Mistletoe Bird by David Ong
To many people, birding may seem an unfathomable pastime, something like train spotting perhaps. Birding may conjure up images of someone feeding magpies or looking through binoculars at birds in an urban park. Such images of a bird observer may not be accurate. Perhaps there are as many reasons why people are interested in birding as there are birders. Some birders wish to see bird species they have not observed before, even if this means travelling to various parts of the country at short notice or trudging through swamps. Some birders enjoy roughing it, camping in a tent in the remote outback, so that they can see the birds of that region. Others travel about birding from early morn to dusk but, at night, prefer the comforts of a motel. Some go on a small fishing boat in rough seas to observe seabirds (a pelagic) whilst others rarely travel far from home. Apart from conducting surveys, birders are often involved in habitat restoration or protection work. This sometimes puts birders offside with those who wish to damage bird habitats, e.g. by clearing natural vegetation. If action is not taken to protect the habitats of birds, bird watching will be more difficult and less enjoyable. That is why more and more stress is being placed on 'conservation' and 'education' and why the name of the parent organisation has been changed from Bird Observers Club. Birding helps one to better appreciate the natural environment and the inter-relationship between plants and animals.
Sean Dooley's book Anoraks to Zitting Cisticola helps explain birding terms and the strange habits of birders.
This book is one of many reviewed on our book review page.
Our BOCA branch offers members a wide range of birding experiences, from bush camps to 4WD safaris, from local outings to surveys which involve wading in swamps or counting parrots in local forests. You are welcome to join us.
Superb Parrot by David Ong
Click here to see more photos by
David of Echuca district birds.
If you are interested in joining BOCA,you can join online using the BOCA headquarters website. If you are a BOCA member and live in the vicinity of Echuca-Moama, there is no additional fee to belong to this Branch. Along the Murray River, there are also branches based on Shepparton/Benalla, Mildura and Albury-Wodonga.
Latest postings Outings for the remainder of 2009 were posted. Crossword 15 has been taken offline until a minor error is corrected. Some Branches have new web sites and links have been made to these new sites. June 2009.
All links were last checked, and extra links added, during February 2007. Please advise webmeister of any additional useful, relevant link or links that no longer function.
Birding
Links
1. Photo galleries
(Peter Fuller's birding site)
(bird section)
(click on 'collections')
2 Birding
sites of individual birders (other than photo galleries)
(Mike Reed of Katherine's site)
(Jo Wieneke's site)
3. Birding
paraphernalia
4. Regional
Birding
(north-eastern Northern Territory)
(central Victoria)
(central-eastern inland NSW)
(by Carol Probets)
(Sunshine Coast, Qld)
(central-eastern inland NSW)
(SE Qld)
(north-east Qld)
if link doesn't work, try http://ntbirds.net/
(Leeton NSW)
(South Australia)
(Echuca & District BOCA)
(by Peter Woodall)
(by Peter Waanders)
(by Steve Clark)
(by Tom Tarrant)
(Cumberland Bird Observers)
(by Alan Fletcher)
(by Frank O'Connor)
5 Sites on
specific birds or bird types
6. State or
Australia-wide birding sites of groups/clubs
(now affiliated with BOCA)
7. Commercial
birding sites ~ guides, tours etc
(guide: Australia, pelagics, overseas)
(Lamington Plateau, SE Qld)
(Lloyd Nielsen's site)
(Tours and B&B)
(Carol Probets, birding guide)
(north Queensland)
(Kuranda, north Queensland)
(specialising in Lamington National Park, Qld)
(Dr Tonia Cochran ~ accommodation and nature tours)
(videos and DVDs; wildlife guide)
(far north Queensland)
(George Swan)
(inland from Cairns, foot of Mt Lewis)
(Cape York/Innisfail, Queensland)
(eastern NSW)
(bird and plant book author)
8. Ornithology
courses
9 Sightings
& records
(commercial database software)
10 Other
This sign pointing to Moama was not photographed any where near Echuca-Moama but along the Quilpie-Eulo Road in south-western Queensland where Moama is the name of an outback property. Photo: K Stockwell.
