENS THAT MIGHT PREY ON THE LAMBS IN THEIR CHARGE 4ODAY THIS IS ILLEGAL AND RAVENS ARE NO LONGER PERCEIVED TO BE SUCH TERRIBLE PESTS 0HOTO BY 'RAEME #HAPMAN
#OCKATOO MANAGEMENT IN 6ICTORIA HOW COST EFFECTIVE
,ONG BILLED #ORELLAS 3ULPHUR CRESTED #OCKATOOS THE SPECIES RANGE TO A SMALL AREA IN WESTERN FOR BIRD DAMAGE GROWING SUNFLOWERS IS NOT A 4RAPPING AND GASSING INVOLVES BIRDS BEING AND 'ALAHS @COCKATOOS ARE TYPICALLY GREGARIOUS 6ICTORIA 4HE INTRODUCTION OF MYXOMATOSIS VIABLE ECONOMIC OPTION %LSEWHERE NUT CROPS ATTRACTED TO A TRAP SITE BY OFFERING FOOD 7HEN SPECIES GATHERING AT NOISY COMMUNAL ROOSTS TO CONTROL RABBITS IN THE S AND THE MORE MAY SUFFER SIGNIFICANT LOSSES TO 'ALAHS AND SUFFICIENT BIRDS ARE PRESENT THEY ARE TRAPPED AND IN LARGE FLOCKS AT FAVOURABLE FOOD SOURCES RECENT CHANGES IN AGRICULTURE IN WESTERN 6ICTORIA 3ULPHUR CRESTED #OCKATOOS WITH NETS AND EUTHANASED WITH CARBON DIOXIDE 3UCH HABITS HAVE LED TO A RANGE OF CONFLICTS FROM THE DOMINANCE OF SHEEP PRODUCTION TO 4HE SOCIAL IMPACTS ON THE COMMUNITY OF GAS 4HE AIM OF THIS METHOD IS TO BREAK UP BETWEEN THE BIRDS AND SOME RURAL RESIDENTS INCREASED AREAS OF CROPPING PROBABLY ENABLED SUCH BIRD DAMAGE CAN BE SIGNIFICANT 4HE TIME THE LARGER FLOCKS WHICH ARE A MAJOR CAUSE OF #EREAL FARMERS ARE PARTICULARLY AFFECTED WHEN THE POPULATION TO EXPAND AGAIN THERE WAS A EFFORT AND COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH SOWING AND CONCERN FOR LANDHOLDERS WITH MINIMAL LOSS COCKATOOS GATHER IN LARGE FLOCKS ON GERMINATING INCREASE IN REPORTING RATE BETWEEN THE RE SOWING CROPS AND ACTIVELY PREVENTING CROP OF BIRDS 4HE GOAL IS NOT TO REDUCE THE OVERALL WINTER CEREAL CROPS WHERE BIRDS CAN CAUSE TWO "IRDS !USTRALIA !TLASES n AND DAMAGE LEADS TO FRUSTRATION AMONGST SOME POPULATION OF BIRDS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE THAT SOMETIMES REQUIRES n 4HE RANGE OF THE ,ONG BILLED LANDHOLDERS AND MAY SUPPORT A PERCEPTION THAT 4HE SUCCESS OF THE COCKATOO MANAGEMENT RESOWING OF A CROP )N ADDITION COCKATOOS #ORELLA IS NOW STEADILY EXPANDING EASTWARDS INDIVIDUAL FARMERS ECONOMIC LIVELIHOODS ARE STRATEGY IS DIFFICULT TO ASCERTAIN 4HE REDUCED LEVEL FREQUENTLY ROOST IN TREES IN TOWNS WHERE THEIR AND THE BIRD IS COMMON IN -ELBOURNE WHERE THREATENED BY THESE BIRDS OF CONCERN AMONG THE LOCAL FARMING COMMUNITY NOISE AND DAMAGE PULLING LOOSE NAILS FROM IT WAS RARELY RECORDED IN THE S !T THE 4HE $EPARTMENT OF 3USTAINABILITY AND DEMONSTRATES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROGRAM ROOFS DIGGING UP BOWLING GREENS TENNIS COURTS SAME TIME THE RANGE OF THE ,ITTLE #ORELLA IS %NVIRONMENT $3% HAS IDENTIFIED THAT LONG IN THAT REGARD (OWEVER LOCAL UPTAKE OF RESPON AND OTHER SPORTING FACILITIES CHEWING INSULATION EXPANDING INTO SOUTHERN AND EASTERN 6ICTORIA TERM SOLUTIONS TO SUCH PROBLEMS NO LONGER LIE SIBILITY FOR MANAGEMENT OF THE BIRDS HAS BEEN ON ELECTRICITY CABLES HAS LED TO CALLS FOR ACTION WHERE THE 'ALAH ARRIVED SOME DECADES EARLIER ENTIRELY WITHIN GOVERNMENT AGENCIES 2ECENTLY MINIMAL AND THE EXTENT OF CROP DAMAGE HAS NOT /RIGINALLY A BIRD OF INLAND SOUTH EASTERN !USTRALIA 4HIS WAS NOT ALWAYS THE SITUATION )N THE #ONCERN ABOUT THE PROBLEMS ATTRIBUTED TO THE MAJOR FOCUS OF THIS PEST MANAGEMENT BEEN MONITORED TO ASSESS ANY CHANGE THE ,ONG BILLED #ORELLA DRAMATICALLY DECLINED S ,ONG BILLED #ORELLA NUMBERS CRASHED THESE INCREASING POPULATIONS LED THE 6ICTORIAN STRATEGY HAS SHIFTED FROM BIRD DESTRUCTION TO COCKATOO DAMAGE CONTROL AS STANDARD )N CONCLUSION THE EXTENT TO WHICH WITH PASTORAL SETTLEMENT BUT ITS POPULATION HAS WITHIN A FEW YEARS OF THE INTRODUCTION OF 'OVERNMENT IN TO DECLARE THE ,ONG BILLED TECHNIQUES AIMED AT MINIMISING COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT PRACTICE AS THEY DO WITH COCKATOOS ARE AN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL PEST RECOVERED IN RECENT YEARS AND SPREAD WITH CHANGES SHEEP TO SOUTH EASTERN !USTRALIA AND THE #ORELLA 'ALAH AND 3ULPHUR CRESTED #OCKATOO CONCERN 'OVERNMENT STRATEGY WAS GUIDED BY OTHER PESTS AND DISEASES AND SPECIES REMAINS UNCLEAR #URRENT DAMAGE IN LAND USE AND VIA ESCAPE OR RELEASE OF PETS !S SUBSEQUENT REDUCTION IN AVAILABILITY OF ,ONG TO BE UNPROTECTED UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPLES s INDUSTRY NEEDS TO TAKE ON RESPONSIBILITY ESTIMATES ARE FOUNDED MORE ON LOCAL RECORDS IN THE !TLAS OF !USTRALIAN "IRDS SINCE BILLED #ORELLAS MAJOR FOODTHE TUBEROUS THROUGHOUT 6ICTORIA s THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE NEEDS TO ASSUME FOR MANAGEMENT OF A PROBLEM THAT AFFECTS PERCEPTIONS OF THE PROBLEM THAN ON OBJECTIVE DEMONSTRATE THE CORELLAS DISTRIBUTION HAS EXPANDED FROM ITS NATURAL RANGE IN WESTERN 6ICTORIA AND SOUTH ROOTS OF THE 9AM $AISY &OOD LOSS COMBINED #OCKATOOS ARE KNOWN TO BE CAPABLE OF OWNERSHIP OF AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEM IN WAYS SIMILAR TO OTHER BARRIERS TO ESTIMATES OF ACTUAL COSTS 4HE COSTS IN TERMS EASTERN 3OUTH !USTRALIA PURPLE CIRCLES TO FAR FLUNG LATER WITH COMPETITION FROM RABBITS FOR FOOD CAUSING SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC LOSSES TO SOME PROBLEMS CAUSED BY COCKATOOS AND WORK PRODUCTION OF PRODUCTION LOSS TO INDIVIDUAL FARMERS AND PARTS OF !USTRALIA RED CIRCLES )N PLACES IT IS VIEWED IN LATE SUMMER WERE IDENTIFIED AS CAUSES OF GRAIN FARMERS ALTHOUGH THERE IS A LACK OF JOINTLY TOWARDS SOLUTIONS 'OVERNMENT THEREFORE AIMS TO ENGAGE THE INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE MUST BE DETERMINED AS AN AGRICULTURAL PEST AND IT ALSO COMPETES FOR NEST A SUSTAINED DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF ,ONG OBJECTIVE DATA ON THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF THESE s LAND MANAGERS NEED TO BE ASSISTED TO WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND STAKEHOLDERS AT BOTH LOCAL AND REGIONAL SCALES AND WEIGHED HOLES WITH LOCAL SPECIES BILLED #ORELLAS AND A SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTION IN LOSSES )N SOME AREAS BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL DEVELOP AND ADOPT VIABLE MEANS OF TO FACILITATE STRATEGIES PROCESSES AND AGAINST THE COSTS OF ONGOING MANAGEMENT MECHANISMS TO ENSURE THAT THE COCKATOO /NLY THEN CAN THE COST EFFECTIVENESS OF PROBLEM IS ADDRESSED AT THE LOCAL LEVEL 3INCE CURRENT MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES BE EVALUATED FARMERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO USE THE DISPASSIONATELY SERVICES OF GOVERNMENT FUNDED PROGRAMS "9 "!229 +%.4)3( #ENTRE FOR %NVIRONMENTAL TO ALLEVIATE COCKATOO DAMAGE 4HE $3% HAS -ANAGEMENT 5NIVERSITY OF "ALLARAT 6ICTORIA AND UNDERTAKEN PROGRAMS TO EDUCATE LANDHOLDERS )!. 4%-"9 &LORA AND &AUNA "RANCH $EPARTMENT ,ONG BILLED #ORELLAS 3ULPHUR CRESTED #OCKATOOS AND ON PROPERTIES AT RISK FROM BIRD DAMAGE ABOUT OF 0RIMARY )NDUSTRIES 6ICTORIA 'ALAHS ARE AMONG THE SPECIES THAT HAVE BENEFITED FROM HUMAN ALTERATION OF THE LANDSCAPE HOWEVER METHODS TO REDUCE COCKATOO ABUNDANCE EG THEY CAN DAMAGE CROPSHERE A WHEAT FIELD STRIPPED IMPROVED FARM @HYGIENE AND A SUBSEQUENT &URTHER READING AT THE EDGEAND PUBLIC AMENITY 4RAPPING IS ONE REDUCTION OF SPILT GRAIN AND PROVIDE TRAINING "OMFORD - 3INCLAIR 2 !USTRALIAN WAY TO TEMPORARILY REDUCE THEIR NUMBERS IN AND DEPLOYMENT OF TRAPPING AND GASSING RESEARCH ON BIRD PESTS IMPACT MANAGEMENT 0HOTOS COURTESY OF "ARRY +ENTISH TECHNIQUES AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS %MU n 4HE 3TATE OF !USTRALIAS "IRDS 4HE 3TATE OF !USTRALIAS "IRDS
)NDIAN -YNAS HAVE TAKEN OUR EASTERN CITIES AS THEIR OWN AND THEIR SEEMINGLY COCKY ATTITUDE ANNOYS SOME BUT ARE THEY REALLY DISPLACING NATIVE SPECIES 0HOTO BY 2OHAN #LARKE
