The Beak Technique project was discussed at the March meeting of the March meeting of the Murrumbidgee Field Naturalists
The project has been funded through Create NSW to develop a series of children’s activity sheets that link local bird species with their habitat.
“We’re now able to print a colour flier to promote the sheets and illustrate the bird species, through additional support for Orana Arts.”
“These activities will link bird identification with their diet and native plant species,” said Mr Richardson.
The project has grown in scope as funding became available, from support through Leeton Shire Council for a Country Arts Support Program grant through Western Riverina Arts and NSW Government’s Create NSW.
"Each sheet will promote four birds and five plant species and we've now added a fifth activity sheet for cockatoos."
Richardson and partner Jo Roberts have been finalising bird and plant species that will be included in the designs.
"Thanks to the contributions from the Field Naturalists at the March meeting, which helped narrow the decision-making process and your comments were invaluable."
“I wanted the bird species to include a range of everyday and one aspirational species,” said Ms Roberts.
The choices have also ensured a diversity of colours for the activity sheets.
Cockatoos (seeds, roots berries and nuts)
- Sulphur-crested
- Black varieties
- Major Mitchell’s
- Galah
• Eucalyptus melliodora - Yellowbox
• Allocasuarina verticillata - Drooping Sheoke
• Microlaena stipoides - Weeping grass
• Acacia deanei - Dane's Wattle
• Spiny or hedge saltbush
Parrots (seeds, flowers, nectar)
- Superb
- Yellow rosella
- Blue Bonnets
- Mallee Ring-necked
• Acacia decora - Western Silver Wattle
• Atriplex nummularia - Old Man Saltbush
• Themeda australis - Kangaroo Grass
• Callistemon sieberi - River Bottlebrush
• Eucalyptus microcarpa - Grey Box
Honeyeaters (insect and nectar)
- Black
- White-plumed
- Spiny-cheeked
- Striped
• Grevillia - 'Robyn Gordon
• Eremophila longifolia - Emu Bush
• Acacia pendula
• Amyema quandong - Grey Mistletoe
• Blakeley's Red Gum - Eucalyptus blakelyi
Finches (seed)
- Sparrows
- Diamond firetail
- Zebra
- Double-barred
• Carex appressa - Tall Sedge
• Allocasuarina verticillata - Drooping Sheoke
• Danthonia species - Wallaby Grass
• Dysphana pumilio - Clammy Goosefoot
• Poa sieberiana- Tussock Grass
Fantails/Robins (insects and invertebrates)
- Willy wagtail
- Red-capped robin
- Superb blue wren
- Yellow-rumped thornbill
• Acacia doratoxylon - Currawang/Myall
• Acacia montana - Malle Wattle
• Callitris glaucophylla White Cypress pine
• Allocasuarina luehmannii - Bulloak
• Eucalyptus microcarpa - Grey Box
