Our “new look” education events in 2016

Posted on 29 December, 2015 by Connecting Country

As 2015 draws to a close, many of us in the Connecting Country office have been thinking ahead. For the past six years, we have run a popular education program predominantly featuring a series of technical workshops and guest-speaker events. In 2016 we plan to continue with our education program – only this time a little differently….

Local birds, and particularly the ‘feathered five’, is our focus for 2016. The feathered five comprise the acrobatic Brown Treecreeper, the elegantly spotted Diamond Firetail, the post-sitting, tail-wagging Jacky Winter, the handsome Hooded Robin, and the mysterious ‘oooom-ing’ Painted Button-quail. Connecting Country has picked these five woodland birds as ambassadors for habitat restoration efforts across the region.

Our inaugural Feathered Five Festival will kick off the year on the 19th and 20th March 2016 – a two day celebration of bird-watching, walks and talks.

Then there will be biannual nest box checks, a ‘sticky beak’ tours of on-ground work projects, regular bird walks, landcare link-ups, and one of our favorite events, the Camp Out on the Mount.

In August, in partnership with the North Central Catchment Management Authority, we’re very pleased to host a Farm Expo which will cover diverse topics such as holistic grazing, water on farms, biodiversity in the paddock, and small farm diversification.

We’ll be celebrating Landcare week in September in a big way with our local grade five and six students at the ‘Mount Alexander Schools Landcare Day‘.  We’ll also be supporting local groups to get involved in the Landcare Open Day.

In conjunction with the Castlemaine Festival of Gardens, in November we will be celebrating gardens too – wildlife friendly gardens. There will be workshops and resources made available as well as a inspiring open garden or two to explore.

In 2016 we’d also like to be more active in the press and on-line. Watch out for our monthly ‘Nature News’ articles in the Midland Express.  We are developing some exciting and informative on-line videos for our Connecting Country vimeo page. And you can always keep in touch via our Connecting Country Facebook Page  – do ‘like’ us!

More information about all of these activities will be available in the new year.  The best way to stay informed is via the Connecting Country webpage and our regular emails and blogs. Alternatively you can contact Krista for more information on 5472-1594 or krista@connectingcountry.org.au.  (NB: The office is closed from 25 December 2015 and re-opening on 4 January 2016.).

In the meantime we wish everyone a safe and enjoyable festive season, thanks for your support throughout 2015 – and don’t forget to top up your bird baths!!

Fancy seeing your photos at the next FOBIF exhibition?

Posted on 17 December, 2015 by Tanya Loos

Many of you will be familiar with the stunning photography exhibitions that are curated by the Friends of Box-Ironbark Forests (FOBIF), featuring intricate moss portraits, woodland birds and other flora and fauna of our beautiful area.  The theme of the next FOBIF photo exhibition is Trees in the Mount Alexander Region, and FOBIF are calling for potential photographers now.

TOGS in Castlemaine will host the exhibition in March 2016 and later in the year the Newstead Railway Arts Hub has kindly agreed host the same exhibition. Photos will be for sale to cover FOBIF costs.

The tree theme also allows photos of  close-ups of buds, nuts and flowers – and the fauna that live among the tree bark and foliage. For more information on submitting photos, and the guidelines click here.

We are excited at Connecting Country because March is also the month of the first Feathered Five Festival – a two day celebration of five very special woodland birds that live in our local forests. More on this soon….

This is a magnificent tree – which I think is a Manna Gum.  FOBIF members have kindly offered to assist in the correct identification of the trees for any submitted photos. Picture by Tanya Loos

The Only Twitcher in the Village

Posted on 25 November, 2015 by Connecting Country

Sean described his younger self as ‘the only twitcher in the village’.

Sean Dooley may have been seen as ‘uncool’ when he was the only birdwatching kid at school… but he is definitely very cool, and rather hilarious, these days. We all enjoyed his tales of birding adventures as he discussed ‘why every kid needs a swamp and every swamp needs a kid’ at Connecting Country’s AGM held on Tuesday 24 October 2015.

It was a delightful evening, with tasty hot soup, lots of catch-ups and discussion between CC members and supporters, and much laughter thanks to Sean.

