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Contact Call
Newsletter of BirdLife Northern Queensland Volume 9 Number 1 March 2020
7jyu
The wet
season is
here at
last!
Across the north the
storms brewed up
followed by the monsoon
arriving.
By the end of January
the brown paddocks had
turned green, the creeks
were running and dams
filling. Such a relief for
us and the birds!
Chowchillas are calling,
and birds are more
active with the breeding
season here for many.
Migratory birds from our
northern neighbours
have arrived for their
annual visit including
Papuan Pitta in the very
far north of our region,
and Buff-breasted
Paradise-Kingfisher and
Torresian Imperial
Pigeon, a bit closer to us
in the Wet Tropics.
Waders are enjoying our
foreshores and fattening
up before they depart on
their long journey to
breed in the northern
hemisphere.
We’re all looking forward
to more rain.
Red-winged Parrot in the rain. Lesser Sooty Owl.
Image courtesy of Dominic Chaplin www.pinecreekpictures.com.au
Image courtesy of Dominic Chaplin www.pinecreekpictures.com.au
BirdLife Northern Queensland
In this issue…
From the Convenor... page 3
BirdLife Northern Queensland branch convenor, Peter Valentine, writes about ecological
anxiety in the wake of the devastating bushfires, with a call to action on what you can do
about it. He also celebrates Lloyd Nielsen’s Australia Day Award and wraps up 2019.
End of Year Breakup Event, 2019... page 7
Thirty-four BirdLife Northern Queensland members gathered at Halloran’s Hill for the final
birder gathering of 2019. It was a great night out, as the images illustrate. Special thanks
to Wayne and Ren for organising the event and catering.
Birds in Schools... page 10
Pippy Cannon, BirdLife Northern Queensland’s Birds in Schools Coordinator, tells us about
her journey to become a ‘presenter’, and her involvement in the launch of the Birds in
Schools Program in Cairns.
Grasswrens and Bushfires... page 11
Did you know that we work in partnership with Southern Gulf Natural Resource
Management (NRM) group to ensure our Carpentarian and Kalkadoon Grasswrens are not
pushed to the extinction edge by uncontrolled wildfires? Kath Shurcliff and Graham
Harrington lead this important project, including upcoming Grasswren surveys to the Mt
Isa region in May. Read this article to find out more, especially about how you can get
involved.
Action Anticipated for Rainforest Birds... page 14
Amanda Freeman wants your checklists. That’s right – your checklists may hold
information that provides insight into the conservation status of our region’s birds. To
learn more about the current work to update The Action Plan for Australian Birds (2020),
check out this article.
Gouldian Finch Project Update... page 15
It’s rained and the project area is buzzing with birds. Ray Pierce provides a Gouldian Finch
project update, with a call for volunteers to help monitor the progress of Gouldian’s and
other finches over the coming months.
Back to the Beach – Beach Stone-curlew surveys 2020... page 17
It’s 20 years since the first synchronised survey of Beach Stone-curlews along the Wet
Tropical coast! With over 60 volunteers, we repeated the survey in 2018. Let’s do it
again! Read this article to find out how you can get back to a beach near you.
Also
AGM event at Lake Barrine…. page 4 Bushfire Update………………….…. page 9 Birdlife Northern Queensland,
Boobook owl correction…....... page 5 The Indigenous Collaborative flash-back……….….……. page 19
BirdLife Northern Queensland Management of Threatened Coastal A Birding Minibreak to Julatten
Committee……………………………. page 6 Birds Project…………………………… page 12 and Paluma…….….……… page 20
Wave the Waders Goodbye…. page 8 Hastie’s Swamp Survey ………… page Noticeboard…………....…. Page 24
13
2 Contact Call
Contact Call
From the
programs that will hopefully give our voice greater
meaning to Governments. It is critical that we
convince our Governments to act for the future while
Convenor there is still time for positive outcomes. The global
extinction crisis suggests time is short for many
species.
Ecological anxiety is a condition
now widespread throughout our Many members will know
community. It is brought about Lloyd Nielsen (pictured)
from our concern with the and I am sure would join
amount of damage that is daily with me in congratulating
inflicted on our wildlife, on our ecosystem; it is Lloyd on his Australia Day
magnified by the knowledge of not only what has recognition with a Medal
passed but what is ahead for life on Earth. Science and of the Order of Australia
knowledge can sharpen the feelings – sometimes (OAM).
hopelessness, sometimes anger - at what has been
This high honour was
done and what continues to be done. It is likely that
awarded for Lloyd’s
birders have a strong sense of eco-anxiety because
voluntary contributions
they are well connected with nature and in many
over many years to Lloyd Nielsen.
cases, are well aware of the harm we have, as a
conservation and the Image courtesy of
species, as a society, inflicted on our biological Dominic Chaplin.
environment.
community. As if the knowledge of our long-term
failure to protect wildlife was not enough, we now have Lloyd is a Life Member of BirdLife Australia and
climate change as a potent agent of our careless continues to contribute on our birds with his recent
disposition for destructiveness. And now, here in book on the Birds of the Wet Tropics of Queensland.
Australia, we witness yet another taste of our disorder, Lloyd’s careful field observations have led to a number
the vast fierce fires killing hundreds of millions of of significant outcomes including the recent separation
animals. It is truly a time of terror for many. Pity the of the Graceful Honeyeater into two species: the wet
millions of birds, victims of we humans. tropics population is now known as the Cryptic
Honeyeater and the far northern species retaining the
One appropriate treatment for eco-anxiety is to join
name Graceful Honeyeater. Well done and thank you
together with others to tackle some of the specific
Lloyd.
issues. For example, BirdLife Australia is working to
get our national environment laws improved and is Reflecting on the past year, there has been a lot of
calling on members to assist in the process (check the Branch activity of many different kinds, all supported
BirdLife Australia website). Help is also needed for the by members who have taken on leadership roles and
carers of wildlife with such a huge demand from helped develop opportunities for members to both
injured animals. Local laws also need attention as enjoy birds and to help with better understanding and
some regional councils continue to fail nature conservation. Our members are active both in the field
unnecessarily – for example Cassowary deaths on the but also in working for conservation through advocacy
coast from out of control dogs (irresponsible owners and action. It is clear that 2020 will see the need for
and poor management) and inappropriate traffic more such commitment and I hope all members will
controls, or poor protection of natural assets in favour take the opportunities available for them to make a
of development. With upcoming local Council elections, contribution. BirdLife as an organisation is committed
we can all pay careful attention to environment to ensuring a bright future for birds. The challenges we
policies. And at the State we have a Government that face were never imagined when our organisation was
has failed to protect designated endangered species established (Birds Australia Royal Australasian
(according to their own audit) and that favours coal Ornithological Union and BOCA) last century and the
mining over conservation as an official policy. The less horrors of this summer still seem unimaginable.
