Adelaide Hills EcoVineyards event

National EcoVineyards Program: Birds, snails, vineyard walk and EcoGrower updates

Join agroecologist/viticulturist Dr Mary Retallack, Retallack Viticulture Pty Ltd and Regional On-ground Coordinator, Janet Klein who will host a National EcoVineyards birds, snails, vineyard walk and EcoGrower updates event.

We are delighted to welcome our special guest presenters:

• Ian Falkenberg, Bird expert: Birds in vineyards
• Dr Michael Nash, The University of Adelaide: Snail control in vineyards
• Simon Tolley, Simon Tolley Wines: Vineyard walk to discuss native grass establishment

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📆 Date and time: 9am to 1.00pm, Tuesday 20 May 2025

📍 Location: Simon Tolley Wines, 278 Bird in Hand Rd, Woodside

🍱 Food provided: Morning tea and lunch provided

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Schedule

• 9 to 9.15 am: Registration, tea/coffee and foot baths

• 9.15 to 9.30 am: Mary Retallack, Retallack Viticulture: Introduction

• 9.30 to 9.45 am: Janet Klein, Regional update and re-bird the ranges

• 9.45 to 10.30 am: Ian Falkenberg: Understanding the ecological roles of birds in vineyards

• 10.30 to 11 am: Morning tea

• 11 to 11.45 am: Dr Michael Nash, The University of Adelaide: Integrated snail control in vineyards

• 11:45 am to 12:15 pm: Mary Retallack, Retallack Viticulture: EcoVineyards updates and new resources

Foot bath and field walk

• 12.15 to 1 pm: EcoGrower updates and vineyard walk to discuss native grass establishment

• 1 pm: Lunch

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Dr Mary Retallack, Retallack Viticulture Pty Ltd, National EcoVineyards Program Manager

Mary is an agroecologist/viticulturist with 30 years of practical experience within Australia and overseas. She manages the National EcoVineyards Program and will be your host for each event along with the local Regional On-ground Coordinator (ROC).

Janet Klein, Regional On-ground Coordinator (ROC)

Janet Klein is a viticulturist and biodiversity conservationist who has spent the last 20 years dedicated to sustainable wine growing and landscape regeneration. Janet holds various positions representing sustainable viticulture and biodiversity conservation. Janet is your local EcoVineyards contact person.

Ian Falkenberg

Ian is currently the Chairperson of BirdLife Australia’s Gluepot Reserve Management Committee and has been an active member of the Reserve for over two decades. He also serves as the State Representative for BirdLife Australia’s Raptor Group.

Before retiring in 2019 from the Department for Environment and Water, Ian spent five years as Operations Manager for the establishment of the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary National Park, which aims to protect migratory shorebird habitats.

Ian has a strong interest in bird ecology that spans over 40 years. His specific interest in raptors has led him to conduct various field studies, including banding raptors, researching their population ecology, studying the impact of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease on raptor reproductive success in the Strzelecki Desert, and investigating organochlorine pesticide contamination in populations of Peregrine Falcons, White-bellied Sea-eagles, and Ospreys, as well as their prey in South Australia.

More recently, Ian has taken on the role of coordinator for the Recovery Project for Eastern Ospreys in South Australia. He is an active member of both the Recovery Team for the Eastern Osprey and the White-bellied Sea Eagle, and he is involved in a satellite tracking project for Eastern Ospreys and Wedge-tailed Eagles.

Dr Michael Nash, The University of Adelaide

Dr Michael Nash grew up on the family farm located in Western Victoria. An applied invertebrate ecologist, Michael works as an independent consultant affiliated with La Trobe University and University of Adelaide. Michael is widely accepted as a leader in the study of the biology, ecology and control of Mollusca in Australia.

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Who should attend?

This seminar and field event is recommended to wine growers who would like to find out more about integrated snail control in vineyards, understanding the ecological roles of birds in vineyards and growing resilience in production systems.

Come along and find out more!

We have developed a suite of best practice management guides on soil health, ground covers and functional biodiversity in Australian vineyards and a link will be made available at the events.

Register

If you would like to attend this FREE event, please register via the National EcoVineyards Program Eventbrite page, and include any dietary requirements.

Please dress appropriately for the weather, wear suitable footwear for the biosecurity foot bath and bring a torch.

Solicitation

If your primary reason for attending this event is to solicit business, we would respectfully request that this this is not the appropriate forum for this activity.

More information

For more information, contact Nikki Zorzi, Retallack Viticulture Pty Ltd and National EcoVineyards Program, Executive Assistant at admin@ecovineyards.com.au or ‭0422 290 967‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬.

Acknowledgements

The national EcoVineyards program is funded by Wine Australia with levies from Australia’s grape growers and winemakers and matching funds from the Australian Government. The program is delivered by Retallack Viticulture Pty Ltd with significant support from regional communities.