Need help to control Wheel Cactus?

Posted on 24 June, 2019 by Asha

Great message from our local Cactus Warriors:

Are you new to the Maldon area? Have you escaped the stressful city lifestyle and bought yourself a piece of paradise? Welcome, you’ve made the best decision! But have you now discovered there’s a few weeds to deal with?

If you have some Wheel Cactus plants, then the Tarrangower Cactus Control Group (TCCG) can help you to deal with these invasive weeds. If there’s just a few young plants then it’s much easier to destroy these while they’re small. But no matter how small or large your Wheel Cactus infestation, please don’t hesitate to contact the TCCG for help and advice.

You can contact us via our website at www.cactuswarriors.org where you’ll also find some interesting case studies about new community members who’ve bought properties with Wheel Cactus infestations and been very successful in eliminating the weed.

Thanks to ongoing support from the Mount Alexander Shire Council, our group is very well equipped with digging tools and injection kits that can borrowed free of charge. We also hold regular Community Field Days where we demonstrate the best techniques to use.

Our next Community Field Day is on Sunday 30 June 2019, and will be in Watersons Road, Maldon VIC. The route will be well signposted from Bridgewater Rd. The morning’s activities begin at 10:30 am and always end with a delicious BBQ lunch and friendly chat. These events are family friendly, but children must be accompanied by a parent at all times. If you have any queries please contact us via email at info@cactuswarriors.org

Wheel Cactus plants on a property near Maldon (photo provided by TCCG).

Special General Meeting and Acacia workshop – Saturday 24 August 2019

Posted on 24 June, 2019 by Frances

Connecting Country is holding a Special General Meeting and Acacia workshop, The Wonderful World of Wattles, at 2.00 pm on Saturday 24 August 2019 at Campbells Creek Community Centre.

Come along for brief meeting formalities and then learn all about identifying our amazing local Acacias with special guest and local legend, Ian Higgins!

To see our official notice to members about the meeting – click here

For more information on the interactive Acacia workshop, please see our flyer below. To download a copy of the flyer – click here

We encourage our members to attend, but all are welcome. To RSVP please visit TryBooking – click here

This Acacia workshop is made possible by funding support from the North Central Catchment Management Authority.

Listening to Nature: a sonic landscape

Posted on 20 June, 2019 by Ivan

Hot off the press! The first video featuring nocturnal bird calls from the Mount Alexander region using song meter audio recorders.

During 2018, a group of volunteers conducted a project to monitor nocturnal birds in the Mt Alexander region, Central Victoria, using Song Meter recorders. This was a ‘Communities Listening for Nature’ project run by Victoria National Parks Association (VNPA) in partnership with Museums Victoria and assistance from Connecting Country.

The Communities Listening to Nature project uses automated sound recorders to monitor birds in their natural environments. The recorder recorded bird calls at many sites over long time periods. Partnering with local groups, the VNPA have been installing recorders at several locations, including Mount Worth State Park and surrounding district, Bunyip State Park, Mount Alexander region and the Wombat State Forest.

Each location has its own study design, which has been developed with input from local groups and land managers, and scientists from Museums Victoria. The recorded bird calls will help them learn more about Victoria’s birds. The recordings are also added to the public library of Victorian bird sounds managed by Museums Victoria and available to everyone from their online collections. Communities Listening for Nature is being carried out in partnership with Museums Victoria and with generous support from the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust.

For more information on the Listening to Nature project, please click here.

The video was produced by RMIT University student Charlie, who worked as an intern with Sera Blair at VNPA for a few weeks. One of his projects was to prepare a video based on the Listening for Nature Song Meter recordings. They selected segments from recordings from a local Sandon property and Charlie then blended these together to make a night-time story.

Thanks to local legend Jennifer Rolland for annotation and habitat images, and to Andrew Haysom for Eastern Yellow Robin and Superb Fairy-wren images.

The project uses spectrograms. Spectrograms are a visual representation of an audio signal, with the pitch or frequency displayed vertically, and the time horizontally. High frequencies (like those made by bats) are near the top of the image, while lower frequencies are near the bottom of the image.

Connecting with videos

Posted on 19 June, 2019 by Ivan

Did you know Connecting Country has a video channel on the Vimeo website platform?

We have 11 videos in total, with nearly 2,000 views. The most popular video is ‘Make a Rabbit Bait Station’, which has over 1,000 views and has proved very popular with its interesting mix of science, arts and comedy. Give it a go!

