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Biennial Workshop 1-6 October 2007 at Utopia Environment Reserve Pty Ltd (UER), near Brooweena, Queensland, Australia.

The group was indeed fortunate to have both Don Kroodsma and Greg Budney of ornithological fame in the United States, attending at the beginning of the week. Don Kroodsma gave a keynote address and all in all the week included an interesting program of talks interspersed with ample time for sound recording. Visit the links below for some background information. We were treated to excellent hospitality, great food and calm, warm weather, just perfect for sound recording. Naturally, many members enjoyed recording "new" species of birds as well as some of the local frogs. A 10 minute walk had us cooling off in a pristine mountain rock pool (see 2007 image page). 

Details of Utopia 

UER is located c.70km W. of Maryborough in SE Qld .  It was established 31 years ago when the former dairy farm was purchased.  It’s 1300 acres  adjoins Mount Walsh N.P.  Today much of UER is forested with areas of mature Eucalypt and Wattle interspersed with regrowth of various ages.  There are a few pockets of vine/rain forest in some of the larger gullies.  There are a number of small dams scattered through UER providing habitat for a range of water birds, reptiles and frogs.  The adjoining NP is a small range with the highest point being 711mtr.  The NP is a wilderness area and consequently has very little easy access.  There is 1 km path from UER to an area called the Rock pools, very scenic and an easy to moderate walk.  The only other access is at the Bluff at Biggenden and that involves a strenuous walk.  However as UER is at the end of the public road there is no through traffic..  With 16km of tracks through UER, all walkable and some accessible by conventional vehicle, there was plenty of scope for recording.  The current bird list is at 132sp. (this replaces the previous list of c.180sp. which was lost in a fire).  There are a number of other animals including gliders, possums, wallabies, dingos, etc, and a probably isolated population of Pebble-mound mice. 

 http://www.thesinginglifeofbirds.com/  

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/MacaulayLibrary

The next biennial workshop to be held in New South Wales 2009, venue to be advised so watch this page.

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