[Birding-Aus] Invasion of Indian crows sparks alert

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Andrew Taylor

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Nov 20, 2008, 5:27:19 PM11/20/08
to birdi...@vicnet.net.au
"The world's most destructive crow is invading WA, raising fears that
the highly aggressive bird will establish a population in the State,
causing extensive damage and wiping out native species.

House crows,which are native to India and populous in South-East Asia,
have recently been spotted on an offshore gas rig and in Cape Lambert
in WA's north. Wildlife officers suspect the birds are travelling to
Australia on boats."

More at:
http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=107018

Andrew
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Gregory Little

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Nov 20, 2008, 8:51:43 PM11/20/08
to and...@cse.unsw.edu.au, birdi...@vicnet.net.au
Hey, pssst, Andrew, there's some in here who don't like us bagging the
House Crow.

Greg Little

Greg Little - Principal Consultant
General Flora and Fauna
PO Box 526
Wallsend, NSW, 2287, Australia
Ph 02 49 556609
Fx 02 49 556671
www.gff.com.au

More at:
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Andrew
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Tony Russell

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Nov 20, 2008, 9:16:47 PM11/20/08
to Gregory Little, and...@cse.unsw.edu.au, birdi...@vicnet.net.au
It's on my list.

Wendy

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Nov 20, 2008, 10:43:50 PM11/20/08
to birdi...@vicnet.net.au
Now there is a proper challenge for all you twitchers!!

Visiting a park or playground in Sydney, to see one of these birds, is
totally lame in comparison! (apart from risk/excitement for male persons
possibly getting arrested for hanging around a playgroud with binos and
cameras!!)
wm

----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrew Taylor" <and...@cse.unsw.edu.au>
To: <birdi...@vicnet.net.au>
Sent: Friday, November 21, 2008 9:27 AM
Subject: [Birding-Aus] Invasion of Indian crows sparks alert

sj...@tpg.com.au

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Nov 20, 2008, 11:51:37 PM11/20/08
to Wendy, birdi...@vicnet.net.au
It has always concerned me since the house crow popped up in Sydney that many people seem
more concerned about ticking a bird on a list, than the potential ecologocal disaster this species
may cause. Thats just the impression ive got of this forum though i may be incorrect.

Regards, Simon Muirhead

Lorne Johnson

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Nov 20, 2008, 11:52:33 PM11/20/08
to sj...@tpg.com.au, Wendy, birdi...@vicnet.net.au
All,

As I said in my Weekend Australian article, one crow doesn't make
Apocalypse Now.

Lorne

Regards, Simon Muirhead

Quoting Wendy <woob...@pipeline.com.au>:

>

> is

> persons

> and

> cameras!!)

> wm

>

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: "Andrew Taylor" <and...@cse.unsw.edu.au>

> To: <birdi...@vicnet.net.au>

>

>

> that

> State,

> >

> Asia,

> Lambert

> to

> > Australia on boats."

> >

> > More at:

> > http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=107018

> >

> > Andrew

> > ===============================

> > www.birding-aus.org

> > birding-aus.blogspot.com

> >

> > send the message:

> > unsubscribe

> > to: birding-a...@vicnet.net.au

> > ===============================

> >

> >

>

> ===============================

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> birding-aus.blogspot.com

>

> send the message:

> unsubscribe

> to: birding-a...@vicnet.net.au

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sj...@tpg.com.au

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Nov 21, 2008, 12:04:15 AM11/21/08
to Lorne Johnson, birdi...@vicnet.net.au
Surely the precuationary principle should apply? Are you willing to take the responsability if this
species got out of hand?

Regards, Simon Muirhead

Graham Turner

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Nov 21, 2008, 12:11:19 AM11/21/08
to Baus
I mean really, how much damage could one cane toad possible do?

John Tongue

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Nov 21, 2008, 12:36:03 AM11/21/08
to Graham Turner, Baus
ONE Cane Toad probably couldn't do much damage - but then, how do you
know there is not another one lurking around somewhere? The Sydney
House Crow seems to have been a lone individual, but I believe people
took quite a risk in hoping that might be the case (even though I did
manage to tick it some months after it first turned up)

John Tongue
Ulverstone, Tas.

