Nalderun Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week – 27 May to 3 June 2024

Posted on 21 May, 2024 by Ivan

Our friends and project partners at Nalderun have sent us some information about events for Reconciliation Week 2024. The week of events will commence with the 2024 Sorry Day commemoration at Castlemaine Botanical Gardens on Sunday 26 May 2024. Please read on for details about this important week.

Nalderun Education Aboriginal Corporation, with support from Friends of Nalderun present:

The 2024 Sorry Day commemoration
Where: Castlemaine Botanical Gardens, Castlemaine VIC
When: Sunday 26 May 2024 from 10.00 am

All are invited to commemorate the Stolen Generation and participate in this National Day of Healing. Senior Djaara Elder Uncle Rick Nelson will be doing a Welcome Ceremony with Smoking.

Speeches by Special guests Uncle Ron Murray, Mayor Cr Matthew Driscoll and music by award-winning Celtic Indigenous duo Kinja.

For the full  program of events for Nalderun Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week 2024 – Click Here

‘Nalderun is a Dja Dja Wurrung word which means ‘all together’, because we believe by moving forward together we can make the change needed for our children, our mob and the wider community in the Mount Alexander Shire region of Victoria to thrive. We are Aboriginal led and run – we know what our Community needs, as we are apart of it. For 10 years we have seen our children become stronger, proud and deadly. We know our future, and the future for our children’s children is safe, having created programs and ways of being and teaching now. We want you to join this journey in this two-way learning space. We look forward to walking forward together. We invite you to support us in caring for Culture, Country and Community and to meet the needs of our mob, and the ever-increasing commitment to support these changes in the broader community, which builds respectful and reciprocal relationships for all.’

This video is a showcase of 10 years of Nalderun:

Bird of the Month: Rufous Whistler

Posted on 21 May, 2024 by Ivan

Welcome to Bird of the month, a partnership between Connecting Country and BirdLife Castlemaine District. Each month we’re taking a close look at one special local bird species. We’re excited to join forces to deliver you a different bird each month, seasonally adjusted, and welcome suggestions from the community. We are blessed to have the brilliant Jane Rusden and Damian Kelly from BirdLife Castlemaine District writing about our next bird of the month, accompanied by Damian’s stunning photos.

Rufous Whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris)

The Rufous Whistler is a renowned songster, but it’s also one of those species who you can hear calling but have a lot of trouble locating exactly where the bird is. They have a knack for throwing their call so you can’t pinpoint them, despite their beautiful rufous breast and striking white throat banded on black for the male. Often the female will be lurking nearby, but her cryptic colouring makes her even more difficult to find. Luckily, they will sit on an obvious branch, where we can both see and hear their gorgeous and varied song.

Male Rufous Whistler, photo by Damian Kelly

Males and females are quite different in appearance. The male has the distinctive rufous underparts with a black band and white throat. The female lacks the bold black and white markings of the male and the underbody is distinctly streaked. Second-season immature males have very similar colouring to the females which makes identification tricky.

Female Rufous Whistler, showing her much more cryptic colouring. Photo by Damian Kelly

They can be found in a wide variety of habitats ranging from mallee to open forests and shrub lands as well as being adapted to urban areas. In Castlemaine their distinctive calls can be heard in home gardens from early spring. I have heard blackbird mimicry of their calls in our garden in town which can be confusing at times! Their distribution covers much of Australia including a lot of the drier inland. However, they are more common on the east coast and in south-west Western Australia compared to the drier inland zones.

Patterns of movement vary – some are sedentary whilst others move north for winter, returning in spring. Not a lot is known of their movements in many areas. Banding studies have shown that some birds return each year to the same area. It can be a long-lived species with some individuals being identified 14-15 years after first banding.

Breeding is normally in pairs and pairs are usually monogamous with the same pairs breeding each year. Unlike some other Australian birds there are no helpers at the nest. Nests are defended from others and both birds incubate and feed the young. They build an open, cup-shaped nest out of twigs and are often lined with grass that may be in a tree fork or foliage and sometimes in mistletoe. Usually, 2-3 eggs are laid.

This species is largely insectivorous and will take a wide range of prey. They tend to forage higher than other whistler species and are often observed 5-15m above ground. Food may be gleaned from foliage and tree trunks as well as being caught on the wing in short flights. Unlike other whistler species, they rarely feed on the ground.

As the days grow shorter and winter is almost upon us, we can look forward to the heralding of spring in the Rufous Whistlers call. In the meantime, keep an ear out for the Golden Whistler, also a magnificent songster. For more on Golden Whistler, from the wonderful Geoff Park, click here.

To hear the call of the Rufous Whistler, please click here

Celebrating our wonderful volunteers: National Volunteer Week

Posted on 20 May, 2024 by Ivan

This week, 20-26th May, is National Volunteer Week, Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering, highlighting the important role of volunteers and inviting people not currently volunteering to give it a go.

This years theme is ‘Something for Everyone’ and Connecting Country would like to take this moment to say a massive thank you to our amazing volunteers from our many projects and programs.

