Progress of the Loddon Plains Landcare Network (LPLN)

Progress of the Loddon Plains Landcare Network (LPLN)
The LPLN, a network of ten Landcare groups, two Friends groups and the Wedderburn CMN continues to make progress towards the realisation of a biodiversity blueprint for the northern part of the Loddon Shire. Leah Cripps, the Project Officer for the network, has completed her work of gathering a tremendous amount of information from all groups and presenting this information in the form of maps, photographs, lists and written descriptions of the area of interest. This information will act as baseline data for assessing future environmental progress.
Funding for this aspect and immediate future planning has been provided by the Norman Wettenhall Foundation and the North Central Catchment Management Authority.
This baseline information has been assessed by a reputable environmental scientist and the Committee of Management of the LPLN. It is now planned to hold workshops around the area to involve the community in establishing priority projects for which further funding will be sought.
The network applied to house one of the newly announced local Landcare Facilitators and has been successful in this application. This Facilitator will work closely with the LPLN Committee of Management to assist in bringing plans to fruition.
Article – Michael Moore

Alison Pouliot Fungi Workshops

The Wedderburn CMN will again host two fungi workshops conducted by Alison Pouliot. These workshops are scheduled for Saturday June 2^nd and Sunday June 3^rd at the Parks Victoria office in Inglewood.

The Saturday workshop will be an introduction to the fungi world workshop and the Sunday workshop will be a more advanced workshop. Places are limited to 23 people each day, so please if you are interested let Michael Moore or Wendy Murphy know. Last year’s workshops filled very quickly with people travelling from all over the State to attend. There will be a small charge, but more details will be made available closer to the event.

Article – Wendy Murphy

Ballarat Region Seed Bank Workshop

Along with 6 other participants I attended an all day workshop at the Ballarat Region Seed bank and Seeding Victoria office and nursery located at Sawpit Rd Creswick. Four of the participants were associated with the nursery industry and the other 2 worked in public relations for environmental organizations.

The workshop topics were the collection, extraction cleaning and storage of indigenous seed. I discovered that all of these procedures could be accomplished without specialist equipment and that the most difficult task for me would be

· Accurate plant identification

· Determining whether the seed was ready (ripe) to ‘pick’

Dan Frost (our instructor) spent a long time discussing the concept of provenance and then gave us his key guideline

Only collect seed when you know what you are going to do with it and only after you are confident of its provenance.

Dan talked a little about seed orchards and acknowledged that there was considerable scepticism from academics as to whether seed orchards could deliver provenance.

Seed collection requires a seed collectors permit (obtainable from DSE) and then permission from the land manager of the area where you intend to collect seed. National Guidelines for collection methods are available at www.florabank.org.au

Dan talked about the Seed bank’s operations which have been wound down with only a couple of employees left. They used to provide large quantities of seed for half a dozen Catchment Management Authorities in western Victoria but the business has almost halted.

Dan now spends a lot of time investigating germination rates and advising customers who may be getting poor germination rates, on how to plant the seed and how much seed they will need to purchase for their project.

Article by Barrie Taylor

25th Anniversary Landcare Grant

The Wedderburn CMN was successful in gaining a North Central CMA 25^th Anniversary Landcare Grant to conduct works along the Nardoo Creek Walking Track. Dedicated community people have done work along the path in previous years, but due to aging volunteers and the floods in January, the walking track has become overgrown and damaged.

Works to be funded include plantings of native vegetation, track repair, weed works, a history of the walking track and a community BBQ. All this is scheduled for late March and it is hoped that many Wedderburn community groups will be involved. As they say, many hands make light work. This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase and improve a great Wedderburn community asset.

Article – Wendy Murphy

Fox Baiting Resumes

The Wedderburn CMN is undertaking fox baiting in the Wychitella Nature Conservation Reserve. FoxOff baits containing 1080 are being used. The blocks being baited are the Skinners Flat block, Wychitella block and the Wedderburn block. People are encouraged to keep a close eye on their pet dogs and to keep them on leads at all times if utilising the Reserve. The WCMN have been conducting fox baiting programs for seven years in these blocks primarily for the protection of the breeding malleefowl and the emerging chicks. Monitoring results suggest that fox numbers have been reduced and malleefowl numbers have risen.

Wendy Murphy is conducting the baiting and is keen to hear from landholders about their experiences with foxes including sightings and den locations. Her contact details are at the end of this newsletter.

Article – Wendy Murphy

WCMN Members at the Box Ironbark Ecology Course

The Box Ironbark ecology course was held again this year between the 4^th to the 8^th of October at Nagambie in Victoria. Six members of the Wedderburn CMN attended this well respected environmental experience. The following is a brief description of the course taken from a DSE publication followed by a report of one day's activities by a WCMN member.

