Have you found your passion?
Our latest Bush Bites article is a delight! Written by Jim Butler, our own avian expert, it describes how his enthusiasm and love of bird life evolved into a lifetime passion and how he satisfies his passion these days!
We invite you to read Jim’s article – it may put you on course to help you find that special activity that also makes you feel happy and fulfilled.
Please click here to open the article.
© Dollarbird – Ed Frazer
… but hurry, there’s not much time!
This message is for the talented photographers of our catchment. They continue to captivate us with their wonderful images. They have taught us that nothing captures the essence of our natural environment better than a photo taken at just the right moment!
Queensland Conservation Council has launched the Queensland’s Natural Wonders Photography Awards to celebrate the power of images and the importance of photographers in protecting our natural world.
Anyone can enter. Awards will be given to the best photographs in three main categories:
There’s a special Junior Wonders Award in these categories for anyone under the age of 18.
Tickets are also available for the Awards Night hosted by Steve Parrish at Annerley on Saturday 6 April. Funds from the night will go towards the Conservation Council’s mission: “to protect the environment, wildlife and landscapes, conserve our precious natural resources and make Queensland communities more sustainable“.
If you have a favorite shot or time to create a new one, head to the Queensland Conservation Council website.
But be quick! The competition closes 8 March 2019.
CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA DAY is on again this Sunday and Brisbane City Council is encouraging us to get involved.
Every year thousands of Australians take part in Clean Up Australia Day, helping to clean up our local parks, streets, schools and conserve our beautiful environment.
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Friday 1st March |
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Sunday 3rd March |
Last year’s Clean Up Australia Day was a huge success with over 14,500 volunteers across 321 registered sites in Brisbane, removing an estimated 707 tonnes of rubbish.
Registrations are now open so let your family, friends and colleagues know.
To join the activities, head to the Clean Up Australia Day website.
Let’s make the 2019 event even bigger with more clean-up sites and volunteers than ever!
Our close neighbour, the Cubberla-Witton Catchment Network (CWCN), recently commissioned a report into fauna in Pullenvale Forest Park.
The report was published in December last year and it is gratifying to read about the amazing array of fauna thriving in the park.
Similar to the MCCG, the CWCN strives to restore natural habitats in parks and remnant bushland, protecting and monitoring native flora and fauna populations.
As the Cubberla-Witton team suggests, we recommend you visit and spend some time in this beautiful area so you can see and hear some of these amazing species yourself!
We extend our thanks to the CWCN for allowing us to share their report.
Pullenvale Forest Park Bushcare Group Fauna Audit Report
Appendix B Pullenvale Fauna Species List.
The Sugar Glider is one of many species listed in CWCN’s report (photo courtesy of Chris Read):
Australasian Bat Night is back!
Now in its 6th year, Australasian Bat Night 2019 celebrates the positive aspects of bats and educates people about the vital ecological roles they play and the threats they face. It is run by the Australasian Bat Society Inc.
We are pleased to report that two local events are part of the national celebrations:
CWCN Workshop: Bats and their Habitat – Saturday 2 March, 4pm-8pm, 47 Hepworth St, Chapel Hill
Bat biologists Dr Monika Rhodes and Dr Martin Rhodes will talk about different aspects of bat habitat. There will be a bat walk after dark during which participants can listen to the calls of local echolocating bats.
For information, ring
Jutta on 0407 583 441 or email [email protected]
Batty Boat Cruise—Sunday 12 March, Mowbray Park, Thorn Street, East Brisbane
Visit flying foxes near New Farm Park and watch them fly over at sunset on their nightly feeding expeditions. Meet orphaned baby bats on-board and hear educational commentaries about bats and the river along the way. Bookings essential. For more info, contact Wildlife Queensland on 3844 0129
For more information about Australasian Bat Night 2019, please email [email protected] or visit the Australasian Bat Society website.
Microbat filmed in our catchment – © Chris Read
Join Dr Chris Galbraith from Three Mile Scrub to learn about the history of this group and celebrate their remarkable restoration work which dates back to the 1980’s.
