Responsibility for Night Parrot conservation

By Birding-Aus, on February 24th, 2015

Dear all, For your consideration, I pass on this comment from a friend who has had many productive years and experience dealing with the Queensland Wildlife authorities: “John Young’s bizarre views on society are his own business and perhaps he ruminates on them as he moves around the outback on government-provided roads (‘The depths some twitchers will go to tick the Night Parrot’, 20 Feb). “The conservation of the Night Parrot is, in the present case, the responsibility of the Queensland Wildlife authorities and for better or worse the information to allow them to get on with it should be given over to them. At least we will know that the effort is in the hands of a disinterested group which will work in the interests of the bird and not in the interests of some longer range plan perhaps involving, dare I say it, the profit motive.” Regards Shirley Cook

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goodfellow

February 25, 2015 at 5:07 pm

Peter, you’ve hit the nail on the head. In the NT most of the worst weeds, e.g. Gamba, Mission, Buffel, Para (and possibly Rats-tail) grasses, plus Olive Hymenachne, were all brought in for cattle pasture or as contaminants in cattle pasture. All either form, or have the potential to form, monocultures, excluding native plants – herbs, grasses and woody plants (trees). Also some like Gamba change the water/nutrient cycle and can carry fire hot enough to destroy all other vegetation. Graziers were very unhappy when Gamba was declared a weed and have been fighting to prevent the NT Government from also declaring Para Grass a weed. An upturn in the market, I suggest, would result in higher stocking rates and more marginal country being pressed into service. Plus graziers might have more clout from which to further argue against the declaration of other weed species. Regards Denise Denise Lawungkurr Goodfellow PO Box 71 Darwin River, NT, Australia 0841 PhD candidate, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW. Founding Member: Ecotourism Australia Nominated by Earthfoot for Condé Nast’s International Ecotourism Award, 2004. 043 8650 835 On 25 Feb 2015, at 4:12 pm, Peter Shute < pshute@nuw.org.au> wrote:

peter

February 25, 2015 at 4:42 pm

Why would an upturn in the beef market affect the government’s ability to help, Denise? More priority on pasture than habitat? Peter Shute Sent from my iPad

February 25, 2015 at 3:25 pm

I agree, Stephen. I’m not so sure how well this sort of collaboration would work in the NT, particularly with the upturn in the beef market. But it’s certainly worth a try. Regards Denise Goodfellow goodfellow@bigpond.com.au On 25 Feb 2015, at 1:18 pm, Stephen Ambrose < stephen@ambecol.com.au> wrote:

stephen

February 25, 2015 at 1:48 pm

I support Graeme’s (Chapman) and Peter’s (Shute) latest views on this subject. Night Parrot research and conservation should be a collaborative effort involving John Young & Stephen Murphy, non-government organisations such as AWC, Bush Heritage & Birdlife Australia, Commonwealth & State Govts and industry groups (the latter assisting with funding). I don’t think there is any hope of adequate conservation of this species without this form of collaboration, despite the dedication and expertise of individuals. There is also a role for universities. Wouldn’t it be wonderful for research students to learn about how to study and conserve a threatened and highly cryptic species and its habitat by working with John Young & Steve Murphy in the field and receiving academic support from their supervisors? After all, the research students of today are the conservation managers of tomorrow. I also agree with Peter’s point that the recording of the Night Parrot call should be made available to others so that they can search for Night Parrots in other locations. Long-term protection of this species is dependent on the protection of populations and their habitats elsewhere. This can only be done if people work collaboratively to locate these other populations. Stephen Ambrose Ryde NSW —–Original Message—– Graeme Chapman Sent: Wednesday, 25 February 2015 12:22 PM Cc: birding-aus@birding-aus.org Hello Shirley, From your comments it’s clear where you stand on this issue. I’d just like to comment on your last paragraph. “The conservation of the Night Parrot is, in the present case, the responsibility of the Queensland Wildlife authorities ….” – agreed, however it’s your “for better or worse” that worries me, particularly the “worse”‘. Just “allow them to get on with it” is not good enough. Would they? First of all do Qld National Parks and Wildlife currently employ anyone who knows anything about Night Parrots? I doubt it, but perhaps someone from Moggil might care to comment, that is if there is actually anybody left there. Would they actually employ people, not just a leader but a proper research group? No! Because they haven’t got the money. It would cost millions. Could they even find anyone of the calibre, dedication and field expertise of John? I doubt it. In recent years governments of all persuasions ( except perhaps in W.A.) are bashing the environment, because they can. As far as the lawyers and accountants that run this world are concerned the Night Parrot might just as well be another “jumped-up Corella”! Maybe we should all put our money where our mouth is and support private enterprise – like AWC and Bush Heritage – Governments are all too busy with the increase in human population and funding the necessary infrastructure such as boring tunnels under our major cities. And you wonder where all the money goes these days. Yours A disillusioned senior citizen.

wildlifeexperiences

February 25, 2015 at 1:25 pm

Graeme, you make many good points but I hae to correct one of them. Jeff Kennett used the term “trumped up corella” when describing OBP’s…… and to answer another point you raised, there are still staff at Moggill, trying their best with what they have got!! Regards *Yours in all things* “*GREEN”* *John Harris BASc, GDipEd* *Croydon, Vic* * Director – Wildlife Experiences Pty LtdPrincipal Ecologist/Zoologist* *Nature Photographer* *Wildlife Guide* *wildlifeexperiences@gmail.com < wildlifeexperiences@gmail.com>* *0409090955* *President, Field Naturalists Club of Victoria* *(www.fncv.org.au )* On 25 February 2015 at 12:21, Graeme Chapman < naturalight@graemechapman.com.au> wrote:

February 25, 2015 at 12:02 pm

The debate here seems to be about who is the best party to research these birds – John or the government. Why does releasing information to the government preclude John from continuing his work? They can both be working on it, and the government, at worst (hopefully), would do nothing and the birds wouldn’t be any worse off. Or, if the private sector is the best to work on this, release the information to others in the private sector. If the location is to be kept secret, just release recordings of the call so others can try to locate more populations. Peter Shute

birding

February 24, 2015 at 8:56 pm

Dear Shirley Although I have respect for much of your work, your posting in this instance is out of line, insulting towards a person who deserves much greater respect from the birding world. For good reasons, many people dread government intervention in conservation programs. Common themes in many Government led conservation initiatives include incompetence, wasteful funding, deceitful cover ups and failure. The only Govt involvement in this program should be when the Qld Govt appoints John Young to a “Permanent Full Time” senior management position with a major responsibility in charge of Night Parrot conservation. Regarding Night Parrots and fire, the discussion so far seems to have missed an important point. Across our fine continent, most of the potential habitat for Night Parrot is burnt regularly, not just from fires started by lightning and pastoralists but mostly from fires started by our Indigenous brothers and sisters who, until recently, were encouraged by “The Government” in the name of Climate Change Policy, paying them money from “Carbon Credits” to do it. John Young should be encouraged and supported to succeed in this fine endeavour. regards Ian May St Helens, Tasmania 0428337956 ———————————————————————— . Shirley Cook wrote:

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Responsibility for Night Parrot conservation

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