HIGH Wycombe library will be hosting an event this Monday, March 11, aimed at encouraging fledgling bird watchers in the Perth Hills.

The event, which runs from 5.30pm to 7pm, is the first of two bird-watching seminars to be hosted at the High Wycombe library in collaboration with the City of Kalamunda.

Monday night’s seminar will be hosted by avid and experienced bird watcher Mike Green, while the second event, on April 18, will be run by habitat gardener, wildlife photographer, and Mike’s wife, Rachel Green.

Mr Green will share practical tips, bird calls, and imitation of bird behaviours in order to deliver information in an entertaining way.

The seminar will provide a handout which will include 22 different species of birds found throughout the Perth Hills and will go into detail about how bird calls, plumage, beaks and colouration can be used to differentiate them from each other.

Mr Green said the 22 species he will discuss were chosen because they are the species most often misidentified by amateur bird watchers, but he confirmed he will also be talking about many more species at the seminar.

“The 22 are the most likely species people will encounter, and also the most easily confused. Because trust me there are some very similar and confusing birds in the hills,” he said.

Mrs Green said one of the main reasons they are hosting these seminars, apart from their shared love of birds, is to encourage people to experience nature.

“We just love the birds here in the local area, and people just don’t know much about them.

“It’s well known that one’s connection to nature is very good for mental health, and in this day and age you can’t have enough of that,” Mr Green said.

The couple refer to the 2020 German study entitled ‘biological diversity invokes happiness’ from the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Reseach.

The study found individual enjoyment of life correlates with the number of surrounding bird species, as birds, due to their identifiable calls, are clear markers of an area’s level of biodiversity.

The study used data collected from 26,000 adults from 26 European countries.

“According to our findings, the happiest Europeans are those who can experience numerous different bird species in their daily life, or who live in near-natural surroundings that are home to many species,” the study’s lead author Joel Methorst said.

Tickets for the seminar can be found here.