Blog Archives

Birdwatching - notes for participants

12/2/2016

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

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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Find out more about shore birds... two videos

12/2/2016

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Two videos for those interested in finding out more about the amazing shore birds which fly annually from their breeding grounds in the Arctic Circle to summer in Australia, returning every year - flying a total of 30,000 kilometres a year.

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Birdwatching

If you would like to know more about birds in the Benalla district and would appreciate help in identifying birds, this group could be for you. The program involves mainly morning walks in local habitats rich in a range of bird life such as Reef Hills, Winton Wetland and Benalla Lake. There may also be an all day outing to a more distant location. Bring along a pair of binoculars to gain more value and enjoyment from this activity.

Convenor and contact details

Kathy Costello 5762 5755 Mobile 0447625755
coskoy@bigpond.com

Photographs - Andi Stevenson

Meeting Times

Six meetings:
Semester 1 - March, April and May.
Semester 2 - September, October, November.

2nd Thursday 9.30am to 12 noon

Meet at the car park behind the Benalla Senior Citizens Community Centre. Check newsletter for times and details.

Please note that outing arrangements may be altered if pandemic regulations change and are automatically cancelled on days of total fire ban.

New members

If you are new to the birdwatching group, check out Birdwatching - Notes for Participants - you will also find a video link in the notes which may assist you to adjust your binoculars