Canberra's iconic scarlet robin (Petroica boodang) is at risk of extinction if action is not taken. The tiny insect-feeding, shrub-dwelling bird was listed as vulnerable in the ACT last year. But Dr Annie Lane, ACT conservator for flora and fauna, said the population had continued to decline. "It's a steady decline and if we don't arrest that decline, in 30 years we may not be seeing that species any longer," she told ABC Canberra. "That's an alarming thought." They were once a common sight, but loss and degradation of woodland and dry eucalypt forest habitats have impacted their foraging and breeding. Dr Lane said nest predation was also a problem. "Particularly the pied currawong; this bird does cause an impact on the reproductive success of this species," she said. "Noisy minors are very aggressive birds as well." Dr Lane said Canberrans, particularly those living near nature reserves, could help the robin by providing more ground cover and shrubbery in their gardens. "Not just for their nesting but also for their foraging," she said. "Ground vegetation encourages the insects, the bugs [that the robins eat]." The ACT Government has launched a draft action plan to stop the scarlet robin's decline and support a wild breeding population. "We're calling on the community to help us with observations of this species," Dr Lane said. "So we understand better when they actually leave low altitudes and when they leave high altitudes; where are their main foraging habitats and where are their critical nesting sites as well."
Source: ABC Canberra, April 7, 2016
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-07/scarlet-robin-facing-extinction-i…
- Login om te reageren