Activities

Activities

Everyone is welcome to attend these events, including visiting birders and those new to birding.
Please contact the Leader if you are planning to attend.

If you have a large group please email Illawarra Birders at illawarabirdersinc@gmail.com as we offer seperate walks for groups.

Fitzroy Falls ‐ Morton National Park

Friday 14th February 8:00am

Walk leader: Martin Cocker ‐ 0418 429 132 – please text if you plan to attend.
Walk description: A flat walk either side of Fitzroy Falls escarpment rainforest.
Parking/Meeting Place: Park at the Visitor Centre Carpark (1301 Nowra Rd Fitzroy Falls) parking fees apply $4 at the carpark or buy online
https://pass.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/pass/selection
Meet at the Visitor Centre.
Toilets/Water: yes – at the Visitor Centre.
Terrain/Distance/Time/Shade/Seats: Dirt track. 2 km return either side of the Falls. Approx 3-4 hours. Well maintened track and boardwalk. Shade and seats.
Bring: Carry water, hat, morning tea. Wear sturdy shoes.
Notes: Rainforest and woodland birds. Lunch byo or eat at café if you would like to stay a little longer.

Lake Illawarra southern shore all day trip

Friday 21st February 8:00am

Walk leader: Belinda Baccarini - please email illawarrabirdersinc@gmail.com if you plan to attend.
Walk description: A days activities looking for shorebirds on the south side of Lake Illawarra: Purrah Bay/Passionate Palate Café/Macquarie Rivulet/Koona Bay/Whyjuck Bay. An especially good event for new and inexperienced birders.
Parking/Meeting Place: Purrah Bay Playground carpark opposite 11 Murra Murra Rd Kanahooka.
Toilets/Water: No water/some public toilets.
Terrain/Distance/Time/Shade/Seats: Flat walking along paths, on sand. Finish approximately 3pm.
Bring: Carry water, hat, lunch, afternoon tea. Wear sturdy shoes.
Notes: Bring a scope if you have one.

Wattle Forest picnic area - Audley

Tuesday 25th February – 8.00am

Walk leader: Sharon Redman - 0413 492 646. Please text Sharon if you plan to attend
Walk description: We will be walking along a short track along the riverside. We hope to see a Superb Lyrebird, Green Catbird, some Bassian Thrush and Azure Kingfishers
Parking/Meeting Place: Meet at 8am at the Wattle Forest picnic area.
Directions: Coming from the north - turn left off the Princes highway at Farnell avenue and proceed down to Audley. Drive across Audley Weir and take a right turn after Weir Café. Dirve left over Varneys bridge and follow the road veering to the left. It follows the Hacking river for about 750 metres. Park at the end of the car park where the picnic shed and toilets are located.
NB: Parking fees to enter the Royal National Park are $12 per day.
https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/picnic-areas/wattle-forest-picnic-area
Toilets/Water: Flushing toilets available. Bring own water.
Terrain/Distance/Time/Shade/Seats: Easy level walking of about 3kms and 3 hours. Large undercover picnic area with picnic tables.
Bring: Carry water, hat. Wear sturdy shoes. Carry morning tea.
Notes: A good walk for beginners and photographers.

Meeting - Coniston Community Centre

Tuesday 4th March, 7:30PM

Dr Lucy Aplin: The city cultures of Australia’s cockatoos: from innovation to adaptation - via ZOOM.

Dr Aplin holds the joint positions of SERI Professorial Fellow at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, and Associate Professor at the Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra. Her current research project is the ‘Clever Cockie Project’, focusing on understanding how the spread of innovative behaviours may promote urban adaptability in sulphur-crested cockatoos.

Wollongong Botanic Garden ‐ Lunchtime Walk

Thursday 6th March 12.30pm
Walk leader: Martin Potter - 0437 683 677 - please text if you plan to attend.
Walk description: A gentle stroll through the Garden, via the Duck Pond, rainforest and other habitats.
Parking: Meet at the Discovery Centre. Parking is available in the nearby car park on Madoline Street. However this can fill up quickly at lunchtime; if this car park is full then there may be more parking in the Murphys Street car park or the surrounding streets.
Toilets/Water: Yes
Terrain/Distance/Time/Shade/Seats: An easy 1.7 km walk on paved or mulched paths. A circuit is walked lasting 1-1.5 hours. Some seats.
Bring: Carry ‐ water, hat & sunscreen. Wear sturdy shoes.
Notes: This is an especially good walk for new and inexperienced birders, and also for photographers.

