When nature and culture meet

Posted on 16 September, 2015 by Connecting Country

Lauren Cogo in action fencing with the Connecting Country Works Crew

Working out in the field everyday gives Connecting Country’s Works Crew a unique opportunity to experience Mount Alexander Region’s nature at its best. Crew member, Lauren Cogo shares some of her recent discoveries…

“The cultural landscape we live in harbours natural secrets that have survived despite some tough and testing times. All of our developed infrastructure, our cleared lands and the creation of our homes have sadly displaced some native flora and fauna that call our region home. However, our native birds, reptiles and mammals often find way to coincide with our cultural influences on nature throughout time.

On a local scale, we can see changes that the native fauna is becoming adapting to these modifications to their home. As a works crew member I have witnessed these changes, throughout my time working with Connecting Country.

Trees and other flora are a highly valuable means to provide birds with shelter, a reliable food source for insects and hollows for mammals. But what happens when humans interfere, and use them for fence posts?

On one occasion I observed a nocturnal microbat using a timber log fence post as its very own roosting site, wedged in the folds of old hard bark, it flew out just as we were replacing the wire fence. It may have also been using this site for feeding on a range of insects that also live in the timber post, such as spiders, ants and moths. This repurposed timber is still useful in the landscape, despite it not standing proud and tall in its previous natural state.

An Eastern Bearded Dragon found under an old fence post on a Connecting Country works site.

An old fence post, knocked down to be replaced, created the perfect shelter for the Eastern Bearded Dragon, Pogona barbata, currently listed as vulnerable on the Advisory List of Threatened Vertebrate Fauna in Victoria. During late winter, it was in a relaxed hibernation mode, known as torpor, and utilized the old timber post for shelter on the ground. They can also be found using your old tiles to bask on, old corrugated iron sheets to relax under and your large hollow trees for shelter.

On another occasion I spotted an uncommon Yellow- Footed Antechinus, Antechinus flavipes, moving rapidly over fallen timber and leaf litter within the Muckleford Creek and acting as the unlikely hero as it thrives in its threatened Box Ironbark Forest habitat around Central Victoria. Unlike many other Australian mammals, the Antechinus is diurnal so they can be seen using tree hollows and logs for habitat; day or night. They can also use our buildings to nest in, so watch out, you may have some company.

This gives me hope that the changes we’ve made to the landscape won’t stop our native critters from ensuring they have safe habitat to live in and a food source to survive. So whether your out in the paddocks, sitting by a creek or at home, keep an eye out for one of natures secrets, they may just knock on your door.”

By crew member, Lauren Cogo.

Spring brings new opportunities with Connecting Country

Posted on 14 September, 2015 by Connecting Country

As winter comes to an end, so does the planting season for revegetation.

Jarrod Coote checking the growth at one of our direct seeding sites.

It’s been a busy few months for the Connecting Country team, who have been planting and direct seeding indigenous species on private lands around the Mount Alexander Shire. Our work aims to creating better links for wildlife movement between the existing important habitat areas.

This year brought a new team of crew members – Lauren, Ned and Jason. The crew, which turns over each year in order to make the opportunity available to as many local people as possible, have been focused on planting, weed and rabbit control and the installation of protective fencing – while also receiving formal and in-house training in a range of natural resource management techniques.

‘Often the diversity is there in the landscape ready and waiting – we just need to give the seeds a chance. Fenced off land allows not only the trees to establish and grow, but also those bushes and ground herbs and grasses that are such important wildlife habitat’ says Alex Schipperen, team leader of the works crew.

‘The beauty of this program is that we have funding available to partner with landholders and create habitat solutions that suit the landholder, and have great outcomes for biodiversity. Bringing areas of native vegetation onto a property also increases productivity by providing shade and shelter for stock, and increased protection for crops, so it’s a win-win situation.’

With the winter rush over, the team are now starting to plan the next round of projects. Land owners across the region who would like to see if their property is well placed to become part of these projects are encouraged to get in touch with Jarrod, Bonnie or Mel at the Connecting Country office on 5472 1594 or send an email to jarrod@connectingcountry.org.au .

