Hollows, habitat and nest boxes: design and installation tips
Posted on 2 January, 2019 by Frances
Following Connecting Country’s highly popular nest box workshops during autumn 2018, we’ve compiled some nest box design and installation tips. These tips were compiled by Connecting Country’s Tanya Loos from our workshops with local ecologist and nest box builder, Miles Geldard.
Phascogale in nest box at Welshmans Reef (photo by Jess Lawton)
All animals need to meet their basic needs of something to eat and somewhere to live. Australia’s fauna is particularly reliant on hollows for shelter and breeding – possums, gliders, bats, kookaburras, parrots, treecreepers, reptiles such as geckos and even frogs need hollows.
Hollows are a highly limited resource in today’s Box-Ironbark forests. The sheer scale of clearing and removal of large old trees for timber in our region is almost unbelievable. Trees were logged for railway sleepers, mine shaft infrastructure, baker’s ovens, boilers, heating and construction. Only 15% of the Box-Ironbark forests remain and virtually no old growth patches are left.
Hollows may begin to form in any aged tree, even relatively young trees if the conditions are right. In some countries, woodpeckers create hollows in trees.
Here in Australia, the bark needs to be damaged in some way – either by wind, lightning, fire or by animals (such as galahs) – so that termite or fungal activity may begin to create a hollow. In Box-Ironbark forests, termites do most of the hollow formation, whereas in wet forests it is fungi. Galahs and other parrots love to chew bark. Are they ecosystem engineers creating hollows for the future, or just larrikins sharpening their bills?
Miles has reviewed scientific papers on our local hollow-using fauna’s habitat needs and preferences. He uses this information when designing and installing nest boxes considering internal hollow dimensions, size of entrance, tree type, location on tree and orientation.
Miles suggests installing as many nest boxes as you can manage to install and maintain. Many hollow-dependent animals use multiple nesting sites located across their home range.
For Connecting Country’s full notes with nestbox design and installation tips: click here
The Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning also recently published some useful general information about nestbox use (click here) and monitoring (click here).
Bird baths – a cool treat for birds over summer
Posted on 2 January, 2019 by Jacqui
Bird baths provide a welcome retreat from the summer heat for a range of wildlife. Depending on the size and location of your bath, you may be visited by tiny birds such as pardalotes, gregarious honeyeaters and rosellas, frogs and reptiles, or larger animals like echidnas and wallabies, as this previous story from local landholder Jane Rusden describes. As many of you know a visitor to the bird bath can be a delightful and rewarding way to interact with wildlife from close range, perhaps from your living room or kitchen window. Washing up has never been so much fun!
With more hot weather forecast we wanted to share a reminder to monitor water levels in your bird bath, especially during extended hot periods so birds don’t lose a water source they may be depending on. It’s also a good idea to ask a neighbour to refill your bath(s) if you’re going away over summer.
If you are considering setting up a bird bath or would like some tips on how to keep birds cool, healthy and safe from predators please read more here.
Here are some gorgeous images taken recently by our Director Frances Howe at her bird bath near Castlemaine. Frances’ bird bath is on a pedestal and close to perches to keep birds safe as they come in to bathe. Thanks Frances!
Fuscous Honeyeaters hanging out poolside.
Joined by a friend.
Drying off after a splash!
White-naped Honeyeaters move in.
Tarrangower cactus warriors honoured again with national Froggatt Award
Posted on 2 January, 2019 by Frances
They’ve lured university students, local scouts and even Work for the Dole crews into their scheme to rid invasive wheel cactus from their part of Victoria, and now a little community group in central Victoria has received a national Froggatt Award.
‘The Tarrangower Cactus Control Group have gone to extraordinary lengths to turn the tables on wheel cactus, a weed that escaped gardens in the 1960s and began taking over local bushland,’ Invasive Species Council CEO Andrew Cox said when announcing the award.
‘Their passion for protecting the natural environment from wheel cactus, a highly invasive and extremely difficult plant to kill, has roped all sorts of people into their program. University students, local scouts and even drought relief and Work for the Dole crews have all joined the cause to rid the area of wheel cactus.’
