Autumn workshop series – launch celebration 27 March 2018
Posted on 19 March, 2018 by Tanya Loos
On Tuesday 27 March we’re launching Connecting Country’s Autumn Workshop Series for 2018. The launch will be an informal gathering at the Hub Plot, Castlemaine, with drinks and nibbles. All of our friends and supporters are most welcome. And bring along your knowledge and competitive spirit for a nature quiz!
The theme for our autumn workshop series is Monitoring Healthy Habitats. We have a diverse series of events to inform and inspire you about habitat protection and local wildlife.
We’re pleased to be presenting these workshops together with our partner organisations:
- Bird monitoring, with BirdLife Australia
- Caring for large old trees, with Mount Alexander Shire Council.
- Nestboxes for wildlife, with Miles Geldard.
An Eastern Spinebill strikes a pose (photo by Geoff Park)
Launch celebration:
Tuesday 27 March from 5.00 – 7.00 pm
At the Hub Plot, behind 233 Barker St, Castlemaine
Please RSVP for catering purposes to tanya@connectingcountry.org.au or call 5472 1594
Click here for the Autumn Workshop Series flier, and stay tuned for more details on each workshop.
These workshops are kindly funded by the Wettenhall Environment Trust. This lauunch event is part of our community engagement program supported by Biodiversity Hubs funding from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.
Charismatic rakali (native water rat) talk on 1 March 2018
Posted on 15 February, 2018 by Tanya Loos
Australian water rats are completely aquatic rats that are more like small otters than anything ratty.
They have very little in common with the rats that are found in the chook shed or behind the pantry – in fact, many people prefer to call water rats by the name Rakali. Rakali are attractive native mammals that are excellent indicators of ecosystem health. They are an apex predator of our waterways, feasting on fish, yabbies and sometimes even ducks!
Rakali have webbed feet and come in many colours, this one in a very fetching apricot and chestnut brown.
Goldfields Library Corporation contacted us at Connecting Country seeking a speaker for their Big Ideas series. As Tanya had recently researched the ecology, evolution and conservation of these lovely animals, she jumped at the chance. Please come along to find out more about Rakali, and how you can help them thrive in the dams and waterways of the Castlemaine region.
When: Thursday 1 March 2018 at 5:30 – 6:30 pm
Where: Castlemaine Library (212 Barker St, Castlemaine)
Bookings: Attendance is free, but please register here
Fun facts about rakali:
- Based on anecdotal reports, rakali will travel several hundred metres across dry land to dine on delicacies, such as pet food left out regularly on a back porch.
- Rakali thrive in both freshwater and seawater environments. They may be observed in environments as varied as beneath a busy pier in Geelong, or in a quiet freshwater stream in the mountains, or even in concrete lined lakes and ponds in public gardens.
Summer’s feathered migrants – Nature News November 7 2017
Posted on 20 November, 2017 by Tanya Loos
For this month’s Nature News, Newstead naturalist and photographer Geoff Park writes about the feathered migrants that are characteristic of our region in the summer months. This article was featured in the Midland Express on November 7, 2017.
Sacred Kingfishers are one of my favourite spring migrants, their loud ‘kek kek’ call may be heard anytime from late August around Newstead. The kingfishers return faithfully to favourite nesting sites along the Loddon River and in the surrounding forests. This species nests in earthen tunnels and tree hollows, with the first fledglings appearing around Christmas most years. Observers can delight in watching the kingfishers as they first stake out territories, refurbish nests and then commence feeding youngsters from late November onwards. The sight of Sacred Kingfishers bringing a selection of cicadas, yabbies, fish and reptiles to their hungry brood is one of the ‘sights of summer’.
My absolute favourite though is the Rainbow Bee-eater. This extraordinarily beautiful bird can be seen year round in northern Australia – but they are not the same individuals. Small flocks of Rainbow Bee-eaters make a twice yearly migration up and down the east coast, with some birds moving as far north as Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia. The birds we see around Newstead may well spend their winter on Cape York where they are replaced by international travellers during the northern summer, as the ‘Newstead’ individuals migrate south.
Rainbow Bee-eaters nest in small colonies, perhaps most notably near the Newstead Cemetery, but also at various locations along the Loddon River. The sound of the first trills of this species can be heard anytime from early October as they gather above their breeding grounds and make spectacular display flights. As spring progresses they descend to their tunnels, usually in a vertical bank of an eroded gully or riverbank and clean their nests in preparation for egg-laying. Not all nests sites are used each year, but some of these special spots must have been used for centuries by successive generations of magnificent ‘rainbowbirds’.
Other summer migrant specialties, such as the Square-tailed Kite, appear to be increasing in numbers. Flocks of woodswallows (Masked and White-browed Woodswallows) arrived on the first warm northerlies in October. We can also expect to see waders arrive from the northern Hemisphere, such as Red-necked Stints and Sharp-tailed Sandpipers. These tiny birds use Cairn Curran Reservoir (most years) and the Moolort Plains wetlands (if they are wet!) to fuel up before flying 10,000 kilometres back to their Siberian breeding grounds!
Look out too for the rarities that may visit each summer. Last year we had a Common Koel in Newstead and this year a spectacular small red honeyeater known as a Scarlet Honeyeater has been visiting the region in unprecedented numbers.
For more information contact Geoff Park at Natural Newstead www.geoffpark.wordpress.com
A Rainbow Bee-eater. Photo by Geoff Park
Now is the best time to try out Landcare!
Posted on 31 August, 2017 by Asha
Tanya on a walk with some excited ‘nature detectives’ at the 2017 Camp Out on the Mount
Landcare Week is coming up next week: September 4th – 10th 2017. It’s the perfect time to get outside, get your hands dirty, and connect with other community members. We have over 30 groups in the Mount Alexander region alone, so it’s easy to find an event or working bee that’s near you and suits your interests.
Landcare and Friends groups are always looking for extra hands to help and are keen to share their knowledge of our beautiful local plants and animals. During September, there are more than eleven events being run by Landcare groups, including nature walks to learn from experts and soak up the bush, and working bees to develop some hands-on skills and help improve habitat for native species.
CLICK HERE to visit our page with information about all of the Landcare events happening in the Mount Alexander region in September 2017.
Wetland Ecology and Training Courses: October 2017 – March 2018
Posted on 31 August, 2017 by Connecting Country
Registrations are now open for Rakali’s popular wetland courses commencing October 2017 through to March 2018. The courses are presented by SERA 2016 award winning ecologist Damien Cook and Elaine Bayes. Don’t hold off as the NEW courses may be a once off depending on level of attendance and it’s the last time the Wetland Plant ID will be held in the North Central region of Victoria. Click on the following headings to find out more:
NEW: THE WONDERFUL WETLAND ECOLOGY BUS TOUR, 12 & 13 OCT 2017
Join us on a bus tour through some of northern Victoria’s most ecologically diverse wetlands that will be looking their best because of recent rainfall and flooding. Learn how ecological drivers determine wetland ecology. Dixie Patton, Barapa Traditional Owner will share knowledge on aboriginal uses of these amazing wetlands. Other land managers will meet us along the way.
NEW: WETLAND RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT, 16 & 17 NOV 2017
Learn about wetland restoration and management over 2 days with Damien Cook by visiting ‘Waterways’; a SERA 2016 award-winning wetland restoration project which he was involved in planning and implementing, followed by the 200 hectares of coastal park at the Victorian Desalination Plant, Wonthaggi. Learn more about these projects here.
WETLAND PLANT IDENTIFICATION DAYS, STARTS OCT 2017 – MAR 2018
Learn to identify the most common wetland plants. In order to manage or restore a wetland you first have to thoroughly understand it. Wetland plant species, condition and placement within a wetland can inform you as to what is going on. You can choose 1, 2 or all 3 days – Each day is timed to follow the wetting and drying of the stunning Reedy Lagoon at Gunbower Island or nearby wetlands so each plant guild can be seen in their splendor.
