Bird Observers Club of Australia
Encyclopedia
Bird Observation & Conservation Australia was established on 12 April 1905 by members of the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union
(RAOU) in Melbourne
, Victoria
, as the Bird Observers Club. Although subsequently inactive for many years, in 1927 it was revived and has been active since. It publishes a quarterly journal, Australian Field Ornithology
, and a quarterly newsletter, the Bird Observer. It has a cooperative relationship with the Land for Wildlife
program, a voluntary conservation scheme for private land in Victoria, which was instigated by two prominent club members, Ellen McCulloch
and Reg Johnson
, established in 1981, and coordinated by the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment.
In 1991 the club expanded its name to become the Bird Observers Club of Australia (BOCA) to give itself a national rather than a local focus. In May 2007, at the Annual General Meeting, the membership voted to change the name of the organisation again to Bird Observation & Conservation Australia to "more properly present it and the work it does", while retaining the familiar acronym BOCA. Its head office is based in Nunawading
(an eastern suburb of greater Melbourne) in Victoria, but it has sub-groups across eastern Australia.
Currently BOCA has 49 branches and affiliated groups, mainly in the eastern states of Australia, as well as a specialist group (PhotoBOCA) for those interested in bird photography. It also owns and manages the Clarkesdale Bird Sanctuary
at Linton, Victoria
.
with a view to merging the two organisations. On 21 May 2011 members of both BOCA and Birds Australia voted by an overwhelming majority at their respective Annual General Meetings
to merge the two organisations into one entity to be named BirdLife Australia
.
Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union
The Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union, also known as Birds Australia, was founded in 1901 to promote the study and conservation of the native bird species of Australia and adjacent regions. This makes it Australia's oldest national birding association. It is also Australia's largest...
(RAOU) in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, as the Bird Observers Club. Although subsequently inactive for many years, in 1927 it was revived and has been active since. It publishes a quarterly journal, Australian Field Ornithology
Australian Field Ornithology
Australian Field Ornithology is the quarterly journal of Bird Observation & Conservation Australia. It was previous named the Australian Bird Watcher. The founding editor was Roy Cooper, editor from 1959 to 1976. Currently the Coordinating Editor is Stephen Debus....
, and a quarterly newsletter, the Bird Observer. It has a cooperative relationship with the Land for Wildlife
Land for Wildlife
Land for Wildlife is a program sponsored by the Department of Sustainability and Environment in the state of Victoria, Australia. It was established in November 1981 to support private landholders and managers who voluntarily provide and enhance habitat for native wildlife on their properties...
program, a voluntary conservation scheme for private land in Victoria, which was instigated by two prominent club members, Ellen McCulloch
Ellen McCulloch
Ellen Margery McCulloch OAM was a Melbourne-based Australian nature writer and amateur ornithologist who had a long association with Bird Observation & Conservation Australia .-Life:...
and Reg Johnson
Reg Johnson
Harold Reginald Johnson was an Australian cartographer, amateur ornithologist and environmentalist.-Early years:...
, established in 1981, and coordinated by the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment.
In 1991 the club expanded its name to become the Bird Observers Club of Australia (BOCA) to give itself a national rather than a local focus. In May 2007, at the Annual General Meeting, the membership voted to change the name of the organisation again to Bird Observation & Conservation Australia to "more properly present it and the work it does", while retaining the familiar acronym BOCA. Its head office is based in Nunawading
Nunawading, Victoria
Nunawading is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 19 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Whitehorse...
(an eastern suburb of greater Melbourne) in Victoria, but it has sub-groups across eastern Australia.
Currently BOCA has 49 branches and affiliated groups, mainly in the eastern states of Australia, as well as a specialist group (PhotoBOCA) for those interested in bird photography. It also owns and manages the Clarkesdale Bird Sanctuary
Clarkesdale Bird Sanctuary
The Clarkesdale Bird Sanctuary is a nature reserve focused on protecting and restoring habitat for woodland birds. It lies in the state of Victoria in south-eastern Australia, near the small town of Linton, 30 km south-west of the city of Ballarat.-History:...
at Linton, Victoria
Linton, Victoria
Linton is a town in Victoria, Australia off Glenelg Highway. It was first settled about 1840. The town was named after a pioneer family in an area. At the 2006 census, Linton had a population of 355. The Clarkesdale Bird Sanctuary lies to the south-east of the township, near Springdallah Creek.-...
.
Merger
During 2009 discussions commenced with Birds AustraliaBirds Australia
Birds Australia may refer to:* Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union, trading name Birds Australia* Birds of Australia, an article about Australian Birds* List of Australian birds, a list...
with a view to merging the two organisations. On 21 May 2011 members of both BOCA and Birds Australia voted by an overwhelming majority at their respective Annual General Meetings
Annual general meeting
An annual general meeting is a meeting that official bodies, and associations involving the public , are often required by law to hold...
to merge the two organisations into one entity to be named BirdLife Australia
BirdLife Australia
BirdLife Australia is the trading name of a company limited by guarantee formed through the merger of two Australian non-government conservation organisations, Bird Observation and Conservation Australia and Birds Australia...
.