The Tarrangower Cactus Control Group has contributed to state and national policy development, including the first-ever Victoria-wide map of wheel cactus and the Managing Opuntoid Cacti in Australia manual.
Scroll through this gallery for photos of their amazing work.
Froggatt awards were also given this year to an intrepid band of bushwalkers who led a feral horse protest walk all the way from Sydney to Mt Kosciuszko and to the creators of a green-haired Biosecurity Warrior.
About the Froggatt Awards
Invasive species have become one of the biggest threats facing Australia’s natural environment, but their continued arrival and spread is all too often neglected as a conservation issue.
The Froggatt Awards are given out by the Invasive Species Council every year and are named in honour of Australian entomologist Walter Froggatt, a lone voice in the 1930s warning of the dangers of releasing the cane toad into Australia to control beetle infestations in sugar cane.
The awards are given to those who have made a major contribution to protecting Australia’s native plants and animals, ecosystems and people from dangerous new invasive species.
More information
Learn about blackberry and rabbit control with Macedon Ranges Shire Council
Posted on 2 January, 2019 by Frances
Macedon Ranges Shire Council is running free workshops on blackberry and rabbit control.
Blackberry control workshop
Blackberry is now beginning to flower in central Victoria. Effective weed control involves a whole community effort. If everyone does a little bit we will be on target to minimise the spread of this invasive noxious weed. Join leading experts in weed control to learn about how to treat Blackberry on your property. The event will include a light lunch and demonstrations of management techniques to get you started.
When: Saturday 23 February 2019 | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Where: Gisborne Administration Centre, 40 Robertson St, Gisborne VIC
RSVP required. For information and bookings: click here
Rabbit control workshop
Did you know that feral rabbits can breed from the age of four months and at any time of the year? Feral rabbits compete with native wildlife, damage vegetation and degrade the land. Hear from pest animal experts on the best steps towards control.
When: Saturday 16 March 2019 | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Where: Romsey Community Hub, 98 Main St, Romsey VIC
For information and bookings: click here
Snake and reptile workshop – 19 January 2019
Posted on 20 December, 2018 by Jacqui
Join Connecting Country and Muckleford Catchment Landcare on Saturday 19 January 2019 from 10.00 am to 12.00 pm to learn about snake ecology and behaviour. Snakes play an important role in healthy ecosystems, snacking on frogs and smaller reptiles and providing a food source for larger predators. Find out what makes good snake habitat, how we can protect snakes, as well as keep our pets and families safe!
The workshop will include an opportunity to meet real live snakes. However this activity is optional.
This is a family-friendly event held at a property in Muckleford, VIC. All are welcome. Morning tea will be provided.
RSVP is essential. For bookings and more information contact Jacqui Slingo by email at jacqui@connectingcountry.org.au or phone 03 5472 1594.
A flyer on the workshop is available here.
This workshop has been made possible by funding from the North Central Catchment Management Authority.
Learn to use the Atlas of Living Australia – 4 February 2019
Posted on 20 December, 2018 by Frances
The Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) is a collaborative, national project that collects biodiversity data from multiple sources, and makes it freely available and usable online.
Hepburn Shire and the Victorian Gorse Taskforce have organised a forum to explore the potential of the Atlas of Living Australia for local weed and other environmental projects.
The forum will include two sessions:
Atlas of Living Australia in the field
An interactive session for how to use the ALA in the field. This session will be of interest for those individuals, groups and contractors who need to map the occurrence of native or exotic plants or animals and/or have a database for their environmental monitoring data.
Atlas of Living Australia as a planning tool
Learn how the ALA can be used by individuals and groups to plan, manage and document natural resource management projects and for project design, strategic planning and policy development at landscape scales. This session will focus on how you can use the ALA for weed control, biodiversity management, local government planning, etc. (e.g., how the ALA can assist you in organising a weed control program in an area).
