BirdLife Townsville Activities Calendar - 2020
All participants must wear suitable clothing and enclosed shoes on all Birdlife Townsville activities
Sun screen and insect repellant recommended
Car pooling encouraged — Visitors welcome to all activities
For further information email: contact@birdlifetownsville.org.au
In addition to our monthly activities Birdlife Townsville participates in the following programs
• “The Quest” – This is a Birdlife Townsville Members’ only competition and runs all year – The aim is to
record a different species of bird (within Queensland only) for each of the 365 days of the year. It is
competitive, but relies on your honesty and integritry. Remember to enjoy yourself and participate in our
activities and get out and list as many birds as you can. For more details and a copy of the Rules,
contact: Wal Threlfall 0429111055 or email contact@birdlifetownsville.org.au
• “Torresian Imperial Pigeon Watch and Count” – Cape York to Gladstone – All months of January,
November and December — you choose venue, what days and number of days all from 4pm to 6pm — Your
own personal count. All details at: http//www.pipwatch.net/current-season-piptip-coast-count
Contact: Julia Hazel(James Cook University) 0407431382 or Julia.Hazel@jcu.edu.au
• Birdlife Australia ” Birds in Backyards (BIBY)” Count – Your own personal backyard 20 minute count —
Four counts per year, You choose: Summer (Dec or Jan), Autumn (Mar or Apr),Winter (Jun or Jul), Spring (Sep
or Oct). All details on the Birdlife Australia website. Participants must register at www.birdlife.org.au
and follow prompts. Contact: Wal Threlfall 0429111055
• Birdlife Australia “Aussie Backyard Bird Count”-Your own personal backyard 20 minute count from
Monday 19 to Sunday 25 October. Count as often as you like. All details on the Birdlife Australia website.
Participants must register at: www.birdlife.org.au and follow the prompts.
Contact: Wal Threlfall 0429111055
• Black-throated Finch Recovery Team “BTF Count” – From Saturday 17 to Sunday 18 October. All details
on the BTFRT website. Participants must register at: www.blackthroatedfinch.com.au
Contact: Wal Threlfall 0429111055
• Birdlife Australia “National Twitchathon” – From Saturday 24 to Sunday 25 October. This is a national
competition to raise funds for Australia’s endangered birds. Teams (minimum of two persons) compete in
either the 3hr; 12hr or 24hr race. Funds raised in Qld stay in Qld. All details on the Birdlife Australia
website and teams must register at: www.birdlife.org.au and follow the prompts.
Contact: Wal Threlfall 0429111055
• National Shorebird Monitoring Program (previously Shorebirds 2020) — Summer count window (1st November to 28th February) the survey date will be selected according to the tides — Winter count window (1st June to 31st July) the survey date will be selected according to the tides. Contact: Wal Threlfall 0429111055
January
1st – Wednesday- New Year’s Day – Anderson Gardens Outing – Meet 6.30am at the car park located off
Gulliver Street,Mundingburra. Bring morning tea. Leader: Janet Robino 0424226504
2nd – Thursday – Wongaloo Conservation Park Survey (restricted access) – Meet 6.30am at the Alligator
Creek Roadhouse, Alligator Creek. Bring morning tea. Leader: Norm Rains 0458788107
5th – Sunday – Town Common Conservation Park Survey – Meet 6.30am at the Town Common main gate,
Rowes Bay. Leader: Janet Robino 0424226504
7th – Tuesday – Photography Group Meeting – Meet 7pm at the TCC Bicentennial Building (Soundshell),
Kirwan. Theme:”More than one” This one should be self-explanatory.
Just an image with more than the one bird in it. Contact: Mark Horvath 0409332633
11th – Saturday – Monthly Meeting – Committee Meeting (Noon) and General Meeting (2pm)
Venue: TCC Bicentennial Building ( Sound Shell), Kirwan.
Guest speaker: Trish Jordan “Lake Eyre & The Channel Country”
12th – Sunday – TCC “Get Active Expo”- Community Activity – Open to the Public from 10am to 2pm — Meet
9am at the Townsville Stadium, Murray Lyons Crescent, Annandale. Volunteers are required to help.
