Have you seen this secretive moth of central Victoria?

Posted on 21 March, 2014 by Connecting Country

The unusual green and white patterned Cymatoplex sp. moth is known from only a dozen sightings – EVER.  It has not yet been scientifically described or even formally named.  Half of the known observations are from the Eppalock bushland property of Steve Williams.  Another one is from Fryerstown.  Last year (2013) at a Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club meeting, Steve presented a fascinating talk on his hobby to document the life history cycles of hundreds of moth species of central Victoria.  Yet this little known charismatic species has held a special fascination for him.

Photo: Steve Williams

Steve has discovered that the larvae feed exclusively on the native Drooping Cassinia (Cassinia arcuata).  Yes, the common local plant also known as Coffee Bush or Chinese Scrub.  The eggs are laid on the plant, and over the next 11 ½ months, that individuals goes from egg to larvae to pupa all on the same plant specimen.

The adults emerge and fly for only a few days, during which time they mate and lay their eggs.  Adult moths have only ever been recorded during the last week of March and the first week of April, and the other life stages have never been seen in the wild.  If you have Drooping Cassinia on or near your property, now is the time to be on the look-out for this colourful moth!  If you see one flying about at night, or resting on a window, please let us know as it would provide valuable scientific and conservation knowledge (with a photo if possible, and also the date and location).

With the permission of the Entomological Society of Victoria, we are fortunate to be able to provide access to an easy-to-read paper that Steve recently wrote for the Victorian Entomologist journal (click here), which gives more information about the life history of this species and some good identifying photos.

(Blog reproduced with permission from the Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club).

23 and 30 March 2014 – Youth and Family Forest Walks

Posted on 20 March, 2014 by Connecting Country

For over a decade FOBIF has organised monthly bush walks in our local area. This year the program has been expanded to include 2 family walks and 2 youth walks. Everyone is welcome on these walks, not just young people and children.

The first of the family walks will take place on 23 March in Kalimna Park. To find out more, click on the green box below.

The first youth walk will be on 30 March. To find out more, click on the image below.

This consent authority form must be completed by the parents/carers of unaccompanied young people before the youth walk. If you would like to volunteer to help on the day with this walk, contact 54724609.

Ian Lunt Wrap

Posted on 18 March, 2014 by Connecting Country

Or should that be rapt? A large and attentive audience attended Ian’s presentation and the launch of the 2014 Connecting Country Workshop Program. Connecting Country Workshop Steering Group member Jules Walsh has put together a summary of Ian’s talk here, along with some more photos, and Bernard Slattery has posted his version on the FOBIF website which you can also read. No doubt there were many more interpretations amongst the audience and this provided a great catalyst for discussion over the BBQ afterwards.

We thank Ian, Rebecca Phillips from the Dja Dja Warrung Clans, the Newstead Mens’ Shed for barbeque prowess, the Newstead Community Centre, Community Garden and Landcare Group and all those who helped to set up, pitch in and pack up for the event. A great start to the Workshop Program.

2014 Communities for Nature Small Grants Funding

Posted on 16 March, 2014 by Connecting Country

The Victorian Government has launched the 2014 Communities for Nature Small Grants Funding Opportunity.

These grants aim to support practical action by community groups, schools, and volunteer organisations to deliver measurable environmental outcomes through on-ground works.

The funding is for community groups seeking one year grants for small grants up to $10,000 (GST inclusive). Projects that will be completed by 30 June 2015 are eligible for funding.

Applications can now be submitted online. The closing date is 4.00pm Friday 11th April 2014.

More information including Guidelines, Frequently Asked Questions and the application form can be found here.  You can also contact the Grants Information Line on 1300 366 356 between 8.30am and 5:00pm Monday to Friday. 

20 March 2014 – Talk on Indigenous fish traps

Posted on 14 March, 2014 by Connecting Country

Every year Newstead Landcare is fortunate to have some remarkable people present on an amazing array of topics and 2014 promises to be another such year. Their first presentation will be “Combining Ecology and Archaeology – researching Indigenous fish traps to learn more about river changes over time” by Castlemaine archaeologist Damian Kelly. Damian’s research on fish traps along the Murray is truly fascinating, with very local implications for those of us on the Loddon. For those familiar with the road between Strangways and Guildford, do you know where the name “Bough Yards” may have come from?

The presentation will be on Thursday 20th March at Newstead Community Centre, starting at 8pm. It will be followed by a light supper and Newstead Landcare’s first business meeting for 2014. All are welcome to come along for either the presentation or the meeting or both of course. Gold coin donations would be appreciated.

