Up to 30 people responded to our challenge to join our Cane Toad Collection night on 9 March.

The purpose of the event was to supply the University of Queensland Cane Toad Challenge Team with adult toads. The toxins from the toads are used to synthesise baits which are then used to trap tadpoles.

Our Facebook page has a report of the night’s activities.

And to learn more about this groundbreaking project, visit the UQ Research Project website.

Our MCCG bushcare groups are simply inspirational !!

Members and volunteers alike just keep pitching in and – to their credit – delivering significant results!

These pictures provide evidence of the success which can be achieved with quiet tenacity and patience. They tell the story of how one team has nurtured the landscape around McKay Brook in the Mirbelia Street vicinity since 1999. Look at the habitat they have created:

Photo taken in 1999:  

Photo taken in 2000: 

Photo taken in 2003: 

This is testament that the future of our catchment is in good hands!

You can check our Facebook page to read about the latest achievements of the McKay Brook team in another area around Bozzato Place. 

Is there any chance can you help? The McKay Brook team is a friendly crew led by Bryan Hacker, which gets together on the first Saturday and third Sunday of each month. Refreshments are provided. Their next working bee is Saturday afternoon 7 April. 

We have bushcare groups who meet on weekends in other areas that may also suit you. Our Working Bee Calendar has all the details.

Photos courtesy of Bryan Hacker 

Brisbane folk tend to equate nightlife with The Valley  but we have our own active scene happening every night right here in the Catchment!

Whilst most of us are asleep and the younger generation is partying, there is an amazing amount of nocturnal activity occurring right here around us.  

Take a look at our latest Bush Bites article to learn more!

Red-necked Pademelon photographed at night with an infra-red camera (courtesy Ed Frazer)

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Note: if you have any snippets of your own to share with us, please send an email to:
[email protected]

Be part of Australia’s first nationwide citizen science waterway monitoring event! 

If you value our waterways and eco-systems, here is a genuine opportunity to become involved in the assessment of the health of our waterways at a national level.

The National Waterbug Blitz, funded by the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, is a month-long event to be held annually in October, commencing in 2018.

Every Spring, people across the nation will be encouraged to explore their local waterways and to identify the waterbugs living within them.

 

Waterbugs (or aquatic invertebrates) are small invertebrates such as dragonflies, damselflies, mayflies, caddisflies, water striders and water beetles. Each type has a certain sensitivity to pollution or water quality changes, so measuring the type and number of waterbugs in a waterway can tell us how healthy the waterway is. The MCCG used waterbug surveys as part of its own creek health monitoring initiative from 2011-2016.

During the National Waterbug Blitz, surveys will be conducted throughout Australia in October and anyone can join in! 

All that is required is a passion for the environment, a hand net, sorting tray, pipette and teaspoon!

Different levels of participation will be available, from 20 minutes to all day. The Blitz therefore caters for people with varying degrees of interest in our waterways, ecology, taxonomy and environmental monitoring.

Training workshops will be provided for volunteers and supporting info will be available on a national website (www.waterbugblitz.org.au) to be launched in April. 

All findings will be recorded in a national database via The Waterbug App (available from September 2018) to provide a snapshot of waterway health across Australia.

Specific event details will become available closer to the Blitz launch date on World Rivers Day, Sunday 30 September 2018. 

In the meantime, please view the flyer for detailed information: 

National Waterbug Blitz – Introductory Factsheet – 2018

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Additional Info 

• General info about aquatic invertebrates is available on The Waterburg Company website. 
• Melbourne Water has some very informative videos about waterbug surveys on You Tube.
• BCC provides Waterway Health and Assessment Training sessions throughout the year. See our Creek Monitoring Calendar for details.   

 

 

Here’s a wonderful opportunity to chat with carers from groups involved in the rescue and/or rehabilitation of injured and orphaned native animals.

THECA (The Hut Environmental and Community Association) is holding a drop-in session from 9am till 11am on Sunday 25 March with representatives from the RSPCA, BIRO, Wildcare, and Bat Conservation and Rescue Queensland.

They will be happy to answer your questions and chat about the wonderful work they do.

The event will be held at The Hut, 47 Fleming Road, Chapel Hill (opposite the Fleming Road shops).

There’s no need to book – just drop in!

For more info visit the THECA website 

Or check out the flyer: {module_literature,i,184355}

      

      

     

Images taken within the MCCG catchment courtesy of Chris Read, Vicki and Paul Campbell and Ed Frazer

In January 2018 the International Ornithological Union  identified a new species of Fairy-wren in Australia.

