Community Carbon – Growing to net zero in Central Victoria

Posted on 21 August, 2023 by Ivan

Our friends and project partners at the North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA) are looking for interested landowners for their Community Carbon project. The project aims to support revegetation efforts restoring critical habitats, connecting fragmented landscapes and addressing biodiversity loss. Please see the details below provided by the NCCMA, including eligibility criteria and how to apply. We think it is an exciting pilot program with potential for great local biodiversity outcomes.

Community Carbon – Growing to net zero in Central Victoria

The North Central CMA, in collaboration with the City of Greater Bendigo, Macedon Ranges, Hepburn, and Mount Alexander Shire Councils, is embarking on a new pilot project within the region.

‘Community Carbon’ is aimed at exploring the feasibility of delivering local revegetation planting to generate carbon offsets while also providing environmental, social, and economic benefits to the local community.  The initiative aims to leverage the carbon offset needs of local councils to support revegetation efforts – restoring critical habitats, connecting fragmented landscapes and addressing biodiversity loss.

Putting the call out to interested landowners

The first stage of this pilot project is to seek expressions of interest from local landholders.  There is a particular focus on sites where the combined planting area is 10 hectares or more, however, smaller sites will still be considered.

Unlike typical revegetation projects, the focus is twofold: using carbon from plantings to offset emissions and to revegetate precious native habitats.  Therefore, to participate landholders must also be willing to transfer the carbon rights from their plantings to the delivery partners.

Click here to see details on the project guidelines and eligibility criteria. 

If you’re interested in playing a part in helping reduce local carbon emissions and enjoying the benefits of increased habitat on your property, apply now.

A fact sheet about the program is available here.

This initial call for EOIs closes on 30 September 2023.

Landowner benefits:

Engaging in large-scale revegetation can be very costly and we understand that many landholders find it difficult to justify the expenses and time commitments involved.

This program will provide financial support to deliver revegetation efforts, allowing you to enjoy a range of benefits, including:

• attracting diverse wildlife,
• improving the aesthetic appearance of your property,
• reducing soil erosion,
• improving soil health, and
• enhancing water quality.

Find out more with our fact sheet

Bird of the month: Nankeen Night-Heron

Posted on 21 August, 2023 by Ivan

Welcome to Bird of the Month, a partnership between Connecting Country and BirdLife Castlemaine District. Each month we’re taking a close look at one special local bird species. We’re excited to join forces to deliver you a different bird each month, seasonally adjusted, and welcome suggestions from the community. We are blessed to have the brilliant Jane Rusden and Damian Kelly from BirdLife Castlemaine District writing about our next bird of the month, accompanied by Damian’s stunning photos.

Nankeen Night-Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus)

After a frustrating afternoon trying and unfortunately failing to photograph Brown Falcons and Nankeen Kestrels on the Moolort Plains, Ash Vigus and I nearly gave up and went home. But at the last minute, just as we were losing light with encroaching dusk, we were thrilled to stumble on an immature Nankeen Night-Heron. Incredibly cryptic, they merge into the background and almost disappear, except in this case because it did a big spray of poop from its tree branch perch, which was very obvious when it hit the water below.

Immature Nankeen Night-Heron at Carin Curran Reservoir. Their plumage is quite different to the adult birds. Photo by Jane Rusden

A large poop has to come from a large bird, at 65cm in length and a wingspan of up to 1 metre, Nankeen Night-Herons are exactly that. Despite their size and the less camouflaged plumage of the adult birds, they remain masters of disguise, melting into foliage and becoming unnoticeable. They love roosting in dense vegetation and mostly forage at night to compound the difficulty of spotting them. When they vocalise, their loud croak or squawk is generally heard at night too. I always find it curious that the Herons, generally incredibly elegant birds, have the most hideous calls. However, they are calling to each other, not for the sake of our ears.

Herons are generally associated with water, the Nankeen Night-Heron is no exception, living, foraging and breeding along the margins of water. They inhabit the edges of lakes, rivers and coastal water bodies, good spots to hide and stealthy hunt for insects, crustaceans, frogs and fish. Their varied diet may also include house mice that wander too close to the Nankeen Night-Herons lethal stabbing bill, or even human refuse. You might be lucky to see one in the early morning, feeding along the edge of shallow water in local places like the Loddon River, Cairn Curran and the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens, they can also be found at Melbourne Botanical Gardens and Lake Wendouree in Ballarat.

Nankeen Night-Heron adult. Photo by Damian Kelly

Everything about the Nankeen Night-Heron is connected to water, including breeding, which can happen at any time of the year, always in response to rainfall. They congregate all over Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea in suitable habitats, to breed in large colonies, often alongside other species of water birds such as Ibises, Cormorants, other egrets and my favorite, Spoonbills. Their stick nests are loosely made and situated over water. In days gone by, before widespread habitat degradation like the draining of swamps, there have been recordings of up to 3000 birds spread over 21 hectares, all breeding. Nankeen Night-Herons will lay 2-3 eggs, which are incubated by both parents, both parents also feed the young hatchings.

The beautiful Nankeen Night-Heron, photo by Damian Kelly

Good luck looking for this secretive species, you’ll need plenty of patience and very sharp eyes to find them, move slowly and try not to startle the wary but beautiful Nankeen Night-Heron.

You can listen to the Nankeen Night-Heron call by using the audio button here.

Jane Rusden
Damian Kelly

2023 National Tree Day: Community planting a huge success!

Posted on 14 August, 2023 by Hadley Cole

To celebrate 2023 National Tree Day, Connecting Country teamed up with Mount Alexander Shire Council, Mount Alexander Youth Advisory Group and the Post Office Hill Action Group to host a community planting day on Sunday 30 July 2023.

Community members had the opportunity to take local on-ground conservation action to protect and enhance biodiversity by planting indigenous plant species across sites at Post Office Hill Reserve in Chewton.

