BirdLife Melbourne
BirdLife Melbourne is a vibrant branch of BirdLife Australia, bringing together passionate birdwatchers from across metropolitan Melbourne and beyond. Whether you’re a beginner eager to spot your first Superb Fairy-wren or an experienced birder chasing rare sightings like the Gang-gang Cockatoo, our community welcomes you.
We offer a range of activities focused on enjoying, observing, and conserving Victoria’s rich avian diversity. From regular outings to urban wetlands and coastal hotspots to educational programs and bird surveys, there’s something for everyone. Join us to explore fantastic birding sites in Melbourne, Port Phillip Bay, and regional Victoria, while contributing to important conservation efforts.
About BirdLife Melbourne
As the Melbourne branch of BirdLife Australia, we serve members living in suburban Melbourne with a focus on responsible birdwatching, education, and habitat protection. Our activities include:
- Regular Outings: We’ve conducted hundreds of outings (over 737 to date!), visiting prime locations where members have recorded more than 330 bird species. These beginner-friendly trips are led by experienced guides and offer great opportunities to see iconic Victorian birds like the Eastern Rosella, Rainbow Lorikeet, Australian Magpie, and seasonal migrants.
- Bird Surveys and Citizen Science: Members participate in standardised surveys, such as monitoring urban wetlands in the Dandenong Valley Catchment, helping gather valuable data for conservation.
- Education and Advocacy: Through programs led by our Education Coordinator, we raise awareness about native birds, their habitats, and key conservation issues. We also maintain a dedicated Conservation page with updates on threats to local species and how we’re making a difference.
- Photography Group: A thriving special interest group for capturing and sharing stunning images of Australian birds.
Membership is open to all – join a supportive network of bird enthusiasts dedicated to protecting Victoria’s birds.
Latest Blogs
We’ve recently launched two new blogs to keep our community connected:
- BirdLife Melbourne Blog: Supplements our newsletter with updates on branch outings, activities, birding news in Victoria, field reports, a Conservation Page highlighting important issues, and a Noticeboard for events and announcements.
- BirdLife Melbourne Photography Group Blog: Dedicated space for photography tips, challenges, member showcases, and inspiration.
Visit the blogs for the latest reports and sightings!
Member Photography Showcase
All photographs on this website are proudly taken by BirdLife Melbourne members. To date, we’ve documented stunning images of 312 out of the 330 species recorded on our outings.
Species Still Missing Photos (we’re always on the lookout!):
- White-headed Pigeon
- Topknot Pigeon
- Fork-tailed Swift
- Terek Sandpiper
- Red-necked Phalarope
- Common Gull-billed Tern
- Grey-backed Storm-Petrel
- Grey-faced Petrel
- Blue Bonnet
- White-winged Fairy-wren
- Black Honeyeater
- Striped Honeyeater
- Orange Chat
- Yellow-throated Miner
- Purple-gaped Honeyeater
- Chestnut-rumped Heathwren
- Grey-crowned Babbler
- Spotted Quail-thrush
Special Thanks to Our Talented Photographers:
| Damian Kelly | Bill Ramsay | Barbara Oehring |
|---|---|---|
| Xenia Dennett | Sonja Ross | Keith Hindley |
| Andrew McCutcheon | Paul Hackett | Janet Hand |
| John Barkla | Jenny Rogers | Arthur Carew |
| Stephen Powell | Anthea Fleming | George Pergaminelis |
| John Stirling | Ian Mayo | Michael Seyfort |
| Rob Parker | John Van Doorn | Rodger Scott |
| Brian Johnston | John Bosworth | Peter Bennet |
| Margot Craddock | Matt Campbell | Tim Bawden |
| Alistair Robinson | Clive Kaplan | Emmy Silvius |
| Ian Donal | Ian Wilson | John Young |
| Kris Bernard | Kevin Wilson | Peter Menkhorst |
| Stephen Garth | Surong Gunn | Julie Sarna |
| Kim Wormold | Margaret Bosworth | Margaret Lacey |
| Phil Marley | Robert Brinkman |
The committee extends heartfelt thanks to these members for generously sharing their photos.
Bird Taxonomy and Records
For consistency in our outing records and species lists:
- Outings No 1 to No 360: In accordance with Christidis & Boles 2008.
- Outings No 361 to No 571: In accordance with the BirdLife Australia Working List of Australian Birds V1.1.
- Outings No 572 onwards: In accordance with the BirdLife Australia Working List of Australian Birds V2.
- Outings No 696 onwards: In accordance with the BirdLife Australia Working List of Australian Birds V2.2.
- Outings No 737 onwards: In accordance with the BirdLife Australia Working List of Australian Birds V3.
This ensures accurate identification and tracking of Victoria’s diverse birdlife.