May 15, 2019
Regent Honeyeater and Swift Parrot surveys 2019
The first of the biannual survey periods for the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater and Swift Parrot commences this coming weekend. We are seeking your assistance to search for both species across their range in Victoria, NSW, ACT and southern Queensland.
As has been the approach for many years, the targeted survey periods occur on the third weekend in May and first weekend in August, and up to a week either side. Thus for 2019 the two survey periods are:
– 13th to 26th May*
– 27th July to 11th August
If you are interested and available to help do searches at our suggested locations this May, we encourage you to get in touch with your regional coordinator. Or, if you are uncertain of who your relevant regional coordinator is and/or where you would like to search, send us an email (woodlandbirds@birdlife.org.au) and we’ll forward your message through to the right person. Some areas may have coordinated surveys already planned, but for the most part we are simply asking people to conduct searches for these critically endangered and rare species.
The May and August survey periods are now embedded in many peoples’ calendars and it is a great way of maximising participation in seeking out these elusive birds. But it is important to remind everyone that BirdLife Australia maintains the sightings database for both species, so we are also very interested in any opportunistic sightings of both species at any time of year. We have pieced together the update from the August 2018 surveys, which you will find here noting that it includes a detailed account of sightings of both species throughout the remainder of 2018.
If you find either species, you can complete and submit the survey form (word and PDF versions) which can be found on our website. It can be returned either to us directly or to your regional coordinator. Alternatively you can simply email or call us. If you undertake a search but are unsuccessful in detecting either species, please let us or your regional coordinator know but it is no longer necessary to fill out these sheets for unsuccessful searches. During the surveys, we encourage you to submit records of other bird species from the locations you have visited to the BirdLife Australia ‘Birdata’ Atlas, either through the website portal or the app.
Sightings of Regent Honeyeaters are of particular interest at any time. Please let one of the team know as soon as possible if you see one or more, including – where possible – a precise location and any colour leg band details. A photo for confirmation is also helpful if possible. You can also contact us with Regent Honeyeater sightings using a Freecall number (1800 621 056).
Dean Ingwersen, Chris Timewell, Caroline Wilson & Emily Mowat
Mick Roderick M 0421 761 237 mick.roderick@birdlife.org.au
(*Apologies from the editor. Computer downtime and some emails not arriving have caused this notice to be late. IB.)
April 21, 2019
WHERE SONG BEGAN – NSW EAST COAST TOUR
Two of Australia’s most adventurous classical musicians, Simone Slattery (violin) and Anthony Albrecht (cello), are touring NSW performing their beautiful multimedia show, Where Song Began. Based on Tim Low’s bestselling book, this performance tells the story of the evolution of song, featuring music spanning 300 years, stunning visual projections and an immersive soundscape. The experience has been described as “like being sung to by the country”.
Performances from April 28 – May 7 on the east coast, including Wauchope, Coffs Harbour, Bellingen, Armidale, Maitland, Newcastle, Port Stephens and the Central Coast.
‘Where Song Began’ is a musical celebration of Australia’s birds and how they shaped the world.
Inspired by leading ornithologist Tim Low’s award-winning book, this 50-minute performance explores the Australian origins of song, ‘the birds that can sing’. Such is their evolutionary significance, ‘one may ask whether human music would have reached the heights it has, had the first songbird not sung in an Australian rainforest.’
Accessible for all ages, this work encourages the audience to contemplate the origin of song and the importance of Australia’s rich and colourful bird history. The program includes music spanning 300 years, from Johann Heinrich Schmelzer and J.S. Bach to Arvo Pärt and new Australian works, enhanced by a film of evocative visual projections, and an immersive soundscape.
About the performers: Simone Slattery was recently awarded a PhD in Music Performance from the University of Adelaide and performs regularly with Australia’s finest ensembles. Anthony Albrecht is an Australian graduate of The Juilliard School’s Historical Performance program and is now based in London.
