The region's largest gathering of shorebird enthusiasts, featuring expert talks, field trips and social events, marking the first in-person edition in eight years.
The Australasian Shorebird Conference is coming to Newcastle City Hall from 19 to 21 September, and it's a big one for the region. It's the largest gathering of amateur and professional shorebird enthusiasts in the area, and this edition marks the first time it's been held in person in eight years. That gap makes it a bit of a reunion as much as a conference, bringing together researchers and admirers for talks by shorebird experts, field trips and social events.
Newcastle is a fitting spot for it. The Hunter region has the Hunter Estuary Wetlands Ramsar site right on its doorstep, and the organisers describe it as the area's premier destination for shorebird work. Having the conference here puts the whole thing within easy reach of the very birds it's about.
The event is run by three local and regional groups: the Hunter Bird Observers Club, the University of Newcastle's Centre for Conservation Science and the Australasian Wader Studies Group. Between them, they've put together a programme that works for both the professional side of things and the people who just love watching these birds.
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It kicks off with a welcome event on Friday 18 September from 6 to 9pm, and the main sessions run from Saturday 19 through to Monday 21. If you're planning to go, keep in mind that registration closes at midnight on 18 September, so you'll need to have your spot sorted before the welcome event even starts. The whole thing is held at Newcastle City Hall in the city centre.
