… the guest speaker at the MCCG Annual General Meeting on Monday 26 November is zoologist Dr Ian Gynther.

Ian is an expert in wildlife conservation. At our AGM he will share his vast knowledge on the Richmond Birdwing butterfly. His talk is titled “Conserving the Richmond Birdwing through direct intervention – a captive breeding and release approach“. SO interesting!

Please come and join us! Members of the general public are also very welcome. 

THE MCCG AGM: 7.30 PM MONDAY 26 TH NOVEMBER IN BROOKFIELD HALL

For more information, please download your invitation: {module_literature,i,194749}

… or phone our Secretary, Kathleen Walmsley on 3374 3671

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PROFILE – Dr Ian Gynther

Dr Ian Gynther joined the Queensland Government’s conservation agency in 1992, where he has worked ever since. Currently, he is a zoologist in the Threatened Species Program of the Queensland Department of Environment and Science.

Originally, Ian’s role involved conducting general vertebrate fauna surveys across South-east Queensland as part of a community-based wildlife atlas program.

More recently, his focus has been on reversing the decline of threatened birds, mammals and invertebrates, including the magnificent Richmond Birdwing.

The incentive to work on the conservation of this butterfly was provided by Dr Don Sands, who, along with the MCCG, laid the foundations for the project that will be presented in this talk.

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This is an opportunity to hear from an expert in our state’s biodiversity.

Note: Wildlife Queensland’s launched its Bring Back the Birdwing Project in 2018. Click here to re-visit a news item from earlier in the year.

We were recently visited by a team from the ABC’s  ‘Gardening Australia’ programme.

They filmed a segment on the damage to the environment done by Cat’s Claw Creeper (Dolichandra unguis-cati). 

The ABC team shown in the photo below is (from left to right) presenter (Jerry Coleby-Williams), producer (Neil Proud), the cameraman and sound engineer. They spent the entire day filming out at Upper Brookfield. 

Our very own Adrian Webb was the ‘star’ of the show, with our respected leader Jim Pope and the ever-inspiring Bryan Hacker in supporting roles!

We’re not sure yet when the segment will go to air, so stay tuned (literally) for further information!

Our heartfelt thanks to Council for their recent removal of several large Chinese Elms from Tuckett St. Park. They have facilitated a revitalising step forward!

The work was held up for over 6 months for reasons beyond our control, but we finally have a large area that will be ideal for planting with natives from early 2019.

In the next step, Habitat Brisbane will spray the area with herbicide and spread large piles of mulch that have resulted from chipping the Chinese Elms. Then we can begin restoring natives to the area!

Clearly this means LOTS OF TREE PLANTING in the early months of the new year (if the weather is favourable.)

Tuckett St Park is a beautiful parkland of natural beauty and environmental diversity. It is a little-known area offering ample recreational activities enjoyed and nurtured by local residents.  

If you’d like to contribute to this SIGNIFICANT REGENERATION EFFORT by planting some trees, please contact Jim Pope, leader of our “Section 3” bushcare group on 3374 4181.

Jim can also be reached via email on: [email protected]

The Section 3 bushcare group generally meets on the last Sunday of each month.

Deerhust Street Park is a small area of parkland between Gap Creek Road and Brookfield Road.

It is an area maintained by our Section 12 Bushcare Group, led by Mike Humpheys.

The diversity of wildlife within this small parkland is absolutely remarkable, and testament to the work of Mike and his team.

Deerhurst Street Park is also the site of a monthly survey by a dedicated team of local birders Jim Butler, Ian Muirhead, Kaye McLennan and Chris Read.

These official surveys are conducted according to strict criteria and the data is sent to Birdlife Data.

A Red-browed Finch, one of many birds seen in Deerhurst Park. (Photo courtesy of Ed Frazer)

Although the park is just 1000m long by 60m wide, over 75 different bird species were sighted during our most recent compilation of data.

Click here to see an overview of the project, together with the latest report (August 2018).

WHEN? This Saturday 17 November from 1pm to 4pm.

WHERE?  At the Cottage, end of Gold Creek Road on the Gold Creek Dam Reserve, Brookfield.

WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?  Brisbane City Council, in conjunction with the MCCG, is running a workshop on cane toad tadpole capture. Participants will learn about the construction and use of  cane toad traps.

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CANE TOAD CHALLENGE (CTC) is a University of Queensland (UQ) initiative that aims to facilitate the uptake of innovative cane toad control technologies. The initiative uses cane toad pheromones (baits) in conjunction with traps to achieve the large-scale capture and removal of cane toad tadpoles from managed waterways such as dams, ponds, streams, creeks.

