Saturday 24 Sept 2016 – Launch of identification guide to local eucalypts
Posted on 14 September, 2016 by Connecting Country
Have you ever had trouble seeing the forest for the trees? That is probably because there has never before been an easy-to-use guide to identify the local tree species. But all this is about change. On Saturday 24 September, the Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forest (FOBIF) are launching their latest publication, Eucalypts of the Mount Alexander Region. Guest speaker, and the official launcher, will be Geoff Park, a well known local environmentalist and author of the Natural Newstead blog.
This 90 page guide by FOBIF members’ Bernard Slattery, Ern Perkins and Bronwyn Silver aims to help the beginner train the eye to see the differences between eucalypts – and to appreciate how spectacular they sometimes are. It presents the commonest species of the Mount Alexander Region, generously illustrated, and clearly described in plain language. Though firmly based on one local area (the forests and reserves around the town of Castlemaine – within the shire of Mount Alexander and immediate surrounds), it describes species common to the whole Box-Ironbark region of central Victoria, and would be useful to any enthusiast in that region, from Ararat to Chiltern.
For those that all ready have a copy of FOBIFs guide to mosses and lichens, this new publication is of the same high standard and with a broadly similar layout.
The publication of this book has been made possible by a generous grant from the Worrowing Fund through the Norman Wettenhall Foundation. Connecting Country has been a supporter of this publication from near its earliest days of development, and is thrilled with the final product. Other supporters have included the Castlemaine Field Naturalists’ Club.
The book’s cost is $10 and people buying it at the launch will receive a selection of free tree-related bookmarks and a FOBIF fungi poster. Proceedings will start at 10.30am in the Castlemaine library foyer. Refreshments will be served. No RSVPs required, and everyone is welcome.
Sunday 18th September 2016 – Muckleford Landcare Open Day event
Posted on 12 September, 2016 by Connecting Country
As part of Connecting Country’s Landcare Open Day several local Landcare and Friends groups are hosting public events. Here are the details of this weekend’s event to be held this Sunday the 18th September 2016, in Muckleford.
Muckleford Catchment Landcare
A bundle of fun, sweet sugar gliders at home in their nestbox.
WHERE: starting at the Muckleford Community Centre, then onto Walmer Conservation Reserve
WHEN: Sunday 18th September, 10am -12.30pm
DESCRIPTION: Muckleford Landcare is happy to invite you to attend a “Public Reserves Bus Tour and Field Day” on Sunday 18th September. There are a number of ‘mysterious’ and interesting parcels of public land in Muckleford that are termed public reserves – some are hidden away and this short bus tour will allow participants to find out about their story. The tour will end up at the Walmer Conservation Reserve at midday where we will work with local fauna expert expert, Miles Geldard, to check the wildlife nest boxes.
A free BBQ lunch is provided. Please RSVP to bethmellick@gmail.com or text 0431 219 980.
A Connecting Country nest box in the field
Sunday 11th September 2016 – Three Landcare Open Day events
Posted on 7 September, 2016 by Connecting Country
Join in on the fun at one of this weekends Landcare Open Days held across the shire.
Over the next few weekends in September, several local Landcare and Friends groups will be holding public events as part of Connecting Country’s Landcare Open Day. Here are the details of three events to be held this Sunday the 11th September 2016, in Sutton Grange, Chewton, and Maldon .
While everyone is always welcome to attend the regular working bees run by their local groups, these events will be specifically suitable for families and people new to Landcare. For further details on all events, including those to be held the following weekend, visit our landcare webpage. This page will be updated as new events are added. If you have any questions, contact Asha on 5472 1594 or asha@connectingcountry.org.au.
Sutton Grange Landcare
WHERE: 893 Coliban Park Road, Sutton Grange
WHEN: Sunday 11th September 2016, 10:30am – 3pm
DESCRIPTION: Tree planting in Sutton Grange
Sutton Grange Landcare Group in conjunction with Connecting Country are participating in the Federal Government 20 million trees program by planting approximately 200 trees at Mike Abramowski’s property. We would like to make this an enjoyable group/family get together and plant a few trees. A BBQ and refreshments will be provided. If you can provide an hour or more of your time on this day, please RSVP to sglg@live.com as soon as possible. Further details will be provided once Sutton Grange Landcare has confirmed numbers.