OPEN GRASSY WOODLAND AT THE EDGES OF FORESTS AND WOODLANDS BUT APPEARS TO BE MORE COMMON IN BOTH URBAN AND AGRICULTURAL AREAS )N ONE STUDY IN AGRICULTURAL 6ICTORIA .OISY -INER COLONIES WERE REMOVED FROM REMNANT WOODLAND RESULTING IN AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF BIRD SPECIES 2OADSIDE STUDIES IN BOTH THE 3OUTHERN (IGHLANDS .EW 3OUTH 7ALES AND THE 7IMMERA 6ICTORIA HAVE DOCUMENTED NEGATIVE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN .OISY -INERS AND SPECIES RICHNESS 4HE "IRDS IN "ACKYARD STUDY IN 3YDNEY RECORDED SIMILAR PATTERNS IN THE CITY 7HERE .OISY -INER OCCURRED EACH OF THE SEVEN SMALL BIRDS STUDIED%ASTERN 3PINEBILL 7ILLIE 7AGTAIL 3OME OF THE COMPLEXITY OF CONTROL OF INVASIVE SPECIES IS ILLUSTRATED BY $OUBLE 'EE 3PINY %MEX AN ACCIDENTALLY INTRODUCED WEED OF CROPSITS SAVAGE SPINES EVEN #OMMON -YNAS AND .OISY -INERS MINOR OR MAJOR CAUSES IN THE DECLINE OF SMALL 3ILVEREYE 2ED BROWED &INCH 3UPERB &AIRY WREN ENCRUST ,ANDROVER TYRES SEE BELOW )N THE 7ESTERN !USTRALIAN WHEATBELT IT HAS BECOME A STAPLE OF 2ED TAILED "LACK #OCKATOOS WHICH GATHER IN LARGE FLOCKS TO FEED BIRDS IN CITIES .EW (OLLAND (ONEYEATER AND %ASTERN 9ELLOW ON IT ABOVE (ERBICIDES USED TO CONTROL THE WEED ARE KILLING REMNANT NATIVE VEGETATION ALONG ROAD VERGES THAT SUPPORTS 3HORT BILLED #ARNABYS #OCKATOOS SO THAT 2OBINWERE LESS LIKELY TO BE PRESENT /N THE 2ED TAILS ARE GRADUALLY REPLACING #ARNABYS 0HOTOS BY 'RAEME #HAPMAN /F GREAT CONCERN TO MANY PEOPLE IS THE OBVIOUS PROBLEM 4HEY NEST IN TREE HOLLOWS OR SIMILAR OTHERHAND THE PRESENCE OF #OMMON -YNAS HAD DECLINE OF FAUNA IN SOME OF OUR CITIES -ANY PLACES SUCH AS ARTIFICIAL CAVITIES UNDER ROOFS 4REE NO EFFECT &URTHERMORE IN THE )LLAWARRA A RECENT COMMENT THAT MAMMALS LIZARDS AND FROGS HAVE HOLLOWS ARE ALSO USED BY NATIVE SPECIES SUCH AS STUDY HAS SHOWN THAT 9ELLOW 4HORNBILLS AND .EW BEEN LOST AND THEY PARTICULARLY MISS THE BIRDS PARROTS AND THERE HAVE BEEN OBSERVATIONS OF (OLLAND (ONEYEATERS WERE FOUR TIMES LESS LIKELY THAT ARE NO LONGER SEEN IN GARDENS AND PARKS #RIMSON AND %ASTERN 2OSELLAS BEING DISPLACED TO BE RECORDED IN AREAS WHERE .OISY -INERS WERE #/.42/, /& ).6!3)6% 30%#)%3 2ECENTLY TWO SPECIES HAVE BEEN IMPLICATED IN FROM HOLLOWS BY AGGRESSIVE #OMMON -YNAS DEFENDING TERRITORIES SPECIES SUCH AS THE %ASTERN THE LOSS OF SMALL BIRDS THE EXOTIC #OMMON -YNA IN #ANBERRA -YNAS ARE SAID TO BE CAPABLE OF 3PINEBILL 'REY &ANTAIL AND 3POTTED 0ARDALOTE WERE 7HILE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF ESTABLISHED PESTS RESTS -ANY METHODS EXIST TO CONTROL INVASIVES THESE INCLUDE AERIAL BAITING AND THE NATIVE .OISY -INER 4HESE ARE CONSIDERED EVICTING EVEN LARGE BIRDS SUCH AS +OOKABURRAS n TIMES LESS LIKELY TO BE PRESENT AND ELEVEN FUNDAMENTALLY WITH 3TATE 4ERRITORY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AS WELL AS TRAPPING FENCING BIOLOGICAL CONTROL RIPPING AND POISON #ONTROL OF TO ACT AS @BULLIES PREVENTING OTHER SPECIES FROM AND $OLLARBIRDS 4HERE IS THEREFORE THE POTENTIAL SMALL SPECIES INCLUDING "ROWN 4HORNBILLS %ASTERN LANDHOLDERS AND INDUSTRY THE !USTRALIAN 'OVERNMENT PLAYS A ROLE IN ONE PEST SPECIES OFTEN NEEDS TO BE INTEGRATED WITH CONTROL OF OTHERS AND INHABITING AREAS WHERE THEY PRESIDE FOR #OMMON -YNAS TO DISPLACE HOLLOW NESTING 9ELLOW 2OBINS 2ED BROWED &INCH AND 7EEBILLS FUNDING AND SETTING STRATEGIC FRAMEWORKS FROM A NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE SOMETIMES WITH RESTORATION OF NATURAL HABITAT &OR EXAMPLE REMOVAL OF ONE )N GARDENS IN %ASTERN !USTRALIA BOTH SPECIES SPECIES FROM SUCH AREAS WERE ABSENT FROM .OISY -INER TERRITORIES 9ET EVEN )T WOULD BE DESIRABLE TO RID !USTRALIA OF THE WORST INVASIVE SPECIES INVADER MAY EXACERBATE THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY ANOTHER SEE LOWER P ARE VERY COMMON 4HE "IRDS IN "ACKYARDS (OWEVER THERE IS ALWAYS COMPETITION FOR THESE RESULTS ARE NOT CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE OF .OISY BUT THIS IS NOT ACHIEVABLE IN MOST CASES SEE TOP P !N EXCEPTION SURVEY UNDERTAKEN IN GREATER 3YDNEY SHOWED HOLLOWS AND THE ABUNDANCE OF PARROTS SUGGESTS -INERS EXCLUSION OF SMALL BIRDS THEY MAY SIMPLY IS ON OFFSHORE ISLANDS WHERE THE SCALE IS NOT TOO GREAT AND LIMITED &URTHER READING THAT #OMMON -YNAS WERE PRESENT IN ABOUT THAT #OMMON -YNAS ARE NOT LIMITING THEIR REFLECT HABITAT SUITABILITY 4HAT IS IN THESE GARDENS ACCESS MEANS THAT INVASIVE SPECIES CANNOT EASILY RE INVADE ONCE THEY ,ONG + 2OBLEY ! #OST %FFECTIVE &ERAL !NIMAL %XCLUSION OF GARDENS AND .OISY -INERS IN JUST UNDER ABUNDANCE 0ARROTS SUCH AS 2AINBOW ,ORIKEETS THE HABITAT MIGHT NOT BE PARTICULARLY SUITABLE FOR ARE REMOVED &OR EXAMPLE CATS HAVE BEEN ERADICATED FROM 'ABO &ENCING FOR !REAS OF (IGH #ONSERVATION 6ALUE IN !USTRALIA 2EPORT TO 4HE !TLAS OF !USTRALIAN "IRDS SUGGESTS THAT BOTH -ELBOURNE "RISBANE AND 3YDNEY 3CALY BREASTED SOME SMALL BIRDS EVEN IN THE ABSENCE OF MINERS ! )SLAND 6ICTORIA THE !USTRALIAN 'OVERNMENT $EPARTMENT OF THE %NVIRONMENT AND SPECIES WERE IN THE TOP SIX MOST ABUNDANT SPECIES ,ORIKEETS "RISBANE -USK ,ORIKEETS -ELBOURNE REMOVAL EXPERIMENT WOULD BE MORE CONCLUSIVE 7HEN ERADICATION IS NOT PRACTICABLE AND ACTION IS DESIRABLE (ERITAGE #ANBERRA IN BOTH SUMMER AND WINTER SURVEYS IN 3YDNEY %ASTERN 2OSELLAS -ELBOURNE AND 3YDNEY ARE )F WE ARE TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS DECLINES STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT IS THE MOST POPULAR APPROACH TO CONTROL 4HIS .OGALES - -ARTIN ! 4ERSHY "2 $ONLAN #* 6EITCH $ 0UERTA . )N -ELBOURNE THE MYNA WAS ALSO IN THE TOP SIX COMMON &URTHERMORE SUCH AGGRESSIVE NESTING WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THEIR CAUSES THROUGH TAKES THREE GENERAL FORMS 7OOD " !LONSO * ! REVIEW OF CAT ERADICATION ON ISLANDS SPECIES IN BOTH SEASONS AND THE MINER RANKED IN BEHAVIOUR IS UNLIKELY TO AFFECT SMALL PASSERINE SOLID SCIENCE NOT GUESSWORK !PPEARANCES CAN s ONE OFF MANAGEMENT EG BUILDING A PREDATOR PROOF FENCE TO #ONSERVATION "IOLOGY n THE TOP AND OCCURRED IN OF GARDENS 4HE SPECIES WHICH NEST IN FOLIAGE BE DECEPTIVE !T PRESENT DESPITE THEIR COCKY PATTERN WAS REVERSED IN "RISBANE .OISY -INERS #OMMON -YNAS GENERALLY FORAGE IN OPEN DEMEANOR THERE IS LITTLE EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT PROTECT ANIMALS MODIFYING AND RESTORING HABITAT SEE LOWER /LSEN 0 !USTRALIAS 0EST !NIMALS .EW 3OLUTIONS TO /LD 0ROBLEMS RANKED IN THE TOP SIX IN BOTH SUMMER AND WINTER GRASSY AREAS WHILE SMALL BIRDS TEND TO FORAGE #OMMON -YNAS ARE AFFECTING BIRD DIVERSITY IN PP n BIOLOGICAL CONTROL SUCH AS MYXOMATOSIS "UREAU OF 2ESOURCE 3CIENCES #ANBERRA AND #OMMON -YNAS RANKED IN THE TOP AND IN SHRUBS AND TREES OR ON THE GROUND NEAR CITIES (OWEVER THERE IS GOOD EVIDENCE FOR THE s TARGETED MANAGEMENT EG PROTECTION OF A PARTICULAR SPECIES OR AREA 3AUNDERS ' #OMAN " +INNEAR * "RAYSER - -ANAGING WERE FOUND IN ABOUT OF SURVEYS (OWEVER FOLIAGE (ENCE THE POTENTIAL FOR AGGRESSIVE CONTROLLING ROLE OF .OISY -INERS /F COURSE BOTH SEE P AT LEFT OR CONTROL TARGETED AT PEST ANIMALS CAUSING THE 6ERTEBRATE 0ESTS &OXES "UREAU OF 2ESOURCE 3CIENCES #ANBERRA THIS UBIQUITY IN EASTERN CITIES DOES NOT PROVE THAT INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THESE SPECIES DURING SPECIES THRIVE IN CITIES AND SUBURBS WHERE THE GREATEST DAMAGE SEE BELOW AND 4WYFORD +, (UMPHREY 0' .UNN 20 AND 7ILLOUGHBY , EITHER SPECIES AFFECTS SMALL BIRD DIVERSITY FORAGING IS QUITE LOW HABITAT AND FOOD SUITS THEM UNLESS THOSE CHANGE s SUSTAINED MANAGEMENTIDEALLY INITIAL KNOCK DOWN FOLLOWED BY %RADICATION OF &ERAL #ATS &ELIS CATUS FROM 'ABO )SLAND SOUTH EAST #OMMON -YNAS PROSPER WHEREVER HUMANS 4HE .OISY -INER IS ANOTHER MATTER )T IS A REMOVAL OF EITHER SPECIES WILL HAVE NO MORE THAN PERIODIC MOP UPS SEE RIGHT P 6ICTORIA %COLOGICAL -ANAGEMENT AND 2ESTORATION n LIVE 4HEY CAN BE AN ECONOMIC PROBLEM BECAUSE HONEYEATER THAT LIVES IN COLONIES OF INDIVIDUALS A SHORT TERM IMPACT BECAUSE THEY WILL REINVADE THEY DAMAGE BOTH FRUIT AND GRAIN CROPS AND THAT VIGOROUSLY DEFEND FEEDING AND BREEDING "9 +2)3 &2%.#( )NSTITUTE FOR #ONSERVATION "IOLOGY SOME BELIEVE THEY ARE A POTENTIAL HEALTH TERRITORIES FROM ALL BIRDS 4RADITIONALLY IT OCCUPIES 5NIVERSITY OF 7OLLONGONG .EW 3OUTH 7ALES
$OES INCREASED PEST CONTROL RESULT IN REDUCED #URRAWONGS CAUSE OR SYMPTOM PEST DAMAGE
4HE 0IED #URRAWONG IS AMONG A MINORITY OF ARE INTRODUCED SUCH AS #OMMON 3TARLINGS CHECK .EVERTHELESS IN THE SHORT TERM LOCAL 4HE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PEST DENSITY AND THE LEVEL OF DAMAGE NATIVE BIRDS THAT HAVE BENEFITED FROM HUMAN AND #OMMON "LACKBIRDS .OT SURPRISINGLY CONTROL CAN BE EFFECTIVE IN SITUATIONS WHERE IT CAUSED IS OFTEN POORLY KNOWN 5SUALLY IT IS ASSUMED THAT BY ACTIVITIES &RAGMENTATION OF THE LANDSCAPE PREDATION RATES DECREASE MARKEDLY WHEN THE CAN BE TARGETED TO PROTECT ENDANGERED SPECIES REDUCING THE NUMBERS OF THE PEST THE DEGREE OF DAMAGE WILL AND THE PLANTING OF INTRODUCED PLANTS THAT CURRAWONG IS REMOVED FROM AN AREA (OWEVER SUCH AS 'OULDS 0ETREL WHILE HABITATS RECOVER ALSO DECLINE (OWEVER THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY SO 0EST DAMAGE CAN PROVIDE WINTER BERRIES HAS LED TO ITS INCREASE THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT CURRAWONGS AFFECT THE SEE P REMAIN HIGH EVEN AT RELATIVELY LOW PEST DENSITIES &OR EXAMPLE IT IS AND A CHANGE IN MOVEMENT PATTERNS )TS HABIT SUSTAINABILITY OF POPULATIONS )T IS POSSIBLE THAT BELIEVED THAT OLDER MORE WILY FOXES ARE THE PRIMARY PREDATORS OF OF PREYING ON EGGS NESTLINGS AND FLEDGLINGS THEIR NEST PREDATION REPLACES ANOTHER CAUSE OF -ALLEEFOWL CHICKS NEAR NEST MOUNDS 4HESE ARE THE HARDEST ANIMALS CAUSES DISTRESS TO PARENT BIRDS AND NATURE LOVERS DEATH SUCH AS STARVATION RATHER THAN ADDING &URTHER READING TO CATCH HENCE REDUCTION OF THE FOX POPULATION IS UNLIKELY TO REDUCE ALIKE 4HE CURRAWONG ALSO SPREADS THE SEEDS OF TO THE TOTAL RATE OF MORTALITY IN THE FIRST YEAR OF "AYLY +, "UMSTEIN $4 0IED #URRAWONGS ITS IMPACT ON THE BIRDS #ONTROL TARGETED AT THESE PROBLEM ANIMALS IS SOME OF THE WOODY WEEDS SUCH AS COTONEASTER LIFE AND HENCE HAS NO IMPACT ON RECRUITMENT AND THE DECLINE OF NATIVE BIRDS %MU LIKELY TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN AIMING TO REDUCE THE OVERALL DENSITY AND PRIVET ON WHICH IT FEEDS "UT DOES THE TO THE BREEDING POPULATION &URTHER RESEARCH IS n OF THE PEST POPULATION CURRAWONG HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON NATIVE NEEDED TO CLARIFY THEIR TRUE IMPACT &ULTON '! &ORD (! 