Brisbane City Council is hosting this event at Kenmore Library from 6.30pm on Tuesday 12 March.
Another guest speaker, Andrew Franks from Queensland Herbarium, will talk about condition assessment of urban forests and how to monitor them over time.
Book your spot through Eventbrite by Sunday 10 March 2019.
For more information, phone Jodi Rees, Habitat Brisbane Officer on 07 3178 1509, or email the Community Conservation Partnership Program team.
Do you want to make a difference?
Now is your chance!
A few weeks ago, Jim Pope’s Huntington bushcare group successfully planted around 380 native trees and shrubs in an area that was previously dominated by Chinese Elms!
This Sunday they will continue their quest! They have another 320 assorted native trees and shrubs to plant at Tuckett St Park!
You can be part of this valuable effort – come help us make a noticeable difference!
The working bee will be held from 8.30am till 11am on Sunday 24 February.
Please contact Jim Pope for more details on 3374 4181.
It has been 32 degrees in Brisbane for over 30 days in a row!
HOW ARE YOU DEALING WITH THE HEAT?
WHAT CHANGES ARE HAPPENING AROUND YOU?
We’re dedicating our March newsletter to stories about our current heatwave.
Please: tell us how the heat is affecting you!
Our Newsletter Editor Cathi Lawrence is waiting! Please send Cathi an email before 10 MARCH at: [email protected] It does not have to be long!
To get the ball rolling, we’re pleased to share Ed Frazer’s observations about the comings and goings of wildlife on his property during the heat. It’s a great read, accompanied by lovely photos – click here to enjoy!
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Scarlet Honeyeater taking a drink
(photo courtesy of Rowena Ricchetti)
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See also:
We recently ran a news item about our Huntington bushcare group.
In the space of a single Sunday morning the team planted around 380 native trees and shrubs in Tuckett Street Park in an area previously dominated by Chinese Elms.
A wonderful achievement and significant step in habitat restoration! However …
We also reported sighting a Dutchmans Pipe vine (Aristolochia littoralis syn.A elegans). This exotic vine is a known threat to the Richmond birdwing butterfly, classified as “vulnerable to extinction”. The vine was earmarked for removal but our Chairman and Section 3 Team Leader Jim Pope erred on the side of caution and consulted MCCG Landcare Advisor, Bryan Hacker before taking action.
Just as well he did! Bryan identified the vine as Legnephora moorei (round-leaf vine or big-leaf vine) and definitely NOT Dutchman’s Pipe! Thankfully the native vine remains in place and poses no threat whatsoever to the Richmond birdwing butterfly.
If there is a lesson to be learned here, it may well be to remind us of the wealth of information available within the MCCG. Bryan has over 20 years of experience in bushland regeneration. He is an accredited member of the Australian Association of Bush Regenerators and offers expert advice and information to the local community. We have similar experts in fields such as water quality and birdlife and we encourage you to contact the group for advice and information. Contact details are available here.
Note: we have removed the image from the original item and replaced it here, with the correct identification: Legnephora moorei (round-leaf vine or big-leaf vine) in Tuckett St Park.
Another remarkable MCCG achievement !!!
Last Sunday 18 volunteers from Jim Pope’s Section 3 Tuckett St Park bushcare group successfully planted around 380 native trees and shrubs in an area hat was previously dominated by Chinese Elms. Well done team!!!
Much of the area had been prepared by spraying with herbicide and mulch, and our Habitat Brisbane officer, Paul Devine had arranged for many holes to be pre-dug. Thank you Paul!)
A hearty thanks to everyone who pitched in, especially to Janine and Fiona for supplying the morning tea and Peter for providing the drinks!
Jim has promised to try to improve on the timing of the follow-up rain for the next working bee on Sunday 24 February. The rain was excellent for watering in the new plantings but it did rather literally put a dampener on their morning tea!
Here are some photos from the day:
