Annual counts

Every year, a group of over 100 enthusiastic volunteers spend one day driving through thousands of kilometres of stringybark forest. 

2006 Annual Count Report

Thanks to a great team of 155 volunteers, new and old, 1078 Red-tailed Black-Cockies were counted this year.  Coordinated by Birds Australia, the count was conducted on April 29th across the birds range, south-east South Australia and south-west Victoria.  Volunteers travelled from as far away as Mildura, Melbourne, Adelaide and Langhorne Creek.  2,500km of stringybark tracks were traversed on the day - no mean feat considering the cost of fuel. 
316 Red-tails were recorded in South Australia.  762 were spotted in Victoria.   Some large flocks were counted this year including 110 at Wandilo Native Forest Reserve, 58 at Lucindale and 50 near Struan.  A flock of 221 Red-tails was just over the SA/Vic border on the Victorian side - in Lower Glenelg National Park.  Other flocks in Victoria included 86 at Rennick State Forest and 214 at Chetwynd. 
This is an encouraging result, an increase on last years figure of 952 birds. Congratulations and thanks to the many landholders and others that volunteered all or part of their Saturday to participate in the count. 

If you are interested in participating, please contact Tim Burnard on 1800 262 062 or email rtbc@birdsaustralia.com.au.  If there is a particular area within the range of the south-eastern subspecies that you would like to search let Tania know.  Many landholders with stringybark on their properties volunteer each year. 

An information package will be sent out to all participants in the weeks prior to the count.  This will include a map of your search area, some general information and a recording sheet.  This year we have decided to hold an evening camp out.  While volunteers will be spread across the range during the day, everybody is invited to meet at the Baileys Rocks campground in Dergholm State Park in the evening.  This will be a bring you own event - food, beverages, camping gear and Red-tail tales.  The annual count and many other Red-tail activities are dependent on the fantastic volunteer support we have.  We're looking forward to meeting volunteers and also hearing about the day's exploits first hand. 
To find out how to get to the Bailey's Rocks camping area you can view and download the Dergholm State Park parknote on the Parks Victoria website on the following link:  http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/resources/05_0325.pdf

On May 1 2005, 119 volunteers covered over 2000 km in stringybark to find 952 Red-tails.  Volunteers cover 59 individual sites across the Red-tail range, noting where and when the birds were seen and what they were doing.  Following the annual count, the data is checked to ensure that the same birds aren't being recorded at more than one site. 

Annual count results this year are the highest recorded to date.  Results from flock counts which give us an idea of the level of new recruitment into the population are promising and suggest that the 2004/05 breeding season may have seen good recruitment of juvenile birds into the population. 

If you would like to find out more about the annual count or register interest in participating in 2006, please email:rtbc@birdsaustralia.com.au or telephone 1800 262 062

Karak counting with volunteers on May 1

2005 Count

2002 Count

Summer 2000

Winter 1999

Count 1999

1998 Count

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