A Fine Feathery Festival for 2026!
Posted on 17 September, 2026 by Hadley Cole
From September 5 – 11 Connecting Country, Birdlife Castlemaine and Castlemaine Field Naturalist Club hosted the 2026 Feathery Festival, a festival celebrating our local birds. The festival was kicked off with a guided bird walk along Campbells Creek, followed by a plant sale and morning tea out the front of the Good Op shop on Saturday 5 September. This was a well attended event with 50 plus walkers joining the bird walk and many others heading to the plant stall to purchase plants for bird habitat provided by Newstead Natives. The rain held off for the walkers in the morning, and the rain the night before brought the birds out for the watches to enjoy! Spotted Pardalote’s where out and about in fine form, performing for the photographers.
A male Spotted Pardalote posing for the camera. Photo by Ash Vigus.
On Sunday the 6 September Birdlife Castlemaine hosted a Nature Journaling session and Sticky Beak Property Tour at a property being restored for bird habitat in Moonlight Flat. Local artist Jane Rusden led participants in a Nature Journaling session. Frances Howe from Birdlife Castlemaine reported;
“Our keen nature journalers enjoyed a meander along Moonlight Creek, flowing thanks to recent rain. We imagined what it might have been like before European settlement, when the area was woodland with a diverse understorey of native shrubs, herbs and grasses. It would have been rich bird habitat, until the 1850s gold rush turned the land upside down. We admired Castlemaine Landcare’s tireless work to restore the degraded waterway for wildlife and the community, and learnt about the restoration efforts in progress at the adjoining private property. The birders among us delighted in watching some Red Wattlebirds feeding their young fledgling.”
To complete the morning our group was treated to a visit to Rhyll Plant’s nearby studio, where she showed us how to print directly from feathers. Rhyll is a scientific illustrator and master printmaker. We were enthralled by her skill and the incredibly detailed prints she produced. And then, we got to have a go and make our own prints to take home. At Rhyll’s place we heard Rufous Whistler and saw a gorgeous flock of Yellow-rumped Thornbills. It was a magical morning. “
On the afternoon of Sunday 6 September there was opportunity to visit a local property at Moonlight Flat and take a Sticky Beak at all the restoration work the owners have been doing. Property owner Frances reported “visitors took a short self-guided walking tour across the property. In 2018 the 17 ha property was paddocks full of weeds and a handful of remnant eucalypts. The tour demonstrated some of the practical actions you can take to create bird habitat and help wildlife at your property. Although still a work in progress, the property is now used by more than 60 bird species.”
The head line event for the Feathery Festival; In the Company of Birds, was hosted by Connecting Country and Birdlife Castlemaine at The Goods Shed in Castlemaine on Thursday 10 September. This was a sold out event with 150 attendees all excited to see a panel discussion hosted by Weekend Birder, Kirsty Costa speaking with award winning artist Kate Gorringe-Smith and beloved local and acclaimed artist Jane Rusden. Kirsty guided the conversation beautifully from Kate and Jane’s connection to nature from a young age to the joy and inspiration both artists gain from creating art inspired by nature. Kate spoke of the Overwintering Project she founded which aims to raise awareness of the migratory shorebirds that spend the greatest part of their year on the shores of Australia and New Zealand. The project calls on artists from across Australia and New Zealand to draw on the unique habitats of the migratory shore birds to provide inspiration for their art. The project has over 100 sites recorded through art that honour the shores providing sanctuary for migratory birds.
Kirsty Costa interviews Jane Rusden and Kate Gorringe-Smith, from right to left. Photo by Lou Citroën.
Speaking of migratory shorebirds, Kirsty and the panel guests marveled at the range flown by the fascinating Red-necked Stint that travels the distance from earth to the moon in their lifetime traveling between Tasmania and Siberia. And they only weigh as much as a Tim Tam (20 – 25 grams)! The conversation continued in awe of birds, as the panelists discussed birds as indicator species that tell a story about the environment. If birds are thriving, it means the environment is healthy, and we as humans also benefit from healthy ecosystems.
Nature Art Soundscapes; Clara Schutz, Joel Bloom, Hilary Blackshaw and Jane Rusden perform at In the Company of Birds. Photo by Lou Citroën.
After enjoying the panel discussions and a delicous meal provided by Melody, attendees were invited to sink into their chairs, unwind and relax to the soothing sounds and visuals of Nature Art Soundscapes, as they watched artist Jane Rusden draw a beautiful portrait of Jacky Winter.
One attendee, Emily reported “ It was a really lovely evening, the conversation around art and nature was inspiring and Nature Art Soundscapes performance left me feeling like I walked out of a meditation. The food was also fresh and delicious! A wonderful night.”
In the Company of Birds was a fundraiser event for Connecting Country with all profits donated to Connecting Country’s Landscape Restoration projects.
The Feathery Festival is a collaboration involving partnerships between Connecting Country, Birdlife Castlemaine District, Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club and representatives from Landcare Groups in the Mount Alexander Region. It would not be possible without the valuable support from sponsors Brian D Newman Foundation and The Good Op Shop.
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