Forum: Using the Atlas of Living Australia
Date: Monday 4 February 2019
Times: 10.00 am to 1.00 pm – Session 1
1.00 pm to 2.00 pm – Lunch and display
2.00 pm to 5.00 pm – Session 2
Venue: Victoria Park, Corner Ballan Rd and Burrall St, Daylesford VIC
Bookings are essential via https://www.trybooking.com/ZZSO or call Hepburn Shire on 5348 2306.
You can choose to book for Session 1 or Session 2 or both sessions. Lunch is provided. Please advise dietary requirements
A flyer for the event is available here.
Presenter profile
Peter Brenton is based with the CSIRO in Canberra and has worked with the Atlas of Living Australia since 2009. For the past six years he has lead the ALA’s work to develop and implement tools which support the many and varied needs of field-based data collection by the ecological and citizen science communities. He is particularly interested in making the efforts of citizen scientists and the data which they collect more visible, relevant and accessible in areas where they can have great impact.
And a very antechinus Christmas to all!
Posted on 19 December, 2018 by Tanya Loos
Who needs reindeer, red robins, or snowmen when the holiday season is graced with baby antechinus! Landholder Jane Rusden lives on a bush block in Campbells Creek, and is able to watch the antics of very young antechinus just after they leave the nest.
The antechinus is a carnivorous marsupial, in the same family as the much larger Tasmanian Devil, quoll and phascogale. In the Castlemaine region our local species is the Yellow-footed antechinus. These attractive marsupials are regular feature on Geoff Park’s blog, Natural Newstead. To identify the presence of antechinus or rats by their droppings, click here to read a post on Tanya Loos’ blog.
Please scroll through to enjoy this gallery of photos of the young antechinus that Jane photographed from her lounge room window last week. Thank you to Jane for sharing them!
Connecting Country office hours for Christmas 2018
Posted on 18 December, 2018 by Frances
Owlet nightjar at Moonlight Flat (photo by Frances Howe)
The Connecting Country office will be closed from Friday 21 December 2018 and reopen on Wednesday 2 January 2019.
Our usual office hours are 8.30 am to 4.30 pm Monday to Thursday. If you’re coming to visit please feel free to call ahead, as occasionally we’re all out and about at once.
We wish you all the best for a safe and peaceful holiday season, with lots of interesting summertime critter sightings!
Wombat Forest birdwalk – 5 January 2019
Posted on 18 December, 2018 by Frances
The next monthly BirdLife Castlemaine District Branch bird walk will be on Saturday 5 January 2019. The walk will be led by Tanya Loos and will be through relatively moist leafy forest, perfect for the summer holidays. Suitable for all ages and levels of bird enthusiasts.
Join Tanya on a wander through the wet ferny gullies and peppermint ridges of the Wombat Forest. We will do the Whipstick Creek Loop walking track which takes 3 – 4 hours. Those who wish to do part of the walk can retrace their steps. On our walk we are likely to see local special species such as Rufous Fantail, Crescent Honeyeater, Gang Gang Cockatoo and Blue-winged Parrot. We might also see Rose Robin, Bassian Thrush and Square-tailed Kite.
Wear sturdy shoes and a hat, and bring along insect repellent, sunscreen, water, snacks and lunch. And, of course, binoculars. In case of extreme weather the walk will be cancelled.
Meet at the former Continuing Education building at 30 Templeton St Castlemaine VIC at 8.30 am sharp, to car pool. Alternatively, meet at Garden of St Erth car park, 189 Simmons Reef Rd Blackwood, VIC at 9.30 am.
Garden of St Erth is one of The Diggers Club’s properties and a fantastic perennial and fruit garden, with a cafe and nursery – well worth a look!
Wombat Forest birdwalk
When: Saturday 5 January 2019 at 8.30 am to car pool or 9.30 am to join walk
Where: to carpool meet at 30 Templeton St Castlemaine VIC
to join walk meet at Garden of St Erth car park, 189 Simmons Reef Rd Blackwood, VIC
Bring: sturdy shoes, hat, insect repellent, sunscreen, water, snacks, lunch, binoculars
For information about BirdLife Castlemaine District Branch click here
The restoration of Taradale Landcare
Posted on 17 December, 2018 by Asha
If you read the Midland Express newspaper, you may have been enjoying Connecting Country’s monthly ‘Nature News’. This year we featured Landcare stories written by intern Sarah Edwards and local Landcarers. This week, the last of these ten stories was published in the paper, featuring this story written by Brian Bainbridge about the wonderful Taradale Landcare.
