Stilts, tuans and Swifty make for a great Connecting Country float!
Posted on 9 November, 2016 by Connecting Country
An enthusiastic mob of kids and adults turned out to show their support for Connecting Country last Friday night at the Castlemaine Show Parade
Twenty people volunteered to walk the main street of Castlemaine proudly showing their support for Connecting Country on the evening of Friday 28th October. We were lucky to have an appearance by Swifty the parrot and a resident tuan along for the float as well as Ella with her amazing stilt walking ability for all to see.
This fun event aimed to promote the work that Connecting Country does in our local area to the broader community of Castlemaine. Volunteers in high-vis also gave out hedge wattle seeds, caramello koalas and eucalyptus lollies to the happy and supportive crowd.
A big thank-you to Bonnie for donating the wattle seed, Jarrod for driving the red ute, Beth, Ella and Micah for dressing up and everyone else for volunteering their time and enthusiasm for Connecting Country.
Our resident tuan and Theo enjoy the afternoon sunshine on the direct seeder before they head down the street.
Little Habitat Heroes campaign reaches $2000!
Posted on 7 November, 2016 by Connecting Country
Connecting Country is proud to be supporting the Little Habitat Heroes in their campaign to raise funds for landscape restoration at the former silkworm farm site on Mount Alexander. They have raised just over $2,000 already and are keen to raise at least $3,000 to cover the costs of plants, guards, and a community planting day in 2017.
This project was born by a group of new mums who met at a Mothers Group in Castlemaine in early 2016. They shared a dream to create something unique for their babies’ first birthdays and wanted to contribute to the restoration of the local environment and give their children the gift of a personal connection with nature.
For more information about this project see our previous blog post.
Visit: www.littlehabitatheroes.org, or their facebook page or donate via Give Now. A huge thanks to all of those who have already donated.
11 Nov 2016 – Presentation about Native Victorian Moths
Posted on 5 November, 2016 by Connecting Country
Moth study in Victoria is at about the same stage as bird study was at in the late 1800s. There are currently few moth addicts and our knowledge is limited and patchy. Anyone committed to the cause can find new species for the state or even species new to science. Even the simple and basic question, “Which moth belongs to which caterpillar” is a mystery for many species. At the November meeting of the Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club, Marilyn Hewish will talk about her moth-hunting travels around the state, show photos of some of our most gorgeous and bizarre species and describe how her work at the museum fits into exciting new discoveries and developments in the study of Victorian moths, including the book series Moths of Victoria.
Spectacular Emerald (Chlorocoma cadmaria). Photo by Marilyn Hewish
As per usual, the talk is being held on the evening of the 2nd Friday of the month (11 November 2016), from 7.30pm. It will be in the Fellowship Room, behind the Uniting Church on Lyttleton St (next to the Museum-Art Gallery). There is no cost for entry, and members and visitors are encouraged to attend.
A moth-attracting light will also be set up outside. After the talk, a variety of moths in many sizes, shapes and colours will be on display to enjoy. Please bring a camera and/or hand lens if you can, a torch, and warm clothing if you want to linger.
Marilyn Hewish was awarded the Australian Natural History Medallion in 2013 for her contributions over many decades to studies of Australian birds and more recently of Victorian moths. She was editor of the annual Geelong Bird Report for 18 years, and author of ‘Birds of the Long Forest’, and co-author of several of the series Moths of Victoria.
Beautiful Leaf Moth (Gastrophora henricaria). Photo by Marilyn Hewish
16 & 17 November 2016 – Parks Victoria led walks around Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park
Posted on 3 November, 2016 by Connecting Country
Join in the conversation about how best to manage heritage values in the diggings park.
Parks Victoria are currently reviewing the Heritage Action Plan for the Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park. As a part of this review, they are inviting the community to take part in three half-day walks at specific locations within the park. The aim of the “walkovers” is to share concerns and values of these areas to help inform their future management. See the itinerary below for an outline of each of the half day walks.
They might touch upon indigenous, natural, social or community values, as well as the significant gold-mining heritage, which together will help Parks Victoria present a holistic approach to the management and presentation of the Park’s landscape.
The walks will be led by Chris Johnston and John Dyke of Context Pty Ltd., who are helping Parks Victoria review and update the Heritage Action Plan.
