My main role is looking after the Museum's collection of birds. This includes acquiring, processing and registering new specimens; curating the collection; managing the collection database; and making the specimens available for use by interested people, both professional and amateur.
Other jobs include providing information to the public, researchers and educational and governmental organisations, either directly or through the Museum's website, exhibitions and publications.
When I have time, I conduct some research on the evolution and relationships of Australian birds. The majority of my recent studies have involved fossil birds from a number of sites across the country and from a wide chronological age range.
I developed my general interest in natural history from my father, who was a biology teacher at high school and university level. This began at an early age. My specific fascination with birds started in my first year in high school. I pursued it in an amateur capacity (birdwatching) through high school and university. My undergraduate degree was in zoology, with a concentration in vertebrates, particularly birds.
Much of my more scientific interest in birds started after I joined the Australian Museum as an assistant and this interest expanded on the job. My work on fossil birds began while studying for a higher degree.
What resources would you recommend for people who would like to know more about your field?
There are several good field guides available for learning to recognise the different species of Australian birds. These are available in the Australian Museum Shop.
A detailed coverage is given in the Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds (HANZAB for short)
There are some excellent general ornithology books:
Unfortunately, there is no comparable book specifically directed towards the Australian bird fauna. Although it does not cover many aspects of ornithology, one of the best books on Australian ornithology is Ecology of Birds: An Australian Perspective (Ford), now out of print.
For someone starting in the field, the smaller journals produced by the various state bird clubs will give an introduction to the birds in different parts of the country. Corella and Australian Field Ornithology have Australia-wide coverage. Emu is Australia's professional ornithology journal.
There are many good Australian and overseas sites, covering a wide range of ornithology topics (organisations, books, general topics, birdwatching, etc). The Australian Museum's Birds website has a fine selection of useful links.
Local birdwatching or naturalist groups are a good way to make contacts, get involved in activities and learn about local birding sites. The websites of the major bird clubs in Australia are given in the links on the Australian Museum's Birds website.
There are lots of excellent videos now available. Some are available in the Museum shop
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