A lot can happen in 125 years. Since a small group of ornithologists and bird enthusiasts founded the RAOU in 1901, generations of volunteers, scientists, campaigners and birdwatchers have helped build one of Australia’s most influential conservation organisations. Follow the journey through these pages, from the era of collecting and specimen cabinets to satellite tracking, citizen science and international conservation treaties.
Back in 1901, a small group of bird enthusiasts came together to study and protect Australia’s diverse birdlife, forming the Australasian Ornithologists’ Union. Shortly afterwards, in 1905, the Bird Observers’ Club was also established. These fledgling groups grew quickly and, driven by their passion for birds, they documented and shared their observations and the results of their studies, and advocated for the protection of Australia’s birds. These early bird lovers laid the solid foundations of bird research, citizen science and advocacy programs, and today BirdLife Australia carries them on still.
In 1901, we began actively campaigning to protect Short-tailed Shearwaters and Torresian Imperial-Pigeons, and the wanton hunting of native birds was soon in the crosshairs of both organisations. Now, in the 21st century, we’re still advocating for Australia’s birds. Campaigns to protect threatened wetlands and to ban harmful rat baits are among our recent successes, but our books are still full of other campaigns yet to be won, but are still works in progress.
In the very first volume of The Emu, our flagship journal, published in 1901, included papers discussing advocacy to protect birds, as well as scientific papers on bird anatomy, biogeography and a description of a new species, as well as the breeding strategies of various species. By 1912, Short-tailed Shearwaters became the first birds in Australia to be fitted with leg bands, the first attempt to study the birds’ migration. We’ve always been at the forefront of cutting-edge bird study, and today, we make use of technological advances to better understand what makes our birds tick; by understanding what they need, we can better make sure they survive for future generations to enjoy.Over these past 125 years, we’ve moved on from collecting specimens for museum collections, preferring to look at birds through binoculars or photograph them instead, but some things have not changed: today, BirdLife Australia continues to live the legacy of those bird enthusiasts who have gone before. Our organisation remains a leader in bird conservation, driven by world-class science and powered by community passion. As nature continually faces challenges – some old and others new – our story proves what’s possible when people come together with a common goal: to protect birds and nature.
Today, BirdLife Australia is Australia’s leading bird conservation and science organisation. For 125 years, we’ve been protecting Australia’s native birds and the habitats they live in. With more than 400,000 supporters advocating, donating and volunteering for Australian birds, BirdLife Australia is working locally, nationally and globally to drive the recovery of threatened birds, restore nature and stop bird extinctions.
Just as they were 125 years ago, birds remain at the heart of everything we do.
For 125 years, we’ve been at the forefront of bird conservation in Australia. Thanks to our supporters, and to the science which informs our actions, we’ve achieved some incredible outcomes for threatened birds.
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