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Jacob Publishes His First Bird Field Guide

Animals· Birds· Nature Study· Resources· Uncategorized

1 Oct

Jacob is an inspiring young man on a mission. He’s taken his passion for photography and created a Bird Field Guide for his local Bushland, Cussen Park. Jacob has also launched his new website, Digital Journey Photography. I hope his story inspires many young people to go out and do likewise. Here’s his story…

Jacob on Launch Day

My adventure this month is actually a combination of many adventures.  I recently launched a book called “Birds Of Cussen Park,” which I produced with Mum.  Cussen Park is a bushland style park comprising 33 hectares of wetlands, woodlands and an open area located on the northern outskirts of Tatura in Northern Victoria.

Earlier this year, I said to Mum that I’d like to publish a field guide with all the birds of Cussen Park.  We visit the park often and I love to photograph the birds that visit when we are there.  Due to costs and the large number of birds which are known to frequent Cussen Park, but don’t visit regularly, it wasn’t possible to produce a large field guide. We then looked at other options and decided upon a booklet format, which included a Bird Directory of 30 photos and scientific descriptions of birds that visit the park.  There is also a checklist of all the birds that have been sighted in the back of the book which can be used to record your own sightings and a page for your own field notes.

Not all the bird photos in the book were taken at Cussen Park, because it is often difficult to get close enough or it is not their visiting season, so that is why the book is a combination of many adventures.  Earlier this year we travelled for four weeks around parts of South Australia, NSW and Queensland and with different climates I was able to get many photos of birds then.  Sometimes when we were travelling places from home, I would see a bird and ask Mum to stop the car so I could photograph it.  There is also another great place about 20km away from our home called Doctors Swamp, which I love to visit for great photos.

The Cussen Park Committee of Management supported the book also and came along to the launch to help promote it.  We invited people from organisations who we have met over the last few years when Mum and I have attended activities they organise.  These people have really supported and encouraged me with my learning and photography.  We also invited family and friends who have encouraged me also.

We have attended a couple of local Birdlife group outings recently and one of the members from the group fact checked all the information before it was ready for publication.

Producing this book was a project that used most areas of the curriculum and I learnt a lot because it’s something I really enjoy and am interested in.  The thing I enjoyed most about putting the book together was seeing all of the birds. My older brother has been helping us to set up a website called Digital Journey Photography which has a selection of my photographs available for sale as a download and we are adding new ones all of the time.  Mum and Dad are helping me to set up a career in photography, because photography is my passion.

The book was printed locally in Tatura and several local outlets are distributing it.  It is free, due to a donation and we are already getting a re-print due to its popularity.  A download of the book will be available soon from the Cussen Park Website.

Drop in and visit Jacob on his website. Let’s cheer him on!

 

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About Marie

Homeschooling is a gentle amble for me since four of my five children have graduated. I share my joy with things beautiful, good and lovely with my grandchildren where I live contently with hubby in rural South Australia.

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Comments

  1. Jane says

    October 12, 2018 at 10:24 am

    What a great job you are doing Jacob. All yhe best photographing birds and with a career in nature photography.
    Jane

    Reply
  2. nat.gunawan says

    January 29, 2019 at 6:41 pm

    Jacob is such a great inspiration! Well done and I look forward to following yours and your family’s journey!

    Reply
  3. Khadeejah Anderson says

    February 4, 2019 at 10:16 pm

    Hi Jacob and his Mum,
    How wonderful to read about your exciting journey in your study of birds. I’m looking forward to reading the booklet. The study of nature gives a true appreciation for the gift of life.
    Onwards and Upwards!
    Kind Regards
    Khadeejah Anderson

    Reply

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Hey Explorer

We have outdoor expeditions to undertake and adventures to embark upon. We’ll explore the outdoors together, side by side, and uncover miraculous mysteries, and secrets. We’ll wander, and wonder in amazement as we become familiar with the Australian fauna and flora.

