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BirdLife Australia’s Beach-nesting Birds Conference is a national, biennial event (occurring in odd years). This year, it will run over two days to allow for a range of activities including conference presentations, workshops and social activities. An additional two field trips will run on the third day as an optional extra. The aim of this event is to share knowledge and advance our conservation efforts for this special suite of birds and their coastal habitats. You will be provided with updates on the latest research findings related to conservation of resident shorebirds. There will be many opportunities to meet other participants in the program from across the Australian coast and to hear about the challenges faced, and the solutions that are devised. Whether you have an interest in getting involved, or are a recent to long-term term volunteer or coastal land manager, we have a range of talks and workshop topics to build and extend on your knowledge and skills.

Day 1 Friday 26th May 2017 Conference 9:30am – 5:00pm, Willunga Show Hall, Main Rd, Willunga SA 5172

Dinner 7:00pm, Coterie Restaurant, Woodstock Winery, 215 Douglas Gully Rd, McLaren Flat SA 5171

Day 2 Saturday 27th May 2017 Workshops 9:00am – 2:00pm, Bethany Hall, Willunga Uniting Church,

186 St Andrews Tce (Corner St Judes Terrace), Willunga SA 5172 Field Trips 3:00pm – 5:30pm (finishing times may vary) There is a registration cost to attend the two-day conference (single day $30; two days $50) including a limited edition registration gift. The conference dinner is at own expense.

Day 3 Sunday 28th May 2017 – Optional field trips Additional field trips Samphire Coast Icon Project key sites of interest, no cost,

transport needed, starting Semaphore Park Goolwa/Murray Mouth, no cost, transport needed, starting Goolwa Dolphin Sanctuary Kayaking trip, led by Adventure Kayaking SA ($51 per person), departing Gillman. NEED TO RSVP BY APRIL 18TH FOR THIS.

RSVP BY FRIDAY 5th MAY: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BNBconference2017

This is the first time the conference has been held in South Australia. Our host region is the Fleurieu Peninsula and we look forward to seeing the diversity of beach-nesting bird sites in this region as well as hearing from local volunteers and staff from Natural Resources Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges (AMLR). We have worked very closely with AMLR Natural Resources Management Board (NRM) for many years to establish Hooded Plover and Red-capped Plover citizen science projects, and the NRM has supported and funded our work in the region since 2009. AMLR NRM has generously funded all registered volunteers from the region to attend. Barwon Coast Committee of Management and Natural Resources Eyre Peninsula have also generously sponsored participants from their region to attend. This event is made possible due to funding from the National Landcare Program, covering the venues and catering. The National Landcare Program values the opportunity for training of project participants, as well as the collaborative opportunities that this event offers, bringing together people from across Australia with common goals toward preservation of coastal habitats and long-term protection and resilience of threatened resident beach-nesting birds. PLEASE RSVP NO LATER THAN FRIDAY 5th MAY by using this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BNBconference2017 Alternatively, send an email to bnb.events@birdlife.org.au to request a registration form that can be printed and posted to BirdLife Australia, Suite 2-05, 60 Leicester St, Carlton VIC 3053.

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DAY 1 Friday 26th May Day one consists of Conference Presentations and a short afternoon session of group discussions to explore solutions to current challenges. Where? Willunga Show Hall, Main Rd, Willunga (see Map 1)

9:00 Arrival - Registration and Payment (grab a cup of tea or coffee)

9:30 Presentations begin

9:30 – 9:35 Welcome and Housekeeping.

9:35 – 9:45 Welcome to Country. 9:45 – 10:15 BirdLife Australia’s Dr. Grainne Maguire will provide an overview and update

on the Beach-nesting Birds project.

10:15 – 10:50 Hear from Natural Resources AMLR’s Coast and Marine Manager, Tony Flaherty about their commitment to improving coastal habitats and mitigating threats facing shorebirds within the Adelaide and Mount Lofty region, followed by Volunteer Regional Coordinators from Friends of the Hooded Plover Fleurieu Peninsula about their amazing work to protect the species.

10:50 – 11:05 Jeanette Spittle, Co-ordinator Land Management, Environment and Natural Resources, from City of Greater Geelong will talk about their efforts to protect the Hooded Plover on land managed by the council including working with BirdLife Australia’s Friends of the Hooded Plover volunteers and raising awareness within the broader community.

