Are you interested in learning about local bird life and how you can get involved in protecting endangered species? Understanding and conserving woodland birds is the theme for a workshop being held in Campbells Creek on 23 April. 

Hosted by the North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) in conjunction with Birds Australia and Connecting Country, the free workshop invites all interested community members to learn about habitat requirements, ecological processes and conservation issues relating to woodland birds.

North Central CMA Operations Coordinator Adrian Martins explained that continuing habitat fragmentation and degradation has seen a substantial decline of woodland bird species in the temperate south eastern sheep and wheat belts.

“Of great concern is that many species generally regarded as common and widespread are now declining at an alarming rate,” Adrian said. “The 2009 State of Australia’s Birds report produced by Birds Australia collates a range of studies and issues concerning the management and conservation of woodland birds and their habitat requirements.”

Key points from the 2009 State of Australia’s Birds report will be discussed at the workshop, including how landholders can improve the status and habitat condition of woodland birds on their own or public land. According to the North Central CMA, waterways also provide critical habitat for woodland birds, as they provide greater access to food and shelter.

The workshop will also focus on ways to identify and conserve the Swift Parrot and Regent Honeyeater. These two species share similarities in that they rely heavily on the nectar-rich box ironbark forests and woodlands of Victoria and New South Wales.

“More than 85% of the Swift Parrot’s preferred winter habitat has already been cleared. With an estimated 500–1000 hectares of its breeding habitat cleared every year, there has been a marked decline in the breeding population of the Swift Parrot in the last decade,” Adrian stressed.

The Regent Honeyeater was once common in the woodlands of eastern Australia, particularly along the inland slopes of the Great Dividing Range.

Adrian continued: “The Regent Honeyeater once occurred as far west as Adelaide, but has now all but disappeared from South Australia and western Victoria.  With this reduced range and fragmented population, the key regions for the species are now central and north-eastern Victoria, and the Capertee Valley and Bundarra-Barraba region of NSW”.

“This is the year of International Biodiversity and it’s important that people recognise their role in conserving our natural heritage,” concluded Adrian.

The workshop will be held on Friday 23 April from 10am until 4pm at the Campbell’s Creek Community Hall, Elizabeth Street, Campbells Creek. Presentations from a range of bird experts will occupy the morning’s session, with a field visit via car pool on the agenda for the afternoon.

Morning tea and lunch will be provided and participants should come prepared with wet weather clothing and transport. For more information and to make a booking for the workshop, contact the North Central CMA on 5448 7124 by Wednesday 21 April.

For further information please contact:
Sonia Robinson
t: 03 54401859 / 0429 968 255
e: sonia.robinson@nccma.vic.gov.au

For further information please contact: 

Communications Officer, North Central CMA
PO Box 18, Huntly VIC 3551
t: 03 5448 7124
e: info@nccma.vic.gov.au