Warbler

Volume 5 Number 2 June 2016

EDITOR’S NOTE – Peter Crane Welcome to the June 2016 issue of Warbler, the quarterly e-newsletter of BirdLife Southern

Queensland, your region of BirdLife Australia. We are again pleased to present in this edition of Warbler a variety of interesting and informative articles. There should be something for all readers. Our Convenor, Judith Hoyle, brings the shorebird and shorebird habitat crisis to our attention and invites all readers to the Queensland Ornithological Conference in July and to the National Campout immediately following. Judith then provides the background to a BirdLife Distinguished Service Award to be presented at the BA AGM in late May.

Oddments again provides a number of interesting bird or other animal behaviours and general interest items submitted by our readers. Lionel Hartley has submitted an article about his recent visit to Cairns and Julatten. Our second travel article is about a recent trip to Taiwan by Bill Moorhead. In The Green Corner Rochelle Steven has provided a summary of a number of forthcoming events that should/might interest you. Tracy Finegan writes on the development of the Scenic Rim property ‘Jingeri’ into a

Nature Reserve. Liz Gould’s article is on the survey activities of the endangered Eastern Bristlebird. Conservation activities for the Glossy Black-Cockatoo are reported by Eric Anderson. Sue Sargent has reported on the co-operative project to provide a shorebird wetland within the Port of Bundaberg. The project stakeholders were Gladstone Ports Corporation, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Bundaberg Regional Council and Birdlife Bundaberg members. Sheena Gillman has provided a report on the Easter or March 2016 BSQ–BQ combined campout at Chelmer, Thallon.

Holly Parsons the BirdLife Australia Birds in Backyards Program Manager describes a number of activites that would interest the youngest members of the birding community. Important Bird Areas (IBAs) are sites of global bird conservation importance. Rochelle Steven has drafted another informative article on the Traprock IBA. We live in a wide, diverse continent and an interesting world. There are birding opportunities in each State and overseas. Our regular contributors Shorty in Canberra, Rick Nash from

South Australia and Barry Heinrich from Thailand have again submitted articles on the birds that they are seeing in their respective areas. The Book Corner has five book reviews this quarter.

‘Birds of Australia’s Top End’ is the book to buy to prepare for your Northern Territory birding trip, well at least the northern section of that large territory. ‘Birdscaping Australian Gardens’ provides all the essential tips to growing gardens that attract birds. You should get plenty of ways to enhance the morning birdsong emanating from your backyard. ‘Birds of Australia’ is a photographic guide. As a birding photographer I enjoyed reading this book and will use it regularly. ‘Finding Australian Birds’ aims to assist readers in locating Australia’s birdlife. This comprehensive book is almost all that you would need to plan your Australian lap.

‘Birds of the Wet Tropics of Queensland’ is the essential guide for those visiting Far North Queensland. The Back Page includes the Notice of the BSQ 2016 AGM and further details on the 2016 Queensland Ornithological Conference and Campout. I hope to see you there. I hope that you enjoy reading the various articles as much as I have. Until next quarter best wishes with your birding activities and please consider submitting a Warbler article. Peter Crane INDEX

Editor’s Note and Index ------------------------------------------------------ 1

From the Convenor ----------------------------------------------------------- 2

Oddments --------------------------------------------------------------------- 4

On Tour

A Stroll along the Cairns Foreshore – Lionel Hartley --------------------- 7

Birding at Julatten – Lionel Hartley --------------------------------------- 7

Birding and Surfing in Taiwan – Bill Moorhead ------------------------- 10

The Green Corner

Conservation Calendar – Rochelle Steven ------------------------------- 11

Managing for Chaos – Tracy Finnegan ----------------------------------- 11

Eastern Bristlebird Survey – Liz Gould ---------------------------------- 13

BirdLife Australia Distinguished Service Award Citation ---------------- 14

Glossy Black-Cockatoo Conservancy – Eric Anderson ------------------ 15

Building a Community Partnership – Sue Sargent ---------------------- 16

Decline of Australian Bush Birds – Tim Thornton ----------------------- 17

BSQ & BQ Combined Easter Camp 2016 – Sheena Gillman -------------- 20

Birds in Backyards – Holly Parsons ---------------------------------------- 21

The Places That Matter The Most – IBAs ----------------------------------- 22

Traprock IBA – Rochelle Steven -------------------------------------------- 23

Over the Border

From the Nation’s Capital – Shorty -------------------------------------- 24

From the Driest State – Rick Nash --------------------------------------- 25

Over the Water

A Thai Dish – Barry Heinrich --------------------------------------------- 26

The Book Corner

Birds of Australia’s Top End – Nick Leseberg & Iain Campbell --------- 27

Birdscaping Australian Gardens – George Adams ----------------------- 28

Birds of Australia – Iain Campbell, Sam Woods, Nick Leseberg -------- 29

Finding Australian Birds – Tim Dolby & Rohan Clarke ------------------ 30

Birds of the Wet Tropics of Queensland – Lloyd Nielsen ---------------- 32

The Back Page -------------------------------------------------------------- 33

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FROM THE CONVENOR – 2016

Many of you would have seen the ABC News shorebird story aired in April. The story provided a balanced view of the dire situation facing our shorebirds. On 5 May updates to the threatened species list of the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act

saw addition of six more of Australia's migratory shorebird species to that list. The Great Knot and Bar-tailed Godwit (Ssp. Limosa lapponica mensbieri) are now listed as critically endangered. The Red Knot and Lesser Sand Plover are listed as endangered. The Bar-tailed Godwit (Ssp. L. l. bauera), and Greater Sand Plover have been listed as Vulnerable.

Great Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit (Peter Crane)

This is sobering, to say the least! We remain committed to actively campaigning to save shorebird habitat in Queensland. Look out for an update on our campaigns for Yandina Creek Wetlands, Broadwater and Toondah in the next edition of Warbler.

By the time you read this, it will be less than one month prior to the Queensland Ornithological Conference and the National Campout at Murphy’s Creek Escape. We are in the final stages of finalising the conference program for 9 July. We have attracted speakers of the highest standing and look forward to a great event. Our AGM will follow on immediately after the conference closes. One of our next tasks is to put together a bumper birdwatching program for the campout. Given that we are camping in a birding hot spot, that should not be too difficult. Look out for more information on this via our eNews.

BirdLife Australia relies heavily on volunteer support, especially at a regional level. The BirdLife Distinguished Service Award (BDSA) recognises those volunteers that make an outstanding contribution to BirdLife Australia. I am proud to announce that Sheena Gillman was awarded a BDSA at

BirdLife Australia’s AGM in May in front of an appreciative audience which included several members of BSQ’s committee. You will see the citation for the award in this edition of Warbler. However, I hope you will bear with me as I wax a bit more enthusiastically about Sheena’s contribution to BirdLife Southern Queensland: Sheena is the driving force behind the Eastern Bristlebird (EBB) Project, BSQ’s flagship conservation program to secure the future of this critically endangered northern subspecies.

For the last 17 years Sheena has provided leadership across all aspects of this project, coordinating and conducting surveys in difficult and dangerous terrain throughout the duration of this vital conservation initiative. She is adept at fostering community partnerships, and has been instrumental in securing funding contributions from many organisations. As a direct result of her drive and vision, Eastern Bristlebird populations have been found in areas where the species was thought to be extinct. Her ability to move organisations from talking about doing

something to actively engaging in activities that make a fundamental difference to conservation outcomes is outstanding. She achieves this by writing authoritative submission; active lobbying and just never giving up! She is BSQ’s representative at the quarterly Queensland Conservation Council’s Ministerial Round Table meetings. This gives her direct access to the Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection, and his senior staffers. This relationship has forged a functional and progressive relationship between BSQ and DEHP.

Her capacity to liaise with farmers and private land holders, BirdLife Australia volunteers, and local communities is recognised by all who know her as truly exceptional. Sheena participates in every survey for our Land for Wild Life Brisbane City Council surveys. More importantly she undertakes quarterly surveys on farming properties. And, as BSQs Protect the Bush Alliance Project Coordinator, Sheena coordinates and participates in multidisciplinary biodiversity surveys on key properties across Queensland that live in the shadows of coal seam gas and open cut mining. All this is done at her own expense.

Recognition of Sheena’s contribution to BirdLife Australia, birds and habitat conservation is well deserved. BirdLife Southern Queensland is in her debt!

Judith Hoyle, 9 May 2016 0437549301 Convenor BirdLife Southern Queensland

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BIRDLIFE SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND Convenor & Acting Treasurer – Judith Hoyle Deputy Convenor – Angelina Rowell Secretary, Warbler Editor – Peter Crane Co-chair of Conservation – Rochelle Steven Co-chair of Conservation & PTBA Co-ordinator

Sheena Gillman Chair Education - Neil Humphris Membership Officer, Co-chair Research & Conference – Robert Clemens Co-chair Research & Conference David Exton MailChimp/eNews Editor - Monica Awasthy Social Media Advisor - Jessie Cappadonna Research Sub-Committee - Gary Fitt Education Sub-Committee - Val Catchpoole Committee members may sit on several sub-committees and/or hold special roles managing important BSQ activities.

LOCAL BRANCH CONVENORS – Brisbane North – Nick Leseberg Brisbane South – Sandra Gallienne Gold Coast – Beth Hall South Burnett – Julian Bielewicz Sunshine Coast – Ken Cross BSQ Photography (interim) – Di Oliver Postal Address - PO Box 375 Annerley QLD 4103

WARBLER DISTRIBUTION POLICY

Warbler is a quarterly e-newsletter available on the BirdLife Southern Queensland website. A four-page monochrome print copy is distributed with Australian Birdlife magazine. This copy covers brief news items, announcements and short summaries of the articles in the full issue. Please send articles for Warbler to Peter Crane, editor.

Photographs that include people require the subject’s consent before the photograph can be published. Opinions expressed by authors are not necessarily those of BirdLife Australia or BirdLife Southern Queensland. No part of Warbler may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the prior written consent of BirdLife Southern Queensland. COPYRIGHT © 2016.

Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Peter Crane)

ODDMENTS A new section of Warbler for those interesting bird or other animal behaviours that you observe whilst participating in our primary pursuit of bird-watching. Your contributions are welcome, please email Peter Crane.

SPANGLED DRONGO NESTS This past breeding season I had the privilege of watching a pair of Spangled Drongos rear their brood of three chicks in a nest in the same fork on the same branch of the same tree as they had used successfully the year before.

However this year they first built a nest on the opposite side of the tree which received close attention from Magpies, Butcherbirds and ‘Mickies’. They then constructed the second nest which was strenuously defended until the nestlings were flying. Some days later the parent came back and over a couple of days demolished both nests.

I have not seen the use of a ‘dummy’ nest and have only seen destruction of deserted nests by other birds. Have you seen this? Lionel Hartley

A MESSAGE FROM MACKAY I was introduced to birding as recently as 2008 when experienced birder, Tess Brickhill, took me and sat me in a hide on private property at Kungurri 50 kms west of Mackay. The bird I was keen to see for the first time, the Buff-breasted Paradise-Kingfisher, and its story, got me hooked on birds. Now I am promoting birds in local schools by conducting a 45

minute power point presentation, writing poetry about birds and publishing children’s picture books (second book under way), preparing the newsletter for the local Birdlife Mackay club, collecting data through official survey work on the ‘vulnerable’ Eungella Honeyeater and co-producing a calendar with photographer Steve Dew featuring birds of the Mackay district. My latest venture into promoting birds is using postcards to feature five local bird species. All of the above I have taken on since being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2010.

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Birdlife Mackay is probably fairly typical of many small voluntary clubs in that it consists of a small core-group of people that run and organize everything with others participating in activities and events when they are available. Photography is a major introduction into birding these days for many, but it is one field that I have not become involved in, I prefer to paint a picture with my words.

To purchase $15.00 copies of my book, Crazy Bird Stories, email Daryl Barnes or call 07 4959 3382.

I am in the process of making my stories in rhyme available to the public via a website that is a work in progress.

I have also set up a Facebook page called ‘Crazy Birds’ and am involved with the Birdlife Mackay Facebook Group page.

If you are coming to Mackay to see the endemic Eungella Honeyeater or for any reason at all, feel free to make contact with me before you come and I/we will endeavour to make your stay a good birding one. Daryl Barnes

OBSERVATIONS OF A SQUARE-TAILED KITE While recently visiting a property south of Gympie with Mike West I was wandering around outside (while he was inside with the house owner) when a largish bird of prey flew out of a tree and glided away giving a nice rear profile. At this point I had no idea what the bird was. About five minutes later the same bird reappeared this time coming towards me and giving a nice underside view as it banked and settled in the top of a tallish young Eucalyptus tree.

