News

Another notable AGM

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Our 2019 AGM was held on Thursday 28 November.

The  new committee was elected in and we were all captivated by Dr Melinda Laidlaw’s talk on weed ecology, surveillance, priority weed identification and how to use the Weed Spotters App.

We are grateful to Melinda for volunteering her time and sharing her expertise.

The Chairman’s annual report contains a summary of the group’s work throughout the 2018-2019 financial year.

This year’s report is full of photos and really informative check-ins from the bushcare groups.

It features highlights of the year, such as Kids Day and the Photo Competition, and includes photos from many years ago which indicate the longstanding and continuing achievements of the MCCG.

The final lines of Jim’s report summarise the successes of 2019:

Overall 2018/2019 has been an excellent year for Moggill Creek Catchment Group, with lots of interesting and invigorating activities and talks and several new initiatives. Our bush care work was impacted by the ongoing drought but let’s hope that conditions return to something more like normal soon! In the coming year I’m sure that with the help of our enthusiastic members and volunteers, we can continue to grow and flourish.

Read Jim’s full report here:

MCCG Annual Report 2018-2019MCCG Annual Report 2018-2019 (7245 KB)

 

Please visit our Contact Us page for details of the incoming committee for 2020.

Will our platypus families survive? – Ed Frazer

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It’s November 2020 and we are pleased to bring you a second installment about Ed Frazer’s platypus family sightings.

Well, perhaps not so pleased, because it seems the drought is making life difficult for this platypus mum.

Here is the latest of Ed’s reports, regarding the second platypus family he is monitoring:

The female platypus with the den in the Goldmont reach of Gold Creek is having a difficult time. The creek is rather shallow in this reach and it is drying out rapidly. 

The pool outside the den is slightly deeper than most of the rest, but clearly the pool is not big enough to continue to support a family of platypus unless it rains soon.

 Platypus den in the Goldmont reach

I haven’t seen the platypus mother for several days but I know she is still active at night because of the clues she leaves.

As she enters her den she leaves a wet mark on the log where I have previously seen her climbing up.

 Print on a log left by the platypus entering her den

She also leaves paths through the weed patch that is rapidly drying out. The insect larvae she feeds on such as caddis fly, dragonfly and midges will also be concentrating in the damp weeds as the water level goes down.

  Food sources are starting to dry up

It will probably be easier for her to get food for a while as the water goes down with all the creatures retreating to the small area of water left.

But it won’t take long before that supply is exhausted as she and the babies which are due out any day will have to compete with others feeding in the same reduced area.

There is a large eel, a short-necked turtle, lots of fish and wading birds including a beautiful Intermediate Egret in full breeding plumage.

 This Intermediate Egret shares the platypus family’s feeding ground

 

Unfortunately the opportunist “Dump Chooks” (Sacred Ibis) have found the spot too. One came first about a week ago and it has now brought its mates. There are usually six poking around in the shallows.

 Ibis moving in, in search of food

Hopefully it will rain soon and all will be well, but I think it will be touch and go for this family.

She may be able to lead her young about 200 metres down to the Adavale reach where the first family are in a much deeper part of Gold Creek, but there are several dry parts sections that may be difficult for the young platypus to negotiate. 

Perhaps they could release some water from the Gold Creek Reservoir to help the Platypus and other wildlife in the creek if it doesn’t rain soon?

Do you know anyone who can help with Ed’s suggestion regarding a water release?

Photos are copyright of Ed Frazer

Family life – Platypus style! November 2019 – Ed Frazer

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We are privileged to live in an area which is so abundant in wildlife.

Each morning Ed Frazer checks out the activities of two platypus families living in Gold Creek. Their daily activities are fascinating and Ed has agreed to keep us posted from time to time with what these playful families are up to.

One of the females has two babies. Ed spotted them recently and noted that the young spent a lot of time almost out of the water, feeding under masses of dead leaves at the water’s edge.

Here is a great shot of one of the babies. Note it’s colouring. It’s much lighter than the mum who is practically black when she’s wet. Her babies are about half her size. You can clearly see the baby’s bill in the photo, which is very clean with no signs of wear.

The babies often play around near the den, diving and surfacing every 20 seconds or so and not staying on top for very long. This makes them very difficult to photograph! They swim in and out of the den frequently.

During one of Ed’s watches, one of the babies became a bit adventurous and swam about 50 metres up the pool, but the mum followed it quickly and they both made their way back!

Their burrow is only about 3 metres from Ed’s viewing point but unfortunately he can’t watch them going in and out because it’s on the opposite side of the creek and his view is somewhat obscured.

The shot below shows the den of the second platypus family. It is at the far right edge of the photo and Ed has watched the female enter a few times. She has a neighbour. There is a very large water dragon who lives the other end.

The water level is down about 300mm in the photo. The log is mostly under water when the creek is flowing. The dirty water is due to the platypus stirring up the mud when feeding.

Some interesting platypus facts: There’s a common misconception that the term for a baby platypus is “Puggle“. In fact, baby platypus do not have an identifying name: they are simply baby platypus!

The platypus is a species of primitive egg-laying mammals called monotremes. The female platypus burrows into the riverbank to lay one or two eggs. She keeps them between her rump and her tail to keep them warm.

After about 10 days, the eggs hatch and the little, bean-sized babies will nurse for three to four months. It is around the time of weaning that baby platypuses can swim on their own.

Keep an eye out for more news about the antics Ed’s platypus families!

Photos are copyright of Ed Frazer

Brisbane’s Wild West Calendar 2020

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DON’T MISS OUT!

The Brisbane Wild West Calendar for 2020 is now available!

These calendars are produced each year jointly by:

  • THECA (The Hut Environmental and Community Association Inc.)
  • Cubberla Witton Catchments Group
  • Moggill Creek Catchment Group and
  • REPA (Rural Environment Planning Association).
Priced at only $15.00

they make 

wonderful Christmas gifts!

 

To place an order, please contact Bryan Hacker by phone on (07) 3374 1468 or via email at [email protected]

Collect your purchase at 41 Gap Creek Road (by arrangement) or a copy can be posted for $3.00 by contacting Bryan.

MCCG is on Instagram!!!!

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We now have an Instagram account, thanks to the inspiration and enthusiasm of our very own Bec Bain!

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Gold Creek Dam on Sunday”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lucy Harrold’s Highly Commended entry in our Young Persons Digital Photo Competition

Just one of the photos you’ll see on Instagram!

To check out some great posts and more wonderful photos, please head to our Instagram site!

Lethal beauty

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There is a mighty bird in our catchment which uses “Stealth mode” to hunt its prey.

The male of the species hunts for small birds such as honeyeaters, whilst the larger female attacks larger birds such as currawongs, herons, pigeons and parrots. She also feasts upon reptiles and mammals such as rabbits, possums, and bats.

These predators have mastered the element of surprise when bringing down their prey.

Can you guess which bird we’re referring to?

To learn more, please head to our Feather Fascination 2019 page and open Jim Butler’s November issue.

AGM 2019 – Thursday 28 November

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The MCCG Annual General Meeting will be held at the Brookfield Showground Hall on Thursday 28th November, starting at 7.30pm.

Our guest speaker for the evening is Queensland Herbarium Senior Ecologist, Dr Melinda Laidlaw.  

Melinda has a PhD in rainforest ecology and since commencing work at the Herbarium in 2005, she has worked on regional ecosystem mapping, vegetation condition assessment, carbon farming and species distribution modelling.

Melinda also coordinates the Weed Spotters Network Queensland citizen science project.  Weed spotters are citizen scientists who assist in the surveillance and reporting of new and emerging weeds. 

Melinda’s presentation will provide information on weed ecology, surveillance and priority weed identification.

Attendees will also learn how to use the Weed Spotters App and how to collect and preserve specimens for sending to the Queensland Herbarium for identification.
Tea, coffee and snacks will be provided.

For more info, please email our secretary Kathleen Walmsley: [email protected]

Photo Competition winners

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CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU TO ALL 2019 ENTRANTS!

Here’s some fun facts about this year’s competition:

  • Did you know that this competition has been an annual event for the MCCG since 1998, making this year it’s 21st year!
  • We received a total of 56 entries (less than previous years)
  • 10 entrants submitted 43 quality photos for our open categories 
  • This year we decided to run the Young Persons (grades 1 to 6) category as a digital category in the hope of receiving more entries.  We were delighted to have 8 kids submit 13 entries between them
  • This year’s judge: Anne Pappalardo, president of Queensland Camera Group.
  • Head to our MCCG Facebook page and our newly established MCCG Instagram page to view entries in the Young Persons Digital category
  • Click here to see some of the winning entries listed below!

Here are the winners!

People’s choice

  • 1ST PRIZE:  Ed Frazer: Fruit-dove Colour Study 
  • 2ND PRIZE: Ed Frazer: Back Attack
  • 3RD PRIZE: Ed Frazer: Me Next

    • * Sponsored by The Pet Chalet

People’s choice Young Persons Category

1ST PRIZE: Liam Kelly-Crawford: The Matters of a Leaf 

* Sponsored by Cr Kate Richards

Chairman’s choice Open Category

  • ADULT WINNER: Mandy Watson:Eastern Water Dragon 

* Sponsored by Cafe Fiori

Chairman’s choice Young Persons Category

1ST PRIZE: William McConaghy: A Pair of Feathery Acrobats 

* Sponsored by Amcal + Pharmacy

Open category 1 – Native plants and Fungi

  • 1ST PRIZE:  Malcolm Frost: Dendrobium speciosum
  • 2ND PRIZE: Jim Pope: Brisbane Wattle (Acacia fimbriata)
  • HIGHLY COMMENDED: Malcolm Frost: Grevillea sp.

* Sponsored by Pisces Enterprises

Open category 2 – Native birds

  • 1ST PRIZE: Mandy Watson: Welcome Swallow
  • 2ND PRIZE: Anne Love-Hoskins: Azure Kingfisher
  • 3RD PRIZE: Peter Koury: Bird on a Wire
  • 4TH PRIZE: Lloyd Bullock: Eastern Yellow Robin
  • HIGHLY COMMENDED: Anne Love-Hoskins, Ed Frazer, Peter Koury, Ed Frazer 

* Sponsored by Kenmore Bridge Club


Open category 3 – Native animals (excluding birds)

  • 1ST PRIZE:  Mandy Watson: Parasitic Snail Blowfly
  • 2ND PRIZE: Anne Love-Hoskins: Fiery Skimmer
  • 3RD PRIZE: Alexander Davies: Clash of the Titans
  • HIGHLY COMMENDED: Janine Nicklin, Anne Love-Hoskins, Alexander Davies

* Sponsored by Dr Christian Rowan (State MP for Moggill)


Young persons category (Grades 1-6) – Our Catchment 

  • 1ST PRIZE: William McConaghy: A kookaburra taking a rest
  • 2ND PRIZE: Liam Kelly-Crawford: The Matters of a Leaf
  • 3RD PRIZE: Molly Nearhos: Carpet Python
  • HIGHLY COMMENDED: Aislin Kelly-Crawford, Charlotte Keddie, Lucy Harrold

* Sponsored by Cr Kate Richards

THANK YOU TO:

  • all our talented photographers
  • our Photograph Competition Co-ordinator, Beck Bain
  • our Photograph Competition Committee
  • our judge, Anne Pappalardo, President of the Queensland Camera Group
  • those who gave their time at Kenmore Village during display week
  • our ever generous sponsors:

Dr Christian Rowan MP, Member for Moggill 

Amcal + Pharmacy Kenmore

Cafe Fiori 

Kenmore Village

The Pet Chalet 

Pisces Enterprises 

Kenmore Bridge Club


Brisbane’s Wild West Calendar 2020

by

DON’T MISS OUT!    

The Brisbane Wild West Calendar for 2020 is now available!

These calendars are produced each year jointly by:

  • THECA (The Hut Environmental and Community Association Inc.)
  • Cubberla Witton Catchments Group
  • Moggill Creek Catchment Group and 
  • REPA (Rural Environment Planning Association).
 

Priced at only $15.00

they make 

wonderful Christmas gifts!

 

To place an order, please contact Bryan Hacker by phone on (07) 3374 1468 or via email at [email protected]

Collect your purchase at 41 Gap Creek Road (by arrangement) or a copy can be posted for $3.00 by contacting Bryan.

Seeding Success Forum

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Brisbane City Council invites bush carers and volunteers to the “Seeding Success forum-Innovation in restoration 2019” forum on Sunday November 17.

This all day event will be held at the Seven Hills Hub Community Centre.

You will learn about the latest innovations from technology, ecology and conservation industries which will impact bush care practices.

Bookings are quickly filling up, so if you haven’t yet booked you should do so quickly! If you have a teenager in your life please encourage them to come along.

The event is fully catered and is free. 

For more information and to book a place, please visit Eventbrite before Thursday 14 November.