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.

Photographing butterflies is not easy.

In his latest Bush Bites article, Ed Frazer shares some tips about nabbing that perfect shot of an elusive butterfly … just like his photo of a Scarlet Jezebel below, taken recently right here in the Moggill Creek Catchment.

Head to the article to read Ed’s expert advice and cast your eyes on a wonderful feast of his latest butterfly photos!  Butterfly bonanza.

© Ed Frazer

 

Looking for something to fill in time while you’re indoors?

Head to the Brisbane City Council website and put your local knowledge to the test by doing a quick quiz!

And while you’re there, browse their website for have other boredom-buster ideas.

Check the library catelogue of audio books and e-books or be inspired by the Clean and Green blog.

You can also bring yourself up-to-date with Council’s Creek Catchments program, browse documents about Brisbane’s creeks and catchments or plan a visit to our many bushland reserves.

 

We have a wonderful Bush Bites article from Ed Frazer to entertain you whilst you’re social distancing.

Ed shares more of his trademark quality photos and some little known facts about Water Dragons, the animal for which our catchment has been named.

Take a look and prepare to be entertained when you click here!

Water dragon in Gold Creek – © Ed Frazer

 

Remember the “Where’s Wally” pictures from back in the eighties?

Well, Ed Frazer has his own take on the the theme!

Thank you Ed, for sharing with us this photo of a beautifully camouflaged  wallaby lurking in the grass ….

 

© Ed Frazer 

There is a lot to learn about mistletoe!

For instance, it is a parastic plant, known as a hemiparasite. It hosts mainly on Eucalypts and Acacias, from which it extracts water and essential minerals.

Mistletoebirds love mistletoe nectar and they are largely responsible for disseminating its seeds.

Many other birds in our catchment also love mistletoe nectar and the plant’s dense growth habit, which provides plenty of safe havens to call home.

Head to Jim Butler’s April issue of Feather Fascination for more facts – this is a very interesting read!

© Ed Frazer 

 

 

Need some good news and inspiration amidst all this uncertainty and sadness?

Here are some uplifting words and suggestions from Birdlife Australia’s CEO, Paul Sullivan:

 

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I am so grateful that no matter where you live, you can still see birds and take comfort from them.

Please visit our new Birding at Home page to find out how you and your household can continue to enjoy the beauty of our feathered friends.

You’ll find activities to occupy kids while our movements are restricted, links to our Autumn Birds in Backyards survey and Bird Finder, and information on how you can act to protect birds forever.

To help everyone who is now Birding at Home, we are also kicking off a regular live series on Facebook where our bird experts will be taking questions and talking about what we love best – birds.

The first event will be Backyard Birding for Beginners, hosted by Sean Dooley at midday on Thursday April 9th. Even if you are an expert birder, I encourage you to join in for a chat – and please spread the word to all the bird and nature lovers in your life. Sean is also keen to answer your backyard birding questions – so if you’ve got a query, get involved!

 

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Close-up of a local Cattle Egret – © Ed Frazer

The recent social distancing rules necessarily imposed upon us don’t necessarily mean we can no longer connect with nature.

Our Chairman, Jim Pope, offers some great advice here about reducing the spread of weeds at home while we are nationally reducing the spread of Covid-19.

And our colleagues at the Cubberla-Witton Catchments Network (CWCN) have extended MCCG members an invitation to join them in assessing the diversity of our local species via their QuestaGame Challenge.

Assessing what you have on site is a wonderful way of staying connected, a wonderful way of finding out whether our rehabilitation work is yielding results and a wonderful way of figuring out what fauna, flora and fungi we have in Brisbane’s beautiful west.

• Who can participate? Anyone who has a smart phone, ipad or tablet and knows how to take photos with those devices.
• Do I need to be able to identify my photos? No, you don’t! You can just submit photos.

Everything uploaded to QuestaGame will end up with the Atlas of Living Australia, so why not become a Citizen Scientist?

Download the free app onto your smartphone, ipad or tablet via Google Play or iTunes. Details on how to play can be found on https://questagame.com/

Once you’re set up, join the Cubberla-Witton Catchments Network Clan. The password to join is ‘possum’.

If you have questions or need some help setting it all up, send Jutta Godwin an email: [email protected]

Now is an ideal time to GET INVOLVED in SOMETHING DIFFERENT about SOMETHING TO LOVE and HAVE SOME FUN!!!

Our thanks to Jutta (CWCN’s Education Officer) and to CWCN for their invitation …. love your work!

We, as a nation and community, are facing the greatest challenge of our times.

In the interests of the safety of our members and volunteers and halting the progress of Covid-19, we have taken the decision to temporarily halt all activities.

Habitat Brisbane has advised that working bees on public land must be cancelled until further notice. People may of course still work on their own properties, but only as a family/household group that does not involve neighbours.

Our colleagues at THECA and the Cubberla-Witton Catchment Network (CWCN) have cancelled all activities, and the Brookfield Show, scheduled for 15 May has also been cancelled.

The MCCG appreciates your support of this decision and we wish you the best of health until the situation is resolved and our activities can resume safely.

 

If you love music and birdlife, check out this short You-Tube video!

It has some lovely footage which has been set to a cleverly crafted symphonic mix of Mozart and birdsong!

Quite delightful and guaranteed to lift your spirits!

Grey Butcher Bird – a bird with a magical song – © Ed Frazer