Although it appears that we know a fair bit about our native birds we really know only a little of what we need to know if we are to ensure that our grand-children and their grand-children are to have as many species of birds in their environment as we do today.
Governments and universities fund a small amount of research into birds and their needs but much more needs to be done.
Organizations like Birds Queensland assist in a small way by raising money each year and allocating it as grants for scientific research projects. These are usually projects initiated by universities or government departments.
Much of the research is published in our journal, The Sunbird. It is published to promote the scientific study and conservation of birds with particular reference to the birds of Queensland. Copies of Sunbird are available to non-members and papers are invited from non-members as well as members.
BQ now gives a special award to a grant recipient whose research outcomes demonstrate that it best supports the conservation of birds and their habitats.
Birds Queensland has undertaken various Citizen Science survey projects, such as one to collect information on the numbers of Australian Brushturkey observed in south-east Queensland, and to discover how wide spread the birds are. The results of this survey were compared with the results of the two earlier surveys to determine if the population has increased/decreased and whether the distribution has expanded/contracted.
