Volunteer Spotlight: Celebrating Birds on Farms champions

Volunteer Spotlight: Celebrating Birds on Farms champions John Shepherd and Dougald Frederick

This International Volunteer Day, BirdLife Australia is proud to celebrate two exceptional volunteers whose dedication to citizen science and woodland bird conservation has shaped the success of our Southern NSW Birds on Farms program: John Shepherd and Dougald Frederick.

For more than a decade, John Shepherd has been one of the quiet powerhouses behind bird conservation in Southern NSW.

Beginning with BOCA in 2010 and soon immersing himself in regular atlassing, John has since submitted over 3,000 bird surveys to Birdata, contributed data from dozens of properties, and helped document more than 360 species.

After moving to Thurgoona in 2016, John established numerous long-term monitoring sites — many of which later became core locations for the Birds on Farms project. As a former President of the Ovens and Murray branch, John has mentored countless birders, supported landholders to improve habitat, and strengthened local conservation networks.

John and his late wife Jenny also transformed their own suburban block into a thriving Garden for Wildlife.

“The increase in birds using our garden… has been quite dramatic and wonderful to watch and record” — John

Now retiring from his Birds on Farms seasonal surveys, John leaves an extraordinary legacy of data, leadership, and community inspiration.

Fellow Birds on Farms Champion Dougald Frederick has taken citizen science to remarkable heights through his five-year study of “The Patch” — a landscape-scale record of every bird detected on and around his property at Ettamogah, near Albury.

What began as a friendly challenge during the 2020 COVID lockdowns evolved into a collaborative, scientifically valuable monitoring project involving neighbours, monthly reports, and full integration with BirdLife’s Birds on Farms initiative. Over five years, Dougald recorded 163 species, entered every sighting into Birdata, and documented seasonal trends that now form a powerful benchmark for future research.

Alongside his fieldwork, Dougald has brought his community together — hosting bird ID workshops and sharing insights that help others better understand the landscapes they live in.

“If you take the time to ‘smell the roses’, a whole new world opens up” — Dougald

To all the dedicated volunteers across BirdLife Australia, thank you for the knowledge you share, the habitats you help protect, and the precious data you collect. Your commitment ensures a brighter future for Australia’s birdlife.

Volunteer with the Birds on Farms program and help protect Australia’s woodland birds.