DNA confirms elusive Night Parrot found
By Birding-Aus, on August 10th, 2013
Thanks for posting that David. The ‘factoid’ repeated in this story and in various versions elsewhere – that there are only 50-250 Night Parrots in existence – continues to amaze me. Having just completed a PVA (population viability analysis) for Carnaby’s Cockatoo, I have contemplated some of the demographic factors that allow a species to persist. If, as it appears likely, that Night Parrots still exist in SW Qld and NW WA (and tantalisingly maybe in NW Vic), there would have to be >250 birds extant across this broad brown land, surely. Maybe the difficulty associated with finding the things clouds otherwise clear heads, and generates low estimates in an attempt to rationalise the tiny number of sightings by biologists/naturalists?? L. ++++++++++++ Lawrie Conole Kyneton 3444 Australia lconole[at]gmail.com =============================== To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: unsubscribe (in the body of the message, with no Subject line) to: birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au http://birding-aus.org ===============================
It could be that the thinking is – the smaller the number accepted, the greater, perhaps, the funds that will be made available for population conservation and research. Just a thought… Regards, Clive. —–Original Message—– Sent: Sat, Aug 10, 2013 8:42 am Thanks for posting that David. The ‘factoid’ repeated in this story and in various versions elsewhere – that there are only 50-250 Night Parrots in existence – continues to amaze me. Having just completed a PVA (population viability analysis) for Carnaby’s Cockatoo, I have contemplated some of the demographic factors that allow a species to persist. If, as it appears likely, that Night Parrots still exist in SW Qld and NW WA (and tantalisingly maybe in NW Vic), there would have to be >250 birds extant across this broad brown land, surely. Maybe the difficulty associated with finding the things clouds otherwise clear heads, and generates low estimates in an attempt to rationalise the tiny number of sightings by biologists/naturalists?? L. ++++++++++++ Lawrie Conole Kyneton 3444 Australia lconole[at]gmail.com =============================== To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: unsubscribe (in the body of the message, with no Subject line) http://birding-aus.org =============================== =============================== To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: unsubscribe (in the body of the message, with no Subject line) http://birding-aus.org ===============================
There are apparently 22 known specimens in various museums around the world. I would think it quite possible to use DNA analysis on those to make some estimates of population sizes etc. and their relationship to the recent samples. I would be surprised if that is not already being done or at least considered. Cheers Andrew On 10/08/2013 10:30 AM, Peter Shute wrote: — *********************************************************** Andrew Hobbs pardalote@iinet.net.au *********************************************************** =============================== To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: unsubscribe (in the body of the message, with no Subject line) http://birding-aus.org ===============================
There you go … the BAP says ‘maybe 50’ back in 2000, but do the arithmetic – it can’t be that low if the NP is extant and so widespread! Interesting modelling question for someone with a few hours to kill. How many NPs are there at a minimum, based on occupancy estimates from a MAXENT model or something similar.
++++++++++++ Lawrie Conole 54 High Street Kyneton 3444 Australia lconole[at]gmail.com 03 5417 2245 On 10 August 2013 11:25, < Eric.Vanderduys@csiro.au> wrote: =============================== To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: unsubscribe (in the body of the message, with no Subject line) http://birding-aus.org ===============================
Have there ever been any attempts to estimate what the population size might have been 200 years ago? Peter Shute Sent from my iPad On 10/08/2013, at 11:34 AM, “John Graff” < jgraff2@hotmail.com> wrote: =============================== To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: unsubscribe (in the body of the message, with no Subject line) http://birding-aus.org ===============================
From the SPRAT profile for the species “The small number of confirmed or verifiable records prevents the population size from being assessed with any accuracy. However, the population size is speculatively estimated to consist of about 50 breeding birds (Garnett & Crowley 2000).” Garnett, S.T. & G.M. Crowley (2000). The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2000. [Online]. Canberra, ACT: Environment Australia and Birds Australia. Available from: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/action/birds2000/index.html. Cheers, John =============================== To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: unsubscribe (in the body of the message, with no Subject line) http://birding-aus.org ===============================
Hi Lawrie, I’ve also often wondered why that figure gets bandied about. I blame a non-inquiring media. Like you Lawrie, I can’t believe there would be so few, for the reason you stated. I suspect someone was put on the spot by a journo at some point and said some offhand comment like “maybe there’s as few as 250”. One factoid born! Eric On 10/08/2013, at 10:42 AM, “Lawrie Conole” < lconole@gmail.com> wrote: =============================== To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: unsubscribe (in the body of the message, with no Subject line) http://birding-aus.org ===============================