Reintroductions

[GregH]

I remember somone mentioned that this happened some time ago and I stumbled upon a report

Twenty Gouldian finches were recently released into the wild at the Mareeba Tropical Savanna and Wetland Reserve in north Queensland. They are part of an experimental breed-and-release program which aims to re-establish populations in an area where they have been absent for 25 years. The birds quickly paired up and have been nesting.

from the site by a now defunct Center for Cooperative Research, the Tropical Savannas which folded in 2008. May they live long and prosper (without any WB, YB, Sea Green, Blue or other abberation)

[jusdeb]

Thats encouraging GregH ....nice to know that if all else fails released birds will reproduce in the wild .

[finchbreeder]

Chalk up another small victory for aviculture.
LML

[dano_68]

Don't believe everything you read!

They were asked, begged, pleaded with not to release Gouldians at 20 at a time.

But they knew better even though none involved were recognized Gouldians specialist breeders or ornithologists.

It was a noble cause to be sure, however egos and lack of experience saw it fail dismally.

The first release was picked off by predators within 2 weeks.

This particular release you mention fared not much better.

The released birds failed to thrive. Some starved to death, others died of thirst and I don't know where they got the idea that some were breeding??

By all accounts all birds were dead or uncounted for within the month.

I cannot say for certain some have not survided to breed...but I hve heard of no reports.

Myself and others BEGGED them to release 200 birds at a time to better their chances against predation, but we were laugh at.

So they did it their way. I would like to laugh at them but the fact is it is a bitter pill to swallow and a hollow victory indeed.

[GregH]

That is very sad but it does illustrate a point missed by AQIS and the others "protecting us" - it's very difficlt to establish a viable population even in their home habitat. I don't know what their criteria were but I suppose ensuring that they weren't introducing any mutations from captive stock meant that initial numbers would be low. That said if they did have 20 such birds breeding up 200 for relase would not have been a problem if they knew what they were doing or out-souced the job to those that do. Water under the bridge now but I guess the next mob to give it a go will have this expericene to go by. Unlike the Southern Star there are still plenty of Gouldians so all is not lost.

[desertbirds]

I think ABK actually had a few shots of these birds years ago and did report that they were breeding.Wonder how they are fairing now. A work mate has rcently been to Darwin on holiday and did spot some Gouldians along the Ferguson river north of Katherine.
maybe what gets missed is the fact that the birds are gone from these areas for a reason.The landscape has changed considerably since there demise and massive re-veg,predator control and evironmental study should be undertaken before releasing back to former habitats.

[jusdeb]

Good point DBirds , according to my nomad parents they spot Gouldians in fair numbers in a few out of the way places ( they have the Hilton on wheels set up for off the beaten track areas) .

Numbers are hard to count as they will often drink with other native finches so its a bit of a scramble at ground level.

The counts and studies seem to be concentrated in only a handful of locations , to be accurate the whole of the country would need to be counted at the one time(impossible) .

There is a small population in urban Hervey Bay that no one seems to care to count , maybe they are escapees maybe they arent but they are thriving .

One day the do gooders will get it right , honestly apart from providing nests for them I dont think much else needs to be done ( dont shoot me), and yes there are other native finches in more dire need of help , maybe we just need to help the pretty ones first .

[POLAR GOULDIANS]

Hopefully the links below work, makes a mockery of the dribble about having no specialist breeders etc involved. We will probably get the 3 to 1 theory soon.
Sounds like they had an organised plan, and achieved some success, although i do agree that without the required environment they will never make a comeback.

http://www.mareebawetlands.org/gouldian.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.mareebawetlands.org/jabiru41.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2009/0 ... rsion.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[GregH]

No idea what the 3:1 theory is but whatever the case I hope these birds have persisted.

[POLAR GOULDIANS]

Hi Greg, it's a reference to the dribbler, and hopefully you never have to hear it.