From the AGM itself, the CC committee elected for 2015-16 comprises:

• Brendan Sydes (president)
• Marie Jones (secretary)
• April Merrick (treasurer)
• Saide Gray, Malcolm Trainor, Deborah Wardle, Jenni Thomas (general committee members).

Special tribute was paid to Paul Hampton who has stepped back from the committee after a contribution of more than 5 years. We currently have one vacancy on the committee, which will be discussed at the next CC committee meeting.

Tanya (standing on right) is running our new Stewards for Woodland Birds project

We were also proud to launch our new “Stewards for Woodland Birds” project funded through the Helen McPherson Smith Trust Foundation. As part of this project, we are looking forward to working more closely with the Landcare groups and other community members in our eleven priority zones to help woodland birds to thrive. More on this exciting new project soon!

For those that couldn’t attend, our 2015 Annual Report is available HERE.  Please let us know if you’re interested in further details about any of the stories within it. A short video highlighting some of our achievements was also shown on the night and is available for viewing HERE.

Woodland Bird Monitoring Workshop with Chris Tzaros – 9 Dec 2015

Posted on 18 November, 2015 by Tanya Loos

On the first Saturday of December, join a small group of bird observers for a morning with ecologist and photographer Chris Tzaros. Chris shall take us through the ins and outs of monitoring woodland birds – with a special focus on the collection of data for Connecting Country and BirdLife Australia.

We are currently looking for volunteers to carry out regular bird surveys on both private and public land across the Mount Alexander region. In particular we are searching for the feathered five: the Jacky Winter, Painted Button-quail, Hooded Robin, Brown Treecreeper and Diamond Firetail. Attending this workshop would be a great first step in getting involved.

The workshop will cover:

• A background to bird identification and bird fauna of the Mount Alexander region.
• Bird monitoring methods of the monitoring project (including a practical component).
• The role of community volunteers in ecological monitoring projects.

Some experience in bird watching is desired, however we are open to any enthusiastic attendees! Be quick though – we have just a few places left.

When: Saturday 5th December 2015 , 9am-12pm  (followed by lunch until 1pm).

Where: Newstead Community Centre, Newstead.

RSVP: Essential! Contact Tanya Loos on 03 5472 1594 or by  email tanya@connectingcountry.org.au. Please detail any dietary requirements.

A male Red-capped Robin, by Chris Tzaros

 About Chris Tzaros: Chris is a wildlife ecologist and nature photographer for his company; Birds, Bush and Beyond. In 1997 he was awarded Young Australian of the Year in the Victorian environment category in recognition of his commitment to box-ironbark conservation and his dedicated work on threatened birds such as the Grey-Crowned Babbler and Swift Parrot. In 2005, Chris authored a comprehensive book on the Wildlife of Australia’s Box-Ironbark Country. Chris is also an accomplished bird photographer and has contributed many beautiful images to Connecting Country’s Woodland Birds Brochure.

Party Like A Cactus Warrior

Posted on 16 November, 2015 by Connecting Country

It’s 10 years since the Tarrangower Cactus Control Group was officially formed.

On Sunday 29^th November, instead of the usual field day, they’re holding a party to thank all of those who have volunteered and supported the group during that time.

Committee member Lee Mead says:

“We would like to invite all previous and current volunteers to help us celebrate all our achievements over the past 10 years. We’re planning a gourmet BBQ, and there’ll be cakes, games and prizes, of course.

Please join us at The Butts Reserve, Mt. Tarrangower Rd, Maldon, from 11:30am.

All you need to bring is a chair and your cold drink of choice.”

In my experience, the Cactus Warriors are never short of three things – humor, creativity and sausages. Hopefully all three will be on display at their birthday party!

You can learn more about the Tarrangower Cactus Control Group and the impacts of Wheel Cactus at the group’s website – http://www.cactuswarriors.org

Connecting Country’s 2015 Annual Report – Out Now

Posted on 22 October, 2015 by Connecting Country

Spring in central Victoria is a time of the year when plants are flowering and growing, woodland birds and other native fauna are busily raising the next generation, and – hopefully – the rain is falling and the creeks are flowing.

