This web tool has been adapted from the Birds on cotton Farms - A guide to common species and habitat management by Greg Ford and Nicci Thompson first published in 2006 and published to the Cotton CRC web site in web in 2009.
Management recommendations described in this publication are based on the best available information and research at the time of publication. The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the position of the Australian Government, Birds Australia, Cotton Catchment Communities CRC, Australian Cotton Growers Research Association, Queensland Murray Darling Committee, Gwydir Catchment Management Authority or Namoi Catchment Management Authority.
2006 Cotton Catchment Communities CRC. All rights reserved. No part of this Bird ID web tool may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the publisher.
Published by:
Cotton Catchment Communities CRC
Locked Bag 1001
Narrabri NSW 2390
Phone:†02 6799 1500
Greg Ford has been observing and learning about birds in rural landscapes for more than 25 years. His passion for birds and their bush habitats developed early during his childhood on a mixed farming/grazing property in northern New South Wales. Tertiary studies in zoology and ecology led into career roles in rangeland management, wetlands and wildlife research and extension in various locations in the Northern Territory and Queensland. Greg has been working on biodiversity research and extension for the Landcare and Catchment Management network and Birds Australia in southern inland Queensland since 2001. He is currently Regional Ecologist with the Queensland Murray Darling Committee in Toowoomba
Nicci Thompson has been a resident of the Darling Downs all her life. Her formative childhood years were spent on a grazing property on the south-west Downs where her passion for birds and bush landscapes developed. Following retirement from the teaching profession she enrolled in the inaugural Post Graduate Certificate in Ornithology offered by Charles Sturt University from which she graduated in 1998. She became the Regional Organiser for Southern Inland Queensland of the Birds Australia Atlas Project in 1998 which position she still fills. Nicci is currently the Convenor of Birds Australia Southern Queensland and is a member of the Birds Australia Council.
Graphic design of elemets of this ID tool by Kristy Fielder.
We thank Guy Roth for his encouragement and the passion he has shown for the book, as well as his many contributions to its content and style. Greg Kauter also supported the book with much fervour, providing many photos and insights into the birds and their habitats on cotton farms. Our sincere appreciation also goes to Evan Cleland and Gill Hogendyk, cotton industry stalwarts and erudite bird-watchers for their expert advice and encouragement.
We wish to thank the many photographers who contributed images for the book. In particular, we thank all the bird photographers, who donated their stunning bird photos or provided them at well-below commercial cost: Chris Cameron, Ian Montgomery, Greg Holland, Tom Tarrant, Geoff Dennis, Glen Threlfo, Helen Fallow, Mick Todd, Bill Jolly and Peter Fuller.
Our gratitude also goes to those who reviewed early drafts of the manuscript and provided invaluable editorial and thematic advice: Grahame Rogers, Guy Roth, Greg Kauter, Evan Cleland and Gill Hogendyk.
Kristy Fielder’s patience was greatly appreciated. Her professionalism and expertise in design and layout have given the book much flare and appeal.
Primary financial support for the development of the book was provided through an Australian Government Envirofund grant to the Australian Cotton Growers Research Association. Additional financial input was gratefully received from the Border Rivers-Gwydir Catchment Management Authority. Operational and logistical support was received from the Cotton Catchment Communities Cooperative Research Centre, the Queensland Murray Darling Committee Inc and Birds Australia Southern Queensland.
