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CWCN Workshop: Wild Edible Plants

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Location: CWCN Centre – 47 Hepworth St Chapel Hill
Type: Workshop
Organiser: Cubberla-Witton Catchments Network Inc
Contact: www.cwcn.org.au – www.facebook.com/cwcn.org.au

Kemp Killerby from Flora4Fauna will give us an animated introduction into the many uses of native plants. He will focus on edible plants but also discuss medicinal plants. For more info, visit the CWCN website.

A winning opportunity for photographers!

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… but hurry, there’s not much time!

 This message is for the talented photographers of our catchment. They continue to captivate us with their wonderful images. They have taught us that nothing captures the essence of our natural environment better than a photo taken at just the right moment!

Queensland Conservation Council has launched the Queensland’s Natural Wonders Photography Awards to celebrate the power of images and the importance of photographers in protecting our natural world. 

Anyone can enter. Awards will be given to the best photographs in three main categories:

  • Land and Seascapes
  • Native Plants and Wildlife
  • People and Nature

There’s a special Junior Wonders Award in these categories for anyone under the age of 18. 

Tickets are also available for the Awards Night hosted by Steve Parrish at Annerley on Saturday 6 April. Funds from the night will go towards the Conservation Council’s mission:  “to protect the environment, wildlife and landscapes, conserve our precious natural resources and make Queensland communities more sustainable“.  

If you have a favorite shot or time to create a new one, head to the Queensland Conservation Council website.

But be quick! The competition closes 8 March 2019.

My love of birds – Jim Butler

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If you love birds there is always an opportunity to take your passion to a new level!

My love of birds appeared within me, infusing my being, when I was about 10 years old. My parental home was a couple of hundred metres from the shores of Botany Bay and there were parks and bush all around me, with plenty of birds. The safe freedom of my childhood meant I could go bush anytime I was not at school, and I did! Only returning home for food! Neither my parents nor my sister were at all interested in birds. It did not come into me from any outside person. The birds made me theirs.

When you have a passion for something, it’s amazing how much you learn without even trying!  These days I am considered to be a “birder”.  I spend time observing birds locally and on holidays, and I write birding articles for The Local Bulletin and the MCCG website. I also contribute to a citizen science project which involves taking surveys of the amazing diversity of birdlife in Deerhurst St Park.

Anyone can join these types of projects and, if you’d like to get started I’m happy to point you in the right direction!

Where is the site?

Deerhurst St Park (See mudmap below) stretches either side of Gap Creek from Brookfield to Gap Creek Road.  It is a riparian zone, meaning the plants and animals are located beside a river or creek. Deerhurst St Park is a significant animal corridor between the north-eastern section of Brisbane Forest Park (Mt Coot-tha) and the Moggill Creek Catchment forests in the west. The entire public section is about a kilometre long and averages 60m wide. The entry points are from Kookaburra Street and Brookfield Road. There are good walking tracks throughout.

The site has been registered with Australia eBird and Birdata as: DEERHURST ST PARK: Latitude: -27.4910278 and Longitude: 152.9221111. Bird survey data can be entered at either of these sites as they interchange data. We are encouraged to submit surveys from all visits we make.

Who can visit the site?

The site is a public park and as such can be visited at any time. As well as birders, people walk their dogs on the tracks, and bike riders ride through the park from Gap Creek Rd to Brookfield Rd.

What is the site like?

The site is very well vegetated with some gigantic old eucalypts. Many years of revegetation have been carried out by the Moggill Creek Catchment Group and they are still very active in the park. This section of the Gap Creek is rocky with some deep ponds. The amount of water in this Creek section is variable, but the deep, large ponds mean that there is often residual water when the Creek is not flowing.  The Creek Monitoring Project was active in this area and found the water to be of good quality and with plenty of fish and invertebrates. It is a high quality and fun site. The site is quite flat, so that people of all fitness levels can be comfortable. There is no wheelchair access. There are picnic tables at the Brookfield Rd end of the park. There are no toilets in the park.

What birds are found there?

More than 76 bird species have been observed in this small park. The species count is dominated by riparian zone specialists. There are residents, nomads, summer migrants, winter migrants, and vagrants. It is always interesting, and because of the water that is often there, you would always expect to see a good number of birds.

The full list of birds can be found on the two sites where the site is registered; or by emailing me at [email protected].

Special bird?

