Do You Have a Rabbit Problem?
Posted on 19 April, 2013 by Connecting Country
How many offspring can Mr Rabbit and Mrs Rabbit potentially produce in 18 months? The answer is a staggering 180 bunnies! And that is one of the reasons why rabbits have such a big impact on both agricultural land and natural environments in our region.
While rabbit numbers are certainly nowhere near to what they were in the first half of the 20th Century – before Myxomatosis and Calicivirus decimated the population – they are still a serious problem. As immunity to these diseases increases, the rabbit population is growing again. Even one rabbit per hectare can stop regeneration of some native plant species.
Connecting Country’s Ute Guide to Rabbit Control is a simple and easy to understand guide to rabbit control options, and small enough to fit into the glove box of your ute (or any other car!). It covers how to tell if rabbits are present, the physical and chemical methods of control, and which options are most suited to the size of the infestation.
The guide has been produced as part of Connecting Country’s ‘Connecting Landscapes Project’. This five-year program will work with private landholders to create and enhance wildlife habitat connections between the large blocks of crown land forest that occur through the Mount Alexander Shire and immediate surrounds.
If you would like to receive a copy of the Ute Guide to Rabbit Control, contact Connecting Landscapes Project Coordinator Jarrod Coote on (03) 5472 1594 or jarrod@connectingcountry.org.au
Connecting Landscapes Project Coordinator Jarrod Coote displays the new Ute Guide Guide to Rabbit Control. But who’s behind the wheel?
Landcarers Link-up in The Creek
Posted on 17 April, 2013 by Connecting Country
Representatives from 15 Landcare groups got together for a ‘Landcare Link-up’ at the Campbells Creek Community Hall on Thursday last week. The absence of these kinds of meetings over the past few years meant that many people met each other for the first time and there were plenty of fresh ideas brought forward.
As a result of three open-ended questions that were the focus of the night, many topics arose for discussion including weed management techniques, the number of active members in groups, the challenge of engaging farmers and the pros and cons of having regular meetings. A constant theme on the night was ‘variety’ and the range of ways in which each group organises their working bees and meetings was a case in point.
Participants at the Link-up arrange themselves into order of how long they’ve been involved in Landcare. There was a wide range of experience amongst the group, from those that had been involved in Landcare for just a few months to veterans of over 20 years.
There was plenty of good feeling around the room, so it wasn’t surprising that the question of whether to have another Link-up later in the year was met with a resounding “Yes”. Look out for Link-up number two later this year.
Thank you to all those that attended and made it such an enjoyable night.
Landscape Connectivity – Be Strategic and Think Outside the Corridor
Posted on 17 April, 2013 by Connecting Country
Over 60 people recently attended a talk titled Designing a Wildlife Corridor: What Works & Why? at the Elphinstone Community Hall.
The first speaker, Dr Rodney van der Ree, wasted no time in subverting the title of the evening to reflect his thoughts on designing wildlife corridors – changing the title of his talk from ‘Designing a Wildlife Corridor…’ to Designing a Connected Landscape…’! Rodney’s point was that what we are aiming for when we create wildlife corridors is really ‘landscape connectivity’ – and wildlife corridors are only one part of this. Other landscape features such as patches of remnant vegetation, paddock trees, small clumps of vegetation, scattered trees and stags can all form part of a connected landscape.
His talk went on to detail many ways by which the effectiveness of a corridor can be maximised, including trying to incorporate established vegetation into a corridor; making use of linear landscape features such as roads and creeks; designing with a particular animal or group of animals in mind and planning strategically – look at a map! Continue Reading »
Bird Photography … with Chris Tzaros
Posted on 16 April, 2013 by Connecting Country
On Thursday 25th April, at 7.30pm at the Newstead Community Centre, Chris Tzaros from BirdLife Australia will deliver a talk entitled Bird Photography: Tips & Techniques. Chris is one of Australia’s best known bird photographers and author of the publication, Wildlife of Box-Ironbark Country. As well as providing some practical information on the topic, the presentation will showcase some of Chris’ breathtaking images. Gold coin donation to the Newstead Landcare Group. Everyone is welcome.
Chris and Geoff Park will also be leading a field workshop on 27 April but that is already booked out. It is likely that similar workshops will be held later this year.
A mix of biodiversity and agriculture
Posted on 15 April, 2013 by Connecting Country
The recent edition of the Weekly Times has a nice story about Wayne and Gwen Furze from Osborne’s Flat in north-eastern Victoria who’ve been able to manage and protect some important grassy woodland areas on their property while still running a broader productive dairy farm. Click here to read the full story. (As an aside, another name still regularly used for Gorse is Furze!)