The Garfield-wheel in Chewton
Itinerary
Walkover 1: Garfield
Date: Wednesday 16th November 2016
Time: 10am to 1pm
Meet at: Garfield Wheel car park at 9.30am
Sites on walkover 1 include:
- Welsh Village
- Scotchman’s Gully
- Quartz Hill
- Garfield Wheel and environs
NB: this is a one-way walk with the idea of sharing a number of vehicles to drive to the start of the walk near Welsh village.
Walkover 2: Spring Gully
Date: Wednesday 16th November 2016
Time: 2.30pm to 5.30pm
Meet at: Spring Gully car park at 2pm
Sites on walkover 2 include:
- Eureka/Poverty Gully
- The Monk
- Old Coach Road/Goldfields Track
- Spring Gully No. 1 mine and battery site
NB: this is a one-way walk with the idea of sharing a number of vehicles to drive to the start of the walk at the Eureka Reef site.
Walkover 3: Vaughan Springs
Date: Thursday 17th November 2016
Time: 10am to 1pm
Meet at: Vaughan Springs car park at 9.30am
Sites on walkover 3 include:
- Vaughan Springs
- River Loddon
- Tubal Cain Mine
- Helge/Italian Hill Track
- Chinese cemetery
- Irishtown (optional)
The walks will take approximately 3 hours with regular stops to enable Parks Victoria to record conversations and there will be an opportunity to fill in a record/comments sheet as we go or at the end of the walk. Strong footwear is advised and bring water and refreshments as appropriate, and are water-proof just in case!
If you are interested in attending or need any further information about this invitation, please contact Jade Harris on any of the contacts found below.
Email: jade.harris@parks.vic.gov.au
Please make sure that you RSVP by no later than the Wednesday 9th November to allow for appropriate planning of the walk overs.
Nature News November – Eltham Copper Butterflies, a summer highlight
Posted on 3 November, 2016 by Connecting Country
For this month’s Nature News, found on page 31 in this week’s Midland Express (2nd November 2016), local ecologist Elaine Bayes shares her interest and knowledge of the incredible life cycle and local community efforts to protect one of our special endangered species, the Eltham Copper Butterfly.
The very pretty Eltham Copper Butterfly. Photo by Elaine Bayes
As the weather starts to warm up, from November to March each year, Eltham Copper Butterflies will emerge from underground caterpillars. This small and endangered butterfly is endemic to Victoria where it was once widely distributed. Eltham Copper numbers have declined due to land clearing and inappropriate fire regimes, to a point where they were believed to be extinct in the 1950’s. They were rediscovered in Eltham in 1986. These butterflies are currently listed as endangered in Victoria and nationally.
The reason I am fascinated with Eltham Coppers is they have a weird and wonderful and totally dependent three-way relationship with Notoncus ant species and Sweet Bursaria plants. Notoncus ants are nocturnal ants which live underground including at the base of Sweet Bursaria plants. Eltham Coppers lay their eggs at the base of a Sweet Bursaria plant and once hatched the larvae is guided into the ant nest and protected. The larvae over-winters in the nest and ants lead them out to graze at night exclusively on the leaves of Sweet Bursaria. In return, the ants feed on sugars which are excreted by the larvae’s honeydew gland.
The Eltham Copper Butterfly and it’s attendant ants in the Sweet Bursaria. Photo by Damien Cook
How does that happen? How can they train ants to carry them to bed and take them out to dinner and keep them safe? Its quite complex and includes production of a range of chemicals and pheromones which makes the ant think they are one of their brood and need looking after and protection. It doesn’t end there, as pupae and larvae also make a range of noises which trick the ants into not recognising them as a threat and even protecting them.
The four known Eltham Copper populations across Victoria are now totally separate. This means that butterflies are no longer able to move between populations to exchange genetic material and make them more resilient to disease. The Castlemaine population is centred in four main areas in our local parks. Ensuring that these areas are protected from prescribed burning, inappropriate development or invasion by weeds is critical for their long term survival. As is finding and protecting new populations. The Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club and Friends of Kalimna Park have protected local populations for decades by removing woody weeds, monitoring populations and negotiating with the state government on fire regimes.
