Glebe’s Blue Wrens
The Society’s Blue Wren Subcommittee
Posted on 9th March 2025
In July 2006, a group of local residents came together to form the Blue Wren Subcommittee, initially to survey the Blue Wren population of Glebe and Forest Lodge and make recommendations about how to protect them. The group’s activities have since expanded to include a whole range of projects aimed at conserving and enhancing biodiversity in our area.
Annual Spring Bird Survey Report 2025
Posted on 1st December 2025
Our 2025 snapshot survey of birds in Glebe and Forest Lodge. An outstanding count of 36 Australian figbirds this year, but the most numerous were Rainbow lorikeets.
Another blue wren sighting in the Rozelle Parklands
Posted on 29th December 2025
The new parklands are providing suitable habitat, close to Glebe.
News from the Blue Wren Subcommittee: November 2025
Posted on 28th October 2025
Updates from the Blue Wren group including the sad discovery of deliberate damage to seedlings and establlsihed plants in the Orphan School Creek Reserve.
A win-win solution for Glebe’s Hill
Posted on 19th September 2025
The Society has written to the City of Sydney proposing a win-win solution for Glebe’s Hill, between the the Jubilee Park Light Rail Station and the Tramsheds.
Blue Wren Subcommittee Annual Report 2025
Posted on 15th August 2025
The subcommittee and the bushcare groups have made much progress in the past year towards increasing the diversity, abundance and distribution of indigenous fauna and flora in Glebe–Forest Lodge.
President’s Message: August 2025
Posted on 12th August 2025
Glebe’s Hill researchers recommended transforming the degraded site into biodiverse greenspace. Further information required: how contaminated is the soil and how can it be remediated?
News from the Blue Wren Subcommittee: August 2025
Posted on 15th August 2025
This month, two of the bushcare groups share how their recent engagements with the City of Sydney could significantly boost their efforts to enhance biodiversity across their sites.
Visit to Glebe parks by Society and Council staff to discuss parks management
Posted on 8th June 2025
The Society and local residents recently had a very productive meeting with Joel Johnson (Manager, City Greening and Leisure) and Jacqui Brooks (Parks Assets and Service Manager) at which a range of park management matters were discussed.
Around the bushcare groups: June 2025
Posted on 8th June 2025
Planting at Orphan Street Creek and other news from the bushcare groups in Glebe and Forest Lodge.
Blue Wren Subcommittee Annual Report 2018-2019
Posted on 5th September 2019
by Andrew Wood, Convenor, Blue Wren Subcommittee, from Bulletin 7/2019 (September) The objectives of the Blue Wren Subcommittee include increasing the diversity, abundance and distribution of indigenous fauna and flora in our suburb and also to involve the local community in habitat creation and enhancement activities. We work with the five bushcare/landcare groups in Glebe […]
9th Annual Biodiversity Lecture: Assoc. Professor Tanya Latty
Posted on 9th May 2025
Associate Professor Tanya Latty from the University of Sydney is giving this year’s Annual Biodiversity Lecture. Her topic: ‘Where have all the insects gone? Why insect declines matter and how cities can make a difference’.
The Register of Significant Trees: Update
Posted on 9th May 2025
Residents have suggested several additions to the Counciil’s Register of Significant Trees.
Three Superb Fairy Wrens sighted
Posted on 9th May 2025
Three Superb Fairy Wrens were seen at the Rozelle Parklands and Wetlands on 16 February 2025. A few more habitat ‘stepping stones’ through the Glebe Parklands could bring them closer.
News from the Blue Wren Subcommittee, April 2025
Posted on 7th April 2025
The Blue Wrens have provided feedback to Council on reviews of the Urban Ecology Strategic Action Plan, biodiversity corridor maps for the Sydney DCP and policies on pesticides and weed management. The Society also submitted the Acquittal Report for the Glebe’s Hill research project and is announcing the 9th Annual Biodiversity Lecture in May.
News from the Blue Wren Subcommittee, March 2025
Posted on 3rd March 2025
The City of Sydney is now being asked to act on the recommendations of the study into biodiversity on Glebe’s Hill, next to Jubilee Park station. Also news from local Landcare and Bushcare groups.
Report: Glebe–Forest Lodge Spring Bird Survey 2024
Posted on 2nd December 2024
At least six native bird species including grey butcherbird, pied currawong and Australian magpie are breeding in the leafy parks and streets of Glebe–Forest Lodge. Tree martins are using air vents in a Ross Street building. One of the best results of the survey was the three willie wagtails down near the mangroves on Rozelle Bay.