Time to Check Nest Boxes
Posted on 15 April, 2013 by Connecting Country
If you have a Connecting Country nest box on your property (or one near-by on public land), Autumn is the time of year to check your boxes for Brush-tailed Phascogale or Sugar Glider activity.
The best technique for landholders to monitor the boxes on their property involves observing, counting and identifying the Sugar gliders or Brush-tailed Phascogales that climb out of the opening of each nest box on dusk. Please do NOT climb up with a ladder and physically check inside the box (due to the danger to you, and also the potential disturbance to the animal). We have further information on this ‘dusk observation’ technique (click here) and also the results from the past two years of nest box surveys (click here and here).
A standardised data sheet is available to record observations (PDF and Word versions). Results can be sent to us via email or post. Even if you see nothing come out of the box, please let us know, as this is still important information.
If you are unable to observe the nest boxes on your property at dusk – but would like to know what it using them – please let us know. We may be able to arrange for a volunteer team to come and observe them on dusk instead.
Phascogales captured on camera at Jan Hall’s property in MacKenzie’s Hill.
Community Environment Grants Now Available
Posted on 15 April, 2013 by Connecting Country
Community Environment Grants of between $5000 and $50 000 are now available from the Australian Government to community groups working to achieve an environment that is healthier, better protected, well managed and resilient.
Funding is available to established and emerging groups currently operating in the environmental sector, including Indigenous organisations. Continue Reading »
Landcare Awards
Posted on 13 April, 2013 by Connecting Country
Nominees or applicants are now invited to apply for this year’s State and Territory Landcare Awards. The purpose of the awards is to recognise ‘the achievements of those dedicated people who give up their time to care for our precious land and water resources.’ More information about the awards and the entry form can be found here and here.
Biological Farming Information Days
Posted on 13 April, 2013 by Connecting Country
The North Central CMA has organised two information days on Biological Farming in Kerang and Echuca West. This flyer has some further details and people are encouraged to register their interest with the North Central CMA on 03 5448 7124 or info@nccma.vic.gov.au. Further details will soon be available on the NCCMA site.
20 & 23 April – Muckleford Landcare Events
Posted on 13 April, 2013 by Connecting Country
Muckleford Catchment Landcare has two upcoming events this month that will be of interest to people living locally – including both Landcare members and the general public. The first is the Roadside Awareness Mapping Project which will conclude with reporting day on 20 April at the Muckleford Community Centre. The second is a community meeting on 23 April about Sustainable Soils for Muckleford. Speakers at this meeting will be Judy Crocker, Facilitator of the Mid-Loddon Landcare Network, and Phil Dyson, North Central CMA, and manager of the Farming for Sustainable Soils Program.
To find out more about these events, download this Muckleford Landcare PDF document. The Muckleford Catchment Landcare site can be viewed here.
12 April 2013 – Tales from a mothylated spirit!
Posted on 10 April, 2013 by Connecting Country
This Friday 12 April, the guest speaker at the monthly general meeting of the Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club is Steve Williams of the Entomological Society of Victoria (ESV). He will be speaking about the moths of the Box-Ironbark Forests in his talk titled “Things that go bump in the night….Tales of a Mothylated Spirit“.
Steve’s passion is raising native moths through their whole life cycle, from adult to egg to caterpillar to cocoon, and then back to adult again. He has made incredible contributions to the understanding of this process for Victorian moth species – most of which had not been documented previously. His amazing photos of the various life stages are a highlight of the recently released Moths of Victoria Volume 4 (published by ESV).
If the weather is favourable, Steve is also planning to set up some lights and other equipment outside the hall to attract some moths over the course of the night’s talk to view afterwards.
Attendance at the talk is free and open to everyone; members and non-members. It will start from 7.30pm at the Fellowship Hall behind the Uniting Church on Lyttleton St (just up the hill beside the Art Gallery and Museum).
Bus Seats Available for Wildlife Corridor Talk This Wednesday
Posted on 8 April, 2013 by Connecting Country
A reminder for any people planning to attend the Designing a Wildlife Corridor: What Works Why? talk in Elphinstone this Wednesday.
For those who’d prefer not to drive, a free community bus has been booked to transport people from Castlemaine to the Elphinstone Community Hall for the event, and back. The bus will be departing from the Ray Bradfield Room (next to Victory Park) at 6pm and will return to Castlemaine about 15 minutes after the conclusion of the talks.