Thanks to this community effort we have the largest stronghold of Castlemaine Copper Butterflies in Victoria – well that’s what I think they should be called!
Gazanias from our 2012 weed watch post
Posted on 2 November, 2016 by Connecting Country
The following information was originally published in 2012 by Geraldine Harris in the Castlemaine Naturalist newsletter, and has been kindly re-written by her for the Connecting Country website. we have decided to re-post it as a the Gazanias are currently in full bloom.
Some plants become environmental weeds when they escape from our gardens into the surrounding countryside and start competing with local native indigenous species. I want to look at how some of these infestations can be controlled and which native plants can be used in their place.
Our native plants cannot be expected to perform as vigorously as pest plants that have been selectively bred for survival over hundreds of years. However, getting rid of pest plants and replacing them with native species will help preserve the integrity of our local habitats, attracting and providing resources for more native birds and other animals.
Gazania linearis
Gazanias are the large daisy-type yellow flowers that are escaping from private gardens and appearing more and more abundantly along our local roadsides and in bushland throughout Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and New South Wales.
These very showy plants originated in South Africa and are being promoted in many plant nurseries as a tough drought resistant species. Many hybrids have been developed in cultivation between Gazania linearis and a closely related environmental weed species Gazania rigens. These plants produce abundant wind-blown seeds that can be dispersed many kilometres from the source, producing ever-increasing patches of gazania that compete with locally indigenous species. Gazanias also have the ability to re-grow from their bare roots, which enables them to spread into our bushland by the dumping of garden waste containing the tuberous root systems of these plants. Native animals tend not to eat them as they are low in nutritional value.
Control methods include pulling out by hand if the infestation is small (making sure the
roots are removed so it doesn’t re-grow) or spraying with a registered systemic herbicide into the heart of the rosette. If you have a large outbreak amongst grasses or in a lawn, a broadleaf-selective herbicide maybe a much better option. At very least, remove and then bag the flower heads. The ‘bagging’ prior to disposal is important because even when the gazania flower heads are detached, most still have the ability to develop as mature flower heads with masses of viable seed.
As substitutes you could plant native daisies such as Sticky Everlasting (Xerochrysum viscosum), Common Everlasting (Chrysocephalum apiculatum) and Clustered Everlasting (Chrysocephalum semipapposum). Pigface (Carpobrotus modestus) would also be a useful substitute requiring no water and producing large pink-mauve flowers all summer.
References
Rayner C. 2012, ‘Weed of the Month’, Angair Newsletter. No 1, p6.
Marriot N.2011, ‘Plant ‘Aussies’ – not weeds’, Growing Australian, Vol 54.3, No 216, p12-13.
Connecting Country’s monthly bird walks – Metcalfe, Sunday 6 November 2016
Posted on 2 November, 2016 by Connecting Country
Hedge wattle (acacia paradoxa), perfect habitat for Thornbills. Photo by Geoff Park
Connecting Country’s Habitat for Bush Birds Project Officer, Tanya Loos is running free monthly bird walks. These walks are for those folk interested in practicing and improving their birding skills, regardless of skill level. The next walk is at Metcalfe Nature Conservation Reserve “The Common” on Sunday 6th November 2016
Local landcarer Debbie Farmer will be on hand to co-lead. Debbie is the secretary of Metcalfe Landcare. Beginner birdwatchers are most welcome!
This bird walk will conclude at the Metcalfe Shire hall with a presentation on the birds of the Metcalfe area. Bring your lunch and have a bite to eat while Tanya takes you through the local birds, their habitat use and calls. The presentation will take an hour including questions.
How to get there:
- If you are from Castlemaine and surrounds – meet at 8:20 am outside the Continuing Ed building, Templeton Street, to car pool to the site. If the event needs to be cancelled, someone will be there at 8:20am to let you know.
- Metcalfe and Taradale locals – meet at the Metcalfe Shire Hall at 8.50 and then car pool to the Reserve.
There is no need to book for these walks, but let Tanya know if you would like to borrow some Connecting Country binoculars. If you would like to subscribe to Tanya’s email list for these walks please contact her tanya@connectingcountry.org.au.
