A housing crisis of a different kind will be the focus of a presentation in the Southern Highlands.
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Senior lecturer at Newcastle University Dr Andrea Griffin will share her knowledge of the housing crisis for cavity nesters?
Dr Griffin has been studying the interactions between native parrots, the invasive introduced Common Myna, and the territorial native Noisy Miner as they compete for limited nesting hollows.
While a lot is published about how families are struggling to enter the housing market in these times of rapidly expanding urban development, Dr Griffin talks about housing crisis from a different perspective. For humans, more urban expansion would seem to suggest more houses become available and the housing crisis is eased.
However, the opposite appears to be the case for birds and many other small animals. Environmentalists are aware of the widespread international phenomenon of habitat destruction and its flow-on effects. This is found at the top of the list of factors which contribute to species extinction in areas of expanding urban development.
Habitat destruction and fragmentation have a serious impact in the case of birds which require tree cavities in which to nest.
Dr Griffin has studied this phenomenon in the Hunter Region of NSW and has identified several key factors.
By examining the breeding success of these cavity nesters and related species, she has been able to reach a deeper understanding of the dynamics of the competition evident as birds seek to establish nesting rights and successfully fledge their young.
More significantly, she has begun to compile a series of recommendations for urban management authorities as they plan for wildlife-friendly cities. Her findings have strengthened citizen support for global environmental protection efforts.
She will share her findings with local birdwatchers and interested members of the public at the first guest speaker’s night programmed for 2019 by BirdLife Southern Highlands. This will be held on February 26 at 7:30 p.m..
For further information and to register to attend, contact Peter at blsh_program@birdlife.org.au
