Lower Namoi Cotton ProjectAGM March 2007
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← Return to previous page Home Print Report to Birds Australia Southern Queensland on Identifying habitat requirements for birds on cotton farms in the Lower Namoi project. Twenty seven sites on seventeen farms have been selected across the Namoi River floodplain within the area bounded by Burren Junction, Pilliga and Myall Vale. A biodiversity values assessment and three quarterly bird surveys have been completed at each site and details entered into a project dedicated database. 131 bird species have been recorded to date. Universally, farmers have given strong support to the project and seem interested in its objectives. The Cotton Catchment Communities CRC and its participating partner, the Namoi Catchment Authority are the sponsors of the project and remain supportive. Some administrative difficulty is being experienced such that the researchers’ costs are not yet recovered. Surveys conducted in November and January were notably impacted by the intensifying drought such that by January, the ground and low vegetation were almost biologically inert. Although surveys conducted at the peak of drought provide valuable data in themselves, the broad objectives of the project are somewhat compromised if the surveys are drought dominated. Consequently, an extension of the project into a two year period was sought and approved. Surveys will continue at quarterly (autumn, winter, spring and summer) periods until April 2008 with final report due June 2008. An application has been lodged to conduct a similar project across the Gwydir Valley. The application remains under consideration. Evan Cleland. |