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Birds are often considered to be outstanding indicators of the health of the overall environment. Rather like the proverbial canary in the coalmine, they are readily affected by physical and chemical impacts on their ecosystems, whether these are caused by natural or man-made influences. When communities of birds change, either in terms of numbers or species composition, this is usually the result of an ecological change. Because many species of birds have become specialised to occupy certain niches and together they inhabit almost every conceivable habitat, they are responsive to a wide variety of environmental changes and can reflect diversity and trends in other animals and plants with which they coexist.
By looking after the birds of Australia we are also looking after the environment as a whole.
Unlike some other groups of animals that are also good environmental indicators, such as frogs, birds are usually relatively easy to observe and identify, and most are active during the day. In short, birds tell us lots about changes to the environment, they are easy to see, and, at Birds Australia there are plenty of people to go out looking for them.
There are many different conservation issues which have an impact on Australia's birds. The nature of these issues is often (but not always) a result of changes to their habitat. There are also many other threats, some of which affect whole communities, and others which may be restricted to a specific site, or may only affect individual species. |
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Rufous Fantail at Narringal East VIC © Chris Tzaros
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