Welcome Frances – our new director
Posted on 31 October, 2017 by Tanya Loos
It is with much pleasure that the staff and committee of Connecting Country welcome our new director, Frances Howe. Frances started at the Connecting Country offices last week in a handover with past directors Chris Timewell and Krista Patterson-Majoor. Welcome Frances, we are thrilled to have you on board!
Frances grew up in Melbourne but fell for central Victoria during numerous childhood visits. She became a part-time Castlemaine resident in 2000, when she bought a run-down old church.
As an environmental scientist, for many years Frances helped assess and manage the environmental and social impacts of large development projects, across Australia and around the world. Frances has led numerous teams of environmental professionals to deliver projects spanning environmental and social baseline studies, impact assessment and management.
Frances also worked as an environmental advisor for a non-government organisation in Lesotho (Africa) and is currently a member of the management committee for The Growing Abundance Project (Castlemaine). Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Science (Honours) and Master of Environment from the University of Melbourne, majoring in ecology and conservation biology.
Having travelled far and wide, including living in the Middle East, Africa and the United States, Frances recently returned to settle in Castlemaine. She lives with her husband and dog, on a small bush block just out of town, surrounded by the Castlemaine National Heritage Park.
Frances is in the office from Monday to Thursday, leading the staff team and overseeing Connecting Country’s projects, organisational management and administration.
Nuggetty & beyond: an invitation to their 2018 calendars launch
Posted on 26 October, 2017 by Tanya Loos
Nuggetty Land Protection Group
Invites you to an afternoon tea to celebrate the launch by author and historian Peter Cuffley
of their two 2018 calendars
Nuggetty & Beyond – A patchwork of people & place
and
Nuggetty & Beyond – A glimpse of contemporary rural life
Saturday 28 October 2017, 2.30-4.30 pm
Nuggetty Winery – 5/280 Maldon Shelbourne Rd Nuggetty 3463.
Enquiries: Jane Mitchell on 0457 729 132 or janee@impulse.net.au
or
Christine Fitzgerald on 0419 347 408 or ckfitz5@bigpond.com
Those attending will have the opportunity to purchase, at a discounted price, archival quality calendars. These illustrate part of the story of settlement and agriculture in the Nuggetty area, and some of those contributing to the continuing farming community. The calendars are an initiative of the Nuggetty Landcare Protection Group. They are an outcome of the Nuggetty Landscape History project, which was originally funded by the Foundation for Regional & Rural Renewal (FRRR), the Shire of Mount Alexander and Maldon & District Community Bank.
Extra! Extra! Read all about it – our 2017 Annual Report
Posted on 25 October, 2017 by Tanya Loos
Connecting Country’s Annual Report for the 2016-2017 financial year is available for download. This document is a great overview of our work, and covers areas such as our on ground works program, community engagement, Landcare and monitoring. Our Financial Report also indicates our sound position financially, which is of course fantastic.
Most importantly, the Annual Report allows us the opportunity to thank our many supporters in the community, and our funders! We hope you enjoy reading this year’s report.
The 2016-2017 Annual Report is available for download CLICK HERE
This year’s Annual Report was graced by the artwork of local birder and artist Jane Rusden. This hand-coloured etching was inspired by the Eastern Yellow Robins and their habitat on Jane’s bush block in Campbells Creek. Thank you, Jane, for sharing your beautiful art with us!
“Watchful” by Jane Rusden.
Our 2017 Annual General Meeting: science, art and good company!
Posted on 19 October, 2017 by Tanya Loos
On Tuesday 17 October, Connecting Country staff, committee, members and friends joined together in Newstead for our 2017 Annual General Meeting.
Thanks to Brendan and Bernard for coordinating the AGM formalities. Over the next 12 months, Connecting Country remains as ably led as ever, with some new additions and shuffling of roles within the Committee of Management. In short, congratulations to Brendan Sydes (president), Saide Gray (vice president), Max Kay (treasurer) and Marie Jones (secretary) as the executive office bearers, and to Karoline Klein, Christine Brooke, Malcolm Trainor and Deborah Wardle as general committee members. We would also like to thank retiring committee member Jen Irlam for her contributions, support and insights over the past 2-3 years.