4HE 0IED "OUNTY SYSTEMS FAIL FOR A SIMILAR REASONBECAUSE THEY BIRD POPULATIONS AS SOME FEAR )F CURRAWONGS ARE SHOWN TO BE A PROBLEM #URRAWONGS ROLE IN AVIAN NEST PREDATION ENCOURAGE ACTION WHERE THE TARGET ANIMAL IS MOST NUMEROUS RATHER 3TUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT CURRAWONGS THE ANSWER IS NOT THEIR REMOVAL BUT RESTORATION A PREDATOR REMOVAL EXPERIMENT 0ACIFIC THAN WHERE IT IS DOING THE MOST DAMAGE PREY MOSTLY ON COMMON SPECIES SOME OF WHICH OF THE ECOLOGICAL BALANCE THAT KEPT THEM IN #ONSERVATION "IOLOGY n 4HE 3TATE OF !USTRALIAS "IRDS 4HE 3TATE OF !USTRALIAS "IRDS
2EQUIREMENTS FOR SUCCESSFUL ERADICATION
4HE FIRST THREE POINTS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR LEVEL CONTROL IN ALL AREAS SIMULTANEOUSLY AND EXPONENTIALLY AS PEST POPULATION DENSITY ERADICATION TO BE POSSIBLE THE LAST TWO IMMIGRATION WOULD BE INEVITABLE DECLINES TO THE EXTENT THAT AN ATTEMPT TO INDICATE WHETHER ERADICATION IS PREFERABLE TO !LL PEST ANIMALS ARE AT RISK %VEN IF THERE REMOVE THE LAST FEW ANIMALS IN AN AREA COULD ON GOING CONTROL WAS A VERY WIDE RANGE OF AVAILABLE CONTROL COST TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS PER ANIMAL 2ATE OF PEST REMOVAL EXCEEDS RATE OF TECHNIQUES FOR PEST ANIMALS IT IS UNLIKELY 3UITABLE SOCIO POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT INCREASE AT ALL POPULATION DENSITIES 4HIS THAT COMPLETE CONTROL COULD BE ACHIEVED #ONTROL TECHNIQUES NEED TO BE CONSIDERED REQUIREMENT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE OVER LARGE AREAS TO BE SPECIFIC SAFE AND RELATIVELY HUMANE BECAUSE PEST REMOVAL RATE REDUCES AS 4HE PEST CAN BE DETECTED AT LOW DENSITIES A GUARANTEE OF LONG TERM FINANCIAL SUPPORT POPULATION DENSITY REDUCES AND REMAINING 5NLESS THIS REQUIREMENT CAN BE ACHIEVED IS REQUIRED TO AVOID WASTING ANY INITIAL ANIMALS BECOME MORE DIFFICULT AND CONFIRMATION OF ERADICATION IS NOT POSSIBLE INVESTMENT EXPENSIVE TO TARGET AND CONTROL THE CURRENT 4ASMANIAN FOX ERADICATION )MMIGRATION OF PESTS INTO THE CONTROL AREA IS CAMPAIGN IS FACED WITH THIS PROBLEM &URTHER READING ZERO 4HE DISTRIBUTION OF MANY PEST SPECIES $ISCOUNTED COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS FAVOURS "OMFORD - /"RIEN 0 %RADICATION OR ON MAINLAND !USTRALIA IS SO LARGE THAT IT ERADICATION OVER ONGOING CONTROL 4HE COST CONTROL FOR VERTEBRATE PESTS 7ILDLIFE 3OCIETY WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE TO IMPLEMENT HIGH OF CONTROL PER PEST ANIMAL INCREASES "ULLETIN n
$EALING WITH INDIGENOUS DESPOTS
7ATCHING A .OISY -INER SAUNTER CONFIDENTLY ACCORDING TO 4HE .EW !TLAS OF !USTRALIAN "IRDS UNCLEAR WHETHER THE ABSENCE OF SMALL BIRDS WAS TO FACILITATE THE MOVEMENT AND DISPERSAL OF TEMPTING TO BLAME THE "ELL -INERS FOR THIS HABITAT 4OP LEFT 3ALVINIA IS AN INVASIVE FLOATING AQUATIC FERN DOWN A -ACQUARIE 3TREET FOOTPATH IN CENTRAL ITS INCREASING DOMINATION OF REMNANT VEGETATION DUE TO THE HABITAT BEING SO DEGRADED THAT ONLY WILDLIFE ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE !LTHOUGH THE DEGRADATION THIS BEGS THE QUESTION OF WHAT IT FROM 3OUTH !MERICA THAT HAS BECOME ESTABLISHED 3YDNEY PICKING UP LUNCHTIME SCRAPS GIVES THE WITHIN THAT RANGE IS OF MAJOR CONCERN .OISY -INERS COULD LIVE THERE OR THAT THE .OISY STUDIES MENTIONED ABOVE SUGGEST .OISY -INERS IS ABOUT A SITE THAT PREDISPOSES IT TO HOSTING AN IN 1UEENSLAND AND THE .ORTHERN 4ERRITORY )T CAN DISTINCT IMPRESSION THAT THIS BIRD @OWNS THE PLACE 2ESEARCHERS SUCH AS )AN $AVIDSON ESTIMATE THAT -INERS WERE EXCLUDING THE OTHER SPECIES !N ARE VERY LIKELY TO DOMINATE SUCH CORRIDORS AND INFESTATION OF PSYLLIDS 2ESEARCHERS HAVE PROPOSED RAPIDLY FORM MATS THAT COMPLETELY COVER WATER 2EGRETTABLY FOR MUCH OF EASTERN !USTRALIA THIS HAS OF THE n OF EUCALYPT WOODLANDS REMAINING EXPERIMENTAL STUDY WE CONDUCTED DEMONSTRATED DIMINISH THEIR VALUE AS DISPERSAL ROUTES FOR SMALL MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF DISTURBANCES THAT MIGHT STORAGES AFFECTING WATER QUALITY WATER FLOW BECOME THE CASE TO THE DETRIMENT OF MANY OTHER IN SOUTHERN AND EASTERN !USTRALIA THE VAST CATEGORICALLY THAT .OISY -INERS WERE EXCLUDING THE INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS THESE HABITAT CONNECTIONS RESULT IN EUCALYPTS PUTTING ON A FLUSH OF YOUNG OR WILDLIFEINCLUDING -AGPIE 'EESE AND 7ANDERING 7HISTLING $UCKSIRRIGATION AND RECREATIONAL NATIVE BIRDS .OISY -INERS BELONG TO THE GENUS MAJORITY PROBABLY ARE ALREADY DOMINATED OTHER SPECIES /N REMOVAL OF .OISY -INERS FROM ARE STILL IMPORTANT FOR THE CONSERVATION OF OTHER EPICORMIC GROWTH THAT IS INADVERTENTLY ATTRACTIVE ACTIVITIES #HEMICAL MECHANICAL AND BIOLOGICAL CONTROL -ANORINA NATIVE HONEYEATERS RENOWNED FOR LIVING BY .OISY -INERS SMALL REMNANT WOODLANDS A MULTITUDE OF SMALL WILDLIFE LIKE SMALL MAMMALS AND REPTILES )N TO PSYLLIDS WHICH THEN ATTRACT "ELL -INERS 4HESE A WEEVIL ARE BEING USED TO LIMIT ITS SPREAD 0HOTO BY IN COMPLEX COLONIES OF KIN WHICH AGGRESSIVELY .OISY -INERS WERE PROBABLY MUCH LESS INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS IMMEDIATELY FLOODED IN AND ADDITION TO PLANTING CORRIDORS HABITAT RESTORATION INCLUDE STRESS DUE TO CHANGED HYDROLOGICAL *IRI ,OCHMAN ,OCHMAN 4RANSPARENCIES DEFEND THEIR COMMUNAL TERRITORY FROM VIRTUALLY COMMON PRIOR TO WHITE SETTLEMENT 4HEIR UTILISED THE RESOURCES PREVIOUSLY UNAVAILABLE TO EFFORTS SHOULD CONSIDER MEASURES FOR MAKING THE CONDITIONS WATER LOGGING OR DROUGHT SOIL ALL OTHER SPECIES OF BIRD 7HILE THE .OISY -INER IS PREFERRED HABITAT WAS PROBABLY CLUMPS OF THEM &URTHER OUR RESEARCH IN 'REY "OX REMNANTS EDGES OF REMNANTS LESS ATTRACTIVE TO .OISY -INERS PATHOGENS LIKE #INNAMON &UNGUS ELEVATED !BOVE !LTHOUGH DEAD BODIES OF INVASIVE PREDATORS CAN GIVE COMFORT THEY ARE NO GUARANTEE THAT STOCK OR PROBABLY THE MOST FAMILIAR TO !USTRALIANS ITS CLOSE EUCALYPTS ADJACENT TO OPEN GRASSY CLEARINGS INDICATED THAT THE LEVEL OF LEAF DAMAGE FROM BY AVOIDING THE CREATION OF CORNERS CLUMPS NUTRIENT LEVELS IN THE SOIL THE ABSENCE OF FREQUENT WILDLIFE ARE ANY LESS AT RISK 0HOTO BY 0ETER -ERRITT RELATIVES THE "ELL -INER AND THE 9ELLOW THROATED NOT TOO FAR FROM WATER #LEARING OF WOODLANDS HERBIVOROUS INSECTS IMPROVED FOLLOWING THE AND PROTRUSIONS 3TEPS COULD ALSO BE TAKEN TO LOW INTENSITY FIRES COMPETITION FROM WEEDS AND -INER HAVE ALSO BEEN IMPLICATED IN SIGNIFICANT AND FORESTS FOR AGRICULTURE AND URBANISATION REMOVAL OF .OISY -INERS COMPARED TO CONTROL ENCLOSE PROTRUSIONS WITHIN M OF THE EDGE AND MICRO CLIMATIC CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH FOREST CHANGES IN BIRD COMMUNITIES AND HABITATS IN HAS INADVERTENTLY CREATED TENS OF THOUSANDS SITES LEFT UNMANIPULATED "Y EXCLUDING SMALL REVEGETATE OUT TO THESE NEW BOUNDARIES WITH FRAGMENTATION AND CLEARING DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY OF HECTARES OF PRIME .OISY -INER HABITAT LOTS INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS FROM REMNANT WOODLANDS THE OBJECTIVE OF @ROUNDING AND @SMOOTHING THE 7HILE SOME HAVE ADVOCATED THE REMOVAL 4HE .OISY -INERS COMMUNAL DEFENCE IS SO OF GRASSY CLEARINGS EDGED BY EUCALYPTS "EING .OISY -INERS MAY BE CONTRIBUTING TO RURAL TREE PERIMETER OF THE REMNANT SEE FIGURE AT RIGHT OF "ELL -INERS THIS DOES NOT ALWAYS RESULT IN EFFECTIVE THAT IT COMMONLY ACHIEVES A VIRTUAL ADAPTABLE GENERALISTS THE MINERS CONTINUE TO DECLINE )T IS LIKELY THAT THE SPREAD OF EUCALYPT 3UCH EXTENSIONS OF THE BOUNDARIES OF REMNANTS THE RECOVERY OF THE TREES )F THE PSYLLID BURDEN MONOPOLY ON ANY PIECE OF HABITAT IT CHOOSES TO COLONISE MORE AND MORE HABITAT TO THE EXCLUSION DIEBACK WILL ACCELERATE IF THERE IS A FURTHER DECLINE COULD ALSO PRESERVE ISOLATED HOLLOW BEARING TREES IS NOT THE PRIMARY REASON THE TREES ARE STRESSED COLONISE AND ITS DOMINATION OF RURAL AND URBAN OF MANY OTHER NATIVE SPECIES SOME OF WHICH IN AVIAN DIVERSITY IN RURAL AND URBAN LANDSCAPES IN PADDOCKS ! FOCUS ON RESTORING NON EUCALYPT ON A SITE THEN THEY ARE UNLIKELY TO RECOVER JUST LANDSCAPES IS INCREASING )T IS AMONG