Connecting Country is keen to do some new videos in the coming years, which we will post on our website and Vimeo. Possible topics include monitoring birds, re-vegetation success stories and project outcomes. Do you have any video topics you would like Connecting Country to consider over the next few years?

Please enjoy this video on Vimeo, covering a range of topics from Connecting Country’s first eight years: click here

The Connecting Country Vimeo collection (photo by Connecting Country)

Invasive plant information

Posted on 19 June, 2019 by Ivan

Did you know Connecting Country has a useful website that contains detailed information about the most common invasive plants in the Mount Alexander region?

Invasive plants, pest plants, or weeds, have attributes that enable them to out-complete other species. They are plants that are not valued where they are growing and usually grow vigorously. They may produce prolific amounts of seed, spread vegetatively and grow rapidly, and are often unpalatable to livestock or wildlife. These characteristics often allow them to dominate and displace indigenous and crop plants, contributing to a decline in biodiversity and loss of agricultural productivity.

Under the Victorian Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (CaLP Act) certain invasive plants are classified as noxious weeds. Land owners and managers have responsibilities to control these weeds. Failure to do so could result in prosecution and severe fines.

Gorse is common throughout the goldfields region (photo by Agriculture Victoria)

Environmental weeds are plant species that are particularly invasive in natural bushland, completing with or choking out native plants. Not all environmental weeds are listed as noxious weeds on the CaLP Act.

The Connecting Country website lists over 60 invasive plants from A to Z, and includes information about their distribution, likely habitat, how to identify them and control methods. Most of the invasive plants listed have brochures available for download or links to further information. Over the past decade, Connecting Country’s projects have controlled invasive plants across 6,183 hectares of land, resulting in better habitat and allowing desirable native species to reestablish these areas.

Click here to visit our invasive plant resources and let us know what you think!

Specific weed information

Local deer sightings on the hop

Posted on 13 June, 2019 by Ivan

Local residents have reported a recent increase in sightings of feral deer in the forested regions around Muckleford, Campbells Creek, Sandon and Maldon. This coincides with a Victorian state government report concluding there are as many as a million feral deer in Victoria, with some species increasingly found in urban areas.

Andrew Cox of the Invasive Species Council (ISC) said ‘The deer invasion is coming’ and feral deer are ‘one of the country’s worst emerging vertebrate pest problem in Australia’. ‘Modelling shows that deer could easily spread across the entire mainland,’ said Mr Cox.

One of the biggest problems with feral deer is the erosion they cause along waterways and damage they cause to native vegetation. ‘It is estimated that deer numbers increased by 60 per cent between 2009 and 2016’, stated the ISC. Drier conditions have resulted in deer feeding on urban vegetation, and the state government estimated more than than 1,000 plant and animal species had been impacted by deer.

Landcare Victoria Inc is supporting an open letter to three Victorian government ministers, all with primary responsibility for drafting and/or implementation Victoria’s Deer Management Strategy.

The aim is for organisations, academic bodies and notable individuals to sign the attached open letter, asking for effective action on feral deer in Victoria. If you would like to sign the letter please contact Landcare Victoria Inc for a copy. For any queries please contact Phil on 0427 705 133 or by email at philipi@vnpa.org.au

For more information on the potential distributions of the six feral deer species, please click here

Feral deer in the dry woodlands of Victoria (photo by ABC Victoria)

Victorian Landcare Awards 2019 – nominations now open

Posted on 13 June, 2019 by Asha

Nominations are now open for the 2019 Victorian Landcare Awards. These awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of the countless individuals, groups, networks and organisations who make significant contributions to protect, conserve and restore Victoria’s environment.

There are nine National Landcare Award categories and six Victorian Award categories.

National Landcare Award categories:  

• Landcare Farming Award
• Innovation in Agriculture Land Management Award
• Individual Landcarer Award
• Partnerships for Landcare Award
• Coastcare Award
• Junior Landcare Team Award
• Young Landcare Leadership Award
• Indigenous Land Management Award
• Landcare Community Group Award

All Victorian winners of the National Landcare Awards categories will proceed as finalists (representing Victoria) at the 2020 National Landcare Awards.

