Drouin Bird Surveys

Birds are beautiful. Birds are interesting. Birds connect us with nature. Birds lift our spirits.

Birds can be very good environmental indicators. The number and variety of birds in a given location, measured over time, can reveal the effects of habitat degradation (or rejuvenation), pollution (or purity), climate change, introduced species, weeds, urbanization and more.

Twice a year in spring and autumn, the Friends of Drouin’s Trees conducts surveys of bird species and numbers at six core sites and other selected spots in and around Drouin. A small group of volunteers walk the sites with binoculars, field guides and ears attuned, to determine the presence of different bird species and their numbers.

Bellbird Park: Great Egret, Sacred Kingfisher, Superb Fairy-wren, White-plumed Honeyeater

Drouin’s tree canopy, understory areas and wetlands provide diverse habitat for a variety of bird species (and other fauna no doubt). Our records indicate that 100+ bird species either call Drouin home or they visit periodically in their migratory or nomadic movements.

Street trees and parklands: Raven sp, Musk Lorikeet, Rainbow Lorikeet, Spotted Pardalote

The Friends of Drouin’s Trees bird survey results are uploaded to the Victorian Biodiversity Atlas – “Together, collecting and sharing species observations and surveys our information makes an impact locally, nationally and globally driving benefits for biodiversity.”

Alex Goudie Park Lake: Australasian Grebe, Pelican, Little Pied Cormorant, Hardhead family

Birds are important, not just because they feed our spirit or that they inspire us or link us to a little bit of wilderness. Birds pollinate plants, eat pest insects, disperse seeds, scavenge carcasses, return nutrients to the soil and they can reveal what’s happening to our environment.

Birds are the world’s biological barometers.