WHAT AUTHOR LIKE THE ENDANGERED 2EGENT (ONEYEATER ARE LEFT 4HIS IS AN ISSUE OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE TO WOODLANDS WHICH DO NOT SUPPORT MINERS MAY BE BECAUSE THE PSYLLID BURDEN IS REMOVED -UCH 4IM ,OW HAS LABELLED @WINNERS FROM WHITE WITH FEW PLACES TO FORAGE UNMOLESTED AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITIES NOT JUST ONE OF IMPORTANT IN APPROPRIATE REGIONS MORE RESEARCH IS NEEDED TO IDENTIFY THE FACTORS SETTLEMENT AND ITS ASCENDANCY HAS CONTRIBUTED &OR MANY YEARS RESEARCHERS RECOGNISED AESTHETICS 2ESEARCH WE HAVE CONDUCTED IN THE MALLEE THAT PREDISPOSE A SITE TO INFESTATION BY PSYLLIDS 4HE EDGE OF A LARGE REMNANT WITH TWO PROJECTIONS TO MANY OTHER SPECIES BECOMING @LOSERS THAT WHERE .OISY -INERS WERE PRESENT IN SMALL 7IDESPREAD REMOVAL OF .OISY -INERS FROM REGIONS OF NORTH WEST 6ICTORIA SUGGEST THE AND COLONISATION BY "ELL -INERS 3UCH RESEARCH ! n A CORNER AND " n A CLUMP 4HE BROKEN LINE MARKS !LTHOUGH THE MINERS RANGE WITHIN !USTRALIA REMNANT WOODLANDS OTHER SMALL INSECTIVOROUS THE LANDSCAPE IS NOT FEASIBLE (OWEVER IF WE 9ELLOW THROATED -INER OF THE SEMI ARID AND SHOULD CLARIFY WHAT ROLE IF ANY HUMAN ACTIVITIES THE PERIMETER OF THE PROPOSED REVEGETATION LIME DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE INCREASING DRAMATICALLY BIRDS WERE LESS ABUNDANT (OWEVER IT WAS UNDERSTAND WHAT MAKES A SITE ATTRACTIVE FOR ARID ZONE IS HAVING A SOMEWHAT SIMILAR IMPACT HAVE IN MAKING A SITE ATTRACTIVE AND WHAT CAN BE GREEN EXTENDING INTO THE PADDOCK ENCLOSING BOTH TO THAT OF THE .OISY -INER 9ELLOW THROATED DONE TO AVOID OR REDRESS ANY IMBALANCE CREATED COLONISATION BY .OISY -INERS WE CAN AT LEAST PROJECTIONS AND SMOOTHING THE REMNANT TO LESSEN .OISY -INERS ARE NATIVE HONEYEATERS THAT AGGRESSIVELY EXCLUDE SMALLER NATIVE BIRDS FROM HABITAT PATCHES THEIR ATTEMPT TO AVOID CREATING MORE HABITAT THAT -INERS ARE MONOPOLISING THE THIN ROADSIDE STRIPS )N CONCLUSION IT MUST BE STRESSED THAT THESE DOMINATION BY MINERS SUPER ABUNDANCE IS THE RESULT OF FRAGMENTATION AND ALTERATION OF WOODLANDS AND ADDRESSING THAT IS THE KEY TO SUITS THEM !LTHOUGH .OISY -INERS HAVE LONG OF REMNANT VEGETATION THAT RUN BETWEEN THE THREE SPECIES OF NATIVE MINER ARE NOT BEHAVING THEIR CONTROL 0HOTO BY 2OHAN #LARKE BEEN REGARDED AS AN @EDGE SPECIES UNTIL RECENTLY VAST PADDOCKS CLEARED FOR CEREAL CROPPING AND IN SOME ABERRANT MANNER )T JUST HAPPENS THAT THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE RESEARCH DONE TO IDENTIFY GRAZING %VEN SMALL GROUPS OF MINERS n WE HAVE ALTERED LANDSCAPES IN WAYS THAT HAVE HOW FAR FROM EDGES THEY WILL PENETRATE INTO CAN SUCCESSFULLY EXCLUDE THE MAJORITY OF SMALL PROFOUNDLY TIPPED THE BALANCE IN THEIR FAVOUR #LARKE -& 3CHEDVIN . 2EMOVAL OF REMNANT VEGETATION NOR THE KIND OF EDGES THEY INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE MOVE AT GREAT COST TO MANY OTHER SPECIES (OW WE "ELL -INERS -ANORINA MELANOPHRYS FROM PREFER 7ORK IN BOTH 1UEENSLAND AND 6ICTORIA ALONG THESE VITALLY IMPORTANT HABITAT CORRIDORS HAVE CHANGED THE LANDSCAPE TO THE BENEFIT OF %UCALYPTUS RADIATA FOREST AND ITS EFFECT ON HAS REVEALED THAT .OISY -INERS WILL COMMONLY )F WE ARE TO MAINTAIN THE REMAINING DIVERSITY OF .OISY -INERS AND 9ELLOW THROATED -INERS AND AVIAN DIVERSITY PSYLLIDS AND TREE HEALTH DOMINATE AS MUCH AS n M IN FROM A BIRDS THERE IS AN URGENT NEED TO CREATE MINER WHAT CAN BE DONE TO LIMIT THE IMPACT THESE BIRDS "IOLOGICAL #ONSERVATION n REMNANTS EDGE 4HIS HAS PROFOUND IMPLICATIONS FREE REFUGES IN THESE LANDSCAPES HAVE IS BECOMING CLEAR 7HETHER WE WILL TAKE 'REY -* #LARKE -& ,OYN 2( )NFLUENCE FOR A THE SIZE REMNANTS NEED TO BE TO HAVE ANY ! THIRD MEMBER OF THE GENUS THE "ELL -INER RESPONSIBILITY FOR RECTIFYING THE MESS WE HAVE OF THE .OISY -INER -ANORINA MELANOCEPHALA @.OISY -INER FREE CORE HABITAT HA AND B HAS LONG BEEN LINKED TO EUCALYPT DIEBACK IN FOREST CREATED IS LESS CERTAIN ON AVIAN DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE IN REMNANT THE WIDTH HABITAT CORRIDORS NEED TO BE IF THEY ARE HABITATS ALONG THE EAST COAST OF !USTRALIA FROM "9 -)+% #,!2+% 2)#+ 4!9,/2 */!..% /,$,!.$ 'REY "OX WOODLAND 0ACIFIC #ONSERVATION TO AVOID BEING DOMINATED BY .OISY -INERS -ELBOURNE TO "UNDABERG 4HE EXPANSION OF THE -%2),9. '2%9 AND !-!.$! $!2% /RNITHOLOGY "IOLOGY n M !DDITIONAL RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT DIEBACK ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRESENCE OF "ELL AND !VIAN #ONSERVATION 'ROUP $EPARTMENT OF ,OW 4 4HE .EW .ATURE 6IKING #AMBERWELL ALONG REMNANT EDGES .OISY -INER COLONIES TYPICALLY -INERS OVER THE LAST DECADE HAS BEEN SO DRAMATIC :OOLOGY ,A 4ROBE 5NIVERSITY 6ICTORIA 0IPER 3$ #ATTERALL 30 ! PARTICULAR OCCUR AT CORNERS OF THE REMNANT WHERE CORRIDORS THAT IT HAS EARNED ITS OWN ACRONYM"-!$"ELL CASE AND A GENERAL PATTERN HYPERAGGRESSIVE JOIN THE REMNANT OR WHERE CLUMPS OR PROTRUSIONS -INER !SSOCIATED $IEBACK 4ENS OF THOUSANDS &URTHER READING BEHAVIOUR BY ONE SPECIES MAY MEDIATE OF CANOPY VEGETATION EXTEND INTO THE PADDOCK OF HECTARES OF FOREST IN NORTH EASTERN .37 AND #ATTERALL #0 0IPER 3$ 'OODALL + .OISY AVIFAUNAL DECREASES IN FRAGMENTED !USTRALIAN FROM THE REMNANT 7ORSE IN INLAND 1UEENSLAND SOUTH EASTERN 1UEENSLAND ARE AFFECTED 2ESEARCH -INER IRRUPTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH LAND USE BY FORESTS /IKOS n REMNANTS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF HECTARES IN HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT THROUGH THEIR TERRITORIAL HUMANS IN SOUTH EAST 1UEENSLAND CAUSES 7ARDELL *OHNSON ' 3TONE # 2ECHER ( ,YNCH SIZE ARE DOMINATED BY MINERS THROUGHOUT EXCLUSION OF OTHER INSECTIVOROUS SPECIES OF BIRDS EFFECTS AND MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS 0P !** ! REVIEW OF EUCALYPT DIEBACK /NE FOCUS OF MANY REVEGETATION EFFORTS TO "ELL -INERS ALLOW SAP SUCKING BUGS CALLED PSYLLIDS n IN ,ANDSCAPE (EALTH IN 1UEENSLAND ASSOCIATED WITH "ELL -INER HABITAT IN SOUTH DATE HAS BEEN THE CREATION OF HABITAT CORRIDORS TO MULTIPLY INTO INFESTATIONS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO ! &RANKS * 0LAYFORD ! 3HAPCOTT %DS 2OYAL EASTERN !USTRALIA !USTRALIAN &ORESTRY CONNECTING PATCHES OF REMNANT VEGETATION THE DEATH OF SOME CANOPY TREE SPECIES 7HILE IT IS 3OCIETY OF 1UEENSLAND "RISBANE n 4HE 3TATE OF !USTRALIAS "IRDS 4HE 3TATE OF !USTRALIAS "IRDS
(OUSE 3PARROWS ARE LONG ESTABLISHED IN THE EAST BUT NOT THE WEST )N THE SOUTH WEST INFESTATIONS HAVE BEEN ERADICATED THESE WERE SOME OF THE BIRDS 02/4%#4).' 4(2%!4%.%$ ")2$3 &2/- ).6!3)6% 30%#)%3 REMOVED FROM &REMANTLE IN 0HOTO BY -ARION -ASSAM
4HREATENED BIRDS AND ALIEN SPECIES A .37 PERSPECTIVE )NVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN BASED AROUND THE ASSUMPTION THAT CONTROL WILL LEAD TO BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION HOWEVER THE LEVEL OF CONTROL REQUIRED IS RARELY KNOWN NOR IS IT KNOWN WHETHER CONTROL ALONE WILL LEAD TO THE RECOVERY OF THOSE SPECIES ,OCAL ERADICATION (OUSE 3PARROWS AT A HOMESTEAD AT RISK )N ADDITION EXAMINATIONS OF THE SPECIES AT RISK HAVE BEEN UNDERTAKEN ACROSS A BROAD SECTION OF BIODIVERSITY WHICH ONLY ADDS TO %XPERIENCE IN NORTH EASTERN 6ICTORIA HAS SHOWN THAT THE DEPENDENCE OF THE COMPLEXITY (OUSE 3PARROWS ON HUMAN SETTLEMENTS PROVIDES A MEANS TO ELIMINATE )N AN ATTEMPT TO ADDRESS THESE SHORTCOMINGS THE .EW 3OUTH THIS PEST FROM THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT $EPOPULATION BY HARBOUR REMOVAL 7ALES $EPARTMENT OF %NVIRONMENT AND #ONSERVATION $%# HAS AND TRAPPING HAS MEANT THAT A FARM HOMESTEAD THAT ONCE SUPPORTED A ASSESSED THE IMPACT OF INVASIVE SPECIES ON THE BIRD SPECIES AND POPULATION OF SEVERAL HUNDRED (OUSE 3PARROWS HAS HAD NO RESIDENT BIRDS SIX SPECIFIC BIRD POPULATIONS LISTED UNDER THE .37 4HREATENED 3PECIES FOR OVER YEARS #ONSERVATION !CT )NVASIVE SPECIES WERE CONSIDERED TO BE THE "EGINNING IN OVER SPARROWS WERE TRAPPED 2OOSTING PLACES MOST IMPORTANT THREAT TO NATIVE BIRDS AFTER LAND CLEARING 3EVENTY FIVE AROUND THE HOUSE WERE REMOVED OR BLOCKED WITH FLY WIRE 4HE NUMBERS PER CENT OF THE THREATENED BIRDS AND FIVE OF THE SIX POPULATIONS WERE TRAPPED DECLINED TO ZERO IN AND IT WAS NOT UNTIL THAT SMALL JUDGED TO BE AT RISK FROM INVASIVE SPECIES /F THE THREATENED BIRD NUMBERS REINVADED AND WERE IMMEDIATELY REMOVED SEE GRAPH 0REDATOR PROOF FENCES CAN SERVE TO PROTECT COLONIES OF NESTING THREATENED SPECIES 0HOTO BY -ICHAEL 7ESTON SPECIES AT RISK FROM INVASIVE SPECIES PEST ANIMALS THREATEN 4HE ABILITY TO DEPOPULATE A RURAL AREA WITH A SINGLE TRAP HAS IMPLICATIONS AND WEEDS SPECIES ARE THREATENED BY BOTH PEST ANIMALS FOR ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION )T SHOWS THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO CHANGE THE PEST STATUS AND WEEDS #LEARLY SURVIVAL OF THE MAJORITY OF THE 3TATES ENDANGERED OF (OUSE 3PARROWS ON A LOCAL SCALE FROM RESIDENT TO AT MOST UNCOMMON 4HE %0"# !CT PROVIDES FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF +EY 4HREATENING TREES FROM ESTABLISHING IN 4OP %ND WOODLANDS DESTROYING BIRD HABITAT BIRDS CANNOT BE GUARANTEED UNLESS INVASIVE SPECIES SPECIFICALLY PEST SEASONAL VISITOR 0ROCESSES +40S AND THE PREPARATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF 4HREAT AND CONTRIBUTING TO CARBON EMISSIONS AND GLOBAL WARMING /FTEN WE ANIMALS ARE MANAGED 5SE OF THIS APPROACH OVER A CATCHMENT BASED ON INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLDER !BATEMENT 0LANS 4!0S AS WELL AS NATIONAL RECOVERY PLANS FOR THE NEITHER UNDERSTAND THE TRUE IMPACT OF INVASIVE SPECIES NOR HOW TO PLACE ! TOTAL OF PEST ANIMAL AND WEED SPECIES POSE A THREAT TO ACTION WOULD REDUCE OVERALL (OUSE 3PARROW DENSITY 7HETHER THE SPARROWS THREATENED SPECIES +40S AFFECT A NUMBER OF THREATENED SPECIES SEE A DOLLAR VALUE ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL COST SEE BELOW BIRDS IN .37 4HE FIVE PEST ANIMALS COMMONLY IDENTIFIED ARE CATS ARE A SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH PEST TO WARRANT THE EFFORT MUST BE DECIDED BY THE TABLE P AND A WIDE RANGE OF MORE COMMON SPECIES 3OME ALSO HAVE FOXES WILD DOGS RABBITS AND PIGS RODENTS ALSO POSE A SIGNIFICANT INDIVIDUALS CONCERNED ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL AS WELL AS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS (ENCE 3TATE &URTHER READING THREAT 4HE WEEDS COMMONLY IDENTIFIED AS A THREAT TO BIRDS ARE "9 $!6)$ -#'2%'/2 -ANSFIELD AND "25#% -#'2%'/2 -ELBOURNE 4ERRITORY AND !USTRALIAN 'OVERNMENTS INVEST SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS IN !GTRANS 2ESEARCH IN CONJUNCTION WITH . $AWSON 2EVIEW !SPARAGUS &ERN "ITOU "USH AND #AMPHOR ,AUREL HOWEVER NONE THE CONTROL OF A FEW KEY INVASIVE SPECIES &OR SOME WEEDS AND FOXES FOR OF 0ROGRESS ON )NVASIVE 3PECIES &INAL 2EPORT TO $EPARTMENT OF POSES A THREAT TO MORE THAN THREE BIRD SPECIES )N CONTRAST CATS AND EXAMPLE INDIVIDUAL LANDHOLDERS ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO KEEP POPULATIONS %NVIRONMENT AND (ERITAGE #ANBERRA FOXES EACH THREATEN OVER HALF OF THE BIRD SPECIES MANY OF WHICH ARE ON THEIR LAND TO ACCEPTABLE LEVELS !NON ND 9ELLOW #RAZY !NT WWWDEHGOVAUPARKSCHRISTMASFAUNA THREATENED BY BOTH PREDATORS "ASED ON THE COST OF CONTROL PRODUCTION LOSSES AND RESEARCH BUT CRAZYHTML )NVASIVE SPECIES ALSO THREATEN BIRDS THROUGH REMOVAL AND INCLUDING FEW ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS PESTS AND WEEDS ARE CONSERVATIVELY (ART 1 "OMFORD - !USTRALIAS 0EST !NIMALS .EW !PPROACHES DEGRADATION OF HABITAT EG THROUGH GRAZING AND WEED INVASION ESTIMATED TO COST !USTRALIA BILLION ANNUALLY BILLION FOR WEEDS AND TO /LD 0ROBLEMS $EPARTMENT OF !GRICULTURE &ORESTS AND &ISHERIES &OR EXAMPLE ANALYSIS OF MONTHLY COUNTS AT 0ELICAN )SLAND NEAR 0ORT MILLION FOR FERAL ANIMALS "ETWEEN AND THE !USTRALIAN #ANBERRA -ACQUARIE SHOWED THAT SHOREBIRD NUMBERS DECREASED FOLLOWING AN 'OVERNMENT COMMITTED AND MILLION TO FOX FERAL CAT AND -C,EOD 2 #OUNTING THE #OST )MPACT OF )NVASIVE !NIMALS INCREASE IN DENSITY OF "ITOU "USH AND ,ANTANA /NCE THESE WEEDS HAD RABBIT RESEARCH AND CONTROL PROGRAMS RESPECTIVELY )N ONE NATIONAL PARK IN !USTRALIA #OOPERATIVE 2ESEARCH #ENTRE FOR 0EST !NIMAL BEEN CONTROLLED THE NUMBER OF SHOREBIRDS SOON INCREASED +AKADU NEARLY MILLION A YEAR HAS BEEN GOING INTO THE FIGHT AGAINST JUST #ONTROL #ANBERRA -ANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR INVASIVE SPECIES SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED .UMBER OF SPARROWS REMOVED ONE WEED -IMOSA A PRICKLY SHRUB WHICH SMOTHERS GRASSLANDS AROUND TO CONSERVE NATIVE SPECIES INCLUDE 4HREAT !BATEMENT 0LANS 4!0S WETLANDS DESTROYING HABITATS AND PREVENTING ACCESS FOR GRAZING WATERBIRDS 4HE $%# HAS DEVELOPED A 4!0 FOR FOXES WHICH AIMS TO REDUCE THEIR 7HAT IS A BIRD WORTH 9EAR SUCH AS THE 'REEN 0YGMY GOOSE AMONGST OTHER WILDLIFE SEVERAL BIOLOGICAL IMPACT 4HE 4!0 IDENTIFIES THE SPECIES MOST AT RISK FROM FOX PREDATION )N ANY @TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE REPORTING THAT IS REPORTING AGAINST ECONOMIC 4HE NUMBER OF (OUSE 3PARROWS REMOVED FROM A HOMESTEAD NEAR -ANSFIELD CONTROL AGENTS HAVE BEEN RELEASED WITH SOME SUCCESS AND THE SITES AT WHICH FOX CONTROL IS MOST CRITICAL FOR THE SURVIVAL OF SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ENVIRONMENTAL ESTIMATES ARE BETWEEN AND USING A SINGLE TRAP THERE HAVE BEEN NO RESIDENT SPARROWS 0ARTICULARLY ON ISLANDS THE PROTECTION OF THREATENED SPECIES HAS THOSE SPECIES 4HE PLAN INVOLVES COLLABORATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES TROUBLESOME #AN A VALUE BE PLACED ON THE LIFE OF A BIRD EATEN BY A FOX FOR OVER YEARS BEEN QUITE EFFECTIVE ALTHOUGH NOT WITHOUT ITS PROBLEMS SEE PP n COMMUNITY GROUPS AND PRIVATE LANDHOLDERS 7HEREVER POSSIBLE CONTROL 9ET THIS IS A REAL COST TO THE ENVIRONMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE FACTORED IN IS APPLIED IN AN EXPERIMENTAL WAY AND THE RESPONSE IS MONITORED &OR EXAMPLE THE 9ELLOW #RAZY !NT WAS ACCIDENTALLY INTRODUCED TO THE !USTRALIAN 4ERRITORY OF #HRISTMAS )SLAND BETWEEN AND BUT 3IMILAR PROBLEMS ARISE WHEN ASSESSING THE COST EFFECTIVENESS OF CONTROL 4HE &OX 4!0 IDENTIFIES BIRDS SPECIES AT RISK FROM FOX PREDATION PROGRAMS AND WHERE BEST TO CONCENTRATE CONSERVATION EFFORTS HAS ONLY IN RECENT YEARS EXPLODED IN POPULATIONFORMING HIGH DENSITY !LBERTS ,YREBIRD -ALLEEFOWL ,ITTLE 4ERN !USTRALASIAN "ITTERN "ROLGA 4HE COMMUNITY MAY GAIN VALUE FROM BIODIVERSITY BY BEING ABLE 0LAINS WANDERER !USTRALIAN "USTARD "EACH 3TONE CURLEW "USH 3TONE SUPER COLONIES OF MILLIONS OF ANTS WHICH HAVE IMPACTED ON OF TO SEE BIRDS OF INTEREST 4HE ABSENCE OF THESE SPECIES AS A RESULT OF CURLEW 0IED /YSTERCATCHER (OODED 0LOVER &LOCK "RONZEWING 3QUATTER THE ISLANDS FOREST AND KILLED THOUSANDS OF THE KEYSTONE SPECIES THE PREDATION BY AN INVASIVE SPECIES IMPOSES COSTS ON THE COMMUNITY 0IGEON 3OUTHERN 3CRUB ROBIN 'REY 'RASSWREN AND #HESTNUT 1UAIL 2ED #RAB $ESPITE EARLY FEARS THE ANTS DID NOT ATTACK BIRDS BUT MAY BECAUSE THE AMENITY VALUE OF ECOSYSTEMS IS DEGRADED 0IMENTEL AND THRUSH %IGHT OF THESE BIRDS ARE PRIORITIES FOR FOX CONTROL 4HE &OX ULTIMATELY IMPACT ON THEM VIA VEGETATION CHANGES FROM DECIMATION COLLEAGUES USED THIS AMENITY VALUE AS A PROXY IN THEIR ESTIMATES OF THE 4!0 IS CURRENTLY UNDERGOING A FIVE YEAR REVIEW AND INFORMATION ON OF THE CRABSMAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR INTRODUCED RATS TO SPREADAND COST OF PREDATION OF BIRDS BY PESTS IN THE 53! 4HEY ARRIVED AT A VALUE THE SUCCESS OR OTHERWISE OF THESE PROGRAMS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE FARMING OF SCALE INSECTS 4HE !USTRALIAN 'OVERNMENT HAS SPENT MORE OF 53 PER BIRD BASED ON SURVEYS THAT SHOWED THAT A BIRDWATCHER NEAR FUTURE (OWEVER THE INITIAL RESULTS ARE PROMISING &OR EXAMPLE THAN MILLION OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS STARTING WITH GROUND BAITING SPENDS PER BIRD OBSERVED A HUNTER SPENDS PER BIRD SHOT AND FLEDGLING SUCCESS AND RECRUITMENT OF ,ITTLE 4ERNS IN WERE HIGHER IN IN THE FIRST TWO YEARS FOLLOWED BY EXTENSIVE AERIAL BAITING ANNUALLY AN ORNITHOLOGIST SPENDS PER BIRD REARED FOR RELEASE )N THE ABSENCE FOX CONTROLLED SITES THAN IN NON CONTROL SITES &UNDS HAVE RECENTLY BEEN TOWARDS THE END OF THE DRY SEASON WHICH HAS BEEN HIGHLY EFFECTIVE OF SIMILAR DATA FOR !USTRALIA -C,EOD USED A MUCH MORE CONSERVATIVE SECURED TO CONTINUE THE FOX CONTROL PROGRAMS IN THE 4!0 FOR THE PRESER .EVERTHELESS THE ANTS ARE STILL IN EVIDENCE AND SURVEILLANCE CONTINUES SUM OF PER BIRD TO ARRIVE AT FIGURES OF MILLION AS THE VALUE OF VATION OF SHOREBIRDS FOR ANOTHER THREE YEARS FOR SUPERCOLONIES THIS UNIQUE ECOSYSTEM WILL REMAIN UNDER THREAT FOR AS NATIVE BIRDS KILLED BY FOXES AND MILLION BY CATS EACH YEAR )N ADDITION THE $%# HAS DEVELOPED A "ITOU "USH 4!0 THAT LISTS LONG AS THE ANTS OCCUPY THE ISLAND BIRD SPECIES AND ONE BIRD POPULATION SUSPECTED TO BE AT RISK IN .37 AND 4HE ENVIRONMENTAL COST OF INVASIVE SPECIES IS HUGE !USTRALIA HAS &URTHER READING SITES AT WHICH CONTROL COULD BE BENEFICIAL !DDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE LOST OF ITS MAMMAL SPECIES AND HALF THE BIRD COMMUNITIES FROM -C,EOD 2 #OUNTING THE #OST )MPACT OF )NVASIVE !NIMALS IN STATUS OF BIRDS WILL BE COLLECTED DURING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 4!0 TO .ORFOLK AND ,ORD (OWE )SLANDS IN LARGE PART DUE TO INVASIVE SPECIES !USTRALIA #OOPERATIVE 2ESEARCH #ENTRE FOR 0EST !NIMAL #ONTROL HELP ASSESS THE EXACT NATURE OF THE THREAT AND HOW BEST TO AID THE BIRDS 4HE SPREAD OF THE (OUSE 3PARROW SINCE ITS INTRODUCTION IN THE EARLY S "Y #ANBERRA RECOVERY THROUGH "ITOU "USH CONTROL )N .37 ALONE !FRICAN "ITOU "USH IS CONSIDERED TO BE A MAJOR CAUSE TAN IT HAD INVADED MOST OF THE SOUTH EAST AND BY MAROON IT HAD 0IMENTEL $ ,ACH , :UNIGA 2 AND -ORRISON $ %NVIRONMENTAL "9 0!5, $/7.%9 AND !!2/. #/5443 3-)4( 0EST -ANAGEMENT 5NIT OF POPULATION DECLINE IN RARE AND THREATENED NATIVE SPECIES !FRICAN OCCUPIED MOST OF 4ASMANIA AND EXTENDED ITS MAINLAND RANGE FAR NORTHWARD )TS GRASSES FUEL HOT BUSHFIRES THAT SCORCH RAINFOREST POCKETS AND STOP YOUNG AND ECONOMIC COSTS OF NON INDIGENOUS SPECIES IN THE 5NITED 3TATES $EPARTMENT OF %NVIRONMENT AND #ONSERVATION .EW 3OUTH 7ALES NORTHWARD AND WESTWARDS PUSH CONTINUES "IOSCIENCE n 4HE 3TATE OF !USTRALIAS "IRDS 4HE 3TATE OF !USTRALIAS "IRDS
