BirdLife Castlemaine District

Birdlife Castlemaine District encourages people to become in involved in birding in our area. We welcome all to our various activities.

Photographed by Andrew Silcocks. Brown Treecreeper.

Activities at BirdLife Castlemaine District

Bird Watching and Monitoring Education and Outreach
Advocacy and Conservation Campaigns Citizen Science Programs
Community Events and Festivals Bird surveys
Networking and Collaboration

About our group

BirdLife Castlemaine District was formed in 2018 with the objective of enhancing and continuing the activities of other local environmental groups, particularly in regard to birds. Located in an area with superb birding and many thriving and unique native habitats, BirdLife Castlemaine District has been able to continue to assist and support other groups with bird surveying to monitor the region’s Box-Ironbark woodlands. The area has several Key Biodiversity Areas and many birding hotspots, such as Rise and Shine Reserve, located between Daylesford and Newstead.

In addition, BirdLife Castlemaine District advocates for the conservation of birds and their habitats by providing support for groups such as Regional Victorians Opposed to Duck Shooting; signing petitions; writing letters to local councils; and answering questions about birds from the general public.

BirdLife Castlemaine District acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land where we hold our activities, the Dja Dja Wurrung people, and we pay our respects to their Elders past and present. We recognise and are grateful for the immense contribution of Indigenous people to the knowledge and conservation of Australia’s birds.

Get involved

We hold monthly bird walks on the first Saturday morning of each month, and all ages and birding abilities are welcome. If you’d like to learn how to record your bird lists using Birdata, or brush up on your survey skills, we aim to conduct at least one survey each bird walk. Walks last for about two hours.

On the first Sunday of each month, we hold a Nature Journaling session for anyone who’s interested. These sessions run for about two hours. Please bring any materials you need for journaling, such as paints, drawing paper and notebook.

BirdLife Castlemaine District also holds an annual weekend devoted to birdwatching in a different location every year, with bush camping and a township offering accommodation nearby. The program offers a morning and afternoon bird walk each day, a nocturnal walk and, for those who wish to, gather for dinner at a pub.

Our Nature Journaling camp out is an immersive weekend, observing nature, birds and their habitats. It’s a fantastic way to connect with wild places and unwind – pen, paint or pencil in hand –and explore ways of representing your observations by drawing, painting, photographing and writing.

BirdLife Castlemaine District also works closely with other local environmental organisations, including Connecting Country and Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club focusing on ongoing bird surveys and specialist bird talks. In addition, we support other local groups such as CHIRP (Community Health Centre in Castlemaine) and the Castlemaine Joey Scouts by leading bird walks in the area.