Echuca
and District BOCA
Home
page of the Echuca and District Branch of
Bird Observation & Conservation Australia
Red-capped Robin (D Ong)
Newsletter 54 (June-July 2009)
This newsletter
contains articles about vagrants, e.g. Brown Honeyeater in Kamarooka Forest plus more on El and Al's continuing adventures arounde Australia and news about a 60 million dollar project proposed for Koondrook-Perricoota Forest.
Newsletter 53 (April-May 2009)
Click here for a slide show of our TASalong (and then click on birding link of the Winderdoon site)
The Echuca and District Branch is one of many BOCA branches. Click here for links to other branches.
There is a site map toward the bottom of this page. Some of the pages on this site are:
Avian Crosswords and solutions
Our neXt ouTings
Once announced, we try to run all outings, but please check here (or phone the leader) for meeting places and dates a few days beforehand in case of last minute changes, e.g. cancellations owing to fire bans, illness of leader or unavailability of a landholder. Outings are cancelled if there is a day of Total Fire Ban in the region to be visited.
Quarterly surveys
Following a request made by DPI Kerang, the Branch has agreed to assist water authorities and DPI Kerang to carry out quarterly bird surveys at specific locations alongside Splatts Lagoon (the course of Gunbower Creek prior to the construction of The National Channel) and Cockatoo Lagoon. The surveys are associated with assessing the success of environmental works. Fences are being repaired and built to prevent cattle from damaging public land and polluting the creek (which provides drinking water). Members who are prepared to assist, contact the Branch secretary. Next survey period is July 2009.Sunday 12th July 2009
Axedale area
Meet 9.30 in the car park (around the corner from McIvor Highway) opposite Axedale Police Station. Enquiries: Peter (03) 5484 1576.Saturday 15th August 2009
Rushworth and Whroo
Meet 9.00 at the rotunda near the corner of Wigg Street and High Street Rushworth. Visit box-ironbark forest. BYO lunch. Enquiries: Peter (03) 5484 1576.Saturday 5th September 2009
Bunnaloo Owl Prowl
Leader: Joan Ferguson. Meet 2.45pm in the Moama Lions Park (alongside Madison Spa Resort), off Meninya Street Moama. Following afternoon birding, eat your picnic dinner at Womboota and then set out on an owl prowl. BYO dinner and spotlight (covered with red cellopohane).Sunday 25th October 2009
Wetlands of Gunbower Island
Leader: Betty Waterson. Meet8.50 for 9am (summer time) in Apex Park, Island Road Cohuna (turn right off the Murray Valley Highway at the roundabout in Cohuna; VicRoads 212 J10*). As part of BOCA Bird Week,the theme of which is wetlands, the Branch is organising a display in a local library and conducting this outing, seeking wetland birds. Bring lunch.
Note: VicRoads map references are for Edition 4 and differ in some later editions.
New national park to protect wetlands
The Australian government has purchased a 5,936 hecare property, Booligal Station, alongside the Lachlan River to gain environmental water. The station, which will become a national park, features about 2,500 hectares of wetlands which attract colonial water birds during flood times. As well as the Booligal Wetlands, the purchase will protect forests, Black Box woodland as well as shrubland and native grassland. June 2009
BOCA Board meets in Echuca-Moama
On saturday 30th May 2009, the BOCA Board heldits monthly board meeting in Moama on Saturday 30th May. Afew members took the opportunity to discuss various issues with Board members. An outing to wetlands around Moama took place the following morning and well over 40 species were observed. June 2009
Richardson's (Baillieu's) Lagoon being rehabilited
A pipeline has been laid from the Murray River to convey water into Richardsons Lagoon at Torrumbarry.Until now, the lagoon has been fed by a creek which, over recent years, has carried irrigation runoff water and allowed carp to enter the lagoon. The lagoon has been polluted with farm chemicas and cattle waste. The pipeline, which will carry cleaner water to the lagoon, has a mesh filter to prevent large carp from entering the lagoon. April 2009
Walking Trail opened
A 1.4km walking gtrail has been constructed on Restdown Station, near Bunnaloo, north-west of Moama. gthe trail has interpretive signs and passes through a varity of vegetation types.It skirts an ephemeral wetland which attracts thousands of waterbirds when it is full. Unfortunately, prolonged drought means the wetland has not been full for many years. Based on a trail at Banrock Station (Kingston-on-Murray), the trail starts and ends at an underground winery on the property. See the Restdown web site for more details. The trail was officially opened on 26th April, a week after Echucaand District BOCA members visited the property .Unfortunately the interpretive signage had not been installed when we visited.