It’s also the time when Connecting Country looks back over the past 12 months and brings together some of the best stories and achievements.  This year’s Annual Report includes an original drawing on the cover from award-winning local author Trace Bella, a story from Muckleford landholders who have worked with the CC Works Crew to incorporate habitat restoration into their working farm, and well as updates and photos from all of our staff about other projects and programs – plus our aims for the year ahead.

A copy of the Annual Report is available for downloading (click here).  We hope you enjoy reading all that you have helped support!  We couldn’t have done it without you.

A small number of hard copies of the Annual Report will be available on the evening of the AGM.  Don’t forget to come along to this special evening, even if just to hear our guest speaker Sean Dooley.  As well as being chief editor of ‘Australian Birdlife’ magazine, a comedy writer and a regular bird-expert radio guest, Sean is also the author of The Big Twitch, Cooking with Baz and Anoraks to Zitting Cisticolas (an A to Z of Australian birds and birdwatching).  This celebratory evening event is being held on Tues 27 October at the Castlemaine Golf Course clubhouse (Rilens Rd, Muckleford).  The AGM commences from 6.30pm, yummy vegie soup is served after the AGM from 7pm, and with Sean speaking from 7.30pm.  Friends, family and other ‘non-members’ are welcome.  For more details, see our earlier blog (click here).

More Events in October and November

Posted on 14 October, 2015 by Connecting Country

It’s a busy time of the year.  In addition to the other events noted for October 2015 in a previous blog (click here), Connecting Country’s upcoming AGM (click here for details!) and the Landcare Campout on the Mount (click here), we’ve also been made aware of other upcoming events and activities occurring in the region which are related to landscape restoration and habitat management.  A selection of these are summarised below.

Nature Sound Recording for Beginners
Andrew Skeoch is running a Nature Sound Recording for Beginners workshop 28 and 29 November 2015 in Newstead. A great skill to learn for Landcarers and nature studies.  Follow this link for further details (click here).

Native Fish Recovery Scientific Forum
The North Central CMA is hosting the Native Fish Recovery Scientific Forum, to be held at the Cohuna Bowling Club on the Thursday 22nd October 5:30 pm -9:00 pm.  The event will be facilitated by Siwan Lovett from the Australian Rivers Restoration Centre , with presentations from social researcher Alan Curtis from Charles Sturt University, research scientist Craig Boys from NSW Fisheries, and Les Perkins from the Farmers Conservation Alliance in Oregon, USA.  For more info, including RSVP details, see the attached flyer (click here).

Bee Keeping
Daniel BeeShepherd is a local who has recently been helping Connecting Country with advice and suggestions about management options for bees that have taken over natural tree hollows and nest boxes.  As an alternative to poisoning, Daniel promotes the re-homing of feral bee colonies into managed hives within urban gardens.  If you are interested in learning more about keeping bees in your garden, he is running a workshop series at the Kyneton Community Centre starting from Monday 19 October.  The attached flyer has more information about this education workshop series (click here), and you can also visit Daniel’s website (click here).  The October issue of the Chewton Chat newspaper has an article about Daniel’s removal of bees from a recently fallen tree near Golden Point Rd (see page 24).

Bird Week in the Macedon Ranges
The Macedon Ranges Shire Council have a number of events planned as part of Aussie Bird Week, including a talk on Sat 17 October about Birds of Prey and another presentation on the 22 October about the local birds are most at risk of extinction and those have already been lost.  Follow this link for further information (click here).

27 Oct 2015 – Connecting Country’s AGM

Posted on 13 October, 2015 by Connecting Country

Connecting Country members and supporters are invited to join us on the evening of Tuesday 27 October 2015.   We have our Annual General Meeting (AGM), a special guest speaker and a light meal.  It’s also a chance to catch up with CC staff, committee and other friends.  It’s being held at the clubhouse of the Castlemaine Golf Club on Rilens Rd (just off the Pyrenees Hwy, between Castlemaine and Newstead).

The formalities of our AGM are being held first, from 6.30pm until 7pm.  A copy of the agenda is attached (CLICK HERE).