This project is supported by the 20 Million Trees Programme, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme
Post Office Hill Action Group, Chewton Primary School, Chewton Landcare and, Golden Point Landcare
WHERE: Railway Street, Chewton (between Hunter Street and the railway line)
WHEN: Sunday 11th September 2016, 1.30 p.m.
DESCRIPTION: Discover the secrets of Chewton’s Post Office Hill
A free fun family orienteering event to celebrate the Landcare Open Day. Join Post Office Hill Action Group, Chewton Primary School, Chewton Landcare and Golden Point Landcare for this event followed by afternoon tea in the school grounds. Information about the groups and their activities, plant giveaways and prizes for the most interesting “discoveries”!! Register on the day at 1.30 p.m. at Chewton Primary School. For more details contact Jennifer Pryce; 0423 900 590 or j.pryce@bigpond.com
Maldon Urban Landcare Group (Mulga) and Nuggetty Landcare Group
Tanya leads a group of keen birdwatchers through the basics of how to watch and ID birds through behaviour, habitat and appearance
WHERE: Meet at the Maldon Cemetery, Maldon-Shelbourne Rd, Maldon
WHEN: Sunday 11th September 2016, 10am to 1pm
DESCRIPTION: Woodland birds and boneseed weed walk and talk
Join Tanya Loos, the Woodland Birds Project Coordinator at Connecting Country, in a walk along Back Cemetery Rd. and onto the area known as ‘The Commons’, observing the habitat for birds, and pulling out small bone seed plants along the way. BBQ lunch provided. For more details contact Bev Phillips; 0407 770 350 or phillips1bev@gmail.com
Friday 9th Sept 2016 – Australian Ants in roadside and remnants
Posted on 4 September, 2016 by Connecting Country
The guest speaker for the next Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club on Friday 9th September is Ballarat-based entomologist Peter Muller. Peter’s presentation will be about the great variety of interesting ants that occur in the local area and beyond. Peter has provided the following text about himself and the talk:
Early life; lived, trained/educated/qualified in agriculture. Changed direction and pursued a career in natural land management. Worked for various environmental organisation, Parks Victoria and Conservation and land management, and the various forms that it has morphed into over the years. Have gained substantial land management experience in a variety disciplines and responsibilities. Over 30 years have worked in conservation in most areas in Victoria.
Nest mound of Rhytidoponera spp. Photo by Peter Muller.
For the last 15 years, until recently retired, I have worked in environmental education with Ballarat/Federation University, a challenging but rewarding profession. Now with a bit of time on my hands, I am devoting some of it researching ants and, hopefully, to answering some question about ants that I have had for many years. I hope, along the way, I can add a little bit to our environmental knowledge, and add value to natural areas particularly, roadside and remnants.
I live at Enfield south of Ballarat, and have three daughters in various parts of the world.
Peter will also lead the club’s excursion on the following day, which will be a search for nests of sugar ants and other ants. The following link provides some further information to assist with ant nest identification during the excursion (CLICK HERE).
Peter’s presentation will commence from 7.30pm in the Fellowship Room behind the Castlemaine Uniting Church (on Lyttleton St, next door to the Art Gallery and Museum) on Friday 9 September. The excursion will depart from the Octopus building car-park on Duke St (opposite the Castle Motel) at 1.30pm sharp on Saturday 10 September. Members and visitors are welcome to attend both, and there is no cost for attendance.
Celebrating Mount Alexander Landcare with the Landcare Open Day events
Posted on 29 August, 2016 by Connecting Country
Over the next few weekends in September, several groups will be holding public events for Connecting Country’s Landcare Open Day. While everyone is always welcome to attend the regular working bees run by their local groups, these events will be specifically suitable for families and people new to Landcare.
Archer helping out at a local landcare event in readiness for the upcoming Landcare Open Day events.
