Muckleford Creek photo exhibition

Posted on 5 April, 2016 by Connecting Country

Photo by Deanna Neville

Deanna Neville is a Walmer resident, and long-time supporter of Connecting Country.  She has been undertaking vegetation restoration works on her property for many years, and also has a set of nest boxes for Brush-tailed Phascogales and Sugar Gliders.

She has recently let us know that she is about to launch her collection of photographs, titled ‘A Camera and A Creek’.  Deanna writes, “Two years ago, I was a successful applicant of the Mount Alexander Shire Council ‘Strengthening Our Community’ Grants. I set out to pursue a particular photographic vision of my local creek and produced quite another. I was astonished at the difference a season, and another, of low or no rainfall could do not just to a creek, but to a community. I was particularly moved by the stories from landowners that these climatic events incited and enabled me to capture.”

The exhibition is to be launched on Saturday 9 April 2016 at 2pm at the Muckleford Community Centre, 364 Muckleford-Walmer Rd, Muckleford.  Then, from 12 to 29 April the collection will be on display at the Castlemaine Market Building, 44 Mostyn St, Castlemaine.

Feathered Five Festival Success

Posted on 4 April, 2016 by Connecting Country

The Sunday morning walk was very well attended with nearly 60 people – many of them new to FOBIF walks!

The Mount Alexander region is set to be a little greener and local bird baths a little fuller after our delightful weekend of Feathered Five Festivities (19-20 March 2016). Over 30 participants have pledged to create more bird habitat on their properties and local area, especially along waterways, as a result of the inspiring talks at the Saturday evening forum.

“I’m inspired to improve and expand my birdbath arrangements and to plant lots of varied types and sizes of native trees and shrubs along nature strip and in garden” – Festival Participant

Andrew and Phil inspire the Saturday Evening Forum crowd

Festivals can be many things to many people. For us, it’s about a gathering of people with a shared interest. We are very pleased that the Feathered Five Festival brought together over 260 people who share an interest in the future of woodland birds in this region. Events included the Feathered Five Drive, the Evening Forum and the joint FOBIF and Connecting Country walk.

“My wife and I moved here 18 months ago and this festival weekend was the best weekend we have had since we moved up here! We met so many nice people” – Festival Participant

Thanks to everyone who joined us for a bird walk or the evening forum and for sharing your interest with us, and with each other. Whether you like painting them, spotting them, or creating homes for them – every bit you do makes a difference to helping our woodland birds to thrive.

Bonnie talks plants

We’d also like to especially thank:

• Our speakers – Dr Andrew Bennett and Phil Ingamells who shared with us the current research on how woodland birds are responding to climatic change, and provided some inspiring tips on what we can be doing to help. Check out VicNature 2050 for more information.
• Bonnie, Alex, Jarrod, Asha, Naomi and Tanya who set up some great displays and made themselves available for the evening forum to answer any land management questions from attendees.
• Asha, Kerrie, Jane, Andrew, Frances, Tanya and Kerri for being bird walk leaders (and able assistants).
• Growing Abundance for the tasty tucker.
• The Chat Warblers for the delightful bird-related songs – we especially loved their new ‘feathered five’ number which we will share soon with the Connecting Country community
• Judy and Alice Laycock for the delightful bird creations they undertook with the kids. A beautiful way to inspiring the next generation of nature conservationists.
• Dean McLaren, our new photographer and Facebook contributor.  You can view all of Dean’s photos from the weekend on our Facebook page.

Click here for more information about the festival and the bird lists from the walks.

You can get involved!

The best way to find out more about our local birds and how you can volunteer is via our website – the woodland bird pages includes a printable list of our local birds, data sheets and the Birdwatchers Monitoring Kit.  We encourage you to get out there now that the weather is cooler and have a go at some bird surveys! Support is also available to help create bird habitat on your property. Call us on 5472 1594 to find out if you’re eligible.