RSVPs for the bus are essential, as space will be limited. Contact Chris at Connecting Country to book a seat – E: info@connectingcountry.org.au, P: (03) 5472 1594.
The evening will begin with supper at 6:30pm. Talks start at 7pm.
Invasive Species Council Survey
Posted on 8 April, 2013 by Connecting Country
Every year across Australia tens of thousands of people give up their time to battle weeds, feral animals and marine pests, very often without payment. The recent evening on weeds in Maldon hosted by Connecting Country reiterated the weed risk and also the commitment that people and groups make to their control (click here for more info).
The Invasive Species Council wants to build a picture of the work these people carry out, and the organisations they work for, through a national survey.
The information collected will be used to create an Australian database of groups working on these issues, and will be used to help share information on current invasive species threats.
If you are a member of an organisation tackling invasive species in Australia and would like to participate, click here to access the survey.
27 April – Property Planning and Management Talk
Posted on 3 April, 2013 by Connecting Country
The Mount Alexander Shire is inviting new residents to a free afternoon talk on property Planning and Management on Saturday 27 April in the Ray Bradfield Room. Download this flyer for further information.
Latest edition of Chat
Posted on 3 April, 2013 by Connecting Country
The latest edition of the North Central CMA publication chat is now available and can be downloaded here. This edition includes articles on the weed of the month ‘Horehound’, the Victoria Climate Change Adaption Plan, the opening of the Lushington Hill Bushland Reserve path, the recent Connecting Country soil workshop and a number of upcoming local events.
10 April – Wildlife Corridors Talk in Elphinstone
Posted on 3 April, 2013 by Connecting Country
Connecting Country and the North Central Catchment Management Authority will jointly present a free evening talk session titled Designing a Wildlife Corridor: What Works and Why? next week on Wednesday 10th April.
We’re lucky to have two great speakers on the night:
Dr Rodney van der Ree releasing a Squirrel Glider.
Dr Rodney van der Ree is a wildlife ecologist and senior researcher at the University of Melbourne. He will be providing recommendations on how to design effective wildlife corridors in our region, particularly for use by Tuans and Sugar Gliders. Rodney has also been involved in efforts to provide connectivity for these species across major roads, including the Calder and Hume Freeways; he will also be summarising the results of these efforts so far.
Philippa Schapper is coordinator of the Superb Parrot Project. The Project began in 1992 when a group of farmers in the Picola area of northern Victoria became concerned about the future of the Superb Parrot in their area. Their ongoing commitment to the Project has seen 20 years of revegetation, primarily on privately owned land, to the extent that the local landscape is significantly different. She will describe how both the landholders and the local wildlife have benefitted.
The evening will be a source of information, and hopefully inspiration, for anybody involved in land management in central Victoria, and especally those with a passion for conserving native species. Finger food dinner and non-alcoholic drinks will be provided.
The free talks will be held at the Elphinstone Community Hall (Cnr Bendigo-Sutton Grange Road & Olivers Lane, Elphinstone. NB: there is no direct access from the Calder Freeway.) (click here for map). We’ll begin with supper at 6:30pm and the talks will begin at 7pm. RSVPs are not essential, but would be appreciated for catering. Please contact to Max at Connecting Country by email – max@connectingcountry.org.au or phone – 03 5472 1594.
For those coming from Castlemaine and not wishing to drive, a free bus will be leaving from outside the Ray Bradfield Room in Castlemaine at 6.00pm. The buses will return to Castlemaine about 15 minutes after the conclusion of the talks. RSVPs for the bus are essential, as space will be limited.
Connecting Country provides this event as part of its Yellow Box Woodland education program which is supported by the North Central Catchment Management Authority, with funding from the Federal Government’s Caring for our Country program and the State Government’s Victorian Investment Framework. The North Central Catchment Management Authority also supports this event through the Australian Government’s Clean Energy Future Biodiversity Fund.
10 & 11 April – Carbon Farming Field Trip
Posted on 26 March, 2013 by Connecting Country
A two-day Carbon Farming Field Trip to western Victoria open to farmers and Landcare members has been organised by the North Central CMA and funded as part of the Carbon Farming Initiative Communications Program. It will take place on 10 and 11 April. There is sponsorship available to cover the cost of bus travel from Bendigo or Maryborough as well as accommodation and all meals. To find out more about the field trip, download this flyer. An Expression of Interest form is also available. Places are limited and EOI forms need to be submitted by 2 April.