Tang Tang Swamp: rehabilitation proposed
The Northern United Farm Forestry Group has applied for an Australian government Caring for Country Grant to rehabilitate Tang Tang Swamp. This wetland, which is located south of Terrick Terrick National Park and east of the township of Dingee, used to be an important feeding area for Brolga sand water bird. It is in a degraded condition. We applaud this initiative. April 2009
Branch members support restoration of Gunbower Creek downstream of Torrumbarry.
Several branch members have conducted bird surveys on public land (1) alongside Mahers Creek and Splatts Lagoon (Gunbower Creek) and (2) on Cockatoo Island to show support for an initiative to rehabilitate Gunbower Creek. In order to improve water quality by preventing an excessive amount of nutrients from washing into the creek, fences will be used to keep cattle away from the edge of the creek. The vegetation alongside the creek has become degraded and it is hoped that fencing and revegetation works will assist in the creek's rehabilitiation. During the first quarterly surveys, members observed just under bird species at each of the two locations surveyed. We thank adjoining property managers for permission to cross their land in order to complete our survey. April 2009.
Brown Honeyeater observed in Kamarooka Forest
Late in March, photographer David Kleinhert observed a Brown Honeyeater at the distillery dams, Campbells Road, in Kaamarooka Forest which is part of the Greater Bendigo National Park. This is the first authenticated sighting of this honeyeagter species in Victoria. However, Pyramid Hill observer Simon Starr believes that he observed a Brown Honeyeater at the same spot last year. David has given us permission to include a photo of the bird he observed in Kamarooka in the next issue of our Branch newsletter, Plains-wanderer.The bird appeared in an area which DSE intend to burn shortly. Much of the surrounding area of this important drought refuge has been burnt despite our protests. A delegation of Branch members is to meet with other concerned environmetnal groups during April in the hope of coordinating our campaign against controlled 'fuel reduction burns' in this area. We fear that these burns will increase the long-term fire risk insofar as the growth of more flammable plants will be encouraged (i.e. we have observed that Melaleuca is taking over from Mallee as a result of controlled burns).
Several vagrants have been sighted over recent months. Earlier this year, member observed a Franklins Gull at Broome and a Laughing Gull at Cairns. Last year, a flock of Painted Finches was observed near Jerilderie.All these birds were well out of their normal range. April 2009.
$600,000 project to water Perricoota Forest
The Murray CMA hopes to improve the delivery of environmental water into the Perricoota-Koondrook Forest by constructing a new channel and by rebuilding levee banks around the forest. When available, environmental water is to be diverted from Torrumbarry Weir via a ndew channel and into existing waterways. Levee banks will protect surrounding farmland from flooding. Structures within the forest will allow the water to return to the river system for reuse. The scheme will be operatged in such a way as to mimic the natural flood patterns of the past.The Perricoota-Koondrook Forest covers about 32,000 hectares in New South Wales downstream of Echuca-Moama and is part of the second-largest Red Gum wetland in Australia. The Victorian side of the same forest is largely on Gunbower Island and engineering works already allow an efficient delivery of available environmental water to much of the island.
Unfortunately,as is the case with the Barmah-Millewa Forest upstream of Echuca-Moama, the NSW/Victorian state border runs through the length of this forest. Management of these forests is hence shared by different Catchment Management Authorities. Some cross-border bodies have been established to help coordinate management. April 2009.
Environmental water released into Kow Swamp
Enviromental water has been released into Kow Swamp near Kerang. There have been at least six Brolgas feeding in and around the swamp. They appear to be in pairs.A members writes: 'We watched them for some time just feeding in the grassy area near the swamp then continued further around the swamp & found a sea eagle eating a fish in a dead tree. There were about 6 whistling kites dive bombing the sea eagle. That kept us amused for a while. Also 3 hobbys finished off the afternoon. Lots of ducks pelicans and all the rest of the common birds also there. It was good to see so many birds as there are not many water spots around. It appears more water has been put into the swamp as the water level is high.'