This project has been supported by Connecting Country, through funding from the Australian Government.

Investigating biodiversity and its value across all scales

Posted on 7 September, 2015 by Connecting Country

Steve Williams introduces us to a moth “super-food” – Cassinia.

Did you know that Cassinia is a super-food for native moths? Or that lichens are actually the result of an algae and fungi working symbiotically? Twenty-four eager participants learnt this and so much more at Connecting Country’s Biodiversity in the Paddock workshop on Sunday 30th August 2015.

A huge thank you to landholders Peter Hansen and Sally Roadknight for inviting the Connecting Country team to their beautiful property at the foot of Mt Tarrengower to hear from presenters Cassia Read (on moss and lichens), Steve Williams (on moths) and Karl Just and Gordie Scott-Walker (on native flora).   Geoff Park (from Natural Decisions and Natural Newstead) expertly kept the flow, whilst highlighting the stunning bird life to be found all around in the property.

A farm tour allowed participants to see for themselves the impressive impact of tubestock planting, natural regeneration through removing grazing, and the effects of erosion control on the creek which funnels run-off from Mt. Tarrengower through their property. Gordie provided us with a detailed list of the reptiles and amphibians, and the hundreds of birds and plant species that he has observed on his parents property, reminding everyone of the gains to be had from regenerating land.

The message of the day from all four presenters was the huge value of biodiversity in the paddock, from the mosses and lichens which hold soil together, to the beautiful variety of moths which feed from and live on all kinds of plants – never has Cassinia arcuata (‘coffee bush’) appeared such a fascinating and valuable plant in the landscape.

Click here for more information and resources from this session.

Also, there are a few places remaining for our next workshop on Sunday 13 September on Conservation Fencing – click here for more information.

The education program is supported by Connecting Country through funding from the Australian government.

Our Crew: Working towards the bigger picture

Posted on 2 September, 2015 by Connecting Country

2015 Works Crew from left: Team Leader Alex Schipperen, Lauren Cogo, Jason Burgoyne and Ned Brook

In April, Connecting Country’s 2015 Works Crew commenced. Our team leader, Alex Schipperen has been mentoring three new crew members; Lauren Cogo, Ned Brook and Jason Burgoyne in developing skills in conservation and land management. These skills have seen the crew complete some 730 hectares of work including 20 kilometres of fencing, 5,000 tubestock plantings and 319 hectares of pests and weeds treated across eleven properties in the Mount Alexander Region. We’ve asked Jason to share some of his experiences from his time with the Works Crew…

“While working, the crew loves to talk and our chats brought up the importance of biodiversity. It got me thinking about how the work we have accomplished will contribute to biodiversity in the Mt. Alexander region in the longer term.
Our projects have included fencing off remnant vegetation and creek lines to exclude stock allowing these areas to natural regenerate. The 5,000 indigenous trees and shrubs we’ve planted will provide a framework for other flora and fauna to establish in the future. Finally, through removing rabbits and weeds we are reducing the competition allowing native plants to establish.

Ned and Lauren adjust an end assembly for a fence line

The properties where we’ve worked are carefully selected with the aim of reconnecting the landscape; they link neighbouring properties and other existing vegetation in the surrounding area. This provides corridors and stepping-stones to allow flora and fauna to move throughout the landscape.

Looking back to April, I can visualise how the properties piece together on a localised and regional scale. For example, one property has a reserve of remnant vegetation at the rear, we fenced off three areas on the property and planted 400 natives linking the reserve to the roadside corridor. Scarlet and Flame Robins have already been seen using the tree guards as a perch to find their next meal! Proof that it doesn’t take a long to see the positive effects in the landscape.”
By crew member, Jason Burgoyne

Connecting Country currently has opportunities available to provide subsidised support for projects like these on new properties.  If you’re a local landholder and are interested in learning if your property is eligible, contact Jarrod Coote on 03 5472 1594 or jarrod@connectingcountry.org.au to discuss further.  Also please forward this onto any neighbours, friends or others you think might be interested received help from the Connecting Country Works Crew on a restoration project on their properties.