Talking Fire – Maldon, Newstead and places in between
Posted on 2 November, 2016 by Connecting Country
Join in on a conversation to better understand fire in our landscape at the Newstead Community Centre over the weekend of 12-13 November 2016.
‘Talking Fire’ will discuss what fire means for our local communities and the environment. The aim is to bring local expertise and knowledge together with outside experts in the field of fire behaviour and fire ecology, so that the community can talk about and better understand, plan, and live with fire.
Some of the questions driving our conversation are:
– What is the history of fire in the Newstead/Maldon area?
– How have the landscape, community & fire policies changed?
– How can we protect what we value?
– How can we respond to fire risk, now & in the future?
We are also seeking local knowledge and stories. Do you have a “fire experience”, direct or indirect, to share? As a part of the weekend Gordon Dowell will be recording the stories and histories of locals.
We hope that from the weekend our local landscape can be seen anew, through the eyes of scientists, fire experts and long lived locals alike, and through a wider, “landscape lens”, not just from a household or property viewpoint.
Whether you live in Newstead or Maldon, or the bush and farmland surrounds, you’re invited along to ‘talk fire’. Come to any or all sessions. The event is free, but we need bookings to help our caterers, the Newstead Preschool and Mens’ Shed, provide enough for all. To book your places for the Talking Fire weekend please click here.
Thanks to Mount Alexander Shire, Maldon & District Community Bank (Bendigo Bank) and the Norman Wettenhall Foundation for supporting the event. Many more supporters are contributing in non-financial ways. See our website www.talkingfire.org for the program, for updates and to book. Or follow Talking Fire on Facebook.
3 Waterbug Events with Waterwatch
Posted on 27 October, 2016 by Connecting Country
Connecting Country’s friends at the North Central Waterwatch program are excited to be hosting three events in November, and there is a theme – Waterbugs!
What’s on offer in November:
You, Me Biodiversity Talk – John Gooderham, The Waterbug Company will be presenting
When: Saturday 5th November 2016
Time: 2.30 – 4.30 pm
Where: Trentham Community Hall
Click here for more details.
ALT Training Workshop – John Gooderham, The Waterbug Company – YOU WILL NEED TO REGISTER FOR THIS – LIMITED PLACES
When: Sunday 6th November 2016
Time: 9.30 – 3.30 pm
Where: Baringhup, Loddon River
Native Fish Recovery Program’s – NatureBlitz event 2016 – YOU WILL NEED TO REGISTER FOR THIS – LIMITED PLACES
When: 7-11 November 2016
Time: All day over 5 days
Where: We will be staying at Tree Tops and will be taking participants to a range of sites along Box-Pyramid Creek and the Loddon River.
Waterwatch are also looking for enthusiastic community members to become volunteers and help monitor the response of native fish, waterbugs and water quality across the region. Being a citizen scientist isn’t just a great opportunity to contribute to the community and the environment, it’s a chance to get out in nature, explore and discover what else lives where you do.
If you are interested in volunteering to help collect vital information about the health of our waterways please feel contact Cass Davis, our Regional Waterwatch Coordinator via email cass.davis@nccma.vic.gov.au
Sat 29 Oct 2016 – Singing from Country launch at the Maldon Folk Festival
Posted on 25 October, 2016 by Connecting Country
Community Music Victoria, in conjunction with a range of other organisations, are launching their ‘Singing from Country’ project at the 2016 Maldon Folk Festival this Saturday 29th October. Their launch includes a Workshop and Concert and promises to be an inspiring and uplifting experience, particularly for those with an interest in our local landscapes.
From their website, this ‘festival-within-a-festival’ features two connected events that will change the way you think, feel and express stories about our great land.’
Presenters for the workshop will include Rebecca Phillips from the Dja Dja Wurrung Association Revival Group with support from a project partner, the Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages. Andrew Skeoch will play recordings of regional birdsong, tuning your ear to the plethora of natural soundscapes, and Geoff Park will open your eyes and inspire you to look again, at the country on which you live.
Singing from Country is described as a unique eco-cultural-arts collaboration between traditional landowners, holders of ecological wisdom, and songwriters. It aims to inspire songwriters, choirs and other community members to learn about, appreciate and celebrate Country, reclaiming our love of land.