Maldon Urban Landcare and Nuggetty Landcare are banding together to run a bird walk with Tanya Loos. Barkers Creek Landcare & Wildlife Group and Harcourt Valley Landcare Group are holding a flora walk to look for some of the exciting plants that are starting to flower. Golden Point Landcare, Post Office Hill Action Group, and Chewton Landcare are all joining forces for an afternoon of orienteering, and the Tarrengower Cactus Control Group will be holding a community field day where you can learn how to control Wheel Cactus. For more details on these and other Landcare Open Day events, CLICK HERE or contact asha@connectingcountry.org.au.
Landcare in the Mount Alexander region has been incredibly busy in the past year. Our biannual Landcare Link-ups provide opportunities for landcare members to share stories and experiences. Two Green Army teams have been working on numerous projects, with a third team just started. Funding through the Federal Government’s 20 Million Trees Programme has created opportunities for four local groups to begin planting 6300 plants.
We are also very excited about the Mount Alexander Schools Landcare Days coming up. Grade five and six students from all local primary schools will attend a day of environmental-based activities at Vaughan Springs, hopefully fostering a new generation of Landcarers.
For more information about Landcare in this region and to find out how you can get involved, visit: http://connectingcountry.org.au/landcare/
Sustainable and Biodiverse Farm Field Day makes a splash
Posted on 25 August, 2016 by Connecting Country
Friday the 19th August 2016 was forecast to be wet in Sutton Grange, and it really was! However, around sixty local people braved the weather to attend the morning session at our recent Field Day at the Holy Goat Cheese farm.
Participants see sustainable dairying in action at the Holy Goat Cheese farm.
Participants listening to Ian Higgins explaining biodiversity values at the Holy Goat Cheese farm in Sutton Grange
Whilst on the farm, these hardy souls learnt about sustainable property management, goat farming and cheese production with Carla Meurs and Ann-Marie Monda. They also explored the values of biodiversity, birds and cultural heritage with Ian Higgins from Campbells Creek Landcare group, Tanya Loos from Connecting Country, and Gerry Gill from La Trobe University.
People were revived at lunch time in the warm and dry Sutton Grange Hall with hot drinks and delicious food from Growing Abundance.
The morning group were joined by an extra crowd of around thirty people who enjoyed the afternoon session listening to six local producers – Katie Finlay (Mount Alexander Fruit Gardens), Mandy Jean (Guildford Winery), John Cable (JCBee Honey), Ben Boxshall (Farm Forest Growers of Victoria), Sam White (Sidonia Road Organics), and Clare de Kok (Pig in a Box) – talk about viability, sustainability and biodiversity on their farms.
To quote one participant: “Thanks for putting together such a great and inspiring day. It was really beyond expectation and I got a lot out of it.”
A huge thanks to all the presenters and participants for their good will and endurance in attending this event. It is amazing how much can be gained from other farmers and producers sharing their experiences and knowledge.
Thanks also to Mandy Coulson and the North Central Catchment Management Authority for their support in planning and running the day. This event was part our Connecting Landscapes Education Program with funding from the Australian Government.
19 August 2016 – Sustainable and Biodiverse Farms Field Day
Posted on 21 July, 2016 by Connecting Country
Enjoy an informative tour of the Sutton Grange Organic Farm with Holy Goat Cheese owners Anna-Marie Monda and Carla Meurs.
Making a dream of a sustainable and biodiverse farm a reality is hard work, but some of the region’s most successful producers are here to help. Connecting Country and the North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) are bringing successful farmers together for a Farm Field Day on 19 August.
North Central CMA regional Landcare Facilitator Mandy Coulson said the field day is about learning from others and fully understanding the journey from idea to marketplace.
“It will be an opportunity to learn about local produce and the various journeys people are experiencing as they work towards achieving integrated sustainable land systems in the southern part of the region,” she said.
Carla Meurs and Anna-Marie Monda (Holy Goat Cheese), Katie Finlay (Mount Alexander Fruit Gardens), Mandy Jean (Guildford Winery), John Cable (JCBee Honey), Ben Boxshall (Farm Forest Growers of Victoria), Sam White (Sidonia Road Organics), and Clare de Kok (Pig in a Box) will tell their stories of innovation, diversification and value adding.
“Over 200 landholders in the Mount Alexander Region have worked with Connecting Country to improve the sustainability and biodiversity of their properties,” Connecting Country’s Krista Patterson-Majoor said. “We are thrilled to provide this opportunity to see one of these inspiring farms in action and to learn from other local producers.”
