EcoGipps Birds on Farms project
BirdLife Australia’s Birds on Farms project works with rural landholders to protect and restore agricultural landscapes and create bird-friendly habitat for woodland bird species.
Landholders can take part in seasonal surveys with Birds on Farms supporting farmers along the way, providing resources and mentors to help locate and identify birds. The information collected during the surveys is used to not only monitor the health of woodland bird species populations, but to create habitat plans, identify areas of value and assist landholders to create bird-friendly habitat.
EcoGipps has been conducting seasonal Birds on Farms surveys since 2018. Beginning with 4 survey sites and roughly 10 bird species identified on each site, EcoGipps now has 13 survey sites, with an average of 20 birds identified on each site, depending on the season.
Heather considers Birds on Farms to be an important seasonal activity at EcoGipps.
“Participating in the bird surveys requires us to quickly tune into the birds around us. We only have 20 minutes on each site to identify birds, which can be quite intense”, says Heather.
“Our knowledge of local and migratory bird species has definitely improved as a result of the bird surveys”.
Sharing knowledge and capacity building amongst the EcoGipps team is another important aspect of Birds on Farms surveys. Jim and Heather are fortunate to have some of Gippsland’s most active and knowledgeable bird-watchers help with the seasonal surveys, and they willingly share their passion with others.
EcoLands Collective People and Purpose team member, Louise Spensley, says: “I love participating in the EcoGipps birds surveys! It’s such a beautiful day, and I appreciate the time to be immersed in the landscapes and really leaning into the visual and auditory experience of listening and looking for birds. The company is also top tier, and each time I learn a little bit more about these beautiful birds and landscapes.”
The Birds on Farms surveys occur in summer, autumn, winter and spring. In the seven years that they have been taking part, over 139 different species of birds have been identified at EcoGipps, including the critically endangered Swift Parrot, Gang Gang Cockatoo, Rufous Fantail, Crested Shrike-tit, Painted Button-quail, Bassian Thrush, Leaden Fly-catcher and Spotted Quail-thrush, plus birds like the Channel-billed Cuckoo, which is out of its normal range.