"David Hare-Scott" wrote in message
u...

Given my privet forests this seems very likely

I reckon there are generations of local birds who have grown fat
feasting on privet berries, removing the privet could be an ecological
disaster for them! (Well almost).

David

Don't forget that Privet seed is only viable for two years roughly, so
shading it out is often the best practice. the seed is also killed by fire.

There are a few papers around about the impact of winter seeding weeds and
how they have altered teh natural partial migration of certain species
(Sydney based research). Very interesting reading, mostly focusses on
Currwongs, though it would apply to some other species as well.

Currawongs in the Sydney area used to be paritally migratory, ie heading
west over the Blue mountains at the time of year Privet just so happens to
seed, not returning until after the main rush of Spring bird breeding had
ocurred.

It was noticed that Currawongs were hanging around the Sydney area, and that
due to this they were around when small birds were breeding, and when the
chicks were at their most vulnerable, in the nest. The decline of small
birds in Sydney has been directly attributed to Currawongs (by several
ecologists) remaining in the Sydney basin over winter/Spring.

Many introduced natives such as grevilleas encourage the agressive, and
often more attractive, hoenyeaters, and push out the smaller, boring brown
birds...

By you removing the privet, or some of it in mosaic pattern, you may be
altering the short term species composition of your birds, but in the long
term it might be returning it to something more like a balanced ecosystem.
Please note i am not saying you will return it to original condition, as I
don't think that is feasible or realistic.

Susannah