Birdlife Southern NSW

22/06/2026

Spread the word on H5 Bird Flu for the sake of our birds and other wildlife... Avoid, Record, Report!

16/06/2026

We need your help! 🚨

Australia's federal nature laws, passed last year, promised tough new environmental standards enforced by a national Environmental Protection Authority. But the draft standard now being finalised by Minister Watt — the Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES) standard — has fallen short. Major groups including the Australian Conservation Foundation and BirdLife Australia have raised serious concerns that it doesn't go far enough to genuinely protect our wildlife and ecosystems. The draft MNES is no improvement on the old laws that we have been arguing for years were not fit for purpose, leaving our environment unprotected and countless species threatened with extinction.

Right now, before the government locks in its final decision, is the moment to act. A quick phone call to your local federal Labor MP, or to one or all of the NSW Labor senators, can make a real difference. Let them know you expect the government to follow through on its own environmental promises. A call is best, but an email helps too! You can find a sample script to help with key arguments on the Australian Conservation Foundation website (link in bio), along with five needed changes to MNES.

Federal Labor senators for NSW are:
☎️Tim Ayres (02) 9159 9330
☎️Tony Sheldon (02) 9719 1078
☎️Deborah O’Neill (02) 4367 4565
☎️Jenny McAllister (02) 9719 8100

These key Labor MPs have been champions of nature in the past and will be receptive if you are
a constituent. They are:
☎️David Moncrieff (Hughes) 9521 6262
☎️Sally Sitou (Reid) 9715 7444
☎️Jerome Laxale (Bennelong) 9869 4288

The contact details of other MPs can be found at www.aph.gov.au/Members

Thank you for your help! Contact us by email at [email protected] if you need more information or guidance.

📸by Carol Moyse

14/06/2026

📸 JUNE PHOTO OF THE MONTH & MORE

🌿A true "bogey bird" is no more! Huge congratulations to Colleen Porter for contributing June Photo of the Month—the elusive Eastern Ground Parrot (Pezoporus wallicus wallicus), spotted near Jervis Bay! These masters of camouflage live entirely on the ground in dense coastal heath. Because they are listed as Vulnerable in NSW and rarely fly unless startled, capturing a shot this sharp is incredibly rare!

💚 How do we protect a cryptic bird? Across coastal strongholds like Jervis Bay, Barren Grounds, and Yuraygir National Park, teams use automated acoustic song meters to listen for their calls at dawn and dusk. This helps rangers target feral predator control - https://xeno-canto.org/species/Pezoporus-wallicus

🌲 From Coastal Heath to Cowra Woodlands - you can join our volunteers survey birds - helping collect vital data required to protect them, their habitat. Our recent "Bird Blitz" research weekend in Cowra saw 15 of our hardy birders team up to survey 48 sites, recording an impressive 103 bird species—including the Sea Eagles, Crested Shrike-tit, and Hooded Robin!

1️⃣ JOIN THE JULY COWRA WOODLAND BIRD SURVEYS
Get out into the fresh air, hang out with a fantastic birding community. New surveyors are paired with experienced mentors! 🗓️ When: 24–26 July 2026 📍 Where: Cowra region, NSW ⏰ RSVP: By Friday 10 July 2026 to Jayden Gunn ([email protected])

2️⃣ STAY IN THE LOOP & NEVER MISS AN UPDATE WITH OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER 📨 Sign up: https://cm.birdlife.org.au/h/r/B87CCB6D1482B5F1

June Birdlife Southern NSW Branch Update for June - https://cm.birdlife.org.au/t/r-l-tujtldll-pbhhshkd-j/

🔗 Website / FB / Instagram / Contact info or Birdlife Southern NSW: https://linktr.ee/birdlifesnsw

08/06/2026

🌍 From 'Wood Duck' to 'Maned Duck': The Global Name Shake-Up

BirdLife Australia is transitioning to AviList—the world's first unified global bird checklist!

Why does this matter? For decades, international scientists have juggled three separate master checklists that didn't always agree, creating massive legal and tracking loopholes for migratory species.

Solution: AviList unifies everything into exactly 11,131 species across 252 genera. This means data submitted right here in NSW via Birdata will instantly sync with international conservation databases and global protection treaties without translation errors!

What's changing in Aussie backyards?

🦆 The Rebrand: The Australian Wood Duck becomes the Maned Duck.

🌏 The History Lesson: The Brush Cuckoo becomes the Sahul Brush Cuckoo, named after the ancient continent that once joined Australia, Tasmania & New Guinea.