Victorian Landcare Award categories:

• Joan Kirner Landcare Award
• Landcare Network Award
• Dr Sidney Plowman Travel & Study Award
• Heather Mitchell Memorial Fellowship
• Urban Landcare Award
• Environmental Volunteer Award

Nominations are encouraged from groups, networks and individuals involved in protecting and enhancing their local environment and improving agricultural productivity. They include:

• Sustainable farmers & professional farming systems groups
• Indigenous Landcare groups & individuals
• Urban Landcare groups including ‘Friends of’ groups
• Landcare groups
• Coastcare groups
• Individuals
• Environmental volunteer groups
• Junior Landcare groups (including day care centres, primary and secondary schools, youth groups)
• Youth groups including Scouts & Girls Guides
• Young Landcare leaders
• Natural resource management agencies
• Local government
• Research agencies
• Agricultural co-operatives, industry associations, suppliers or individual primary producers.

Entries close: Sunday 7 July 2019

More information: on criteria and how to nominate for the 2019 Victorian Landcare Awards go to www.landcareaustralia.org.au/landcareawards2019

A foray in fungal realms with Alison Pouliot – Friday 14 June 2019

Posted on 13 June, 2019 by Asha

The Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club have once again engaged a great guest speaker for their monthly general meeting.

From the Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club blog:

Hygrocybe sp. HYG8103 © Alison Pouliot

Alison has worked as a scientific photographer and ecologist for almost three decades. She has presented over 350 workshops and seminars on environmental and conservation themes in Australia and internationally – more details at alisonpouliot.com    

Throughout history, fungi have confounded humans with their strange appearances, peculiar habitats and dubious connotations. Yet without fungi, life as we know it would be radically different. Fungi regulate the biosphere and support the earth’s ecological functioning. They provide us with food, wine and medicine.

Alison will take us deep into the fungal kingdom, showcasing the aesthetics of these perplexing yet enchanting organisms, and explore some of their natural and cultural curiosities.

The talk is open to both members and visitors – bring along friends and family. The evening will commence from 7.30 pm on Friday 14 June 2019 at the Fellowship Room, behind the Uniting Church on Lyttleton St, Castlemaine VIC (next door to the Castlemaine Art Museum). Tea and snacks available afterwards. There is no cost for attendance.

If you need further information please contact Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club.

Outcomes of our Bird Watch Workshop in May 2019

Posted on 12 June, 2019 by Jess

Bird monitoring at Connecting Country

A young Spotted Pardalote seen during a local bird survey (photo by Jane Rusden)

When Connecting Country started back in 2010, we began to survey woodland birds to monitor if our restoration efforts were influencing biodiversity. We carefully designed our study with the help of a university professor and selected 50 sites on private land across the Mount Alexander region of central Victoria. Since 2010, we have conducted over 1,200 bird surveys and collected 24,000 bird records. To read about the results of our long term bird monitoring – click here.

Previously, we had funding for Connecting Country staff to establish the program and conduct bird monitoring (click here). To allow bird monitoring to continue during fluctuations in funding, and ensure community relevance, we are moving to a system where data is collected by ‘citizen scientists’ – volunteers from the local community with an interest in nature conservation and bird watching. To learn more about this new approach – click here. We are now working closely with Birdlife Castlemaine District to continue our program. As we transition to this new approach, it is important our bird monitoring program aligns with community objectives.

Bird Watch workshop

Fifteen people attended an interactive community workshop on 19 May 2019 in Chewton. The purpose of the workshop was to clarify the aims of our monitoring program. We wanted to check if the questions we are asking about how our woodland birds are faring in the region are in line with concerns and objectives of the local community. We asked participants what they most wanted to learn about our birds.

While people were interested in a broad range of topics, three key themes emerged from our workshop that were relevant to monitoring. People are particularly interested in:

• Effects of new housing developments on birds.
• Effects of climate change on birds.
• Effects of landscape restoration on birds (i.e., continuing our long term monitoring project).

We learnt a lot about what the community cares about, and we’ll be keeping this in mind as we consider new projects and funding opportunities in the future. You can read the outcomes of the day here. Connecting Country would like to sincerely thank all participants in the workshop for their contributions.

A common bronzewing at a birdbath (photo by Jane Rusden)

Future bird monitoring

Based on the discussion from the workshop, with the help of an amazing team of volunteers, we’re going to continue to monitor our existing bird survey sites, and build on the substantial data already collected. Our aim is to survey our 50 existing sites, or a subset according to available resources. We will continue to our investigation of the effects of landscape restoration on birds, and continue to collect long-term data on the effects of climatic events on birds in the region. If our capacity grows, we will be able to add additional sites, perhaps at housing developments.

Volunteer with Connecting Country – Biodiversity data officer

Posted on 11 June, 2019 by Jess

Do you have skills and interests in data management and collation? Interested in contributing to biodiversity conservation in the Mount Alexander Region, but prefer to work in a friendly office environment?

Connecting Country’s biodiversity monitoring

Adding our records into the VBA will help protect species like this Brush-tailed Phascogale (photo by Jess Lawton)

Connecting Country’s biodiversity monitoring began in 2010 and is central to our ongoing efforts towards habitat restoration and healthy environments in the Mount Alexander Region. Rigorous, long-term monitoring is essential to determine if threatened species are declining, or on-ground habitat restoration is successfully increasing populations of at-risk species, such as the brush-tailed phascogale and woodland birds. Connecting Country monitors birds, arboreal mammals, and frogs and reptiles. To date we have collected over 23,425 bird records.

As part of our Habitat Health Check Project, we are reviewing our long-term monitoring programs,  empowering our community to monitor biodiversity, and, importantly, ensuring that the data we collect is being shared and used appropriately.

We’re sharing our bird and mammal data so it can be useful to all

The Victorian Biodiversity Atlas (VBA) is a web-based information system designed to manage information about native and species present in Victoria. The VBA species observations are a foundation dataset that feeds into many biodiversity tools used in the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning’s everyday decision making. It shows where wildlife is now and how this has changed over time. It provides a core input to government processes, decisions and programs that impact native species.

The biodiversity data officer will coordinate the significant task of entering Connecting Country’s historic data sets into the Victorian Biodiversity Atlas.  Entry of fauna records into the VBA is an essential part of Connecting Country’s ongoing efforts towards habitat enhancement and healthy environments in the Mount Alexander Region. Adding records to the VBA is also a way to influence a range of government investment, regulation and management decisions.

Biodiversity data officer role

This is a volunteer role that would suit someone who is available to commit to working from the Connecting Country Office in Castlemaine VIC for around one day a week. We’ll provide training on how to use the VBA. Please click here to see the position description for this role, or feel free to contact jess@connectingcountry.org.au (Mondays and Tuesdays) for more information.

Photo competition, an opportunity to put local Eucalypts on the cover

Posted on 6 June, 2019 by Jacqui

Winning photographs will be included in the national conservation action plan for eucalypts and social media. Winners of each category will also receive a prize pack of the following books:

• Eucalyptus, the award winning novel by Murray Bail.
• Eucalyptus: An Illustrated Guide to Identification by Ian Brooker and David Kleinig.

 A river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) at Simpsons Gap, Northern Territory (photo by Jaana Dielenberg)

Photographs

To submit photos include the following information:

Help support Connecting Country

Posted on 6 June, 2019 by Frances

Community are at the heart of all we do. We support Landcarers and help landholders revegetate and protect bushland. We monitor local plants and animals, and engage people to raise awareness about our special local environment. We empower people to take action and connect with their landscape.

In recent years, Connecting Country has adapted to an environment where less funding is available. We draw on a patchwork of grants to achieve a lot with a little. This isn’t always easy. We wouldn’t exist without our generous supporters and volunteers, and are constantly on the lookout for ways to make our limited resources go further.

Connecting Country chooses to make our membership free, because we welcome anyone and everyone to join us! However, if you’ve enjoyed being part of our story, or would like to further support our work, you may like to make a financial contribution.

With the end of the financial year approaching fast, it’s a good time for donations. Connecting Country is a registered charity with Deductible Gift Recipient Status. Donations of $2 and over are tax deductible.

The easiest way to donate is online via Givenow: click here
For other ways to donate: click here

Your gift will help safeguard the future of Connecting Country, directly support practical on-ground actions for our local environment, and contribute to protecting and restoring the local landscape we all love.

To each of the many people who have already contributed, we express our deepest thanks.

Sights and sounds from the Camp Out 2019

Posted on 6 June, 2019 by Asha

If you couldn’t make it to the Camp Out on the Mount 2019, we now have available an audio recording of the panel and song from the Sunday morning. Or you may have come along but enjoyed it so much you’d like to listen again! Many thanks to Leonie van Eyk and the Little Habitat Heroes for recording this and putting it together to be shared.

