Bird lover? Keen to get into some citizen science? Your November weekends just got a lot more rewarding!
The Great Inland Glossy Count starts this weekend and they need your help!
Event Coordinator Adam Fawcett from National Parks and Wildlife Service said the count was aimed at understanding more about the inland NSW population of one of our most gorgeous birds.
"Easily spotted with their distinctive red markings, the inland population of Glossy Black Cockatoos live in woodland and forest areas stretching from Parkes to Narrabri.
"Listed as vulnerable in NSW, the count is part of a wider project to conserve the species at three key sites: the Pilliga Forests, Goonoo National Park and Goobang National Park and surrounding landscapes.
"This is the first coordinated count of Glossy Black-Cockatoos across its inland populations.
"Surveys are planned to occur consecutively over three weekends in November to capture the number of birds and offspring from the recent breeding season.
"The counts are being held over the first three weekends in November:
- 2 November in the Pilliga Forests and surrounding lands
- 9 November in the Goonoo NP and surrounding lands
- 16 November in the Goobang NP and surrounding lands
"We're still looking for volunteers to be involved in the counts happening this weekend in the Pilliga Forests but also looking for people interested in volunteering for the Goonoo and Goobang counts and kids are more than welcome.
"Volunteers are asked to pre-register using the (DPIE Volunteer Portal.
"This is a great opportunity to get out to some of our amazing national parks and state forests, sit back and count Glossy Black Cockatoos as they come into known watering holes.
"Having some experience with birdwatching would be great, but Glossy Black Cockatoos are a very distinctive species and easily identified. The only equipment requirements are the ability to make you way to the survey site, a pair of binoculars and a notepad.
There are two meeting locations for people attending the counts on the 2 November in the Pilliga Forests:
- For people in Baradine or Coonabarabran, the Pilliga Forests Discovery Centre, 50-58 Wellington Street, Baradine.
- For people staying in Narrabri or Tamworth, the Pilliga Rest Area about 50 km south of Narrabri on the Newell Highway.
Meeting time is 1pm and a light refreshments and drinks will be available for volunteers at the staging areas.
The project is funded by Saving our Species and the NSW Environmental Trust and is led by Central West Local Land Services in partnership with NSW NPWS, DPIE, Forests Corp NSW, Dubbo Field Naturalists, Australian Wildlife Conservancy and land owners and managers within these areas.
