The Asparagus species are all ornamental plants which have formed naturalised populations in South Australia. A.scandens and A.plumosus are both at very early stages on invasion. A.declinatus is potentially a very serious weed and anecdotal evidence suggests that it out competes A. asparagoides. I am investigating how birds use olives. An interesting trend is that many birds use areas of olive infestation as corridors for movement between remnants of native vegetation.
Birds also use olives as perches during feeding and social activities.
As a pilot study I am treating olives with herbicide and monitoring the impact on bird behaviour. In the first instance I am utilising a stem injection technique with Glyphosate and Garlon which leaves olives to die in situ maintaining some degree of a shrub layer in the vegetation. In both instances bird behaviour will be followed. If there is any suggestion that bird behaviour is significantly modified then a larger scale trial will be established. See images of olive treatment on campus Selected Publications Bass D.A .