As a community-based, grass-roots incorporated organisation, Connecting Country is driven by our committee. Committee members provide their time and experience on a voluntary basis, and their participation is much appreciated! Connecting Country’s members and supporters are always able to ask questions and make suggestions to committee members – their elected represenatatives – about the organisation and its activities.
The 2017 Annual Report was also launched at the AGM, and the front cover is graced by the artwork of an Eastern Yellow Robin by Jane Rusden. Jane gave a short talk about the printmaking process, and how her beautiful Campbells Creek property and its robins inspired the artwork. The Annual Report will be available on our website soon.
Our new film was also launched! The five minute film was well received, and a great suggestion was made to get the film played in the Castlemaine and Maldon Visitor Centres. The Wild Melbourne team are doing some final technical touches and we will post it on a blog post very soon. The film featured Connecting Country staff, committee members and supporters in our quest to preserve habitat for woodland birds.
Georgia Garrard, RMIT University, and Brendan Sydes, Connecting Country President.
Following the film, we heard from Dr Georgia Garrard. Georgia is a Senior Research Fellow in RMIT University’s Interdisciplinary Conservation Science Research Group. Georgia’s presentation had three parts – 1) structured decision-making processes for conservation, 2) biodiversity sensitive urban design and 3) framing conservation messages for different audiences. A detailed blog post will follow – but in the meantime you can read some of Georgia’s past and present work on her blog here. Many thanks to Georgia for sharing her fascinating research with us!
After Georgia’s presentation, supper and drinks were served, with much chatting and camaraderie.
Many thanks to to Connecting Country staff and our volunteers – Sarah Edwards, Deb Shaw, Jane Rusden, Jen Pryce and Fritz Hammersley – for their assistance on the night.
Max Schlachter and Krista Patterson-Majoor – beloved past staff of Connecting Country.
Connecting Country Director Chris Timewell and Penny Roberts from Newham and District Landcare.
Landcare facilitator Asha Bannon with new Connecting Country Committee member Christine Brooke, and Sutton Grange Landcare President Grant Workman.
A pow -wow – with Frances Cincotta, Bernard and Deirdre Slattery and Max Schlachter.
Tuan Talk by Jess Lawton – Newstead Landcare AGM
Posted on 17 October, 2017 by Asha
This Thursday evening, 19th October 2017, Newstead Landcare Group is hosting a presentation by PhD candidate Jess Lawton. Jess is studying the Tuan or Brush-tailed Phascogale, a threatened and declining species of the Box-Ironbark country. The presentation will start at 8pm at Newstead Community Centre and all are welcome. A gold coin donation would be appreciated. Afterwards there will be supper and a brief AGM.
Jess says,
“The Brush-tailed Phascogale is a rare, threatened species, and is declining in Victoria. Our understanding of its conservation biology is limited because it is sparsely distributed, ‘trap-shy’, and has been difficult to survey using traditional techniques. We know that this species has a rapid reproductive cycle, whereby all males die of stress and exhaustion after their first breeding season. We also know that this species often has a large home range of up to 100 ha. Therefore, the current thinking is that it requires large areas of intact forest for a population to persist. However, this species still occurs in modified habitats, such as paddock trees, roadsides, and isolated remnant patches. The aim of my study is to see if the occurrence of the Brush-tailed Phascogale in a modified landscape relates to patch size and patch connectedness.
Connecting Country set 150 nest box sites in 2010 to provide habitat for this species through the Mount Alexander Shire. They have since monitored many of these nest box sites every two years, and now have a number of years of data on this species occurrence in the region. I selected 50 of these 150 sites, stratified according to landscape context (ie. the amount of tree cover surrounding each nest box site). Between April and June 2016, while Connecting Country conducted their nest-box checks, I set two cameras at each of these 50 sites.
In this study, I model the occurrence of Brush-tailed Phascogales in the Mount Alexander Shire with landscape attributes, such as the size of a forest patch, and a number of habitat attributes collected in the field, including forest productivity, forest structure, logs and leaf litter, and tree size and species.
One property near Axe Creek was home to a particularly active population of Brush-tailed Phascogales, and you can watch a video of the sort of footage we detected” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTklMGskLyYc
Birds get a boost in the Goldfields region
Posted on 16 October, 2017 by Tanya Loos
All smiles beneath the rainbow outside the beautiful Chewton Town Hall.
