CouncilFeaturedNature

What does ‘tweet’ mean to you?

The word ‘tweet’ can mean different things to different people.

If you are a birdwatcher the first thing that comes to mind might some of Ipswich’s incredible array of birdlife with 337 species identified.

Even if ‘tweet’ has you thinking you are due to scroll down your Twitter feed, head to #AussieBirdCount and find out how you can be a part of one of Australia’s biggest citizen science events this week.

Ipswich City Council is partnering with BirdLife Australia’s Aussie Backyard Bird Count asking residents to take 20 minutes outdoors to count the birds in their backyard or local park.

The bird count runs from 19 to 25 October providing a snapshot of the health of our natural environment using birds as a barometer for nature.

The data collected contributes to council’s knowledge of species within Ipswich which can inform decisions around identifying, protecting and maintaining the health of vital ecosystems and environmental values.

Last year 3.4 million birds were counted in the seven days with Rainbow Lorikeets taking out the top spot with more than 400,000 counted.

The rise of the Rainbow Lorikeet highlights the changes in Aussie backyards over the past half century, with traditional European-style cottage gardens making way for native backyards which provide the perfect place for these nectar-loving birds to forage on the flowers of eucalypts, bottle-brushes and grevilleas to harvest nectar and pollen.

Ipswich Birding

More than 300 bird species (about 47 per cent of Queensland’s avifauna), have been identified in Ipswich.

A full list can be obtained via the Birds of Ipswich booklet, available from Ipswich City Council libraries and the Queens Park Environmental Centre.

A few iconic Ipswich species: Apostlebirds in Chuwar (Horton Drive) and parts of Karalee; Black-necked Stork at local dams and wetlands in the south and south-west rural and semi-rural areas; Grey-crowned Babblers in the quiet side roads of Ironbark.

Look out for birds while in the Ipswich CBD: Southern Boobook, Mistletoebird, Superb Fairywren, Double-barred Finch, Australian Owletnightjars, Bush Stone-Curlew, Eastern Spinebill, may be seen/heard in the Ipswich CBD and fringing suburbs. Hundreds of Scaly-breasted Lorikeets roost in the trees on upper Brisbane Street every night.

Council has supported a joint project between Birds Queensland and BirdLife Southern Queensland to produce the Bird Places of Ipswich.

Hard copies can be collected from the Visitor Information Centre or Queens Park Environmental Education Centre.

It can also be viewed online here.

Counting birds isn’t just a fun activity for you and the environment.

It helps ecologists track large-scale biodiversity trends and also gives people the chance to connect with their natural environment and gain a greater appreciation of our unique fauna.

To find out more, download the Aussie Bird Count app and to register, visit aussiebirdcount.org.au

Springfield Lakes Nature Care will be hosting a two hour guided walk around Discovery Lake on 25 October from 7am to 9am.

The walk will be led by Peter Gelding, who is known for his sighting of the endangered Regent Honey-eater. Mr Gelding will walk to a local creek where several species of fairy wrens and honey eaters are known to live. 

All participants will receive a free Bird Walks of Greater Springfield Booklet, containing maps of six popular bird walks and 64 photographs of just some of the birds found in the Springfield Lakes catchment. 

This booklet was made possible with funding from Ipswich Council’s Community Development Grant.

Tickets are essential, book your free ticket here

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2 Comments

  1. Ipswich First arriving late in in box. Event are over or have already ready started when the Ipswich First Arrives, for example Free drop of defined items at the council Tip information arrive after the cutoff date. Ipswich First Bird Count information arrived AM 21 October event is for period 19 October through 25 October.

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