Bird of the Month: Grey Fantail

Posted on 20 October, 2025 by Lori

Words by Damian Kelly and Jane Rusden.  Photos by Damian Kelly

Always a delight to watch, the Grey Fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa) swishes its tail around directing insects into easier catching distance. And then there’s their tinkling call, often heard before the bird is seen.  Luckily for us bird watchers, Grey Fantails can be very curious, which means they come much closer to us than many other species.  They do have rather a disapproving look on their tiny faces, characterised by their drawn down white eyebrows.

A confiding and widespread species, the Grey Fantail can be found all along the wetter eastern and western areas of Australia and occasionally spreading into drier areas inland. Tasmania, New Zealand and other islands also have populations of this species.

Nest of a Grey Fantail (Damian Kelly)

Urban gardens are also utilised and here in Castlemaine, in our garden near the centre of town, a pair of Grey Fantails has successfully fledged young for the last two years. The nest is concealed in dense vegetation right next to a garden path, but human traffic does not seem to concern them. Whenever I walk past, a beady eye is watching me, but the bird never leaves the nest. Two young were raised each time which is quite a feat given the tiny size of the nest. Built from small twigs, grass and hairs and held together with spiders’ webs, the nest is a beautiful construction. The nest from two years ago was simply refurbished with more web prior to the second season of breeding (see photo).

Although not fully understood, the movements of Grey Fantails are a mixed bag. In some areas populations are partly or fully sedentary, whilst in other areas migration takes place. Movements can be driven by food availability and temperature. There seems to be a whole east coast movement of birds. All in all, a mixed bag of movements. I can report that the birds who breed in our garden are not present over winter but have returned now as spring advances.

Some of the Tasmanian birds migrate to the mainland over winter. Groups of Grey Fantails have been regularly recorded moving across King and Flinders Islands on the way to the mainland. There are probably some altitudinal movements, but this is often confused by other movements occurring. At times small groups up to 30 birds can be seen moving through areas.

Feeding tends to be arboreal, often catching prey in flight, although they will also feed on the ground. Food consists mainly of insects, but they occasionally take fruit or seeds. Often associated with mixed feeding flocks moving through vegetation.

Grey Fantail utilising prickly cover of Gorse, (an invasive weed), with its tail characteristically fanned. Photo by Damian Kelly.

Bird of the Month is a partnership between Connecting Country and BirdLife Castlemaine District. Each month we take a close look at one special local bird species. We are blessed to have the brilliant Jane Rusden and Damian Kelly from BirdLife Castlemaine District writing these! We’re excited to join forces to deliver you a different bird each month, seasonally adjusted, and welcome suggestions from the community.

Great Southern Bioblitz – Castlemaine Region 24-27 October

Posted on 16 October, 2025 by Lori

It’s the beginning of October and so wonderful to see the new growth and increasing activity in bushlands and gardens after so many months of challenging conditions. Trees, shrubs and other understorey plants are putting out new leaves and foliage, and canopies are becoming denser. Birds are calling and nesting. Frogs are croaking. Thankfully insects are about again, albeit not in good numbers yet, but Painted Ladies and some day moths are about. And we are already being treated with the bright colours of Myrnong, Waxlips, Leopard orchids and Caladenias, with scattered clusters of emerging leaves promising Helmet and Gnat orchids.

Hopefully while all of this is happening those of you who live in or visit the Mount Alexander Shire will be getting ready for the Great Southern Bioblitz 2025,which runs from midnight October 23 to midnight October 27.  This is your opportunity to join other citizen scientists to help build the scientific databases that increase the knowledge and understanding of our bushlands and their biodiversity. These annual Bioblitz surveys collect vast amounts of data on species and distribution that would otherwise be unavailable.

The Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club are again hosting a count in this region and they’d love your contributions!  If you can contribute, all you need is a camera or phone and enthusiasm!

You’ll find lots of information, including deadlines, tips on uploading your images to iNaturalist, the online global databank for observations of biodiversity and more on the Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club Great Southern Bioblitz webpage.

Images: Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club

North Harcourt Sedgwick Landcare Group AGM with Ira Barker

Posted on 16 October, 2025 by Lori

North Harcourt Sedgwick Landcare (NHSE) are pleased to welcome Ira Barker from bushfoods social enterprise, Murnong Mummas, as the special guest speaker at the Groups Annual General Meeting.

A Gunditjmara person living and working on Djaara Country, Ira will share their journey connecting with native edible plants, culture, and Country, and how a drive for self determination has had a positive effect on them and those around them.

AGM business  will include the annual activity report, and the election of the committee for the next year. They welcome new nominations to the committee – contact nhselandcare@gmail.com for more information.

A free BBQ will follow the formal business.

When: Sunday 26 October 11am-12pm
Where: Sedgwick Hall, Sedgwick

Bookings: Free (gold coin donation will be appreciated) – click here to book.

Taradale Landcare AGM and nestbox installation demonstration

Posted on 8 October, 2025 by Lori

Taradale Landcare are hosting their Annual General Meeting on Sunday 12 October in Taradale, VIC and encourage new members and committee nominations.  Following the usual AGM formalities and refreshments, Tom from The Tree Company will provide a nestbox presentation and installation demonstration at Taradale Mineral Springs Reserve.

When: Sunday 12 October, 10am – 11.30am

Time: AGM 10am – 11.30am – Taradale Primary School multi-purpose room

Nestbox installation 12noon – Taradale Mineral Springs Reserve

RSVP: taradalelandcare@gmail.com

Baynton Sidonia Landcare present Taungurung Cultural Heritage Workshop: Fri 17 October 2025

Posted on 6 October, 2025 by Hadley Cole

Our friends at Baynton Sidonia Landcare are hosting a Strengthening Landholder Knowledge of Taungurung Cultural Heritage Workshop on Friday 17 October from 10.30am to 1.30pm at the Baynton Hall.

The aim of the workshop is to build landholder knowledge and confidence to support the preservation of Taungurung Culture on Country and to create shared pride in it.

The workshop will include:

• Understanding cultural heritage on your land
• Identifying cultural sites and artefacts
• What to do if you find artefacts on your property
• Working together for culturally sensitive land management

Where: Baynton Hall, 51 Darlington Road, Baynton VIC

When: Friday 17 October, 10.30am – 1.30pm

Bookings essential:  The workshop is free, but a gold coin donation is appreciated.  All are welcome, but booking is essential by texting Clare on 0423294430 with full names of attendees, telephone numbers, dietary constraints and the district you live in.  Bookings will be confirmed or you will be placed on a waiting list.  Please do not attend unless you have a confirmed booking.

Seed Collection Workshop with Seeding Victoria

Posted on 2 October, 2025 by Hadley Cole

Seeding Victoria is a community not-for-profit working hard to provide provenance based seed supply for revegetation projects throughout Central, South West and North West Victoria. The work of Seeding Victoria is crucial to the implementation of successful restoration.

In partnership with Natural Resource Conservation Trust, Cassinia Environmental and Connecting Country, Seeding Vic. presents a Seed Collection Workshop on Saturday 18th October 2025 in Castlemaine. 

This workshop offers local community members the opportunity to take direct action to increase flora populations across the region through the development of seed collection skills and local flora identification. Through the collection of seed and growing of indigenous plant species, particularly those that are rare, we can increase genetic diversity and population of local indigenous flora, creating resilient ecosystems and seed banks for our future.

The day will involve;

• The nuts and bolts to seed collecting: You will learn species identification, what permits you need to obtain for collecting seed, OH&S, collection techniques, extraction and storage.

• Field Trip: We will have a look at the OH&S components of seed collecting, observing what’s flowering and what will be ready to collect in the coming months.

• There will be an opportunity to order seed-collecting equipment on the day.

• Learn about how the Natural Resource Conservation Trust Seed Bank Revolving Fund works and how to obtain a discount for seed-collecting equipment.
• Introduction to the BushBank Program: How to get involved in collecting seed for the $30M Government program and access funding to undertake biodiversity planting on your property.

When: Saturday 18 October 2025, 9.30am – 3.30pm

Where: Castlemaine Botanical Gardens Tea Rooms, Downes Rd. Castlemaine

Cost: $30.

For more information and bookings – click here

This workshop is funded by Cassinia Environmental, Natural Resources Conservation Trust and the Victorian Government BushBank program.

Bird of the Month: Australian White Ibis

Posted on 24 September, 2025 by Lori

Written by Damian Kelly and Jane Rusden 

You may have heard of the “Bin Chicken”? Otherwise known as the Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis moluccus), a much more sedate and maybe slightly boring name compared to the descriptive and very Aussie title of Bin Chicken! A larger white bodied bird with a black head, neck, bill, tail and legs, that is in fact quite handsome … except when it’s been foraging in a rubbish tip and looking very dirty and disheveled. Oh well, I guess they scrub up well after a rinse in the rain.

Australian White Ibis at Lake Johanna in the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens.

A widespread species, this Ibis is common across much of eastern and northern Australia, and more recently around Perth. It has proven to be a very adaptable species and as its natural breeding areas have been reduced, it has simply moved into the cities. Here it has adapted to local parks and waterways as well as rubbish dumps. In addition, it has learnt to exploit rubbish bins – hence the name sometimes used of “Bin chicken”.

In the Mount Alexander Shire, the White Ibis can be regularly found in the Botanic Gardens in Castlemaine where we spotted one recently, as well as along waterways foraging for terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates. As a nomadic bird it will move around reacting to floods, dry years and associated food availability. As recently as 1998 the Macquarie Marshes in NSW had up to 11,000 nests recorded. However, White Ibis no longer breed there due to a reduction in habitat and drought and have instead irrupted in many cities and towns around the country.

