At the September meeting there will be three presentations, the first two shorter ones than usual, followed by a presentation including a Q & A session on the Avian Flu.
The first presentation will be by Steve Read, who will outline changes to our constitution that are being proposed to match the updated ACT Model Rules for Incorporated Associations and to underpin our charitable status and requirements as a Deductible Gift Recipient. Details of the proposed changes will also be emailed to members in due course.
The second presentation will be by Neil Hermes on “The COG Garden Bird Survey. History, thoughts and musings”
Neil, a former President of COG/Canberra Birds, along with the late Prof Henry Nix, set up the still continuing Garden Bird Survey (GBS). This began in July 1981 and is now in its 45th year. The GBS records the species and abundance of birds in suburban gardens and allows members and supporters to count the maximum number of individual bird species on a weekly basis. The project has established a unique long-term set of information, which has been compiled in a detailed computer database, into the annual geographic distributions and population abundance patterns of common, rare and introduced bird species.
Unfortunately, participation in this very valuable project has declined in recent years, partly due to the current lack of a GBS co-ordinator. Neil will give us his thoughts and musings about the Survey as it developed and changed over time.
The final presentation will be by Rachael Grigson, Biosecurity Veterinary Officer, ACT Government, on “Your Avian Flu questions answered.”
Rachael spoke to COG/Canberra Birds about H5N1 Avian Flu at the Canberra Birds meeting back in March 2025. That presentation is on the Canberra Birds Facebook page and can be viewed at any time from https://www.facebook.com/reel/4061440154092172
In September, Rachael will bring us up to date and then open the floor to your questions. Not only is this a very good opportunity to learn more about what ACT Government and Australian governments are doing in response to Avian Flu, but the question-and-answer session will be both interesting and valuable.
Change of meeting venue for COG/Canberra Birds
Until further notice the venue for our 2026 monthly members’ meetings will remain the Bugang Room at the Denman Village Community Centre, located at 5 Felstead Vista, adjacent to the Denman Prospect shops (see Google Maps link https://maps.app.goo.gl/NqW3XrN5iJf8dzRe9)
This is a light, spacious, modern event venue with a kitchen. There is plentiful parking, under lights, close to the door and with several disabled parking spots outside the door. The room is on the first floor, accessed by two flights of stairs or by a lift.
To help guide you once there the Canberra Birds Sandwich Boards will be outside the front door.
For people attending the meeting by public transport, the R10 bus provides a very good service around every 15 minutes from the ANU through Civic to the Denman Prospect shops with the bus stop opposite the venue. For example, a bus runs to there from 6:57 to 7:23 pm and return buses at 9:05 or 9:35 pm arriving at the ANU at 9:31 and 10:01 pm, respectively.