The field day will be held at the Sutton Grange Community Hall and nearby Sutton Grange Organic Farm, the home of Holy Goat Cheese. The event is free and supported through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme and by Connecting Country, through funding from the Australian Government.
Click here to download a flyer and agenda for the day.
RSVP is essential by 8 August on info@nccma.vic.gov.au or 03 5448 7124.
Inspiring Woman in Agriculture Short Course 2016
Posted on 21 July, 2016 by Connecting Country
The North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) has opened expressions of interest for its popular Inspiring Women in Agriculture short course. The course is delivered over four days in Bendigo, covering everything from networking, marketing and planning, to achieving balance and making money.
“If you have a passion for agriculture and are keen to take your farm business to the next level, learn new skills, build your networks and be inspired, then this is the course for you,” North Central CMA Regional Landcare Facilitator Mandy Coulson said.
Former course participants have used the skills gained at the course to reinvigorate their farming enterprises, or start new ones. “The Inspiring Women in Agriculture short course showed me that it was important to take ownership of our plan, see that it was flexible and change it as necessary,” pork producer Clare de Kok said.
The Inspiring Women in Agriculture short course will be run from 9am to 4pm on 1, 2 and 15 September 2016 and 20 October 2016, for a cost of $375. CLICK HERE to view the flyer. For further information or to submit an EOI, visit the North Central CMA website or phone (03) 5448 7124. EOIs close 5pm Monday 1 August 2016.
The course is supported by the North Central CMA, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme in partnership with Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE, Inspiring Excellence and Cynthia Mahoney and Associates.
24 July 2016 – Muckleford Landcare History Project
Posted on 20 July, 2016 by Connecting Country
The Muckleford Landcare Group will host a pleasant Sunday afternoon at 2 pm on July 24 2016 at the Muckleford Community Centre for people interested in contributing to a local history project.
There will be two special guest speakers:
Author of Footprints Across the Loddon Plains: a shared history, Paul Haw.
Paul Haw grew up on a family farm fronting the Loddon River at Yando, near Boort. Paul served as a National Servicemen in Vietnam where he almost lost his life. This experience and other factors inspired him to look more closely at the place where he lived, its history and its environment.
The result is an impressive book, Footprints Across the Loddon Plains: a shared history, co-written with Margaret Munro.
Paul will relate how he went about his research and what he learned. It is a fascinating and inspiring story.
Robyn Ballinger is an historian who lives in Maldon. Robyn has published an environmental history of the Victorian northern plains entitled An Inch of Rain: A water history of northern Victoria. Robyn undertakes writing, historical research, teaching, facilitation of community consultation, and preparation of heritage studies and significance assessments.
Robyn will introduce the meeting to the ways in which local history can be pursued and the resources available to the local historian.
There will be an afternoon tea followed by a chat about the particular interests of those attending, how they can be assisted in their endeavours and ways in which their stories can be shared and archived.
Members from other groups are most welcome to join us.
If you wish to attend or know more about the event, text or email Paul Hampton: paul.hampton46@gmail.com
Cactus Killing Field Day: Sunday 26th June 2016
Posted on 22 June, 2016 by Connecting Country
The Tarrangower Cactus Control Group’s next Community Field Day will be on Sunday 26th June at a property at the end of Whitlocks Road in Baringhup. The morning’s activities will begin at 10:30am and then end at 12:30pm with an enjoyable BBQ and friendly chat. Click here to view the field day poster.
Directions: If you leave Maldon via South Parkin’s Reef Road, just continue straight along into Whitlocks Rd, and it’s the last property on your right before you get to Cairn Curran Reservoir. This will be well signposted from South Parkins Reef Road.
If you have any queries, please contact Ian on 0412 015 807 or check out their website at http://www.cactuswarriors.org.
This could be you on Sunday! Ian Grenda demonstrating cactus injection techniques.