.ORFOLK )SLAND A SLEW OF INVASIVE SPECIES AND BIRD EXTINCTIONS +EY 4HREATENING 0ROCESSES LISTED UNDER THE %NVIRONMENT 0ROTECTION AND "IODIVERSITY #ONSERVATION /N THE .ORFOLK )SLAND GROUP CLEARING OF THE !CT RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES AND THE BIRDS LISTED AS THREATENED UNDER THE !CT WHICH THEY MAJORITY OF THE RAINFOREST HAS PROBABLY HAD THE ARE THOUGHT TO THREATEN GREATEST IMPACT ON THE TERRESTRIAL BIRDS SEVEN OUT OF OF WHICH ARE EXTINCT BUT INVASIVE ,ISTED +EY 4HREATENING 0ROCESS %0"# LISTED THREATENED SPECIES KNOWN OR PERCEIVED TO BE PLANTS AND ANIMALS HAVE ALSO PLAYED A LARGE THREATENED BY THE +EY 4HREATENING 0ROCESS ROLE !FRICAN /LIVE AND GUAVA INTRODUCED IN #OMPETITION AND LAND DEGRADATION -ALLEEFOWL THE S CHOKE PARTS OF THE FOREST ALTERING ITS BY &ERAL 'OATS STRUCTURE SO THAT MUCH OF IT IS NOW TOO DENSE #OMPETITION AND LAND DEGRADATION 'OULDS 0ETREL FOR SPECIES SUCH AS THE 3CARLET 2OBIN AND 'OLDEN BY &ERAL 2ABBITS 7HISTLER LISTED AS VULNERABLE AND 7HITE CHESTED 7HITE EYE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED 4HESE ,OSS OF BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM !BBOTTS "OOBY #HRISTMAS )SLAND &RIGATEBIRD #HRISTMAS )SLAND WOODY WEEDS ALSO PROVIDE FOOD FOR INTRODUCED INTEGRITY FOLLOWING INVASION BY 'OSHAWK #HRISTMAS )SLAND (AWK /WL #RIMSON 2OSELLAS WHICH AGGRESSIVELY COMPETE THE 9ELLOW #RAZY !NT ON #HRISTMAS )SLAND )NDIAN /CEAN FOR NEST HOLES WITH THE ENDEMIC 'REEN 0ARROT AND "LACK 2ATS WHICH PREY ON NESTING PARROTS $IEBACK CAUSED BY THE 2OOT ROT .ONE SPECIFIED AND OTHER SPECIES &UNGUS 0HYTOPHTHORA CINNAMOMI 2ATS WERE IDENTIFIED AS THE CAUSE OF 0REDATION BY EXOTIC RATS "LACK 'REEN 0ARROT 2ED CROWNED 0ARRAKEET .ORFOLK )SLAND 'OLDEN FAILURE OF SIX OF UNSUCCESSFUL 'REEN 0ARROT "ROWN AND 0ACIFIC 2ATS ON !USTRALIAN 7HISTLER .ORFOLK )SLAND 3CARLET 2OBIN 7HITE CHESTED 7HITE EYE NESTS IN nTHEY EVEN KILLED INCUBATING FEMALES "Y THE EARLY S ONLY FOUR BREEDING OFFSHORE ISLANDS OF LESS THAN KM #OCOS "UFF BANDED 2AIL !BOVE ! SHATTERED EGG WITH A FEW TELL TALE POSSUM HAIRS ADHERING 0OSSUMS FEMALES AND n INDIVIDUALS REMAINED ! HA USUALLY BREACH THE EGG AT THE TOP AND CRUMBLE THE SHELL INWARDS AS THEY EAT ITS COMBINATION OF RAT PROOFING OF NATURAL NESTS 0REDATION BY &ERAL #ATS 'REEN 0ARROT ,ITTLE 4ERN .IGHT 0ARROT 3WIFT 0ARROT -ALLEEFOWL CONTENTS 0HOTO BY ,YNN 0EDLER /RANGE BELLIED 0ARROT .ORFOLK )SLAND 3OUTHERN "OOBOOK AND #RIMSON 2OSELLA AND CAT CONTROL RETURNED ,EFT ! FEMALE +ANGAROO )SLAND 'LOSSY "LACK #OCKATOO IN ONE OF OVER 7ESTERN 'ROUND 0ARROT -OUNT ,OFTY 3OUTHERN %MU WREN THE POPULATION TO n BY 3IMILARLY ARTIFICIAL NEST HOLLOWS IN TREES PROTECTED BY PRUNING AND METAL COLLARS FROM "LACK BREASTED "UTTON QUAIL THE 3OUTHERN "OOBOOK POPULATION HAS BEEN PREDATORY POSSUMS 0HOTO BY ,YNN 0EDLER 0REDATION BY THE %UROPEAN -ALLEEFOWL ,ITTLE 4ERN .IGHT 0ARROT /RANGE BELLIED 0ARROT RECOVERED FROM ONE FEMALE IN TO ABOUT 2ED &OX 7ESTERN 'ROUND 0ARROT -OUNT ,OFTY 3OUTHERN %MU WREN INDIVIDUALS 4HIS WAS ACHIEVED BY HYBRIDI "LACK BREASTED "UTTON QUAIL SATION WITH THE MALE OF A CLOSELY RELATED SUBSPECIES FROM .EW :EALAND AND OTHER 0REDATION HABITAT DEGRADATION 3OUTHERN #ASSOWARY "LACK BREASTED "UTTON QUAIL SUPPORTIVE ACTIVITIES INCLUDING THE PROVISION COMPETITION AND DISEASE TRANSMISSION %ASTERN "RISTLEBIRD BY &ERAL 0IGS OF RAT PROOF NEST BOXES WHICH MUST BE KEPT FREE &OXES POSSUMS 'LOSSY "LACK #OCKATOOS AND NEST PROTECTION OF INTRODUCED STARLINGS AND #RIMSON 2OSELLAS "EAK AND &EATHER $ISEASE AFFECTING /RANGE BELLIED 0ARROT 'REEN 0ARROT 3OUTH EASTERN 2ED TAILED 4HE REMOVAL OF WOODY WEEDS FROM THE )N PARTS OF MAINLAND !USTRALIA THE GROUND FEEDING HABITS OF #OMMON %XCLUDING POSSUMS FROM NESTS IS ACHIEVED USING RECYCLED CORRUGATED ENDANGERED PSITTACINE SPECIES "LACK #OCKATOO +ANGAROO )SLAND 'LOSSY "LACK #OCKATOO .ATIONAL 0ARK OF THE MAIN ISLAND IS "RUSH TAILED 0OSSUMS ARE SEVERELY RESTRICTED BY THE INTRODUCED FOX 4HIS IRON NAILED AS A METRE WIDE COLLAR TO TREE TRUNKS )N CASES WHERE THEIR #ARNABYS "LACK #OCKATOO 3WIFT 0ARROT .IGHT 0ARROT 7ESTERN A SUBSTANTIAL AND ONGOING TASK 4HE BIRDS EFFICIENT PREDATOR MAY REDUCE POSSUM POPULATIONS AND THE USE THEY MAKE CANOPIES MEET ADJOINING TREES NEED TO BE PRUNED OR THEIR TRUNKS ALSO 'ROUND 0ARROT 'OLDEN SHOULDERED 0ARROT #OXENS &IG 0ARROT WILL REMAIN CONSERVATION DEPENDENT FOR THE OF PLENTIFUL GROUND LEVEL FOOD RESOURCES SUCH AS AGRICULTURAL PASTURES AND RINGED WITH IRON TO PREVENT POSSUMS CLIMBING ACROSS &ORTUNATELY 'LOSSY 4HE BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS INCLUDING .ONE SPECIFIED FORESEEABLE FUTURE CROPS TO THE EXTENT THAT MAINLAND POSSUMS ARE UNCOMMON IN MANY AREAS "LACK #OCKATOOS OFTEN REUSE THE SAME HOLLOWS IN SUCCESSIVE YEARS BUT LETHAL TOXIC INGESTION CAUSED BY AND APPEAR TO HAVE BECOME LARGELY ARBOREAL FEEDERS 7HERE FOXES ARE ONGOING WORK IS REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN THE METAL COLLARS AND TO LOCATE #ANE 4OADS ABSENT SUCH AS ON +ANGAROO )SLAND CHANGES IN POSSUM BEHAVIOUR AND ANY NEW NESTS IN UNPROTECTED TREES !BOUT NESTS ARE NOW PROTECTED /N -ACQUARIE )SLAND RABBITS HERE OVERLOOKING 4HE REDUCTION IN THE BIODIVERSITY OF 4WENTY FOUR BIRD TAXA INCLUDING %ASTERN "RISTLEBIRD ABUNDANCE ARE APPARENT !NY NOCTURNAL EXCURSION WILL REVEAL A HIGH DENSITY INCLUDING OVER TREES WITH ARTIFICIAL HOLLOWS /THER COCKATOO SPECIES OWLS A 2OYAL 0ENGUIN COLONY DESTROY SENSITIVE NATIVE !USTRALIAN NATIVE FAUNA AND FLORA "UFF BREASTED "UTTON QUAIL 'OLDEN SHOULDERED 0ARROT OF POSSUMS FEEDING NOT ONLY AT ALL LEVELS IN AREAS OF NATURAL VEGETATION AND DUCKS ALSO BREED IN THESE POSSUM FREE NESTS PLANTS AND REMOVE GROUND COVER CAUSING EROSION DUE TO THE 2ED )MPORTED &IRE !NT 7ESTERN 'ROUND 0ARROT 0LAINS WANDERER AND -ALLEEFOWL AND EXPOSING SMALL NESTING BIRDS SUCH AS PRIONS AND BUT AMONG GRAZING WALLABIES IN NEARBY PASTURES !NECDOTAL EVIDENCE )N PRIOR TO EXCLUSION OF POSSUMS ONLY OF NESTS PRODUCED A PETRELS TO INCREASED RISK OF PREDATION FROM SKUAS AND FROM EARLY +ANGAROO )SLAND RESIDENTS SUGGESTS THAT POSSUM NUMBERS ARE FLEDGLING AND THE POPULATION OF LESS THAN 'LOSSY "LACK #OCKATOOS WAS OTHER PREDATORS 0HOTO BY 2OHAN #LARKE HIGHER THAN BEFORE MUCH OF THE CLEARANCE FOR FARMING AND FERTILISATION OF DECLINING .OW WITH PROTECTION FROM POSSUMS OF NESTS ARE SUCCESSFUL PASTURES TOOK PLACE IN THE S AND RECENT CENSUSES SHOW A POPULATION OF ABOUT INCREASING AT n 7HEN MONITORING OF THE NESTS OF THE ISLANDS ENDANGERED 'LOSSY "LACK PER YEAR 4HE IMPORTANCE OF STRATEGIC INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT #OCKATOOS COMMENCED IN IT BECAME CLEAR THAT POSSUMS WERE NOT JUST "9 ,9.. 