CUMBERLAND BIRD OBSERVERS CLUB
Birdwatching in Sydney since 1979
Affiliated with BirdLife Australia
Dates for 2026: Tuesdays - Tuesdays for 9 weeks from 8 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. An information and training session will be held on the Tuesday morning 8 September. Surveys are on Tuesday mornings from 15 September and continue for eight weeks. Even if you are unable to commit to the full 8 weeks, your help on some survey days will be useful and appreciated.
For more information, refer to our Conservation actions.
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Contact
19-21 September 2026
AUSTRALASIAN SHOREBIRD CONFERENCE - NEWCASTLE, NSW
The Hunter Bird Observers Club, the University of Newcastle’s Centre for Conservation Science, and the Australasian Wader Studies Group are pleased to announce that the 2026 Australasian Shorebird Conference (ASC) will be held in Newcastle, NSW, Australia, 19-21 September 2026.
The ASC is the largest gathering of amateur and professional shorebird enthusiasts from the region. It’s a great mix of science, conservation, and birding—bringing together researchers, conservationists, and birders who share a passion for shorebirds. Expect interesting talks, plenty of discussion, and the chance to connect with others working (and birding!) across the flyway. This will be the first in-person event in eight years.
Abstract submission closes 12 April 2026. Early bird registration closes 15 June 2026.
Dates for 2026: Weekends of 20-22 March and 25-27 September
GRENFELL KBA BIRD SURVEYS
Birding NSW organises twice-yearly surveys of 30 sites within the Grenfell KBA. CBOC members are welcome to participate in these surveys.
The survey itself will take place on Saturday morning. The weekend also generally includes a meal together on Friday evening, a barbecue on the Saturday evening and then a walk at Company Dam on Sunday morning.
Contact
Simon Husher | simonhusherbirding@gmail.com
Dates for 2026: 10, 17 & 24 October
GREAT INLAND GLOSSY COUNT
The Great Inland Glossy Count is back again in 2026-27. 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.
The count will be run on three weekends in October 2026. Dates for the surveys this year are as follows:
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10 October - Pilliga Forests and surrounds (registrations close on 7 October)
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17 October - Goonoo National Park and surrounds (registrations close on 14 October)
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24 October - Goobang National Park and surrounds (registrations close on 23 October). Please note this site only is restricted to 20 volunteers.
All participants are required to register via the NPWS Volunteer portal.
Dates for 2026: 13-15 February, 10-12 April, 24-26 July, 16-18 October
COWRA WOODLAND BIRD SURVEYS
The Cowra Woodland Birds Program seeks to address concerns that woodland birds appear to be declining in rural landscapes in the Cowra district. Its activities involve bird surveys and monitoring of the gathered data, as well as habitat restoration and conservation. The program runs quarterly bird surveys on 94 sites in the district to provide data which can assist the conservation of the local birds and their habitat. For more information, refer to our our Conservation actions.
CBOC members have been participating in these surveys for many years. The surveys are done on both the Saturday and Sunday mornings, with social functions on the Friday and Saturday nights.
Contact
Jenny Nicholls | jennifer.nicholls@dunelm.org.uk
Contact
Birdlife Southern NSW | southernnsw@birdlife.org.au
Details and registration
11 October 2026
CURLEW HOMECOMING 2026
BirdLife Southern NSW, the Sutherland Shire Environment Centre and Bundeena Progress Association invite you to visit beautiful Bundeena to celebrate Curlew Homecoming 2026, a festival to welcome the return of Critically Endangered Far Eastern Curlews after their transglobal 11,000 km journey from their breeding grounds above the Arctic Circle.
Festival goers will see the curlews and other shorebirds, learn about their extraordinary life cycles, their needs and the special association with their home on the shores of Port Hacking and Botany Bay. More details at the registration link.
13-15 November 2026
BIGNet MEETING, BUNDANOON & PENROSE
Birdlife Southern Highlands is hosting the 2026 'in person' Bird Interests Group Network (BIGNet) meeting for ACT/NSW BIGNet organisations in Bundanoon and Penrose in the Southern Highlands. Penrose is a small village, approximately 15min drive south of Bundanoon.
Representatives of all birding club members are invited to attend.
On Friday there will be an informal "Meet and Greet" and afternoon birdwalk in Bundanoon. The Saturday program will include a conservation forum, seminar, and birdwalk in Penrose Village Hall. On Sunday there will be an early morning bird walk and business meeting.
Contact
Roger Griffiths | roger.n.griffiths@gmail.com
Dates for 2026: Fridays 7am - 27 March, 30 October, 27 November; Friday 8am - 24 April, 29 May, 26 June, 31 July, 28 August, 25 September
RICHMOND WOODLANDS KBA SURVEYS
The Richmond Woodlands Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) is a significant area for woodland birds in western Sydney. It includes Scheyville National Park, Windsor Downs Nature Reserve, Castlereagh Nature Reserve and Agnes Banks Nature Reserve.
Each of these areas, and some other nearby areas are surveyed on the last Friday of each month from January to November. CBOC members are welcome to join these surveys and/or request to be included on the Richmond Woodlands KBA newsletter.
17 - 19 February 2027
AUSTRALASIAN ORNITHOLOGICAL CONFERENCE - AUCKLAND, NZ
BirdLife Australia and Birds New Zealand have announced that the 14th Australasian Ornithological Conference (AOC) will be held in Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand, 17-19 February 2027.
The AOC is BirdLife Australia’s primary conference and is the largest biennial gathering of enthusiastic amateur and professional ornithologists from the region. You’ll have the chance to hear from experts in the field of ornithology, as well as mingle with like-minded bird lovers and enthusiasts.