The audio features a Welcome to Country from Uncle Michael Bourke, followed by further welcomes from Connecting Country, Little Habitat Heroes, Harcourt Valley Landcare, and Maree Edwards MP. Local legend George Milford then facilitates a discussion between local experts, including Terri Williams (Bendigo TAFE), Michael Bourke (Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation), Ian Braybrook and Marilyn Bennet (authors of ‘Sarah’s search – a silk odyssey’). They speak about the values of the mount from the perspectives of the environment, culture, and heritage. It finishes with local musician Eva Popov singing her song, ‘Seeds that grow’.

Click here to listen, or click the ‘play’ button below.

Also, please enjoy these lovely photos of some of the kids who went down to the revegetated area at Old Silk Worm Farm after the panel. Leonie and the Little Habitat Heroes helped them find new plants that had grown to the same height as them, to take their photo with!

Harvey and Gulliver Ward with a revegetated Hakea decurrens (photo by Leonie van Eyk)

Ted Macarthy with a revegetated Acacia (photo by Leonie van Eyk)

Birdata workshop – 23 June 2019

Posted on 6 June, 2019 by Jess

BirdLife Castlemaine District and Connecting Country are partnering to bring you a new workshop on how to use the Birdata app to record bird surveys on your smartphone (both Android and iPhone). No experience is required. We’ll provide training on how to do a 20 minute – 2 hectare search using your phone.

Surveys can also be recorded on paper if necessary. However, if you have a smartphone, using the Birdata app is quick and easy, and saves time on data entry.

We often encounter Eastern Yellow Robins during bird surveys (photo by Jane Rusden)

Here’s what we’ll cover at the workshop:

• What is a 2 ha area count and how do you do it.
• How to use Birdata and record a survey.
• Substantial afternoon tea!
• Putting theory into practice by completing a survey in the field.

When: Sunday 23 June 2019 at 1:00 pm

Where: Tea Room, Castlemaine Botanical Gardens, Downes Rd, Castlemaine VIC

Registration: Please email castlemaine@birdlife.org.au to register. That way we can provide plenty of afternoon tea and Birdata trainers.

Victorian Junior Landcare biodiversity grants

Posted on 6 June, 2019 by Asha

Victorian schools and other groups with young Victorians that want to work on a biodiversity project can apply for the 2019 Victorian Junior Landcare and Biodiversity Grants. These grants offer funding for projects that involve and educate young Victorians in valuing and actively caring for our natural environment. For further information: click here

Who can apply: Schools, kindergartens, childcare centres, Scouts, Girl Guides and youth groups.

Grant funding: Up to $5,000 is available for projects comprising direct action (i.e., projects with an on-ground component), indirect action (i.e., projects with an environmental education component), or a mix of both.

Type of projects supported by this program:

• On-ground projects that restore, protect, enhance, or develop habitat for native flora and fauna, and/or address threats to biodiversity, e.g., weed invasion, habitat loss.
• Projects that increase opportunities for children to connect with their natural environment, e.g., a school excursion to Healesville Sanctuary.
• Projects that educate and raise awareness among young people of the benefits and importance of biodiversity and a healthy environment, and/or how they can contribute to environmental improvement.

Grant guidelines: click here

Frequently asked questions: click here

How to apply: To access the application form log into the Landcare Australia Communities portal (or register if you haven’t applied for a Landcare Australia grant before). Click on ‘2019 Victorian Junior Landcare and Biodiversity Grants’ and then click ‘create application’. You can save your application as a draft and log back in to finish it later.

Applications close: 3.00 pm on Friday 21 June 2019

Birdlife Castlemaine Birdwalk at Harcourt – 1 June 2019

Posted on 30 May, 2019 by Ivan

Birdlife Castlemaine has provided details for their monthly bird walk, this weekend at Harcourt.  If you have questions about the walks program, you can email them at: castlemaine@birdlife.org.au

June Bird Walk

Saturday 1 June – Barkers Creek Reservoir, Harcourt VIC

We’ll start on the eastern side, hoping for reasonable sightings of bush birds in the woodlands, where we will do a 20 minute 2 hectare survey, then walk across to look for the water birds and raptors (there were three Whistling Kites there recently). If you have a spotting scope, please bring it. We’ll then drive to the parking area on the west side, off McIvor Rd.  Damian Kelly’s ‘Castlemaine Bird Walks’ book has further details and a useful map (see page 62).  Bring morning tea and a stool or chair.  There are new information boards near the car park about the Coliban water supply system and the use of canoes and kayaks on the reservoir.