By Tanya Loos, Connecting Country Monitoring and Engagement Coordinator
On Friday September 30, 2017, Connecting Country hosted an afternoon tea and planning meeting for the birders of the Castlemaine region. I presented some of the findings of the last six years of bird monitoring, and then the group had a discussion on the future of bird monitoring in the region. Last but not least, Fiona Blandford from BirdLife Australia gave a presentation on the merits of becoming a BirdLife Branch. It was a jam-packed afternoon, filled with energy and enthusiasm!
Preliminary findings and report
Connecting Country has been counting woodland birds since 2010 as part of our long term monitoring program. This has been undertaken by a staff member (such as myself or my predecessors) and has helped build a picture of bird species distribution across the landscape, especially in different habitats. This in-house monitoring has been quite comprehensive, but gaps still existed – so in 2014, we started a citizen science program to enlist the help of birders across the region. A whopping 20,000 bird records have been submitted to BirdLife Australia to date! The preliminary findings of the results of both programs may be found in this short report: Bird-Monitoring_Summary_Sept_2017
A more comprehensive update on this report to follow soon…
Bird monitoring in the region: banding together
We love our woodland birds in this region – there is the Connecting Country-led bird monitoring, and other initiatives as well. Lesley and Anne Perkins are continuing the bird monitoring that Ern and Lesley started some twenty years ago, with help from local birders: there are 15 sites in all. More recently, the Muckleford Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) monitoring group commenced monitoring their sites in the Muckleford forest. This group is ably coordinated by Geoff Nevill, and also has 15 sites.
We also wanted to discuss the other programs to ensure there was no double-up of sites and see if we could share methodology. After removing the double-up and including group sites – we calculated there are 84 sites being regularly monitored for birds across the region!
A follow-up blog post on the sites, survey methodology and other aspects of bird monitoring in our region coming soon…
A BirdLife Goldfields branch
Fiona Blandford, Birdlife Australia, and Tanya Loos, Connecting Country
Connecting Country has been an affiliate of BirdLife Australia since 2015, and we love our relationship – supporting each other’s events, and sharing data and expertise. Our nearest BirdLife Branches are in Ballarat, and to the north, in Echuca.
The Field Naturalist Clubs of Bendigo and Castlemaine, and more recently Connecting Country have filled the gap of bird activities in the region, such as the Annual Bird Count, and Swift Parrot Counts. But after discussions with key birders in the region, and with Fiona Blandford the Network Manager, we all feel it is time for a local branch!
Fiona has suggested BirdLife Goldfields – as the area covered will be Castlemaine and surrounds, including east to Baynton, south to Daylesford, up to just south of Bendigo, and to Maryborough in the west. Fiona gave us all an insight into the BirdLife model, and how branches work – and how they really can cater for the needs of the birders and communities they live in. And I am thrilled to say we already have enough interested people for a committee!
Please get in touch if you have any questions or would like to be involved in our growing bird monitoring project.
Call Tanya Loos, Monitoring and Engagement Coordinator, on 5472 1594 during work hours, or email tanya@connectingcountry.org.au
Getting to know plants of Maldon and surrounds
Posted on 12 October, 2017 by Asha
Intern Sarah Edwards has recently commenced her placement with Connecting Country and attended the ‘Get to know your local plants’ workshop in Maldon on Saturday the 7th of October 2017. This is her account of the afternoon:
Out of the 1100 plant species found in beautiful central Victoria, 60% of these are native species. These native plants are separated by their characteristics (flowers, fruit, seeds, leaves, bark) and are crucial for the survival of the birds, bugs, marsupials and other native animals that are found here.
This was an invaluable workshop. When attempting to correctly identify plants using reference books, there is often a limited amount of information and pictures able to be displayed, making detailed identification a challenge. The last thing I would want to do is accidentally pull out a native plant that I thought was a weed. One of the values of this workshop was being able to use live plant samples to practise on and have experts (Bonnie Humphreys and Frances Cincotta) on hand to help.
We all undertook a series of activities, the aim of which was to use the brief descriptions and other clues provided to identify what a given plant specimen was called. Each table had different types of plants (eucalypts, wattles, pea flowers, prickly shrubs etc.) that share similar characteristics.