Toads are toxic at all stages of their life cycle and predation upon cane toads can lead to the deaths of many native animals, particularly those which prey u[on frogs. Conversely, cane toads also predate upon many native species smaller than themselves, as well as competing with them for food.

As a CTC affiliate, the MCCG encourages members to attend the workshop and to support the Challenge. Coordinated implementation of tadpole trapping has the potential to dramatically reduce cane toad populations and alleviate the environmental impact of this toxic invasive pest.

Please RSVP to Phil Bird at [email protected]

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For more information about the workshop:  {module_literature,i,194077}

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For more information about the Challenge:

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CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU TO ALL ENTRANTS IN THE MCCG PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION 2018!

The standard of all photos this year was exceptional!  (* see note below)  

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OUR 2018 WINNERS ARE:

Supreme exhibit

• 1ST PRIZE: Ed Frazer  – Click here to see Ed’s photo: “Gee we look good”

* Sponsored by Brookfield Produce

People’s choice

• 1ST PRIZE:  Prue Cooper-White
• 2ND PRIZE: Tony Thulborn
• 3RD PRIZE: Ed Frazer

* Sponsored by The Pet Chalet

Chairman’s choice

• ADULT WINNER: Tim Desilets
• YOUNG PERSON WINNER: Alexander Davies

* Sponsored by Creative Futures Photography

Open category 1 – Native plants and Fungi

• 1ST PRIZE:  Ed Frazer – Click here to see Ed’s photo: “Morning Mist on Red Bottlebrush”
  
• 2ND PRIZE: Solveig Gillis
• 3RD PRIZE: John May
• HIGHLY COMMENDED: David Edwards, Solveig Gillis

* Sponsored by Kenmore Bridge Club

Open category 2 – Native birds

• 1ST PRIZE: Tony Watts
• 2ND PRIZE: Tony Thulborn
• 3RD PRIZE: Rebecca Bain
• HIGHLY COMMENDED: Tony Watts, Alan Hayter, Tony Thulborn, Lloyd Bullock, Jim Pope 

* Sponsored by Pisces Enterprises

Open category 3 – Animals

• 1ST PRIZE:  Ed Frazer
• 2ND PRIZE: Solveig Gillis
• 3RD PRIZE: David Edwards
• HIGHLY COMMENDED: Solveig Gillis, Ed Frazer, Ed Frazer

* Sponsored by Dr Christian Rowan (State MP for Moggill)

Young persons category 2 (Grades 8-12) – My Catchment 

• 1ST PRIZE: Alexander Davies
• 2ND PRIZE: Oliver Cooper-White
• 3RD PRIZE: Izzy Grigg
• HIGHLY COMMENDED: Alexander Davies, Alexander Davies

* Sponsored by Cr Kate Richards

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During the MCCG Platypus Survey back in September  Beck Bain had her own remarkable encounter with a platypus.

It took place in Moggill Creek, near Boyd Terrace.

Beck caught her experience on video. And better still, she has posted the video on Facebook. 

Click here to be totally captivated!  

Thank you Beck, for sharing this wonderful chance meeting with us!

For more info about the annual MCCG Platypus Survey, please click here.

MCCG member Richard Tumman provided the MCCG with some  free advertising in an ABC Radio interview recently. Thank you Richard!!

The purpose of the interview was to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Land for Wildlife program in South East Queensland in 2018.

Richard and other stalwart MCCG members including the late Graeme Wilson were original LfW members. Their passion for environmental restoration was and continues to be staggering.

Land for Wildlife is a voluntary program that helps landowners identify unique and often threatened plant and animal species on their properties and gives advice on how to help manage them. The program is iconic within South East Queensland.

To read more about Land for Wildlife and the remarkable restoration of Richard’s Wongaburra property, please click here.

 

It’s the best kept secret in the Western Suburbs !!!

Hundreds of votes have been cast this week by enthusiastic visitors to our display of entries in the 2018 MCCG Photo Competition at the Kenmore Village Shopping Centre.

Come along to the Prize Presentation Ceremony to find out who received the most votes!

The People’s Choice award will be presented at 2pm on Saturday 27 October at Kenmore Village.

We have so many talented people in our catchment! 

If you haven’t visited the display, tomorrow (Saturday 27th) is your last chance.

Absolutely worth a visit!!!