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TWITTERINGS BirdLife Warrnambool Branch Newsletter
Volume 2 Number 10 September 2015
FROM THE EDITOR
PETER BARRAND
The last couple of months have been somewhat hectic,
hence this newsletter is overdue, but as the old adage
goes, “better late than never” and with September fast
disappearing and our Tasmanian Tagalong tour
following our October outing, it is indeed now or never
for this issue of Twitterings.
Rhonda and I travelled to Rwanda in July, flying out of
Melbourne after our Branch outing to Port Fairy. It was
a great trip; we observed over two hundred and fifty
bird species, including twenty Albertine Rift endemics,
and twenty-six mammals; highlights being close
encounters with both Chimpanzee and Eastern Gorilla.
Eastern Gorilla Photo Peter Barrand
We were home in time to attend our Branch outing to
Chatsworth before heading to Port Macquarie for the
Country Women’s Association of Australia National
Conference. This gave us a chance to catch up with
Barb Garrett and between conference and Barb’s
dancing lessons we actually managed a couple of
birdwatching forays; the highlight being, thanks to
Barb, a pair of Regent Honeyeaters at Lake Cathie,
south of Port Macquarie.
Regent Honeyeater Photo Peter Barrand
A CWAA organised whale watching tour produced close
views, but sadly no photos of, Hutton's Shearwaters.
We travelled back to Heywood via the coast and
arrived in time to unpack before leading the Branch
outing to BirdLife Australia’s Clarkesdale Bird
Sanctuary.
We are not the only members to have been travelling
over the past couple of months and as well as reports
of all the Branch outings you will hopefully be able to
read about adventures to far-flung places in this and
future issues of Twitterings.
BRANCH OUTING
PORT FAIRY
Saturday 4 July 2015
HEATHER SAUNDERS
July excursions can be wet, cold, windy and poorly
attended because many of our members take the
opportunity to travel to warmer climes at this time of
year. However, Saturday 4 July 2015 was none of
these things, except cold; well it was the middle of
winter after all.
BirdLife Warrnambool
2 Twitterings September 2015
BRANCH OUTING PORT FAIRY
We met at Griffiths Island car park and were thrilled to
see twenty participants ready for a walk around the
island, including visitors from Gippsland, Portland and
Junee, as well as a couple of local visitors who were
keen to join us for the morning. A phone call was
needed to the Victoria Hotel to more than double the
booking I had made for lunch. It was great to see so
many new faces.
We took a very leisurely stroll around Griffiths Island
which is always an interesting walk. Some of the bird
species observed included Pacific Black Duck and
Chestnut Teal, four species of cormorant; Great, Little
Pied, Black-faced and Little Black, Great Egret, White-
faced Heron, Pacific, Kelp and Silver Gulls and Greater
Crested Tern. Several albatross were observed
wheeling and diving, close enough in-shore to allow
identification as Black-browed and Shy and
Australasian Gannets were also spotted.
A Striated Fieldwren sat atop a shrub along the path,
allowing those with cameras to get great shots, a pair
of Hooded Dotterel scurried along the sand and several
raptors were prominent, including Nankeen Kestrel and
Brown Falcon.
Striated Fieldwren Photo Peter Barrand
A few of the group who finished the lap of the island
earlier than the rest went over to the bird-hide at
Sandy Cove Reserve and added White-fronted Chat to
the list.
From Griffiths Island we proceeded to the hotel for
lunch where we were able to chat with our visitors and
swap birding stories. A meeting after the meal allowed
our draft outing program for 2016 to be put together.
After lunch the group went in many directions; several
people needed to make their way back to
Warrnambool for afternoon commitments, Keith and
Sandra needed to get organised for the long return trip
to Junee, Rhonda and Peter needed to catch a plane to
Rwanda and Ray took some of our visitors to look at
birding areas near Killarney, reducing our group of
twenty to only three survivors.
We drove to the various wetlands in Port Fairy and
while Powling Street Wetland was unproductive,
Russell Clark Reserve gave us a number of interesting
additions to our list including Pink-eared Duck, Hoary-
headed Grebe, Black-tailed Nativehen, Black Swan,
Dusky Moorhen, Red Wattlebird and Eurasian Coot.
We also observed a Nankeen Night Heron in a tree
beside the Moyne River and located New Holland
Honeyeaters, which had been unusually absent during
the morning, before heading back to Warrnambool.