Working in small groups, we touched, inspected, smelt and viewed juveniles and adult plant samples and worked as a team to correctly name them. It was like trying to work out a puzzle. Some species were more difficult to identify than others and at times it was quite tricky (and prickly!) but collaborating with others made this activity very enjoyable.
There are two more plant identification workshops coming up that are focusing on local weeds in Newstead and Chewton. See https://connectingcountry.org.au/get-to-know-your-local-plants-weed-and-native-plant-workshops/ for the details.
Sarah working with her team to identify native plants and weeds
The Eucalypt table
Participants hard at work
Groups rotated to try out activities at each table
Barkers Creek bush delights in Nature News – October 3rd 2017
Posted on 4 October, 2017 by Tanya Loos
For this month’s Nature News, local landholder and member of Barkers Creek Wildlife Landcare and Wildlife Group, Lois Denham writes about the joys of getting to know the bushland on her block, and how to care for it. This article was featured on page 38 of the Midland Express, October 3rd 2017.
One of the many joys of living in the bush is observing the wildlife. Today we enjoyed watching the male blue wrens chasing females in and out of the golden wattles. Last week we saw scarlet robins, and we have been amused by the querulous, chattering choughs drinking from our bird bath.
Our soundscape includes the faint soprano sounds of the bats at night and the continuous croaking of the many frogs in our dam. We have learnt to identify some birds by their calls, but not many of the frogs! We are delighted by the kangaroos and the resident wallaby hopping through the bush; the lizard scurrying around or sunbaking on the rocks and then there is the thrill of discovering an echidna or two. No need for pets here!
A tiny Caledenia sp, by Bonnie Humphreys
My husband and I retired to live on eight acres of Box Ironbark bushland block 19 months ago. We had no desire to own much land but this block and its lovely mudbrick house and studio ‘found’ us. A friend, who is a local and an active Landcare member, informed us it was a good bush block even though it had been turned upside down by miners in the gold rush days. He also noticed that there weren’t too many weeds we would have to control. With our friend’s encouragement, we bought the property and joined Landcare with the knowledge that there would be help available to manage and continue the rehabilitation of the land.
We knew we would be on a steep but enjoyable learning curve. With the help of Landcare members, Connecting Country’s Bonnie Humphreys, and some professional assistance we learnt to identify the native plants and weeds. Our newly acquired weed management skills haver resulted in fewer invasive species and more natives on the property than were here when we moved in.
We were fortunate that there was good rain and a bumper wildflower season last spring. This year the wattles have put on a magnificent show, and I am enjoying watching many other wildflowers come into bloom. I will always remember the joy of discovering the tiny ground orchids as they emerged and I thought I had struck gold when I found our first spider orchid. I wonder how many orchids I will find this spring?
Spring at Pilchers Bridge event – Sat 7 October 2017
Posted on 2 October, 2017 by Tanya Loos
The Axe Creek Landcare Group would like people to know of their upcoming event “Spring at Pilchers Bridge”, a jam-packed program of expert speakers on the flora, fauna and management of Box-Ironbark forests. 
The program includes:
- A bird identification walk around the Trust for Nature covenanted property, Led by Salli Dearricott, followed by a quick pancake breakfast
- A video on Indigenous Burning techniques presented by Trent Nelson, Parks Victoria and Mick Bourke, DELWP
- Orchids of the Box-Ironbark Forests by Julie Radford-Whitfield, Amaryllis Environmental
- Bushfire Preparedness by a representative from the CFA
- Wildlife, Habitat, and Nestboxes by Miles Geldard, Wildlife Nestboxes
- Flowering patterns of local Eucalypts by Bob McDonald, apiarist.
They have also asked us to let you know the following:
- Lunch can be purchased from the Eppalock Primary School Sausage Sizzle.
- Bring your own binoculars, sturdy shoes, camera and water bottle
- Free entry, pancake breakfast, tea coffee and sunscreen
- All welcome but no dogs please
Saturday 7 October.
8am to 4pm at 178 Huddle Creek Rd, Myrtle Creek
Enquiries: Chris Kirwan phone 5439 6494
Email: cwkirwan@bigpond.com
For a flier of the event, click here.
