Sunshine Coast Birds

Birding and other wildlife experiences from the Sunshine Coast and elsewhere in Australia - and from overseas - with scribblings about travel, environmental issues, kayaking, hiking and camping.

Saturday 9 January 2021

Row over Queensland Government permits to kill rare quail-thrush

Male Atherton (Spotted) Quail-thrush, image by John Young. This is a longer version of my story published in this weekend's edition of The Weekend Australian newspaper. A decision by the Queensland Government to allow the killing of rare birds for scientific study has sparked a furious response from nature lovers and debate about whether government agencies should be moving on from a centuries-old tradition requiring the “collection” of wildlife for research. The Queensland Environment Department approved the collection by the CSIRO’s Australian National Wildlife Collection of up to six specimens of a recently discovered bird known as the Atherton Quail-thrush The decision was made without the department undertaking studies to determine the bird’s population or distribution. The department nonetheless concluded that the conservation status of the quail-thrush is of “least concern”. The quail-thrush is known from a small area of woodland in north Queensland on the western fringes of the Atherton Tableland. It is closely related to the more widely distributed Spotted Quail-thrush of south-east Australia. The northern limit of the range of the Spotted Quail-thrush is 800km south of where the Atherton Quail-thrush is found. The CSIRO argues that collection permits are needed for DNA studies to determine the taxonomic status of the bird – whether it might possibly be an undescribed species, or more likely a new subspecies of the Spotted Quail-thrush. North Queensland naturalist John Young, who came to fame in 2013 when he took the first photographs of a Night Parrot, discovered the first nests of the Atherton Quail-thrush in 2019. John Young says the necessary information to allow DNA studies to determine the bird’s taxonomy could be obtained by netting one alive for feathers and blood analysis; it could then be released: “In this day and age there is no way that killing birds for this sort of study can be condoned. We don’t know how many are out or anything about the bird’s status. There is no way the government can justify saying it is of ‘least concern’.” Scientists have for centuries “collected” large numbers of specimens of wildlife to facilitate the study of its taxonomy and behaviour. Many museums prize collections of specimens of rare animals. Over-collecting in the past has been identified as a key factor in causing the extinction of many species. In 1985, American scientist Christopher Filardi caught and killed an extremely rare moustached kingfisher in the mountains of Solomon Islands. The kingfisher was known from just three historic specimens. Its collection prompted an international outcry against Filardi’s American Museum of Natural History.
Female Atherton (Spotted) Quail-thrush (Image by Jonathon Munro) At the time, eminent evolutionary biologist Marc Beckoff wrote in The Huffington Post: “Of course, “collect” means kill, a lame attempt to sanitise the totally unnecessary killing of a remarkable sentient being. When will the killing of animals stop? We need to give this question serious consideration because far too much research and conservation biology is far too bloody and does not need to be.” In a letter to concerned north Queensland residents last week, Queensland Environment Minister Meaghan Scanion (below) defends the quail-thrush permits. The letter says the department took into consideration whether the CSIRO’s objectives could be met by non-lethal means; the immediate and long-term impacts that collection would have on species conservation; and the experience and qualifications of collectors. “The minister acknowledges the contribution organisations such as CSIRO and state museums make to the conservation of native species and that at times, it is necessary for specimens to be collected from the wild to enable vital work to be undertaken,” the letter says.
The quail-thrush was first photographed by Atherton wildlife tour guide Jonathon Munro in 2008. Jonathon Munro says he has been contacted by several museums asking for the whereabouts of birds so multiple specimens could be collected: “I was prepared to help trap birds and take tissue/blood/feather samples and whatever else was necessary for their study, and then release them, but I was told that birds had to be collected. It was further suggested that if they were netted, that would be better than shooting because it would cause less damage to the specimens. Not once was I ever asked about numbers, habitat or distribution.” Leo Joseph, the director of the CSIRO’s Australian Wildlife Collection, says he has deferred plans to collect birds in response to community concerns, but he would discuss the matter further with those concerned. Leo Joseph says the conservation of birds can be enhanced by collection, and a type specimen was needed to describe a new species or subspecies: “I wouldn’t see the need to collect more than one or two…. We won’t properly know if it’s a distinctive population or subspecies or whatever without at least one specimen. The more we know about how distinctive a bird is, the better it can be for the bird.” He adds he has always been open to the birding community about the collection plan: “It’s no secret. I’ve been up there and talked to BirdLife North Queensland. I’m happy to talk to them again.” Jonathon Munro and John Young say the Atherton Quail-thrush differs from the Spotted Quail-thrush in various ways including call, the size and structure of nests, and the colour distribution on male birds. Image by John Young below: John Young in Atherton (Spotted) Quail-thrush habitat:

5 comments:

  1. When will everyone accept that the live birds, in their natural habitat, are more important than any "type" specimen dead in a drawer of some museum? We think we are civilized and our society has advanced but these attitudes are a leftover from Victorian days.

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  2. Thank you for letting us know. I'm beyond disappointed to hear of the government plan and truly hope that common sense prevails, that these birds be protected rather than culled

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  3. Greg, I would like to congratulate you on a very balanced letter here outlining the current dilemma with the Atherton Quail Thrush and the proposed collection of specimens by CSIRO staff.
    In this day and age this is not on under any circumstances. DO WE STILL LIVE IN THE DARK AGES??
    Obviously we do!!!
    Science SUPPOSEDLY, has progressed way beyond the slaughter of our precious wildlife, particuarly in the case of this unknown bird.
    In this day and age all we need is a feather or a little bit of tissue and the whole mystery can be solved without taking the life of one of these amazing birds. Catch one by all means, collect a feather and a small sample then have the decency to let it go to where it belongs.
    We forget every time a bird is killed in the name of science it is removing the follow on generations of that bird to keep levels of the population stable.
    I have spent two years on this bird now and there is no way it is common any where. There are in very small numbers in a small area and they are widely scattered. Many well tuned bird watchers have tried to find it and failed, surely that must say some thing about its numbers.
    It appears by the ministers letter that a submission for a permit was submitted on the pretence that is was a Spotted Quail Thrush "of least concern"!! Then by CSIRO"S own admission, (as per your blog) We need to collect specimens to see what it is, maybe even a new species???
    This immediately contradicts the argument "of least concern". It is clear by their own admission that "it is of concern" because no one really knows what it is yet. There are to many differences for me personally yet to give conclusion personally. I have found two nests with chicks but, have not seen the eggs yet and that will be the tell-tale for me.

    Finally, we live in the 21st century, not in the 1800's or the early 1900's. Collection of our native fauna is no longer acceptable to most. Least of all me.
    We can find out about this precious bird that has went unnoticed for centuries without killing a single bird and that in my mind is the ONLY way to go.
    And in the ministers defence, she can only act on what's handed across her desk and in this case the wrong information has been given to her..my say.
    John Young.

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  4. Nice article Greg, let's hope this 'lunacy' will be 'reconsidered'.

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