The final stage of the project will see local choir-leaders arrange and rehearse Singing from Country songs with their singing groups and perform them in the Castlemaine State Festival in March 2017.
For more information about this weekend’s events and to purchase tickets, CLICK HERE.
Tarrengower Cactus Field Day – October 30th 2016
Posted on 25 October, 2016 by Asha
The Tarrengower Cactus Control Group is having their next field day this Sunday 30th October, from 10:30am – 12:30pm. The landholding is on Gough Range Road at the intersection with Tarrangower School Road (follow the signs from the Maldon-Newstead Road).
Like many other weeds, Wheel Cactus will be taking off after the heavy rainfall we’ve had this year. The field day will be a great chance to get on top of some of it before the plants become larger and harder to control. There will also be a free BBQ lunch provided. If you have any queries, please contact Ian on 0412-015-807.
CLICK HERE to see Tarrengower Cactus Control Group’s for more details and their latest blog post called “One year of Seeds equals 20 years of Weeds”.
Paterson’s Curse – pretty but a problem
Posted on 24 October, 2016 by Connecting Country
The flower of Paterson’s curse close up!
While out in the field Connecting Country staff, Bonnie Humphreys and Jarrod Coote, have noticed a number of out-breaks of Paterson’s Curse in our region. This weed is easily recognisable at the moment by the swathes of purple flowers. Yes it’s pretty, but it’s also a potentially big problem.
Paterson’s curse is a winter annual herb that often becomes the dominant species in pastures. It is a prolific seeder that can produce more than 5000 seeds per plant per year. Large quantities of seeds may accumulate in the soil over several years. For example, a seed bank of up to 30 000 seeds per square metre has been reported. Seeds may remain dormant in the soil for up to five years.
Paterson’s curse is considered a weed because:
- It reduces pasture productivity and is toxic to livestock.
- It can degrade the natural environment, compromising habitat values by crowding out and suppressing native vegetation.
- Hay and grain infested with it fetch lower prices.
- It affects human health. Some people are allergic to the pollen and the rough hairy texture of the leaves and stems causes skin irritation in people having close contact with the plant.
The life cycle of Paterson’s curse is important to understand in managing infestations. Currently plants are flowering and set seed from the top of the stem down. The plant then dies back and seeds germinate in the residual bare ground. As the plant grows it forms a rosette and then sends up the flowering stem.
So right now, the best thing to do is to map infestations and chip or spray emerging rosettes in Autumn next year. Rosettes can be easily chipped out and turned upside down to dry in the sun or sprayed with a registered herbicide.
Infestation in WA
Whole flowering plant
Flower stem before setting seed
Germinated seeds forms a rosette
For more information from the Agriculture Victoria website, click here.
Connecting Country Supporter Survey Results are in!
Posted on 24 October, 2016 by Connecting Country
A big thank-you to all of the people who responded to our supporter survey. We appreciate the time taken to fill out this survey. These responses are helping us to shape our direction into the future.
Some interesting results (please note that there were 58 responses in total) include…
- Around half live in town or on less than 5 acre block (25)
- 76% are involved in landcare
- Ranking of our work (note that all facets were rated roughly even): 1. On-ground action, 2. Community engagement and education, 3. Monitoring, 4. Landcare support
- Top priorities for action: Habitat enhancement for local birds and other native species, Development of wildlife corridors, Environmental education, Vegetation management and restoration
- Lower priorities for action: Sustainable agriculture, Understanding fire ecology and impacts, Pest plant and animal control
- Preferred funding options: Government grants, Philanthropic organisations, Donations/Bequests
- Some encouraging comments:
- Keep up the great work!!
- You provide a vital connection for landcare groups and help with educating communities.
- I’m sure people would be prepared to pay for the field days and workshops, especially when lunch is provided too. Thank you for all the wonderful work you do.
- As an out-of-towner, I am inspired by your organisation. Keep up the good work.
- Keep up the great work, your input into the community really pays off.
- I like the way CC connects different networks, I am exceeding grateful for the work CC has undertaken on my property. It has given me an enormous boost.
- Although I am a city dweller, Connecting Country is becoming more important to me. I’m sure more city dwellers would become involved in CC activities if they were aware of the programme.