said about the Federal Government the better – it has BirdLife reports that “as of 2019 we had 134 nationally
almost everything on the wrong side of the ledger for threatened birds. That number is likely to rise
wildlife. There is a lot of scope for each of us to take a
dramatically once we’ve completed these
stand and to make a difference in every way we can. assessments,” (BirdLife Australia’s Head of Research,
Our wonderful birds need us more than ever. James O’Connor). “The number of threatened
Australian birds may rise by over 25% in a matter of
Continuing programs to monitor the distribution and
months, it’s staggering and tragic.” Is there any way
health of populations of several of our northern species
you can help BirdLife, and our birds?
are part of our Branch contributions to better
ecological knowledge from which to take effective While we certainly live in a wonderful and bird-rich
conservation action. I acknowledge and applaud the part of Australia, my heart goes out to the birds of
many members who participate in these various Kangaroo Island following the cataclysmic fires.
March 2020 3
BirdLife Northern Queensland
Sixteen bird taxa endemic to the island, including the I am very grateful for the opportunity over the last few
iconic Glossy Black-Cockatoo, are believed to have lost years to have been involved with such a great
more than half of their habitat and their future is Committee, with so many excellent people. I intend to
extremely insecure. On the mainland, both of our keep supporting the Committee as best I can and hope
amazing Lyrebird species are likely to be critically to see many members at our various functions and
endangered, despite the fact that up until now their activities over the rest of this year. A big “thanks” from
homes in our wet forests seemed to have made them me to the many people who made outstanding
secure. Many more details will emerge over time as contributions during my term as Convenor and I wish
the critical work on assessing losses and estimating the new Committee excellent success. I would
future prospects proceeds. This seems to be very high encourage anyone who can find a little time in their
priority work for any ornithologist right now. Our world life, to identify a potential role to help our Branch and
has been transformed. offer your services. At the AGM in March there will be
several new opportunities so please consider.
Speaking personally, I find myself facing a couple of
changes with my health and family circumstances that Peter Valentine, Convenor.
may restrict my capacity to continue as Convenor of
BirdLife Northern Queensland. When I took on the role,
I had thought I would be willing and able to contribute
for a few years but in the present circumstances I have
decided I need to step down for at least a little while.
THE 2020 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING & SOCIAL BIRDING EVENT
SATURDAY, 14 MARCH
COME AND JOIN IN THE FUN
Lake Barrine Tea Gardens, Gillies Highway, Yungaburra
• 7:00 am: for a Bird Walk looking for rainforest specialities. Meet in the upper car park at Lake
Barrine. Just in case it is wet, bring a raincoat/umbrella.
• 9:00 am: Join us in Lake Barrine Teahouse (downstairs). Morning tea is provided; coffee, tea and
infamous Scones.
• 9:30 - 10.30 am: AGM meeting in Lake Barrine Teahouse (downstairs).
• 11:00 am: private Boat Cruise on Lake Barrine guided by Alan Gillanders and Wayne Young; lazy
bird watching and chatting.
• Following the boat cruise: opportunity for joint lunch. Order and pay as individuals, joint private
table to enjoy company and discussions.
4 Contact Call
Contact Call
BirdLife Northern Queensland Committee
Convenor Peter Valentine Email: peter.valentine@jcu.edu.au Phone: 07 40966171
Deputy Convenor and Tablelands Martin Willis Email: martinwillis@mac.com Phone: 07 40966581
Area Coordinator
Secretary and Communications Renee Cassels Email: renee.cassels@my.jcu.edu.au
Coordinator
Treasurer Lindsay Fisher Email : lindsayjq@gmail.com
Cairns Area Coordinator Tom Collis Email: motom4@bigpond.com Phone: 0401783795
Conservation Coordinator and Cape Kath Shurcliff Email crabplover@westnet.com.au Phone: 07 4069 6595
York Area Coordinator
Stickybeak Coordinator Golo Maurer Email: Golo.maurer@birdlife.org.au
Project Technical Support Ray Pierce Email: raypierce@bigpond.com
Grasswren Survey Coordinators Graham Harrington Email: crabplover@westnet.com.au Phone: 07 4069 6595
and Kath Shurcliff
Members Coordinator Sam Willis Email: samnmart@gmail.com Phone: 07 40966581
Website Manager Mikey Kudo Email: kudo@kankyo-gi.net Phone: 0402343610
Committee member Wayne Young Email: info@chowchilla.com.au
Newsletter Editor and Cassowary Ceri Pearce Email: birdlifenqnewsletter@gmail.com Phone: 0488131581
Coast Area Coordinator
Wet Tropics endemic
species, Little Red
Boobook, from the
Evelyn Tablelands.
Image courtesy of
Patrick De Geest.
Newsletter correction
In the last edition, in the article Spotlight on Owls, the article stated that our local Southern Boobook (Ninox
boobook subspecies lurida) was now split off and a wet tropics endemic species. This is incorrect. The IOC list
(which BirdLife Australia uses), recognises N. boobook subspecies lurida as a subspecies only. Clements,
which eBird uses, also has it as subspecies, but interestingly as a monotypic form distinct from the polytypic
forms of other Southern Boobooks.
March 2020 5
BirdLife Northern Queensland
BirdLife Northern Queensland Committee
Having a vibrant Committee for a group like ours makes all the difference. Over the 26 years we have been
in existence, we have had some amazing people volunteer to be committee members and especially our
Convenors who are the spokesperson for us. As BNQ covers a huge area from the Torres Strait and Cape
York, west to the NT border and south to where the Townsville group takes over, it can be quite a task to
keep all our members informed and included. Our newsletter Contact Call has played an important role
transforming from a double-sided sheet when it first appeared to the present multi-paged, full colour
internet edition. This provides a way for our members to contribute articles and observations along with our
Facebook site which keeps members and interested people informed too. We have also been fortunate in
having some excellent speakers over the years giving talks on the Tablelands and in Cairns to which the
general public are invited too. Over the years BNQ has been involved in many projects providing valuable
information on the birds of our region. Also, social birding outings, campouts and the occasional party help
to keep members friends as well as birding companions. Our Website is also an important part of BNQ and
there should be a brand new one being launched in the next few months.
