I asked this under on different thread this morning, but I think, it got lost amongst other things.Thanks Alison for pointing it out to me.So I repeat what I asked earlier.I would very much like to know,what others think!?
This is the perfect time to ask question, that has been on my mind for some time now, and having just read, the DSE is going to conduct HUGE burns right behind us,has turned into a nightmare. How much damage is that going to do to the birds and the wildlife behind my fence? Since I found out about it, I have been planting more and more to establish some undergrowth for the many small birds that live here. I don't want to start a dicussion about fires, we have been "very" close to two. We lived in Cockatoo Ash Wednesday,and the last fires came "very" close. (there is no way of predicting what burns down or not.Houses that have no vegetation around, burn down, and houses in thick vegetation next to them don't) I just would like to know,what the research into the effect on our birds says? We have some very rare birds in the Bunyip State Park.Behind us There is a Barking Owl.
Interested in your views.M-L
Okay M-L, here I go on my portable soapbox.
If the fires are huge M-L, the impact could be quite severe. The more you can recreate natural habitat on your own property, the more you will provide habitat and a safe haven for at least some of the resident species.
In many cases the timing of burns are disastrous as now is the major breeding season for many wildlife species and for those that may have breed only once should a fire impact on the animal or its offspring either directly by being in the path of a fire (and many animals are unable to escape) or due to removal of habitat (which includes a food source) it will mean that that genetic pool is removed from a population. For those with more than one breeding season the same factors will impact on at least one generation for that animal.
Likewise, trees with hollows take many many decades to be produced so any impacted by fire also will reduce breeding potential in a number of generations for species reliant on hollows for breeding such as the barking owl. There is no doubt that regrowth does occur however most states have already been severely impacted by the fires that have already occurred which means that native animal species are sadly already in reduced numbers.
If burns need to be done I would much prefer it be done in small doses during winter which is outside the major breeding seasons and the fact that the soil is moist and the likelihood of rain would help mitigate any "accidents". As, with no disrespect intended to individuals, when I hear the terms "DSE" and "controlled burn" used together I can't help but think of all the instances when the damage done has far exceeded the intentions of the Department.
M-L, I would be interested to read youe views on this topic.
Alison
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"the earth is not only for humans, but for all animals and living things."
Hi Alison, I’m next to your soapbox, supporting you! Thanks for all the information! There is nothing in what you are saying, I don’t agree with. I have seen the impact on birds first hand, after the fires two years ago came very close to us. The bird population has just recovered, and around my area there is an abundance of plants and wildlife emerging . Although the Goannas did not recover, we used to have one big old one, and a smaller one coming to the waterhole for drinks. The snakes are also less in numbers. All the under storage is growing back, and providing the needed shelter for smaller birds to nest and breed. I also agree, that burns are conducted at the wrong time of the year. What I also agree with you on, might open a can of worms, (but I specialise in that!).
In all the years I have lived in this area, I have not seen a (DSE) “controlled burn” yet, that remained “under control “ Some even doubled in size. I’m also of the opinion, prescribed burns are done for political reasons, mainly because of public pressure. For a big part the media hype has a lot to answer for. The media does a good job scaring people. It has to be said though, fires are unpredictable, and in an intense fire anything burns. The only difference is how YOU prepare for the event.
I’m not as good as you with words, English not being my first language, and I like to illustrate by giving simple examples,of the effect the media hype has on Governments .Councils have have given in to the pressure, and allowed people to clear and remove undergrowth, so desperately needed by birds. Dead trees are being removed. I have neighbours who have used the bucket of the tractor to scrape all the top of their land, to remove all vegetation. They call it “fire prevention!”
As for the DSE, planning is not their strong point! Last time they released 400 (! ) Koalas into the Bunyip State Park just before they conducted burns. (they doubled in size )
I better sop now, and get off my soapbox, so others can have a go!
One thing I always say, related to fires. We have DSE country on one side, and CFA on the other. When I hear on my scanner, there is a fire , I check on the map “who’s fire “ it is. If it’s under CFA control I keep peeling my potatoes, for a DSE fire, I pack my bags!
M-L
This is what my backyard looks like, where I let nature do, what it does best!Haven for small birds!
M-L
It looks ideal M-L.
Alison
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"the earth is not only for humans, but for all animals and living things."
Thanks Alison, none of it has been planted, it is just what comes up, because it is indigenous to the area!M-L
M-L
That is what makes it ideal in my opinion.
M-L, I have to say I am no better with words than you and my only other knowledge of other languages is school-book French - just enough to get by when reading French phrases in novels - and some Latin for taxonomy reasons, so you more than surpass me there.
Alison
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"the earth is not only for humans, but for all animals and living things."
What happened to the photo? I know it was there yesterday?M-L
M-L
As far as I can see the prescribed burns in the Mt Lofty Ranges are purely to satisfy the anti-environment, pro development lobby. It's nothing to do with bush fire prevention at all. If it was to do with bush fire prevention then governments would rid the Ranges of exotic annual grasses which dry off in summer & are the biggest hazard. They'd also encourage the re-establishment of native grasses which provide less fuel load, maintain a green tinge in summer (especially after rain) & provide wonderful habitat for wildlife. As well, they'd stop creating & maintaining firebreaks as these open up the forest for invasion by exotic annual grasses.
The unplanned nature of the burns are also concerning. If they were serious about conservation they'd burn far less often as fire frequency can reduce regeneration of native vegetation, especially of those plants which flower & therefore produce seed infrequently. In addition, before burning they'd ensure there were sufficient wildlife corridors to other bush refuges. I can't see that any of these stragies have been used so I assume that the burns have nothing to do with conservation.
Most folk who live in the Mt Lofty Ranges do so for the natural beauty then proceed to wreck it in the name of fire safety. Sadly, some people won't be content until the Ranges are concreted over.
Thanks Woko, everything you are saying is sadly so true! From time to time, there is a tiny(!!!!) glimmer of hope. Today I passed the Gembrook post office, and noticed a large banner: Weeds for trees!. So on Saturday you can take some weeds from your garden, and the Cardinia Shire will give you a native tree to plant instead. Many years ago, Cardina had a policy, if you wanted to cut down a tree, you needed a permit(you still do,but for bush fire prevention, the distance to the house was changed from 30m to 10m).Every tree had to be replaced by tree new ones. When we put up a shed, we even replaced the trees before we cut them down. Somehow the good idea got lost over time!Now, one of the most heard noises on the weekend are chain saws. Oh, and motor bikes by the hundreds thrashing the bush!
M-L
Sigh!, Aramninta. We're probably getting a little way from bushfire effects on birds but sometimes it feels we're fighting a losing battle in the face of the chainsaws & trail bikes. Then I come across 5 Drosera plants that have regenerated for the second time on our place & the chainsaws & trail bikes seem a long way off.
Nevertheless, one of the things that sticks in my craw is the way developers build houses in Mt Barker (& other places, no doubt) right next to beautiful old river red gums. Then the house buyer gets permission to hack the tree down. No thought of getting rid of the house or even preventing the house from being built next to the tree in the first place. I think I could be forgiven were I to think the world is derriere up!
But I do like the idea of weeds for native trees, especially if the native tree is a local species grown from local seed. Somebody is being progressive!