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.
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
