Eye on the birds

Gillian Matthew measuring a golden whistler at Kyborg.

Gillian Matthew has been a keen birder since childhood and is now a member of the Queensland Bird Research and Banding group which was formed to advance the knowledge and conservation of birds in Queensland through citizen science research.

This group operates a waterbird, a shorebird, and a land bird program with several identifiable projects with bird banding playing an important role in bird research. It facilitates documentation of life histories, plumages, population trends and movements, and assessment of environmental health over time.

Gillian is the speaker at the next Noosa Parks Association, Friday Environment Forum on May 12.

After a long working career with the Commonwealth Government in parks and conservation, Gillian now manages three local banding sites at Mountain Creek, Kawana and Kybong.

Bird banding is regulated to ensure ethical practices and bird welfare. The Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme coordinates banding nationally, manages the collation of information on bird and bat species, licences banders and provides numbered bands.

At the Forum on May 12, Gillian will offer insight into the work of the Qld Bird Research and Banding group who are highly qualified, professional bird banders and provide information on how you might become involved.

Everyone is welcome at the NPA Environment Centre, 5 Wallace Drive, Noosaville. The forum starts at 10:30am and morning tea is available at 10-10.25am. Entry is $5 by tap and go at the door which includes morning tea/coffee.

Join the bird observers at 8.30am in the carpark for interpretive birding.

For more information, visit noosaparks.org.au