Location and directions: Travelling from Castlemaine, turn right off the Old Calder Highway in Harcourt, and follow Market St towards Mt Alexander.  At the junction with Reservoir Rd follow the bitumen as it turns left, and continue to T-junction at McIvor Rd. Turn right, then left onto North Harcourt Rd and park on the left, just past the Harcourt-Sutton Grange Rd intersection.

Time: Meet at Barkers Creek Reservoir at 8:45 am, or to carpool from Castlemaine meet at 8:30am outside Castlemaine Community House (formerly Continuing Ed), Templeton St, Castlemaine VIC.

Important information about walks: Bring water, snacks, binoculars, hat, sunscreen, sturdy shoes, long pants during snake season, and other weather-appropriate gear.

Walks will be cancelled if the temperature is forecast to be 35 degrees or more during the walk period, severe weather warnings are forecast, and/or if the day has been declared a Total Fire Ban.

Questions?: If you have questions about our walks program, you can email Birdlife Castlemaine at castlemaine@birdlife.org.au, or call Judy Hopley (0425 768 559) or Asha Bannon (0418 428 721).

Jacky winter. Photo: Peter Turner

Connecting Country membership renewal for 2019-20 – now available online

Posted on 30 May, 2019 by Jacqui

Connecting Country’s membership renewal drive for the 2019-20 is well underway, and we are happy to announce that it is simpler than ever. By following this secure link, you can now renew your membership online in a couple of minutes.

Central Victorian Box and Ironbark forest in spring bloom. Photo: Alison Pouliot

Connecting Country membership is free and has lots of benefits:

• Demonstrates your support for our activities, and our work towards an increasingly healthy natural environment within the Mount Alexander Region. The support of good membership numbers is critical when we apply for grants and other external support.
• Provides insurance cover when you attend our events.
• Allows you to vote at our Annual General Meeting
• Provides free access to our events and resources, including borrowing monitoring equipment.

Please encourage friends and contracts who are interested in the local environment to consider becoming a member. For people applying to become members for the first time, please use the same form. Your application will be presented at the next monthly Committee of Management meeting before your membership is formalised. If you would prefer a hard copy membership form instead, please contact us (info@connectingcountry.org.au) to request a form.

Connecting Country’s Annual Report is a comprehensive snapshot of the activities we are involved in and the yearly achievements. To have a look through the Connecting Country Annual Report to meet the people who are involved and learn about what they are doing, click here.

Outdoor activities at Camp Out on the Mount, a fun weekend event on Mount Alexander that connects people of all ages with the natural environment. Photo: Robyn Miller

With the end-of-financial year looming, you may be interested in making a tax-deductible donation to support Connecting Country’s work towards habitat restoration and improved landscape health across the Mount Alexander Shire and surrounds.

The membership form will direct you to the on-line Give Now donation page.

For donation by bank transfer, alternative methods and for more details about our tax-deductible charity status click here.

Birds on Farms – volunteering opportunity

Posted on 30 May, 2019 by Ivan

BirdLife Australia’s Woodland Birds team is seeking the support of volunteer birdwatchers for its Birds on Farms program. This citizen-science monitoring program aims to learn more about how birds are using a variety of habitats on private rural properties by conducting quarterly 20 minute – 2 hectare surveys.

There are currently two properties within the area encompassed by BirdLife Castlemaine where survey plots have been established on landholders’ properties, but do not have an assigned birdwatcher (or birdwatchers). One is at Maldon with three survey plots, and another near Guildford with four survey plots.

If you and/or a small group of birdwatching friends are potentially interested in becoming the volunteer birdwatcher for one or both of these properties, please contact Caroline Wilson and Chris Timewell (woodlandbirds@birdlife.org.au) at BirdLife Australia to discuss this opportunity.

Background information about the Birds on Farms program is available on the BirdLife Australia website – click here

Musk Lorikeet in full colors (photo by Geoff Park)

Renovation rescue: nestboxes for Brush-tailed Phascogales

Posted on 22 May, 2019 by Ivan

Brush-tailed Phascogales (also known as Tuan) were once widespread across Victoria. Unfortunately habitat destruction and introduced predators mean their range is now severely reduced and fragmented. The species is listed as Threatened under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988, and considered vulnerable to localised extinction. Lack of old trees with nesting hollows is likely to limit recovery of this hollow-dependent species.