Connecting Country could not do what we do without our volunteers. Our management committee is run by volunteers, our monitoring programs rely on skilled citizen scientists, our landholders ensure landscape restoration is maintained, and others help with events, Landcare, engagement and in countless other ways. We love our volunteers and appreciate their dedication to our vision of increasing, enhancing, and restoring biodiversity across central Victoria.

National Volunteer Week 2024 will recognise the diverse passions and talents everyone brings to the act of volunteering. It’s also an invitation to explore the myriad of opportunities available, emphasising that there’s a place for everyone in the world of volunteering. We have plenty of opportunities to apply your skills as a volunteer and have had so many talented volunteers assist us over the recent years.

Our projects run off very tight budgets, with funding opportunities few and far between, so we rely on volunteers more and more to help us achieve our mission of landscape restoration within the Mount Alexander region. The community has always been at the core of what we do at Connecting Country. In this new phase, we’ve had to rely on our community even more.

Because we’re surrounded by an engaged and enthusiastic community, we’re still able to check in on our local biodiversity and deliver monitoring, engagement, Landcare support and landscape restoration across our region. If it wasn’t for your hard work, we simply would not be able to continue our valuable long-term biodiversity monitoring, engage our community in caring for our local landscapes, or empower landowners to manage their land as wildlife habitat.

To everyone who has helped Connecting Country over the past two decades: a big thank you! We are so grateful for your support.

To find out more about volunteer opportunities at Connecting Country, please visit our website – click here

National Volunteer Week Events will take place from 20-26 May 2024, to say thank you to the millions of  Australians who volunteer their time. We invite you to join in the events across the country.

Midweek Bird Walk – Wednesday 15 May 2024, Campbells Creek Trail

Posted on 30 April, 2024 by Ivan

Our friends and project partners at Birdlife Castlemaine District are holding a mid-week bird walk to showcase the ecological restoration along Campbells Creek and observe the native birds that have returned to the landscape. It will be a great chance for a casual stroll along an accessible trail with knowledgeable and passionate bird watchers, and an opportunity to learn more about restoring our local landscapes. 

Birdlife Castlemaine Midweek Bird Walk – Campbells Creek Trail

Castlemaine Birdlife second mid-week walk is to be held at the Campbell’s Creek Trail in Castlemaine on the 15^th May 2024. The trail runs from the Camp Reserve along Barkers and Campbells Creeks to the Campbells Creek township. The track is mostly flat providing easy walking and is wheelchair accessible. The walk runs partly through some areas of houses and commercial buildings but has good riparian vegetation thanks largely to the Campbells Creek Land Care group. Possible sightings include Pied Currawong, Musk Lorikeet, Silvereye, Grey Fantail, Golden and Rufous Whistler and various Thornbills and Honeyeaters. Our walk leaders will be Jane Rusden and Bob Dawson.

Where: The walk starts from the beginning of the trail which is off Forest Road just by the bridge over Barkers Creek, opposite Camp Reserve.

From the roundabout at the corner of Hargreaves and Forest Streets, travel west along Forest Street for about 500 meters, under the railway bridge and over Barkers Creek then park either in Gaulton or Forest Streets then walk back along the south side of Forest Creek toward the creek. We will be at the start of the Trail. GPS -37.06648, 144.21305.

When: Meet at the Campbells Creek Trail at 9:00am.

Bring: Water, snacks, binoculars, sunscreen, hat, and we also strongly recommend that you wear long trousers and closed-in sturdy shoes.

More info: Jane Rusden, 0448 900 896, Judy Hopley 0425 768 559 or Bob Dawson 0417 621 691.

Birdlife Castlemaine acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land where we are holding our walk, the Dja Dja Wurrung people and we pay our respects to their Elders past and present. We recognise and are grateful for the immense contribution of Indigenous people to the knowledge and conservation of Australia’s birds.

Please note that walks will be cancelled if severe weather warnings are in place, persistent rain is forecast, the temperature is forecast to be 35C or above during the walk period, and/or a Total Fire Ban is declared. Please check our Facebook page the day before the event in case there is a cancellation.

2024 Victorian Landcare Forum: 9 and 10 May in Bendigo

Posted on 24 April, 2024 by Ivan

To purchase your tickets to the Victorian Landcare Forum click here.

The 2024 Victorian Landcare Forum is is hosted by Landcare Victoria Inc.

Talking turtles: Bendigo family sustainability day Saturday 20 April

Posted on 18 April, 2024 by Ivan

Looking to learn more about our terrific turtles this coming weekend? Our project partners at the Bendigo City Council are putting on two events in Bendigo, a fabulous day of sustainable fun and information themed around turtles, wildlife and biodiversity. There is a talk on at the Bendigo Library at 1.30pm, followed by a walk and talk at Kennington Reservoir, home to many turtle species in central Victoria. Please find more details, including booking information and what to expect below.

Family Sustainability Day

As part of the Kennington Reservoir Fish Habitat Project, we are excited to have Graham Stockfeld from Turtles Australia presenting at 2 events on Saturday 20^th April.

Event 1: Talkin’ Turtles at the Bendigo Library

1:30 – 2:30pm in the Performance Space as part of the Library’s Sustainable Saturday event

Come along to meet some live turtles and learn about turtle biology, ecology, threats and what we can do to protect them.

