COG Archived News
up to and including December 2001
The main items on the Committee's agenda last month were a new venue for meetings, storage and COG tours. A separate item on our draft tours' policy is below.
All members may not be aware that our tenancy of Forestry House is about to conclude. In a sense we are a victim of changing times and economic rationalism. Following sale and lease back by CSIR0 of the complex, which includes Forestry House, the premises is no longer available for after-hours lease. In addition, it has also become much more expensive to rent under the new regime. After an exhaustive search, a new venue has been found at the Acacia Motor Lodge in Braddon. We have agreed to a six months lease on the premises while we consider options for more permanent accommodation. Views of members on the new venue, and longer-term options, will be very welcome.
Wanted! All those records and other COG paraphernalia, which have been clogging up your storage space at home for far too long! We are considering some form of centralised storage facility, but before committing ourselves, we would really like to know how much stuff we have out there in storage, courtesy of our long suffering members. We do have the office, of course, and if there is not much more than archives out there, Michelle, our diligent officer, can probably encourage the walls to expand a bit. Please let a member of the Committee know if you are storing any COG archives or equipment, particularly if you would like it to make way for the kids' bicycles or ski equipment.
The State Forest service of New South Wales has been in touch to let COG know of a new Glossy Black-Cockatoo survey, for which limited funding will be made available for bird clubs to visit study areas, and to collect relevant information. Funding will be made available through the conservation officers of participating BIGNET clubs, of which COG is one. The new study is designed to complement other research projects and surveys, particularly in the area to the south of the Wagga district. Further information on the surveys, and how to obtain access to the available funding, can be obtained from our new conservation officer, Julie McGuinness.
As promised in a response to a question at the AGM, Committee has reviewed COG's Telstra share holdings. The committee concluded that COG should retain its current Telstra share holding as these shares represent a good long-term investment and provide COG with an excellent short-term return in dividends. The dividend in 2000-2001on these shares was approximately 10% of our funds invested, a much higher return than is currently available through term deposits. The current share price (around $5) is substantially higher than the purchase price of $3.30.
The committee members are listed on the contacts page.
Doug Laing
Your committee has been looking at COG's policies on field trips. We are doing this to ensure that our field trips program is linked clearly with COG's objectives and to simplify the administration of trips. This has been quite cumbersome at times. We have developed some recommendations, which the full COG committee will consider at its February meeting. Meanwhile we are keen to get members' views.
The recommendations propose a continuation of COG's "in house" day field trips and weekend campouts, much as at present. There would be a special emphasis on locations linked to COG's objectives, namely an interest/knowledge of the birds of the Canberra region, study of birds and conservation of native birds and their habitats.
In the past there have been some inconsistencies in how COG has priced trips involving communal costs (e.g. food, accommodation, bus hire). In the future, the price to participants will be set to recoup all costs. In addition where trips are of more than one-day duration, there will be a $5 per day per participant charge. This charge is to recoup hidden costs such as bank charges and to provide a small surplus to COG in return for the volunteer effort in organising such trips.
Volunteer bus drivers will receive a discount equal to the cost of their place on the bus in recognition of this special responsibility.
In recent years, COG has had an extensive program of interstate and overseas trips arranged through commercial operators. We propose to change the arrangements for such commercial tours. First, we will improve COG's service to members by actively encouraging a wide range of commercial bird tour operators to advertise their trips in Gang-gang. Second, we will continue to encourage commercial operators to design tours specifically for COG members. The arrangements, though, would be more at arms length from COG. The tour operators would be fully responsible for all administration including designing, managing and leading the tour, taking bookings, collecting money and finding replacements for cancellations. COG would offer an agreed amount of free advertising to members in exchange for a percentage of the takings. COG will approach a wide range of commercial operators about these new arrangements.
What do you think? Let Joan Lipscombe know on ph 6262 7975 or email JoanLipscombe@bigpond.com, or write to her at COG, PO Box 301, Civic Square, 2608. Please get your comments in by the end of January.
A copy of the paper on field trips and the full recommendations is available by contacting Joan Lipscombe, or by ringing the COG office.
The draft program for 2002 is now published for members' consideration. This draft is based on input from a number of members. You will note that it is somewhat less ambitious than in past years, as for a variety of reasons it lacks the longer trips generally associated with commercial companies. (view draft)
However, as noted in the November Gang-gang a number of outings have been targeted at new or inexperienced birdwatchers and a number of visits to Greening Australia revegetation sites are also included.
There is still time to comment and seek inclusion of your favourite local spot, particularly if at the same time you can make an offer to lead the walk. In this respect leaders are being sought for a number of outings as indicated. In particular a leader is sought for the proposed Easter campout at the Weddin Mountains. If you know the area well and are able to do so, we'd be very grateful for your offer.
Please contact Jack Holland 6288 7840, Jenny Bounds 6288 7802 or David McDonald 6231 1481 with your thoughts on the program and/or your offer to lead a walk.
One boring Saturday evening I thought of Chris Davies, who a couple weeks earlier presented a talk about Owls at a COG meeting. With a sudden burst of ornithological enthusiasm I decided to go owl hunting. All successful expeditions are planned and fully equipped, so I rushed to the corner shop. Unfortunately, corner shops don't really cater for Owl hunters, carrying a limited scope of owl hunting gear. Explaining what I wanted and why, and dismissing the look I got from the shopkeeper, (they probably eat them where he comes from) I was shown his full selection. On weighing the pros and cons of the full array of flashlights before me for 10 minutes, I finally decided on the second of the two. This, I was assured, would illuminate the north coast of Tasmania from the top of Mount Ainslie, and the other end had a flashing red light device if required. This safety feature is what swung my opinion (getting back to successful safaris being correctly equipped!!) and could be used in an emergency.
I arrived home with my purchase and asked my beloved if she would like to accompany me on a night adventure. I had a sense of deja vu, as my wife gave me the exact look as the shopkeeper had not 15 minutes ago. She reluctantly declined my offer saying she was feeling a bit off colour. "Probably coming down with the same thing as the shopkeeper", I thought. Grabbing my flashlight, sensible shoes and hat, I set off.
While driving to Campbell Park, I slipped a birdcall tape into the cassette to bring myself up to speed on owl calls. After listening to all the nice "Twit To Woos" and the "Boo Books" (see the BooBook Owl) the horrible screeching, screaming ones came on, making me hope that none of them would be there. What if you heard one while all alone in the middle of the woods and in the dark? EEK, it gives one the shivers. I arrived at Campbell Park at approx 8pm (being mid-summer there was still good light), and I started walking slowly along the track at the fence line towards Mount Ainslie. The light had gradually faded after a half an hour or so until it was quite dark, but my eyes were well adjusted by this time. I sat down on a log to wait for my first "who who whoo". Alas, it never came!
It was a dark moonless night, but I could still make out large shapes like the track and nearby trees. I should explain that after dark everybody has two halves to their personality-one being the calm logical half the other is the self-preservation half, or as I call it, the sissy half. In the dark "sissy rules", so your hearing becomes so acute you hear every suspicious noise, even noises that weren't suspicious before. It puts wings on your heels if you so require.
My hearing was engaged in sissy mode, which is why I could hear this "thing" steadily creeping up on me. Slowly and stealthily the "thing" crept towards me trying to catch me unawares. It hadn't taken in to account the "sissy system" which by now was on Red Alert and could hear a pin drop at 500 paces. My normal commonsense told me it was only a kangaroo going down towards the fields to feed, but sissy knew better, screaming, "Turn the light on!" Not wanting to lose my night vision with the glare from the light my commonsense side was winning the argument, until there was a sudden rush towards me. Knowing that it was definitely Skippy, I reluctantly turned my torch on to appease my sissy self when I had stopped running. Sure enough, there was Skippy himself. A great sense of self-satisfaction descended on me, not only for my excellent bush skills in recognizing the noise for what it was, but also for my physical attributes in covering 100 metres in 5 seconds flat over dense bush without a break in stride before I stopped to turn the torch on. Indeed, in these situations I have found that age shall not weary them nor the years condemn.
While waiting for my night vision to return, I heard a distant ominous "whump . . . whump . . . whump" far ahead of me. Not overly concerned, I decided to head back to the car park with the "whump . . . whump" getting louder. I almost made it back to the car park when directly over my head appeared two sinister black shapes making the most horrendous noise imaginable. My night vision had increased 10 fold as my eyes had increased in size to soup plates, easily distinguishing two huge helicopters hovering at tree top height on either side of me vibrating my whole being with stereophonic sound. My entire body was being flayed with leaves, branches and possibly bits of possum thrown up by the rotors like in a Masochists dream. This was obviously an ENCOUNTER OF THE 3RD KIND and at any tick of the clock I'd be whisked away to be operated on, with RICHARD DRYFUSS probably saying, "Do not be alarmed". Let me state now, I was alarmed, in fact I was EXTREMELY alarmed. Slowly but surely I began to realize that this was an army night exercise, but how to inform them that I am directly underneath? In utter terror, I am incapable of thinking rationally, my Sissy System is in melt down. Do I turn on my flashlight (which can illuminate the whole of Tasmania with a single flick!) and risk blinding the pilots who would be wearing night vision goggles causing them come tumbling down on top of me! They could even send S.A.S. to come abseiling down, shooting from the hip as they came. Thankfully no action on my part to alleviate the situation was necessary as one after the other the helicopters began to slowly move off, leaving the most deafening silence known to man. There wasn't a sound to be heard except for a strange choked screaming sound coming from my throat. I don't know if it was then or about then when I realized that I had lost interest in Owls. The magic had totally evaporated. Looking down and seeing my knees knocking I decided to call it a day. I put my torch in my pocket and walked towards the car park thinking "Bugger" the Owls and "Bugger" Chris Davies too!
