30 Birds Species and More Citizen COP Fun to Come!
Canberra's first Citizen COP bird walk was a cracker this morning! We spent two hours exploring the eastern edge of Mt Ainslie Nature Reserve on Ngunnawal Country, and identified an impressive 30 different bird species. Some of the favourites were a Sacred Kingfisher, an adorable little Mistletoebird and the White-winged triller.
It was a beautiful morning to slow down, connect with Nature and each other, and appreciate the extraordinary biodiversity we have right in the middle of the Bush Capital. As a lifelong birder and former Australian Threatened Species Commissioner, sharing my love of birds and Country is one of my favourite things to do. And it's also a reminder of why protecting Nature matters so much.
The walk was part of Citizen COP Australia 2026, a nationwide, citizen-led initiative organised by People for Nature alongside the global biodiversity and climate negotiations. Through Lyrebird Dreaming, I'm delighted to be helping bring Citizen COP to Canberra.
And there's plenty more to come!
🎬 NATURE – The Call for Reconciliation | 11 November
On Wednesday 11 November, I'll be MCing a special screening of NATURE - The Call for Reconciliation at the National Library of Australia. Created by internationally acclaimed French filmmaker Yann Arthus-Bertrand, this extraordinary documentary uses breathtaking imagery to explore humanity's relationship with the natural world and the urgent need to reconcile with the planet.
It's a powerful message about climate change, biodiversity loss and hope for the future.
Registrations are limited and filling fast, so please book soon if you'd like to join us.
📅 Wednesday 11 November, 6–8:30pm📍 National Library of Australia, Canberra
🐕 Dogs for Climate Walk | 14 November
Then, on Saturday 14 November, it's time for Canberra's dogs (and their humans!) to take centre stage! My dog Fred and I are hosting a Dogs for Climate Walk between the two bridges on Lake Burley Griffin, bringing people together for a fun, family-friendly celebration of our love for animals, nature and climate action.
There's a serious message behind the fun. We love our pets enormously and go to extraordinary lengths to care for them. But how do we extend that same love and concern to our native wildlife, threatened species and the ecosystems on which we all depend. That's what Dogs for Climate is about. We'll walk together, celebrate our four-legged friends and send a positive message about protecting the planet we all share.
📅 Saturday 14 November, 10am–12pm📍 Meet at The Knot, National Gallery of Australia, beside Lake Burley Griffin🐾 FREE! Dogs on leads, please. And unlike the bird walks, there's no limit on numbers. I want to make this one BIG!
Help spread the word!
Citizen COP is about turning global conversations into local action. It's about bringing people together, reconnecting with Nature and demonstrating that ordinary citizens care deeply about the future of our planet.
You can help even if you can't attend. Please share these events with your friends, family, colleagues and networks. Especially the Dogs for Climate Walk! Share it with dog lovers, community groups, vets, dog walkers and anyone who might enjoy a morning out for a good cause.
And if you're not in Canberra, there are heaps of other Citizen COP events around Australia, including many fantastic online opportunities. Explore the national Citizen COP program. Let's turn our love for nature into action. And have some fun along the way!
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