Come along and meet like-minded volunteers as Brisbane City Council celebrates achievements in protecting and restoring Brisbane’s biodiversity. 

Would you like to see some extraordinary shots of local Kookaburras doing unexpected things?

Then take a look at our latest Bush Bites article by Ed Frazer.

Ed takes us through some of his early morning encounters in Brookfield, which are very entertaining and quite extraordinary.

Open the article by clicking here. It’s a great read – scroll down to see the Kookaburras!

This is an enviable way to start the day!!!

If you have a wildlife encounter to share, or would like to tell us about your favourite part of our Catchment, please send an email to: [email protected]

A MESSAGE FROM JIM:

Our July working bee would normally be held on Sunday 29^th July, but it has been BROUGHT FORWARD to NEXT SUNDAY 22^nd JULY.

We’ll do some more weed clearing and will meet at the extreme western end of Creekside St. park, opposite the bottom end of Stoneybrook St. 

I hope to see you all there!

The McKay Brook bushcare group usually holds its working bees on the first Saturday and third Sunday of each month.  

Unfortunately, due to commitments this month, our next Sunday working bee is scheduled for SUNDAY 29 JULY. 

This will be a morning working bee, commencing at 8.30am and we’ll be tending our Mirbelia Street site.

Please click here for all the details. For more info, please call Bryan Hacker on 3374 1468.

MCCG Chairman Jim Pope has shared some photos of an event which unfolded in his backyard recently.

We’ve added it to our Bush Bites series of articles.

What was it all about?

Perhaps this photo taken by Ed Frazer will give you a hint of the animal involved! 

Carpet pythons mating – Ed Frazer

Click here to open the list of Bush Bites articles. (Jim’s article is currently at the top of the list.)

Around 50% of the nests of the tiny Brown Thornbill are raided.

This enterprising little bird has developed some amazing strategies to avoid its many natural predators. 

The latest issue of Jim Butler’s Feather Fascination provides a really interesting insight into the life of the Brown Thornbill.

Click here to learn more! 

Whilst Mike Humphrey was taking a recent stroll around  Tuckett Park, he came across something else going for a walk!

The Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) is generally a solitary animal so it’s quite unusual to spot one in the open. Mike has never encountered one in Tuckett Park so this was very special.

You can read a short overview about Brisbane’s Echidna population by visiting the Queensland Museum website.

… is it a reality?

This will be the topic of the first seminar of the Northern Seminar Series (NSS), brought to you by the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland (WPSQ) North Branch.

It is the first in a series of lectures to be held on the first Wednesday of each month from February to November. 

The inaugural seminar will be held Wednesday 4 July at the Downfall Creek Bushland Centre, 815 Rode Road McDowall, starting at  6.30pm. The guest speaker will be Michael Day, Principal Entomologist with Biosecurity Queensland.

For all the info, including RSVP details, please check Facebook or open the flyer: {module_literature,i,189918}

Our Pacey Road group has been working together since 2011 with roving working bees on residents’ properties. Their initial aim was to restore the natural vegetation as much as possible by removing weeds and replanting with native plants mainly sourced from the MCCG nursery. 

These days group continues their quest, making steady progress and achieving noticeable results.

Visit the MCCG Facebook page to see some recent photos taken by Celia Roberts.

Note: The Pacey Road group generally meets on the second Saturday of each month. For more info contact Brian Krieger via email: [email protected] or phone: 3374 3789.

You can also see some background info and history by clicking here.

WE HAVE SOME VERY EXCITING NEWS !! 

Our existing pdf list of “Undesirable and Invasive Plant Species – National, State and Council” has been converted to an online field guide. 

Our new guide is in tabular form and it shows which weed species recognized by Country, State and City are known to occur in our catchment. 

It includes for each of them (with few exceptions) a photograph taken in or near our catchment, together with hints for recognition and control methods and links to relevant sources. 

It’s worth pointing out that many species we all consider as weeds are not listed in the source documents for our new list.  So they have not been included.  Conversely, some species which are not invasive, such as Oleander, are included (as they are listed by Council). 

Our next challenge is to provide an illustrated table providing local information about these other invasive weeds too!

Photos in the new list have mostly been provided by both Bryan Hacker and Ed Frazer, who are the masterminds behind the conversion.

Any feedback or additional photos you may be able to share can be emailed to: [email protected]

If you are able to pitch in, we would particularly love images taken within Moggill Creek Catchment of:

• Baccharis halimifolia  (Groundsel bush)
• Ludwigia longifolia  (Ludwigia)
• Lonicera japonica  (Japanese Honeysuckle)
• Impatiens  (Balsam or Busy Lizzie)
• Schizachyrium microstachyum  (Little bluestem)
• Nymphaea caerulea  (Water lily)
• Pistia stratoides  (Water lettuce).

You will find the new guide under the “Catchment Field Guides” option on the main menu. 

Or you can click here to open it.

We hope you find it very useful.