Bold Park: join us for a relaxed Sunday morning walk
2025-11-02 09:00 - 11:00 (Australia/Perth) | Bold Park, Bold Park, Perry Lakes Drive, Floreat, WA, 6015, Australia
Come and join a relaxed walk around Bold Park while looking for some of the wildflowers and animals typical for this time of year – the Noongar season of Kambarang – in urban bushlands.
Bold Park is the largest patch of remnant bushland on Perth’s Swan Coastal Plain. It is home to over 300 species of native plants, 90 birds, 30 reptiles, and numerous other animals. The park is managed by the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority (BGPA) with the Friends of Bold Park Bushland being active supporters in the conservation of the park.
In early November we can expect to see the large flowers of the balga and slender banksia, which will be attracting honeyeaters and insects, including flower wasps and butterflies. Birds will be busy catching these insects, including the beautiful rainbow bee-eaters which nest in the sandy soil of the park. We may also see lizards, like shingleback skinks, sunning themselves in the early morning rays.
Meet at the Camel Lake carpark, at the southern end of Perry Lakes Drive. Additional parking is available across the road at Perry Lakes Reserve. The walk will be approximately 3.5km long, including some moderately steep uphill sections, but we’ll be stopping frequently to check out the flowers and animals. Wear good walking shoes, bring water to drink, and dress for the forecast weather.

WA leads the pack: The natural history of Western Australia’s islands, and comparisons with other islands of Australia.
2025-11-07 19:30 - 21:30 | Hew Roberts LT, Nedlands Lecture Theatre, Clifton St., Nedlands
There are about 3500 islands in WA, which is more than any other Australian jurisdiction. All are in
public ownership, and almost all south of the Kimberley are managed by a single government
agency, and almost all Kimberley islands are held under native title. This is a situation unique in the world.
Presenters Andrew Burbidge and Ian Abbott’s lecture is arranged in two parts. First, how islands differ from the mainland; why
they are interesting; a brief account of some biological curiosities; and an outline of the natural
factors that have led to changes in insular biotas. The second part is about nature conservation on
islands, with a focus on WA, and impacts of invasive species on native mammals; the management
actions taken to minimise extinctions on islands, and the role of islands in conserving species that
are threatened on mainland Australia.
Dr. Andrew A Burbidge AO
Andrew is a conservation biologist who worked for state government conservation agencies for 33
years and has since been continuing this work. His main research areas include/included biological
survey and conservation reserve design and acquisition; island survey, biosecurity and
management; control of invasive species; Aboriginal oral history of mammals and fire; and
threatened species conservation, especially mammals.
Andrew is chair of the WA Threatened Species Scientific Committee and the Barrow Island Gorgon
Gas Development Quarantine Expert Panel.
Ian Abbott spent most of his career as a research scientist in the WA Public Service (1979-2014).
Since retiring he has continued some of this work and ventured into new subjects. These include
island and mainland ecology and evolution in WA and beyond; ecological study of Jarrah, Banksia
grandis, and the forest avifauna; Noongar fire regimes and their names for bird and mammal
species; and mammal extinction in WA.
Both presenters are widely published.
There will also be a focus talk from Daniel Heald on fossil insects. And Paul Doughty will talk to us about the upcoming FrogID Week (Nov 7-16).
Meeting begins at 7.30pm at the Hew Roberts Lecture Theatre, University of Western Australia. Parking is available at Clifton St entrance to the campus* All are welcome to attend, and a donation of $3 for members or $5 for guests. EFT available.
*Please note no parking currently available at Gordon Street entrance; drive around to Clifton St.

Planning for Main Club for 2026
2025-11-08 10:00 - 14:00 | Naturalists’ Club Library, First Floor 82 Beaufort St., Perth, WA, 6000, Australia
We want your ideas for next year’s speakers and excursions!

What places do you want to explore? Who should we invite to inspire us?

This is your chance to help shape the calendar — don’t miss it!

We’ll meet at the Club’s office (L1, 74-82 Beaufort St, Perth – opposite the WA Museum) onSat 8th November 2025(10am – 2pm).

Tea, coffee, and treats will be provided; you may also wish to bring some lunch to share. (Phone from the street if you can’t get in and we’ll come down for you.)