Wetland Plants Identification Course with Damian Cook

Posted on 25 August, 2015 by Connecting Country

The Mount Alexander Shire is indeed fortunate to have so many specialists in natural history in its midst.  Two of the best are Damian Cook and Elaine Bayes, and Connecting Country is lucky to have them on our Expert Advisory Group.

Through their business – Rakali Consulting – they are running three one-day courses in the identification of  wetlands plants.   Elaine and Damian have told us, “This course is aimed at anyone interested in wetland plant identification and ecology. The course will run over 3 days and each day will focus on a different wetland habitat (water’s edge, deep marsh and mudflat) and be timed so as to follow the wetting and drying of the stunning Reedy Lagoon at Gunbower Island.  Participants can elect to do 1, 2 or all 3 days. ….. [Each] day will be divided between being outside observing plants in their natural habitat and collecting specimens and class time using field guides, keys and microscopes.  There will also be discussion and presentation time. Notes and identification keys will be provided.  Lunch, morning and afternoon tea provided.”

The course is being held at Treetops, Spencer’s Bridge Road (off Cohuna-Koondrook Rd), Cohuna, Victoria which is located on the banks of Gunbower Creek.  Field work will be conducted at Reedy Lagoon and timed to follow environmental water delivery to ensure wetland plants are at their peak.  The cost per day is $319 (inc. GST) or $880 (inc GST) for all three days.

More information on the course, and details on how to register, are available on the Rakali Consulting website (click here).

Australian Bird Index launched

Posted on 17 July, 2015 by Tanya Loos

On Wednesday (15 July 2015), BirdLife Australia launched the Australian Bird Index. This ground-breaking research measures the health of Australia’s terrestrial bird populations.  For the first time, vast quantities of data collected by volunteers and researchers have been analyzed to produce indices that help track Australia’s current state of biodiversity.

Just as the Consumer Price Index is a useful tool to evaluate the nation’s economy, The Australian Bird Index is a tool to quantify the overall health of the environment – using birds as the barometer.

The Bird Index has come about thanks to 15 years of citizen science data collection: comprising 14 million records and 900,000 surveys from across Australia – including many from the Mount Alexander region.

A Purple-crowned Lorikeet by Chris Tzaros – pic from Connecting Country’s Woodland Bird Brochure

Now that Connecting Country is an affiliated organization with BirdLife Australia, both the data we collect for our long term monitoring program, and the data you submit,  will be shared with BirdLife to assist in this important work.

So how are we faring? In order to make sense of the data, the Australian Bird Index breaks Australia up into nine regions: for example, the Mount Alexander Shire occurs entirely within the South-east Mainland region.  In the South-east Mainland, dry woodland and forest dependent parrots are showing distinct downward trends over the last 13 years. These species include Purple-crowned, Musk and Little Lorikeets, Crimson Rosella and Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo.

But we see Crimson Rosellas all the time, I hear you say – this is the tricky thing about analyzing the data over a large area – in some areas the rosellas may actually be steady or even increasing, whereas across other areas, rosellas are dropping out of the  picture entirely. As such, BirdLife researchers plan to carry out further research for the comprehensive State of Australia’s Birds report planned for early release in 2016. For more on the Australian Bird Index and the upcoming report:  see here

The Australian Bird Index can tell us that the Purple-crowned Lorikeet has declined markedly, but not why this beautiful little bird has been reported as declining.  Again – further research is required to tease out some answers. My guess is that the changing weather patterns are playing havoc with the flowering of the eucalypts that these tiny blossom nomads rely upon.

Geoff Park has recently posted some stunning photos of the Purple-crowned Lorikeet (click here)  and it is great to hear that readers of his blog have reported seeing this species in good numbers.

Report from Tanya Loos, Habitat for Bush Birds Coordinator

Golden times in the sun (with slideshow)

Posted on 5 December, 2014 by Connecting Country

One of the most threatened species to occur in the Mount Alexander shire and surrounds is the Golden Sun Moth (Synemon plana).  This day-flying moth is considered to be ‘critically endangered’ on Federal legislation and ‘threatened‘ on state legislation.  Its preferred habitat is native grasslands and grassy woodlands, but it is also occasionally seen flying over agricultural paddocks that still contain a good cover of native grasses – particularly wallaby grass (Austrodanthonia spp.).