- Day One: Sedges, Grasses and Rushes
- Day 2: Aquatic Plants
- Day 3: Mudflat specialists.
Click here for more information and to REGISTER. Alternatively contact Elaine Bayes at Rakali Consulting 0431 959 085 or email elaine@rakali.com.au. Each course can be done as an individual unit or as a complete package (ask Elaine about discounts).
31 August 2017 – The Genius of Birds
Posted on 24 August, 2017 by Connecting Country
On Thursday 31 August 2017, the Castlemaine Library is hosting a presentation by American science writer and New York Times bestseller Jennifer Ackerman. Jennifer will talk about her latest book, The Genius of Birds, which explores the latest international scientific research on our feathered friends. Once you have seen Jennifer’s presentation, no doubt you will consider ‘bird brain’ to be phrase used as a great compliment!
The presentation commences at 5.30pm. Entry is free, but bookings are required (click here for link to the booking website). The library has let us know that there are a small number of openings still available.
Jennifer Ackerman has been writing about science, nature, and health for more than 25 years. Her work aims to explain and interpret science for a lay audience and to explore the riddle of humanity’s place in the natural world, blending scientific knowledge with imaginative vision. She has won numerous awards and fellowships. There is further information about Jennifer on her website (click here).
Local wildlife sound recordist Andrew Skeoch is a huge advocate for Jennifer’s book and the research that she has compiled. CC staff member Chris is reading it at the moment – and is also fascinated by the findings.
Flora of Castlemaine and surrounds – the online guide is launched!
Posted on 9 August, 2017 by Connecting Country
On 1st August 2017, the online edition of the Wild Plants of the Castlemaine District was formally launched. This comprehensive guide contains details on the identification, locations, preferred habitats and history of hundreds of native and introduced plant species found in Castlemaine and surrounding areas. It can be viewed at the following stand-alone website location – https://www.castlemaineflora.org.au.
In November 2016, local natural historian – Ern Perkins – sadly passed away. Ern’s passion for the understanding the intricacies of natural environment was matched by his passion for sharing his knowledge with others. A few months before his passing, he first launched this compendium of local plant species as a freely available resource via USB memory sticks. Ern had developed this guide based on information that he and others had collected and compiled over more than 40 years. With the support of Ern’s family since his passing, the Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club has worked with a local IT graphics firm to make this guide available as an online resource, allowing it to reach a much wider audience. Financial contributions and other support towards this important project has also been provided by the Friends of the Box Ironbark Forests (FOBIF) and Connecting Country. Each of these organisations will have a link to this flora guide from their websites. A permanent link to it has been established from the Connecting Country website here.
It is intended to be a dynamic website, with updates made over time in response to taxonomic changes, new photographs and new findings. Landholders, Landcarers, students and many other people from the Mount Alexander Shire and beyond will appreciate this valuable and easy-to-use resource.
Saturday 12 August 2017: Sharing Stories around the Fire and The Other Renewables Forum
Posted on 9 August, 2017 by Tanya Loos
This Saturday the 12th August 2017 is a busy day culturally and environmentally for our community! We have the Parkrun cultural morning at the Castlemaine Botanic Gardens previously posted here and we would like to promote two more events.
Sharing Stories around the Fire: a Words in Winter event
Join the Talking Fire group this Saturday 12 August 2017 in Newstead from 4.30-8.30pm to explore stories of fire in our landscape. We’ll visit a spot in the nearby forest, for readings and to listen to the language of the forest. Back at the Arts Hub, with hearty soup in hand, we’ll share our own stories and create some new stories too. Please RSVP so we have enough soup for all! Book via Eventbrite or through Chris on 5476 2457.
This journey through place, story, memory, myth and experience is a special event offered by the Talking Fire group as part of Newstead’s Words in Winter. Bring a story to share.
For more info: CLICK HERE.