However, behind all this is the Committee which steers the group and organises all of the above. This year
we have lost a few committee members who have gone off traveling (we hope for contributions to Contact
Call from them!) and are looking for a few new faces to replace them. We usually have about four
committee meetings a year and try and combine it with another event, but in February we trialled using a
teleconference facility which worked well and saved a lot of traveling for everyone. We have all the main
Committee positions covered, but are looking for a Tablelands Area Coordinator who would be able to
arrange a few field trips and organise speakers for talks in Malanda. What would work well would be if two
people could take on the position then it would become a lot easier. And of course, the Committee is always
there to make suggestions and give a helping hand. Another position which is available is a newsletter
editor. This job has been done brilliantly over the past eight years by Ceri, but it would be great for
someone else to take over, but with a training period over a few issues. So if you feel you could use your
computer skills for this important job, let us know! Just being an ordinary committee member is also an
option where you can put in suggestions and help out where necessary. Basically, the more the merrier!
Lindsay Fisher
The BirdLife Northern Queensland committee in action, 14th Sept. 2019.
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Contact Call
End of Year Break-up Event, 2019
Thirty-four BirdLife Northern Queensland members gathered at Halloran’s Hill on Saturday, 14th December
2019, for our final fun event for the year, our break-up party! The event kicked off, with a late afternoon
walk birding on one of the many summit walking trails. Then, at the event centre on the summit, with
sweeping views of the Atherton Tablelands as a backdrop, we enjoyed catching up with friends over pre-
dinner drinks and nibbles. Wayne and Ren then kicked the BBQ into action, providing a sensational evening
meal, as a light show, courtesy of a passing thunderstorm, entertained us all. A very big thank you to
Wayne and Ren for organising the event and catering, and to the team of helpers that assisted set up and
clean-up. Most of the images below are thanks to our photographer of the evening, Tessa Freeman.
March 2020 7
BirdLife Northern Queensland
Join us to Wave the Waders Goodbye
SUNDAY 22ND MARCH, 12.30 - 5.30 PM.
Migratory shorebirds that have spent the past spring and summer on our shores are just about to return to
their northern breeding grounds. This annual event is a great opportunity to farewell the birds and to learn
more about these seasonal avian visitors and other local shorebirds which rely heavily on the quality feeding
grounds provided by our beautiful Cairns Esplanade.
This year, the fun starts at Cairns City Library (Meeting Room 1) at 12.30 pm with a light social lunch.
After lunch, the Shorebird presentations begin, followed at 4pm by practice on the Cairns Esplanade.
Program
Cairns City Library Meeting Room 1
12.30 pm A light social lunch is provided for participants
1.15 pm The Indigenous Collaborative Management of Threatened Coastal Birds project
Paul Fisk (Scientist) will share the latest news from the Indigenous Collaborative
Management of Threatened Coastal Birds project, that aims to survey beaches and inshore
islands from Russell Heads to Mowbray River to provide comprehensive data on knowledge
gaps for threatened migratory shorebirds, including the Beach Stone-Curlew.
1.45 pm Beach Stone Curlews in FNQ
Beach Stone Curlews (BSC) will be the hot topic presented by Amanda Freeman (BSC
Survey Coordinator and Project Scientific Adviser). Amanda led the initial 2000 BSC survey.
2.15 pm Shorebirds: why they are important and how to identify them.
Dr. Golo Maurer (BirdLife Australia’s National Key Biodiversity Area Program Coordinator)
will talk about the plight of migratory shorebirds and current conservation initiatives, and he
will provide a lesson on identifying shorebirds and survey methods.
3.15 pm Refreshments
3.50 pm We adjourn to the Cairns Esplanade, across the road from the RSL
Cairns Esplanade, across the road from the RSL
from On the Esplanade, our Stickybeaks Family Group (BirdLife kids activity group) will challenge
4.00 pm us to a game of 'beak bingo' with fun prizes, and put our shorebird ID skills to work.
You are invited to stay for social time at Curlew BBQ after the event
RSVP by March 18th with any special dietary requirements.
Please contact Hidetoshi Kudo (Mikey) Email or Phone 0402343610 for further information and to RSVP.
8 Contact Call
Contact Call March 2020 9
BirdLife Northern Queensland
Birds in Schools
For some years now I have been hoping to engage
children in their environment in a wholistic, sustainable
way including the birds they see. There is room for
each and every living creature, plants included. As I
see it, although we may lose them in their teenage
years, the children will return to their love for the
environment as young adults and will be mindful of
sustaining the things they love. Conservation of the
environment is important for our future.
Birds in Schools began in north Queensland, Mackay,
Townsville and Cairns, in 2018. Dr Holly Parsons from
Birds in Backyard fame has arranged and organised
the programme. Students and volunteers enjoying Birds in Schools.
Images courtesy of Mark McGeachie
I had been attending our family group, Stickybeaks, as
often as I could to gain a better understanding of Holly asked me to find another volunteer and Mrs
primary school children, and learnt a huge amount Jennifer (Jenn) Muir, an ornithologist, has joined our
from Dr Golo Maurer. Golo and his wife Dr Leeann local group on the project. We are both hoping for
Reaney organised with Holly to undertake a more input in the Birds in Schools project and to
teleconference at the Cairns Library. The pilot schools include more and more schools as time goes on.
included Machans Beach, Edge Hill and Raintrees State Freshwater State School is very interested and a
Schools. I also invited Yarrabah and Mother of Good potential new recruit.
Counsel primary schools but they were not ready. The If you have children/grandchildren in schools up here
curriculum is very full in primary schools today. The please advise their teachers of the availability of this
birds in schools programme is part of the year five and addition to the curriculum. The more the merrier.
six Maths and Science curriculum.
Three teachers from Edge Hill State School have
I hold the teachers I have met through this project in attended a Cairns Birders outing and are planning to
very high regard. They are dedicated and hard working have their children join our Stickybeaks family group.
with a love for what they do. The teachers do almost
all the work. To access more information check out the website:
http://birdlife.org.au/projects/urban-birds/birds-in-
The programme is divided into four modules. Initially schools-project or contact Dr Holly Parsons:
a comprehensive ecological study is done within the holly.parsons@birdlife.org.au
school grounds, then topics such as the value of
standardised surveys, the ethics of bird watching, what If you are interested in joining our local group please
lives in their school grounds, birds as bioindicators and don’t hesitate to contact me.
Pippy Cannon, phone 0438645293
lots more are covered.