Unlike closely related species such as the Straw-necked Ibis and Spoonbills, which are not common near human habitation, the White Ibis have adapted to living in close proximity to humans as well as changing their diet to include refuse. This has allowed them to thrive in urban areas and interestingly, like the Corella discussed in a previous Bird of the Month article, human intervention was probably involved. The Taronga Park Zoo in Sydney established free flying flocks in the early 1970s. Similar flocks were established at the Healesville Sanctuary in Victoria, Tidbinbilla in the ACT and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary in Queensland. These birds were habituated to humans at these sites and often began breeding there, unlike wild populations that were breeding elsewhere. And the rest is history. Attempts to move them on from Healesville to Sale in Gippsland failed as the birds promptly returned to their old home.

Australian White Ibis nesting at Altona (Damian Kelly)

Breeding usually occurs in spring, but can vary depending on water levels. Nests are a platform of sticks usually near water and often in company with other species such as herons, spoonbills and cormorants. Two to three eggs are laid.

Although some people are not impressed by their behaviour, the White Ibis is on the coat of arms of the City of Griffith (where wild populations are common) and Hunter’s Hill in Sydney which is more likely to have bin chickens. Some of the refuse foraging habits of the White Ibis are a bit grim, but the upside of this species being so comfortable in urban areas, is their foraging method of probing the ground looking for invertebrates, which in turn aerates and improves soil health in our parks, gardens and sports ovals. They are also known as a friend to farmers when large flocks turn up to feast on infestations of pest insects.

The black head feathers and bill of a White Ibis, including a feather on its bill tip from preening. Photo by Jane Rusden

Bird of the Month is a partnership between Connecting Country and BirdLife Castlemaine District. Each month we take a close look at one special local bird species. We are blessed to have the brilliant Jane Rusden and Damian Kelly from BirdLife Castlemaine District writing these! We’re excited to join forces to deliver you a different bird each month, seasonally adjusted, and welcome suggestions from the community.

Community Fire Forum – Inglewood

Posted on 10 September, 2025 by Lori

Just up the road in Inglewood, the Mt Korong Eco-Watch (MKEW) are being supported by Loddon Plains Landcare Network to host a Community Fire Forum this Saturday 13 September 2025.  It is sure to be a great opportunity to contribute to this rarely discussed topic with many knowledgeable and experienced panelists.

Mt Korong Eco-Watch (MKEW) have been conducting a series of conversations among private landholders and others over a 10-month period about ecological practices of fire. This forum will bring these conversations to a focus and with a wider group of participants. The aim is to explore the potential for establishing a sustainable process for sharing fire experiences with each other, learning together and offering guidance to others.

Contributors to the forum include Paul Foreman (Blue Devil Consulting/Biolinks Alliance), Terri Williams (landholder and teacher Bendigo TAFE), Oli Moraes (DJAARA), Peter Morison (formerly Trust for Nature), Karen Tymms (Trust for Nature), Dale Tonkinson (Biodiversity Officer CFA) and others.

When: Saturday 13 September 9am-5pm

Where: The Goodshed, 28 Station Street, Inglewood

Bookings:  Essential.  Contact Mount Korong Eco-Watch Secretary, Sally Gardner.  Phone 0405 578 968 or email sally.gardner@deakin.edu.au

Spring into BushBank: Cassinia Environmental showcases restoration projects across Victoria

Posted on 10 September, 2025 by Lori

All over Victoria, nature restoration projects are underway on private land as part of the State Government’s BushBank Program.

The Victorian Government’s $77 million BushBank program provides a unique opportunity for private landowners to play a meaningful role in addressing climate change and supporting wildlife, leaving a legacy for generations to come. Delivered by Cassinia Environmental, the BushBank Private Land Stream supports private landowners to undertake restoration projects. Restored sites are permanently protected by Trust for Nature with conservation covenants.

BushBank is the most ambitious restoration program in Victoria’s history and its delivery will continue until 2035. Expressions of interest are open to landowners with a minimum 20 hectares available for restoration.

To learn more about the program, key delivery partner, Cassinia Environmental, is inviting community members, conservationists and landowners to find out more by taking part in its spring BushBank events. Designed to showcase restoration success stories and inform curious landowners, these events offer the opportunity to see unique revegetation models in action.

Across 53 projects, the BushBank Private Land Stream has secured 8,699 hectares towards the ambitious 20,000 hectare goal. To date, 4,800 hectares have already been restored. The program is creating long-term conservation outcomes and offers new opportunities for landowners through revegetation, covenants and access to carbon markets.

Spring BushBank events include:

BushBank 101: Landowners Discovery Webinar
Thursday, October 2nd, 7pm – 8pm
An online session hosted by Cassinia Environmental to introduce BushBank, conservation covenants and potential restoration opportunities, ideal for landowners curious about what the program involves and how to get started.

Project Platypus Field Day in Ledcourt
Saturday, October 4th, 10am – 12pm
Hosted by Project Platypus, this event offers a BushBank site tour and discussion of local revegetation efforts in the Wimmera region, showcasing BushBank’s collaborative restoration in action.