- You’ve all been doing a fantastic and wonderful job!!
- Thank you for the work that you already do.
- Thank you – wonderful team and great initiatives.
- The educational programs provided by CC have enhanced my understanding of the biodiversity of our local area and heightened my interest to find out more. Thankyou CC.
To view the full summary please click here .
Connecting Country is showing off!
Posted on 21 October, 2016 by Connecting Country
Come show your support for Connecting Country and have some fun as we head down Barker St in our high vis and workboots on. Connecting Country is running a float in this year’s Castlemaine Show parade on Friday 28th October 2016. We’d love it if you joined us to walk proudly down the street and celebrate our volunteers involved in Connecting Country.
We will be hooking the direct seeder up to our red ute and handing out acacia seeds for people to grow into habitat for local woodland birds. This fun event will be a great way to show what we do and who we do it with in the Castlemaine district.
We would love you to be involved! Contact Naomi by email at naomi@connectingcountry.org.au or call 5472 1594. Look forward to seeing you there!
Our direct seeder will be on show at the parade
Celebrating 1000 Connecting Country blog posts!
Posted on 20 October, 2016 by Connecting Country
On the 1st August 2009 Connecting Country posted our first blog post and since then has shared, reported, updated and informed 1000 times and we’d like to celebrate! Our blog posts are a way for people to stay in touch with us and the happenings in the broader community. Topics range from upcoming events, launching information materials, summaries of events that have happened and observations from nature. There are currently 404 blog subscribers, and people can also view these blog posts by clicking on topics on our homepage.
Some of our favorite and popular blog posts have been:
- Nestboxes, Phascogales and Gliders
- Now is the time for rabbit control
- Local Climate Change Action
- Farewell to a comrade on Muckleford Creek
Our earliest blog author was Bronwyn Silver who helped with our website until 2015. Bron’s fabulous work largely accounts for the number of blogs to date. Chris Timewell has also been a big contributor over the years. Krista Patterson-Majoor, Tanya Loos, Naomi Raftery, Asha Bannon, Janet Barker and Max Schlachter have also contributed as part of their roles at Connecting Country. Thanks to all for your effort in helping to maintain this part of our communications.
If you’d like to broadcast news about an event on our website or facebook page, contact Naomi at naomi@connectingcountry.org.au. In the meantime, enjoy this little trip down memory land – a selection of some of our favorite pics and people from over the years….
Landcarer’s in planning action, September 2012
Max and Jarrod will do anything to promote the ute guide to rabbits, February 2014
Tanya leads a group of keen birdwatchers, September 2015
Celebrating Landcare, 2014
Connecting Country community planting day in Elphinstone, July 2014
Geoff Park discusses landscape change. April 2012
Bryan McMullan talks nest boxes, October 2011
Exploring moss at a biodiversity workshop, May 2014
Julia, CC’s second project officer, with our initial order of 400 boxes! January 2010
Ian Higgins explains EVCs, April 2014
Landcare legends, Maurie and Lois Dynan, October 2014
Swift Parrot and Kirsten from Trust For Nature. June 2011
Close encounters at the Family Nature Day, September 2011
Eucalypt identification workshop, November 2011
Connecting Country’s inaugral works crew, May 2013
Binoculars anyone? Chris in May 2014.
19 October – Water Rats event – have you seen one or want to know more?
Posted on 19 October, 2016 by Connecting Country
The Bendigo Creek Platypus Project in partnership with the North Central Catchment Management Authority and the Waterwatch program are excited to extend an invitation to attend the upcoming Water Rat community information evening to be held on Wednesday 19 October 2016 at Bendigo Tafe, Charleston Road Campus.
Please click on flyer for more information about this event
While Geoff Williams from the Australian Platypus Conservancy is in town, he is trying to gather information about the Water Rat with a focus on current distribution.
If you have seen and know where there are Water Rats in our region, it would be great if you can please fill in the Water Rat Survey form, and return to our regional Waterwatch coordinator Cass Davis at cass.davis@nccma.vic.gov.au by Tuesday 18th October 2016. Cass will then pass them on to Geoff so he can include your information in his research.
