Celebration afternoon tea for the bird friends of the region: Sept 29, 2017
Posted on 14 September, 2017 by Tanya Loos
Birds hold a very special place in the hearts of the Mount Alexander Region community. Connecting Country has nearly 200 subscribers to the bird survey eNews, over 16 participating households with long term bird monitoring sites on their property, and a regular band of birdwatchers on our bird walks and outings. Hundreds of bird records have been sent in by our volunteers for addition to our bird survey database. And now it is time to say “thanks!”.
You are all invited to a lush afternoon tea at the Chewton Town Hall on Friday September 29. This event will provide an opportunity to thank you all for your participation in the two year Stewards for Woodland Birds project, and most importantly present the results of the last two years of bird monitoring!
It will also be time an opportunity to talk about the next steps, as we are also moving into a new phase of citizen science bird monitoring. Therefore, I also hope to officially assign one or more local survey sites to those birdwatchers who are interested in being involved. All of the landholders who have existing bird survey sites on their land are also being invited, and it would be great for birdwatching volunteers and landholders to meet face to face. I also want to hear from YOU – what are your needs and interests for our continued bird monitoring program?
Lastly, we will be joined by Fiona Blandford from BirdLife Australia who will talk to us about the possibility of a new BirdLife Branch in the region – tentatively to be known as BirdLife Goldfields! This is a most exciting development and I would love to see some folks put their hand up to possibly be involved.
Friday September 29, Chewton Town Hall 2- 5pm. Please RSVP for this event so I can ensure I have the right amount of delicious treats for you all. For further information call me on 5472 1594 or email tanya@connectingcountry.org.au
Two finches – A Diamond Firetail with two Red-browed Finches, in a bird bath in the Nuggetty area – sent in by Nick Schulz. Thanks Nick!
Ruby gives voice to sapphire – Scarlet Robins in Nature News August 4 2017
Posted on 13 September, 2017 by Tanya Loos
For this month’s Nature News, Connecting Country Landcare Facilitator, Asha Bannon shares her observations of Scarlet Robins in Campbells Creek.
“A flash of wing on a blue sky
A breast of delicate wildfire
The weight of day is carried away
As ruby gives voice to sapphire”
The opening words of Michael Kennedy’s song, “Scarlet Robin” beautifully sum up the joy of this bird. It’s a rare occasion that I’ll go out into the bush in spring without hearing the Scarlet Robin’s gentle “chee-dalee-dalee” call, a crucial part of a Box Ironbark soundscape. The male’s bright red breast can also give them away as they move through the bush, but you may need to look a little closer to spot his more camouflaged girlfriend.
Scarlet Robins are one of many woodland birds that depend on ground-level habitat to feed. Perching on a low branch or piece of fallen timber, they use this vantage point to spot insects on the ground below. They then swoop down to catch their prey, and return to the perch to gobble it up.
Observing these beautiful birds is a highlight of any walk in the bush for me. They are one of those birds that watches you as you watch it, creating a sense of mutual wonder. Both males and females are gorgeous in their own way. They will pair up for the year with their mate, never straying too far, seemingly connected by an invisible string as they move through the trees at eye-level.
I’ve seen Scarlet Robins twice at our place in Campbells Creek, which is just beside a tributary that leads into the creek itself. One was also seen at Connecting Country’s Campbells Creek monitoring site during a bird walk in July this year. This was only the third time a Scarlet Robin has been recorded at the site.
Scarlet Robins and other ground-feeding native birds are becoming more abundant in response to the maturing revegetation that the Friends of Campbells Creek Landcare have planted along the creek. They need good quality habitat to thrive, which is why they are one of Connecting Country’s newest indicator species of environmental health for this region. If you see a Scarlet Robin, you can send through your observation to tanya@connectingcountry.org.au and help build the picture of how this lovely species is doing in the region. For more information, visit http://connectingcountry.org.au/about/projects/securing-woodland-birds/bird-monitoring/
A male Scarlet Robin, by Geoff Park
North Central Chat – September edition
Posted on 13 September, 2017 by Tanya Loos
This month’s North Central Chat is a nice companion to Try Out Landcare month, and features an article by Tess grieves answering the oft-asked question “How can Landcare attract new people, and free up more time for our current, overworked members”?