PLUS Optional ( 2-3.30 pm ) Discover the Power of AI

Curious about Artificial Intelligence and how it can support our WA Naturalists’ work?

Join us after the planning event for a hands-on AI Workshop for Volunteers! Bring along your laptop or mobile phone.

Whether you’re tech-savvy or just starting out, this session will explore how AI tools can boost outreach, streamline tasks, and spark creativity in your projects.

Subash Mahat, a Post Graduate Engineering Student at UWA, will attend to answer your questions.

"The Crazy Bushman" talking about turtles
2025-11-14 19:15 - 21:30 | Kalamunda Community Centre, Kalamunda Community Centre, end of Crescent Rd, Off Mundaring Weir Road,, Kalamunda, WA, 6076, Australia
Speaker: Ian Barlow – The Crazy Bushman (AKA the Turtle Man of Perth); Wildlife Photographer, Educator & Citizen Scientist
Topic: Freshwater Turtles: “Showcasing species in need”

Ian will be providing a general information session about the South-western Snake-necked turtle (Chelodina oblonga). The information that he will be presenting comes from the results of his observations of oblong turtles in the wild and the threats and obstacles they face in an ever-changing environment, due to urbanisation and climate change.
Ian will also have all his educational resources on display as well as information about the 1 Million Turtles project whom he volunteers with, and the TurtleSAT app, used to contribute to the national citizen science project. This initiative is to help raise awareness and reveal the mysteries surrounding our freshwater turtles. Ian will have preserved specimens on display that will be safe to handle.
The aim of the session is to not only raise awareness about our local turtles and also get members of the community to be involved by asking questions or see how they can be involved by doing their small part towards effective conservation!
Plus:

Focus talk – A member or visitor will give an 8 minute focus talk.
“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 been legally 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: drbchair@wanaturalists.org.au
Excursions/citizen science/conservation: information on what’s coming up.
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. Donations of food for the post-meeting supper are welcome.
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. Payment direct to bank account by EFT is welcome.
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. No RSVP required.

General Meeting & AGM
2025-11-17 19:00 | Naragebup Rockingham Environment Centre, 49 Safety Bay Road, Peron, WA, Australia
Topic: After the AGM is complete, Daniel Heald will deliver a presentation on the results of the Great Southern BioBlitz 2025. He will also show photos from the branch’s weekend stay at Narrogin.Time: 7.00 pmSpeaker: Daniel HealdVenue:

Contact: for further information

NSB: Nature nearby - Neerabup National Park
2025-11-19 19:30 - 21:30 | Henderson Environmental Centre, Henderson Environmental Centre End of Groat St, North Beach, Australia
Our guest speaker will be David Wake from Quinns Rocks Environmental Group
Neerabup is one of a handful of national parks within metropolitan Perth. In this talk, David will provide an overview of the park’s history, its natural values and some of the issues affecting this 1,000ha of bushland in our northern suburbs. David is a member of the Quinns Rocks Environmental Group which helps maintain Neerabup National Park.

Erskine Lakes
2025-11-23 08:00 | Erskine Lakes, end Southmead Green, Erskine, WA, 6210, Australia
Location: Erskine Lakes, Erskine, Mandurah.Meet: At the end of Southmead Green, Erskine

Details: Late spring is a great time to view nesting wetland birds such as Darters, Coots, Grebes and Cattle Egrets at the lakes.

Bring: Binoculars, camera, drinks and snacks, etc. plus a chair for comfort while enjoying morning tea after the walk.

Contact: for further details.

POSTPONED: NSB Golly Walk: Ending our Burns Beach to Fremantle Walk
2025-11-26 08:00 - 10:00 | WA
Due to unforeseen circumstances we have to cancel the walk in November. We will reschedule it for a date in 2026.

We will walk from the Old Cable Station at Cottesloe to Rous Head, Fremantle.
This will be the final leg of a journey we began in 2014. Each November we have walked along paths and beaches examining and discussing whatever we come across. We will have accomplished our goal when we reach Café Rous at the beginning of North Mole drive as there is no footpath that goes all the way to the end of North Mole.
Meet: North end of car park opposite Beehive Montessori School, Curtin Ave (Midway between Cottesloe and Leighton Beach)
Time: 8.00am
Wear Comfortable footwear and clothes suitable for the weather.
We will celebrate our achievements with morning tea at the café.