This moth has an unusual life history – the full details of which are still being discovered.  The adult female moth rarely, if ever, flies.  Instead, she will mostly perch on the bare ground between grass tussocks on warm-to-hot days during the months of November to January, displaying her golden-coloured hind wings.  The male moths (which have reddish-coloured hind wings) fly low over the sparse grassy vegetation, on the look-out for the female moths.  After mating, it is believed that the female lays her eggs near the base of grass tussocks.  The larvae then emerge from the eggs, and burrow down into the soil to feed; maybe on the roots of the grasses – or perhaps they feed on the mycorrhizal fungi that grows on the roots.  After one or more years underground feeding, the larvae then pupate and emerge as adults moths to begin the cycle again.  The adult moths have no mouthparts at all – and as such they only live for a maximum of 3-4 days after emerging, which is as long as their stored energy allows.

The adults moths will also often emerge en masse.  It is suspected that this is part of a strategy to overwhelm predators such as spiders and robber flies.  Certainly for these predators, the annual emergence of Golden Sun Moths represents a major feeding opportunity.

Adult Golden Sun Moths have been seen in Walmer, Barkers Creek and Taradale over the past couple of weeks by Connecting Country staff member Chris.  Last season they were also seen near Castlemaine, Sandon and Sutton Grange.

A local landholder to the north of Castlemaine provided Connecting Country with the following incredible series of photos of adult moths that she took from her property last summer (2013-14).

Woodland Bird Brochure launch next Monday (8 Dec)

Posted on 2 December, 2014 by Tanya Loos

It has been a couple of years in the making…
Connecting Country are thrilled to announce that the “Woodland Birds of Central Victoria” brochure is printed and ready to be released into the world.

When: Monday, December 8th 2014 from 5.30pm until about 6.30pm
Where: In the Hub garden, on corner of Barker St and Templeton St (enter via gate on Templeton St)
RSVPs are preferred as we will be supplying drinks and nibbles. RSVP to me, Tanya Loos, on 5472 1594 or tanya@connectingcountry.org.au

The brochure was initially developed by past Connecting Country Woodland Bird Coordinator Kerryn Herman and a team of local naturalists and photographers.  As part of my role of Habitat for Bush Birds Coordinator – I re-ignited the project and added in information on our focal woodland bird species, the feathered five; Diamond Firetail, Hooded Robin, Painted Button-quail, Jacky Winter and Brown Treecreeper.  The subtitle of the brochure is “An identification and habitat management guide” because the birds are ordered into the particular kind of woodland bird habitat we might expect to see them in.

Geoff Park – well known for numerous local biodiversity activities, including his popular Natural Newstead website – is one who has generously contributed photographs to the brochure. He has also kindly agreed to speak at the launch about the brochure and its value – and of course, about our woodland birds!

We hope that landowners, landcare groups, schools and budding bird enthusiasts enjoy the Woodland Birds of Central Victoria brochure.  One free copy of the brochure will be available on the day for each attendee, with a gold coin donation for any additional copies.  All funds raised will go towards future reprints of the brochure.  And for those of you looking for nature-orientated Christmas gifts, copies of Friends of Box-Ironbark’s Mosses of dry forests of south eastern Australia and Tanya’s book Daylesford Nature Diary will be available for purchase.

Photographs and guidance for the brochure were provided by Nigel Harland, Damian Kelly, Greg and Jeanette License, Geoff Park, Chris Tzaros, Debbie Worland, Beth Mellick, Brendan Sydes and Ern Perkins.  Support for the brochure project came from the Victorian Government’s Communities for Nature program and from generous private donations to Connecting Country.

This photograph of a Weebill, a species often found within regenerating woodland habitat, was taken by Chris Tzaros.

The brochure on display next to a very old Wombat skull.

Back from the Brink

Posted on 14 October, 2014 by Connecting Country

Which weed is your main bane?