From this view I determined it was most likely a Square-tailed Kite - a new tick for me. Through the binoculars I could see that it was happily pulling apart and eating something firmly attached to its claws. I then grabbed my camera and tried to obtain some photos to assist with identifying what it was eating as I could tell it was definitely not a bird or a reptile. Of course where the bird was sitting any photo was going to be partially obscured by small branches and leaves blowing in the breeze or I had to shoot into the sun, which is what I did, hence the washed out photos attached.

Square-tailed Kite (Greg Neill)

Mike reappeared and confirmed that it was Square-tailed Kite and when asked for his thoughts on what the bird might be eating he suggested that the species liked to remove a whole bird nest and eat the nestlings. That was certainly a possibility.

At home once I downloaded the photos to the computer and zoomed in I determined it was not a bird's nest but a wasp nest. I then consulted my old copy of "Birds of Prey of Australia: A Field Guide" by Stephen Debus (second edition reviewed in the previous Warbler) and under the description in the Food and Hunting section of the Square-tailed Kite, Stephen writes "It also reaches into, tears apart or removes birds' nests from trees or shrubs, and removes nests of paper-wasps in order to extract the larvae". Stephen's description supported Mike's hypothesis of what the bird was consuming and that’s what my photo revealed,

while very interesting, was already known. Greg Neill

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GLOSSY BLACK-COCKATOOS You may remember that in my article about these birds (Warbler September 2015) I described a no holds barred fight between two males with a female watching in what I thought was a contest for her favours. Last Saturday evening I witnessed another episode which I had never seen before.

After drinking at our waterhole ten Glossies came to perch in a dead leafless Ironbark beside the house where we were entertaining some guests who had come to see the Glossies. Three birds [male, female and juvenile] sat quietly at the top of the tree. Two groups of apparently bonded pairs ‘socialised’ with the others by flying from branch to branch, landing alongside other birds, calling all the time. I have seen this on a number of occasions and reported it. The oddity was the behaviour of the other three birds — a mature female and two mature males. Without landing in the tree the males pursued the female around and around the tree

occasionally moving a little along the ridge but rarely out of our sight. This went on for 15 minutes with the two males, while in flight, jostling and bumping each other like two opposing soccer players. When the perched birds flew away they all disappeared together down the valley. The performance was not repeated by any of the birds we saw over the next 36 hours. Sadly I could not get a picture in the fading light and could not see enough of the female’s yellow colouring to be able to identify her in future.

Lionel Hartley

A SUPERB RED This young fella looks like he can't handle the alcohol too well. The photo was taken at Milla Milla, Atherton Tablelands.

Immature Superb Fruit-Dove (reproduced with approval)

Ross Smith

BOGEY BIRD In birding circles a "bogey bird" is a bird that has given you a lot of trouble finding it, with many failed attempts. It often leads to the belief that the bird doesn't actually exist, and is part of an elaborate practical joke or conspiracy.

I found one of my bogey birds last week up at the Watagans - the Australian Owlet-Nightjar (AON). This is a small nocturnal bird. They roost in small tree hollows by day, and if you come across a hollow in the bush you can scratch or knock on it to see if an AON is home. Fearing a Goanna attack he might poke his head out and have a look. If you have ever been camping in the aussie bush or been to an aussie Zoo's nocturnal house you probably have heard one. Along with the Boobook, they are common across the country (and in stock recordings of the night-time outback!) and vocal at night.

I first came across AONs in the Royal NP. Two led us on a merry dance through the canopy, always evading the torch and the camera. I was not-so-calmly urging Sarah to get them into the spotlight, while I fired shot after shot to only get bare branches and leaves. I was camping along Cooper Creek near Innamincka and the Burke and Wills Dig Tree. During the night several AONs were calling above me, seemingly within arms reach. However I had seen a Dingo while setting up camp and so had secured

my camera in the vehicle to protect it's leather parts. As soon as I shifted in the sleeping bag the birds scattered. AONs sometimes call during the day from their hollow. This is especially frustrating in large stands of trees where the bird could be potentially anywhere. This has caused me bouts of fruitless searching through bush in the Barossa Valley, and mangoves around the Gold Coast. I've lost count of the many other fruitless spotlighting trips at night. Nothing exaggerates Sarah's fear of zombie attacks like me getting miffed when we can't find any animals.

Australian Owlet-Nightjar (Jon Spicer-Bell)

However along one of the trails in the Watagans last Thursday night, I came across one sitting still on a branch high up in the gums. He even turned his head to face me for a (ID only) photo. I may have even lost my voice shouting in excitement and sweet success. Perhaps I should wait until we travel to Darwin and Kakadu

later in the year. Apparently it's tricky to drive at night around Kakadu as so many AONs just sit along the road. We'll see. Jon Spicer-Bell Bird #592

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CAPE YORK TOUR NOTICE

Cape York, including Iron Range, is one of the most famous birding sites in Australia.

It’s also one of Australia's last great wildernesses, extending 1,000 kilometres north of Cairns. Illawarra Birders invite you to join them on their tailor-made 12-day birding tour, led by one of Cape York's best bird guides and photographer, Jun Matsui.

In the company of fellow enthusiasts, you’ll meet the endemic birds and animals around crystal clear spring-fed creeks and waterfalls and huge termite mounds ... you’ll see ancient rock art, visit the more secluded parts of the Cape and get to stand at the very Top of Australia! This trip will target the seasonal Cape York specials including the rare Golden-shouldered Parrot and the stately Palm Cockatoo.

Palm Cockatoo, Cuscus (Jun Matsui)

Find out more by searching online for “illawarra cape york birding tour” or visit http://bit.do/illawarra

BIRD FEEDING AND WATERING STUDY The Australian Bird Feeding and Watering Study is a citizen science initiative being conducted by researchers at Deakin and Griffith Universities. Our interests are the interactions people have with birds in their own backyards, as this can have a huge impact on bird diversity and abundance. One of

the most common ways people interact with birds is through providing food and water.

White-throated Hoeyeater (Peter Crane)

Why do we find this interesting? For the simple reason that we do not know how providing food and water impacts on bird ecology and diversity in Australia. While providing food and water to birds is a popular activity, little is known about what species are attracted to these resources and why people

like to provide them. Most importantly we need to understand the ecological and behavioural effects of bird feeding as almost all information from other countries regarding bird feeding simply does not apply here. We acknowledge that feeding of wild birds is an important activity for large numbers of people and that the practice may be a significant way for many to connect with nature.

Helmeted Friarbird (Peter Crane)

The Australian Bird Feeding and Watering Study aims to gather quantitative data on the effects of supplementary feeding and providing water for birds and the reasons why people provided food and/or water. In doing so we aim to develop purpose guidelines for people who feed birds to do so with minimum risk to birds. If you provide food or water for birds and would like to take part in this exciting study, Register your interest today! We would love to have you involved

June 2016 7

A STROLL ALONG THE CAIRNS FORESHORE In Cairns en-route to Julatten for some birding I stayed overnight in a hotel on the foreshore. Having noticed numerous Pied Imperial Pigeons (PIP) carrying nesting material to nearby trees, the next morning I went for a walk.

The PIPs were still very active and posed nicely as did a Peaceful Dove. The doves are very common in town and at open air eateries may be under your table chasing crumbs. On the mudflats exposed by the falling tide were several Black-fronted Dotterel and a Welcome Swallow suspicious of my activities. We are all familiar with the swallow in flight but, when they settle close by, you can appreciate just what an attractive little fellow he is. Recently in Tasmania I looked down at two of them from a bridge and their backs were not blue-black but, by some trick of the light, were sky blue. The Striated Heron was in a typical hunting pose which they will sometimes hold for minutes at a time while on a jetty or a

mudbank. A colleague has seen one holding the pose while riding a log down the Brisbane River on an out-going tide.

Striated Heron, Grey-tailed Tattler (Lionel Hartley)

Other birds on the mud flats included Marsh Sandpiper, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, a White-faced Heron and a Grey-tailed Tattler. There were also Pied Oystercatchers and a small group of Pelicans posing attractively. North Queensland has so much to offer but I was pleasantly surprised at the riches so easily available in this busy area of the city. Lionel Hartley

BIRDING AT JULATTEN Julatten is a birding hotspot on the Atherton Tablelands with a wide variety of ecological niches in a small area. My trip was based at Kingfisher Park where we were able to join a night walk and a guided morning walk as well as wander alone through the extensive grounds.

The spilled seed near a feeder provided a view of a flock of Red-browed Finches, a Macleay's Honeyeater and an Emerald Dove. On a stroll through the orchard on the way to the creek a Spotted Catbird was interrupted in demolishing his fruit lunch. Nearby a male Pied Monarch interrupted his spirited pursuit of a female to investigate humans instead, his neck ruff and blue eye-ring very obvious.

Macleay's Honeyeater, Spotted Catbird, Pied Monarch (Lionel Hartley)

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Further into the orchard a Brown Fruit-dove was perched, a bird often seen in flocks in south-east Queensland when the weed, Wild Tobacco, is in fruit. Foraging near some bushes was a Grey-headed Robin with a Bar-shouldered Dove nearby. My experience with this dove is that it is timorous and will fly to safety on my approach. However, on one occasion, while carefully hidden, I watched one feeding on the opposite edge of a feeding tray to a Magpie. Without warning the dove launched itself across the tray and butted the Magpie in the chest sending it backwards off the edge. So much for the soft and gentle dove!

Approaching the creek I saw a Spectacled Monarch attempting to swallow a very large grub. It took several minutes to complete the task and he sat very still for a while before flying off. The debris on the side of the creek provided a perch for two Black-faced Monarch. The night walk was less fruitful as various birds could be heard but disappeared on our approach. However the Papuan Frogmouth, caught in the spotlight, was unfazed and glared at us with those red eyes.

Papuan Frogmouth (Lionel Hartley)

The next day Andrew Isles took us walkabout and a short distance down a side road near the park brought us to a fruiting fig tree and a Double-eyed Fig-Parrot. When head down, feeding, this bird was difficult to spot but with his head up there was no problem. Later we walked along a road and checked a heavily treed creek hearing more birds than we saw. We then took a mountain road and followed a track into the rainforest. What looked from a distance like a resting Willie Wagtail proved to be a Northern Fantail. Further up the track we heard the call of a Toothed Bowerbird and soon found its bower of large leaves, some upturned, on the ground. The bird returned to the horizontal branch above the

leaves and, as it sang, revealed the tooth edged beak used to sever the stalks of the leaves. Further up the track the sounds of scratching among the litter led us to a family of Chowchilla searching for food and sweeping the ground with powerful sidekicks. The male was indifferent to our presence but the female, with her beautiful orange upper breast plumage, kept her distance. We went some distance further up the track to where a Golden Bowerbird had been seen. Exploring off the track in an area of relatively open rainforest revealed the bower, an

extraordinary pile of vines and debris collected against trunks of two adjacent trees with a horizontal display branch between. I had seen such a bower before on Mt. Bartle Frere and then the male had flown in to look at the intruders. Sure

enough, on this occasion, the male did the same after we had waited a few minutes during which we noted several females flitting about. Both he and his bower reflected the great beauty of this fully mature bird and I took a ridiculous number of pictures.

Toothed Bowerbird, Chowchilla, Golden Bowerbird (Lionel Hartley)

In the afternoon we came down the mountain to a group of houses in more open country. In one houseyard, protected by the owner's dogs, were some Squatter Pigeons with the periorbital bare red skin of the northern group. There had been more birds around until new neighbours with cats arrived. On the return trip to Julatten we checked out a large

grass filled paddock and found a number of female Australian Bustards. When they spotted us they simply lowered their bodies into the long grass and vanished. Shortly after we saw a male in display - not to impress a female but to drive off

June 2016 9

another male who subsequently flew off in a hurry. The display is extraordinary as the male retracts his tail feathers over his back, inflates a breast sac with air to the point where it hangs on the ground while the feathers of the upper breast are spread in a fan shape. The release of air makes a sound between a belch and a hoarse roar. As we could not top this experience we retired for the day.

Australian Bustard (Lionel Hartley)

As my pictures were taken from a distance beyond the capabilities of my zoom lens I have substituted a picture of a male near Alice Springs. On the final morning we saw both the Yellow-spotted and the Graceful Honeyeaters and then a noisy, active group of Metallic Starlings in their community nest. The flowering shrubs revealed Dusky and Brown Honeyeaters and under a hedge was the bower of the Great Bowerbird. The resident male had three others wandering through the bower at the time.

