Month: October 2017

Calling for event hosts for 2018

Posted on by

Are you interested in becoming an event host in 2018?

For two hours at one or more of our events, our hosts are the go-to person. No experience necessary and we will give you all the details you need. And you won’t be alone as our committee members and experienced volunteers are there to help you.

The role of the event host

  • Greet volunteers;
  • Get volunteers to sign in (sign in book provided);
  • Ask them to highlight email address if they want to get on the mailing list;
  • Outline safety precautions which are: be careful with tools, wear gloves, take care on uneven ground, beware of snakes/spiders etc, sunscreen and sun hat;
  • Point out the first aid kit is available (in the FoEC trailer);
  • Mention donations are welcome via the platypus;
  • Give them an outline of plans for the day;
  • Pair them with an experienced volunteer if they need to be shown what to do; and
  • Get them started on a suitable job.

The hosts can also explain project aims and objectives based on general background information provided. They can also provide calendar of events, facebook and website details if desired.

If this is something you would like to do, please send us an email at: edgarscreek@gmail.com.

Bird Walk and Talk with Stuart Dashper

Posted on by

On Sunday 15th October, Stuart Dashper, a committee member of Victorian Birdlife Australia led our group of 15 for a very informative Bird Walk and Talk.

We met at the Gooseneck site at midday with our cameras and binoculars and walked for over an hour up to the Sheoak Woodland area and back down the hill to enjoy afternoon tea and a recap of the walk.

We saw 31 species 

We saw an outstanding 31 species of birds in just over an hour. Some of the species included:

Bird Walk and Talk Group

Bird Walk and Talk Group

Tawny Frogmouth with two babies

Pacific Black Duck

About Stuart

Stuart has always been interested in wildlife, obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree with Honours from La Trobe University in 1981. He has been an active member of Birdlife Australia and its predecessor Birds Australia for over a quarter of a century and was the convenor of the Victorian regional group of Birds Australia for five years.

He lived near the Merri Creek in Brunswick East for 15 years where he was a leader for the Merri Creek bird surveys. Stuart has birded extensively in Australia and Asia and has had the pleasure of seeing such iconic Australian Summer birds as Rainbow Bee-eater, Dollarbird and Channel-billed Cuckoo in their wintering grounds of Indonesia. He is still looking forward to finding a really rare bird along the Merri Creek or its tributaries.

Stuart Dashper, Birdlife Australia