The Mount Alexander Sustainability Group (MASG) presents: The Other Renewables Forum
On Saturday the 12th August 2017, 1.30pm – 5.30pm, the Mount Alexander Sustainability Group (MASG) will be presenting ‘The Other Renewables Forum’ at the Castlemaine Town Hall, with a line-up of recognised guests working in both a local and national context in the fields of bioenergy, geothermal, mini-hydro, pumped hydro, thermal solar and soil carbon sequestration.
Speakers:
MC: Mary Blain, MASG
Presenters: Andrew Lang, Alan Pears, David Taylor, Professor Lu Aye, Dr Guillermo Narsilio, David Carre, David Stratton, Deane Belfield, Chris Corr.
Cost: $20 General | $5 Members | Students Free
Bookings: https://otherrenewablesforum.eventbrite.com.au/
For more information:
Email: info@masg.org.au
Ph: 03 5470 6978
Web: http://masg.org.au/events/other-renewables-forum/
We All Need A Home – Video by Chewton Primary School
Posted on 31 July, 2017 by Asha
“We All Need A Home” is a short video created by Chewton Primary School students late last year. It explains the importance of caring for our local wildlife by cleaning up rubbish and creating habitat through a very engaging story. It also includes tiles from Chewton Primary School’s reptile and frog monitoring site which students helped Connecting Country set up and monitor.
CLICK HERE or on the picture below to view the full video. There is a link to another interesting video made by students on the same page, plus a copy of the presentation that the “Coastal Ambassadors” gave on local reptile and frog conservation.
New Reptile and Frog Brochure Available
Posted on 28 July, 2017 by Asha
Connecting Country’s newest brochure, Reptiles and Frogs of the Mount Alexander Region, is now out in the world! CLICK HERE or on the picture to download a pdf copy. You can grab a hard copy of this brochure by dropping by our offices, or by contacting asha@connectingcountry.org.au. Our local Landcare groups will also soon have copies available to share. 
The brochure includes beautiful photos of 8 frogs and 30 reptile species found in the Mount Alexander Region, plus tips for landholders on how you can help our local reptiles and frogs. Some of these tips include creating and improving habitat on your property and on public land by:
- Creating ground-level shelter and food sources by ensuring there are plenty of logs, sticks, rocks, and leaf litter around
- Helping degraded land regenerate by planting indigenous species, excluding grazing, and controlling noxious weeds
- Protecting intact native woodlands and grasslands
- Keeping predators such as foxes, cats, and dogs under control
- Joining your local Landcare or Friends group
- Creating a ‘frog bog’ or retrofitting a dam to provide frog habitat
- Refraining from using herbicides and pesticides when rainfall is predicted, and minimising or avoiding their use near wetlands and waterways
Connecting Country’s Reptile and Frog Monitoring Program is being undertaken with the support of the Ian Potter Foundation.
Connecting Landscapes Celebration warms hearts on a cool June night
Posted on 15 June, 2017 by Connecting Country
Last Tuesday, 6th June 2017, the Connecting Landscapes Celebration Event saw an engaged community come together to socialise, learn and commit to a future vision of a healthy landscape in the Mount Alexander Region. The celebration acknowledged the achievements of the Connecting Landscapes project over the past five years and recognized Connecting Country’s milestone tenth year. Over sixty landholders who have been part of our on-ground work program were treated to a delicious meal from Growing Abundance and deserts from the Murnong Mummas, trivia competition and an informative talk from David Cameron from Department of Environment Land Water and Planning (DELWP) .
Connecting Country President, Brendan Sydes, gives a short history and summary of plans for the future.
Brendan Sydes, President of Connecting Country’s Committee of Management, kicked off the evening with an Acknowledgement of Country and a brief overview of Connecting Country history to date. He also launched our new Biodiversity Hub project to be delivered in partnership with DELWP, Trust for Nature, Parks Victoria and Dja Dja Wurrung.