Walk & Talk: BushBank Restoration in Action
These on-site events provide a unique opportunity to visit a BushBank site and participate in a guided revegetation walk, Q&A and short presentations from delivery partners and landowners. Each property offers a unique landscape, backstory and revegetation process, giving attendees a firsthand look at successful restoration creating biodiversity and carbon benefits.

Walk & Talk Peronne
Thursday October 16th, 10am – 12pm
Explore this unique conservation site where large-scale restoration is underway with support from Land Life and Greening Australia. Attendees will see revegetation tailored to support the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo and other native fauna, and hear from contractors and seed collectors about the site’s transformation.

Walk & Talk Bonnie Doon
Saturday October 25th, 10am – 12pm
Meet landowner Lachlan Cook, whose 37 hectare property is a model for carbon and biodiversity restoration. Hear about his experience registering a carbon project and walk through steep, formerly grazed hills now regenerating with native species like Yellow Box and White Box. Plantings have been tailored across three ecological vegetation classes with a mix of direct seeding and seedlings.

Walk & Talk Lindenow South
Friday October 31st, 10am – 12pm
Tour a self-managed BushBank site restored by a bold landowner who has overcome challenging soil conditions and degraded pasture to establish thriving revegetation. Visitors will explore interesting direct seeding and planting techniques and hear practical insights into soil management, local flora and long term site care.

To learn more or to participate in the free “Spring into BushBank” events, visit www.cassinia.com/bushbank.

Taking Root and Branching Out

Posted on 3 September, 2025 by Lori

To celebrate Landcare Week in August,  Connecting Country teamed up with Barkers Creek Landcare and Wildlife Group (BCLWG) to host a special event titled Taking Root and Branching Out on Wednesday 6 August at Phee Broadway, Castlemaine.  The event centred on the launch of a beautiful audio documentary developed by local, award-winning podcast creator (and member of BCLWG), Kyla Brettle.  It tells the story about the long tail of environmental damage wrought by the colonial gold rush in Central Victoria and the almost 30 year history of a tiny community group (Barkers Creek Landcare and Wildlife Group) striving to make a difference alongside a broader account of social change and the value of land-caring.

Over 150 people came to hear and learn in what has been described by some attendees as a more unusual, but extremely engaging and centering, experience where the focus was to ‘listen in’ without the overstimulation of heavy visuals.  The podcast artfully articulates the journey of both landscape transformation and community learnings alongside music and local voices and you can’t help but be captivated.

Photo: Sharon Fraser and members of the panel (L-R) Cath Jolly, Paul Foreman, Oli Moraes and Brendan Sydes discussing the Reserve.

After the podcast BCLWG provided a delicious sticky supper, a taste of the style of morning teas many Landcare groups strive after the heavy lifting of on-ground working bees. Sharon Fraser, MC for the evening then led a discussion panel about future plans for the Barkers Creek Reserve in Harcourt.  Panel members Cath Jolly (BCLWG Secretary), Paul Foreman, ecologist with Biolinks Alliance, Oli Moraes, Galk-galk Dhelkunya Project Manager with DJAARA and Connecting Country President, Brendan Sydes emphasised the importance of engaging with partners and ‘experts’ to make a significant impact to our damaged countryside and the ongoing need for significant funding to achieve this ambition.

It was a heart-warming event and a big thanks go out to the Barkers Creek crew for creating this special evening in the center of Landcare Week as a celebration of what Landcare can achieve, but also what we can aspire to.  If you missed it, a link to the podcast is available here and Kyla has written a reflection on the event on her Endgame Substack page.

This special event was hosted by Barkers Creek Landcare and Wildlife Group and Connecting Country with funding and support from The Victorian Landcare Program, North Central Catchment Management Authority, Ian and Shirley Norman Foundation, Mount Alexander Shire Council, The Little Red Apple, Biolinks Alliance and The Good Opp Shop.

Friends of Box Ironbark Forest AGM with ‘Living with Wildlife’ presentation by Tanya Loos

Posted on 3 September, 2025 by Lori

Do you have you have a bird attacking a window, a possum in the roof, phascogales harassing your chickens, or a visiting venomous snake in the backyard?  Or just want to learn more about local wildlife and how to live with them.  Get along to the Friends of Box Ironbark Forests AGM and hear from popular and entertaining local presenter, Tanya Loos.

 Tanya lives in central Victoria and is passionate about wildlife and nature! She has worked as a Woodland Bird Project Coordinator for Connecting Country and Biodiversity Projects Officer for Macedon Ranges City Council – and at present she is Avian Influenza Response Coordinator at BirdLife Australia.

Tanya loves sharing nature knowledge about how to live more harmoniously with the animals that live where we live – and how our homes and backyards can be safe havens in a time of climate breakdown.  Tanya believes there are simple steps we can take that are wildlife friendly and make sure your place is a haven.  In her presentations, Tanya loves drawing from ecological science to educate and inspire people to care about wildlife and wildlife habitat.