If you are a Connecting Country member, 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 vote, then proxy forms are available.
• You are also able to nominate to join the Connecting Country committee.  If you are interested in applying to join the committee, you are encouraged to contact the current president – Brendan Sydes – to talk more about what is involved in being on the committee, and the opportunities that are available (president@connectingcountry.org.au).

From about 7pm until 7.30pm, a light meal will be provided.  Locally made vegetarian soups and bread will be provided, along with tea, coffee and other drinks.

AGM guest speaker Sean Dooley, with a feathered friend

From 7.30pm, we will launch the new component of our woodland birds program, followed by a presentation by Sean Dooley from Birdlife Australia.  Many of you will know of Sean either through his editorship of the Australian Birdlife magazine, as a regular contributor to ABC and community radio programs on all things ‘bird’ or as the author of ‘The Big Twitch’ (click here), which is one of my favourite books. His is also a very entertaining raconteur, being involved in comedy for many years as a contributing writer to TV shows such as Spicks and Specks.

To ensure sufficient catering and seating, it is preferred if you could send your RSVP to me if you’re planning to come along (chris@connectingcountry.org.au).  Also send an email or call me if you are unsure if you are a member; if you’d like a committee nomination form or a proxy form; or if you’d like a copy of the 2014 AGM Minutes or 2014-15 Financial Statements to read before the meeting.

Chris Timewell, Director.

Needle Grass & the Damage Done

Posted on 12 October, 2015 by Connecting Country

Chilean Needle Grass, Texas Needle Grass and their close relative Serrated Tussock will be the focus of an information session at the Barfold Hall on Saturday 17th October 2015.

This photo from New Zealand shows how serious some farmers are about keeping Needle Grass out of their property. From http://agrihq.co.nz/fwplus/.

The session’s focus on identification and control methods will be extremely helpful for landholders wishing to protect their property from invasion by these plants, and for those who already have a problem and would like to know what their control options are.

The session will be presented by Martin Deering, biosecurity officer for Loddon Mallee Region.

Texas Needle Grass is fairly widespread in the upper Campaspe River catchment, between Kyneton and Lake Eppalock. In some places whole paddocks have been made unusable for grazing by an invasion of this perennial tussock-forming grass.

Chilean Needle Grass and Serrated Tussock are not well-established in the region but have the potential to be a serious threat to agriculture and the environment across the Mount Alexander Shire.

One of the big challenges for land managers concerned about Needle Grass is identifying the plant. Needle Grasses can look almost identical to native Spear Grasses, and as with many grasses, they are difficult to identify when not in flower.

Spring is the best time to take a look at what’s growing on your property or roadside to find out whether that mystery plant is a friend or foe.

The session will take place on Saturday 17th October, from 10.30 am at Barfold Hall, 1909 Kyneton-Redesdale Rd, Barfold. All are welcome and there is no need to RSVP.

This event is part of the Campaspe Valley Landcare Group’s ‘Stopping Stipoids in The Upper Campaspe’ project, funded by a Victorian Landcare Grant from the North Central Catchment Management Authority.

28 Nov 2015 – Rural Women’s Event

Posted on 9 October, 2015 by Connecting Country

The North Central CMA has announced the upcoming 2015 Chicks in the Sticks Rural Women’s event on Saturday 28^th November.

“Now in its third year, the annual rural women’s event has become one of the most successful platforms in our region to network, learn from and collaborate with like-minded women who are passionate about environmental action and sustainable agriculture.

“This year’s event will take place along the Campaspe River at Carlsruhe with keynote speaker Katie Finlay- RIDRC Rural Women of the Year; Victorian award winner.

All the event details are on the flyer (CLICK HERE) and RSVPs to the North Central CMA are essential (Phone 03 5448 7124). Last year they booked out quickly, with 120 women registering in just two weeks.  This year has the capacity to host 150 women, so if you are interested it’d be best to book your place sooner rather than later.

