Newsletter for the Rotary Club of Western Endeavour - Issue No.: 1116 Issue Date: 21 Apr, 2024

This week we were privileged to have Mr Viv Read, the Chair of the Western Australian branch of BirdLife Australia, talk to us about some of the more common birds around Perth. Starting off with the colourful Rainbow Bee-eater which can be seen in Kings Park where they nest in tunnels in the ground before returning to the north, Viv showed photos and played audio recordings of the songs of a range of birds from the large Wedge-tailed Eagle through Owls, local ducks, various Honey-eaters to the minute Mistletoe bird and Gerygone.

Viv was able to point out where we could see some of the nesting locations of the Osprey and described how Boobook owl numbers have diminished where local councils have allowed the use of more toxic versions of rat poisons. He also gave a brief overview of the work being done to preserve the Great Western Woodlands,  the largest intact temperate woodland left on earth.

Birdlife WA conduct many community programs which can be accessed from their website www.birdlife.org.au/wa