Bob Rusk
Win one of Steve Stephinson’s famous award-winning photographs.
Steve Stephinson, one of COG’s award winning photographers has graciously donated the three photographs depicted here.
The photographs are printed in Cibachrome and framed with an overall size of 16” x 20”. They will be raffled at the March 2002 monthly meeting.
Raffle tickets can be purchased at the monthly meetings or from Committee members. Tickets are $5 each or 3 for $10. Proceeds to go to the Canberra Birds Conservation Fund. more...
Through its ongoing contribution to the Greening Australia Birdwatch project, COG was recognised at the recent ACT Landcare Awards 2001 with a commendation in the BHP Billiton Landcare Research Category.
Barbara Allan, Tony Daukus, Dianne Deans, Janet Irons, Mike Doyle, Ken Freeman, Malcolm Fyfe, Bill Graham, Julie McGuiness, Martyn Moffat, Julian Reid, Milton Smith, Graham and Helen Stephinson, Nicki Taws and Richard Webb have been surveying revegetated sites across and beyond COG's area of interest over the last 18 months. The results have been incorporated into the COG database, passed on to the Atlas of Australian Birds, and have been used in an analysis of revegetated sites to produce guidelines for Greening Australia in the optimum design of tree plantings for bird habitat. The surveys are continuing and will play an important role in discovering whether appropriate habitat reconstruction can assist in halting and reversing the decline of woodland birds across the region.
Nicki Taws
6251 1879
ntaws@austarmetro.com.au
The Spotted Turtle-Dove Streptopelia chinensis (commonly known internationally as Spotted Dove) is one of 16 species of long-tailed, short-winged ground-feeding doves found naturally throughout Africa and Eurasia. The genus is not native to Australia, but two species have established feral populations; the other is the African Laughing Dove in south-western Australia. In form and general ecology, members of the genus resemble the Australian Geopelia doves (Bar-shouldered, Diamond and Peaceful Doves), but the resemblance is regarded as superficial.
(The strange name incidentally is onomatopoeiac. It explains the otherwise bizarre "the voice of the turtle is heard in our land" in the love song, The Song of Solomon.)
The Spotted Turtle-Dove is native throughout the Indian subcontinent, to southern China and Taiwan, south-east Asia, the Philippines and much of Indonesia. It has been intentionally widely introduced elsewhere - for reasons which are not entirely obvious - including to Australia, New Zealand, Mauritius, Fiji, Sulawesi, Hawaii and California. Intentional and official releases in Australia include those in Melbourne (1860s and thereafter) Brisbane, Hobart, Perth, Adelaide (initially unsuccessful), and north Queensland (mid 1940s). The spreads were dramatic. For instance after storms released birds from Adelaide zoo aviaries in 1931, they spread 200km from Clare to Victor Harbour within 20 years. They are found along the entire eastern seaboard from Cooktown to Melbourne, as well as in Tasmania, South Australia and south-western Western Australia. Part of their success is doubtless due to their ability, reported throughout much of their natural range, to breed throughout the year.
They are not established in Canberra, though have long been noted here, eg Frith in 1969 referred to "occasional vagrants". However they seem to be reported increasingly regularly of late (eg via the COG email discussion group) which is the basis of my concern and the impetus for this article. Could they in fact become established in our climate? I'm dismally confident of it. Himalayan populations are typically found at 2400m; one bird appeared at 4900m.
A problem is the lack of information on the wild populations in Australia. HANZAAB Volume 3 (a source of all data, if not necessarily wisdom) records that behaviour, breeding and even voice are "poorly known in Australia".
In the Philippines it is replacing the Island Collared Dove S. bitorquata. Frith suggested in 1969 that it may compete with the Bar-shouldered Dove, which is confirmed by a web page devoted to the birds of the Pine Rivers Shire, north of Brisbane. Condon in 1968 commented "The virtual disappearance of the Peaceful Dove Geopelia striata from about Adelaide may be attributed to the arrival of the Indian Dove." My father, a keen amateur Adelaide bird observer, always insisted that this was the case.
Of course none of these species are part of the Canberra avifauna, so even if we accept my assertion that the Canberra Spotted Turtle-Dove population is likely to increase dramatically in coming years, need we be concerned? I certainly have the impression that many of my fellow Canberra birdos do not share my unease. The theoretical principles involved require far more space than is available here and have been dealt with elsewhere by those more qualified than I. In brief, my concern is based on a belief that despite all the changes (or damage) already wrought to the Australian environment, it is still recognisably unique and ultimately a product of a unique set of climatic and geographical circumstances. I believe that we have a duty to resist further 'global homogenisation' of that environment, as far as we can, by rolling back the tide of feral animals and weeds as best we can, and certainly preventing new species from being established wherever possible. That is after all the basis of the successful and vital park-care groups. In 20 years I have seen the Spotted Turtle-Dove become the dominant bird in Adelaide, now totally ubiquitous.
Should we not wait and see if it is likely to become a problem here? In that regard I recall the ominous words of McComas Taylor in the ACT Atlas just nine years ago; "numbers of Common Mynas [in Canberra] may still be manageable." Sadly the official line was that the threat had to be proved before it could be addressed. By then of course, it was too big to address…
The precautionary principle, by which we should demand that any responsible land manager now operates, requires that we err on the side of caution. The Council of Australian Governments' 1992 Inter Governmental Agreement on the Environment stated, inter alia, that "lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation".
It would seem ironic that at a time when Chris Tidemann's work on Mynas gives some glimmer of hope on that front, a new threat is potentially looming. I believe that COG - the organisation and its individual members - has an obligation to do all it can to avert it while it is still manageable. We can all destroy nests, trap birds where they are coming to feed, push Environment ACT to be pro-active and encourage people to see Spotted Turtle-Doves as undesirable invaders. Not to do so is to state publicly that we prefer an exotic avifauna in Canberra to an indigenous one.
Ian Fraser
ianf@pcug.org.au
Information was drawn from the following sources, abbreviated for space reasons. Full citations available on request. Condon 1968 A Handlist of the Birds of South Australia: COG Birds of Canberra Gardens: COG Birds of the ACT, two centuries of change: COG Birds of the ACT, an Atlas: HANZAAB 3: Handbook of the Birds of the World, Vol 4: Frith 1969 Birds in the Australian High Country: Goodwin 1970 Pigeons and Doves of the World.
Before its disbandment last year, the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation (CAR) suggested that community and other organisations give an Acknowledgement of Country at meetings, etc. This is especially appropriate for a group like COG which makes so much use of national parks, etc, being areas on which Native Title continues to exist, and in which Aboriginal organisations are involved in land management.
The Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation's recommendation was expressed in the following terms:
Discussion Paper on a Proposed National Strategy to Sustain the Reconciliation Process
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander protocolsAlready, some governments and community groups have begun to embrace Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in their everyday activities. For example, some governments, clubs and organisations now begin their meetings with a Welcome to Country or an Acknowledgement of Country. An example of an acknowledgement of country is:
'Before we start the proceedings, let us acknowledge that we are meeting on country for which the members and elders of the local Indigenous community have been custodians for many centuries, and on which Aboriginal people have performed age old ceremonies. We acknowledge their living culture and unique role in the life of this region.'
This issue was discussed at a recent meeting of the COG Committee, and the following resolution was adopted:
"As part of COG's contribution to the national people's movement towards Reconciliation, COG adopts the policy that:
Members wishing to obtain more information on how they can contribute to the Reconciliation process may care to contact Reconciliation Australia at PO Box 4773, Kingston ACT 2604; phone: (02) 6295 9266; fax: (02) 6295 0855; email inquiries@reconciliation.org.au; or on the web at: www.reconciliation.org.au.
David McDonald
Henry Nix, one of COG's founding members, is the new President of Birds Australia/RAOU. Henry has been active in both the Canberra and the Australian bird scenes for many years. He has given at least 21 talks to COG over the years, and has published a number of articles in Canberra Bird Notes. Henry retired in 1999 as Professor and Director of the Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies at the ANU, but has continued to pursue ecological and ornithological projects in "retirement".
Congratulations Henry on this latest honour, doubly prestigious during Birds Australia's centenary year. All COG members are delighted for you.
Julie McGuiness
We wish to comment on the proposed name change for Canberra Ornithologists Group, mooted in the May issue of Gang-gang, and argue that no change in name is necessary.
This was not the case for the name Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union, whose name change to Birds Australia has been suggested as a salutary model for COG to follow. As wardens at an RAOU bird observatory, we had three years of day-to-day explanation of the name to the public, and agreed with the name change for that body for the following reasons, none of which is pertinent to COG:
i) royal, a concept now seen by many as an anachronism in Australia, was a distraction irrelevant to the aims of the organisation;
ii) Australasian has fallen from use and is hard to define, and New Zealanders now look to their own Ornithological Society of New Zealand ; and
iii) union in 1901 meant society in the Latin sense of fellowship, association or alliance, whereas its modern usage is limited to an association of workers.