A recent Council survey found that the younger generations of our community are seeking opportunities to plant trees, make homes for wildlife and to undertake practical actions to address climate change. In response to this call for action, the community planting idea was conceived and the younger generations of our community came along in hordes to connect with nature and plant trees for generations to come.

Over seventy community members of all ages attended the event and enjoyed a range of activities from planting to badge making, colouring and bird walks.

Andrew from Post Office Hill Action Group gives young participants a run down on best planting practices. Photo by Connecting Country.

A young community member gets down and dirty with nature. Photo by Connecting Country.

Young Post Office Hill Action group member and budding bird watcher Tavish, teamed up with Jane Rusden from Birdlife Castlemaine to guide a bird walk for aspiring bird watchers. Youth Advisory group members, Thea, Billy, Lucia and Tanisha, set up a badge-making station to create badges promoting woodland birds of our region. The friendly Post Office Hill Action Group members worked enthusiastically to guide participants in the best planting practices for the site. It truly was a team effort!

Bird watchers taking a guided stroll with Tavish and Jane Rusden from Birdlife Castlemaine. 

The Connecting Country team greatly appreciate all the many hands that made light work out of a busy morning. A special thank you to Post Office Hill Action Group for hosting the event and for their commitment to protecting and restoring the Post Office Hill Reserve over many years. We know the plants planted on the day are in good hands and will be nurtured over the coming months.

Attendees reported that they enjoyed a wonderful morning out in nature, as well as the free lunch provided by Mount Alexander Shire Council.

This event was made possible due to the generous contribution from community members who supported our ‘Trees for the next generation’ GiveNow campaign throughout June and July 2023.  We know that our local community cares deeply about biodiversity conservation for future generations, but we were still blown away by the generous donations. A big THANK YOU to our generous members, supporters and the broader community who supported this event.

We look forward to doing it all over again in 2024! See you there.

Connecting Country staff welcome participants to Post Office Hill Reserve. Photo by Connecting Country.

A job well done! 300 indigenous plants find a new home. Photo by Connecting Country.

2023 Landcare Week August 7 – 13

Posted on 9 August, 2023 by Hadley Cole

This week marks 2023’s Landcare week from Monday 7 to Sunday 13 August. The theme for this year is:

Be inspired, be empowered, be a Landcarer

Landcare Week is a time for Landcarers to take a moment to reflect on the incredible work they achieve in protecting, enhancing, restoring and promoting local biodiversity. Without Landcare in our region much of the local natural landscapes would be left forgotten and degraded.

As a local resident of the Mount Alexander/ Leanganook region you may frequent Landcare sites on your regular adventures out into the natural world without even realising it. As you walk the dog along Campbells Creek, ride your bike around Harcourt, go for a run along Forest Creek, enjoy the peacefulness of the Loddon River in Newstead or Guildford, take the kids out adventuring around Maldon, chances are you will regularly come into contact with conservation works that have been lovingly carried out by the many and dedicated Landcare volunteers of our region.

This Landcare Week we encourage you to take a moment and reflect on the many hands that have cared for and continue to care for the lands across our beautiful region.

Being a Landcarer can be extremely hard work, but there are also many rewards. There is the satisfaction of contributing to a healthy landscape, creating habitat for native plants and animals. We also recognise there are benefits from connecting to the land, meeting people, making social connections and learning new skills. New research now shows Landcare can also improve personal wellbeing. To read more about the benefits of being a Landcarer – click here

To discover your local Landcare group head to the Connecting Country website – click here

Or get in touch with our Landcare Facilitator Hadley; hadley@connectingcountry.org.au

To learn more about Landcare in our region and to discover the benefits of working to nurture and protect the local environment please see the Landcare video below.

Newstead Landcare presents ‘Spiders: Leaning to love them’ with Lynne Kelly

Posted on 4 August, 2023 by Hadley Cole

Our friends at Newstead Landcare Group are hosting an interesting presentation – Spiders: Learning to Love Them. Guest speaker Lynne Kelly – researcher, educator, Castlemaine local, and author of ‘Spiders: Learning to love them’ will talk us through her journey from arachnophobia to an obsession for spiders and all the wonderful things she has learnt along the way. Anyone who has been lucky enough to talk spiders with Lynne will know her passion for sharing their secret lives and personalities.

Jumping Spider. Photo by Patrick Kavanagh.

Lynne has authored 19 books, and in the 2022 Australia Day Honours she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for “significant achievement in science education through writing and research”. Her book, ‘Spiders: Learning to love them’ was judged the “Best book in the category of Natural History” in the 2009 Whitley Awards and awarded a Certificate of Commendation by the Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales. To learn more about the book – click here

Join Newstead Landcare Group and friends for a wonderful evening of learning!

When: Tuesday 15 August 2023, at 7:30pm 

Where: Newstead Community Centre, 9 Lyons St, Newstead 

All are welcome, gold coin donations appreciated.

For more information, please email asharuth91@gmail.com or call 0418 428 721.

Australian Mammal of The Year: Vote for your favorite mammal in 2023!

Posted on 1 August, 2023 by Jess

Cosmos Magazine is hosting the annual Australian Mammal of the Year competition – where you can vote for your favorite mammal to become Australia’s mammal of the year 2023!

In the Mount Alexander area, our woodlands, forests, and even our farmlands are teaming with a number of special creatures. Cute short-beaked echidnas forage for ants, the small but mighty, Yellow-footed Antechinus forage for insects and birds. Eastern Grey Kangaroos and Swamp Wallabies hop about with joeys at foot. Above ground, Krefft’s Glider (formerly Sugar Gliders) glide between the trees.

To read an excellent short article on some of the mammals that occur in woodlands across Australia, written by none other than friend and supporter of Connecting Country, Prof. Andrew Bennett, click here.

A Brush-tailed Phascogale. Photo by Geoff Park

Here at Connecting Country, our flagship species for conservation is the Brush-tailed Phascogale. This cute little brushy-tailed carnivore is a threatened species. It has undergone a substantial range contraction and decline in numbers in recent years. Nonetheless, our forests are a ‘stronghold’ for this threatened species, and are important for its future conservation. We’re so proud of the hard work that our community has done to support and monitor this species through time, and we’re proud that our region supports this threatened species.