Now is the time for rabbit control…

Posted on 31 March, 2016 by Connecting Country

At Connecting Country, we are always meeting inspired people wanting to improve their properties and local landscapes. We love to help out, and direct people to useful resources to keep them going. We’ve been running workshops and making brochures to help people along, but this year, we’ve started something new: Instructional videos.

A lot of landholders have been commenting recently on the increases in numbers of Rabbits around their properties, and asking how to control them. Many of the techniques available need specialist contractors and equipment, but you can get started by yourself using Pindone oats with a bait station.

So, we welcome you to view Instructional Video #1: How to create and set up a Pindone Bait Station.  (Thanks to Alex and Mel).

The Make a Rabbit Bait Station’ video is also available to view from Connecting Country on Vimeo.

Click here for more information available about the control of rabbits and other pests.

If you have a suggestion for a future instructional video, let us know! Send us an email at info@connectingcountry.org.au

Our nest box program – 2016 surveys coming soon

Posted on 27 March, 2016 by Connecting Country

In 2009, Connecting Country launched its first major project which was to protect and enhance habitat for the threatened Brush-tailed Phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa), an arboreal marsupial known to occur in the local area.  A significant undertaking during 2010 and 2011 as part of this was to install approximately 450 nest boxes at 150 locations, mostly on private landholdings throughout the Mount Alexander Region.  Many boxes were also installed at sites that had been restored by Landcare groups.

One of many groups of Sugar Gliders seen during the 2014 surveys

With the landholders’ permission and support, we then undertook monitoring of the majority of these boxes in 2011, 2012 and 2014.  A report on the results of this monitoring program so far is provided in the following document (CLICK HERE).  In summary, we found Brush-tailed Phascogales at a relatively good proportion of the locations (~30% in both 2012 and 2014) and also an increasingly abundant Sugar Glider occurrence within the boxes (65%, 75% and then 85% across the three sequential survey periods).

In April and May 2016, we are undertaking our fourth set of nest box surveys.  Our aim this time – again with the permission of the landholders – is to survey ALL 450 boxes!  This will include many nest boxes that have not been formally checked since they were installed 5-6 years ago. [If you have one or more sets of nest boxes on your property, we’ll be in touch soon to seek permission to undertake a monitoring check of them].  These surveys will be undertaken by Connecting Country staff, with assistance from volunteers and Landcare representatives.

We are also very fortunate this year to have a scientist undertaking a portion of her field studies at our nest box locations.

“Hello – my name is Jess Lawton and I’m a PhD candidate at La Trobe University. For my project I’m focusing on the conservation biology and landscape ecology of the Brush-tailed Phascogale. There is strong evidence that this species is declining in Victoria. A number of processes are likely to have led to this decline, including habitat loss, reduction in the size of habitat patches, and increased patch isolation. For my project, I will investigate the relevance of these factors to the distribution of this species in the Mount Alexander region. My study will use two data sets; 1) existing data from ‘Connecting Country’ from nest box surveys that span from 2010-2016; and 2) a new data set to be obtained in 2016 by using remote cameras at a subset of these nest box sites. Using these two approaches will add depth to the study and also enable us to compare the use of these two methods as a monitoring tool for this species.

An example of the camera and bait survey setup. Photo by Jessica Lawton.

I will use remote cameras at 50 of Connecting Country’s existing nest box sites to survey for the Brush-tailed Phascogale. There will be two cameras at each site. These cameras will be set facing downwards (and will therefore have a small field of view), and attached to a tree 150 cm above the ground. Camera sites will be baited with a mix of tuna oil, peanut butter, vanilla essence and linseed oil. This lure will be enclosed in a PVC pipe, and secured to the ground with a tent peg. These surveys will be undertaken to coincide with Connecting Country’s nest box surveys in April and May 2016, a time of year when the species will be particularly active. I will use this data on occurrence of the Brush-tailed Phascogale to determine the factors that influence the distribution of this species, with particular attention given to habitat patch size and isolation. I will also carry out rapid vegetation assessments at each site to measure aspects of habitat structure, such as variation in tree sizes. I hypothesise that the Brush-tailed Phascogale will be more likely occur in larger forest patches, and more connected patches, than in patches that are smaller and more isolated. Results from this project will guide future restoration actions by Connecting Country and be useful to other groups with similar objectives. The study will improve conservation management of the Brush-tailed Phascogale through its range, and improve our understanding of patterns of species occurrence in modified landscapes more broadly.”