Extract from a DSE publication

“The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) is convening the popular Box Ironbark Ecology Course this October at Nagambie for the thirteenth consecutive year.

Leading scientists and experts will come together to share up-to-date thinking and research about box ironbark landscapes in changing conditions, focusing particularly on the relationship between soils, plants and animals in these landscapes.
This field based course will emphasise ecological understanding and teach field techniques that improve observation and data collection skills.
“We are pulling together a wide range of people with diverse expertise across the spectrum of box ironbark ecology in this International Year of Biodiversity.
Topics to be explored include landscape management to enable ecological sustainability, biodiversity conservation, soil health assessment and management, and the impact of human use on box ironbark

Extract from WCMN member Report

On arrival we broke into 6 groups with instructions to spend 2 hours walking over a 300 acre Trust for Nature property south of Violet town, and make an inventory (assets and threats). Following this, all groups joined together in the marquee to pool results and discuss a management plan for this property.

We were oriented with a lecture on the theory of land management for ecological restoration.

By the time of the group session to consider actions appropriate for this property, all 30 participants had developed strong and diverse views. Because lunch and packup time was looming the passionate forum had to be shut down before any resemblance to consensus was reached. We were reminded again of the key point in the lecture of the need for an adaptive management strategy ie the management of the property must be constantly monitored and reviewed well into the future".

The following is a description of the history of the property and our inventory.

Over the last 150 years the property has been in turn a gold mine, a dairy farm and a sheep farm. Concurrently it has been a timber/firewood lot. A water course with large red gums lining it runs through the property. The rest is Box Ironbark country with a tiny patch of mallee at the top corner of the property. Significant regrowth is occurring in patches around old vegetation. The cleared part of the property is covered in indigenous grass which is very thin on the upper slopes. There is no real weed problem, probably because the soil is so poor.

Also our leaders suggested that the original pre European top soil was now completely gone so that the current top soil layer was really the second soil layer.

Another perverse inventory item was the dams. Healthy aquatic invertebrate populations were found in the dams and reminded us that the pre gold rush creeks were mainly a series of clear water holes. However we had observed significant overgrazing throughout the property and we decided that the permanent water provided by the dams was supporting excessive kangaroo and rabbit populations which in turn put excessive pressure on the fragile soil. Overall we learned a tremendous amount and this was only the end of the first day – a very worthwhile experience.

Article by Barrie Taylor

Box Gum Grassy Woodland Project still going

The Wedderburn CMN’s 3 year Caring for Our Country funding for Box Gum Grassy Woodland protection is still available to any landholder within the WCMN’s focus area. Over the past two years about a dozen landholders, both private and public, have taken the opportunity to protect, enhance and link Box Gum Grassy Woodlands and Buloke Woodlands. Works have included fencing, revegetation, weed control and rabbit control.

Much of this land was farming land, but after the floods at the beginning of this year, many of the landholders decided that these areas were better off being put to protection and enhancement of the remnant native vegetation, as it was too wet or difficult to work.

If you have Yellow Box, White Box, Blakely’s Red Gum, Bulokes or Grey Box on your property and would like to see it protected, enhanced or linked to other patches of remnant vegetation, please contact Michael or Wendy via the details at the end of this newsletter.

Article - Wendy Murphy

Spring firewood collection period ends

29 November, 2011

The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) is reminding Victorians that the firewood collection season closes tomorrow (30/11/11) in State forests and parks across the state.

DSE Executive Director Forests and Parks Lee Miezis said: “The Victorian Government introduced consistent state-wide firewood collection seasons when it abolished permits for firewood collection. Firewood collection seasons reduce the environmental and safety risks associated with firewood collection.”

Firewood can be collected for personal use from designated collection areas during autumn between 1 March and 30 June, and spring between 1 September and 30 November.

“The new approach to firewood collection is about balancing the needs of the community and the needs of the environment.” Mr Miezis said.

“The threat of bushfires over summer and the risk of damaging forest access tracks during wet weather in winter are important reasons why we have specific firewood collection times.

“Summer is our peak fire season and firewood collection can increase the risk of fire. Seasons also provide certainty to the community about when they can collect firewood.

“We also want to remind Victorians that it is illegal to collect firewood outside the firewood collection season in State Forests and those Parks where collection is allowed.”

Permission from VicRoads or local government is needed for the collection of firewood from roadsides under their management. VicRoads does not currently allow firewood collection on roads they manage.

For more information on collecting firewood on public land, go to www.dse.vic.gov.au/firewood or contact the DSE Customer Service Centre on 136186.