Event 2: Talkin’ Turtles at Kennington Reservoir

3pm – 4pm

Graham will share his knowledge on turtles, talk about the project at Kennington Reservoir and about what we can do to manage and protect them.

For anyone interested, more info on the project can be found here: https://go.bendigo.vic.gov.au/kenningtonfishhabitat

Please share the info with anyone that you think might be interested.

For bookings: CLICK HERE

2024 Landcare Link-up: Caring for Significant Old Trees. Sunday 19 May 2024

Posted on 18 April, 2024 by Ivan

As part of Connecting Country’s ongoing support for Landcare groups in the Mount Alexander/ Leanganook region, we coordinate an annual Landcare Link-up to provide groups with an opportunity to get together, learn, share and connect. It’s also a great opportunity for anyone not yet engaged in Landcare to learn more about what’s involved and hear about the amazing success stories in our region.

Our guest speaker, Dr. Steve Griffith has published numerous research papers on the topics of creating artificial hollows in trees, and his research into Australian Microbats and insectivorous bat species is also widely regarded. He has a long list of publications and is currently employed as an Adjunct Research Fellow in Animal Plant & Soil Sciences at LaTrobe University. We are certain most of you have met the passionate Bev Phillips from the Maldon Urban Landcare Group, who has spent many years documenting our significant native trees around the Maldon region with MULGA, and has incredible ecological knowledge of our local region and beyond.

Significant Old Yellow Box (Eucalyptus melliodora) at Bill Woodfull Reserve, Maldon. Photo by Bev Phillips.

 

It’s sure to be an interesting and engaging event, with a focus on Landcare activities, and practical know how followed by academic research into a new and exciting field. Afternoon tea will be provided for free during the event.

Bookings are essential for catering purposes. To book your place, please -click here

Everyone is welcome!

LOCATION

For any inquiries please email: hadley@connectingcountry.org.au or call the Connecting Country office on: 0493 362 394

We thank the Ian and Shirley Norman Foundation for their support of this event and our larger project regarding the importance of large old trees.

Bird of the Month: Laughing Kookaburra

Posted on 16 April, 2024 by Ivan

Welcome to Bird of the month, a partnership between Connecting Country and BirdLife Castlemaine District. Each month we’re taking a close look at one special local bird species. We’re excited to join forces to deliver you a different bird each month, seasonally adjusted, and welcome suggestions from the community. We are blessed to have the brilliant Jane Rusden and Damian Kelly from BirdLife Castlemaine District writing about our next bird of the month, accompanied by their stunning photos.

Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)

The sausage thief, Laughing Kookaburra mug shot. Photo by Jane Rusden

As we all know, the logistics of picnicking can be challenging when there’s a hungry, daring and intelligent Laughing Kookaburra around. I’ve watched a group of young kids cook sausages on the BBQ while camping, getting thoroughly bullied by a Kookaburra as they attempted and failed, to protect their cooking food. The bird dropped off a perch, wings out and gaining speed to dart deftly between the children, and snatch a fat sausage off the BBQ plate in its powerful bill. The poor kids were helpless against the crafty Kookaburra, what’s more the bird knew it, as did the kids. 

Laughing Kookaburra, the blue on the wing and rufous on the tail and rump is clearly visible. Photo by Damian Kelly.

An iconic bird that is always identified by its loud, often communal ‘laughing’ calls that echo throughout the bush. In reality these calls are mostly about delineating territories. Originally only resident in eastern Australia, it has been introduced to Western Australia, Tasmania and King Island. Even a few birds were introduced into New Zealand. It was popular amongst the early European settlers due to its abilities in snake catching and this probably contributed to the desire to introduce it into other areas. 

Due to its adaptability, it can be found in a wide range of habitats ranging from open forest to rainforest, parks, suburban gardens, farming areas and even sugar cane fields. It has adapted quickly to altered habitats and will readily take food from humans. In some areas studies have shown that up to 75% of their diet comes from people feeding them. They also take reptiles, insects, earthworms, yabbies and rodents. Small birds and native marsupials can also be part of their diet in some areas. 

Kookaburras are usually sedentary, remaining in the same territory all year. Although they perch in trees, the bulk of their prey is caught on the ground. Sitting on an elevated tree perch, power pole or on powerlines, they sit motionless watching for movement on the ground before diving down to collect their prey.  

As well as being an adaptable predator, the Kookaburra has a complex social structure. Generally, a breeding pair are assisted by offspring from previous broods who help with feeding. Some of these helpers can stay for up to 4 years. Communal behaviour also extends to roosting at night where a whole group will roost close together on the same branch. 

Laughing Kookaburra with a skink meal. Photo by Jane Rusden

Nests are usually in tree hollows, although in suitable areas they may also utilise arboreal termite nests. Usually only one clutch of 2-4 eggs is laid each season. Asynchronous hatching in the nest results in a hierarchy in size of the nestlings and in times of food shortage some weaker birds will not survive. Unfortunately, some decline in populations has been observed as the bird is at risk from human activities ranging from pesticide use to the loss of tree hollows as a result of land clearing. 

