Rosella Feathers 22 April 2008

May 3 -5. Campout and BCC surveys.
Campground for bush camping: Murrenbong Campground.
Note there are no showers available. We will hire the toilet block for the weekend.
Please ring Murrenbong individually to book a campsite (tell them you are with BASQ). Cost $5.50 per day.
The campsite will have a scout group at site 7 however there are many sites some way up on the hill are quite good. Try for Campsites 11 to 15. Each site can hold several campers. Book early as sites could fill up. Conventional vehicles are okay but you might consider campgrounds 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10.
Please let me know you're coming: dez.wells@bigpond.com, 3886 8055

3rd May 2008 Birding (including BCC Surveys).
5:30am – Leave Murrenbong Campground (6:15am – Sunrise)
6:30am – Chad Street, Moggill UBD 196 G14 and decide on groups.
6:50am to 8:00am – Survey three BCC properties.
9:00am – Arrive back at Murrenbong Scout Camp for Breakfast.
10am – 3pm – Individuals own time. You could do the following:
1. Relax in the gentle surroundings.
2. Bird through the scout bush land settings –this is designated BASQ birding 2ha and 500m area survey site or Bird Lake Kurwongbah Ski Rd UBD 88 C11 (also a designated BASQ birding 2ha and 500m area survey site) 1 km from camp
3. Go to Westfield’s North Lakes Shopping Village and shop – 10minute Drive UBD 89 K10
3pm – 3:10pm – Travel to Lake Samsonvale, meet at Bullocky Rest Picnic Ground UBD 97 M4.
3:20 – 5pm – Bird along the foreshore of the lake through Eucalyptus woodlands 1km to 5km walk – distance depending on fitness (tracks well graded)
6pm – all meet for a BBQ dinner at one of the campsites and bird call.

4th May 2008 Birding (including BCC Surveys).
5:30am – Leave Murrenbong Campground (6:15am – Sunrise )
6:30am – Brookfield Recreational Reserve, Brookfield Rd UBD 177 B2 and decide groups.
6:50am to 8:00am – Survey three BCC properties.
9:00am – Arrive back at Murrenbong Scout Camp for Breakfast.
10am – 3pm – Individuals own time. You could do the following:
1. Relax in the gentle surroundings.
2. Bird through the scout bush land settings – as above.
3. Go to the North Pine Country Markets at UBD 88 B18 – 5 minutes down the road. Every Sunday from 8am - 2pm http://www.prccc.com.au/tourism/npcmarkt.htm
3pm – 3:20pm – Travel to Mango Hill Environmental Reserve, meet at Rothwell Park UBD 80 F19.
3:20 – 5pm – Bird along the Hays Inlet Creek through a variety of habitats.
6pm – all meet for a BBQ dinner at one of the campsites and bird call.

5th May 2008 Birding
7:30am – Leave Murrenbong Scout Camp.
8:00am – Meet at Priest Rd Deception Bay to Survey Freshwater National Park – UBD 79 C3.
9:10am – Travel to “Nathan Road Wetlands Reserve”, Morris Rd, park in car park at roundabout at UBD 80 N17.
9:30am – Survey “Nathan Road Wetlands Reserve”.
10:30am – Have morning tea at “Nathan Road Wetland Reserve”
11:00am – Travel to “Macdonnell Road Conservation Reserve”, Redcliffe Gardens Drive, UBD 91 D7.
11:30am – Survey various reserves - Macdonnell Road Conservation Reserve, Hay’s Inlet Conservation Park and Chelsea Street Environmental Reserve.
12.30am – Travel back to Murrenbong Scout Camp.
1pm – Meet at a campsite for lunch together and birdcall.
2pm – Own time, pack up leave.

May 3 – 4. 9am-5pm Maleny Wood Expo. From Chainsaw to Fine Furniture Maleny Showgrounds. BASQ is putting on a display. Members are needed for a few hours on Saturday or Sunday. Contact Eric if you are available. Email or 5445 7502.

June 7-9. Albert's Lyrebird Weekend. Campout based at Queen Mary Falls Caravan Park Phone: 07 4664 7151.
Leader: Ray Licence 07 4661 5229. On Saturday there will be early morning visit to Mt Wilson area, to locate calling Albert's Lyrebirds. and then birding around the White Swamp in NSW. On Sunday, early search of the Gambubal Forest for lyrebirds, and a visit to Arborlee for birding and lunch. (B&B accommodation is available at Arborlee.) The rest of the weekend is free.
Note: There may be alternate systematic searches for Lyrebirds in remote areas. Details later. Advise Ray if you are going.

The Stock Routes Coalition is a group of organisations who have come together to have the NSW and Queensland Stock Routes declared ‘Protected Corridors for Travelling Stock and Biodiversity’, managed by the current managers and adequately resourced with supplements from public funds. (For more information see our website.

A very successful conference was held in Sydney on 9 April by the National Parks Association of NSW. A number of NSW organisations Government departments were represented. On the following day plans for a NSW chapter of the coalition were formed.

A planning meeting will be held by the Qld chapter of the coalition next week to decide on the detail of our campaign. Current Qld membership includes Birds Queensland, BOCA, Wildlife Queensland, National Parks Association of Queensland, Spatial Ecology (University of Qld). A number of other organisations have expressed interest, and have been invited to join. This is a very special group – it is not often that a number if disparate organisations have come together for an environmental purpose.

Wanted photos of birds in odd situations, to replace the Ibis on the home page of the website.

Glossy Black-Cockatoo Conservancy. The dates given in the last newsletter were incorrect. Dates of any workshops will be advised when known.

The new committee of BASQ met for the first time on March 29. Portfolios and sub-committee memberships were allocated. See website. Draft minutes are on the members page. Contact the secretary for your username and password.

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