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TILDE: Understanding Myself as an Amphibian (SOLD OUT)

Name: TILDE: Understanding Myself as an Amphibian
Start: 2026-05-03T14:00:00+10:00
End: 2026-05-03T14:00:00+10:00
Location: Eclipse Cinema

About

Join us and the Melbourne Queer Birders Collective for the world premiere of Canadian filmmaker May Matchim’s sweet and hopeful documentary Understanding Myself as an Amphibian. Celebrate how transness connects with Country, queer spaces, and the joy of nature, featuring giant squids, lesbian albatrosses, and green frogs.

Bird with us, then head to Eclipse Cinema for the film and two shorts on whenua: Herekore (Hariata Wilson’s poetry) and Foreign Bodies (animation by UK director Lysander Wong).

FILM SCREENING - 2PM at Eclipse Cinema
70 mins Unclassified 15+

BIRDING 10:30am - Studley Park
Grab a birding + film ticket to reserve a spot.

BIRDING INFO/MESSAGE:

Hello queer angels,

Melbourne Queer Birders' Collective is excited to be linking up with TILDE to run an introductory bird walk prior to the screening of May Matchim's fabulous film Understanding Myself As An Amphibian. All levels of experience and enthusiasm are welcome - it's just nice to be outdoors together and connecting with nature in community!

When and where:

We will be meeting at Studley Park (part of Yarra Bend Park) at 10:30 am near the picnic and BBQ stand directly adjacent to the Studley Park Boathouse carpark on Boathouse Rd (here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/EpBnprG5aEMLtTYeA). We will do a brief round of introductions and Acknowledgment of Country at this location and then depart as a group. There is public transport to Studley Park via the 200, 207 and 241 buses, or alternatively you can walk 1.5 km east from Victoria Park train station. These same routes will take you back to Collingwood in the vicinity of Eclipse Cinema, which is also accessible on foot from Studley Park if anyone feels like walking all the way back! If you're driving, please make sure you park at the Boathouse Rd carpark (or somewhere else nearby) and not in another area of Yarra Bend Park far from the meeting point (don't park at Dights Falls!). We expect to finish at 12 pm, which will give everyone plenty of time to have a lunch break before we reconvene at the cinema at 2 pm.

If there is severe weather expected for the day, we will advise of changes or cancellations closer to the date, so keep an eye out for any announcements if heavy rain or strong winds are on the forecast.

What will we see?

Yarra Bend Park is an inner urban environment home to lots of familiar birds, like Pied Currawongs, Noisy Miners, and the families of Pacific Black Ducks and Australian Wood Ducks that hang out near the boathouse. The gorgeous Eastern Rosella and Red-rumped Parrot are often seen in the River Red Gums along the Birrarung / Yarra River and on the sports oval nearby, while the bushland loop trail we will walk along is home to some smaller bush birds like Brown Thornbills, Grey Fantails, Superb Fairy-wrens and White-browed Scrubwrens. The beautiful song of Grey Butcherbirds, resilient urban birds that are often mistaken for magpies, is a common refrain in the remnant bushland here. The number of species here is fairly low, so we can focus on connecting to the landscape and savouring each sighting rather than chaotically chasing after twenty different birds at the same time.

Accessibility:

This walk loop is accessible for wheelchair users and we will be departing from the public carpark immediately next to the trail. However, please note that the walking trail is unpaved and may be gritty or uneven in places. There is a small (but gentle) incline at the start and end of the loop, but this is a short walk requiring only a basic level of physical fitness.

Bathroom facilities:

The Studley Park Public Toilets are accessible from the carpark and include one accessible unisex cubicle in addition to standard facilities.

What to bring:

Binoculars and/or a camera if you have them (highly recommended!), sun protection (highly recommended), snacks and a water bottle. While this is a short and straightforward walk, please wear comfortable footwear!