The only word that did not appear to perplex our public was ornithologists: many knew it, and it was quickly added to the vocabulary of those who did not! It is a perfectly respectable word expressing in one word what otherwise would require three or four, viz. one versed in ornithology or a student of birds, as the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary would have it.
We question the implied correlation of the Birds Australia name change and an improvement in the well-being of that body, as there are many other variables at work.
Names such as Birds Australia, Australian Raptor Association and a hypothetical and 'snappy' Birds ACT suggest that it is birds rather than people who attend meetings, write submissions, lobby politicians and organise walks. Grammatically speaking birds are the object, rather than the subject, of our organisation, and its name should reflect that.
We believe that the present name is very appropriate for an organization committed to knowledge, conservation and education relating to our birds and their habitats. It needs no change.
Isobel Crawford and Tony Howard
COG held a very successful information stall at the World Environment Day Fair in Garema Place on 2nd June. Over the day dozens of Canberrans wandered around the display materials and asked questions of the stallholders. Particularly popular were the nests and feathers from the COG collection, with many folk spending time trying to work out which feathers belonged to which species - and receiving a "Birds of Canberra Gardens" poster as their prize.
This is one of our major annual opportunities for displaying our Society and Canberra's birds to the interested general public. The COG Committee would like to thank everyone involved in making the stall successful.
Many thanks to Maria Lukacs who organised the volunteers, and the following COG folk who staffed the stall: Horst and Kay Hahn, Richard Mason, Tina Bromhead, Phyl Goddard, Jenny Bounds, Barbara de Bruine, Philip Veerman, Susan and Michelle Bond, Judy Harrison, Denis Wilson and Stuart Harris (apologies to anyone missed inadvertently).
Julie McGuiness
The Business Plan adopted by the Committee at the October Committee meeting is in the November issue of Gang-gang and available here. The manuscript is considered a living document and will be changed and updated as needs arise. If any members feel strongly about issues contained within, be sure to contact a Committee member with your concerns.
An implementation process involving the identification of priorities for detailed development is in progress. Areas of implementation include conservation (including research and surveys, data management, liaisons with other key groups), education, membership and management. Individuals or small working groups will take responsibility for developing approaches by agreed dates to each of the areas, including suggested actions, timeframes and budget requirements. A volunteer coordinator will be appointed to ensure consistency between working groups, coordinate the process and develop a financial plan, which takes account of the budget requirements from the priority areas.
The Annual General Meeting of the Canberra Ornithologists Group, Inc. will be held 8pm on Wednesday, 14 November 2001, at Forestry House, Wilf Crane Crescent, Yarralumla. The agenda for the meeting is:
The normal monthly meeting will immediately follow the completion of the AGM.
COG held its Annual General Meeting on 14 March 2001. The organisation is in good financial shape and the following officers were either newly or re-elected to the noted executive offices: Barry Baker, President, Jenny Bounds, Vice-President, Niki Taws, Secretary, Joan Libscombe, Treasurer. General Committee members are: Alistair Bestow, Charles Buer, Paul Fennell, Doug Laing, David McDonald, Julie McGuiness, Miklos Ormay, Philip Veerman, Alastair Smith and Kathy Walter. These members will hold their offices until the next AGM, which will be in June due to the recent change in COG's financial year.
President Barry Baker circulated his annual report, an edited version of which follows.
In my first year as President, I am happy to report what I believe has been a very successful year for COG.
We commenced the year when the Minister for Urban Services, Brendan Smyth, launched "Birds of Canberra Gardens", a joint publication of Canberra Ornithologists Group and Urban Services. The book describes the unique bird populations that inhabit Canberra's suburbs and is believed to be a first for any city in Australia. It reports the results of seventeen years of bird watching by COG members who have contributed to our Garden Bird Survey. In all, data from a total of 270 sites in urban Canberra, recorded on a weekly basis, are reported in the book. The Minister was very complimentary of COG and the links that have been built with the ACT Government. He noted that the book was another example of a productive partnership between the Government and the community, which added significantly to our understanding of Canberra's environment. The book has sold very well. I appreciate the efforts of Paul Fennell who edited the text and arranged the printing, Philip Veerman, who has coordinated the Garden Bird Survey for a number of years, and the ACT government (Department of Urban Services) who provided a grant to assist in the preparation and publication costs.
In November 2000, Brendan Smyth, launched an interpretative bird walk and pamphlet with a bird list for the Mulligan's Flat Nature Reserve. This reserve contains one of the most significant remnants of the threatened Grassy Woodland community, and the pamphlet and walk will increase community awareness and understanding of the reserve and its bird life. This was another joint project between Environment ACT (Canberra Nature Park North) and COG, and Jenny Bounds provided substantial input on COG's behalf.
Continuing the close working arrangements we have been developing with the ACT Government, we have now been approached by Environment ACT (EACT) requesting COG's assistance in monitoring the abundance of birds listed as threatened under the Nature Conservation Act 1980. Action plans prepared by EACT for the Hooded Robin and Brown Treecreeper have identified monitoring as a key management action. Specifically, EACT is required to liaise with COG to investigate ways in which a standardised monitoring program involving COG members may be established. The COG Committee and those members we have spoken to consider this type of project to be pivotal to bird conservation in the ACT. We are currently developing an experimental design for monitoring these species. It is our intent to build upon the existing bird monitoring work which we have been carrying out for the last five years in the grassy woodlands of the ACT. We are also discussing the development of a Memorandum of Understanding with EACT that will formalise our relationship. Further details of this development will appear in Gang-gang when we have made further progress.
The Committee has worked effectively and I would like to thank all for the support they have given me over the last year. Most Committee members have signalled their intent to stand for Committee again, and I look forward to their continuing support. I would like to especially thank those members who are retiring from Committee. Hazel Wright, our Secretary, is resigning after ably dealing with the correspondence and managing the COG office. The Committee will sorely miss her. Kay Hahne served for two years, and did an excellent job preparing the agenda for committee meetings and preparing the minutes. Whilst she is leaving the Committee, she still intends to continue with data input for the Garden Bird Survey, a task she has performed for many years. Margot Wade resigned from Committee a few months ago due to business pressure, but not before drafting the Education Strategy for COG. It was great to have Hazel, Margot and Kay on Committee, and we are grateful for the contribution they made.
The Committee has been working toward developing a Business Plan for COG. I am pleased to advise that a draft Business Plan has recently been completed and circulated to members in the March Gang-gang. The Business Plan is a management document that aims to determine COG's future directions and ensure we meet the Objects of the Group as defined in the Constitution. As the Business Plan will shape our future, we welcome input from all members before finalising the Plan.
During the year we took the first steps to further interest and knowledge of birds in Canberra schools. We have developed a draft Education Strategy but, with the resignation of our Education Officer, we need someone to take it further. If you have an interest or background in bird conservation and education, please put your hand up for this important job. COG has an aging membership and investing in Canberra's youth is a positive step for both our group and bird conservation in the ACT.
An organisation can only be effective if it is financially secure and has an active membership. As will be evident from her report, Joan Lipscombe continues to do a great job as Treasurer, and we have a healthy bank account. Thank you Joan for all you have done. Thank you also to Noel Luff, our Honorary Auditor.
We recently appointed Michelle Penders to the position of Office Manager. There has been a pressing need to create this position to share the increasing amount of administrative work required to keep COG operational and to assist with the day to day operation of the group.
It is a unique feature of COG that much of our business is carried out by keen members and project organisers who are not members of the Committee, but nevertheless make a huge contribution to the success of the organisation. Whilst it is not possible to thank them all individually, I would like to mention some names of those who quietly work away in the background.
During the year Charles Buer took over as editor of Gang-gang and, with Kathy Walter, did a wonderful job editing and publishing our newsletter. Thanks also to Rosemary Ryan and her team of helpers for distributing Gang-gang. Harvey Perkins and Barbara Allen continued to do a professional job in editing Canberra Bird Notes.
Mike O'Shaughnessy maintained COG's web site. The website presents information about COG presentations and field trips as reported in Gang-gang, together with other useful information about COG and its activities. Thank you Mike.
COG's e-mail discussion list 'canberrabirds', managed by David McDonald, continued to operate effectively throughout the year. It has over 90 subscribers and averages about two messages per day, providing a useful forum for members and friends of COG to discuss topical issues relating to birds and birding in the Canberra region. It was recently characterised by Topica, the company that hosts the list, as being the most useful and informative of the 32 birding lists that Topica hosts.
The COG Hotline continues to be ably managed by Ian McMahon, and provides up-to-date information about bird sightings in the Canberra region. Many members value this service, although Mike has mentioned that the number of contributors to the hotline has declined since the e-mail discussion list has been established.
The job of organising field trips has been with Jenny Bounds for 10 years, but she decided to hand over management of the field trip program to Alistair Bestow. However, Jenny has not totally relinquished her interest in this task and will continue to run the odd international and other tours for COG members.
Once again, we ran an extensive range of local tours, providing members with good opportunities to see birds with an experienced guide on hand to assist with identification problems. Thank to all those who led field trips during the year. We always need more volunteers to fill this role and if you are able to assist in this area, please contact Alistair Bestow, the Field Trip Coordinator.
