OCTOBER 12 EXPLORING ANSON’S BAY – HOSTESS JENNY BICANIC
We’re looking forward to exploring the surroundings of Jenny’s place; a riverine environment with bush to explore.
Address: 13 Melaleuca Street, Ansons Bay. Meet there at 10 am. Gentle walking looking for orchids and listening for birds. Room for camping.
Jenny Bicanic, 0427 041 581 – text only.
SUCCESSFUL DAY AT CAPE PORTLAND.
We welcomed the Mumford family and Geoff Shannon who I’m sure we’ll see more of early next year when he has undertaken to lead a bird watching activity.
WORK AT NORTHEAST PARK, SCOTTSDALE
Here, in Ross’s words, is what’s happening so far.
“Jay and I visited Northeast Park and conducted an informal survey of the weeds in what we could call the native vegetation parts of the park. We found arum lily, broom, holly (a declared weed), agapanthus, periwinkle, blackberry (a declared weed and weed of national significance), thistles, aquilegia, green alkanet, oxalis, flax, foxglove (a soon-to-be declared weed), hemlock, radiata pine and a crack willow (declared weed and weed of national significance – actually just outside the park but in Tuckers Creek).
Jay and I also met with Craig Wheeler from Dorset Council and walked around the park and showed him the weed hotspots. Some, such as periwinkle, are probably best to leave for the Council to manage. Others are suitable for us to deal with over a period of time.
Along the way we discovered that Northeast Park is a Local Government Conservation Area declared under the Nature Conservation Act 2002. I have asked Dorset Council what that means in terms of how they manage the area. I’m not sure whether they know, but I’m sure they will try to find out.
I met with the Lions Club on Monday evening and talked to them about our intent to run some weeding activities at the park. However, despite having different priorities, they are pleased that we are taking an interest in the park and we will keep in touch. Their main interest is in the front end of the park, where the barbecue shelter and associated grounds are located. Our main areas of interest for weeding are towards the back end of the park, including the fern walk that we visited with Debbie Searle a couple of years ago.
I have also been in touch with Wildcare to ensure we can conduct our weeding activities and be covered under their insurance, noting that our Field Nats Club is a Wildcare member. All good on that front; their public liability insurance and volunteer workers accident insurance will be applicable to us. There are limits on what we can do with chainsaws (not a problem really), we do need to do some risk assessments (should be fairly easy) and ensure volunteers read the risk assessments and be recorded as activity participants. I will keep in touch with Wildcare as needed.
The proposed format for our weeding activities is to keep them brief and include a social element. For example, 2-3 hours of weeding one morning followed by a barbecue lunch. It won’t all get done in one or two sessions, and weeding requires follow up to ensure any regrowth gets removed.
I’ll be in touch again to set some dates and tasks for the first session. Members and those who have already volunteered will be notified.”
GREAT AUSSIE BIRD COUNT.
The Great Aussie Bird Count helps BirdLife Australia have a greater understanding of local birds whilst helping participants get to know the birds on their doorstep. It’s simple….. there’s an app to download and you count the birds that live near you and enter them on the app.. You can do as many ‘counts’ of 20 minutes and in as many different habitats as you want.
Look on the website birdlife.org.au Download the app and we may try to do some surveys this coming weekend. The Bird Count runs from October 14th – 20th. Last year nearly 4million birds were counted
https://aussiebirdcount.org.au/
NOVEMBER OUTING – RAINFOREST WALK – MT ARTHUR.