To vote for the Brush-tailed Phascogale (or, your favourite woodland mammals species) to be the Australian Mammal of the Year: click here!  You can vote as often as you like.

To read more about our current Phascogale project: click here

Reminder: ‘Revegetation Success in a Changing Climate’ event: Tuesday 1 August 2023 (8 tickets remaining)

Posted on 1 August, 2023 by Ivan

Connecting Country is excited to announce a special free upcoming event, ‘Revegetation Success in a Changing Climate’, on the evening of Tuesday 1 August 2023, at the Anglican Church Hall, Castlemaine VIC. The event will address how we plan revegetation in a changing climate and has been designed to support our community, land managers and Landcarers to have greater success in restoring our natural landscapes. We only have eight tickets left, so get in quick to avoid missing out!

The event will feature presentations from Sasha Jellinek (University of Melbourne), DJAARA and the North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA), and a Q&A panel session to finish. 

Join us to learn about how we can plan successful revegetation and restoration projects, using a combination of climate predictions and sourcing seeds from a variety of climatic zones, to future-proof our landscapes.

This event is part of a larger project, called Future Proof our Forests, where Connecting Country has established Climate Future Plots to monitor the success (or otherwise) of revegetation sourced from a variety of climates.

• Click here to book, tickets are limited, so get in quick.

Our very special guest speaker is Sasha Jellinek, an experienced ecologist with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) focused in Ecology from the University of Melbourne. Sasha has worked across many fields and was involved in the production of Greening Australia’s ‘Establishing Victorias Ecological Infrastructure; A Guide to creating Climate Future Plots‘. Sasha is currently a Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne, with skills in ecological resarch, wetlands, forest ecology, data analysis and restoration. He relishes collaborative ecological work, and is passionate about empowering communities to plan revegetation that will be more resilient in a changing climate.

We are also very lucky to have two further presentations from DJAARA and the NCCMA, who will both talk about how they are planning for climate change to ensure the greatest success in landscape management and restoration.

For catering and logistical purposes, please register your attendance – click here

• When: Tuesday 1 AUGUST 2023 6.30-8.30pm
• Where: Anglican Church Hall (at the rear of the Church), 8 Mostyn St, Castlemaine VIC

We would like to thank the Ross Trust for their generous funding for this important project. The Ross Trust is a perpetual charitable trust with a vision to create positive social and environmental change so Victorians can thrive.

Learn more about climate future plots

For more information on climate future plots, see:

• https://www.greeningaustralia.org.au/climate-future-plots/
• https://connectingcountry.org.au/what-is-a-climate-future-plot/

National Tree Day Events Sunday 30 July 2023

Posted on 26 July, 2023 by Hadley Cole

Planet Ark’s National Tree Day is coming up on Sunday 30 July 2023.   National Tree Day is a call to action for all Australians to get their hands dirty and give back to the environment.

With the 2023 planting season well underway, now is a great time to get involved in your your local Landcare group!  To find your closest group – click here

Check in with your local group to see what planting activities they are hosting this season.   As well as celebrating National Tree Day, our local Landcare groups are active all year round.  Getting involved in Landcare is a great way to connect with your local environment and community, as well as providing amazing health and wellbeing benefits for you!

There are a few National Tree Day planting events coming up in July and August July 2023.  Please see details below:

Bird of the month: Painted Button-quail

Posted on 18 July, 2023 by Ivan

Welcome to Bird of the month, a partnership between Connecting Country and BirdLife Castlemaine District. Each month we’re taking a close look at one special local bird species. We’re excited to join forces to deliver you a different bird each month, seasonally adjusted, and welcome suggestions from the community. We are blessed to have the brilliant Jane Rusden and Damian Kelly from BirdLife Castlemaine District writing about our next bird of the month, accompanied by their stunning photos.

Painted Button-quail (Turnix varius)

It’s always exciting to find side plate-sized, circular patches of bare dirt in amongst leaf litter, because in the Castlemaine region it can only mean one thing … quiet, cryptic and difficult to see Painted Button-quail. Recently I found these bare patches in the bush by my front gate, hidden in leaf litter under shrubs. These “platelets” of cleared ground are formed whilst the bird is foraging, by standing on one foot and rotating in a tight circle as they scratch the ground with the other foot. In NSW and Qld Black-breasted Button-quail also make platelets, making both species of Button-quail rather unusual. So what are Painted Button-quails searching the ground for? Their delicious dinner of course, which comprises of insects and their larvae, seeds, small fruits, berries and vegetation. So their diet is pretty broad.

A “platelet” made by Painted Button-quail while foraging. Photo by Jane Rusden

Dry open forest with sparse shrubs, and a ground cover of native grasses and dense leaf litter, in Muckleford Forest for example, is perfect habitat for Painted Button-quail. Being such a camouflaged species which tends to walk from cover to cover, historically it’s been difficult to accurately assess their numbers and distribution. However, using newly developed technology such as sound recording, motion-detecting and thermal camera, cryptic species such as the Painted Button-quail have become easier to monitor. Interestingly they have been found in a diverse range of habitats from dry ridges in moister forest, in coastal sand dunes and even forest edges where it abuts farmland. Curiously, Painted Button-quails will move into a newly burnt area after fire, but once the forest returns, they leave. This has been observed in the Otway Ranges and in Tasmania.

The female Painted Button-quail lays her eggs in a saucer-shaped hollow on the ground beneath some cover such as a tuft of grass, small bush or dry debris. She is Polyandrous and after laying 3-4 eggs and she moves on, makes her booming call day or night, advertising for another male to mate with and lay more eggs. She can do this 3 or 4 times in a breeding season. Dad is the stay-at-home parent, he incubates and feeds the young chicks.