Hoary-headed Grebe Photo Peter Barrand
BIRDLIST
BirdLife Warrnambool Branch Outing
PORT FAIRY
Saturday 4 July 2015
Black Swan, Pink-eared Duck, Mallard,
Pacific Black Duck, Chestnut Teal,
Black-browed Albatross, Shy Albatross,
Hoary-headed Grebe, Nankeen Night Heron,
Great Egret, White-faced Heron, Australasian Gannet,
Little Pied Cormorant, Black-faced Cormorant,
Little Black Cormorant, Great Cormorant,
Black-shouldered Kite, Dusky Moorhen,
Black-tailed Nativehen, Eurasian Coot,
Pied Oystercatcher, Sooty Oystercatcher,
White-headed Stilt, Masked Lapwing, Hooded Dotterel,
Silver Gull, Pacific Gull, Kelp Gull,
Greater Crested Tern, Nankeen Kestrel, Brown Falcon,
Long-billed Corella, Superb Fairywren,
New Holland Honeyeater, White-fronted Chat,
Red Wattlebird, Singing Honeyeater,
Striated Fieldwren, Australian Magpie,
Grey Shrikethrush, Willie Wagtail, Magpie-lark,
Little Raven, Welcome Swallow, Common Starling,
Common Blackbird, House Sparrow,
European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch
(49 species)
BirdLife Warrnambool
Twitterings September 2015 3
BRANCH OUTING
CHATSWORTH
Saturday 1 August 2015
LYNN BROWN
A cold winter‘s day saw ten members arrive at the
Chatsworth Fire Shed for a second visit to David
Franklin’s property on the Woorndoo-Chatsworth Road.
We had previously visited the property two years ago
(24 August 2013 – see Twitterings Vol1 No11
September 2013) and a follow up visit and bird survey
to compare species abundance was well overdue.
Conversations on meeting were warmly enthusiastic
about recent and pending travels and moves; Peter
and Rhonda to Rwanda, Graham and Helen to the
United Kingdom and me to the Kimberley region of
Western Australia. Judy was about to head to
Edinburgh in Scotland, Heather and Graeme were
heading to Queensland while Michael and Jan had sold
their home and were due to move into a new one on
the Hopkins River.
We met David at the house and walked down to the
dam and native grassland area which has been
considerably expanded since our last visit. We were
fortunate that the rain held off but the cold wind
managed to penetrate all the openings in our coats
and jackets.
Despite the less than ideal conditions the birds were
out and about; Spotted Pardalote, Australian Golden
Whistler and a spectacular male Flame Robin were
observed, while the dam supported Australasian
Shoveler, Pacific Black Duck, Chestnut Teal, Hardhead
and a single Black-fronted Dotterel. Several pairs of
Red-rumped Parrot were sighted and two Purple-
crowned Lorikeets were located in a flowering
eucalypt, foraging among the blossoms with Red
Wattlebirds and New Holland Honeyeaters.
After exploring the woodland on the far side of the
dam we ventured into the grassland area and checked
out the exotic banksia plantation before returning to
the house for lunch on the veranda where we were out
of the wind and availed ourselves of the meagre
warmth of the weak winter sunshine.
Total bird numbers were well down on our initial
survey but the weather was probably a contributing
factor for the disparity and to date it has been a very
dry year overall.
Flame Robin Photo Peter Barrand
While we recorded thirty-two species compared to
thirty-nine two years ago, eight of those were new
additions to the property list, not observed in 2013;
Australasian Shoveler, Crimson Rosella, Spotted
Pardalote, Australian Golden Whistler, Flame Robin,
Silvereye, House Sparrow and Red-browed Finch.
We plan to return to David’s property in May 2016.
This survey will be on our on regular monthly outing
date, Saturday 7 May 2016 and it will be interesting to
see what changes there are in the bird life when we
visit at a different time of year.