* More environmental water was released onto Gunbower Island (Black Swamp area) late in April.
April 2009
Duck shooting season allowed in Victoria
Prior to duck season opening, the Branch wrote to the Victorian Minister for Conservation expressing our disgust with his decision to allow a duck killing season for the first time in several years despite the fact that the prolonged drought is worse than ever, most local wetlands being dry and waterbird numbers being very low.DSE argued against allowing a duck shooting season but the Minister over-ruled the advice of his own department. We received a 'stock' letter from an official which failed to address our concerns. Our outing to Gunbower Island coincided with the opening morning of the duck killing season, so that morning we were forced to visit farmland away from the wetlands. Duck shooting season has not been allowed in most Australian States for several years. March 2009.Postscript: whilst undertaking a bird survey a few weeks after the opening of the season, members noted that ducks and waterbirds appeared very nervous and stressed, taking flight whenever there was a noise or whenever we were spotted. Maybe it's just our bias, but, prior to the season, waterbirds seemed less nervous. April 2009.
Victorian government agrees to new national parks and reserves
The Victorian Government has announced that it will create four new national parks along the Murray, Ovens and Goulburn Rivers.The government has agreed to demands that camping be allowed in the parks, that horses be allowed and that camp fires be allowed except on days of total fire ban.Our Branch has campaigned for the restoration of the Kanyapella Basin and was pleased that VEAC recommended that it be national park. However, the government has downgraded VEACs recommendation. It is to be a 'Wildlife Reserve'. Although adequate policing and funding may be less likely the basin has achieved reserve status, is likely to fall under the control of DSE and the present management advisory committee is likely to continue. The Branch is representated on the committee.
A number of grassland paddocks have been added to Terrick Terrick National Park and a number of nature conservation reserves have been announced. Again, however, the number of NCRs appears to have been reduced.
For information about and a map of the new parks and reserves, visit the Parks Victoria web site. Legislation will come before parliament during 2009 and is expected to pass both houses with the support of the Greens. February 2009.
Reedy Swamp topped up but...
Keith Ward advises that additional environmental water has been released into Reedy Swamp, Shepparton, which is serving as a drought refuge. As the wetland already contained water, no blackwater event has occurred (see below). Many water birds have sought refuge on the swamp and some breeding has taken place. Unfortunately, evaporation over several exceptionally hot days exceeded the amount of additional environmen tal water released. February 2009.Postscript: More water has been released for this wetland. Duck shooting is not permitted on this wetland. April 2009
Black water event caused by vandals
Early in February or late in January, a person or persons unknown damaged regulators in Barmah Forest, allowing water to enter some creeks and wetlands at a time of high temperatures. This act of wanton vandalism has resulted in a black water event, i.e. deoxygenated water has led to the death of many fish and other animals. When water is released into dry wetlands during hot weather, the repid breakdown of vegetative matter by micro-organisms withdraws oxygen from the water. Ideally, environmental water should enter dry wetlands during the spring. Wetlands which have contained water for some time naturally dry out at this time of year. February 2009
Flickr
To see many photos of Australian birds, type the name of species you wish to view into the photo section of flickr.com
Prolonged hot weather
During January and February 2009, the Echuca district suffered a prolonged period of hot, dry weather, with the temperature exceeding 43 degrees Celsius day after day. Saturday 7th February was particularly hot and wind. There are reports of birds dropping to the ground dead and reports of birds seeking protection from the hot, dry wind. On the Korrak Korrak grasslands near Kerang, on 7th February when the temperature was about 47 degrees Celsius, several grassland birds were observed flying from ground cracks, some of which were at least a metre in depth. Wild fires broke out to the south of our region. Several houses were lost in Bendigo and about 2,000 homes in other parts of Victoria. Scores, possibly hundreds, of people perished. Obviously, wildlife, including birfds, suffered terribly. Several of the dead birds observed were Rosellas. Wildlife Victoria is seeking donations so that the organisation can help care for injured and displaced wildlife.Despite the devestation caused by the wild fires, we stand by the arguments we advanced opposing fuel-reduction burns along Campbell Road in Kamarooka Forest as this was one of the few refuges available to a wide range of bush birds, there being permanent water and a diversity of vegetation well away from any houses or other 'assets'. The surrounding forest has a relatively low ground fuel load. February 2009
TASalong photo gallery
Jon Hosford has a slide show of photos from our February 2008 TASalong on his web site, Winderdoon. Photographs refresh automatically at 10 second intervals. Click here to enter. Then click on birding section and TASalong slide show. January 2009.
