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