Yandina Wetlands surveys

Hello all active Sunshine Coast Birders,

Many of you are aware of the Yandina Creek Wetlands and the efforts of Greg Roberts, who discovered the site’s value for rare and uncommon bird species, and others to encourage the protection of this area.

Some of you would also be aware that all of these efforts paid off when Unity Waters purchased the property. With that purchase and their on-going management Yandina Creek Wetlands now should enjoy a promising future. You can read about the wetlands and Unity Water here; https://www.unitywater.com/about-us/projects-in-your-area/major-projects/yandina-creek-wetland

In exciting news for local birders Unity Water and Birdlife Australia SE Queensland have entered into an agreement that involves monitoring the wetlands periodically; specifically undertaking bird surveys. Sunshine Coast birders have an opportunity to contribute to these surveys and thus contribute to the knowledge base essential for successful management. At this stage it is not possible to visit the site unless connected with these formal surveys.

To participate in the surveys each birder must participate in a workshop such that survey methodology, species identification and recording, site safety etc, can be clearly understood. Each birder must be responsible to protect themselves from harm – specifically sun, biting insects and the terrain – so hats, sun-screen, long sleeves and closed shoes or boots are essential.

The dates for these workshops are, at this stage, the 11^th and 25^th November. The workshops would run from approximately midday until 5pm. This time frame would allow both a workshop covering the above topics within a Unity Waters building before a visit to the Wetlands to undertake a bird survey. More specific details regarding the surveys will be available prior. There are plans to run a number of surveys throughout the year. Dates, times and participants for each subsequent survey will also be advised later.

Please let me know of your interest as soon as possible,

Cheers now and good birding,

Ken
friarbird43@bigpond.com

Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve Bird Theme

Hello all and, in particular, birders of Blackall Range,

Recently I have been approached by the Sunshine Coast Council Environmental Dept with reference to their educational displays at Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve. They plan to have different displays there every four months. The next theme display, to run from December ’17 until March ’18 is ‘Birds’.

This is where we [Birdlife SC] come in…. Hopefully we can contribute to this theme and encourage folks to learn not only about ‘Birds’ but birding, bird conservation and Birdlife Australia. Hopefully, too, we can encourage some more people to become members.

They have asked whether we can host some bird walks / talks and contribute to the displays in some ways. I certainly have some ideas…

In the first instance though I would like birders to consider volunteering some time to lead a bird walk or three over that four month period. The number of walks would be determined by the number of volunteers but I think the more the better. Ideally it would be great to have at least one weekly walk and perhaps alternate between a mid-week and a weekend.

My suggested programme would include;
1/ intro talk to describe birding [1 minute], key birds within Mary CC [c. 10 minutes] and Birdlife Australia [c. 2minutes]
2/ intro to using binoculars [perhaps using ‘birds’ within info hall] [c. 10 minutes]
3/ bird walk within reserve [c. 1 hour]
4/ bird call – encouraging participants to tick off species recorded on the walk [Mary CC – bird list] [c. 10 minutes]

SC Council have agreed to supply a box of binoculars which could be borrowed.

PLEASE let me know if you could assist, in some way, with this project asap.

Cheers for now
Ken

Ken Cross | Local Branch Convenor
Sunshine Coast Branch
BirdLife Southern Queensland
PO Box 375
Annerley QLD 4103
southernqld@birdlife.org.au |birdlife.org.au
ABN 75 149 124 774
birds are in our nature
Tel: 0754457881

friarbird43@bigpond.com

2017 CALENDAR UPDATES

September 13 – Wednesday Outing – Park Lakes, Bli Bli   Leader – Vince Lee & Paul Jensen

October 14 – Saturday Outing – All day twitch – various locations          Leaders – Steve Popple + others

Mini Twich -  to raise monies for a conservation cause. The idea is to see and / or hear as many bird species as possible between the hours of 7am and 6pm on Saturday October 14 anywhere on the Sunshine Coast.

The twitch will begin at Petrie Park Nambour at 7.00am and finish at 6.00pm at Felix Parry Park Marcoola at the Lorraine Ave end, turn right off Petrie Ave. [Dining options include Four Fat Fish Seafood or other takeaway places opposite.]

Minimum team size 2 maximum 4. Make your own team or just turn up on the day and join one. Participation cost? $20 per person suggested.

Please RSVP to Steve Popple at bushescapes@bigpond.com

October 18 – Wednesday Outing – Scarfe Road                Leader – John Malings

One of the Council’s new reserves - Scarffe Road Glenview. This reserve is fenced off and not open to the public, it includes a large quarried lake including adjoining maintenance roadways and is surrounded by riparian rainforest. It also adjoins existing Mooloolah River Esplanade Reserves.

The entrance gates are located at the end of Scarffe Road before the bridge (private property), there is plenty of parking along Scarffe Road.

To get there:

Enter Mooloolah Connection Road off Steve Irwin Way, then enter Scarffe Road (WHICH IS NOT SIGNPOSTED) off Mooloolah Connection Road at Glenview. Scarffe Road is the first road on your right. If you have reached Stevens Road you have gone approximately 300 metres too far. Public toilets are located about 1.3 kilometres down Mooloolah Connection Road at Ewen Maddock Dam Reserve.

November 11 - Saturday Outing – Gheerulla Falls track, Mapleton Leader – Ken Cross

November 15 – Wednesday Outing – Toorbul                    Leader – John Kooistra & Vince Lee

November 24, 25 & 26 – Weekend Away - Tin Can Bay

December 2 - Saturday Outing – Bli Bli + Finland Road + BBQ breakfast          Leader – Ken Cross

Advanced notice of our October weekend outing.

We will be conducting a Mini Twich to raise monies for a conservation cause. The idea of course is to see and / or hear as many bird species as possible between the hours of 7am and 6pm on Saturday October 14.

The twitch will begin at Petrie Park Nambour at 7.00am and finish at 6.00pm at Felix Parry Park Marcoola at the Lorraine Ave end, turn right off Petrie Ave. [Dining options include Four Fat Fish Seafood or other takeaway places opposite.]

Minimum team size 2 maximum 4. Make your own team or just turn up on the day and join one. Participation cost? $20 per person suggested.

Please RSVP to Steve Popple at bushescapes@bigpond.com