As I was returning to my parked car a Yellow-bellied Sunbird posed decorously for my final picture. We had seen or heard more than 130 species in the short stay but know that we had missed as many more. There is always a good reason to return. Lionel Hartley

Squatter Pigeon, Yellow-spotted Honeyeater, Yellow-bellied Sunbird (Lionel

Hartley)

HAVE YOU BEEN ON A BIRDING TOUR? Share your bird tour story and photos in Warbler. Articles to Peter Crane, editor

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BIRDING AND SURFING IN TAIWAN In March 2016 I joined a group of five wave-deprived Bargara surfers on an 11 day trip chasing those elusive breaks in southern and eastern Taiwan. Although the other four in our group were not keen birders, they happily joined me on the birding side of our trip. Unfortunately time and logistics meant that visiting the extraordinary highlands above 3000m in the north was not possible therefore meaning that the star attraction birds including Swinhoe’s and Mikado Pheasants as well as the Chinese Bamboo Partridges etc. could not be seen or even looked for.

Bill surfing in Kenting on SUP

After flying in from Hong Kong to Kaohsiung we based our

trip around Taitung and Kenting, all in the south of Taiwan avoiding the populous west and northern end of Taiwan including the sprawling city of Taipei. The south is fantastic. The people are friendly and the whole country is apparently rated the second safest country in the world. I would believe it. At no time did anyone try and sell us anything. You can’t even give tips. They see it as an insult. Service everywhere is excellent. And the food is splendid and cheap by Australian standards. Most accommodation and restaurant establishments have places to fill up fresh drinking water therefore providing the

opportunity to NOT buy those horrible bloody plastic water bottles that are making Coca-Cola and Pepsi rich! No-one in our group suffered any health issues eating and drinking local food and water. The local 7–11 stores happily open corked bottles of red wine for me! How good is that?

Taiwan Scimitar Babbler (Bill Moorhead)

In the town areas, the bush around the Taoist temples provides cultural experiences as well as opportunities to see

lots of birds and some native animals including Formosan Rock Monkeys and various squirrels. There are forest parks that are well sign-posted. Many people can speak a bit of English. As always, I like to know those dozen or so phrases everyone in the world says every day. It is worth writing them down and using them IMHO.

Grey-chinned Minivet (Bill Moorhead)

I saw about 50 new birds with the endemics being my main targets. These included Taiwan Barbet, Taiwan Blue Magpie, Taiwan Scimitar Babbler, Taiwan Green Pigeon, Taiwan Bulbul and the almost endemic, Grey-chinned Minivet. Other

terrific birds included Brown-eared Bulbul, Himalayan Black Bulbuls and Crested Goshawks and Crested Serpent Eagles were commonly seen.

Crested Goshawk (Bill Moorhead)

I strongly recommend anyone interested in a safe, small and comparatively easy place to bird and get around in to visit

Taiwan. I’ll finish with one experience that highlights the trip. At a small harbor, I was photographing a Black-tailed Gull and a fisherman asked me about it in broken English. I told him that we loved Taiwan and her people. Three hours later, and nine bottles of local Taiwan Classic beer shouted to us, we went to our afternoon surf! That wouldn’t happen in many places in the world.

Bill Moorhead

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THE GREEN CORNER

It can be very hard to select a topical conservation issue to write about for this newsletter, because quite frankly there are too many to choose which is most deserving of focus. Coal mining approvals, climate change associated reef bleaching, continued large-scale land clearing – the picture is

not a pretty one I am afraid. The reality is, many if not all of you reading this are well aware of these issues so I am hesitant to re-hash things in this instalment. What I think you do need to know, and may not be aware of, are the upcoming events and opportunities for you to get involved in learning more about possible ways you can help and advocate on behalf of the multitude of species needing our help. But before I get into that, I must draw your attention to the fabulous story that aired in ABC news last month about our treasured shorebirds in Moreton Bay. Judith Hoyle, Rob Clemens and Richard Fuller did a stellar job talking about the plight of these birds and raising awareness of the risks a

potential development in Redland Bay at Toondah Harbour represents to ‘our’ birds. Thanks and well done to all involved in the story. It was fantastic to see such an important issue getting some substantial media coverage for a change. So what is coming up on the conservation calendar? Read on for some fun events you might like to get involved in. As usual, our local bird walks and events are listed on our website so please check this out for some bird specific events. Listed below are some more general conservation based events you might like to diarise.

Gold Coast Green Week 28th May - 5th June 2016 Green week is a festival celebrating World Environment Day with nine days of amazing events and activities aimed at uniting like-minded organisations and raising community environmental awareness throughout the Gold Coast. Green Week is a joint venture between local organisations, community groups, schools and the Gold Coast City Council. Green Heart Fair Sunday 29 May 2016 9:00am – 2:00pm

7th Brigade Park, Murphy Road Chermside, Chermside, Brisbane Come and celebrate sustainable living and a free day out at Brisbane City Council’s Green Heart Fair. Hands on workshops, over 100 exhibitors, plant giveaways, celebrity chefs, cubbyhouse building, urban animals, all-day kids’ activities and more. The fair promotes innovative sustainable living in a free, fun, family-friendly environment with activities for home renovators, fashionistas, foodies, green thumbs and recyclers through to budding energy savers and young eco-warriors looking to make a difference.

World Environment Day 5th June 2016 Cotton Tree Park, Maroochydore This is a free not-for-profit family friendly event to inspire our community to become ecologically responsible and to actively care for our Earth. Great live acts, children's forest, speakers program, bush crafts, workshops, Tesla cars, Indigenous dance, raffle, organised bike ride and a Stone & Wood Brewing fundraiser jetty bar! And best of all - a chance to connect with the locals who have been working behind the scenes to keep your home the way you like it! We only have

one Earth - so come share stories and start a conversation on the things that matter!

Conservation Through Sustainable Use of Wildlife Conference 30 August - 1 September 2016 Pullman Brisbane King George Square, Brisbane, Queensland The original “Conservation through Sustainable Use of Wildlife” conference was held at The University of Queensland’s St Lucia in February 1994. This landmark event brought together landholders, scientists, industry and NGO representatives to discuss this important topic. More than two decades have passed since the original conference and the sustainable use of wildlife continues to be an important conservation tool throughout Australia and New

Zealand – and further afield. Now is a great time to review this important field of conservation and provide some input and guidance for the future. Rochelle Steven

MANAGING FOR CHAOS

I often contemplate what exactly is meant by ecologically sustainable development. It is a commonly and sometimes misused catch phrase that should describe human land use that not only protects ecological systems and processes, but also acts to promote them, both now and into the future. This management model is based on the premise that all we do (especially within the agricultural sector) is dependent on ecological processes – ecosystem services to be precise. At Jingeri this is something that we wholeheartedly believe, and

champion, through our ecologically sensitive production model.

Glossy Black-Cockatoo (Tracy Finnegan)

So exactly what do I mean by that? Well simply put if you are managing to promote ecosystem services, then you are managing for chaos! Managing for chaos is really just a way of saying we are always, in everything we do, managing to promote diversity. Our management model is one that is adaptive and in a constant state of flux, just as the ecosystems we depend on are. In reality this means that we recognise that weeds can be a short term friend, providing much needed soil protection, food sources for our birds and other biology and may even have a role in soil fertility and carbon cycling. It

means that in our vegetation management we avoid monocultures and promote multiple tree species regrowth in certain areas. It also means that within our pasture management we aim for a minimum of 15 species of

12 Warbler

perennial grasses and legumes that have varied growth cycles. We define high value native biodiversity areas of the farm and limit grazing in those areas through strategic use of fencing, we use cattle to crash graze areas prior to implementing fire regimes to reduce the wildfire risk, we carefully position fire trails to make mustering as well as fire control simpler, safer and more manageable. Most importantly we rotationally graze using holistic grazing principles to ensure that we are constantly promoting native grass and pasture growth.

Glossy Black-Cockatoo (Tracy Finnegan)

The benefits for us in all of this is that we win in production terms as our input costs are minimised. Lower costs are

achieved because in managing holistically we reduce parasite loads in our cattle, promote the nutrient, carbon and trace mineral levels in the soil (leads to healthier grasses and hence healthier cattle), have higher fertility rates in our cows, have higher carrying capacity so we can afford to maintain larger conservation focused areas on the farm and produce some very high quality animals. But whilst we win in production terms we also win significantly in biodiversity conservation terms as well. This for us is what makes our management system the gold standard of holistic grazing. The trick though is being able to demonstrate we are achieving, in a practical sense, what we

say we are.

Glossy Black-Cockatoo (Tracy Finnegan)

This is where our working partnerships with the Queensland Government DEHP and BSQ are paramount. BSQ have been monitoring bird diversity and abundance at the farm for the past three years and the latest count was around 94 species

of birds, including Black-breasted Button-quail and one of the largest recorded colonies of Glossy Black-Cockatoo in SEQ. Recently we believe we got positive call backs for the Eastern Bristlebird in a more remote section of the farm. Our partnership with DEHP has resulted in the creation of a 400 acre Nature Refuge (Jingeri A & B), gazetted in November 2014. This project is part of the State Govt Koala Offsetting program and we have contracts with the Dept to manage 15.5Ha of replanting and managed regrowth for the promotion of koala habitat and associated ecosystems. Specialist ecological surveys have revealed to date the

presence of multiple listed species of frog, butterfly and birds. Most recently we have ground-truthed our regional ecosystems and discovered several areas of critically endangered vegetation communities that were not mapped previously in the State-wide mapping system. So where to from here? Our team at Jingeri are working towards improving the carrying capacity of already cleared land so we do not need to resort to further clearing. We will apply more structured and appropriate vegetation management regimes to promote the existing reserves at the farm, this will include modified fire management. We will also

continue to seek partnerships with other organisations with a common philosophy, so that we may instigate research and data surveys more widely across the farm. Let Chaos reign as the saying goes! Tracy Finnegan Tracy Finnegan is the farm manager of ‘Jingeri’ located at 1214 Duck Creek Rd Kerry 4285 in the Scenic Rim. She holds a B.AppSci Integrated Resource Management (2013) UQ and

was Queensland runner up in the Australian Landcarer of the Year Awards 2015. She is on the Board of the SEQ Catchments Members Association and is an active member of the Vegetation Management Policy Advisory Committee for AgForce QLD and newly appointed AgForce Rep on the National Farmers Federation NRM Committee 2016-2018.

Koala (Tracy Finnegan)

June 2016 13

EASTERN BRISTLEBIRD SURVEY

Background: Eastern Bristlebird is an endangered bird species found in three disjunct areas of south-eastern Australia. The most northern of these areas is South East Queensland (SEQ) and north-eastern NSW and the birds in this area (the northern population) have undergone a

dramatic population decline and range contraction over the past 50 years. Over the past 20 years, surveys for Eastern Bristlebird in SEQ have been primarily undertaken by volunteers. Sheena Gillman (BirdLife Southern Queensland, BSQ, and Birds Queensland representative) has undertaken the majority of these surveys and also coordinates other volunteers to assist; an amazing personal endeavour. Eastern Bristlebird surveys involve extensive hours in arduous conditions, traversing the very steep mountain slopes that provide habitat for Eastern Bristlebird.

Penny, Eastern Bristlebird Detector Dog (Liz Gould)

In 2014, an English springer spaniel named Penny, owned by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH), was trained to detect Eastern Bristlebird; the Eastern Bristlebird Conservation Dog. Penny is thought to be able to detect the presence of Eastern Bristlebird up to three weeks after a bird

may have been in an area through scenting the presence of droppings, feathers or nest material. Numerous successful surveys have been undertaken in NSW with birds and nests found. In late 2014, SEQ Catchments was successful in gaining funding to support EBCD surveys in Queensland through two grants; an Environment Grant from Scenic Rim Regional Council and a Queensland Government Everyone’s Environment Grant (through the Border Ranges Alliance). Combined funding for EBCD surveys through these grants (each of which support numerous other activities) was

$11,000. Queensland members of the Eastern Bristlebird Recovery Team (Northern Working Group) – David Stewart (Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, EHP), Sheena Gillman (BSQ) and Liz Gould (SEQ Catchments, SEQC) – met in February 2015 to determine SEQ sites for the deployment of Penny and the number of survey days and funding required, then, in consultation with OEH, a survey plan was developed. The plan identified that the number of survey days required exceeded the grant funding available and BirdLife Southern Queensland and Birds Queensland were each approached with a request to

contribute funding to enable additional surveys. Each organisation contributed $2,000. This report presents a summary of the results the consequent EBCD surveys able to be undertaken in SEQ during 2015.

