CUMBERLAND BIRD OBSERVERS CLUB
Birdwatching in Sydney since 1979
Affiliated with BirdLife Australia
Contact
Jenny Nicholls | jennifer.nicholls@dunelm.org.uk
Dates for 2026: 14-15 February, 18-19 April, 25-26 July, 17-18 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.
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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.
Dates for 2026: Weekends of 20-22 March and 25-27 September
GRENFELL KBA BIRD SURVEYS
Elisabeth Karplus from Birding NSW organises twice-yearly surveys of 30 sites within the Grenfell KBA. CBOC members are welcome to participate in these surveys.
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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
Elisabeth Hodson | emhodson@exemail.com.au
Contact
Roger Griffiths | roger.n.griffiths@gmail.com
Remaining dates for 2025: Fridays and Saturdays from 8am - 28 & 29 November
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.
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Each of these areas, and some other nearby areas are surveyed several times a year. CBOC members are welcome to join these surveys and/or request to be included on the Richmond Woodlands KBA newsletter.
14-16 November, Adelaide; 21-23 November, Perth
SOUND RECORDING WORKSHOPS
The Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology is hosting two sound recording workshops in Adelaide and Perth. These three-day workshops are intended to teach the basics of sound recording, editing, and sharing, as well as how your efforts in the field can help bring Merlin Sound ID to Australia and power research and conservation.
Each workshop includes an orientation and field equipment session, two full mornings of recording in the field, and two afternoon classroom sessions. Previous experience in sound recording is not required. The workshop costs $100 and lodging and evening meals are the responsibility of participants.
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For more information and to register click here.
Contact
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.
17-23 November 2025
TRIP TO CAPERTEE VALLEY
Nathan Bligh is planning a week of birdwatching in the Capertee Valley in November. Please let Nathan know if you plan on coming for part or all of the time because the trip is limited to 15 members.
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If you're interested in attending, please arrange your own accommodation at the Kandos Motel or any other options in Kandos or Rylstone.
Contact
Nathan Bligh | 0412787150
One Saturday morning a month
PARRAMATTA RIVER SHOREBIRD COUNTS
The Parramatta River Shorebird Surveys are carried out by a group of shorebird enthusiasts. We count on a Saturday morning every month on a high tide and usually around 9am.
There are four locations: Waterbird Refuge, Mason Park, Hen and Chicken Bay and Rodd Point. The Waterbird Refuge is the best place to see a variety of birds. If you are new to birding or are not familiar with shorebirds, Gerry Duane invites you to join him at Mason Park and you will be given an orientation. Shorebirds are declining nationally, but we still have a wintering flock of approximately 65 Bar-tailed Godwits at Hen and Chicken Bay. Photographic opportunities are excellent, and we sometimes survey at Long Reef, near Narrabeen. All are welcome and it is not necessary to be a member of any organisation.
Dates for 2025: Tuesdays - Tuesdays for 9 weeks from 9 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 9 September. Surveys are on Tuesday mornings from 16 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. the week before the first survey.
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For more information, refer to our Conservation actions.
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