BirdLife Northern Queensland’s Birds in Schools Coordinator
Ultimately the aim is to develop and implement an
action plan related to improving the school sites
biodiversity. That means the end result will be a
sustainable garden environment that is creature
friendly, with a focus on our feathery friends. One
school is planning a frog pond with rainbow fish as
well.
All data gathered by the students is hammered into
Birdata, capturing important information about the
school site and the work the children have done.
Before and after data will certainly be assessed.
Blue Card attained and we were off. I was helped
immensely by Golo’s brilliant PowerPoint presentation
full of humour. He really is one of the funniest people I
have ever met and certainly knows how to engage
children. BirdLife provided binoculars, field guides and
nest boxes as well as the content for each module.
10 Contact CallContact Call
Grasswrens and
We plan to complete the surveys during a 2-3 week
period starting on 11 May. Volunteers are welcome to
come for as little as one week - fuel costs will be
Bushfires reimbursed. You will need to be self-sufficient, with
high clearance vehicles, and ready to camp on the
stations. We will work together in teams. This is an
opportunity to see some beautiful country that is not
The terrible events of the bushfires down south are all
publicly accessible, as well as many interesting birds.
on our minds. BirdLife Australia is attempting to
And enjoy time with great companions!!
understand their impacts on our birds, especially the
endangered and vulnerable ones. While we up here in Please join us in this important work and have a
northern Queensland have so far been spared these chance to “do something” to help take positive action
catastrophic events, we are continually mindful of what against uncontrolled bushfires. Please contact Kath
could also happen to our vulnerable birds. That is why Shurcliff at crabplover@westnet.com.au or
we are working in partnership with Southern Gulf phone 04 7864 1987.
Natural Resource Management (NRM) group to ensure
Kath Shurcliff
our Carpentarian and Kalkadoon Grasswrens are not
pushed to the extinction edge by uncontrolled
wildfires.
Southern Gulf NRM have done controlled burns each
March-April for the last three years, timed to ensure
the burns can be contained to deliver a mosaic of
burnt and unburnt landscapes. Our role in BirdLife
Northern Queensland is to monitor those landscapes to
track if this burn program does protect the grasswren
populations. Last year we set up a patchwork of more
than 50 long-term monitoring sites which will be
periodically checked to see if grasswrens are still
there, or if previously unoccupied, are grasswrens
moving in? And we also monitor for our other bird
species as well, to help us understand how controlled
burn programs can impact on general bird populations.
We will be going back to the Mt Isa area again this
year in May to undertake more surveys, in the core
area of Calton Hills station, but also in several
adjoining stations which are proving to be rewarding
areas for Carpentarians - especially Thorntonia station
to the west. Last year, we were able to document
successful breeding of the Carpentarians, with
immature birds found at several sites.
Carpentarian Grasswren immature bird with adult. Image
courtesy of A. Woodbine.
March 2020 11BirdLife Northern Queensland
The Indigenous Collaborative Management of
Threatened Coastal Birds Project
BirdLife Australia (Northern Queensland) is partnering project researcher, Amanda Freeman, who had
with local Indigenous ranger and native title holder coordinated volunteers in a similar baseline survey in
groups, scientists and a team of volunteers to deliver a 2000. The 2018 survey identified 37 Beach Stone-
new conservation management project focusing on curlews at 18 locations, including multiple pairs of
threatened coastal shorebirds in the Cairns region. birds and evidence of several episodes of successful
breeding activity. However, neither the 2000 nor 2018
Funded by the Queensland government’s Community
surveys were able to access key potential Beach
Sustainability Action grant program, the Indigenous
Stone-curlew habitat in the Yarrabah area.
Collaborative Management of Threatened Coastal Birds
(IMTCB) project will survey target beaches and inshore By involving local native title holders and Indigenous
islands in the Trinity Inlet and Yarrabah regions, across ranger teams, this new project will allow researchers
a study area extending from Russell Heads in the to access these previously unsurveyed locations for the
south to Mowbray River in the north. The surveys will first time, to gather evidence of coastal shorebird
provide comprehensive data on knowledge gaps for activity and to assess the significance of these areas to
threatened shorebirds – in particular, the resident, shorebirds in the region. This will provide amazing
beach-nesting Beach Stone-curlew, and endangered insight into the Beach Stone-curlew population in
East Asian Australasian Flyway migratory shorebirds particular, which continues to be a major knowledge
that breed in the Northern hemisphere and use the gap in terms of its breeding distribution, health of the
study area’s tidal flats to feed and roost during their population and threats impacting the species.
southern summer migration. Paul Fisk, Sally Sheldon and Amanda Freeman.
BirdLife Australia’s Beach-nesting Birds experts will
collaborate with local scientists, community
volunteers, the Gunggandji, Mandingalbay
Yidinji and Yirrganydji Indigenous ranger
teams, and the Gunggandji Mandingalbay
Yidinji native title holders, to undertake the
surveys and increase local capacity to carry
out ongoing monitoring work.
Data gathered will be shared with all
collaborators and added to BirdLife Australia’s
Birdata database, while being used to inform
effective conservation and management
actions for the threatened coastal shorebird
species.
The project builds upon previous survey work
that has been completed in the study area
over several decades. Project researcher,
Paul Fisk, has been involved with numerous
studies that have collected baseline data on
migratory wader distribution and abundance
in the Trinity Inlet area since the mid-2000s.
Much of this work has, however, focused on
assessing impacts of local development along
the Cairns Esplanade, leaving gaps in our
understanding of the significance of nearby
habitat in Trinity Inlet and Yarrabah’s Mission
Bay.
Similarly, in 2018, BirdLife Northern
Queensland conducted a survey of 38 sites
within the region to gather evidence of Beach
Stone-curlew breeding activity. This survey
was designed to complement the efforts of
12 Contact CallContact Call
Hastie’s Swamp Survey
December 2019
Hastie’s Swamp National Park, near Atherton, protects
a wetland refuge known for its diverse range of
migratory and resident bird species. It is a remnant of
the once extensive Nyleta Wetlands before most of it
was cleared. At least 231 species have been recorded
in the wetland and surrounding woodland. A species
list can be found on the Birdlife Northern Queensland
website. The water levels in the swamp change as the
annual cycle of wet and dry seasons occur. Large
numbers of waterbirds can occur here with counts of
up to 15,000 Plumed Whistling-Duck not uncommon.
Birdlife Northern Queensland members have been
conducting monthly surveys of the wetlands and
surrounding area to document the species and
numbers present throughout the years.
