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December 2008 - FIELD TECHNIQUES IN BIRD STUDIES: 7th to 13th December 2008 (Click here)
December 2008 - CHRISTMAS AT EYRE: 24th to 30th December 2008 (Click here)
January 2009 - Dune Stabilization: 4th to 10th January 2009 (Click here)
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Book with the Caretakers. |
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Field Techniques in Bird Studies - December 2008 Dates: 7th December to 13th December 2008 Leader: Dr. Stephen Davies Stephen is an ornithologist with many years experience in matters pertaining to birds and is a regular visitor to Eyre. This is an opportunity for you to learn a variety of ways to study birds and explore a range of census techniques. You may be able to participate in bird banding activities. You will also be assisted with bird identification skills and take part in the on-going recording procedures carried out at the observatory.
Course Cost: $560 for 6 nights with all meals included.
Book with the Caretakers. |
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Date: December 24th to 30th December 2008 Leaders: Caretakers Beverley and John Christmas at Eyre offers that delightful combination of isolation and comfort sorely needed in our busy lives. Grant yourselves a peaceful week amongst the mallee and dunes of Eyre. Sleep, read, wander or swim at the nearby beach. You can even watch birds! Enjoy the beautiful, natural environment away from the frantic atmosphere of Christmas in the city.
Course Cost: $560 for 6 nights with all meals included.
Book with the Caretakers. For General Information - Bookings (Click here)
Dune Stabilization January 2009 Dates: Sunday 4th January to Saturday 10th January 2009 Leader: George Agar Meals & Accommodation at half-price. But George and Shapelle are working on a Grant. So costs could be even less. George is planning to collect seeds which will be ripe in January and these will be stored and will be sown later in the year. There will also be seaweed collection if the tides oblige by bringing the seaweed to the beach. Book with the Caretakers. For General Information - Bookings (Click here)
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PAST COURSES AT EYRE BIRD OBSERVATORY
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Malleefowl Mounds: August 2008 Dates: 10th August to 16th August 2008 Leaders: Rod Smith & Joyce Hegney You are invited to join a party of searchers to examine mounds in order to better understand the status of the Malleefowl population at Eyre. The mapping of Malleefowl mound locations at Eyre has been taking place since 1989. The total now found is 71. The last survey was done in 2006. This is your opportunity to contribute to an ongoing research programme. GPS receivers will used. Instruction in their use will be given where necessary. If you would like more information Rod would be happy to hear from you. email: rodjoyce@bigpond.net.au Course Cost: $560 for 6 nights with all meals included.
Book with the Caretakers. For General Information - Bookings (Click here)
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 Photo: Rod Smith |
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Book Binding and Bird Banding - BB and BB - at EBO Date: 11th November - 17th November 2007 Leader: Perry de Rebeira
Perry has offered to teach Elementary
Bookbinding at Eyre Bird Observatory.
The programme will be Bird Banding in the
morning with Book Binding in the afternoon and evening. Participants can
choose to do either activity or both.
Learn how to make field notebooks with a
pencil sleeve and fix your Field Guide, the one that is constantly
falling apart, by turning it into a hardback.
As with all Eyre Bird Observatory courses,
there is a maximum of 8 people. Contact Perry on 9298 8999 if you wish
to attend or ask questions.
Course Cost: $560 for 6 nights with all
meals included. |
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Dune Stabilization January 2008 Dates: 6th January to 12th January 2008 Leader: George Agar FREE MEALS AND ACCOMMODATION!! George is planning to collect seeds which will be ripe in January and these will be stored and will be sown later in the year. There will also be seaweed collection if the tides oblige by bringing the seaweed to the beach.
Book with the Caretakers. |
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Dune Stabilization FEBRUARY 2008 Dates: 10th February to 16th February 2008 Leader: George Agar FREE MEALS! AND ACCOMMODATION! George is planning to collect seeds which will be ripe in February. These will be stored and will be sown later in the year. There will also be seaweed collection if the tides oblige by bringing the seaweed to the beach. Come for the week, or just for a few nights.
Book with the Caretakers. For General Information - Bookings (Click here)
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Dates: 2nd - 8th March 2008 Leaders: Caretakers Roger and Cheryl SPECIAL PRICE $45 per day! Willing workers are needed to assist Caretakers with all the little jobs that Caretakers wish there was time for. You pay $45 per day for 3 meals, morning and afternoon teas and accommodation. You are asked to do 4 hours of work per day. The rest of the time is yours to enjoy in the peace and isolation.
Book with the Caretakers. For General Information - Bookings (Click here)
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An Introduction to Nature Photography Dates: 11th May to 17th May 2008 Leader: Simon Nevill
Simon's passion is the natural world, ornithology and photography. He has produced the following publications:-
Guide to the Wildflowers-South Western Australia Wonderful Wildflowers of Western Australia Travellers' Guide to the Parks & Reserves of Western Australia Perth and Fremantle Wildflowers of Western Australia
Simon is currently photographing the Kimberley in the wet.
