No. 19

Viewing Platform, Next Birdwatching Walk, about Binoculars, Consultancy

Hello everyone,

We’re sending this short newsletter to pass on information that may be of interest to you:

**New Bird Viewing Platform at Pt Waylen**
We have Great News that the platform funded by a pre-State Government Election commitment for bird viewing facilities from our Member for Bicton, Lisa O’Malley MLA will be built and ready for our next birdwatching Walk!!   This viewing platform will be a wonderful addition to the area being proposed for the MBS.   Our thanks to Lisa O’Malley and also to the City of Melville for handling the entire construction of the platform.  We'd like to make special mention of the City of Melville’s Mick McCarthy, Director Environment and Infrastructure, Jem Stirling and Kellie Fowler, Natural Areas Officers.  
 
Our Next Birdwatching Walk
Many of you who work during the week have asked us to arrange some birdwatching walks over a week end.  So our next Walk on Saturday 5 November at 8am is especially for you.  Our Guest Leader is Viv Read, previously Chair of Birdlife WA.  He’s led several interesting and enjoyable walks for us and is extremely knowledgeable about birdlife at Alfred Cove.   Don’t miss this opportunity to spend a relaxing 90 or so minutes with other like-minded people and see some of our spectacular birdlife .  From now until next March is a great time to enjoy the birds of Alfred Cove especially the trans equatorial migratory birds who are already gracing our foreshore.  As well, our Alfred Cove Osprey couple has recently been observed busily tending something(s) in their nest – (maybe a chick or two?)  To date nothing’s been confirmed but their current behaviour seems telling.  And the Rainbow Bee-eaters have also arrived!!

If you’d like to join this walk, let us know by reply email or via our Facebook page.  The Walk will commence from the bird viewing platform at the entrance to Troy Park (opp 194 Burke Drive, Attadale) at 8am.  Please be there at 7.50am to complete registration details.   If you have a pair of birdwatching binoculars, do bring them with you along with a hat, bottle of water and sunscreen.  Viv will have a birdwatching scope and we’ll have some spare pairs of binoculars as well.  If you have time constraints but would still like to attend, you can come along and can leave anytime during the walk.   
 
How do I choose the right pair of binoculars for birdwatching?
Many of you have asked us this question so we put it to Birdlife WA.  Please read their advice at this link: https://birdlife.org.au/images/uploads/education_sheets/INFO-Golo-Binos-Guide.pdf

Kind regards,

Tom Lubin and Jenny Christenson
Friends of Melville Bird Sanctuary