Eagles, Flowers, Reptiles, Insects!

The last “Nature notes” referred to “Birds abounding” well they still are! Recently, the Observers were privileged to join a small group of local people who were guided by a local farmer on a tour of his property. The purpose of the tour was to view three Wedge Tailed Eagles nests. All three nests had juvenile birds in them, but each bird was at a different stage of development. It is reassuring to interact with farmers who value the habitat and presence of these magnificent birds and the tour also highlighted the importance of preserving the large trees necessary to support the huge nests that Eagles use.

Green Mallee trees are flowering in profusion, which is providing plenty of food for insects and birds. The purple coloured flowers of the violet paperbark and totem poles has been adding some interesting colour to the bush as well.

This may be a very good year for reptile sightings. Already lots of snakes out and about, but also an increasing number of people report sighting goannas, of both varieties seen in this district. Both adult and juvenile goannas have been seen.

On a recent quiet walk across a paddock an observer heard an unusual and quite loud buzzing noise. Looking skyward did not reveal the source, but with careful tracking a large ground burrowing wasp was discovered, the buzzing noise it was making while building its burrow was clearly heard from several metres away.

“Nature Notes” highlights a variety of interesting sightings scattered over several weeks. Hopefully, the readers are encouraged to get out and about and see more for themselves too.

Wedderburn Conservation Management Network “Observers”

Link to the Loddon Plains Landcare Network Blogspot

This is a link to the Loddon Plains Landcare Network Blogspot

Victoria's Volunteering Portal - Wedderburn Conservation Management Network

The Wedderburn CMN has recently registered with Victoria's Volunteering Portal and will be making available opportunities for volunteering for various activities concerned with the conservation of biodiversity in their area of interest.

Wedderburn Conservation Management Network Volunteers

The Malleefowl Festival

mallee fowl festival photos

The malleefowl festival, scheduled to coincide with the Naturally Loddon Spring Festival, was held on Sunday 11^th September at the Town Hall in Wedderburn. This was the first time that this event has been held and proved to be a great success with approximately one hundred people turning up to participate in the fun of the day. School children took part in competitions involving painting and both model and mask making. The malleefowl boogie was performed and people were treated to never before seen film of malleefowl activity photographed by members of the Wedderburn CMN.

The Wedderburn CMN wishes to express its thanks to the many people and organisations involved in making the event a success including Wedderburn College staff and students involved, members of the Wedderburn Men’s Shed and enthusiastic local volunteers. The event could not have proceeded without funds provided by the Norman Wettenhall Foundation.

Article – Michael Moore

WCMN Vegetation Surveys

Vegetation surveys have commenced this year with Terri Williams of DSE helping out. Terri was involved with the initial setting up and surveying of the three different vegetation survey types the WCMN participate in, namely malleefowl mound vegetation surveys, (6 in total set up in 2008), kangaroo exclosure plot surveys, (9 in total set up in 2007) and 50m structure surveys in all EVC types within the Wychitella NCR, (approx 20 in total set up in 2004). Replication of these surveys began in 2010 and will continue in the coming weeks.

Data from the one exclosure plot and one of the 50m transects have been compared, but no malleefowl mounds data has been analysed to date.

A general trend so far suggests that there is currently more ground cover, ie grasses and herbs and shrub growth and canopy cover has expanded. There are less patches of bare ground.

Volunteers are most welcome to help out with the surveys. 4 Bendigo TAFE students assisted with a malleefowl mound vegetation survey in September, but there is more work to be done.

Another collection of vegetation surveys the WCMN have recently set up is in the proposed 256ha burn area in the Korong Vale block of the Wychitella NCR. 11 posts were placed in the ground at various locations with the plants within a 2m radius recorded. This will provide us with some data on species type and abundance pre and post burn.

Article - Wendy Murphy

Photograph shows Wendy Murphy and Lynton Schriever carrying out a vegetation survey

4th National Malleefowl Forum 29 July – 1 August 2011 Renmark, South Australia, Comments from the WCMN members who attended

Wendy Murphy:

A highlight for me was hearing from all the land holders who have active mounds, (sometimes several), on their properties and the measures they are going to to protect the birds ie fox baiting, goat control, habitat protection. This is often done on very limited budgets and often in their own time with little assistance from agencies.

Although there is great work going on with genetic research and monitoring of Malleefowl, very little is going on in regards to what constitutes good Malleefowl habitat, and why they live where they do. There seems to be one or two critical aspects as to why Malleefowl use particular patches over others which for all intents and purposes appear to be identical.

Thank goodness we don't have feral goats or deer. These two animals seem to be a major concern for many groups and individuals trying to preserve Malleefowl habitat.