Taradale Landcare members at Barkly Park (Photo by Brian Bainbridge)
Taradale Landcare Group came together over twenty years ago over their shared passion for walking in the bush, managing the land, and learning about native flora and fauna. After many years of committed work, eventually the group lost momentum and folded in 2012.
Following a meeting to gauge interest, several prospective new members and a sprinkling of original members reformed Taradale Landcare in 2016.
Things started slowly with meetings and discussions to learn about the member’s priorities and interests- as well as conducting the ‘house-keeping’ needed to re-establish the group’s organisation and accounts. The Back Creek alongside the Mineral Springs Reserve near the centre of town has become a natural focus and base. The group has resurrected the work of the earlier group by treating weeds, uncovering the now maturing plantings, and replanting to fill in the gaps. In 2018, a Mt Alexander Shire Roadside weeds grant has encouraged the group to learn to coordinate and conduct sensitive weed control along the best roadside remnants, a process expected to continue for several years.
The group’s walks and talks encourage exploration by the many newly arrived residents of their adopted town’s historical sites including the Channel, Barkly Park, the Cemetery and the Quartz Battery, each with important ecological values that could be enhanced. This summer will see the group conduct seed collection (under permit) and propagation of wildflowers, grasses and trees- in consultation with the Cemetery trust.
A theme of the newly emerged group is to engage and have a presence at local gatherings while ensuring the group’s own events have a social as well as ecological outcome. Shared meals encourage the sharing of ideas to continue long after the ‘real’ work has ended.
If you are interested in being a part of Taradale Landcare Group or have any questions, email Colleen Jones at colfjones@yahoo.com.au or like the group’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/taradalelandcare/.
Good riddance to deadly opera house yabby nets
Posted on 12 December, 2018 by Frances
The dams and waterways of central Victoria are perfect for catching yabbies over summer. However, poorly designed yabby nets also catch native wildlife like platypus, turtles and rakali (native water rat). Sadly, these air-breathing animals can become trapped in the nets and drown.
Opera house style yabby nets are believed to kill hundreds of platypus each year. In January 2018, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) recorded that 13 platypus died after drowning in illegally set opera house nets in Victoria. DELWP urged Victorians not to use enclosed traps such as opera house nets, and only use platypus-safe alternatives. Senior Wildlife Investigator Mike Sverns said, ‘Platypus are an iconic Australian species that are declining. To lose 13 platypus in one year is tragic’.
Opera house nets are banned in all waters throughout Victoria from 1 July 2019. Opera house nets have been phased out and replaced with new open-top lift nets, which are more wildlife friendly. Unlike opera house nets, open-top nets feature a 20 x 20 cm gap at their top, which enables air-breathing animals like platypus to escape. The Victorian Fisheries Authority has conducted trials and shown open-top lift nets are very effective yabby catchers.
When announcing the ban, Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford said, ‘Opera house nets have been placing our platypus population at risk and so it’s time for us to embrace different fishing gear that will catch just as many yabbies without impacting our precious wildlife’.
Many people who have purchased opera house nets to fish for yabbies are unaware of the risks they present to wildlife, and that these nets have long been banned in Victorian public waters. From 1 July 2019 the ban will extend to include all private waters.
If you have an opera house net you should dispose of it and replace it with an open-top lift net. We recommend dismantling old opera house nets, as even on land they can still entangle terrestrial wildlife, leaving them to a slow and painful death.
Major fishing equipment suppliers and responsible retailers have already removed opera house nets from sale, with some participating in a yabby net swap program. However, a few retailers continue to sell opera house nets despite the wildlife risk and imminent ban.
