Be part of Australia’s first nationwide citizen science waterway monitoring event! 

If you value our waterways and eco-systems, here is a genuine opportunity to become involved in the assessment of the health of our waterways at a national level.

The National Waterbug Blitz, funded by the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, is a month-long event to be held annually in October, commencing in 2018.

Every Spring, people across the nation will be encouraged to explore their local waterways and to identify the waterbugs living within them.

Waterbugs (or aquatic invertebrates) are small invertebrates such as dragonflies, damselflies, mayflies, caddisflies, water striders and water beetles. Each type has a certain sensitivity to pollution or water quality changes, so measuring the type and number of waterbugs in a waterway can tell us how healthy the waterway is. The MCCG used waterbug surveys as part of its own creek health monitoring initiative from 2011-2016.

During the National Waterbug Blitz, surveys will be conducted throughout Australia in October and anyone can join in! 

All that is required is a passion for the environment, a hand net, sorting tray, pipette and teaspoon!

Different levels of participation will be available, from 20 minutes to all day. The Blitz therefore caters for people with varying degrees of interest in our waterways, ecology, taxonomy and environmental monitoring.

Training workshops will be provided for volunteers and supporting info will be available on a national website (www.waterbugblitz.org.au) to be launched in April. 

All findings will be recorded in a national database via The Waterbug App (available from September 2018) to provide a snapshot of waterway health across Australia.

Specific event details will become available closer to the Blitz launch date on World Rivers Day, Sunday 30 September 2018. 

In the meantime, please view the flyer for detailed information: 

National Waterbug Blitz – Introductory Factsheet – 2018

Additional Info 

• General info about aquatic invertebrates is available on The Waterburg Company website. 
• Melbourne Water has some very informative videos about waterbug surveys on You Tube.
• BCC provides Waterway Health and Assessment Training sessions throughout the year. See our Creek Monitoring Calendar for details.   

Here’s a wonderful opportunity to chat with carers from groups involved in the rescue and/or rehabilitation of injured and orphaned native animals.

THECA (The Hut Environmental and Community Association) is holding a drop-in session from 9am till 11am on Sunday 25 March with representatives from the RSPCA, BIRO, Wildcare, and Bat Conservation and Rescue Queensland.

They will be happy to answer your questions and chat about the wonderful work they do.

The event will be held at The Hut, 47 Fleming Road, Chapel Hill (opposite the Fleming Road shops).

There’s no need to book – just drop in!

For more info visit the THECA website 

Or check out the flyer: {module_literature,i,184355}

Images taken within the MCCG catchment courtesy of Chris Read, Vicki and Paul Campbell and Ed Frazer

In January 2018 the International Ornithological Union  identified a new species of Fairy-wren in Australia.

The Purple-backed Fairy Wren (Malurus assimilis) species was previously a sub-species (Malurus lamberti assimilis) of the Variegated Fairy-wren (Malurus lamberti), a bird (pictured below) which we are familiar with here in the catchment.

But exactly what features determined the need to create a new species?

The March edition of Jim Butler’s Feather Fascination describes the criteria used by ornithologists to identify the Malurus assimilis.

  A Variegated Fairy-wren (photo courtesy of Ed Frazer)

It’s a very interesting read – click here to learn more: Feather Fascination March 2018 

Western suburbs residents may be interested in following the progress of the Mt Coot-tha zipline project.

The Brisbane City Council website contains an artist’s impressions, milestone dates and info about the location and design of three zipline experiences, and – importantly – environmental considerations for the project.

For more info, please click here.

CANE TOAD COLLECTION EVENT FRIDAY 9 MARCH

Brisbane  City Council, in collaboration with the MCCG and the Cubberla-Witton Catchment Network (CWCN),  is running an ADULT CANE TOAD CAPTURE NIGHT. 

The purpose of the event is to supply adult toads for the Cane Toad Challenge (CTC) Team from the University of Queensland (UQ).

As CTC affiliates, we’d like to invite MCCG members to help gather adult toads in support of the CTC program. 

WHEN?   Friday 9 March, starting at 5.30pm

WHERE? CWCN House, 47-57 Hepworth Street Chapel Hill (click to open Google Maps)

WHAT?    Barbecue from 5:30pm then out into the dark to collect adult toads.

OR …. BYO TOADS

You are welcome to drop off pre-captured, euthanased toads on the night. Toads must be intact and frozen as per the guidelines below for correct toad euthanasia. Please be mindful that toads are to be caught and euthanased in a manner that causes them as little stress as possible. Wear protective gloves and handle them gently. 

ABOUT THE CANE TOAD CHALLENGE

CTC is a UQ initiative that aims to support research and development and facilitate the uptake of innovative cane toad control technologies. 

The technology 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. The toxins from the adult toads are used to synthesise baits used in tadpole traps.

Coordinated implementation of tadpole trapping has the potential to dramatically reduce cane toad populations, and alleviate the environmental impact of this toxic invasive pest.

For more information about CTC, please click here.

HOW TO HUMANELY EUTHANASE CANE TOADS AND CANE TOAD TADPOLES

Prior to attempting the process outlined below, please be sure that the animal you have is a cane toad as shown in the picture and not a native frog that looks similar.

IF YOU AREN’T SURE DO NOT EUTHANASE IT! 

The fridge-to-freezer method is the preferred way to humanely euthanase any toads captured as a part of the CaneToad Challenge. If you follow the steps below exactly, this will ensure that toads and tadpoles experience minimal stress. 

1. Toads/tadpoles should be placed in appropriate containers (e.g. plastic takeaway containers) and clearly labelled. The container should have a layer of paper towel or similar in the bottom to prevent the toads/tadpoles directly contacting cold surfaces.
2. Place toads/tadpoles in the refrigerator and leave them there for a minimum of 12 hours (overnight) to ensure their body temperature reaches that of the fridge.
3. Remove toads/tadpoles from refrigerator and quickly check for any response. Examples include attempting to right themselves when upside down and limb movement. If there are no signs of consciousness, place in the freezer for 48-72 hours to ensure they have completely frozen.
4. Once frozen, toads/tadpoles can be stored as long as required until collection or disposal can be organised. Frozen toads/tadpoles can be disposed of in the household rubbish on bin collection day.

PLEASE DO NOT attempt any of the following:

• Placing toads/tadpoles straight in freezer without first chilling them
• Placing toads/tadpoles in direct contact with cold surfaces in fridge or freezer.
• Hitting or use any forceful manner of euthanasia
• Removing the toads/tadpoles prior to complete refrigeration or freezing
• Any other euthanasia method (e.g. sprays, Dettol, decapitation etc.).

Failure to follow the recommended euthanasia method may result in cruelty to the toads and the possible removal of support for the program in your area.

We hope to see you on the night!