Bird monitoring workshop at Yapenya ( Mount Barker)
Posted on 17 June, 2016 by Tanya Loos
By Jane Rusden, Connecting Country volunteer
On 26 May 2016, Tanya Loos lead a wonderful scientific bird survey workshop on the slopes of Yapenya, known to many as Mt Barker, with our hosts the Dja Dja Wurrung on the Clans Aboriginal Corporation property. Twenty one intrepid and enthusiastic participants, of which two were Dja Dja Wurrung Clan members and two were Djandak employees; enjoyed the grey wintery day and braved the inclement weather.
As we sheltered in the Dja Dja Wurrungs shed, drank tea and ate biscuits, Ron Kerr gave us a warm welcome followed by an outstanding DVD by Gerry Gill, “The Meaning of The Stones”, giving us background information on the significant Dja Dja Wurrung cultural heritage of the area. Tanya then gave us a fascinating bird ID talk and introduction to the environmental management of the property. So we were primed and ready to brave the wild weather for our bird survey, a first for many in the group.
The 20 minute 2Ha area search is quite specific, but with a few simple rules to follow. We got the hang of it fairly quickly and set out spotting birds. Our transect followed a magnificent stand of River Red Gums, providing important habitat for the 6 species of woodland birds we saw. Of note, we also saw a stunning Wedge-tailed Eagle or Bunjil, the male Flame Robin with its crazy bright orange breast, and the hard to identify and confusing thornbills, the Brown Thornbill and Yellow-rumped Thornbill. We also saw a flock of Silvereyes foraging on the ground which is unusual for this species.
Having worked up an appetite battling the wild weather and working hard at bird spotting and identification, we enjoyed a BBQ lunch provided by the Dja Dja Wurrung and cooked by Ron. An informative and fun day out in a special and fascinating landscape, concluded with full tummies.
All rugged up as we searched for birds along the river red gum part of the property.
Long Swamp Protected
Posted on 8 June, 2016 by Connecting Country
Last Wednesday (1 June 2016), Max Kay and myself (Saide Gray) from the Connecting Country Committee of Management were very fortunate to be able to attend the official launch of Long Swamp as a Trust for Nature covenanted wetland, now called the Murray Family Conservation Reserve: Long Swamp. After an initial gift of 40ha in 1992, the Trust for Nature, with support from the North Central Catchment Management Authority, donors and the community, recently purchased another 145ha of Long Swamp. Only one small site at the eastern end of the wetland remains in private hands.
Long Swamp in January 2016. Photo by Geoff Park.
Long Swamp is a priority ecosystem as it supports an extensive area of cane-grass wetland vegetation, a restricted habitat essential for a range of rare and threatened species, such as the endangered Australasian Bittern, the vulnerable Australian Painted Snipe and the Growling Grass Frog. A small group of Brolgas was recorded as using the site prior to draining in 1965 and have been seen returning in more recent years. The new addition also protects the ecological community fringing the Swamp, which is known as Grassy Eucalypt Woodland of the Victorian Volcanic Plain, nationally listed as critically endangered under the Australian Governments’ Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
Long Swamp is the only deep freshwater marsh in the approximately 50 diverse wetlands in the Moolort Plains, between Maryborough and Castlemaine on the north-eastern tip of the Victorian Volcanic Plain – Victoria’s only national biodiversity hotspot.
As the wetland is surrounded by private land, this was a rare opportunity to briefly explore the site. The reserve was officially opened by Lily D’Ambrosio (Victorian Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, and also Minister for Suburban Development), David Clark, (chair of the North Central Catchment Management Authority) and Max Ervin (Chair of Trust for Nature). We were guided on a walk through the swamp by local ecologist Damien Cook after a welcome to country by Graham Atkinson (chair of the Dja Dja Wurrung Aboriginal Clans Corporation).
Now the work of restoration begins. If you would like to know more about the Murray Family Conservation Reserve: Long Swamp, please contact Trust for Nature on 1800 99 99 33 or trustfornature@tfn.org.au.
The following photographs show some of the landscape and flora present at this new Wetland Conservation Reserve.
10 June 2016 – Strategic Fire Planning Presentation in Castlemaine
Posted on 2 June, 2016 by Connecting Country
The guest speakers for the June meeting of the Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club (CFNC) are Paul Bates (District Manager, Murray Goldfields District, DELWP) and Ben Matthews (Regional Fire Planner – Loddon Mallee Region, DELWP).
