The AG has met once since the last newsletter, on Dec 1. Our main discussion was about the bush camping strategy as Graham indicates above. How do we balance public expectations with the environmental concerns over clearing, human waste issues, illegal fires and safety considerations?
We also congratulated Sylvia on her promotion and wished John Harris well on his retirement.
Our next meeting is the too-often deferred trip to Wilson’s Prom NP in February. We hope no fires this year.
I also represented the AG at the reopening of the Pines Plantation campground, which marked the end of all the fire recovery work.
I also attended a pre-fire season conference with Parks, DSE, CFA and Police. Stan was there too as FOGG representative. We looked at some of the autumn burns and some of Mike’s survey sites and discussed some of the issues. As the AG convenor I was there … Read the rest
Category: Articles
FROM THE PARKES DESK December 2009
h2. Improvements to Glenelg River Road
Over the last few years Park staff have been working away at getting the Glenelg River Road up to a better standard. Recently a three kilometre section of the Glenelg River Road near the Moora Moora Reservoir was resurfaced with additional gravel. The improved quality of the gravel surface reduces maintenance significantly, resulting is less grading and allowing our staff to focus on other pressing maintenance.
h2. Staff News
Congratulations to Sylvia van der Peet on her recent promotion to Apollo Bay. Among her many duties, Sylvia provided fantastic support for volunteer organisations associated with the Park and will be a big loss to our team. A process for finding Sylvia’s replacement is under way.
Congratulations also to our District Chief Ranger, Tony English, who is taking up a new position in Parks Victoria’s Indigenous Partnership Branch. Tony’s dedicated management of the Grampians District … Read the rest
PRESIDENTS MUTTERINGS December 2009
Regards to all, Trusting that you all have a Merry & Joyful Christmas time and look forward to a productive New Year.
The Ptilotus erubescens count of flowerheads on the 9th of January may be a good result due to the late November rains and so far a cooler December. I could do with a little assistance the days before in setting up the 3 Zones of the count and the exclusion plots.
In mid March I hope to have another look for / at the local colony of the little known Grampians Monotoca which was badly effected by the heat wave in late January / February 2009. The number of plants had increased since the first encounter in 1987. Now it is to see how many survived that heatwave.
Margo has written to Graham Parkes, Ranger in Charge of the GNP with six questions relating to activities and research … Read the rest
DECEMBER 2009 BALLAMBAR – season of butterflies.
DECEMBER 2009
BALLAMBAR – season of butterflies.
Early Summer (Mid November to late January)
(from Brambuk’s website)
The weather stabilises.
Heat starts to dry the country.
Butterflies chase in the warm sun.
Beetles and moths collect around lights at night.
Small birds are moulting.
Echidnas dig for ants.
There is cumbungi and water ribbon growth in streams and wetlands.
Wildflower displays now on the higher peaks.
Banksias are in full flower.
Murnong is flowering in heathlands.
The website http://bird.net.au/ from the South West Integrated Flora & Fauna Team adds:
December is a time for seed development for many plants, there is a transition from the winter flowering eucalyptus to the summer flowering eucalypts. The grasslands are in their prime with forbs and grasses in flower, whilst many native orchids have completed their flowering and have seed developing.
Fauna
Koala; females giving birth to cubs (Nov – Jan).
Bats – start … Read the rest
Wildflowers in the Grampians
Some images of the array of wildflowers on show in the Grampians during October and November.
Red Gum Walk working bee September 7, 2009
AGM Day near Mirranatwa Gap, September
Fungi frolic Photos
Spring Picnic and 2009 Annual General Meeting – 10am
Spring picnic and our AGM.
Meet at car park on Mirranatwa Gap. If it is wet (we remain hopeful!) we will organise a local indoor spot for lunch and meeting.
Contact Stan 5383 6349.
Unfortunately this clashes with the statewide Friends Network Biennial Conference at Grantville from 11 to 13 September. Maybe one of our Melbourne members would care to represent us? … Read the rest
DISEASES OF ANIMALS IN AND AROUND THE NATIONAL PARK
This is a message mainly for those FOGGS who are neighbours of the Park. There is a concern that quite a few of the macropods are suffering from a kind of hookworm. This attacks their digestive system, and oedema develops in their faces because of the amount of time their heads are held low while grazing. So keep an eye out for kangaroos with swollen faces; it is not lumpy jaw but a symptom of the hookworm infestation. Avoid handling any faeces. Pam Whitely at the University of Melbourne Veterinary faculty is heading this project. They are also interested in reports of psittacine (beak and feather) circoviral disease in parrots and cockatoos. They’d appreciate your help with the following:
1.Reporting sick and dead free ranging wildlife for investigation
2.Sending photos and videos of wildlife health events including the date, location, species, and your contact information. Photos and videos can be … Read the rest