New MAS Urban Bushland Workshops

Posted on 12 March, 2014 by Connecting Country

In a new initiative, the Mount Alexander Shire has organised a series of workshops around the theme of ‘Our Urban Bushlands‘. The events are free and child friendly.

The first workshop will be on Saturday 22 March between 10.30am  and 12.30 pm along the Campbells Creek Walking and Cycling path. If you would like to take part, have a look at this flyer.

Feedback sought by CMA on Draft Waterway Strategy

Posted on 12 March, 2014 by Connecting Country

The North Central CMA has produced a Draft Regional Waterways Strategy (2014-2022) which is currently open for public comment, through until 10 April 2014. The Waterway Strategy sets priorities and outlines an action plan for the region’s rivers and wetlands for the next 8 years. Five regional community forums have been organised to seek feedback from interested community members. The local one will take place at the Campbells Creek Community Centre at 7.30pm on 18 March 2014. You can view all the details about the forums in this flyer and the Draft Waterways Strategy can be accessed here.

New “Securing Woodland Birds’ project and exciting employment opportunity

Posted on 11 March, 2014 by Bonnie Humphreys

In 2012-13 Connecting Country undertook a preliminary Woodland Birds program.  The success of this program and its high level of community support led us to invest in the development of a large, scientifically-rigorous program to restore woodland bird habitat across the Mount Alexander Shire and immediate surrounds.

This new program was described by Geoff Park at Connecting Country’s AGM in September 2013, and involves undertaking woodland restoration activities in 11 priority zones that are considered to be critical habitat for 5 ground-foraging bird species (Diamond Firetail, Hooded Robin, Brown Treecreeper, Painted Button-quail, Jacky Winter).  A range of training events, bird monitoring activities and other bird-related activities are also to be undertaken as part of this program, which anyone and everyone can become involved in.

A couple of weeks ago, Connecting Country was informed that it had successfully secured funding to implement the first stage of this large project through the Victorian Government’s Communities for Nature initiative. More information on the “Securing Threatened Woodland Birds in the Mount Alexander Shire – Stage 1” project is available here.

Connecting Country is now seeking an experienced and enthusiastic Woodland Birds Project Officer to coordinate the implementation of this funded project.  This person would also have a leading role in implementing Connecting Country’s existing biodiversity monitoring activities.

For a copy of the full position description and key selection criteria, click here.  The part or full time (0.8-1 FTE) role is a 2-year fixed term position, commencing in April 2014.

Applications including a CV and addressing the key selection criteria to be submitted by 9am Thursday 27 March 2014 to chris@connectingcountry.org.au or mailed to Connecting Country, PO Box 437, Castlemaine, VIC, 3450.

For more information regarding the project and the position, contact Chris on (03) 5472-1594 or email chris@connectingcountry.org.au.

Latest edition of ‘chat’

Posted on 5 March, 2014 by Connecting Country

The February 2014 edition of the North Central CMA publication, ‘chat’, is now available. (Click here to download.) This edition includes articles on Serrated Tussock and a report on the  economic benefits of native shelter belts, as well as information on funding opportunities, courses and resources.

A day in the life of the Connecting Landscapes work crew

Posted on 27 February, 2014 by Connecting Country

Dianna attacking a gorse plant.

The Connecting Landscapes work crew is funded to undertake environmental works on properties in priority zones within the Mount Alexander shire. The crew is ably led by Alex Schipperen.  The current crew was recruited earlier this year and is made up of locals Dianna Manser, Kim Peric, Matt Stahl and Matthew Sundblom.

This article describes a  typical February day’s work by the crew.  They began the day by cutting and painting regrowth Gorse on a property in Harcourt. The Gorse had been sprayed months ago, but Gorse is a tough plant to kill and a small number of plants had survived the initial spraying.

They then travelled to Taradale to fumigate rabbit warrens and set up rabbit bait stations on a farming property.

Kim and Matthew with one of the rabbit bait stations

Matthew showing a scat.

At the next destination, Sutton Grange, they collected scats. Why, you may ask? Because once all the scats have been removed from a sheep and kangaroo exclusion plot  it is possible to determine whether or not the plot is actually sheep or kangaroo proofed. Kim laughingly says “this is not one of the more glamorous tasks we get to do, but one I found surprisingly satisfying, and not really dirty!”

This is part of a grazing trial designed to examine the effects of kangaroo and sheep grazing on native pastures. As Jarrod, the program coordinator, explains ‘we want to understand what happens when sheep are removed from native pasture. Is there an improvement in biodiversity values or do the weeds take over instead? Do kangaroos simply eat the grass that the sheep were previously eating? ‘

Other common jobs the work crew undertakes are the building of stock exclusion fences, the removal of woody weed trees and shrubs such as Pines, Willows and Hawthorn, and supplementary plantings of locally indigenous flora.

If you are potentially interested in including parts of your property as part of the Connecting Landscapes program, contact Jarrod Coote or Bonnie Humphreys at Connecting Country on 5472 1594 or email: jarrod@connectingcountry.org.au. They will be able to arrange a visit your property if it meets the criteria and occurs in right zone. And to find out more about the program, click here.

2014 Workshop Program Launch this Weekend

Posted on 24 February, 2014 by Connecting Country

A reminder that Connecting Country will be launching it’s Improve Biodiversity on Your Property Workshop Program 2014 at the Newstead Community Centre this Sunday (2 March) with a talk by popular ecologist and author Ian Lunt.

This will be social event with a free BBQ dinner after the talk and it would be great to see as many Connecting Country members & friends there as possible.

Ian will be presenting a talk titled “Natural regeneration in central Victoria: the biggest positive change for conservation in south-east Australia”. Have a look at our previous post for more information.

The talk will begin at 4pm and dinner will be at 6pm. RSVPs are not essential, but are greatly preferred for catering purposes – max@connectingcountry.org.au, or phone 5472 1594

Please note, if you are planning on attending Vocal Nosh with Fay White in the adjacent Mechanics Hall that evening you can do both! Ian Lunt’s talk will finish just as Vocal Nosh is getting started.

Natural regeneration of Drooping Cassinia and Eucalyptus in a lightly stocked paddock near Metcalfe.

18 Feb 2014 – Aboriginal People on the Goldfields

Posted on 17 February, 2014 by Connecting Country

Dr Fred Cahir is giving a talk on Aborigines on the Goldfields of Victoria at the Castlemaine Market Building on 18 February. The talk begins at 7.30pm and entry is free.

Fred is a Senior Lecturer and Aboriginal Studies Program Coordinator in the School of Education and Arts at Federation University, Australia. He has written extensively on local Victorian Aboriginal history. In 2013 he published a Black Gold: Aboriginal People on the Goldfields of Victoria, 1850-1870. The book  offers new insights into how Aboriginal people often figured significantly, both in the search for gold and in other goldfield related enterprises; he also reveals the devastating social impact of gold mining on Aboriginal communities. 

Regional Sustainable Agriculture Steering Committee

Posted on 7 February, 2014 by Connecting Country

Ashley Bevan, Regional Landcare Facilitator with the North Central CMA, is seeking expressions of interest from Landcare members involved in the agricultural industry to join the North Central CMA’s Regional Sustainable Agriculture Steering Committee.

This new committee will assist Ashley and the other project staff in setting the direction of the North Central CMA’s Regional Landcare Facilitator project and the Regional Sustainable Agriculture project.  Steering committee members will provide advice on strategic aspects of the projects and a community/industry perspective on the appropriateness of the project activities. Continue Reading »

Helping our Blue Devils

Posted on 6 February, 2014 by Connecting Country

The Connecting Country Work Crew recently came across a few patches of Blue Devil  (Eryngium ovinum) during their field assessments. This hardy herb grows mostly in grassland and grassy woodland communities and can be found in most Australian states and territories.

Blue Devil (Eryngium ovinum) photographed at Barkers Creek

The prickly plant is a rosette-forming perennial which grows from late winter, flowering in summer and then dies down around autumn, after seeding . It has a fleshy tap-root that stores energy while dormant. These plants belong to the same plant family as Carrots and Fennel, but please don’t eat them!

Three members of the works crew with a Blue Devil.

Blue Devils are now uncommon in our region. The crew has only found them in a small number of grassy woodlands and de-stocked paddocks. Jarrod and the rest of the team would love to know about Blue Devil populations or other rare or unusual animal and plant species on your property.  Through the Connecting Landscapes project, we may be able to improve their habitats by building protective fences or undertaking pest and weed control.

You can find out more about the Connecting Landscapes project here.

Mount Alexander Region Landcare E-news – January 2014

Posted on 6 February, 2014 by Connecting Country

The January 2014 edition of the Mount Alexander Landcare E-news is available. Click on the banner below to download the newsletter.

The Landcare E-news is short monthly update on  Landcare-related news, information and events for the Mount Alexander Shire and surrounds.  Previous editions of E-news are available from the Landcare page of the Connecting Country website (click here).

