A.G.M.

Our AGM was held in Bridport on a sunny day and all 25 people were in good spirits to welcome Ian Thomas as guest speaker. Ian joined us for lunch and decided we were friendly enough to consider joining us on the occasional outing.

 He wasn’t the only popular person on the day – we were delighted when Myles Clarke offered to fill the gap of Treasurer left by Sue Wilson. She served as Treasurer with diligence and competence and we all appreciate that. Thankyou for volunteering Myles.

 It was special to see Adrian Astley again after a bout of ill health, and hopefully we’ll see him more often, especially if we can get to the east coast more.

 I thought it would be a good time now, at the beginning of a new field nats year to tidy up the email list, so if you would like to stop receiving my emails, please just let me know.

 We have 25 people who have paid their subs for the new year, [maybe more by now] so it’s appropriate to remind those who weren’t at the AGM and who wish to maintain membership, here are the details to do it on-line and don’t forget to put your name on the transaction.

 N-E Tasmanian Field Naturalists

BSB: 633 000

Account number: 128381860

$20 single, $30 families.

 

 Next Outing:  Waterhouse Conservation Area – 9th September 2023.

This will be in the form of a moderate grade 5km walk from Blizzards Landing to Ranson’s Beach on an inland route via One Tree Hill. It will be a bit scrubby in places.

Please make sure boots are clean to guard against transmission of the root rot fungus. Give soles a scrub with methylated spirits.[a use for your old toothbrush]

 Meet at 10am at the junction of Waterhouse and Homestead Roads, 27 Kilometres east of Bridport.

Leader: Mike Douglas. 63561243

 A win for the birds

It was reported in The Advertiser [May 24] that a suite of 20 new accommodation units was planned as an extension to the Barnbougle Golf Dunes.  As a result of input from members of the public who are nature lovers, the developer has agreed to relocate the power line that was planned to have been erected over the Trent Water just upstream from the Fish Farm. The power will now be carried through the property alongside the proposed internal road network. A brilliant result !

 This will protect the flourishing waterbird population and enable them to continue feeding in the area unthreatened. The area in question consists of rocky patches interspersed with weed. When the tide is low, both outgoing and incoming, it is teeming with small fish, and is a favourite place for cormorants, pelicans and white faced herons to feed.

 The Trent Water is visited daily by White Bellied sea eagles, which also perch for long periods nearby.  It looks as though a couple of Royal Spoonbills have made Trent Water their home this year; they can be seen sweeping their long black spoon-shaped bills from side to side through the watery mud, sifting it for small fish and crabs.

 Residents have noted Owls hunting at night and the endangered Masked Owl has been photographed in the vicinity. The Nankeen Night Heron leaves its daytime roosting spots and flies to the Trent Water to fish at dusk.  This is a high priority feeding habitat that has been protected.

 

See you Saturday.

Lou Brooker,

Secretary.