Laughing Kookaburra emerging from a nest hollow, having fed its young. Photo by Damian Kelly

Find more information on the Laughing Kookaburra, including their calls, click here.

Connect with Nature Event: Loddon Wetlands 20 & 21 April 2024

Posted on 15 April, 2024 by Ivan

Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club: April 2024 talk

Posted on 10 April, 2024 by Ivan

As a monthly tradition, our friends at Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club (CFNC) hold a meeting with a guest speaker on the second Friday of the month, followed by a group excursion or field trip the following day. Castlemaine Field Nats provided the following details about their April 2024 meeting, which look very interesting and exciting. All are welcome to attend. For more information on CFNC, please visit their website – click here

Monthly Meeting:  Friday 12th April, 7.30pm, Uniting Church Fellowship Room, Lyttleton St. Castlemaine

Speaker: Professor Tim Entwisle, “Evergreen and Entwisleia: a botanical life, and a seaweed”

Professor Tim Entwisle is an author, botanist and former director of botanic gardens in Melbourne, Sydney and London. He also lived for a few years at Yapeen and completed his final years of secondary school at Castlemaine High School. In 2022, Tim published a memoir called “Evergreen: the Botanical Life of a Plant Punk” (Thames & Hudson), and this will be the subject of his talk for us on 12 April.

He will explain why he became a botanist (and phycologist) and some of the highlights of his three decades working in, and visiting, botanic gardens around the world. Tim will also share with us the story of a seaweed (an alga) called Entwisleia bella, and how this came to be named after him. (Tim will bring some books for sale and signing).

All welcome.

Tim with Entwisleia bella

Bird of the Month: Varied Sitella

Posted on 26 March, 2024 by Ivan

Welcome to Bird of the month, a partnership between Connecting Country and BirdLife Castlemaine District. Each month we’re taking a close look at one special local bird species. We’re excited to join forces to deliver you a different bird each month, seasonally adjusted, and welcome suggestions from the community. We are blessed to have the brilliant Damian Kelly from BirdLife Castlemaine District writing about our next bird of the month.

Varied Sitella (Daphoenositta chrysoptera)

The Varied Sitella is a small grey bird that is often hard to see, although it is widespread in our region. One distinguishable behaviour is that it often runs down a tree trunk or branch or hangs upside down as it searches for food. A gregarious species, it can usually can be seen in groups of 2 up to 20 when foraging in its preferred woodland haunts.

As the name implies, plumage can be quite variable within the species and there is extensive and complex variation in different geographical areas. DNA evidence supports a few distinct subspecies, and there is widespread hybridisation between these different subspecies – all in all a bit confusing!

The Varied Sittella is a small songbird native to Australia. Photo: Damian Kelly

It can be found across Australia (but not Tasmania) in a variety of habitats from southern Victoria all the way up to Cape York, in Western Australia and is also lightly spread throughout the inland.

At times it can be found foraging in mixed species flocks which include Buff-rumped and Striated Thornbills and occasionally Scarlet Robins. It is rarely seen on the ground, preferring to move along tree trunks and in the foliage. It tends to favour higher spots on trees compared to other bark-feeding species such as Treecreepers and Crested Shriketits and can be seen 8-14m above ground level, which of course makes observation that much more tricky.

So, if you haven’t seen them around much, this preference for high branches is probably why – coupled with an overall grey appearance that helps them blend in with their surroundings.

Diet consists mainly of insects gathered from foliage and gleaned from the cracks in rough-barked trees. Flocks keep in contact as they move through the foliage by constant calling as well as flicking their wings to reveal their distinctive coloured wing-bar (see above photo). Sitellas also roost as a group, usually along a horizontal branch, all facing the same direction.

(The Varied Sittella is usually heard before it is seen in the upper branches. Photos: Damian Kelly)

Studies have shown that this species is largely sedentary with few movements more than 10 km from local areas.

Like some other Australian species, Sitellas engage in cooperative breeding. A breeding group generally consists of a primary breeding pair and a varying number of helpers, ranging from 1-7 individuals. Helpers may be adult birds along with some juveniles from previous clutches. Nests are an open cup-shaped structure, often with a long tail making them somewhat cone-shaped. Nests are constructed of bark and spider webs, sometimes incorporating hair or fur.

Find more information on the Varied Sittella, including their calls, here.

Safeguard Harcourt’s wildlife corridors: Petition

Posted on 25 March, 2024 by Ivan

Our friends at Harcourt Valley Landcare Group have been busy working on a campaign to protect Harcourt’s wildlife corridors and biodiversity assets from inappropriate development, for future generations. Harcourt is a special part of our region, and has significant vegetation that is critical habitat for threatened species such as the Brush-Tailed Phascogale, Brown Toadlet and Sun Moth Orchid, as well as many majestic large old trees and habitat corridors. The Harcourt Valley Landcare Group have started a petition on Change.org, to request the Mount Alexander Shire Council protect such natural assets from inappropriate development and ensure our wildlife and biodiversity thrive into the future.

Please find further information and details provided by Harcourt Valley Landcare Group, including how to sign the petition.

