No. 36
What we've been doing; Bird Photography Class/Walk; Awareness raising of MBS birdlife in Schools and Community; Fundraising at Grill'd Applecross
Hello everyone,
It’s been an extremely busy time since we last wrote to you in October. Since then, our volunteers have been successfully involved in 3 events in quick succession:
World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) - Saturday 12 October
Member for Bicton, Lisa O’Malley MLA’s Healthy Rivers Forum - Sat 19 October
City of Melville’s Eco Action Expo - Sunday 3 November
Mayor Katy Mair with Tom Lubin at Eco Action Expo
All three events presented terrific opportunities for us to be involved with, showcase and raise community awareness about the Melville Bird Sanctuary. We also had the opportunity to connect with Minister Reece Whitby MLA, Minister for Energy; Environment; and Climate Action at the Healthy Rivers Forum.
Our joint event on WMBD with the City of Melville, River Guardians, Swan Estuary Reserves Action Group (SERAG) and Bicton Environmental Action Group (BEAG) attracted a bumper crowd. Demand for Birdwatching Walks and Bird Photography Class/Walks was high and every effort was made to meet demand. We apologise to those who missed out. You’ll have further opportunities for these – see below:
Bird Photography Class/Walk
Location: Troy Park Entrance
Date: Saturday, Nov 23rd
Time: 7.30-9.30am
Max 10 participants
This Class/Walk will be led by Gareth Evans. If you’ve seen our Facebook page, you’ll be familiar with his excellent photos of MBS birdlife. Bring your camera and join Gareth for a walk and talk on birds of MBS and learn to take engaging photos of them. These skills are applicable to any camera including your cellphone, but a good zoom lens will provide the best results. Gareth won the 2024 Conservation Volunteers Wetland Photography Competition and won a Highly Commended Award in the Animals category of the Mono Photography Awards 2024.
You’ll need to register for this event by replying to this email and letting us know of your interest by close of business on Wednesday 20 November. The number of participants will be capped at 10 to allow for individual attention.
Raising awareness of the MBS in Schools
This is an important initiative we’ve wanted to take on for some time. So, when approached by Year 4 teacher from Melville Primary School, Brad Raymond, to speak with his students about migratory birds, we grabbed the opportunity with both hands. And it was an absolute pleasure to take 28 Year 4 students, their teachers and some parents on a short tour of the Alfred Cove East Region of the MBS. In addition to the excursion being enjoyable for the kids, it was also a revelation for the parents present!.
We’ve been given another great opportunity to speak with students at Santa Maria College in Attadale about migratory birds. Through this awareness raising, we hope to provide information about the diversity of birdlife at the MBS as well as caring for birdlife and how best to protect these wonderful creatures. (Material on our website is an important tool in the process.) Caring precedes protection of birds and their habitats. And the earlier in people’s lives we can start this process, the better!
Fundraising
Since getting our Volunteers together earlier this year, our FoMBS team has been thinking up ways to fundraise for all the plans we have for the wellbeing of our birds. And every small bit of funding we can raise counts. Having successfully approached Grill’d Applecross to be involved in their fundraising initiative Local Matters, we’ve been chosen as one of 3 groups whose names will be on their jars for this month of November.
Everytime a customer places an order and collects in store, they’re given a token. If you visit Grill’d Applecross this month, please place your token in the jar marked Friends of Melville Bird Sanctuary. If we end up with the most tokens at the end of November, we’ll get a cheque for $300.00. So please patronise Grill’d Applecross this month and help us. Thankyou.
Please also remember our Containers for Change fundraising, details below.
Answering your questions – one at a time!!
Question: At our stand at the City of Melville’s Eco Action Forum last Sunday, a lady asked if we knew where pelicans roosted in our MBS area?
Answer: We’ve found out that the closest place to Melville is South Perth where they appear to have taken over the artificial island Djirda Miya, or 'home of the birds', built for waterbirds to nest away from people, bikes and dogs.
Otherwise pelicans’ major roost is Penguin island.
If you have a question about birds, send it to us and we'll respond if we choose your question!
All the best,
Jenny Christenson & Tom Lubin
Co-founders: Friends of Melville Bird Sanctuary
Containers For Change Donations. Please use this barcode to donate to Friends of Melville Bird Sanctuary.
Donations may also be made to our Westpac Bank Account.
Friends of Melville Bird Sanctuary
BSB: 036-084
A/c: 494777
Contact Melville City Rangers
Business hours: 08 9364 0666 or 1300 635 845
After hours: 0418 943 219
Contact Wildcare Helpline (Parks & Wildlife - DBCA)
08 9474 9055