CUMBERLAND BIRD OBSERVERS CLUB
Birdwatching in Sydney since 1979
Affiliated with BirdLife Australia
ARNOLD MCGILL MEMORIAL LECTURE by
NICHOLAS CARLILE - 3 December 2024
Birding NSW have kindly invited CBOC members to attend the Arnold McGill Memorial Lecture by Nicholas Carlile B.A. MSc. on "30 Years of Seabird Restoration Science: Applying our Learnings for the Winds of Change"
​​
​Details
Dates for 2024: Tuesdays - Tuesdays for 9 weeks from 10 Sept
SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK SPRING SURVEYS
Every year Cumberland Bird Observers Club partners with the Sydney Olympic Park Authority to carry out the Spring Bird Census. CBOC members survey over 45 sites around Sydney Olympic Park and Bicentennial Park. Surveys start in September, continue for eight weeks, and are conducted on Tuesday mornings. Even if you are unable to commit to the full 8 weeks, your help on some survey days will be useful and appreciated. An information and training session is held on the Tuesday morning the week before the first survey.
​
For more information, refer to our Conservation actions.
.jpg)
Dates for 2024: 2 and 9 November
GREAT INLAND GLOSSY COUNT
The Great Inland Glossy Count is back again in 2024-25. This is part of a project aiming to secure the inland population of the Glossy Black Cockatoo in NSW, coordinated by the Central West Local Land Services in partnership with NSW NPWS, Forest Corp NSW and the Dubbo Field Naturalists.
​
Dates for the surveys this year are as follows:
-
2 November - Pilliga Forests and surrounds (registrations close on 30 October)
-
9 November - Goonoo National Park and surrounds (registrations close on 6 November but already full)
All participants are required to register via the NPWS Volunteer portal.
​
Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 October
NSW and ACT TWITCHATHON
BIGnet will be hosting the NSW & ACT Twitchathon 2024 raising funds for Catherine Price’s project to study “Acoustic tools to protect NSW beach nesting birds from mammalian predators”.
Checkout the webpage to see details of the project, the three different fundraising races, how to register a team and how to donate.
Contact
You can find more information and RSVP at https://birdlife.org.au/events/march-for-nature/
Saturday 5 October 2024
MARCH FOR NATURE
BirdLife Australia, Australian Conservation Foundation, The Wilderness Society and Nature Conservation Council (of which CBOC is a member) are organising a March for Nature in Sydney on Saturday 5 October.
​
Australia’s unique fauna and flora are in serious trouble: 2,200 species are classified as endangered, and more and more species are being added to the list every year. One in six Australian birds are at risk of extinction.
​
Australia’s current nature protection laws are clearly failing.
​
The federal government is in the process of deciding on reforms to these laws. It is important at this time that we show the government that the Australian people want strong laws which will protect our unique species and ensure their survival.
​
The March for Nature will start at 11.00am at Speakers Corner in the Domain (opposite the Art Gallery). We will then walk 1.2kms to Mrs Macquarie’s Chair in the Botanic Gardens where there will be a ‘Festival for Nature’ with lots of fun activities for people of all ages.
Tuesday 18 to Thursday 20 November 2025
AUSTRALIAN ORNITHOLOGICAL CONFERENCE - PERTH, WA
the 2025 Australasian Ornithological Conference will be held in Perth from 18-20 November 2025.
Contact
Bird Week: 14-20 October 2024
AUSSIE BACKYARD BIRD COUNT
Make a difference for bird conservation by giving a moment of your time to count the birds that are counting on you. Participate in the Aussie Bird Count during Bird Week in October and use your observation skills for a 20-minute period to make a simple but important contribution to Birdlife Australia’s conservation initiatives.
Each year people across the country head out to their front yards, backyards, courtyards, parks and play areas to count how many birds they see to provide a snapshot of Australia’s more common bird species. It’s a fun, simple and safe activity observing nature, which is proven to provide benefits to mental health and wellbeing.
Collecting this data at the same time each year allows us to look at the trends in our bird communities over time. Think of birds as a barometer for nature, as their health and wellbeing is one of nature’s best indicators.
Join the flock for Australia’s largest citizen science project – Aussie Bird Count.
CBOC ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - TUESDAY 20 AUGUST 2024
The AGM will be held at the Friendship Room of the Wesley Uniting Church Castle Hill at 7.30pm.
Further information for the AGM can be accessed by clicking the links below:
-
Draft Minutes of the 2023 AGM
​For further information, contact Pat Thorn on secretary@cboc.org.au
Contact
Saturday 22 April at 2pm
BIRDLIFE SOUTHERN NSW AGM
The BirdLife Southern NSW AGM will be held via Zoom on Saturday, 22 April at 2:00 to 3:00pm. This is Earth Day with the official 2023 theme of Invest in Our Planet. There will be a series of short presentations followed by a short formal meeting. The guest speakers are:
Matt Herring on the Bitterns in Rice project
Sue Proust on the Cowra Woodlands Bird Program
Mick Roderick on the Regent Honeyeater Project
Sunday 30 April 2023 from 1.30pm to 3.30pm
BIRDLIFE AUSTRALIA: WHAT WOULD STRONGER NATURE LAWS LOOK LIKE?
