Courses Offered
| Course Name | Description Click here for the scheduled course dates |
Duration: 1 day Audience: Birdwatchers | Why do birds stand on one leg? Why are ornithologists obsessed with measuring bits? Bird brained or just misunderstood? Beyond Bird Watching aims to answer such questions by looking at some of the physiological and behavioural characteristics of selected species. The workshop uses mixed media presentations and group exercises, involving both live and dead specimens to: |
Captive Management of Wild Birds
Duration: 2 days Audience: | When in care, do honeyeater chicks want the honey on toast? Why do many birds stand on one leg and what earthly use is such knowledge when handling an injured parrot? This course is aimed at people who have the skills to rescue and hold wild birds and wish to extend these skills further in housing, diets and treatment. The course covers both adults being held for injury or disease and the rearing of chicks to release. The training is exercise based and participants are encouraged to raise the issues that have caused them difficulties or the strategies which have lead to success with birds they have handled. Managing wild birds is quite different to aviary or exhibit ones and this course proceeds from the premise that the more you know about their wild behaviour the better you are able to deal with them in captivity. The presentations before each exercise are aimed at giving people the underlying knowledge to help deal with multiple species. Specific subjects covered include rearing diets, crop feeding, common injuries and diseases and housing. The trainers have many years experience with both husbandry, field ornithology and training. So if you want to move beyond initial rescue skills this is the course for you. |
Practical Bird Skills Workshop
Duration: 2 days Audience: | This weekend groups four (4) skills that are commonly needed in bird husbandry. It is not a course but four (4) discreet units which allows the participant to come to a morning or afternoon session or a whole weekend. The units build on other training but beginners are welcome. The four areas covered over the Saturday and Sunday are, in order: Course Objectives The primary objectives of these workshops are to give participants up to three hours practical training in each of the following areas: 1. Feather implantation (‘imping'). This is a very old skill developed by falconers to deal with flight feather damage in birds which are unable to be held long enough to moult or grow new plumage. The advantages and drawbacks of the procedure will be discussed and the species for which it may be appropriate. After each step is clearly explained, participants will work in groups of two or three to replace the feathers of a bird. 2. Diet and nutrition. This workshop is specifically aimed at discussing problems experienced with diets in particular species and possible solutions. If you have records of a particular case, please bring them for discussion. 3. Crop needles and tubes. Even after training many people are reluctant to use crop needles and tubes. This workshop is aimed at overcoming that reluctance while also explaining and demonstrating some more advanced uses of such tools. We will also cover basic injection techniques using hypodermic needles. 4. Basic necropsy. Each participant (or with another participant if preferred) will undertake a basic necropsy including preparation, organ identification and recording of results. This is also an opportunity to have another look at a bird you have had which died without any clear idea why. |
Duration: 1 day Audience: | At this workshop you will assemble your own robust, portable animal cage that is the size of a cocky cage, but fits on a standard car back seat. You will also learn more about housing for animals in captivity, and tricks and tips for easily decorating cages. |
Bird Bones and Duration: 1 day Audience: | At this workshop you will gain a better understanding of the skeletal system of a bird, and fractures. How do you assess for fractures, how do you treat fractures, when is a fracture treatable or not for wild birds? Chris Lloyd will be joined by a leading Veterinarian to provide expertise training to wildlife carers. |
Bird Disease and Medications Workshop Duration: 1 day Audience: | At this workshop you will gain a better understanding of the bird diseases you are likely to encounter in Australia. You will also improve your understanding of pharmacology around drug groups, and the appropriate treatment of diseases. Chris Lloyd will be joined by a leading Veterinarian to provide expertise training to wildlife carers. |
Duration: half day Audience: | Bring along your chicks in care. Learn about the right food to feed chicks. Make up your food. Learn how to deliver the food to the chick. |
Duration: 2 days Audience: | In this course, you will understand more about what makes sea and shore birds different to other birds; you will learn rehabilitation techniques; and you will gain an understanding of some of the reasons these birds come into care. A comprehensive handbook is included. While aimed at those who handle these species, much of it has application to related species such as plovers, ibis and herons. The sessions cover identification, measurement, diet and housing as well as specific issues with these birds such as oil contamination. The course is open to anyone but it is preferable that participants have done a course such as Wiyanga's "Captive Management of Wild Birds" or the WIRES "Birds: Beyond the Basics". |
Australian Wild Birds in the Vet Surgery
Duration: 1 day Audience: | Efficiently deal with wild birds, giving them a realistic assessment and the best chance of survival. This course covers aspects of wild bird husbandry which are relevant for Vets and Vet Nurses including: • Bird identification and risks • Tolerable disability • Common diseases • Treatment recommendations • Skills (handling, crop feeding) |
Duration: 1 day Audience: | If you've always been interested in our native birds, but have never had the time to spend birdwatching, this is the course for you. This course provides an introduction to how to identify the most common birds in the area, how to use binoculars, and how to use a field guide. |
Duration: 1 day Audience: | A great introduction to Birdwatching for kids, introducing some of the common birds in Sydney, understanding why they behave like they do, and getting you know how to find a bird and get your binoculars onto it. |