Leader: Wal Threlfall 0429111055
15th – Wednesday – Ross River Bush Garden Survey – Meet 6.30am at the end of Thompson St,
Mundingburra. Leader: Wendy Kaus 0432047518
19th – Sunday – Ross River Dam Survey (restricted access) – Meet 6.30am in the Dam car park, Kelso.
Leader: Wal Threlfall 0429111055
20th – Monday – National Shorebird Monitoring Program – Cungulla Beach Survey – Meet 7am at the Annandale Central Shopping Centre, Coles undercover car park, Annandale. Bring morning tea. Leader: Len Ezzy 0448654261
27th – Monday – Australia Day – Alligator Creek Outing — Meet 6.30 am at the Bowling Green National Park,
Alligator Creek Section car park. Bring morning tea. Leader: Norm Rains 0458788107
28th – Tuesday – National Shorebird Monitoring Program – Lucinda Beach Survey – CANCELLED due to weather conditions – Meet 7am at the Reading Cinema car park, Thuringowa Central. Bring morning tea and lunch. Leader: Ivor Preston 0439062640
February
2nd – Sunday – Town Common Conservation Park Survey – Meet 6.30am at the Town Common main gate,
Rowes Bay. Leader: Janet Cross 0428376696
4th – Tuesday – Photography Group Meeting – Meet 7pm at the TCC Bicentennial Building (Soundshell),
Kirwan. Theme: “Rainforest Species” Not interested where the image was taken or even if it was in a rainforest,
just an image depicting a species that you would normally find in a rainforest. So, a Lewin’s Honeyeater image
taken out at Ravenswood would qualify. Contact: Mark Horvath 0409332633
6th – Thursday – Wongaloo Conservation Park Survey (restricted access) CANCELLED due to weather conditions— Meet 6.30am at the Alligator Creek Roadhouse, Alligator Creek. Bring morning tea. Leader: Norm Rains 0458788107
8th – Saturday-Annual General Meeting – Committee Meeting(Noon)and Annual General Meeting (2pm)
Venue: TCC Bicentennial Building ( Sound Shell), Kirwan. Guest speaker: Annette Sibson “Bird Trivia Competition”
12th – Wednesday – Ross River Bush Garden Survey – Meet 6.30am at end of Thompson St,Mundingburra.
Leader: Wendy Kaus 0432047518
16th – Sunday – Ross River Dam Survey (restricted access) – Meet 6.30am in the Dam car park, Kelso.
Leader: Wal Threlfall 0429111055
16th – Sunday – Queens Gardens (Bird Aviary Opening) – Community Activity — Meet 1.30 pm in front of the Aviary for a 2pm opening. The event is sponsored by the TCC and open to the public from 2pm to 5pm. Leader: Wal Threlfall 0429111055
21st – Friday – National Shorebird Monitoring Program – Lucinda Beach Survey – Meet 7am at the Reading Cinema car park, Thuringowa Central. Bring morning tea and lunch. Leader: Ivor Preston 0439062640
23rd – Sunday – Paluma Outing CANCELLED due to weather conditions – Meet 6.30 am at the Reading Cinema car park, Thuringowa Central. Bring morning tea and lunch. Leader: Wal Threlfall 0429111055
March - All Activities Cancelled due to COVID-19
1st – Sunday – Town Common Conservation Park Survey – Meet 6.30am at the Town Common main gate,
Rowes Bay. Leader: Janet Cross 0428376696
3rd – Tuesday – Townsville Grammar Junior School, Annandale – Education Activity — Meet 10.30am at the School Admin. Building. Birdlife Townsville Presentations “Beak Adaptations” to commence at 11am and finish at 1pm. Two grade 5 classes of 30 students. Leader: Wal Threlfall 0429111055
3rd – Tuesday – Photography Group Meeting – Meet 7pm at the TCC Bicentennial Building (Soundshell),
Kirwan. Theme: “L to P Inclusive” Basically, images of species where the first word in their common name starts
with an L through to P. Example: Latham’s Snipe, Orange-footed Scrubfowl, Pacific Heron
or Little Pied Cormorant etc. Contact: Mark Horvath 0409332633
5th – Thursday – Wongaloo Conservation Park Survey (resticted access) — Meet 6.30am at the
Alligator Creek Roadhouse, Alligator Creek. Bring morning tea. Leader: Norm Rains 0458788107
14th – Saturday – Monthly Meeting- Committee Meeting (Noon) and General Meeting (2pm)
Venue: TCC Bicentennial Building (Sound Shell), Kirwan. Guest speaker: Mark Horvath “Photography Group”
15th – Sunday – Ross River Dam Survey (restricted access) – Meet 6.30am in the Dam car park, Kelso.
