Is it better to encourage people to have only native gardens or gardens in general? Native gardens allow people to feel more virtuous but have less amenity for humans, so lead to gardening in general losing popularity, and fewer plants get planted overall. These issues are very complex but we are usually given very simple solutions like "plant native gardens". That doesn't help the overall situation.
I commend this article to folk who are interested in reducing Noisy Miner & Bell Miner numbers or who are interested in establishing a garden which will attract native birds.
It's interesting to note the emphasis on planting local species.
Replicating, as far as possible, the species & vegetation structure in the nearest relatively intact bushland is also highly advantageous to the wildlife likely to be attracted.
Its good to see this, because in my area there is a growing push among birdwatchers to reduce noisy miner numbers, but through culling. Makes more sense to stop the problem at its source- ie. habitat destruction- by planting more understory etc
Ryu Canberra Aiming for DSLR-quality shots with a bridge camera
i suspect the noisy miner overpopulation is leading to reduced raptor hunting success and possibly impacting the population in the outer burbs. similarly i read that pied currawong increase lead to less sparrowhawks as they were eliminated from their territories.
another example i've witnessed is people feeding grey butcherbirds leading to a population increase/ local congregation which eliminates small passerines via visual deterrence and chases, and occasional direct predation by the butcherbirds in between their handouts.
i wonder if a similar situation can develop as a result of continued magpie feedings.
I hardly think artificially feeding native birds will result in much good. The effort would be better spent, I suggest, on protecting &/or restoring habitat. Not only Magpies would benefit from this but a range of other birds, insects, etc.
I hear ya
Ipswich Shire Eastern flanks
Is it better to encourage people to have only native gardens or gardens in general? Native gardens allow people to feel more virtuous but have less amenity for humans, so lead to gardening in general losing popularity, and fewer plants get planted overall. These issues are very complex but we are usually given very simple solutions like "plant native gardens". That doesn't help the overall situation.
I commend this article to folk who are interested in reducing Noisy Miner & Bell Miner numbers or who are interested in establishing a garden which will attract native birds.
It's interesting to note the emphasis on planting local species.
Replicating, as far as possible, the species & vegetation structure in the nearest relatively intact bushland is also highly advantageous to the wildlife likely to be attracted.
Its good to see this, because in my area there is a growing push among birdwatchers to reduce noisy miner numbers, but through culling. Makes more sense to stop the problem at its source- ie. habitat destruction- by planting more understory etc
Ryu
Canberra
Aiming for DSLR-quality shots with a bridge camera
i suspect the noisy miner overpopulation is leading to reduced raptor hunting success and possibly impacting the population in the outer burbs. similarly i read that pied currawong increase lead to less sparrowhawks as they were eliminated from their territories.
There's so often a domino affect when we tamper with the environment. I wonder when enough will be enough.
another example i've witnessed is people feeding grey butcherbirds leading to a population increase/ local congregation which eliminates small passerines via visual deterrence and chases, and occasional direct predation by the butcherbirds in between their handouts.
i wonder if a similar situation can develop as a result of continued magpie feedings.
I hardly think artificially feeding native birds will result in much good. The effort would be better spent, I suggest, on protecting &/or restoring habitat. Not only Magpies would benefit from this but a range of other birds, insects, etc.