22 October 2017 – Little Habitat Heroes “Tree Caring Day”
Posted on 28 September, 2017 by Tanya Loos
The trees and shrubs planted by an enthusiastic crowd of young and old Habitat Heroes are thriving – with a 98% survival rate! The Little Habitat Heroes team invite you to come along to their first ‘Tree Caring Day’ on: Sunday 22nd October 2017, 9:30am – 12noon at Mount Alexander Regional Park.
The Tree Caring day will involve follow-up maintenance including replacing any missing guards and light weeding around the plants. Morning tea is provided – but please do BYO lunch.
The day will also include a half hour information session from Brendan Barbetti, a local environmental contractor and Little Habitat Heroes dad, about the species planted, the importance of ongoing maintenance, and the significance of biodiversity in your own garden and land.
The planting site in June – it will be great to see the site now!
A few things to note:
- No toilet on site. The closest is at the Leanganook Campground (aprrox 1km away).
- Parking: at Leanganook Campground or the Koala Park parking area (a few hundred metres away) and walk down the hill. Please take lots of care when walking on the road.
- BYO: gloves, sturdy shoes, wet weather gear, warm weather gear, sunhat, sunscreen, pen and paper (if staying for the talk), picnic lunch.
- Provided: tea, coffee and morning tea snacks.
Donations – If you’d like to donate to our Little Habitat Heroes campaign, please go to https://www.givenow.com.au/littlehabitatheroes. Funds will be used for ongoing maintenance of the already planted trees and future plantings to further enhance the site.
Feel free to pass on this invitation to others that might be interested. The more the merrier! So that the team can cater adequately, please RSVP through Eventbrite by 14 October. You can also RSVP and share the invitation at the Facebook event site.
For further information, contact the Little Habitat Heroes team:
Meg: 0466 333 419
Jodi: 0410 838 083
Tuesday 17 October 2017 – CC’s AGM, film launch and special guest speaker
Posted on 21 September, 2017 by Tanya Loos
Georgia lives in Castlemaine with her husband Ben and whippet Henry.
Connecting Country members, supporters and other interested people are invited to our 2017 Annual General Meeting (AGM), which includes a special presentation titled “kicking goals for conservation” by Dr Georgia Garrard plus the launch of our new short film!
Please help us celebrate the achievements on the past year, and look ahead to another exciting year of working with our local community. The evening is a great chance to catch up with our staff, committee and other friends.
The AGM will be held at the Newstead Community Centre (on the main street in Newstead, next to the supermarket) on Tuesday 17 October 2017. We encourage people to arrive from 6.45pm, with the AGM formalities taking place from 7pm until 7.30pm. CLICK HERE for a copy of the agenda.
We are thrilled to launch a short film about Connecting Country filmed by Wild Melbourne. Approximately 3 minutes in length, it features Connecting Country staff, committee members and supporters in our quest to preserve habitat for woodland birds.
Following the film, we will hear from Dr Georgia Garrard. Georgia is a Senior Research Fellow in RMIT University’s Interdisciplinary Conservation Science Research Group. Through her research, she aims to find solutions to the challenge of conserving biodiversity in human-dominated landscapes. Georgia’s presentation is titled Kicking goals in conservation – through better decision making and communication. We are looking forward to hearing how Georgia’s research can help Connecting Country, Landcare groups and individual landholders plan and carry out conservation projects.
After Georgia’s presentation, a light supper and drinks will be served.
Important information regarding the AGM
If you are a current Connecting Country member over the age of 15 then you are entitled to vote on any and all relevant agenda items. If you are unable to make it to the AGM, but still wish to cast a vote, then proxy forms are available. These must be received at least 24 hours before the AGM is held.
If you are a current Connecting Country member aged 18 or over, then you are also able to nominate to join the Committee of Management. If you are interested, you are encouraged to contact the current president – Brendan Sydes – to talk more about what is involved and the opportunities that are available (info@connectingcountry.org.au). A copy of the CC committee nomination form can be downloaded (CLICK HERE).
If you haven’t already, please renew your Connecting Country membership online (CLICK HERE). Contact Chris (chris@connectingcountry.org.au) if you are unsure if you are a current Connecting Country member; if you’d like a proxy voting form; or if you’d like a copy of the 2016 AGM Minutes or 2016-17 Financial Statements to read before the meeting.