Atlas work continued with enthusiastic support and management by Malcolm Fyfe and Niki Taws. Jenny Bounds and Alistair Bestow incorporated atlassing into all our field trips and, with David McDonald, led a number of atlassing trips during the year. I also wish to thank all members who have taken up atlassing so enthusiastically, and particularly those who have adopted regular 2-hectare sites. It is these sites that form the backbone of much of our environmental monitoring, providing data capable of detecting future changes in bird abundance.
The other important component of COGs environmental program is the Woodland Survey. The ACT Government Environment Grant of $5000 for 1998 was increased to almost $16,000 in 1999. I thank Environment ACT and Minister Brendan Smyth for the confidence they have shown in our group. The Woodland Project is supervised by Paul Fennell, Jenny Bounds and Chris Davey, and Anthony Overs the project officer for 1998-99 was succeeded by two project officers for 1999-200, Alison Rowell and Niki Taws. Alison is coordinating the woodland surveys, and Niki is working to extend the scope of the woodland survey further afield, linking it to the Birds Australia Atlas activities. In 1999-2000 we are expanding the Woodland Survey to a total of 11 sites.
Thanks to Philip Veerman for his continuing work in maintaining the Garden Bird Survey, and to Kay Hahne for entering the data. This project has now been running for 19 years and is our longest monitoring project.
Paul Fennell continued to manage COG's databases, ensuring that data are effectively curated and files regularly backed-up. Special thanks to those members who assisted with data entry during the year, including Tony Harding, Malcolm Fyfe, Alan Ford, Milton Smith, Martyn Moffat, who contributed in getting record sheets into the database.
Many thanks to Malcolm Fyfe, David Purchase, Grahame Clark, Bob Digan, Brendan Lepschi, Ian McMahon and others who have managed to keep the Annual Bird Reports up to date.
Barbara Allen has again organised a year of interesting and entertaining presentations at Forestry House. The reports in Gang-gang and on the COG website every month attest to the quality of our presentations. Special thanks also to Carol Macleay, Ann McKenzie, Delia Johnson and Louise Muir for running the stall at COG meetings, and to Maria Lucacs for her assistance with the monthly raffle. Barbara Allan also organised the refreshment for the meetings.
Special thanks are due to Rosemary Ryan for her continuing work in ensuring that COG publications are in the mail, and to Alistair Smith for taking on the role of Membership Officer. The COG Office continues to operate at the Griffin Centre. Gutta Schoefl and a small team of volunteers have been most helpful in organising the office and providing administrative assistance with the mail, telephone messages and finances. Joan Lipscombe, Hazel Wright and Jenny Bounds have worked on coordinating Office administration. Their hard work is greatly appreciated. David McDonald, Joan Lipscombe and Geoff Dabb were always available to provide quality advice on COG's constitutional and organisational framework.
The Canberra Birds Conservation Fund is now operating. It is able to receive tax-deductible donations from COG members and the general public, and will use the donated money on activities that help to achieve COG's environmental objectives, especially promoting the conservation of the Canberra region's native birds and their habitats. A Fund management committee has been appointed, and has commenced work to identify the first projects to be supported. All members are invited to make donations to the fund, and to encourage other people to do the same.
It has been an honour to serve as President, and I look forward to continuing in this role for another year.
Barry Baker, 10 March 2001.
Update - March 2001
Following the advertisement (below) originally published in February, I've had several people volunteer to be involved in this project. This is great, but I still need a few more people, writers, editors etc. We hope to have a briefing, possibly in March about what is required to meet the criteria for nomination from the ACT government (David Shorthouse, ACT Wildlife and Monitoring Unit), to finalise which species will be submitted, identify relevant research, and then the team can start work on draft submissions.
Good writing skills and an ability to research are needed, plus attendance at a few short meetings - you do not have to be a bird expert! If you don't have time to be on the working group, but are prepared to assist with advice, eg about relevant research or do some editing of drafts, this would be appreciated. Contact Jenny Bounds ph 6288 7802.
February 2001
I am hoping to organise a COG project team to prepare submissions to the ACT Flora and Fauna Committee to nominate a number of additional bird species as threatened in the ACT. Several years ago COG undertook a similar project, which resulted in the listing of six species, including Hooded Robin and Brown Treecreeper. There is mounting evidence that many other woodland species are in decline.
Of particular concern are Speckled Warbler, Diamond Firetail, Jacky Winter and Southern Whiteface. A number of the remaining woodland habitats off reserve around Canberra where these species still occur, are or may be under threat from urban and other development. It will assist the conservation effort if we can get these bird species listed as vulnerable.
We need a team of people (6-8) to research, draft and edit the nominations-working in teams or individually, and we will have some guidance available. Good writing skills and the ability to research are needed, plus attendance at a few short meetings-you do not have to be a bird expert! If you don't have time to be on the working group, but are prepared to assist with advice (eg about relevant research or do some editing of drafts), this would be appreciated. The plan is to get the group together soon for a briefing on what is needed, allocate tasks and a time frame for the initial phase and first drafts.
Contact Jenny Bounds ph 6288 7802. Jenny Bounds
A major wave of extinctions is currently occurring in woodland birds throughout southern Australia, including New South Wales. Of great concern is not only the large number of existing, more specialised threatened species such as the Regent Honeyeater, Swift Parrot, and Bush Stone-Curlew, but that formerly widespread and common species such as the Grey-crowned Babbler, Brown Treecreeper, Hooded Robin and Diamond Firetail are now declining rapidly. The cause of these declines is loss of habitat. In agricultural areas, most of the complex natural ecosystems have been replaced by human-managed systems, which causes a reduction in the biodiversity.
The Liverpool Plains, located in north central NSW, is typical of temperate woodland regions in southeast Australia. The major land uses of the Liverpool Plains catchment are cropping and grazing. The majority of more fertile alluvial soils (native grassland and Poplar Box country) has been cleared, while larger areas of remnant vegetation remain on poorer sandy and ridge topsoils (Ironbark, Callitris Pine and Stringybark).
Birds Australia has received funding from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the Threatened Species Network (TSN) and the Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) to undertake a project in the Liverpool Plains. The 'Saving the Woodland Birds of the Liverpool Plains' project aims to work directly with the Liverpool Plains Land Management Committee (LPLMC) and local landowners to obtain protection for woodland bird habitat.
With assistance from landholders, local naturalists, Birds Australia members and interested people from the public, we will be conducting bird surveys (targeting threatened species) in the Liverpool Plains Catchment, and will use data from the Atlas projects, to identify threatened species locations. From these data, in conjunction with the LPLMC, we hope to identify sites of high conservation value for protection or revegetation work. We then aim to use 'focal species analysis' to develop recommendations on how landholders can best enhance biodiversity in their region. This involves identifying the species in a particular area that are most sensitive to particular factors, such as distance between remnants, size of remnants, presence or absence of understorey shrubs or grasses.
It is proposed that surveys will occur for 5 days of every month for the next 12 months (most likely the fourth week of each month). Surveys will encompass all woodland bird species but will specifically target Bush Stone-curlew, Regent Honeyeater, Square-tailed Kite, Glossy Black-cockatoo, Swift Parrot, Turquoise Parrot, Powerful Owl, Barking Owl, Masked Owl, Painted Honeyeater, Brown Treecreeper, Hooded Robin, Speckled Warbler, Black-chinned Honeyeater, Grey-crowned Babbler, and Diamond Firetail. Accommodation will be bush camping in State Forests of the region and volunteers are requested to provide their own camping equipment and food. Transport for those who live en route from Sydney may be provided. Those interested should contact the Saving the Woodland Birds of the Liverpool Plains Project Coordinator, Peter Ekert at the Birds Australia Sydney office on (02) 94361349 or 0410566104 or email peter_ekert@one.net.au
The COG Committee has decided to trial an electronic distribution of Gang-gang to those members expressing this desire. If you would like to receive Gang-gang as a PDF file, please indicate such on the membership form. If you receive an electronic version you will NOT receive a hard copy. The Gang-gang file size is generally between 500 and 600 kb. Recipients will require the Adobe Acrobat Reader software to access the electronic version of Gang-gang. This software is available as freeware here and at various URLs. It is imperative the persons indicating their desire to receive an electronic version keep their e-mail address current. Back issues will not be available. Please send changes to Alastair Smith, COG Membership Officer, at alclare@atrax.net.au.
It's finally a reality - the interpretative bird walk at the reserve and a pamphlet, which includes a bird list, was launched by Minister Brendan Smyth at the reserve 1 November 2000. Mr. Smyth praised the reserve, saying "Mulligan's Flat is one of our most significant nature reserves, and one of the best bird watching places in the ACT. This walk will allow more Canberrans and visitors to enjoy this wonderful element of our natural heritage."
The walk is marked, and the pamphlet is available from a box at the reserve, a few hundred metres from the southern car park entrance off Gundaroo Road. COG also has a stock of the pamphlets, which will be available at COG meetings. Hopefully the pamphlet will increase community awareness of this special place and the need to protect it, particularly amongst residents of Gungahlin who walk in the reserve.
COG is concerned about Brown Treecreepers at the reserve that appear to be declining - we have not recorded them at our survey sites for 12 months. If anyone sees a Brown Treecreeper in the reserve, we would appreciate the details, number of birds and location.