2013 Federal Volunteer Grants Open & Other Local Events
Posted on 26 March, 2013 by Connecting Country
Volunteer Grants
The Federal Government’s annual Volunteer Grants have just opened. There is up to $16 million in funding for grants of between $1,000 – $5,000. Groups can apply for funds for fuel reimbursement, police checks, equipment and training to assist volunteers carry out their roles. For more information and the application form, click here.
Two local Community Training Events in April run by the Mount Alexander Volunteer Network (MAVN)
1. Consumer Affairs: Understanding the changes to the Incorporated Association Act.
Free session at Continuing Education, 30 Templeton Street, Castlemaine on Wednesday 17th April from 7pm – 8.30pm. For bookings and enquiries, contact Mount Alexander Volunteer Network by email on mavn@outlook.com
2. Avoid Burn Out: From Survive to Thrive
Session costs $10 with light supper provided at Continuing Education, 30 Templeton Street, Castlemaine on Wednesday 1st May from 6 pm-8.30 pm. For bookings and enquiries, contact Mount Alexander Volunteer Network by email on mavn@outlook.com
Don’t take a shotgun to the cactus, even if it is annoying you
Posted on 22 March, 2013 by Connecting Country
Attendees at a Connecting Country education event at the Maldon Community Centre on March 13 heard two dramatically different perspectives on the grisly subject of environmental weeds.
Ecologist Geoff Carr gave a general rundown on the weed problem, which is serious. He quoted the 2007 Census of the Vascular Plants of Victoria publication, which listed all the self sustaining plants in our state [that is, plants not kept alive by gardeners or special care]. Of the 5793 species and subspecies recorded within Victoria, 1496 are exotics, the numbers of which are increasing rapidly and alarmingly.
It was clear from Geoff’s talk that ‘weed’ in this discussion isn’t just a plant you don’t like: it’s a plant which, if let go, will obliterate any competition, and render other plants in the area locally extinct. Not only that: weeds have the capacity to radically alter water catchments and affect food production. The example he gave, ironically, was from South Africa (from which a good number of our weeds originate): the Cape Town water catchment’s capacity to store water has been reduced by 30% by water guzzling Acacia weeds imported from…Australia! The problem is global.
Seventy per cent of environmental weeds started their life in Australia as garden ornamentals. Geoff posed a good question: why do we have strict control over importation of exotic animals into the country, but appear to have almost none at all over plants which could cost millions in lost production and biodiversity?
Geoff Carr’s talk was not focused on remedies, but Ian Grenda more than made up for that with a wonderfully entertaining account of his efforts at cactus control, laced with a good dose of black humour. Ian is convenor of the Tarrengower Cactus Control committee. His attacks on Wheel Cactus (Opuntia robusta) – a listed Weed of National Significance – have involved experiments with axes and shotguns (details withheld here, to protect the innocent), and the invention of a variety of deadly cactus attack weapons. The most effective weapon he highlighted, however, was community support: every month about 35 local people rock up to cactus control work parties in the Tarrengower/Nuggety area. Positive social interaction and clear practical progress keep morale high. Ian’s conclusion: ‘We’re going to beat it, using the biggest weapon in the world. That’s us—we can kill anything!’
Both speakers, interestingly, spoke admiringly of the weed enemy: attacks on weeds are motivated not by hatred for any particular plant, but by a desire to protect the variety and health of the rich native plant system we have now. Both also emphasised the need to understand how plants work, and what they do in the environment. And both made it clear that that persistence and follow up work are vital.
Mount Alexander Shire – Connecting Country MOU signed
Posted on 21 March, 2013 by Connecting Country
As you may have read in the local paper over the past week, the Mount Alexander Shire Council and Connecting Country formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tuesday 12 March.
Cr Michael Redden, Mayor of Mount Alexander Shire and Marie Jones, President of Connecting Country signing the MoU. Standing are Amy McDonald, Manager Healthy Environments, MAS and Chris Timewell, CC Director.
Cr Michael Redden, Mayor of Mount Alexander Shire and Marie Jones, President of Connecting Country formalised the commitment to shared goals and collaboration with the signing of the documentation.
“I am delighted to be signing this document because it is another positive way that the community can work together to provide a healthier environment,” said Marie.
The MoU outlines how the two organisations will work together over the next five years, including the provision of support and advice to each other on projects that they have in common.
“This MoU is important for Council, reflecting the sentiment of our Environment Strategy – to work with our partner organisations to make a positive change for sustainability and the environment,” said Cr Redden.