Friends of Big Swamp (FoBS) is a friendly and welcoming community volunteer group, caring for a valuable urban wetland.

FoBS has been working with the City of Bunbury to improve water quality and the habitat through weed control, rubbish collection, planting and busy-bee activities.  Friends of Big Swamp Inc. aims:
​

• To protect, conserve, understand and enhance the Big Swamp habitat,
• To support the City of Bunbury in the development, implementation and review of a plan for Big Swamp,
• To foster community awareness and education about the environmental values of Big Swamp.

 
Friends of Big Swamp is led by an active committee who help to plan and coordinate activities.  The good work of FoBS is achieved by many willing volunteers, both members of FoBS and occasional volunteers.

ACTIVITIES

ci
Friends of Big Swamp is led by an active committee of volunteers who plan and coordinate activities in partnership with the City of Bunbury.   
 Regular activities are the monthly busy-bees and bird counts.  The annual program can be found on the Calendar page.  New volunteers are always welcome. Please see our Contact page and email us to find out more or to join.

contact

HISTORY

The Friends of Big Swamp was formed in 1993 when a group of local people became concerned about changes happening at Big Swamp and met to discuss how they could contribute in a positive and productive way.  Since then, many beneficial projects have been completed.  The type of work has included:

• Bird counting (monthly) and collation of data for research or reporting.
• Busy-bee mornings held each month.
• Clean-up days and rubbish removal including Clean Up Australia Day.
• Community engagement including school group excursions and projects.
• Council liaison and active ongoing participation in relevant Committees and Council planning and management of the habitat.
• Green Reserve Projects completed through Conservation Volunteers Australia including extensive tree planting.
• Participation in training and workshops toward practical skills, flora and fauna identification and contributing to understanding water patterns and the habitat.
• Planting projects that have extensively improved and beautified the habitat.
• Seed collection and local species propagation and planting.
• Water monitoring and the completion of a climate impact water study and forecast.
• Weeding, trimming and selective removal of intrusive flora species.

​The Friends of Big Swamp logo

The Friends of Big Swamp logo was designed by Sue Kaleb, Nature Artist, in the mid 1990s when the group first formed.
​
The featured bird is a Great Egret, the largest of the Australian egrets, distinguished by the fact that its neck is about one and a half times the length of its body.  This wading bird usually feeds alone in shallow water by stabbing at prey with its long beak.  It eats fish, molluscs, crustaceans, frogs and insects.
 
Sue, a keen birdwatcher, has recorded bird sightings at Big Swamp for many years and is convenor of the Bunbury Branch of Birdlife Australia.  Sue has exhibited her delicate water colour paintings in Bunbury and elsewhere.  For more information see www.suekaleb.com or www.facebook.com/suekalebartist