Please let us know if you are interested in assisting as a volunteer with the nest box checks and/or Jessica’s field studies (info@connectingcountry.org.au).  For volunteers, it doesn’t involve climbing trees or ladders, or handling animals.  It does involve some walking, data recording and assisting with carrying of equipment.  You’ll also get to see some interesting local landscapes, and learn a lot about our unique marsupial fauna species.

Further updates on the nest box monitoring program will be provided throughout April and May.  (For further info on our nest box program, see our previous blog on nest boxes – click here – and also the monitoring page of our website – click here).

Phascogale seen with wildlife camera. Photo by Jessica Lawton.

Open For Comment: Victorian Biodiversity Strategy and Native Vegetation Clearing Regulations

Posted on 24 March, 2016 by Connecting Country

The second major goal of the plan is “to ensure that Victoria’s natural environment is healthy”. Of interest here is the focus on the impact of a changing climate on our natural systems. They also talk of the use of “modern tools that will be used to identify the areas of the state where we can achieve the greatest biodiversity success”.  These products are to be released with the full plan, and will identify the best places to focus on, the most appropriate actions to undertake, and the species that will benefit. Unfortunately there is no indication in this draft report how these products will work or where these areas are thus making it difficult to comment on their use.

Have Your Say: The draft plan and consultation questions can be found at DELWP’s consultation website at http://haveyoursay.delwp.vic.gov.au/biodiversity-plan. Local community forums are also planned and we will let you know if there is to be one in this area.

Comments and submissions on the draft plan will close on Sunday 15 May 2016 at 5.00pm AEST. The finalised Biodiversity Plan is scheduled for release later this year

Review of Native Vegetation Clearing Regulations

The “Review of the native vegetation clearing regulations – Consultation Paper” has also been released which sets out proposed changes to Victoria’s native vegetation clearing regulations.

Threatened Species Protection Grants – now open

Posted on 23 March, 2016 by Connecting Country

We have been informed by the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) that the submission period for Round 2 of the Threatened Species Protection Initiative – Community Volunteer Action Grants and crowd funding is open. DELWP is encouraging the following types of groups to apply:

• Landcare, Bushcare, Coastcare, Rivercare, Parkcare and Friends of groups/networks
• Conservation Management Networks
• Naturalist groups
• Public land committees of management
• Indigenous Associations and Aboriginal groups
• Schools and educational groups
• Youth and senior citizen clubs
• Local service and recreational groups
• Not for profit organisations such as cemetery trusts and scientific associations

The grant application process is open until 20 April 2016, and the EOI period for the crowd-funding program is open until 13 April 2016.

There is abundant further information on this grant program available on the following DELWP website (CLICK HERE).

Feathered Five Inspire Art, Song and Research

Posted on 10 March, 2016 by Connecting Country

Hooded Robins by Hannah Vellacott

The Feathered Five inspire many people – and our Feathered Five Festival showcases some of the resulting work ranging from artists, singing groups and scientists.

For local artist Hannah Vellacott, they have inspired a series of paintings titled ‘Diamond In The Woods”. These paintings will be on show during the Feathered Five Festival at the Corner Store Merchants (220 Barker St Castlemaine) from the 12 March until 9 April 2016.

Hannah describes her work: “In these paintings I aim to capture the beauty and fragility of the feathered five, through detail and the gentle wash of colour that is unique to watercolour painting. The use of white space is inspired by traditional Japanese ink paintings. I like the way the objects appear to float on the paper and your eye is drawn to the details in the bird or flowers.”