11:05 – 11:40 Morning Tea

11:40 – 12:00 Associate Professor (Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Deakin University) has prepared a video presentation about the role of science in conservation and the key information challenges for beach-nesting birds.

12:00 – 12:15 Faye Bedford, Biodiversity Officer, from the Victorian Government’s

Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, talks on habitat restoration for small tern species in the Gippsland Lakes.

12:15 – 12:30 Hear from BirdLife Australia’s Jean Turner and Kasun Ekanayake as they

talk about the Samphire Coast Icon Project and how they have used the Red-capped Plover as a flagship species for building community participation in monitoring and threat mitigation.

12:30 – 13:00 Student session: Dan Lees (PhD) and Tom Schmidt (Honours) from Deakin

University will discuss their research findings about Red-capped Plover sex ratios, and tracking Hooded Plover chick survival using radio-transmitters, respectively.

13:00 – 14:20 Lunch

14:20 – 14:40 Sharie Detmar, Coast Protection Officer, from South Australia’s Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources will tell us about coastal raptors and explain how they face very similar threats to beach-nesting birds!

14:40 – 14:55 Maureen Christie from Friends of Shorebirds South East, will share the

groups experience with negotiating safeguards to protect shorebirds into the management conditions for a major wrack harvesting operator.

14:55 – 16:05 Split into small discussion groups to focus on a range of topics about key

challenges for beach-nesting birds conservation. Each group will have a leader to guide the group through discussion to explore the key challenges, solutions that have been trialled and key obstacles still to overcome. A focus will be on determining future actions and how we will set about achieving these. See page 6 for a list of potential topics. You will be asked in your registration which of these is of interest and to suggest any other potential topics for discussion.

16:05 – 16:15 Quick break for a cuppa 16:15 – 16:45 Discussion results are shared to the group. 16:45 – 17:00 Conference wrap up including announcement of silent auction results. 18:30 - 22:00 Optional Dinner: Coterie Restaurant at Woodstock Winery, 215 Douglas

Gully Rd, McLaren Flat SA 5171

Just 15 minutes from the conference venue, the Coterie Restaurant at Woodstock Winery on McLaren Flat, offers a beautiful setting and prides itself on utilising local and ethically sourced ingredients. Friday is their Wood fired pizza night with live entertainment. Pizzas all night at $35 per head; including a shared starter, selection of pizzas and something sweet to finish. Drinks are extra. Note costs are not included in your registration and are at your own expense. For booking purposes, please indicate whether you will be attending dinner in your RSVP, and whether you wish to bring someone with you who is not attending the conference (e.g. a partner, etc). Please let us know your dietary requirements so we can give the restaurant advanced notice.

DAY 2 Saturday 27th May Day two consists of workshops that will allow you to build on your skills and knowledge across a range of themes related to the Beach-nesting Birds project, followed by lunch and field trips during the afternoon. Where? Bethany Hall, Willunga Uniting Church, 186 St Andrews Tce (Corner St

Judes Terrace), Willunga SA 5172 (Map 2) Workshop Sessions 9:00 – 9:30 Arrival – Registration and Payment (grab a cup of tea or coffee) 9:30 – 10:30 Changing behaviours: Kevin Collister, an expert communications facilitator,

will provide advice on interacting with beach users to achieve the best outcomes for the birds in the long-term

10:30 – 11:15 Morning Tea 11:15 – 12:15 Workshop session 1 (see page 7 for options) 12:15 – 12:35 Toilet break (20 mins) 12:35 – 13:35 Workshop session 2 (see page 7 for options) 13:35 – 14:45 Lunch 15:00 – 17:00 Field Trip (see page 8 for options) Payment Information There is a small cost to attend the conference which assists us in being able to run this event. Payment is either $30 per person for a single day (Friday or Saturday) or $50 per person for the two days (Friday and Saturday). Payment can be made in one of three ways. The first option is to pay cash at the registration table when you arrive at the event (available both days; receipt will be provided on the day). The second is to pay via Paypal using one of the following links depending on whether you are attending for a single day or both days: $30 for a single day via: www.paypal.me/BirdLifeBNBProject/30 $50 for both days via: www.paypal.me/BirdLifeBNBProject/50 Please use this link before the event (up until 5th May). Please also email bnb.events@birdlife.org.au to notify us of your payment. The third is to request an invoice from BirdLife Australia. Please email grainne.maguire@birdlife.org.au directly for this option.