Participants at our sixth workshop session on October 5th 2014 reeled off a lengthy list. The most despaired over were spiny rush, gorse, blackberry, bridal veil creeper, bent grass, crack and basket willows, quaking grass, wheel cactus, capeweed, and all manner of thistles. The list may have lengthened as the day progressed, but at the end of the session we certainly had a greater understanding of their ecology, control and management, if not an overall view of the place of weeds in the restoration story.

Whilst the noisy hot rods and ‘chopped’ vehicles did laps of the nearby Newstead racecourse, our group visited three local sites to look at “before” and “after” weed control sites and heard some of the challenges of working with riparian zones and creek-lines. These sites are usually the most compromised sites, but also the most potential value for biodiversity.  Farmer Adrian Sartori and Landcare stalwart Maurie Dynon (Guildford-Upper Loddon Landcare), Pat Radi-Mansbridge (Bushco Land Management), Patrick Kavanagh (Newstead Landcare) and Botanist David Cameron (Arthur Rylah Institute, DEPI) shared their experiences and practical knowledge of weed ecology and management with us.

Thanks to all our presenters, the Sartori family for hosting us at the Strangways site and to Newstead Landcare Group’s Patrick Kavanagh for introducing us to two significant Newstead sites. Also thanks to the Newstead Mens’ Shed who manned the Rotunda park BBQ for us.

To find out more about the session, including a view of the day from participant Deb Wardle, go to the corresponding page in the Education Program, where you will also find resources and images from the day. For more information, contact janet@connectingcountry.org.au or 5472 1594.

This was the last session of the 2014 series. Thanks to all who contributed, either in planning, participating, presenting, assisting and hosting. We will be running the program, in a similar format, again next year.

Is it possible to manage for fire and biodiversity?

Posted on 10 July, 2014 by Connecting Country

What do you feel when you think about managing the fire risk on your property?

“Confused … worried … fearful … ignorant … confident … conflicted … overwhelmed …”

These were some of the responses from participants at the latest Connecting Country ‘Improving Biodiversity on Your Property’ session on Sunday 6 July 2014.

By far the most common response was confusion – about the messages put out by various agencies, and about whether it’s actually possible to have a property that provides a healthy habitat for wildlife, yet is also a relatively low fire risk.

By the end of the session, those initial responses had changed:

” informed … empowered … reassurred … more aware …”

With facilitator Chris Johnston guiding the discussions, presenters Owen Goodings (CFA, Statewide Vegetation Team Leader), fire ecologist David Cheal (ex-DEPI, now Federation University), field ecologist Julie Whitfield (ex-DEPI now Amaryllis Environmental) and landholders Team and Christine Henderson shared their expertise and experiences – each through their own particular lens.

A summary of the session and follow up resources are can be found here:  Workshop 4: Fire & Biodiversity.

Thanks to Team and Christine for offering their beautiful Taradale property for the session, a perfect venue to explore the issues at both a property and landscape level.

Mid-winter might not be the best conditions for a workshop in the field, but it is a good time to be thinking, observing and planning around fire and biodiversity.

A well placed fence can do wonders

Posted on 6 June, 2014 by Connecting Country

the ‘fence affect’ on jan’s grassy plot is pretty evident here!

It’s not quite on the scale of Mount Rothwell, but Jan Hall’s  property at McKenzies Hill is making a difference at a local biodiversity level by ‘fencing in’ a raft of plants to protect them from the heavy grazing of rabbits, wallabies, kangaroos and sheep. Exclusion Fencing was the topic for our latest Workshop Session on Sunday June 1 2014 and Jan’s property, which has a number of types and sizes of exclusion plots, was a perfect setting for the session.

Peter Morison (ex DEPI and Land for Wildlife) shared his considerable expertise and experience, outlining the role of exclusion fences in conservation projects and the practicalities of building and maintaining them, including monitoring the results.