For local singing group, the Chat Warblers, they have inspired a new song! Written by Judith Tregear and mixed by Jane Thompson, the song will debut at our evening forum on Saturday the 19th of March. We cannot wait to hear it!

For world renowned ecologist, Andrew Bennett,  woodland birds have inspired his long-standing research interests in landscape ecology and conservation biology, with a particular focus on understanding how human land-use and landscape change affect native wildlife and ecological processes. At the evening forum, Andrew will share the results from his recent research into woodland birds in Central Victoria and lead a topical discussion about “Drought then flooding rains: how do woodland birds respond to climatic change?”

Spots are still available for the evening forum, but are filling fast. CLICK HERE for more information and to make a booking. Bookings close on the 17th of March 2016.

20 March 2016 – Bush Stone Curlew excursion

Posted on 10 March, 2016 by Connecting Country

Connecting Country’s Feathered Five Festival is less than 10 sleeps’ away.  There are a small number of spaces still available for the morning walk and evening forum on Saturday 19 March (CLICK HERE for more details and to book).  However, the Sunday morning FOBIF walk in Strangways is fully booked out.

But, bird-lovers, never fear!  We have just learnt of an additional Sunday event – not too far away – which also has a feathery-theme.  The Indigenous Flora and Fauna Association have an excursion to Bush Stone Curlew captive breeding sites in Lockwood (just south of Bendigo), also on Sunday 20 March – from 11am to 2pm.  This cryptic species was once widespread in the Box Ironbark region of central Victoria, but is now of the verge of localised extinction.

Details of the IFFA excursion are in the attached flyer (CLICK HERE) and on their Facebook page (CLICK HERE).  Non-members are also welcome to attend.   Local Landcare Facilitator, Judy Crocker of the Mid-Loddon Sub-Catchment Management Group, will be guiding the walk.

To book your place for the excursion, contact: Karen McGregor of the IFFA on 9386 3102 or via activities@iffa.org.au.

11 March 2016 – Local eucalypts talk

Posted on 9 March, 2016 by Connecting Country

The guest speaker at the March 2016 meeting of the Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club is Bernard Slattery.  His presentation is cheekily titled ‘Drab Green and Desolate Grey?  Learning to look at our eucalypts‘.

Bernard is a local resident and is actively involved with the Friends of the Box Ironbark Forests (FOBIF).  He is a co-author of the locally produced Mosses of Dry Forests of South-eastern Australia.  His new area of interest is the local eucalypt species, and he will talk about some of the things he has discovered and learnt over the past couple of years.  This talk matches nicely with the current photographic exhibition on trees being held at TOGS café in Castlemaine (CLICK HERE for details), and soon to be at the Newstead Arts Hub.

Details of Bernard’s talk:
When – Friday 11 March 2016, from 7.30pm
Where – The Fellowship Room, behind the Uniting Church on Lyttleton St, Castlemaine (next door to the Castlemaine Art Gallery and Museum)
Who – Members and visitors are all welcome.  All ages.  No cost for entry.

Fungi and Photography workshops

Posted on 8 March, 2016 by Connecting Country

Mycena sp. MYC0080 © Alison Pouliot

The Mid Loddon Landcare Network covers localities such as Baringhup, the Nuggettys, Lockwood, Eddington.  They have coordinated many fascinating events, activities and workshops over recent months and years, all aimed at providing rural landholders and Landcarers with a better understanding of the local landscape and its management.

Their local Landcare Facilitator Judy Crocker has made us aware of two new upcoming activities, which will be undoubtedly of interest to many readers of this blog:

• Sunday 24 April 2016 – An all-day nature photography workshop.  This is being held in Lockwood.
• Monday 2 May 2016 – An evening seminar on the fungi of Eddington Forest and Bells Swamp. This is being held in Baringhup.

Both events are being presented by well-known local ecologist Alison Pouliot, and have a gold coin donation for entry.  For further information and booking details, see the attached flyers for this photography workshop (Click here) and evening seminar (click here).