On 21/11/2008, at 4:11 PM, Graham Turner wrote:

> I mean really, how much damage could one cane toad possible do?
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: <sj...@tpg.com.au>
> To: "Lorne Johnson" <ljoh...@loretonh.nsw.edu.au>
> Cc: <birdi...@vicnet.net.au>
> Sent: Friday, November 21, 2008 4:04 PM
> Subject: RE: [Birding-Aus] Invasion of Indian crows sparks alert

===============================

sj...@tpg.com.au

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Nov 21, 2008, 12:49:40 AM11/21/08
to John Tongue, Baus
Maybe I am looking at this wrong, but it doesnt seem to be a huge leap in logic that if one
specimen made it to our shores on the east coast, others can make it too? I for one am glad the
west coast scientists seem to have a more responsible attitude to this species. I do not understand
why anyone would want to take the risk to see australian wildlife devastated by yet another
invasive species.

regards, Simon Muirhead

Graham Turner

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Nov 21, 2008, 12:56:42 AM11/21/08
to Baus
or..
...why anyone would want to take the risk to see australian wildlife
devastated by yet another invasive tick


----- Original Message -----
From: <sj...@tpg.com.au>
To: "John Tongue" <js...@iprimus.com.au>
Cc: "Graham Turner" <ori...@ozemail.com.au>; "Baus"
<birdi...@vicnet.net.au>
Sent: Friday, November 21, 2008 4:49 PM
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Invasion of Indian crows sparks alert


> Maybe I am looking at this wrong, but it doesnt seem to be a huge leap in
> logic that if one
> specimen made it to our shores on the east coast, others can make it too?
> I for one am glad the
> west coast scientists seem to have a more responsible attitude to this
> species. I do not understand
> why anyone would want to take the risk to see australian wildlife
> devastated by yet another
> invasive species.
>
> regards, Simon Muirhead
>

===============================

peter crow

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Nov 21, 2008, 2:16:45 AM11/21/08
to Graham Turner, Baus
You mean a female cane toad which can lay many thousand eggs?

Ian May

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Nov 21, 2008, 2:35:44 AM11/21/08
to sj...@tpg.com.au, birdi...@vicnet.net.au
g'Day Simon

Please don't be too concerned. Try to think of it this way. If
everybody applied the precautionary principle, many of us might not be
here to enjoy a new tick. I think you understand what I mean; that its
not really the responsibility of twitchers to destroy house crows in
playgrounds. It would definitely be a bad look roaming playgrounds with
shotguns, binoculars and cameras.

Regards

Ian

Tony Russell

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Nov 21, 2008, 2:31:37 AM11/21/08
to Graham Turner, Baus
That depends on how you cook it.

John Tongue

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Nov 21, 2008, 2:41:03 AM11/21/08
to peter crow, Baus
Ummm,
unless the female toad was called Mary, and visited by an archangel, I
doubt that being able to lay many thousand eggs will do it much good!

John Tongue
Ulverstone, Tas.


On 21/11/2008, at 6:16 PM, peter crow wrote:

> You mean a female cane toad which can lay many thousand eggs?
>

===============================

Steve

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Nov 21, 2008, 2:52:21 AM11/21/08
to sj...@tpg.com.au, Lorne Johnson, birdi...@vicnet.net.au
I couldn't agree more. I don't know how long the average House Crow lives,
but it may be just long enough to see the arrival of another by the same
means......then you have Apocalypse Now!
Steve Murray

David Stowe

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Nov 21, 2008, 3:03:25 AM11/21/08
to Ian May, birdi...@vicnet.net.au
I agree Ian!
I'm sure this was all discussed at length when it first arrived, but I
know that the authorities were indeed notified very early on in the
piece and decided not to act. I can't see what else us mere
birdwatchers (or twitchers) can do??
There was a lack of resources coupled with the proximity to kids etc.
If there were more than one then it sounded like action would have
been forthcoming though.
I agree that we don't know when another one will turn up, and whilst i
did "tick it" if you like, i certainly wasn't hoping for it to stick
around and breed. Like Ian said - what more can we do?
How can you ask Lorne to take responsibility just because he didn't
personally go and shoot it!
None of us can possibly "take responsibility" for this bird being
alive or dead. It is up to the relevant government bodies.

