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.

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]

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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

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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

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.

It has been 32 degrees in Brisbane for over 30 days in a row!

HOW ARE YOU DEALING WITH THE HEAT? 

WHAT CHANGES ARE HAPPENING AROUND YOU?

We’re dedicating our March newsletter to stories about our current heatwave.

Please:  tell us how the heat is affecting you!

Our Newsletter Editor Cathi Lawrence is waiting!  Please send Cathi an email before 10 MARCH at: [email protected]   It does not have to be long!

To get the ball rolling, we’re pleased to share Ed Frazer’s observations about the comings and goings of wildlife on his property during the heat. It’s a great read, accompanied by lovely photos – click here to enjoy!

Scarlet Honeyeater taking a drink (photo courtesy of Rowena Ricchetti)

See also:

• BOM’s Climate Outlooks video for February to April 2019
• * The Long Paddock QLD latest Drought Situation Map

We recently ran a news item about our Huntington bushcare group.

In the space of a single Sunday morning the team planted around 380 native trees and shrubs in Tuckett Street Park in an area previously dominated by Chinese Elms. 

A wonderful achievement and significant step in habitat restoration!  However …

We also reported sighting a Dutchmans Pipe vine (Aristolochia littoralis syn.A elegans). This exotic vine is a known threat to the Richmond birdwing butterfly, classified as “vulnerable to extinction”. The vine was earmarked for removal but our Chairman and Section 3 Team Leader Jim Pope erred on the side of caution and consulted MCCG Landcare Advisor, Bryan Hacker before taking action.

Just as well he did! Bryan identified the vine as Legnephora moorei (round-leaf vine or big-leaf vine) and definitely NOT Dutchman’s Pipe! Thankfully the native vine remains in place and poses no threat whatsoever to the Richmond birdwing butterfly.

If there is a lesson to be learned here, it may well be to remind us of the wealth of information available within the MCCG.  Bryan has over 20 years of experience in bushland regeneration. He is an accredited member of the Australian Association of Bush Regenerators and offers expert advice and information to the local community.  We have similar experts in fields such as water quality and birdlife and we encourage you to contact the group for advice and information. Contact details are available here. 

Note: we have removed the image from the original item and replaced it here, with the correct identification: Legnephora moorei (round-leaf vine or big-leaf vine) in Tuckett St Park.

 

Another remarkable MCCG achievement !!!

Last Sunday 18 volunteers from Jim Pope’s Section 3 Tuckett St Park bushcare group successfully planted around 380 native trees and shrubs in an area hat was previously dominated by Chinese Elms. Well done team!!!

Much of the area had been prepared by spraying with herbicide and mulch, and our Habitat Brisbane officer, Paul Devine had arranged for many holes to be pre-dug. Thank you Paul!)

A hearty thanks to everyone who pitched in, especially to Janine and Fiona for supplying the morning tea and Peter for providing the drinks!

Jim has promised to try to improve on the timing of the follow-up rain for the next working bee on Sunday 24 February. The rain was excellent for watering in the new plantings but it did rather literally put a dampener on their morning tea!

Here are some photos from the day:

Volunteering with us is not always about bushcare!

Running a catchment group such as ours requires a multitude of activities and skills.

If you care about our environmental footprint but are unable to join a bushcare group, there may be other ways you can help!

AND WE DO NEED HELP!!!!

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We are currently putting out a call for the following volunteer roles:

• Quarternaster/Equipment Supervisor
• IT Support Person
• Photographic Competition Coordinator

Volunteering can be very rewarding and does not take much time.

Please consider joining us. Here’s what you need to know:

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If can’t help right now, maybe you could spread the word on our behalf? 

For more info, please contact our Chairman Jim Pope on: 3374 4181) or email: [email protected]

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Brisbane City Council has announced an open day to celebrate the opening of the Moggill District Sports Park.

The new park is located at 3660 Moggill Road at Moggill. It will provide district-level sporting facilities for the entire Pullenvale Ward.

It features football and cricket ovals, netball and tennis hard courts, a children’s playground, an amenities building and viewing shelters.

An open day will be held on Saturday 9 February from 9am to 2pm.

For more info, visit the Council Website or call the Council contact centre on 3403 8888.