Caring for our Key Biodiversity Areas: new on ground works program
Posted on 1 November, 2017 by Tanya Loos
A Diamond Firetail, photo by Geoff Park
Connecting Country has been granted funding for a new on ground works project called ‘Caring for Key Biodiversity Areas in Central Victoria’. The special bird habitats of Clydesdale and Sandon are designated as Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) by BirdLife International and BirdLife Australia. The trigger species for these areas are the Diamond Firetail, Swift Parrot and Flame Robin.
The project is funded by the Victorian Government – Community and Volunteer Action Grants. In a nutshell, the project has three main components:
- Care and protection of native vegetation on private land, including actions such as supplementary revegetation, weed control and rabbit control. These actions will help enhance habitat for the trigger species for the Diamond Firetail, Swift Parrot and Flame Robin.
- Creation and installation of two attractive interpretative signs at popular parts of the Key Biodiversity areas, such as Rise and Shine Bushland Reserve, and Muckleford Nature Conservation Reserve.
- Two community events in 2018, such as a bird walk and sign launch!
The participating landholders have been contacted, and site visits will begin in early 2018.
Earlier this year, Connecting Country held a workshop in partnership with BirdLife Australia, to recruit bird survey volunteers known as ‘KBA guardians’ and provide training in how to complete an annual ‘Easter Heath Check’ form. You can read about that workshop here.
Diamond Firetails are declining in our region. Photo by Geoff Park
We are thrilled that this workshop generated the interest and the impetus for this grant.
There is also a very keen new group, coordinated by Friends of Muckleford Forest, which involves volunteers surveying 15 sites across the Muckleford KBA. These surveys are in preparation for the 2018 Easter Health Check. To read about Friends’ project, or volunteer, see the Friends website here.
- Learn about Key Biodiversity Areas by visiting the BirdLife Australia website: birdlife.org.au/KBA
Welcome Frances! It appears as though you will fit right in. I’m looking forward to meeting you! Sue.
Great work! Thank you for all this information. I have a family of flame robins living around me in Green Gully. I am also sure I have the diamond firetail in my garden area. I would love to see a picture of the swift parrot for identification.
My suggestion to add to this wonderful newsletter is, where possible, include photos of all the birds mentioned
Cheers Diane
Thanks Diane for your kind comments – and what a good point to make! I will do that in future. With the Swift Parrot – they look very much like other green lorikeets in the district – except they have a long rusty-red tail. For some great pics, head to Geoff Park’s blog Natural Newstead and type swift parrot in the search area on the right hand side. 🙂
Fantastic!
Well done team.
Cheers
Jill Teschendorff
Thank you Jill!