Overall I thought it was a really well run forum, sticking closely to time, but allowing enough breaks through the day so as to not be an overload or become boring. There was a great array of speakers and topics presented. I was trying to think of other national forums which focus entirely on the aspects of just one species.

Peter Watts:

I found it interesting to compare the 2004 Malleefowl Forum which I also attended with the present 2011 Forum. In the earlier forum it seemed to me, from memory, that there was present a smaller group of enthusiastic people concerned with determining where they wanted to go, what they wanted to achieve, the setting of targets and showing interest in trying to ensure that relevant States were included in the common effort. The present forum indicated clearly that a lot of detail had been gathered since then. I was particularly impressed by the attitude of the landholders who had taken a genuine interest in the welfare of the Malleefowl on their properties and by the work of the Milton Lewis group. The similarities between the work of the WCMN and this group were obvious – I only wish we had a helicopter!

Doug Pocock:

We enjoyed the whole conference. One of the highlights was Taneal Cope's delivery on genetics and to see the progress she is making since she spoke at the last VMFRG meeting at Wyperfeld, October 2010. Her final report should be quite fascinating.

The papers on the role of fire were well presented and gave good information. They should be mandatory reading for the legislators who are so keen on large-scale prescribed burning.

Milton Lewis's information on using helicopters for searching was particularly interesting to me as I have been looking into the possibility of using this method for Wedderburn. One of the joys of a conference like this was to be able to network with the speakers. I had a long talk with Milton about his work and on the strength of this hope to organize a trial next April.

The presenters who spoke about Malleefowl conservation on private land inadvertently raised the question of the efficacy of fox baiting. One saw a large number of birds and later about 30 foxes. He then began to eradicate foxes (which I totally agree with) but missed the point that the Malleefowl were existing in large numbers despite the presence of foxes. Only a monitoring process would show if fox reduction is making any difference - Joe Benshemesh's constant argument.

Jan Llewelyn

As Doug comments we were both fascinated to hear more of Taneal's PH.D. study, both because of its intrinsic interest re the history of Australian fauna and because of its implications for the viability of the Malleefowl and for reintroduction of chicks to suitable but depopulated areas (perhaps Wedderburn one day).

I was also impressed by the study of the effects of locust spraying on Malleefowl nesting success near the SA/Victorian border - good news if the study involved enough examples.

Milton Lewis's (local CMA) extensive and well-thought-through search for mallee fowl mounds in western NSW was also very interesting, as were his unexpected and as yet unexplained findings re distribution.

Ann Stokie's (from Victorian Malleefowl Recovery Group) lateral thinking re volunteers, for nest monitoring or whatever, was also stimulating.

A very busy dense weekend - loads of information, discussion, listening, sitting still in a stuffy room. Lots of great pictorial stuff too, which was educational and informative for me.

Annette Robertson:

I found it very valuable to hear the reports from all states involved with Malleefowl. A very effective and informative way to gain an understanding of not only the distribution of the Malleefowl, but how, for various reasons their management and biodiversity priority is very different in every State.

States such as WA are suffering with declining numbers of volunteers (in the North) whereas in the southern parts there are several localities with Malleefowl as a high community profile with many schools and children involved with Malleefowl related activities.

Monitoring and the national database were stressed as a major priority for Malleefowl management in all areas. It was interesting to note how it is done by helicopter in NSW as a cost effective way, and by cameras in the Maralinga desert country of SA. VMRG presentation demonstrated a cohesive and systematic approach to monitoring.

I attended the “Nature Lovers” field trip conducted by the Friends of Riverland parks group. This was an enlightening experience with an all too familiar scenario of a group who have declining numbers and ageing volunteers however they showed off the bush with enthusiasm. It was a sobering thought for consideration that in the early 90’s this group engaged large numbers of local community members to assist with line searches for Mallee fowl. With many locals aware of location and habitat of Malleefowl, the numbers of birds shot and nests disturbed escalated. Today there are no active mounds in the area.

Lynton Schriever:

I found the conference interesting and informative. Considerable variety of speakers.

Of particular interest to me were the presentations by VMRG which related to activities that I have participated in, such as the Malleefowl Tracking in Little Desert National Park, and the collection of genetic material for Taneal Copes genetic research, as well as the annual monitoring that is recorded on the national database. I enjoyed the presentations by ordinary farmers speaking about how they manage the Malleefowl on their properties. They had important messages and expressed concerns about interference with Malleefowl activity when their mounds are disturbed for research purposes.

Wedderburn CMN Birdwatching Day

On Friday 9 September, 7 members of WCMN had a great day of birdwatching. With some strong winds and rather cold weather the observing environment was less than ideal, but we were quite pleased with a total of 37 species recorded over five hours.

Article - Annette Robertson

Peaceful Dove (heard) Galah Little Corella Eastern Rosella Brown Treecreeper Superb Fairywren Variegated Fairywren Spotted Pardalote Striated Pardalote (heard) Weebill Yellow Rumped Thornbill Southern Whiteface Red Wattlebird White-eared Honeyeater Yellow -tufted Honeyeater Fuscous Honeyeater White-plumed Honeyeater Brown-headed Honeyeater Tawney-crowned Honeyeater Jacky Winter

Red Capped Robin Hooded Robin White-browed Babbler Rufous Whistler (heard) Grey Fantail Willie Wagtail Australian Magpie Australian Raven White-winged Chough Welcome Swallow Richard’s Pipit Silvereye Pied Cormorant Brown Quail Australasian Grebe White-Necked heron Little Eagle Wedge-tailed Eagle

Peas, Wonderful Peas

The wildflower season was not as spectacular as expected this year. The early rains we had in January and February were promising, but the subsequent grass growth and returning dry spells meant the herbs and flowers did not do as well as last year. The exceptions seem to have been the bushpeas, and generally all the plants of the Fabaceae family. This family contains a lot of the really palatable species that rabbits, wallabies and hares love to eat and there is speculation that the bushpeas received some welcome respite from browsing because of the oversupply of grass as a foodsource.

Eutaxia microphylla did well along the edges of some of our creeklines and significantly increased its numbers and also flowered profusely. Swainsona behriana flourished in the grasslands to the north east of Wedderburn. Templetonia stenophylla was previously only found at one location in the Nardoo Hills reserve of Bush heritage Australia (BHA) around Mt Kerang, but was seen at 5 different spots throughout those hills this year. Indigofera australis was found near Buckrabunyule road, far north of its normal range that normally doesn’t extend much further than Bendigo. Daviesia ulicifolia was seen in dense flowering stands for the first time in 12 years throughout the forests of the Wychitella NCR.

Many herbivores love eating plants from the Fabaceae family as they generally are more nutricious than other species. They are a legume, which means that many of them use a bacteria to take nitrogen gas (N2) from the air and transform it into a digestible version. This is called nitrogen fixing. They also transfer this food stuff into the soils underneath and thus make this mineral available for other plants as well. They are therefore a very important element in the ecosystem and without them the bush wouldn’t function. So even though the unusual volume of grass growth has stymied the wildflowers in general, it has taken the pressure off the peas which in turn is benefitting the health of the bush overall.

Article and photograph - Indigofera australis - Jeroen van Veen

Loddon Plains landcare Network Bus Trip

The LPLN bus trip designed to visit three iconic wetland sites within the network’s area of concern was intended primarily to be a mixture of a social and environmentally educational event held to fit in with the Naturally Loddon Festival. At 9.05 am on the 11^th of September we set off up the Loddon Valley Highway with some forty assorted souls aboard a comfortable coach bound firstly for Bill Twigg’s farm – Nil Desperandum. Bill informed us as we went along that he and his wife, Gwen, had inherited the farm forty years back and that at that time it was in need of some TLC. The following years saw Bill and Gwen lavish much time and effort in improving the farm with special emphasis on environmentally friendly farm practices. The results were visible as we toured the farm. One of the jewels in the crown of their achievements is Bill’s creation of an artificial wetland from what was originally a dry flat paddock. This wetland has been created from scratch including the gathering and treatment of seeds used to create this wonderfully verdant environment.

We were also treated to a visit to Gwen’s refurbished pioneer cottage complete with fire burning in the grate and a realistic array of Australian memorabilia – an impressive effort.

After morning tea and light refreshments we set off further north towards Durham Ox and a stretch of the Serpentine Creek where the Maxted family have a fine homestead. Our host for this part of the trip was Laurie Maxted who has farmed for many years in this area. Laurie, a staunch environmentalist, regaled the group with aspects of the historical development of the area and indicated some of the thousands of trees planted on his farm. Upon arriving at the homestead half of our group boarded the Maxted punt for a cruise on the fairly sluggish water of the creek. This boat trip gave us fine views of the flora and fauna that make up the riparian habitat. Many species of birds were viewed and wondered at. A fine lunch followed – a change around of groups then we were off on the last leg of our journey.

We arrived at Tang Tang Swamp to be informed by Ian Hocking and Mal Brown that this wetland was ranked the sixth most important wetland out of four hundred in Victoria for the breeding of the endangered Brolga and one of five such aquatic ecosystems in the Loddon River catchment. The area is used by many species of birds and not surprisingly has a long history of aboriginal use. There is also evidence of early pioneer huts. Unfortunately, due to pressure of time we could not go into the swamp but managed to glimpse aspects as we drove round the perimeter.

The tour proved to be very successful with many favourable comments including, that it was informative to see successful farmers as living proof that profitable, productive, sustainable and environmentally friendly farm enterprises can result in the creation of resilient long term habitat and increasing landscape connectivity.

Michael Moore

Photograph - Mal Brown, three generations of landcarers

Friends of Kooyoora Activity - Erecting protective Fencing of Orchid Species

A very cold morning and an early start saw a good number of us meet at Kurting Silos. We had to wait a little while for Geoff Neville (Department of Sustainability biodiversity Officer) as post flood road closures had impeded his journey to meet us.

The site identified for the work was reasonably accessible. Geoff had perfected a fencing method for this type of environmental work and that was an education to some of us used to more agricultural forms of fencing. Some members were also pleased to learn about and use some of the more modern forms of fencing tools and equipment that made the job a lot easier.

A brief discussion over lunch and some effort to garner more enthusiasm saw us proceed to another nearby area to fence a much smaller site. Just as well, as we had to carry all the equipment some distance through the bush. It was amazing how quickly we completed the second fence, not only because it was considerably shorter than the first, but we had all found our place in the team, and knowing what was required got on with the job.

For those who participated, this activity was a sense of achievement. Taking positive action, to protect vulnerable and threatened flora from the ravages of browsing macropods. We have committed to monitor these sites and ascertain the effectiveness of the fencing . This activity also demonstrated the cooperative works between several agencies – Parks Victoria, Department of Sustainability and Environment, Wedderburn Conservation Management Network and the Friends of Kooyoora.

Annette Robertson

Malleefowl and Primary Students

On the 9^th of August at the start of the school day Wendy Murphy and I along with other supportive members of the Wedderburn community turned up at Wedderburn College for a day of coordinated activities designed to raise environmental awareness of the plight of the nationally threatened malleefowl. A small isolated population of these endangered birds inhabit some of the areas of bush around Wedderburn. Wendy and I were to be the introductory ‘act’ and depending on the age levels of the students Wendy would read a story or give a short talk then I would show a short film illustrating aspects of the malleefowl life cycle that Peter Watts (a WCMN member) had filmed in the Wychytella NCR.

One of the points that we were trying to get across among others was that there are quite a few endangered species closer to home than the whales and tigers of distant and exotic climes. In fact many were the ooh’s and ah’s when Wendy revealed the stuffed malleefowl in a glass fronted box, the only sight many had ever had of a malleefowl. The students asked many questions concerning the birds including why the birds were in danger of extinction in this area.

Depending again on their ages the students then went on to be involved in a variety of activities including dance organised by Thais Sansom in which they were encouraged to incorporate any of the actions of the birds that they had seen on the film into their malleefowl boogie. The day was filled with painting, model making and mask making all assisted by Margaret Holtham, Margaret Van Veen, Jude ------ and the student’s teachers.

Margaret Van Veen is to be especially thanked for her great efforts in coordinating this fine day.

Article – Michael Moore

WCMN host a visit from the Maryborough Field Naturalists

On Sunday 7 August WCMN were visited by 7 members of the Maryborough Field Naturalists. The Field Nats had enjoyed the presentation that Jeroen Van Veen had given to their meeting on the previous Monday, and the field trip had been planned as a follow up to that talk on the activities and works of WCMN.

The weather was not the most startling but at least the rain held off. Car pooling from Jacka Park enabled the small convoy to move efficiently between the sites. Firstly to the Korong Bushland reserve to show the Oleria pannosa plantings and seed trials, we discovered that a number of the netted plants had in fact died or were succumbing to some sort of insect predation or frost or disease. Wendy gave a good description of the history of the reserve and the WCMN involvement with it management in conjunction with Parks Victoria.

Next, the group visited the site of the Pimelia spinicens – Spiny rice Flower which was in spectacular flower and in large numbers on the roadside.

A brief look at the African Lovegrass nearby to demonstrate how it dominates where it grows.

The group also visited Wattle Track and were impressed with the large variety of wildflowers in bloom, particularly the Bent Leaf Wattle. Wendy gave a poster presentation (still fresh from the National Malleefowl Forum) on WCMN involvement with monitoring of nearby Malleefowl mounds.

The visitors provided very positive feedback following their interaction with WCMN

Annette Robertson

Web albums of the WCMN and LPLN

The Wedderburn Conservation Management Network (WCMN) along with the Loddon Plains Landcare Network (LPLN) will be making available for viewing many photographs that result from activities and works carried out by these networks. The photographs found in the albums on this blogsite and that of the LPLN have been contributed by members and wellwishers of these organisations. The albums are works in progress and will be updated through time.

Michael Moore

Secretary, LPLN and WCMN

Assorted Fauna of the Wedderburn CMN Area

Assorted Fauna of the Wedderburn CMN Area

Wedderburn CMN Gallery of Birds

Wedderburn CMN Gallery of Birds

Birds of the Loddon Plains

Loddon Plains Landcare Network presents: Birds of the Loddon Plains - photographs by Diana Womersley

Of Worms and Birds

Finally, the tracks have been identified! For many years the observers have noted the tracks of large earthworms seen on moist ground at the edge of a local unsealed road. Recently in the early morning they were fortunate to sight not one, but two of these worms some 500m apart. The road has forest on one side, and large trees on the other side with plenty of leaf litter providing good habitat for not only the worms, but many other important insects.

Bird observations have also featured this month. Studying birds around your home environment is indeed an enjoyable experience. It can also be exciting when a new bird, previously not seen from your kitchen window, is identified. A Spotted pardalote has been added to the Observers “seen around our house” list.

Many of the large yellow gums are flowering. The blossom attracts several different bird species. At present sulphur crested cockatoos are enjoying the flowers and associated insects. Their feeding habits drop plenty of small branches, twigs and flowers on the ground below creating quite a carpet. Casuarinas are also flowering and provide a lot of interest for smaller birds.

Orchid leaves are starting to appear. By carefully noting where many orchids were seen last year it encourages the observer to revisit the site more frequently now to watch for any developing orchid plants.

Attending the recent fungi workshop presented by Alison Pouliot has stimulated an increased interest and understanding of fungi species, and in particular just how many can be found in our area. It is exciting to anticipate the proliferation of fungi with the increased moisture in the environment this year. Be observant, look in likely and not so likely places and you will be rewarded with sighting of many of this interesting species.

Wedderburn Conservation Management Network “Observers”

Photo Caption: Large earthworm seen on roadside.

Vulnerable Birds Appear on the Increase

Slowly but surely the high rainfall over the last year and a half is working its miracles throughout the landscape. After a really good year for native grasses and a boom-year for insects, there are now signs the birds are starting to make a comeback as well. There were a lot of bird species suffering in the drought, especially in places where they had to compete for seeds and fruits with introduced and native grazers and browsers. 2008 in particular saw a steep decline in some of the most endangered bird species of the Wedderburn district, the Diamond Firetail (Stagonopleura guttata) and the Hooded Robin (Melanodryas cucullata), but now these birds are slowly coming back. It is too early to tell if they will make a full recovery, but the signs are promising.

Breeding pairs of Hooded Robins have been reported on the North, Northwest and the East side of town, whereas Diamond Firetails have been reported in little flocks in those areas in the district where the native grasses have been allowed to grow big unhindered. On this picture a small group of them is mingling with a flock of Southern Whiteface (Aphelocephala leucopsis), another species that is generally declining in numbers in Victoria. The photo was taken close to Mt Korong and it is assumed the large volume in native grasses in that area is contributing to these birds doing well. A continued rabbit control program at the mount should benefit these species even further as the competition for their food declines.

The diversity of bird life, or avifauna as it is also called, is a particular natural asset of the Wedderburn district. That our most vulnerable bird species appear to be increasing in number is therefore great news.

Jeroen van Veen

Weed Management Workshop

Weeds – Can they be successfully controlled by any one method?

Several WCMN members attended an informative workshop, Integrated Weed Management, held in Boort and hosted by Landcare and the North Central Catchment Management Authority.

The workshop was presented by Professor Brian Sindel, formerly from the CSIRO and now Professor of Weed Science at the University of New England. He validated a diverse approach to weed control, by research and case studies.

There is evidence to show how weeds have adapted to control methods of :

• No till agriculture
• Grazing
• Slashing/cutting
• Herbicides
• Continued use of one method by survival/resistance

In response to weed adaptability, Brian proposed the use of an Integrated Weed Management (IWM) approach which:

• Combines a series of weed control measures each of which places constraints on weed growth, reproduction & spread.
• Spreads the risk of control failure
• Allows component methods to be mutually supportive
• Employs combinations of physical, ecological, biological, chemical and genetic methods

What are the management aims in weed control?

