June 14: Bird Feeding: Why is Australia Different? – Russell McGregor, James Cook University

Feeding wild birds draws a lot of disapproval. Influential environmental, governmental and other agencies roundly condemn the practice. This is unique to Australia. In Europe and North America, by contrast, bird-feeding carries the blessing of bird lovers who, far from trying to stamp it out, do all they can to promote it. So why is Australia different? 

At the next Friday Environment Forum on June 14, Professor Russell McGregor will endeavour to answer that question as there is a twist in the tale. Before the 1980s, Australian birders aligned with their overseas counterparts and enthusiastically encouraged feeding. Thereafter, misgivings ballooned into condemnation, hesitations into denunciations. So the real question is: why did Australia become different in the final decades of the twentieth century? Russell an adjunct professor of history at James Cook University and award-winning author will offer some tentative answers, but also wants to hear your ideas. 

Russell’s next book, Enchantment by Birds: A history of birdwatching in 22 species, will be published by Scribe next February. It has something to say about bird feeding.

Be sure to come along to hear a fascinating insight into the bird world, at the Friday Forum on June 14, at the Noosa Parks Association Environment Centre, 5 Wallace Drive, Noosaville. The forum starts at 10:30am and morning tea is available at 10-10.25am. Entry is $5 by tap & go at the door which includes morning tea/coffee.  

Join the bird observers at 8.30am in the carpark for interpretive birding.