NSW and ACT Twitchathon 2006

Proceeds to go to the Australian Bird Study Associations Research Fund

Prizes

This year the Australian Bird Study Associations Research Fund will be the recipient of our fund raising conservation efforts. The Research Fund provides grants to students at Australian Universities who are carrying out research on Australian birds. Our aim is to increase the value of the investment fund so that more funds can be granted for research. In recent years the Research Fund has been able to provide small grants to two students per year to assist in their field work and research.

In 2006 the Australian Bird Study Association awarded grants to Grant Palmer and Dean Portelli. Grant has a long term study underway investigating the response of bird communities to alternative land uses in the rural living zone surrounding the large regional centre of Ballarat (Vic). Dean’s research is part of his PhD studies at New South Wales University into the social organisation and breeding biology of Hall’s Babbler. By increasing the amount of the Investment fund more money will be made available to students like Grant and Dean for important research into the biology and conservation of Australian birds.

This Twitchathon Project aims to increase the Investment Fund from the current $25,000 to $40,000 or more!

How to join the Twitchathon 2006
October 28-29

1. Contact Alan Morris for your 2006 Twitchathon Kit
2. Form a team with one or even a dozen friends and family and go birdwatching over this October weekend. You can travel anywhere in NSW and/or the ACT. See how many species of birds your team can find from 3 pm Saturday 28 October to 4 pm Sunday 29 October 2006. Note the new starting and finishing time as trialled in 2004.
3. Get sponsors. In the weeks before this event, persuade family and friends to sponsor you so many cents or even dollars for each species your team sees. You just need either lots of little sponsorships or a few big ones!

There are prizes for the most species seen by three winning teams as well as prizes for the most money raised, the rarest bird seen by an individual, and prizes for children. The prizes include Trophies, a weekend in a motel at Leeton with a personal guided tour of the Ramsar Internationally famous Fivebough Swamp Wetlands (sponsored by the Fivebough Wetland Trust), a weekend cottage stay in the country, a valuable gift voucher to be used to purchase a pair of binoculars (sponsored by ABSA), books, book vouchers, champagne, wine and other prizes to go to the winners in the various categories of the Twitchathon. Contact Alan for a full list.

So don’t think that you have to be an A class birdwatcher to take part. Whichever method you chose for your Twitchathon – the laid back (ie the Champagne Race), the deadly serious, or the donor only version, remember it is all about educating others into the importance of nature conservation, particularly the conservation of Australian birds.

Last year we raised $14000, and the two years before &10,500 & $13548 respectively! In the past five years we have raised over $60,000. This is a great achievement and we have been able to make a significant difference for the birds in the Capertee Valley, the Murray Valley, the Cowra District, Newhaven Station (NT) & the Education Unit at Gluepot Reserve. I know that you will join me in making a fantastic contribution one way or another. So, do ask me for your Twitchathon Kit TODAY or sponsor a Twitchathon team in your bird club or group! I can put you in touch with a team if you do not know of one in your area!

Alan Morris
Twitchathon Co-ordinator
(For Birds Australia, Southern NSW & ACT)
c/- 3 Murray St Bateau Bay NSW 2261
Telephone: 02 43 342776
Fax: 02 9436 0466
Email amorris@ceinternet.com.au