Under the Victorian Wildlife Act 1975 there are penalties associated with taking or being in possession of protected wildlife or using prohibited equipment which is up to a maximum of $38,0562, and/or 24 months imprisonment. To report crimes against wildlife you can call Crime Stoppers confidentially on 1800 333 000 or online at https://www.crimestoppersvic.com.au/report-a-crime/
Open mic at Castlemaine Field Nats! – 14 December 2018
Posted on 12 December, 2018 by Asha
As per Castlemaine Field Naturalists tradition, their December 2018 general meeting is a chance for any member (or visitor) to make a short presentation. People are encouraged to talk for up to five minutes about a topic related in some way to natural history. It might be photos from a holiday to an exotic location, video footage of birds in your backyard, an analysis of recent weather patterns, or reciting a poem about a forest. It is only limited by your imagination. There will be a projector, PC laptop and screen available for use.
The evening commences from 7.30 pm on Friday 14 December in the Fellowship Room behind the Uniting Church on Lyttleton St, Castlemaine VIC (next door to the Castlemaine Art Museum). Members and visitors of all ages are welcome, and entry is free.
If you’d like, bring along a plate of food to share with everyone afterwards.
For further information on Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club see their website here.
Citizen scientists sought – testing new wildlife monitoring technology
Posted on 12 December, 2018 by Asha
Deakin University, in collaboration with Land for Wildlife, is seeking volunteers to participate in a citizen science project called Wildlife to Wellbeing. The project will trial new camera technology to monitor and identify wildlife on properties registered with the Land For Wildlife program in Victoria.
This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a project that tests new video technology developed at Deakin University, and being used for the first time anywhere in the world! The technology enables 24-hour, continual monitoring of wildlife and will capture video recordings of a greater proportion of animals than existing wildlife cameras.
The cameras will operate for up to three months from the time of set up in January/February 2019. Deakin Uni will collect the cameras at the end of the project to reuse in future projects.
To participate, your property needs to have heathy dry forest or grassy dry forest ecological vegetation classes (EVCs). You may qualify if your property is located in central Victoria, within the rough area of Bacchus Marsh – Ballarat – Ararat – Maryborough – Dunolly – Bendigo – Elmore – Rushworth – Seymour – Yea – St Andrews – Whittlesea – Sunbury.
Getting involved
For more information about getting involved, go to http://bit.ly/Wildlife_To_Wellbeing
Or contact Jason Major by email at j.major@deakin.edu.au or phone (during business hours) on 0455 288 309.
Newstead exhibition by three fine nature photographers
Posted on 28 November, 2018 by Tanya Loos
The expression ‘taking photographs’ is a curious and revealing usage. In English, we don’t ‘make’ photographs, we ‘take’ them. When photographing nature – wildlife, plants, landscapes – it can seem that the photographer ‘captures’ a beauty already there, taking something that belongs to the subject, but without diminishing the subject.
Bronwyn Silver, Geoff Park and Patrick Kavanagh roam the goldfields of Central Victoria, stealing images of the beauty they find. Birds, mammals, plants. Not even mosses and lichens are safe from their pilfering ways!
While the targets of their larceny are unaffected by the process, these thieves have been profoundly altered by the images they’ve stolen from the wild, seeing more deeply into the wonders of the natural environment. They are happy to share their bounty at Newstead Arts Hub during December.
Nature photography on the Goldfields – with Patrick Kavanagh, Geoff Park and Bronwyn Silver
Location: Newstead Railway Arts Hub, 8a Tivey St, Newstead, VIC
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm on the first four weekends in December (1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23 December 2018).
The official exhibition opening is at 11.00 am on 2 December 2018. Refreshments will be provided and everyone is welcome. For more details contact Bronwyn Silver on 044 8751 111.
Please enjoy a sneak preview of some of the beautiful photos that will be on display.
Harvest native seed – free workshop
Posted on 22 November, 2018 by Frances
If you want to learn more about local native plants and how to collect seed, Mount Alexander Shire Council is running a free workshop as part of their Sustainable Living Workshop Series.
