Lanscape Connectivity - A Talk by Dr Jim Radford

There has been much attention on habitat fragmentation and the need to‘re- connect landscapes’ if we are going to conserve biodiversity. This topic of remedying fragmentation of habitat has been at the heart of many of the actions carried out by the Wedderburn CMN over the last six years of its existence and is also of concern to the members of the newly formed Loddon Plains Landcare Network. It seemed appropriate then to invite Dr Jim Radford, of Deakin University and Bush Heritage Australia, an acknowledged expert in this field to give a talk on the subject. The talk, held at Serpentine Bowls club, was attended by members of various landcare groups and members of the Wedderburn CMN.
The talk focused on landscape connectivity, and aimed to stimulate discussion on some key questions such as: What is landscape connectivity and why is it important? How can we increase connectivity at the large spatial scale?
Dr Radford provided much insight into possible answers to questions such as these and others raised by members of the audience. Significant comments included - more emphasis needs to be placed on restoring resilient ecosystems - improving ecosystems may take many forms including revegetation - concentration should be upon building and connecting habitats – we should conserve and enhance what we already have. The talk also highlighted the danger of efforts which only added vegetation to the environment without adequate thought for actual habitat building. This was an educational experience.
Michael Moore

Bush Tender Programme in WCMN Area

The Bush Tender programme is a programme designed to protect and enhance native vegetation by paying for landholder services that better manage native vegetation on private land. This scheme has proved very successful in various parts of Victoria and has been extended to include the area shown in the map given. Approximately $1 million dollars is available for landholder payments across this Bush Tender bidding round in the project area. The scheme provides the opportunity for landholders to generate alternative income and benefit the environment at the same time. Landholders who have native vegetation on their land can nominate their own price in a competitive tender in return for providing services to protect such vegetation. Services can include such things as fencing off remnant vegetation, controlling of pest species threatening the wellbeing of native vegetation and the planting of native understory. Bids submitted for payment for services will be judged upon the basis of best value for money in environmental terms i.e. the lowest bids may not always be successful. More information on this environmentally valuable programme can be obtained by contacting the Department of Sustainability and Environment – ph 136186

Summary of a publication by DSE - Michael Moore

Native Orchid Talk

On October 5th the Wedderburn CMN were lucky enough to have Geoff Neville from DSE Bendigo come and talk to a small group about the native orchids of the Wedderburn and surrounding areas. Numbers were a little disappointing for someone with such knowledge as Geoff presenting, but I’m sure those who were there found the talk very informative and learned something from it. Geoff introduced us to the 12 native orchids which have received funding for him to carry out conservation works on and where each could be found, some of the conservation works that were happening for the orchids and perhaps most interesting of all, the works being done on trying to discover and learn more about the pollinators for each orchid species. Thanks to Geoff for giving up his evening during a very busy time of the year for his work and thanks also to Dave & Deanna from the Wedderburn Milk Bar who provided the group with a beautiful array of sandwiches, slices and fruit platters.

Wendy Murphy

Visitor from Malleefowl Preservation Group WA

On Thursday 22nd October members of the Wedderburn CMN attended an informative presentation on the work of the Malleefowl Preservation Group based in Ongerup WA. Susanne Dennings who is the group`s environmental projects coordinator shared her group`s experiences in their efforts to conserve malleefowl in that part of the country. We were informed that this grass roots group which prides itself on getting things done boasts a membership of over six hundred with the majority being farmers. There are however members from many other walks of life. The group have participated in a number of activities akin to those carried out by the Wedderburn CMN such as fencing off of native vegetation, the creation of wildlife corridors, fox baiting to reduce predation by foxes and monitoring of malleefowl mounds. The group has developed a novel means of surveying areas of bush for malleefowl mounds which involves up to twenty five people in a line moving through the bush in a coordinated fashion. The group has surveyed large tracts of bush using this human chain method. Raising public awareness has been achieved by means of displays and activities at their community owned environmental centre, which has proved to be a great tourist attraction, and a primary school education programme which has to date involved over one hundred schools in WA. It has been decided that both groups will at least maintain contact in the future through exchange of information and ideas via websites and newsletters. The possibility of exchange of personnel was also discussed. The fine results achieved by this group in conservation of malleeefowl is attributable to the tremendous work done by a concerned, committed and enthusiastic community.

