Tuesday, 28 May 2019
Dear Supporter,
Here is our June eNews – we hope you find it useful.
June Bird Walk
Saturday 1 June – Barkers Creek Reservoir, Harcourt
We’ll start on the eastern side, hoping for reasonable sightings of bush birds in the woodlands, where we will do a 20 minute 2 hectare survey, then walk across to look for the water birds and raptors (there were three Whistling Kites there recently). If you have a spotting scope, please bring it. We’ll then drive to the parking area on the west side, off McIvor Rd. Damian Kelly’s Castlemaine Bird Walks has further details and a useful map (p 62). Bring morning tea and a stool or chair. There are new information boards near the car park about the Coliban water supply system and the use of canoes and kayaks on the Reservoir.
Location and directions: Travelling from Castlemaine, turn right off the Old Calder Highway in Harcourt, and follow Market St towards Mt Alexander. At the junction with Reservoir Rd follow the bitumen as it turns left, and continue to T-junction at McIvor Rd. Turn right, then left onto North Harcourt Rd and park on the left, just past the Harcourt-Sutton Grange Rd intersection.
Time: Meet at the Reservoir at 8:45am, or to carpool from Castlemaine meet at 8:30am outside Castlemaine Community House (formerly Continuing Ed), Templeton Street.
Important information about walks: Bring water, snacks, binoculars, hat, sunscreen, sturdy shoes, long pants during snake season, and other weather-appropriate gear.
Walks will be cancelled if the temperature is forecast to be 35 degrees or more during the walk period, severe weather warnings are forecast, and/or if the day has been declared a Total Fire Ban.
Questions? If you have questions about our walks program, you can email us at castlemaine@birdlife.org.au, or call Judy Hopley (0425 768 559) or Asha Bannon (0418 428 721).
Birdata Workshop
BirdLife Castlemaine District and Connecting Country are partnering to bring you a workshop on how to use the Birdata Survey App for both Android and iPhone. No experience is required; we will provide training on how to do a 2Ha 20minute area survey using your smartphone. (Surveys can also be recorded on paper if necessary).
Part 1: What is a 2Ha area count and how do you do it. How to use Birdata and record a survey. Part 2: Substantial afternoon tea Part 3: Putting theory into practice and completing a survey.
When: Sunday 23 June at 1:00pm
Where: Tea Rooms, Castlemaine Botanic Gardens, 2 Walker St, Castlemaine
Registration: Please email castlemaine@birdlife.org.au to register. That way we can provide plenty of afternoon tea and Birdata trainers.
Birds on Farms – Volunteering Opportunity
The BirdLife Australia Woodland Birds team is seeking the support of volunteer birdwatchers for its Birds on Farms program. This citizen-science monitoring program aims to learn more about how birds are using a variety of habitats on private rural properties by undertaking quarterly 20min-2ha surveys.
There are currently two properties within the area encompassed by BirdLife Castlemaine where survey plots have been established on landholders’ properties, but there is not yet a birdwatcher (or birdwatchers) assigned to them. One is at Maldon with three survey plots, and another near Guildford with four survey plots.
If you and/or a small group of birdwatching friends are potentially interested in becoming the volunteer birdwatcher for one or both of these properties, please contact Caroline Wilson and Chris Timewell (woodlandbirds@birdlife.org.au) to discuss this opportunity further. Further background information about the Birds on Farms program is available on the website – http://www.birdlife.org.au/projects/woodland-birds-for-biodiversity/birds-on-farms-wl.
Follow us on Facebook
We now have a BirdLife Castlemaine District Facebook page. Follow us for all the latest bird news.
Become a Member
Membership of BirdLife Australia is a great way to support a bright future for Australia’s birds. You can find out more about membership or other ways to get involved here.
Kind regards,
The BirdLife Castlemaine Committee
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