And if you want to completely ‘fence in’ or at least protect your block from future land use changes or development, then a Covenant could also be the way to go. Parts of Jan’s property are covered by a Conservation Covenant through Trust For Nature which means these areas will be protected and conserved for perpetuity under a legally binding agreement. This gives Jan confidence that all her work in excluding pest plants and animals and bringing back biodiversity won’t be in vain.

damp but undeterred; peter outlines fencing

To read more about the session, access resources on the topic and see photos from the (slightly damp) day, visit this page. You’ll also find workshop participant Kerrie Jennings’s views on the day.

For more info on the 2014 Workshop Program, email janet@connectingcountry.org.au.

All things great and small

Posted on 15 May, 2014 by Connecting Country

A gully at Baringhup, with remnant bulokes and other trees, provided us with shelter from the biting wind and a chilly autumn day for our second workshop session, “Biodiversity in the Paddock”  on Sunday May 4th 2014. The spot also provided a more permanent home to an array of flora and fauna, all contributing to local biodiversity on the property.

Thanks to property holders Jacqui and Lachlan Brown for providing their farm as an ideal location to explore concepts around biodiversity, productivity and restoration.

Guided by Lachy, Jacqui and our expert ecologists we moved between scales; from the broader landscape, down to the property and paddock level and back, to identify what makes up ‘biodiversity’ and how we can improve and monitor the health of a landscape.

Cassia Read, Karl Just, Bonnie Humphreys and Chris Timewell led us through a hands-on foray for the obvious to the often overlooked – in this case plants, birds, mosses and lichens, ants.

Jim Radford takes us on a journey of species, genetics, processes

Karl, Bonnie, Cassia, Lachy, Jacqui and Chris

More information, photos and links from the session as well as Jules Walsh’s summary of the session, can be found here.

For more information: email (janet@connectingcountry.org.au) or call Janet on 5472 1594.

Registrations Open for Box-Ironbark Ecology Course 2014

Posted on 15 May, 2014 by Connecting Country

We have been informed by the organisers that registrations are open for the 17th Box-Ironbark Ecology Course. This five-day residential course in Nagambie commences on Monday 6th October and concludes on Friday 10th October, 2014.

The course is for those interested in gaining a general understanding of ecological processes and principles specific to Box-Ironbark Country, as is complementary to the workshops being run locally be Connecting Country.

The course involves five absorbing days of field studies and is taught by a number of expert ecologists including: Cathy Botta (soil), Andrea Canzano (insects), Garry Cheers (birds), Paul Foreman (plants), Lindy Lumsden (wildlife), David Meagher (mosses and liverworts) and Neville Rosengren (geology).

Have a look at their course flyer for more information on the location and topics.  Note that this is not a Connecting Country event.  Contact Kate Stothers (katelance1@gmail.com) if you are interested in attending.  

This area of Box-Ironbark Forest has a Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) and Red Ironbark (Eucalyptus tricarpa) overstorey. Not all ‘Box-Ironbark’ forest contains these two eucalypt though.

Taking the Big Picture

Posted on 16 April, 2014 by Connecting Country

The past informs the future. The natural and social history – and their interconnections – of this region have had an important, and often negative, impact on our natural environment.

Understanding where you and your property fit within these contexts means you can be more informed to make positive decisions and actions to address declining biodiversity. This was the background to our first workshop session, “The Big Picture” (Sunday April 6th), held at Welshmans Reef.

Thanks to property holders Brian and Robin Rebbechi for providing an ideal location to interpret and discuss the history and potential future for this site.

Guided by Deirdre Slattery and Ian Higgins, we moved between scales; from the broader landscape, down to the property level, and back, exploring the landuse history and vegetation changes over time at Welshmans Reef.

More information, photos and links from the session as well as Jules Walsh’s summary of the session can be found here. 

Ian Higgins discusses vegetation classes for the property

Deirdre Slattery guides participants through the complex history of the property

For more information: janet@connectingcountry.or.au or 5472 1594.

Weed Watch – Gazania

Posted on 8 June, 2012 by Connecting Country

The following information was originally published by Geraldine Harris in the Castlemaine Naturalist newsletter, and has been kindly re-written by her for the Connecting Country website.