Connecting Landscapes project coordinator, Jarrod Coote, gave an overview of the achievements of our Connecting Landscapes project, the staff, and what is next for Connecting Country. Funded through the Australian Government, Connecting Landscapes has been Connecting Country’s major project for the last five years. It has seen huge gains for the environment through our on-ground works, monitoring and community engagement programs.
With our targets for the Connecting Landscapes project successfully it reached, we have:
- Protected 1200 ha (3,000 acres) of native bushland on private land
- Revegetated 400 ha (1,000 acres) of “greenfield” sites – i.e. paddocks
- Treated rabbits and weeds over 1600 ha
- Built 40km of fences
- Developed 25 Landholder Management Plans
- Delivered our successful education and monitoring programs
This table speaks volumes about our overachiever tendencies with actual results outstripping our targets in each of the five areas of on-ground works activity.
Tanya Loos, Connecting Country Woodland Birds Project Coordinator, gave an overview of the monitoring component of the program. This included highlighting the various types of ecological monitoring undertaken by Connecting Country and acknowledging the many different groups of people involved including volunteers, landholders, experts and students. A highlight was the results for nest box monitoring with increases in occupation of the boxes for Sugar Gliders and Tuans.
An overall increase in numbers of Tuans and Sugar Gliders occupying nest boxes across the shire is encouraging.
Dinner was served and attendees collaborated on trivia questions which tested their natural resource management knowledge. Well done to the winners of the quiz; with only one question amiss, they secured a nest box each and some plants and guards. Free nest boxes were also given out to lucky door prize ticket holders.
All tables put in a great effort on the quiz.
The final part of the evening was a talk by David Cameron, Senior Botanist and curator of the state Flora Database with DELWP. His extensive knowledge about plants and, in particular, important weed species of the future was welcomed by the audience as useful advice for what to focus on their properties.
David Cameron talked about plant identification and weeds to look out for in the future given the likely effects of Climate Change.
Desert was served with many happy faces exchanging conversation in the cool of a June night. We would like to acknowledge the funding from the Australian Government which made this evening and the Connecting Landscapes project possible. We would also like to warmly thank all of our landholders and groups who have been involved in Connecting Country projects so far – every little bit of change we create helps biodiversity across our landscape. We look forward to more exciting projects like this in the future.
Nature News – 6th June 2017 Master spinners of silk; the Orbweavers
Posted on 8 June, 2017 by Connecting Country
For this month’s Nature News (also on page 28 of this week’s Midland Express), local writer Dr. Lynne Kelly shares her love of spiders and knowledge of two local species of Orbweavers commonly found in the Castlemaine region.
Left: Garden orbweaver in her web at night. Photo taken by: Dr Lynne Kelly
“I adore spiders. I used to be an arachnophobe but knowledge cures an irrational fear, slowly at first. Then one day I watched an orbweaver spin her web from start to finish. That was the day I became a spider-obsessive. In the Mount Alexander Shire two varieties of orbweavers dominate – the large golden orbweavers who stay on their webs all day and the slightly smaller garden orbweavers that spin in the evening and scamper to hide in the foliage at dawn.
We have a few species of garden orbweavers. They are all in the Eriophora genus, distinguished by two prominent projections near the front of the abdomen. Garden orbweavers usually remove most of their web before dawn, re-absorbing the protein in the silk to use again. A single reinforced strand is left across the gap between bushes or trees in the hope that it will still be there the following evening. If that strand is broken, the spider will point her abdomen skyward and release a fine filament of silk. In even the slightest breeze, this silk will catch on foliage and she will rush across, back and forward, to reinforce the mainstay of her web. She will then drop to the ground and attach an anchor. She’ll rush up again to spin the radials and a spiral outwards. From the edge of her nearly complete web, she will then circle back towards the centre laying down the sticky spiral. Having worked tirelessly for nearly an hour, she will rest, head down, waiting for her prey.