You can download the September North Central Chat by clicking the following link : North-Central-chat-September-2017.
Out of town events of interest in September 2017
Posted on 6 September, 2017 by Tanya Loos
As the wattles bloom, groups around the region launch into the busy spring period. Don’t forget to check out one or more of the ten “Try Out Landcare Month” activities – click here for details. Other interesting events just out of our area include:
Create a Frog Pond or Turn your Dam into Habitat, Newham Landcare: Friday 8 September 2017
Evening presentation and discussion with Damien Cook, Rakali ecological Consulting. Damien is a recognized expert in wetland, riparian and terrestrial ecology, particularly in the factors affecting the establishment and management of aquatic and wetland plants. A selection of water-loving plant species will be available to purchase on the night. Newham Mechanics Institute. 7pm for 7.30. Supper follows. Click here to view flier. RSVP to Penny Roberts by email or tel. 5427 0795.
Restoring Country: A Field Day on the Patho Plains: Friday 22 September 2017
This year Trust for Nature will join Peter Morison and Jennifer Alden on their beautiful property at Pine Grove, which they are covenanting with Trust for Nature through the Remnant Grassy Ecosystem Project (managed by the NCCMA & funded the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme).
For more information on this great event – download the flier here .
Dr Ken Walker from the Melbourne Museum: 24 September 2017 – 1.30pm
This event is presented by the Ballarat Environment Network as part of their AGM. After the AGM, which includes a presentation, there will be a BowerBird Workshop with Ken. Bowerbird is the database for the Melbourne Museum. Venue: Ballarat South Community Hub, Tuppen Drive, Sebastopol (behind Phoenix College)
RSVP for catering and for workshop by 18th September – secretary.ben@gmail.com
To find out more about BowerBird click here.
8 Sept 2017 – Banksia ecology presentation
Posted on 5 September, 2017 by Connecting Country
The guest speaker at the September meeting of the Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club (CFNC) is Simon Heyes. Simon is currently studying for his Masters in Research at La Trobe on Banksia recruitment. He is looking at why banksias aren’t regenerating, and is also researching the ecology patterns of recruitment for Banksia marginata on the plains.
The presentation is from 7.30pm on Friday 8 September in the Fellowship Room, behind the Uniting Church on Lyttleton St (next door to the Castlemaine Art Gallery). Members and visitors are all welcome, and there is no cost for entry.
To whet your appetite for Simon’s presentation, the following link is to an article written by Ian Lunt in 2014 about Banksia marginata (CLICK HERE). The comments and discussion at the end of the article are also quite interesting.
A European bee visits a fine specimen of Banksia marginata in flower. Pic from Wikimedia Commons.
Local groups and volunteers honoured at the Victorian Landcare Awards 2017
Posted on 4 September, 2017 by Connecting Country
Environmental groups from the Mount Alexander Shire dominated the 2017 Victorian Landcare Awards ceremony at Government House last Friday, the 1st September 2017. Connecting Country was awarded the Landcare Network Award, and the Tarrangower Cactus Control Group was awarded the Fairfax Media Landcare Community Groups Award.
Individuals were also recognised for their voluntary work; Ian Higgins, from Friends of Campbells Creek won the Australian Government Individual Landcarer award, and Ian Grenda was Highly Commended in this category.
Around 350 Landcarers from around the state gathered at Government House, with a jubilant group of 16 from the Mount Alexander region. The Landcare Awards are an opportunity to showcase people and projects that are contributing to sustainable agriculture and the protection of Victoria’s environment.
