Category: Activity Report

Red Gum Walk – Two-yearly clean-up (13 June 2015)

Leigh Douglas.

red gum walk-fisher2015 Fogg Redgum Walk (32)There wasn’t a lot to do! The track is in remarkably good condition, which is heartening. It was a lovely sunny day and very enjoyable to be out in it.

2015 Fogg Redgum Walk (9) 2015 Fogg Redgum Walk (7)Nine of us cut back overhanging tea tree, and bracken around seats and signs, and raked and cleared some debris, but most of the track was clear, apart from one tree fallen across the track – but Rodney’s chainsaw could not be used as the licence needs to be registered with Parks. Ranger Tammy Schoo came out and filled us in on recent O H &S requirements (lots of paperwork, lucky Wendy was there), so we were very conscious of regulations! Thank you Tammy.

Ryan sent out via Tammy a map of proposed photo-surveillance points for Sallow Wattle infestation, which led to discussion and volunteering; a start to our project of helping to monitor this invasive plant.

 … Read the rest

Photo point mapping of Sallow Wattle

At the meeting on 4/5/2015 meeting, Ryan outlined the background for FOGGs volunteering to keep a pictorial record of Sallow Wattle at 20-30 spots in the Park. We would mark each spot with a star picket and it would be a matter of going back to the same spot twice a year and taking a photo at a time that suits the individual volunteer. We have the map with the spots to be monitored and if a few people could volunteer to be responsible for a couple of spots this should spread the load.  People could choose close to where they live or a spot they like to visit and Wendy will collate the results. If you would like to be involved, please contact Wendy.… Read the rest

Green Army in the Grampians

April 13th will mark the commencement of the Grampians first Green Army team working to remove satellite populations of Sallow Wattle in the park, led by supervisor Joshua Brown. The group of 10 is made up of a supervisor and 9 young locals who will be working in the park for 6 months and accessing isolated areas in the park to eradicate the introduced plant species. The aim is to work on individual populations of the weed close to areas such as the Wartook Basin to keep it from spreading further into our waterways and becoming much more difficult to track and control.

As well as working on Sallow Wattle removal the group will be helping to create, install and monitor nest boxes in our local reserves where Brush-tailed Phascogales and Squirrel Gliders have recently been detected by the Hamilton Field Naturalists.

This group will be an excellent asset … Read the rest

Birds and Mice in the Grampians

February Saturday 21st 4pm

FOGGs donated some money to the Museum of Victoria some time ago to help with student research projects. Phoebe Burns and Kara Joshi are a couple of these students, working on Smoky Mouse and bird detection. They came and presented their findings to a good group of FOGGIES and other interested locals.

BIRD DETECTION METHODS

Kara’s presentation was on her work trialling a new bird detection method using an audio recorder. Currently bird surveys are carried out by live humans listening to, and looking for, birds out in the field. It is usually very accurate, but time consuming and depends on people having easy access at suitable times of day. It is hard to make it comprehensive and unbiased. Is there a way to use the technology of recording bird calls and then machine reading them? Kara set up recorders and got many hours of bird … Read the rest

Clean Up The Pinnacle

FOGGies gathered on Saturday 21st March for our contribution to Clean Up Australia.

A nation this big needs more than one day a year to keep it clean, so our dedicated group gathered on a day of our own choosing to do our bit. 7 of us met at Wonderland car park, left a few vehicles there and shuttled on to the Sundial carpark. Armed with packed lunches, sustaining fluids, garbage bags, gloves and various tools for picking up any unpleasantness we were yet to learn of, we set out. A beautiful morning, good company, on a very picturesque walk. What a great way to spend an autumn day.

We dawdled along to The Pinnacle, picking up the occasional can and bottle, tissues and other small items. Along the way various plants and flowers were spotted, to be photographed and discussed. As were several friendly rock skinks. The views … Read the rest

Activity Survey Report

Wendy Bedggood

Last year I sent out a survey to help us better plan our activities. I would like to thank all those who responded, around 2/3 of our members which I was very pleased with. One third of our members live in Melbourne or other regional areas and 1 interstate member. Nearly half  the respondents indicated distance or lack of mobility meant  receiving the newsletter  was their priority. We will plan to have a mix of activities on both weekends and a few on weekdays as sometimes that is the best time for our guest leader or speakers. The ‘Nature walks’ was the most popular activity selected, so we will make sure we have several of these throughout the year.… Read the rest

Lunch at Deirdres

Wendy Bedggood

We had about 18 members and partners at our  last activity for the year which was a lunch at Laharum Grove an olive plantation with a restaurant ‘Deirdres’.  Deirdre uses mostly locally sourced, in season produce which was served on platters and we just grazed on each course as it came out. The Olive Grove was burnt during the fires in January and it was good to see many of the trees which are coming back but many have still not sprouted. We discussed some ideas for activities for the coming year and walk destinations.… Read the rest

Piccaninny Walk

Wendy Bedggood

The first Saturday in November, 18 of us met at the Piccaninny car park. As rain had been predicted for weeks with none showing up, I had predicted this day would be the same, not so. A heavy shower came down just as we were about to set off so we all hopped in the cars till it passed. We set off, a fairly easy walk and managed to spot a couple of orchids and a few other wildflowers notably a cute duck orchid and the bronze Caladenia, I had hoped we may have found more in that far southern part of the Grampians, but like the rest of the area the plants were suffering from lack of rain. We did however find some very interesting yellow worms which at first we thought were the single strands of telecom wire, only they moved when we went to pick … Read the rest

Threatened Species – Hunting Orchids and Pollinators

As mentioned in the report on our AGM, we were successful in our application for a grant to protect an orchid area in the Ironbarks State park. Noushke and I went there in September with ranger Dave Handscombe to plan where the fence should go. The lack of rainfall was so evident; the ground was dusty dry and the usual orchids were so scarce. Scary.

Some of us joined a search with the native Orchid Society in October looking for some rare Prasophyllum, Caladenia and Thelymitra off Harrops Track in the vicinity of Camp Creek. We failed to find the target species but saw many other orchids. Gail and I spent a peaceful hour sitting in the warm sun beside a rare orchid in a pot, with a butterfly net in our hands, hoping to catch a wasp or other pollinator, but alas no success. Nobody at all interested.… Read the rest

ACTIVITIES CALENDAR

 

PROVISIONAL CALENDAR

Please bear in mind that changes may need to be made, and some dates couldn’t be settled before going to print. Changes will be emailed to those who have provided us with a current address and also put up on the website. But please also ring the listed contact person to find when it is on and to let them know you are coming.

MAY Tuesday 27th at 12 noon: We are having a joint tree planting at Zumsteins with the Stawell Secondary College. Katherine Dyson has arranged for our ‘Healthy Parks Healthy Peoples’ grant money to be shifted to works at Zumsteins, since the McKenzie Falls area was so badly burnt. Contact or further information from Wendy Bedggood phone 53825830 or 0429932065 or Katherine Dyson 53614063 or 0428553040

JUNE 6 – 9 Long Weekend Fauna survey. This replaces the activities which were planned for the Australia … Read the rest

Friends of Grampians Gariwerd