I desire to come alongside you in the muddle, making nature study the joy it’s meant to be.  Outdoor adventures will become a regular part of your life as you make connections to the natural world with a sense of awe.

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We began our homeschool journey this year keen to explore all that nature study entails. I had searched the web for weeks to research what we would use as our framework. I cannot describe the elation I felt when I came across an AUSTRALIAN nature study guide! Marie has done all the hard work and put together a wonderfully elaborate resource for all ages. You can dip your toe in or dive right into all the ideas and links. There’s so much here we could spend all week doing nature study, and often we do.
Nature Study Australia
2018-05-25T15:53:11+10:30
We began our homeschool journey this year keen to explore all that nature study entails. I had searched the web for weeks to research what we would use as our framework. I cannot describe the elation I felt when I came across an AUSTRALIAN nature study guide! Marie has done all the hard work and put together a wonderfully elaborate resource for all ages. You can dip your toe in or dive right into all the ideas and links. There’s so much here we could spend all week doing nature study, and often we do.
https://naturestudyaustralia.com.au/testimonials/rachel/

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Nature Study Australia
2018-05-25T15:52:01+10:30
Absolutely love the activity books my whole family can learn together and it’s Australia based. Highly recommend
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I totally enjoy using the Nature study guide. The children enjoy learning about the different animals and plants.
Nature Study Australia
2018-05-25T15:51:39+10:30
I totally enjoy using the Nature study guide. The children enjoy learning about the different animals and plants.
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We didn’t find out about the program until about half way through term, so we played catch up most of the time. I love how open ended the lessons are, but with enough structure to work well for those children needing such a program. We have been able to cover much of the required curriculum whilst enjoying the activities we love. Your program has been such a blessing to us, because we needed a change to our homeschooling lessons which would still cover curriculum, but would enable us to relax and enjoy “school” together. Thank you.
Nature Study Australia
2018-05-25T15:50:47+10:30
We didn’t find out about the program until about half way through term, so we played catch up most of the time. I love how open ended the lessons are, but with enough structure to work well for those children needing such a program. We have been able to cover much of the required curriculum whilst enjoying the activities we love. Your program has been such a blessing to us, because we needed a change to our homeschooling lessons which would still cover curriculum, but would enable us to relax and enjoy “school” together. Thank you.
https://naturestudyaustralia.com.au/testimonials/cheryl/

Sally

We have really enjoyed the program this term. We have gotten outside more often and the children are definitely taking more notice of things when we are out. Having a place to share what we have done and seen has been an encouragement to keep it up. I sometimes felt like we could spend longer on some topics as they were so interesting but that is probably just my obsessive "we must cover everything now" problem. 
Nature Study Australia
2018-05-25T15:48:30+10:30
We have really enjoyed the program this term. We have gotten outside more often and the children are definitely taking more notice of things when we are out. Having a place to share what we have done and seen has been an encouragement to keep it up. I sometimes felt like we could spend longer on some topics as they were so interesting but that is probably just my obsessive "we must cover everything now" problem. 
https://naturestudyaustralia.com.au/testimonials/sally/

Jessie

I looked high and low online for an Australian nature based curriculum and when I found Australian Nature study Guide on Instagram I was so excited to have finally found something that my family can relate to. My favourite thing about this guide is that Marie is so hands on and involved with her customers. I have never felt alone in the journey, she is there to guide and encourage us every step of the way in the Facebook group. Thanks Marie for welcoming us to your nature study family 🙂
Nature Study Australia
2018-05-25T15:52:36+10:30
I looked high and low online for an Australian nature based curriculum and when I found Australian Nature study Guide on Instagram I was so excited to have finally found something that my family can relate to. My favourite thing about this guide is that Marie is so hands on and involved with her customers. I have never felt alone in the journey, she is there to guide and encourage us every step of the way in the Facebook group. Thanks Marie for welcoming us to your nature study family 🙂
https://naturestudyaustralia.com.au/testimonials/jessie/
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