Armchair Twitch™

Send your results for September 25 2011 using the online registration form.For any enquiries, please contact the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Progressive results at the bottom of this page.

The Armchair Twitch™ aims to observe the most birds from a fixed location anywhere in Australia. It is designed to promote birdwatching as a relaxing pastime and to raise money for the conservation of wild birds. It is suitable for all ages and all members of the community including those with limited mobility. But most of all it’s FUN! Download the Rules. See the Results for 2010.

Albert's Lyrebird

Locating and Monitoring Albert's Lyrebirds along the Main Range.
This is a joint project as part of the Nature Search scheme managed by the Queensland Government's Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM).

Objectives
1. To determine the distribution of the Albert's Lyrebird along the Main Range
2. To monitor any changes in their numbers 

For further information on biology and distribution download the factsheet or contact the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Birdline Central & Southern Queensland

This is a website for the reporting of rare or unusual birds outside their normal range, unusually high or low numbers, early or late arrivals or departures for migrant species and interesting behaviour or unusual habitat usage. The BSCQ region covers a large area from south of Ayr to the New South Wales Border and west to the Northern Territory border. It is sponsored by BASQ, and moderated by three BASQ members. .

Birdline Central & Southern Queensland is part of Eremaea Birds, a free birding atlas to which anyone can contribute. Lists on Eremaea Birds can be forwarded automatically to the Atlas of Australian Birds. Members can opt to receive a weekly Birdline digest by email.

Birds in Brisbane and other Backyards

The Birds in Backyards Program was introduced to Brisbane in March 2009. An A4 poster of common Brisbane birds was produced, with hints on how to encourage them to come in to home gardens. The program has since been adopted in the Western Downs and the Sunshine Coast Regions. In partnership with the Chinchilla Field Naturalists Club, an A4 poster of Western Downs birds has been produced. Ther Sunshine Coast Regional Council has supported the production of a poster for the birds of the Sunshine Coast..

Bundamba Wetlands

Bundamba Lagoon is on an upper reach of Bundamba Creek, south of Ripley. Formerly and frequently called Daly’s Lagoon, it is on a 1200ha property, Stewartdale, belonging to the Sporting Shooters Association, purchased as a location for their rifle range and other facilities. They are managing the property as a conservation project, including the restoration and rehabilitation of the wetlands and the other significant ecosystems after years as a cattle property.

From March 2005, BASQ has been doing monthly surveys on the first Saturday of the month to monitor the birdlife of the lagoon. Contact Margaret Cameron  07 3282 9151 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Meg Gordon  07 3202 3732 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to get involved. She also has an email list if you would like to hear news about the Bundamba Wetlands. View recent survey results.

Glossy Black-Cockatoo Conservancy

An association of local councils, environmental consultancies, birding groups and academic institutes in South East Queensland.

Aims:

• Coordinate the assessment of Glossy Black-Cockatoo resources across local government areas in South East Queensland.
• Engage with the community to assist in record collection.
• Manage a central database of Glossy Black-Cockatoo records.
• Continue research aimed at increasing current knowledge of the species
• Develop a Regional Management Plan for Glossy Black-Cockatoo.

Important Birds Areas

Mt. Ommaney Bushland Reserve surveys

Quarterly survey of birds in an urban bushland reserve to monitor the impact of a long-term native bushland regeneration project. Contact Meg Gordon  07 3202 3732 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information. View the survey result from September 13, 2011.

Nest Record Scheme

Birds Australia's longest-running bird survey, documenting all aspects of bird breeding throughout Australia.

Photography Group

Newsletters: June 2011

BASQ is planning the establishment of a Photography Group of like-minded people, going on outings and receiving feedback on photographs, and putting photos on a Group web gallery to invite critiques. See How to critique a bird photo,

The group will be moderated by This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Refer to his presentation  to the BASQ Conference 2011 - A Beginners Guide to Bird Photography.

Stock Route Coalition

This is a  group of organisations who have come together to have the NSW and Queensland Stock Routes managed for travelling stock and biodiversity.

For over 100 years their managers (Rural Land Protection Boards in NSW and Local Governments in Qld) have maintained their grazing value and incidentally their biodiversity values.

Many cross cleared agricultural and pastoral landscapes and provide habitat for flora and fauna lost from the surrounding areas. The only surviving examples of some Regional Ecosystems are on stock routes. In many places they are the only source of connectivity in the landscape. Stock routes incorporate a variety of local landforms, and vegetation types. Stock routes often contain fertile soils and much greater biodiversity than adjoining private grazed or cropped land.

The iconic Long Paddock also has cultural values associated with indigenous trade routes and sites of archaeological significance. Stock routes have links with exploration and settlement.  For more information see the Coalition website.

Armchair Twitch Results 2011.

Results as at 26 September:

Team Penguin: We had inclement weather so we could not stay for too long. Unfortunately for us, there were much more frog calls than birds. Despite the cold and wetness, we heard the descending whistling-trill of a fan-tailed cuckoo for the very first time!

Fraser Flibbertigibbets: We were moving around a bit that day but had to settle on somewhere to be the centre of our twitch, so Cathedral Beach Camping Ground on Fraser Island, Qld.  was it.
 

Brolga's: The  whistling kite which took a large fat fish (Boney Bream?) from the water surface. The kite briefly hovered and then seemed to give up then hovered again and then descended to the surface in a cork screw manner and took the fish. All who were there at the time were able to see this action. It then flew over to the bank on the far side of the small island where it tore it to pieces and swallowed the result. 

Bongil Bongil Birders: A great start to the day with the bush birds in full song. As the tide changed the estuary species became more active. The wind picked up and the ocean came to life with WT Shearwaters  and terns  very active. First Little terns arrived  for the season. Groups of students and community members arrived during the day and added to the tally. A storm front hit at about 3:30pm scuttling the circle but a hardy few persisted and were rewarded with a whiet-fronted tern. Great to see so many kids involved. Mother nature put on a show.

Buckleys Birders: Fine views of many waterbirds. Had a few members visit briefly with us there who could not stay. Also gave some small bird books to a couple of young lads (twins 8 yrs) who knew the birds. Most birds seen early in the day as is usual. We visited the Hide and saw a Latham's Snipe (not recorded in our list as out of area).

Ecovillage Twitchers: Beautiful day and lots of bird types early in the morning with 9 spotted within a minute

Two Clever Bustards headed down to the Townsville Town Common as soon as the gates were open at 6:00am.  The weather was perfect and the wetland birds were all happy to see us and put on a good show.  By 9:00am we had 50 birds on our list, with the next nine hours of diligent birdwatching producing only another ten species.   Highlights were a continually growing number of brolgas throughout the day, a sea eagle snatching a barramundi right in front of us, and occasional glimpses of a white-browed crake amongst the reeds.  Thanks to everyone who contributed through sponsorship or donations - the grand total raised was over $200!

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