Environmental and fuel-reduction burns: good results and bad results
According to newspaper reports, about 25 hectares have been burnt by DSE in Barmah Forest. Those who have observed the result claim that several 300-year-old trees were badly burnt in the fire. It is understood that DSE lit the fire to help control some reeds which were regarded as a bushfire risk. According to DSE fire plans, no large fuel reduction burns are planned for Barmah Forest.A fire along Burnside Road in Kamarooka Forest has burnt the base of several old Yellow Gum trees. A photo in the latest newsletter shows one old tree which has fallen to the ground because it was burnt through at the base. This was an area where White-browed Babblers and Black Honeyeaters nest.
Several Branch members are very upset about the nature of and extent of DSE burns in Greater Bendigo National Park (GBNP) and elsewhere. It seems that DSE is burning good birding habitat in the middle of the GBNP, damaging the very assets which it is charged to protect!
The president, secretary and some members were part of a delgation which recently expressed its concerns to the MP for Bendigo East, Jacinta Allan.
Our letters to DSE Bendigo (the first of which was written about two months ago), expressing our concerns and asking a number of questions remain unanswered (see postdscript below). October 2008
Postscripts:
On behalf of the minister, a detailed answer addressing our questions was received from a DSE spokesperson early in November 2008 and a delegation met with DSE Bendigo late in April 2009 to express our concerns.In order to control an invasion of Giant Rush (Juncus ingens) on an area of Moira Grass, DSE has carried out an environmental burn on Steamer Plain in Barmah National Park.The burn has been very successful and the Moira Grass community of plants has responded exceptionally well. April 2009
Terricks
Much of the environmental works planned for Terricks ~ revegetation works in a paddock from which trees and shrubs have been removed prior to the park's proclamation, and a wildlife corridor linking wooded areas of the park to Bendigo Creek ~ have been completed.The recent friends weekend was successful, with about 40 people attending; hundreds of Round Cactus plants were injected with posion, Box Thorn was cut and poisoned, barbed wire was removed from fences, exclusion study plots were erected and roadside rubbish was collected and removed. There was a terrific talk by Victoria's chief botanist. Lots of good birds were observed over the weekend, including Diamond Firetail (nesting), Hooded Robin, Black Honeyeater and Plains-wanderer. An early morning bird walk yielded 33 species in just over an hour.
Guest speaker at the Friends weekend was Victoria's chief botanist, David Cameron, who explained that over half of Victoria's palnts are classified as threatened, near-threatened or endangered.
The Friends will shortly play host to a local primary school. After a school visit at which a representative will speak about the park and its wildlife, the pupils and their families will be invited to a BBQ in the park after which they will help the ranger find a Plains-wanderer. October 2008
BOCA web site
BOCA's web site has been upgraded with maps and information about birding hot spots. To fully access the site, members will need to enter their BOCA number and their name. The site is worth visiting. October 2008
Environmental burns planned for Greater Bendigo National Park
DSE plans to undertake more environmental burns in Greater Bendigo Park. Two control burns were recently undertaken along Campbell Road despite the fact that the areas were home to such locally uncommon species as Gilberts Whistler and Spotted Nightjar and despite the fact that the area concerned is near to the centre of Kamarooka Forest. We understand that the area between the two burnt areas is marked down for a controlled burn as are other areas in the Park. According to a recent research paper, some birds found in the area (e.g. Diamond Firetail) require at least 35 fire-free years in order for the habitat to be optimal for their needs. There have been relatively few fires in the forest over the years. Representatives of the branch are to meet with a representative of Bendigo Field Naturalists Club and DSE to discuss this matter. August 2008.