Celebrate Bird Week and the Aussie Backyard Bird Count
Posted on 18 October, 2016 by Tanya Loos
From 17-23 October 2016, thousands of people from across the country are heading out into their backyards, local parks or favourite open spaces to take part in the third annual Aussie Backyard Bird Count!
On Saturday, October 15 2016, Connecting Country’s Woodland Bird Project Coordinator Tanya Loos and BirdLife Australia’s Sean Dooley kicked off Bird Week and the Aussie Backyard Bird Count with a joint presentation in the Macedon Ranges .
Sean spoke passionately about growing up with birds in the Melbourne suburbs of Seaford, and his love for imperiled woodland birds such as the Grey-crowned babbler. He showed us how simple bird surveys conducted by citizen scientists all over Australia have enabled some alarming trends to be picked up – such as the decline of Laughing Kookaburras which are down some 40% in recent years.
Tanya then followed with an overview of the extensive on ground works program of Connecting Country, and how this work will help woodland birds and in particular the feathered five. She shared some exciting graphics which show the results of the citizen science program in the area – in particular for the Diamond Firetail and Brown Treecreeper. (Coming soon!)
Sean then took us outside and we used the Aussie Backyard Bird Count app to do a simple twenty minute survey, the highlight of which was a Sacred Kingfisher sitting on a little gate above a dam next to the Newham Mechanics Institute. The app is so easy to use! For those without a smart phone – the website is also very simple and really aesthetically pleasing.
To get involved all you need is 20 minutes, your ‘green patch’ of choice, and some keen eyesight (or binoculars!) And it doesn’t matter if you’re a novice or an expert—we’ll be there to help you out along the way! Simply record the birds you know and look up those you don’t on our ‘Aussie Bird Count’ app or the website. 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 not just across your neighbourhood but 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. Check out the results from the 2015 Aussie Backyard Bird Count here.
Any questions about the Aussie Backyard Bird Count? Get in touch with Tanya at the Connecting Country office at tanya@connectingcountry.org.au
The Rainbow Lorikeet was the most commonly recorded bird in 2015. By Andrew Silcocks.
Thursday 20th October 2016 – Newstead Landcare’s AGM and fire presentation
Posted on 17 October, 2016 by Connecting Country
Burnt out landscape in the Maldon area.
As the days warm up and the summer approaches, the thoughts of many who live out of town turn to the threat of bushfires. The things that we love about the bush can become sources of anxiety and fear in the hot, dry months. How do we protect ourselves from bushfire and still protect the plants and animals that make our area so special? Questions like these will be addressed at Newstead Landcare Group’s October presentation “Protecting from Bushfire, Protecting our Biodiversity” on Thursday the 20th of October 2016 at the Newstead Town Hall.
The CFA’s Owen Goodings will speak about what we can do to manage fire and live with biodiversity.
“We are really excited to have Owen Gooding, a leading researcher on vegetation management and fire presenting at our October meeting. Owen is also the Vegetation Management Officer for the CFA, so he is very well placed to help us understand the issues” said Frances Cincotta, Newstead Landcare’s President.
The presentation will cover how to manage vegetation on your property, be it a small holding or larger bush block, to reduce the risk in case of fire and to retain native vegetation. “Owen will also be discussing ways to think about bushfire and native vegetation in the wider landscape and dispelling a few myths” Ms Cincotta added.
This presentation ties in with another important event about bushfire for residents of the Newstead and Maldon areas. Understanding Fire in our Landscape: A Community Conversation is a community event being held on the weekend of the 12-13 November 2016, in Newstead. For more details about this event; click here.
“In this Community Conversation fire in the Newstead-Maldon landscape will be discussed in detail – the history of fire, local ecology, and fire risk” said Chris Johnston, one of the organisers of the event. “There will be talks, displays, biodiversity walks, visits to the sites of past fires, and a chance to record your memories of local fires.” Supported by community and external experts, the weekend will be a chance to learn more and share ideas across our local communities about living with fire.
For more information or to book for this free event go to talkingfire.org or to the Facebook page Talking Fire.
Understanding Fire in our Landscape is supported by the Mount Alexander Shire Council 2016 Community Grants Program, Maldon & District Community Bank and the Norman Wettenhall Foundation.
