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Making the environment matterMaking the environment matter
The Gould League of Bird Lovers of New South WalesThe Gould League of Bird Lovers of New South Wales
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The Gould League of Bird Lovers

A Gould League of Bird Lovers of New South Wales certificate decorated with various birds native to Australia.

The Gould League of Bird Lovers was an organization formed in Australia to help protect birds and nature.

A Gould League of Bird Lovers of New South Wales certificate decorated with various birds native to Australia.

The League taught people about birds and how to protect them. Members received certificates like the one you made!

A Gould League of Bird Lovers of New South Wales certificate decorated with various birds native to Australia.

The Gould League was one of the first conservation groups in Australia to promote citizen science for the protection of birds.

  • In 1909, the Australian Ornithologists’ Union suggested that schools in Victoria celebrate “Bird Day”. The first Bird Day was celebrated in schools later that year. Teachers worked with naturalists to create special lessons and took their students outdoors or on field trips to celebrate birds and nature. The day was a huge success, and many pupils were inspired to join a new society called “The Gould League of Bird Lovers”. Do you have similar activities at your school?
  • There were several Gould Leagues in various parts of Australia. The first was founded in Victoria in 1909. The Gould League of New South Wales was founded a year later by a young teacher, Edward Webster, and a headmaster, Walter Finigan. The Gould Leagues helped make studying nature part of school lessons in Australia. The League has inspired generations of Australians to protect and love nature and has had a major impact on environmental education. Where do you learn about nature?
  • Did you know there are almost 11,000 types (species) of birds? Australia is home to 828 of them, including the southern cassowary. You can find the cassowary in the tropical rainforests of Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands. The cassowary is a large flightless bird that can jump up to 2.5 meters off the ground! They can be up to 1.7 meters tall and look a bit like a hairy dinosaur!
  • There are almost 400 bird species that can only be found in Australia! Species only found in one place – on an island, in a country, or specific region – are called endemic species. The splendid fairywren, pictured above, is endemic to Australia. The Gould League’s mission was to protect Australia’s birds and teach others to do the same. It did this by teaching its members about the value of birds and nature. A key goal of the League’s work was to stop egg collecting!
  • What is egg collecting? In the past, it was a popular, yet harmful hobby. Young people, in particular, used to collect bird’s eggs, which they viewed as a fun and challenging activity. Eggs were sold, traded, displayed or studied. Collectors often took all the eggs from a nest. This was harmful for birds – and for birds like the lyrebird, which only lays one egg, it was disastrous! Can you imagine how egg collecting affected bird populations? What do you think affects them today?
  • Members of the League didn’t just learn how to protect birds. They also collected data – they were citizen scientists! They helped to protect nesting sites, monitored birds and bird populations, and taught children to do scientific work. Have you ever been involved in activities like these? Perhaps you've participated in a bird count?
  • By 1935 the Gould Leagues had over one million student members! The League provided materials and activities for schools. Its goal was to inspire children (and adults!) to appreciate nature as they learned and observed. Would you join a club like the Gould League?
In 1909, the Australian Ornithologists’ Union suggested that schools in Victoria celebrate “Bird Day”. The first Bird Day was celebrated in schools later that year. Teachers worked with naturalists to create special lessons and took their students outdoors or on field trips to celebrate birds and nature. The day was a huge success, and many pupils were inspired to join a new society called “The Gould League of Bird Lovers”. Do you have similar activities at your school?

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Take action to protect animals

Today many groups, such as Birdlife and WWF, help protect birds and nature. The Gould Leagues were pioneers in teaching kids how to care for nature. In 1967 the League changed their name to ‘The Gould League’. This change reflected their new aim and pledge to protect all wildlife – birds, animals, and plants! What motivates you to protect birds and other animals?

A Gould League membership certificate decorated with different plants and animals such as koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, frogs, butterflies, lizards and birds which frame the Gould League Pledge.
A Gould League membership certificate with a portrait of John Gould from 1938.

The Gould League was named after English naturalists John and Elizabeth Gould. The couple published beautifully illustrated and well-researched books about birds in the 1800s. Many scientists used their books to learn about birds all over the world.

An accurate and detailed scientific illustration of a horned pheasant, a large reddish brown bird with short stubby tail and plump body, a small extended black and reddish crest, a grey waddle and ornate feather patterns with white spots and black lines perched on a branch.

Today, many people remember John Gould for his beautiful bird illustrations. But it was often his wife, Elizabeth, who created them! John wasn’t an artist, but he was deeply involved in creating the illustrations, like the one of the horned pheasant above.

Conservation is everybody’s business!

The 1965 slogan of the Gould League of Bird Lovers

Birds, birds, everywhere!

Birds are unique! Like humans, birds are vertebrates. This means they have a backbone and an internal skeleton. Birds are also warm-blooded animals. All birds lay eggs, have wings and feathers, and most can fly. Another unique thing about birds is that they are widespread. You can find birds on every continent and in all kinds of ecosystems. 

Two baby owl chicks with downy feathers stand side by side on a tree stump in a forest and look at the viewer.
A green and grey hummingbird hovers in flight near a blooming plant covered in purple flowers.

Pollinators and protectors

Did you know that bees and insects are not the only ones who pollinate plants? Birds are also important pollinators! Birds like hummingbirds and honeyeaters spread pollen when they drink nectar from flowers. Many birds also spread seeds in their droppings. Scientists have also discovered that bird droppings help keep ecosystems like coral reefs healthy.

A griffon vulture stands with its head lowered and turned to the side and stares upwards to the sky.

Clean-up crews!

Birds help maintain the balance of ecosystems and keep populations in check. For example, many insects feed on plants. Without birds to keep their numbers down, these insects could eat and destroy entire ecosystems! Birds such as vultures also clean up carcasses quickly, which helps to prevent the spread of disease.

A man stands on a sandy beach near an early aircraft that is hovering just a few feet about the ground.

Inspired by nature

The incredible features of birds, their flight and feathers, have inspired many scientists and inventions including the first aircraft. The wings of the first airplane with a motor, designed by the Wright brothers, were inspired by studying the position and movements of birds’ wings during flight. Have you ever been inspired by birds or nature?

What do birds tell us about the health of our planet?

A large white seabird, a northern gannet, spreads its wings and extends its neck upwards as if to take off in flight from a ground that is covered in red and blue plastic netting and wires.

Did you know that birds can help us understand how the Earth is doing? Because they can fly, birds can often respond to changes in their ecosystem faster than other animals. For example, as the climate changes, birds change when and where they migrate.

An earth like sphere covered in trees hovers above an open palm in front of a green background.

By noticing changes in bird behavior, scientists can tell when an ecosystem is changing and why. This can help to understand the health of the planet. To do this, scientists need “bird data”. Citizen scientists help create a lot of the data they use.

Citizen scientists around the world help scientists understand and better protect birds and nature!

Are you a scientist?

Citizen scientists are everyday people who help to collect data. In the world of birds, as a citizen scientist, you can record data about what birds you see, when and where you see them, and how many there are. By sharing the data you collect, you can help scientists gain valuable research insights and learn how to best protect birds! 

A group of children in the woods observe nature with binoculars, a magnifying glass and map.

What’s next?

Today, citizen scientists around the world play a vital role in conservation science and efforts. There are many ways to get involved in these projects:

  • Take part in a bird count. In a bird count, citizen scientists identify and count the birds they see over a short period of time, then share their data. Bird counts help scientists better understand and protect birds! 

  • Share your sightings using an app like eBird. eBird helps you to identify birds and to record and share images, video and audio of them with researchers. Every sighting helps conservationists make decisions about how to protect nature. 

  • Get involved with a citizen science project in your area. A good place to learn about them is through organizations such as Birdlife, the World Wildlife Fund, or a local conservation organization near you.

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Bibliography

Australian Museum. (n.d.). John and Elizabeth Gould. Australian Museum. https://australian.museum/publications/birds-storybox/john-elizabeth-gould/.

Australian Museum. (n.d.). John Gould: books and illustrations. Australian Museum. https://australian.museum/learn/collections/museum-archives-library/john-gould/.

Australian Museum. (n.d.). Elizabeth Gould (1804-1841). Australian Museum. https://australian.museum/learn/collections/museum-archives-library/john-gould/elizabeth-gould-1804-1841/.

BIRD DAY. (1909, June 5). Geelong Advertiser (Vic. : 1859 - 1929), p. 3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article150844091.

BIRD DAY. (1909, June 5). Geelong Advertiser (Vic. : 1859 - 1929), p. 3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article150844091.

BIRD DAY. (1911, October 21). Leader (Melbourne, Vic. : 1862 - 1918, 1935), p. 28. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article198144411.

BIRD DAY. (1911, October 25). The Maitland Daily Mercury (NSW : 1894 - 1939), p. 2. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article121471225.

BirdLife International. (2022). State of the World’s Birds 2022: Insights and solutions for the biodiversity crisis. https://www.birdlife.org/papers-reports/state-of-the-worlds-birds-2022/.

Callaghan, C. T., Nakagawa, S., & Cornwell, W. K. (2021). Global abundance estimates for 9,700 bird species. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(21). https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2023170118.

Castellucci, Adria. (2022, July 12). Elizabeth Gould in Australia. Australian Museum. https://australian.museum/learn/collections/museum-archives-library/john-gould/elizabeth-gould-1804-1841/elizabeth-in-australia/.

Castellucci, Adria. (2022, July 12). Elizabeth Gould: working wife, Victorian mother. Australian Museum. https://australian.museum/learn/collections/museum-archives-library/john-gould/elizabeth-gould-1804-1841/working-wife-and-mother/.

Castellucci, Adria. (2022, July 12). John Gould’s documents of extinction. Australian Museum. https://australian.museum/learn/collections/museum-archives-library/john-gould/goulds-documents-of-extinction/.

Castellucci, Adria. (2022, July 12). The early art of Elizabeth Gould. Australian Museum. https://australian.museum/learn/collections/museum-archives-library/john-gould/elizabeth-gould-1804-1841/elizabeth-gould-early-art/.

Cayley, Neville William. (1954). What bird is that? A guide to the birds of Australia. Angus & Robertson. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/251259#page/9/mode/1up.

Chisholm, A.H. (1979, 2006). Cayley, Neville William (1886-1950). Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/cayley-neville-william-5540/text9439.

Chisholm, A.H. (1966, 2006). Gould, John (1804-1881). Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/gould-john-2113/text2667.

Chisholm, A.H. (1979, 2006). Gould, Elizabeth (1804–1841). Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/gould-elizabeth-2112/text2665.

Egg Collecting. (1936, January 4). Nepean Times (Penrith, NSW : 1882 - 1962), p. 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article101062709.

Kass, Dorothy. (2017). Gould League of Bird Lovers. Dictionary of Educational History in Australia and New Zealand (DEHANZ). https://dehanz.net.au/entries/gould-league-of-bird-lovers/.

Main, Douglas. (2021, May 17). How many birds are there in the world? New research estimates that there are between 50 billion and 430 billion birds on Earth. National Geographic.https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/how-many-birds-are-there-in-the-world-science-estimates.

NSW Schoolhouse Museum of Public Education. (n.d.). Gould League of Bird Lovers of New South Wales membership. NSW Schoolhouse Museum of Public Education. https://www.schoolhousemuseum.org.au/collection/collection-stories/gould-league-membership-cards/.

Research Library. (2021, April 16). John Gould and his contribution to science. Australian Museum. https://australian.museum/learn/collections/museum-archives-library/john-gould/gould-and-his-contribution-to-science/.

Research Library. Stephens, Matthew. (2021, January 14). John Gould in Australia. Australian Museum. https://australian.museum/learn/collections/museum-archives-library/john-gould/gould-in-the-field/.

Research Library. Stephens, Matthew. (2021, February 12). John Gould the artist. Australian Museum. https://australian.museum/learn/collections/museum-archives-library/john-gould/gould-the-artist/.

Twyman, Anette. (2021, July 6). Birds of a Feather. National Portrait Gallery. https://www.portrait.gov.au/magazines/65/birds-of-a-feather.

Victorian Collections. (2018, January 9). Victorians & Native Birds: An evolving relationship. Victorian Collections, https://victoriancollections.net.au/stories/victorians-native-birds-an-evolving-relationship.

Copyright and licenses

Bird images in digital asset

Cropped image of a Bar-Tailed Godwit. John Gould, Elizabeth Gould, Edward Lear, The Birds of Europe, IV, 1837. Plate 306. Original Image from Biodiversity Heritage Library. Contributed by Smithsonian Libraries. | www.biodiversitylibrary.org. Public Domain. (https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42174043) 

Cropped image of an Arctic Tern. John Gould, Elizabeth Gould, Edward Lear, The Birds of Europe, V, 1837. Plate 419. Original Image from Biodiversity Heritage Library. Contributed by Smithsonian Libraries. | www.biodiversitylibrary.org. Public Domain. (https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42358579)  

Cropped image of a Barn Swallow. John Gould, Elizabeth Gould, Edward Lear, The Birds of Europe, II, 1837. Plate 54. Original Image from Biodiversity Heritage Library. Contributed by Smithsonian Libraries. | www.biodiversitylibrary.org. Public Domain. (https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42173401)  

Cropped image of a Peregrine Falcon. John Gould, Elizabeth Gould, Edward Lear, The Birds of Europe, I, 1837. Plate 21. Original Image from Biodiversity Heritage Library. Contributed by Smithsonian Libraries. | www.biodiversitylibrary.org. Public Domain. (https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42174323)  

Cropped image of a Common Kingfisher. John Gould, Elizabeth Gould, Edward Lear, The Birds of Europe, II, 1837. Plate 61. Original Image from Biodiversity Heritage Library. Contributed by Smithsonian Libraries. | www.biodiversitylibrary.org. Public Domain. (https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42173375)  

Cropped image of a Northern Lapwing. John Gould, Elizabeth Gould, Edward Lear, The Birds of Europe, IV, 1837. Plate 291. Original Image from Biodiversity Heritage Library. Contributed by Smithsonian Libraries. | www.biodiversitylibrary.org. Public Domain. (https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42173983)  

Cropped image of a Northern Shoveler. John Gould, Elizabeth Gould, Edward Lear, The Birds of Europe, V, 1837. Plate 360. Original Image from Biodiversity Heritage Library. Contributed by Smithsonian Libraries. | www.biodiversitylibrary.org. Public Domain. (https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42358344)  

Cropped image of a Great White Egret. John Gould, Elizabeth Gould, Edward Lear, The Birds of Europe, IV, 1837. Plate 276. Original Image from Biodiversity Heritage Library. Contributed by Smithsonian Libraries. | www.biodiversitylibrary.org. Public Domain. (https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42173923)  

Cropped image of a Barn Owl. John Gould, Elizabeth Gould, Edward Lear, The Birds of Europe, I, 1837. Plate 36. Original Image from Biodiversity Heritage Library. Contributed by Smithsonian Libraries. | www.biodiversitylibrary.org. Public Domain. (https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42174383)  

Cropped image of a Superb Lyrebird. John Gould, Elizabeth Gould, Henry Constantine Richter, The Birds of Australia, III, 1848. Plate 14. Original Image from Biodiversity Heritage Library. Contributed by Smithsonian Libraries. | www.biodiversitylibrary.org. Public Domain. (https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/48285735)  

Bird sounds

xeno-canto

Arctic Tern - Sterna paradisaea, Lars Edenius, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica, Lars Edenius, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Bar-tailed Godwit - Limosa lapponica, Lars Edenius CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Common Kingfisher - Alcedo atthis, Recordfield Concept, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Great Egret - Ardea alba, Marco Dragonetti, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Northern Lapwing - Vanellus vanellus, Oliver SWIFT, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Northern Shoveler - Spatula clypeata, Simon Elliott, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Peregrine Falcon - Falco peregrinus, Lars Edenius, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Superb Lyrebird - Menura novaehollandiae, Vicki Powys, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

XC771408 - Western Barn Owl - Tyto alba, Dominique Guillerme, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Images in quiz

Northern Lapwing Display Behaviour by creativenature.nl via Adobe Stock.

A superb lyrebird, Menura novaehollandiae, Victoria, Australia by Rixie via Adobe Stock.

Magnificent Barn Owl perched on a stump in the forest (Tyto alba) by Monikasurzin via Adobe Stock.

Great white egret landing by Jérôme Bouche via Adobe Stock.

Resources

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John Gould

The Gould League of Bird Lovers of New South Wales

Over a century ago, people were stealing eggs – straight from birds' nests! To help protect birds and their nests the Gould League of Bird Lovers was founded in Australia in 1909. Although people aren't stealing eggs as often today, there are many other things that threaten birds and their habitats. How would you protect them?

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Making the environment matterMaking the environment matter
The Gould League of Bird Lovers of New South WalesThe Gould League of Bird Lovers of New South Wales