BIRDLIST
BirdLife Warrnambool Survey
CHATSWORTH
Saturday 1 August 2015
Australian Shelduck (7), Pacific Black Duck (3),
Australasian Shoveler (2), Chestnut Teal (3),
Hardhead (4), Eurasian Coot (6), Masked Lapwing (2),
Black-fronted Dotterel (1), Galah (3),
Long-billed Corella (14), Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (2),
Purple-crowned Lorikeet (2), Crimson Rosella (2),
Red-rumped Parrot (6), Superb Fairy-wren (9),
New Holland Honeyeater (46), Red Wattlebird (19),
White-plumed Honeyeater (41), Spotted Pardalote (1),
Brown Thornbill (2), Australian Magpie (10),
Australian Golden Whistler (1), Grey Shrike-thrush (1),
Willie Wagtail (2), Little Raven (6), Flame Robin (3),
Welcome Swallow (4), Tree Martin (2), Silvereye (4),
Common Blackbird (3), House Sparrow (1),
Red-browed Finch (13)
(Total 32 species)
BirdLife Warrnambool
4 Twitterings September 2015
BRANCH OUTING
CLARKESDALE BIRD
SANCTUARY
Saturday 5 September 2015
PETER BARRAND
Seven hardy souls braved the wintery conditions and
arrived in Linton at the appointed time on the first
Saturday in spring for our outing to Clarkesdale Bird
Sanctuary. Although the wind was cold and the sky
overcast and gloomy, the rain had not reached this far
north and the day remained fine.
We headed off in convoy for the Sanctuary and along
the way we encountered perhaps the most amusing
sighting of the day; the look of shock on Clarkesdale
Ranger David’s face as he glanced up from his run
along the Ballarat-Skipton Rail Trail, spotted us driving
past and realised that he was supposed to be at the
Sanctuary to welcome us.
By the time we had parked and started to organise
morning smoko, a harried David arrived and informed
us that he would be back shortly, which he was. He
then led our group across the road and through the
Bird Paddock; heading for a Pallid Cuckoo whose calls
echoed through the woodland and which we eventually
located perched high above the canopy on a dead limb.
Clarkesdale Bird Sanctuary Photo Peter Barrand
Our birdlist grew slowly, Blue-winged Parrots flew over
several times before we found a pair perched on a
horizontal limb allowing all to get good views, a
dashing male Scarlet Robin delighted the group as he
followed his brown mate with her distinctive reddish
wash on the breast through the forest and a Fan-tailed
Cuckoo was spotted perched silently in a tree.
Accompanied by David, some of our group returned to
the Clare Miller Environment Centre while the rest of
us crossed the creek and continued our morning stroll.
Fan-tailed Cuckoo Photo Peter Barrand
At the almost dry dam (David had previously explained
that with low rainfall over the last two years there had
been little or no run-off, resulting in very low water
levels) we added Pacific Black Duck and Grey Teal to
our list and several species of honeyeater were active
in flowering trees and shrubs along the creek line,
while extended views of a Brown Goshawk soaring
overhead provided one of the day’s highlights.
We returned to the Centre to join the rest of the crew
for lunch and then walked along the road to the edge
of the now-felled pine plantation before heading
through the bush back to our vehicles, adding
Common Bronzewing, Grey Currawong, Common
Blackbird and Long-billed Corella to our bird list.
On our return we farewelled David, who was assisting
a PHD student to construct and install nest boxes, and
headed for home.
BIRDLIST
BirdLife Warrnambool Branch Outing
CLARKESDALE BIRD SANCTUARY
Saturday 5 September 2015
Maned Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Grey Teal,
Australian White Ibis, Little Pied Cormorant,
Brown Goshawk, Common Bronzewing, Pallid Cuckoo,
Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Laughing Kookaburra, Galah,
Long-billed Corella, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo,
Crimson Rosella, Eastern Rosella, Blue-winged Parrot,
Superb Fairywren, Eastern Spinebill,
New Holland Honeyeater, White-naped Honeyeater,
White-eared Honeyeater, Red Wattlebird,
Yellow-faced Honeyeater, White-plumed Honeyeater,
Striated Pardalote, White-browed Scrubwren,
Brown Thornbill, Australian Magpie, Grey Currawong,
Black-faced Cuckooshrike, Australian Golden Whistler,
Grey Shrikethrush, Grey Fantail, Australian Raven,
Eastern Yellow Robin, Scarlet Robin,
Welcome Swallow, Common Blackbird
(38 species)
BirdLife Warrnambool
Twitterings September 2015 5
INTERESTING SIGHTINGS
Peter & Rhonda Barrand
4 – 7 September 2015 – A flock of over forty
(highest single count of visible birds) but estimated to
be between sixty and eighty Little Ravens invaded
our property for four days. Birds called incessantly
from dawn till dusk, fought and squabbled among
themselves and did not appear to be feeding on any
specific food source, apart from the neighbourhood
chook and duck eggs; our yard looked like it had
snowed there were so many empty egg shells on the
ground. On 8 September the flock moved to another
treed property a couple of blocks away.