The most striking bird that is present in Spring and Summer at this site is the Rose-crowned Fruit-dove. Often when you make a visit to this site as you get out of the car the first call you hear is the mournful call of this spectacular Fruit-dove. Knowing they are there is one thing, but finding them in your binoculars is another! Clearly worth the effort. The photo was taken by Ed Frazer at Brookfield.

Like to learn more?

Send me an email:  [email protected]

Return to Bush Bites

Join something big – change starts with you!

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CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA DAY is on again this Sunday and Brisbane City Council is encouraging us to get involved.

Every year thousands of Australians take part in Clean Up Australia Day, helping to clean up our local parks, streets, schools and conserve our beautiful environment.

Clean Up Australia Day 2019 dates:

  • Youth & Schools Clean Up Day
    Friday 1st March
  • Community Clean Up Day 
    Sunday 3rd March 

Last year’s Clean Up Australia Day was a huge success with over 14,500 volunteers across 321 registered sites in Brisbane, removing an estimated 707 tonnes of rubbish.

Registrations are now open so let your family, friends and colleagues know.

To join the activities, head to the Clean Up Australia Day website.

Let’s make the 2019 event even bigger with more clean-up sites and volunteers than ever!

Fauna flourishing in the Western Suburbs

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Our close neighbour, the Cubberla-Witton Catchment Network (CWCN), recently commissioned a report into fauna in Pullenvale Forest Park.

The report was published in December last year and it is gratifying to read about the amazing array of fauna thriving in the park.

Similar to the MCCG, the CWCN strives to restore natural habitats in parks and remnant bushland, protecting and monitoring native flora and fauna populations.

As the Cubberla-Witton team suggests, we recommend you visit and spend some time in this beautiful area so you can see and hear some of these amazing species yourself!

We extend our thanks to the CWCN for allowing us to share their report.

Pullenvale Forest Park Bushcare Group Fauna Audit Report

Appendix B Pullenvale Fauna Species List.

The Sugar Glider is one of many species listed in CWCN’s report (photo courtesy of Chris Read):

Our urban forests – a talk at Kenmore Library

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Join Dr Chris Galbraith from Three Mile Scrub to learn  about the history of this group and celebrate their remarkable restoration work which dates back to the 1980’s.

Brisbane City Council is hosting this event at Kenmore Library from 6.30pm on Tuesday 12 March.

Another guest speaker, Andrew Franks from Queensland Herbarium, will talk about condition assessment of urban forests and how to monitor them over time.

Book your spot through Eventbrite by Sunday 10 March 2019.

For more information, phone Jodi Rees, Habitat Brisbane Officer on 07 3178 1509, or email the Community Conservation Partnership Program team.

Eucalyptus woodland near Haven Road – photo courtesy of Bryan Hacker

Going batty!

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Australasian Bat Night is back! 

Now in its 6th year, Australasian Bat Night 2019 celebrates the positive aspects of bats and educates people about the vital ecological roles they play and the threats they face. It is run by the Australasian Bat Society Inc.

We are pleased to report that two local events are part of the national celebrations:

CWCN Workshop: Bats and their Habitat – Saturday 2 March, 4pm-8pm, 47 Hepworth St, Chapel Hill  

Bat biologists Dr Monika Rhodes and Dr Martin Rhodes will talk about different aspects of bat habitat. There will be a bat walk after dark during which participants can listen to the calls of local echolocating bats.
For information, ring
Jutta on 0407 583 441 or email [email protected]

Batty Boat Cruise—Sunday 12 March, Mowbray Park, Thorn Street, East Brisbane

Visit flying foxes near New Farm Park and watch them fly over at sunset on their nightly feeding expeditions. Meet orphaned baby bats on-board and hear educational commentaries about bats and the river along the way. Bookings essential. For more info, contact Wildlife Queensland on 3844 0129

For more information about Australasian Bat Night 2019, please email [email protected] or visit the Australasian Bat Society website.

Microbat filmed in our catchment – © Chris Read


All hands on deck!

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Do you want to make a difference?

Now is your chance!

A few weeks ago, Jim Pope’s Huntington bushcare group successfully planted around 380 native trees and shrubs in an area that was previously dominated by Chinese Elms!

This Sunday they will continue their quest! They have another 320 assorted native trees and shrubs to plant at Tuckett St Park!

You can be part of this valuable effort – come help us make a noticeable difference!

The working bee will be held from 8.30am till 11am on Sunday 24 February.

Please contact Jim Pope for more details on 3374 4181.