Like to get involved in some search and rescue?
Due to the recent rain (very welcome!) our McKay Brook bushcare group’s working bee on Saturday 3 February was cancelled.
Only 2 spots remaining!
Saturday 10 February: Nature Writing Workshop with Dr Inga Simpson
This workshop is part of BCC’s Community Conservation Partnership Program (CCCP).
This particular event has been very popular AND THERE ARE ONLY 2 SPOTS LEFT!
The workshop will be held at the Karawatha Forest Discovery Centre, 149 Acacia Rd, Karawatha,
Participants are requested to arrive by 9:15am for a 9:30am start. The program will finish at 4pm.
Please RSVP to [email protected],gov.au This is a catered event, so please provide any information on special dietary requirements when you RSVP.
You are encouraged to bring along your own writing materials, although there will be materials supplied if you forget!
You are encouraged to bring along your own writing materials, although there will be materials supplied if you forget!
Mistletoe continued
Late November 2017
The Brown Honeyeaters are back on the Mistletoe and it looks like the recent rains have encouraged them to breed again.
Brown Honeyeater feeding on Mistletoe
They are chasing them off, but I have now found the same Mistletoe on other Bottlebrushes about 100 metres away and the Mistletoebirds make quick work of flying between these bushes.
My curiosity got the better of me and I started looking into which Mistletoe species I was observing. I soon found out that Dr John Moss was the local guru on Mistletoes, because of his interest in the Butterflies and Invertebrates Club which he helped to establish.
The connection is that Mistletoes are the host of the caterpillars of the Jezebel Butterflies. John and another Butterfly enthusiast Ross Kendall have written a first-class book entitled “The Mistletoes of Sub-tropical Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria“.
Scarlet Jezebel taking nectar
From their book I have easily been able to find out that my Mistletoe is the Yellow-flowered or Long-flowered Mistletoe Dendrophthoe vittelina and it is the host plant for the caterpillars of the Scarlet, Red-banded and Black Jezebels and a large number of small blue Azure butterflies.
One of the interesting facts I gleaned from their book is that different species of Mistletoes are often parasitic on other Mistletoes. This sound reasonable as if the Mistletoebird has fed on one species and goes to feed on a different Mistletoe, it is quite likely it will deposit its sticky undigested seed from the first species and it might grow.
But how did the first species get to a new host tree?
Well, the answer might be that I found the Mistletoebirds I was photographing were attracted to the Bottlebushes to take nectar from the flowers and they could have seeds to deposit.
Now I reflect on it I think this all may have happened many years ago as these trees are about 35 years old and the Mistletoes look quite old. Probably they were deposited as sticky seed by Mistletoe birds several generations ago right under my eyes and I never noticed.
I am looking forward to photographing the brilliantly coloured Jezebel butterflies laying eggs on my Mistletoes so the never ending story still has some more chapters!
Waterway Health and Assessment Training – July
Location: To be confirmed
Type: Workshop
Organiser: BCC – Community Conservation Partnerships Program
Contact: Michael Thorley via email: [email protected]
Topic: Stream condition: Vegetation and habitat monitoring/Rapid Appraisal of Riparian Condition (RARC)
Open to Creek Catchment members. Date subject to change. May require RSVP.
Book now for Aquatic Macro-Invertebrate Survey Training
In 2015/16, Brisbane City Council’s Creek Catchment Program (CCP) introduced the Waterway Health Assessment Training (WHAT) program to provide catchment groups with regular opportunities to skill up volunteers for their waterway monitoring programs.
The first WHAT workshop for 2018 will be held on Sunday 11th March. The topic is Aquatic Macro-Invertebrate Survey Training and catchment members are encouraged to attend.
Aquatic Ecologist Natalie Toon will guide participants through the requirements and methodology to undertake an aquatic macro invertebrate survey in their local creek. Training will include capture techniques, identification of macro invertebrates, and how the results relate to waterway health. This is a fantastic workshop for those interested in monitoring creek health, and providing and protecting aquatic habitat.
When: Sunday, 11th March 2018, 9:00am – 1:00pm (morning tea and lunch included)
Where: 681 Gold Creek Road, Brookfield
Cost: Free to catchment group members
RSVP by 2nd March
For more info: email Michael Thorley at [email protected]
NOTE: Council provides five WHAT workshops each year. To see dates for the remaining sessions, please visit our Creek Monitoring Calendar.
Cottage Talk: Fungi and its place in the scheme of things *MEMBERS ONLY EVENT*
Location: The Cottage
Type: Event
Organiser: Dale Borgelt
Contact: [email protected]
Presented by mycology expert Dr Diana Leeman
*NEW* Online Butterfly Identification List !
We are very excited about the release of our latest online field guide: Butterflies Found within the Catchment.
The list contains some beautiful photos of over 70 butterflies, species names, info about each butterfly’s behaviour and suggested plants to include in your garden if you’d like to attract them!
This has all been made possible through the collaboration and generosity of Dale Borgelt, MCCG’s Public Relations Officer, and MCCG member and wildlife photographer Ed Frazer. Both share an interest in butterflies and a passion for wildlife photography.
The list is accessible from our “Catchment Field Guides” menu item.
Here are two small hints when you have the list open:
- Click on a thumbnail to open a larger image
- Press CTRL + F to search for a particular item.
Take a look at the list now by clicking here. It’s absolutely worth checking out!
A hint of the magic in our new Butterfly List – a Lesser Wanderer
Courtesy of Ed Frazer
Where did the Bullies go?
How many of us remember what a “Bullie” is?
Back in the day, flocks of Bullies used to soar overhead but this is a sight seldom seen these days.
In our latest Bush Bites article, Ed Frazer shares his memories of watching Bullies in flight back in the seventies, and he proposes his own theory about why they disappeared …
… and perhaps why their flocks may be coming back!
Click here to learn more!
Found in Tuckett Street Park: A tiny turtle!
This baby turtle was found emerging from a nest in the woodchips surrounding the childrens play area in Tuckett St. Park.
It seems that the mother had laid her eggs in the soft layer of woodchips/sawdust right next to the play equipment.
Some kids in the play area found the turtle. They carried the youngster to the creek and safely released it.
It seems remarkable that it survived given the number of children (and adults) trampling all over the area!
We assume it is a baby Brisbane Short-necked turtle, but perhaps someone can confirm that!
If you know the species, please send us an email at: [email protected]
A Tricky Feathertail Glider Release
In our Summer Newsletter, Chris Read kindly shared his story about the soft release of a Feathertail Glider family from his property.
The story has a happy ending but there are some surprising encounters along the way!
We have now published Chris’s heartwarming story in Bush Bites and we have added some photos to accompany it.
Please click here to open it. It may leave you speculating!
If you have a catchment story you are willing to share for Bush Bites, please send an email to: [email protected]
