On Sunday 23rd April, the Allora Landcare Group (ALG) officially launched the second edition of their book ‘A Pictorial Guide to the Birds of Allora Mountain Flora and Fauna Reserve’.
The event was held in perfect autumn weather at the reservoir level on the Mountain, with attendees coming from Toowoomba, Stanthorpe, Warwick and locally.
Invited guests included Councillor Marco Gliori and his wife Julie, who have been good supporters of the ALG and frequent visitors to the Reserve. Marco spoke of the importance to protect and preserve such significant assets as the Reserve, and gave a rendition of one of his bush poems, The Million Star Hotel, to great acclamation.
Frank Coman, a CSIRO scientist based in Brisbane was the photographer for the book, and ALG thanks him again for his generosity in making the photos available. He spoke about the new bird species on the Reserve he keeps finding, and including these resulted in the new edition enlarging to accommodate them. The number is now well over 100. Frank is confident there will be more to be found. He answered questions on bird migration, habitat and hybridisation and signed books.
Following a very good smoko, there was a tour of the higher mountain conducted by ALG member Rob Bell along walking tracks recently maintained by women from the Warwick Work Camp. We thank them for their efforts which are greatly appreciated.
We also thank Mary-Lou Gittins, Chair of Queensland Water and LandCarers for her support of this event.
The books may be purchased for $10 per copy plus postage from the ALG via their email; alloralandcare@gmail.com
This article appeared in the Allora Advertiser, 3 May 2023.