Jenny Bounds
This poem was written while on a COG Environment Tour 1-19 May '99, led by Ian Fraser and Margaret McJannett. It was a superb tour; great weather, good company and we all had a fantastic time.
It's funny what we thought we saw along the road each day.
A falling leaf, an old tree stump, a butterfly on its way.
We've seen wooden emus, driftwood darters, even a tree bark owl,
We want to get those numbers up, can't we count that bright Pea-fowl?
Kay topped her three hundred at Townsville the very first day.
But Murray, Paul, Alan and David reached for 400 along the way.
Each day brought new excitement as we viewed for the very first time
A bird, a python, a fan-tree palm, or a huge rainforest vine.
But who could forget our Cassowary? (much nicer than an old Cane Toad).
Not in the forest deep and dark but marching down the road!
He and two chicks circled round and round our bus like a wind-up toy.
Photos from the right, photos from the left, and Ian relaxed with joy.
Ian led us past swamps where crocodiles lived - in the wet the path was closed.
Thank goodness our sightings were at the Cairns Croc Farm, Flycatchers were nicer than those!
We braved mud and leeches, mossies and snakes, to see a Golden Bowerbird's bower.
Or we sipped our tea and watched a male Sunbird as he flew from flower to flower.
We piled in a boat one fine Sunday and out to Michaelmas Cay.
To see the Barrier Reef and the birds out there meant a splendid Mothers Day!
Sooty, Black-naped and Little Terns, not to mention big Brown Boobies;
Two kinds of Frigates, teeming with Noddies, 'twas a sight worth emeralds and rubies.
Especially when we looked under the sea with our snorkels, fins and mask,
And viewed coral, clams, anemones and bright coloured fish - we knew we had made it at last!
The water was warm and a turquoise green and miles away from shore.
We loved every minute and vowed to each other one day we'd be back for more.
The forest at night was a real delight, it was calm and the stars so bright.
And finally we hunted that possum down in the rays of our bright torch light.
We ducked as the Sooty dropped its bomb, but smiled as the Boobook called,
And the fungus glowing in the dark had us totally enthralled.
In Kingfisher Park we had a lark, except for the darn mosquitoes.
The birds were thick and the food divine, and I don't mean fried burritos!
We found a Blue-faced Parrot-Finch and even a Lewin's Rail.
We won't mention the lack of a possum or owl now that's the end of my tale!
Kay Hahne
What should COG do to promote the birds of the Canberra region? Should we do more to raise awareness of endangered species and habitats? What kinds of educational programs should we offer, and for whom? At a recent meeting of the COG Committee, new member Margo Wade tabled a draft discussion paper on education. Its purpose was to canvass a range of educational strategies, materials and activities that COG might employ to raise awareness of birds and related conservation issues. The paper included a summary of what other birding organisations have to offer, at least according to their Internet sites! This included 'Junior Bird Spotters' Clubs', school education packs, a new member kit, and do it yourself instructions for nestbox construction.
Before we take the paper further, the Committee would like to know your views on COG's current range of materials and activities, and in particular our field trips, presentations and publications. Do they meet your expectations? What ways could we improve on what we do? What other resources should we offer?
Write to Margo at mjw@management.canberra.edu.au and let us know the kinds of educational materials and activities you think we should provide.
Margo Wade
As my contract with the Research School of Biological Sciences is ending on 7 January 2002, I am reluctantly giving up the editorship of Gang-gang. As I write this, I'm not sure where I'll be landing, but unfortunately it looks like it won't be Australia, at least in the near future. I have thoroughly enjoyed my tenure as Gang-gang editor for the past 18 months. The job is made immensely easier by having helpers such as Kathy Walter for layout and Rosemary Ryan and her helpers in mail out. Thanks to everyone who has contributed articles, the crux of the medium. Kathy Walter is taking over as editor, and I'm sure COG members will continue to look forward to receiving Gang-gang each month.
Charles Buer
The Annual Bird Report (ABR) writing team is currently working on the 1999-2000 report and will be tackling the 2000-2001 report in December. Please make sure that you submit all datasheets and any other records promptly. In particular, those for the period to June 30, 2001 should be handed in or sent to the Records Officer as soon as possible so that they can be entered into COG's database and included in the ABR.
Barbara Allen
The Bogong Shop (The Canberra Environment Centre) has closed. They still have lots a stock available, some at pre-GST prices. Also included are some tapes of bird songs. Please phone the Environment Centre (6248 0885) to check what's available.
ACT birders may be interested to know that the Biodiversity Planning Guide for NSW Local Government was recently released jointly by the NSW Government and the NSW Local Government and Shires Associations. It provides a comprehensive guide on how local government can integrate biodiversity conservation within strategic land use planning.
The Biodiversity Guide was prepared for the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and managed by Land and Environment Planning in association with Environs Australia: the Local Government Network. The Guide is available in two versions. The 'In Brief' version introduces and summarises important elements, and is for elected representatives and senior managers and the general public. The complementary 'technical' version outlines detailed planning approaches, how to write plans, legislative requirements, concepts and terms, case study examples, and includes sample-planning instruments.
Copies of the Biodiversity Planning Guide for NSW Local Government are available free from the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (telephone 02 9585 6678) or a web based version is on the NSW Local Government and Shires Associations website www.lgsa.org.au. The documents can be viewed and downloaded from here and here. The Biodiversity Guide provides up-to-date essential information on how to effectively plan for biodiversity, a fundamental element of ecologically sustainable development.
Martin Fallding
Land & Environment Planning
PO Box 261
SINGLETON 2330
Tel +61 2 6571 1208
The COG Committee would like to thank those members that took the time to comment on the Draft Business Plan. The comments are under consideration and a finalised Plan is soon forthcoming.
The COG Hotline (6247 5530) has seen little activity over the last few months. Lets try and revitalise it during spring 2001. The Hotline provides details of reports by members on new sightings and other topics of interest and is usually updated on Tuesdays.
Please make a special effort to ring the Hotline during Spring 2001 and share your sightings with other members.
Ian McMahon
Bill and I recently went north, to Barraba. The local bird watchers have produced a map of recommended birding sites in their area. And the local council has put up signs, designating where these spots are. It was a great help, and we saw many birds including the torquoise parrot and plum-headed finch.
Also we stayed at a friendly B.and B. homestead, and learnt about about the district.
Brochures will be available at the COG meeting in August.
Elizabeth Compston
The ANU's Centre for Continuing Education is again offering Ian Fraser's bird course, to help you think like a bird with no prior experience.
As the title suggests, this is not so much about identifying birds, though there will be lots of tips and techniques for bird-watching, including two mornings in the field. Rather it is about unravelling the fascinating mysteries of how and why birds are the way they are - how and why they evolved, are put together and behave, plus their ecology, culminating in a lengthy examination of every Australian bird family where it all comes together. Includes a discussion of the Australian bird literature and how to buy binoculars.
It's for beginners and also for more experienced birdos who want to know more about their hobby (and their Hobby…).
Lots of slides!
6 two hour sessions (with a break!), 6.30 - 8.45pm, starting Wednesday 24 October, plus 2 Saturday morning excursions. Cost $228.
For more detail and booking ring 6125 2892, or e-mail enrolments.cce@anu.edu.au
You can also ring Ian for more information on 6249 1560, or e-mail ianf@pcug.org.au
PS Do you know why a bird's leg bends the 'wrong' way? Or why a Wedgie's wing isn't the best shape for the job? Or why chook meat is white but a duck's is dark? Or why a budgie's green feather is really yellow?
COG members, Susan and Alan Robertson, will be working as volunteer rangers at Gluepot Reserve during September and October. Gluepot Reserve is owned by Birds Australia and is a 50,000 hectare former cattle station in mallee country north of Waikerie, SA.
Susan and Alan would be pleased to welcome any COG members who visited during their stay at the Reserve.
Alan Robertson
COG changed its rules recently so that our financial and subscription years end on 30 June. Most current members have paid their membership subscriptions up to 30 June 2002. Your Gang-Gang or CBN label now tells you when your subscription expires.
This change to our rules means that we need a second AGM this year. The formal notice for this appears below. Papers for the AGM will be sent out via Gang-Gang closer to the time.
The Annual General Meeting of the Canberra Ornithologists Group will be held at 8pm on Wednesday 14 November 2001 at Forestry House, Wilf Crane Crescent, Yarralumla.
The agenda for the meeting will be:
Iolo Williams, presenter of the two acclaimed BBC TV series "Birdman" and "Iolo's Wild Wales", is visiting NSW in September and October this year. During his stay, Iolo will be filming a TV documentary on the conservation of NSW birdlife and habitat for BBC Wales. In addition, he has kindly accepted the invitation to be the international guest speaker at the symposium being organised by the Bird Interest Group network (BIGnet) on Saturday 6 October.
With one in five of Australia's native bird species now under threat of extinction and loss of habitat the primary cause, we are gravely concerned for the future of our birds. We recognise that we must communicate this concern, with the help of the media, to the community at large. Furthermore, we understand how critical it is to increase people's awareness of the importance and urgency of bird habitat conservation in NSW and the ACT.
With these objectives in mind, BIGnet has assembled an impressive group of Australian speakers for this all-day meeting entitled "Birds for the Future". They are all experts in their respective fields and include Dean Graetz, David Baker-Gabb, Andrew Fisher, Stuart Blanch and Nicholas Carlile.
