*Field trips start from Federation University, cnr Gillies and Gregory Streets, Ballarat, at 9.30 am sharp on the Saturday or Sunday following meeting unless otherwise nominated.
Contact the Club Secretary for latest details if not at the Friday night meeting: ballaratfnc@gmail.com or 0408 353 671
It is club policy that excursions are cancelled if the day is declared a Total Fire Ban day in the Central Region or the Region we are visiting.
2024 Calendar of Events
Field Naturalists’ Club of Ballarat plans field trips and face-to-face club meetings many months in advance and they may change. Meetings are usually available to view via Zoom if you contact the Secretary for the link. They are not recorded.
Please direct any meeting enquiries to our secretary Emily ballaratfnc@gmail.com
Excursion details are usually clarified at the Friday night club meeting prior to the event. Some excursions have maximum numbers and need to be organised some weeks before the date and some dates are yet to be finalised.
| Date | Topic |
|---|---|
| 2 February | Estuaries of South-western Victoria – Dr John Sherwood, Deakin Uni |
| 4 February | Estuaries of Merri & Hopkins Rivers, Warrnambool |
| 1 March | Deep in the Flinders Ranges – Marilyn Hewish |
| 3 March | Long Forest NCR |
| 5 April | Member’s Images – Wilderness |
| 7 April | Ditchfield Lane, Brown Hill, Gong Gong Reservoir, Lofven St Nerrina in afternoon |
| 3 May | The BHL: Capturing the history of Victoria’s Field Naturalists Clubs – Nicole Kearney, Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL) |
| 5 May | La Gerche Trail walk and working bee |
| 7 June | Slime Moulds at Black Sugarloaf – Sarah Lloyd OAM, FungiMap Inc. |
| June | Fungi- location to be advised |
| 5 July | 80 years of bird photography – 80 years of bird photography |
| July | Mt Cole/ Mt Buangor wildfire regeneration |
| 2 August | Orchids of the Ballarat region -Convener, U3A Orchid Group |
| 4 August | Winter-flowering orchids. Location TBC |
| 6 September | The Moorabool River – Cameron Steele, People for A Living Moorabool (PALM) |
| 7 September | Lake Corangamite region, part 2 |
| 4 October | Parks Victoria priorities and activities in the region – Siobhan Rogan, Parks Victoria |
| October | Wombat Forest – TBC |
| 1 November | Nature journalling – Stella Bedggood Memorial Lecture: Jane Rusden |
| 3 November | Bushfire regeneration in Ross Creek State Forest, ‘Stringybark’ moths |
| 6 December | More inspiring stories from the FNCB’s illustrious past – Susan Kruss, Federation University |
| 8 December | Christmas break-up, Clarkesdale Bird Sanctuary |
| 2025 | |
| 7 February | 40 years of BirdLife Ballarat – Amanda Ashton, BirdLife Ballarat |
| 9 February | Birds of Western Treatment Plant (departs 8.30am and booking is required) |
| 7 March | Member’s Images: Natural jewels of the Australian desert – AGM & Club Meeting: Members |
| 9 March | Geological Theme – TBC |
The Field Naturalist Ballarat 
Do you have any family friendly events
thank you for your enquiry. I think we would classify just about all our field trips as family friendly events.
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I know that it is difficult to “know” but could you please indicate when you think your next Friday evening meeting will be, or your exploration schedule. Think that the FieldNats outings are going to be more my style than the twitchers.
Hi, I am interested in joining the Field Naturalists Club and was wondering if the 2022 activities plan has been completed. If I turned up to the next meeting to see what transpires, would that be on Friday 3rd of June?
Could you please give me some info on fees as well as any other information I might need. This might include how acceptance is approved. I am very interested in the natural world, my home is situated amongst many eucalyptus trees of different varieties which shelter possums, birds, insects and other native plant species. I contribute to Greenpeace, WWF and other environmental causes, as I feel the environmental state of the planet is of the utmost importance. I would love to contribute more through your activities. Thanks, Chris Ellis.
June Friday 3rd Club meeting 7.30 pm via Zoom. Members will receive a link a few days prior. Our own fungi expert Les Hanrahan is presenting on Fungi.
Sunday 5th Excursion. Les Hanrahan will lead an excursion focussed on fungi. Destination to be determined.
if this field trips come with zoom i like to join in 7th of July event
Field trips are excursions to places in the bush outside town, so Zoom attendance is not possible.
[Club Meetings on the first Friday evening each month are held indoors and usually available on Zoom]