Survey Activities: Penny has four trained handlers for her work in Queensland and NSW; two of these, David Charley (Wildsearch Environmental Services and Eastern Bristlebird expert) and Shannon Maguire were involved in the SEQ surveys. All surveys were conducted under an approved animal ethics permit and authorisation was granted from Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) to use the EBCD in National Parks. On several occasions interested landholders, funding representatives (e.g. Sandra Dunglison, Birds Queensland) or members of the recovery team also attended the surveys. The combined funding enabled 12 days of surveys by the EBCD in seven sites in the eastern and

western Lamington and Main Range areas, on public and private land. Each survey comprised two days, usually at one site though occasionally non-adjacent or geographically distant sites were surveyed. Liz Gould negotiated the timing of surveys with David Charley and access to site with the relevant private property owners; David Stewart undertook negotiations with QPWS. David Charley prepared a detailed report following each survey, including mapping data, and provided this to the Recovery Team. Results: 110 hectares of potential Eastern Bristlebird habitat were surveyed by the EBCD through this project, most

deemed to be ‘high quality habitat’. The EBCD gave indication of the presence of Eastern Bristlebird at four sites; two of these were ‘strong’ indications and two were ‘weak’ indications. During follow-up survey work with the EBCD to one of the western Lamington sites on 16-17 November 2015, David Charley saw and heard four Eastern Bristlebirds, one pair and two single males. These were the only Eastern Bristlebird seen or heard by human observers during the 2015 EBCD surveys in Queensland. Conclusion and recommendations: Aggregated funding and a

coordinated effort in 2015 enabled the first surveys by the EBCD in Queensland, with fantastic results. Through twelve survey days across seven sites, over 100ha of potential Eastern Bristlebird habitat was able to be traversed. Significantly the EBCD detected the likely presence of Eastern Bristlebird at four sites where human observers did not and also found four birds at one site.

Shannon Maguire throws the ball for Penny as a reward for finding Eastern

Bristlebird scent

The extensive investigation of survey areas has provided up-to-date and consistent information on the condition of habitat areas. This will assist with the targeting of habitat management actions and also the identification of suitable future release sites for captive-bred birds.

14 Warbler

The positive indications by the EBCD at four sites, together with expert confirmation of extensive areas of suitable ‘high quality’ habitats, provide a strong case for follow-up survey work by the EBCD and human observers at these sites and others. Further study of the area where birds were seen and heard is required to determine the size of the local population, map territories and determine evidence of breeding activity. There are currently no Queensland birds in the recently re-established captive breeding program being managed by Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) and to be able to include Queensland stock into the program could significantly increase genetic diversity.

The 2015 survey results were also used by the Recovery Team to develop a new suite of priorities for the EBCD in Queensland. Funding sources to support this are currently being investigated, however, the generousity of immediate ongoing funding from BirdLife Southern Queensland ($11,400 for more intensive investigation of the area in western Lamington where four birds were sighted and follow-up surveys at the second ‘strong’ EBCD indication site) is a significant contribution. Supplementary to the EBCD surveys were sound recordings

at three potential Eastern Bristlebird sites. This was undertaken to assist Queensland University of Technology PhD student, Jessie Cappadonna, with her research. The results will be known later in 2016. Two of these sites were ones at which the EBCD indicated, the third was unable to be traversed by the EBCD due to the remote location, difficult terrain and vegetation structure. SEQ Catchments had a key role in coordinating the recent survey work and looks forward to further opportunities to partner with BirdLife Southern Queensland and Birds

Queensland in threatened species recovery and other conservation projects. Acknowledgements: The support provided by members of the Recovery Team, particularly Sheena Gillman, David Stewart and David Charley, was invaluable and critical to guiding survey efforts. NSW OEH representative Lynn Baker is to be congratulated for her initiative in obtaining and training a detector dog for Eastern Bristlebird, and for making Penny available for work in Queensland. CWS require recognition for their role in undertaking the captive breeding program and for freeing up Shannon Maguire to assist with EBCD surveys.

Thanks also to the funders of the 2015 surveys: Scenic Rim Regional Council, Queensland Government, BirdLife Southern Queensland and Birds Queensland. Liz Gould Science & Innovation Coordinator, SEQ Catchments

BirdLife Australia Distinguished Service Award 2016

Citation

Sheena Gillman

Sheena Gillman

BirdLife Southern Queensland

Sheena, in her roles as Conservation

Coordinator and Committee member for

BirdLife Southern Queensland, is an

outstanding organizer, leader and one-

person information hub for the

conservation community in the Brisbane

area.

She has since 1998 coordinated the effort

of volunteers for the Northern Recovery

Project of the Eastern Bristlebird in

Queensland, resulting in greater outreach

to bird watchers and land holders for this

species now recognised as a priority in the

Australian Government’s Threatened

Species Strategy.

Sheena established the "Protect the Bush

Alliance" to protect areas of high

conservation value and she coordinates the

"Birds on farms" surveys across South East

Queensland educating landholders to value

birds on their properties.

She is a regular contributor to public

hearings, stakeholder consultations and

Ministerial roundtables providing a voice

for birds as well as for people who care

about birds.

Sheena exemplifies how local people

working through local groups can help

drive conservation achievements by

building effective alliances and

partnerships which extend BirdLife's

influence in the wider community.

June 2016 15

GLOSSY BLACK-COCKATOO CONSERVANCY Fifteen Glossy Black Conservancy Partner organisations and nine Conservancy Friends worked with south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern NSW communities towards Glossy Black-Cockatoo conservation and management in 2015. On-ground Conservation Action Partner Redland City

Council supported residents on Macleay and Russell Islands in southern Moreton Bay to monitor nesting pairs and install nest boxes and predator protection. Their efforts were rewarded with the successful fledging of one chick in August.

Glossy Black-Cockatoo, pair (Eric Anderson)

Partners Griffith University and SEQ Catchments worked with Friends of Dwyers Scrub on their Upper Lockyer Connectivity project, helping design initial surveys to investigate use of that landscape by Glossy Black-Cockatoo and providing

strategic support. Feed tree planting and habitat restoration was carried out by Logan and Redland City Councils and Noosa and Tweed Shire Councils. Hundreds of feed trees were given to visitors to the Conservancy’s stall at the Logan Eco Action Festival in June. Community Education Partners and Friends took every opportunity to spread the Glossy Black-Cockatoo awareness and conservation message through displays, guided walks, talks, newsletter articles, social and conventional media. Partner Logan City Council had a particularly busy year, promoting Glossy Black-Cockatoo conservation during at least 13 local events.

Glossy Black-Cockatoo (Eric Anderson)

Biodiversity Assessment and Management Pty Ltd (BAAM), with input from other Partners, produced fact sheets on ageing and sexing of Glossy Black-Cockatoo. Partners Griffith University and SEQ Catchments developed a poster – Mapping essential habitat for the threatened Glossy Black-Cockatoo using citizen science data – for display at the inaugural Australian Citizen Science Association Conference in July 2015. This poster has also been accepted for presentation at the Society for Conservation Biology Oceania meeting in July 2016. Online Sightings Database Partners, Friends and community members submitted over 500 Glossy

Black-Cockatoo sighting and feed tree records to the online database during 2015, adding to an increasingly valuable data set.

Glossy Black-Cockatoo (Eric Anderson)

Glossy Black-Cockatoo Birding Day 2015 Conservancy Partners assisted 184 volunteer observers in carrying out the seventh annual Birding Day census on 5 May 2015. 60 birds were sighted during the survey and 81 feed trees were recorded. The Birding Day dataset is now large enough that the Conservancy is able to commence preliminary data analysis

on seasonal and regional trends. Research Preliminary results of stable isotope analysis in Glossy Black-Cockatoo feathers and their feed trees suggest that while some populations confine their feeding to restricted regions (e.g. coastal zone, inland) others move further afield in search of food. This work is being done by Partner Griffith University in conjunction with A.Prof. Craig Symes, an ornithologist from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.

Partner SEQ Catchments, working closely with the Conservancy’s Research Committee, completed Essential Habitat Mapping for Glossy Black-Cockatoo in the south-east Queensland bioregion. The mapping will be provided to the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection early in 2016 for consideration for inclusion in products such as Biodiversity Planning Assessments and Vegetation Management Act 1999 Essential Habitat. The mapping will also be made available to Conservancy Partners and other stakeholders, e.g. local governments, for use in planning and land-use decisions.

Eric Anderson

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BUILDING A COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP WITH PORT OF BUNDABERG

The Burnett River is a massive Queensland catchment flowing over 400Km and marked with over thirty impoundments (dams and weirs) between the headwaters and the coast. In 2007, the Burnett Mary Regional Group for Natural Resource Management (BMRG) was approached by bulk water supplier SunWater and the Australian Government to assist them with a shorebird offset project for the river estuary and adjacent areas. Looking at the area as a whole, there were a number of

issues facing shorebirds including threat abatement and education/awareness. Addressing these were the project team, led by BMRG staff, and comprising local stakeholders such as the Port of Bundaberg (managed and operated by Gladstone Ports Corporation), Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Bundaberg Regional Council and Birdlife Bundaberg members. The most significant site in the area was the Port of Bundaberg spoil pond, a modified wetland within strategic port land. The site was exposed to a number of issues with the most significant threats being ongoing dredge spoil infill,

recreational pressures including trail bikes and uncontrolled dogs, weeds causing habitat degradation, predators like foxes and a lack of community awareness. The site had already been identified as a high priority for management (in Shorebirds of the Burnett Coast: surveys of critical high tide roosts by David Milton and Sandra Harding, 2007) with counts of over 2500 shorebirds recorded. All activities on-site have been undertaken in partnership with the Port of Bundaberg, with the birdwatchers sponsored to conduct a monthly shorebird count since 2008. Several

rarities have been recorded since the program’s inception including the Buff-breasted Sandpiper (2009) – also Queensland’s first record, Lewin's Rail (2011) and Pectoral Sandpiper and Australian Painted Snipe (2013). The site’s regular species include: Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-winged Stilt, Curlew Sandpiper, Eastern Curlew, Greenshank, Marsh Sandpiper, Red-capped Plover, Red-necked Stint, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and Whimbrel. Other activities have included the erection of gates – to limit illegal traffic into the wetlands, ‘out-foxing Freddy’ – an

initiative to build capacity to identify dens and undertake red fox control, buffering of the adjacent tidal wetlands through revegetation and improved weed management, and the erection of a shorebird observation platform (named after local shorebird advocate Trevor Quested) with interpretative signage to mark the significance of the site for shorebirds and provide a long-term community resource. The platform has been a welcome addition to the Port’s infrastructure, providing an excellent viewing point for community shorebird identification events – such as the one held in February. The platform was also a landmark in the

relationship between the birders and the Port of Bundaberg, with the location carefully selected to benefit both stakeholder groups to secure future environmental and economic outcomes. After nine years, it’s been an amazing journey. If there was one lesson to pass on to others embarking on a similar challenge, it would be to dream big, identify your goals,

communicate frequently and take it slowly – a good relationship takes time to develop. Sue Sargent Conservation Partnerships Manager - Burnett Mary Regional Group for NRM

Port of Bundaberg Wetland (Sue Sargent), Trevor Quested Observation Platform

(John Gatley), Marsh Sandpiper (Peter Crane)

June 2016 17

DECLINE OF AUSTRALIAN BUSH BIRDS The report from BirdLife Australia titled ‘The State of Australian Birds 2015’ makes for very sad reading to anyone with a long history of interest in Australian Birds (70+ years in my case, I can’t remember when I was not interested in our birds). The report merely confirms what many of us have

witnessed over our lifetimes, the tragic decline in our bird populations, but at least it is ‘authoritarian’, as opposed to anecdotal. Anecdotal evidence counts for nought when it comes to action by Governments, and this report seems to have galvanised the Federal Government into a $2M program to ‘control’ feral cats. Similar BA reports about 10 years ago contained only scant reference to predation as a problem for our birds, so ‘good on ya BirdLife Australia’!! The real point is that we know what is causing this tragic decline in our bird (mammal, reptile…) populations, and more surveys / indices etc are not going to stop it, we know the

‘base lines’. The answer to ‘what is…’ is complex, there are lots of factors, and they all interact, but there are solutions… Habitat Destruction / Habitat Fragmentation / Land Clearing / Ecosystem Decimation / Development … Call it what you want; we all know that if you destroy the habitat of birds (or other native animals) they disappear; we are all familiar with the political rows over the 1999 Vegetation Management Act in Queensland … but what is not generally recognised is the extent of this land clearing.

