Fwd: Volunteer for the honeyeater migration survey in April 2025

[Sue Lashko via Canberrabirds <>]

Dear members

Just resending this email on behalf of Chris Davey.  When registering for the honeyeater please include your name and mobile number.

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Kim Farley via Canberrabirds <>
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2025 at 18:14
Subject: Volunteer for the honeyeater migration survey in April 2025
To: Canberra birds <>

A feature of the local birding scene is the annual honeyeater migration which passes through the ACT each spring and autumn. The autumn movement is the more obvious, with birds returning in flocks from their breeding grounds in the Brindabella Ranges and beyond. 

In autumn 1985 and again in 1997, surveys of migrating honeyeaters were conducted along the Murrumbidgee River Corridor. COG members helped with the surveys, and we need  volunteers for a repeat of the survey in April 2025. The aim of the survey is to identify the number of birds and species on migration and the direction of their movement. 

All levels of experience are welcome. If you haven’t surveyed before or want to develop your identification skills this is a great opportunity to do so. The passage includes not only Yellow-faced and White-naped honeyeaters, but many other species including Red Wattlebirds, White-eared and White-plumed honeyeaters, and various raptor species. In 1997, ninety-three species were reported during the passage. The survey provides a great opportunity to view the migration and to record other species in the area.  

Much has happened over the past 22 years including bushfires, habitat changes and expansion of the urban footprint. It is timely to repeat the survey and to document any change in honeyeater numbers passing through the local region.  For results from the earlier surveys see the Canberra Bird Notes webpage for Chris Davey, Canberra Bird Notes, Vol 11 (no 1), pp 2-14, and Nicky Taws, Canberra Bird Notes, Vol 24 (no 3), pp 145-166.  

What’s involved? 

The survey will count the number of birds passing through nine locations on the Murrumbidgee River corridor.  

When is it? 

The mornings of 12, 19 and 26 April 2025, to coincide with similar survey dates in 1997. While volunteering for all three dates would be ideal, surveying for two or even one of the designated dates will be useful and appreciated.

What?

Count the number of each migrating species over 15 minute periods between 8:00 am and 1.00 pm and record these on a special survey sheet. Teams of 2-3 observers will count birds at each site. Experienced observers will be teamed with less-experienced observers. 

Where? 

The sites are at Williamsdale, Angle Crossing, two sites at Gigerline Nature Reserve (Tharwa Sand Wash), Pine Island, Kambah Pool, Casuarina Sands, Point Hut Crossing and Uriarra Crossing. Depending on the number of volunteers, additional sites may be added. 

Help and support

For those who want to take part, but are not sure of their honeyeater identification, a bird identification outing along the Murrumbidgee Corridor will be held.  All volunteers will also receive an information kit. 

How to sign up

To sign up or to discuss the survey, please email Chris Davey at   Let Chris know if you would prefer any of the nine sites, or are happy to be assigned to a site. There is also the option to survey at a different site on each date. Please include your mobile number.

I encourage you to get involved with this interesting survey.  It will be a lot of fun, and you will be contributing to a very worthwhile citizen science project. 

Kim Farley 

President, Canberra Birds 

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