We don’t have sand dunes in central Victoria, but I have seen Painted Button-quail on dry ridges and on the edge of forest in Campbells Creek and in the wider area of Castlemaine, Newstead and Guildford. Last spring I stopped the car quickly, as a Dad escorted his 3 tiny golf ball size fuzzy chicks walking across Rowley Park Road, it was the cutest thing you ever saw.

Painted Button-quail doing what it does best, hiding and camouflaging into leaf litter. Photo by Damian Kelly

To listen to the call of the Painted Button-quail – click here

Jane Rusden
Damian Kelly

2023 National Tree Day community planting – Sunday July 30

Posted on 14 July, 2023 by Hadley Cole

Planet Ark’s National Tree Day is coming up on Sunday 30 July 2023.   National Tree Day is a call to action for all Australians to get their hands dirty and give back to the environment.  To celebrate, Connecting Country is co-hosting a community planting day with Mount Alexander Shire Council and Post Office Hill Action Group with support from Birdlife Castlemaine District and Mount Alexander Youth Advisory Group.

The day offers an opportunity for the Mount Alexander/ Leanganook community to come together and take direct on ground conservation action to restore and enhance local biodiversity.

This event has been made possible due to the generous contribution from community members who supported our ‘Trees for the next generation’ GiveNow campaign through June and July 2023.  We know that our local community cares deeply about biodiversity conservation for future generations, but we were still blown away by the generous donations. A big THANK YOU to our generous members, supporters and the broader community who supported this event.

The day is answering a call from the younger generations of our community who, in a recent Council survey, asked for more opportunities to plant trees, make homes for wildlife and to undertake practical actions to address climate change. We’ve been working with our partners to shape a nature celebration event which caters for all ages including planting indigenous plants to restore habitat and interactive activities to learn about our local landscape.  Thanks particularly to Salina from Mount Alexander Youth Advisory Group (YAG) for putting together the great flyer and to other YAG members for their efforts in shaping this event.

Join us for a wonderful morning out in Post Office Hill Reserve in Chewton.

When: Sunday 30 July 2023, 10am to 12pm 

Where: Railway Street, Chewton (Post Office Hill, Chewton). For google maps location please – click here

What to bring: All ages are welcome, with a supervising adult. Bring water, suitable clothes for cold weather and the desire to regenerate our bushland. We will provide a light lunch following the planting day.

All plants purchased for the planting have been sourced be from local nurseries that specialise in indigenous plants to this region. This is vital to ensure plants are adapted to local conditions, support local wildlife whilst supporting local businesses. Experienced volunteers from Landcare will be supporting the planting, making this an effective and highly efficient project.

The ‘Trees for our next generation’ community planting day is a wonderful example of local organisations and community members coming together to take direct on ground conservation action to build resilient habitats across the region and promote local natural landscapes.

We look forward to seeing you there for the fun!

Photo by Leonia Van Eyk.

Walking Together – towards Makarrata NAIDOC Week

Posted on 11 July, 2023 by Ivan

We’re a little late to publish this informative article from Friends of Nalderun about NAIDOC Week (which ended on 9th July) but it’s definitely still worth a good read. The article was written by Floria Maschek, an ally and member of Friends of Nalderun (FoN). Nalderun is a Dja Dja Wurrung word meaning “all together”. 

NAIDOC Week – For Our Elders

The raven/crow or ‘Waa’ in Dja Dja Wurrung, is an important totem to the Kulin Nation which Djaara are part of. Its call aptly wakes me on the morning I complete this column. Country is telling me to get up. There is work to do! I’m a non-First Nations person but connected now to Djaara Country and with responsibilities to it. Elders past and present are foremost in my consciousness, and I acknowledge their care for community, which is integral to Country. 

NAIDOC Week is celebrated from 2 – 9 July this year. The National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week’s theme this year is – ‘For Our Elders’. 

NAIDOC Week is a time when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people celebrate, recognising their history, culture and achievements. Locally, many First Nations People do so without taking on the same level of burden educating non-First People’s as they do for the recent Reconciliation Week. However, on these unceded lands where safety, truth and culture have so often been denied, NAIDOC Week offers an opportunity for all people to learn about and celebrate the oldest continuous living cultures on earth. 

The substantial history behind NAIDOC Week dates back to the 1920’s and 30’s and should be in our national consciousness, including the determined activism of people like Yorta Yorta Elder William Cooper, and one of the first major civil rights gatherings in the world, the Day of Mourning on Jan 26th 1938. These are among  many historical efforts that led to this week of celebration. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders earn their status, not simply by getting older, but by the relationships nurtured over time. They are recognised by their communities for their wisdom, cultural knowledge, care and service. Being an Elder comes with much responsibility. In turn, Elders should be treated with a high level of respect. The amazing Elders in our community are very busy people and it’s important that we know who they are. 

Locally, many will be increasingly familiar not only with local Elders but also other dedicated and hard working First Nations educators and mentors. Protocols around Elder status are more complex than many are aware and I myself am doing my learning around this. 

We are increasingly aware of First People’s culture and the very considerable efforts of these local leaders that go into celebrating First Nations people, culture and community. Young and proud First Nations People are emerging as leaders, listening and learning from the wisdom of the Elders and mentors. 

This year the National NAIDOC Committee 2023 writes: ‘Across every generation, our Elders have played, and continue to play, an important role and hold a prominent place in our communities and families. They are cultural knowledge holders, trailblazers, nurturers, advocates, teachers, survivors, leaders, hard workers and our loved ones.’ 

For more information about NAIDOC week including its history and events visit

www.naidoc.org.au

To learn about respectfully communicating with Elders visit

www.commonground.org.au/article/guide-for-respectfully-communicating-with-elders 

For further information on Djaara Country and the Dja Dja Wurrung people please visit Djaara

www.djadjawurrung.com.au

Floria Maschek is an ally and member of Friends of Nalderun (FoN). FoN members are guided by Nalderun Education Aboriginal Corporation and are diverse individuals and representatives of many local community networks, supporting Nalderuns visions and work. Nalderun Education Aboriginal Corporation supports the Aboriginal Community and is led by Aboriginal people while providing many learning and cultural opportunities to the broader community. Nalderun is a Dja Dja Wurrung word meaning “all together”. 