We look forward to seeing you all in mid-October!
Wildflower Show at Bendigo this weekend
Posted on 21 September, 2017 by Tanya Loos
The Bendigo Native Plant Group invite you all to come and enjoy the blossoms at their Australian Flower Show this weekend. The 2017 show is at a new venue and will be bigger and better than ever, involving six specialist native plant nurseries. Over 200 specimens on display; book, pottery and photography sales.
Some beautiful blossoms from the 2016 Flower Show
23 & 24 September 2017
9 a.m. – 4.30 p.m.
Kangaroo Flat Primary School. Olympic Parade, Kangaroo Flat
Entry fee: Adults $3
The Australian Flower Show 2017 is hosted by Bendigo Native Plant Group Inc.
Enquiries – bendigonativeplantgroup@yahoo.com.au 0400 149 319
Pardalotes put on a show at Muckleford Station
Posted on 19 September, 2017 by Tanya Loos
The local U3A birdwatching group visited Muckleford Train Station last week, and were entranced by a large flock of Striated Pardalotes displaying and carrying on in very close proximity. Local birdo and photographer Peter Turner captured a stunning series of images, and kindly sent them in so we could share them with you all!
One of the behaviours that intrigued Peter is a display which involves the pardalote bowing slightly, opening both wings and spreading its tail. Many of the pardalotes were displaying in this way, and Peter asked what the behaviour might mean.
Displaying on the train tracks
Here at the office, we have a copy of a large detailed book known as the Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds (HANZAB) The entry on Striated Pardalotes details this behaviour.
The Wing-and-tail Display is associated with nesting behaviour. As the Striated Pardalote sexes are very difficult to tell apart, it is not known whether the male or the female or both sexes are displaying. The display may involve quivering the wings, or fanning them by alternately opening and folding them.
Three pardalotes watch one pardalote’s display with much interest.
The Wing-and-tail Display is often part of a group display, where several pairs that are nesting in close proximity display to one another.
The Muckleford Station is a Striated Pardalote breeding hotspot – with many nest burrows excavated in the clay soil near the platform.
Striated Pardalotes also take readily to nestboxes, in fact previously on this blog, we featured a pardalote nestbox design by Ric Higgins; for details, click here.
While Spotted Pardalotes are loved by many, these photographs remind us that the Striated Pardalotes are little stunners too. Thanks so much for the photos, Peter!
Get to know your local plants: weed and native plant workshops
Posted on 15 September, 2017 by Asha
Learn how to identify plants such as Bridal Creeper at Connecting Country’s “Get to know your local plants” workshop series (photo by Bonnie Humphreys).
Connecting Country and local Landcare groups will be running four plant identification workshops over the next couple of months for community members. These free workshops will include the chance to chat with a botanist, meet members of Landcare groups over a cuppa, and learn identification tips through fun games.
Three of the workshops will be focused on how to identify and manage noxious weeds; the fourth will be focused on both native and invasive plant species. With workshops in Sutton Grange, Maldon, Newstead, and Chewton, there will be a workshop nearby for everyone to learn about the plants and weeds most relevant to their local area. You can also bring along photos or samples of plants (in a ziplock bag) if you’d like help from a botanist to identify them.
Details of the workshops are below, or you can contact Asha Bannon for more information at asha@connectingcountry.org.au or 5472 1594.
Get to know your local weeds – Sutton Grange & surrounds
When: Saturday 23rd September 2017, 10am-12:30pm
Where: Sutton Grange Hall, 921 Faraday-Sutton Grange Rd
RSVP: by Wednesday 20th September for catering purposes
Get to know your local plants – Maldon & surrounds
When: Saturday 7th October 2017, 1pm-3:30pm
Where: Maldon Community Centre, 6 Francis St, Maldon
RSVP: by Wednesday 4th October for catering purposes
Get to know your local weeds – Newstead & surrounds
When: Tuesday 24th October 2017, 6pm-8:30pm
Where: Newstead Community Centre, 9 Lyons St, Newstead
RSVP: by Thursday 19th October for catering purposes
Get to know your local weeds – Chewton & surrounds
When: Wednesday 15th November 2017, 6pm-8:30pm
Where: Chewton Community Centre, Pyrnees Hwy, Chewton
RSVP: by Friday 10th November for catering purposes
Celebration afternoon tea for the bird friends of the region: Sept 29, 2017
Posted on 14 September, 2017 by Tanya Loos
Birds hold a very special place in the hearts of the Mount Alexander Region community. Connecting Country has nearly 200 subscribers to the bird survey eNews, over 16 participating households with long term bird monitoring sites on their property, and a regular band of birdwatchers on our bird walks and outings. Hundreds of bird records have been sent in by our volunteers for addition to our bird survey database. And now it is time to say “thanks!”.
