There are a number of guides or tools that can help you identify Australian birds. Some of these include printed field guides, bird identification apps for those with smart phones or tablets, information on websites, information on how to use binoculars and last but not least, help from birdwatchers in identifying local birds and their calls.
Printed field guides include:
Pizzey, G and Knight, F The field guide to the birds of Australia, 9th ed, 2013. Price $37 to $45
Simpson, K and Day, N Field guide to the birds of Australia, 2004, Price $33 to $40
Morcombe, M Field guide to Australian birds, 2000, Price $42 to $50
Slater, P The Slater field guide to Australian birds, 2nd ed, 2009, Price $33
Digital field guides
Morcombe’s Birds of Australia $28.60 Google App Store (special price) and Apple iTunes, $37.99, updated Oct 2014
Pizzey and Knight Birds of Australia $49.95, Google App Store and Apple iTunes, updated Dec 2014
Useful websites
Birdlife Australia http://birdlife.org.au/
Birds in Backyards (Birdlife Australia) http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/
Birdlife Australia, Murray Goulburn Branch, program for 2016 http://birdlife.org.au/group-events/birdlife-murray-goulburn/
Birding-aus (online & Facebook)
Victorian Birders (Facebook)
... and lots more groups on Facebook
Listing sites (to enter lists of birds seen at birding sites so that other birders can see them)
eBird - a world-wide listing database run by Cornell Uni. Dept of Ornithology. Excellent statistical reports. Also has a Facebook Page.
Eremaea Birdline - to report rare or unusual sightings in Australia; linked with eBird. http://www.eremaea.com
Printed field guides include:
Pizzey, G and Knight, F The field guide to the birds of Australia, 9th ed, 2013. Price $37 to $45
Simpson, K and Day, N Field guide to the birds of Australia, 2004, Price $33 to $40
Morcombe, M Field guide to Australian birds, 2000, Price $42 to $50
Slater, P The Slater field guide to Australian birds, 2nd ed, 2009, Price $33
Digital field guides
Morcombe’s Birds of Australia $28.60 Google App Store (special price) and Apple iTunes, $37.99, updated Oct 2014
Pizzey and Knight Birds of Australia $49.95, Google App Store and Apple iTunes, updated Dec 2014
Useful websites
Birdlife Australia http://birdlife.org.au/
Birds in Backyards (Birdlife Australia) http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/
Birdlife Australia, Murray Goulburn Branch, program for 2016 http://birdlife.org.au/group-events/birdlife-murray-goulburn/
Birding-aus (online & Facebook)
Victorian Birders (Facebook)
... and lots more groups on Facebook
Listing sites (to enter lists of birds seen at birding sites so that other birders can see them)
eBird - a world-wide listing database run by Cornell Uni. Dept of Ornithology. Excellent statistical reports. Also has a Facebook Page.
Eremaea Birdline - to report rare or unusual sightings in Australia; linked with eBird. http://www.eremaea.com
Binoculars - How to use central focussing binoculars – printed guide (pdf) and YouTube video:
Downloadable Document: Session 1 - Notes for Participants and Nokia Printed Guide - 'How to Use Central Focussing Binoculars' (pdf).
Acknowledgement: * My thanks go to Val La May, convenor of Seymour and District U3A Bird Appreciation course, for ideas contributed to these notes. Kathy Costello
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