To ensure ongoing momentum, the afternoon sessions will take the form of an Open Forum aiming to draw up an action plan of agreed priorities and strategies for future bird habitat conservation in NSW and the ACT. There will be a multidisciplinary expert panel with Stephen Garnett (co-author of The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2000), Penny Olsen (Member of Birds Australia's Research Committee), John Dengate (media personality, author and past Councillor of RAOU), Judie Peet (Project Officer with the Bird Australia NSW Woodland Birds Project) and Ian Davidson (Greening Australia).
This symposium, which is being held in the ANZ Conservation Theatre at Taronga Zoo, concludes with a spectacular Free-flight Bird Show for delegates, courtesy of the Zoo staff.
With only a limited number of tickets available, don't miss your opportunity to attend this stimulating NSW Birds Australia Centenary event. Register your expression of interest early by contacting the "Birds for the Future", c/o SNAG, GPO Box 1322, Crows Nest 1585 or email symposium@cboc.org.au or phone 02 9436 0388.
Tony Dymond
Chairperson, Steering Committee.
Jack Holland reports that the Satin Bowerbird roost has formed again near his Chapman garden and that the birds are dispersing early each morning as he has described in Canberra Bird Notes. If anyone is interested in observing this dispersion, please give him a call on 6288 7840.
Jack Holland
The COG Committee would like to express their thanks to Delia Johnson for her work in coordinating the Slide Library. Delia has worked hard at ensuring that the library is organised and updated; ready to be used for lectures. COG would be unable to function without our volunteers. Your efforts are much appreciated.
Would anyone have an old vacuum cleaner that could be donated to the COG office? The dust is piling up and the current machine is stuck together with sticky tape. If you have an old vacuum cleaner that you can donate could please contact the Office (6247 4996).
Burrewarra Point is one of the bird hotspots on the South Coast. Stay in a comfortable, well equipped, self-contained flat (one double bedroom) adjacent to our holiday cottage. Tranquil wooded location; adjacent to Burrewarra Point Reserve, easy access to other birding spots, local beaches and spectacular cliff-top walks. Over 40 species seen from the property since July 2000 with more in the immediate area - lists provided. Off-season rates: Weekend $120; $50 per night Sunday to Thursday. Phone Joan or Trevor Lipscombe for details/bookings, 02 6262 7975.
Some members may not realise that COG has a large collection of bird slides. This collection was recently enlarged by a generous gift from "Steve" Stephinson of many splendid shots, for which we are most grateful.
In future, the collection will be housed with Michelle Penders at the COG office, Room G5 Griffin Centre, whence they can be borrowed by members by prior arrangement.
Regular borrowers please note.
Delia Johnsen, ex-slide custodian
The COG working group had a planning meeting early in April and is now undertaking data extraction and analysis and organising reference material. A list of bird species to be investigated was made. The list includes birds known to be declining in the region (listed in Garnett's Action Plan, or in other States) and those which may be declining. The next step will be for the group to decide which species will be nominated (early June meeting), and then submissions will be prepared - we expect the project to be completed by the end of the year.
| Painted Button-quail | Eastern Yellow Robin |
| Speckled Warbler | Varied Sittella |
| Southern Whiteface | Crested Shrike-tit |
| White-fronted Chat | Rufous Whistler |
| Jacky Winter | Restless Flycatcher |
| Scarlet Robin | Double-barred Finch |
| Red-capped Robin | Diamond Firetail |
| Flame Robin |
COG thanks David Shorthouse (Environment ACT) and Penny Olsen (ACT Flora and Fauna Committee) for briefing us on the requirements for listing. Thanks also to the large group of members who attended the meeting and will be doing various tasks over coming months. Nicki Taws will be managing the project for COG. Any enquiries to Nicki on ph 6251 1879.
Jenny Bounds
The Panel will soon be undertaking its triennial review of COG's list of unusual birds. These are the birds whose occurrence in COG's area of concern is infrequent or rare and which present identification challenges. COG's policy is not to authorise the publication of official documents concerning sightings of these species unless the Rarities Panel has endorsed a report on them.
The Panel welcomes suggestions from members as to changes to the list that might be desirable. The Panel is also undertaking a review of the status of the birds in COG's area of concern (that is whether they are common, uncommon, summer migrants, etc) for use in subsequent COG publications. Again, the Panel welcomes the views of the membership on those bird species, which require changes to the status recorded in the most recent Annual Bird Report (Canberra Bird Notes 25(4) December 2000). Please forward your views to Barbara Allan, 47 Hannaford Street, Page 2614, or e-mail allanbm@ozemail.com.au
Barbara Allan
"Dalton Park" is just outside Dalton, 80km from Canberra airport and 10km north from Gunning. I have been developing a bird/waterfowl reserve in 1/3 of the farm (210a) and adjacent to it a sanctuary (Oolong) in 2/3 of the farm (400a) and establishing a corridor with two adjacent properties (750a), (which I hope to have purchased by an association with the assistance of a major corporate body). Soon after, all domestic stock is to be removed and an intense reforestation commenced in the bird reserve with red and yellow river gums and other plants to attract and support all kind of birds. Electrified vermin proof fences already protect two large areas.
Cape Barren geese and native ducks have been released in my breeding program under NSW NWPS licence. An additional 18 dams were built plus a lake with two islands. No herbicides or chemical fertilisers have been used since 1987 to allow the return of insect, frogs and birds. The dragonfly is back! The vegetation remnant/habitat includes two hills 750m ASL and it is stranded with trees, shrubs and forbs. I need to make an inventory of the fauna and flora to support the recently formed Friends of Oolong Association with members in SE NSW and the ACT in their application to enter the National Reserve System Program.
The sanctuary will be restricted to scientific studies, environmental monitoring and education. I need community support after I devoted all my time, savings and some borrowing to develop the basic program in the last 14 years. It is time for the community to get the benefit of this unique sanctuary and to give to Universities the chance of studying and monitoring of entrapped species in remnant/habitats with scholarships and minor sponsors supporting grants.
I have been looking for support in my program and successfully contacted Birds Australia. Tony Saunders has recently carried out the first survey of birds and identified 62 species (30% of what I have here). BA will return in June to complete it. SNAG has their boundary just outside my area. COG is welcome to help in the identification of bird species at any time. Also I would like to know if anyone is prepared to support the program in whichever way you could. E-mail gianni@pcug.org.au or I am in Canberra Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and contactable at the farm any other day at Ph/Fax 02 4845 6267.
Dr Gianni William D'Addario
The Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants is holding its biennial conference in Canberra from 30 September to 5 October 2001. The main venue is Hawker College but activities and events within the region are also planned by the host society (The Society for Growing Australian Plants Canberra Region Inc.). The theme of the conference is Australian Plants in a Changing World. Whilst the focus of the conference si on Australian plants, several speakers on 5 October will present papers which strongly link features of native plants and organisms within habitats under the title Changing our ways for conservation. SGAP Canberra extends a warm welcome to COG members to attend the conference of specific presentations. For further details please contact the conference co-conveners: Pamela Finger ph 6258 4886, e-mail: emu@atrax.com.au or Gwyn Clarke ph 6251 1043, e-mail: geofgwyn@dynamite.com.au
This is a fascinating new publication telling the history of Australian bird art. It is currently available at pre-publication prices of $59.95 for the Standard Edition and $330 for the Collector's Edition (limited numbers). If there is sufficient interest from members, COG will try to negotiate a further discount for bulk orders through COG. If you are interested, please contact Carol Macleay on phone 6286 2624 as soon as possible or see her at the April meeting.
The Bird Observer's Club of Australia (BOCA) is planning a camp-out at the Greenhills Conference Centre, Cotter area, in November and would like to draw on the local knowledge and expertise of COG members. Essentially, we need a volunteer who will liaise with the organisers of the camp-out to assist them in developing an outings schedule to our top birding spots and to, generally, provide advice on other attractions in the ACT.
For further information on this opportunity to promote the local area and to meet BOCA members, please phone Hazel Wright on 6296 3142 in the very near future (as of 12 March 2001).
The AOC is intended to provide a forum for the exchange of information and ideas between people involved in avian-based research and conservation throughout Australasia. Designed to complement the 4-yearly Southern Hemisphere Ornithological Congress, it is anticipated that the AOC will be held every two years and become the main scientific event on the Australian ornithological calendar.
The conference program will span three days and feature topical symposia, poster sessions, workshops and round-table discussions in addition to regular contributed papers.
For further information contact:
AOC 2001 Conference Secretariat,
Conference Solutions,
PO Box 238,
Deakin West ACT 2600.
Phone: 02 6285 3000; Fax: 02 6285 3001; E-mail: birds@con-sol.com . Website: http://clio.mit.csu.edu.au/aoc2001
If unusual birds are sighted in Canberra, the appropriate place to post the sighting for the interest of other members is on the COG e-mail discussion list and/or on the COG phone hotline, details of which are given in the contacts box in this newsletter. A completed COG data sheet and where appropriate an unusual bird report for official records would also be welcome-this record goes to the National Atlas as well. If you need a COG data sheet or related advice, this is available from Malcolm Fyfe at meetings, ph 6253 0772 or email mfyfe@tpg.com.au
COG is giving consideration to changing the time of the monthly meetings to 7.30pm vs 8pm. At this time, the Committee is seeking feedback from the members regarding this decision. If no input is received, the Committee will take such action as is deemed appropriate.
