GROUP More than just a bird-watching group COG what is it? - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

CANBERRA ORNITHILOGISTS GROUP More than just a bird-watching group

COG – what is it? • Dedicated to the conservation of birds and their habitat • 50 years old • 30 years of data on birds • Contributes to environmentally sensitive and sustainable development in the ACT • Works with a range of partners and the community White-winged Choughs

How do we do this?

Data Collection – surveying and monitoring • Database informs future planning to conserve and maintain ACT birds in the landscape • Surveying and monitoring data collected over 30 years Typical Grassy Woodland Species – White -eared Honeyeater, Leaden Flycatcher , Rufous Whistler

Data Collection – surveying and monitoring • Includes :  21 years of woodlands survey  35 years of Garden Bird Survey  10 plus years of waterbird surveys in Jerrabomberra Wetlands in the ACT and Lakes George and Bathurst Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature Reserve

COG works with a number Partnerships of partners: • ANU • Woodlands and Wetlands Trust • ACT Conservation Council • CIMAG • ACT Government • Greening Australia Bush-stone Curlew Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature Reserve

Research • A range of research activities supported • Canberra Bird Conservation Fund  Supports ANU and Canberra University PhD students doing research work on birds Survey at Jerrabomberra Wetlands  14 projects to date

Citizen Science • Citizen science - Gang- gang Year of the Bird project  engaged community in reporting sightings of Gang-gangs over 12 months • Analysis of data to provide a much better picture of conservation needs of Gang-gangs Gang-gang Cockatoo

WHAT HAVE BEEN OUR SUCCESSES?

Conservation Role • Strong conservation stance about the natural landscape in the ACT • COG has influenced decision-making by ACT Government agencies in urban development • Data assisted with conservation of the endangered Yellow Box/Redgum grassy woodland ecological ecosystem

Case Study - Mulligans Flat • Data gathered since the 80s • Grazed leasehold earmarked for urban development • Baseline data highlighted ecological value and importance of the large area of Yellow Box/Redgum grassy woodland New Suburb of Casey

Case Study - Mulligans Flat • Mulligans Flat was declared a reserve in 1995 due to the survey and monitoring work by and lobbying of government by COG and other groups • Now one of the largest and most important Yellow Box/Redgum grassy woodland areas under public protection • Site of a large scale woodlands research and restoration experiment with the re- introduction of locally extinct Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary species

Case Study - Throsby • COG data contributed to government decision to include area of the proposed new suburb of Throsby in Goorooyaroo Nature Reserve • Superb Parrot surveys contributed significantly Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve to outcome

Case Study - Throsby • Reduces the development footprint in Throsby • Will help protect Superb Parrot breeding trees  Superb Parrots only EPBC Act 1999 listed species regularly visiting Canberra Superb Parrot

Listing of Threatened Species • Data contributed to listing of several bird species under ACT legislation Scarlet Robin • Species threatened include  Scarlet Robin, Brown Hooded Robin Treecreeper, Hooded Robin Brown Treecreeper

Where to from • Helping to preserve the Here “Bush Capital” • Contribute to build the bird knowledge base • Maintain ongoing research • Continue survey work in Greening Australia’s K2C program Gang-gang Cockatoo feeding young

Where to from Here • Continue work with the Woodlands and Wetlands Trust on the re- introduction of the Bush- stone Curlew • Develop further citizen science activities such as more Bird of the Year projects • Continue to raise community awareness about the importance of birds in the landscape Grey Cuckoo-shrike feeding young