Wetlands play a vital role in healthy environments by improving water quality and availability, and providing critical habitat for native species, many of which are restricted to these ecosystems.

Sadly, only an estimated 30 percent of the wetlands on the Fleurieu Peninsula are left, with most having been modified or degraded. Only eight percent are formally protected.

This newly created wetland is 2500 sq metres in size and is located adjacent to the Finniss River. It was developed under the guidance of Dr Bill Phillips, former head of Australia’s national wetlands programme and Deputy Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention.

There will be three short presentations @ 2.00 pm (and 4.00 pm according to demand) on both days.

Sunday 8 October

Anne Bastian, the landowner. Anne will describe why and how the wetland was created and what's involved in its care and maintenance.

Dr Bob Sharrad AM who will talk about the birds he's spotted since first coming to Birdsong in 2019. Bob is a field biologist and naturalist who has spent much of his life teaching trainee teachers and rangers, or conducting wildlife surveys. Bob has full academic status at Flinders University but spent most of his teaching career at UniSA. A significant proportion of his time has been spent studying wildlife in the field, often in remote sites in Australia and overseas, and it this experience that makes him committed to the conservation of nature.

Peter Matejcic. Peter has researched South Australian biodiversity for 27 years, actively supporting numerous environmental organisations and community groups, and wildlife events, as a member and active committee member within: Field Naturalists Society SA Inc (FNSSA); FNSSA (Mammal Club); FNSSA (Reptile and Frog Group); South Australian Herpetology Group (SAHG) Peter regularly visits South Australian wetlands to record and photograph frog, reptile, and mammal species, other wildlife, and habitats.

Thursday 12 October

Anne Bastian

Bob Sharrad

Steve Walker. After completing a Bachelor of Science majoring in Animal and Environmental Biology and then a Graduate Diploma in Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecology and Management, Steve completed a Master of Science looking at skeletal abnormalities in frogs, under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Mike Tyler, with whom he co-wrote the third edition of Frogs of South Australia. He has coordinated SA's two major citizen science frog monitoring programs, the EPA Frog Census and FrogWatch SA since before 1997, and is an education officer with Green Adelaide.

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Delicious afternoon tea available for purchase

Bookings essential

Please bring folding chairs and rugs.

Children must be closely supervised at all times.

Dogs not permitted.

Main paths are wheel friendly.

$20 per car

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Come along and enjoy an afternoon of talks, walks, birdsongs and frog symphonies.