The GangGang editor stresses that photographs are encouraged from members for inclusion in the magazine and on the web site. Bring your cameras along on field trips and record the memorable occasions. Prints, transparencies, or digital images are all acceptable forms for submission. Send your photos to the editor at the address in COG info along with a brief caption and a return address. Photos will be returned immediately after scanning.
Preparation of the 1998-99 Annual Bird Report will soon be underway. If you have records for this period that you have not submitted, or unusual reports that need vetting by the Rarities Panel, please get them in as soon as possible.
Eric Andrew of the Eurobodalla Natural History Society is hoping to arrange regular pelagic trips from Bateman's Bay if sufficient interest is expressed. If you think you might want to take part on a regular or occasional basis, please phone Eric on 02 4471 2228.
COG has recently been placed on the Register of Environmental Organisations. One benefit is that donations to COG's Environment Fund, the Canberra Birds Conservation Fund are now tax deductible. This is your opportunity to contribute to projects that protect and enhance our native birds and the environment that sustains them- and reduce your tax bill at the same time!
A small group comprising Geoffrey Dabb, David McDonald, Penny Olsen and Joan Lipscombe will manage the Fund. We will be developing plans for projects and how best to raise money for them. Share your ideas with us by writing to us at COG, chatting to us at a monthly meeting, or you could give me a ring on 6262 7975.
Please give generously to this important cause. Send your donations to The Canberra Birds Conservation Fund, c/o COG, PO Box 301, Civic Square, ACT 2608. You can also contribute at our monthly meetings. Cheques should preferably be payable to the Canberra Birds Conservation Fund. If they include other payments for COG such as membership dues, field trips or book purchases you can make one cheque for the full amount, payable to COG.
Joan Lipscombe
As the result of a recent discussions with ACTEW-AGL managers, COG has been advised that the stile over the fence opposite Jerrabomberra Wetlands has been removed. An alternative entry point to the ponds has been established on the ACTEW-AGL works area road that leads from Dairy Flat Road (opposite the DAS Fleet facility).
There is adequate parking space towards the end of this road and a small self-closing gate has been installed for our use. Also, a book has been placed in a weatherproof box and we ask that you sign the book each time you visit the area. No doubt, the more signatures recorded the less likely it will be that our access will be restricted at a later date.
Hazel Wright
In his recently published book, Steve Wilson has outlined changes which have occurred in local bird populations as they are recorded in the literature. We need to draw inspiration from Steve's example and ensure that all the work invested by enthusiasts in recording their observations was and will continue to be valued. These old records were captured in notebooks, survey forms and, sometimes, scraps of paper. All are liable to deteriorate if not properly attended to. These records represent an irreplaceable resource. With the benefit of modern technology we have the means to store them permanently in a way which makes them readily accessible to all who wish to use them.
Today the COG database contains essentially all records from the beginning of the ACT Atlas, that is to say from 1 September 1986 to the present. Yes, we are up to date with current data entry.
We have our hands on other pre-1987 records:
In addition we have a box full of envelopes containing numerous lists of observations recorded on sheets of paper. And then, of course, there is the Garden Bird Survey, which has been captured, from year one, in a separate database, by Philip Veerman and his helpers.
Have you got any records for COG's area which you are prepared to pass to COG for inclusion in the database? Do you know of - do you know the whereabouts of - any old COG records not mentioned above? Many individuals have undertaken surveys of their own at study sites around COG's area. We would like to think that these records could become part of the COG database in due course. If you can provide any information on old records, would you please let Malcolm Fyfe know (40 Bourne Street, Cook 2614; tel 6253 0772; email mfyfe@tpg.com.au). Thank you.
Malcolm Fyfe
Gang-gang is a very important publication for COG. The Committee felt it was timely to review a number of aspects of the Newsletter, particularly as there is a changeover in editor and in light of increased costs to produce it. The Committee has set up a working group to look at how it is produced and its content etc, to look at ways to improve it as well as produce it more economically. We will also consider the feasibility of alternative means of providing it to members (including via email or this website? - web editor). If anyone is interested in providing input, we would be happy to have a member participate in the working group. We expect to have 2-3 short meetings after hours in the coming months. Contact Jenny Bounds ph 6288 7802.
An Annotated Checklist of the Birds of the ACT has been produced. Its contents are drawn from Birds of the ACT: Two Centuries of Change, by Steve Wilson OAM, published by COG last year, and should be used in conjunction with that volume. David McDonald compiled the Checklist with the assistance of Steve Wilson. Kathy Walter created the design.
Copies are available at COG's monthly meetings, or they can be downloaded from here.
David McDonald
The editors of Canberra Bird Notes would like to encourage more Odd Obs. Surely there are some COG members who have seen something in our area of concern that is worthy of a few words in our local quarterly birding journal? Didn't anyone notice what his or her local birds were up to in the snow? Or when their local Yellow-rumped Thornbills started breeding, and with what success? Or has a magpie attack to report and speculation on why? Or can compare and contrast their visits to a Canberra Nature Park over the last couple of years? Or has a returning cuckoo to report? Come on, folks - let us have a modest contribution from each and every one of you! Assistance willingly provided by Harvey (6231 8209) or Barbara (6254 6520).
Full program and more information on web site: http://www.act.gov.au/environ then look under 'Ranger Guided Activities'
2.30 to 3.30 Bushbirds and Wetlands no bookings required/enquiries 6205 1233
Note: entry fee to reserve applies - $10 annual pass/$8 day pass
Birds Australia is expected to make an announcement about the future of the Atlas project this month (December 2001). When we have had an opportunity to digest that news an announcement will be made about how COG proposes to respond. Whatever happens, COG intends to continue surveying within our own region. So, please do not go away. Your contributions will continue to be of great importance to COG in the pursuit of the Group's objectives.
You all know by now that we are running a competition for contributors to the Atlas project. Details are below. Unfortunately, of the record sheets handed in at the November monthly meeting, quite a number cannot be considered since they did not include any information about the site habitat. Please do not forget the running rules.
After the first two weeks of the competition the Records Officer thought he was running away from the field. But after marking the sheets handed in at the November meeting the team of Dianne Deans and Janet Irons surged ahead with surveys in fifteen grids, which had not been visited previously. They enhanced their score by doing 2-hectare surveys and identifying a number of breeding events. That effort is very nearly worthy of a prize on it's own. To be sure they have thrown down the gauntlet, but they haven't won yet.
The rules:
Anyone can participate. We would like to see you out and about busily surveying in those under-visited COG grids and identifying as many breeding events as you can. Those two criteria are the ones that will bring you most points in the race for the title and a prize.
Points will be awarded for all records submitted. However, the priorities will be to:
To be eligible:
There will be prizes for the three members with the highest points scored at the end of December 2001. Results will be announced at the January 2002 meeting.
Points will be awarded (or deducted) on the following bases:
1. 2 hectare survey (20 minutes) - 6 points
2. Area survey within 500m of central point - 3 points
3. Area survey within 5km of central point - 0 points
4. Survey in a COG grid previously visited:
- a. 0 or 1 time - 9 points
- b. 2 to 4 times - 6 points
- c. 5 to 10 times - 3 points
- d. 11 or more times - 0 points
5. More than one survey in the same grid, on the same day but in a different habitat - 5 points
6. Each breeding record - 4 points
For the purposes of 4a - d above, a map diagramming the number of times a grid has been visited is available here. The figure shown for each grid will continue to apply for the duration of the competition.
Record sheets are available at monthly meetings or from Malcolm Fyfe and can be handed in at the monthly meeting or sent to the Records Officer, P.O. Box 301, Civic Square, ACT. 2608.
Atlas Contacts:
Nicki Taws
6251 1879
ntaws@austarmetro.com.au
4 Wybalena Grove, Cook 2614
Malcolm Fyfe
6253 0772
mfyfe@tpg.com.au
40 Bourne St, Cook 2614
This is the final survey for the year. Meet at the gate to the reserve at 7.15am. Wear sturdy shoes (boots recommended if wet as some sites can be soggy) and bring a mug for morning tea. Regular volunteers-please confirm your availability to Jenny Bounds 6288 7802 in the week prior; leave a message on the answering machine.
For the last six years, COG has been regularly monitoring the bird fauna at various grassy woodland sites in the ACT. Surveys at Mulligan's Flat commenced in 1995, six more sites at Majura Firing Range, Gooroo, Symonston, Red Hill, Majura Nature Park and Castle Hill were added in 1998, and a further four sites were finalised in 1999-2000 (Newline, Hall/Gold Creek, Tuggeranong Hill, and Old Joe).
Earlier this year COG applied for funds from the ACT Environment Grants Program to continue the Woodland Surveys, and to build on the project and establish monitoring programs which target the listed threatened species (Hooded Robin, Brown Treecreeper, and others as they arise). Funds were also sought to analyse the Woodland Survey data and provide recommendations for management of the grassy woodland areas.
