Three-quarters of Australian native birds will become “ecologically extinct” over the next 30 years, unless Australia’s conservation programs and land clearing rates are rapidly revised, the inaugural Australian Ornithological Conference (AOC) was told yesterday, Wednesday 5 December.

Delivering the keynote address to the AOC, hosted by Charles Sturt University (CSU), Professor Harry Recher outlined a grim future for native bird biodiversity.

Land clearing since European settlement has resulted in the loss of many populations of native bird species. 

However, Professor Recher said the emphasis of Australian conservation programs on established problems such as threatened ecosystems and species is also failing to adequately address biodiversity concerns.

“Australia currently does not have conservation systems in place to reverse this situation,” he said.

Farmers needed greater support to improve land clearing practices, so that they may embrace conservation strategies. 

“However, solving this problem can begin at home,” Professor Recher said.

“Even people living on small allotments in the city can help by using native plants and trees in their gardens that will attract native birds. Reducing resource use such as electricity and water consumption also assists in reversing this cycle.”

Improving native bird biodiversity was the theme of a research paper presented this morning (Thursday 6 December), by AOC co-convenor and CSU ornithologist, Dr David Watson.

Dr Watson’s research shows a link between the abundance of native mistletoe - commonly dismissed as a parasitic weed - and healthy habitats that boost biodiversity. For more information, click here.

CSU, which has the largest number ornithologists of any Australian University, successfully bid for the inaugural conference, which is expected to become a biannual event.