More information can be found at www.nalderun.net.au

Looking for landholders: Habitat trees for Phascogales

Posted on 10 July, 2023 by Ivan

Do you have large old trees on your grazing property? Are you in the Mount Alexander region? Do you want to protect your large old trees and increase habitat for local fauna? 

Connecting Country has been successful in securing funding to create habitat ‘stepping stones’ across the landscape with our project ‘habitat trees for Phascogales’. Working with private landholders we will improve habitat connectivity and resilience of local flora and fauna in times of climatic stress.

The Mount Alexander Shire is home to many threatened wildlife species that survive in the fragmented woodlands across our region. Large old trees and the hollows they provide are vital habitat for many of these species. One of the species that relies on large old trees is the Brush-tailed Phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa), also known as the Tuan. This a small, nocturnal, carnivorous marsupial, a little larger than a domestic rat and with a very distinctive bushy tail.

In Victoria, the Brush-tailed Phascogale was once widespread, but now has a fragmented distribution. The Brush-tailed Phascogale is a threatened species listed under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 and considered Vulnerable in Victoria. One of its strongholds is around Central Victoria and the Mount Alexander region.

Phascogale in a Connecting Country nest box. Photo: Jess Lawton

The aim of the project is to protect large old trees across our region, with a particular focus on enhancing habitat for the Brush-tailed Phascogale. We’ll achieve this through practical on-ground actions including; revegetation, stock grazing exclusion around old trees, installation of nestboxes, and strategic weed and pest animal control. We will work with key landholders and focus on a plan for their property and the old trees it contains.

The Habitat Trees for Phascogales project is supported by the Victorian Government through the Nature Fund and the Ian and Shirley Norman Foundation.

A Phascogale in a large old tree. Photo by Geoff Park

Looking for local landholders

We are looking for landholders in the Mount Alexander Shire area who are interested in participating.

Appropriate candidates will have:

• large old trees in grazing land that can be fenced off from stock grazing.
• a willingness to retain fallen limbs, leaf litter and rocky outcrops in these fenced plots.
• a commitment to ongoing low-level maintenance of plantings and of weed and pest animal control.

If your property is suitable for the project, we will:

• Visit your property to identify large old trees and assess their potential for phascogale habitat.
• Develop a written property management plan setting out on-ground actions to protect large old trees and enhance habitat connectivity on your property.
• Provide contractor support and materials for fencing and planting ‘stepping stones’.
• Provide contractor support for weed and rabbit control within the project area.
• Provide suitable indigenous understory plants to help protect large old trees, increase habitat and food plants for fauna including the Brush-tailed Phascogale.

Landholder expressions of interest

If you meet the criteria above and are keen to protect and restore old trees on your land, please complete our expression of interest form – EOI Click Here

Please return your expression of interest form to Connecting Country via email (info@connectingcountry.org.au). Expressions of interest close on 13 August 2023.

To learn more about the Brush-tailed Phascogale, click here

Large old trees, such as this one, often do not have regeneration to succeed them. Photo: Connecting Country

Habitat Trees for Phascogales: a new Connecting Country project

Posted on 10 July, 2023 by Ivan

Our ‘Habitat trees for Phascogales’ project aims to protect existing large old trees on grazing land for the Brush-tailed Phascogale and other native fauna by protecting and enhancing these habitat stepping-stones in the landscape.

We know that much of central Victoria’s native woodland has been heavily disturbed by a long history of mining, clearing, woodcutting, grazing, and changes in fire and water regimes. The local Box-Ironbark landscape provides habitat for many threatened species, including the Brush-tailed Phascogale, but much of the remaining woodland lacks complexity and is missing hollow-bearing trees that are important for foraging and nesting sites and protection from predators.

Tuan in a nestbox at Welshmans Reef. Photo Jess Lawton

Scientific studies demonstrate an alarming acceleration in the decline of most species within this community over recent years, including the Brush-tailed Phascogale which has undergone a substantial range contraction, decline in numbers and experienced localised extinctions in some regions.

The Mount Alexander region is a likely stronghold for the Brush-tailed Phascogale and is important for the species’ future survival (Lawton et al. 2021, Austral Ecology). However, our region’s woodlands are heavily degraded and large old trees with hollows are now scarce and not being replaced.

Our project aims to protect large old trees from early senescence and facilitate natural regeneration. Over time, other key elements of phascogale habitat, such as fallen logs and leaf litter, will return to these areas.

The iconic Phascogale, is rarely seen but rarely forgotten. Photo by Geoff Park

What will this project achieve? 

Connecting Country will be implementing a range of actions and education activities aimed at addressing this habitat loss and increasing the range for this iconic species.

Short-term actions (within 3 years):

• Engage landholders in protecting and restoring phascogale habitat on their properties.
• Fence strategically selected large old trees to protect them from stock grazing, and promote their health and regeneration.
• Plant understorey tube stock plants, and undertake weed and rabbit control within these areas.
• Provide nest boxes as potential nesting sites where necessary.
• Collect scientifically-rigorous data on Brush-tailed Phascogale distribution, that can be used by land managers to inform decision-making.
• Educate our community to raise awareness of the Brush-tailed Phascogale and their habitat needs.

Stay tuned for upcoming events and on-ground actions

For information on how to be involved in the project click here

The Habitat Trees for Phascogales project is supported by the Victorian Government through the Nature Fund as well as the Ian and Shirley Norman Foundation.

We need you! Community planting event: National Tree Day 30 July 2023

Posted on 3 July, 2023 by Ivan

We did it! We raised enough funds for our Community Planting Event to go ahead! We are now inviting our community to a Family Planting Celebration on  National Tree Day on Sunday 30th July 10am – 12noon.

