Landcare award for local quiet achiever
One of Boorowa Community Landcare Group's (BCLG) quiet achievers, Pat Downey, has received one of three Landcare Australia Day awards.
According to Landcare, Pat has played a key but very understated role in the Saving Our Superb Parrot project by volunteering many hundreds of hours over the last five years to bird surveys in Boorowa and the surrounding areas.
After his move to Boorowa in 2012, he attended a Superb Parrot presentation made by Dr Damon Oliver.
"Heard about the monitoring program and was hooked," he said.
"Always had an interest in birds, bred them as a child and I love being outdoors."
Since then, he has provided invaluable assistance to Dr Oliver from the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) by conducting more than 50 one-hour bird transect counts and providing 850 records of Superb Parrots, approximately half of the entire Atlas of Living Australia Biocollect data base.
Through his regular participation in bird walks and field days, he has educated Landcare members and the general public about threatened species and the community monitoring program.
For Pat, the fact that his data is being analysed by scientists to look for trends is one of the highlights.
"[It] feels good to help get data for a government management plan," he said.
"Personally, I like to get out in environment, like time in nature while collecting useful information."
Another is that simply planting some wattle trees in their yard in Boorowa have attracted Superb Parrots around their home.
"Even one plant can make a difference," Pat said.
Pat is also an active member of the Hilltops Council Red Hill Reserve committee, bringing his knowledge of the endangered ecological community of Box Gum Woodland to community members, council staff, and school students.
Pat has great visions for a Hilltops Bird Observers group and is working with Hilltops Council to create a Bird Trail around Boorowa, Harden and Young districts.
"[I'd] like to see all other Woodland birds counted too... Eastern Koel, Eastern and Crimson Rosella, Diamond Firetail," he said.
"[I] would like to see better understanding of layers of habitat required in re-vegetation projects."
Pat is a quiet and unassuming champion who is a very effective and valued team member for Boorowa Landcare and its environmental recovery effort.
"I am a bit of an introvert, but love being outdoors and working to help the environment," he said.
"I am interested in helping to train others."