Paul has provided the following information about the presentation:
“We would like to talk about strategic fire planning and the risk based approach to fuel management. This work is guided by government policy called Safer Together which can be summarised as follows: Safer Together – our new approach to bushfire management, combines stronger community partnerships with the latest science and information to more effectively target our actions to reduce our bushfire risk. We will use a risk reduction target across public and private land to focus our bushfire management activities (like planned burning) in areas we know (through fire modelling) will have the greatest impact.
Our planned burning program under this new risk target does not mean we will burn less, or burn more – it means we will be burning smarter.”
There will be ample time for questions after their presentation.
As per usual for the CFNC, this free presentation will occur on the second Friday of the month (10 June), commencing from 7.30pm. It will be held in the Fellowship room, which is located in the hall behind the Uniting Church (On Lyttleton St, next door to the Castlemaine Art Gallery and Museum). Visitors welcome. Tea and coffee afterwards.
FOBIF Tree exhibition moves to Newstead
Posted on 30 May, 2016 by Connecting Country
Long-leaved Box Eucalyptus goniocalyx, juvenile leaf. From Strangways
Photo by Patrick Kavanagh, September 2014
The Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forests exhibition, Trees in the Mount Alexander Region, is moving to the new Newstead Railway Arts Hub after a month at TOGS café in March.
The show in Newstead will run throughout June 2016. It will include the photos from the TOGS show and a slide show which will have at least one image from people who sent in photos for the FOBIF Flickr site after a call for photos in January. There are 25 framed photos which are all are for sale with proceeds going to FOBIF.
The Arts Hub show will be open at weekends and the Queens Birthday holiday (Monday 13 June). Opening hours are 10 am to 4 pm. The address is Dundas Street, Newstead (directly across from Railway Hotel). If you would like to view the exhibition outside these days/hours, or help with staffing the show, contact Bronwyn Silver on 5475 1089.
The opening will be at 10.30 on Saturday 4 June 2016. There will be refreshments and everyone is welcome. Bernard Slattery from FOBIF will open the show.
‘Death Throes.’ Yellow Box Eucalyptus melliodora. From Rise and Shine Bushland Reserve
Photo by Damian Kelly, November 2015
Latest news from the FTLA
Posted on 30 May, 2016 by Connecting Country
On the 27 May 2016. Susi Johnson from the Farm Tree and Landcare Association (FTLA) sent us a comprehensive email full of information about upcoming events, activities and grants opportunities. We thought that there was lots within it which would be of interest to our members and local Landcare groups. As such, we’ve turned her email into a PDF for you viewing (click here).
Meet Our New Crew
Posted on 16 May, 2016 by Connecting Country
For four years now, Connecting Country has assembled an annual Works Crew to undertake planting, weed management, rabbit control and fencing on many of the properties we are working with. The crew for 2016 started just after Easter, and are enthusiastic about the season ahead. We wish to share a warm welcome to Anna Pike, Rachel Campbell and Luke Archer. Once again, the crew is headed up our inspiring Crew Leader, Alex Schipperen.
A warm welcome to our new crew members (L-R); Luke Archer, Rachel Campbell, and Anna Pike. Crew leader, Alex Schipperen, is on the far right.
Let us introduce them:
Anna has studied Environmental Management at university and was a Project Firefighter in Gelibrand. In the long term, Anna wants to become a park ranger, so the plant identification skills she’ll learn with Connecting Country are a top priority. Anna isn’t fazed by the hard work ahead – after spending her summer cutting through fences for fire access, she realises it’s about time she put some up again.
Rachel comes to us from Woodend, where she is an active part of Woodend Landcare’s Thursday Crew. When she heard that the annual koala count in Wombat State Forest totalled zero, she realised some serious work needed to be done and she wanted to get involved. This led to Rachel to undertake a Diploma in Conservation Land Management. Joining the Works Crew will give Rachel the practical on-ground experience she needs to complement her studies.
Luke has spent the past 12 months working with the Green Army, around Daylesford, Wedderburn and Mount Alexander. He’s developed skills in plant identification, weed control and erosion control, which he hopes to expand on with the Works Crew. Luke loves the outdoors, and has visions of a landscaping apprenticeship in the future. He’s most looking forward to learning about seed collecting and helping out with our nest box monitoring program.