0%$,%2 3OUTH !USTRALIAN 'LOSSY "LACK #OCKATOO 2ECOVERY 0ROGRAM #ATS RABBITS AND PETRELS COMPETITORS FOR HOLLOWS IN WHICH TO LIVE BUT SIGNIFICANT PREDATORS OF BOTH COORDINATED BY 3! $EPARTMENT FOR %NVIRONMENT AND (ERITAGE +INGSCOTE EGGS AND NESTLINGS 3OUTH !USTRALIA 4WO CENTURIES AGO SAILORS AND SEALERS INADVERTENTLY INTRODUCED CATS TO MANY OF !USTRALIAS ISLANDS WHERE THEY HAVE WREAKED HAVOC AMONGST SEABIRD COLONIES #ATS WERE BROUGHT TO SUB !NTARCTIC -ACQUARIE )SLAND IN IN RECENT TIMES IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT THE APPROXIMATELY CATS WERE KILLING SEABIRDS ANNUALLY &ROM n THE 4ASMANIAN 'OVERNMENT FUNDED BY THE !USTRALIAN 'OVERNMENT HUMANELY TRAPPED AND DESTROYED 0REDATOR MANAGEMENT FOR THE PROTECTION OF (OODED 0LOVERS FERAL CATS 3PECIALLY TRAINED DOGS WERE USED TO LOCATE THE LAST FEW AND )NTRODUCED PREDATORS SUCH AS THE 2ED &OX ARE KNOWN TO DEPRESS THE SINCE *UNE THE ISLAND HAS BEEN CAT FREE )N THE GLOBALLY ENDANGERED REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS OF MANY GROUND NESTING BIRDS INCLUDING THE (OODED s 2EDUCING ACCESS TO FLIGHTLESS CHICKS BY PROVIDING CHICK SHELTERS IN 'REY 0ETREL BRED ON THE ISLAND FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE S BRINGING HOPE 0LOVER SOMETIMES TO THE POINT WHERE POPULATIONS DECLINE #ONSEQUENTLY BREEDING AREAS WHERE NATURAL SHELTER DOES NOT OCCUR 4HESE ARE THAT OTHER THREATENED SEABIRDS SUCH AS THE "LUE 0ETREL MIGHT TOO MANAGEMENT OF THESE PREDATORS HAS BEEN A FOCUS OF RECOVERY EFFORTS AND CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED 5NFORTUNATELY REMOVAL OF CATS AND A LONGER BREEDING SEASON HAS INCLUDED A NUMBER OF APPROACHES SOME UNDERWAY AND SOME UNDER s 4RAINING FOXES NOT TO EAT EGGS @CONDITIONED AVERSION SO THAT THEY THOUGHT TO BE THE RESULT OF GLOBAL WARMING HAS CAUSED A RABBIT @PLAGUE FEASIBILITY AND PERFORMANCE TESTING REMAIN ON THEIR TERRITORY THUS KEEPING OTHER FOXES AT BAY BUT DO NOT WHICH IS DAMAGING THE FRAGILE VEGETATION AND EXPOSING BURROWING PETRELS s 0OPULATION CONTROL WHEREBY FOXES ARE REMOVED IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE PREY ON (OODED 0LOVERS 4HIS APPROACH IS CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED TO INCREASED PREDATION BY SKUAS 4HE PETRELS ARE AGAIN DECREASING 4O THEIR POPULATIONS )N SOME INSTANCES SUCH AS ON PENINSULAS OR ISLANDS s %LECTRIC FENCES AROUND ,ITTLE 4ERN COLONIES HAVE ALSO BENEFITED NESTING MANAGE IF NOT ERADICATE THE RABBITS AN AERIAL BAITING PROGRAM IS PLANNED ERADICATION IS POSSIBLE AND POPULATION REMOVAL IS THE GOAL 4HERE HAVE PLOVERS BY PREVENTING ACCESS OF PREDATORS TO NESTS AND YOUNG FOR WINTER WHEN THE SEABIRDS ARE AT SEA BUT HAS BEEN DELAYED BY 3TATE BEEN TRIALS OF FOX BAITING IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF NESTS WHICH !LL OF THE ABOVE APPROACHES SUFFER FROM THE PROBLEM THAT THEY REQUIRE &EDERAL WRANGLING OVER RESPONSIBILITY HAVE INDICATED A MARGINAL INCREASE IN THE SURVIVAL RATES OF EGGS ONGOING INPUT OF RESOURCES AND NONE OF THEM OFFER A LONG TERM SOLUTION )T s 2EDUCING ACCESS TO (OODED 0LOVER EGGS BY CAGING NESTS SO THAT IS HOPED THAT THEY WILL BE A STOP GAP MEASURE WHICH WILL HELP STRUGGLING &URTHER READING PREDATORS CANNOT REACH THE NEST #AGES HAVE RESULTED IN HIGH POPULATIONS UNTIL OTHER MORE GENERAL APPROACHES TO FOX CONTROL EG NEW !NON 2EMOVING CATS FROM -ACQUARIE )SLAND -ANAGING )NVASIVE HATCHING SUCCESS BUT FOR UNKNOWN REASONS APPEAR TO REDUCE BAITS NEW DELIVERY DEVICES BIOLOGICAL CONTROL BECOME AVAILABLE OR PLOVER 3PECIES IN !USTRALIA 3UCCESS 3TORIES $EPARTMENT OF THE %NVIRONMENT FLEDGING SUCCESS POPULATIONS ARE SUBSTANTIAL ENOUGH TO SUSTAIN THE PREDATION AND (ERITAGE #ANBERRA 4HE 3TATE OF !USTRALIAS "IRDS
,%!2.).' 4/ ,)6% 7)4( ).6!3)6% 30%#)%3
-ANY OF TODAYS INVASIVE SPECIES OPPORTUNISTIC "OXTHORN AND "LACKBERRY PROVIDE FOOD ,URED BY THE MODERATED CONDITIONS AND A SUPPLY OF SPECIES THAT PROSPER IN HUMAN DOMINATED AND REFUGE FOR BIRDS IN HABITATS STRIPPED OF FOOD YEAR ROUND 0IED #URRAWONGS ARE STILL INVADING ENVIRONMENTS ARE LIKELY TO PERSIST INTO THE SIMILAR NATIVE PLANTS /THER WEEDY SPECIES SUCH !USTRALIAS EASTERN CITIES !TLAS OF !USTRALIAN "IRDS DATA FROM REGULARLY SURVEYED HA SITES IN #ANBERRA 3YDNEY FUTURE SEE BELOW 4HE WIDESPREAD INTRODUCED AS #AMPHOR ,AUREL AND ,ANTANA AND SOME AND -ELBOURNE ILLUSTRATE THE INCREASE 2EPORTING RATE SPECIES ARE HERE TO STAY AND IN GENERAL THERES @INVASIVE NATIVE BIRDS THAT SPREAD SEEDS ARE IS THE NUMBER OF SURVEYS DURING WHICH THAT SPECIES WAS NOT MUCH WE CAN DO ABOUT THEM -ORE NATIVE ASSISTING IN RAINFOREST REGENERATION 3OME OF SEEN AS A PROPORTION OF ALL SURVEYS
SPECIES WILL BECOME INVASIVE AND THE SPREAD OF THESE WEEDS CAN BE CONTROLLED ONCE THEY HAVE OTHERS WILL CONTINUE SEE CURRAWONG GRAPH IN SERVED THEIR PURPOSE AS A STOP GAP BUT CARE MUST MOST CASES THEY ARE THE SYMPTOM NOT THE CAUSE TAKEN THAT THEIR REMOVAL DOES NOT JEOPARDISE THE OF PROBLEMSTHE SIGN OF A GENERAL ECOLOGICAL SURVIVAL OF NATIVE BIRD SPECIES MALAISE BROUGHT BY CHANGES TO THE LAND )F WE CAN PRESERVE AND RESTORE A GREATER AREA 2EPORTING 2ATE 4HE NEWS ISNT ALL BAD 3OME INTRODUCED OF NATIVE HABITAT PROTECT OUR MOST THREATENED SPECIES PROVIDE READY FOOD FOR NATIVE SPECIES SPECIES FROM THE INVADERS AND PREVENT FURTHER INHABITING HIGHLY MODIFIED HABITATS FOR INTRODUCTIONS THERE MAY BE A PLACE FOR ALL EXAMPLE 0EREGRINE &ALCONS LIVING IN CAPITAL 9EAR CITIES PREY PRIMARILY UPON 2OCK $OVES AND &URTHER READING -ELBOURNE #ANBERRA 3YDNEY SOME NATIVE PREDATORS CAN SAFELY EAT #ANE 4OADS 0ETER *- "IRDS AND BOXTHORN 6ICTORIAN SEE P -AJOR CURRENT AVIAN INVADERS SUCH A .ATURALIST n .EILAN 7 #ATTERALL #0 +ANOWSKI * &524(%2 2%!$).' MYNAS CURRAWONGS AND CORELLAS CAN BE EXPECTED !NON ! NEW ROLE FOR WEEDS IN RAINFOREST -C+ENNA 3 $O FRUGIVOROUS BIRDS "OXTHORN AT RIGHT WITH ENDANGERED /RANGE BELLIED 0ARROTS AND BLACKBERRY AT LEFT WITH A PAIR OF !DAIR 2* 'ROVES 2( )MPACT OF %NVIRONMENTAL EVENTUALLY TO REACH THE LIMITS OF THEIR SPREAD AND RESTORATION )SSUES IN 4ROPICAL &OREST ,ANDSCAPES ASSIST RAINFOREST SUCCESSION IN WEED DOMINATED 3UPERB &AIRY WRENS "OTH ARE INVASIVE SPECIES WIDELY REGARDED AS PESTS YET THEY PROVIDE FOOD NEST SITES AND 7EEDS ON "IODIVERSITY ! 2EVIEW AND $EVELOPMENT OF SETTLE DOWN AT SOME LOWER LEVEL OF ABUNDANCE AS )SSUE 2AINFOREST #OOPERATIVE 2ESEARCH OLDFIELD REGROWTH OF SUBTROPICAL !USTRALIA REFUGE FOR SMALL BIRDS IN THE ABSENCE OF SIMILAR NATIVE SPECIES 0HOTOS BY 2OHAN #LARKE IS TYPICAL OF INVADING SPECIES #ENTRE "IOLOGICAL #ONSERVATION n -ETHODOLOGY %NVIRONMENT !USTRALIA #ANBERRA !TKINSON )!% 4HE SPREAD OF COMMENSAL SPECIES OF 2ATTUS TO OCEANIC ISLANDS AND THEIR EFFECT ON ISLAND !DAPTING TO INVADERS AVIFAUNAS 0P n IN 0* -OORS %D #ONSERVATION OF )NVADERS IN THE CITIES 4ERRORISTS OR COMPANIONS 0REDATORY BIRDS AND #ANE 4OADS )SLAND "IRDS )#"0 4ECHNICAL 0UBLICATION .O "OMFORD - (ART 1 .ON INDIGENOUS (UMANS ARE THE PREMIER EXAMPLE OF AN INVASIVE 4HE REASONS WHY SOME BIRDS FAIL IN THE 2OSELLA AND 3ULPHUR CRESTED #OCKATOO AS WELL 5NLIKE SOME WEEDS INVASIVE ANIMALS RARELY VERTEBRATES IN !USTRALIA 0P n IN $ 0IMENTEL %D SPECIES HAVING SPREAD TO COLONISE THE ENTIRE URBAN ENVIRONMENT AND OTHERS DO WELL ARE AS #RESTED 0IGEONS AND .OISY -INERS 5RBAN BENEFIT LOCAL BIRDS 4HE #ANE 4OAD IS CONTINUING "IOLOGICAL )NVASIONS %CONOMIC AND %NVIRONMENTAL #OSTS PLANET OCCUPYING ALL HABITATS FROM OCEANS TO PRETTY SIMPLE -ANY BIRDS CANNOT SURVIVE IN COMMENSALS SUCH AS !USTRALIAN 7HITE )BIS ITS MARCH WESTWARDS AND SOUTHWARDS OF !LIEN 0LANT !NIMAL AND -ICROBE 3PECIES #2# 0RESS DESERT !LTHOUGH WE SELDOM THINK OF OURSELVES CITIES OR SUBURBS MAINLY BECAUSE THE STRUCTURE 3ILVER 'ULLS 0IED #URRAWONGS AND 2AINBOW 4HE GENERAL CONSENSUS IS THAT TOADS CAUSE .EW 9ORK AS @INVADERS MUCH LESS AS AN @INVASIVE SPECIES OF URBAN VEGETATION IS INAPPROPRIATE AND THE ,ORIKEETS HAVE RESPONDED TO THE ABUNDANCE OF POPULATION DECLINES IN SOME NATIVE FAUNA &RENCH + :UBOVIC ! %FFECTS OF THE WEED WE DO THINK A LOT ABOUT THE @INVASIONS OF OTHER NON INDIGENOUS PLANTS WHICH DOMINATE URBAN FOOD AND WATER PROVIDED BY PEOPLE AND THEIR VIA PREDATION COMPETITION DISEASE AND THEIR #HRYSANTHEMOIDES MONILIFERA "ITOU "USH ON BIRD SPECIES -OSTLY WE SEE INVASIVE SPECIES AS ENVIRONMENTS SUPPORT TOO FEW INSECTS )N PARKS AND GARDENS EXTREME TOXICITY TO PREDATORS 4HE MAIN IMPACT COMMUNITIES 7ILDLIFE 2ESEARCH n OBSTACLES TO OUR WELL BEING AND TO THE SURVIVAL PARTICULAR THE SMALLER BIRDS ARE OFTEN MISSING $OES IT MATTER IF OUR CITIES ARE DOMINATED ON BIRDS SEEMS TO BY POISONING AND A FEW 'ARNETT 34 #OWLEY '- 4HE !CTION 0LAN FOR OF SPECIES WE THINK @BELONG 7HATEVER WE THINK ESPECIALLY THE GROUND FORAGERS AND THE BY URBAN COMMENSALS BY INVADERS 0ROBABLY DEATHS HAVE BEEN REPORTEDA "ARKING /WL FOR !USTRALIAN "IRDS %NVIRONMENT !USTRALIA AND "IRDS NOT ALL INVASIVE SPECIES ARE INTRODUCED OR EVEN INSECT EATERS OF THE UNDERSTOREY AND CANOPY NOT 4HE FUNCTIONING OF URBAN ECOSYSTEMS AND EXAMPLEBUT NO LARGE SCALE MORTALITY (OWEVER !USTRALIA #ANBERRA AND -ELBOURNE FOREIGN AND NOT ALL INVASIVE SPECIES DISPLACE OTHER VEGETATION ALTHOUGH THESE MAY PERSIST IN URBAN OUR DEPENDENCE ON THEM HAS LITTLE TO DO WITH SOME CRAFTY BIRDS SUCH AS THE 4ORRESIAN #ROW 'RICE !# 4HE IMPACTS OF INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES ON THE BIODIVERSITY OF !USTRALIAN RANGELANDS 4HE SPECIES -OST ENHANCE LOCAL BIODIVERSITY AND REMNANTS OF NATIVE VEGETATION )N THEIR PLACE THE KINDS OF BIRDS FOUND IN CITIES #ITIES ARE AND "LACK 7HISTLING AND "RAHMINY +ITES FLIP THE 2ANGELAND *OURNAL n MAKE WHERE WE LIVE MORE INTERESTING .OWHERE IS IS A SUITE OF LARGER BIRDSSUCH AS .OISY -INERS ECOSYSTEMS WITH MASSIVE REQUIREMENTS OF FOOD TOAD ONTO ITS BACK BREAK THROUGH THE ABDOMEN -ARTIN 7+ 4HE CURRENT AND POTENTIAL DISTRI THIS TRUER THAN IN !USTRALIAN CITIES AND NO INVADERS AND 0IED #URRAWONGS IN EASTERN CITIESWHICH AND WATER FROM REMOTE FARMS AND CATCHMENTS AND EAT THE FLESH AND VISCERA FROM THE INSIDE 4HE ,AUGHING +OOKABURRA WAS INTRODUCED TO BUTION OF THE #OMMON -YNA !CRIDOTHERES TRISTIS IN ARE MORE PART OF OUR LIVES THAN URBAN BIRDS REACH LEVELS OF ABUNDANCE FAR GREATER THAN IN ENERGY FROM FOSSIL FUELS AND TECHNOLOGIES WHICH THUS AVOIDING THE POISON GLANDS 4ASMANIA AND SOUTH WESTERN !USTRALIA OVER A CENTURY !USTRALIA %MU n -ANY URBAN BIRDS ARE @INVADERS AND MOST NON URBAN ENVIRONMENTS THESE ARE COMMONLY AGO IN PART BECAUSE OF A MISGUIDED BELIEF IT WAS AN ARE THE PRODUCT OF HUMAN CREATIVITY SPANNING -YERS . +NOLL !