Presented by Ian Higgins from Friends of Campbells Creek, you’ll learn how to identify local plants, work out which are ready to harvest and collect seeds for Landcare projects.
The two hour workshop is suitable for people of all ages. Make sure you bring along a hat, gloves, drink bottle, sturdy shoes and secateurs. Long sleeves are recommended, as some plants will be prickly!
When: Saturday 24 November 2018 from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm
Where: Meet at Honeycomb Reserve, Honeycomb Rd, Campbells Creek VIC
RSVP: Secure your place by contacting Council’s Gabe Macauly
at g.macauly@mountalexander.vic.gov.au or 5471 1834.
A most exciting pergola nester!
Posted on 22 November, 2018 by Tanya Loos
Landholders Steve and Sue Harrisson of Joyces Creek in Central Victoria are delighted to report that Diamond Firetails are nesting in the climbing rose on their pergola!
The Harrisson’s property is a mix of open paddocks, large old remnant trees, and dense wattles and other shrubs from direct seeding. The property has a long-term Connecting Country bird monitoring survey site, and Diamond Firetails have been observed on occasion. One year they bred down near a small dam.
Diamond Firetails often nest in dense or prickly native shrubs such as Hedge Wattle. But this year, at the Harrissons, the enterprising little finches have decided that a rose vine draped across a pergola provides the same function as a prickly shrub.
A view of the nest from below
Steve says ‘Judging by the amount of noise coming from the nest when the adults arrive with food, there must be more than one nestling. Very exciting!’
Such excellent cover – the adult Diamond Firetail is very safe as it visits the nest.
Diamond Firetails are declining throughout their range. These finches need access to fresh water and plenty of mature grasses for seeds and for nesting, so drought is especially hard on them. Steve and Sue are very pleased that their home is providing habitat for this very attractive threatened species.
The nest is a roughly spherical shape, finely woven with delicate grasses, flowers and slender branches.
Science, fun and fine food: our 2018 AGM and Threatened Species Forum!
Posted on 15 November, 2018 by Tanya Loos
On Saturday 10 November 2018, some 60 people gathered at Campbells Creek Community Centre to enjoy an afternoon of science, fun and delicious food. The event combined Connecting Country’s Annual General Meeting for the 2017-2018 year with a threatened species forum to launch our new ‘Habitat health check’ project. We celebrated the findings and achievements of Connecting Country’s long term monitoring programs with presentations by two very special scientists who directly support these programs: Professor Andrew Bennett and PhD Candidate Jess Lawton.
We would like to thank the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust for generously supporting ‘Habitat health check’, and to our presenters and all the committee members, staff and volunteers who assisted with the event.
Our AGM was short and sweet, and all but one of our committee members have re-elected for another year! The hard-working Connecting Country committee must be thanked for their considerable contribution to our organisation.
Elected members of Connecting Country’s 2018-19 committee of management are:
President: Brendan Sydes
Vice President: Saide Gray
Treasurer: Max Kay
Secretary: Marie Jones
Ordinary member: Karoline Klein
Ordinary member: Malcolm Trainor
Ordinary member: Christine Brooke
For minutes from the AGM and forum, please click here. A more detailed review of Andrew and Jess’ presentations will be shared next week.
If you would like a copy of our Annual Report for 2017-18, click here. Thanks to everyone who contributed to the report (especially Jacqui for making it look beautiful).
Please enjoy this gallery of some of the smiling faces at our AGM and Threatened Species Forum. (Photos by Tanya Loos and Frances Howe.)
Greater Gliders and other fabulous fauna of Wombat Forest – 20 November 2018
Posted on 13 November, 2018 by Tanya Loos
Local ecologist Elaine Bayes asked us to promote a special presentation: Who lives in the Wombat Forest?
All are invited to attend a short presentation on the amazing wildlife and threatened species of the Wombat Forest (located between Woodend and Daylesford). Gayle Osborne will speak on ‘Citizen science with motion-sensing cameras’. Wombat Forestcare has spent years learning about, promoting and protecting this stunning forest. The group has used camera traps and spotlighting techniques to map populations of beautiful and endangered Greater Gliders, Powerful Owls and more.