Michael Moore

WCMN "Observer" attends Box-Ironbark Course

In early October I attended this intensive five day course at Nagambie. A considerable amount of valuable and most interesting information was provided by presenters, who willingly shared their extensive knowledge and experience in their field of expertise. The majority of sessions were held in the field which was a most effective learning environment. The introductory sessions covered the broader aspects of geology, soils, flora and fauna of the box ironbark area. Participants were provided with an opportunity to move through elective areas of interest and learn further skills such as soil sampling, vegetation assessment, fauna habitat assessment and invertebrate sampling. Participants were encouraged to identify and understand natural patterns in the landscapes of different Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVC ) – Creek line, Grassy Woodland, Box Ironbark Forest, Heathy Dry Woodland, Hillcrest/Granitic Hills and herb-rich woodlands. Opportunities were also provided to consider the impacts of human intervention over time, such as extensive mining that has occurred, and the management of ecological burning in forest areas. Having completed the course I have gained valuable knowledge relevant to observing and recording the biodiversity of our area. I am looking forward to putting all this new found knowledge into practice.

Annette Robertson

Wildflower Show

Friends of Kooyoora Wildflower Show

On Saturday 19th Sept and Sunday 20th Sept the Wedderburn CMN were involved with having an information display at the Friends of Kooyoora Wildflower Show at Rheola. The Friends of Kooyoora must be congratulated on running such an informative and innovative event and thank-you to the Wedderburn CMN volunteers who manned the display. The Wedderburn CMN certainly appreciates being allowed to have a display at the Show to promote our group and show the wider community what we are about and the wide range of conservation works we do. On the Sunday I took 17 enthusiastic people on a bus tour of some of the Wedderburn CMN’s work sites including past and present revegetation sites, a kangaroo exclosure plot and an ecological thinning trial. There was a lot of interest in what was happening and much discussion generated amongst the group as to why works were being done and what the outcomes would be. Thank-you must go to Suzie from Parks Victoria for her input and also to Howard for the use of his bus.

Wendy Murphy

Nature Notes for August / September

Spring is in the air. Our natural environment is certainly indicating this at present. Yes, there are the obvious displays of bright yellow wattle, but have you seen a leopard (orchid) yet? Our members have been down at ground level photographing and recording numerous different local orchids that are prolific now, particularly greenhoods and blue caladenia.
The birds are also getting excited about spring. Families of white winged choughs are constructing their mud nests, Pardalotes are singing and dancing with outstretched wings, crested pigeons, galahs and magpies have all been seen in flight carrying nesting materials. An encounter with a white fronted chat saw the small bird mimicking an injury or broken wing, a clever deception to distract the intruder from young birds in its nest.
Echidnas are active. Two were observed at Mt Korong within 1km of each other, walking briskly across open ground. They were very different in colour and size. The pale coloured echidna was easily camouflaged by tussocks of grass.
The sounds of nature also changes with the season. It is wonderful to hear frogs again, and challenging to try to pick out different calls. A fellow observer mentioned listening to a banjo frog, sometimes called a pobble bonk, after a shower of rain. The call of the pallid cuckoo is synonymous with the wattle in bloom. Magpies are singing in large groups, and are even singing at night.
WCMN members had an interesting and most educational day trip to visit many of the sites that WCMN had been involved with. A major highlight was the sighting of a Little Eagle at Mr Korong.
There is so much happening in our local natural environment. Something of interest for everyone. From the behaviour of birds at nesting time, to the brilliant displays of flowering wattles, right down to the delicate, yet so varied orchids and other flowering plants.
WCMN will be at the Kooyoora wildflower show. This will be a wonderful opportunity to see a huge display of our local wildflowers, and gather lots of information. Hope to see you there.

WCMN (Wedderburn Conservation Management Network) “Observers”