Bird Watching and Birders

An Interest for everyone

Birds Queensland caters for the interests of all members, City dweller, farmers, children, beginner bird watchers, experts on birds and their behavior professional ornithologist and researchers are all catered for. Some may be only interested in identifying the birds which visit their gardens. Others are more interested in what birds do, how they find food, what they eat and how their nest or in the changing patterns and distribution of birds through the seasons and over a number of years (although Australian has few truly migratory birds compared to the northern hemisphere, its birds are highly dispersive as a wet period follows a period of drought).

Many also are fascinated by the wading birds that annually migrate from the snows of Siberia to enjoy our summer while others are drawn to the pelagic seabirds which can only be seen far out to sea off the Queensland coast and go on one of the regular boat trips.

Many members of Birds Queensland are active in various ornithological projects and as a society we make a significant contribution of national bird research. These projects include regular monitoring of bird populations, nest recording, banding, annual bird week promotions and the annual fund raising 'twitchathon'. The money raised by the twtichathon is used to support research.

Listers, Twitchers and Tickers

Some birder are know as listers, twitchers (American) or tickers (British). They try to see as many birds as possible of the nearly 10,000 different species in the world. Others try to see every bird in their country (about 750 species have been recorded in Australia but some are are vagrants which may never occur again) or in their home state or in each particular year. They are slightly looked down upon by other "more serious" bird watchers.

Tools of the Trade

Binoculars and Telescopes

Binoculars are almost essential for bird watching. Magnifications of up to 10 times (e.g. 7 X 40, 8 X 40, 10 X 45) are suitable for most purposes.

Telescopes (e.g.20X, 20 - 60 X Zoom) are useful for observing distant birds such as Waders and Ducks. Do seek advice from other birders before buying as only certain types (and rather expensive) telescopes are suitable.

Books on Birds and where to find them

A good field guide is also required so that birds can be identified. Australia is well served with field guides.

Field Guides

Title	Author(s)	Puplisher	ISDN / Dewey	Comments
Field Guide to Australian Birds	Michael Morcombe	Steve Parish (2000 1^st edition)	ISBN 1 876282 10x Dewey 598.0994	Includes Australia’s Islands and territories- Incudes an extensive section on Nests and Eggs
Field Guide to Birds of Australia	Simpson & Day	Viking (1999 6^th edition)	ISBN 0-670-87918.5 Dewey 598.0994	This edition has been enhanced by much better race territory maps.- Some include movement information. It seems to reflect much of the latest info.
The Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds	Peter,Pat & Raoul Slater	Lansdowne,Revised 1989	ISBN 0-947116-99.0 Dewey 598.2994	The most convenient book for carrying in the Field. My first identification reference
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia	Graham Pizzey & Frank Knight	Angus & Robertson/HarperCollins,(1999 edition)	ISBN 0-207-19691.5 (p/b) 0-207-19714.8(h/b) Dewey 598.2994	An excellent general reference
A Field guide to the Birds of Australia	Pizzey & Doyle	Angus & Robertson, (1991 edition)	ISBN 0-207-17382.6 Dewey 598.2994	Don't lose it ! Easy to read ! Great for alternative Common Names !- Other stuff such as "Similar species", "Range & Status", "Breeding", "Habitat" often found no-where else.
A Field Guide to Australian Birds	Peter Slater	Vol 1 non-Passerines, Vol 2 Passerines	ISBN 0-85179-102.6 , 0-85179-813.6 Dewey 598.80994	Now a little dated but do not throw away these books.Often has info not printed elsewhere.
What Bird is That ? A Guide to the Birds of Australia	Neville Cayley, Revised and enlarged by A.H.Chisholm, K.A.Hindwood, A.R.McGill	Angus & Robertson (4^th Ed’n 1966)	-	Readily available cheaply from 2^nd hand book shops My 1^st reference for the derivation of the scientific name, whether Greek or Latin and the pronounciation.
The Birds of Prey of Australia - A Field Guide	Stephen Debus	Oxford University Press, 2000	ISBN 0 19 550624 3	This book draws heavily from the Hanzab (including the colour plates)

Note: We are indebted to Bob Forsyth for preparing this information

Download the quick indexes ( zip file, 48kb)

A number of books on where to find birds in Australia, in particular areas have also been published recently - we will list some of this titles on the site in future.

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Last modified: 1 November 2007