Right: Golden orbweaver in her web by day with a tiny male approaching from above. Photo taken by: Dr Lynne Kelly
Unlike the garden orbweavers, the huge golden orbweavers stay on the web all day, constantly repairing and reinforcing it. It is not the spider which is golden but the glow of the silk when it catches the sun. All the individuals I’ve seen locally are the Australian Golden Orbweaver (Nephila edulis). Discarded debris is left in the web above the spider to confuse the birds. Male garden orbweavers are only marginally smaller than their females but the males of the golden orbweavers are tiny by comparison [see above photo on right]. Although the males of most spider species will survive their sexual encounters, the Nephila males sacrifice themselves in their final act. Having produced a golden egg sac, the female will then die with the first frost.”
For further reading, Lynne’s book, “Spiders: learning to love them” (Allen & Unwin, 2009) is an excellent resource for those interested in finding out more about these amazing creatures.
Help Little Heroes Plant New Habitat
Posted on 29 May, 2017 by Connecting Country
Little Habitat Hero, Sophie Haythorne, looks forward to planting on the 17th of June 2017.
A new story is being woven into the site of the Old Silkworm Farm on Leanganook, within the Mount Alexander Regional Park, this month, as a group of families and Landcare groups join together for the Little Habitat Heroes planting day on Saturday the 17th of June 2017, 9am-1pm. Open to all to participate, this ongoing initiative envisions 10 hectares of habitat regenerated on this historic site over the next few years.
Initiated by a group of new mothers in Castlemaine in 2016, Little Habitat Heroes, was a successful fund-raising campaign aimed at restoring native bush in honour of the region’s newest residents. Over $3,000 was raised by families and individuals, who were keen to see a beloved child in their life have the opportunity for a personal connection with nature.
This was matched with equivalent support from VicRoads to allow over 900 seedlings to be propagated ready for a wet winter start. Committed volunteers from Barkers Creek and Harcourt Landcare Groups, Connecting Country, and Little Habitat Heroes families and friends are providing their time generously to see the project succeed, with support from Parks Victoria.
“It’s amazing what a small group of committed people can achieve”, says Connecting Country Director Krista Patterson-Majoor. “From the start, when we were approached by the mothers’ group, we could see how closely aligned the project idea was with our organisation’s core objectives. We have been delighted to support the initiative, and we look forward to welcoming everyone to the planting day, it will be a lot of fun.”
For many, especially the nearly-two year olds, the planting day will be their first-ever tree planting experience, and an opportunity to see a habitat emerge that will support charismatic fauna such as sugar gliders and woodland birds. The location is exciting to local ecologists too, as it is uniquely suited to trial the return of indigenous species such as the Silver Banksia which once occurred on Mt Alexander and large areas through central Victoria before the gold rush.
“Just by living their lives, our children will no doubt contribute to environmental loss, so this is a chance for us to give something back,” says Little Habitat Heroes mother Meg Barnes, “The planting day will also offer a way to meet like-minded people and spend time at a gorgeous site.”
Little Habitat Heroes Planting Day Details: 9am-1pm, Saturday 17 June, meet at Leanganook Picnic Ground in the Mount Alexander Regional Park. Everyone and all ages welcome. Morning tea provided, BYO picnic lunch which we’ll eat together. More information visit www.littlehabitatheroes.org. To join the planting day or learn more, RSVP to littlehabitatheroes@gmail.com.
Exploring the possibilities of gully restoration
Posted on 26 May, 2017 by Connecting Country
Cassia and Deirdre ask participants do think about what they would do in the gully.
On Friday the 19th of May 2017, Barb Guerin, Cassia Read and Deirdre Slattery from the Victoria Gully Group led a fascinating workshop about seeing possibilities and setting priorities for the ecological restoration of the gully. This session was designed to help people to make decisions about land use and habitat creation in low-lying areas and had an emphasis on restoration in public land.
On a day which was forecast heavy rain, sixteen hardy attendees heard firsthand about how volunteers in environmental groups can make difference to habitat values on public land. Fortunately no-one got wet and lots was learnt – for a full write up and additional resources please click here.