Annie Carmichael & Jenny Lodge
9 September 2015 – A striking Striated Heron
observed and photographed at Coffs Harbour NSW.
Striated Heron Photo Annie Carmichael
Jim Hanrahan
14 August 2015 – Flock of about fifty Magpie Geese
observed in farmland along Yambuk Lake Road,
Yambuk.
Charles Heathcote
21 August 2015 – Two Maned Duck observed as
they flew in and landed on a property at Woodford.
This species has never been recorded on the property
previously. Birds remained only for a few minutes.
Joy Hildebrand
Joy is a wildlife carer and each year she releases
orphaned Australian Magpies into the local
population on her property at Minhamite.
Joy writes, “This past autumn the group had grown to
over thirty birds. The paddocks opposite provide lots of
food and everyone got along well. Suddenly, in late
autumn almost all of our magpies vanished. We now
have two nesting females with a baby each. Also
maybe half a dozen others. There are a few birds one
kilometre up the road, where some of ours hang out.
The change is dramatic and very sad. The small birds
which live on our property are thriving”.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
Stephen Debus writes in Finches, Bowerbirds & Other
Passerines of Australia, The National Photographic
Index of Australian Wildlife, “A pioneering study by
Angus Robinson and later detailed research by Robert
Carrick revealed the Magpie’s complex social system,
these studies having been elegantly summarised by
Ian Rowley. The strongest and most aggressive adults
defend the best territories with sufficient resources like
food and nest sites for successful breeding. The
breeding unit often consists of more than a pair of
adults: frequently a dominant male with two or more
females, and sometimes one or more subordinate
males. Territorial groups contain birds of all ages, but
immatures are evicted when they reach the age of
independence. These non-breeding birds form large
feeding flocks which wander locally over treeless areas
unsuitable for breeding.
It may well be (given that other species are thriving in
the area) that Joy’s “hangers-on” have been driven off
by the dominant group when breeding commenced to
protect the food supply for their offspring.
Max Oberlander
29 May 2015 – A white-plumaged Common Starling
observed perched on back yard fence in Portland with
several normal coloured birds.
Joan Shanahan
18 August 2015 – Hundreds of Pink-eared Duck
sighted on wetland, Sheedys Lane, Killarney.
THE ISLE OF MAY, UNITED KINGDOM
HELEN DIXON
Our recent trip to the United Kingdom wasn’t a bird-
watching tour; however there was one bird here that I
had always longed to see, even before my
birdwatching days; small in stature but big in charm, it
was the puffin.
Graham’s research showed the Isle of May, off the
coast of Fyfe and not too far from Edinburgh, seemed
to be the best place for us to see Atlantic Puffin.
BirdLife Warrnambool
6 Twitterings September 2015
Atlantic Puffin Photo Graham Dixon
We weren’t disappointed; we had a wonderful day,
finding not only Atlantic Puffin, but other seabirds as
well, all in great numbers. As we neared the island, the
high rocky cliff was covered with Guillemots perched
on narrow ledges. We were excited by the puffins
flying by and floating on the water, but they were still
some distance away.
We pulled into the small jetty and as we walked onto
the island we were bombarded by nesting Arctic Terns.
The fluffy little chicks stared at us from the grass as
we passed by.
It’s quite a small island and we had several hours to
explore it. It wasn’t long before we found the best spot
to watch many different birds, all very close to us,
nesting and feeding chicks.
We were fascinated by the Atlantic Puffins; they were
easy to photograph because they stood for ages with
ten or so fish hanging from their brightly-coloured
bills. These fish amazingly were alternately placed in
opposite directions. I read that they can hold so many
fish by using the tongue to hold them against spines in
the roof of the mouth.
Atlantic Puffin Photo Graham Dixon
What I still don’t know is why they stood for so long
with their catch. Others flew over our heads with beaks
full of fish and still more stood around socialising in big
groups. They were delightful!
Kittiwake Photo Graham Dixon
We had excellent views of Kittiwakes, similar to our
Silver Gulls but a little smaller and finer, on their nests
and feeding their chicks. We also observed Lesser
Black-backed Gulls, which were much larger,
Razorbills, Little Black and Little Pied Cormorants,
more Guillemots and on the land, Eider Ducks,
Eurasian Oystercatchers and Rock Pipits.
All in all, it was a fantastic day and I love those puffins
more than ever.