Leader: Wal Threlfall 0429111055
18th – Wednesday – Ross River Bush Garden Survey – Meet 6.30am at end of Thompson St, Mundingburra.
Leader: Wendy Kaus 0432047518
23rd – Monday – CVA Multicultural Event – Education Activity – Meet at Townsville TAFE, Pimlico. Leader: Janet Cross 0428376696
29th – Sunday – Paluma Outing– Meet 6.30am at the Reading Cinema car park, Thuringowa Central. Bring morning tea and lunch Leader: Wal Threlfall 0429111055
30th – Monday – CVA Mulitcultural Event – Education Activity – Meet at the Townsville Common Conservation Park, Rowes Bay. Leader: Janet Cross 0428376696
April- All Activities Cancelled due to COVID-19
2nd – Thursday – Wongaloo Conservation Park Survey (restricted access) — Meet 6.30am at the Alligator
Creek Roadhouse, Alligator Creek. Bring morning tea. Leader: Norm Rains 0458788107
5th – Sunday – Town Common Conservation Park Survey – Meet 6.30am at the Town Common main gate,
Rowes Bay. Leader: Janet Cross 0428376696
7th – Tuesday – Photography Group Meeting – Meet 7pm at the TCC Bicentennial Building (Soundshell),
Kirwan. Theme: “Water / Wet” – for more detail see Photography Group page. Contact: Mark Horvath 0409332633
18th – Saturday – Monthly Meeting – Committee Meeting (Noon) and General Meeting (2pm)
Venue: TCC Bicentennial Building (Sound Shell), Kirwan. Guest speaker: Trish Jordan “Full Circle”
19th – Sunday – Ross River Dam Survey (restricted access) – Meet 6.30am in the Dam car park, Kelso. Leader: Cecily Messer 04097242312
22nd – Wednesday – Ross River Bush Garden Survey – Meet 6.30am at the end of Thompson St. Mundingburra. Leader: Wendy Kause 0432047518
26th – Sunday – Mingela/Clare Outing – Meet 6.30am at the Annandale Central Shopping Centre,Cole’s undercover car park, Annandale. This is an all-day outing bring morning tea which we will have atRavenswood. We will have lunch (at own expense) at the Claredale Pastures Cafe, Clare (the old Burdekin AgCollege). Leader: Wal Threlfall 0429111055
May - All Activities Cancelled due to COVID-19
3rd – Sunday – Town Common Conservation Park Survey – Meet 7am at the Town Common main gate,
Rowes Bay. Leader: Janet Cross 0428376696
5th – Tuesday – Photography Group Meeting – Meet 7pm at the TCC Bicentennial Building (Soundshell),
Kirwan.Theme:”Birds and Blooms” – for more detail see Photography Group Page. Contact: Mark Horvath 0409332633
7th – Thursday – Wongaloo Conservation Park Survey (restricted access) – Meet 7am at the Alligator
Creek Roadhouse, Alligator Creek. Bring morning tea. Leader: Norm Rains 0458788107
9th – Saturday – Monthly Meeting – Committee Meeting (Noon) and General Meeting (2pm)
Venue: TCC Bicentennial Building (Sound Shell), Kirwan. Guest speaker: Deborah Carter ” Fight for Flight” Raptor
Wildlife Care
13th – Wednesday – Ross River Bush Garden Survey – Meet 7am at end of Thompson St, Mundingburra.
Leader: Wendy Kaus 0432047518
17th – Sunday – Ross River Dam Survey (restricted access) – Meet 7am in the Dam car park, Kelso.
Leader: Cecily Messer 0409724231
31st – Sunday – Palmetum Botanical Garden Outing – Meet 7am at the Palmetum car park, Annandale.
Following the Outing, morning tea (at own expense) will be at the Tumbetin Tea Rooms, located at the
entrance to the Garden. Leader: Janet Robino 0424226504
June - All Activities Cancelled due to COVID-19
2nd – Tuesday – Photography Group Meeting – Meet 7pm at the TCC Bicentennial Building (Soundshell), Kirwan.