Tanya will be sharing her passion through an entertaining presentation at the Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forests AGM at 6pm on Monday 8^th September at the Castlemaine Senior Citizens Centre, Mechanics Lane, Castlemaine. This will be followed by a light supper and the opportunity to buy Tanya’s book ‘Living with wildlife’, FOBIFs excellent field guides and a raffle ticket for  gorgeous lithographs of the anticlinal fold, hakea or banksia by local artist Bev Lewis.

When: Monday 8^th September, 6pm

National Tree Day 2025 (take 2) on Campbells Creek

Posted on 25 August, 2025 by Lori

A wonderful morning was spent on djaara country with over 110 volunteers celebrating (a postponed) National Tree Day on Sunday 24 August along the Campbells Creek.

After having to postpone the event from its scheduled date (the last Sunday in July) due to the very wet conditions, the weather gods shone brightly on us and it was all perfect blue, sunny skies.  Kangaroos grazed in nearby paddocks and the heady smell of early flowering wattles hung in the air as the great swarm of people planted over 3000 plants along both sides of the newly completed shared trail upstream of Princess Street, Campbells Creek.

The site was well prepared and soft for planting following ripping by Council earlier in the season.  The plant list included a great array of largely ground storey plants – Poas, Lomandras, Carex and Stipas – including some threatened species of Dianella and Lomandra.  Silver Banksias, Meleleucas and Bursarias were also in the mix to help build that critical middle-storey habitat so often missing in our local landscape.

A big shout out to Sophie from the Community Bank Maldon and District and Helen from the Victorian National Parks Association for keeping kids busy making nature-themed badges and mini-forests whilst parents planted nearby.  A good BBQ feed provided by Castlemaine Rotary helped refuel the energy needed to help finish planting into the early afternoon.

This event would not have been possible without the wonderful support from local event sponsors The Hub Foundation, Community Bank Maldon & District, Mount Alexander Shire Council.

Bird of the month: The Corvids – Ravens and Crows

Posted on 18 August, 2025 by Lori

Article by Damian Kelly and Jane Rusden

Little Ravens (most likely) at Coliban Waters Castlemaine Water Treatment Plant Bird Hide. (Photo Jane Rusden)

At the brand new bird hide put in by Coliban Water at the treatment plant in Castlemaine *, waterbirds and waders are the obvious focus when bird watching. However, a pair of what I believe are Little Ravens were caught goofing around in a very silly display, quite unlike the often cooler demeanor we usually see in this species. The sighting led us down the Corvid “rabbit hole”.  Reading on, you’ll discover why I have not definitively stated which of our two local species the photos are of.

Although ravens are not always popular with people for various reasons, it is important to acknowledge that they perform an important scavenger role in cleaning up dead wildlife as well as eating a variety of agricultural insect pests as well as seeds. They are omnivorous and feed mostly on the ground. Ravens have adapted to a wide variety of habitats and are common around farms as well as cities, and obviously Water Treatment Plants.

Australia has five species – Australian Raven, Little Raven, Forest Raven, Torresian Crow and Little Crow.  To quote the Handbook of Australian and New Zealand Birds (HANZAB): “All Australian Corvus are very difficult to distinguish and great care is needed to identify species.” Even the experts can be confused!

Whilst on the face of it all species look similar, in reality it is fairly easy to identify a species based on location – in most areas only one or two species are present. Around the Mount Alexander region we only have two species – Australian Raven and Little Raven and the Little Raven is far more common. Travelling further afield of course can be tricky. And unless you want a bird identification head ache, you don’t want to be in the north coast of NSW where all five can be found.

Locally the Little Raven is the most common and can be seen in large groups out of breeding season. Calls of our two local species are quite different with the Australian Raven tending to be longer and more drawn out than the Little Raven. You are best to listen to the calls on a birding app on your phone to become familiar with each, as trying to describe sounds in words is often not a lot of use.

Working out the age of a bird can be done by checking out the iris of the eye: adults are white with a bluish ring around the pupil, immatures are brown and juveniles blue-grey.  Other indicators sometimes used to aid identification such as the throat hackles or colour at the base of feathers are often not much use in the field.

Pairs of Australian Ravens are generally sedentary and defend their territories all year round whereas Little Ravens move a lot, only defending small territories during breeding season and then joining large mobile flocks after breeding. These movements have been recorded over distance of several hundred kilometres at times, specially with juvenile and immature birds.

Nests are usually an untidy collection of sticks with a softer internal lining high up in large trees. Both parents build the nest and feed the young, but only the female does the incubation. Currently there is a pair either renovating or building a nest high up in the Big Tree in Guildford.

In many Aboriginal language groups, the raven is seen as a trickster or hero. Ravens have been recorded using tools such as sticks to retrieve food such as larvae from logs or dropping items on hard surfaces to crack them open. They also store food in caches for later use and can remember the location for long periods. Hikers’ packs are also fair game as ravens have learned to open small pockets and even sealed bags. Some field zoologists have had to stop nest monitoring surveys of threatened bird species (or at least their route between nests) if an Australian Raven is in the area, as they learn to follow the researchers, find the nests and predate the chicks.