Friday Group Discussion optionsPlease indicate in your RSVP which discussion topic interests you the most, or for which you have the most experience in terms of encountering challenges or thinking of or acting on solutions. There is an option to suggest a topic that we have overlooked. Please note we have not included on-ground management as an option due to the strict protocols around this operate within permit and ethical restrictions. Topic for discussion Dogs on beaches

Predator control

Volunteer and land manager networks

Volunteer participation

Awareness raising

Silent Auction and Displays We will be running a Silent Auction research. There will be a number of exciting items for auctiophotographs, woodwork, crafts, booksend of lunchtime on Friday, with winners announced need to occur on the day. If you have posters, banners, photographs or brochures and materials that you would lidisplay, we will be making a designated space for this. Just be sure to let us know what you plan on bringing so we can make sure there is enough room.

Group Discussion options which discussion topic interests you the most, or for which you have

experience in terms of encountering challenges or thinking of or acting on solutions. There is an option to suggest a topic that we have overlooked. Please note we have not included

ground management as an option due to the strict protocols around this operate within permit and ethical restrictions.

Examples Compliance challenges, changing attitudes, changing behaviours, signage, events, future researchFox control methods, Avian predator control methods, decoys, evaluating success, ethics, future research

networks Different models of communication and support, methods used, balancing needs of each group, utilising the portal and other technologies, efficiencies, resources Recruitment, support, motivation, retention, demographics, resources needed, effective group structures, remote communities Events, materials, evaluating success, novel future ideas, resources needed, demographics and appealutilising new technologies, crossing disciplines (e.g. Arts and Science)

uction on Friday the 26th, to raise money for

research. There will be a number of exciting items for auction including photographs, woodwork, crafts, books, wine and much, much more. Items will be on display

with winners announced at the end of the day

If you have posters, banners, photographs or brochures and materials that you would lidisplay, we will be making a designated space for this. Just be sure to let us know what you plan on bringing so we can make sure there is enough room.

Photo courtesy Dan Weller

which discussion topic interests you the most, or for which you have experience in terms of encountering challenges or thinking of or acting on solutions.

There is an option to suggest a topic that we have overlooked. Please note we have not included ground management as an option due to the strict protocols around this and the need to

Compliance challenges, changing attitudes, changing future research predator control methods,

decoys, evaluating success, ethics, future research Different models of communication and support, methods used, balancing needs of each group, utilising the portal and other technologies, efficiencies, resources Recruitment, support, motivation, retention,

needed, effective group

Events, materials, evaluating success, novel future ideas, resources needed, demographics and appeal, utilising new technologies, crossing disciplines (e.g. Arts

to raise money for Beach-nesting Bird n including artworks and framed

much more. Items will be on display until at the end of the day. Payment does not

If you have posters, banners, photographs or brochures and materials that you would like to display, we will be making a designated space for this. Just be sure to let us know what you plan

Photo courtesy Dan Weller

Saturday Workshop Session Topics After a group session about communications and changing beach user behaviours, you will then get the opportunity to split into smaller groups to attend two of the workshops out of those listed below. We will work to ensure you get at least one of your top two preferences, however, because room sizes are limited and some sessions will only run once, we need advanced notice of your preferences so we can determine the best configurations that will work on the day. Note, if there is not enough interest in a given workshop, it may not run and you will be assigned your next preference. Workshop session: Description: 1. Bird photography [running twice]

Tips on bird photography from expert photographers focusing on birds and how to capture their unique behaviours, including ethical considerations. We have some amazing bird photographers lined up including Craig Greer, Rose Fletcher and BirdLife Australia’s Glenn Ehmke. Note: you don’t need to bring a camera.

2. Volunteering: recruitment, retention and other tips

Kaye Mahomet from Southern Volunteering (South Australia) inc. will offer tips for volunteers and coordinators of volunteers, on recruitment, recognition, working with different personalities, planning and promotion, and retention.

3. Communications with beach users for positive outcomes (continuing from the morning session with opportunities to role play)

A rare opportunity for volunteers to have a comprehensive session with a communications expert. Kevin’s session will delve further into communication techniques, provide tips and tools for processing information and delivering your message to beach users effectively. An opportunity to learn from other volunteers and Kevin, chat about communication with the public, and role play sessions on how to best approach different beach users.

