Expertise

We run a large number of projects, ranging from small survey-based efforts in local areas to nation-wide monitoring programs generating large amounts of data which can be used in an array of sophisticated analyses. As in all areas, we want to provide good value for money with our projects, and therefore tend to concentrate resources on projects which are strategic and effective in terms of conservation outcomes, national or at least regional in scale, and realistically manageable. BirdLife Australia's research strengths lie in mobilising large numbers of skilled people for monitoring, and in modelling and mapping the information they provide.

BirdLife Australia's Research and Conservation Committee (RACC) is a group of highly respected scientists and conservationists who donate their time and expertise for the good of our birds and the organisation. The Committee provides advice and ensures the projects we do are relevant, strategic, and deliver effective conservation outcomes.

The current members are:

• Dr Martine Maron (Chair, BirdLife Australia Board / The University of Queensland)
• Prof Andrew Bennett (Deakin University)
• Dr Kate Buchanan (Emu Editor / Deakin University)
• Dr Peter Dann (Phillip Island Nature Parks)
• Dr Arlene Harriss-Buchan (Australian Conservation Foundation)
• Dr Leo Joseph (Taxonomic Advisor/ CSIRO)
• Dr Tara Martin (CSIRO)
• Dr Paul McDonald (University of New England)
• Dr Peter Menkhorst (Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment)
• Dr Steve Murphy (APY Land Management)
• Dr Jim Radford (Australian Bush Heritage)

Click here for more information about individual committee members and their expertise.

RACC Sub-committees

RACC also oversees a range of specialist subcommittees and reviews their recommendations for the BirdLife Australia Board. Members of all RACC sub-committees generously donate their time to support BirdLife Australia. All of these committees operate under terms of reference. View these below in the downloads section.

Threatened Species Committee (TSC)

RACC maintains a list of threatened Australian birds based on the IUCN Red List categories and criteria. To ensure that this list is maintained at the highest professional standards it is agreed that all submissions be reviewed by an expert committee with delegates chosen from around the country.

The current threatened bird list is based on the Action Plan for Australian Birds 2010. The list is subject to ongoing assessment and review.

Contact the TSC at [email protected].

The current chair of the TSC is Dr. Stephen Garnett.

Emu Editorial Board (EEB)

Emu - Austral Ornithology is BirdLife Australia's prestigious scientific journal, which has been published for well over 100 years. Bringing together the results of the latest bird research from all over the Southern Hemisphere and the adjacent tropics, it is considered to be the premier scientific ornithological publication for the region. All volumes are available online to subscribers and a full set of the printed volumes is available in our library located at BirdLife Australia's Melbourne headquarters. Members of BirdLife Australia are encouraged to subscribe to the journal.

In 2008 a new Emu Editorial Board (EEB) was established to ensure that the journal meets and exceeds the high standards demanded by the wider ornithological community. The EEB comprises the Editor, Dr Kate Buchanan, and approximately 20 Associate Editors whose collective expertise spans topics relevant to the scope of Emu. Associate Editors assist in the selection of referees and make recommendations about publication of papers, advise the Editor in the development of editorial policy, and attract new authors to the journal.

Editorial policy and performance are overseen by RACC, and Dr Kate Buchanan is appointed to liaise between RACC and the Editorial Board.

Atlas Advisory Committee (AAC)

The Atlas of Australian Birds is one of BirdLife Australia's largest and most successful projects. It was established to monitor the relative abundance and distribution of Australia's birds. The primary role of the Atlas Advisory Committee (AAC) is to advise RACC on scientific and conservation matters relating to the project. Members are required to work in the best interest of BirdLife Australia.

The current chair of the AAC is Barry Baker.

Common Names Committee (CNC)

The Common Names Committee deals with the issue of which bird names should be used for Australian Birds.

The current chair of the CNC is Andrew Ley.

Serventy Medal Committee (SMC)

The Serventy Medal Committee assesses nominations for the award and recommends medal winners for consideration by RACC. The award follows a set of guidelines.

The current chair of the SMC is Professsor Richard Holdaway.

Australasian Ornithological Conference Advisory Committee (AOCAC)

Australasian Ornithological Conferences (AOCs) are biennial conferences run jointly by BirdLife Australia and the Ornithological Society of New Zealand (OSNZ), with the aim of promoting ornithology in the scientific community.

The conferences are run within a set of policies and guidelines approved by RACC and OSNZ.

The current Chair of the AOC Advisory Committee is Allan Burbidge.

Many of our projects are based on monitoring and feed into our central database, the Atlas of Australian Birds. Our overarching aim in monitoring is to establish a fixed-site monitoring network using the Atlas. This will allow us to examine biodiversity and population trends, and long-term effects on bird populations of climate change and other environmental variables. Our monitoring already plays a critical role in informing land managers and governments, and forms a key plank of the federal government's annual State of the Environment reports.

BirdLife Australia seems to punch well above its weight when it comes to producing quality research and conservation work, and this is in no small part due to the dedication and sacrifice of our staff and volunteers. But we can't do it all alone, and building constructive working partnerships is part of our strategic plan. We work with government agencies, non-government organisations and selected corporations to enhance our strengths and complement our weaknesses. We share data and expertise and forge links with other organisations to build cooperative projects and relationships that add immense value to our conservation efforts.