A pair of what we believe are Little Ravens, goofing about … perhaps strengthening their pair bond, at Coliban Waters Castlemaine Water Treatment Plant Bird Hide. (Photo by Jane Rusden)

* Note: to access the birdhide at the Coliban Water Treatment Plant, email communications@coliban.com.au  to sign the access agreement form and apply for a key.

Bird of the Month is a partnership between Connecting Country and BirdLife Castlemaine District. Each month we take a close look at one special local bird species. We are blessed to have the brilliant Jane Rusden and Damian Kelly from BirdLife Castlemaine District writing these! We’re excited to join forces to deliver you a different bird each month, seasonally adjusted, and welcome suggestions from the community.

National Tree Day Community Planting and Nature Celebration

Posted on 14 August, 2025 by Lori

Due to the heavy, but very welcome, rain event on the weekend of National Tree Day in late July, the National Tree Day Community Planting event hosted by Connecting Country in partnership with Friends of Campbells Creek was postponed to a new, and hopefully more sunny, date coming up on Sunday 24 August.

The day offers an opportunity for the community to come together, learn about and take action to restore local biodiversity in the face of climate change.  We have over 3000 grasses, shrubs and trees to go in the ground which will build on the significant habitat corridor along the Campbells Creek.

As well as planting, there will be lots of family friendly nature engagement including ‘mini forest’ creations with Wild Families (part of the Victorian National Parks Association) and nature themed craft activities.

FREE BBQ lunch with Rotary to follow.

Everyone welcome – big and little, old and young!

When:  Sunday 24 August 10am-1:30pm

Where: Campbells Creek trail, upstream from Princess Street bridge, Campbells Creek

Please bring: gardening/leather gloves, hat, and wear sturdy footwear and clothing suitable for the weather.  Gumboots might come in handy!

A bit thank-you to the event sponsors – The Hub Foundation, Community Bank Maldon and District and Mount Alexander Shire Council.

Taking Root and Branching Out

Posted on 24 July, 2025 by Lori

All are invited to this special Landcare Week event, Taking Root and Branching Out hosted by Barkers Creek Landcare and Wildlife Group and Connecting Country at Phee Broadway Theatre on Wednesday 6 August.

Experience an immersive audio documentary by local creative audio producer Kyla Brettle, about the nearly 30-year story of Barkers Creek Wildlife and Landcare Group and the long game to restore health to the natural environments of Central Victoria.

Learn about their new Comprehensive Ecological Repair Plan for the 35 ha bushland reserve in Barkers Creek (Harcourt), and with cutting edge approaches to landscape repair,  developed with local ecologist Paul Foreman from Biolinks Alliance.

Be part of a discussion led by Sharon Fraser, with representatives from Barkers Creek Landcare & Wildlife Group, Connecting Country, DJAARA and Biolinks Alliance, exploring strategies for implementing this project and how we can all help to restore health to the natural landscapes of Mt Alexander Shire.

Enjoy a fabulous Landcare ‘morning tea’, or rather, sticky supper.

When:    Wednesday 6 August 2025 6:30pm -8:30pm

Where:   Phee Broadway Theatre, 212 Barker Street, Castlemaine

Tickets:  $15 adult /$10 concession (children under 12 free).  Bookings here

This special event is hosted by Barkers Creek Landcare and Wildlife Group and Connecting Country with funding and support from Mount Alexander Shire Council, The Victorian Landcare Program, North Central Catchment Management Authority, Ian and Shirley Norman Foundation, Council, The Little Red Apple, Biolinks Alliance and The Good Opp Shop.

Bird of the Month – Weebill

Posted on 22 July, 2025 by Bonnie Humphreys

Weebill ‘shouting’, Photo by Damian Kelly

Written by Damian Kelly and Jane Rusden

In the local Box-Ironbark forest it’s fairly rare to go for a walk without hearing the Weebill. Although seeing it can be tricky, as typically they are in constant motion as they forage in amongst foliage. A give away is their hover, similar species don’t exhibit this behaviour. The best interactions I’ve had with Weebills, is when I’ve been sitting quietly nature journaling in my sketchbook, and a flock moves through the scrub around me. In these instances they can come very close to you and no binoculars are required to get fantastic views of the tiny but sometimes bold bird.

Measuring from bill tip to tail at 80mm and weighing in at just 6 grams, the Weebill is Australia’s smallest bird, but not by far with the Brown Thornbill just 1 gram heavier on average. As its name implies the bill is also very small and and stumpy which makes it easy to distinguish in the field from other Thornbills that invariably have longer, pointy thorn-like bills. It has been placed in a different genus to the other Thornbills.

Weebill foraging in a stunted Box tree, at the Ochre Pits. Photo by Jane Rusden

A glance at the distribution map for the Weebill shows that it is widespread throughout Australia apart from some inland deserts and tropical rain forest areas. Detailed banding studies have shown the Weebill is a sedentary species with little local movements. Recoveries of banded birds have shown the 99% were recorded less than 10km form original locations. And surprisingly for such a small bird, some recoveries have been of birds over 7 years old.

Weebill foraging, perhaps for lerp. Photo by Jane Rusden

Food is mostly insects of various kinds, although at times seeds are also taken. Breeding usually occurs August-December, although nesting has been observed at any time of the year when conditions are suitable. Nests are dome-shaped and are built mainly in eucalypt foliage. Clutch size ranges from 2-4 eggs. Both females and males incubate and feed the young.

Calls are quite loud for such a small bird with a whistled song that is quite distinctive and can sound like it’s calling its own name, “Weebill”.

Bird of the Month is a partnership between Connecting Country and BirdLife Castlemaine District. Each month we take a close look at one special local bird species. We are blessed to have the brilliant Jane Rusden and Damian Kelly from BirdLife Castlemaine District writing these! We’re excited to join forces to deliver you a different bird each month, seasonally adjusted, and welcome suggestions from the community.

National Tree Day – POSTPONED TO 24TH AUGUST

Posted on 4 July, 2025 by Lori

POSTPONED TO 24TH AUGUST 2025

Due to inclement weather this event has been postponed for a month to the 24th of August.

National Tree Day was established by Planet Ark in 1996 and is an annual call to action for all Australians to get their hands dirty and give back to the environment.

To celebrate, Connecting Country is partnering with the Friends of Campbells Creek to host a community planting day along the newly completed trail, just upstream from the Princess Street bridge in Campbells Creek.

We will be hoping to plant over 3000 plants which will require many helping hands, big and little!  As well as planting, there will be lots of family friendly nature engagement including ‘mini forest’ creations with Wild Families (part of the Victorian National Parks Association) and nature themed craft activities.

FREE BBQ lunch with Rotary to follow.

When: Sunday 27 July 2025 10:00-1:30pm Sunday August 24th 10.00 -1.30pm

Where: Campbells Creek trail, upstream from Princess Street bridge – see map

Please bring:  Your own drinking water and your favourite planting tools.

Wear: gardening/leather gloves, hat, and wear sturdy footwear and clothing suitable for the weather.  Gumboots might come in handy!

This event offers an opportunity for the Mount Alexander community to come together and take direct on-ground conservation action to restore and enhance our local biodiversity. All welcome!

A bit thank-you to the event sponsors – The Hub Foundation, Community Bank Maldon and District and Mount Alexander Shire Council.

Protecting large, old habitat trees in Metcalfe

Posted on 27 June, 2025 by Bonnie Humphreys

Sarah lives on her family’s farm in Metcalfe. The 30 hectare property has been managed for sheep grazing for many years. While sheep are still agisted within the property, Sarah has her eye on habitat creation and the restoration of indigenous flora across the property – ‘We’ve been adding to the remnant and revegetated areas every year and are already seeing a big increase in birds.’ Saray says.

Sarah’s property has an ephemeral (seasonal) creek line, grassy paddocks, and scattered large old Eucalypt trees, mainly Yellow Box (Eucalyptus melliodora), River Red-gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), Long-leaf Box (Eucalyptus goniocalyx) and some Manna Gum (Eucalyptus viminalis). Sarah loves these large old trees ‘These giant old trees are so precious, it’s so good to see them fenced off and protected from hard hooves and nutrient overload, and to see the understory we have planted start to grow up underneath which will soon be full of birds’.

Connecting Country has been very lucky to secure support from the Ian Shirly Norman Foundation in partnership with the Victorian Government NatureFund to run a program over the past 2 years to protect large old Eucalyptus trees within farmland in the Mount Alexander Shire, and to provide succession for the next generation of these to mature.  These large old trees are scarce in our landscape, largely due to historic gold-mining, timber harvesting and clearing for agriculture.  These trees are so critical for habitat for a range of animal species, particularly threatened species such as the Brush-tailed Phascogale that relies on tree hollows for nesting.

Some key actions within the project included;

• Fencing to exclude stock. Stock increase nutrient loads around trees, as well as introducing weeds and compacting the soil.
• Retaining fallen limbs and leaf litter. These provide homes for insects, foraging resources for small animals and birds, and protection for the soil.
• Planting of understorey species around the trees. This helps provide resources and habitat for animals, who in turn, help manage pests. These plants also provide some direct protection for these large trees.
• Installation of nest boxes.  Phascogale nestboxes were installed throughout the property support the threatened species to breed and move through the landscape.
• Providing stock proof guards to protect strategic recruitment of trees within paddocks.
• Controlling pests such as weeds and rabbits
  

With funding from our project partners, Connecting Country was able to support Sarah to be a step closer to achieving her goals and vision for the property. In June last year she held a planting day. ‘We had around thirty people come and help plant the trees and had a bush dance the evening inviting everyone in Metcalfe.  It was so much fun and people are excited to come back next year, see how far the trees have come and plant lots more’.

The plants are off to a great start, especially given the extended dry we have been having and are already popping out of the guards.  ‘I can’t think of many better feelings than watching a fairly barren, grazed landscape come back to life, shoot up and begin bursting with biodiversity again’.

