UPCOMING EVENTS:
General Meetings: are held on the second Wednesday of each month (February to December) at the Golden Square Hall (9 Old High Street). Meetings begin at 7:30 pm, visitors are welcome to attend.
Upcoming Meeting:
To join us please contact the BFNC for further information.
Upcoming Meeting:
- 11/10/2023 - Neil Phillips OAM, Honorary Professorial Fellow, University of Melbourne: 'Granites of Central Victoria'
To join us please contact the BFNC for further information.
Workshops: throughout the year the Club will again be running a series of Naturalist Workshops
specifically designed to develop participants' proficiency across a broad range of field based naturalist skills and knowledge. Visitors are welcome to attend (via RSVP).
Upcoming Workshop:
To join us please contact the BFNC for further information.
Excursions: are held most months throughout the year as advertised. They are usually 4-8 hours and may have a specific interest focus. They are generally to local areas but may also be to areas further away. Visitors are welcome to attend. Watch this space!
Upcoming Excursion:
To join us please contact the BFNC for further information.
specifically designed to develop participants' proficiency across a broad range of field based naturalist skills and knowledge. Visitors are welcome to attend (via RSVP).
Upcoming Workshop:
- 22/11/2023 - Workshop #50: 'Bendigo Region Frogs'
To join us please contact the BFNC for further information.
Excursions: are held most months throughout the year as advertised. They are usually 4-8 hours and may have a specific interest focus. They are generally to local areas but may also be to areas further away. Visitors are welcome to attend. Watch this space!
Upcoming Excursion:
- 10/11/2023 - Waterbird Survey, Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant.
To join us please contact the BFNC for further information.
NightLife - Wandering in the bush after dark:
Walks in the local bush at night to see wild creatures in their natural habitat after dark. Explore, discover, observe, record and exchange - this will be the theme for this series of walks. Join the fauna group's regular walks and experience the wonders of the bush at night. Dates and times will vary, check here for details. RSVP required in advance via contact page here. Visitors welcome!
Upcoming Walks:
Walks in the local bush at night to see wild creatures in their natural habitat after dark. Explore, discover, observe, record and exchange - this will be the theme for this series of walks. Join the fauna group's regular walks and experience the wonders of the bush at night. Dates and times will vary, check here for details. RSVP required in advance via contact page here. Visitors welcome!
Upcoming Walks:
- Next walk to be advertised here - contact us to register for notifications.
Saturday Excursions - Local 3hr Walk:
Local naturalist walks are held on Saturday morning (9.00am-12.00pm, as advertised), see dates /times below (please arrive 5 minutes before advertised start time for registration).
Meet at the Golden Square Hall (9 Old High Street). Visitors Welcome.
Local naturalist walks include natural history, forest ecology, observation (birds, plants, fungi, and insects), recording sightings/using digital technology, and learning/developing a range of field skills.
Please carry your own water (and light snack if required). Wear clothing suitable for the prevailing conditions (hat, full length cover –shirt/pants, enclosed footwear (eg running/sports shoes), waterproof Jacket).
Walks will be short and of easy or occasionally moderate difficulty, suitable for anyone with a basic level of general fitness.
Please email us here for further enquirers. If you are keen to visit a specific location listed, please ensure you confirm details prior to the excursion, walk details can change without notice at the discretion of the organiser due to various circumstances.
Upcoming Walks:
- Next walk to be advertised here - contact us to register for notifications.
To join us please contact the BFNC for further information. Numbers limited.
Other speakers have included:
- 13/09/2023 - Professor Emeritus Roger Cousens, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne: ‘Battle of the sea rockets’
- 09/08/2023 - Dr David Hollands, Author and Naturalist: ‘80 Years of Bird Photography’
- 12/07/2023 - Professor Patrick Baker, School of Agriculture, Food, and Ecosystem Sciences, University of Melbourne: ‘On the structure and composition of a low-elevation, mixed-eucalypt forest in Victoria’s Central Highlands’
- 14/06/2023 - Research Fellow Dr Alex Maisey, Research Centre for Future Landscapes, Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution, La Trobe University: ‘Conservation of the Superb Lyrebird in an era of change: fires, ferals and folklore’
- 10/05/2023 - Associate Professor Graeme Coulson, Honorary Biosciences, University Melbourne: ‘Living with kangaroos: impacts, options and future scenarios’
- 12/04/2023 - Dr Melissa Hatty, Research Fellow, BehaviourWorks Australia, Monash Sustainable Development Institute: ‘Understanding human connections with nature’
- 08/02/2023 - Special screening of the highly acclaimed documentary Franklin. Visitors please register to attend.
- 12/10/2022 - Professor Tim Fletcher, Waterway Ecosystem Research Group, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne: ‘What drives the ecological health of urban streams? And can I do anything to help make them healthier?’
- 14/09/2022 - AGM with speaker Professor John Webb, Environmental Geoscience, Discipline of Ecology and Environment, La Trobe University: ‘Landscape change in Victoria over the last 10 million years’
- 10/08/2022 - Dr. Brad Jessup, Senior Lecturer, Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne: ‘Getting involved in federal environmental law: The how, the why or the why not’
- 13/07/2022 - Dr Victor Hurley, Victorian Peregrine Project: ‘The Victorian Peregrine Project: Putting the science into 'citizen science’
- 08/06/2022 - Dr Blair Trewin, Senior Climatologist, Bureau of Meteorology: ‘Central Victoria's Climate: Past, Present and Future’
- 11/05/2022 - Dr Felicity McCormack, ARC DECRA Fellow Monash Ice Sheet Initiative and CI Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, School of Earth, Atmosphere & Environment, Monash University: ‘Antarctica and its role in Earth systems: a sleeping giant starting to wake’
- 13/04/2022 - Dr John S. Wilkins, Subject Coordinator, History & Philosophy of Science, School of Historical and Philosophical Studies, University of Melbourne: ‘What is natural about species?’
- 09/03/2022 - Special screening of the award-winning wildlife documentary "The Message of the Lyrebird", produced and directed by Mark Pearce of Balangara Films.
- 09/02/2022 - Professor Stefan Arndt, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, University of Melbourne: ‘How vulnerable are eucalypt forests in a changing climate?’
- 14/07/2021 - Dr Maria Gibson, Deakin University: 'Anatomy of a Forest: this investigates the ecology, particularly the adaptions to the environment, of plants of the Box-Ironbark forest at Heathcote'
- 12/05/2021 - Mr Max Campbell, President, Field Naturalists Club of Victoria: ‘Invertebrates, Biodiversity and The Plague Ape’
- 14/04/2021 - Professor Philip Batterham, Honorary, Biosciences, University of Melbourne: ‘Low dose insecticide impacts on non-pest insects’
- 10/03/2021 - Member Observations Night, 'Highlights from Spring/Summer 2020-2021'
- 10/02/2021 - AGM and speaker. Mr Geoff Williams OAM, Australian Platypus Conservancy: ‘Platypus Conservation and Monitoring'
- 11/03/2020 - Professor Christian Jakob, School of Earth, Atmosphere, and Environment, Monash University: ‘Climate change: Knowns, Unknowns and Uncertainties’
- 12/02/2020 - Dr Nicholas Porch, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science Engineering & Built Environment, Deakin University: ‘Invertebrate biodiversity in Victorian wet forests’
The Bendigo Field Naturalists Club manages the Golden Square Hall. The Golden Square Hall is a public facility that can be hired for single or regular events. It features a main hall, kitchen, meeting room and office. There is convenient public transport access or ample street parking. Visit the Golden Square Hall website to find out more information or make an inquire about booking the facility.