Cranespotting: Billie Gill, birding pioneer

Women birders in this country don’t get enough recognition. This article helps redress that neglect by honouring one of Australia’s greatest woman birders, Billie Gill (1923-2015). She was one of a trio of birdwatchers who, on the Normanton floodplains on a steamy October morning in 1966, realised that the Brolga-like birds in front of them were not Brolgas at all. Thus the Sarus Crane was added to the Australian list. She became so renowned for her birding expertise that her home in Innisfail, north Queensland, became a mecca for visiting birders, local and international. Her conservation efforts extended beyond birds, into, among others, the save the reef campaigns of the 1960s and 70s. All this and much more were achieved while Billie was busy raising her eight children, making ends meet, and caring for her husband who was in poor health from his war service. Her life and achievements deserve to be honoured and doing so will help raise the profile of women birders more generally.

Australian Birdlife

Australian Birdlife

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2200-0127

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