Tallawarra Wetlands - Yallah

Friday 7th March 8:00am

Walk leader: Michelle and Dave Rower - 0421 335 037 - please text if you plan to attend.
Walk description: Walking around the Tallawarra Ponds - looking for shorebirds and waterbirds, some woodland birds.
Parking: Drive into Yallah Bay Rd which leads to the Energy Australia Tallawarra Power Station. Yallah Bay Rd is only accessible from the Princes Highway southbound from Dapto. Meet at the carpark opposite the security gates just before the bridge.
Toilets/Water: No (toilet is available at the Security check in).
Terrain/Distance/Time/Shade/Seats: 4km round trip, easy walk on wide trails. Minimum shade.
Bring: Water, hat, sturdy shoes, morning tea (carry).
Notes: Path may be muddy after rain. Bring a scope if you have one.

Killalea Lagoon walk ‐ Killalea Regional Park, Shell Cove

Wednesday 12th March 8:00am

Walk leader: Martin Cocker - 0418  429 132 - please text Martin if you plan to attend.
Walk description: A solid walk down to the lagoon along the beach and return around the lagoon and wooded areas. Mixture of habitats makes for an interesting walk.
Parking/Meeting Place: Near cafe inside the park. Killalea Drive Shell Cove.
Toilets/Water: Both at the parking area near cafe, none on the walk.
Terrain/Distance/Time/Shade/Seats: Some steep sections, sandy beach, grass and gravel wide paths.  4-5 km return. Approx 3 hours, little shade.
Bring: Carry water, hat, morning tea. Wear sturdy shoes. Something to sit on if it is damp.
Notes: A wide variety of reasonably common birds, lists of 60 species not unusual.

Riverina Camp - Narrandera and Griffith

19-25 March

Walk leader: Ralph Stadus - camp is full - email ralph.stadus@gmail.com to be put on a waiting list.

Meeting - Coniston Community Centre

Tuesday 1st April 2024, 7:30PM

Andrew Wood: Birding All-at-Sea.

Club member Andrew Wood will describe a nine day pelagic cruise in November 2024 from Port Vila, Vanuatu, to Hobart.

Wollongong Botanic Garden ‐ Lunchtime Walk

Thursday 3rd April 12.30pm
Walk leader: Martin Potter - 0437 683 677 - please text if you plan to attend.
Walk description: A gentle stroll through the Garden, via the Duck Pond, rainforest and other habitats.
Parking: Meet at the Discovery Centre. Parking is available in the nearby car park on Madoline Street. However this can fill up quickly at lunchtime; if this car park is full then there may be more parking in the Murphys Street car park or the surrounding streets.
Toilets/Water: Yes
Terrain/Distance/Time/Shade/Seats: An easy 1.7 km walk on paved or mulched paths. A circuit is walked lasting 1-1.5 hours. Some seats.
Bring: Carry ‐ water, hat & sunscreen. Wear sturdy shoes.
Notes: This is an especially good walk for new and inexperienced birders, and also for photographers.

Budderoo National Park - Jamberoo

Wednesday 9th April 8:30am

Walk leader: Ralph Stadus - 0412 244 12 - please text if you plan to attend.
Walk description: Return walk on a fire trail through heathlands, eucalyptus and bloodwood forest.
Parking/Maating Place: Meet at the car park for Budderoo Fire Trail approx. 2.6km north from the turn-off to Barren Grounds along Jamberoo Mountain Road. After the 60 km/h bends on Jamberoo Mountain Road the speed goes back to 80km/h and you go up a slight hill. At the top of the hill on the left is a dirt pull-off marked with two signs Budderoo Plateau and Budderoo National Park. Follow the dirt road in about 200m to a carpark before the locked gate.
Toilets/Water: No
Terrain/Distance/Time/Shade/Seats: Easy return walk on a fire trail. Approx 4 hours total. Some shade.
Bring: Carry - water, hat, sunscreen, morning tea. Wear sturdy shoes.
Notes: You may want to bring lunch to have back at the car after the walk ends.

