Local birding spots? The Toowoomba area has no shortage of venues. Around 320 species (ca 40% of the species occurring in Australia) have been recorded in Toowoomba/Lockyer Valley region by local bird watchers. We know the area intimately and where to find many of the species on a regular basis. You can't beat local knowledge! Take Redwood Park for instance … Redwood Park, on the Toowoomba escarpment, is readily accessible and is home to over 120 species of birds. It has long been a favourite haunt for local bird watchers. Redwood's greatest asset is its extensive dry vine scrub which attracts many of the rainforest species.

Two of Redwood's more spectacular residents are the Regent Bowerbird and the Powerful Owl. Regent Bowerbirds are renowned for the male's stunning gold and black plumage and many a Toowoomba nature-lover would have travelled to the likes of Lamington National Park hoping to see one, unaware that it is a permanent resident along the escarpment. It is often seen flying on the edge of the vine scrub or feeding in fruiting fig trees. It's always a good chance along Prince Henry Drive as well.

The Powerful Owl is an awesome sight on size alone. Add to this its golden-eyed stare and huge talons which are normally clutching a half-eaten possum, flying fox or scrub-turkey and one cannot help but be impressed by this majestic Redwood resident. Powerful Owls have large territories and our records indicate that there is probably only the one pair in Redwood but sightings of juvenile birds in the past indicate they have bred there successfully. They roost by day in the vine scrub, usually in trees along the denser gullies, and despite their size, are easily overlooked.

Sound management of Redwood Park is paramount to the long-term well-being of the Powerful Owl and other uncommon to rare species recorded in the park such as Masked Owl and Black-breasted Button-Quail. The owls are at the top of the food chain and are the most vulnerable to any changes in the park's bio-diversity. The club's ongoing records provide an invaluable source of data about these species.

During your visit to Toowoomba the following locations within the City are good spots to see some of our birds. These locations are marked on maps of Toowoomba;

Bicentennial Waterbird Habitat Glen Lomond Park Jack Duggan Park Redwood Park Jubilee Park

West Creek East Creek Picnic Point Walking Tracks Prince Henry Drive Mount Peel

Toowoomba's three reservoirs to the north of the city are also rewarding birding spots.

• Lake Cressbrook
• Lake Perseverance
• Cooby Dam

The species composition in our area changes with the seasons. Autumn heralds the arrival of the beautiful Red-capped and Rose Robins, Eastern Spinebill and Golden Whistler. By September, these species have usually departed and are replaced by the annual influx of Spring-Summer migrants including Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, Brush Cuckoo, Koel, Channel-billed Cuckoo, Dollarbird, Rainbow Bee-eater, Rufous Fantail, Spectacled and Black-faced Monarchs, Leaden and Satin Flycatchers, Cicadabird, and Spangled Drongo. Most have arrived by mid-October and it is quite an exciting period of the year, as the weather is great. The club conducts an annual species census then.

Widespread drought often brings in totally unexpected species, particularly waterbirds, provided there are suitable wetlands remaining in the Lockyer Valley. Gatton's Apex Lake is always one of the most interesting waterbird habitats to visit in the Lockyer Valley, but there are numerous others worth a look.

Our enjoyment comes from observing birds in the wild and to this end we have a monthly outing, usually the last weekend of the month. We tend to concentrate on the local area for the benefit of beginners and those with limited time, but we also have outings to more remote destinations. Visitors are welcome.

Many of our members simply enjoy reading our monthly newsletter which contains members' articles, sightings of interest and coming events. Others play a more active role by recording the species they see in our survey areas each month and submitting these to the Records Officer for future reference.

We also have a library, and exchange newsletters with other Australian clubs. Members are welcome to borrow any of this material. The Toowoomba group is affiliated with the Bird Observers Club of Australia (BOCA) who are a further source of information and assistance.

Any questions? Please contact us. Better still, why not join us on our next outing?

The Toowoomba Bird Observers are an affiliated group of the Bird Observers Club of Australia.