Birds Queensland The web site of the Queensland Ornithological Society Inc.

About Birds Queensland

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Birds Queensland's Aims:

To promote the scientific study and conservation of birds by all means possible, with particular reference to the birds of Queensland.

Birds

Most areas of Queensland have a large number of birds species. Some species like the Palm Cockatoo and the Golden Bowerbird are found only in Queensland. The Sunbird on our Logo is found from Normanton to Bundaberg.

Habitats

All these habitats need to be maintained or sometimes restored to their normal quality if we are to continue to maintain the variety of birds we now enjoy. Birds Queensland works actively to ensure good management of Queensland's diverse range of habitats especially those used by endangered or vulnerable species.

Birds Ecological Role

Birds are the most diverse vertebrate animals currently living. They are abundant from rainforest to desert, from the arctic to the equator, on land and on water. Birds are sometimes vilified as pests when they devour food crops but they are also allies because they destroy insects which would otherwise be pests. Different species use different techniques to obtain a wide variety of foods and they display a fascinating array of behaviors and social relationships. This diversity, together with the ease with which birds can be observed, makes birds good indicators of ecological health and disturbance.

Birds can be very important to ecosystems. The persistence and regeneration of rainforests depends on birds distributing seed from fruit. Birds have played an important role in the development of ecological science and have been the vehicles for generating and testing new ideas about the functions of natural ecosystems. Many useful and exciting observations are still to be made.

Publications

All members receive a monthly newsletter and a copy of the quarterly journal, the Sunbird. Non- members can receive the Sunbird for a price of $6.60 an issue.

Monthly meetings

The Society holds its montly General Meetings at the Royal Geographical Society Rooms at 237 Milton Road, Milton (opposite the Railway Station) on the first Thursday of each month (except January). Meetings start at 7.30 p.m. The evening's main address (40-45 minutes) is followed by a light supper and gives members and guests the opportunity to chat, browse or buy bird-related merchandise.

Birds Queensland also holds regular field excursions, including midweek and weekend day outings and campouts. On occasions the Society also organizes extended birding tours.

General

Another service provided by the Society is a telephone answering machine giving recent interesting and unusual bird sightings from around the State on 61 (07) 3283 4921. 

In addition, the Society facilitates the formation of special interest groups such as the Queensland Wader Study Group (QWSG).  It also organises and promotes an annual Queensland Bird Count, and Twitchathon.

How to join Birds Queensland

Please download and print the application form ( pdf file, 39kb) and mail it to the address below with a cheque made payable to Birds Queensland. Or come to one of our meetings as a guest; introduce your self, meet the members and find out what we do.

Annual subscriptions

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General correspondence, including membership fees, should be addressed to the Secretary. The Society's address is:

P.O. BOX 2273,
MILTON,
QUEENSLAND,
AUSTRALIA, 4064

Volunteers & Office Bearers 2007