Aussie Backyard Bird Count 2015

Posted on 7 October, 2015 by Tanya Loos

Celebrate National Bird Week 2015 by taking part in the biggest citizen science project to hit Aussie shores!  From 19-25 October, thousands of people from across the country are heading out into their backyards, local parks, or favourite outdoor spaces to take part in the second annual AUSSIE BACKYARD BIRD COUNT!   This is an initiative of BirdLife Australia; Connecting Country is an affiliate group of this fantastic organisation. We have a data-sharing agreement with BirdLife Australia – which means that the Aussie Backyard Bird Count helps us keep track of how woodland birds are faring in the Mount Alexander region.

 To get involved in the Aussie Backyard Bird Count, all you need is 20 minutes, your outdoor space of choice, and some keen eyesight (or binoculars).  It doesn’t matter if you’re a novice or an expert.  Simply record the birds you know and look up those you don’t on BirdLife’s new Aussie Bird Count app or our through their website (www.aussiebirdcount.org.au).  You’ll instantly see live statistics and information on how many people are taking part near you and the number of birds and species counted across your neighbourhood and the whole of Australia!

Not only will you get to know your feathered neighbours, but you’ll be contributing to a vital pool of information from across the nation that will help us see how Australian birds are faring.  Last year volunteers counted 800,000 birds from across Australia, this year Birdlife Australia hopes to make it to at least one million. Get your friends and family together, head into the great outdoors and start counting!

For more information head to www.aussiebirdcount.org.au  or check out the ABBC Poster.

Also, don’t forget that there are some great guest speakers in the Mount Alexander Shire area over the coming weeks, with Andrew Skeoch speaking at the Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club this Friday (9 Oct) and Emmi Scherlies talking about Powerful Owls at the Newstead Community Centre next Thursday (15 Oct).  See our earlier blog for further details on these two events (click here).  We’ll also have some information soon about our guest speaker at our upcoming AGM on 27 October.

Weeds, weeds ……. and no more weeds? Workshop – 25 October 2015

Posted on 5 October, 2015 by Connecting Country

David Cameron will share some of his detailed plant knowledge.

Spring is a beautiful time of year for native plants with yam daisies, chocolate lilies and Silver Wattles in full flower.  But alongside the natives, most landholders will also be all too aware of the competing weeds that have sprung up as well, from persistent ground covers like Soursob through to the thornier weeds like blackberry and gorse.

While the battle to manage weed spread can seem endless, in Connecting Country’s final workshop of the year ‘Back from the Brink’ on Sunday 25 October 2015 from 10am to 3pm, we will be taking participants to different sites in the Newstead area to have a look at where long-term weed control strategies have been effective, and identifying the key ingredients to successful weed management.

Accompanied by local Landcarers (who really know their weeds and the secret to community weed management), Matt McEachran from Bushtech will talk us through the most appropriate methods and the calendar for treating weeds, and David Cameron, senior botanist from the Arthur Rylah Institute, will lead us through some weed identification. Participants can’t fail to leave the workshop with a better knowledge of weeds and different methods their control.

This event is fully catered and transport is provided. Costs are $20 for Connecting Country members or concessions (membership is free) or $30 for non-members.

Register now for this event – places are limited. Contact Jules@connectingcountry.org.au or 5472 1594. Alternatively, Click here for more information on the workshop series, and CLICK HERE to download a registration form.

This program is supported by Connecting Country through funding from the Australian government

16 Oct 2015 – New watering point on the Goldfields Track

Posted on 5 October, 2015 by Connecting Country

The Goldfield’s Track stretches between Bendigo and Ballarat, and along its way passes through some amazing forests, woodlands and historic landscapes in the Mount Alexander shire and immediate surrounds.

The Great Dividing Trail Association (GDTA) has invited members and other supporters of Connecting Country to attend the launch of the FIRST watering point on the Leanganook Track section of the Goldfields Track (between Bendigo and Castlemaine). GDTA funded the new tank and in consultation with Coliban Water, the tank was recently assembled and installed on site.  Coliban Water is GDTA’s partner in this initiative and they have announced that they will ‘host’ the tank for track users.

When is the launch: Friday 16 October 2015, from 11.00 am

Where:  At the new tank in Mandurang South, which is located east of the Goldfields Track, next to the Coliban Channel and near the Parks Victoria dry campsite.  Mandurang South Road is close by and Map 30 of the Goldfields Track Walking Guide refers to it.   A map is also attached (CLICK HERE).

