Commercial Aviculture in Australia

[GregH]

The RIRDC comissioned report Sustainable Economic Use of Native Australian Birds and Reptiles makes interesting reading for anyone with time on their hands.

[desertbirds]

It appears to me that there is large sustianable industry in the making.When we think of conservation we think about restoration or presevation of current habitats and keeping species where they belong.The landcape is changing and in some cases its too late, or very wishful thinking that we can maintain or build populations in these areas.
How many of us have wondered why we would poison or shoot native parrot species when they are highly sought after overseas ? Trapping hundreds of birds and freighting them overseas is not viable for the birds but surely reasonable breeding programs could be set up and utilised.As stated recently on the forum, the Alice Springs version of the Thick billed Grass wren is now extinct,yet we have forum members who are highly quailified and successful softbill keepers,.It frustrates me beyond belief that this sort of extinction can happen and the current regulations, funding programs ect just arent enough.Lets face it unless your brightly coloured or a large cockatoo the chances of receiving massive conservation funding are slim.
Aside from the birds theres many of our small endangered mammals that are quite happy in conventional type aviaries .Dunnarts,Mulgara, Hopping mice,Phascogales,Stick Nest rats and many more.Ive often wondered if a price was put on these animals would they be more popular and a greater effort put into maintianing stocks.
It would be great to see the export regulations lifted and sensibly managed.Perhaps private breeders could put funds back into consevation programs here with some of the proceeds gained from exporting fauna.Weve already given the world two of the most commonly kept birds ( budgies,zebs) why not a few more.

[GregH]

I can only agree with you Desert Birds however aviculturists don't seem to have a significant say in the issue of management. On a larger scale the real problem for species in Australia is due to landscape change, ostensibly for from agricultural management and the deliberate establishment of exotic species carry the lion's share of the blame for habitat degradation and species loss. The type of bodies that matter to the voting public and the law makers are definitely against active management of wild populations. Look at the trouble generated by duck or kangaroo hunting. Aviculturists are seen more as jailers than conservators by the public. Neither the RSPCA Import & Export Policy
or the Australian Veterinary Association's Statement on Export of Native Birds are in support of exporting wild caught or in fact any native birds. At best the only form of legitimate aviculture considered are in large public institutions (registered zoological parks or other “educational” or “research” institutions) and this excludes private aviculturists. If there were a peak body that represented us there might be a more moderate view. If the organic farmers can get together why can’t we?