Post by Jen on Mar 2, 2007 19:21:26 GMT 7
Came across this media release from September last year and thought I would copy it to here as I found it sad but interesting as well as an important reminder to us all....
INDIAN RINGNECK: Help stop this bird becoming the next Rainbow Lorikeet
Media release : 26 September 2006
The Department of Agriculture and Food is concerned that pet Indian ringnecks escaping into the wild could have a devastating impact on the State's agriculture and the environment.
This year small groups of Indian ringnecks have been confirmed at Kelmscott, Forrestdale, Edgewater, Armadale, Cottesloe and Belmont, with up to 12 birds reported at Calista.
Biosecurity Officer Glen Coupar said the birds had generally been seen arriving over many months at bird feeders or aviaries maintained by residents, and luckily most had been recaptured and returned to aviaries.
Six of the 12 birds found at large at Calista have already been recaptured by a member of the public.
Mr Coupar said the last few months had demonstrated the vital role that members of the public had in reporting and recapturing potential pest animals.
"The Indian Ringneck is regarded as one of the most destructive bird pests of agriculture in Asia, damaging many grain and horticultural crops," Mr Coupar said.
"Being a hole-nester, the bird is also likely to compete with native species."
Mr Coupar said feral populations of Indian ringnecks were expanding in several countries.
"Our risk assessment indicates that they present an extreme threat to Western Australia agriculture, with the potential to damage a range of cereal, oilseed and horticultural crops, and stored grain to a significant degree," he said.
The Indian ringneck is a widely-kept cage bird in Western Australia, and though they are handsome birds they can be very noisy and many have little monetary value because they are so common Department of Environment and Conservation Principal Zoologist Peter Mawson said that all these factors had combined to significantly increase the chance that Indian ringnecks could become established and thrive in the wild in Western Australia.
The latest bird captured was a blue coloured Indian ringneck, very different to the normal green ones. This bird had reportedly been in the wild for two years, and had a metal band on its leg indicating it had been someone's pet.
Dr Mawson said that to prevent another rainbow lorikeet-like problem developing, it was very important that Indian ringnecks and other strange birds seen in the wild were reported quickly so that they can be safely retrieved.
The Indian ringneck is a long-tailed, grass-green parrot with a red beak, slightly smaller than a native 28 parrot. Male birds have a narrow black and pink ring around the neck, while females and immature birds sometimes have emerald rings.
In addition to the grass-green form, many colour variations (most common being blue, yellow and white) have been bred, and some of these may also be seen in the wild.
Sightings can be reported to the Department of Agriculture and Food's Pest and Disease Information Service on freecall 1800 084 881. More information about Indian ringnecks can be found in the newly-published Indian Ringneck Pestnote at: www.agric.wa.gov.au/
INDIAN RINGNECK: Help stop this bird becoming the next Rainbow Lorikeet
Media release : 26 September 2006
The Department of Agriculture and Food is concerned that pet Indian ringnecks escaping into the wild could have a devastating impact on the State's agriculture and the environment.
This year small groups of Indian ringnecks have been confirmed at Kelmscott, Forrestdale, Edgewater, Armadale, Cottesloe and Belmont, with up to 12 birds reported at Calista.
Biosecurity Officer Glen Coupar said the birds had generally been seen arriving over many months at bird feeders or aviaries maintained by residents, and luckily most had been recaptured and returned to aviaries.
Six of the 12 birds found at large at Calista have already been recaptured by a member of the public.
Mr Coupar said the last few months had demonstrated the vital role that members of the public had in reporting and recapturing potential pest animals.
"The Indian Ringneck is regarded as one of the most destructive bird pests of agriculture in Asia, damaging many grain and horticultural crops," Mr Coupar said.
"Being a hole-nester, the bird is also likely to compete with native species."
Mr Coupar said feral populations of Indian ringnecks were expanding in several countries.
"Our risk assessment indicates that they present an extreme threat to Western Australia agriculture, with the potential to damage a range of cereal, oilseed and horticultural crops, and stored grain to a significant degree," he said.
The Indian ringneck is a widely-kept cage bird in Western Australia, and though they are handsome birds they can be very noisy and many have little monetary value because they are so common Department of Environment and Conservation Principal Zoologist Peter Mawson said that all these factors had combined to significantly increase the chance that Indian ringnecks could become established and thrive in the wild in Western Australia.
The latest bird captured was a blue coloured Indian ringneck, very different to the normal green ones. This bird had reportedly been in the wild for two years, and had a metal band on its leg indicating it had been someone's pet.
Dr Mawson said that to prevent another rainbow lorikeet-like problem developing, it was very important that Indian ringnecks and other strange birds seen in the wild were reported quickly so that they can be safely retrieved.
The Indian ringneck is a long-tailed, grass-green parrot with a red beak, slightly smaller than a native 28 parrot. Male birds have a narrow black and pink ring around the neck, while females and immature birds sometimes have emerald rings.
In addition to the grass-green form, many colour variations (most common being blue, yellow and white) have been bred, and some of these may also be seen in the wild.
Sightings can be reported to the Department of Agriculture and Food's Pest and Disease Information Service on freecall 1800 084 881. More information about Indian ringnecks can be found in the newly-published Indian Ringneck Pestnote at: www.agric.wa.gov.au/
Maybe I still have the article somewhere...