🪓 The Hyphen Cleanup: Say goodbye to the dash in Black-Cockatoo and Fairy-wren—they are now Black Cockatoo and Fairywren.

📩 Join the Flock (Monthly Newsletter) : Don't miss out on local bird news, events, and conservation updates. Click the link to join - https://cm.birdlife.org.au/h/r/B87CCB6D1482B5F1
Get Bird-related events updates, scientific news & local Southern NSW bird news!

📱 Or Follow Us here!

18/05/2026

News from the Nest - much progress

09/05/2026

2500 trees at the Capertee Valley to benefit not just the Regent Honeyeater, but restoring the ecosystem - benefits to the microclimate, biodiversity, water retention, and land quality. Learn how this 30-year replanting project is benefiting Capertee residents in particular & NSW woodlands in general

09/05/2026

2,500 Trees: More Than Just One Species 🌳✨

Tiffany Mason, Senior Ecologist at the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust, on why this is ecosystem restoration at scale with huge benefits for landholders & Capertee residents.

In this video, Tiffany explains:
✅ The "Old Growth" Connection: Why the ancient trees already here are the "anchor" for new plants.
✅ Ecosystem Resilience: How these plantings protect our waterways, stabilise soil, and create climate refuge.
✅ The 12-Year Proof: See the incredible difference a decade of restoration makes (wait for the 0:38 mark!).
✅ Beyond the Regent: This habitat supports everything from native pollinators to rare gliders and micro-bats.

Restoring the Capertee isn't just about saving the Regent Honeyeater; it's about repairing the heartbeat of the NSW woodlands.

👇 WATCH to hear Tiffany explain why "Old Growth" is irreplaceable & add comments: What’s one native bird or animal you want to see return to this valley?

06/05/2026

Capertee Valley is at the front line of the mission to save the Critically Endangered Regent Honeyeater. With fewer than 250 birds left in the wild, every seedling is a lifeline.

This weekend,100+ volunteers from Birdlife Southern NSW, and Taronga Zoo Sydney, Landcare NSW & Capertee locals planted another 2,500+ trees in the Glen Alice woodlands - carrying on a 30 year mission to rebuild woodland.

Why this matters:

* The Insurance Policy: Taronga Zoo’s "breed for release" program supports the species, but they need a home to return to.

* The Habitat: We’re planting the "gold standard" nectar trees—Mugga Ironbark and Yellow/White Box.

* The 30-Year Legacy: Looking around today, you can see the lush woodlands from plantings in the 90s. These have become vital "highways" for birds and animals to move safely across the landscape.

And it’s not just for the Honeyeaters. Older trees already house Glossy Black Cockatoos, Painted Honeyeaters, Firetails, Robins & native animals like Gliders, Skinks, and other marsupials.

We aren’t just planting trees; we’re rebuilding an ecosystem.

05/05/2026

Our thoughts are with Geoff and Debbie and the Marine Rescue team. Geoff is a long-time friend of our EagleCAM project.

Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the Marine Rescue, Ballina tragedy which occurred overnight. We are providing this update because so many have reached out this morning with concern for our co-founder, Geoff Hutchinson.

We are deeply saddened by the loss of two dedicated crew members and extend our heartfelt condolences to their families, friends, and the entire Marine Rescue, Ballina community during this incredibly difficult time.

We also want to let our members know that our co-founder Geoff is currently in hospital with several broken ribs and a broken leg. His wife Debbie is by his side. We are thinking of them both and wishing Geoff strength, comfort, and a smooth recovery.

This is a sobering reminder of the risks taken by those who serve and protect others. Please keep all involved in your thoughts.

Sea-EagleCAM Team

05/05/2026

Our thoughts are with Geoff and Debbie and the Marine Rescue team. Geoff is a long-time friend of Eaglecam

Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the Marine Rescue, Ballina tragedy which occurred overnight. We are providing this update because so many have reached out this morning with concern for our co-founder, Geoff Hutchinson.

We are deeply saddened by the loss of two dedicated crew members and extend our heartfelt condolences to their families, friends, and the entire Marine Rescue, Ballina community during this incredibly difficult time.

We also want to let our members know that our co-founder Geoff is currently in hospital with several broken ribs and a broken leg. His wife Debbie is by his side. We are thinking of them both and wishing Geoff strength, comfort, and a smooth recovery.

This is a sobering reminder of the risks taken by those who serve and protect others. Please keep all involved in your thoughts.

Sea-EagleCAM Team