Before the December survey started about 50 Sarus Glossy Ibis
Cranes left, after roosting here overnight, for a day’s
(a week after this survey only 1,500 were left). Other
foraging in the surrounding fields. Members gathered
waterfowl recorded included Pink-eared Duck,
in the comfort of the bird hide at 7am to count the bird
Hardhead, Grey Teal, Australasian Grebe and Pacific
species as well as have the opportunity to photograph
Black Duck. A pair of Wandering Whistling-Duck looked
some of the birds and to socialise! Water levels were
out of place surrounded by the Plumed Whistling-Duck.
very low and species numbers had been declining over
Great, Intermediate and Cattle Egret along with a pair
the previous few months but the receding water had a
of Glossy Ibis, whose numbers had increased to 14
plus as it had exposed more mud. This was attracting
later in the morning, were foraging in and around the
a few international migratory waders such as Wood
water.
and Sharp-tailed Sandpiper as well as local migrants
Red-kneed Dotterel. A Latham’s Snipe ran out of the Once we finished with the waterbirds, we surveyed the
vegetation in front of the hide to feed in the open woodland areas alongside the access road. Five
alongside the water’s edge for good views through the Nankeen Night-Heron were roosting in their usual
scope. Plumed Whistling-Duck numbers had declined place beside the bird hide. Some of the other species
from recent surveys with an estimated 3,500 present seen were Dollarbird, Red-backed Fairywren, five
honeyeater species, Lewin’s, Yellow-
faced, Bridled, Scarlet and Brown plus a
Black-faced Monarch.
A list of the 57 species observed can be
found on the ebird site
https://ebird.org/checklist/S62029336 .
This data will be transferred into the
Birdlife Australia Birdata surveys
monitoring program, which along with
the Birdlife atlas is Australia's longest
running and one of BirdLife’s greatest
resources, allowing the tracking of
changes in birds across the country as
the climate changes.
Keith and Lindsay Fisher.
Hastie’s Swamp 6th December 2019
March 2020 13BirdLife Northern Queensland
Action Anticipated for
Rainforest Birds
The Action Plan for Australian Birds is being updated in
2020. Yes, it’s 10 years since the last iteration and
there’re likely to be several significant changes to the
status of some species in our region.
At a workshop in Cairns last September , local
members with insight into the conservation status of
our region’s birds got together with Prof. Stephen
Garnett, of Charles Darwin University, who is leading
the revision of the country-wide Action Plan. On the
agenda was a bird by bird discussion of trends in
populations and range of the far north’s birds over the
last ten years.
One of the most concerning trends identified recently
is the decline in a broad suite of rainforest birds,
revealed by long-term research headed by JCU’s Prof.
Steve Williams. For those that heard Steve’s talk at
Malanda last April, this disquieting news won’t be new.
For more than a dozen species, including some
endemic to the region, there have been rapid
population declines suggesting that the climate
impacts predicted for the Wet Tropics are already
happening. These species may well warrant inclusion
in the next Action Plan.
Action Plans are meant to encourage action. At this
very early stage we don’t know what actions will be
called for in respect of these newly concerning
Dollarbird Seen at Hastie’s Swamp, 6th December 2019. rainforest species. However, more bird data would
Image courtesy of Keith and Lindsay Fisher.
certainly be helpful in clarifying patterns of distribution
and abundance, particularly in rainforest fragments
and regrowth areas for which there isn’t much long-
term information.
Knowing what information is out there amongst
members may help in formulating a local Birdlife
Do you have long term (+10) years bird project on Wet Tropics birds, further down the track. If
lists or regular bird counts for sites in you have long-term (10+ years) lists and/or regular
the Wet Tropics, that you have not counts for any rainforest location in the Wet Tropics
region, that you have not already shared with Birdata
already shared with Birdata or eBird? or eBird, I’d love to hear from you.
Amanda Freeman
Your data could significantly contribute to our amandafreeman@naturenorth.com.au
understanding of population trends in our wet
tropics bird species.
Please contact Amanda Freeman if you would like
to help.
amandafreeman@naturenorth.com.au
14 Contact CallContact Call
Gouldian Finch Project
Update
With 2019 having been a hot, dry year throughout
most of the continent and culminating in the disastrous
fires that devastated many SE Australia ecosystems,
we wanted to see how our local Gouldians had come
through this period. A few of us undertook a short visit
between rain events to check on one of the north
Queensland sites in early January 2020. Unlike the
previous year, the site had not received significant
early storm rain and so growth of sedges and grasses
was correspondingly slow.
Liz, David, Gary and I soon found a scattering of
Gouldians in the core area. These birds looked to be
very healthy, with some also being paired and
undertaking tree hollow inspections. Foraging was
being undertaken mainly in recently prescribed patch
burns where they were taking lightly cooked seeds
(firegrass and others pending identification from Pam)
as well as flowering sedges.
Fig 3 – Fledgling Black-faced Woodswallows in January 2020
– R Pierce.
The whole area was in fact buzzing with birds
reflecting a rapid response to the localised good
rainfall here over the previous month. Rufous
Songlarks were abundant and displaying throughout,
and nomadic species like Banded Honeyeaters were
also abundant. There were three species of
woodswallows nesting in the area, which are important
associates of Gouldians, Masked and Black-throated
Fig 1 – A male Gouldian Finch singing in January 2020.
Finches.
Image courtesy of G Wilson.
Fig 4 - Male Gouldian feeding in a recently burnt area in
January 2020 – R Pierce.
We will follow the progress of these Gouldians and
other finches over the coming months looking at diet,
use of burnt versus unburnt areas, nest sites, brood
sizes, predators via camera traps, and some other
Fig 2 - Team checking for birds in an unburnt patch in questions. We will also be surveying for Gouldians
January 2020 – R Pierce. more widely in FNQ to examine wider distribution.
March 2020 15BirdLife Northern Queensland
If you are wanting to help with any aspects of
this project please contact Ray at
raypierce@bigpond.com or Patrick at
info@finchesqueensland.org or Mike at
nqnhg@gmail.com
Skills that participants can learn include finch survey
techniques such as detecting Gouldians from calls and
bird associations, identifying key food grasses and
sedges, characterising habitat, using motion cameras,
videos, identifying birds generally, data recording, and
more. The project is funded by Queensland Citizen
Science, facilitated by the North Queensland Natural
History Group (NQNHG), and helped by many citizen
scientists including NQNHG and BirdLife Northern
Queensland members.
Ray Pierce Fig 5 Male Gouldian Finch.