© Alison Pouliot

North Central CMA Chat – March 2016 edition

Posted on 8 March, 2016 by Connecting Country

Regional Landcare Coordinator Tess Grieves has just let us know that the latest edition of the monthly North Central CMA publication ‘Chat’ is now available (CLICK HERE).

Tess says “This month features some exciting Waterwatch program updates and articles from local Landcare groups doing wonderful work within their local communities.”  Tess is also interested in receiving articles from Landcare groups to include in future newsletters (contact the NCCMA Landcare team via landcare@nccma.vic.gov.au if you are interested).

Tess has also let us know about the upcoming Future Farming Expo being held in Swan Hill on Thursday 14 April 2016.  Further details are available in the flyer (CLICK HERE).

Supporting businesses in central Victoria

Posted on 3 March, 2016 by Connecting Country

Connecting Country implements significant on-ground conservation works throughout the year. We fence off bushland and creeklines, eradicate weeds and rabbits, plant trees and shrubs – all to create a healthier environment across the Mount Alexander region. For many activities we employ our own Works Crew, but we also engage local contractors to provide particular services like herbicide spraying.

For particular regularly procured Goods and Services, Connecting Country is establishing an Endorsed Suppliers List for internal use only. Businesses can apply to be included on the Endorsed Suppliers List to provide one or more of the following Goods and Services to Connecting Country:

• Red-legged Earth Mite spraying

• Herbicide boom spraying with a Glyphosate product

• Supply and delivery of farm fencing materials

• Supply of locally indigenous tubestock  plants

For further information and a copy of the application form, CLICK HERE. You can also contact Alex or Chris by phone during business hours on 03 5472-1594 or email info@connectingcountry.org.au.  Applications are to be submitted by close of business Monday 21 March 2016.  All data collected will be maintained and used by Connecting Country with strict confidentiality controls.

Works Crew members walking out fencing wire – Image Shane Carey

18 March 2016 – Glider symposium in Seymour

Posted on 2 March, 2016 by Connecting Country

Sophie Bickford from Central Victorian Biolinks (CVB) has let us know that they are hosting a Glider Symposium in Seymour on Friday 18 March 2016.  The title of the symposium is ‘Glider conservation knowledge, practice and collaboration in Central Victoria‘.   This is part of the broader ‘Glideways’ project that Central Victorian Biolinks is involved in with the Great Eastern Ranges connectivity conservation initiative.

Attached is a flier for the event that explains more (CLICK HERE).   The full program should be available soon on the CVB website (CLICK HERE).

Bookings are through eventbrite for $10 (CLICK HERE), although tickets are also available on the day for $15.   This charge covers morning tea and lunch.

An official launch of the Central Victorian Biolink project will also occur on the day – with Prof. Kate Auty coming along to do the honours.

[NB: There may be 1-2 people from Connecting Country attending to learn more about aspects that are relevant to our own nest box monitoring program.  Please let us know if you are interested in car-pooling with us from Castlemaine.]

Revised MASC Climate Change Action Plan – Open for Comment

Posted on 29 February, 2016 by Connecting Country

The first draft of the Mount Alexander Shire Council’s Climate Change Action Plan was released for a four-week public comment and feedback in November last year (CLICK HERE to see our original post about this).   Based on the feedback received, and through meetings within Council and with a number of community groups, a revised draft has been released for a final two week public comment period from Monday 29 February 2016 to Sunday 13 March 2016.  As stated in their recent Environment and Sustainability eNewsletter, “The document outlines how Council will reduce its carbons emission and adapt to climate change in a considered way – working toward becoming carbon neutral by 2025.”

It is understood that the next steps – following the consideration of any further public comments – will involve the document being finalised by council staff and then recommended to Council for endorsement and implementation.

While the feedback period is open in early March, further information will be available on the Council’s website under the Have Your Say section (CLICK HERE).  The draft document can also be viewed over this period through their website or it can be directly downloaded here (CLICK HERE – an 8MB document).