Theme: ” Airborne”- for more details see Photography Group Page. Contact: Mark Horvath 0409332633
4th – Thursday – Wongaloo Conservation Park Survey (restricted access) – Meet 7am at the Alligator Creek Roadhouse, Alligator Creek. Bring morning tea. Leader: Norm Rains 0458788107
7th – Sunday – Town Common Conservation Park Survey – Meet 7am at the Town Common main gate, Rowes Bay. Leader: Janet Cross 0428376696
13th – Saturday – Monthly Meeting – Committee Meeting (Noon) and General Meeting (2pm)
Venue: TCC Bicentennial Building (Sound Shell), Kirwan. Guest speaker: Member’s “Short Presentation”
Contact: The Secretary at: contact@birdlifetownsville.org.au
17th – Wednesday – Ross River Bush Garden Survey – Meet 7am at end of Thompson St, Mundingburra.
Leader: Wendy Kaus 0432047518
20th – Saturday – National Shorebird Monitoring Program – Cungulla Beach Survey – Meet 7am at the Annandale Central Shopping Centre, Cole’s undercover car park, Annandale. Bring morning tea. Leader: Janet Robino 0424226504
21st – Sunday – Ross River Dam Survey (restricted access) – Meet 7am in the Dam car park, Kelso.
Leader: Cecily Messer 0409724231
28th – Sunday – Mt Alma (Spotswood Family property – restricted access) and Wunjunga Outing
Meet 7am Alligator Creek Roadhouse, Alligator Creek. Bring morning tea and lunch.
Leader: Norm Rains 0458788107
July - All Surveys/Outings will commence from July - Meetings are still Cancelled
2nd – Thursday – Wongaloo Conservation Park Survey (restricted access) – Meet 7am at the Alligator
Creek Roadhouse, Alligator Creek. Bring morning tea. Leader: Norm Rains 0458788107
5th – Sunday – Town Common Conservation Park Survey – Meet 7am at the Town Common main gate.
Leader: Janet Cross 0428376696
7th – Tuesday – Photography Group Meeting – CANCELLED, Meet 7pm at the TCC Bicentennial Building (Soundshell), Kirwan. Theme: “Black and/or White”- for more details see Photography Group Page. Contact: Mark Horvath 0409332633
8th – Wednesday – Lucinda Beach Survey (National Shorebirds Monitoring Program) – Meet 7.30am at the Reading Cinema car park, Thuringowa Central. Bring morning tea and lunch. Leader: Ivor Preston 0439062640
11th – Saturday – Monthly Meeting – CANCELLED -Committee Meeting (Noon) and General Meeting (2pm)
Venue: TCC Bicentennial Building ( Sound Shell), Kirwan. Guest Speaker:
15th – Wednesday – Ross River Bush Garden Survey – Meet 7am at end of Thompson St, Mundingburra.
Leader: Wendy Kaus 0432047518
19th – Sunday – Ross River Dam Survey (restricted access) – Meet 7am at the Dam car park, Kelso.
Leader: Cecily Messer 0409724231
24th – Friday – Birder’s Breakfast & Outing – Heritage Tea Rooms, Hervey Range- TBA – AWAITING FURTHER ADVICE from TEA ROOMS — Meet 7am at the Reading Cinema car park — Arrive 7.30am at the Tea rooms and commence birding — 9am Breakfast (at own cost) at the Tea Rooms. Return to Townsville. Leader: Wal Threlfall 0429111055
August
2nd – Sunday – Town Common Conservation Park Survey – Meet 7am at the Town Common main gate.
Leader: Janet Cross 0428376696
4th – Tuesday – Photography Group Meeting – Meet 7pm at the TCC Bicentennial Building (Soundshell),
Kirwan. Theme: “Coastal Birds”- for more details see Photography Group Page. Contact: Mark Horvath 0409332633
6th – Thursday – Wongaloo Conservation Park Survey (restricted access) – Meet 7am at the Alligator
Creek Roadhouse, Alligator Creek. Bring morning tea. Leader: Norm Rains 0458788107
8th – Saturday – Monthly Meeting – Committee Meeting (Noon) and General Meeting (2pm) Held in the
TCC Bicentennial Building ( Sound Shell), Kirwan. Guest speaker:
12th – Wednesday – Ross River Bush Garden Survey – Meet 7am at end of Thompson St, Mundingburra.