Cheers
Dave

Simon JR Muirhead

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Nov 21, 2008, 3:12:53 AM11/21/08
to Ian May, birdi...@vicnet.net.au
I am not sure where I ever suggested that it was the responsibility of
twitchers to remove a pest species?

This specimen should have been captured and dealt with by the appropriate
authorities just like they do in Western Australia a long time ago.

So I am an not sure I do understand what you mean. I guess I don't
understand the obsession with " ticking off" an invasive species common all
over the world when we have so many fantastic and unique species in
Australia.

I am not either suggesting "Apocalypse Now". My only point is why anyone
would take an even .00001% chance of this species ever becoming established
in Australia? The authorities should just remove the bird and be done with
it.

Regards, Simon Muirhead BEnvSc MEIANZ

( Phone 0401 576 245

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Paul Dodd

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Nov 21, 2008, 3:18:24 AM11/21/08
to David Stowe, Ian May, birdi...@vicnet.net.au
Thanks Dave, a voice of reason in a topic that's been done to death.

Paul Dodd
Docklands, Victoria

Cheers
Dave

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7:28 PM

Simon JR Muirhead

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Nov 21, 2008, 3:38:52 AM11/21/08
to David Stowe, Baus Aus
I meant in an intellectual sense, by playing down the threat, as opposed to
lorne running out there and catching it:)

Regards, Simon Muirhead BEnvSc MEIANZ

R Phone 0401 576 245


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-----Original Message-----
From: David Stowe [mailto:david...@optusnet.com.au]
Sent: Friday, November 21, 2008 6:37 PM
To: Simon JR Muirhead
Cc: Baus Aus
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Invasion of Indian crows sparks alert

Hi Simon,


> I am not sure where I ever suggested that it was the responsibility of
> twitchers to remove a pest species


I think when you said to Lorne :
"Are you willing to take the responsibility if this species got out of
hand?"


> This specimen should have been captured and dealt with by the
> appropriate
> authorities just like they do in Western Australia a long time ago.


I agree wholeheartedly


> So I am an not sure I do understand what you mean. I guess I don't
> understand the obsession with " ticking off" an invasive species
> common all
> over the world when we have so many fantastic and unique species in
> Australia.


Some of us can't afford to go to India to see one and when you live
close by like i do then it was fascinating to see a bird that i will
otherwise never see in the wild. SInce i don't have the authority to
kill it then curiosity took me to see it while it was still there.

Not sure what wasn't clear but i think the point is that this isn't
really about twitching or people starting petitions to keep the Crow
alive -most i'm sure would agree that this is a bad news bird. But
what can we do?????
Continuing this debate that has already been around for a while isn't
going to get us anywhere.....oops - guilty of continuing the debate
again and again :)

Cheers,
Dave
Sydney

PS - let me know if anyone would like a copy of a photo of this bird
sent to them. It really is quite attractive :)

Paul Dodd

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Nov 21, 2008, 3:24:34 AM11/21/08
to and...@cse.unsw.edu.au, birdi...@vicnet.net.au
In spite of my previous posting, this report is actually disturbing. Clearly
we cannot accept that this species should be able to gain a foothold in this
country. At this time Ruth and I are planning a trip to Malaysia over
Christmas, and I note that the House Crow was DELIBERATELY introduced to the
Malaysian peninsula! Let's not do that here.

Paul Dodd
Docklands, Victoria


-----Original Message-----
From: birding-a...@vicnet.net.au
[mailto:birding-a...@vicnet.net.au] On Behalf Of Andrew Taylor
Sent: Friday, 21 November 2008 9:27 AM
To: birdi...@vicnet.net.au

More at:
http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=107018

Andrew
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birding-aus.blogspot.com

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7:28 PM

===============================

David Stowe

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Nov 21, 2008, 3:37:20 AM11/21/08
to Simon JR Muirhead, Baus Aus
Hi Simon,

> I am not sure where I ever suggested that it was the responsibility of
> twitchers to remove a pest species


I think when you said to Lorne :

"Are you willing to take the responsibility if this species got out of
hand?"