Take a flight from Brisbane to Darwin; out the window you will see hundreds of miles of windrows of “pushed scrub” and tens of thousands of acres of cleared land in between the windrows. This is/was savannah and CSIRO studies indicate that clearing of such savannah does not increase livestock (cattle and sheep) production. Clearing Mulga, as opposed to lopping or pushing it, takes away the drought reserve, surely a stupidity in an arid land that is getting drier and hotter (see ‘Climate Change’ below). On the coast it is a different scenario to over the range; where I live is a good example. People buy Rural Residential

blocks at Pacific Haven to ‘live in the bush’ (most blocks are partially cleared and in a mess when they buy as the local real estate agents told the previous owner it is easier to sell a block if there is some of it cleared!). The first thing they do is ‘get rid of all the rubbish bush’; this means clearing all the understory of Wattles, Allocasuarinas (the main food source of the Glossy Black-Cockatoo), Hakeas etc and any dead or crooked trees. But the dozer operator knows how to get more money, so he ‘bumps’ a large bloodwood that he can see is full of hollows, and then says ‘all these bloodwoods are all hollow (that is true), and these Snappy Gums (Angophoras)

are widow makers, they will kill you one day’ (that is most unlikely). So all the 100 + year old hollow trees, which the birds, possums, gliders and bats use as ‘Homes’, are destroyed with the understory. A few ‘Nice Trees’ are left. As soon as the heaps of ‘rubbish’ are burnt they move into, with their two dogs and two cats, an old caravan on site (or build a shed); then they buy a ride on mower (‘got to keep the snakes away and protect the van from a fire’) and proceed to mow the whole block, in a cloud of dust, into submission. This is repeated, over and over, whenever it is dry enough, in order to obey the first commandment of living

in the bush ‘No native grass or herbaceous plant must flower or set seed’.

Next comes building a house, but to get planning approval there cannot be a tree within 30 metres of the proposed house; so in comes the tree lopper to remove the offending trees, but ‘It’s OK, as we are going to plant fruit trees and lots of bamboos’. This scenario has been repeated, to varying degrees, ~ 300 times in the 30+ years of settlement at Pacific Haven…. ”Why are there no birds?” the residents ask!!! The time scale is important; clearing of an area doesn’t happen overnight, it is a gradual process that largely goes unnoticed, leading to

fragmentation of the ecosystem, and finally death by a thousand cuts. Tree planting is a great PR exercise for conservation groups but is unrealistic when compared to the destruction by clearing. The poor wallum spew soils and low rainfall of Pacific Haven supports about 5000 trees and/or bushes per hectare in its natural state. Government sponsored tree planting is a smoke screen for the damage they do in allowing rampant clearing/development of bushland and native forest.

Solution: Sadly education, or the carrot and stick approach doesn’t work; it has to be more stick, in the form of firmer environmental/ecosystem protection laws, greater enforcement of laws and harsher penalties for transgressors, at the Federal, State and Local government levels. Laws and rules that force land owners to excessively clear native vegetation have to be withdrawn.

Common Bronzewing (Peter Crane)

Predation … Bird numbers in our National Parks, World Heritage Areas and Nature Refuges etc have declined, despite the fact that habitats/ecosystems appear relatively unchanged. But, these ‘protected areas’ have become food bowls/killing fields for introduced foxes and cats. Because

foxes and cats are cryptic night hunters they are not readily seen, but the truth is, most localities, even urban areas, are literally swarming with foxes and cats. Feral dogs are much easier to trap and/or poison than feral cats or foxes; that last cat or fox can be hard to get to in a predator-fenced area, and impossible in open areas. Sadly some people advocate that introduced cats and foxes have to be ‘accepted’ as part of the Australian environment/ecosystem, despite the fact that they kill tens of millions of our native birds, animals and other creatures each year!! Cat owners provide a never ending supply of feral cats.

18 Warbler

The mere presence of foxes and feral cats is enough to drive their prey out of the ecosystem, a fact not fully appreciated by dog and cat owners. Dogs on leashes don’t chase and kill, but they still disturb birds and other animals. Since the days of John Wamsley we have known that predator proof fencing is highly effective in preserving and increasing populations of native animals and birds. However, the cost of maintaining predator proof fences exceeds that of construction (in $s and/or man hours). Conservation groups eg AWC, can raise money for constructing some predator-proof fences, but maintenance is a harder sell.

There is no single/magic bullet for controlling/eradicating feral cats and foxes; all methods of destroying them have to be employed in combinations most suited to a particular locality, including reducing rabbit populations, poisoning, baiting, trapping, hunting, shooting, bounties, spreading dingos, introducing Tasmanian Devils and disease/parasite vectors/preventative reproduction techniques … Solution: If we can have “WARS on drugs and Terrorism”, surely the Federal Government can declare war on feral cats and foxes to conserve and preserve our native birds and

animals and fund it accordingly at the level of other wars. Numbers of licenced pets have to restricted and all pets should be de-sexed, with strict enforced controls on licenced breeders of cats and dogs by State and Local Governments

Brown Treecreeper (Peter Crane)

Climate Change … Observant people of my age and background have seen the sea level rise in our lifetimes, are aware that it is warmer now than when we were kids, have seen the disturbance to what were our ‘normal seasons’ of native plants flowering and winter migrations of birds. (The

last few years the Grey Fantails have left Pacific Haven in late August as opposed to mid-September 20 years ago; the River Mangroves don’t seem to know when to flower and so the numbers of White-cheeked Honeyeaters at my bird bath has dropped by 50%; Scrub Turkey chicks appear at any time except winter…) We also accept that atmospheric CO2 levels have risen from 300 to 400 ppm largely due to the activities of mankind. I can’t say that Climate Change has directly contributed to a decline in bush bird numbers but I do wonder if these subtle changes to our climate are contributing to alterations/reductions in the whole food chain,

on which our birds depend for survival. Naomi Klein says ‘Climate Change affects everything’ and I think she is right.

Solution: people are entitled to their opinions, but when their opinions are patently wrong they should not be entitled to make decisions/govern the wellbeing of us and our native birds and animals. Our democracy does have failings.

Restless Flycatcher (Peter Crane)

Pollution … is the elephant in the room. We know that since the time of the Industrial Revolution mankind has been pouring ‘chemicals’ into the environment (atmosphere, seas, waterways and soils) at an exponential rate, but since the

1950’s this rate has gone beyond exponential. Today millions of tons of fertilisers, herbicides and insecticides are applied to our food crops each year; plastics are produced in billions of tons; fossil fuels are burnt in trillions of tons releasing not only CO², but thousands of chemical compounds … all of which end up in our seas, water ways and soils. Bacterial and fungal degradation does its best to get rid of them but chemical residues in our seas, waterways and soils, from all of the above and more, are increasing. We know that Honey Bee numbers have been drastically

reduced on a global scale, and that herbicides and insecticides are largely to blame, but what about other insects, worms, grubs, larvae of all descriptions, minute creatures and plants, single celled organisms, etc on which our birds depend for food ?? I contend that these ‘chemicals’ are killing the food chain of our birds. In parallel with a decline in our birds I have seen a similar decline in large, what were common, insects. There are hardly any Christmas Beetles, Stink Bugs, Cicadas, Stick insects, Praying Mantis, Butterflies and Moths etc these days; the declines in these “indicator species” (birds and large

insects) is symptomatic of a collapse in the whole food chain/entire ecosystem; what we see is the tip of the iceberg. Solution: The excessive use of fertilisers, weedicides and insecticides in food production has to be reduced; this would mean going back to old farming practices, such as growing leguminous crops in rotation with grain and sugar cane, cultivating and fallowing to kill weeds. It would not surprise me if these old methods were not more profitable. For plastics it has to be, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle; it is not just plastic in the guts of sea birds, it is also the residues they

leave when they finally degrade. Mindset of Mankind Where have/are we gone/going, wrong?? ……Greater minds than mine have tried to untangle this, the most recent being Pope Francis in his encyclical “Laudato Si’ “ or “Care for our common home”. All of the above (ecosystem destruction,

June 2016 19

introduced predators, climate change and pollution) can be sheeted home to ‘us’, Homo sapiens; consider the following: 1 In my life time the human population of Australia has risen from seven million to almost 24 million…the opposite of what has happened to our birds and animals. Not only are there more of us, we consume more per capita, energy in particular, which means we pollute more per capita … compete and waste more. 2 A much greater proportion of our population now live in cities, which means that more people than ever are

separated/divorced from ‘nature’ … urban sprawl continues to destroy good farmland and native bush … where were/are the town planners?? 3 Being separated from nature means children grow up without ever having climbed a tree (they play in plastic McDonalds play areas, or the like), and only see our native birds and animals in ‘zoos’, while in the close care of their over-protective parents … they never see the natural world. Children see hours of animated nature and animals, as cartoon-like characters, on screens.

4 Our media ‘demonises’ our native animals, apart from Koalas and Bilbies, ensuring that people in general ‘fear’ our birds and animals … dangerous attacking magpies and kangaroos, poisonous spur on male platypus, poisonous snakes and spiders etc. 5 Homes and people must be clean to the point of sterile … insecticides, cleaning agents, air fresheners, plastics everywhere… 6 We ‘demonise’ trees and native bush … when Peter Brock

ran into a tree and died someone went out the day after and cut down the tree!! Road verges everywhere are cleared, properties are cleared bare, residual natural areas are described as ‘breeding grounds for vermin and bush fires’, old growth forests are logged…. 7 I know a corner property that has two name plates, one says KILLAROO, and the other says CHOPATREE…makes you wonder about the owner’s mindset??

Brown Falcon (Peter Crane)

How has our society been manipulated to this point where ‘Greed is good, and Green is bad’?? Where ‘the Natural is the Unnatural’? We blame the media and our politicians, but in truth they both reflect our society’s values; we elect our politicians, they are not imposed on us.

Solution: Michael Leunig said ‘I saw the enemy and it were us’ … most of us, but not all of us in this case. We, the few ‘true believers’, must continue to fight for our native birds and animals, our natural environment … they have no voice of their own, and individuals can make a difference, as Margaret Mead told us so long ago … ’Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have.’ Dr Tim Thornton Foundation Conservation Officer of the QOS, now BQ.

Brown Quail (Peter Crane)

Birds that have gone locally extinct (not seen or heard for five+ years) in Pacific Haven in the last ~20 years include: 1 Red-browed finch 2 Chestnut-breasted Mannikin 3 Common Bronzewing Pigeon

4 Painted Button-quail 5 Brown Quail 6 White-throated Treecreeper 7 Brown Treecreeper 8 Varied Sittella 9 Little Lorikeet 10 White-backed Swallow 11-15 Woodswallows … Little, Dusky, Black-faced, White-

browed and Masked 16 Australasian Pipit 17 Brown Falcon

18 Nankeen Kestrel 19 Restless Flycatcher 20 Barn Owl Birds on the way out….Brown Thornbill, White-throated Gerygone, Bush Stone-curlew, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Glossy Black-Cockatoo, Nightjars (Long-tailed and White-throated)…. Birds that have multiplied in Pacific Haven in the last ~20 years include: Noisy Miner, Crested Pigeon and Galah

(Animals that have gone extinct … Red-necked Wallabies, Greater Gliders and Frilled Lizards … Animals on the way out … Swamp Wallabies, Dragon Lizards, Insects, turtles and frogs of all descriptions … Animals that have multiplied in Pacific Haven in the last ~20 years include … Humans (us, Homo sapiens, by a factor of five), their dogs x 10, and cats X five….and their cars (which kill wallabies etc … Road kills) x five.)

20 Warbler

BSQ & BQ EASTER CAMP AT CHELMER Third time lucky was indeed the case for our third attempt to convene a camp at Chelmer, a large sheep grazing property owned by Jeff and Wendy Betts near Thallon south of St George. Initially a small camp for a dozen or more BSQ members, the camp evolved to a joint event for BQ & BSQ

and the attendance by 46 people was a wonderful turn out. Last time a huge dust storm wreaked havoc so we were fortunate to have no significant weather event this time. The days were hot to start with but after a rain squall on Saturday mid-day, the temperature dropped significantly, people donned jackets and jumpers and felt relieved from the heat.

Campsite (Sheena

The local regional Shire of Balonne, prides itself on its liveability built on a commitment to progress and innovation. It is certainly in this environment that farming practices at ‘Chelmer’ have shaped the management of the Goondoola Flood Plain. It was a delight for all of us to have Jeff Betts speak in detail about the issue of rising salt followed by the work and changes in agricultural practices that brought a problem witnessed in many areas to a halt in this region. Dorper sheep, bred for the table, are fattened in an on-farm feed lot prior to market. Jeff explained the dietary

improvements when, during drought and times of poor grass conditions, cotton seed is fed to the sheep. The delivery system for the cotton seed was designed on-farm, by Jeff himself. Campers were taken on a tour of the feed lot where we were able to see how the sheep are handled and their weight gains monitored. In all, immensely interesting for everyone and we feel fortunate to have enjoyed the sharing of this knowledge by Jeff and Wendy.

Chelmer Feed Lot (Sheena Gillman)

There is a house list comprising 156 species counted on Chelmer. Obviously summer migrants had moved on apart from one Dollarbird. Drought conditions will have affected many species – despite this 117 species were confirmed. A Banded Lapwing was heard over the river bank by Paul Grimshaw. The presence of a Horsefield’s Bronze Cuckoo was discussed but not confirmed as was Square-tailed Kite. With the arrival of nightfall, Barn Owl and Australian Owlet-nightjar were camp companions. Many people saw the Barn Owls bringing mice to the entrance of a hollow in a huge River Red Gum Eucalyptus camaldulensis. A koala found resting in a Casuarina tree generated considerable interest.