Over their time with Connecting Country, Anna, Rachel and Luke will obtain their chemical use certificate, first aid certificate, learn chainsaw operation and tree felling, and their construction industry ‘white card’ induction – all great foundations for future work. For now, however, they are busy fencing off areas in preparation for the planting season ahead. Please do say hello if you see them out and about.
The works crew are an important part of our Connecting Landscapes across the Mount Alexander Region project funded by the Australian Government.
Swift Parrot count this weekend
Posted on 11 May, 2016 by Tanya Loos
Fans of the Swift Parrot are pleased to hear that the “swifties” are back in the Mount Alexander region, with a small flock of adults and juveniles reported on Geoff Park’s blog Natural Newstead (click here). These precious and declining migratory parrots visit the area every year in Autumn and winter. BirdLife Australia coordinates counts across the birds’ range, and we encourage you to participate this weekend (14-15 May 2016)! The Swift Parrot surveys can be undertaken in a couple of different ways.
Swift Parrot feasting on blossom, a beautiful photo by Chris Tzaros.
- Join me on an outing to Kalimna Park this Saturday 14 May 2016. Kalimna Park is not renowned for a lot of Swiftie sightings but it is good to know where the birds are not occurring, as well as where they are. This walk is a rescheduled outing from last week which was cancelled due to bad weather. Please call or email to book a place and for further details. Phone 0400 458 910 or tanya@connectingcountry.org.au
- Head out on a survey yourself! The form to use is very easy and can be downloaded from the Birdlife website (click here). Elizabeth (Beth) Mellick from the Norman Wettenhall Foundation is coordinating the various Swiftie survey locations in our region, so if you are carrying out a survey, please email Beth at beth@nwf.org.au. The Muckleford-Newstead area is usually the best place to go to see some Swift Parrots! However, some other potential locations that are not yet covered by birdwatchers include: Harcourt, Nuggetty, Welshmans Reef, and if you wish to go further south, Campbelltown and Talbot.
From Tanya Loos,
Coordinator of Connecting Country’s Woodland Bird Projects
Wetland Plants Identification Course
Posted on 3 May, 2016 by Connecting Country
Damian Cook and Elaine Bayes have let us know that they are now taking registration for their excellent 3 day Wetland Plant Identification Course at the stunning Reedy Lagoon at Gunbower Island.
The course commences in October 2016 and is aimed at anyone interested in wetland plant identification and ecology. The course will run over 3 days and each day will focus on a different wetland habitat (water’s edge, deep marsh and mudflat) and be timed so as to follow the wetting and drying of the lagoon. Participants can elect to do 1, 2 or all 3 days. Registrations are now open and there are two sessions to choose from.
More information on the course, and details on how to register, are available on the Rakali Consulting website (click here).
Friends of Campbells Creek Landcare – Direct Seeding Field Day 17 April 2016
Posted on 13 April, 2016 by Connecting Country
Nearly two years ago, the Friends of Campbells Creek Landcare (FoCC) machine direct-seeded wattles on barren hard ground outside the new Tonks centre in Lewis Drive, Castlemaine.
The ground was so hard and compacted, the hoes just bounced off the surface. Now some of those seedlings are over three metres tall in spite of the hot and dry seasons since!
On Sunday 17 April 2016 @ 10:00 a.m. their Seeding Field Day will look “at the success from these efforts, and we’ll see and help with direct seeding again in a very different situation, this time in some dry rise country away from the creek. Because the soil is so poor there, we’ll be sowing much earlier and using very different species.”
There will be:
– a demonstration of the machinery used with direct sowing
– an opportunity to help with sowing by hand
– LATE morning tea provided
FoCC will also be giving away samples of seed if you’d like to try out the techniques later at home.
Meet at 10:00 a.m. in the car park at the end of Lewis Drive, below Tonks (see map).
The morning involves a walk of around 600 m to the new sowing site – they’ll provide transport for those who would find this difficult.
Please bring hats, gloves, enclosed footwear, sturdy clothing suitable for the weather and your own water – FoCC will supply the rest.
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.