This year’s awards received significant interest from right across the state, with 85 nominations submitted across the 14 categories. Also nominated from this region were Asha Bannon for the Young Landcarer Award; and Chewton Primary and Winters Flat Primary for the Junior Landcare Team Award.
These awards are a strong testament to the energy and enthusiasm of the Mount Alexander Shire community for our natural environment. Mount Alexander Shire is incredibly fortunate to have such an active network of Landcare groups, schools and individuals working together with passion and a focus on landscape scale restoration. Congratulations to all the nominees and winners at the Landcare Awards this year.
CLICK HERE to read all of the winners’ stories from across the state.
Here are a few shots from the exciting day:
Now is the best time to try out Landcare!
Posted on 31 August, 2017 by Asha
Tanya on a walk with some excited ‘nature detectives’ at the 2017 Camp Out on the Mount
Landcare Week is coming up next week: September 4th – 10th 2017. It’s the perfect time to get outside, get your hands dirty, and connect with other community members. We have over 30 groups in the Mount Alexander region alone, so it’s easy to find an event or working bee that’s near you and suits your interests.
Landcare and Friends groups are always looking for extra hands to help and are keen to share their knowledge of our beautiful local plants and animals. During September, there are more than eleven events being run by Landcare groups, including nature walks to learn from experts and soak up the bush, and working bees to develop some hands-on skills and help improve habitat for native species.
CLICK HERE to visit our page with information about all of the Landcare events happening in the Mount Alexander region in September 2017.
Wetland Ecology and Training Courses: October 2017 – March 2018
Posted on 31 August, 2017 by Connecting Country
Registrations are now open for Rakali’s popular wetland courses commencing October 2017 through to March 2018. The courses are presented by SERA 2016 award winning ecologist Damien Cook and Elaine Bayes. Don’t hold off as the NEW courses may be a once off depending on level of attendance and it’s the last time the Wetland Plant ID will be held in the North Central region of Victoria. Click on the following headings to find out more:
NEW: THE WONDERFUL WETLAND ECOLOGY BUS TOUR, 12 & 13 OCT 2017
Join us on a bus tour through some of northern Victoria’s most ecologically diverse wetlands that will be looking their best because of recent rainfall and flooding. Learn how ecological drivers determine wetland ecology. Dixie Patton, Barapa Traditional Owner will share knowledge on aboriginal uses of these amazing wetlands. Other land managers will meet us along the way.
NEW: WETLAND RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT, 16 & 17 NOV 2017
Learn about wetland restoration and management over 2 days with Damien Cook by visiting ‘Waterways’; a SERA 2016 award-winning wetland restoration project which he was involved in planning and implementing, followed by the 200 hectares of coastal park at the Victorian Desalination Plant, Wonthaggi. Learn more about these projects here.
WETLAND PLANT IDENTIFICATION DAYS, STARTS OCT 2017 – MAR 2018
Learn to identify the most common wetland plants. In order to manage or restore a wetland you first have to thoroughly understand it. Wetland plant species, condition and placement within a wetland can inform you as to what is going on. You can choose 1, 2 or all 3 days – Each day is timed to follow the wetting and drying of the stunning Reedy Lagoon at Gunbower Island or nearby wetlands so each plant guild can be seen in their splendor.
- Day One: Sedges, Grasses and Rushes
- Day 2: Aquatic Plants
- Day 3: Mudflat specialists.
Click here for more information and to REGISTER. Alternatively contact Elaine Bayes at Rakali Consulting 0431 959 085 or email elaine@rakali.com.au. Each course can be done as an individual unit or as a complete package (ask Elaine about discounts).
20 Million Trees Connects Woodland Bird Habitat
Posted on 30 August, 2017 by Asha
The Green Army helped with planting at Baringhup Landcare’s Loddon River site
Four Landcare groups, six sites, and over 6300 plants! Over the past 18 months Baringhup, Harcourt Valley, Sutton Grange, and McKenzie’s Hill Landcare groups have been working hard on a landscape-scale revegetation project funded through the Federal Government’s 20 Million Trees Programme. With the help of community volunteers, the Green Army team, and local contractors, the Landcare groups have revegetated private and public land across the region creating and connecting important habitat for our threatened woodland birds.