On Sunday afternoon a walk around the Bingle Reserve at Nindigully, raised a count of 56 species with most enjoyment focused on the behaviour of White-bellied Cuckoo-Shrikes. At a nearby road junction, a very grey raptor was observed perched on a dead limb. Carping of young was heard and led to the identification of a single young and confirmation of a Black Kite, photographed in flight by Leanne Grimshaw. The group enjoyed a convivial end to the day with a smorgasbord dinner provided in the barn at Nindigully Pub.

Black Kite, Budgerigar (Sheena Gillman)

A great time was had by a lovely group of campers, all hoping we can visit Chelmer again in the future. We thank Jeff and Wendy for their generous hospitality - especially grading a track in to habitat which provided shaded areas for us all to camp between the farm lagoon and the Moonee River.

Travelling home through Pittsworth, Viola Temple-Watts and I were invited to have tea with John and Ruth Walter who will be well known to many of our original members of BQ. A delightful historian – this time with John, may be for a future article. In the meantime, he and Ruth were pleased to be brought up to date with the health and well-being of many old friends. Sheena Gillman

June 2016 21

BIRDS IN BACKYARDS Bird watching is an activity that brings nature to life! It can be as relaxing as a sitting in your yard or as vigorous as a hike in the bush. Even better, it is something you can do as a family - it gets you outdoors and connecting with each other as well as the environment.

More and more children today have less and less contact with the natural world. And this is having a huge impact on their health and development. Research shows that it isn’t so much about what children know about nature, but what happens to them when they are in nature. Obesity is perhaps the most visible symptom of the lack of outdoor play, but many studies from around the world show regular time outdoors produces significant improvements in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, learning ability, creativity and mental, psychological and emotional wellbeing. Of course if you develop a love of nature you are more likely to take

action to protect it – and that is certainly a good thing. Children are naturally curious and love to learn new things - take advantage of that and get them outdoors with you. Start in your own backyard, learning what birds are visiting and what they are doing. The Birds in Backyards program has a range of A4 ‘Backyard Birds of…’ posters and BirdLife Southern Queensland also has a Junior Birdwatchers booklet to help them discover their local bird life. You can also get them to help you planting in the garden. What child doesn’t love getting their hands dirty – and they get a great sense of

pride that with watching something grow that they have planted themselves.

Nest building (Holly Parsons)

On days when the weather might not be conducive to playing outdoors, there are still many activities that they can do indoors. The Birds in Backyards website has a range of colouring sheets and other activities that they can take part in. A favourite of mine is nest building. This is actually something I adapted from a first year biology nest predation experiment. Halved tennis balls make a great base but you can also use food containers (like a cream cheese container). The aim is to glue materials around the base to mould a nest.

Children can forage in the garden for leaves, twigs and grasses or you can use things like coconut fibre, wool and bright feathers from a craft shop.

Plasticine eggs can also be shaped and placed in the nest. The great thing about plasticine is that if you put the nest out in the garden you can look for signs of nest predation by the marks left in the eggs. So involve the kids in your bird-watching adventures. Not only is it enjoyable, but getting them out and in nature is good for them as well. Holly Parsons Birds in Backyards Program Manager

HAVE YOU BEEN IN YOUR GARDEN? Share your bird garden stories in Warbler.

Articles to Peter Crane, editor

Scarlet Myzomela, White-cheeked Honeyeater (Peter Crane)

22 Warbler

THE PLACES THAT MATTER THE MOST

Important Bird Areas (IBAs) are sites of global bird conservation importance. Each IBA meets one of four global criteria used by BirdLife International. IBAs are priority areas for bird conservation - we aim to

monitor birds at our IBAs, advocate their importance to government, and work with land-holders and other local people to conserve them. Background to the IBA program

The IBA program is an international non-governmental conservation scheme lead by BirdLife International Partners such as BirdLife Australia. IBAs are sites of international importance for bird conservation. IBAs are small enough to be practical targets for conservation management but large enough to meet the global IBA criteria.

The Australian IBA program will help protect a network of sites critical for the conservation of Australia's birds by: promoting IBAs as a tool for biodiversity conservation

planning encouraging government to prioritise conservation at IBAs

(e.g. in grant-giving schemes) encouraging and facilitating local community-based

groups and land-owners to manage land sustainably and conserve key bird species

The IBA process

Identification - any site which meets the global IBA criteria

will be identified as an IBA. Published data will be analysed and local experts, land-owners and other local stakeholders will be consulted. Monitoring - basic data on the key birds and habitats will be collected annually where practicable. Conservation - the project will help any local group or land-owner with advice, contacts and possibly fund-raising and lobbying, to conserve their IBA. The IBA process has proved very successful across the world

with 7,678 global IBAs identified in 198 countries and territories by mid-2008. For more background on the use of IBAs in assessing conservation status, threats and actions, see BirdLife International's State of the World's Birds. Identifying IBAs To ensure accurate and up to date information, IBAs have been nominated by local experts working alongside the program manager.

The project has used the published literature, Atlas data, expert knowledge and volunteers to identify IBAs. The project has worked with BirdLife Australia regional groups, other bird groups, government departments and other interested parties to identify and document IBAs. IBAs meet the criteria for bird conservation importance, as summarised below.

To qualify as an Important Bird Area, the site must meet one of the following criteria: A1. Globally threatened species The site must regularly support threshold numbers of a Critical, Endangered or Vulnerable species, as categorised by the IUCN Red List. A2. Restricted-range species The site forms one of a set protecting 'restricted-range species' (birds with a global range of <50,000 km2).

A3. Biome-restricted species Species restricted to a single biome have been used to identify IBAs in some countries but not Australia. Biome-restricted species are however documented for IBAs identified by the other criteria. A4. Congregations The site supports > 1% of the world population of a waterbird (similar to Ramsar Convention criteria) or seabird. For categories A1 and A4, IBA boundaries include all suitable habitat for the key species, regardless of land tenure. For

categories A2 and A3, enough IBAs are identified to 'adequately' conserve each target species; protected areas are preferentially taken as IBAs, as these are already allocated for conservation. IBA designation has no legal basis but a strong scientific basis to justify conservation action. Monitoring and practical conservation action will only be undertaken with the support of land-owners. Southern Queensland IBAs

1 Bunya Mountains & Yarraman 2 Conondale Range 3 Moreton Bay & Pumicestone Passage 4 Tamborine Mountain 5 Scenic Rim 6 Cooloola & Fraser Coast 7 Great Sandy Strait 8 Traprock 9 Palmgrove 10 Paroo Floodplain & Currawinya 11 Lake Bindegolly 12 Bulloo Floodplain

13 Lake Yamma Yamma 14 Cooper Floodplain below Windorah 15 Diamantina Floodplain 16 Lake Machattie Area 17 Lake Muncoonie, Mumbleberry & Torquinie 18 Simpson Desert

Edited Peter Crane

June 2016 23

TRAPROCK IBA This profile piece is about an IBA that could benefit from some additional survey effort as it is thought to support a small but regular breeding population of the Regent Honeyeater (A1 – Critically Endangered). As a Critically Endangered species, it provides a more than sufficient trigger

for this IBA, coupled with a resident population of Diamond Firetail (A1 – Near Threatened).

Regent Honeyeater (Peter Crane)

The Traprock IBA covers over 62,000 hectares, with 50,000 of that under private ownership. This makes surveying the trigger species for the IBA, and any others in the area, extremely challenging. I can only imagine the reception some binocular-wielding birders might receive should they trespass onto these private properties without permission from the land owners. Don’t laugh, this really does happen! Most of the time, trespassing happens accidentally. But I have heard

some stories from both here and overseas of how ‘keen’ some birders can be to see some species they know are lurking beyond public protected areas. I guess this nicely demonstrates how such protected areas are not sufficient to protect all biodiversity. Anyhow, the remaining 13,000 hectares of Traprock lie within state-owned forestry lands (Durikai State Forest). While not protected for conservation purposes, Durikai does provide good eucalypt forest habitat for species in the region and the ability to access the area and collect data on the species in that part of the IBA without the fear of trespass dramas. The Traprock IBA comprises

both eucalypt and grassy woodlands. Other (non-bird) threatened species in the IBA include: Border Thick-tailed Gecko (Underwoodisaurus sphyrurus) and the Little Pied Bat (Chalinolobus picatus). I would hazard a guess that there is much more biodiversity (including threatened species) in the area, but given how much of the IBA is in private land, it is difficult to give a full appraisal here. That brings me to what I am going to make this IBA profile about. A call to action! Do you live in the area near the IBA? The area sits south of a little town called Karara and north of a town called Terrica. It is west of Warwick and North-West of Stanthorpe. If you are

a BirdLife member reading this, perhaps you live in this area? You might even know some of the folks that own significant parts of the IBA. If this is you, we need your help. You don’t even have to be a really keen birder to help. Any information about what is happening in the IBA can be very helpful in understanding the status of the area, as well as the trigger species dependent on it.

If for example, you are able to tell us when the eucalypts in the IBA are undergoing a flowering event, this can be very useful as it helps researchers and citizen scientists target strategic times for bird surveys looking for the Regent Honeyeaters. Having local eyes (and sometimes ears) on the ground in some of our more remote IBAs (and there are lots of them), can be a huge help to the folks undertaking the surveys for birds in those IBAs.

Diamond Firetail (Peter Crane)

Prompting some collective effort to monitor rural IBAs can require a slowly, slowly approach. It can all start with a cuppa and bringing up the topic of some of the local birds around. You might even mention that the Critically Endangered Regent Honeyeater is known to visit the region and breed there. From there you will probably be able to gauge how interested and perhaps supportive a land owner might be to allow access to the IBA for some bird surveys. If you are thinking you might be able to help us learn more about the Traprock IBA then please get in touch with either myself or Mick Roderick (mick.roderick@birdlife.org.au). Mick

is one of BirdLife Australia’s Project Officers, and he has a special interest in the Regent Honeyeater. He is especially keen to get some more information about Traprock IBA and its importance for these special birds at such high risk of extinction.

Diamond Firetail (Peter Crane)

As always enjoy your birding activities, and don’t forget to spread the word about how much enjoyment we get from our native birds. Tell your friends, start a conversation and let local businesses know when you visit their neck of the woods for birding. We all need to do our bit (no matter how big or

small) to avoid more birds finding themselves on the brink like the Regent Honeyeater. Rochelle Steven

24 Warbler

OVER THE BORDER – FROM THE NATION’S CAPITAL Gday all, Currently I am at Port Maquarie visiting family so birding is not my main aim here but I am getting some done. Just sitting on the back deck has produced many nice sightings. Researching before I came up I discovered a place called Cattai Wetlands and not being far from Port a visit was a must. I am sure spring time would be best for a visit here but I still managed 39 species without really trying as many

small birds went by without me being able to identify them. The highlights for me were Comb-crested Jacana, Southern Emu-wren and a new bird for me Tawny Grassbird. The other day was set aside for a day on the water fishing with my brother but I did take my camera and listed all the birds I could identify. I caught some fish and got a count of 40 species. Upon arrival at the boat ramp a White-headed Pigeon was walking along the beach and not long out on the water a Brahminy Kite was chasing Silver Gulls away so it could pick up fish scraps fishermen were throwing to the Australian Pelicans.

Later on an Eastern Osprey was seen taking two large fish in a short period to a nest I later found. With the amount of fish it took to the nest I assume that the young may be hatched. After a few hours I suggested to my brother that we go further up the creek to see what is there. We didn't get too far up and I spotted two Black-necked Stork so we retreat back down the creek and go up a different arm so that I can get some pics of these large birds. I also got a Beach Stone-curlew while here so for a non-birding trip it has been very successful.

Happy birding. Shorty Photographed life list 332

Black-necked Stork (Shorty)

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Beach Stone-curlew, Striated Heron, Grey Butcherbird (Shorty)

June 2016 25

OVER THE BORDER – FROM THE DRIEST STATE Hi All, Winnowie Conservation Park is located in approx 30 kilometres South of Port Augusta, SA sandwiched between Highway one and the East side of Spencer Gulf. A 10klm dirt track leads from the highway to the shorefront and continues a couple of kilometres North, following the shoreline, to the entrance of Chinamans Creek . Driving in can be a rewarding birding experience with a

recent visit turning up Blue-winged Parrot, Southern Whiteface, White-winged Fairy-wren, Rufous Fieldwren, White-fronted Chat and Australasian Pipit all feeding around the local Saltbush dominant vegetation alongside the track. Reaching the shoreline a couple of small, sandy, side tracks lead to carparks adjacent to the beach area. High tide is the time to be here with the water pushing the shorebirds up closer to land. When the tide is out here it is really out, and most low tides would have the water about a kilometre away over soft mud.