This workshop concludes our 2017 Water in our Landscape workshop series. We would like to offer our warm thanks to all of our participants, presenters and hosts. Thanks also to Naomi Raftery for the vision and coordinating three incredibly interesting sessions. This education program was made possible with funding received from the Australian Government.
Exploring ecological thinning – the how’s and why’s
Posted on 8 May, 2017 by Connecting Country
Paul Foreman helps participants to hone their monitoring skills at the workshop.
Ecologist Paul Foreman and contractor David Griffiths explored the potential positives and challenges of undertaking ecological thinning in Box-Ironbark forest at our second Water in our Landscape workshop, Ecological Thinning on Bush Blocks, on Friday the 5 May 2017. The thirty people who attended the event at Paul Hampton’s delightful property in Muckleford developed new skills and understanding of the bush around us. A huge thanks to our enthusiastic participants, knowledgeable presenters and generous host for the delightful morning.
For a full list of resources about ecological thinning, please check the documents below:
North Central CMA site assessment form
Box Ironbark Ecological Thinning Trial report
Ecological thinning field day notes
Empirically validating a dense woody regrowth ‘problem’ and thinning: Research journal article
Final Ecological Thinning Workbook- Atlas Ecology Lewis Rd Muckleford
Local and State Government contacts
Parks Victoria and Ballarat uni thinning trial method
VIF Vegetation Work Standards
This Water in our Landscape workshop was made possible with funding received from the Australian Government.
Connecting Country to showcase community conservation
Posted on 4 May, 2017 by Connecting Country
Connecting Country is excited to share the news of our successful application with Wild Melbourne for their Community Conservationists video series, supported by the Norman Wettenhall Foundation. The application process yielded 36 applications that demonstrated the breadth and diversity of conservation work being done by the Victorian community. Connecting Country was one of five organisations chosen to be showcased. For more information on the Community Conservationists video series click here and look out for our video in the future!
Nature News – 2nd May 2017 Stay at home Dad in Happy Valley
Posted on 3 May, 2017 by Connecting Country
For this month’s Nature News on Page 30 of the 2nd May 2017 edition of the Midland Express, local ecologist and Castlemaine Landcarer, Karl Just explains the unusual breeding biology of a locally lesser common frog species and the work of Castlemaine Landcare in helping to restore its habitat.
Photo Caption: A male Brown Toadlet taking patient care of his eggs. Photo taken by: Damien Cook
Our local waterways sure copped a hammering during the gold-rush days. Early photos show a bleak landscape, all sludgy soil, bare of vegetation. The incredible changes that occurred to riparian habitat during those days would have removed entire communities of plants, mammals, birds, frogs and insects. But the process of recovery has well and truly begun, with the dedicated and hard work of various Landcare groups steadily restoring ecological diversity to our creeks.
Along Forest Creek, one species that would have been heavily impacted is the endangered Brown Toadlet. Now stick with me a moment, I know it has a very uninspiring name, but believe me this little critter is a true icon of the box ironbark ecosystem. Unlike our other local frogs that mostly breed during the wetter winter-spring months, the Brown Toadlet or Pseudophryne bibroni only breeds for a short period during autumn. The males set up little colonies in wet gullies and call regularly to attract a mate. When she arrives and lays the eggs, instead of hanging around she nicks off and leaves the work to the male, who will patiently sit on the eggs for many weeks or several months. This is why the species is also occasionally called a brooding frog. When rain arrives (in good years), the eggs are eventually flushed into adjacent waterholes where the tadpoles will hatch and begin their development.
Heading east into Happy Valley one autumn day, I heard the distinctive sound of the Brown Toadlet calling from the adjacent gully. Although I knew the species is fairly common in some parts of the local area, I was excited as it was the first time I had heard them in the Forest Creek valley. But the gully was a mess – the breeding site was covered in Gorse and Blackberry and there was only a sparse cover of native sedges. Something needed to be done.
