A NEW report by BirdLife Australia shows some of Australia’s best-loved species are declining across south-eastern Australia.
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The 2015 State of Australia’s Birds Report details declining numbers of the willy wagtail, kookaburra and magpie.
But while local ornithologist Rodney Falconer confirmed there is a decline in smaller birds such as finches and robins in the Goulburn district, it appears that other larger birds are moving in and that common species such as kookaburras and magpies were doing fine here.
“Specifically in decline in the Goulburn district are Diamond firetails, Double-barred finches and Peaceful doves,” Mr Falconer said.
“European greenfinches near the Wollondilly River are also in decline and robins such as the Hooded robin, Scarlet robin and the Redcapped robin are declining.
“Lyrebirds seem to have disappeared from around the town mainly because foxes hunt them. They are still at Bungonia and Wombeyan, where you can hear them in the gullies.”
Mr Falconer said another major disruption to local smaller birds has been the introduction of other species.
“The Indian Myna used to be more northern, now the town is full of them,” he said.
“Also, larger carnivorous birds, such as Brown goshawks, Peregrine falcons and Wedge-tailed eagles are doing well locally, which is a good sign.
“Pied currawongs eat the nestlings of other birds. Their increase is not so good.
“We don’t have the same problem as in Sydney where they are seeing decline of kookaburras. They are doing fine here, along with magpies and magpie larks also known as ‘peewees’.”
He said a few species of larger birds that once roamed the Goulburn plains are now extinct.
“These include Brolgas, who were shot out as well as Bustards - the Plains Turkey, which were huge birds that were good eating, so that was the end of them - they are now only common in northern Australia,” he said.
But he said overall that birds have adapted quite well to humans locally.
“We have been invaded in recent years by Galahs, Long-billed corellas, Little corellas and Crested pigeons - these birds are everywhere now in Goulburn,” he said.
Mr Falconer said residents could assist smaller birds in many ways.
“People should put bird baths in their backyard. Put them near trees, rather than out in the open, so birds can retreat from them to shelter,” he said.
“Also plant native shrubs such as black wattles, and less of the redflowering shrubs because these attract the big honeyeaters, which may chase the smaller birds away.
“Plant natives with white, pink or yellow flowers as well as banksias, but not the Cootamundra wattle - that will go feral here and may interbreed with local wattles.”
He said Goulburn has a great abundance of Grevillea arenaria on Rocky Hill, Mt Gray and Governor’s Hill and that smaller birds loved these shrubs.
“They have small flowers inside dense leaves, so the birds can be protected while feeding. The Scarlet honeyeater comes here now, and it did not used to.
“Another way to help smaller birds is to keep your cats inside at night or build them a cattery. You will be doing your cats a favour too because otherwise the dominant Tomcats may rape and kill them and they can also pick up diseases from feral cats such as toxoplasmosis or feline aids."
He also residents could install nesting boxes in trees in their back yards.
The report by BirdLife Australia also points out a decline in the population of woodland and forest dependent parrots across southeastern Australia .
“We suspect that much of the vegetation parrots rely on has been cleared and there have been declines in populations of Purplecrowned lorikeets, Crimson rosellas and Yellow-tailed black-cockatoos, highlighting the need to invest in conservation initiatives,” CEO of BirdLife Australia Paul Sullivan said.
The report is available from Birdlife Australia, contact (03) 9347 0757 or email info@birdlife.org.au.