Rosella Feathers 15 Jan 2008

Change to BASQ Website. BASQ has a new web address: www.basq.org.au.

A Call for Help to Bird Survey. The 2008 Brisbane City Council surveys start on January 19th and 20th. We will have three properties at Moggill (2 new and Sprent’s) and three properties at Brookfield (2 new and Watt’s) to survey, Depending on the number of participants these surveys can take from one hour (many birders) to half a day (few birders). The usual is to have four people survey each property, with twelve participants this means a 6am start and a 7am finish and the rest of the day is your own. As usual many hands make light work.

The last couple of surveys have only attracted two to five people in total, which means each property has to be surveyed one after the other, this has resulted usually in the survey team working from 6am until midday. So I put out a plea to all Birds Australia members in the two survey areas of Moggill and Brookfield please lend us a hand for one hour once every season. In 2008 the survey dates are:

19th January – Moggill – meet at 5:40am on the corner of Chad Rd and Livesay Rd
20th January – Brookfield – meet at 5:40am in front of the shop at Upper Brookfield on Upper Brookfield Rd

3rd May – Moggill – meet at 5:40am on the corner of Chad Rd and Livesay Rd
4th May – Brookfield – meet at 5:40am in front of the shop on Upper Brookfield Rd

19th July – Moggill – meet at 5:40am on the corner of Chad Rd and Livesay Rd
20th July – Brookfield – meet at 5:40am in front of the shop on Upper Brookfield Rd

25th October – Moggill – meet at 5:40am on the corner of Chad Rd and Livesay Rd
26th October – Brookfield – meet at 5:40am in front of the shop on Upper Brookfield Rd

I look forward to seeing many people, please contact me on dez.wells@bigpond.com to confirm attendance and to receive an email of any extra requirements/safety beyond water, binoculars, pencils and notebook or alternatively ring and leave a message on 042890111.
Cheers
Dez Wells, Deputy Convenor BASQ

"Birds of Southern Queensland". All-day conference at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs (about 90 km north of the Brisbane CBD) on Saturday 8 March 2008.

The proposed program for the day is to include invited talks/posters about bird research occurring in Southern Queensland, a workshop on Atlassing, updates on some of our projects/activities and concluding with our AGM. BA CEO Graeme Hamilton and President Alison Russell-French have agreed to attend. Andrew Silcocks (Birds Australia Atlas Coordinator) will run the Atlas Workshop, with assistance from Chris Sanderson. There will be a beginners session and an advanced session for experienced Atlassers.

The Forest Glen Holiday Resort, five minutes drive away, will be the base for field trips on Sunday 9 March.

Registration forms and program details will be post on the BASQ website by the end of this month.

Stock Routes.BASQ is working to obtain support for the proposition that the NSW and Queensland Stock Routes should be declared a ‘Reserve for Travelling Stock and Biodiversity’, managed by the current managers and adequately resourced with supplements from public funds. There are moves to sell or lease currently unused routes.

Many stock routes provide habitat for flora and fauna absent from surrounding areas. In many places they are the only source of connectivity in the landscape. This connectivity will be of importance for species adversely affected by climate change.

Up to now, the managers of the stock routes have maintained their grazing value, and incidentally their biodiversity values. A small extra investment will enhance the latter.
The environmental case.   Birds Australia policy.

Grahame Rogers Secretary BASQ, PO Box 224, CROWS NEST, QLD 4355