Book with the Caretakers. |
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AUSTRALIASIAN ORNITHOLOGICAL CONFERENCE AOC Post-Conference Excursion - December 2007 Date: 7th December - 12th December 2007 Leader: Peter Sandilands |
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Duration: 5 Days/6 Nights (7 – 12 Dec 2007 inclusive) This allows two days after the end of the congress for travel to the excursion site which is approximately 1200 km east south-east of Perth. Participants are responsible for making their own transport arrangements but are welcome to contact the leader through the AOC website for further information, e.g., places to camp/stay on the trip to Eyre from Perth. Accommodation (incl. meals): cost: $560.00 Further details on what to bring will be sent to those who book in advance. People may be able to stay longer subject to accommodation being available at the Observatory. |
| Excursion Outline: The schedule is fairly flexible to allow for changes in the weather. |
| Friday evening: | Welcome to Eyre. Orientation to facilities. |
| Day 1 Saturday: | Activities in the vicinity of the Observatory including bird banding – weather permitting – to familiarise participants with the local species. Rope walk and visit to beach in the afternoon. |
| Day 2 Sunday: | Day at the old Burnabbie ruins and surrounds to see more of the mallee birds. Lunch at Burnabbie. |
| Day 3 Monday: | After morning tea and mid-morning weather check, participate in Australia’s longest running beach count for shorebirds on Kanidal Beach. Lunch at Nine Mile. Return in time for afternoon weather check. |
| Day 4 Tuesday: | Day trip to Moondadong Rockhole taking in the mallee and plains birds. Lunch at Moondadong. |
| Day 5 Wednesday | A day around the Observatory - early morning walk along east track looking for Purple-gaped Honeyeater, Southern Scrub-robin, Chestnut Quail-thrush. Horse Paddock walk after morning tea. Visit to a Malleefowl mound in the late afternoon |
| Day 6 Thursday: | Departure. (If any participants wish to stay longer Peter is happy to extend the excursion, subject to accommodation being available). |
| GENERAL INFORMATION |
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Bookings are essential for all courses and activities. There is a limit of 8 participants on all courses and activities. More information will be given to participants upon booking. COURSE FEES Normal
course fee: $560 Some
specific courses and activities are subsidized through grants or special
concessions. |
| BOOKINGS: Contact the Caretakers Eyre Bird Observatory PMB 32 Cocklebiddy via NORSEMAN W.A. 6443 |
Phone: (08) 9039 3450 |
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(NB: courses may be cancelled if there are insufficient bookings) The observatory plays an active role in ornithological research and environmental education through its courses. |
REPORTS: Courses and Activities
Dune Stabilization - January 2006
Dune Stabilization - April 2006
Malleefowl Mounds - October 2006
REPORTS ON ACTIVITIES AND COURSES
Dune Stabilization - January 2006
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Wendy serving morning tea and scones. |
Planting seed on the dunes. |
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Hot on the dunes in January |
The Workers |
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Dune Stabilization - April 2006 A total of seven people, including the leader participated in the April 2006 Dune Stabilization activity. It was a rewarding time with enthusiastic, fun, hardworking people (as always!) with plenty of ingenuity for making the tasks easier. Seaweed was collected from the beach and spread on the dunes. Acacia cyclops seed collected by earlier working parties was 'cleaned'(a combination of mechanical crushing and sifting), heat treated and dried. One third was spead on the dunes and the rest packed away by Gina and Norm for future use. As the first load of seaweed was being piled up into the trailer there was a loud bang (metal-snapping sound) as the last leaf on the right-hand spring broke. The slightly lopsided trailer held together for the next two days (not quite sure how), before it was strengthened, (by two plucky guys) with two large planks of wood under each side of the trailer above the axle. We could then do bigger loads of seaweed and were assured that its guarantee for 10 days would still hold! |
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This
photo was taken April 2006. |
Collecting the seaweed on the beach was a challenge some days, as it needed to be washed free of sand to minimise the weight, or washed to revive the dry seaweed as fresh seaweed was not always available. On the last day, the sea brought in an abundance of fresh seaweed at the water line and seaweed collecting became easy and fun by comparison even though still wet work. The seaweed carriers and spreaders on the mobile dune finally retired the heavy bed frame and a new bamboo frame was created with plastic webbing. The dune covered in weed and seeded in 2002 was looking really good with Acacia plants 1 m high, lots of sedges and daisy plants as well as the Euphorbia. Some of the spinifex planted in January 2006 and earlier had three to four leaf shoots, probably a result of the summer rains from the cyclones. Many of these sprouted spinifex seed heads are now surrounded by seaweed.
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The Dunes crew in May 2006. Leader Shapelle is standing, in the back row. |
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to Last updated 23rd March 2008 Copyright © Eyre Bird Observatory 2008 http://www.eyrebirds.org |