We are partnering with Mount Alexander Shire Council, Post Office Hill Action Group, Mount Alexander Youth Group and Birdlife Castlemaine to deliver the National Tree Day event.   The day is open to all ages and will include planting indigenous plants for habitat and interactive activities to learn about our local landscape including bird spotting, scavenger hunts and kids craft.

The tree planting event is answering a call from the younger generations of our community who, in a recent Council survey, asked for more opportunities to plant trees, make homes for wildlife and to undertake practical actions to address climate change.

A big THANK YOU to our generous members, supporters and the broader community who supported our ‘Trees for the next generation’ campaign to make this happen.

Photo by John Ellis

We need you! 

Now that we have the local indigenous plants ordered and on their way, along with tree guards, we need your help to plant them into the degraded bushland in Chewton VIC. The planting event is open to all ages, and is a chance to take action to address climate change and restore habitat for our wildlife.

Let’s work together to protect and restore our local biodiversity and nurture the land for our future generations!

When: Sunday 30 July, 10am to 12pm 

Where: Railway Street, Chewton VIC (Post Office Hill, Chewton)

What to bring: All ages are welcome, with a supervising adult. Bring water, suitable clothes for cold weather and the desire to regenerate our bushland. We will provide a light lunch following the planting day.

Photo credit: John Ellis

All plants purchased using from our fundraiser have been sourced be from local nurseries that specialise in indigenous plants to this region. This is vital to ensure plants are adapted to local conditions, support local wildlife whilst supporting local businesses. Experienced volunteers from Landcare will be supporting the planting, making this an effective and highly efficient project.

Photo Credit: Leonie van Eyk

The background story: Degraded bushland

The Mount Alexander region of central Victoria has a long history of removing native vegetation for gold mining, agriculture, and timber and firewood harvesting, leading to many areas of degraded bushland, with little understory, or suitable habitat. In Australia, it can take hundreds of years for trees to form natural hollows. Due to the profound environmental change caused by European colonisation and the gold rush, many trees in our region are still young and have little understory or ground cover. Connecting Country has nearly two decades of experience in restoring these landscapes, and will oversee the event, to ensure the maximum benefit for our local wildlife and community.

Much of our bushland has been turned over and lacks understorey species. Photo: Asha Bannon

‘Revegetation Success in a Changing Climate’ event: Tuesday 1 August 2023

Posted on 27 June, 2023 by Ivan

Connecting Country is excited to announce a special free upcoming event, ‘Revegetation Success in a Changing Climate’, on the evening of Tuesday 1 August 2023, at the Anglican Church Hall, Castlemaine VIC. The event will address how we plan revegetation in a changing climate and has been designed to support our community, land managers and Landcarers to have greater success in restoring our natural landscapes. 

The event will feature presentations from Sasha Jellinek (University of Melbourne), DJAARA and the North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA), and a Q&A panel session to finish. 

Join us to learn about how we can plan successful revegetation and restoration projects, using a combination of climate predictions and sourcing seeds from a variety of climatic zones, to future-proof our landscapes.

This event is part of a larger project, called Future Proof our Forests, where Connecting Country has established Climate Future Plots to monitor the success (or otherwise) of revegetation sourced from a variety of climates.

• Click here to book, tickets are limited, so get in quick.

Our very special guest speaker is Sasha Jellinek, an experienced ecologist with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) focused in Ecology from the University of Melbourne. Sasha has worked across many fields and was involved in the production of Greening Australia’s ‘Establishing Victorias Ecological Infrastructure; A Guide to creating Climate Future Plots‘. Sasha is currently a Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne, with skills in ecological resarch, wetlands, forest ecology, data analysis and restoration. He relishes collaborative ecological work, and is passionate about empowering communities to plan revegetation that will be more resilient in a changing climate.

We are also very lucky to have two further presentations from DJAARA and the NCCMA, who will both talk about how they are planning for climate change to ensure the greatest success in landscape management and restoration.

For catering and logistical purposes, please register your attendance – click here

• When: Tuesday 1 AUGUST 2023 6.30-8.30pm
• Where: Anglican Church Hall (at the rear of the Church), 8 Mostyn St, Castlemaine VIC

We would like to thank the Ross Trust for their generous funding for this important project. The Ross Trust is a perpetual charitable trust with a vision to create positive social and environmental change so Victorians can thrive.

Learn more about climate future plots

For more information on climate future plots, see:

• https://www.greeningaustralia.org.au/climate-future-plots/
• https://connectingcountry.org.au/what-is-a-climate-future-plot/

Bird of the month: Diamond Firetail

Posted on 26 June, 2023 by Ivan

Welcome to Bird of the Month, a partnership between Connecting Country and BirdLife Castlemaine District. Each month we’re taking a close look at one special local bird species. We’re excited to join forces to deliver you a different bird each month, seasonally adjusted, and welcome suggestions from the community. We are blessed to have the brilliant Jane Rusden and Damian Kelly from BirdLife Castlemaine District writing about our next bird of the month, accompanied by Damian’s stunning photos.

Diamond Firetail (Stagonopleura guttata)

Connecting Country’s Feathered Five includes the small but striking Diamond Firetail. It is a tricky bird to find, but not impossible.  Their conservation status was unfortunately recently upgraded to Vulnerable under the EPBC Act. It means that over the last 10 years, the population has an estimated decline in the region of 30-50%, with a high probability of declining further in the future. No wonder they are such a hard bird to see.

It’s all in the bright red bill … the shape indicates it’s a finch, and finches eat the seeds of native grasses. The decline of the Diamond Firetail is one result of native vegetation clearance and habitat degradation. Where perennial native grasses manage to persist (despite invasive annual exotic grasses taking over in many places), they struggle to produce the seed the Diamond Firetail needs at critical times of the year, largely because of overgrazing and invasive herbivores such as rabbits. Grazing animals also take out shrubby habitat which these little birds need for protection.  This means our gorgeous Diamond Firetails may go hungry in late autumn and winter and are more vulnerable to predators, such as foxes and cats.

Flock of Diamond Firetails enjoying a lovely bath in a puddle. Photo by Damian Kelly.

The healthy diet for the Dimond Firetail isn’t just native grass seed, they also require some insects, especially for the baby birds still in the nest who are growing rapidly.

Clutch size ranges quite widely, from 3-7 eggs. If conditions allow and food sources are plentiful, a pair of Diamond Firetails may have more than one clutch in a season. The nest is a beautifully constructed bottle shape with a tunnel entrance, or a ball shape with a small hole for an entrance, made from grass and twigs and lined with feathers. They are good little recyclers, because sometimes rubbish such as fishing line, frayed plastic and drinking straws are incorporated into nests. Both parents build the nest, sit on eggs to incubate the chicks, and then feed chicks when they hatch.

Damian recently took this beautiful photo of a Diamond Firetail at Rise and Shine Bushland Reserve. Photo by Damian Kelly.

A bit more on nests – the Diamond Firetail can make some interesting choices in nesting sites. They are a flock bird, getting around in small mobs of 5-30 birds. This extends to nesting, where they often nest in small groups, or colonies, with a number of nests in the same place. That place may be in the base of other much larger birds stick nests, such as White-faced Heron, Square-tailed Kite, Whistling Kite, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Brown Falcon and Kestrel nests. You’ll notice most of those birds are raptors, you’d think it a scary prospect, but White-browed Babblers think it’s a great idea too, and have been known to take over Diamond Firetail nests. Maybe it’s a deterrent to other predators?

Another way it’s thought Diamond Firetails avoid predators is the mechanics of how they drink. Like pigeons, they suck up water instead of dip and sip, then tilt the head back. The theory is it’s much quicker to slurp your water down in big gulps!

To listen to the call of the Diamond Firetail – click here

Jane Rusden
Damian Kelly

Friends, Supporters and Community: Donate a tree for our youth

Posted on 26 June, 2023 by Ivan

With the end of the financial year looming, we are asking our friends, supporters and community to donate a tree for our youth to plant at National Tree Day in July 2023.

We are partnering with local Landcare groups and Mount Alexander Shire Council to deliver a National Tree Day event on Sunday 30 July 2023. The day will be open to everyone to participate and will include planting indigenous plants for habitat and learning more about our local landscape.

The tree planting event is answering a call from the younger generations of our community who, in a recent Council survey, asked for more opportunities to plant trees, make homes for wildlife and to undertake practical actions to address climate change.

We are raising funds to purchase local native plants and host a Community Planting Day to support the Mount Alexander/ Leanganook community – young and wise – to help heal the land.

Photo by John Ellis

How you can help: sponsor a community planting day! 

You can sponsor the day by donating funds to go towards the purchase of the plants, stakes and guards.

If you wish, you can attend the community planting day, get your hands dirty and plant the plants you have sponsored. However, if you can’t attend the event, your contribution will be guaranteed and the community will plant for you!

Let’s work together to protect and restore our local biodiversity and nurture the land for our future generations!

Donate today via our Give Now page – click here

Photo credit: John Ellis

Donating to our ‘Trees for our next generation’ campaign provides excellent value for your investment: 

Photo Credit: Leonie van Eyk

We have a secure payment system and all donations (>$2) to Connecting Country are tax deductible.

Can’t donate? Here are some other ways you can help

• Attend the community tree planting event, and volunteer to revegetate the sponsored plants
• Share our campaign with your friends and networks.
• Retain leaf litter, logs, and trees (especially mature trees) on your property, as these provide foraging and den resources for wildlife
• Consider doing revegetation or installing nestboxes on your property
• Contribute to restoring healthy forests by joining your local Landcare or Friends group. To find a group near you – click here

The background story: Degraded bushland

The Mount Alexander region of central Victoria has a long history of removing native vegetation for gold mining, agriculture, and timber and firewood harvesting, leading to many areas of degraded bushland, with little understory, or suitable habitat. In Australia, it can take hundreds of years for trees to form natural hollows. Due to the profound environmental change caused by European colonisation and the gold rush, many trees in our region are still young and have little understory or ground cover. Connecting Country has nearly two decades of experience in restoring these landscapes, and will oversee the event, to ensure the maximum benefit for our local wildlife and community.

Much of our bushland has been turned over and lacks understorey species. Photo: Asha Bannon

A wintry 2023 Landcare Link-up in Taradale

Posted on 23 June, 2023 by Hadley Cole

Barkly Park Taradale VIC. Photo by Antoinette Birkenbeil.

On Saturday 17 June 2023 we hosted the annual Landcare Link-up in Taradale, Dja Dja Wurrung Country. It was a cold, windy, yet sunny day as we took a walking tour of Taradale Landcare groups project site Barkly Park. Brian Bainbridge from Taradale Landcare walked us through key areas in the park, outlining its interesting history and different vegetation types present across the park. Barkly Park is represented largely by Red Gum Grassy Woodland, and perhaps due to its reservation as public land, many of the red gums have been able to grow into majestic trees, containing many beautiful hollows for local wild life. The Landcare group have recorded Brush Tailed Phascogales using the site,  scurrying along the branches of fallen timber out of the reach of predators.  The group have also enjoyed bird walks and plan to collect data on the bird life at the site over time.  A cool burn is planned for later this year which will focus on restoring an area with existing Kanagaroo Grass and Chocolate Lilies.

Participants reported that they thoroughly enjoyed the tour. We are very grateful to Brian and Colleen and all Taradale Landcare members for taking the time to showcase their work at Barkly Park.  We will watch with interest as they continue to restore and enhance the local biodiversity.

Participants hearing about a hybrid eucalypt at the Barkly Park site. Photo by Hadley Cole.

Following the tour, we found warmth in the charming Taradale Hall where we enjoyed further presentations from Landcare groups of the Mount Alexander/ Leanganook region and enjoyed afternoon tea provided by the Murnong Mamas.

We heard three presentations from local Landcare groups in the region, which varied from an urban group, to a group working on private land and another who works on public land.

Christine Kilmartin from Castlemaine Landcare presented some of the issues urban Landcare groups come up against, including the many and various weeds that infiltrate restoration areas, particularly following floods. Castlemaine Landcare have been working to protect and restore numerous sites along Forest Creek.

Beth Mellick from Muckleford Catchment Landcare spoke of their groups’ Habitat Corridor project which aims to build connectivity across the Muckleford landscape, linking private property with a local bushland reserves.  Much of the land in Muckleford Catchment Landcare groups project sites are largely on private land and the group work with land holders to increase connectivity across the landscape and build habitat resilience. The group have put together a short film showcasing their work. To watch the film – click here.

Marie Jones from Golden Point Landcare shared a positive story of taking the time out to walk through older project sites and notice the differences in restoration that have occurred over time. The work of Landcare groups can be tough; digging holes, planting and seeing only some plants survive, getting out and watering in the hotter months, worrying about the destruction caused by fires, floods or storms. It can be difficult to step back and focus on the achievements and progress made over time and appreciate the positive changes in the landscape groups have accomplished. This was a lovely positive presentation from Marie to finish up the afternoon.

Landcare member Link-up participants. Photo by Lori Arthur.

Thank you to all of the presenters who took the time to share their stories with us. We really enjoy hearing the varied Landcare stories from the region.

Thank you to the North Central Catchment Management Authority for supporting this event.

Last chance to book for the 2023 Landcare Link-up!

Posted on 15 June, 2023 by Hadley Cole

The 2023 Landcare Link-up is on THIS WEEKEND –  Saturday 17 June 2023 from 2.00 pm – 5.00 pm in Taradale. Everyone is welcome! Get in quick to book your place! – click here

As part of Connecting Country’s ongoing support for Landcare groups in the Mount Alexander/ Leanganook region, we coordinate an annual Landcare Link-up to provide groups with an opportunity to get together, learn, share and connect.  It’s also a great opportunity for anyone not yet engaged in Landcare to learn more about what’s involved.

The theme for this years Link-up event is ‘Sharing Stories’ and will be held in Taradale, starting with a gentle walk through Barkly Park followed by afternoon tea at the Taradale Hall.

Taradale Landcare Group are kindly co-hosting the event and will walk us through their Rediscover Barkly Park project.  Barkly Park is public land with hidden conservation values and offers a wonderful space for Landcare activities and for the wider community to connect with nature.

The group has been working hard to promote Barkly Park through educational and engaging walks throughout 2022/23 and a mini celebration festival earlier this year.   They have plans to care for and restore the site for both community and animals to enjoy for years to come.  We will hear from group member, Brian Bainbridge, who will present the plans and processes behind the Rediscover Barkly Park project.   Brian has decades of experience in restoring landscapes and connecting people with nature through various volunteer and paid roles.  It’s sure to be an interesting and engaging event.

Barkly Park, Taradale VIC. Photo by Taradale Landcare.

Following the visit to Barkly Park, we will head over to the Taradale Hall to hear more interesting stories from Landcarers in the region and enjoy a lovely afternoon tea together.

Bookings are essential for catering purposes. To book your place, please -click here

For any inquiries please email: hadley@connectingcountry.org.au or call the Connecting Country office on: 0493 362 394

We thank the North Central Catchment Management Authority for their support of this event.

Donate a tree this EOFY: Seeking your help for National Tree Day

Posted on 13 June, 2023 by Ivan

With the end of the financial year looming, we are asking our friends, supporters and community to donate a tree for our youth to plant at National Tree Day in July 2023.

We are partnering with local Landcare groups and Mount Alexander Shire Council to deliver a National Tree Day event on Sunday 30 July 2023. The day will be open to everyone to participate and will include planting indigenous plants for habitat and learning more about our local landscape.

The tree planting event is answering a call from the younger generations of our community who, in a recent Council survey, asked for more opportunities to plant trees, make homes for wildlife and to undertake practical actions to address climate change.

We are raising funds to purchase local native plants and host a Community Planting Day to support the Mount Alexander/ Leanganook community – young and wise – to help heal the land.

Photo by John Ellis

How you can help: sponsor a community planting day! 

You can sponsor the day by donating funds to go towards the purchase of the plants, stakes and guards.

If you wish, you can attend the community planting day, get your hands dirty and plant the plants you have sponsored. However, if you can’t attend the event, your contribution will be guaranteed and the community will plant for you!

Let’s work together to protect and restore our local biodiversity and nurture the land for our future generations!

Donate today via our Give Now page – click here

Photo credit: John Ellis

Donating to our ‘Trees for our next generation’ campaign provides excellent value for your investment: 

Photo Credit: Leonie van Eyk

We have a secure payment system and all donations (>$2) to Connecting Country are tax deductible.

Can’t donate? Here are some other ways you can help

• Attend the community tree planting event, and volunteer to revegetate the sponsored plants
• Share our campaign with your friends and networks.
• Retain leaf litter, logs, and trees (especially mature trees) on your property, as these provide foraging and den resources for wildlife
• Consider doing revegetation or installing nestboxes on your property
• Contribute to restoring healthy forests by joining your local Landcare or Friends group. To find a group near you – click here

The background story: Degraded bushland

The Mount Alexander region of central Victoria has a long history of removing native vegetation for gold mining, agriculture, and timber and firewood harvesting, leading to many areas of degraded bushland, with little understory, or suitable habitat. In Australia, it can take hundreds of years for trees to form natural hollows. Due to the profound environmental change caused by European colonisation and the gold rush, many trees in our region are still young and have little understory or ground cover. Connecting Country has nearly two decades of experience in restoring these landscapes, and will oversee the event, to ensure the maximum benefit for our local wildlife and community.

Much of our bushland has been turned over and lacks understorey species. Photo: Asha Bannon