Birds

Overview

We are very fortunate to have a great variety of birdlife in the Budawang Coast Region. The natural ecosystems that surround us support that variety and include beaches and rocky shores, dry and wet Schleraphyl forests, grasslands, grassy woodlands, rivers, lakes and wetlands, as well as urban gardens and parks. There are permanent residents as well as seasonal migrants, and occasional visitors from the nearby coast or inland areas. So there is much to learn and discover when you look at this diversity which includes about 300 species.

The Atlas of Life Budawang Coast Nature Map project is a new initiative to allow people to record sightings of different kinds of wildlife including birds. ALBC will import their database of recorded sightings going back over 20 years. We also have the guidance of experienced and knowledgeable birdwatchers. The data collected is uploaded to the CSIRO's Atlas of Life database in Canberra. This enables better decisions for the conservation and preservation of our wildlife.

The birds have been listed in a number of categories. These are: Birds of prey, Nocturnal Birds, Parrots, Pigeons and Doves, Water birds, Other - smaller than magpie and Other - magpie or larger.

This system avoids scientific classifications in order to create a simple and easy to understand system for beginners as well as experts.

By recording your sightings of birds you can add to our knowledge of the local birdlife, as well as learning for yourself about the natural world around us. If you don’t know the name of the species of bird you have photographed, our experts are happy to identify what you have seen. You will also be able to chat with other like-minded people about your experiences and observations. All sightings of birds are welcome, and we are especially interested in sightings of rare birds.

So you are invited to participate in this project and share your photos of the local birds. It is a good way to enjoy nature and be part of the new wave of citizen science.

Further Details

There are three sensitivity levels which have been included in the Nature Map.

Highly sensitive species

Species that are listed as threatened or listed as species of concern within the ALBC area of interest.
Species of particular concern and showing their distribution could indicate breeding sites.
Any photo can be shown on the site but the location will be hidden automatically irrespective of whether the picture is of a nesting bird or not.

Sensitive species

Species that are listed as threatened or listed as species of concern within the ALBC area of interest. Note that some species maybe listed as threatened in NSW but not in other states / territories and vice versa.
Any photo can be shown on the site but the location will be hidden by the moderator if the picture is of a nesting bird

Non-sensitive species

All species not listed as threatened or as species of concern within the ALBC area of interest
Any photo can be shown on the site but the location will be hidden by the moderator if the picture is of a nesting bird

Note: For all purposes there will be no difference in the treatment of records between sensitive and non-sensitive species. The moderator will consider all records to determine if the details of the location should be suppressed.