4. Shorebird ID session [running once]

Learn from BirdLife Australia’s Chris Purnell, how to identify resident and migratory shorebirds. Chris provides lots of useful tips on distinguishing between migratory species in particular.

5. Beach-nesting birds behaviours and monitoring training session [running once]

New to volunteering with the Beach-nesting Birds project, or time for a refresher? BirdLife Australia’s Renee Mead will present on all you need to know to monitor and interpret the behaviours of your local beach-nesting birds including oystercatchers, red-capped plovers and hooded plovers. Feel free to ask any questions you’ve wanted to ask!

6. Wetland Bird ID session [running once]

Learn how to identify birds found in wetlands with BirdLife Australia’s Chris Purnell. Chris will provide useful tips for detecting, identifying and distinguishing between waterbirds.

7. My Beach Bird portal session

Spend time with Glenn Ehmke to learn how to use the portal for recording your observations and for following how the birds do over the season. Glenn has technical expertise as he helped program the portal, so you can ask him tricky questions!

Saturday Field Trip Options Please indicate in your RSVP which field trip you would prefer to attend. Each excursion will be led by knowledgeable local guides. There are 6 trips to choose from. Maps of the starting points will be posted around the venue on the day. For detailed bird lists of each of the locations, visit http://www.birdssa.asn.au/ Field Trip Description Notes Onkaparinga river and estuary (20 min drive one way)

This field trip will visit several different habitats including the Onkaparinga river to see a range of wetland birds including the potential to see Australian Shelduck, Freckled Duck and Red-necked Avocet, a marshy floodplain utilised by Latham’s Snipe and Whiskered Tern, and the estuary which is a Red-capped Plover breeding location.

Easy walk. Wear suitable study shoes and suitable clothing.

Aldinga scrub reserve and washpool (if water) (12 min drive one way)

The Aldinga scrub reserve is one of the largest remaining remnants of coastal scrub and bushland in the Adelaide region. It is home to rare plants and lichen, and to a range of bush and heathland birds. Common bird species include Eastern Spinebill, Striated Thornbill, Dusky Woodswallow, and Australian Golden Whistler. Less common species include: Painted Buttonquail, Peaceful Dove, White-winged Triller, and Red-browed Finch. If there is water at the Washpool (a shallow coastal lagoon), we will visit here to see a mass of wetland birds.

Easy/Moderate walk. Wear suitable study shoes and suitable clothing for bush environments.

Normanville and Carrackalinga beaches (35 min drive one way)

This field trip is to view popular Hooded Plover beaches and estuaries, with a high possibility of viewing a flock of Hooded Plovers (if they behave on the day!). The drive to this site passes via the Myponga reservoir which has an amazing view.

Easy walk. Wear suitable shoes for beach walking. Wear suitable clothing.

Aldinga, Port Willunga, Snapper point and/or Maslin beaches (15 min drive one way)

Visit several Hooded Plover breeding sites to hear about the nesting pairs and the challenges of protecting the pairs at those sites from local volunteers. Port Willunga and Maslin beach have a fascinating backdrop of eroding limestone cliffs, including manmade caves for boat storage in the Port Willunga cliffs. Hopefully a flock can be viewed at Aldinga beach or Snapper Point.

Easy/Moderate walk. Wear suitable shoes and suitable clothing for beach walking.

Victor Harbor Hooded Plover beaches and estuaries (40 min drive one way)

The southern beaches at Victor Harbor offer abundant Hooded Plover habitat, and are one of the few locations on the Fleurieu where flocks of around 15 birds occur in winter. From estuaries to narrow, seagrass lined beaches with rock platforms, there is lots to hear about from local volunteers as they talk about the different Hooded Plover breeding sites and the management challenges.

Easy walk. Wear suitable shoes for beach walking. Wear suitable clothing.

Manning Flora and Fauna Reserve, McLaren Vale (15 min drive one way)

This small 45 Hectare remnant of dry sclerophyll woodland is dominated by Pink Gum and Silver Banksia with larger shrubs including Golden Wattle, Small Bull Oak, Grass-tree and tea-tree. Common species observed here are Adelaide Rosella, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Spotted Pardalote, Striated Thornbill, Grey Fantail, Red-browed Finch, and Silvereye. Less common species include: Peregrine Falcon, Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, White-winged Triller, Eastern Shriketit, and Bassian Thrush.

