Eve Lamb
It’s a fairly poorly kept secret that Castlemaine and surrounds boasts a plethora of well-informed birdos.
Fans of our feathered friends are in for a treat – or should that be tweet? – this month with one of the area’s best-known bird-watching exponents, Jane Rusden, preparing to lead a free guided tour of birdlife in the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens.
Jane is convenor of Birdlife Australia’s Castlemaine branch and when she leads the upcoming stroll she’ll be in company with another couple of particularly accomplished bird watchers.
“We will have Damian Kelly, author of several books about walks and bird watching, join us,” says Jane ahead of the tour.
Castlemaine-based Kelly is author of Castlemaine Bird Walks and also the more recently released Victorian Bird Walks.
“We’ll also be accompanied by a very young bird watcher who is only about 11 years old but has written and illustrated a bird guide for Chewton,” Jane says.
“This bird walk will also be really good for identifying some of the birds that people will have in their own gardens.
“But the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens also has water birds and some big parrots.
“We will also talk about the powerful owls but won’t see them as it’s not breeding season.”
Supported by Birdlife Australia, the hour-long walking tour will set out from the gardens tea rooms at 9.30am on Thursday March 31 with participants welcome to simply roll up – shortly before the 9.30am start time.
Besides the obvious avian preoccupation, there’s also a distinct health focus with the hour-long stroll organised by Castlemaine District Community Health as part of its regular monthly walks program.
Castlemaine Health health promotion officer, Liza Shaw, says the walk will be suitable for people of all ages with participants advised to bring a hat, water bottle and face mask in case social distancing cannot be maintained.
“We warmly welcome our regular participants and any new guests,” she says.
“It’s a great reason to head outdoors and enjoy some fresh air.”
Jane has a final word of advice for those planning to participate – “bring your binoculars if you have some,” she says.