Latest edition of ‘chat’

Posted on 5 February, 2014 by Connecting Country

The January 2014 edition of the North Central CMA publication, ‘chat’, is now available. (Click here to download.) This edition includes a list of successful recipients of 2013 Communties for Nature grants in North Central Victoria, information on ‘Rabbit Buster Month’ as well as information on funding opportunities, courses and resources.

New Autumn Workshops by Alison Pouliot

Posted on 5 February, 2014 by Connecting Country

World-renowned fungi expert and photographer, Alison Pouliot, is once again running a variety of seminars, workshops, forays and feasts in April and May 2014 on ‘the curiosities and delights of the fungi kingdom’. Alison is an impressive and popular presenter. In her workshops she clearly enjoys sharing her enthusiasm and knowledge of this amazing kingdom of organisms. Alison was a presenter at a Connecting Country Educational event in 2011.

Information about the workshops  as well as examples of her photography and other projects can be found on her website. Bookings are managed by the venues so you need to contact them directly to reserve your place. For further information contact Alison at alison@alisonpouliot.com.

Alison is also running an environmental photography workshop, ‘Eyes on Nature‘, in Woodend on Saturday 5 April 2014. You can download a flyer on this here.

Four of Alison Pouliot’s superb fungi photos.

16 Feb 2014 – Sweet Bursaria Seed Collection & Propagation Workshop

Posted on 31 January, 2014 by Connecting Country

Come and learn how to grow plants for an endangered butterfly!

The Eltham Copper Butterfly is an endangered species in Victoria – and Castlemaine is one of the few places they’re known to live. Join the McKenzies Hill Action & Landcare Group for a free workshop on collecting and propagating seeds of Sweet Bursaria – the butterfly’s only known food plant.

The workshop will take place near the Castlemaine Botanic Gardens between 9:30am to 11am on Sunday 16th February. Click here to download the flyer.

Eltham Copper Butterfly perched on flowering Sweet Bursaria – it’s only know food plant. Photo: Elaine Bayes

Eltham Copper Butterfly’s have an amazing relationship with Sweet Bursaria (Bursaria spinosa) and a genus of ants called Notoncus. Adult butterflies lay their eggs on the roots Continue Reading »

Free events to celebrate World Wetlands Day 2014

Posted on 28 January, 2014 by Connecting Country

The North Central CMA has organised four free events to celebrate World Wetlands Day (2 February) and to explore innovative agricultural practices.

1. Breakfast with the Birds (2 February 2014 at Hird Swamp, near Macorna North)

2. CANCELLED DUE TO EXTREME WEATHER – Bus tour exploring how to integrate wetland conservation with agriculture (2 February 2014 from Koondrook, Vic) – CANCELLED

3. 2014 Future Farming Expo  (6 March 2014 in Maryborough, Vic)

4. On-Farm Composting Field Day (13 March  2014 in Yarrawalla, Vic)

2 March 2014 – Ian Lunt Talk in Newstead . . . Naturally

Posted on 24 January, 2014 by Connecting Country

If you’re already familiar with the work of popular ecologist and author Ian Lunt then you probably don’t need any further encouragement to attend this free talk at the Newstead Community Centre on Sunday 2^nd March.

For those who haven’t come across him before, Ian is an Associate Professor in the School of Environmental Sciences at Charles Sturt University, Albury, and the author of popular online blog Vegetation Ecology for Southern Australia (http://ianluntecology.com). He has been described as “one of the best ecological storytellers going around” and has made appearances on ABC TV’s Catalyst and Landline programs to talk about his research. He’s also co-authored the book ‘Plains Wandering: Exploring the Grassy Plains of South-Eastern Australia’.

Ian will be presenting a talk titled “Natural regeneration in central Victoria: the biggest positive change for conservation in south-east Australia”. Regenerating bush on old farmland is a common sight around Newstead and other parts of the Mount Alexander Shire. Ian’s talk should give us an insight into why it’s happening and what the impact of it on the environment might be.

The talk will begin at 4:00pm and be followed by a BBQ dinner to celebrate the start of Connecting Country’s Improve Biodiversity on Your Property Education Program 2014, supported through funding from the Australian Government’s Clean Energy Future Biodiversity Fund.

This promises to be a really great event and we would love to have as many Connecting Country members and friends there as possible to enjoy it!

RSVPs are not essential, but are greatly preferred for catering purposes – max@connectingcountry.org.au, or phone 5472 1594