In 2010 Connecting Country began a nestbox program across the Mount Alexander region, installing nestboxes designed specifically for use by Brush-tailed Phascogales. We now have over 450 nestboxes on private and public land, located systematically across the landscape to allow scientific analysis of results to better understand their distribution and habitat preferences in our landscape. Nestboxes were monitored in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018, providing a significant volume of data.

After eight years, many of the nestboxes needed maintenance and repair, and our monitoring program needed renovating. Thanks to the Wettenhall Environment Trust, Connecting Country has secured a small environmental grant for our ‘Renovation rescue’ project to maintain and repair the nestboxes, and update the monitoring program.

The overall project aim is to effectively monitor and support local Brush-tailed Phascogale populations and distribution. Specific aims for this project are to:

• Analyse existing nestbox monitoring data collected between 2011 and 2018, using qualified scientists from a partner institution.
• Review implications for the ongoing nestbox program and identify any required changes to the program to ensure we are achieving our aims.
• Contact landholders with nest boxes to update their contact details, record any changes in land ownership, and engage with any new land owners regarding nestboxes on their property.
• Maintain, repair, renovate and/or replace existing nestboxes as required, including removal of feral bees. This will ensure continued availability of nesting habitat for phascogales, while also allowing for our future data collection to remain as consistent as possible.
• Update the existing database of landholders with nestboxes and confirm nestbox GPS coordinates.
• Prepare a report summarising nestbox monitoring results and implications.
• Provide results of the latest nestbox monitoring directly to landholders, and to the community via our website, blog and other publications.

Connecting Country will also review our long-term nestbox monitoring data to identify any implications or required changes for the ongoing program to maximise its success. Renovation of existing nestboxes and updating our databases will facilitate ongoing project longevity.

Andrew Bennett, Professor of Ecology at La Trobe University, wrote these words regarding Connecting Country’s nestbox monitoring program:

‘The monitoring programs that Connecting Country are carrying out in their local region are valuable for several reasons. First, they are being undertaken in a careful way, such that the results obtained have the potential to provide meaningful new knowledge about the flora and fauna of the local area and changes through time. This is not always the case with community projects. Connecting Country have taken care in planning their projects and carrying them out in a consistent way. Second, their programs have a strong community element, with opportunity for community members to engage, learn about nature and to see the outcomes. In this regard, their activities are an excellent example of one of the central themes of the recent Victorian Biodiversity Strategy of ‘Connecting People with Nature’’.

A Tuan in a nest box (photo by Jess Lawton)

With limited funding, our ongoing nestbox monitoring relies on our amazing volunteers. For more information regarding our nestboxes and how to be involved with the program, please click here.

Community grants for Gorse control

Posted on 22 May, 2019 by Ivan

The Victorian Gorse Task Force offers grants for community education and assistance with removal or treatment of Gorse (Ulex europaeus).

Gorse is a listed Weed of National Significance. It was introduced to Victoria in the 1800s as a hedge plant but quickly became one of our most invasive and destructive weeds. The dense evergreen gorse shrub can grow to several metres high and wide. It has deep and extensive roots, very prickly stems and it thrives in areas with low rainfall. The yellow flower of gorse is easily seen across Victoria’s rural landscapes during warmer months.

The Victorian Gorse Taskforce supports communities to reduce gorse in their local area, including providing the following grants:

• Small Community Grants Program provides up to $5,000 for small-scale gorse control on individual properties (2 or more). It mainly provides funding to rebate 50 per cent of costs for landholders to undertake gorse control.
• Large Community Grants Program provides up to $30,000 for community-led gorse control education and treatment across a local landscape. It provides funding for a project officer as well as rebates to landholders.

If gorse is a problem on your land or across your local community, you’re encouraged to apply. Speak with neighbours or your local Landcare group to determine how many landholders are interested and the extent of the gorse infestations, and develop a project.

Applications for current funding close on 1 June 2019. For more details on the grants and how to apply, please click here

Gorse taking over a waterway in Victoria’s Central Highlands (photo by Victorian Gorse Task Force)

Gorse removed in the same waterway (photo by Victorian Gorse Task Force)