You are all invited to a lush afternoon tea at the Chewton Town Hall on Friday September 29. This event will provide an opportunity to thank you all for your participation in the two year Stewards for Woodland Birds project, and most importantly present the results of the last two years of bird monitoring!
It will also be time an opportunity to talk about the next steps, as we are also moving into a new phase of citizen science bird monitoring. Therefore, I also hope to officially assign one or more local survey sites to those birdwatchers who are interested in being involved. All of the landholders who have existing bird survey sites on their land are also being invited, and it would be great for birdwatching volunteers and landholders to meet face to face. I also want to hear from YOU – what are your needs and interests for our continued bird monitoring program?
Lastly, we will be joined by Fiona Blandford from BirdLife Australia who will talk to us about the possibility of a new BirdLife Branch in the region – tentatively to be known as BirdLife Goldfields! This is a most exciting development and I would love to see some folks put their hand up to possibly be involved.
Friday September 29, Chewton Town Hall 2- 5pm. Please RSVP for this event so I can ensure I have the right amount of delicious treats for you all. For further information call me on 5472 1594 or email tanya@connectingcountry.org.au
Two finches – A Diamond Firetail with two Red-browed Finches, in a bird bath in the Nuggetty area – sent in by Nick Schulz. Thanks Nick!
Ruby gives voice to sapphire – Scarlet Robins in Nature News August 4 2017
Posted on 13 September, 2017 by Tanya Loos
For this month’s Nature News, Connecting Country Landcare Facilitator, Asha Bannon shares her observations of Scarlet Robins in Campbells Creek.
“A flash of wing on a blue sky
A breast of delicate wildfire
The weight of day is carried away
As ruby gives voice to sapphire”
The opening words of Michael Kennedy’s song, “Scarlet Robin” beautifully sum up the joy of this bird. It’s a rare occasion that I’ll go out into the bush in spring without hearing the Scarlet Robin’s gentle “chee-dalee-dalee” call, a crucial part of a Box Ironbark soundscape. The male’s bright red breast can also give them away as they move through the bush, but you may need to look a little closer to spot his more camouflaged girlfriend.
Scarlet Robins are one of many woodland birds that depend on ground-level habitat to feed. Perching on a low branch or piece of fallen timber, they use this vantage point to spot insects on the ground below. They then swoop down to catch their prey, and return to the perch to gobble it up.
Observing these beautiful birds is a highlight of any walk in the bush for me. They are one of those birds that watches you as you watch it, creating a sense of mutual wonder. Both males and females are gorgeous in their own way. They will pair up for the year with their mate, never straying too far, seemingly connected by an invisible string as they move through the trees at eye-level.
I’ve seen Scarlet Robins twice at our place in Campbells Creek, which is just beside a tributary that leads into the creek itself. One was also seen at Connecting Country’s Campbells Creek monitoring site during a bird walk in July this year. This was only the third time a Scarlet Robin has been recorded at the site.
Scarlet Robins and other ground-feeding native birds are becoming more abundant in response to the maturing revegetation that the Friends of Campbells Creek Landcare have planted along the creek. They need good quality habitat to thrive, which is why they are one of Connecting Country’s newest indicator species of environmental health for this region. If you see a Scarlet Robin, you can send through your observation to tanya@connectingcountry.org.au and help build the picture of how this lovely species is doing in the region. For more information, visit http://connectingcountry.org.au/about/projects/securing-woodland-birds/bird-monitoring/
A male Scarlet Robin, by Geoff Park
North Central Chat – September edition
Posted on 13 September, 2017 by Tanya Loos
This month’s North Central Chat is a nice companion to Try Out Landcare month, and features an article by Tess grieves answering the oft-asked question “How can Landcare attract new people, and free up more time for our current, overworked members”?