16 Contact CallContact Call
Back to the Beach –
Beach Stone-curlew
surveys in 2020
It’s 20 years since the first synchronised survey of
Beach Stone-curlews along the Wet Tropical coast!
Back in 2000, when this first survey was conducted,
Beach Stone-curlews were reported from suitable
habitat throughout the region but there were already Beach Stone-curlew adult (right) and chick, currently being
concerns that there seemed to be few breeding monitored by the project team at Cairns airport. Image by
attempts or sightings of juvenile birds. How do we Sally Sheldon.
think these beach birds are faring now?
Please pay particular attention to Beach Stone-curlews
The good news is that, as reported in the May 2018 sheltering under vegetation at the back of the beach.
Contact Call, participants in the second Birdlife survey They could have a nest or young so be cautious and
in March 2018 found a few more Beach Stone-curlews observe from a distance. Also take note of Beach
at a few more locations than recorded in the 2000 Stone-curlews in groups; there may be a juvenile
survey. However, as in the 2000 survey, only two amongst them. Juveniles may be recognisable by their
juvenile birds were observed. There has also been little smaller size, duller plumage and less-distinct head
other evidence of breeding submitted to Birdata, eBird markings and may be the only indication of successful
or other databases. Beach Stone-curlews seem to be breeding.
holding their own but, twenty years on from the first
survey, we still have very little information about Adult and juvenile
breeding success. We also still have a considerable
gap in knowledge about the number of Beach Stone-
curlews around the Yarrabah coast.
Among other aims (see article this newsletter), Birdlife
Northern Queensland’s Indigenous Collaborative
Management of Threatened Coastal Birds (ICMTCB)
project seeks to address these information gaps for
Beach Stone-curlews. To do this we need the help of
members to complement the efforts of indigenous
ranger groups and the project team.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Get beach combing The juvenile bird (right) has a broken eyebrow marking, and
In our region, Beach Stone-curlew eggs and small the white markings on the wing are much less developed
than in the adult (left). Image courtesy of Julia Hazel.
chicks have been recorded from September – March
so, as on other parts of the coast, it is a drawn-out Please submit your sightings to Birdata, preferably in
breeding season. At present, Paul Fisk is monitoring a the Beach-nesting birds’ section (record as an adhoc
chick at the Cairns airport that hatched just before route), and/or send your records direct to Amanda
Christmas (see image top right corner) and is now Freeman of the Coastal Birds project team. A Coastal
about a third the size of its parents. So now is the time Birds project survey form that includes all the
to get beach combing to detect breeding birds. necessary fields will shortly be made available on the
BirdLife Northern Queensland website, or can be
Check out publicly accessible beaches, especially
obtained by emailing
between the Mowbray River near Port Douglas and
amandafreeman@naturenorth.com.au
Russell Heads, south of Cairns. This is the core area
for the ICMTCB project. If you can, please record all the relevant information
on the survey form.
March 2020 17BirdLife Northern Queensland
We’re particularly interested to understand the level of
disturbance Beach Stone-curlews experience in our
region, from dogs, trail bikes, quads and four-wheel
Calling all volunteers.
drive vehicles. For example, with 27,000 dogs
registered in the Cairns Regional Council area, and
substantial stretches of beach designated as Dog Off
THE 2020 BEACH STONE-CURLEW
Leash areas, the chances of shorebirds being SURVEY IS ON
impacted by dogs in the project area are high.
SATURDAY 9TH MAY
All Beach Stone-curlew sightings are valuable,
however. If you don’t have all the information to If a walk along the beach and the thrill of seeing a
complete the survey form, as a minimum please rare and striking bird sounds exciting to you, we
record the date, time, number of Beach Stone-curlews are seeking volunteers to assist in the 2020 Beach
and an accurate location, either a GPS position or a Stone-curlew Survey!
thorough written description.
All data collated during the project will be sent to
If you would like to help. All you need to do is to
Birdata.
contact Amanda Freeman at
amandafreeman@naturenorth.com.au to identify
JOIN THE REGION-WIDE SURVEY the best beach near you that you can survey, and
to receive an information kit.
Volunteers are needed for a region-wide survey to be
held on 9 May 2020. The synchronised, region-wide
survey will give us a snapshot of Beach Stone-curlew To be part of our 2020 Beach Stone-curlew Wall of
numbers to compare with previous surveys. To register Fame, all you need to do is to take a selfie at the
your interest contact Amanda Freeman. beach during the survey and submit it to Ceri at
birdlifenqnewsletter@gmail.com
The Cairns airport juvenile bird one month later, flexing its
new wing feathers. Image courtesy of Sally Sheldon
For further information about Beach Stone-curlew
surveys for the Indigenous Collaborative Management
of Threatened Coastal Birds project please contact
Amanda Freeman at
amandafreeman@naturenorth.com.au
18 Contact CallContact Call
Birdlife Northern Queensland, flash-back.
Did you know that BirdLife Northern Queensland originally formed in 1994, as a north Queensland branch of
RAOU (which was also known as Birds Australia), called Birders of North Queensland (also BNQ)?
We became a branch of BirdLife Australia in 2012, when Birds Australia and BOCA merged.
Do you see anyone you know in the images below?
This image above is from the Birds Australia Congress at the Genanzanno Centre in 1992.
The image below is from one of the first RAOU/Birds Australia BNQ meetings, at Murray Falls in 1994.
March 2020 19BirdLife Northern Queensland
A Birding Minibreak
JULATTEN AND PALUMA, JANUARY
2020.
2020 got off to a great start when Ceri and I
formulated our own Birding Mini-break. Provided we
didn’t have monsoonal rains we thought we might see
all the “good birds” at Julatten and Paluma. So, we
booked 2 nights at Kingfisher Park (KFP), Julatten,
followed by 3 nights at a friend’s holiday house in
Paluma. We had visited neither place for quite a while
and we were not disappointed.
At Abattoir Swamp, near Julatten we were pleased to
see that a new board walk had been installed. We saw
some nice birds around the car park and board walk;
White-throated Honeyeater, Brown-backed
Honeyeater, Leaden Flycatcher, Northern Fantail and
Pacific Baza, but the area overlooked by the hide was
very quiet – no crakes!
