Western Australia - Birds Australia

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Western Australia

Geographic Range

BAWA covers the entire state of Western Australia, and also reports on the birds of Cocos (Keeling) Island, Christmas Island and Ashmore Reef.

Latest News

Suzanne Mather, Editor of WA Bird Notes reports: BAWA continues its conservation efforts in support of Carnaby's Cockatoo. The resources boom and rapid growth of Perth is leading to increased clearing of remnant bush on the Swan Coastal Plain, which is particularly important for foraging when the cockatoos move towards the coast during the non-breeding season. The Conservation and Research Subcommittee recently made several submissions to DEWHA under the EPBC Act about proposals to clear and develop remnant bush. However, there are many more proposed developments in the pipeline. Without a better coordinated approach and more sympathetic consideration of their plight, we may simply be forced to watch the continued slide towards extinction of these magnificent birds.

The Shorebird 2020 wader survey on 2–3 February enjoyed an increased volunteer participation, auguring well for future surveys in the south-west. Over 22,000 Banded Stilts were counted. BAWA’s Community Education Sub-Committee has a busy program planned for 2008 with bird identification seminars, more advanced courses, community & school talks and public displays. As of the February AGM, BAWA has a new chair, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Special Birds of the Region

Almost 550 species have been recorded in Western Australia. 387 species have been recorded breeding. 16 species are endemic to Western Australia. These are Carnaby's Black-Cockatoo, Baudin's Black-Cockatoo, Western Corella, Western Rosella, Red-capped Parrot, Noisy Scrub-bird, Red-winged Fairy-wren, Black Grasswren, Western Bristlebird, Dusky Gerygone, Western Thornbill, Western Wattlebird, Kimberley Honeyeater, Western Spinebill, White-breasted Robin and Red-eared Firetail. Many other species have unique sub species in Western Australia such as Western Whipbird, Crested (Western) Shrike-tit and Lemon-bellied (Kimberley) Flycatcher. Still more species are eagerly sort by visitors to Western Australia such as Soft-plumaged Petrel, Red-tailed Tropicbird, Square-tailed Kite, Asian Dowitcher, Princess Parrot, Rock Parrot, Splendid Fairy-wren, Blue-breasted Fairy-wren, Western Yellow Robin, Rufous Treecreeper, Yellow Chat.

Projects in the Region

BAWA members are involved in many of the national projects such as the Atlas of Australian Birds and Important Bird Areas. We also undertake a number of projects specific to Western Australia.

Carnaby's Black-Cockatoo Recovery Project
Carnaby's Black-Cockatoo is an endangered Western Australian endemic bird that breeds in the wheatbelt and spends the non breeding season in coastal and near coastal areas. BAWA has been leading on ground monitoring and conservation programs since 2001.

Western Ground Parrot
BAWA members on the South Coast Threatened Birds Recovery Team run the Friends of the Western Ground Parrot group, organise surveys and participate in monitoring populations of this Critically Endangered bird.

WA Hooded Plover
This project started in 1994. Annual surveys are conducted in February to monitor the State's population. The Hooded Plover Management Plan (2002-2012) outlines our conservation objectives. Colour leg flagging is being conducted in Yalgorup National Park to research their movements.

Rangeland Surveys
BAWA volunteers survey two rangeland conservation areas each year to provide the Department of Environment and Conservation with information on the bird distribution and abundance in these reserves.

Perth Biodiversity Project
BAWA and other volunteers surveyed 112 Perth local government reserves. Each reserve was surveyed monthly for a year. No other dataset provides this level of coverage and it gives us a good snapshot of how birds respond to expanding urban areas.

Suburban Bird Survey
This comprises a substantial database with records spanning more than a decade. This is an invaluable tool for detecting changes in bird populations in Perth.

Activities

Office
Our volunteers can assist with your enquiries. We have a range of items for sale including field guides, check lists and our acclaimed range of greeting cards.

Excursions
We organise more than 65 excursions each year ranging from half day walks in the metropolitan area of Perth to long weekend campouts and occasionally longer expeditions. At least two excursions per month include an invitation to the general public.

Monthly Meetings
We hold a meeting every month (except December) at the WA Ecology Centre next to our office at 7:30pm on the 4th Monday of the month (a week earlier if the 4th Monday is a public holiday).

Community Education
We have an enthusiastic Community Education Sub-Committee who arrange school visits, bird identification classes, community presentations and displays in public libraries.

Research & Conservation
Our Research and Conservation Sub-Committee is actively involved in research questions and major bird conservation issues in Western Australia.

Cards Sub-Committee
The Cards Sub-Ccommittee raises money for BAWA by the sale of greeting cards, field guides, badges, and CDs, to our members and the public. Many cards are sold through country outlets, and we are always looking for volunteers to approach more outlets.

Bird Guides
We have produced more than 100 brochures detailing where to find birds in Western Australia and local bird lists. They are available from the office for free, although a donation is appreciated to help with printing costs. Many of them are available for you to download from our web site.

Image Library
We maintain a library of 35mm slides, digital images and laminated pictures. These are used for our Community Education activities. They are also available for members to use for talks and presentations. The photographer maintains all copyright of the image. We welcome the donation of more images.

Library
We have an extensive library in our office. This is available for use by all members.

Unusual Sightings
We maintain a web site for the reporting of unusual sightings in Western Australia, Christmas Island, Cocos Island and Ashmore Reef.

Eyre Bird Observatory
The Eyre Bird Observatory operated by Birds Australia is situated just off the Eyre Highway near Cocklebiddy. Accommodation is available. More than 240 species of birds have been recorded.

Broome Bird Observatory
The Broome Bird Observatory is situated on the shore of Roebuck Bay near the extensive Crab Creek tidal mud flats. Broome is one of the premier birding sites in Australia. More than 300 species of birds have been recorded.

Rangeland Surveys
BAWA members undertake detailed bird surveys of pastoral stations purchased by DEC.

What's On

For a list of events in WA, please check out our calendar

Contacts

This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Hours: Weekdays 9:30 to 12:30

Peregrine House
167 Perry Lakes Drive,
Floreat WA 6014
Tel +61 8 9383 7749
Fax +61 8 9387 8412

Publications

Published quarterly, Western Australian Bird Notes includes articles relating to bird behaviour, interesting and unusual observations and BAWA project reports. It also gives notification of forthcoming events and reports of past excursions.

Downloads

BAWA Organisational Chart (40kb)

BAWA Minutes 2008 (270kb)

Regional website

birdswa.com.au

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Carnaby's Black-Cockatoo © Rod Smith