Partridge Pigeon and Gamba Grass

Good morning all A workcamp with 1100 rooms is planned for Darwin River, 80 kms sw of Darwin. Residents including myself have concerns about this development. One concern involves Partridge Pigeon. Now declining in Kakadu NP and elsewhere, this area is a stronghold for the bird. Gamba Grass is rampant in parts of Darwin River – indeed the NT Government has admitted this 4.5 m. introduced species is out of control from Darwin to Katherine (300 kms south of Darwin). This weed is a transformer species. It transforms native woodlands and grasslands to monotypic grassland in three ways. It smothers other flora by virtue of its height and bulk; it burns hotter than Top End native flora can tolerate; and it changes the water/nutrient cycle. So the flora that Partridge Pigeon feeds on, are under threat. Many old-term residents in this area have not cleared, or not been able to clear, Gamba grass from their properties, and so they’re particularly concerned that fires may be lit by newcomers (for example, celebrating Territory Day with fireworks), or their petrol-driven vehicles driven along fire breaks. Do any Birding Aussers know of research on bushfires where human beings or their equipment are a direct cause? Thanks Denise Lawungkurr Goodfellow PO Box 71, Darwin River, NT 0841 043 8650 835 _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org