Ibis habitat destroyed

I’ve just received this email. Does anyone out there have any information, an opinion? Dear Denise, I wanted to ask your advice: here in Sydney they are carving up the side of the road to create the biggest infrastructure in the country The West Connex. It breaks my heart every time I see it because the beautiful Ibis that used to nest in big gatherings have had their habitat entirely destroyed not to mention now Ibis sitting on tree stumps where everything has been chopped down in preparation for the next stage of development. Dead Ibis scatter the freeway- it is appalling – do you know what I can do to raise this issue? Cali Prince Thanks Denise Denise Lawungkurr Goodfellow PO Box 71 Darwin River, NT, Australia 0841 043 8650 835 PhD candidate, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW. Founding Member: Ecotourism Australia Nominated by Earthfoot for Condé Nast’s International Ecotourism Award, 2004. With every introduction of a plant or animal that goes feral this continent becomes a little less unique, a little less Australian.


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12 comments to Ibis habitat destroyed

  • Tim.Hosking

    Hi Greg, Good info. They are crafty birds so it shouldn’t probably surprise us that much – SNIbis stronghold areas like the Macquarie Marshes have been experiencing the effects of well below 80th percentile catchment rainfall over the past three years, with no major colonies forming up. The Narran and Gwydir have also been pretty quiet. Our environmental water can only do so much without rain. Cheers Tim Tim Hosking Senior Wetlands and Rivers Conservation Officer | NSW Office of Environment and Heritage PO Box 2111 DUBBO 2830 | Ph: (02) 6883 5329 | Mob: 0438600837 tim.hosking@environment.nsw.gov.au —–Original Message—– Sent: Wednesday, 2 December 2015 12:58 PM A worrying fact is that in the past few years Straw-necked Ibis have been recorded nesting at Lawrence, on the New South Wales North Coast. This would suggest that species other than the Australian White Ibis are finding nesting opportunities in traditional Murray-Darling and other inland sites deficient. I don’t mind the Straw-necked Ibis nesting locally, it is a great event, but I worry about what it is saying about humans’ mismanagement of inland waterways. Straw-necked Ibis have never nesting locally in the past as far as I am aware. Regards Greg Dr Greg. P. Clancy, Ecologist and Birding-wildlife Guide | PO Box 63 Coutts Crossing NSW 2460 | 02 6649 3153 | 0429 601 960 http://www.gregclancyecologistguide.com http://gregswildliferamblings.blogspot.com.au/ —–Original Message—– Sent: Wednesday, December 2, 2015 12:02 PM Things may have changed since that article was written in 2007. The same article was discussed on this list in 2008: http://bioacoustics.cse.unsw.edu.au/archives/html/birding-aus/2008-01/msg00268.html Peter Shute


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    http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————- This email is intended for the addressee(s) named and may contain confidential and/or privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender and then delete it immediately. Any views expressed in this email are those of the individual sender except where the sender expressly and with authority states them to be the views of the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. PLEASE CONSIDER THE ENVIRONMENT BEFORE PRINTING THIS EMAIL

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  • latvian_maris

    In Perth The White Ibis have introduced themselves to suburbia in the last 2 or 3 decades. They are seen as a nuisance mainly because of their breeding habits which tend to overwhelm the smaller wetlands leaving trees and bushes broken down – Not sure what long term if any damage to the environment this causes but it is ugly. Certainly no shortage of them. Anecdotally they are affecting fly control programmes by munching on Dung Beetles in Pasture. ________________________________________ Sent: Wednesday, 2 December 2015 9:58 AM A worrying fact is that in the past few years Straw-necked Ibis have been recorded nesting at Lawrence, on the New South Wales North Coast. This would suggest that species other than the Australian White Ibis are finding nesting opportunities in traditional Murray-Darling and other inland sites deficient. I don’t mind the Straw-necked Ibis nesting locally, it is a great event, but I worry about what it is saying about humans’ mismanagement of inland waterways. Straw-necked Ibis have never nesting locally in the past as far as I am aware. Regards Greg Dr Greg. P. Clancy, Ecologist and Birding-wildlife Guide | PO Box 63 Coutts Crossing NSW 2460 | 02 6649 3153 | 0429 601 960 http://www.gregclancyecologistguide.com http://gregswildliferamblings.blogspot.com.au/ —–Original Message—– Sent: Wednesday, December 2, 2015 12:02 PM Things may have changed since that article was written in 2007. The same article was discussed on this list in 2008: http://bioacoustics.cse.unsw.edu.au/archives/html/birding-aus/2008-01/msg00268.html Peter Shute