Some plants become environmental weeds when they escape from our gardens into the surrounding countryside and start competing with local native indigenous species. I want to look at how some of these infestations can be controlled and which native plants can be used in their place.

Our native plants cannot be expected to perform as vigorously as pest plants that have been selectively bred for survival over hundreds of years. However, getting rid of pest plants and replacing them with native species will help preserve the integrity of our local habitats, attracting and providing resources for more native birds and other animals.

Gazania linearis
Gazanias are the large daisy-type yellow flowers that are escaping from private gardens and appearing more and more abundantly along our local roadsides and in bushland throughout Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and New South Wales.

These very showy plants originated in South Africa and are being promoted in many plant nurseries as a tough drought resistant species. Many hybrids have been developed in cultivation between Gazania linearis and a closely related environmental weed species Gazania rigens. These plants produce abundant wind-blown seeds that can be dispersed many kilometres from the source, producing ever-increasing patches of gazania that compete with locally indigenous species. Gazanias also have the ability to re-grow from their bare roots, which enables them to spread into our bushland by the dumping of garden waste containing the tuberous root systems of these plants. Native animals tend not to eat them as they are low in nutritional value. Continue Reading »

13 April – A Nature Photographers Delight

Posted on 10 April, 2012 by Connecting Country

The Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club are very excited to be hosting Carol Hall as the guest speaker at their monthly general meeting on Friday 13 April 2012.  Carol is a member of Ballarat Camera Club, The Field Naturalists’ Club of Ballarat and is currently President of The Victorian Nature Photography Group. She has given illustrated talks to community groups in Ballarat and western Victoria, drawing on her professional background as well as her hobbies.

Carol will be showing slides and talking about her recent overseas adventures.  “A Touch of Ice”  will take the audience to Spitsbergen and Greenland  for a look at the geography of the region, its climatic influences, glacial geomorphology and wildlife as seen from the deck of Aurora Expeditions’ ship  “Polar Pioneer”, and walks on the tundra.

The free talks, as always, are open to both members and the general public. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.  The meeting commences at 7.30pm, and is being held in the hall behind the Uniting Church in Lyttleton St, Castlemaine.  Further information on the Castlemaine Field Naturalists is available from their website (click here).

Update on Nest Box Monitoring

Posted on 1 June, 2011 by Connecting Country

This season’s monitoring of nest boxes has now been completed by Connecting Country’s Project Officer, Bryan McMullan. He has written the following account of the progress of this program:

“It is May 30 and Connecting Country nest box monitoring has finished for the season. All our little arboreal friends will now settle in and test their fecundity over the winter period. By late September, depending on environmental conditions, young should be observable leaving their nest(s). Landholders with nest boxes who observe such movements are encouraged to complete our methodology and data sheet located on the Connecting Country website.

“If you are landholder who has nest boxes on their property and you have not seen me during the inspection period in April and May, I have not forgotten you.  With the requirements for timing and landsystem units identified in the nest box monitoring strategy, it was not possible to visit all nest boxes.

“From the outset the nest box program was an ambitious one and Connecting Country has been able to install over 380 boxes and develop an important relationship with over 100 landholders. Nest boxes were placed to achieve an even distribution across the Mt Alexander Shire region (152 895 ha).  Nest box construction has been biased towards small arboreal animals and this appears to have been a success, thanks to the good design work of Miles Geldard at Wildlife Nestboxes. A total of 132 Sugar Gliders (often in groups)  were observed using the boxes (figure 1) and the most exciting news is that 11 Brush-tailed Phascogales (see fig. 2) were observed.

Figure 1. Four Sugar Gliders cosy and warm inside a nest box. This box was located in Sandon along a creek line (therefore a gully) and installed upon a very mature Yellow Box.

Figure 2. Brush-tailed Phascogale at Welshmans Reef trying its hardest not to be seen. The green tape had been used to indicate the location of the nest box and was taken from a nearby tree. Phascogales are known to adorn their nests with objects such as bale twine, sheep wool and feathers.