Enter Castlemaine Landcare. We applied for and were successful in receiving a grant to clean up the site and also dig a new pond for the frogs to breed in. Landcare held a working bee where we planted the new frog pond with native sedges and rushes and the surrounding area with nectar rich shrubs for birds. We also put down some roofing tiles and had Toadlets sheltering and laying eggs beneath them.
In April 2017 Castlemaine received 140mm of rainfall – three times the long-term average for that month. The Toadlets responded very positively and colonised the frog pond we built last year, as well as several new sites nearby. Landcare aims to continue to restore the site and surrounding area and hope that the endangered Brown Toadlet will one day spread further throughout the Forest Creek valley.
New pond in August 2016
New pond after 65mm in April 2017
Places still available for this Friday’s Ecological Thinning on Bush Blocks workshop
Posted on 1 May, 2017 by Connecting Country
There are still a few places available for this Friday’s workshop titled “Ecological Thinning on Bush Blocks“. This workshop is designed for those interested in the benefits, challenges, and approaches to ecological thinning in remnant vegetation. Participants will visit a four year old thinning trial in Muckleford and hear about this fascinating pilot project. A benefit of ecological is slowing water in our landscape down and can potentially enhance biodiversity on your bush block. Don’t miss out on this free event and finding out more!
Date and Time: Friday the 5th May 2017 between 9am-12pm.
Presenters: Landholder, Paul Hampton; Ecologist, Paul Foreman; and local contractor, David Griffiths
Location: Details about the location and where to meet will be provided upon booking.
Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/270332
First Water in our Landscape workshop was wonderful and wet!
Posted on 26 April, 2017 by Connecting Country
Almost constant rain provided the very appropriate backdrop to our first Water in our Landscape workshop, Turning your Dam into Habitat, on Friday the 21st of April 2017. Despite the water, a full house attended the event hosted and presented by local wetland ecologist Damien Cook in Fryerstown. Participants were treated to a walk around Damien’s property where he has been working on renovating dams, creating habitat and restoring a eroding creekline.
Frances Cincotta from Newstead Natives was also at the workshop with plants to sell and lots of information to share about wetland species from our area. For a full write up of the workshop with lots of useful tips about turning dams into habitat and copies of the resources given to participants, please CLICK HERE.
The small frog pond with Swamp Wallaby grass
Damien kicks off the workshop by talking nutrient cycling, and inviting frogs and fish.
Learning about water ribbons around the medium sized dam
Attendees take a break from the rain and share stories over a cuppa
Swamp Pennywort was one of the plants for sale at the first of our Water in our landscapes workshop series
An attendee inspects a shallow frog pond
Landcare Gathering at The Meeting Place
Posted on 24 April, 2017 by Asha
Gathering at The Meeting Place
Smoke drifted through the last rays of sunlight as people gathered outside at The Meeting Place in Yapeen for a Cultural Awareness Evening on Monday the 3rd of April 2017. Aunty Julie McHale and Kathryn Coff from Nalderun guided the group through a series of learning activities. The figures of Bunjil and Waa made by the Meeting Place children hung over a room packed full of people.
After the smoking ceremony, we had a game of ‘Pacman’ where Aunty Julie tested our Aboriginal history knowledge. For example, do you know what the question was on the 1967 Referendum?
We were then given a card with a picture and a snippet of an event in Aboriginal history, and we lined them up along the floor in order to make a timeline. A few people selected a card which stood out to them and shared them with the room, ranging from the Dreamtime to the present.
The last activity for the evening focused on the Kulin Nation seasons. We moved down the hall to the classroom and split into two teams. A competition was then underway to see which team could correctly match the most natural events with the correct season – surprisingly not an easy task!
A huge thank you to Aunty Julie and Kath for their hard work and kind sharing, and to Nalderun for inviting us out to the beautiful Meeting Place. It was both a fun and enlightening evening for those who attended.
This event was made possible through the Connecting Landscapes program with support from the Australian Government.
Kulin Nation Seasons activity
Kulin Nation Seasons activity cards
Playing ‘Pacman’ with Aunty Julie and Kath Coff