Razorbill Photo Graham Dixon
TRIVIA
SEPTEMBER’S QUESTION
When visiting English ornithologist, Alan Bell, first
heard me in Perth, where I am one of the distinctive
songsters of Kings Park and the city gardens in spring
and summer, he described my call thus, “I have never
heard sounds so plaintively microscopic, so clear and
yet scarcely perceptible. The ghost of a kitten’s mew –
the echo of dwarf violins played in the moon – these
were the bird’s notes”.
I am ?
BirdLife Warrnambool
Twitterings September 2015 7
TRIVIA
JUNE’S ANSWER
My scientific name literally translates as “different
coloured paltry parrot”.
I am the Varied Lorikeet.
BIRDLIFE WARRNAMBOOL BRANCH OUTINGS 2015
Saturday 3 October 2015
Glenthompson
Meet at Dunkeld Visitor Information Centre at 10.00am
Leaders: Paul & Dot Callander, BirdLife Hamilton
Sunday 4 October 2015 –
Sunday 18 October 2015
BirdLife Warrnambool Tagalong Tour – Tasmania
Itinerary below
Organiser: Lynn Brown 0407 844 485
Saturday 21 November 2015 &
Sunday 22 November 2015
Western Treatment Plant, Werribee
& Serendip Sanctuary, Lara
(With BirdLife Hamilton Branch)
Meet at public carpark, end of Beach Road at 10.00am
Accommodation Geelong Riverview Tourist Park, 59
Barrabool Rd, Belmont. Telephone:(03) 5243 6225
Email: [email protected] Freecall:
1800 336 225
Cabins ranging in price from $108 to $144 Powered
sites $41 Park managers are offering a 10% discount
(up to $40) for our group.
Please book by phone and mention you are with
BirdLife Warrnambool in order to access the discount
also please inform leaders if you are planning to attend
Leaders: Graeme & Heather Saunders 5562 4349
Saturday 21 November 2015 –
Saturday 5 December 2015
BirdLife Warrnambool Expedition -
Cocos Keeling & Christmas Islands
Fully Booked
(Another Expedition in 2017 is being considered –
contact the organisers to register your interest)
Organisers: Peter & Rhonda Barrand 5527 1712
Wednesday 9 December 2015
Challenge Bird Count & Christmas BBQ
Bird count during any 24 hours from Saturday 5
December within a 40km radius of Warrnambool then
join our Christmas BBQ at Lake Pertobe, Warrnambool
at 12.30pm on Wednesday
Organisers: Peter & Rhonda Barrand 5527 1712
BIRDLIFE WARRNAMBOOL BRANCH OUTINGS 2016
Saturday 6 February 2016
2.00pm Tower Hill State Game Reserve
Meet in Princes Highway Car Park
Leaders: Heather & Graeme Saunders
Saturday 6 February 2016
6.00pm Annual General Meeting
Dinner at the Allansford Hotel followed by Branch AGM
and member presentations
Saturday 5 March 2016
Rutledge Cutting
Leaders: Ray Schulz & Jim Hanrahan
Saturday 2 April 2016
Naringal area
Leaders: Michael & Jan Stone
Friday 10 April – Monday 13 April 2016
Branch Campout – Natimuk
Leaders: Michael & Jan Stone
Saturday 7 May 2016
Chatsworth (Private Property)
Leader: Lynn Brown
BirdLife Warrnambool
8 Twitterings September 2015
BRANCH OUTINGS 2016
Saturday 4 June 2016
Hamilton Wetlands
Leaders: Peter & Rhonda Barrand
Saturday 2 July 2016
Port Fairy
Morning birdwatching followed by pub meal
Saturday 6 August 2016
Mount Eccles National Park
Saturday 3 September 2016
“Bimbadeen” (Private Property)
Saturday 1 October 2016
Peterborough area
Leaders: Michael & Jan Stone
Friday 21 – Monday 24 October 2016
Branch Campout – Port MacDonnell SA
Leader: Lynn Brown
Saturday 5 November 2016
“Quamby”, Fitzroy River estuary & Mount Clay State
Forest
Leader: Jock Bromell
Wednesday 7 December 2016
Challenge Bird Count & Christmas BBQ
Organisers: Peter & Rhonda Barrand
Advance Notice
BirdLife Warrnambool are planning Expeditions to
Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island in the next couple
of years. Please register your interest with the editor.
A Campout to the Otway Ranges is also planned for
2017.
If anyone has ideas or suggestions for either future
outings or as an alternative to the outings listed above
please contact the Editor or a Committee member.
