Wedderburn Conservation Management Network “Observers” attend Outing with St Arnaud Field Naturalists.

A very frosty morning greeted us on the drive to Birchip where we met with members of St Arnaud Field Nats to tour the “Wetlands”

First Stop was Keith and Helen Barber’s property. The wetland area on their property was initially created by Keith’s grandfather and has received an environmental water allocation with the completion of the Wimmera Mallee pipeline. Keith had photographs of a wide variety of bird and animal species that use the wetland including plumed ducks and carpet pythons. We viewed his frog pond which has been one of the environmental considerations from the pipeline project.

Peter then escorted us to the Birchip Landcare wetland area which was nominated for a Landcare award this year. A most interesting project, illustrating use of a redundant bunker area, to capture water runoff. The community usage of the area and recycling of water was conveniently demonstrated to us by a truck wash in progress.

Lunch at Lake Tchum, where a committee member gave us a picture of the utilisation of the lake, particularly since it has been dry for years and has recently filled with water from the pipeline. We witnessed an Australian Raven take an egg from a plovers nest at the water’s edge.

Another Birchip Landcare member ( Dorothy) showed us her frog pond. This one impacted by kangaroos and rabbits, and intermittent available water supply from a domestic tank. She gave us an interesting historical perspective of past droughts in the 20’s and 40’s when her family had to walk off the farm due to lack of feed for too many sheep.

Mary Fielding’s farm, and neighbouring catchment dams provided yet another view of water catchments. The catchment dams on her property continue to hold water, however her frog pond had failed due to lack of tank water supply. The area has an increasing population of Chariot Wheel which is currently being researched.

This was a great opportunity to view the importance of water for biodiversity in the Mallee. It was also valuable to view the effects of the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline project and its political and practical applications for farmers and the environment.

A most interesting day. Annette Robertson and Lynton Schriever

Photograph - Keith and Barbra's frog pond