Our activities include conservation and research-oriented projects, educational activities, and activities which provide opportunities to meet with other people interested in birds and birding and to share experiences.
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We produce a range of brochures and other information on birds in Queensland, and on all aspects of birding in Queensland.
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Bird identification can be difficult, even for experienced birders, and many discussions occur during group walks and camps on this subject.
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We produce a range of brochures and other information on birds in Queensland, and on all aspects of birding in Queensland.
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“Of those bird species known to have been present or to have visited regularly in Australia when Europeans settled in 1788, 1.9% are Extinct and a further 11.5 % are considered Threatened. Some 6.0 % are Near Threatened.”
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Organizations like Birds Queensland assist with scientific research projects by raising money each year and allocating it as grants.
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Birds Queensland is a non-profit organisation that finances its own activities. Our logo is the brightly coloured and beautiful Sunbird which is normally found only between Normanton and Bundaberg.
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Access files, videos and the hardcopy library catalogue
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Welcome to the Birds Queensland member’s area. These pages contain information that will only be available to BQ members.
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Instructions to Sunbird authors

Bush Stone-curlew (Burhinus grallarius) © Ian and Jill Brown

The Sunbird is the peer reviewed journal of Birds Queensland (Queensland Ornithological Society Incorporated) which publishes original papers about birds in Queensland and adjacent northern regions. From 2019, the journal will be published online but limited hard copies may be provided on demand.

Manuscripts are invited from non-members as well as members on all aspects of ornithology, e.g. life history, taxonomy, distribution, behaviour and ecology. Manuscripts may take the form of major articles on specific birds, birds in specific areas or habitats, short notes on birds, or the literature on birds, such as reviews of books or comments on published articles.

Submission of a paper for consideration implies that the authors’ findings have not been published, nor are being considered for publication elsewhere. All submissions will undergo a formal refereeing process including peer review. As part of that process the editor reserves the right to submit records of rare birds to the Rarities Appraisal Committee of Birds Queensland.

Manuscripts should be submitted in Microsoft Word to the Sunbird Editor via email. Manuscripts should be received no later than 30 June in the year of proposed publication. Common and scientific names of birds should follow International Ornithological Congress (IOC) systematics and taxonomy . Lists of birds should also follow the IOC sequence.

Intending authors should consult recent issues of The Sunbird to see acceptable forms of contributions. Once received, an appropriate referee will assess each submission. Recent issues of The Sunbird are available as full text on this site as well as in the Humanities & Social Sciences Collection of the Informit website (http://search.informit.com.au/search;res=IELHSS).

References should be listed in alphabetical order using the following format:

Fleay, D.H. 1973. Nesting habits of the brush turkey. Emu 36: 153-163.

Frith, H.J. (Ed.) 1976. Mallee fowl. In Complete Book of Australian Birds, pp. 136-137. Reader’s Digest, Sydney.

Serventy, D., Serventy, V.N. & Warham, J. 1971. The Handbook of Australian Sea-birds. Reed, Sydney.

BoM. 2019. Queensland in 2017: The warmest year on record. Bureau of Meteorology. http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/annual/qld/archive/2017.summary.shtml#recordsTmaxA. Last accessed 15 September 2019.

Tables and figures should be numbered sequentially, in the order they are referenced in the text of the manuscript. Drawings and diagrams should be in electronic form, preferably as a .jpg file. Authors may also submit photographs with their manuscripts, with suitable captions and the name of the photographer. Requests for advice or help in preparing manuscripts can be made to the editor.

Manuscripts and other correspondence should be sent to the Sunbird Editor.

Indices to volumes 1 – 49 are available, as well as downloads of whole issues or individual articles.

So, why not join us?

  • Monthly newsletter
    Members receive a monthly newsletter except in January.
  • Library
    Access to over 700 electronic files, videos and hardcopy books and magazines.
  • Outings and activities
    The society holds regular monthly camps and walks for members and guests, as well as monthly meetings.
Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis) © Vince Bugeja