The growing local community of bird watchers and nature lovers will be excited to hear there is a big weekend of bird watching events scheduled in October.

It’s time to dust off the binoculars and clean the lenses, and perhaps clean out your ears to pick up the sound of bird song, as a range of bird watching events and workshops will be held over three days across the Snowy Monaro, from 17 to 19 October.

The Building a Birding Community in the Snowy Monaro project is designed to support local people of all ages and experience levels to connect with the region’s native birds, improve skills in bird identification and citizen science, and get involved in habitat restoration.

The initiative has been made possible through a 2025 BirdLife Australia Community Grant and is supported by BirdLife Southern NSW, with strong partnerships from Wagtail Natives Nursery, Snowy Monaro Regional Council, Upper Snowy Landcare, Cooma Landcare, and Aussie Wild Nature Discovery.

The weekend features free events across Jindabyne, Cooma, and Berridale, including guided bird walks, citizen science tools workshops, and a Bird Biology and Ecology session led by author and expert, Ricki Coughlan.

Participants will also receive a free local native shrub to plant at home, supporting habitat for birds like the Gang-gang Cockatoo, Flame Robin, Speckled Warbler, and Diamond Firetail – all of which have been recorded in the region but remain under-monitored.

Ricki’s workshops will draw on her popular book Little Brown Birds of the Sydney Region, which provides practical tips for identifying Australia’s more elusive species. Many of these birds also occur in the Snowy Monaro’s threatened woodlands, making her insights especially relevant for the region.

Behind the scenes of the project is local conservation horticulturist and BirdLife Southern NSW volunteer, Kelly Stubbs, who has led community citizen science programs and educational outreach across the Snowy Monaro for several years. She also founded the Birds of the Snowy Monaro Facebook group, which now has more than 400 active members sharing sightings, photos, and identification tips.

“Our local native birds are incredibly important and endlessly fascinating,” Kelly said.

“From the tiny thornbills darting through the shrubs to the striking flash of a Gang-gang overhead, every species tells us something about the health of our landscape.

“These events are about helping people build the skills and confidence to recognise what they’re seeing, contribute to important citizen science programs through platforms like Birdata, and feel connected to a growing birding community.”

The October events are just the beginning, she said.

The project will also establish regular monthly bird surveys at “home birding sites” such as North Ridge Reserve in Cooma and Gegedzerick Travelling Stock Reserve in Berridale, with plans to expand to more sites in 2026.

“These sites will provide ongoing opportunities for locals to gather, learn, and contribute consistent bird monitoring data that supports both local conservation and national efforts,” Kelly said.

Everyone is welcome to the free birding weekend, whether a seasoned birder or just getting started.

To register or learn more, email: snowymonarobirds@gmail.com

Or follow Birds of the Snowy Monaro on Facebook.