Bird is the word

BY JORDAN FERMANIS

The annual Australian White Ibis Community Survey and Aussie Backyard Bird Count is about to commence as the Inner West Council urges residents to participate.

The two programs form part of National Bird Week 2016 which runs from October 17 to 23 lead by Birdlife Australia in partnership with NSW office of Environment and Heritage.

The White Ibis Community Survey has been running since 2003 with the aim to increase community awareness of the species and to increase knowledge to provide better habitats for the ibis.

Speaking to City Hub, Dr John Martin a Wildlife Ecologist from Botanic Gardens & Centennial Parklands said that the ibis community survey was important because ibis’ behaviour has changed dramatically in recent decades.

“We didn’t see large numbers of ibis a few decades ago in urban Sydney.”

“The ibis is a bit of a flagship species because they have come to the city and they have well and truly adapted to the urban environment.”

“By getting people to contribute to the survey we get to learn about the distribution of ibis in the urban environment,” Dr Martin said.

Dr Martin said that the ibis community survey provides more scope to champion the cause for habitat improvement. It also promotes the construction of wildlife habitat in urban areas like the constructed wetlands in Sydney Park and the Cooks River.

Elizabeth Heath from the Inner West Council said that although the ibis is often not well-liked by residents, its conservation as a native species is significant, especially after its migration from inland to coastal environments.

“While often seen as a nuisance, ibis are in fact an integral part of our cultural heritage. Their long-term presence in the landscape is reflected in Indigenous culture and stories across Australia.”

“A key question for the species and for population management in NSW is whether the ibis will eventually return inland.”

“Developed in 2010, the Sydney Basin Australian White Ibis Regional Management Plan looks to conserve a sustainable target population of 6,500-8,800 individuals,” Ms Heath said.

The Aussie Backyard Bird Count allows participants to record bird sightings using a mobile phone app. There are 800 recorded bird species in Australia with 237 of those recognised as being at risk of extinction or endangered. Dr Martin said that the national-wide program looks to map and protect bird species.

“The aim is to engage everyone in Australia with birds. And to increase people’s awareness of wildlife in their environment and their surrounding environment. We are asking people to use the app.”

“In the Inner West Council there are a number of migratory waiting species that use places like the Cooks River and some of the salt marsh areas around the airport and those species are flying from Asia or North America and Russia.”

Last year over one million birds were sighted during bird week with over 40 000 submissions.