Calling all bird lovers!
The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service is seeking volunteer counters to be part of the next Great Inland Glossy Count this November.
National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Project Officer Adam Fawcett says bird enthusiasts, citizen scientists or anyone keen to spend a spring weekend in a stunning NSW national park can come along and help count glossies.
“Glossy black cockatoos are one of Australia’s most loved and recognisable birds, with their distinctive red tail panels,” Mr Fawcett said.
“The count is part of a wider project to conserve the species at three key sites: the Pilliga Forests, Goonoo National Park and Goobang National Park and surrounding landscapes.”
“By volunteering, you’ll be helping scientists to monitor the size and extent of the glossy population across these areas.”
“With this beautiful bird listed as vulnerable in New South Wales, monitoring will help us to better protect this iconic species for future generations.”
“We have had an amazing group of volunteers for previous counts, and many are keen to join in again this year – so much so, that the slots for volunteers at Goobang National Park have already been filled,” Mr Fawcett said.
The available dates for volunteers wanting to be part of the 2024 Great Inland Glossy Count are:
- Pilliga Forests – Saturday 2 November 2024 (sign up by 30 October)
- Goonoo National Park – Saturday 9 November 2024 (sign up by 6 November)
Glossy black cockatoos are known to come to water sources to drink in the late afternoon, so volunteers will be stationed at a dam on their chosen weekend to count.
People don’t need to have birdwatching experience to be part of the count. The glossy is a very distinctive species and easily identified, and NPWS provides a lot of information to help first time counters prepare for the count.
“All you need is a pair of binoculars, a comfy chair and a notepad,” Mr Fawcett said.
“It’s a pretty fantastic way to spend a summer evening – perched up by a water hole in a beautiful national park, watching glossies and other native birds in their natural habitat.”
Anyone interested in volunteering can pre-register using the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) volunteer portal.
- Pilliga Forest: Sign up by 5pm, 30 October 2024. Glossy count on Saturday 2 November 2024.
- Goonoo National Park: Sign up by 5pm, 6 November 2024. Glossy count on Saturday 9 November 2024.
The project is funded by the NSW Government’s Saving our Species program and the NSW Environmental Trust and is led by Central West Local Land Services in partnership with NPWS, NSW Forest Corporation, Dubbo Field Naturalists, Australian Wildlife Conservancy, and other land managers.
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