Easy walk. Wear suitable sturdy shoes for bush track. Wear suitable clothing.

Sunday Optional Field trips On Sunday we are offering some extra field trips for people interested in seeing more of the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges region. Both of these trips are to Northern sites.

1. Samphire Coast Icon Project sites: join Jean Turner and Kasun Ekanayake as they take you to key sites within the Samphire coast that showcase not only red-capped plover breeding sites, but also amazing migratory shorebird habitats. Begin at Semaphore Park, meeting at Semaphore Park Surf Life Saving Club, Point Malcolm Reserve, Military Road, Semaphore Park. After seeing this popular metro beach where red-capped plovers breed in a small colony, the plan is to head to Magazine Road Wetlands to have a look at birds using a freshwater wetland, and then on to St Kilda to view migratory shorebird habitat and go for walk in the saltfields. There is no cost for this field trip, but participants will need to have their own transport. Pack water, lunch and appropriate outdoor clothing and sturdy shoes.

2. Goolwa/Murray Mouth: there are amazing shorebird and waterbird sites to be seen around Goolwa and the mouth of the Murray river. Join local birdwatchers as they show you the key sites of interest. Own transport is needed. Starting location will be at Goolwa. Pack water, lunch and appropriate outdoor clothing and sturdy shoes.

3. Port River/Dolphin Sanctuary Kayaking trip: this will be led by a local company

Adventure Kayaking SA and there is an associated cost of $51 per person for two hours guided tour. All equipment provided & beginners welcome. It’s an amazing experience paddling near the mangroves, seeing dolphins and an abundance of birds, including Pied & Sooty Oystercatchers, Pelicans, Egrets, Herons (even Night Herons), Spoonbills, Cormorants, Grey Teal, occasionally shorebirds (Greenshank), Grey Fantails around the mangroves, and Superb Fairy-wrens, Singing Honeyeaters and White-browed Scrub Wrens near the launch point. The trip departs Garden Island Boat Ramp and Reserve, Lot 204 Garden Island Road, Gillman. If you are interested in this kayaking option, you need to RSVP by April 18th at the very latest as we need to confirm numbers with the company to secure places. For further information or to book a separate trip in your own time, check out: https://adkayak.rezdy.com/2430/dolphin-sanctuary-family-tour

Please signal in your RSVP whether you will be attending one of these and further details will then be sent via email closer to the date.

Maps

Willunga is approximately 50 minutes south of Adelaide. It is circled in red below.

Map 1. Willunga Show Hall location

Map 2. Bethany Hall, Willunga Uniting Church location

Map 3. Locations of Saturday afternoon field trip locations relative to Willunga. Red star represents Onkaparinga river and estuary; Blue star represents Manning Flora and Fauna Reserve trip; Yellow star represents Aldinga/Port Willunga/Maslin beach field trip; Purple star represents Normanville/Carrickalinga sites; and Green star represents Victor Harbor sites.

Accommodation

There are multiple accommodation options available near Willunga on the Fleurieu Peninsula. The locations that are closest to the event location are Willunga itself, then Aldinga, Maslin beach, Sellicks beach, and McLaren Vale, all of which are roughly 15 minutes by car.

The nearest caravan parks are: • McLaren Vale Lakeside Caravan Park - $140 (2 person) per night – ensuite cabin, double

room $150.00 per night (extra for more people) https://mclarenvale.net/ • Aldinga Beach Holiday Park – cabins from $70 - $130 including Yurts – also have dorms.

http://www.aldingaholiday.com.au/ • Big 4 Port Willunga Caravan Park - $130 ensuite cabin, $140 double room plus extra

https://www.big4.com.au/caravan-parks/sa/fleurieu-peninsula/port-willunga-tourist-park?gclid=CKOF6OqBjNMCFZMHKgodptcJQA

• Mt Compass Caravan Park – $80 per night per couple Rough prices are provided above based on earlier enquiries and may be subject to variability. http://www.mountcompasscaravanpark.com.au/

For hotels try www.booking.com or www.wotif.com For renting a holiday house and perhaps sharing with a number of people coming from your region, visit: http://www.century21.com.au/sitemap/real-estate/holiday-rentals/sa/aldinga-beach/ http://www.stayz.com.au/ www.airbnb.com.au