DRB Presents: Rochelle Steven talking about Birds

Note: no RSVP required.

COVID19: Even though restrictions have eased, we will still encourage members and visitors to take precautions and please do not attend if unwell.

Speaker:

Rochelle Steven

Lecturer, School of Environmental and Conservation Sciences, Murdoch Uni

Rochelle describes herself as follows:

I joined Murdoch University in January 2022 as a Lecturer in Environmental Management.

My research and professional experience includes working on threatened species management, the role of citizen science in threatened species conservation and in building greater community support for conservation more broadly. My research themes have explored issues related to human interactions with the environment, both positive and negative.

I pride myself on having a diverse multi-sectoral background, including: Species Conservation Project Coordinator (WWF-Australia), (2020-2021) and postdoctoral researcher with the University of Queensland’s node of NESP’s Threatened Species Recovery Hub and ecological project manager in private consulting. I am an active member of BirdLife Australia, and have held volunteer Convenor positions for the Southern Queensland and Western Australia branches.

Having a background in sales and customer service, I enjoy engaging students and the general public alike in nature appreciation through sharing my passion for birds, as well as taking action for conservation on private land through using native plants to create ecologically sustainable gardens. I have contributed to ecological and social research in diverse settings, including the Australian Alps, Australia’s tropical north (Northern WA, NT, Qld), Southeast Queensland, Southwest Australia, Fiji and the United Kingdom.

Topic:

Rochelle will share key points from her recently published article:  More than garden plants: extending the conversation of urban gardens as an important refuge for Australian birds. Learn what actions you can take to improve to future of Australia’s birds on private land.

Plus:

• Kids’ talk – one of your younger members will be giving a 5 minutes kids’ talk.
• Boffins talk – A member will give an 8 minutes Boffins’ talk. Arlene Quinn will give a talk on “Kangaroo Island”. 
• “Nature road show”. Members and visitors are encouraged to bring items to place on the display table or to send photographs to the MC in advance, e.g. a sample flower, an insect, and so on – anything of natural history interest that has legally been obtained. If we have time, one of our experts will identify them or briefly talk about them, or the person bringing them can talk about where they saw it, etc. Photographs are particularly welcome, as everyone can see them. If you wish to show a photograph please email it, no later than the Wednesday before the meeting, to our MC for this night, and she/he will include it on her PowerPoint slides. We have a dedicated email for this purpose” natclub@webco.com.au
• Thing of the month / Things coming up next month: These two presentations are about things in nature happening this month and things coming up, so if you have any photos or information, send them to: natclub@webco.com.au
• Door prizes: You could also be the lucky winner of a door prize. We make sure there are prizes for both members and visitors.
• Raffle: We will have a great raffle  – please raid your piggy bank for a bit more cash, $5 for 3 tickets.

Time: Please come at 7.15pm or earlier if you wish, for a 7.30pm start as we start promptly. We are open from 6.45pm. We finish formal proceedings no later than 9.30pm.

Donation: All this for only a donation of $3 per person for adult members ($0 for child members), and $5 per adult visitor and $1 per visiting child to help with the costs of running the club, venue hire, insurance and so on.  Please bring the right CASH to help us avoid long queues. Thanks. We do not have EFTPOS facilities yet.

Entrance: It is a condition of entry that everyone signs in on arrival, thank you.

Parking: Free parking right outside.

Wheelchair access: Everything is on one level.

Toilets: Are inside.

Bookings: No bookings required.

See you there for fabulous night.