Interesting report on the harvesting of a natural resource which should be sustainable – so long as the birds have food. At least they have a guard to try and stop poachers! ===============================
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G’day birdos & guanophiles
When i started studying Fijian swiftlets in the mid 70’s one of the caves I visited in the Wainimbuka Valley had been used by early British Colonists (probably Sugar Cane growers) for mining Guano. There was little guano left in this cave compared to others I worked in and I presume they also took microbat guano as well as swiftlet guano.
One of the problems that ensued was that although the chief was happy for me to visit the caves with my students some of his villagers ganged up on him and demanded money from me. As it cost a fortune in fuel to get my students there I went to nearer caves where it was cheaper in both ways to continue the research. I tried the swiftlet guano in my garden and it certainly worked as well as fowl manure.
Of by the way the guaophiles seen in Fiji were more diverse than i have seen in Australian caves and included, moths, flies, crabs and cockroaches.
Cheers & happy gardening
Mike =================== Michael Tarburton tarburton.m@optusnet.com.au ===================
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My Grand father tried mining bat guano, from caves near Ashford, NSW. It was done by hand, straight into potato sacks. I think it was a product ahead of its time. My Grandfather’s enterprise, like those of previous would-be guano entrepreneurs at the caves, was short lived. The guano was great for leaf vegetables.
Cheers,
Carl Clifford
Well, they are doing it by hand, which would have to bird friendlier than using a bulldozer. Note they say that bird numbers have increased …
LK
On 07/10/2010, at 5:52 PM, Peter.Fuller@callista.com.au wrote:
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Well, they are doing it by hand, which would have to bird friendlier than using a bulldozer. Note they say that bird numbers have increased …
LK
On 07/10/2010, at 5:52 PM, Peter.Fuller@callista.com.au wrote:
href=”mailto:birding-aus-bounces@vicnet.net.au”>birding-aus-bounces@vicnet.net.au href=”mailto:birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au”>birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au href=”mailto:birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au”>birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au
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Mud island in Port Phillip Bay used to be mined for bird guano. I’m not sure sustainable and environmentally (bird) friendly are the same thing.
Sent by: birding-aus-bounces@vicnet.net.au
http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-world/peru-mines-nutrientrich-bird-excrement-on-islands-20101007-169fa.html
Interesting report on the harvesting of a natural resource which should be sustainable – so long as the birds have food. At least they have a guard to try and stop poachers! ===============================
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http://birding-aus.org ===============================
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