Birdwatching training dates announced
Posted on 18 July, 2014 by Tanya Loos
Hi everyone! I wanted to introduce myself as the newest staff member at Connecting Country – the Habitat for Bush Birds Project Coordinator. My name is Tanya, and I live just beyond the southern limits of the Mount Alexander shire, on the outskirts of the Wombat Forest. Cold weather is no deterrent to birdwatching, and here you can see me in my typical woolly winter garb.
I have been developing a calendar of events for the Habitat for Bush Birds project that that includes birdwatching training for beginners and intermediate birdwatchers. I am pleased to announce that the dates are set!
Nature-based events in this region are very popular, and workshops of this kind are unfortunately limited to thirty participants. I encourage you to book for either workshop, rather than both, as more training events will be offered next year.
The first workshop is recommended for beginning birdwatchers who describe birds this way: “It was small, with yellow on it”. If you are familiar with the general bird groups such as whistlers, pardalotes, thornbills, finches; then the intermediate workshop is for you. If you are not sure – feel free to give me a call or an email!
Birdwatching for absolute beginners
Date: Sat 2nd August 2014
Location and time: Castlemaine Botanical Gardens Tea Rooms 2-4pm
Just starting out? This workshop is a practical exploration of the common and highly visible species and how to identify them. A big focus on garden birds means you can practice your skills at home. I will be presenting this workshop, and I look forward to sharing with you the easy enjoyment of birdwatching for pleasure and conservation.
Intermediate birdwatching skills
Date: Sat 16th August 2014
Location and time: To be confirmed.
Geoff Park, naturalist and photographer from the Natural Newstead blog provides tips and hints for identifying LBB’s ( or little brown birds), the males and females of commonly seen species and some of the trickier local birds.
The Habitat for Bush Birds project also has a strong focus on monitoring – with the aim of locating where threatened birds are present – and absent – over the whole Mount Alexander region. We have dubbed the focal species the feathered five. Soon to feature on the blog: dates of monitoring excursions later in the year.
To find out more, or book a place, contact Tanya Loos at tanya@connectingcountry.org.au, or call 5472 1594.
Some background info on the Habitat for Bush Birds project: helping the feathered five
This project is working to restore habitat for five local bush bird species; the Hooded Robin, Painted Button-quail, Jacky Winter, Brown Treecreeper and Diamond Firetail. Over two years, Connecting Country and participating landowners will carry out 300 ha of habitat restoration actions within 11 priority habitat zones. With the community’s help, we will also be scanning the Mount Alexander shire and immediate surrounds for the feathered five; as the more sightings we have, the better able we are to measure our success in helping these plucky yet threatened little birds.
The Habitat for Bush Birds project is supported by the Victorian Government through Communities for Nature funding.
Have sent an email regarding a booking for the intermediate workshop as I missed this email with ill health. Am looking forward to the 16th if I’m not too late.
Thanks everyone for your interest!
I will send those of you who wish to make a booking a separate email. Margaret – thanks for your comment and you can be sure we will keep you posted here on the Connecting Country blog. Warm regards,
Tanya
Hullo Tanya,
This sounds full of potential fun and learning! Can I book in for the second workshop on the 16 August. I have seen and recognised Diamond Firetails here at Sandon two weeks ago and a pair of Brown Treecreepers were visiting today. Two fellow birdos heard a Jacky Winter about a year ago, but I haven’t seen one as yet. A family of young painted button quail crossed the road into our Box Ironbark and Heathy Dry Forest sections about eight years ago, but not seen since. And the Hooded Robin, I do not know except from a book, while I find it hard to differentiate the latter from a Black-headed Honeyeater. I mix up Rufous Songlarks with Scrub Wrens, so I think the LBB workshop is for me! From Saide of Sandon
As an 85 y.o. I can only envy those young enough, and fit enough. But I look forward to reading about their progress, and ventures. I hope that is acceptable. M.M.
Interested in training course on 16th August. Thank you .
I would like to attend ” birds for beginners” Thank you, Christine