Tickets and info visit www.wheresongbegan.com
Performance length: 60 minutes without interval, including a Q&A
WAUCHOPE – Sunday, 28th of April, 2:00pm
Wauchope Community Arts Hall, Oxley Lane, Wauchope
COFFS HARBOUR – Monday 29th of April, 7:30pm
St John’s Anglican Church, 2 McLean St, Coffs Harbour
BELLINGEN – Tuesday 30th of April, 7:30pm
St Margaret’s Church Hall, 100 Hyde St, Bellingen
ARMIDALE – Wednesday, 1st of May, 7:30pm
New England Regional Art Museum, 106-114 Kentucky St, South Hill
MAITLAND – Thursday, 2nd of May, 7:30pm
Maitland Regional Art Gallery, 230 High St, Maitland
NEWCASTLE – Friday, 3rd of May, 7:30pm
Adamstown Uniting Church, 228 Brunker Rd, Newcastle
PORT STEPHENS – Sunday, 5th of May, 7:00pm
Port Stephens Sailing and Yacht Club, Seaview Cres, Soldiers Point
CENTRAL COAST – Tuesday 7th of May, 7:00pm
Greenway Chapel, 460 Avoca Dr, Green Point
Program:
Arvo Pärt – Fratres for solo violin, 1977
Sarah Hopkins – Reclaiming the Spirit, 1993
Vaughan Williams – The Lark Ascending, 1917
Chris Williams – bird, songs, seas, 2017
Ross Edwards – Ecstatic Dance No.2, 1990
Johann Heinrich Schmelzer – Cucu Sonata, 1664
J.S. Bach – Prelude from Cello Suite No.1, c.1720
David Lang – Anthochaera carunculate (Red Wattle Bird), New Commission, 2017
Ngarra Burra Ferra – Traditional Indigenous hymn
ABC Radio National Feature: https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/offtrack/where-song-began/9811914
Music Australia article:
https://musicaustralia.org.au/2018/07/music-meets-birdcall-the-australian-way-where-song-began/
Live audio sample:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1cKWbQoCtWrYsG7mf05s2GydayUXWEr0q
Promo video:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1n4lxn9VCAcDSj2ysDafG2zn19piZ6muv
These performances are supported by Birdlife Australia. $1 from every ticket sold will be donated to Birdlife or a related conservation cause.
January 19, 2019
Brush-turkeys in Suburbia. A project report by Matthew Hall at the February Club meeting
“The Australian Brush-turkey (Alectura lathami) has become an increasingly common sight in the parks and backyards of suburban Australia. Their success in exploiting the big city has led to conflict with homeowners, who blame the birds for tearing up garden beds and lawns indiscriminately as they forage and build their nests. Added to this is a growing list of complaints including stealing pet food, chasing pets and small children, making a racket walking on tin roofs, and fouling swimming pools. . . . . . . . . . .”
Read more here
and learn more at the Feb 5 2019 meeting in the Mitchell Theatre, 19:30.
November 29, 2018
Birding NSW Office of Conservation writes against the raising of the wall of Warragamba dam
Full details here or on the Conservation letters page.
November 7, 2018
2018 Photo Competition awards
Wow!
Those of you, who were at the meeting this week were afforded a real treat. 96 truly wonderful photographs of Australian birds. If you were not there then you can console yourself with a view of the eleven best pictures knowing that the judges had a really tough time making this selection from such a wonderful batch of entries.
Congratulations to the prizewinners and indeed to all who submitted entries.
Overall winner: Maria Mazo with a photograph of Crested Terns in flight
Runner up: Michael Hanvey with a photograph of a Great Crested Grebe and chick
Best Single bird Prize went to Anne Brophy for a photograph of an Eastern Ground Parrot (also ranked third)
4th place Machael Hanvey’s White-winged Black Tern in flight
5th Place Michael Hanvey’s Gang-Gang Cockatoo (f)
6th place Michael Hanvey’s Victoria’s Riflebird
7th place and the prize for best In-Flight photo Roksana Boreli’s Shy Albatross
8th place Maria Mazo’s Crested Tern
9th place Richard Murray’s Australian Raven
10th place Maria Mazo’s Australian Kestrel
Best photo of a group of birds prize went to Geoff Ball for Wandering Whistling-ducks
Treat yourself to this short view: