Apparently All the sparrows in Tasmania are descended from 15 individuals, and the entire Australian population from about 200 introduced individuals. Article from today's Mercury (Hobart) re a study by Macquarie University, and how we can learn about adaptation to climate change. May give some information about how native species might adapt. http://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/citys-sparrows-have-a-tale-to...
Yes I mentioned this study under the previous subject about decreasing numbers of blackbirds. Obviously sparrows are not decreasing in Tasmania. I imagine the climate there would be more suitable for the sparrow than in northern states. I noted in the article the comment about the historical determination to anglicise the Australian bush. Seems we have never managed to get off that path.
I share your thought on "never managed to get off that path", Night Parrot. I had friends who built a house which was surrounded by beautiful Australian bushland. They couldn't wait to plant a Liquid Amber in it! Yikes!!
For me Woko, the bane is lawns. I think lawn lovers do by far the worst damage, but its only my opinion. I was trying to remember who, perhaps in the sixties, used to rail against that particular feature of english gardening in Australia and how innapropriate it was in our climate and for our landscape. I think it may have been the now-disgraced Rolf Harris (aka Willy Wonka). If I am right, he at least had some good insight at the time and since then I have never heard anyone champion the anti-lawn cause.
(Sorry to go off-topic. I do rave every now and then).
I also think that people waste a lot of water on their lawns.
M-L
Night Parrot is did see your reference to the study. I was amazed at how many could descend from so few. Highlights the peril of the danger of introducing new species. I also agree with the other comments, thinking the reference to lawn is not off topic but relevant to their success in our country.
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
another of the 'it seemed like a good idea at the time'
Peter
Introduced Sparrows, growing lawns, planting liquid ambers in Aussie bush land - all part of the integrated approach to environmental destruction.