TAGALONG TOUR – TASMANIA
4 OCTOBER 2015 – 18 OCTOBER 2015
ITINERARY
Sunday 4 October –
Depart Melbourne aboard “Spirit of Tasmania”
Monday 5 October -
Arrive in Devonport
Explore Narawntapu NP and Tamar Wetlands
Monday 5 and Tuesday 6 October
Two nights Beauty Point Tourist Park 03 63834536
(Catherine) - 1 hr from Devonport
Book and pay before you leave Victoria and state
Birdlife Warrnambool for 10% discount
Vans - powered sites $39/night/couple
& $25/night/ single
Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 October -
Explore Freycinet NP and Moulting Lagoon
Two nights Swansea Holiday Park 03 62578148 (Lisa)
Negotiated $30/night per powered site (sites reserved)
Friday 9 October -
Friday Explore Mt Wellington Park and Gould’s Lagoon
Saturday - choice of Salamanca Market or MONA or
Maria Island
Seven Mile Beach Cabin and Caravan Park
12 Aqua Place Seven Mile Beach 03 62486469 (Joan)
$30/night for a couple - Pay on arrival
Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October -
(Arrive after day in Hobart)
Two nights Port Arthur Holiday Park 03 62502340
$36/night per vehicle with 10% discount
(Note: no additional discount if Big4 member)
7 sites reserved - pay on arrival
Sunday 11 October –
Eaglehawk Nek Pelagic or visit to Port Arthur
Monday 12 and Tuesday 13 October -
Two nights Captain Cook Holiday Park, Bruny Island
03 62931128 (Kerry)
$30/night less 10% discount for powered sites
7 sites reserved - pay on arrival
BirdLife Warrnambool
Twitterings September 2015 9
TAGALONG TOUR - TASMANIA
Wednesday 14 October -
Bronte Park Village Caravan Park 03 62891126 (Beris)
$25/night
This park is west of Hobart near Derwent Bridge and
Lake St Clair and was chosen to break the trip to
Strahan
Thursday 15 and Friday 16 October -
Two nights Strahan Holiday Park 03 64717442
8 Innes Street West, Strahan
$35/night (10% seniors discount offered)
Need to book and pay to obtain reservation
Friday 16 October –
Gordon River Cruise
Saturday 17 October –
Depart Strahan and drive to Devonport
Overnight Abel Tasman Caravan Park, East Devonport
03 64278794 (Kathy)
$32 powered site but $28 for group booking
7 sites reserved (however if you are not returning on
the boat please advise)
Sunday 18 October -
Depart Tasmania at 9am on “Spirit of Tasmania”
PF OLSEN SURVEYS
PETER BARRAND
BirdLife Australia has been contracted to conduct a
series of pilot surveys in blue gum plantations
managed by PF Olsen (Aus) Pty Ltd.
Dr. Kerryn Herman, Research and Conservation Officer
with BirdLife Australia has requested the assistance of
BirdLife Warrnambool and BirdLife Hamilton to provide
volunteers to assist with these surveys.
The surveys will take place over the weekend Friday
23 – Sunday 25 October 2015.
Kerryn is looking at around 160 2ha 20min survey
sites, conducted across plantations and woodland
remnants, as well as edge and internal locations.
Each internal and edge site will be paired, so it means
that travel between each pair will be minimal, probably
walking 100m into the plantations or remnant from the
edge survey. Some of the remnants will also be on the
same properties as plantations, again reducing travel
times.
Ideally Kerryn would like to have around 10 teams who
will be allocated 16 surveys to cover over the
weekend; 3hrs of surveying over two days, plus travel.
She thinks that it is feasible to cover more surveys in a
day if planned right, but doesn’t want to over-burden
volunteers and has considered the time it takes to find
sites.
It also means flexibility with survey numbers if there
are less than 10 teams. She will be putting out calls for
volunteers through multiple channels and ideally will
pair less experienced and more experienced birders.
All volunteers will need to participate in an induction
process before entering the plantations; however
Kerryn has been assured that this is not an onerous
task.
Volunteers will probably be camping at Annya Camp
Picnic Area and BirdLife Australia will provide dinner on
Saturday night. Kerryn hopes that both campers and
locals who are heading home will be at the dinner.
This will be a great opportunity to learn about standard
survey methods and I am sure, to socialise and meet
new birders. If you are interested in spending a
weekend in the Heywood area while assisting BirdLife
Australia with this project please get in touch and I will
forward further information as it becomes available.