RSVP:  For catering purposes by Friday 9 October 2015 to Alison Lanigan at gdtatrail@gmail.com

Refreshments will be provided after the launch.

It’s all happening in October….

Posted on 30 September, 2015 by Connecting Country

Hi everyone.  As is often the case, our local area is full of activity over the coming month.  Rather than sending out a stream of blogs over the next few days, we’ve done our best to package some of the main ones into a single extended blog.  Hope you can make it through to some of them.  There are also some grant applications and other items of interest below.  Chris

Connecting Country Annual General Meeting – 27 Oct 2015
The Connecting Country AGM – with guest speaker – is to be held on the evening of Tuesday 27 October.  Soup and yummy dipping breads to be provided as a light meal.  It will be held at the Castlemaine Golf Course, on the Pyrenees Hwy (between Castlemaine and Newstead).  Further details to follow soon.

Local Lives, Global Matters Conference – 16-18 Oct 2015
This international conference is being held in Castlemaine from Friday October 16th to Sunday October 18th.  They have just introduced affordable day and session passes, to ensure that the conference is also accessible to locals.  You can now buy a day ticket for $80 (waged) or $50 (unwaged). Sessional passes are $15 (waged) and $10 (unwaged). Three day tickets have been reduced to $240/$150.  You can also join others at the ‘Low food miles’ dinner, with music, on Saturday night, prepared by Castlemaine’s own ‘Growing Abundance’ ($35/$30).

Alan ‘Curly’ Hartup – Newstead photographer and naturalist

Posted on 24 September, 2015 by Connecting Country

Via Geoff Park, Ken Hartup has made us aware of a wonderful exhibition of nature photographs by leading amateur photographer and long-time resident of Newstead, Alan Jesse Hartup (1915 –2004), which will be opened at the Newstead Railway Arts Hub on Saturday 10 October 2015 at 3pm.  Viewings thereafter are by appointment through until the 24 October.

This exhibition is largely of bird life in Newstead and the surrounding districts, from Alan’s vast array of black and white photographs and colour slides. This selection of 20 works of black and white and prints from colour slides, span over 60 years of Alan’s impressive output. Beginning with his beloved 35m Voigtlander camera, he progressed to the brilliant level of work he achieved with his Mamiya and Rollieflex 2¼ square cameras and his great ability with dark room techniques.

Alan has been represented widely in amateur circles and has been a central figure in promoting, selecting and judging photography in Victoria and interstate. In preparing for this exhibition we have been reminded what a wonderful legacy Alan has left with images of the beauty and richness of our surroundings. He was a man at one with the natural world and one who took a vital interest in our environment and how to care for it. The exhibition was prompted by local field naturalists Geoff Park and Mrs. Joan Butler.

The attached flyer has further details (CLICK HERE).

Enjoy Spring at Pilchers Bridge: a celebration of flora and fauna

Posted on 18 September, 2015 by Tanya Loos

Landholder Chris Kirwan has generously invited one and all to his magnificent Trust for Nature property on Saturday 26 September 2015.

Perched on the edge of the Pilchers Bridge Nature Conservation Reserve, Chris’s  property protects Heathy Dry Forest and Box Ironbark Forest. The vegetation provides important habitat for the endangered Lace Monitor, the vulnerable Brush-tailed Phascogale and the Powerful Owl, and listed Victorian Temperate Woodland Bird Community species such as Speckled Warbler.

Tanya Loos will be giving a short talk on the birds of the area – as Connecting Country has two monitoring sites very close to Chris’s property. She will be joined by “the moth-man”, ecologist Steve Williams who will give a short talk on moths and the understorey; Ian Higgins from North Central CMA, who will present on the local flora;  Patrick Pigott, Ecologist, Federation University who will discuss a nearby tree thinning trial,  as well as representatives from CFA, and Axe Creek Landcare.  CLICK HERE to see the flyer.

Saturday 26^th September 2015

10.00 am to 4.00 pm

at 178 Huddle Road, Myrtle Creek

Sponsored by the Axe Creek Landcare Group  

Enquiries: Chris Kirwan Phone: 5439-6494   Email: cwkirwan@bigpond.com

A magnificent Lace Monitor – very rare these days and obviously quite at home!