Noisy Pitta. Image courtesy of Keith Fisher
We arrived at Kingfisher Park to find the
backed Fairywren, and near a small dam, Glossy Ibis,
accommodation fully booked and thought ourselves
Royal Spoonbill, Pied Stilt and Pelican.
fortunate not to have left our plans to chance. Despite
Carol and Andrew being very busy, we received a very At one rainforest lined creek we were delighted to see
warm welcome and they found time to chat and advise an Azure Kingfisher successfully catch a fish that was a
us about our target species. little too large for it. It took quite a few minutes for the
bird to finally manoeuvre the fish into a position that
From our veranda we had good views of the Buff-
allowed it to swallow it.
breasted Paradise-Kingfisher and even glimpses of
Red-necked Crake just before nightfall. Later that day we pottered around the grounds of KFP
and sat for a while by the Crake pool. First one, then
The next day we had the pleasure of the company of
a second Red-necked Crake appeared and we had very
Lindsay and Keith Fisher who kindly submitted to our
good views. Leaving the crakes to themselves, we
optimism and drove us to the clearing on Mount Lewis
quietly wandered off following another drainage line,
to look for Blue-faced Parrot-Finches (BFPF). As they
only to find the crakes had followed us, and we had
predicted the weather became worse the higher we
the two birds right at our feet. It was an amazing
went, and although we sat in the car for a decent
experience.
length of time, peering into the grass, we had to admit
it was hopeless.
We birded along McDougal Road and had a great time,
picking up new birds at each dam and swampy area.
The best time was had near a creek where the bitumen
ended. Honeyeaters, robins, gerygones and catbird
were all around us. We found a Wompoo Fruit-Dove on
a nest and a Noisy Pitta almost at our feet.
Morning tea was taken at a spot new to Ceri and I,
Bicentennial Park, just behind the main road through
Mount Molloy. We sat overlooking a small wetland
area surrounded by trees and spotted Little Friarbird
and Oliver-backed Oriole amongst other species. It
was a very pleasant break from the coastal rainier
weather. Red-necked Crake. Image courtesy of Keith Fisher
We finished the morning with a drive along Wetherby On our final morning we tried our luck on Mount Lewis
Road, stopping at various places along the way to again. Still no sign of the BFPF near the clearing, so we
birdwatch. We saw Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Red- walked the track leading to the dam.
20 Contact CallContact Call
Rain threatened but never eventuated, and we had a WANT TO ADVERTISE
wonderful time ticking off birds we haven’t seen for a
while; female Golden Bowerbird, Tooth-billed
IN CONTACT CALL?
Bowerbird, Chowchilla and a delightful Fernwren who
Advertisements and sponsorship help support the
sang away right in front of us. We drove home to re-
local BirdLife group in Northern Queensland. Any
pack for the next part of our mini-break the following
profit is used for education and conservation
day, Paluma.
projects in our region. The advertisements must
Paluma was very quiet considering it was still the first be relevant to BirdLife Northern Queensland
week of the year. We hardly even saw a vehicle over members and compatible with BirdLife Australia
three days. Perhaps it was the low cloud which objectives and fund-raising guidelines.
deterred visitors. The bird feeder was quiet too but we
did our best to entice them in, offering bananas and
Quarter page advertisements for four issues can
red pawpaw. The Macleay’s Honeyeaters weren’t shy be purchased for $80 plus GST, or $25 plus GST
and eventually a catbird came in, but we weren’t over- for single-issue advertisements. Contact the
run by riflebirds as I had remembered. The following Editor of Contact Call or the BNQ Treasurer for
morning was so very quiet due to the cloud all around further information.
us. We didn’t think it would clear so we headed out to
Birthday Creek. Listening for bird calls was a challenge _______________________________________
over the bubbling sounds of the creek, but we did see
a male Golden Bowerbird.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO ORGANISE
Next stop was the Grandis area, one of our favourite
AN ACTIVITY IN YOUR AREA?
places. A Grey Goshawk was easily sighted as it OR PERHAPS A CAMP OUT?
perched eating a prey item while being dive bombed
The BirdLife Northern Queensland role of
by Grey Fantails. A party of Varied Sittella came in and
activities coordinator is currently vacant. If you
Little Lorikeet were high in the tree-tops. Dollarbirds
would like to take on this role, or even just help
and Spangled Drongos were feasting above the
with organising a single event, don’t hesitate to
canopy, hawking for insects. We hoped to see Shrike-
contact us at northernqld@birdlife.org.au
tit but were unlucky.
We went on to Hidden Valley and were surprised to see _________________________________________
how very dry it was out there. We saw a few Squatter
Pigeon and Blue-faced, and Fuscous Honeyeater, VOLUNTEER
Oriental Cuckoo and a Blue-winged Kookaburra feeding
Whether it is organising or helping at an event or
a lizard to a juvenile.
workshop, or participating in one of our many
The next day was very damp again so we returned to special interest projects, there are many
Hidden Valley, this time driving along Valley Road. opportunities for you to get involved.
Very thin cattle watched us pass. We stopped at a
causeway before a cattle grid where several species of We are currently looking for volunteers to assist
honeyeater were in the tall trees. Ceri spotted a with Gouldian Finch surveys, Grasswren surveys,
Banded amongst the White-throated. Down in the dry and the coastal Beach Stone-curlew survey. If
riverbed, small birds came in so fast we didn’t know you love kids, then Birds in Schools is also
which to look at first. Finches, fairywrens, White- looking for volunteers. Or if you love a festival,
browed Scrubwren, Fairy Gerygone and Grey Shrike- we’re looking for volunteers to help manage the
Thrush were all around us. A pair of White-browed BirdLife stall at the Cairns Ecofiesta.
Robin came close, followed by Fan-tailed and Little- If you are interested in volunteering, contact the
bronze Cuckoo. Only a sudden shower of rain chased survey/event organiser identified in this
us back to the car, which was sad for us but nice for newsletter or email northernqld@birdlife.org.au
the landscape, animals and plants.
Sandra Christensen _______________________________________
BIRDLIFE NORTHERN
QUEENSLAND
TAKE YOUR INTEREST IN BIRDS
AND NATURE TO THE NEXT LEVEL
JOIN US AND GET INVOLVED
March 2020 21BirdLife Northern Queensland
Situated 1½ hrs north of Cairns in Tropical North
Queensland we offer accommodation in self-contained
units and bunkhouse rooms. We also have a small
camping area. The property is a rainforest wildlife
sanctuary catering for birdwatchers and naturalists.
We are central to a variety of habitats and provide bird
species lists, area maps and Wi-Fi internet access.
Guiding is available by arrangement.
We offer packages for individuals and small groups.
Carol and Andrew Iles
RN6, Mt. Kooyong Road
Julatten QLD 4871
Ph: (07) 4094 1263
Email: sootyowl@bigpond.com
www.birdwatchers.com.au
22 Contact CallContact Call
INTRODUCTION TO BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY
WORKSHOP
0900-1600 SATURDAY 20 JUNE 2020 AT COMINOS HOUSE, EDGE HILL
PRESENTER: GARY W WILSON
The One-day Course will comprise several lectures, frequent breaks for discussion, some demonstrations,
and two hours in the field at the nearby Freshwater Lake at Centenary Lakes. Morning tea and a light lunch
will be served.
The Course is designed for beginning nature photographers, particularly those interested in photographing
birds. Course participants are requested to bring along any camera equipment they own, irrespective of
make and model. They are also welcome to bring laptop computers, iPads, etc.
Printed copies of the Course notes will be supplied to participants on request and those wanting a digital copy
should bring a thumb-drive so that they can download them.
The course will start from First Principles and progress through general information about
• camera types and sensor sizes and formats,
• types and uses of memory cards
• reasonably-priced lens suitable for beginning bird photographers
• some information will be given about file formats, e.g. JPEG, RAW, TIFF, and file processing.
and
• examples of different types of images of birds will be presented
• details will be provided of camera and lens settings for bird photography and the use and value of
EXIF (this will be explained) data
• discussions will be had on the various types of bird photography, and their respective uses, e.g.
Identification, ecology, behaviour, habitat use
• Information on useful reference sites, image databases, and uses of images taken will be provided,
and
• The Ethics of Responsible Bird Photography will be discussed.
The intention is to have an enjoyable and informative day, and meet others with an interest in natural
history photography.
Contact: gwwilson064@gmail.com to register
March 2020 23BirdLife Northern Queensland
Noticeboard From the Editor
CAMERA EQUIPMENT FOR SALE A big thank you to all our contributors to the
newsletter.
We have moved to mirror-less cameras in the Nikon Newsletter deadlines for 2020
range and as a result are disposing of some equipment
surplus to our needs. ➢ April 10th for the May/June Edition
We have available the following: ➢ July 10th for the September Edition
• Nikon D500 DX MP camera with 31,000 shutter ➢ October 10th for the December Edition
activations
• (64GB XQD and SD cards included)
Are you interested in assisting the
• Nikon 16-80 F2.8-4 DX Lens – little used
Contact Call newsletter editor?
• Nikon 18-200 F3.5-5.6G ED VR II DX Lens –
also little used. Working on the newsletter is a great way to
hear all about bird related activities in our
• Battery charger for the camera and manuals of area and beyond, and to express creativity
all items also included. with articles and images.
The above equipment is in good condition and has We are seeking a volunteer who knows how
been stored in a room with a dehumidifier. The above to use WORD and email, and who likes
set is an ideal combination for travel photography. communicating with people.
We would like to dispose of the above items as a Previous experience with any newsletter
package and are asking $600 for the lot. writing (even your own) would be an
If you are interested contact us at advantage.
gwwilson064@gmail.com. Gary & Robyn Wilson Contact the editor by email:
birdlifenqnewsletter@gmail.com for further
information or to express interest in assisting.
FOR SALE - CANON EOS CAMERA
EQUIPMENT – LEICA BINOCULARS -
KEITH FISHER.
Buyer pays postage, prefer local buyer or payment by
PayPal. BirdLife Northern Queensland Newsletter
• Leica Ultravid HD10 x 42 binoculars few signs ‘Contact Call’
of wear but 100% optically. $1500.00 birdlifenqnewsletter@gmail.com
www.birdlifenq.org
• Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS II USM
Lens, few small scratches, optically 100%
$1750.00
• Canon MT 24X Macro Twin Lite flash. Has a few
marks including a small scratch on the screen
but works 100%. Includes two flash diffusers,
case and original packaging. $450.00.
• Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT + bonus Better
Beamer $375.00
• EOS Magazines. 105 issues – Free, pick up or
local delivery Join us on Facebook
More equipment available, email:
keithandlindsay4@bigpond.com or ph. 0447 816 865
for complete list
24 Contact CallContact Call
Activities
Check out the BirdLife Northern Queensland activities
for 2020 in the calendar below. The regularly updated
list can be found on our website http://birdlifenq.org/
or Facebook page (BirdLife Northern Queensland).
More activities will be added in the coming months as
plans for 2020 become firmer.
You do not have to be a BirdLife member or an expert
birder. Most of us are still learning and keen to share
the fun.
For more information about an event, contact the
leader listed.
In the event of a severe weather warning or other
unforeseen circumstances, events may be cancelled at
short notice. Contact the event organiser to confirm
events and monitor our Facebook page or emails for
updates.
Do come and join us.
BirdLife Northern Queensland 2020 Activities
Date Time Locality Meeting place and other information Contact the leader
Golo Maurer
Saturday STICKYBEAKS FAMILY GROUP Stickybeak Coordinator
29 Bring the kids! For more information, please
February contact me on 0467 444 114 or
2020 Details of outing to be announced.
email golo.maurer@birdlife.org
.au.
HASTIES SWAMP MONTHLY BIRD SURVEY
Hastie’s You're invited to join us for a great morning of
Swamp, birding and collecting data on the birdlife in and
Friday Atherton around the swamp. Based mainly at and around For more information please
7:00– the bird hide, members will survey the birds contact Ron Schweitzer
7 March 9:00am Meet at present at the wetlands and count the numbers of
2020 Hastie’s each species. Both waterbirds and bush birds in rgschweitzer@gmail.com
Swamp Hide the adjacent fringing vegetation are included. We
car park hope to follow the seasonal changes through the
year. Bring binoculars/scope, field guide, notebook
and pen, and morning ‘smoko’.
BIRDING AROUND WARRINA LAKES
You're invited to join us for a couple of hours of
social birding around Warrina Lakes. Ceri Pearce
Warrina Lakes,
Innisfail After birding we'll have morning tea at the lakes Cassowary Coast Area
(BYO morning tea). Coordinator
Sunday Meet in the
7:00– carpark in Park It’s the very wet tropics so bring an umbrella and For more information, please
8 March 9:30am waterproof shoes, just in case. Also, binoculars, contact me on 0488 131 581, or
St, off the
2020 sunscreen, hat, and insect repellent. Sandra Christensen on 0448
corner of Emily
and Charles 845 842, or email
In the event of a severe weather or other birdlifenqnewsletter@gmail.com
St, Innisfail
unforeseen circumstances, events may be . We hope you can make it!
cancelled at short notice. Contact the event
organiser to confirm events.
March 2020 25You can also read
