Making Connections: A bird’s eye view
Posted on 14 April, 2015 by Tanya Loos
On Friday 27 March 2015, some 30 people gathered together with me (Tanya Loos) and other Connecting Country staff in the Sutton Grange area to explore landscape ecology using the feathered five as our practical examples – these being the five focal species for the Habitat for Bush Birds project; the Jacky Winter, Painted Button-quail, Hooded Robin, Brown Treecreeper and the Diamond Firetail.
Dr Pia Lentini, an ecologist from Melbourne University brought her considerable expertise to the Sutton Grange hall to introduce us to concepts such as landscape connectivity and landscape ecology. Pia also introduced us to some principles of conservation planning – In particular, how do we prioritise our actions? We dipped our toes into this complex field by looking at a case studies and plenty of pictures of woodland birds. Pia concluded with mapped examples of conservation planning work that she has undertaken using the eleven priority woodland bird zones identified for the Habitat for Bush Birds project. Watch this space – as Pia’s research is completed we will let you know more!
After lunch, David Merrick from Tarrleah Drive in Sedgwick shared the story of the revegetation work that has been achieved in his small community over the past fifteen years. As one participant said, David’s talk summarised beautifully “ the community interaction to create the habitat, and the ongoing interaction required to continue the work”. Resident Tamsin Byrne also kindly lent us her photo albums from the Tarrleah Drive revegetation works. We visited Tamsin’s property after lunch for a bird walk.
We were most fortunate to have Shane Carey present on the day to take some photographs. Shane is a photojournalism student at Latrobe University, who is taking photos of Connecting Country and our activities for his university requirements. Thanks Shane!
For more photos, pdfs of the presentations and further reading from the Making Connections workshop, visit the webpage (click here).
Birdwatchers dwarfed by Tamsin Byrne’s incredible Red Box tree.
23 April 2015 – Why music happened; birdsong, music and the evolution of listening
Posted on 10 April, 2015 by Tanya Loos
The Castlemaine Library is set to come alive later this month with the sounds of bird calls, frog choruses and drumbeats. “Why music happened; birdsong, music and the evolution of listening” is a sonic journey presented by Andrew Skeoch.
Andrew will explore how nature – through birdsong, animal calls, insect and frog choruses – uses sound to communicate, survive and adapt, and will discuss how music has evolved in our own species.
Andrew is a bioacoustic researcher, musician and sound recordist. His intriguing conclusions are supported by audio recordings made over 20 years in wild habitats the world over, and will have you appreciating music from an entirely fresh perspective.
This free event is being hosted by the Castlemaine Library – Bookings are essential – please click here or phone the library on 5472 1458.
Light refreshments provided.
Thursday, 23 April 2015 – 6:00pm to 7:30pm
Castlemaine Library
1 May 2015 – North Central Volunteer Recognition Event
Posted on 9 April, 2015 by Connecting Country
If you’re a Landcare or Waterwatch volunteer from the North Central region then you’re invited to a special event to celebrate your achievements.
The volunteer recognition event being run by the North Central Catchment Management Authority on Friday 1st May 2015 will have a range of activities on offer, including:
- Guided tour of a local Landcare and Waterwatch projects
– Discover borth central Victoria’s rare Yarra Gums and Snow Gums.
– Learn about Birch’s Creek and its resident Platypus. - Twilight picnic against the backdrop of Anderson’s Mill at Smeaton.
- Moonlight cinema showcasing short films from the EnvironmentalFilm Festival Melbourne.
When: Friday 1 May 2015
Time: 4.00 pm – Guided tour
5.30 pm – Twilight picnic and moonlight cinema
9.00 pm – Event close
Where: Anderson’s Mill, Creswick-Newstead Road, Smeaton
Cost: FREE. BYO warm clothing, picnic and drinks. BBQ dinner and cheese platters available for purchase.
RSVP: Is essential to the North Central CMA by Wednesday 29 April 2015 via email info@nccma.vic.gov.au or phone 03 5448 7124. Please advise if you are buying dinner and/or cheese platter
Click here to download the official invitation from the North central CMA website.
New Edition of ‘chat’ – March 2015
Posted on 9 April, 2015 by Connecting Country
The March 2015 edition of the North Central CMA publication ‘chat’ is now available and can be viewed by following this link (Click here). Amongst other articles, this edition includes details for a Landcare volunteer recognition event at the end of April, a summary of the Future Farming Expo held in early March, a Wheel Cactus forum and a nice piece about Doug Ralph from Robyn Haylett of the Castlemaine Landcare Group.
The ‘Landcare Trailer’ is back in business
Posted on 9 April, 2015 by Connecting Country
The Landcare trailer has been in a ‘transition phase’ since October last year when the Mount Alexander Shire Council decided that they could no longer house it and Connecting Country said that they would take it on.
And now, like a strangely patterned reptile emerging from hibernation, the trailer is ready to go out into the world again.
It has had a going over by a mechanic; it’s been hosed out; it’s got a shiny new number plate and a new adapter. The only thing still missing is a coat of paint!
The Landcare trailer can be used by Landcare and Friends groups in the Mount Alexander region who would like to use it on a group project. It can also be used by landholders who are undertaking a project that is supported by Connecting Country. In the past the trailer has found most use at planting days where its 400 litre water tank, buckets, mattocks, mallets and other tools come in very handy.
The full list of equipment that the trailer contains can be found on the ‘Landcare Trailer’ page of the Connecting Country website. While you’re there take a look at the other resources that are available for loan to groups such as wildlife cameras, binoculars and bird guides, GPS units, market stall tent and more.
If your group would like to borrow the trailer contact Max at max@connectingcountry.org.au or 5472 1594. Its new home is the Connecting Country depot on Campbell Street, Castlemaine – only a block or two from it’s previous address.
To plant or not to plant – that is the question!
Posted on 8 April, 2015 by Connecting Country
The 2015 Connecting Country Workshop Series has provided an opportunity for members of the local community to learn about broader landscape issues, and how to manage them successfully. First off was the very successful launch with guest speaker Bill Gammage discussing Aboriginal management of the Australian continent. Subsequent workshops have covered how to understand your property in the local and historical context, and also how adjoining landholders can work together to create habitat connections for birds and other animals. The feedback from one resident after the latter workshop was, “Great to build on previous learning, and gain new knowledge, as well as receiving encouragement to keep going!”
The next workshop in the Autumn series is coming up on Sunday 19th April 2015 is intended to expose participants to a range of revegetation and restoration techniques. It will be held on a working farm in Elphinstone where restoration is an ongoing part of managing the property.
The presenters on the day will include Marion Da Costa who will talk about her efforts in restoring her central Victorian property; a local Elphinstone Black Angus beef farm manager; and Jarrod Coote from Connecting Country who will give a demonstration of direct seeding and other options available for revegetation. Jarrod recently commented that, “Being on country with people that have a range of experiences and expertise is a great way learn what options are available to restore natural values across your land.”
To view the full 2015 Workshop Program and register for one of the places that are still available for this workshop, fill out a registration form (click here) or contact Naomi at the Connecting Country office on 03 5472 1594.
Jarrod Coote and local resident Saide Gray giving a planting demonstration on site in Sandon in 2014.
Saving the paddock trees
Posted on 7 April, 2015 by Connecting Country
Successful revegetation at its best.
Arie and Erica Eyles’s stunning property near Kooroocheang contains rich grazing country on a plateau, giving way to a steep escarpment that drops into Joyces Creek. The property has a long history of environmental works including erosion control across the escarpment, remnant vegetation protection, riparian restoration and an impressive amount of revegetation. Some of this revegetation was planted as part of Connecting Country’s Woodland Bird program in 2013 and is yielding impressive results with a nearly 100% success rate which Arie attributes to good site preparation and rainfall at the right time.
Just as impressive are the 400 year old River Red-gums that dot the property. Paddock trees are incredibly valuable – both ecologically and on the farm. In addition to providing shade and shelter for stock, they are important refuges and breeding sites for some local fauna species and provide a crucial ‘stepping stone’ between isolated bush patches for other bush-dependant fauna.
400 year old red gum’s dot the property.
Unfortunately these giants are having trouble establishing the next generation of trees on the Eyles property. With support from Connecting Country, Arie has come up with an ingenious solution – moveable, cattle-proof guards. Made out of stockyard panels, the ‘temporary’ fences involve higher initial costs than some other solutions, but they are certainly effective in protecting vulnerable regenerating saplings from the cattle and they are reuseable. Once the saplings reach a height where they can withstand grazing and rubbing by cattle, the guards can be moved to protect a new set of regenerating saplings. Over the longer term, this recycling of the guards reduces the cost of this solution.
There are other ways to protect large old paddock trees and encourage the next generation of them. Some people place a 44 gal drum around the sapling, secured with a star picket – although you need to remember to remove the drum before the sapling gets too big! Other people build stock-proof fences around remnant paddock trees with a bit of extra room to allow additional trees and shrubs to establish. All of these options will contribute to a healthier environment for the trees, the local fauna and the farm.
Connecting Country congratulates Arie and Erica on their efforts. When asked why he is undertaking all this restoration work, Arie responded that “It’s good for the pasture. It’s good for the animals. It encourages birds, and birds eat pests.” If you would like to find out more about our on-ground works program, click here or contact us on 5472 1594.
Arie’s cattle proof fences protecting regenerating saplings.
For further interesting information on the biodiversity value of large old paddocks trees:
– A useful fact sheet on the importance of paddock trees from Project Platypus is available (click here).
– One of Ian Lunt’s Blog posts – The Candles of Dunkeld (click here) – provides a fascinating insight to the persistence (and slow decline) of these giant trees in a somewhat similar landscape to Arie and Erica’s property.
– By searching in Google for ‘Linda Broadhurst’ and ‘paddock trees’, you will get a plethora of websites to read about research from Linda’s CSIRO team which suggests that the seeds from large old paddock eucalypts are more genetically diverse – and therefore potentially more valuable for revegetation – than seeds from the same tree species in forests and ‘seed’ plantations.
Twitcher Picture – kids, birds and art at the Castlemaine State Festival
Posted on 2 April, 2015 by Tanya Loos
At Connecting Country, most of our education programs involve adults – so we were delighted to be a supporter of local illustrator/author Trace Balla’s recent activities as part of the 2015 Castlemaine State Festival.
For five days, the Castlemaine Art Gallery was buzzing with round 500 local students from grades 2 to 6. Trace Balla ran a local bird poster-making program, facilitating 20 workshops with around 500 students. She showed them pictures from her illustrated book “Rivertime“, which is about a boy and his bird-watching Uncle’s canoe journey on the Glenelg River – which sparked lively conversations about bird identification and bird behaviour. This was followed by a sketching demonstration by Trace.
Next, the students entered the art-making space, surrounded by bird sounds from a CD of recordings made by Andrew Skeoch and Chris Tzaros from the book “Wildlife of the Box Ironbark Country“. The walls were adorned with bird photographs by Geoff Park. Students chose information sheets from Birdlife Australia and photographs from Geoff Park as inspiration to draw their own stunning bird posters with quirky facts.
“I loved inspiring the local kids to get to know more about their local birds . Hopefully this is just the starting point for many of them to develop a lifelong interest in our beautiful neighbours!” said Trace Balla.
Each student received a copy of the Woodland Birds of Central Victoria brochure, donated by Connecting Country.
This was such a successful project that there is talk that the gallery may continue to use the space as a children’s art space rather than a storeroom. And many students have been spotted drawing birds since!
We also send our congratulations to Trace as her book, “Rivertime” has just been shortlisted for the Readings Children’s Book Prize (click here for further details).
10 April 2015 – A Twitching Odyssey
Posted on 1 April, 2015 by Connecting Country
Although they are locally-based, you may not have met Albert and Eleanor Wright around the Mount Alexander region. As often as not, they are traveling Australia and the world in search of the perfect photo – with a particular interest in bird photography. Appropriately, they describe themselves as the Gypsy Twitchers.
The Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club (CFNC) are very excited to have Albert and Eleanor as the guest speakers at their April meeting. All the way from from their latest adventure in India, they have emailed the following information about their upcoming presentation:
“We will be talking about ourselves: “The Gypsy Twitchers”, who we are and what do we do? We will outline our life for the past 7 years as traveling birdo’s, touching on some favourite locations, birds and anecdotes. Included in the presentation will be a selection of bird photographs.”
As a taster, you can also see some of their photos on their website (click here).
This free talk on Friday 10 April 2015 (from 7.30pm) will be held in the Fellowship room; which is in the hall behind the Uniting Church in Lyttleton St, Castlemaine (next door to the Museum / Art Gallery). Visitors are very welcome.
European Wasps – Unwelcome Return Visitors
Posted on 31 March, 2015 by Connecting Country
European Wasps covering a Golden Point pear (copyright John Ellis, 31 March 2015).
Many locals have been reporting large numbers of European Wasps over recent weeks. And we are apparently not alone in this observation (see other reports here and here). According to leading entomologists, Victoria is experiencing its worst infestation of European Wasps (Vespula germanica) in about 20 years. This introduced species first become established on mainland Australia (near Melbourne) in 1977, and was relatively abundant through the 1980s up to the mid-1990s. However, until this current summer and autumn period, they have since been uncommon to rare. It is thought that the combination of a mild winter followed by a mild summer has allowed them to come back in early 2015 with a vengeance. In most years, 90% of colonies do not survive Victoria’s cold winters.
(c) Copyright John Ellis
If a colony is disturbed, they can sting humans and pets repeatedly. A number of people have also accidentally swallowed wasps when drinking sweet drinks or eating fruit or sugary foods, leading to stings in mouth or in the throat. They have also been known to destroy grape crops and will attack native insects and other local animals. It was often described as a ‘Killer Wasp’ soon after its arrival in Australia, but thankfully so far no human deaths have been recorded in this country (according to the Museum of Victoria website).
While there are traps available that can allow you to kill a few hundred individual wasps, this is unlikely to make a big difference overall, as a typical wasp colony will often have between 30,000 to 100,000 wasps. To make a lasting impact, the nest needs to be eradicated. Most wasps will forage within 50 to 250 metres of their nest. Nest colonies can be either on the ground in a range of concealed sites (e.g. uncovered compost heap, a hole in ground, piles of rubbish) or above the ground (e.g. in the roof or wall cavity).
The Museum of Victoria website contains a wealth of information about European Wasps, including:
- Their identification (click here)
- Their Impacts (click here)
- Their Life History (click here)
- Their Nests (click here)
- First Aid treatment (click here)
- Control Measures (click here)
The Mount Alexander Region Subspecies? (From www.horrorfilmhistory.com)
While control can be attempted by anyone (and there are instructions on the Museum website about how to do this), the use of professional exterminators is strongly recommended due to the risks involved.
Taradale’s ‘Gorse Must Die’ Project – 3 years on!
Posted on 30 March, 2015 by Connecting Country
In 2012, Connecting Country and Taradale Landcare embarked on an ambitious project to restore Kangaroo Creek. The project involved seven private properties, important roadsides and water authority land. Connecting Country developed the site management plan and provided a financial contribution towards the implementation of this project. Financial support was also received for the project from the Victorian Gorse Taskforce and from the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment (as it was then known) with the invaluable in-kind support from by the landholders and the Taradale Landcare Group. Today, the field of gorse that once surrounded the creek has been eradicated and the local landholders continue to do the necessary follow-up control of gorse regrowth and are starting to revegetate the area. The following piece was written by one of the landholders, Suzanne Donisthorpe. A huge congratulations to her and the other landholders involved for their incredible and inspiring efforts.
Taradale gorse warriors; Alex Panelli, Suzanne Donisthorpe, and Frank Veldez with his custom-made gorse pick
We live in Taradale in central Victoria- or Taradise as some of us call it – and life is good. The country is beautiful and the community is close-knit and vibrant. We live up the top of a hill and our property backs onto the forest- so there are a vast variety of birds: thornbills, choughs, magpies, parrots, kookaburras and finches, a big mob of kangaroos, a very tame family of possums and an echidna that makes the occasional visit. We have had a koala sighting and an emu popped up one day – although apparently it was someone’s pet and had escaped from Elphinstone. There has even been a sighting of the legendary Black Panther – but that’s another story. All these animals and birds are native to the land – apart from the panther- and they provide nothing but joy.
But there is a Snake in every Taradise and ours was a substantial and growing gorse problem that had spread from the Kangaroo Creek at the bottom of our property and up the hill in a vast prickly impenetrable mass. When visitors admired the sea of yellow flowers in spring and autumn, we felt sick. Over the years the gorse had been occasionally slashed down from a monstrous towering beast, big enough to hide an old 1890’s harvester, entirely buried in 8 foot high gorse. But that did nothing really, except give it a good pruning that merely encouraged more vigorous regrowth.
And every year that sea of yellow flowers spread the sea of gorse ever further. It was a Triffid and it was gaining power. We needed help. Fast.
The sea of gorse once found of Suzanne’s property.
One day, our friend Eliza Tree -the self proclaimed Weed Queen of Castlemaine- came visiting. She suggested we get in contact with the good people of Connecting Country and see if they could help. We thought the best way to tackle the Gorse Monster was to form a band of Mighty Weed Warriors- so we called in the neighbours whose properties connected to ours along the creek and together we formed the Gorse Must Die proposal. Altogether we had seven property owners involved. Over tea and scones and sometimes wine and dinner we plotted how this would work. We were delighted when Chris Timewell from Connecting Country agreed to come and talk to us about what might be done. Apparently our part of the world was in yellow box country which was of particular interest to Connecting Country at the time, so after a bit of umming and ahhing, Chris took away our hopes and dreams and turned them into a solid, very bureaucratic and therefore properly serious proposal. This was a huge amount of work, and we are forever grateful to Chris and the team for dotting all those i s and crossing all those t s.
Then we planned the attack.
Like all enemies, it’s best to know what you are up against and Chris and the Kate Smith from the local Landcare group were well versed in the Battle of the Gorse. They planned chemical attack, hacking, burning, revegetation and diligent follow up. Poison, Slash and Burn. Practically Viking!
As artists our contribution was to create the Giant Gorse Rabbit, a mythical creature- half plague species- half noxious weed, towering over 14 ft high. We took the story of the Evil Gorse Rabbit to shows in Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsular and Lot 19 in Castlemaine – where it even won the converted Spring Sculpture prize.
Frank’s famous ‘Evil Gorse Rabbit’
And on a glorious winter solstice night – we set light to the rabbit and danced through the night. It was all very satisfying, but to really Make Gorse Die, you need more than art. You need Vikings.
One still morning, a few months after the seeds of the project were planted, all the obstacles and problems had been sorted out and the truck with the spraying hose came.
The Terminator had arrived. It was a very happy day.
The Terminator turned out to be a very lovely family of local weed control experts who really knew what they were doing. Over the course of a couple of weeks – after the spraying- we began to notice a kind of yellow pallor taking over the previously vigorous gorse. It was suffering. It was wilting. It was like that moment when Dorothy poured water on the Wicked Witch of the West.
We raised our glasses. What had been a formidable enemy was retreating. The gorse at our place was sick as, as was the gorse on the other properties.
A few months passed. Now the gorse was as dead looking as your average zombie. We slashed it down where it rotted to almost nothing, while providing some cover for the small natives to grow. Suddenly in spring, instead of a sea of bilious yellow gorse, there were chocolate orchids, starry pink flowers, flax lilies…it was a miracle.
But like all zombies- just when you think it is dead, it may just be sleeping. Sure enough, after rain and sun, the rise and rise of the evil infant gorse was discernible.
Time for some spray pack action.
And to this day you will find us, most weekends, walking the killing fields of Taradise, with spray gun at the ready with a back-pack of appropriate poison generously supplied by Connecting Country – continuing the battle. Frank has even fashioned a custom made gorse pick. There is a kind of evil glee in seeing the yellowing forms appearing once again as the mighty enemy attempts to stage a resurrection and falls once again.
We know the battle is on-going, but we now have an enemy that is persistent rather than impenetrable. Many many thanks to Connecting County and the Mighty Warriors who helped us Make Gorse Die.
Suzanne’s property and Kangaroo Creek – 3 years on..
28 March 2015 – Mysterious, Mosquito-munching Micro-bats!
Posted on 16 March, 2015 by Connecting Country
Newstead Landcare’s first presentation for the year will be on Saturday 28th March at 3pm by Dr Lindy Lumsden, a wildlife ecologist at Arthur Rylah Institute. The talk will be at the Newstead Community Centre and everyone is welcome to attend (gold coin donation appreciated to help cover our costs). Connecting Country is supporting this educational event.
Little Forest Bat
Lindy has been conducting ecological research on bats for over 30 years. Although based in Victoria, her research has also taken her to remote areas of Australia, such as Christmas Island, and to many countries overseas such as Central and South America, Krakatau, Taiwan, New Zealand, Europe, South Africa and Swaziland.
Lindy Lumsden with Micro-bat
Bats play an important role in controlling insect numbers, including a range of pest species, by eating up to half their body weight in insects in a night. However, due to their small size, nocturnal behaviour and cryptic roosting habits, these valuable animals are rarely seen and are often portrayed negatively in the media.
Lindy is passionate about trying to reverse these negative perceptions and conducts a wide range of extension activities to educate and enthuse people about the bats. In her talks she describes fascinating and little known aspects of the natural history of these nocturnal creatures. As most people do not have the opportunity to see bats close up, she brings along a live bat to show at the end of her talk.
After the talk Lindy will take a group of 35 lucky people to Green Gully to demonstrate how she goes about discovering what bats are in an area. She will be setting up bat traps and using a bat detector and then we will have a picnic meal (bring your own picnic) while waiting for dusk when the bats start getting active. It’s free for Newstead Landcare members, otherwise $15 a head, children free. There are still a few places left so if you are interested contact Frances Cincotta phone 5476 2691 or email <natives@newstead.vicmail.net>
Putting ideas into action: you beauty!
Posted on 12 March, 2015 by Connecting Country
Jon Marshall: “I had these ideas in my head and Connecting Country came along and I thought, ‘you beauty!’”
Jon Marshall has only ever had one job that matters to him – and that is being the manager of a large grazing property in the spectacular rolling granitic hills near Metcalfe. He has been there for 22 years and he told Krista from Connecting Country during a recent visit that “you’ve got to respect the land. There are benefits down the track – it’s good for stock and it’s good for the environment”.
After the Redesdale fires passed through part of the property on Black Saturday, Jon was involved in the local recovery program. Through this process he and Connecting Country were put in contact with each other in 2011. Here was an opportunity for Jon to put some of the ideas he had for improving the property into action.
By early the following year, Jon and the owners formally agreed for the property to become part of Connecting Country’s yellow box woodland program. The five year site project has a number of aspects; Jon controls weeds and pest animals, he established vegetation corridors in two locations, and he installed stock-proof fencing around eighteen hectares of land that was burned in the fires, allowing this area to naturally regenerate with the indigenous flora that was already starting to sprout.
Three years on, and the natural regeneration occurring across the eighteen hectares looks amazing. Everlasting daisies, lomandra, cassinia and native grasses cover the ground while young she-oaks, silver wattle and red gum saplings are above head height. In the revegetation corridor, some of the tubestock he planted in the first year failed, but he replanted it all in the second year and it took off. “I got rain at the right time” he explained.
This is just one of the many projects that Connecting Country has supported across the Mount Alexander shire and surrounds over the past six years. Opportunities to get involved still exist in our current programs, and if you’d like to find out more contact the team on 03 5472 1594 or click here.
Connecting Country’s Yellow Box Woodland program was implemented between 2009 and 2013 with the support of the State and Federal government, and in conjunction with the North Central CMA.
Sticky everlasting daisy’s returning after fencing installed
Before fencing installed and grazing removed
Latest news from Birdlife Australia
Posted on 11 March, 2015 by Connecting Country
The Black-fronted Dotterel is a small wader that may be seen on ponds and dams in our region. Photo by JJ Harrison.
Birdlife Australia is the nation’s largest bird conservation organisation. They are an independent, not-for-profit, who’s aim is to create a bright future for Australia’s birds. There is considerable overlap between the aims and activities of Connecting Country within the Mount Alexander region and those of Birdlife Australia on a broader scale. Earlier this year, the two organisations signed an agreement document, with the result being that Connecting Country is now recognised as an Affiliated Organisation of Birdlife Australia. This means that we have made to commitment to provide support for each other, and to work together, where possible and useful.
Birdlife has already provided considerable advice and guidance with the development of Connecting Country’s Woodland Birds Action Plan and with the implementation of our ‘Habitat for Bush Birds’ program. In the coming weeks, the data that Connecting Country has collected over the 5 or so years of our bird monitoring program will be added to the Birdlife bird atlas program.
Birdlife Australia recently released their March 2015 edition of their Threatened Bird Network newsletter (click here). This gives an fascinating insight into the projects being undertaken to conserve native birds across the country, and also identifies ways in which you can get involved. Connecting Country’s Habitat for Bush Birds coordinator, Tanya Loos, also notes that there will be a range of new opportunities to get involved with bird identification, surveys and monitoring in the local area through Connecting Country over the coming weeks and months. Watch this space!
For the health fanatics out there, Birdlife are also about to launch their ‘Farewell Shorebirds” program – from 21 March to 19 April 2015. They are challenging people to run, walk, swim or cycle a fraction of the distance covered by the numerous migratory shorebirds about to leave Australia for the northern hemisphere. While the Mount Alexander region is not renowned for its migratory waders, regular readers of the Natural Newstead blog will know that there are local wetlands such as Cairn Curran that are used by a variety of sandpipers on occasions. Keep an eye on the Farewell Shorebirds website for further details (click here).
21-23 April 2015 (postponed) – Up close and personal with scaly friends
Posted on 11 March, 2015 by Connecting Country
This event has been postponed. The North Central CMA will be looking to re-run these workshops in June.
New Edition of ‘chat’ – February 2015
Posted on 11 March, 2015 by Connecting Country
The February 2015 edition of the North Central CMA publication ‘chat’ is now available and can be viewed by following this link (Click here). Some of the events it promotes have already passed, but there are still a number of workshops on landscape restoration, weeds, rabbits and fungi identification which are yet to occur. It also has some interesting information on two nasty weed species in the North Central region (Buffel Grass Cenchrus cilliaris and Prairie Ground Cherry Physalis hederifolia).
Waterbugs, waterbugs – new apps and workshops
Posted on 11 March, 2015 by Connecting Country
Connecting Country has been made aware of two new opportunities to learn more about the important native waterbugs of south-eastern Australia! As well as being interesting creatures in themselves, many freshwater invertebrates (waterbugs) are regularly used as indicators of waterway health.
Workshops
The North Central CMA is running two workshops, which are currently open to Waterwatch, Landcare and Indigenous volunteers wanting to learn new skills and potentially participate in environmental monitoring of waterway health. John Gooderham, ecologist and co-author of the Waterbug Book will share his knowledge of Waterbugs with participants and introduce them to the theory of waterbug monitoring, methods and how to identify Waterbugs. This workshops are a state Waterwatch accredited course called the Agreed Level Taxonomy (ALT) program, participants will receive a certificate and will be invited back to participate in future training courses.
The closing date for applications to attend is COB 12 March 2015 – to RSVP, visit the North Central CMA website or phone 03 5448 7124. One workshop is in Eddington (17-18 March) and the other in Strathallan, near Echuca (18-19 March). The attached flyer and map have further information (click here and click here).
The Waterbug App
For the increasing number of us using Smartphone technologies to assist with animal and plant identification, there is now also an Waterbug guide App for south-eastern Australia freshwater ecosystems. It is free and available for both iPhones and Android. For more details, here is a link to the website of the designers (click here).
