Backyard Birds

Many MELBOCA Members have a backyard or a park nearby, and may have recorded bird species seen at such sites. Graeme Hosken has recorded birds seen in his garden for 46 years. Now is your opportunity to share this information.

This is not a competition, but an 'of interest' exercise. Nominating a 'highlight' will also be of interest - in Graeme's case a Crested Shrike-tit seen about 30 years ago.

Please download the proforma, enter your sightings, and email to Graeme at info@melboca.org.au The following information is requested: Site Name, From Date, Abundance, Status, Breeding & Habitat. If you don't have information on the latter four items, just insert a X beside each species seen. The information received will be summarised and included in The Melbirdian.

If you have any queries, please contact Graeme at Tel: 9802 5250 or info@melboca.org.au

Wader Study Course - November 2009

The Wader Study Course led by John Barkla was a great success, with 39 BOCA Members attending. John using many of his excellent photos expained the differences between the 'Big 3 Werribee Waders': Red-necked Stint, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper & Curlew Sandpiper, plus some of the less common waders. Unfortunately for the partcipants, it rained steadily on the Field Day, but the weather did improve later in the day. 76 bird species were listed for the day, and John would not give up until he found a Pectoral Sandpiper.

MELBOCA is most grateful for John's considerable time and effort in making this a successful course. We hope that John will be available for a similar course some time in the future.

New Beginners' Outings Leader/Co-ordinator

MELBOCA is extremely pleased to announce that Hazel & Alan Veevers have stepped forward and accepted the role of Beginners' Outings Leader/Co-ordinator, commencing in 2010. Their first outing will be to Jells Park, Wheelers Hill, on Saturday 27 February. Please note that commencing in 2010, outings will normally be on the fourth Saturday of the month, and commence at 10:00 am.. The remaining outing for 2009 is on 19 December (Jumping Creek Reserve, Warrandyte). For full details of meeting point and starting time go to the Activities Calendar Page.

It is great news for MELBOCA Members that thanks to Hazel & Alan, the long tradition of Beginners' Outings on a Saturday afternoon will continue.

MELBOCA Coach Tours - New Organiser for 2010

At the MELBOCA Committee Meeting on 8 December 2009, John Young volunteered to be the Convener of the MELBOCA Coach Tour Committee for 2010. Moves are afoot to secure another member to assist John. This is great news for MELBOCA Members as it means, subject to obtaining a satisfactory coach at a reasonable price, Coach Tours will continue in 2010. Watch this space for future developments.

New Members Day - 25 July 2009

On behalf of BOCA, MELBOCA hosted a New Members’ Day, for new members living in Melbourne and Outer Melbourne, at National Office, 10:00 am, Saturday, 25 July 2009. Approximately 20 new members attended.

MELBOCA President, Graeme Hosken, welcomed the new members. MELBOCA Committee Members gave short presentations to the new members outlining the activities and facilities available to BOCA Members.

Topics covered include Outings (Weekdays, Beginners’, Yellingbo, Wednesday Wanderings & Coach Tours), BOCA Camps, facilities available to members at National Office (Blue Wren Gift Shop, Library, Slide Library, Video Library & Skins Collection), Education & Conservation Activities, BOCA & Branch Websites, Special Interest Groups such as the Photography Group, The Bird Observer & The Melbirdian, and a presentation on Binoculars & Telescopes to assist new members in getting the best out of their existing equipment and what to consider when buying new equipment.

Morning Tea was served after the meeting. This was an opportunity for new members to chat with MELBOCA Committee Members and follow up with questions arising from the presentations.

After morning tea many of the new members visited the library and checked out what was on offer. Many made purchases from the Blue Wren Gift Shop.

MELBOCA AGM 22 June 2010

The fourth MELBOCA AGM was held at the Evergreen Senior Citizens Centre, at 8:00 pm, on 22 June 2010, prior to the normal Monthly Meeting.

Graeme Hosken, MELBOCA President, chaired the meeting.

63 members were present and 3 apologies were received.

The President’s Report and Treasurer’s Report, both of which had been circulated to MELBOCA Members in the May 2010 edition of The Melbirdian, were confirmed by the meeting.

Three nominations for election to the MELBOCA Committee had been received.   Retiring members Arthur Carew, Janet Hand & Graeme Hosken were declared elected.

Graeme Hosken invited any persons interested in joining the MELBOCA Committee to contact him, Janet Hand or Bill Ramsay.  The MELBOCA Committee now has nine members, but would like to increase this number to ten members to spread the work load. 

There was no other business, and the meeting closed at 8:08 pm.

MELBOCA's next Annual General Meeting will be held at the Evergreen Senior Citizens Centre, 45 Talbot Avenue, Balwyn, on Tuesday 28 June 2011, commencing at 8:00 pm , prior to the MELBOCA Meeting.