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  • pveerman

    Why would Straw-necked Ibis nesting somewhere new, in any way indicate that nesting opportunities in traditional Murray-Darling and other inland sites are deficient? There may be other evidence of the latter, which is of course a different issue. But extending a range does not of itself suggest something wrong with somewhere else that they have also used. It could be relevant but no reason just in that to think it is. Surely the White Ibis are extending their breeding range to breeding in inner city Sydney because of an over supply of food there, not because of any deficiencies elsewhere. Rainbow Lorikeets have spread dramatically into SE Aust in the past 30 years. Crested Pigeons and Little Corellas have extended drastically towards the eastern coastal areas from a former inland range (both now abundant in Canberra which is a recent thing). The Koel has become a common breeder in Canberra, a situation that did not exist years ago. Are these caused by or even accompanied by a decline elsewhere? Of course all these issues depend on when in history we decide to use as our baseline. For which there is no right answer. Philip [mailto:birding-aus-bounces@birding-aus.org] On Behalf Of Greg and Val Clancy Sent: Wednesday, 2 December 2015 12:58 PM To: Peter Shute; ‘Denise Goodfellow’; birding-aus Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Ibis habitat destroyed A worrying fact is that in the past few years Straw-necked Ibis have been recorded nesting at Lawrence, on the New South Wales North Coast. This would suggest that species other than the Australian White Ibis are finding nesting opportunities in traditional Murray-Darling and other inland sites deficient. I don’t mind the Straw-necked Ibis nesting locally, it is a great event, but I worry about what it is saying about humans’ mismanagement of inland waterways. Straw-necked Ibis have never nesting locally in the past as far as I am aware. Regards Greg Dr Greg. P. Clancy, Ecologist and Birding-wildlife Guide | PO Box 63 Coutts Crossing NSW 2460 | 02 6649 3153 | 0429 601 960 http://www.gregclancyecologistguide.com http://gregswildliferamblings.blogspot.com.au/


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  • gclancy

    A worrying fact is that in the past few years Straw-necked Ibis have been recorded nesting at Lawrence, on the New South Wales North Coast. This would suggest that species other than the Australian White Ibis are finding nesting opportunities in traditional Murray-Darling and other inland sites deficient. I don’t mind the Straw-necked Ibis nesting locally, it is a great event, but I worry about what it is saying about humans’ mismanagement of inland waterways. Straw-necked Ibis have never nesting locally in the past as far as I am aware. Regards Greg Dr Greg. P. Clancy, Ecologist and Birding-wildlife Guide | PO Box 63 Coutts Crossing NSW 2460 | 02 6649 3153 | 0429 601 960 http://www.gregclancyecologistguide.com http://gregswildliferamblings.blogspot.com.au/ —–Original Message—– Sent: Wednesday, December 2, 2015 12:02 PM Things may have changed since that article was written in 2007. The same article was discussed on this list in 2008: http://bioacoustics.cse.unsw.edu.au/archives/html/birding-aus/2008-01/msg00268.html Peter Shute


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  • peter

    Things may have changed since that article was written in 2007. The same article was discussed on this list in 2008: http://bioacoustics.cse.unsw.edu.au/archives/html/birding-aus/2008-01/msg00268.html Peter Shute


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  • goodfellow

    Morning all Cali has just sent me this quote regarding the status of White Ibis. Given that some of us thought they were doing well enough to be considered a pest would anyone like to comment? “But scientists fear they may become extinct as more pressure is put on their native and adopted environments.” – source http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2007/11/15/2182311.htm Denise Lawungkurr Goodfellow PO Box 71 Darwin River, NT, Australia 0841 043 8650 835 PhD candidate, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW. Founding Member: Ecotourism Australia Nominated by Earthfoot for Condé Nast’s International Ecotourism Award, 2004. With every introduction of a plant or animal that goes feral this continent becomes a little less unique, a little less Australian. On 29 Nov 2015, at 3:09 pm, Ross Macfarlane (TPG) < rmacfarl@tpg.com.au> wrote:


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  • goodfellow

    Thanks Storm I’ll let her know. Regards Denise


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  • storm.stanford

    ​The roost along side the M4 was planted verge. It was one of many Ibis roosting sites in Sydney. While the action in destroying the roost was horrible given there were lots and lots of chicks at the time​, no road site roost is very safe for chicks or adults. The person who contacted you Denise, could be referred to the OEH Environment Line ( http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/contact/EnvironmentLine.htm) or the NSW RSPCA. The later is a bit of a fob off because OEH are unlikely to take any action as Ibis are not listed. The RSPCA are also unlikely to be able to undertake any action as the work was very likely approved, which could provide a defence, if (and I don’t know if) the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act was even relevant. In addition, even if they do have jurisdiction, collecting evidence after the event would make prosecution difficult / impossible. However if she is wanting to “do something” those are, the best of my knowledge, the only relevant bodies. Storm On 29 November 2015 at 16:39, Ross Macfarlane (TPG) < rmacfarl@tpg.com.au> wrote:


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  • rmacfarl

    I tend to agree. White ibises overall are more than fine as a result of them doing well around human habitation (I grieve to hear such beautiful birds being called “bin chickens”, but that’s another matter). The effect of the loss of habitat on endangered woodland birds is what is of most concern. How much of a loss the habitat along Westconnex is, I couldn’t say. —–Original Message—– Sent: Sunday, 29 November 2015 3:05 PM Cc: birding-aus; Denise Goodfellow Philip, Denise and others My view is that what folk think about Ibis is largely irrelevant. I am more concerned about the potential loss of habitat. I assume that the developers are required to offset habitat loss and there should be a net gain. However, such works are often at the tail end of construction so there will be a period where there is no suitable habitat for Ibis and other creatures. It would be worth looking at the environmental effects statement for the project and the environmental management plan (or whatever it’s called) before taking this matter up with whoever is responsible. Cheers David Sent from my iPad


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  • goodfellow

    Can anyone suggest a contact for her in Sydney re this matter? Denise On 29 Nov 2015, at 1:35 pm, David Clark < meathead.clark5@gmail.com> wrote:


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  • meathead.clark5

    Philip, Denise and others My view is that what folk think about Ibis is largely irrelevant. I am more concerned about the potential loss of habitat. I assume that the developers are required to offset habitat loss and there should be a net gain. However, such works are often at the tail end of construction so there will be a period where there is no suitable habitat for Ibis and other creatures. It would be worth looking at the environmental effects statement for the project and the environmental management plan (or whatever it’s called) before taking this matter up with whoever is responsible. Cheers David Sent from my iPad


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  • pveerman

    I have given an answer to Denise, based on my observing the Ibis in Sydney, but will not send to the list so quickly. I am curious what other attitudes are out there, before giving my own influence. But ask me if you are interested. The one thing I will add for now is the discussion not so long ago about their nickname as “dump chooks / turkeys”. Philip —–Original Message—– Denise Goodfellow Sent: Sunday, 29 November 2015 8:03 AM I’ve just received this email. Does anyone out there have any information, an opinion? Dear Denise, I wanted to ask your advice: here in Sydney they are carving up the side of the road to create the biggest infrastructure in the country The West Connex. It breaks my heart every time I see it because the beautiful Ibis that used to nest in big gatherings have had their habitat entirely destroyed not to mention now Ibis sitting on tree stumps where everything has been chopped down in preparation for the next stage of development. Dead Ibis scatter the freeway- it is appalling – do you know what I can do to raise this issue? Cali Prince Thanks Denise Denise Lawungkurr Goodfellow PO Box 71 Darwin River, NT, Australia 0841 043 8650 835 PhD candidate, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW. Founding Member: Ecotourism Australia Nominated by Earthfoot for Condé Nast’s International Ecotourism Award, 2004. With every introduction of a plant or animal that goes feral this continent becomes a little less unique, a little less Australian.


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