A WORKSHOP on the relationship between birds and plants will be held next month at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne.
The workshop is being held at the end of this year’s National Bird Week (23-29 October) with presenters focussing on greater understanding of Australian birds, their behaviour, their requirements and their conservation.
From 7.30am on Sunday 29 October there will be an optional opportunity to participate in the “What Bird is That?” presentation conducted by BirdLife Australia’s Mornington Peninsula branch in the Cranbourne bushland, followed by breakfast.
The presentation follows warnings last month from the branch’s president, Max Burrows, that several more species of birds are in danger of being added to the 40 species which have disappeared from around Frankston and on the Mornington Peninsula since the arrival of Europeans (“The birds are flying into oblivion” The Times 21/8/17).
For those not wanting to arrive at the gardens at 7.30 the day can start with refreshments in the Australian Garden Auditorium before the 10.30am start of presentations which include:
- An overview of Australian birds.
- Evolutionary/social history in connecting birds, animals, nature and people (with Pat Macwhirter).
- Behaviour, ecology, colour and sexual attraction (Kaspar Delhey).
- Status of the helmeted honeyeater, Victoria’s bird emblem (Bruce Quin).
- Photographing birds (Kerri-Lee Harris and Paul Whitington).
- Illustrating birds (Nicolas Day).
- Bird habitat in gardens (Amy Akers).
Australian birds in art and craft (John Thompson).
The National Bird Week workshop, 7.30am-3pm or 9.30am-3pm Sunday 29 October, Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, corner Ballarto Rd and Botanic Drive, Cranbourne. Members $80, non-members $90, students $40. Register and pay at: www.rbgfriendscranbourne.org.au or call Amy Akers on 0423 513 281.