Leader: Wendy Kaus 0432047518
16th – Sunday – Ross River Dam Survey (resticted access) – Meet 7am in the Dam car park, Kelso.
Leader: Cecily Messer 0409724231
22nd – Saturday – Town Common Conservation Park – Night Spotlighting – Outing – Meet 6.15pm inside the
main gate. Bring spotlight/torch, camera, binoculars. Three vehicles (12 members ) maximum.
Members wishing to attend must advise the Secretary Wal Threlfall 0429111055 or Email:
contact@birdlifetownsville.org.au
28th- Friday – Town Common Conservation Park – Night Spotlighting – Outing – Meet 6.15pm inside the
main gate. Bring spotlight/torch, camera, binoculars. Three vehicles (12 members) maximum.
Members wishing to attend must advise the Secretary Wal Threlfall 0429111055 or Email:
contact@birdlifetownsville.org.au
September
1st – Tuesday – Photography Group Meeting – Meet 7pm at the TCC Bicentennial Building (soundshell),
Kirwan. Theme: “Raptors/Owls/Nightjars”- for more details see Photography Group Page. Contact: Mark Horvath 0409332633
3rd – Thursday – Wongaloo Conservation Park Survey (restricted access) Meet 6.30am at the the Alligator Creek Roadhouse, Alligator Creek . Bring morning tea. Leader: Norm Rains 0458788107
6th – Sunday – Town Common Conservation Park Survey – Meet 6.30am at the Town Common main gate. Leader: Janet Cross 0428376696
12th – Saturday – Monthly Meeting – Committee Meeting (Noon) and General Meeting (2pm) Held in the
TCC Bicentennial Building (Sound Shell), Kirwan. Guest Speaker: Tony Grice “The Black-throated Finch”
16th – Wednesday – Ross River Bush Garden Survey – Meet 6.30am at the end of Thompson St. Mundingburra. Leader: Wendy Kause 0432047518
20th – Sunday – Ross River Dam Survey (restricted access) – Meet 6.30am at the Dam car park, Kelso
Leader: Cecily Messer 0409724231
27th – Sunday – Cape Pallarenda Quarantine Station Outing – Meet 6.30am at the car park (near the
Quarantine Buildings ). Bring morning tea. Leader: Janet Robino 0424226504
October
BirdLife Townsville – “October Bird Month” – Community Activity. Bird displays at various Shopping
Centres and the TCC Libraries. Members will need to: (1) volunteer to construct and dismantel library
displays and (2) volunteer to participate and provide information to the public at the various shopping
centres. Leader: Janet Robino 0424226504
1st – Thursday – Wongaloo Conservation Park Survey (restricted access) Meet 6.30am at the Alligator
Creek Roadhouse, Alligator Creek. Bring morning tea. Leader: Norm Rains 0458788107
4th – Sunday – Town Common Conservation Park Survey – Meet 6.30am at the Town Common main gate.
Leader: Janet Cross 0428376696
6th – Tuesday – Photography Group Meeting – Meet 7pm at the TCC Bicentennial Building (Soundshell),
Kirwan. Theme: “Preening/Behaviour”- for more details see Photography Group Page. Contact: Mark Horvath 0409332633
10th – Saturday – Monthly Meeting – Committee Meeting (Noon) and General Meeting (2pm) Held in the
TCC Bicentennial Building (Sound Shell), Kirwan. Guest Speaker:
14th – Wednesday – Ross River Bush Garden – Meet 6.30am at the end of Thompson St, Mundingburra.
Leader: Wendy Kaus 0432047518
17th – Saturday and 18th – Sunday – Black Throated Finch Recovery Team (BTFRT) “Annual Black-
throated Finch Survey” – All details on the BTFRT website. Participants must register at
www.blackthroatedfinch.com Leader: Tony Grice 0419974520
18th – Sunday – Ross River Dam Survey (restricted access) – Meet 6.30am in the Dam car park, Kelso.
Leader: Cecily Messer 0409724231
19th – Monday to 25th – Sunday – Birdlife Australia ” Aussie Backyard Bird Count” – This is a fun event and
only requires Members to complete a 20 minute survey. All details on the Birdlife Australia website.