The photopoints below are taken from the same location at one of Baringhup Landcare’s 20 Million Trees sites along the Loddon River. The first was taken before planting in 2016, the second after planting in 2017. As you can see in the second photo, the revegetated plants are thriving at this site! Birds in abundance were already enjoying the new habitat on the sunny day it was taken.
JUNE 2016 – Baringhup Landcare’s Loddon River site
Planting along Baringhup Landcare’s Loddon River site (photo by Asha Bannon)
Well done to all the Landcare groups involved in this project and this amazing achievement.
This project was supported by the 20 Million Trees Programme, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme.
31 August 2017 – The Genius of Birds
Posted on 24 August, 2017 by Connecting Country
On Thursday 31 August 2017, the Castlemaine Library is hosting a presentation by American science writer and New York Times bestseller Jennifer Ackerman. Jennifer will talk about her latest book, The Genius of Birds, which explores the latest international scientific research on our feathered friends. Once you have seen Jennifer’s presentation, no doubt you will consider ‘bird brain’ to be phrase used as a great compliment!
The presentation commences at 5.30pm. Entry is free, but bookings are required (click here for link to the booking website). The library has let us know that there are a small number of openings still available.
Jennifer Ackerman has been writing about science, nature, and health for more than 25 years. Her work aims to explain and interpret science for a lay audience and to explore the riddle of humanity’s place in the natural world, blending scientific knowledge with imaginative vision. She has won numerous awards and fellowships. There is further information about Jennifer on her website (click here).
Local wildlife sound recordist Andrew Skeoch is a huge advocate for Jennifer’s book and the research that she has compiled. CC staff member Chris is reading it at the moment – and is also fascinated by the findings.
New Map of Wheel Cactus in Victoria
Posted on 22 August, 2017 by Asha
The Tarrangower Cactus Control Group (TCCG) has recently completed a project aimed at increasing awareness and knowledge about the noxious weed Wheel Cactus (Opuntia robusta), funded by Wettenhall Environment Trust. One of the valuable outcomes from this project is the construction a new map showing the distribution of Wheel Cactus infestations in Victoria. 
Our well-known former Landcare Facilitator, Max Schlachter, was employed as project officer by TCCG and has collated 345 recorded sites of Wheel Cactus within our state. These sites covered 105 different localities around Victoria, mostly in a band from the northwest to Melbourne, but including some surprising outliers elsewhere. The majority of the sites (69%) were new records, and the rest were existing records taken from current government maps, such as the Victorian Biodiversity Atlas.
Some alarming conclusions from this mapping exercise were that within some of these localities, for example ‘Maldon’, there are too many infestations to record, plus there are very likely many infestations that were not able to be captured. The information gathered through this project will help communities and land managers better understand how Wheel Cactus spreads and how best to manage it.
If you want to know more about Wheel Cactus and how to control it, you can go along to TCCG’s next Community Field Day on Sunday 27th August, CLICK HERE for more details.
Tarrangower Cactus Warriors August 2017 Field Day
Posted on 22 August, 2017 by Connecting Country
Tony Kane from the Tarrengower Cactus Control Group has let us know that their next Community Field Day will be held on Sunday 27th August, starting at 10:30am. They’ll be meeting at a property on Tarrengower School Road, south of South Parkins Reef Road to inject an infestation of Wheel Cactus. From Maldon the way will be signposted from Parkins Reef Road. Tony notes that ‘our events are family friendly, but we ask that all children be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.’
Further information is provided in the attached flyer (click here).
29 August 2017 – Fire Management Consultations
Posted on 22 August, 2017 by Connecting Country
Staff from Forest Fire Management Victoria are holding ‘open house’ sessions in our region over the coming days. Details about the purpose of the sessions are provided in the flyer below.
