Each year Birds Queensland offers small grants for research relating to the conservation of birds and their habitats in Queensland, especially those under threat.
Each year Birds Queensland offers small grants for research relating to the conservation of birds and their habitats in Queensland, especially those under threat.
Research grants of $7,303 and $7,350 have been awarded to the following applicants for projects commencing in 2023:
Dr Lyanne Brouwer James Cook University, Townsville: Monitoring endangered black throated finches at the Townsville coastal plains.
Lyanne and her team aim to map the current distribution of the endangered southern black throated finch (Poephila cincta cincta) in the Townsville coastal plain area. In addition, the they will provide nestboxes to determine whether this could be a solution to alleviate a shortage of natural nest cavities.
This project will allow them to re-establish a field project focused on the black throated finches and install key infrastructure that will significantly improve knowledge on the current distribution of the Townsville population of the black throated finch. Thereby this project will improve their ability to compete for national competitive research funding opportunities that will enable them to build greater research capacity for a larger project in which they aim to determine the main drivers for the decline of this species.
Mr Gary Young (Masters candidate) University of Southern Queensland: Investigating the impacts of livestock grazing, fire and invasive vertebrates of the squatter pigeon (Geophaps scripta) in the Galilee Basin.
Gary aims to address key gaps in the field of wildlife ecology by: quantifying the impacts of key threats such as livestock grazing, fire and invasive vertebrates on population trends of the squatter pigeon (G. scripta) in the Galilee Basin; quantifying trends in relative abundance of the squatter pigeon (and other ground nesting birds) as well as mammals and birds across the Galilee Basin; determining associations of habitat characteristics that influence squatter pigeon patch use as well as other mammals and birds; identifying areas of high conservation value and provide outcomes that support land management activities that align with maintaining squatter pigeon habitat.
Birds Queensland congratulates the successful applicant and we look forward to hearing the outcomes of her research project.
Here are some of the past projects that were partly funded by Birds Queensland:
- Conservation biogeography of the Northern Masked Owl.
- Assessing the nature of nest predation on the Golden-shouldered Parrot (Psephotus chrysopterygius) in central Cape York
- Governance of wetland sites and migratory shorebirds.
- Factors that limit the use of nest boxes by native birds in southeast Queensland
- Efficacy of novel wildlife monitoring technologies and methods compared with traditional raptor survey techniques in Australia.
Birds Queensland Research Grants
Birds Queensland will offer a limited number of grants (up to $7,500 each) for research relating to the conservation of birds and their habitats in Queensland, especially those under threat. BQ Research Grants cover the costs of items such as laboratory materials, field equipment and travel, but do not normally cover salaries or attendance at conferences. They are for projects of one-year duration, although consideration may be given to further funding of suitable on-going projects. Applications require the support of an incorporated body or of a university head of department and research services section, through which the research contract and grant payment will be administered.
Successful applicants and the supervising organisation will be asked to sign a Conditions of Award agreement which includes the following conditions:
- The grant shall be fully expended within one year from the date of payment;
- A summary of the research shall be provided for publication in the Birds Queensland newsletter and where possible a short talk shall be presented at a Birds Queensland general meeting;
- A final financial statement shall be provided confirming that the grant has been fully expended.
- Any unspent grant funds are to be refunded to Birds Queensland.
Birds Queensland Grants are competitive and assessed by the Society’s independent Research Committee of experts. Funds for research grants are raised by the membership to support bird conservation research. The Birds Queensland management committee determines annually the amount of funding for grants, and takes advice from the Birds Queensland Research Committee in the awarding of grants.
A copy of the full conditions of award will be available on request.
Research Grants for 2024 are now open with applications due by 31 August 2023. For further information contact The Secretary.
