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Welcome to BirdLife Australia!

As of 1 January 2012, BOCA has merged with Birds Australia to become BirdLife Australia. The new BirdLife Australia website will go live in early February, and until then the current BOCA site will continue to be available.

At BirdLife Australia we are dedicated to achieving outstanding conservation results for our native birds and their habitats. With our specialised knowledge and the commitment of an Australia-wide network of members, volunteers and supporters, we are creating a bright future for Australia’s birds. Look out for our new website from February 2012 at birdlife.org.au

Bird Observation & Conservation Australia

About BirdLife Australia

Welcome to your new bird organisation — BirdLife Australia!

At AGMs held on 21 May, members of Birds Australia and Bird Observation & Conservation Australia (BOCA) voted a resounding ‘yes’ to merge our two organisations. Since then, work has begun to create our new entity.

The BirdLife Australia Board had its first meeting on Saturday 28 May. It comprises Birds Australia and BOCA Board members and is chaired by Gerard Early, retired Deputy Secretary of the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Graeme Hamilton (ex-Birds Australia CEO) was appointed as CEO, and John Barkla and Barry Baker as Vice-Presidents. The Board approved a six-month work plan to have BirdLife Australia operational by 2012. Over the next six months, Birds Australia and BOCA will focus on continuing their important work while implementing the merger and amalgamating operations.

One of the first actions is to consult with Birds Australia and BOCA groups and branches to examine how to most effectively bring together our networks of local bird enthusiasts, educators, researchers and conservationists.

For the rest of 2011 we will work to integrate our conservation, education and members programs. We’ll also develop a new BirdLife Australia logo, website and publications.

We will update this page to reflect developments as and when they occur - we expect the new organisation to be fully functional early in 2012. Whilst a new website will be developed for the new organisation, some changes will be made to this site, such as incorporating BA's network of Regional Groups into the map of BOCA Branches.

About BOCA

Bird Observation & Conservation Australia (BOCA) is a major birding and conservation organisation including 61 Branches, Affiliates and Special Interest Groups with members all over Australia (this figure has now been updated to include Birds Australia Groups and Special Interest Groups). BOCA has been established for more than 100 years, and, until recently, was known as The Bird Observers Club of Australia. BOCA functions as an independent, non-profit environmental charity, which relies on subscriptions, donations, hundreds of volunteers and a small team of dedicated staff.

BOCA runs birdwatching activities, outings, camps, interstate and overseas trips and undertakes bird surveys

BOCA provides educational workshops and teaching resources and has an ongoing commitment to, and active participation in, conservation of Australian native birds and their habitats. The organisation publishes a quarterly news magazine, The Bird Observer, distributed free to all members and a subscription-only scientific journal Australian Field Ornithology which is published quarterly.

In 2005 we celebrated our Centenary with a wide range of special events, displays and awards.

So - why not join BOCA , enjoy the benefits of membership, help BOCA to spread the word of the pleasures of birdwatching and make your contribution to the preservation of the uniqueness of Australian birdlife for generations to come.

Help Wanted

Help using the site

Latest News

Reminder - access to Western Treatment Plant

Following the recent tragic accident at the ETP when someone lost their life, we have been asked by Melbourne Water to remind all birders that access to the Western Treatment Plant, Werribee is restricted to permit holders who have registered their visit in advance. Birders are reminded that the WTP is a hazardous industrial site where the dangers are much higher than in normal birding locations, and they should only visit those areas covered by their permit.

Biographies

The biographies referred to in the November 2011 The Bird Observer are now available here.

SALE OF DUPLICATED BOOKS RESULTING FROM MERGER

As a result of the merger of the BOCA and BA libraries, approximately 500 books and many journals are duplicated. It has been decided that these duplicates from BOCA’s Library will progressively be withdrawn from the shelves and offered for sale. More books will be added to the list as work continues. Prices will be listed as they become available,so look at the list regularly! Books which are not yet priced will not be available until priced, no pre-requests. As books are priced, they will become available by coming in to the BOCA Shop or on mail-order by ringing BOCA National Office on (03) 9877 5342 or 1300 305 342 or e-mail <information@boca.org.au>.

17th Nov UPDATE - a revised list is available here.

Good Home wanted for Duplicate Journals

When the BOCA and BA libraries merge there will be many duplicated journals and we are looking for good homes for the surplus copies. See here for details.

BOCA-BA Merger Approved

At the AGMs on 21 May, members of Birds Australia and Bird Observation & Conservation Australia (BOCA) voted to merge the two organisations. To download the details, click here.