The session closest to our region is in Castlemaine, as follows:
- Castlemaine Tuesday 29 August 4pm to 7pm, Ray Bradfield Room,
Forest St, Castlemaine 3450 (located between the IGA car-park and Victory Park in the centre of town)
Connecting Country’s “gonna be in a movie”!
Posted on 21 August, 2017 by Tanya Loos
On Monday, 14 August 2017, we were thrilled to spend a day with Chris and Michael, two members of the Wild Melbourne team, as they shot footage for a video about Connecting Country. Just five organisations from around Victoria were selected to be featured in their “Community Conservationists” series. As Wild Melbourne says:
“We’ll be telling the stories of five different community groups that are working hard to contribute to the conservation of Victoria’s plants, animals and ecosystems. We’ll film a short video that tells your story authentically, and highlights and celebrates what you have achieved for conservation in your area”
The Wild Melbourne team were particularly interested in the story of woodland bird conservation – both from the perspective of Connecting Country, and participating landholders. Their questions were thoughtful and considered, and obviously aimed at attracting a broad audience to the benefits and advantages of biodiversity conservation.
Chris from Wild Melbourne films Bonnie undertaking direct seeding.
Our first stop was in Campbells Creek, at the amazing bushland property of landholders Jane Rusden and Martin Tatton. The Golden Wattles were in full flower and birdsong filled the bushland around us.
Our next stop was to visit and interview Marie Jones, our much loved founder and committee member of Connecting Country. Asha and I were then interviewed next to the stunning Forest Creek which has been revegetated and weeded by Golden Point Landcare.
After the time spent in Chewton, Tanya and the crew went to the property of landholder Cullen Gunn, whose property has been direct seeded by Connecting Country a number of times over the past years.
The team have already filmed Jarrod and Bonnie undertaking direct seeding work, and at the National Tree Day planting with the Friends of Campbells Creek. So we would like to say a huge thanks for everyone for being involved.
Chris and Michael were patient and enjoyable to work with (as we were quite nervous!) and we are really looking forward to seeing the finished film! We hope to have the Connecting Country movie ready for our Annual General meeting in October.
The Community Conservationists filming project has been made possible due to a grant from The Wettenhall Environment Trust.
Cullen is interviewed in front of a row of wattles and other understorey species that are flourishing as a result of a Connecting Country project three years ago.
Arrival of Spring Migrants – Nature News, 1 August, 2017
Posted on 16 August, 2017 by Tanya Loos
For this month’s Nature News, Newstead naturalist and photographer Geoff Park writes about the feathered migrants that are arriving in our region at the moment, and in the coming months. This article was featured in the Midland E xpress on August 1, 2017.
At this time of year the pulse quickens a little in anticipation of the arrival of the first spring migrants.
Over the coming months, an assortment of wonderfully different birds will appear in the box-ironbark country to spend the spring and summer breeding and entertaining us with their musical calls.
Most of these birds will have come from northern Australia, or even further afield, where they have spent the winter – a bit like the ‘grey nomads’ that enjoy warmer climes as they wend their caravans north in increasing numbers each year. Our avian visitors are referred to as spring migrants but in fact many arrive in the dying days of winter.
A Fan-tailed Cuckoo sings his descending trill call. By Geoff Park
The first of the spring migrants are usually the cuckoos, with five species arriving to breed in our district. Most years Horsfield’s Bronze-cuckoo turns up in early August along with Fan-tailed Cuckoo, followed soon after by Shining Bronze-cuckoos and the largest of all, the Pallid Cuckoo. These four are common and easily distinguished by their calls which are often uttered from a prominent vantage point. Black-eared Cuckoos are generally last to appear at the end of the month, in much smaller numbers.
