US coniferous tree monoculture threatens animals

This video from the USA is called My day on the bluebird trail (#1):

’1) Deer
2) Western Bluebird brooding her eggs
3) Western Bluebird eggs in a nest
4) Tree Swallow’

Part #2 is here.

Part 3 is here.

From Plant Science Blog:

Emphasis on conifer forests places multiple species at risk

CORVALLIS, Ore. The traditional emphasis on dense, fast-growing, conifer-dominated forests in the Pacific Northwest raises questions about the health of dozens of animal species that depend on shrubs, herbs and broad-leaf trees, a new analysis by Oregon State University and the U.S. Geological Survey suggests. …

Natural forests of the Pacific Northwest, Hagar said, have always been dominated by conifers. But they also provided a continuity of trees that are young and old, short and tall; diverse shrubs, particularly in the early stages of forest re-growth; gaps, snags and cavities; often a dozen or more hardwood tree species; and possibly hundreds of grass and herbacious plant species.

In contrast, the report said, a managed forest is planted very densely with conifer trees, which dominate the forest within a short time. …

In the new synthesis, Hagar evaluated the life history accounts for forest-dwelling vertebrate wildlife species, and identified 78 vertebrate species in Oregon and Washington that are linked to non-coniferous vegetation, often the foundation of major food webs.

Among these species of concern are several three birds, one amphibian, and five mammals that already have special federal or state status. Declines of western bluebirds have been associated with reduction of available nest sites. Similarly, a major threat to the willow flycatcher [see also here] is destruction of shrubby vegetation. Mountain quail populations have contracted due to loss of upland shrub habitats, plant species diversity and loss of woody vegetation in riparian zones. And a major threat to Columbian white-tailed deer has been removal of brush during logging or agricultural development.

American native trees and wildlife: here.

Mountain bluebird photo: here.

Eastern bluebird: here.

USA: Ten Birds That Help Control Garden Pests: here.

Save Sandon Point beauty spot in Australia

This video is called Sandon Point, New South Wales, Australia.

By Kate Morris in Australia:

A point worth making

24 August 2007

Save Sandon Point

Exhibition & fundraising auction
Mori Gallery, 168 Day Street, Sydney (near Darling Harbour)
September 1, from 3pm
For information. Ph 0415 111 631, 0423 341 781 or Mori Gallery (02) 9283 2903

The Sandon Point area north of Wollongong became world-famous as the area that inspired D.H. Lawrence’s Kangaroo, the novel he wrote in a cottage overlooking McCauley Beach and the Sandon wetlands. It would later inspire the work of artist Brett Whiteley, and is also listed as one of Australia’s top 25 surfing spots.

In the past decade, it has been the site of an Aboriginal Tent Embassy and a community picket, set up to protest a contentious Stockland’s development that has for several years running been mentioned in the Australian Greens annual “Worst Development” awards.

The exhibition will feature works ranging from oils and watercolours to photography, screenprints, ceramics and textiles, donated by prominent Australian artists.

Funds raised from the sale and auction of the artwork will go towards the legal challenge being mounted by Jill Walker, a Sandon Point local, against the planning decisions approved by NSW “minister for developers” Frank Sartor. There will be finger food, drinks, entertainment, as well as raffles and lucky door prizes.

Update: see here.

Update March 2010: here.

Update November 2010: here.

An aerial survey by UNSW researchers reveals that waterbirds and water have vanished from the northern reaches of Macquarie Marshes wetland, north of Dubbo, Australia: here.

Great egret and marsh harrier

This is a video of a juvenile marsh harrier at Grove Ferry, Kent, UK; 30th September 2006.

Today, to nature reserve Westbroekse zodden.

The sign before it talked about bitterns and purple herons. However, both these species are good at hiding behind reedbeds; and purple heron migration to Africa has already started. So, we did not see any of those two species.

The sign also mentioned the large marsh grasshopper. We saw quite some grasshoppers which we thought were large marsh grasshoppers. Though, not being a real grasshopper expert, I cannot be sure.

Also, quite some blue-tailed damselflies. Grey lag geese, and barn swallows, flying overhead.

Adult great crested grebes swimming with juvenile ones. A great egret sitting in a tree. Later, another one; or the same one again?

People whom we meet say they have seen a <scorpion fly, Panorpe germanica. Scorpion flies: here.

We see a small tortoiseshell butterfly.

And a marsh harrier flying overhead.

Herons of Singapore: here.