Victoria facing wave of bird extinctions - ABC 7.30 Report, October 21 2009

A new Victorian study has found two thirds of bird species studied have seen a decline in population over the past five years. Researcher Professor Andrew Bennett, Dr Jim Radford and a team from Monash University independently tracked bird numbers in Central and Northern Victoria over a 15 year period. The study found that declining numbers in bird populations was not confined to endangered birds, and included kookaburras. Bird populations are in a decline across Australia, with research from Brisbane showing a serious decline in certain species. Bennett says the primary driver of the population decline is changing weather pattern, including a lack of rainfall and higher temperatures. Possingham adds that the clearing of vegetation and introduction of feral species present an opportunity for a 'disaster'. He says the predicted rate of extinction of Australian bird species could be halved if investment into research were doubled, and says $15m per year would 'virtually stop bird extinctions in Australia'. The Federal Government has quadrupled investment into Australia's national parks and reserves. However, the Vic study shows bird numbers are also declining in protected areas, challenging the notion that the reserve system will preserve biodiversity. Australian Conservation Foundation spokesperson Paul Sinclair explains that reserves are built on poor land, and calls for a 'rapid expansion of protected areas into fertile areas of Australia', including around rivers and flood plains. The Federal Government's major biodiversity initiative is its 'Caring for Country' program, which receives $4b over five years. Federal Minister for the Environment Peter Garrett says the government will have to target its funding to be most effective. The Australian Biodiversity Conservation Strategy sparked a letter of protest from 90 members of Australia's scientific community, who claimed the report contained critical failings.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• woodland
• bird
• declines
• in
• Victoria
• biodiversity
• extinction

[cindycavylover123]

watched this for first time in 2011, would be very interested in seeing results from a follow-up study given the changes in rainfall and counter- effects since this clip. Either way though, as a Victorian birder it is highly disturbing and distressing....