Bird numbers down in Australia's east as big dry takes its toll
Submitted by Chickowee on 08 Nov 2014.
MARK COLVIN: A scientist leading an aerial survey of Australia's eastern waterbirds says there's been a significant decline in numbers since the boom after the Queensland floods three years ago, and the longer term trend is even more stark.
Researchers from the University of New South Wales have been conducting an annual aerial survey, spanning wetlands from the far north Queensland coast across to the Northern Territory border. Over the past month, the team has been winding its way south, and it's now at the Lower Lakes area of South Australia. From there, scientist Richard Kingsford spoke to PM's Bill Birtles.