Join BirdLife Australia President Martine Maron on Sunday April 30th to hear about the choice we face – and how to put our birds on the path to recovery.
The Albanese Government is rewriting our national nature laws for the first time in over 20 years.
Strong new laws are our big chance to stop the destruction and restore wildlife, land, and seascapes.
But, it will take your support in 2023 to keep the reforms on track.
With the right conservation actions and mechanisms in place to protect habitat we can restore species. Join us to hear the role you can play in turning things around. Places are limited so please make sure you register
Contact
Contact
Vera O'Donovan | vera.odonovan@environmentnsw.gov.au or 0409 964 102
Dates for 2023:
Castlereagh NR: Thurs 13 April and Wednesday 19 April
Windsor Downs NR: Saturday 23 April
EASTER HOLIDAY BIRD WALKS ON CUMBERLAND PLAIN
Well-known ‘Avianator’ and CBOC member Mark Fuller has teamed up with National Parks and Wildlife to lead a series of family-friendly bird walks over the Easter holidays. Walks start at 7:30am and last for two hours.
Conference tickets are available from www.lls.nsw.gov.au/bitternsummit
AUSTRALIAN BITTERN SUMMIT 2022
The iconic Australasian Bittern is the focus of a summit in Leeton on 1-4 February 2022, designed to advance the conservation of this cryptic species.
​
The Australasian Bittern Conservation Summit 2022 is a unique opportunity to connect with scientists, conservationists, wetland managers, birdwatchers and farmers who share a passion for Bitterns.
​
Bitterns are listed as an endangered species in Australia and only about 2,000 birds remain globally, so we are keen to connect with people who have an interest in its survival.
CBOC ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - TUESDAY 16 AUGUST 2022
The AGM will be held at the Friendship Room of the Wesley Uniting Church Castle Hill at 7.30pm.
Further information for the AGM can be accessed by clicking the links below:
​
For further information, contact Coralie Turner-Morris on secretary@cboc.org.au
Dates for 2022: 12/13 March
BIGNET CONFERENCE MEGALONG VALLEY
The Bird Interest Group Network (BIGNet) is holding a conference in the Megalong Valley near Blackheath and CB OC members are welcome to attend.
​
The theme of the weekend is “Migration”.
​
The program on Saturday includes a Conservation workshop in the morning and a seminar on Bird Migration in the afternoon. Sunday includes an early morning bird walk and the BIGNet General meeting.
Contact
Mark Ley | mark.ley@outlook.com
Links to other Information
Invitation, Registration form and Accommodation options
Contact
Rob Dunn | president@birdlifeshoalhaven.org
Saturday 22 October 2022
BIRD HAVEN FESTIVAL SHOALHAVEN
The Bird Haven Festival hosted by BirdLife Shoalhaven is returning in 2022 bringing hundreds of people together in Shoalhaven Heads to celebrate birds and learn more about their behaviour, habitat and conservation. It will be held on Saturday, 22 October from 11:00am to 5.30pm with registration from 10.30am at the Shoalhaven Heads Bowling Club, 76 Shoalhaven Heads Road.
​
Leading ornithologists and researchers will speak about their work in bird conservation and the ecology of some of our bird species. The keynote speaker will be Dr David Lindenmayer.
​
The price of tickets are $70, including afternoon tea/coffee and lunch.
Details of the program and other associated events are available at http://www.birdlifeshoalhaven.org/upcoming.html
Tickets for the Conference can only be purchased on-line – go to https://events.humanitix.com/2022-bird-haven-festival-conference
Sunday 23 October 2022
BIGNET MEETING SHOALHAVEN HEADS
The next Bird Interests Group Network (BIGNET) meeting hosted by BLSNSW will be held on Sunday, 23 October at the Shoalhaven Heads Community Centre on the same weekend as the Bird Haven Festival - Shoalhaven. Representatives of all birding club members are invited to attend.
​
The program will commence with a bird walk at 7am, followed by the meeting from 9:00am to 2.30pm. Further program details will be available closer to the event.
​
There is no charge to attend but registration is required on-line at https://events.humanitix.com/birds-interest-group-network-meeting
Contact
Judy Harrington | judyharrington60@gmail.com
PROPOSED DOG PARK IN FAGAN PARK
Hornsby Shire Council is planning to create an off-leash dog park in Fagan Park in Galston next to the north-eastern dam which supports many water birds and other bird species. The Club and individual members have written to the Mayor, Phillip Ruddock, to oppose this plan.
The Club’s Conservation Officer spoke at a Council meeting and another member
participated in a meeting with Mr Ruddock. The Council subsequently decided to pause work on the proposed site in order to consider more thoroughly the impacts of putting the dog park there and to also consider options for other locations within Fagan Park. The Club will continue to monitor the situation.