Terrick Terrick forest to Bendigo Creek bio-link completed
A few months ago, Nrthern Plains Conservation Management Network ranger Ben Thomas has announced that he is working with landholders to establish corridors to link the woodlands in Terrick Terrick National Park with Bullock Creek to the west and Bendigo Creek to the east. The wildlife corridors are aimed at enabling existing Grey-crowned Babbler colonies to interbreed, thereby enhancing their genetic diversity. Fencing, direct seeding and planting of indigenous vegetation has now been completed between Bendigo Creek and the forested section of Terrick Terrick National Park.Bendigo Creek (and Pyramid Creek) is being progressively fenced and, where necessary, revegetated in places between Terrick Terrick National Park and the Murray River. Much restoration work has already been carried out along Bendigo Creek, e.g. in Rowlands and Flannerys reserves. August 2008.
Barmah-Millewa CRG dissolved
We have received notification from the Murray Rankin of Department of Sustainability and Environment that the cross-border Barmah-Millewa Community Reference Group has been dissolved. Mr Rankin advised that all Living Murray community reference groups are being reformed with consistent terms of reference and membershipı. Members are to be drawn from a mixture of nominations from key organisations and stakeholder groups, and expressions of interest from the general publicı. Our branch has been represented on the dissolved body and on its predecessor, the Barmah-Millewa Forum. Our secretary has been appointed to the new CRG. July 2008.
Locusts: a more balanced view
* Eris O'Brien is concerned that an article about locusts in the previous Plains Wanderer (Number 42) may not reflect his 'balanced' view and has forwarded another article more clearly reflecting his views. Click here to read the clarification Eris has forwarded. Eris's clarification is published in the August newsletter (Number 43) which also features an article by Pam and John Land who are birding in northern Australia. 2007.
Bush Stone Curlew (K Stockwell)
See our 'Featured Bird' page for notes about Curlews
Concern about Quail hunting
* The Northern Plains Conservation Management Network and Trust for Nature are concerned for Stubble Quail. Whilst numbers were high, the loss of indigenous grasslands and continuous cropping regimes mean there is little suitable habitat remaining.Anectdotal evidence suggests that quail numbers have collapsed, there has probably been no recent survey of Stubble Quail numbers, and yet this year's quail hunting season was allowed to happen.
The northern Victorian grasslands contain one of the last populations of the endangered Plains-wanderer in Victoria. They occur in the same habitat as Stubble Quail. Plains-wanderers are, on occasion, mistakenly shot because of mis-identification. The use of dogs for locating quail during hunts is also a threat to Plains-wanderers. The Network has written to Victoria's conservation minister, asking for quail hunting to be prohibited.
Becoming a BOCA member gives you access to members only section of the BOCA HQ web site and enables you to come on BOCA Branch outings in various of Australia. By joining a birding organisation, you are assisting in the conservation of Australia's birds and bushland. Join now!
Another David with a local bird gallery
* David Kleinert, formerly of North Central Catchment Management Authority, has placed an extensive gallery of his photographs on line. The site is one of the top 500 birding sites. Apart from photographs of most of the birds found in northern Victoria the southern Riverina, David has several photos of local forests and inidgenous animals. Check the site out by clicking here and follow the link to David's index page.
Brochures
Nine brochures on local birding spots can be downloaded from this page. During December, minor amendments were made to brochure number 1 and brochure number 4. The Barmah brochure now mentions a fenced exclosure along Dargans Track near the Murray River. Birding around the fenced area is often quite good ~ e.g. Painted Button Quail ~ but the area should only be visited when forest roads are dry. The Mathoura/Gulpa Island brochure now mentions that the walking tracks alongside Gulpa Creek at Mathoura are now linked up. A bridge over Gulpa Creek has recently been completed, linking walkways 1 and 2.More items (Archived 2008 and earlier Just Heard items)
Recent Sightings
In June 2009, several Brolga were observed on the western side of Kow Swamp, a large lake near Kerang.Several landholders have reported seeing flocks of Cockatiel and Budgies in our district over summer 2009. Eris O'Brien reports seeing a flock of around 100 Banded Lapwing over Christmas in the Korrak Korrak area.