The council are encouraging community members to review the document and send in written comments – before midnight Sunday 13 March 2016 – via email to the Healthy Environments Administration Officer, Dallas Giles d.giles@mountalexander.vic.gov.au.  We haven’t a chance to read this revised document yet, but we’ll aim to keep you informed over the next week or so if we see any noteworthy changes relating to Connecting Country’s areas of interest.

Trees of the Mount Alexander Region

Posted on 26 February, 2016 by Connecting Country

A photographic exhibition Trees of the Mount Alexander Region will run at Togs Place café from 26 February until 31 March 2016.

The exhibition has been coordinated by the Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forests (FOBIF) and aims to highlight the amazing variety to be seen in our local indigenous trees.  Even those trees of the same genus—for example, Eucalyptus—can exhibit a wild variety of shape and colour, as well as providing a home and other resources for an extraordinary diversity of wildlife.

The exhibition photos have been selected from over 125 that were submitted to FOBIF during December and January. In June 2016 the exhibition will have a second showing at the new local arts venue, the Newstead Railway Arts Hub. At this latter exhibition, at least one photo from each contributor will be included in a continuous slideshow.

Togs Place can be found at 58 Lyttleton Street, Castlemaine. Photos will be for sale, with proceeds going to FOBIF to cover costs.

(Also of interest to tree-lovers, the Bjarne K Dahl Trust and the Royal Society of Victoria are presenting a one-day symposium in Mebourne on 18 March 2016 highlighting eucalypt diversity and conservation.  For further details, see their website – CLICK HERE)

Nature News: Dry times for the Diamond Firetail

Posted on 25 February, 2016 by Connecting Country

Connecting Country, in partnership with the Midland Express, has launched its new monthly ‘Nature News’ feature.  Look out for these these articles by local naturalists appearing in the Midland Express on the first Tuesday of the month (or thereabouts). For the February edition, Tanya Loos shared her experiences about one of our local feathered friends; the Diamond Firetail. This article is reprinted below.  Keep an eye out in the next one or two editions of the Midland Express for an article on local snakes by Bernard Slattery.

Of relevance to the article below, at the Saturday evening forum of our feathered five festival (19-20 March 2016), Andrew Bennett will be discussing his research on how woodland birds are responding to climatic change and Phil Ingamells will share some tips from the experts on how we all can help. Click here for more information on the festival and to secure your spot for the talks.

A Diamond Firetail in the bird bath. Photo by Geoff Park

Dry Times for the Diamond Firetail.  By Tanya Loos.

As our gardens and paddocks wilt in the ongoing dry, access to water for fauna becomes ever more important. One visitor to the bird bath that is sure to delight the senses is the Diamond Firetail.

A small bird of great beauty, the Diamond Firetail sports a neat black and grey suit with white spots, set off by a dashing crimson rump and a coral-coloured bill and eye ring. Here in the Mount Alexander region we are fortunate to have small numbers of this rare bird in the local bushlands.

Diamond Firetails feed on seeds of both grasses and native trees such as she-oak. One day at the Rise and Shine Bushland Reserve south of Newstead, I chanced upon a lone Diamond Firetail foraging with a distinctive series of moves. He trundled along the ground, then leapt up to a grass seed head, grabbed it firmly in his bill, then stood on the grass head to eat the seeds. The process was repeated at the next grass tussock.

Living on seeds alone is thirsty work, and Diamond Firetails need a safe source of water in their bushland or woodland habitat. In dry times, one way to help firetails and other birds is through the provision of a bird bath or two. Bird baths are a wonderful way to enjoy your local birds, but do bear in mind they require daily maintenance to ensure the water is clean, and always topped up.

It is too hot and dry for breeding at the moment, but after the rains return and seeding grasses are available, nesting will occur anytime from August. To attract the female, the male Diamond Firetail selects a long piece of grass with a seed head, and holds it tightly in his bill. He then fluffs his spotted flank feathers and sings as he bobs up and down on the perch.

If the female approves, they will mate in the privacy of the nest. The nest is a domed affair, of grasses, seed heads and roots, and may be found in a mistletoe clump or a thick shrub such as Hedge Wattle. A few years ago, I observed a Diamond Firetail nest built amongst the large sticks of the base of a Wedge-tailed Eagle nest!

