Category: Natural Values

Sylvia van der Peet

Since the Mt Lubra fires in January/February 2006 the Grampians Pin-cushion Lily (Borya mirabilis) colony has been monitored on a quarterly basis. Initial site visits showed that the plant was capable of regenerating from root stock. On the first visit there was no sign of any vegetation above ground. Three months later around 20% of plants were showing signs of regrowth, six months post fire around 50% of plants were showing signs of regrowth. In May 2008 only 42% of plants were showing signs of regrowth, indicating that the plant may be struggling a little, which may be due in part to the lack of rainfall received post fire.
After discussion with the Borya Recovery Team it was decided to return to the monitoring methodology designed by Fiona Coates (ARI), which was used before the 2006 fire. This involves running a tape across the widest part … Read the rest

by Margo Sietsma

Parks has received the arborist’s report, and it presents us with some dilemmas. Eleven trees would need to be felled on the short loop, and a further 37 on the long loop in order to re-open the walk. Sylvia has done some VERY rough and fairly conservative estimates for the tree work. The cost would depend upon whether we could do the work with an internal crew like the summer fire crew or if we contracted it out to a company like Skyrider. Over the past 2 years PV have used a combination of both types of resources. We would need Skyrider for some of the trees as PV do not have the equipment to be able to trim a tree that is 45 metres high. Sylvia’s estimate is at least $3,000 for the short loop and the rough estimate for all trees would be around $15,450 … Read the rest

It is with great sadness that I bring the news that some unknown person has stolen our beautiful table and seats. They have sawn the legs off at ground level, scuffed the gravel around to hide the fact, and made off with the table and seats. It was first discovered on May 15 by a group from the HG Wildflower show who were out on a plant study excursion, and confirmed a couple of days later by Stan, Proo, Sylvia and myself who had already arranged an inspection of the walk to consider the arborist’s report (see below). We held out a faint hope that it had gone for repair or some such, or that the heavy post fire regrowth had disoriented us; but alas it has been stolen. It has been reported to the police and articles written for the Stawell and Horsham papers, but of course it could … Read the rest

I received this from an American friend.

National Park Feedback from the Fresh-Air Challenged
The following are actual comments received in 1996 from the Bridger-Teton National Forest registration sheets and comment cards:
* Instead of a permit system or regulations, the Forest Service needs to reduce worldwide population growth to limit the number of visitors to wilderness.
* Ban walking sticks in wilderness. Hikers that use walking sticks are more likely to chase animals.
* Trail needs to be reconstructed. Please avoid building trails that go uphill.
* Too many bugs and leeches and spiders and spider webs. Please spray the wilderness to rid the area of these pests.
* A small deer came into my camp and stole my jar of pickles. Is there a way I can get reimbursed? Please call [phone number].
* Reflectors need to be placed on trees every 50 feet so people can hike … Read the rest

Canadian exchange ranger Sean Frey, with the help of many of the Grampians rangers, has been up at the crack of dawn for the past couple of months counting kangaroos and wallabies in the first few hours after first light. He has managed to complete 39 of the 50 transects Jeff Weir established last year and hopes to have the remainder completed by the end of March or first week of April.
So far numbers are similar or a bit below what Jeff had counted. The graph shows some very preliminary comparisons of counts of macropods on transects completed so far. Vegetation regeneration after the fire may be a factor in the visibility of animals as the growth has thickened up considerably in some areas which haven’t been moisture limited. Sean plans to have detailed analysis of the results completed by late April.
See the photo link for photos and … Read the rest

Dot Hoffmann

Earlier in the year we lived in Hong Kong for five months. The University of Science and Technology, where Errol taught, is located a half hour train ride on the eastern sea coast of Kowloon’s Sai Kung Peninsular. About six thousand students and another thousand teaching staff lived on campus. The campus occupies the terraced sea-face of a mountain of 600 meters (a little higher than Boronia peak) with the slope to the sea being at 35- 45 degrees. By the time you reach the top of the University and the road connecting the settlements along the coastline of this peninsular there is still more than two thirds of the mountain to walk up. The trails were flanked by familiar-looking trees. Many were acacias and eucalyptus relatives of our Grampians trees. The most common looked like blackwood and the acacias flowered right through the spring time. Just like … Read the rest

Early Summer (BALLAMBAR – season of butterflies) is here and it is just beautiful. Mind you, in Halls Gap it would be more accurate to call it the season of cicadas as once again we have a huge chorus every warm day. To me it is the sound of summer, but to many the pitch is actually painful. In fact some tourists have gone straight home, unable to live with it. But it is confined to the moist valleys. This year we seem to have at least three species, green, black and yellow-brown. All beautiful, especially those lacy wings.
November was beautifully wet, but it is drying out fast. The spring and early summer flowers have been dramatic. What the next couple of months will bring we do not know. A large part of the park is very dry and each thunderstorm brings fear of lightning strikes.

In addition to … Read the rest

This is the perplexing question that Land Owners/Managers are faced with when they come across a new plant species within their area of control. There are several recommended steps to take to help make the decision.

1. Clearly mark the plant or plant colony and possibly temporarily protect it.

_WHY?_ Because several times one has been caught out, taken a photograph, not clearly marked its location or offered it temporary protection only to go back the next day and find it has disappeared – eaten off overnight.

2. Take a photograph of the flower head and leaf plus seeds (if possible), then temporarily protect the area. Contact your nearest DS&E which has an officer from the Flora & Fauna Guarantee attached to that office, so as to achieve a positive identification. The F&FG Officer will possibly make an appointment to visit the site or instruct you to take samples and … Read the rest

AFTER THE FIRES – THE SECOND SPRING

It is really interesting to observe the constant changes. This spring is so different to last year. Last year we had the mass blooming of red beak orchids and sundews. Not one red beak this year. But so many other orchids everywhere. Errol has promised me a report in the next newsletter.
Also spectacular this year are carpets of running postman (Kennedia prostrata), goodenias and creamy candles (Stackhousia monogyna) and daisies of all kinds.
Then there are the plants that look so much like weeds but weren’t. Notably incense bush (Calomeria amaranthoides) in damp areas and two senecios in drier areas.

So all you photographers entranced by the early regrowth, don’t put away your cameras. Recovery is a long term business and records will be both interesting and useful.
Also there are so many more bird calls. I hope some one is doing … Read the rest