A Brown Honeyeater was observed at Kamarooka in late March 2009.
An Inland Dotterel was observed on grassland at Korrak Korrak (locality) south of Kerang on 23rd April 2009.
Download the latest newsletter for details of recent sightings.
Please email details of unusual sightings in the greater Echuca-Moama district to stocky at echuca dot com dot au
BOcA
The Bird Observers Club of Australia has changed its name to Bird Observation & Conservation Australia. acronym, BOCA, remains the same.
The name change may help generate public awareness that birds serve as indicators of environmental health and may help attract new members.
Committed to encouraging bird watching as an interest, BOCA's original name did not however, reflect its ongoing dedication to sustain Australian birdlife and their natural habitat, as CEO Richard Hunter explains: ''BOCA's nationwide conservation programs are of critical importance to the ongoing preservation of birds and their environment. On a local level we provide advice for concerned branch members and we facilitate and support programs that are vital to preserving birds and their habitat. This advice and education extends to the wider community and the Government,'' Mt Hunter said.
Some of BOCA's previous conservation activity includes purchasing and donating land to save the Helmeted Honeyeater in Victoria and establishment of the Land for Wildlife scheme. BOCA also manages Clarkesdale Bird Sanctuary west of Ballarat, providing habitat for a wide range of species, and contributes regular input into projects such as the first-class Eagleby Wetlands in South-east Queensland, which regards the needs of native birds to that area as paramount.
Plans are now in motion to boost BOCA's effort regionally by increasing national office resources and recruiting support staff for their Conservation and Education Coordinators. This expansion of work will see BOCA augment their input into large-scale development proposals around Australia.
Projects such as the damming of Queensland's Mary River could have enormous impact on bird habitat in such sensitive areas. ''BOCA and its members are acutely aware that habitat reduction and change can have a disastrous, irreversible effect on our native birds. We are committed to raising public awareness of this environmental issue so that Australian native birdlife is sustained and enjoyed for years to come'', Mr Hunter said.
Echuca and District Branch has been advised that a number of people in our district have joined BOCA over recent months. Welcome aboard: we hope to meet you soon. Forthcoming outings are listed above.
If you are interested in joining, there are membership details on BOCAs web site. Branch contact details are listed at the foot of this page.
The Internet is a marvellous source of information on birding. Many of the links listed to the left have links to even more sites. We would like to place a link to all other BOCA branch with a web site and to other good Australian birding sites. Please advise the webmeister if any link is outdated or broken or if you know of a site worthy of inclusion. Email: email stocky @ mail dot mcmedia dot com dot au Links were last fully checked during October 2006 so some links may no longer work.
Birders atop Mt Terrick Terrick (Mitiamo Rock) during one the Branch's three consecutive day outings in May 2006.
Site Map
Documents which are in PDF format can be read using Adobe Acrobat Reader which can be downloaded cost free from the Adobe web site at: http://www.adobe.com.au/products/acrobat/readstep2.html. It is suggested that you update to the latest version as recommended by Adobe for your system. Full versions which enable you to create pdf files can be purchased through Adobe or through most computer stores.
Note: Terricks Guide link fixed 3 April 2007. Cohuna/Gunbower Island Guide upgraded/corrected 3 April 2007
Other BOCA branches and affiliates on-line:
Bundaberg
Northern Victoria and Southern Riverina Conservation and Environment Site
Click next button for articles by
Echuca and District BOCA branch members
Thirteenth
year on the web.
To
contact webmeister email stocky at mcmedia dot com .au
Mail address: Secretary, Echuca & District Branch BOCA, 11 Hillview
Ave MOAMA 2731
Site established 1996. Latest upgrade 4 February 2009.
To
contact webmeister email stocky at mcmedia dot com .au
Mail address: Secretary, Echuca & District Branch BOCA, 11 Hillview
Ave MOAMA 2731
Site established 1996. Latest upgrade 4 February 2009.