The Diamond Firetail is less common than it once was, largely due to the removal of suitable habitat. Happily small populations are still being reported in areas such as Muckleford, Guildford, Fryerstown and Sedgwick. If you have Diamond Firetails visiting your garden, or you see some out in the bush, we would love to hear from you!

For more information about the Diamond Firetail and other woodland birds, visit Connecting Country’s website: www.connectingcountry.org.au or contact Tanya on tanya@connectingcountry.org.au.

Links to local newsletters and event information – February 2016

Posted on 24 February, 2016 by Connecting Country

In the past week, we have received electronic newsletter updates from one central Victorian organisation and two local governments.  Each contains information about their recent activities in the field of environmental management, as well as identifying upcoming events that may be of interest to local community members, landholders and Landcare groups.

Mount Alexander Shire Council – CLICK HERE to view the Autumn Edition of their Environment and Sustainability eNews, including information about their Sustainable Living Workshop series for 2016, which kicks off this weekend with a Castlemaine Geology Tour.

Bendigo branch of Conservation Volunteers Australia – CLICK HERE to view their February 2016 e-news.  This is the inaugural issue of their newsletter.

Macedon Ranges Shire Council – CLICK HERE to view their latest Environment eNews, including information about this weekend’s Sustainable Living Festival.

12 March 2016 – Castlemaine Community Science Project

Posted on 22 February, 2016 by Connecting Country

Dr Dominique Hes is a senior lecturer at the University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning.  She has written a a book called Designing for Hope which is about moving “…beyond reducing impact to creating net ecological and social, restoration and regeneration through understanding place/country and its systems.”  Dr Hes is working with a local architectural firm and local landholders on the design of a ‘settlement’ in Reckleben St, west Castlemaine, which is to be to the Living Community standard (see http://living-future.org/lcc for details)  Dr Hes says that this standard of design stipulates that ‘any human community needs to be designed to provide net ecosystem service benefits.’

As part of this early phase of the design process, they are coordinating an ecological assessment of the site as a community science project.  They are keen for interested residents of Castlemaine and surrounds to come along to help, and learn from, expert specialists with the ecological assessment on Saturday 12 March from 10am to 2pm.  On-the-day support for the assessment is being provided by Bendigo TAFE, with food and drink provided by Growing Abundance.  This ecological assessment is to include flora and fauna surveys, tree health assessments and water quality testing.  Follow up surveys for comparison may then be undertaken in 5 and 10 years time to determine whether they have achieved their Living Community standard objectives.

If you are interested in being part of the ecological survey, further details are provided in the attached flier (CLICK HERE).

And, on a similar topic, the Mount Alexander Sustainability Group is hosting a Sustainable House Education Day on Sunday 28 February 2016.  Further details are provided in the attached MASG press release (CLICK HERE).

Apply now! Funding opportunities and other support for your property

Posted on 16 February, 2016 by Connecting Country

During the first six months or so of 2016, Connecting Country is seeking landholders to be part of the program ‘Connecting Landscapes Across the Mount Alexander Region’. We call it Connecting Landscapes for short.

Direct seeding lines winding their way through a property in Faraday as part of the on-ground works program. Photo: Bonnie Humphreys

The Connecting Landscapes team has been working with landholders and Landcare groups across the region for the past three years (since mid-2012) by enhancing existing bushland and undertaking new revegetation on private land.

Now the Connecting Landscapes program is coming into its final phases, and we want to spread news about it far and wide. The map below shows the potential geographic area for our program.