16 Sept 2015 – Rabbit-buster Roadshow

Posted on 11 September, 2015 by Connecting Country

The Rabbit-buster Roadshow is moving across north-central Victoria, with the nearest event to the Mount Alexander Shire occurring on the evening of Wednesday 16 Sept at the Belvoir Park Golf Club in Ravenswood.  This event is being hosted by North Central CMA, who are pleased to bring Dr Tarnya Cox (Invasive Animals CRC) back to the region to present at this information session.

Information sessions will cover:
– Invasive Animals CRC Boost project (pathogenic calicivirus)
– Integrated rabbit management
– Landholder participation in the Boost project
– Case studies from local Landcare groups
– Where to next — the future release of a new strain of RHDV
– Rabbit Buster Month campaign.

For further information, see the attached flyer (CLICK HERE).

To RSVP to the North Central CMA (for catering purposes) – either call (03) 5448-7124  or email info@nccma.vic.gov.au.

Spring into Nature with TfN

Posted on 11 September, 2015 by Connecting Country

Each year, our good friends at Trust for Nature run a series of field days across the state which highlight some of the incredible biodiversity values that are being managed and protected on private land.  On Sunday 4 October 2015, there will be a guided bushwalk walk from Mt Korong to Mt Kooyoora (near the Wedderburn-Inglewood area).

As part of Trust for Nature’s Spring into Nature event series, we open the gates to selected Victorian properties to demonstrate what can be achieved in the name of conservation. Come along to celebrate Victoria’s natural heritage, experience the diversity of our native plants and wildlife, and enjoy spring the way nature intended! Talk with landowners who have permanently protected their properties, enjoy guided walks while the wildflowers are on display, and learn from practical land management experiences that help our native plants and wildlife.

To see the full range of available events from across Victoria this spring – including the Mt Korong bushwalk – and also for RSVP details, follow this link to the TfN website (CLICK HERE).

11 Sept 2015 – Photographic Journey to the Last Frontier

Posted on 2 September, 2015 by Connecting Country

The Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica is a formidable plate of ice the size of France, uninhabited and deadly. The sheer cliffs of the Byrd Glacier tower above the sea ice and to early explorers formed the great barrier to their exploration endeavours. Ross Island is a home to polar-adapted wildlife such as the Weddell Seal which spends the entire year in Antarctica. As the summer approaches, the frozen surface of the Ross sea begins to fracture and dissolve. Above the colonies of seal, Adelie Penguin and marauding Killer Whale, the fractured and tortured ice tongue of the Mt. Erebus Glacier sweeps off the slopes of the planet’s most southerly active volcano, towering almost four thousand metres into the polar sky.

The guest speaker at the September General Meeting of the Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club is National Geographic’s award winning wildlife photographer and TV presenter Jason Edwards (see his bio and website HERE).  His presentation will focus on the environment and the species that inhabit the Ross Ice Shelf and Ross Island, and the researchers who brave the harsh wilderness to study them.

The event formally starts formally at 7.30pm on Friday 11 September, but you are welcome to arrive from 7pm to have a cup of tea and a chat beforehand.  Members and visitors are very welcome, including families – and there is no entry fee.  As per usual, it will be held in the Fellowship Room, behind the Uniting Church on Lyttleton St, Castlemaine (next door to the Art Gallery and Museum). 

19 Sept 2015 – Protecting Threatened Wildlife Forum

Posted on 28 August, 2015 by Connecting Country

Our neighbours down south, the Macedon Ranges Shire Council, will host a lively and topical forum on local wildlife facing extinction on Saturday 19 September 2015.

“Protecting Threatened Wildlife” will combine stimulating thought and discussion from two of Australia’s leading ecologists; Dr Peter Menkhorst (Arthur Rylah Institute) and Dr Dan Harley (Zoos Victoria). It will take place from 2pm–4.30pm at the Newham Mechanics Institute, 1292 Rochford Road, Newham.

Held during National Threatened Species Month, the afternoon will see speakers cover a range of topics, including:

• species in the Macedon Ranges that are most at risk from extinction