Click here to view the June 2026 flyer
Short Talk
Mat Gilfedder – Merlin Sound ID in Australia.
Join Mat for a 20-minute introduction to Merlin. Developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Merlin Sound ID identifies birds by listening to their calls, using media from the Macaulay Library and observations submitted through eBird. Already trained on over 2300 species globally, expanding Australian coverage depends on local recordings.
In this talk, Mat will highlight which species are being added, which need more recordings, and how you can help accelerate the process. By recording bird sounds and uploading them with your eBird checklists, you directly support research and improve the app for Australian users. Whether you’re new to birding or highly experienced, this is your chance to contribute to a global project with real local impact.
Long Talk
John Brinnand – Who knows where birdwatching will lead?
John will recount the story how a chance opportunity to survey birds in Central Western Queensland led to him and his wife becoming major shareholders in a vast nature refuge, embroiled in a legal battle to stop Clive Palmer from mining the refuge and inviting traditional owners to return to the country they were taken from more than a century ago. A few birds get mentioned along the way!