Talking Fire – Maldon, Newstead and places in between
Posted on 17 October, 2016 by Connecting Country
Join a conversation to better understand fire in our local landscape at the Newstead Community Centre over the weekend of 12 and 13 November 2016. ‘Talking Fire’ will discuss what fire means for our local communities and the environment.
The aim of these workshops is to bring local expertise and knowledge together with outside experts in the field of fire behaviour and fire ecology, so that the community can talk about and better understand, plan for, and live with fire.
Some of the questions driving the conversation will be:
- What is the history of fire in our area?
- How have the landscape, community & fire policies changed?
- How can we protect what we value?
- How can we respond to fire risk, now & in the future?
You may have other questions, ideas or solutions.
‘Talking Fire’ are also seeking local knowledge and stories at this workshop. Do you have a “fire experience”, direct or indirect, to share? As a part of the weekend Gordon Dowell will be recording the stories and histories of locals. The Newstead CFA Auxiliary are among those we will be keen to hear from.
Maldon area; fire, ecology, people – can they all co-exist?
They hope that from the weekend our local landscape can be seen anew, through the eyes of scientists, fire experts and long lived locals alike, and through a wider, “landscape lens”, not just from a household or property viewpoint.
Whether you live in Newstead or Maldon town, or the bush and farmland surrounds, you’re invited along to ‘talk fire’. Come to any or all sessions. The event is free, but we need bookings to help our caterers, the Newstead Preschool and Mens’ Shed, provide enough for all.
Thanks to Mount Alexander Shire, Maldon & District Community Bank and Norman Wettenhall Foundation for supporting the event. Many more supporters are contributing in non-financial ways. See our website www.talkingfire.org for more information and to book.
Connecting Country’s 2016 AGM and Annual Report
Posted on 14 October, 2016 by Connecting Country
Connecting Country President, Brendan Sydes, addresses the 60 strong crowd.
We were thrilled with the strong turn out and great atmosphere for our 2016 Annual General Meeting on Tuesday the 11th of October 2016 at the Campbells Creek Community Centre. We are also excited to share our 2015-16 Annual Report. We are proud of our achievements in the past year, and this report provides an opportunity for us to celebrate them with our supporters. In the spirit of mindful resource use, we would encourage you to view the report in a digital format by clicking on the cover below. Huge thanks to Eliza Tree for the use of her painting titled Jarra Country on the cover and for bringing it along to the AGM for viewing.
The general business part of the AGM saw the election of our volunteer Committee of Management members. Brendan Sydes was re-elected as president, Deb Wardle – Vice President, Marie Jones – Treasurer, Jenni Thomas – Secretary. Max Kay, Malcolm Trainor, and Saide Gray return as general committee members.
Following a light meal, we heard from six local experts about their vision for the Mount Alexander region. Kath Coff gave an indigenous perspective, Ian Higgins spoke about vegetation management, Beth Mellick gave an insight into the history of Connecting Country and our relationship with the Norman Wettenhall Foundation, Paul Foreman spoke about keeping water in the landscape, Carla Meurs shared the benefits of vegetation for wildlife on her farm and Geoff Park talked about, you guessed it, birds!
L-R: Paul Foreman, Kath Coff, Beth Mellick, Carla Meurs, Ian Higgins, Eliza Tree and Brendan Sydes.
We all then broke into working groups according to their area of interest and discussed how Connecting Country could achieve their vision. Connecting Country staff and committee now have the task of collating all the feedback from the night and our supporter survey and deciding on our future directions. A huge thank-you to everyone who attended and gave their time, energy and ideas. We really appreciate the feedback and support from attendees and our community in general. We will be provide regular updates as we progress through this process.
If you missed out on our AGM, Connecting Country is encouraging people to be involved in shaping our future direction by filling out our Supporter Survey. To participate, please CLICK HERE. There are a relatively small number of questions, and will take approximately 5-10 minutes to complete. This survey will remain open until Sunday the 16th of October 2016. We have had a great response so far and we thank everyone for their very valuable input.
Eliza Tree describes her amazing creation. Jaara Country
Our multi-talented staff team in action.
Kath Coff inspires the crowd with her vision.