Ornithologists

Alan was a foundation staff member of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, heading its studies into game birds like duck and quail, and native animals such as possums. His many posts have included District Manager at Coonabarabran, Chief Ranger of Sydney Harbour and Botany Bay National Parks, Chief Ranger and finally District Manager on the Central coast. Other prestigious positions have included president of the Field Ornithologists Club (now Birding NSW). Alan has retired from the NPWS - but in his new role as wildlife consultant his enthusiasm is as bright as the day, at age 12, he first went birdwatching around his grandparents' home on the Central Coast. Recently he's been counting water birds on Tuggerah Lakes, studying the Little Tern colony at The Entrance, and, as a member of the Regent Honeyeater recovery team, working to save this threatened bird.

Alan says in 35 years he hasn't met a bird he couldn't recognise - and he offers some simple advice to birdwatchers: Before you go out, read up and study what you're likely to find. And if you're still stumped - ask Alan.

A birder since the age of seven, Dion has birded extensively throughout the Asia-Pacific region, North America, Argentina, and Antarctica. His field studies for over 30 years on birds and other terrestrial vertebrates have allowed him to amass an extraordinary knowledge of the biodiversity in these areas.

Born in Tasmania and based in Sydney, Dion has traveled widely throughout Australia listing over 750 species, placing him in the top echelons of Australian birders. He is very tuned-in to the songs and calls of bird species in the Asia-Pacific region, and specializes in rare and elusive species. He is delighted to show these skulking rarities to his travel companions.

Dion has published several papers on field ornithology and is currently a member of the Australian and New South Wales Rare Bird Committees, and is, occasionally, the voice behind Birdline NSW.

A popular speaker with natural history societies, Dion has undertaken work with the Australian Antarctic Division, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Australian Museum, CSIRO, Sydney University, James Cook University, Taronga Zoo, and the Zoology Research Unit of the Queensland Department of Primary Industry.

Dion lives with his wife, Lise, and children Grace and Daniel, in Lewisham, Sydney.

Tiff is a great believer in the value of volunteers, having spent many years volunteering herself on projects such as radio-tracking Regent Honeyeaters in the Capertee Valley, assisting students on the Mallee Fire Project, surveying for the Cowra Woodland Bird Project and banding birds in Orange, Munghorn Gap and Burrendong. When not out in the bush, she can sometimes be spotted riding her bike or playing her guitar in the environs of Bathurst, NSW.

An excellent knowledge of bird calls and good "ears" are Edwin's strengts in birding. His recognition of calls, together with his strong identification skills and sharp eyes means sightings of birds not often seen by us mere mortals.

Edwin takes an active part in Macquarie University Bird Survey Project at Prospect and twice a year Regent Honeyeater and Swift Parrot surveys and managed to find both target species on the first survey in Sydney.

His infectious, enthusiastic guiding skills ensure others find the birds and have a better understanding of Australian birds and wildlife.

That 'pelagic moment' was also the catalyst for a passionate and adventurous career as an ecological scientist. In North America in the mid 1980s, David worked on several whale research programs, was a guide on whale watching tours, lectured on marine ecology for Boston College, sailed to the Caribbean, and guided graduate students in field studies in Mexico. In the 1990s he turned his talents to frog research in tropical Queensland, monitoring disappearing frogs and seeking weaknesses in the life history of the dreaded Cane Toad. He ran a successful ecological consulting firm out of Townsville in the late 1990s and participated in seabird surveys in the Coral Sea and New Guinea.

In the mid 2000s, David spent 4 years on Christmas Island as the Coordinator of Biodiversity Monitoring for the National Park. During that time he studied the seabirds, landbirds, bats, reptiles, crabs and insects of the island. He made a detailed study of the Christmas Island Frigatebird's breeding ecology and population size, and used satellite transmitters to investigate the marine range and foraging ecology. He also organised and led the birding itinerary for the inaugural Christmas Island Birdweek in 2006, and co-authored a bird guide for the island. As Christmas Island's only resident birder in recent decades, he knows the island better than anyone and has recorded lots of rarities there, including four new species for Australia.

A sweeping claim? Not if you consider the work behind that reputation. An example: Carol is one-third of the team which won the NSW Twitchathon 4 years out of the past 6 (three times breaking the record for the number of birds found in 24 hours in NSW), raising money for bird conservation.

Since 1994 she's been designing and teaching courses in bird identification and other environmental topics; and takes part in regular field work including radio-tracking Regent Honeyeaters in the Capertee Valley, part of a program to save this endangered species.

Carol's wide knowledge comes from a childhood fascination and 20 years of walking the mountains studying birdlife, flora and environment. She shares her passion by working as a guide, engaging in voluntary projects such as bird banding, wildlife rehabilitation and bush regeneration.

Carol enjoys the company of like-minded bird and environment lovers and introducing visitors to her "home territory", the Blue Mountains.

During the late '60's he travelled the Continent. In the early '70's he travelled the High Seas as a merchant seaman and the mid '70's he was living in Nepal working as a trekking and birding guide. By the late '70's he had moved to Australia and set up the adventure travel company Peregrine and over the next couple of decades, during several career changes, travelled extensively in Africa, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, Asia, Papua New Guinea and throughout Australia, particularly the sewage farms, gravel pits and coastal mudflats!

During Bob's birding decades (too many to mention!) he has guided many birders and groups but would never describe himself as a twitcher, preferring good birding in good company. Bob now lives at Berry on the south coast of NSW where he often guides FTB groups and writes a regular column for the local newspaper on the fun and follies of birding and birders.

For many years I worked as a natural history tour guide, mainly with inbound groups, American and English. While most trips were to the Blue Mountains I led trips to many parts of Australia, from Tasmania to North Queensland. Trips varied from general interest to specialist plant and bird tours. I have also traveled overseas on bird trips as well as through most of Australia.

Australian plants are another major interest of mine. I taught classes in Australian Native plants at the local day and evening college for some years and am co-author of 3 books on plants of Sydney and the Blue Mountains, (all are now out of print).

I have now started working with the bush regeneration network, including bird walks during biodiversity workshops.

English born Keith took up birding a few years after arriving in Australia and now is among the top league of experts, particularly around the Sydney region. A member of half a dozen or more local organizations, like the Cumberland Bird Observers Club, he's constantly on the move with birding outings and field trips. He says it's not uncommon to see 80 species on an outing, even in winter. On very good days, he's noted over 100 species.

Keith's interest also spreads to the coastal regions (hence the involvement with Gould's Petrel. For 15 years he's been a keen student of shore and seabirds; his favourite birds for identification. He has won the Main Race in the Twitchathon a number of times and usually collected the most funds, donated to various birding projects.