All of these cuckoos are brood parasites, that is, they lay their eggs in the nests of unwitting hosts, such as thornbills, wrens and honeyeaters, which then raise the young cuckoos as their own. While the host species ‘fall into the trap’ year after year, they are suspicious and intolerant of adult cuckoos, often mobbing them relentlessly when they appear.
The cuckoos will soon be joined by other northern visitors, such as Sacred Kingfishers, and my absolute favourite the Rainbow Bee-eater – which will feature in my next Nature News article, in November.
I’m often asked about the effects of climate change on birds. There is no doubt that some species are arriving earlier each year in many places in southern Australia, with numerous studies now providing decades of evidence of this phenomenon. Each year I try to record the first sightings of spring migrants and I’d be delighted to hear of local observations for any of the birds mentioned in this article … and for the others that have been overlooked!
For more information contact Geoff Park at Natural Newstead www.geoffpark.wordpress.com
Flora of Castlemaine and surrounds – the online guide is launched!
Posted on 9 August, 2017 by Connecting Country
On 1st August 2017, the online edition of the Wild Plants of the Castlemaine District was formally launched. This comprehensive guide contains details on the identification, locations, preferred habitats and history of hundreds of native and introduced plant species found in Castlemaine and surrounding areas. It can be viewed at the following stand-alone website location – https://www.castlemaineflora.org.au.
In November 2016, local natural historian – Ern Perkins – sadly passed away. Ern’s passion for the understanding the intricacies of natural environment was matched by his passion for sharing his knowledge with others. A few months before his passing, he first launched this compendium of local plant species as a freely available resource via USB memory sticks. Ern had developed this guide based on information that he and others had collected and compiled over more than 40 years. With the support of Ern’s family since his passing, the Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club has worked with a local IT graphics firm to make this guide available as an online resource, allowing it to reach a much wider audience. Financial contributions and other support towards this important project has also been provided by the Friends of the Box Ironbark Forests (FOBIF) and Connecting Country. Each of these organisations will have a link to this flora guide from their websites. A permanent link to it has been established from the Connecting Country website here.
It is intended to be a dynamic website, with updates made over time in response to taxonomic changes, new photographs and new findings. Landholders, Landcarers, students and many other people from the Mount Alexander Shire and beyond will appreciate this valuable and easy-to-use resource.
Saturday 12 August 2017: Sharing Stories around the Fire and The Other Renewables Forum
Posted on 9 August, 2017 by Tanya Loos
This Saturday the 12th August 2017 is a busy day culturally and environmentally for our community! We have the Parkrun cultural morning at the Castlemaine Botanic Gardens previously posted here and we would like to promote two more events.
Sharing Stories around the Fire: a Words in Winter event
Join the Talking Fire group this Saturday 12 August 2017 in Newstead from 4.30-8.30pm to explore stories of fire in our landscape. We’ll visit a spot in the nearby forest, for readings and to listen to the language of the forest. Back at the Arts Hub, with hearty soup in hand, we’ll share our own stories and create some new stories too. Please RSVP so we have enough soup for all! Book via Eventbrite or through Chris on 5476 2457.
This journey through place, story, memory, myth and experience is a special event offered by the Talking Fire group as part of Newstead’s Words in Winter. Bring a story to share.
For more info: CLICK HERE.
The Mount Alexander Sustainability Group (MASG) presents: The Other Renewables Forum
On Saturday the 12th August 2017, 1.30pm – 5.30pm, the Mount Alexander Sustainability Group (MASG) will be presenting ‘The Other Renewables Forum’ at the Castlemaine Town Hall, with a line-up of recognised guests working in both a local and national context in the fields of bioenergy, geothermal, mini-hydro, pumped hydro, thermal solar and soil carbon sequestration.
Speakers:
MC: Mary Blain, MASG
Presenters: Andrew Lang, Alan Pears, David Taylor, Professor Lu Aye, Dr Guillermo Narsilio, David Carre, David Stratton, Deane Belfield, Chris Corr.