Draft Flood Management Plan – Feedback due by 13 March
Posted on 9 March, 2015 by Connecting Country
The North Central CMA, in conjunction with the Mount Alexander Shire Council and a local Steering Committee, is in the process of finalising the Castlemaine, Campbells Creek and Chewton Flood Management Plan and is seeking public feedback on the Draft Plan. Feedback is due by Friday 13 March 2015. You can send your response by email to shaun.morgan@nncma.vic.gov.au.
The plan includes 10 recommendations for flood management, including the construction and enhancement of a number of levee banks, the development of a shire plan for floods, planning scheme amendments, flood warning systems and some vegetation removal downstream of Alexandra St in Campbells Creek.
Thankfully the draft plan does not recommend the wholesale removal of native vegetation from along the creeks as an approach to flood mitigation. The flood modelling undertaken by consultants GHD indicated that widespread vegetation removal along the creeks would not be an effective approach for flood management.
Following this feedback period when the final version of the plan is subsequently developed, Connecting Country does not wish to see any additional recommendations for the removal native vegetation and habitat. As such, we will be making a submission to the draft plan which supports the use of flood management approaches that minimise or, preferably, avoid the removal of native vegetation and other riparian habitat features.
A copy of the draft plan is available for downloading (CLICK HERE) and you can go to the North Central CMA website for further information on the overall process and other background information (CLICK HERE).
The website of the Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forests also has information which may be of interest to people considering making a submission (CLICK HERE).
Sutton Grange Landscapes in the Big Picture
Posted on 8 March, 2015 by Connecting Country
Often the vestiges of early European colonisation are easier to see in the landscape – bricks, rusting metal, earthmoving, fences, the (child-sized) handprints in mortar – and they attract our eye, more readily, or easily. We often don’t see the many markers of indigenous life – scar trees, ovens, middens – even though the indigenous seems more enduring; still evident more than 160 years later and in use for many hundreds of years before that.
The granite, redgum woodlands of Coliban Park in Sutton Grange was a perfect landscape to explore, interpret and discuss regional land use history at our first workshop for the year, ‘The Big Picture” on Sunday 1 March 2015. We were able to see artifacts of white settlement sitting alongside those of the first Australians, and our expert presenters Deirdre Slattery and Gerry Gill helped us to interpret them. Duncan Barber provided us with familial insight, adding to the story – and the sense of scale, and history. We were also prompted to consider the contemporary challenges of managing – and shaping – the land.
A very special location, expert presenters, and an enthusiastic group keen to know more about this part of the world and the factors that have shaped land use, and thus the landscape, over time. Many thanks to Jess and Duncan Barber for their hospitality and generosity, to Deirdre and Gerry for sharing their knowledge, and to Ann-Marie Monda who represented the Connecting Country Committee. For more information on the session, including links to resources, images and photos from the day, go to our Education Program section and click on the 1 March workshop session.
Note, we still have vacancies for the rest of the autumn workshops, especially the April 19 and May 8 sessions – download a registration form – registration – autumn – or contact janet@connectingcountry.org.au.
Mount Alexander Shire Council – Environment questionnaire and workshop series
Posted on 5 March, 2015 by Connecting Country
The latest Mount Alexander Shire Environment and Sustainability Newsletter (Autumn 2015 Edition) has just been distributed to subscribers. To sign up for this quarterly newsletter, there is a link available on the council’s Environment webpage (click here).
There are two items within the latest newsletter that may be of particular interest to Connecting Country members and supporters.
1. Questionnaire.
The council have commenced the development of their next Environment Strategy. As part of this process, they are interested in learning what local residents and groups consider to be the 5 highest priorities for environment and sustainability in the Mount Alexander shire. A very short questionnaire from council can be accessed by following this link (click here).
2. Workshop Series
As a nice complement to Connecting Country’s own series of landscape restoration workshops, the Mount Alexander Shire are running a series of ‘Sustainable Living’ workshops during 2015. It includes a range of interesting topics covering biodiversity, waterways, gardening, soil health and activities in the local bushland. More information is available on their website (click here).