Protected Toowoomba bushland area Redwood Park reaches special milestone

Now birdwatchers and environmentalists are encouraging the public to explore a protected piece of the Toowoomba escarpment, which has reached a special milestone.

Pat McConnell, standing at Redwood Park, has urged more residents to get into birdwatching at the protected bushland.

Bushwalkers and birdwatchers have urged residents to get out and explore the natural wonder of Redwood Park, which celebrates a special milestone in 2021.

The delicate ecosystem on the Toowoomba escarpment gained protection under the Animals and Birds Act of 1921, and a century later bird watchers are still enjoying the birds and walks offered by the park.

Toowoomba Bird Observers’ Pat McConnell said Redwood Park was a home for an ever-growing collection of birds, many of which have only recently been sighted.

“In 1995 bird records from Redwood Park were collated and a book called The Birds of Redwood Park Toowoomba was written,” he said.

“The book contained records of 145 species of bird that had been seen in the park, and since then an additional 13 species have been added, taking the total species to 158.

“Included in these records are the vulnerable Black-breasted Button-Quail and the Powerful Owl.

“The Black-breasted Button-Quail was originally located in the park in September 1955 by Henry Nix.

“It was not until 1993 that is was again sighted in the park.”

Since then, the quails have been spotted breeding in Redwood Park, an exciting development for Toowoomba’s conservationist movement.