Innovation and Ideas Grant: presentation by the University of Sydney
Posted on 2nd December 2024
On 29 November, biodiversity researchers at the University of Sydney presented the results of their study into Glebe’s Hill, the neglected piece of land between the Tramsheds and Jubilee Park station. They identified 31 plant species, 12 bird species, plus skinks and invertebrates, as well as foxes, domestic cats and brushtail possums. They made recommendations to transform this degraded site into a thriving greenspace. The research was funded by a City of Sydney grant to the Glebe Society.
Advice to cat management inquiry: Give Councils enforcement powers
Posted on 2nd December 2024
The NSW Parliament’s Animal Welfare Committee is inquiring into the management of cats in NSW to reduce their impact on threatened native animals. On Glebe’s Hill near the Tramsheds, wildlife cameras have caught domestic cats out hunting. The Society argues that Councils should be able to enforce mandatory microchipping and desexing of cats and 24-hour cat containment.
News from the Blue Wren Subcommittee: November 2024
Posted on 28th October 2024
The results of the research into the biodiversity of Glebe’s Hill, the piece of land between Jubilee Park rail station and the Tramsheds, will be presented on 29 November. Raptor alert – a goshawk was also spotted on The Hill in September, giving the resident noisy miners a bit of a scare.
News from the Blue Wren Subcommittee, October 24
Posted on 2nd October 2024
A walk along Johnstons Creek gives insights into Glebe’s bird life. The Society’s Spring Bird Survey is coming up, as is a presentation on the Glebe Hill biodiversity project.
News from the Blue Wren subcommittee: September 2024
Posted on 28th August 2024
Recognition for the volunteers from the Orphan School Creek Bushcare Group and reports on the well-attended talk and walk in July about The Hill research project. A male brush turkey has built a mound in the Wood Street lands area in Forest Lodge. It’s obviously impressive as he has had two female Brush-Turkeys inspecting the condition of his mound.
Walkshop on 8 Sept: What bird is that?
Posted on 31st July 2024
Join an interpretative walk on 8 September along Johnstons Creek where birds have previously nested and been observed.
Some special visitors: Blue wrens at Rozelle Bay
Posted on 31st July 2024
We thought they’d left us, but a keen-eyed observer discovered two Superb Fairy-wrens at Rozelle Bay.
Blue Wren Subcommittee Annual Report 2023–2024
Posted on 31st July 2024
A busy year for the Blue Wren Subcommittee. The project sponsored by the Subcommittee has made successful observations of some of the fauna resident in ‘The Hill’. It’s just one of this year’s notable achievements by the Blue Wrens.
Glebe’s Hill: Bunyip Tails? What the cameras saw
Posted on 1st July 2024
Join us for the next instalment of the Innovation and Ideas grant project on the biodiversity of Glebe’s Hill – a ‘walkshop’ with Prof. Dieter Hochuli and Genevieve Heggarty titled: Exploring Glebe’s wild spaces – the fauna and flora of The Hill and Johnstons Creek.
More green time, less screen time – better health outcomes
Posted on 1st July 2024
The Society’s 8th biodiversity lecture in May was an informative and entertaining lecture entitled Regenerative Cities and Flourishing Communities: why more trees might mean less loneliness and better health by Professor Thomas Astell-Burt. He shared his knowledge and enthusiasm for the importance of nature and well-designed green space for improving the health of the world’s city-dwellers.
News from the Blue Wrens: June 2024
Posted on 29th May 2024
Work continues on the Innovations and Ideas Grant and there is noticeable activity of small birds around ‘The Hill’. Bushcare volunteers attended a planting day held by the Orphan School Creek Bushcare Group (led by Judy Christie) and more activities are planned. Anna Szanto, leader of the Glebe Palmerston and Surrounds Landcare Group, reports on the state of the Palmerston Street area and Nick Sangster notes that in Harold Park the Casuarinas on the eastern side of Johnstons Creek have still not been removed.
News from Blue Wren Subcommittee: May 2024
Posted on 1st May 2024
The Society’s 8th Annual Biodiversity Lecture will be given by Thomas Astell-Burt. Blue Wren members met with Charlotte Fletcher who is City of Sydney’s new Urban Ecology Coordinator who oversees natural resources. She is also the Grant Relationship Manager for the Society’s Innovation and Ideas Grant, which is funding the University of Sydney’s study of Glebe’s Hill. There are concerns about an invasion of casuarinas on the eastern side of Johnstons Creek.
Society’s 8th annual biodiversity lecture
Posted on 27th March 2024
The Society’s annual biodiversity lecture will this year be delivered by Professor Thomas Astell-Burt on Wednesday 29 May 2024. His talk will be on ‘Regenerative Cities and Flourishing Communities: why more trees might mean less loneliness and better health’. Book now.
