BirdLife Murray Goulburn

14/05/2026

08/05/2026

Our citizen science project kicks off this weekend, with a team of volunteers heading out on Sunday to monitor bird species at one of our sites in Longwood East. This important work with help us understand how different species have survived the fire.

We're currently setting up a number of monitoring sites across the bushfire region, and you can be involved! All it takes is a basic knowledge of local birds, and 20 minutes of your time.

Sign up as a Bushfire Recovery Alliance volunteer on our website to stay in the loop.

https://www.biodiversityrecoveryalliance.com/volunteer

07/05/2026

🦜 Protecting Woodland Birds 🦜

Over‑abundant Noisy Miners are a key threat to woodland birds, aggressively excluding other species and reducing bird diversity.

🌱 BirdLife Australia is hosting FREE, hands‑on workshops to help landholders learn practical ways to manage Noisy Miner populations and support healthier woodland ecosystems.

📍 Benalla – Friday 22 May | 10am–2pm
📍 Chiltern – Saturday 23 May | 10am–2pm

Each workshop includes informative discussions followed by a guided field visit to a local site.

✅ Bookings are essential

🔗 Find out more and register here:
https://birdlife.org.au/events/noisy-miner-management-workshops/

05/05/2026

15/04/2026

Bird ecologist David Watson discusses how a new AI system that listens to and identifies birds 24/7 across southeastern Australia could change the face of environmental monitoring and conservation acr

15/04/2026

13/03/2026

The Victorian Government has closed 10 wetlands, partially closed two wetlands and prohibited hunting from boats at one wetland for the 2026 duck season to protect significant concentrations of threatened species and breeding waterbirds.

Hunters should check the GMA website regularly for updates to wetland closures at: https://shorturl.at/h94KI

Wetlands will be monitored throughout the duck season. If the reason for closure no longer exists, the wetland may be reopened to hunting.

Other wetlands may be closed or further regulated if significant concentrations of threatened species or breeding waterbirds are found.

GMA Authorised Officers, Victoria Police and Authorised Officers from partner agencies will patrol wetlands across Victoria.

11/03/2026

Since early 2026 the Waterbirds Australia team has been tracking a new species – the Australasian (also known as Purple) Swamphen!

Satellite transmitters were attached to five swamphens at Hird Swamp near Kerang, Victoria in early February.

This species has never been tracked in Australia before and we are already seeing some interesting movements!

Within a week of being tagged, all five birds moved out of Hird Swamp and went to different parts of VIC and NSW between 10 and 80km away, with one bird recently returning to Hird Swamp. All five birds are using a mix of natural wetlands and agricultural areas.

We look forward to learning more from these well-known but understudied birds.

24/02/2026

04/02/2026

It’s no longer the secret life of birds when scientists get involved!
Since 2016, CSIRO scientists funded by the CEWH have been satellite-tracking the movements of waterbirds across the Murray–Darling Basin and eastern Australia to inform water management - and there are some fascinating findings.
🦆Individual birds can cover significant distances rapidly using wind support, with total distances travelled up to 15,550 km per year, 700 km per day and 135 km per hour, at altitudes of up to 2800 m.

🪺We also discovered clear common movement routes used by ibis, spoonbills and egrets that span the Murray–Darling Basin from south west to north east. We’ve named the biggest of these the Murray–Darling Basin Flyway. This flyway connects important breeding sites.

🪿In 2023, for the first time ever, we GPS-tracked a newly hatched Plumed Egret flying from the Macquarie Marshes (northern NSW) to Papua New Guinea. This bird crossed the ocean flying non-stop in just 38 hours from coast to coast.

As we learn more about waterbird movements we are able to ensure water for the environment is delivered to the right places at the right times to support birds feeding, breeding and succeeding.