Safeguard Harcourt’s Wildlife Corridors: please sign the petition

Harcourt residents are lucky to enjoy the natural beauty of a place that affords them bush to exercise and socialise in, views to Leanganook (Mt Alexander), wildlife to encounter, Barkers Creek and rich soils to nourish us and majestic, tall trees to watch over us.

Whether we live in Harcourt township and stroll the streets with our dogs in the morning, or spend our weekends caring for larger properties, whether we grow our livelihood from the land or just seek solace from it after earning our livelihood elsewhere, we all benefit from the land the Dja Dja Wurrung people have cared for, for generations.

And yet we are at risk of losing this. Harcourt was identified in 2014 as a town that can support growth and Mt Alexander Shire Council has been developing Plan Harcourt, the document that shapes how this might look, since 2020. Safeguarding the nature we love in Harcourt hangs on the strength of the environmental protections in this document.

Nature needs you to let Mount Alexander Council know you care about Harcourt’s precious natural environment and that you’re watching this process with interest, by signing this petition.

Join Harcourt Valley Landcare Group’s call for Mt Alexander Shire Council to protect wildlife corridors that allow safe passage for our precious native species from Leanganook (Mt Alexander) to the Walmer Forest. These wildlife corridors include roadside vegetation corridors like Elys Lane, Douglas Lane, Shady Lane and Eagles Rd; and waterways such as Barkers Creek and Picnic Gully Creek. We call for strong protections for Large Old Trees, habitat for the Brush-tailed Phascogale, Brown Toadlet and Golden Sun Moth Orchid.

Click here to sign the petition and for more information.

Seeking volunteers: 2024 Nest Box checks

Posted on 12 March, 2024 by Anna

Monitoring local legend, the Brush-tailed Phascogale, is one of our core activities here at Connecting Country. We’re excited to be planning our nest box monitoring for Autumn 2024, with support from the Ian and Shirley Norman Foundation and the Victorian Government Nature Fund!

Connecting Country’s nest box monitoring program was established in 2010. Our 450 nest boxes across the Mount Alexander region of central Victoria allow us to collect valuable scientific data about the threatened Brush-tailed Phascogale and other arboreal mammals. For more information on our nest box monitoring – click here

A Brush-tailed Phascogale. Photo by Geoff Park

This year, our nest boxes will be surveyed by an experienced team of trained volunteer Team Leaders.

We are seeking volunteers to assist the Team Leaders in conducting nest box surveys, with feet planted firmly on the ground (i.e., not climbing ladders).

This nest box volunteer role involves: 

• Travel within the Mount Alexander region
• Following safety procedures
• Carrying ladders and equipment to sites
• Helping to navigate to sites
• Writing observations and recording data
• Taking photos

Fieldwork roles require working on uneven ground and carrying ladders (these are heavy!) through the bush, sometimes in hot or cold weather. Some sites require hikes through uneven terrain, or climbing over fences. Volunteers require a reasonable level of fitness and an adventurous spirit!

Volunteering on environmental projects is a great way to learn about our local environment, keep active, contribute to nature conservation, learn skills and meet new people.

If you are interested in assisting us, please send a brief email to anna@connectingcountry.org.au stating:

• Your availability during April and May 2024
• Why you are interested in volunteering (so we can do our best to make your volunteering experience as useful as possible, for you!)
• Any relevant experience
• Any questions you have

We look forward to hearing from you.

Greg helps his sister Kerrie inspect nest boxes. Photo by Kerrie Jennings

Max and Nat carry a ladder to a nest box site. Photo by Beth Mellick

Sugar Gliders in a Connecting Country nest box. Photo by Beth Mellick

Save the date: Natural Capital Forum 13 June 2024

Posted on 27 February, 2024 by Ivan

Our friends and project partners at the North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA) are hosting an interesting forum in June 2024 on Natural Capital and how it might assist landowners balance biodiversity and potential income. Save the date for now, 13 June 2024, and if interested, please see the details below, including how to request an invite. We are excited to see how the Natural Capital space can assist landowners in our region manage their land with further incentive to restore the landscapes for ecological benefits.

Natural Capital Forum: Balancing the books between nature, productivity, and people

Join representatives from NCCMA on June 13, 2024, in Bendigo for the Natural Capital Forum and discover how you can harness the power of natural capital to drive success.

Learn about the wealth of natural assets like soil, air, and biodiversity that provide essential benefits to humans and see how you can make natural capital work for you.

Tailored for land managers, primary producers, farmers, and supporting organisations.

Stay tuned for more details or request an invite at info@nccma.vic.gov.au.

Don’t miss this opportunity to unlock the potential of natural capital for your success at the North Central Natural Capital Forum.

Focus on trees: Tree photography workshop opportunity

Posted on 19 February, 2024 by Ivan

Our friends and project partners at Biolinks Alliance are hosting a large old trees photography workshop with the wonderful Alison Pouliot. Alison is a leading expert and holder of knowledge regarding nature photography, conservation, fungi and deep ecosystem understanding.

Connecting Country are requesting our community and supporters to map significant old trees in our region, through our project here.  Well captured photography can contribute greatly to recording and telling their story.

Please see details about the event below, including how to book tickets.

