The two-day event, organised by Birdlife Australia and the Department of Environment and Primary Industries, is focused on the conservation of birds and their coastal habitats. 

The conference, which is now in its fourth year, will begin in Warrnambool’s Lighthouse Theatre on Friday before moving its base to Port Fairy Consolidated School on Saturday.

Friday’s program includes presentations on hooded plovers, the impacts of pipi harvesting, coastal management plans and shorebird campaigns.

Port Fairy will host workshop sessions, a barbecue lunch and afternoon field trips to locations such as Griffiths Island, Tower Hill and The Cutting in Killarney.

The workshops will cover a diverse range of subjects including bird photography, shorebird identification, and training to monitor beach nesting birds.