“Within the 9 months that the nest boxes have been installed (some later than others), the uptake has been a success. In locations where no animal was observed, signs and traces indicated that a further 53 boxes contained glider nests (see fig. 3) and 6 others contained phascogale nest material (see fig. 4). It is exciting to know that future juveniles, when leaving the nest, will have opportunity to explore and colonise other boxes that have been made available through this initiative. It is my belief and hope that the nest box program will facilitate successful migration of the target species and provide safe refuge in woodlands that would otherwise be absent of suitable nesting habitat.

Figure 3. A typical Sugar Glider nest consists of gum leaves. Note the spherical, egg like shape of the nest. Gliders tend to keep a neater nest compared with Phascogales.

Figure 4. A phascogale nest found in Muckleford South. Look closely and you will see a pile of scat to the right of the image, which the phascogale uses as a territorial message to potential competitors. The feathers in this nest are believed to be from a Guinea Fowl. There is a phascogale under all those furnishings.

“It is important now for the nest boxes to be left undisturbed so that the breeding season may be a success. In March/April 2012 a follow up survey will occur and we will be well on our way to establishing a significant set of biodiversity improvement indicators. This will assist Connecting Country by demonstrating the achievement of key objectives under its arrangements with funding bodies.

“Finally I must point out how rewarding my role has been so far at Connecting Country, especially when working with such robust communities as exists in the Mt Alexander region. I have mentioned to many in the field that I am happy to receive reports on phascogale sightings and can provide further information as requested. The immediate aim of the monitoring initiative is to strengthen the outcomes of the nest box program with follow up vegetation, habitat and bird surveys. More on this to come.

“I would like to thank everyone involved including Fritz Hammersley for his assistance in the field, every landholder for their hospitality and their enthusiasm for the project and to Marie Jones and Geoff Park for their guidance.

Bryan McMullan
Connecting Country
Project Support Officer
bryan@connectingcountry.org.au
03 5472 1594

A new wildlife freeway – Treeway – in Muckleford

Posted on 8 December, 2009 by Connecting Country

An innovative biolink project in Creasys Road, Muckleford was celebrated on Saturday by members of the Muckleford Catchment Landcare Group.  The project involves the planting of some 6300 trees and bushes in a 2.3 ha strip along Creasys Road and Turners Lane, together with a linking  section to Chinamans Creek.

Planting was undertaken by members of Muckleford Landcare in September and October after extensive site preparation, including collapsing of rabbit warrens and deep ripping by Yeomans plow.  The majority of planting has been undertaken on private land which has now been fenced off to protect the new vegetation from grazing and pests.  Three landholders along Creasys Road agreed to set aside portions of their land for this project.

Further information about the activities of the Muckleford Catchment Landcare Group can be found at http://northcentral.landcarevic.net.au/muckleford-catchment or by contacting the Secretary Paul Hampton, on 5474 2189.

L – R: David Griffiths (Project Officer) , Sue Slaytor (Project Manager & participating landowner), David Whillas (participating landowner) and Cr Christine Henderson.

Maryborough Field Naturalists’ Club Forum

Posted on 30 October, 2009 by Connecting Country

Maryborough Field Naturalists’ Club invite all interested people to a community forum next Monday night, 2nd November, at which two specialists will speak.

Firstly, Ms Eloise Seymour, a researcher from Charles Sturt University will present her results of a recent survey regarding the Moolort Wetlands. Following Ms Seymour, Dr Lindy Lumsden, Principal Research Scientist from the Arthur Rylah Institute, who specializes in the study of bats, will inform us about the various bat species found within our local Box ironbark forests.

The Forum will be held in the Field Naturalists’ Club rooms, Dundas Road, Maryborough (adjacent to the 80 km sign). Supper will follow.

For more information please contact Lorraine O’Dal on 0417 142 489 or Brian Johns on 5461 2755

New Publication by Stephen Murphy

Posted on 5 June, 2009 by Connecting Country

“Recreating the Country” by Stephen Murphy is a book for landholders and land managers filled with practical information about restoring habitat and protecting flora and fauna.  Murphy urges people to re-think current revegetation strategies as many plantings lack the qualities necessary for wildlife.  For more information and to order a copy go to The Australian Forest Growers website.