If your property or project area is found to meet the project’s criteria, the activities that we support can include:

• Site management plans – With input, direction and feedback from the landholder, our technical specialists will develop a plan for the property which identifies its environmental values (including flora lists), the threatening processes and agreed management actions.
• Bushland protection – We will support the management of existing remnant bushland areas, and also in younger vegetation areas that are naturally regenerating, by actions such as the installation and repair of protective fences, pest control and supplementary planting.
• Revegetation of paddocks – Using specially-designed machinery, we will sow locally sourced indigenous seed (potentially including Eucalyptus and Acacias) within your property. We also provide tubestock plantings where direct seeding is impractical.
• Weed and Rabbit Control – Our works crew will assist landholders in the control of rabbits and environmental weeds using best practice methods.
• Grazing Regime Change – In some situations, we can support bushland protection and enhancement through stewardship payments for grazing regime change.

Financial costs to the landholder are usually negligible, although some on-going maintenance activities are often part of the works agreement.

Please feel free to let your neighbours and friends in the local area know about this opportunity as well.

For more information or to get involved:

Visit our Connecting Landscapes web page

Complete and return an Expression of Interest form

Call Jarrod or Bonnie at Connecting Country ph 5472-1594, or email Jarrod at jarrod@connectingcountry.org.au

Support for the implementation of this Connecting Country program has been provided by the Australian government.

Feathered Five Festival March 2016: Diamonds in the hills

Posted on 15 February, 2016 by Tanya Loos

There’s diamonds in those hills – Diamond Firetails, that is. This jewel of a bird is one of the ‘feathered five’, our very special woodland bird species that are a focus for Connecting Country. Over the years, we have supported a number of on-ground projects that strive to ensure these five species and other woodland birds are flourishing in the Mount Alexander region of central Victoria now and in the future.

Our inaugural Feathered Five Festival is a celebration of woodland birds and their habitat with two days of birdwatching, activities and talks over the weekend of 19-20 March 2016. However, you don’t need to be a budding birdwatcher to attend the free Saturday Evening Forum on the 19^th of March in Campbells Creek.

From 5pm until 6pm, Connecting Country staff members will be on hand to answer your land management concerns; Bonnie Humphreys can help you identify any plant, Jarrod Coote will consider whole farm planning and funding opportunities, Tanya Loos knows lots about birds and other fauna,  Alex Schipperen is great with practical things such as fencing and the control of weeds and rabbits, and Asha Bannon will help you link-up with your local Landcare Group. You can bring along any plant samples you’d like identified and you can contact us beforehand if you’d like a detailed aerial photo of your property to discuss. Meanwhile, Judy Laycock will be running some exciting nature art activities with the kids.

Following a tasty dinner from Growing Abundance and music by Castlemaine’s Chat Warblers, we are thrilled to have Professor Andrew Bennett, from Latrobe University and the Arthur Rylah Institute, and Phil Ingamells, from the VNPA, share their thoughts on the future of biodiversity in the area. Andrew has been a scientific advisor to Connecting Country since 2010 and will discuss “Drought then flooding rains; how do woodland birds respond to climatic change?”. Phil Ingamells is sure to inspire us with his talk “Collaborating on ten things we can all do to help nature adapt to a new climate”. A short panel discussion will take place after the talks.

On both mornings of the Feathered Five Festival, bird walks in search of the feathered five will occur in various locations around the Mount Alexander region. Connecting Country’s Woodland Bird Coordinator, Tanya Loos, explains; “in the last year or two, through walks and workshops, we have been encouraging a cohort of budding birdwatchers to get out there and improve their birdwatching skills. This weekend is their time to shine as a number of community led walks will be carried out simultaneously on the Saturday morning – the feathered five drive!”

On the Sunday morning, we’re pleased take part in a guided nature walk with a special focus on woodland birds and their habitat. The walk will take place at a private property in Strangways which is a woodland wonderland, with a lovely grassy understory and grand old eucalypts. This joint Connecting Country and the Friends of Box Ironbark Forest (FOBIF) event will be led by Tanya Loos (Connecting Country) and Andrew Skeoch from Listening Earth.

You can come to one event –or all three! Bookings are essential – by the 17th March 2016. Click here for more information and to book, or call Connecting Country on 5472 1594.

This festival has been made possible with funding from the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust and the Australian Government.