Crested and Caspian Terns and Australian Pelicans are usually present in good numbers as are Red-capped Plover and Red-necked Stints. The usual Cormorant species can be seen with a very good chance of Black Swans in formation making their way down the gulf. Curlew Sandpipers, Double-banded Plover and Bar-tailed Godwit are a little less common but both around at certain times of the year. White-bellied Sea-Eagles patrol the shoreline looking for a feed with Whistling Kites adding to raptor sightings.

A short drive to the mouth of Chinaman’s Creek will usually turn up the odd Sacred Kingfisher perched creek side patiently waiting for a feeding opportunity. Morning is by far the best time for the photographers amongst us with the sun rising over the Flinders Ranges to the East providing some lovely soft light. A great place to stop for a look especially in shorebird season as the birds can be in their many hundreds and you never

quite know what you will find tucked away in the feeding masses. A couple of hours can easily be spent early morning just watching the aerial theatrics of the large flocks of Red-necked Stints and Plovers Cheers from SA Rick Nash

Red-necked stint (Rick Nash)

Sacred Kingfisher, Southern Whiteface, White-fronted Chat, Black Swan (Rick

Nash)

26 Warbler

OVER THE WATER – A THAI DISH LOOKING OVER PLACES YOU OVERLOOKED On many occasions when I’ve been out looking for birds and other wildlife, I’ve seen places that might have been good, but I didn’t bother to check them out. In spite of their

potential as wildlife habitat these places remained overlooked. I went past them without bothering to see what might have been there. Then one day, something catches my attention and I take the time to go and have a closer look.

Pheasant-tailed Jacana, adult & juvenile; Javan Pond Heron (Barry Heinrich)

This has been the case for a number of places I now regularly go to where I currently live in Thailand. Like every new place I move to, there are lots of places that have potential as bird

habitat. As I have got to know the area around where I live, I have found various good spots for seeing birds. Initially I found a small farm dam that is a reliable spot to see Bronze-winged Jacanas, and sometimes I can see White-browed Crakes, Yellow Bitterns, Javan Pond Herons and White-breasted Waterhens on and around the dam which is covered with water lettuce. The farm dam is along a regular route that I used to walk that also included walking past a ponded pasture near the Siamese Fighting Fish Village. I usually had a look towards the ponded pasture, but didn’t really bother to go closer to

have a good look until a couple of months ago. Then I decided to have a closer look just to see what was there. This was a good idea. I found a Greater Painted Snipe hiding in the grass and saw a Cinnamon Bittern fly into some low bushes by the edge of the pasture. It’s also good for Cattle Egrets, Common Snipe and there were two Purple Swamphens there for a while. Now it’s an important stop on my regular birdwatching route. Another spot I didn’t really check out until recently is a pond with lots of water lilies and other water plants. It’s one of a number of aquaculture ponds at the end of a road. I could

see the pond was there, but there is another pond between the end of the road and it. One day I heard a Stork-billed Kingfisher calling on the other side of this pond so I went to get a closer look. The kingfisher didn’t wait around for me to get photos, but I found families of Bronze-winged and Pheasant-tailed Jacanas, White-browed Crakes, Javan Pond Herons and a Little Grebe on the pond. On subsequent visits I have found Whiskered Terns, a Cotton Pygmy Goose and a Black-capped Kingfisher on this pond.

Black-capped Kingfisher (Barry Heinrich)

From the photos that I have taken you can see the places that I hadn’t previously bothered to look at before. So now that I have a bicycle to expedite my rate of travel around my regular Nongpaklong birdwatching circuit, I find myself looking over places that I had previously overlooked. You should do the same. Barry Heinrich

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June 2016 27

BIRDS & ANIMALS OF AUSTRALIA’S TOP END: DARWIN, KAKADU, KATHERINE AND

KUNUNURRA – NICK LESEBERG & IAIN CAMPBELL BOOK REVIEW – Gil Porter A WILDGuides book – ISBN 9780691161464. 2015 $53.95 from Footprint Books and bookstores. 272 pages, Page size is 148 x 210 mm (A5) Available from Footprint Books or good book stores.

This handy-sized book is designed to be carried with you for ready reference. It should appeal to those who are new to wildlife tourism and those who have limited time to explore the top end or who are on a package tour. The book does not attempt to list all the wildlife of the area but covers what are most likely to be seen in the various areas. To this end the book organises

observations for the different areas to be visited.

Following some general information on how to use the book and maps of the Top End there are sections on geography, weather, habitats, how to watch and where to find wildlife. The main section follows these helpful pages from page 26, starting with Birds of Wetlands and Beaches. Only the more likely birds are listed and care is taken to show differences between similar species to help the observer. This first section is followed by Raptors, Birds of the Forest, Birds of

Open Areas then on to Mammals and lastly on Reptiles and Amphibians.

Australia’s Top End

A good colour photograph, brief details and comments on the bird including scientific name and a highlighted paragraph on where to find the birds is noted for each species. Some photographs show differences for female and/or juveniles and in-flight for some species, especially for the raptors. No description of the bird is attempted as the reliance is on the photograph. The main paragraph describes helpful information on how to locate the bird in its preferred habitat. This follows the pattern of the book providing broad information to users.

Bird species take most of the pages of this book, comprising 172 pages, whereas Mammals (24 pages) and Reptiles & Amphibians (44 pages) take up many fewer pages. Each of these pages has a background colour with distinctive easy-to-read page numbers on the leading edge of the page. I believe this will be helpful while using the book in the field, as it will cut down the glare from a white page. As noted above this is a book to be carried on your outing and kept available for ready reference. The two indexes in the final pages include a one page quick index to all the birds, mammals and reptiles and amphibians in this book.

Little Kingfisher (Iain Campbell), White-throated Grasswren (Rob Hutchinson)

In summary, I reckon this book will be really helpful for the tourist adventurer to the Top End that will enhance and stimulate their appreciation of the special wildlife and places there. After all that would be at the top of their reasons for visiting the Top End. And for those who are new to or

occasional observers, this book could well spark a wish to take a keener interest in birds in particular and their value and wildlife in general. But I see value for the experienced birder who has limited time available to explore the treasures of the Top End too. Gil Porter

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28 Warbler

BIRDSCAPING AUSTRALIAN GARDENS – GEORGE ADAMS BOOK REVIEW – Gil Porter

Penguin books - ISBN 9780670078707. 2015. $59.99. 360 pages – 210 x 279 mm hard cover. Are you looking for help to link your love of Australian native birds and plants in your garden space, be that small or large? Which plants look great in your yard yet still provide for the needs of birds you want to attract to your space? I believe you will find George Adams can help you find answers to your questions in his book Birdscaping Australian Gardens. The objective is to look at some plants common to and suited to your area and the more common birds to be found in your

space as well. Obviously the list for both birds and plants is specially selected for this purpose. Suggestions cover various possible sites and aspects to consider for successful outcomes.

Adams has used his skills as an architect, knowledge of plants and birds, his artistic bird sketches and lots of colour photographs of plants and birds with descriptions of both making this a valuable resource. The first 75 pages cover introductory comments about aspects of this activity. General comments about caring for a garden with native plants and helpful suggestions on how to go from landscape to birdscape prompt some questions to ask. Sections on providing food, shelter, water and nesting (including nest boxes construction) are helpful. Recognition of small garden spaces and suitable pants for containers also expands to include grassed areas (lawns etc) as well as larger spaces such as

streets and other areas.

Adams notes that selective plantings will attract insects including butterflies providing possible food and added attractiveness. The Plant Directory (pp 77 to 197) lists his suggested plants in alphabetical order of their scientific name. Succinct symbols, common names and helpful descriptions supplement colour photos of the plants. Of particular note is the comment on birdlife for each plant. Some of the plant photos include a bird in the picture to emphasise attraction of the plant.

The Bird Directory (pp 203 to 319) lists the 54 species selected for this book on page 205. This alphabetical list shows the page number to locate the species. The next few pages have information on major Australian Garden Bird families and identification suggestions and how to use the Bird Directory. Each species has a double page spread allocated to it with a colour photograph and monochrome sketch. A distribution map shows expected locations and breeding areas. In addition there are notes on suitable plants for food and shelter with page references to find the plant details quickly.

More helpful information starts on page 320 with a map of the broad climatic zones for Australia. This is followed by Plant tables with separate tables to show plants for Nectar-feeding birds, Fruit-eating birds, Insect-eating birds, Seed-eating birds, and Some small trees for attracting birds. Page 333 starts the section on resources for birdscapers. This has a sample design of a typical urban house on a reasonably large site. Then follows a State-by-State list of Native Gardens and arboreta. Also listed are recommended associations, societies and websites but this is not a complete listing and mentions the older name of Birds Australia

(RAOU) and website. Fortunately the old web address will still reach BirdLife Australia. Final pages have photography credits and an index. Whilst there will be additional plants and birds for various areas, this book has a lot of very pertinent information between its covers. The lists and tables should prove valuable to those wanting to start or upgrade their garden spaces with more bird-friendly features.

Gil Porter

What have you been reading? Write a review of your last birding book for Warbler - articles to Peter Crane, editor

June 2016 29

BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA – A PHOTOGRAPHIC GUIDE – IAIN CAMPBELL, SAM WOODS, NICK

LESEBERG BOOK REVIEW – Peter Crane Princeton University Press 2015 – paperback – 392 pages $54.95 – ISBN 9780691157276 - 2015

238 x 160mm page size. Available from Footprint Books or good book stores.

The Introduction tells us that ‘The goal of this book is to make birding and bird

identification accessible to the vast majority of people, while still providing a resource to more experienced birders.’ This section also states ‘The key to birding in Australia is in understanding the habitats’ – sound advice indeed. We are advised that IOC world Bird List v3.3 is used with some

predictive species splitting. A paragraph explains that the photos used have the subject birds in different positions

and are not to the same scale. The authors mention that learning bird calls and songs is well worthwhile. The geographic range covered by the book is detailed – mainland Australia and Tasmania. Rare vagrants are not included. A paragraph details the work used to draft the species maps. We are advised that the descriptions have been simplified. There are four maps – Australia and Cairns, Brisbane and Sydney Regions and a list of 42 Select Australian Birding

Areas. The first five Areas are: Atherton Tableland (Qld), Back Yamma SF (NSW), Barkly Tableland (NT), Barren Grounds NR (NSW) and Binya SF (NSW) – do you agree?

Australian Climate and Rainfall is summarized in a chapter of one page length. The belt of high pressure at 30ºS latitude is explained as the primary influence of our weather. Annual monsoons are stated as the primary cause of rainfall in far north Australia. The Great Dividing Range plays an important role as most rain falls around these mountains.

Crested Tern (Nick Leseberg)

The Habitats of Australia chapter is comprehensive and has 26 pages. There are sections on ‘Marine and Coastal Habitats’, ‘Tropical Habitats’, ‘Temperate Habitats’ ‘Arid and Semi-Arid Habitats’ and ‘Man-made Habitats’. Each of these major sections has one or more sub-sections to provide additional information on areas within the main habitat. Most sections have a map to indicate its location and a photo to provide an illustrative example of the habitat. This chapter is very interesting and suitable for re-reading to provide a better understanding of the various habitats in this land of ours.

Australasian Gannet (Nick Leseberg)

Species Accounts is the largest chapter and comprises 336 pages. This chapter provides information on all 714 species of resident birds and regularly occurring migrants. Each species account describes key identification features such as size, plumage, distribution, behavior and voice. There is a

small distribution map and at least one excellent colour photo of each species. There is one page of Abbreviations that are in common usage except I use ssp for sub-species and this list suggests subsp. The five page Glossary is suitably comprehensive and contains good explanations on each of the words or terms listed.

White-throated Nightjar (Nick Leseberg)

The Photo Credits page advises that the majority of the in excess of 1100 photos used are the work of Geoff Jones. It also lists the other 20 photographers who supplied approx 269 photos. The book finishes with the 11 page Index of Species that lists each species under both common and scientific names.

In summary an excellent guide that will find a prominent place beside my desk with the two field guides that I regularly use. Peter Crane

30 Warbler

FINDING AUSTRALIAN BIRDS: A FIELD GUIDE

TO BIRDING LOCATIONS – TIM DOLBY & ROHAN

CLARKE BOOK REVIEW – Gil Porter & Peter Crane CSIRO Publishing – May 2014 - Reprint 2015 – paperback – 620 pages AU $49.95 – ISBN 9780643097667 - 215 x 148 mm page size and 32 mm thick weighing about 1.1kg. Authors Tim Dolby and Rohan Clarke, who are both well known in Australian birding circles.

