Rosella Feathers 24 Feb 2008

Its not too late to register! (By 29 Feb to avoid the late fee.)

The Birds of Southern Queensland — research and conservation. This is the theme of the Annual Conference of Birds Australia Southern Queensland, to be held from 8:50 am to 5 pm Saturday 8 March 2008 at University of the Sunshine Coast, cnr Sippy Downs Drive and Stringybark Rd, Sippy Downs (UBD 78 M17).

Papers will be mainly about the birds of Southern Queensland, including:

1. Dr Jennifer Carter, Vanessa Moscato and Neil Tindale, University of the Sunshine Coast
   “Geographic Information Systems as integrative knowledge for raptor conservation”
2. Dr Judit Szabo, University of Queensland
  “Changes in bird abundances in SE Queensland”
3. Ms Danielle Shanahan, University of Queensland
  “How Much Do We Know? Predicting avian patch occupancy in South East Queensland”
4. Sandra Harding and David Milton, Queensland Wader Study Group
  “Managing and conserving wader roost habitat in SEQ: local government, the forgotten link”
5. Dr Robert Sutherst, Mr Evan Cleland, Dr Judit Szabo and Mr Grahame Rogers, BASQ, Univ of Qld and Applied Environmental Decision Analysis Hub
  “Protecting the stock route network”
6. Mr David Niland, Birds Queensland and Glossy Black Conservancy
  "Progress on Understanding the Glossy Blacks of South-east Queensland"
7. Mr Greg Ford, Queensland Murray-Darling Committee Inc.
  “Birds as biodiversity flagships in the Queensland Murray-Darling Basin Region”
8. Mr Brad Dreis and Dr Justin Watson, Natural Solutions, Brisbane
  “Protection and Conservation of Birds in South East Queensland”
9. Ms. Alison Howes, Australian Centre for Sustainable Catchments, Univ of Southern Qld
  “Woodland bird diversity and Noisy Miners in Brigalow Belt forests”

An Atlas workshop will be run by Andrew Silcocks (Birds Australia Atlas Coordinator) assisted by Chris Sanderson (Atlassing in the Regions Project Coordinator). There will sections for beginners and advanced atlassers, including information about the new linear method recently adopted. There will be a practice 2 ha survey in the University grounds for beginners (bring binoculars).

Birds Australia President Alison Russell-French, and CEO Graeme Hamilton will take part in the conference.

Registration forms available from the Secretary, or downloaded. Registrations are due by Feb 29.

The 4th Annual General Meeting of Birds Australia Southern Queensland, 4 pm Saturday 8 March 2008, University of the Sunshine Coast, Lecture Theatre 3 (LT3) in Building I (Faculty of Science, Health and Education). For more details see the website. Nomination forms for the Committee to be in the hands of the secretary 48 hours before the meeting. An instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing signed by the appointer or his/her attorney. This instrument of proxy shall be in the hands of the Secretary of the Group 24 hours before the start of the meeting.

The program of bird outings on Sunday March 9 starts from the Forest Glen Resort (Cabins, Caravans, Camping. Early bookings advised.)

Please note that participants are required to sign on, take part in a risk assessment, and accept the responsibilities of participants. See OHS on the the BASQ website. Be sure to take insect repellent for the wetter areas.

7 am Leave Forest Glen Resort, travel south along Tanawha Tourist Drive , right into Main Creek Road, right under the Bruce Highway, into Radbourne Road and follow the signs to Golf Course and Botanic Gardens.

7:15 am Maroochy Bushlands Botanic Gardens (UBD 77 N17) leader Jill Chamberlain. (Scarlet HE, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo)
8:30 am depart Botanic Gardens. South along Tanawha Tourist Drive, left into Crosby Hill Rd, continue along Burnett St, left into Lindsay Rd, right into Quorn Close, to carpark at end.

9:00 am Buderim Forest Park southern entrance - (UBD 78 G1)
Loop walk. (walking track to Harrys Lane end may be too wet to traverse). (Wompoo, Pale-yellow Robin)
11.00 am leave Buderim Forest Park. Follow Lindsay Rd north, left into Jones Road, right to Maroochydore Road, left to Sunshine Motorway, across river, take slip road to left and roundabout on to David Low Way, right into Ocean Drive, (Twin Waters) right into North Shore Drive to carpark at the river mouth.

11:30 am Maroochy River Conservation Park (UBD 69 M3) (Sea Eagle, Brahminy, terns)
12:15 depart. Back to Sunshine Motorway, cross river, left into Maroochydore Road, left into Baden Powell Road, right on to Duporth Avenue, and follow the river to the Esplanade, and Rotary Park. (Cotton Tree Park)

12:30 Rotary Park Cotton Tree (Cotton Tree Park) (UBD 69 L10)
Lunch (Picnic area, Asian Jade Thai Restaurant nearby )
1: 00 pm depart. Back to Maroochydore Road, to Bruce Hwy, turn left (south). Continue to Landsborough turnoff to Glasshouse Mts Road, to parking area opposite Big Kart Track.

1:30 pm Ewen Maddock Dam (UBD 97 B12)
2:15 pm depart. Glasshouse Mts Rd, turnoff to Landsborough, right into Tytherleigh Ave, right into Gympie St, left into Tunnel Ridge Rd, right into Kowald Rd.

2:30 pm Western shore Ewan Maddock Dam (UBD 96 Q11) – Causeway walk.
3:15 depart. back along Gympie Street to roundabout, right into Maleny Landsborough Road, turn left into Mountain View Road (sign to Mary Cairncross Park)

3:30 Mary Cairncross Park, 148 Mountain View Road (UBD 94 K3) - Circuit walk.
Afternoon tea in picnic area or kiosk. (Riflebird, Logrunner)

Easter Campout. March 21 -24. Plans have been made for a bush camp at the Tandora Wetlands Nature Refuge for Easter. (See Rosella Feathers 2 Feb.)

Expressions of interest to Ross Smith (3261 4647). Detailed arrangements will be sent to you. The campsite is 2 km from the station access road on a farm track, accessible by conventional vehicles with care, if it does not rain.

Occupational Health and Safety. A new rule has been added to the responsibilities of leaders of outings: c. refuse or cancel a person’s participation where there are reasonable grounds to assume that the person will not accept the responsibilities listed below. See website.

The Minutes of Committee meetings and some other internal documents are no longer available on the public website. Members may apply to the secretary for their user name and password.

Classifieds:
Camper for sale. Cub Campermartic, (hard floor) VGC Large storage box on front 3 new tyres new springs & shocks extended draw bar contact Latham.J@bigpond.comLatham.J@bigpond.com

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