Trip to Document Arsonist Raptors
Donation protected
Near active bushfires in Australia, birds of prey can sometimes number in the thousands. They know that bushfires yield a bounty of prey items fleeing the flames and raptors fly great distances to take advantage of this resource. Among the Aboriginal people of Australia's Northern Territory and many of the Regions' fire rangers it is known that some species of raptor will also set fires. The birds have been observed picking up burning material from a campfire or bushfire and dropping it in vegetation up to half a mile away.
Currently, most of Western science is skeptical of or completely disregards the possibility that raptors use fire as a tool. Australian ethno-ornithologist Bob Gosford and US geographer Mark Bonta have spent years searching for photo or video documentation of fire spreading behavior , but none has been found. In May of 2018 our team of 5 volunteers , with guidance from Bob and Mark, will travel from the United States to the Northern Territory of Australia with the goal of collecting photo and video evidence of raptors spreading fire. This is the first step toward acceptance by the scientific community but the end outcomes we hope will have far reaching impacts.
1. Conserve Australian raptor populations by devising nonlethal means of dissuading raptors from engaging in fire spreading. Workers at certain Australian cattle stations deal with fire spreading raptors by killing as many raptors as they feel is necessary to protect their pastures and livestock.
2. Add credence to the scientific value of ecological knowledge held by indigenous people. The scientific community often overlooks the value that the knowledge held by native peoples can provide to our understanding of the natural world.
3. Aid bushfire management planning by allowing fire rangers to include raptor fire spreading as a variable in their management plans. Proper planning is key to minimizing the life and property losses and ecological impacts of bushfires.
We are asking for this money to help fund several aspects of the project. As volunteers, we are paying out of pocket to cover all travel expenses to and from Australia and we will be using our personal equipment during the trip. The money you donate to this campaign will go toward our travel expenses (rental vehicle and fuel) for the 15 days we will be in Australia. All remaining funds will be used to adequately equip Australian bushworkers to further document raptors spreading fire.
We fly into Darwin on the May 7th and will be in Tennant Creek on May 11th to begin chasing hawks that are chasing fires! During our 15 days in the Tennant Creek are we will be receiving assistance from local firefighters as well as the Jawoyn Rangers, an Aboriginal land management corporation based in Katherine.
Any contribution is greatly appreciated! Please visit the associated Facebook page to learn more about this amazing natural phenomena and meet our team members. We will also post photos and update our progress during the trip. Thank you!
Currently, most of Western science is skeptical of or completely disregards the possibility that raptors use fire as a tool. Australian ethno-ornithologist Bob Gosford and US geographer Mark Bonta have spent years searching for photo or video documentation of fire spreading behavior , but none has been found. In May of 2018 our team of 5 volunteers , with guidance from Bob and Mark, will travel from the United States to the Northern Territory of Australia with the goal of collecting photo and video evidence of raptors spreading fire. This is the first step toward acceptance by the scientific community but the end outcomes we hope will have far reaching impacts.
1. Conserve Australian raptor populations by devising nonlethal means of dissuading raptors from engaging in fire spreading. Workers at certain Australian cattle stations deal with fire spreading raptors by killing as many raptors as they feel is necessary to protect their pastures and livestock.
2. Add credence to the scientific value of ecological knowledge held by indigenous people. The scientific community often overlooks the value that the knowledge held by native peoples can provide to our understanding of the natural world.
3. Aid bushfire management planning by allowing fire rangers to include raptor fire spreading as a variable in their management plans. Proper planning is key to minimizing the life and property losses and ecological impacts of bushfires.
We are asking for this money to help fund several aspects of the project. As volunteers, we are paying out of pocket to cover all travel expenses to and from Australia and we will be using our personal equipment during the trip. The money you donate to this campaign will go toward our travel expenses (rental vehicle and fuel) for the 15 days we will be in Australia. All remaining funds will be used to adequately equip Australian bushworkers to further document raptors spreading fire.
We fly into Darwin on the May 7th and will be in Tennant Creek on May 11th to begin chasing hawks that are chasing fires! During our 15 days in the Tennant Creek are we will be receiving assistance from local firefighters as well as the Jawoyn Rangers, an Aboriginal land management corporation based in Katherine.
Any contribution is greatly appreciated! Please visit the associated Facebook page to learn more about this amazing natural phenomena and meet our team members. We will also post photos and update our progress during the trip. Thank you!
Organizer
Brian Schmoke
Organizer
Howard, PA