1. deplete weed seed bank & stop emergence
2. suppress/kill weed
3. stop weed seed set
4. prevent seed addition to soil seed bank
5. prevent spread from outside

Three ‘secrets’’ of successful weed management were identified as:

• DIVERSITY – combine a series of weed control measures, each of which places different constraints on weed growth, reproduction and spread
• DELIBERATION – have a plan based on an understanding of weed ecology
• DILIGENCE – stick at it, as weeds persist and spread if ignored

Take home messages from the day included:

• Weeds must not be ignored, because of their impacts
• Weeds adapt to agricultural systems we create for them
• Understand the lifecycles of weeds and how they spread
• Employ the 5 weed management aims in co-ordination with the weed’s lifecycle

Article - Joy Hick

Home-made mouse baits put wildlife and domestic animals at risk

With mouse numbers increasing in the Wimmera-Mallee the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) has called on landholders not to start making their own baits and inadvertently put wildlife and domestic animals at risk.

DSE north west biodiversity manager Murray Rohde said home-made baits have the potential to cause serious harm to wildlife and pose an increased risk to domestic animals and pets.

“Home-made, grain-based baits don’t use mouse-specific chemicals and so they often don’t work on mice,” Mr Rohde said.

“Home-made baits often have a much higher chemical concentration to ensure the same effect as commercial baits making them much more dangerous to wildlife and pets than the commercial baits.”

“Grain and mice are key sources of food for many species, including native birds, mammals and reptiles, and some domestic animals.”

“Native or domestic animals that eat grain or mouse carcasses in an area where home-made bait has been laid are at risk of off-target poisoning.”

“When trying to control mice, the best way to prevent off-target kills is to use approved mouse-specific baits and to monitor the results.”

DSE advises that it is illegal to use chemical products not registered for the control of mice to kill mice and other pests and asks people to:

· only use registered mouse baits

· keep your pets away from baits and dead mice to prevent secondary poisoning

· monitor for non-target animal deaths when baiting

· report any deaths to the bait supplier and the Department of Primary Industries

· avoid touching or handling the carcasses and keep your pets away in order to prevent secondary poisoning

· report any wildlife deaths that appear suspicious – for example a group of dead birds lying close together - to the local DSE office or call DSE 136 186.

“Last year, DSE investigated several cases of bird kills in the Wimmera and a number were found to have been caused by the misuse of farm chemicals,” Mr Rohde said.

Copied from a DSE media release

Bountiful numbers of birds recorded in survey

Over the long weekend in March, members of Bird Observer Club Australia surveyed five sites in the Wedderburn area. A large list of birds were recorded, with some significant sightings such as the Diamond Dove sighted at Mt Egbert.

Birds numbers recorded at the sites are as follows:

Mt Egbert: 42

Private property: 73

Skinners flat reserve and orchid garden: 65

Stone quarry, Old Boort Road: 50

Korong Vale Reservoir 50

Total Camp List: 114 Species

Report by Annette Robertson

Photograph - diamond firetail

Indigenous group help in line searches for malleefowl mounds

On Tuesday and Wednesday May 23^rd and 24^th, I was involved in searching an area of the Skinners Flat Block of the Wychitella NCR with 9 employees of the Ngurta Werkitya Program, a group of young indigenous people from Swan Hill and Mildura, Rod and Leota from VMRG and Suzie from Parks Victoria. This block contained two known mounds, which luckily we located, (it would have been a bit embarrassing if we didn’t), and we located two unmarked mounds, which will become part of the VMRG monitoring program. It was a really successful few days.

Wendy Murphy

Malleefowl Mound Line Searches

On Saturday May 21^st, Fourteen sturdy souls participated in a malleefowl mound line search through a section of the Wedderburn Block of the Wychitella NCR. The day was jointly coordinated between the WCMN and the Victorian Malleefowl Recovery Group. Participants ranged from interested community members, WCMN and VMRG members, Parks Victoria staff and even a lady from New Zealand. The day began with an induction session on the monitoring techniques and equipment used by the VMRG when conducting line searches and how data is collected and stored. Lunch was had at Doug’s property before we all headed off to tackle the bush. The area chosen for the search had not been formally surveyed before so we were heading into unchartered territories! Because it was the first time many of us had participated in a line search, it was taken at a slow and steady pace and frequent stops were made to ensure the line remained reasonably straight. Some of the bush encountered was very thick and difficult to move through, but we were able to locate two unmarked mounds in the search area. These will now become part of the VMRG monitoring program. We had to abandon the search mid walk as it was becoming dark and cold quite quickly. Most of the group were to be involved in another search on the Sunday, but due to thunderstorm activity, it was cancelled.

The WCMN is looking at conducting these searches annually with the assistance of the VMRG and Parks Victoria, and any one who wants to take part.

Article - Wendy Murphy

Photographs of line searchers - Lynton Schreiver and Joy Hicks