Geographic Range
BAWA covers the entire state of Western Australia, and also reports on the birds of Cocos (Keeling) Island, Christmas Island and Ashmore Reef.
Latest News
SUZANNE MATHER, BAWA, reports: The endangered Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo could be thought of as an iconic bird for Western Australians. Traditionally, their arrival on the coastal plain in autumn was seen as the harbinger of rain (in the days when the rain regularly began after a long, hot summer). Early reports are of flocks of hundreds arriving, with their almost constant calling and lovely looping flight, and marauding suburban almond and macadamia nuts. Sadly, this is no longer the case. They still arrive on cue but in far smaller numbers and it is estimated that the population has halved in the last fifty years and continues to fall.
The good news is that BAWA was successful in receiving an Australian Government Caring for Our Country Grant of $160,000, for the identification, protection and management of critical feeding habitats for this species. One of the difficulties of work with Carnaby’s is that there are many stakeholders and there is a real need for improved communication, planning and action. With this in mind, in late 2008 BAWA initiated a symposium and workshop, in partnership with WWF Australia and the State’s Department of Environment and Conservation, to synthesise the work that has already occurred under the current recovery project, identify ongoing challenges and prioritise the critical recovery actions needed for the next five to ten years. The vision for the species was defined as: By 2050 Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo has a secure and self-sustaining population, occupies an expanded range compared to 2008, and is delisted as an endangered species. Further good news is that following submissions by BAWA and others the Australian Government recommended that a proposal from The University of Western Australia to clear a regionally significant bushland site used by the cockatoo not be approved and the university withdrew the proposal.
Special Birds of the Region
Almost 550 species have been recorded in Western Australia. 387 species have been recorded breeding. 16 species are endemic to Western Australia. These are Carnaby's Black-Cockatoo, Baudin's Black-Cockatoo, Western Corella, Western Rosella, Red-capped Parrot, Noisy Scrub-bird, Red-winged Fairy-wren, Black Grasswren, Western Bristlebird, Dusky Gerygone, Western Thornbill, Western Wattlebird, Kimberley Honeyeater, Western Spinebill, White-breasted Robin and Red-eared Firetail. Many other species have unique sub species in Western Australia such as Western Whipbird, Crested (Western) Shrike-tit and Lemon-bellied (Kimberley) Flycatcher. Still more species are eagerly sort by visitors to Western Australia such as Soft-plumaged Petrel, Red-tailed Tropicbird, Square-tailed Kite, Asian Dowitcher, Princess Parrot, Rock Parrot, Splendid Fairy-wren, Blue-breasted Fairy-wren, Western Yellow Robin, Rufous Treecreeper, Yellow Chat.
Projects in the Region
BAWA members are involved in many of the national projects such as the Atlas of Australian Birds and Important Bird Areas. We also undertake a number of projects specific to Western Australia.
Activities
From the office to excursions to participation in community education and consevation issues in Western Australia BAWA is a very active group. For an extensive list of the various activities going on please visit our Activities page.
Eyre Bird Observatory The Eyre Bird Observatory operated by Birds Australia is situated just off the Eyre Highway near Cocklebiddy. Accommodation is available. More than 240 species of birds have been recorded. Broome Bird Observatory The Broome Bird Observatory is situated on the shore of Roebuck Bay near the extensive Crab Creek tidal mud flats. Broome is one of the premier birding sites in Australia. More than 300 species of birds have been recorded.
What's On
For a list of events in WA, please check out our calendar
Contacts
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Hours: Weekdays 9:30am to 12:30pm Office Managers, Liz Walker and Jim Langford Peregrine House 167 Perry Lakes Drive Floreat WA 6014 Tel +61 8 9383 7749 Fax +61 8 9387 8412

BAWA Committee: Chair, Bruce Haynes Vice Chair, Graham Wooller Treasurer, Mary Vaughan Secretary, Liz Walker Committee Members: Mike Bamford, Bill Rutherford, Marion Massam, Sue Abbotts, Frank O’Connor, Kim Onton, Max Howard
Publications
Published quarterly, Western Australian Bird Notes includes articles relating to bird behaviour, interesting and unusual observations and BAWA project reports. It also gives notification of forthcoming events and reports of past excursions.To receive WA Bird Notes you must be a Birds Australia member and pay an annual subscription of $12.
Downloads
Minutes BAWA Minutes 2010 BAWA Minutes 2009 BAWA Inc Minutes 2009
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