Hello everyone. I live in Townsville and am new here. An Orange Footed Scrub Fowl lives in my garden and, although they seem to be considered "common", i have never seen one before... so how common are they? I am particularly interested in sightings in this area, because a neighbour is pressuring me to remove the trees from my garden which will, of course, destroy its habitat.
I look fwd to replies and reading news from your gardens. Lou
They're pretty secure, and whilst not exactly common, aren't uncommon either, as I understand it...
But don't let that dissuade you from keeping the trees- it seems like a wonderful reason to keep them. As for sigtings in the Townsville area, here is a link to all the sightings that have been reported to Eremaea since 1900 over all of Qld:
http://www.eremaea.com/SiteSpeciesObservations.aspx?CommonNamesSet=2&Context=SpeciesRecords&X=0&Y=0&Latitude=-1000&Longitude=-1000&MapType=0&From=19000101&To=20131114&MonthStart=1&MonthEnd=12&Site=4569&Size=0&Species=884&Zone=209&ZoomLevel=7
And this
http://www.eremaea.com/SpeciesMap.aspx?CommonNamesSet=2&Context=SpeciesMap&Latitude=-28.13000&Longitude=135.16000&MapType=0&From=19000101&To=20131114&MonthStart=1&MonthEnd=12&Species=884&Zone=209&ZoomLevel=4
should link you to a distribution map for Scrubfowl in Townsville. If the links don't work, you can follow the trail yourself from the Eremaea website at
http://www.eremaea.com
The links you want are in the top left corner under 'Find a Bird'.
Why does your neighbour want you to remove the trees?
And welcome to the site!
Thanks Lachlan. Good site with lots of information, thanks... but as you suggest - not common but also not uncommon, altho i see none listed in Townsville. I am 2mins from the city so it's not exactly wilderness here... er, except perhaps in my garden. The n'bour? Well, it seems his swimming pool is disturbed - you know, leaves drop in. Thanks again & nice to meet you.
Oh dear, louwburrows! You're suffering from NEIS (neighbourhood environmental insensitivity syndrome), I see. Has your neighbour considered covering his pool when it's not in use? Is your neighbour aware that his pool, uncovered, is habitat for native ducks? If he can have his ducks is he aware that it's only fair that you have your orange-footed scrub fowl? Is he aware that his pool has taken the space once occupied by orange-footed scrub fowl & their habitat?
If leaves are the only thing that drop in he can consider himself lucky. Uninvited guests might be next, particularly in a hot spell. No, this neighbour is lucky to have you as a neighbour who seems to be more content to observe the meanderings of orange-footed scrub fowl than making a splash next door.
In all seriousness, good on you for retaining the trees on your property. You have as much right to them as he has to his pool. If not more, although I appreciate such a value may not be de rigeur in Queensland or anywhere else for that matter. However, I appreciate that it's not a nice thing to be at odds with a pool-loving neighbour. I imagine your trees were well in place & growing vigorously at the time his pool went in. If so then he may be regretting putting the pool where he has. He made the choice. I support you in any resistance to the god of pooled materialism.
+1 for Woko's comments!
o Dear Woko... thanks sooo much. I have been utterly distressed over this tree business, which has been ongoing with this n'bour, and your supportive comments have really lifted my spirits. I will resist his demands if at all possible esp since he's already succeeded in having the council remove a 100yr old fig tree from my footpath (because it dropped leaves on his lawn). The resultant disruption to the massive bird, bat, etc population which depended on it for their livelihood, not to mention the complete destruction of my front garden, plummeted me into depression for months.
The value of your support is immeasurable. Thank you. Lou
A nasty business, Lou. Does this poolaphile have connections with the local council? If he can get a 100 year old fig (Morton Bay?) tree removed for dropping leaves on his lawn he must have powerful friends somewhere. This needs to be exposed. Perhaps a quiet word in the shell-like ear of a reporter from the local newspaper or even The Courier Mail? Don't forget to mention the damage to your garden!
What do the other neighbours think of this man's environmental terrorism? Is there scope for a neighbourhood revolt against this denizen of devastation? Or a local environmental newsletter produced by yourself with articles & photos about whatever wildlife & habitat remains in your area? Ensure that his letter box is on the distribution list. He could even be invited to subscribe.
Above all, it's critical for people not to be intimidated by this man who seems intent on ensuring that the world revolves around him at a speed to suit his wants.
Your neighbor is a selfish turd. You should tell him in no uncertain terms. (he doesn't work for a power company does he?) Anyone who is instrumental in having a 100+ year old fig tree destroyed is an enemy of mine and should be treated as a pariah and alienated from society.
Hmmm, what was that mysteriously strong wind that picked up a huge pile of fig leaves and just happened to dump them into his pool?
Aaah, well, he should have put a cover on it to keep the elements out!
He's a cop, richman. And remember, everybody, this is not only Queensland, but North Queensland - need i say more?
As for those figleaves in his pool, Lachlan, apart from the much needed good laugh they gave me, they probably came from the entire avenue of figs my husband has been planting ever since the destruction of the big ol' feller... as revenge. He has become a total figaholic and the birds absolutely love it. He's planted every footpath and vacant bit of land he can access, by stealth or otherwise, around our rural property... as well as within, and in big pots - the little pots he gives away to unsuspecting visitors.
..Lou
Unfortunately, it would seem from what I read in the papers & see on TV here in the deep South, your neighbourhood cop probably has the might of the Queensland establishment & its friends in high places firmly on side. However, your husband's strategy of overplanting the local scene with fig trees is the kind of stealthy activism that appeals. To me, at least. What it'll do for the local ecology I'm not sure but it certainly makes a point. Whether the neighbourhood cop will give a fig remains to be seen.