Tallawarra Wetlands - Yallah

Friday 11th April 8:30am

Walk leader: Belinda Baccarini - please email illawarrabirdersinc@gmaill.com if you plan to attend.
Walk description: Walking around the Tallawarra Ponds - looking for shorebirds and waterbirds, some woodland birds.
Parking: Drive into Yallah Bay Rd which leads to the Energy Australia Tallawarra Power Station. Yallah Bay Rd is only accessible from the Princes Highway southbound from Dapto. Meet at the carpark opposite the security gates just before the bridge.
Toilets/Water: No (toilet is available at the Security check in).
Terrain/Distance/Time/Shade/Seats: 4km round trip, easy walk on wide trails. Minimum shade.
Bring: Water, hat, sturdy shoes, morning tea (carry).
Notes: Path may be muddy after rain. Bring a scope if you have one.

Integral Energy Park, Kembla Grange

Wednesday 16th April 8:30am

Walk leader: Suze Giuffre – 0414 860 740 - please text Suze if you plan to attend.
Walk description: A loop walk around the Park. Mixed habitat with some open areas, creek lines, lantana thickets and wooded areas. Often produces a list of 30-40 species. Good spot for photography.
Parking/Meeting Place: At the picnic area past the Motorlife Museum on Darkes Road Kembla Grange.
Toilets/Water: Beside the car park.
Terrain/Distance/Time/Shade/Seats: Easy level walking of about 2kms and 2 hours. Large undercover picnic area.
Bring: Carry water, hat. Wear sturdy shoes. Morning tea back at car park.
Notes: Can be extended with a walk around nearby William Beach Reserve afterwards.

Wollongong Botanic Garden ‐ Lunchtime Walk

Thursday 1st May 12.30pm
Walk leader: Martin Potter - 0437 683 677 - please text if you plan to attend.
Walk description: A gentle stroll through the Garden, via the Duck Pond, rainforest and other habitats.
Parking: Meet at the Discovery Centre. Parking is available in the nearby car park on Madoline Street. However this can fill up quickly at lunchtime; if this car park is full then there may be more parking in the Murphys Street car park or the surrounding streets.
Toilets/Water: Yes
Terrain/Distance/Time/Shade/Seats: An easy 1.7 km walk on paved or mulched paths. A circuit is walked lasting 1-1.5 hours. Some seats.
Bring: Carry ‐ water, hat & sunscreen. Wear sturdy shoes.
Notes: This is an especially good walk for new and inexperienced birders, and also for photographers.

Abrahams Bosom Walking Track– Jervis Bay

Friday 2nd May 8.30pm
Walk leader: Martin Cocker - 0418 429 132 - please text Martin if you plan to attend.
Walk description: We will be walking a shorter walk or the longer walk. Along heath track with views of beaches.
Parking/Meeting Place: Meet at the carpark at Abrahams Bosom Beach. https://currarong.org.au/things-to-do/bush-walking/
Toilets/Water: Flushing toilets available. Bring own water.
Terrain/Distance/Time/Shade/Seats:
1. Coomies Walk 9km – 3-5 hours
2. Wreck Walk2.5km – 1-3 hour
Bring: Carry water, hat. Wear sturdy shoes. Carry morning tea and lunch if you plan to do the longer walk.
Notes: Notes: If you plan to continue on bring lunch. And water. And swimmers.
NB there is a walk the next day at the Beecroft Weapons Range so you may want to stay overnight in the area. See walk 3rd May for more details.

Beecroft Weapons Range – Jervis Bay National Park

Saturday 3rd May 8.30pm
Walk leader: Belinda Baccarini - Please email illawarrabirdersinc@gmail.com if you plan to attend.
Walk description: We will be walking on a well maintained heath track some way to Little Target Beach. We may also visit Point Perpendicular Lighthouse.
Parking/Meeting Place: Meet at the carpark at Little Target Beach.
All visitors to the area must read the Beecroft induction brochure: https://www.defence.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-12/beecroft-brochure.pdf
NB – Plans may change at the last moment if the weapons range is closed.
Toilets/Water: No. Bush toilet. Bring own water.
Bring: Carry water, hat. Wear sturdy shoes. Carry morning tea and lunch if you plan to stay after lunch.
Notes: Notes: If you plan to continue on bring lunch. And water. And swimmers.
NB there is a walk the previous day at Abrahams Bosom Reserve so you may want to stay overnight in the area. See walk 2nd May for more details.