Camps

General information

Little Friarbird © V. Jones

Birds Queensland also runs a number of camps during the year, mainly at rural locations requiring over-night camping, bunkhouses, caravans or like accommodation. This is particularly necessary since they tend to be located some hours of driving distance from Brisbane and often with fairly "rustic" living conditions. If required, Camp leaders should be contacted to determine whether part of the planned activities could be attended by other members prepared to do the necessary night or early morning driving to attend.

To cover the costs of running camps, and to finance the occasional gift to those who invite us to use their properties for camps, all members attending each camp are asked to donate a fee of $2 per camp. This is run on an honour system where we rely on people to place their $2 in the donation box. Thank you for supporting this scheme.

The details of some of the camps listed are yet to be confirmed, and additional camps may be added as the year progresses, so keep checking here each month. If the details of the meeting place, etc. given are insufficient, please call the Leader for more precise directions. It is important to notify the leader to confirm your attendance, prior to the camp. We encourage car-pooling wherever possible.

Beach Stone-curlew © J. Sneddon

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26 August - 1 September: Brigalow Bird Week

Contact: Nita Lester: 07 3391 4287

The brigalow region west of Dalby features many diverse and publicly accessible birding sites, all within a four hour drive of Brisbane. Key sites include Southwood, Alton and Eringibba National Parks, Myall Park Botanic Garden and several large reserves along the stock route network including The Gums, Green Timbers and Basin Downs. Over 200 species have been recorded from the region. Regulars include Hooded Robin, Painted Honeyeater, White-winged Fairy-wren, Crested Bellbird, Blue Bonnet, Ground Cuckoo-shrike and Square-tailed Kite. These and many other Brigalow Belt specialties can be observed at the 16 public birding sites. Bird watching bliss!

Myall Park Botanic Garden is an ideal base to explore the area and will feature its Spring Open Day and opening of 'Feathers and Flight' photographic exhibition on 28 August.

Tour the garden and/or attend bird walks and a range of presentations. Garden Admission of $5.50 per person is included in tariff of on-site accommodation. There are also campsites at the Botanic Garden. You need to book immediately as spring is a popular time in the Garden [For Garden inquiries telephone 07 4665 6705 www.myallparkbotanicgarden.org.au]. Alternative accommodation is available at Surat, Tara, St George and some farm stays are available. Please for all information.

The following programme has been planned- people may participate in all or part of the programme:

27 August Camp Station Reserve – Meandarra-Condamine Road – public site, will a local guide will be available. Off road camping is available.

28 - 29 August Myall Park Botanic Garden – Spring open day on the 28th plus organised bird walks for adults and children, guides available.

August 29 - there will be an opportunity to visit to a private property at Surat. There will be a guided tour of the property. Accommodation and camping is available here.

30 -31 August - Private property south of Surat-guided walk. Accommodation and camping is available.

For people attending all of part of the bird week, kits will be available, prior to the bird week. The kits will contain maps, bird lists, program and full details for accommodation, camping, fuel availability, etc. For further information re Brigalow Birds Week please , or telephone Nita Lester on 3391 4287, , or telephone Margaret Clark on 3878 1896 or

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10-12 September - Campout on Private Property at Widgee, West of Gympie

Contact: Peter & Bevly Hughes, Phone 5484 0198

This campout will be held on the property of Peter and Bevly Hughes, about 23 km due west of Gympie. Birds Queensland last had a camp here several years ago. The habitats consist of dry rainforest, eucalypt forest, and open grasslands, plus regrowth areas, and there are dams on the property. The total bird count to date for the property is 237. Coxen’s Fig Parrots have been seen on the property, and very recently at Dagun, about 35 km away. The cost for the weekend will be a maximum of $10 per person, to cover the hire of portable toilets. Camping areas suit both tents and caravans. People who prefer to stay in accommodation could stay in Gympie, and visit the property for the day on Saturday. PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN WATER FOR THE WEEKEND

Anyone attending the camp please let Peter and Bevly know beforehand.

Directions: Proceed to Gympie, and at the first overpass turn left over the Normanby Bridge (across the Mary River). Take the first turn right to a small shopping centre on the left, turn left to Southside State School, then right just past the school, there will be a sign to Widgee. Follow this road about 20 km to Hawkins Road on the left, and then proceed to property at 156 Hawkins Road. The number is on the mailbox, so turn into the property, with the mailbox on the left.

8-10 October - Camp at Welge Steet, Kalbar

Leader Allan Vogler: ph 5463 1075 helped by Wendy Dunn ph 5463 4009

This weekend camp will be at Barry & Marjory Jahnke’s property on the edge of Kalbar. There has been some extensive tree planting done over the years with an increasing number of bird species visiting seasonally. An accessibleman made wetland is also on the property. During the weekend we will visit local private properties and check out the road sides in quieter areas, all within aneasy drive of camp. At camp there is room for tents, vans and trailers. There are no showers and one portable toilet will be available. Water can be collected from an outside tap but it’s still good to bring some yourselves.

Directions from Brisbane: Bypass Ipswich on the Cunningham Highway towards Amberley and Warwick. From Warrill View the Kalbar turn off will be 12.4 kms further along on the left. Follow the Kalbar connection road for another 2.2 kms and then turn right at the T intersection. Pass through Kalbar (hotel on the left, Bendigo Bank on the right) and take the second turn on the right – Railway Street. At the end turn right into Purdon Street, travel to end and turn left into Welge Street. In a short distance the road becomes gravel and swings sharply to the right. Follow this track for about 40m and the house gate will be on your left.

Future Camps 2010.

Details of these camps are yet to be finalized. For more details contact Margaret Clark (phone 3878 1896) or see the Birds Queensland Newsletter or this website in the 2-3 months before each camp.

November 5-7 or 12-14: Mt Barney

December 3-5: Venue to be announced

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