> This specimen should have been captured and dealt with by the
> appropriate
> authorities just like they do in Western Australia a long time ago.


I agree wholeheartedly


> So I am an not sure I do understand what you mean. I guess I don't
> understand the obsession with " ticking off" an invasive species
> common all
> over the world when we have so many fantastic and unique species in
> Australia.

Some of us can't afford to go to India to see one and when you live
close by like i do then it was fascinating to see a bird that i will
otherwise never see in the wild. SInce i don't have the authority to
kill it then curiosity took me to see it while it was still there.

Not sure what wasn't clear but i think the point is that this isn't
really about twitching or people starting petitions to keep the Crow
alive -most i'm sure would agree that this is a bad news bird. But
what can we do?????
Continuing this debate that has already been around for a while isn't
going to get us anywhere.....oops - guilty of continuing the debate
again and again :)

Cheers,
Dave
Sydney

PS - let me know if anyone would like a copy of a photo of this bird
sent to them. It really is quite attractive :)

On 21/11/2008, at 7:12 PM, Simon JR Muirhead wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>

Tim Jones

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Nov 21, 2008, 5:20:17 AM11/21/08
to prati...@esc.net.au, gjl...@bigpond.net.au, and...@cse.unsw.edu.au, birding aus

Does anyone know what native species of other countries they've wiped out? > From: prati...@esc.net.au> To: gjl...@bigpond.net.au; and...@cse.unsw.edu.au; birdi...@vicnet.net.au> Subject: RE: [Birding-Aus] Invasion of Indian crows sparks alert> Date: Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:46:47 +1030> > It's on my list.> > -----Original Message-----> From: birding-a...@vicnet.net.au> [mailto:birding-a...@vicnet.net.au] On Behalf Of Gregory Little> Sent: Friday, November 21, 2008 12:22 PM> To: and...@cse.unsw.edu.au; birdi...@vicnet.net.au> Subject: RE: [Birding-Aus] Invasion of Indian crows sparks alert> > > Hey, pssst, Andrew, there's some in here who don't like us bagging the> House Crow.> > Greg Little> > Greg Little - Principal Consultant> General Flora and Fauna> PO Box 526> Wallsend, NSW, 2287, Australia> Ph 02 49 556609> Fx 02 49 556671> www.gff.com.au> > -----Original Message-----> From: birding-a...@vicnet.net.au> [mailto:birding-a...@vicnet.net.au] On Behalf Of Andrew Taylor> Sent: Friday, 21 November 2008 9:27 AM> To: birdi...@vicnet.net.au> Subject: [Birding-Aus] Invasion of Indian crows sparks alert> > "The world's most destructive crow is invading WA, raising fears that> the highly aggressive bird will establish a population in the State,> causing extensive damage and wiping out native species.> > House crows,which are native to India and populous in South-East Asia,> have recently been spotted on an offshore gas rig and in Cape Lambert> in WA's north. Wildlife officers suspect the birds are travelling to> Australia on boats."> > More at:> http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=107018> > Andrew> ===============================> www.birding-aus.org> birding-aus.blogspot.com> > To unsubscribe from this mailing list, > send the message:> unsubscribe > (in the body of the message, with no Subject line)> to: birding-a...@vicnet.net.au =============================== No> virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG -> http://www.avg.com > Version: 8.0.175 / Virus Database: 270.9.8/1800 - Release Date:> 11/19/2008 6:55 PM> > > ===============================> www.birding-aus.org> birding-aus.blogspot.com> > To unsubscribe from this mailing list, > send the message:> unsubscribe > (in the body of the message, with no Subject line)> to: birding-a...@vicnet.net.au ===============================> > ===============================> www.birding-aus.org> birding-aus.blogspot.com> > To unsubscribe from this mailing list, > send the message:> unsubscribe > (in the body of the message, with no Subject line)> to: birding-a...@vicnet.net.au> ===============================
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Chris Lloyd

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Nov 21, 2008, 6:35:06 PM11/21/08
to birdi...@vicnet.net.au
David suggests that "None of us can possibly "take responsibility" for this
bird being

alive or dead. It is up to the relevant government bodies." That strategy
went well with climate change, water allocation, public transport..........

Chris Lloyd

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