News has just been received that COG was successful in its application, with a special note that the project has been running for a number of years and "has a long and successful record of producing excellent results, including high-quality data". The monitoring of birds in grassy woodlands of the ACT region will continue through the Woodland Surveys, atlas sites in grassy woodlands and some of the Greening Australia Birdwatch sites. The survey program will also be expanded to establish long term monitoring of the listed threatened species. This includes any woodland bird species that may be listed as a result of the current analysis and nomination of declining birds in the ACT.
Information and updates about the various aspects of the Grassy Woodland Bird Monitoring Project will be provided in future Gang-gangs, or contact Alison Rowell 6247 7390 (Woodland Surveys), Nicki Taws 6251 1879 (Threatened Birds listing process), or Jenny Bounds 6288 7802 (new components of the project).
Nicki Taws
Thanks to Michele Barson for telling us of a new quarterly magazine called Natural Heritage. It is published by Environment Australia and Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Australia.
The spring issue is devoted to birds, with articles on Superb Parrots, Cassowaries, Glossy Black-Cockatoos and many more.
The journal is available from Natural Heritage Mailing List, PO Box 650 Fyshwick ACT 2609 or through http://www.nht.gov.au.
COG now has an email announcement and discussion list for members and friends of COG: 'Canberra Birding', also known by the nickname 'cog-1'. While it is recognised that some COG members do not have access to email, and some who have access prefer not to use it for birding matters, the list is a resource for those members who choose to use it. It will definitely not replace our other methods of communicating with members.
Well, just about anything you choose to share with others related to COG and birding in the Canberra region! Interesting birding observations (you will probably have phoned them to the hotline as well); requests for information (what's the bird I heard at Campbell Park with an eight-note ascending call?); quick feedback on Good Ideas; news from the committee in advance of receiving it at a monthly meeting or via Gang-gang; comments on birding books or articles you have read; and so on. So long as the list is not abused, everything posted to it will be automatically delivered to all subscribers. Your privacy is ensured; only the list maintainer will have access to the list of email addresses of people who have subscribed. ('Canberra Birding' supplements, for local matters, the national birding list, 'Birding-Aus'.)
Anyone may join (subscribe to) the list. The easiest way is via our pointer page (here). Otherwise visit the list's web site: http://www.topica.com/lists/canberrabirds or send a blank email message to canberrabirds-subscribe@topica.com
Once you have joined the list, to send a message to all other list members email it to canberrabirds@topica.com
Please direct questions or comments to David McDonald (62318904 or email davidm@ozemail.com.au).
David McDonald
The New Atlas of Australian Birds is due to run for a further 3 years and needs to cover every one-degree block across Australia. We still have many gaps in the coverage particularly in outback areas, so would be keen that anyone doing trips into these areas submit their records to the Atlas. If anyone is planning a trip, please contact us and we can tell you where we need surveys done and possibly support your trip. We can loan out GPS units, advertise trips in newsletters if more personnel are required and even provide some funds for the organising of these trips, particularly if the area is seldom visited. For futher information please contact Geoff Barrett, 415 Riversdale Road, Hawthorn East, Vic 3123,
tel: 03 9882 2622, Email: atlas@raou.com.au
Plans are gradually firming up for the next three AWSG expeditions to North-West Australia. The first two will be small (about 15 people for three weeks) and the third will be a major expedition on the same scale as the 1998 one (20-25 people at any one time for a total of 6-10 weeks). Objectives and approximate dates are:
More detailed information can be obtained from Birds Australia in Melbourne.
Clive Minton
The following information is summarised from Galah, the in-house on-line magazine of Birds Australia.
- Leanne Mladovan suggested that the Common Starling is the main disperser of olive seeds (olives are environmental weeds in South Australia).
Due to the commendable efforts of a small group of dedicated COG members, the Annual Bird Reports (ABR), published as part of Canberra Bird Notes, are nearly up to date again. It is now an opportune time to reassess the purpose of the ABR, and how well this is being achieved. As a member, what role do you see the ABR as having? Do you read the ABR? Do you find it useful or informative? Are there changes you would like to see regarding content, format, readability etc? If you have any comment to make on these or any related issues, please send them to Harvey Perkins (Harvey.Perkins@anu.edu.au or 42 Summerland Cct, Kambah ACT 2902).
When tree surgeons or Parks and Gardens prune the limbs of trees, the homes in them no longer go completely to waste. The part of the tree containing the hollow is sectioned into rounds that can be used as horizontal hollows. Kookaburra-size hollows are currently available from Mary Ormay who can be contacted at 27 Clifford Crescent Melba 2615 or on 6258 8171.
The Conservation Council, an environmental advocacy group of which COG is a member, is seeking help from someone with an interest or some experience in water and catchment issues who can spare a few hours to assist one of their working groups. Contact Laraine Frawley (6248 5343) or email: laraine.frawley@ecoaction.net.au
As promised in August, here are some further details of this book. It is a B4 glossy guide to habitats apparently based on the Specht vegetation classification. It is organised by numbered habitats, with photos of each representative habitat and lists of characteristic plants and birds in that habitat. The book is available for $32 ($25 to members of the NSW Bird Atlassers) from Jen Southeron, 'Old Dromana', Moree NSW 2000.
Jack Holland is seeking information for his follow-up CBN article on the movement of the Satin Bowerbird into the Canberra suburbs. Records, including of bowers, will be gratefully accepted, particularly from north and east of a line drawn around the Molonglo River, Yarralumla, Pearce and Kambah. If the Hotline is any guide, a number of sightings in new areas appear to have occurred in 1999.
Jack can be contacted on 6288 7840 (h) or 6274 1643 (w) or preferably by email (containing dates etc) on jack.holland@ea.gov.au.
As an inducement to get COG members out into the field and honing their skills with the LBJs of Canberra I am offering a bottle of Peter Lehman's Cabernet to the person finding a colour-banded Brown Thornbill that lives the greatest distance from the Botanic Gardens.
You don't have to read the bands although I do have to go back and confirm its identity so a good description of where it was seen is essential!!
This will go towards a research paper on dispersal strategies in thornbills and is part of a larger project of breeding biology of this delightful perky bird in Canberra.
Please call David Green on 6251 4319 (h) or 6249 5647 (w) to register your entry and watch this space for the winner.
Thanks in advance for your skilled help.
David Green
Volume 5 of The Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds (covering the Tyrant-flycatchers to Chats) is due for publication shortly. The publication price is $385.00 with a pre-publication price of $325.00 (plus $15 postage) from the RAOU. COG members who want a copy should phone Grahame Clark at home on 6254 1279. Grahame will organise a price as good as possible around Canberra. Final price depends on the volume of sales.
Olympus OM10 SLR and 400 mm Sigma APO f 5.6 telephoto lens-VGC with boxes and manuals-$595 ONO-good bird photo starter kit.
Chris Bellamy 6249 7167
Dr Alan Cowan of 144 Hopetoun Circuit, Yarralumla ACT 2600 (phone 6281 3038) has the following items for sale:
Items include the rare, the unusual, and the common. Almost the complete set of Emu, North's Nest and Eggs, and author's such as Cooper, Iredale, Hall, and McGill. Newsletters from BOC, COG, Gould League Notes, The Australian Bird Watcher. For a complete list please phone Bill Martin 6207 4170 (w) or 6259 1353 (h).
Going to work in the library,
he mounts the grey, slate steps.
A weighty bag is in his hand,
a thesis on his mind.
He fails to see the fairy wren
hopping through the rails
to hide in scented rosemary
where she will build her nest.
For while he sifts old papers
and studies arcane maps,
to clarify the logic
of his academic act,
the wren will breed
a smart new brood
of flickering
blue-tailed facts.Suzanne Edgar
Dropping through dusk
is the deeper darkness
of the bird -
blue-black, satin sheened
bowerbird.
He perches, scans
from thick grevillea:
I'm held by the violet
of that pellucid eye.
An eye to echo berries
by ferns and forest creeks,
that draws into its orbit
each trace of violet blue:
trinket or tinny thing,
feather from rosella,
frail shell of snail
or wing of butterfly
to deck the hall of straw
for his prancing dance
of love. Magnetic eye,
drawing me out of time
and held, still,
in this transcendent
moment.Suzanne Edgar 20/4/01
The flame within the tree
that is the parrot's head
burns through the leaves I see,
a feathery flare of red;
his wrinkled eyes, half-wise,
blink steadily at me,
frozen in case I tread
on sliding twig or scree
and break our meeting look.
Suzanne Edgar 26/5/00
See the pulsating throat,
the slender, yolk-yellow throat,
of the smart, cock pardalote
in his diamond-studded coat.Like an air-borne mouse
flying to his sand-bank house,
he enters the tunnel to rouse
and warn his brooding spouse.All spring he sings one song,
defying the currawong
who watchful, greedy and strong,
waits to do them wrong,alert to the throbbing throat,
the yolk-yellow, tender throat,
of the luscious pardalote
in his diamond-studded coat.
Suzanne Edgar
Request for information
The Australasian Wader Studies Group have recently started a Painted Snipe Project. New research shows that Australian birds may be a separate species, and also that they have become so rare over the last 20 years that they should be placed on the endangered list. We appeal for all observations of Painted Snipes anywhere in Australia at any time. We would also be interested in hearing from anybody who has searched extensively for Painted Snipes without finding them. Inquiries and records to be sent to:
Jim Wilson
13/27 Giles St
Kingston ACT 2604
Tel 6295 2528
email j.wilson@austarmetro.com.au