A Greater Glider in a spotlight – as these are large animals this tree is massive! (photographed by Toby Hudson in NSW)
Using this information, Wombat Forestcare members have worked incredibly hard to protect the forest into the future, including gaining assessment as a potential National Park.
The Victorian Environmental Assessment Council’s (VEAC) Central West Investigation just released a Draft Proposal report. New protection of public land has been recommended for Wombat forest (near Daylesford), Wellsford (near Bendigo), Mount Cole and Pyrenees Range forests (near Beaufort and Avoca) and dozens of smaller public parcels in the investigation area. This is a great opportunity to protect this land and its wildlife.
VEAC seeks community submissions regarding the proposal. Coming along, learn about the forest, and write a quick submission on the night if you wish.
Tea and cake and chat provided. All welcome! To download the event poster, click here. To read about Greater Gliders in the news, click here.
Who lives in the Wombat Forest?
When: Tuesday 20 November 2018 from 6.00 to 7.30 pm
Where: Ray Bradfield Rooms, Forest St (next to Victory Park), Castlemaine VIC
New climate change resource launched!
Posted on 7 November, 2018 by Asha
To complement Connecting Country’s recent ‘Future-proof your restoration‘ seminars, we’re pleased to launch a new three-part resource to support landholders and Landcare groups interested in learning more about adapting land management to a changing climate.
Part 1 – resource links: A new Useful resources page on our website added to our existing collection of pages on Biodiversity and Climate Change. The address for this web page is https://connectingcountry.org.au/education-resources/take-action/biodiversity-and-climate-change/future-proof-your-restoration-useful-resources/ Here you will find a series of links to download resources related to biodiversity and climate change in our region, including information on weed control, revegetation and planning. There are also links to download copies of the presentations from the ‘Weeds to Watch’ and ‘Planting for the Future’ seminars. If you would like hard copies of any of the linked resources, please email asha@connectingcountry.org.au
Part 2 – info summary: If you’d like a bite-sized version of some of the information linked to on the web page, you can CLICK HERE to download a document we’ve put together summarising interesting facts.
Part 3 – fact sheet: Connecting Country’s brand new ‘Future-proof your restoration’ fact sheet. CLICK HERE to download a copy, or drop into the office if you’d like some hard copies to hand out to your friends!
Thank you to the North Central Catchment Management Authority for funding this project through the Victorian Landcare Program, and to GreenGraphics for designing and printing the information sheet.
Come and see Connecting Country on the big screen – 15 November 2018
Posted on 7 November, 2018 by Jacqui
Come and see Connecting Country on the big screen! We were delighted to be part of Wild Melbourne’s ‘Community Conservationists’ film project, and now locals have an opportunity to see the ten films created. Each film showcases a community group or project, including one featuring Connecting Country. The night is also a fundraiser event for the groups involved – so do head along and show your support 
The Community Conservationists series will be screened in-full at the boutique Star Cinema in Bendigo, paired with drinks, food and talks by some of the featured groups. This screening follows a highly successful premiere in Melbourne early this year.
Community Conservationists is about celebrating the tree-planters, the wildlife carers, the citizen scientists, and anyone else who is putting in the hard yards for the good of us all. By sharing their stories we hope to better connect people with the nature and conservation issues on which they work, as well as help these groups attract more support from our community.
Cullen Gunn, one of our landholders speaks to the Wild Melbourne crew next to his direct seeding.
Community Conservationists film screening
When: Thursday 15 November 2018 from 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm
Where: Star Cinema, Eaglehawk Town Hall, Peg Leg Road, Eaglehawk VIC 3556
Price: $30 per ticket
Bookings: Please book online directly to the Wild Melbourne team by following this link: http://www.rememberthewild.org.au/community-conservationists-film-screening/.
Food and drinks will be available from 6.00 pm, with the following films and talks starting at 7.00 pm:
- Hindmarsh Landcare Network
- Connecting Country
- Friends of the Brisbane Ranges
- Friends of Bats and Bushcare
- WOTCH