( 4HE BIOTIC CRISIS AND THE ARE !USTRALIAN SPECIES )N THE ABSENCE OF A CITY AGGRESSIVE DRIVING AWAY OR PREYING ON OTHER &URTHER READING EFFECTIVE SNAKE KILLER !TLAS OF !USTRALIA "IRDS RECORDS THE WORLD 7HAT IS IMPORTANT IS THAT OUR CITIES FUTURE OF EVOLUTION 0ROCEEDINGS OF THE .ATIONAL !CADEMY -ITCHELL $ *ONES ! (ERO * - THEY MAY NOT HAVE OCCURED IN THAT PLACE AT ALL OR SPECIES 4HE @TRUE FOREIGNERS INCLUDING SINCE SHOWING THE NATURAL RANGE IN PURPLE AND HAVE BIRDS OF 3CIENCES n 0REDATION ON THE #ANE 4OAD "UFO MARINUS NOT IN SUCH ABUNDANCE !BOUT THE ONLY @FOREIGN #OMMON -YNAS AND #OMMON "LACKBIRDS THE INTRODUCED RANGE IN RED "IRDS ADD COLOUR MOVEMENT AND SONG TO .ORRIS ! ,OW 4 2EVIEW OF THE -ANAGEMENT BY THE "LACK +ITE -ILVUS MIGRANS BIRDS COMMON IN !USTRALIAN CITIES ARE #OMMON PROBABLY HAVE LITTLE OR NO EFFECT ON NATIVE OTHERWISE BLAND URBAN LANDSCAPES 4HEY MAKE OF &ERAL !NIMALS AND THEIR )MPACT ON "IODIVERSITY IN THE "LACKBIRDS #OMMON -YNAS (OUSE 3PARROWS SPECIES AND OCCUPY URBAN NICHES THAT WOULD 1UEENSLAND -USEUM -EMOIRS #OMMON -YNAS ARE STILL EXPANDING THEIR RANGE OUR LIVES MORE INTERESTING &OR SOME THEY ARE 2ANGELANDS ! 2ESOURCE TO !ID .2- 0LANNING 0EST AND 2OCK $OVES IN THE EAST AND 3ENEGAL 2OCK OTHERWISE BE BEREFT OF BIRDS $ONATO $" 0OTTS 24 #ULTURALLY SOUTHWARDS 4HEY HAVE REMAINED A COMMENSAL A REASON FOR LIVING $OES IT REALLY MATTER IF !NIMAL #ONTROL #2# 2EPORT 0EST !NIMAL TRANSMITTED PREDATION AND CONSUMPTION AND 3POTTED 4URTLE $OVES IN 0ERTH 0ERTH ALSO &OR THE SURVIVORS THE URBAN MATRIX WITH LIVING WITH HUMANS THEIR SPREAD AND ESTABLISHMENT THEY ARE @INVADERS OR EVEN @FOREIGN )N REALITY #ONTROL #2# #ANBERRA TECHNIQUES BY 4ORRESIAN #ROWS #ORVUS ORRU HAS ,AUGHING +OOKABURRAS SEE MAP AT RIGHT ITS GRASSY OPEN SPACES SCATTERED TREES IS TIED TO ROADS AND CITIES AND TOWNS AS THIS MAP OF THEY HAVE AS MUCH RIGHT TO ENJOY OUR CITIES AS 0EREIRA (- #OOPER ($ 4OWARDS THE GLOBAL ON #ANE 4OADS "UFO MARINUS !USTRALIAN AND 2AINBOW ,ORIKEETS SEE MAP ON P SHRUBBERY AND WEEDY EDGES MIMICS THE SOUTH EASTERN !USTRALIA ILLUSTRATES $ESPITE A POOR WE DO AND ARE NO MORE TERRORISTS IN THE URBAN MONITORING OF BIODIVERSITY CHANGE 4RENDS IN %COLOGY INTRODUCED FROM EASTERN !USTRALIA !LTHOUGH GRASSY WOODLANDS WHERE THEY NATURALLY OCCUR PUBLIC IMAGE THEIR IMPACT ON NATIVE SPECIES MAY BE LANDSCAPE THAN WE ARE 5RBAN BIRDS ARE THE &IELD /RNITHOLOGY n AND %VOLUTION n MOST URBAN BIRDS ARE NATIVE RELATIVELY FEW ARE 4HIS INCLUDES MANY PARROTS SUCH AS %ASTERN NEGLIGIBLE 3OURCE !NDREW $UNN !PPLICATIONS OF THE ONES THAT LIVE IN CITIES CITIES ARE THEIR HABITAT 0OSSINGHAM ( 2YAN 3 "AXTER * -ORTON 3 SPECIES WE ENCOUNTER IN NEIGHBOURING BUSHLAND !TLAS OF !USTRALIAN "IRDS 0ROJECT NOT SOMETHING THEY HAVE @INVADED OR FROM ! 4ORRESIAN #ROW CAPTURES A #ANE 4OAD AT 3ETTING "IODIVERSITY 0RIORITIES 2EPORT TO THE 0RIME %ACH CITY IN !USTRALIA HAS ITS OWN UNIQUE WHICH THEY HAVE DRIVEN AWAY OTHER BIRDS -T #OOT THA 1UEENSLAND IN DEFENCE THE TOAD HAS -INISTERS 3CIENCE %NGINEERING AND )NNOVATION AVIFAUNA BUT NO MATTER HOW MUCH THEY MAY %NJOY THEM FOR WHAT THEY ARE COMPANIONS EXUDED POISON FROM THE GLANDS ON EITHER SIDE OF #OUNCIL #ANBERRA DIFFER ALL URBAN BIRD COMMUNITIES HAVE COMMON NEIGHBOURS AND FRIENDS ITS NECK 0HOTO BY *OHN 0ATERSON 4EMBY ) 7ILD .EIGHBOURS 4HE (UMANE !PPROACH TO ,IVING WITH 7ILDLIFE #3)2/ 0UBLISHING ATTRIBUTES #ITIES AND THEIR SUBURBS SUSTAIN SOME "9 (!229 & 2%#(%2 3CHOOL OF .ATURAL 3CIENCES #OLLINGWOOD OF THE HIGHEST DENSITIES OF BIRDS FOUND ANYWHERE %DITH #OWAN 5NIVERSITY *OONDALUP 7ILLIAMS * 2EAD # .ORTON ! $OVERS 3 "URGMAN ON THE CONTINENT 5RBAN ENVIRONMENTS PROVIDE 7ESTERN !USTRALIA - 0ROCTOR 7 !NDERSON ( "IODIVERSITY HABITAT FOOD AND WATER IN ABUNDANCE FOR BIRDS &URTHER READING )N !USTRALIAS 3TATE OF THE %NVIRONMENT 2EPORT .EST SITES ABOUND AS WELL AS A PROFUSION OF !NTOS -* &ITZSIMONS *! 0ALMER '# 7HITE #3)2/ 0UBLISHING ON BEHALF OF THE $EPARTMENT OF THE BERRIES FRUITS SEEDS NECTAR INSECTS AND SMALL *' )NTRODUCED BIRDS IN URBAN REMNANT #OMMON -YNA SIGHTING %NVIRONMENT AND (ERITAGE #ANBERRA VERTEBRATES AND HANDOUTS OF EVERYTHING FROM VEGETATION $OES REMNANT SIZE REALLY MATTER 3URVEY POINT 7OINARSKI *#: !USTRALIAN TROPICAL SAVANNAS SUGAR AND SEED TO CHEESE AND MEAT FOR BIRDS BOLD (IGHWAY !USTRAL %COLOGY n THEIR AVIFAUNA CONSERVATION AND THREATS 0P n IN ENOUGH TO TAKE THEM "UT DESPITE THE ABUNDANCE ,UNNEY $ "URGIN 3 EDS 5RBAN 7ILDLIFE # #ATTERALL %D "IRDS AND 4HEIR (ABITATS 3TATUS AND OF BIRDS URBAN ENVIRONMENTS ARE MUCH POORER IN -ORE THAN -EETS THE %YE 2OYAL :OOLOGICAL #ONSERVATION IN 1UEENSLAND 4HE 1UEENSLAND /RNITHO SPECIES THAN MORE NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS 3OCIETY OF .EW 3OUTH 7ALES -OSMAN LOGICAL 3OCIETY "RISBANE &ERAL 0IGEONS 2OCK $OVES ARE MAINLY PESTS TO HUMAN PROPERTY IN AND AROUND CITIES BUT THEY MAY TRANSMIT DISEASE TO NATIVE PIGEONS 0HOTO BY .ICHOLAS "IRKS 7ILDFLIGHT ).$%8 !CKNOWLEDGEMENTS "IRDS !USTRALIA THANKS THE .ORMAN 7ETTENHALL AND 6ERA -OORE &OUNDATIONS FOR FUNDING THIS REPORT 7E ALSO THANK THE +EY 0OINTS !USTRALIAN 'OVERNMENTS .ATURAL (ERITAGE 4RUST FOR THEIR CONTINUING SUPPORT OF THIS IMPORTANT SERIES *OSHUA 3MITH $EPARTMENT OF THE %NVIRONMENT AND (ERITAGE ASSISTED WITH FUNDING AND PLANNING AND WITH 2OD !TKINS $AVID #OPP AND )NTRODUCTION !NDREW (EAP COMMENTED ON THE REPORT 7E ARE PARTICULARLY GRATEFUL TO THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS WHO CONTRIBUTED INDIVIDUAL REPORTS -ARY "OMFORD -ICHAEL #LARKE )NVASIVE 3PECIES AS (ABITAT -ODIFIERS 'ARRY #ROSS !MANDA $ARE 0AUL $OWNEY +RIS &RENCH -ERILYN 'REY !NDREW (INGSTON -ARK (OLDSWORTH "ARRY +ENTISH -ARION -ASSAM "RUCE -C'REGOR $AVID -C'REGOR *OANNE /LDLAND $AVID 0ATON ,YNN 0EDLER (ARRY 2ECHER $ANIEL 2OGERS )NVASIVE 3PECIES AS 0REDATORS $ENIS 3AUNDERS 2ICK 4AYLOR )AN 4EMBY #HRIS 4ZAROS *OHN 7OINARSKI AND !NDREW 7OOLNOUGH 'RAHAM #ARPENTER "ARRY +ENTISH -ARION -ASSAM 0RISCILLA 0ARK *OHN 0ATERSON ,YNN 0EDLER AND *OHN 3TARKS KINDLY ALLOWED FREE USE OF THEIR PHOTOGRAPHS )NVASIVE 3PECIES AS #OMPETITORS 4HE REPORT WAS REVIEWED BY 0ROF 3TEPHEN 'ARNETT AND $R -ARTINE -ARON FROM THE "IRDS !USTRALIA 2ESEARCH AND #ONSER 0REVENTING )NVASION VATION #OMMITTEE AND $R $ENIS 3AUNDERS 0ROF (UGH &ORD REVIEWED THE CURRAWONG TEXT ON P 3OPHIE +NEZIC COPY EDITED AND GUIDED PRODUCTION AND !NDREA 7ILLIAMSON DESIGNED THE REPORT .OT LEAST THANKS TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO !SSESSING THE 4HREAT FROM THE "IRDS !USTRALIA !TLAS OF !USTRALIAN "IRDS 4HREATENED "IRD .ETWORK AND OTHER BIRD SURVEYS MENTIONED IN THIS REPORT %STABLISHED )NVASIVE 3PECIES "IRDS !USTRALIA WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS #ONTROL OF )NVASIVE 3PECIES AND VOLUNTEERS 4HE !TLAS OF !USTRALIAN "IRDS IS A LONG TERM NATIONWIDE 0ROTECTING 4HREATENED "IRDS VOLUNTEER BASED BIRD MONITORING PROJECT THAT WELCOMES NEW FROM )NVASIVE 3PECIES PARTICIPANTS #ONTACT !NDREW 3ILCOCKS $EDICATED TO THE STUDY CONSERVATION AND ENJOYMENT ASILCOCKS BIRDSAUSTRALIACOMAU WWWBIRDATACOMAU ,EARNING TO ,IVE WITH OF NATIVE BIRDS AND THEIR HABITAT 4HE 4HREATENED "IRD .ETWORK LINKS VOLUNTEERS WITH RECOVERY )NVASIVE 3PECIES 4RUE TO ITS MOTTO @#ONSERVATION THROUGH +NOWLEDGE EFFORTS FOR MORE THAN THREATENED SPECIES #ONTACT $EAN SINCE "IRDS !USTRALIA 2OYAL !USTRALASIAN )NGWERSON DINGWERSON BIRDSAUSTRALIACOMAU /RNITHOLOGISTS 5NION HAS WORKED FOR THE 4HE )MPORTANT "IRD !REA PROJECT IDENTIFIES AREAS CRITICAL CONSERVATION OF !USTRALASIAS BIRDS AND THEIR HABITATS TO THE SURVIVAL OF NATIVE BIRDS #ONTACT 'UY $UTSON !S A COMMUNITY BASED INDEPENDENT NON FOR PROFIT GDUTSON BIRDSAUSTRALIACOMAU ORGANISATION "IRDS !USTRALIA RELIES ON THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF COMPANIES TRUSTS FOUNDATIONS AND PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS AND THE INVOLVEMENT OF THOUSANDS OF */). 4/$!9 "Y JOINING "IRDS !USTRALIA VOLUNTEERS IN ITS PROJECTS YOU HELP !USTRALIAS WILD BIRDS AND THEIR HABITATS 4ITLE &IRST .AME 2IVERSDALE 2OAD (AWTHORN %AST 6ICTORIA FROM &EBRUARY 'REEN "UILDING 3URNAME ,EICESTER 3TREET #ARLTON 6ICTORIA !DDRESS 0H &AX %MAIL MAIL BIRDSAUSTRALIACOMAU 7EB SITE WWWBIRDSAUSTRALIACOMAU 0HONE "(
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