The Purple-backed Fairy Wren (Malurus assimilis) species was previously a sub-species (Malurus lamberti assimilis) of the Variegated Fairy-wren (Malurus lamberti), a bird (pictured below) which we are familiar with here in the catchment.

But exactly what features determined the need to create a new species?

The March edition of Jim Butler’s Feather Fascination describes the criteria used by ornithologists to identify the Malurus assimilis.

It’s a very interesting read – click here to learn more: Feather Fascination March 2018 

Western suburbs residents may be interested in following the progress of the Mt Coot-tha zipline project.

The Brisbane City Council website contains an artist’s impressions, milestone dates and info about the location and design of three zipline experiences, and – importantly – environmental considerations for the project.

For more info, please click here.

CANE TOAD COLLECTION EVENT FRIDAY 9 MARCH

Brisbane  City Council, in collaboration with the MCCG and the Cubberla-Witton Catchment Network (CWCN),  is running an ADULT CANE TOAD CAPTURE NIGHT. 

The purpose of the event is to supply adult toads for the Cane Toad Challenge (CTC) Team from the University of Queensland (UQ).

As CTC affiliates, we’d like to invite MCCG members to help gather adult toads in support of the CTC program. 

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WHEN?   Friday 9 March, starting at 5.30pm

WHERE? CWCN House, 47-57 Hepworth Street Chapel Hill (click to open Google Maps)

WHAT?    Barbecue from 5:30pm then out into the dark to collect adult toads.

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OR …. BYO TOADS

You are welcome to drop off pre-captured, euthanased toads on the night. Toads must be intact and frozen as per the guidelines below for correct toad euthanasia. Please be mindful that toads are to be caught and euthanased in a manner that causes them as little stress as possible. Wear protective gloves and handle them gently. 

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ABOUT THE CANE TOAD CHALLENGE

CTC is a UQ initiative that aims to support research and development and facilitate the uptake of innovative cane toad control technologies. 

The technology uses cane toad pheromones (baits) in conjunction with traps, to achieve the large-scale capture and removal of cane toad tadpoles from managed waterways such as dams, ponds, streams, creeks. The toxins from the adult toads are used to synthesise baits used in tadpole traps.

Coordinated implementation of tadpole trapping has the potential to dramatically reduce cane toad populations, and alleviate the environmental impact of this toxic invasive pest.

For more information about CTC, please click here.

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HOW TO HUMANELY EUTHANASE CANE TOADS AND CANE TOAD TADPOLES

Prior to attempting the process outlined below, please be sure that the animal you have is a cane toad as shown in the picture and not a native frog that looks similar.

IF YOU AREN’T SURE DO NOT EUTHANASE IT! 

The fridge-to-freezer method is the preferred way to humanely euthanase any toads captured as a part of the CaneToad Challenge. If you follow the steps below exactly, this will ensure that toads and tadpoles experience minimal stress. 

1. Toads/tadpoles should be placed in appropriate containers (e.g. plastic takeaway containers) and clearly labelled. The container should have a layer of paper towel or similar in the bottom to prevent the toads/tadpoles directly contacting cold surfaces.
2. Place toads/tadpoles in the refrigerator and leave them there for a minimum of 12 hours (overnight) to ensure their body temperature reaches that of the fridge.
3. Remove toads/tadpoles from refrigerator and quickly check for any response. Examples include attempting to right themselves when upside down and limb movement. If there are no signs of consciousness, place in the freezer for 48-72 hours to ensure they have completely frozen.
4. Once frozen, toads/tadpoles can be stored as long as required until collection or disposal can be organised. Frozen toads/tadpoles can be disposed of in the household rubbish on bin collection day.

 

PLEASE DO NOT attempt any of the following:

• Placing toads/tadpoles straight in freezer without first chilling them
• Placing toads/tadpoles in direct contact with cold surfaces in fridge or freezer.
• Hitting or use any forceful manner of euthanasia
• Removing the toads/tadpoles prior to complete refrigeration or freezing
• Any other euthanasia method (e.g. sprays, Dettol, decapitation etc.).

Failure to follow the recommended euthanasia method may result in cruelty to the toads and the possible removal of support for the program in your area.

We hope to see you on the night!

Creekside Street Park has a lovely play area for children, with wide expanses of parkland to kick a ball around or go for a walk!

Why not take the kids along for some fun on Sunday morning 25 February? 

You’ll find the park tucked away in Kenmore Hills.

And while you’re keeping an eye on the kids, you can help us out with some bushcare activities down by the creek.

For more info see our Working Bee calendar or contact Jim Pope on 07 3374 4181.