Cost: $20 General | $5 Members | Students Free
Bookings: https://otherrenewablesforum.eventbrite.com.au/
For more information:
Email: info@masg.org.au
Ph: 03 5470 6978
Web: http://masg.org.au/events/other-renewables-forum/
12 Aug 2017 – Cultural morning at Castlemaine parkrun
Posted on 8 August, 2017 by Connecting Country
Connecting Country’s blogs have rarely – if ever – addressed sports-related events. However, this weekend’s Castlemaine Parkrun is an exception, as they are holding a special cultural-awareness event, and they are inviting everyone from the local community and beyond to join in.
Parkrun is an not-for-profit organisation that supports volunteers to host free timed 5km events each week at locations throughout the world, to be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities – from walkers to experienced runners, children to retirees, and everyone in between. It is not a race, but a chance for people to improve their health in a local parkland setting with a friendly supportive atmosphere.
There has been a weekly parkrun held in Castlemaine for more than 2 years, early every Saturday morning at the botanic gardens. It starts and finishes just near the BBQ and playground area. Connecting Country’s Co-Director, Chris, is a regular attendee.
As described on their Facebook page, this special parkrun event at Castlemaine will commence on Saturday 12 August at 7:45am and will include both a welcome and a smoking ceremony by representatives from the local aboriginal community. At 8am, the standard 5km event will occur – 3 laps of the botanic gardens at your own pace. (If on leads, dogs are also always allowed on the walk). There will then be cultural activities after the run at 9am, as well as food and drink from the Myrnong Mammas. Attendees are encouraged to get in the spirit of the day by wearing Red/Yellow/Black.
All community members (runners, walkers, onlookers) are invited to what should be a great morning.
As noted above, parkrun is a free event. First time participants are encouraged to register beforehand, but it is not compulsory to do so (more details on the Castlemaine parkrun homepage – click here).
Pint-sized carnivore devours a Grey Fantail
Posted on 7 August, 2017 by Tanya Loos
We love it when Connecting Country landholders send in photographs of interesting flora and fauna observations. In April 2017, Tamsin Byrne sent us an astonishing series of photos of a Yellow-footed Antechinus hunting and eating a Grey Fantail at their bird bath. Tamsin and her family live on a beautiful Trust for Nature property in Sedgwick.
For those new to the Antechinus – they are small carnivorous marsupials related to Brush-tailed Phascogales or Tuan, Eastern Quolls, Tasmanian Devils – comprising a group know as the Dasyurids. Most are nocturnal, but the Yellow-footed Antechinus is actually diurnal, and so observed by landholders and birdwatchers during the day. Geoff Park has taken some wonderful portraits of these endearing mammals on his blog Natural Newstead; CLICK HERE. With their golden colour, round ears, sweet little paws, and confiding nature, the antechinus are very sweet and well-liked by all.
However! Appearances can be deceptive, and they are actually a top level predator! Large arthropods such as centipedes, insects, eggs and nestlings are commonly listed as prey items – but now we must also add adult birds to that list. Tamsin added some great captions to the photographs – please click on each photo with your mouse to go through each photo in the set. Many thanks to Tamsin for this exciting series of photos of nature “red in tooth in claw”!
North Central Chat – August edition
Posted on 7 August, 2017 by Tanya Loos
The North Central Chat August edition is here! Asha’s Landcare event “Meet your Land Manager” features in this month’s edition – and the results of the Landcare Group Health Survey. The August edition is available to download here.
Another highlight in this edition is the 2017 Chicks in the Sticks event, to be held on Walkers Lake in the Avon Plains on Sunday 10 September.
“Are you inspired by opportunity and the stories of others? Keen to meet like-minded women who share a connection to agriculture and the environment? Pull on your gumboots, don your favourite frock and add your own native flora accessory…it’s time for the fifth Chicks in the Sticks event, hosted by North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) in partnership with Project Platypus.”
All the details are in the Chat and here is your link to register: https://2017chicksinthesticks.eventbrite.com.au