You can download the September North Central Chat by clicking the following link : North-Central-chat-September-2017.
Out of town events of interest in September 2017
Posted on 6 September, 2017 by Tanya Loos
As the wattles bloom, groups around the region launch into the busy spring period. Don’t forget to check out one or more of the ten “Try Out Landcare Month” activities – click here for details. Other interesting events just out of our area include:
Create a Frog Pond or Turn your Dam into Habitat, Newham Landcare: Friday 8 September 2017
Evening presentation and discussion with Damien Cook, Rakali ecological Consulting. Damien is a recognized expert in wetland, riparian and terrestrial ecology, particularly in the factors affecting the establishment and management of aquatic and wetland plants. A selection of water-loving plant species will be available to purchase on the night. Newham Mechanics Institute. 7pm for 7.30. Supper follows. Click here to view flier. RSVP to Penny Roberts by email or tel. 5427 0795.
Restoring Country: A Field Day on the Patho Plains: Friday 22 September 2017
This year Trust for Nature will join Peter Morison and Jennifer Alden on their beautiful property at Pine Grove, which they are covenanting with Trust for Nature through the Remnant Grassy Ecosystem Project (managed by the NCCMA & funded the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme).
For more information on this great event – download the flier here .
Dr Ken Walker from the Melbourne Museum: 24 September 2017 – 1.30pm
This event is presented by the Ballarat Environment Network as part of their AGM. After the AGM, which includes a presentation, there will be a BowerBird Workshop with Ken. Bowerbird is the database for the Melbourne Museum. Venue: Ballarat South Community Hub, Tuppen Drive, Sebastopol (behind Phoenix College)
RSVP for catering and for workshop by 18th September – secretary.ben@gmail.com
To find out more about BowerBird click here.
8 Sept 2017 – Banksia ecology presentation
Posted on 5 September, 2017 by Connecting Country
The guest speaker at the September meeting of the Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club (CFNC) is Simon Heyes. Simon is currently studying for his Masters in Research at La Trobe on Banksia recruitment. He is looking at why banksias aren’t regenerating, and is also researching the ecology patterns of recruitment for Banksia marginata on the plains.
The presentation is from 7.30pm on Friday 8 September in the Fellowship Room, behind the Uniting Church on Lyttleton St (next door to the Castlemaine Art Gallery). Members and visitors are all welcome, and there is no cost for entry.
To whet your appetite for Simon’s presentation, the following link is to an article written by Ian Lunt in 2014 about Banksia marginata (CLICK HERE). The comments and discussion at the end of the article are also quite interesting.
A European bee visits a fine specimen of Banksia marginata in flower. Pic from Wikimedia Commons.
Local groups and volunteers honoured at the Victorian Landcare Awards 2017
Posted on 4 September, 2017 by Connecting Country
Environmental groups from the Mount Alexander Shire dominated the 2017 Victorian Landcare Awards ceremony at Government House last Friday, the 1st September 2017. Connecting Country was awarded the Landcare Network Award, and the Tarrangower Cactus Control Group was awarded the Fairfax Media Landcare Community Groups Award.
Individuals were also recognised for their voluntary work; Ian Higgins, from Friends of Campbells Creek won the Australian Government Individual Landcarer award, and Ian Grenda was Highly Commended in this category.
Around 350 Landcarers from around the state gathered at Government House, with a jubilant group of 16 from the Mount Alexander region. The Landcare Awards are an opportunity to showcase people and projects that are contributing to sustainable agriculture and the protection of Victoria’s environment.
This year’s awards received significant interest from right across the state, with 85 nominations submitted across the 14 categories. Also nominated from this region were Asha Bannon for the Young Landcarer Award; and Chewton Primary and Winters Flat Primary for the Junior Landcare Team Award.
These awards are a strong testament to the energy and enthusiasm of the Mount Alexander Shire community for our natural environment. Mount Alexander Shire is incredibly fortunate to have such an active network of Landcare groups, schools and individuals working together with passion and a focus on landscape scale restoration. Congratulations to all the nominees and winners at the Landcare Awards this year.
CLICK HERE to read all of the winners’ stories from across the state.
Here are a few shots from the exciting day:
