The Friends of Sherwood Arboretum Association (FOSA) invites you to join one of their DISCOVERY WALKS IN SHERWOOD ARBORETUM!

There are 2 walks, both commencing at 9.30am on Sunday 27 October & Saturday 23 November 2019.

The Volunteer Guides of Brisbane Botanic Gardens will introduce you to the wonderful tree collection of Sherwood Arboretum, starting from the main entry at 87 Jolimont Street.

After this hour-long guided FREE walk, you can enjoy a relaxing morning tea with the Friends of Sherwood Arboretum Association.

The $5.00 cost per adult for morning tea supports FOSA’s voluntary work in the Arboretum. 

The numbers for this free walk are limited, so please RSVP to Brisbane Botanic Gardens – Mt Coot-tha on 3403 2535 from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm Monday to Friday.

Here in our leafy Western suburbs we have so many delightful encounters with birdlife, even in our own backyards!  Look at this colourful male Mistletoe bird which Ed Frazer found in the carpark on his property!

 

Celebrate National Bird Week by taking part in the Aussie Backyard Bird Count!  Anyone can join in!

All you need is 20 minutes, your favourite outdoor space (doesn’t have to be your actual backyard), and some keen eyesight.

For more info, click here.

Are you keen to raise money for threatened bird conservation?  Do you enjoy watching birds with friends and family while enjoying the Spring weather?

Then the Twitchathon is the race for you!

The National Twitchathon is BirdLife Australia’s Spring race for bird conservation. It’s a friendly competition in which teams of birders race to see or hear as many bird species as possible in a set time, while raising funds for BirdLife Australia and crucial conservation and research projects.

It kicks off and will run from 26–27 October in all states and territories.

To join the race, head to the Twitchathon website.

Azure Kingfishers in the Moggill Creek catchment – © Ed Frazer 

Please be aware there will NOT be another working bee along McKay Brook this month – the next working bee is scheduled for Saturday 9th November.

More information from Bryan Hacker in early November.

Hope to see you on 9th November.

Entries are due THIS WEEK for our Photographic Competition!

Anyone can enter!  We cater for the young and the not-so-young with an open category for adults and a **NEW** Digital Young Persons (grade 1 – 6) category for school students.

This is an opportunity to showcase your photographic prowess by capturing the natural wonders of our beautiful catchment! 

Adults must submit their photos, completed application form and labels in person at the Brookfield Showgrounds, between 10.00am and 2.00pm NEXT Saturday 19 October.

If you’re entering the Digital Young Persons category, you’ll need to email your photo by Friday 18 October.

For all the information and to download an entry form, please head to our Photography Competition page.

Get snapping and good luck! 

Everyone’s a winner really, with lots of prizes up for grabs and a display of entries at Kenmore Village from 21 October.

Test your skills each month with  Jim Butler’s Wildlife Identification Quiz!

You’ll find Know Your Wildlife towards the back of every month’s The Local Bulletin.

We will provide the answers to each quiz right here in the first or second week of every month!

So, do you have your answers ready for the November quiz?  The correct answers are:

   Butterfly: Caper Gull  

   Bird: Bell Miner

   Mammal: Fox

ps: If you need some help, we’d recommend searching our digital field guides! Open them from the side menu:

These alphabetical lists provide a wealth of local information about wildlife. They feature thumb-nail images which expand to a larger view when you click upon them.

Keep an eye out for next month’s quiz! 

WHERE: Brookfield Showgrounds!!!

WHEN: Saturday 5th October 9am-4pm and Sunday 6th October 9am-2pm

COST: $10 per adult / $8 concession (card holder) per day / children under 15 free

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• Interstate and local guest speakers – expert horticulturists
• Over 100 stalls of dedicated plant sellers and related garden products
• Organic and edible gardening
• Native and non-native plants
• Plant creche and variety of food stalls
• Entertainment for both adults and children
• FREE parking

For more info and to purchase tickets online, head to the Expo website.

… and so much more!

Our Spring Newsletter is now available online by clicking “Download our Latest Newsletter”.

It features an article by platypus ecologist Tamielle Blunt, supported by many other noteworthy contributions from MCCG members.

Bryan Hacker has nominated a significant tree in our catchment, with a description and photo. Take a look – perhaps you know this very tree!

We strongly recommend you spend a happy half hour browsing through the articles and pictures.

You should also read an online story about platypus tracking related to Tamielle’s, which was written by Beck Bain. Click here to enjoy!

We extend our very special thanks to our editor Cathi Lawrence, and to Jim Pope, Bryan Hacker, Ed Frazer, Phil Bird, James Butler, Beck and all those who contributed to this issue.

Back by popular demand! Join all the SPOOOOKY action on Wildlife Queensland’s fun-filled Batty Boat Halloween Cruise on Sunday, 27 October!

Cruise the beautiful Brisbane River and watch the bats fly out at sunset. 
Meet adorable orphaned baby bats on board.
Learn fascinating wildlife facts.  

Come dressed for Halloween – prizes for best costumes – young and old!   

 
© Jim Pope 

Queensland Conservation Council is holding a community  forum on Saturday 12 October.

This is the final forum in the Greater Brisbane Project which has been running for the past 10 months. 

Here QCC will share a proposal for Greater Brisbane Environment Advocacy Network (Greater BEAN) initiatives planned for funding in 2020. Your input will help shape the vision!

Their aim is to make the Greater BEAN strong enough to tackle the big issues facing the wildlife and places we love.

For more information, about the event please head to the QCC website. (Registration required).