Focus on Trees – Tree Photography Workshop with Alison Pouliot

Large old trees are vital keystone structures in rural and urban landscapes. However, the value of these trees is often overlooked in planning such as road and fire management. Documenting these trees visually is important both as a scientific record and in drawing attention to their significance and conservation.

This workshop specifically focuses on assisting participants to improve both their technical and creative skills in photographing trees. Tree photography provides many challenges and each of these will be discussed and techniques for overcoming them demonstrated throughout the workshop. This is a very hands-on, interactive workshop combining theoretical, critique and practical sessions. It begins with a discussion of participants’ interest in photographing trees as well as any challenges or issues they may have experienced. This is followed by a session where participants’ pre-submitted images will be constructively critiqued by the group (during which participants are free to remain anonymous), followed by a field trip to put techniques into practice. Participants will be provided with supplementary printed notes to reinforce principles covered in the workshop.

Participant Requirements

Participants are asked to wear appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear for the field trip, which will go ahead regardless of weather. They are reminded to bring their cameras/phones including additional batteries, battery charger and instruction manual. Participants are encouraged to submit two images (as per guidelines that will be provided to participants) prior to the workshop for constructive critique during the workshop.

Book here

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/large-old-tree-photography-workshop-with-alison-pouliot-tickets-824888623077?aff=oddtdtcreator

This event is being held as part of Biolinks Alliance’s Large Old Trees project and is made possible through the generous support of the TAP fund, Lindy Shelmerdine, David Moffatt and Lady Marigold Southey. You can find out more about this project here: https://biolinksalliance.org.au/hero-tree

New Phascogale brochure: hot off the press

Posted on 31 January, 2024 by Ivan

It’s been some time since Connecting Country developed a new brochure, but here we have it, hot off the press – and it is all about the mighty cute, and threatened, Brush-Tailed Phascogale!

The brochure is aimed at educating our community and raising awareness of the Brush-tailed Phascogale and their habitat needs. It is available for download immediately – Click Here, or you can pick it up from the Connecting Country office in Castlemaine VIC.

The brochure is part of our ‘Habitat trees for Phascogales’ project that aims to protect and enhance habitat stepping stones for the Brush-tailed Phascogale and other native fauna, by protecting existing large old trees on grazing land.

We know that much of central Victoria’s native woodland has been heavily disturbed by a long history of mining, clearing, woodcutting, grazing, and changes in fire and water regimes. The local Box-Ironbark landscape provides habitat for many threatened species, including the Brush-tailed Phascogale, but much of the remaining woodland lacks complexity and is missing hollow-bearing trees that are important for foraging and nesting sites and protection from predators.

Tuan in a nestbox at Welshmans Reef. Photo Jess Lawton

Scientific studies demonstrate an alarming acceleration in the decline of most species within this community over recent years, including the Brush-tailed Phascogale which has experienced localised extinctions in some regions and has undergone a substantial range contraction and decline in numbers overall.

The Mount Alexander region is a likely stronghold for the Brush-tailed Phascogale and is important for the species’ future survival (Lawton et al. 2021, Austral Ecology). However, our region’s woodlands are heavily degraded and large old trees with hollows are now scarce and not being replaced.

Our project aims to protect large old trees from early senescence and facilitate natural regeneration. Over time, other key elements of phascogale habitat, such as fallen logs and leaf litter, will return to these areas.

The new brochure looks amazing, thanks to the hard work and creative magic of the Connecting Country team. In the brochure, you’ll find gorgeous images from some wonderful local photographers, as well as a summary of our how we can help the Phascogale thrive in our region.

Click here to download your very own copy, or drop into the office to pick up a free hard copy. We’d love to hear feedback on our brochure and any other information you may require into the future.

The Habitat Trees for Phascogales project is supported by the Victorian Government through the Nature Fund as well as the Ian and Shirley Norman Foundation.

Walking Together – Nalderun overview

Posted on 31 January, 2024 by Ivan

Please enjoy this wonderful article from our friends and project partners at Nalderun. The article was written by Floria Maschek, an ally and member of Friends of Nalderun (FoN). Nalderun is a Dja Dja Wurrung word meaning “all together”.

Nalderun Education Aboriginal Corporation- An overview

Nalderun (Nalderun Education Aboriginal Corporation), meaning ‘all together’, is a local Aboriginal run and led organisation and registered charity that predominantly focuses on providing opportunities for young, local First Nations People, whilst also supporting their families. The organisation also provides historical and cultural learning opportunities to the extended community, instilling the values of Country, truth telling and Indigenous world views, having many partnerships in government, community, education and health. Connection to Country, Community and Culture is at the core of Nalderun’s work – walking together for a thriving future for all. 

Nalderun supports young First Peoples to navigate the education system into meaningful employment, growing strong, proud leaders. Employment within the organisation involves an innovative cyclic mentorship approach. While Elders have a key place as directors on the board, young First Nations people hold a strong voice in decision making about Nalderun’s programs. 

The organisation relies heavily on grants and donations every year. Funding provides 20 part-time positions – 80% being Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. As an ally and volunteer, it is incredible to witness the impact of the work, the breadth of community support and engagement, and how much the broader community also benefits when Nalderun is supported.

