Frogs are disappearing. Declines in frog numbers have been reported around the world and Brisbane is no exception.

Would you like a frog haven in your backyard?

It’s not too difficult to create conditions to attract frogs. They need insects to eat, humidity, hiding places and a suitable place to breed.

And there are plenty of resources available to help you!

The RSPCA has some great tips for frog-friendly habitats. Head to their website to learn more.

The Queensland Frog Society website also offers comprehensive advice.

To read more about the decline of frogs, visit the Queensland Museum website.

Here are some colourful amphibians who call our catchment home:

 

Southern Orange-eyed tree frog © Phil Bird

Eastern Sedgefrog © Phil Bird

In response to the Corona Virus lockdowns and to celebrate World Enviornment Day on 5 June, over 30 organisations have collaborated to create Earth School.

Earth School is a website directed at young people. It offers a month of daily adventures (Quests) to encourage young people to connect with nature and their environment.

Each quest explains and challenges our notions of real world concepts like the t-shirts we wear, the water we drink, the trees in our forests or the food on our plates.

We’re never too old to learn! Some of the videos may even appeal to an older generation as well!  Why not check it out?

Click here to take a look.

A week or so ago a brush-turkey pecked at a couple of my (extremely hot) habanero peppers that were in a pot in my garden. The next time I saw it, the brush-turkey looked like this (see photo attached). Is this some weird reaction to very hot chilli, or have the local kids been using it for paintball target practice? Or perhaps it’s a side effect of coronavirus in birds. Since then the brush turkey seems to have gone into hiding!

A post by Jim Pope

If so, or even if you’re just curious, we can point you in the direction of a great reference website!

MCCG member Tina Heybroek told us about the site and she describes it as website created by “one little family with cameras and dedication”.

It has a wealth of info and GREAT photos on all sorts of LOCAL insects, including spiders, beetles, butterflies, moths, flies, wasps, damselflies and cockroaches.

There’s too much to describe here, so why not take a look yourself!

Head to the Brisbane Insects website.

Parasitic Snail Blowfly photographed in our catchment by Ed Frazer

 

Back in March there was a huge influx of moths milling around the Commonwealth Bank building at Kenmore.

MCCG member and honorary fellow of the CSIRO Don Sands is an expert lepidopterist. He took some photos and described the reasons for the amazing swarm in a post on the CSIRO website.

It’s fascinating! Apparently more than 15 different species were identified at the bank!

Click here to learn more!

Following the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions some of our bushcare groups are re-commencing on-ground activities. Group numbers will be limited to 10 people per group and will follow appropriate hygiene and social distancing precautions.

If anyone is interested in volunteering for working bees in their area, they should contact us at [email protected] and someone will get in touch with them to make arrangements.

Listen up!  For the next month or so you are quite likely to hear the call of an adult Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua) just after dusk or early in the morning.

Their call is a very distinctive WOO-HOO!

Australia’s largest owl is the the subject of Jim butler’s May edition of Feather Fascination.

This is a wonderful read – thoroughly recommended!

Please click here to open it: Feather Fascination May 2020

Remember, Jim is happy to offer advice about birding and involvement in local bird projects.

The Powerful Owl Project, run by Birdlife Australia, is one such project in which you are encouraged to get involved! Even during the current pandemic, there are resources available to help you.

For more information, please visit the Powerful Owl Project website.

© Chris Read

Have you been noticing all the butterflies lately? You’re not alone!

ABC News describes an “explosion” and “breeding frenzy” of butterflies and moths in South East Queensland. The prolific influx has been produced by our prolonged summer drought followed by recent rain.

Our very own Ed Frazer has photographed 2 beauties, which he has not previously seen in our catchment.

This is the White Migrant (Catopsilia pyranthe), a tropical and subtropical butterfly which, as its name suggests, is a very strong migrant. In some years immense numbers of White Migrants fly south, reaching as far as Sydney.

© Ed Frazer

The second of Ed’s second photos is a Macleay’s Swallowtail (Graphium macleayanum). This exquisite butterfly lives in moist coastal and mountain areas of eastern Australia, from northern Queensland south to Victoria and Tasmania.  It is very rare to see them in our catchment.

© Ed Frazer

Maybe you can put social isolation to good use and take a closer around! You may find some equally beautiful butterflies at your place!

Head to the ABC News website to view their article.

Although the nursery is closed due to the current restrictions, if MCCG members would like some free local native plants they are invited to contact Bryan Hacker.

Our Nursery is stocked with a wide range of trees, shrubs and understorey plants all looking for a good home, and free to MCCG members.

For a full list, click here: Grasses and other Herbaceous Plants

The list includes species which we have in some quantity; we do have smaller quantities of others so do ask if you want anything else.

Please email Bryan at [email protected] to arrange a time to collect plants for your property! (naturally we’ll be abiding by social distancing rules!)

Bryan can also arrange for renewal ($20) of your membership when you pick up your plants.