Participants must register at: www.birdlife.org.au Contact: Wal Threlfall 0429111055
24th – Saturday and 25th – Sunday – Birdlife Australia ” National Twitchathon”– This is a fun event and
raises funds for Australia’s endangered birds. All funds raised in Qld stay in Qld. There are prizes to be won.
Members form a team (minimum of two members) and participate in either the 3hr or 12hr or 24hr Event. All
details on the Birdlife Australia website. Participants must register at: www.birdlife.org.au
Contact: Wal Threlfall 0429111055
November
Torresian Imperial Pigeon Watch and Count – Cape York to Gladstone – All month, you choose venue,
what days and number of days all from 4pm to 6pm. Members this is another important survey and only
requires a committment of 2 hours. Your own personal count.
All details at: http//www.pipwatch.net/current-season-piptip-coast-count
Contact: Julia Hazel (James Cook University) 0407431382 or Julia.Hazel@jcu.edu.au
1st – Sunday – Town Common Conservation Park Survey – Meet 6.30am at the Town Common main gate.
Leader: Janet Cross 0428376696
3rd – Tuesday – Photography Group Meeting – Meet 7pm at the TCC Bicentennial Building(Soundshell),
Kirwan. Theme:”R to Z”- for more details see Photography Group Page. Contact: Mark Horvath 0409332633
5th – Thursday – Wongaloo Conservation Park Survey (restricted access) Meet 6.30am at the Alligator
Creek Roadhouse, Alligator Creek. Bring morning tea. Leader: Norm Rains 0458788107
14th – Saturday – Monthly Meeting – Committee Meeting (Noon) and General Meeting (2pm) Held in the
TCC Bicentennial Building (Sound Shell), Kirwan. Guest speaker:
15th – Sunday – Ross River Dam Survey (restricted access) – Meet 6.30am in the Dam car park, Kelso.
Leader: Cecily Messer 0409724231
18th – Wednesday – Ross River Bush Garden Survey – Meet 6.30am at end of Thompson St, Mundingburra
Leader: Wendy Kaus 0432047518
29th – Sunday – Paluma Outing – Meet 6.30am at the Reading Cinema car park, Thuringowa Central. Bring morning tea and Lunch. Leader: Wal Threlfall 0429111055
December
Torresian Imperial Pigeon Watch and Count – Cape York to Gladstone – All month, you choose venue,
what days and number of days all from 4pm to 6pm. Members this is another important survey and only
requires a committment of 2hrs. Your own personal count.
All details at: http//www.pipwatch.net/current-season-piptip-coast-count Contact: Julia Hazel (James Cook University) 0407431382 or Email: Julia.Hazel@jcu.edu.au
1st – Tuesday – Photography Group – Meet 7pm at the TCC Bicentennial Building (Soundshell), Kirwan. Theme “Favourites for 2020” – for more details see Photography Group Page. Contact: Mark Horvath 0409332633
3rd – Thursday – Wongaloo Conservation Park Survey (restricted access) – Meet 6.30am at the Alligator Creek Roadhouse car park, Alligator Creek. Bring morning tea. Leader: Norm Rains 0458788107
5th – Saturday and 6th – Sunday – Birdlife Australia National Challenge Bird Count
Start 6.30am and count species and number of birds in specific areas within a 25km radius of Townsville CBD.
Participants will be allocated a specific area. All counts to be forwarded within 7 days to:
contact@birdlifetownsville.org.au Leader: Wal Threlfall 0429111055
6th – Sunday – Town Common Conservation Park Survey – Meet 6.30am at the Town Common main gate. Leader: Janet Cross 0428376696
12th – Saturday – Christmas Party – Sun Hotel Meet 6.30pm for a 7pm start in the Function Room at the
Sun Hotel, Mundingburra. Meal and drinks at own expense. Prizes to be won and Trivia by Nina — Menu will
be circulated closer to the date. RSVP Contact: Wal Threlfall 042911105
16th – Wednesday – Ross River Bush Garden Survey – Meet 6.30am at end of Thompson St, Mundingburra.
Leader: Wendy Kaus 0432047518
20th – Sunday – Ross River Dam Survey (restricted access) – Meet 6.30am in the Dam car park, Kelso. Leader: Cecily Messer 0409724231
Birdlife Townsville wishes all members a happy and safe 2020 Festive Season