Nalderun’s work involves personalised student support, from tutoring to travel, and several programs including the following: 

School Based Apprenticeship Program (SBAT) and wrap around service.

Developing skills and connection in many areas including land management, conservation, agriculture, horticulture, education, business management and machinery operations. 

Warrarrak business

Connecting and engaging First Nations women and gender diverse students from local high schools (predominantly CSC) in a range of activities which include day trips, camps and cultural days. 

Kuli Business

A collaboration between Nalderun and Castlemaine Secondary College, guided by Uncle Rick Nelson, this program is for young Indigenous men. It involves trips on Country, and cultural engagement that includes hands-on activities and skill building. It helps them build strong connections to their Indigenous peers, a positive growth mindset and supports ongoing engagement with education. 

Youth Mentor Leadership Program 

This program is led by First Nations Youth Mentors who regularly visit, build relationships with and support local First Nations high school students. They have hosted Cultural Days on Djaara Country as well as a two day camp on Djab Wurrung Country.

The Meeting Place 

Held fortnightly during school terms, based in Yapeen, this program is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children within the Mount Alexander Shire and Maryborough Education Center and sometimes beyond. Students come together to learn the curriculum through Culture and Country. All who attend are honoured in the spirit of community learning. 

Foodshare

Nalderun delivered food to 13 families fortnightly through Foodshare last year in partnership with Bendigo Foodshare. A lot of meals!

Me- Mandook Galk

The community supported acquisition of land has allowed a strong connection with Country and shared community vision. This is the home of Nalderun’s new Bush Tucker Place, which is part of Nalderun’s long term vision to care for Country and Community.  Nalderun has been strengthening the partnership with the mob at the Middleton prison, and community mentorship, being on a wonderful learning journey about native plants that the farm is starting to produce and hoping to propagate over the year. The dream is to establish a sound revenue stream going into the future.

Education Network Group 

The group meets with local schools four times a year to support and help teachers with Indigenous pedagogy and worldviews, and to incorporate Indigenous content into the curriculum through Aboriginal and Torres Islander protocols. Nalderun also run tailored Indigenous worldview and pedagogy training for schools and local organisations.

Nalderun is breaking cycles of intergenerational trauma and disadvantage, which occur through ongoing colonisation. It is building pride, resilience and wellbeing.

Find out more about survival day: 

https://antar.org.au/issues/survival-day/history-of-the-date/

Nalderun website:

https://nalderun.net.au/

Floria Maschek is an ally and member of Friends of Nalderun (FoN). FoN members are guided by Nalderun Education Aboriginal Corporation and are diverse individuals and representatives of many local community networks, supporting Nalderuns visions and work. Nalderun Education Aboriginal Corporation supports the Aboriginal Community and is led by Aboriginal people while providing many learning and cultural opportunities to the broader community. Nalderun is a Dja Dja Wurrung word meaning “all together”. 

Our next digital journey: Instagram and photo competition

Posted on 30 January, 2024 by Ivan

We’re thrilled to announce a new chapter in our digital journey – Connecting Country is officially on Instagram! As we continue to grow and evolve, we’re excited to connect with you in new and dynamic ways through this vibrant platform.

Instagram might be a global stage, but it’s also a powerful way of connecting to our community in a more visual sense.  From engaging content to exciting collaborations, we can’t wait to connect with each and every one of you, no matter where you are!

Follow us on Instagram and get a glimpse of our current projects and activities around the region and the incredible people who make everything possible, click here or find us on Instagram: instagram.com/connectingcountrycastlemaine/

Photo competition

To celebrate our Instagram debut and celebrate our latest project – Habitat Trees for Phascogales – we’re hosting an exciting giveaway for one of our Instagram followers via a photo competition. We will be giving away a phascogale nestbox* for the best large old tree photograph taken in the Mount Alexander region during February 2024. To enter, simply upload your favorite photo to Instagram and tag @connectingcountrycastlemaine.

We would love to hear from you, so please share your thoughts in the comments, and join the conversation using our official hashtag, [#connectingcountrycastlemaine]. Your feedback will help shape the content you want to see!

Thank you for joining us on this exciting new venture. Together, let’s make our Instagram journey as memorable as the incredible milestones that brought us here.

See you on Instagram!

*Winner must be able to pick up the nestbox from our Castlemaine offices during March 2024.  Installation not included.

The misunderstood magical mistletoes: ABC online article

Posted on 25 January, 2024 by Ivan

Connecting Country has a long history of raising awareness about the often misunderstood native mistletoe in our region and the benefits it provides to a large array of birds, insects and marsupials. Our bird walk for beginners along Forest Creek, Castlemaine VIC, highlights various patches of healthy eucalypt and acacia species that host the semi-parasitic mistletoe plant and provide a healthy ecosystem function for many of our woodland birds.

We recently came across a great article published on the ABC website, where Dr David Watson, a plant biologist from Charles Sturt University, is interviewed regarding the many benefits and misunderstandings regarding mistletoe and its importance for healthy ecosystems. Please enjoy the article below, courtesy of ABC Online.

Mistletoe plays a vital role in Australia’s ecosystem

Mention mistletoe and people think of the magical plant that inspires many on-screen kisses. Others might say it’s a parasitic weed that kills its host tree. Mistletoes are indeed parasites, but this humble little plant might be an unsung hero when it comes to attracting wildlife.