Although this book says it is a Field Guide to Birding

Locations, at just over 1kg it is a heavy book to carry around or to pick up to read. In addition, the print is set at 9/11 so is fairly small for aging eyesight! Fortunately the text is set-up in two columns per page that eases reading. However, I would want to study the proposed site(s) I wanted to go to before

setting out and make a few notes rather than carrying the book with me but leaving it in the car. The extra weight I believe will be because high gloss

coated paper is used that enhances the illustrations in the book. The introduction outlines how to use this book then goes on to a number of helpful topics about Australia and general

birding aspects. Then follows the main part of the book with state-by-state material that is further subdivided into regional areas within the states. Included also are the Australian territories including offshore islands as part of the total scene. Where appropriate, some suggested itineraries are provided and some maps are included. Care has been taken with the places of high interest on how to locate these and the expected special birds to be usually found in those locations. Any endemic species are noted, as these may be your reason for visiting the location. Over 400 sites over the varied Australian landscape are covered in this book. Each site has a very comprehensive list of bird species expected to

be found there.

An Annotated Bird List is provided following the section on offshore islands and territories, and lists expected locations where these birds are likely to be found. This is followed by suggested further readings; useful resources, contacts and bird watching groups; an index of common names with the page number reference in the Annotated List; and finally an index of place names with the page reference in this book.

Although the book is relatively heavy as a Field Guide, it nevertheless collects a lot of information in the one place and

would be admirably suited to those exploring new territory as either overseas visitors or experienced bird watchers unfamiliar with areas where they are seeking new bird species to add to their list(s). The helpful comments on the expected habitat, special needs for some terrain such as 4WD places, and things to watch if going to outback and remote areas are valuable to those not familiar with such areas and the risks involved in travelling there.

I believe this book to be a valued resource for planning trips to new areas to find that elusive bird species. That will help and appeal to the twitchier as well as those new to bird watching. The information will help determine how much time to allow when planning to visit some of these areas. This book’s affordable cost may well offset overall trip costs by helping you organise your forays into those new areas. Gil Porter The main body of the book is the State chapters and this is

the section that you will use in planning your birding trip. These chapters are from 34 pages (Tasmania) to 100 pages (Queensland) in length. I will comment on one or more of the sites mentioned in each of the State chapters. Northern Territory Darwin Botanical Gardens – Key species is Rufous Owl and specific directions are given to its location within the Gardens although it is noted that ‘in recent years this pair has proved more difficult to find’ and they were when I visited. In addition to the other species noted I was also able to sight and photograph White-gaped Honeyeater, Rufous-banded

Honeyeater, Green–backed Gerygone, Little Shrikethrush, Australasian (Yellow) Figbird, Lemon-bellied Flyrobin and Yellow White-eye. Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve – The Key Species list does not include Green Pygmy-goose that was a key species for me. One of the two mentioned walks was closed during my 2013 visit. There is an extensive species list mentioned in the body text most of which I sighted and in addition I sighted and photographed Spotted Whistling Duck.

Alice Springs and surrounds – This section includes but is not limited to the Waste Stabilisation Ponds, Old Telegraph Station Historic Reserve, Olive Pink Botanic Gardens and Santa Teresa Road. The many species listed as Key or Other Species and in the body text were generally seen though the Dusky Grasswren at Santa Teresa Road was difficult to locate and I/we dipped on Rufous-crowned Emu-wren.

Queensland

Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge – A well-publicised birding location and generally accepted as the place to visit in far North

Queensland. An extensive species list is included and you should see the majority of these dependent on your season of visit. A highlight is the Red-necked Crake and the book should have an additional sentence ‘The

Red-necked Crake is a regular visitor just before nightfall so make sure that you bring your camera to the dam and be prepared to wait for the bird/s to appear.’

Eungella Plateau – The Key Species is, of course, Eungella Honeyeater with its very restricted range. The directions to the end of Chelmans Road as the first site to look at are correct however it should include a reference to the species feeding on the climbing pandanus flowers when available and instructions that therefore you should look for these flowers. The Key and Other Species listed are regularly sighted. I would have also included Crimson Rosella as ssp nigrescens

June 2016 31

is regularly sighted along Dalrymple Road on your way to Chelmans Road. Bowra – The Key Species list is Grey Falcon, Bourke’s Parrot, Chestnut-breasted Quail-thrush, Hall’s Babbler, Painted Honeyeater and Chirruping Wedgebill. The Other Species list has nine other species and this indicates the importance of Bowra in south-western Queensland birding sites. A map of Bowra Station is included in the three pages on this site. I dipped on the Quail-thrush and so have to return.

Noisy Pitta (Rohan Clarke)

New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory Sydney Pelagic Boat Trips – A great way to increase your bird list is your first pelagic trip. My first pelagic was the Sydney trip on Saturday and then the Port Stephens trip on Sunday but that is another story. We are told that about 80 species

have been recorded on the Sydney trip and provided with a list of common and rarities. Canberra and surrounds – Includes paragraphs on Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature Reserve, Fyshwick Sewage Treatment Works (check as I believe scoping is no longer viable due to recent works), Australian National Botanic Gardens, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and Namadgi National Park. There is an extensive species list for this section and there should be a statement to not underestimate the time that you will need for each site.

Capertee Valley – is included in the book ‘100 Best Birding Sites in the World’ and rightly has more than 2 pages in this field guide. There are extensive Key and Other species lists. The Valley is known as a reliable breeding site for the endangered Regent Honeyeater and it is great to see the amount of replanting to attract this bird. Victoria Chiltern-Mount Pilot National Park – The Key Species list includes Turquoise Parrot, Swift Parrot, Regent Honeyeater and Painted Honeyeater - enough to entice any birder. Those

species are seasonal so select the right time to visit. Specific locations within the general area include Honeyeater Picnic Grounds and Cyanide Dam; Bartley’s Block; Magenta Mine; Green Hill Road and Klotz Track; the two Chiltern Valley Dams and Fishers Road. Well worth a visit. Tasmania Bruny Island – ‘is a superb birding location. It supports relatively large populations of Forty-spotted Pardalite and Swift Parrot and provides habitat for all 13 of Tasmania’s endemic bird species.’ An accurate summary – I visited for 2

days in March 2014 and ticked 11 of the endemics and 9 other lifers. I am overdue for a return visit.

Beach Stone-Curlew (Adrian Boyle)

South Australia Gluepot Reserve – The book states ‘a very special birding location’ and the Key species list includes Black-eared Miner, Red-lored Whistler, Scarlet-chested Parrot Striated Grasswren and others. I am looking forward to another as yet unplanned visit. Western Australia Cheynes Beach – ‘is a superb birdwatching location, where,

with luck and patience, you can catch a glimpse of the notoriously skulking trio of Noisy Scrub-bird, Western Bristlebird and Western Whipbird.’ I must have been lucky but impatient as I only ticked the Noisy Scrub-bird. Offshore islands and territories For those who like to travel further afield this 40 page section provides details of the eight offshore Australian territories. A great reference source and one that I use each time that I plan a trip.

Turquoise Parrot (Rohan Clarke)

Peter Crane

32 Warbler

BIRDS OF THE WET TROPICS OF QUEENSLAND & THE GREAT BARRIER REEF

& WHERE TO FIND THEM – LLOYD NIELSEN BOOK REVIEW – Gil Porter Well known birding personality Lloyd Nielsen published this revised edition in 2015. The 404 pages have 208 pages

covering the main section (Field Guide) and 85 pages devoted to Difficult to Identify birds. Available for AU $45 plus p&p – ISBN 9780957988156 - 230 x 162 mm page size, through Lloyd’s website – www.birdingaustralia.com.au.

The book has been completely revised and updated from the 1996 edition. Profusely illustrated with Nielsen’s own paintings of the birds including special

identification features where appropriate. The first ten or so pages have a lot of text covering Contents, How to use this book, Key to Field Guide and Key to Difficult to find birds etc. This appears to be printed in about 8 point sized text used throughout the book that does make it

difficult to read for extended periods.

However once read, many of the introductory pages and some of the other sections of this book will probably be referenced only as needed.

The Field Guide (starting on page 8) has birds in various categories to aid identification. The categories are listed on page 8 – eg Multi-coloured 9-10; Some red plumage 11-12; Red head 13; Red cap or crown 13; and on for many different combinations. This means that some birds will

appear in more than one category. The Index of common names (pages 394-397) lists page numbers where the birds are to be found. The Field Guide content has an illustration of the bird, text of interest with key features and a distribution map (tropic area only in this map). Nevertheless this section could still be of interest to all birders.

The next section is Difficult to identify birds from page 214. Forty-one groups are identified – Garganey 216-7; Egrets 218-9; etc. The pages have illustrations of the birds plus parts that are key identifier features such as head, wing patterns, bills, tails and so on. I believe this section would be

helpful to all birdwatchers and newbies in particular, as the comparisons between species with similar marking are well illustrated by Nielsen. As expected, many of the birds listed in this and other sections of this book will be found in many other areas of Australia.

The next section – Status and Range (pp 307-353) includes the common name, scientific name and where it is to be found in the tropic areas covered in this book as well as some helpful comment on status in the area. However, comments on Habits will generally apply to the bird in any areas of

Australia.

Following on from the above, pages 354 through 386 cover the Best Birding Areas in the Tropics, with maps and paragraphs numbered on the map for location, facilities and access and highlight birds to be found there. This section would assist getting the most out of time spent by visitors in the book’s areas of coverage.

References (pp 387-8) lists the authors quoted in the book, and the Gazetteer (pp 389-390 lists where to find the map reference of locations. A Glossary of terms used and an Index of common names round out this book of useful information.

Even though I found this book difficult to read due to the small point font used throughout and also with text presenting right across the page, I believe many will want to add this book to their library, even if they do not plan to visit the tropical areas it covers! I would have preferred larger sized text and two-column formatting where a full page is used for text. However, I believe Lloyd Nielsen’s revised and updated volume could be a worthwhile addition to your birding library. Gil Porter – gil@geeport.com

June 2016 33

THE BACK PAGE

Annual General Meeting Notice The Fifth Annual General Meeting of BirdLife Southern Queensland will be held at 4pm on Saturday, 9 July 2016 at the University of Queensland, St Lucia immediately following the 2016 Queensland Ornithological Conference. The agenda is: 1 Quorum, proxies and apologies 2 Approve the Minutes of the 4th AGM held 20 June, 2015 at

Toowong 3 Presentation of the Annual Report

4 Presentation of the Financial Accounts 5 Election of the Committee (details of Committee positions

are available from Judith Hoyle) 6 Announcement of Distinguished Service Awards 7 Any other matter that the meeting agrees may be

discussed but not resolved Peter Crane Secretary, BirdLife Southern Queensland Outings

Go to the Events page for events, information and contact details. Surveys Get involved and make a difference for Australia’s birds. You are welcome to come with us no matter what your level of experience, background or age. BirdLife Southern Qld shop page Visit our Shop page and order your birding items. All profit goes toward supporting avian projects.

Download the complete version of this newsletter at http://www.birdlife.org.au/locations/birdlife-southern-queensland/publications-sq. Warbler Newsletter contributions—if you have an article or news item (electronic format preferred) send it to Peter Crane, editor. Please note that photographs with people need to have consents from them for publication in this newsletter. The opinions expressed by authors in this publication are not necessarily those of BirdLife Southern Queensland or of BirdLife Australia. COPYRIGHT© 2016

2016 QUEENSLAND ORNITHOLOGICAL CONFERENCE University of Queensland, Brisbane July 9 2016

Register now! Don’t miss out!

Night Parrots, Carpentarian Grasswrens, Gouldian Finches,

Black-throated Finches, Eastern Bristlebirds, Red-backed Fairy-wrens, Shorebirds, Rosellas and many more birds! Swarovski spotting scopes and binoculars demonstrations Bird walks to areas such as Oxley Common, Mt Glorious and Samsonvale plus a wader ID session at the Manly High Tide Roost will be offered to conference participants on Sunday 10 July. Details are on the registration form. Registration fees (including morning tea, afternoon tea and lunch) for this year’s conference are:

Full Registration $75.00 Student Registration $35.00 #Printed Copy of Abstracts – if required $ 5.00 #All registrants receive a free email copy of the abstracts To register for the 2016 conference and take advantage of the early bird fee visit tinyurl.com/ndl24ap or print off an application and post it to: Queensland Ornithological Conference c/- P O Box 3784

South Brisbane BC, Qld 4101 A raffle is being run in conjunction with the Conference and the following prizes have been generously donated by the businesses mentioned: 1st Prize: Pair of Swarovski 8 x 32 Swarovision Field Pro binoculars 2nd Prize: Two-night stay at Mt Barney Lodge 3rd Prize: One night stay at O’Reillys Rainforest Retreat in a Mountain View Room Ticket Price: $5.00 each or 3 for $10.00

You can purchase tickets at the Queensland Finch Society’s monthly meetings from David Exton or on-line: http://tinyurl.com/gu9smtf