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.
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.
Work underway on the Glebe’s Hill biodiversity project
Posted on 27th March 2024
The grant cheque is in the bank and the Glebe’s Hill biodiversity research project is ready to go. Andrew Wood sets out the work plan for the project, including opportunities for local community members to get involved.
A nymph at Orphan School Creek!
Posted on 28th February 2024
Have you spotted one of our colourful denizens? Amorbus Alternatus.
From the Blue Wrens, March 2024
Posted on 28th February 2024
An update from the busy Blue Wren’s group and Bushcare volunteers.
King Parrots discover Orphan School Creek
Posted on 28th November 2023
Rare visitors to Glebe and Forest Lodge. King Parrots discover Orphan School Creek
Update on Innovation and Ideas Grant: The Hill project
Posted on 28th November 2023
By Andrew Wood, convenor, Blue Wren subcommittee, Bulletin 10/2023, December At last, some good news – on Wednesday 15 November the final contract (Approval Temporary Access over Council Land) to permit the start of work on the Innovation and Ideas Grant was signed by the City of Sydney and the Society. It will enable the […]
Glebe Forest Lodge Bird Survey Report 2023
Posted on 30th October 2023
The bird watchers of the Blue Wren Subcommittee were out early for the Glebe Forest Lodge annual bird survey. The brush turkeys went missing.
The Craney Grant – helping bees thrive!
Posted on 1st November 2023
At the Crescent Early Learning Centre kids are learning about the birds and the bees, with the support of a Craney Grant.
News from the Blue Wren Subcommittee, October 2023
Posted on 5th October 2023
Glebe Public School reports a great outcome from the Craney Small Grants Program. They’ve been able to purchase new bush tucker plants and gardening equipment, resulting in a transformed outdoor space that will benefit students’ education and connection with nature.
Blue Wren Subcommittee Annual Report 2022-2023
Posted on 27th August 2023
This year, the tenth annual Glebe/Forest Lodge spring bird survey counted birds in 10 different locations. 33 different bird species were identified, equally the highest diversity of species recorded over the last 10 years. The two most common birds were again the native Noisy Miner and the Rainbow Lorikeet.
The Hill: HAZMAT clothing required
Posted on 31st July 2023
The Blue Wren Subcommittee is considering asking City of Sydney Council to allow the employment of an asbestos assessor to deal with contamination issues while installing wildlife monitoring devices.
The Blue Wrens Report – July 2023
Posted on 26th June 2023
The Glebe’s Hill research collaboration has hit a snag – due to contamination, the researchers must wear HAZMAT gear!
News from the Blue Wrens, June 2023
Posted on 31st May 2023
Find out what the Glebe Society’s ecology arm, the Blue Wren Subcommittee, has been up to over the last month.
Glebe’s Hill and its flora and fauna
Posted on 29th April 2023
Learn more about the study of the fauna and flora of Glebe’s Hill, on Sunday 7 May. The Hill is a patch of contaminated crown land on the northern side of the Tramsheds. A City of Sydney grant to the Society will fund an investigation by biological scientists from the University of Sydney.