Connecting Country is very proud to be able to support properties like Sarah’s and to work with such an enthusiastic and committed community.  We acknowledge and are very grateful to the Ian and Shirley Norman Foundation and the Victorian Government (through the Nature Fund) for supporting this valuable work.

Staff changes at Connecting Country

Posted on 19 June, 2025 by Bonnie Humphreys

Connecting Country has sadly said goodbye to some fantastic colleagues over recent months – Anna Senior and Hadley Cole.

Anna Senior

Anna joined the Connecting Country crew in 2022 and immediately became a very valuable asset to the team.

With a doctorate in terrestrial ecology, she shared her passion for the conservation of lesser-known species, particularly reptiles.  She never shied away from getting involved in the diverse range of things Connecting Country does.  She began in an organsiational support role but quickly took on additional projects such as planting out and monitoring climate future plots, engaging in schools education programs, developing community education resources and running events.   In late 2023, she took over Connecting Country Monitoring Program running seamless concurrent bird monitoring and nest box monitoring programs.

With a new found passion for birds, she jumped at the chance to help coordinate the inaugural Feathery Festival in 2024 to sell-out crowds and most recently ran a Rainbow Bird Walk with Castlemaine Pride with great success.

Anna brought valuable knowledge of ecology, data analysis and technological skills along with her ability to be flexible and help out wherever is needed.

We wish Anna all the best at her new role as the Threatened Mallee Bird Coordinator at BirdLife Australia and are happy to know that she won’t be gone for good from our community, as she is still keen to help out on the occasional event and with some volunteer monitoring.

Hadley Cole

Hadley resigned from the Mount Alexander Region Landcare Facilitator role in May to set off on a wonderful adventure around Australia with her young family.

Hadley held the role for only four years, but was able to achieve a lot, even during the challenging COVID years and developed good relationships with the many environmental groups and stakeholders in our region.  She fostered and helped with the delivery of a range of projects to build capacity of Landcare, increase knowledge, raise awareness of environmental concerns and connect people with nature.  This included pollinator education and plantings, seed collection and propagation activities, field days, numerous Landcare link-ups and National Tree Day plantings.

With her calm and democratic nature, Hadley helped many a group through challenges including the challenging new income tax laws impacting on non-profit groups and changes in leadership.

A big passion of Hadleys was to bring the aspirations of Landcare and Traditional Owners together in healing country.   She fostered relationships between Landcare, DJAARA and Nalderun through activities such as cultural competency training for Landcare and and walks on country with DJAARA and we hope to continue this legacy.

Hadley was sent off at a lovely lunch in late May, surrounded by a big representation from our local Landcare community highlighting the appreciations and connections she made in the role.  Best wishes Hadley.

Bird of the Month: Brown Quail

Posted on 19 June, 2025 by Bonnie Humphreys

Written by Damian Kelly and Jane Rusden

Brown quail is an elusive bird that prefers to skulk rather than fly, but with patience they can be found in their preferred habitat. This species is best summed up as widespread but cryptic. They are actually fairly common around Castlemaine but are not often observed. Preferred habitat includes moister areas along water courses and swampy areas where there is good ground cover with taller grasses. They will venture into woodland but prefer areas with grassy tussocks. They can also be found in cultivated fields such as grain areas feeding on spilled grain and even in potato crops.

Photo by Damian Kelly

They are active during the day and usually move about in small groups on the ground. However their streaked brown colouration blends in with the terrain and they are hard to spot. If surprised they will fly up with a whirring of wings but land quickly in the nearest dense vegetation patch.

 Within Australia, Brown Quail can be found right across northern and eastern Australia, south-west Western Australia, Tasmania and some Bass Strait Islands.  They are absent from the very dry interior of Australia as they prefer dense grasslands, often on the edges of open forest. Their range also extends north of Australia into Papua-New Guinea and other islands off the northern coast. They have been introduced into New Zealand. 

Little is know of their movements but they tend to be resident in wetter areas, whilst movements vary in drier regions depending on moisture. Bird banding records confirm this. Food includes some insects but the seeds of grasses and herbs are the main items in their diet, generally gleaned from the ground and low foliage.

Nesting occurs on the ground in dense foliage usually in a depression in the soil that is lined with grass and leaves. Clutch sizes recorded have ranged from 4-12 eggs. The female does all the incubating but both parents feed and brood the young away from the nest.

This species can sometimes be found with Stubble or King Quail as they share similar habitat preferences. Brown Quail are also captive bred and kept in aviaries. In this situation they are sometimes known to cross-breed with King Quail and produce young.

Brown Quail in a hurry, photo by Damian Kelly

Bird of the Month is a partnership between Connecting Country and BirdLife Castlemaine District. Each month we take a close look at one special local bird species. We are blessed to have the brilliant Jane Rusden and Damian Kelly from BirdLife Castlemaine District writing these! We’re excited to join forces to deliver you a different bird each month, seasonally adjusted, and welcome suggestions from the community.