Campbell Park nest workshop

Description:  This outing will be a repeat of the very popular and practical nest workshops held over the past nineteen years.  As usual it will be a very informal outing which has been timed to coincide with the peak of the breeding season.  The morning will start with the usual very short presentation, including tips on the types of nests built by different species of birds, how to find nests and nesting behaviour.  This will be followed by several hours putting this into practice, with participants looking for breeding behaviour, signs of nests, etc.  This will also allow plenty of opportunities for birdwatching.

The workshop is particularly suitable for beginners or those relatively new to bird watching, though more experienced members and repeat customers are also very welcome.

Walking distance:  While every year has been different, we often don’t walk very far as there is usually a “hot spot” where most of the breeding activity occurs around 500 m from where we park.  Maximum distance – 2.0 km of easy, flat walking.

End Time:  Between 11 am and 12 pm.  Please remember to take morning tea which we will have out in the field.

Meeting time and place:  Meet at 8:00 am at the far end of the car park.  Take Northcott Drive up to the start of the Campbell Park Offices, where you take the right fork and keep to the outside of the very large car park, skirting it until you get to the end.  Intending participants might also like to look at the Campbell Park map on the COG website under the Maps, Forms and Lists button.

Name of leader and contact details:  Registration is essential no later than Friday 11 November.  To participate, please contact Jack Holland (6288 7840) or preferably by email on jandaholland@bigpond.com – please include your mobile number and emergency contact name and number.

While twenty five members and guests had registered for the twentieth running of this workshop, the forecast for the day was the worst ever with 35-60 mm of rain predicted with possible heavy falls and flash flooding, the chance of a thunderstorm, possibly severe and with damaging winds and large hail.  Surprisingly the rain had held off at 6 am, but a very large rain band arrived from the west around 7 am with quite a bit of thunder and heavy rain.  Though 3 people still came out to the meeting spot the amount of rain and water running down the road made it clear the workshop was not able to go ahead, and for the first time in many years of leading COG outings I had no option but to cancel.