This is why ecologist Lee Harrison persuaded Melbourne City Council to plant 800 mistletoe seeds in perfectly healthy street trees around the inner city and CBD. “They punch well above their weight in the biodiversity stakes,” says David Watson, a plant biologist from Charles Sturt University. “They flower and fruit when most other stuff doesn’t, so they are often the only source of tucker for insects and animals during hard times. “Mistletoes are a bird beacon but they also provide for sugar gliders, koalas, possums and butterflies.”

There are around 1,500 different species of mistletoe in the world, and all 92 in Australia are endemic — found nowhere else in the world.”Most people don’t realise that the mistletoe we see in our trees here is native,” Dr Watson  says. “Because we have that association with Christmas, people assume it’s an import, like blackberries and holly.”

Nuytsia floribunda, or WA Christmas tree, is actually a mistletoe. (Photo: Graeme Churchard).

Dr Watson is about halfway through a 25-year study based in native woodland around Albury, NSW. “Essentially, we removed naturally occurring mistletoe from every tree across half of our study sites and left them at the other half.”

Preliminary results were quite startling: the areas without mistletoe lost a third of their previous bird diversity. “It is one of the strongest described effects of what’s called a keystone species — one that has a disproportionate influence on the ecosystem,” Dr Watson says. Dr Watson believes mistletoe has the potential to turn “virtually useless” street tree species and cities into wildlife sanctuaries. And no, they rarely kill host trees but, if they do, it’s generally because the broader environment is out of whack. “They kill trees as often as fleas kill dogs,” Dr Watson says.

“Generally it’s only isolated paddock trees that succumb, and they are a symptom of a broader malaise — there are not enough trees in the area.” Mistletoes are semi-parasitic canopy-dwellers; they photosynthesise to produce their own food but rely upon their host for water and support. Dr Watson says the word “parasite” gives them a bad rap.

“Like any predator, they have a role to play in a healthy ecosystem.” Fire also plays a role in “cleansing” mistletoes to stop them taking over — many trees regenerate after fire but mistletoes don’t. Changes to burning regimes upsets this balance. Dr Watson is also researching the fact that mistletoes drop their leaves more than gum trees and those leaves contain more nutrients, so mistletoes feed the soil under the host tree and keep it moist. Importantly for wildlife, this leaf litter drives more microbes in the soil, more insects, and hence more food for birds.

Mistletoe are found in almost every type of Australian environment, except Tasmania.

Mistletoe fun facts

Mistletoe provides food and shelter for all sorts of bugs, animals and birds like the mistletoe bird.(Photo: Wikimedia Commons: Duncan McCaskill (CC by 3.0))

• Mistletoe are over 30 million years old and fossil records suggest they originate from the part of Australia that was attached to Gondwana.
• The Western Australian Christmas tree (Nuytsia floribunda), known for its stunning bright orange flowers, is possibly the largest parasite in the world. However, it’s suffered a 90 per cent decline over recent years.
• The WA Christmas tree has blades on its roots sharp enough to break skin and slice through underground cables! It uses these to tap into roots of any plant within 100 metres.
• Mistletoe can become vulnerable if their preferred host plant become more widely spaced. If there’s not be enough fruit to attract mistletoe birds, even a healthy plant cannot reproduce.
• The leaves of nearly every Victorian mistletoe are the preferred food of caterpillars of at least one type of butterfly within the Azures (Ogyrisspp) and the Jezebels (Deliasspp).
• Golden Mistletoe (Notothixossubaureus) grows only on another mistletoe, Dendropthoe vittelina, which in turn is parasitic on the relatively uncommon tree rough-barked apple (Angophora floribunda).
• As mistletoe seed germinates, it puts out a tendril that secretes a cocktail of enzymes onto the branch, making a hole the tendril grows into.

Help support us!: Container recycling deposit scheme:

Posted on 23 January, 2024 by Ivan

In a world full of bad news, we’ve got some good news! How would you like to recycle your cans, cartons and bottles and support Connecting Country at the same time?  On 1 November 2023 Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme, CDS Vic, commenced. The scheme rewards Victorians with a 10-cent refund for every eligible can, carton and bottle they return. The recycling scheme also has the option to donate to a local community group or organisation, which is a valuable fundraising opportunity, simply by recycling your drinking containers. The scheme is part of important work that is transforming Victoria’s waste and recycling system.

If you would like to donate some, or all of your money from the recycling scheme to Connecting Country, quote partner ID: C2000009164 at the return centre.

How to make a return: click here

It’s as easy as 1, 2 3:

CDS Vic provides a 10-cent refund for every eligible drink container returned at refund points across Victoria. Every bottle, can and carton you return helps divert valuable containers from landfill. 

     1. Collect eligible drink containers:

Most aluminum, glass, plastic, steel, and liquid paperboard (carton) drink containers between 150mL and 3 litres are eligible. Look for the 10c mark on the back of pack. Some drinks are not eligible, including plain milk containers, wine and spirit bottles.  Tip: Keep lids on and don’t crush your containers.