Australian Ornithological Conference - Abstract Submissions Open

Abstract submissions have opened for the Australasian Ornithological Conference, held in Perth from 18–20th of November this year. Closing date will be the 13th of June 2025.

You can find out more about the conference and further key dates coming up under this link.

Registration will open on 5th of May 2025.

The ASG is happy to announce the acceptance of our Seabird Symposium, towards which you can submit your abstract following the general submission link.

ASG members are encouraged to register for the AOC and attend the ASG Biennial General Meeting, which will be held immediately following the Seabird Symposium. Please not, however, that attendance at the ASG General Meeting is conditional upon registering for the AOC – all ASG members will be welcome to attend our meeting.

Image: Claire Greenwell

Australian Government lists Little Tern as Nationally Vulnerable under EPBC Act

Following an assessment of the threatened species status of the Little Tern (Sternula albifrons), on 5 March 2025 the Australian Minister for the Environment, Tania Plibersek, agreed with advice from the Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC) and listed the species as Nationally Vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999. The main factor that makes the species eligible for listing in the Vulnerable category is the limited estimated population size of 2,700 mature individuals (range 2,050 – 3,340) and the continuing population decrease, estimated at a substantial rate (>10%) within a three-generation period.

The Minister also agreed to develop a National Recovery Plan for the species, and a Conservation Advice for the Little Tern has been prepared: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/species/pubs/82849-conservation-advice-05032025.pdf

ASG provided a submission supporting the listing proposal some time ago, and is delighted that the Minister has now taken this listing action. Little Terns are threatened by anthropogenic disturbance at their breeding sites that severely impacts their breeding success. Urban development and inappropriate water management are substantial threats, as they cause the direct loss of important breeding, roosting and foraging habitat, which potentially affect food availability. Introduced and native predators that prey upon nests and nesting birds are another substantial threat. Other threatening processes impacting Little Terns include hybridisation with the Australian Fairy Tern, and pollution and over-fishing, which may ultimately impact food quantity, quality and availability.

Image by Eric Woehler.

OCEANIA SEABIRDS 2025 - A Symposia and Workshops

Auckland University plays host to a symposia and workshops to bring the attention of the international and Oceania community to the importance of seabirds within the world’s largest body of water, the Pacific Ocean.

Between April 14th to 18th 2025, two days of talks and expert panel discussions are followed by a day of workshops. These will be hands-on, covering subjects on: seabird identification, colony restoration techniques, necropsy, seabird handing and colony surveying and monitoring methods.

The final day will be given over to field trips to various sites near Auckland city.

Registration is free! Further information can be found at https://oceaniaseabirds2025.com/

Image from https://oceaniaseabirds2025.com/