Saturday April 5th Aboriginal Cultural Sites. Meet at Paddy’s Castle in Victoria Valley 10 a.m.… Read the rest
Category: Articles
SOME LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT (MARCH 2008)
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
SNIPPETS FROM HERE AND THERE MARCH 2008
from the editor.
As I write, Late Summer (KOOYONG – season of eels) is merging into Autumn (GWANGEL MORRON – season of honeybees ) and it is just so scarily hot and dry. December was very hot – particularly from Christmas to New Year, but then we had some beautiful heavy showers and a cool January & February and thus an uneventful fire season, But the last couple of weeks it is back to hot and so dry. It’s not too late for lightning strikes. Much of the bush is looking stressed. The summer flowers continued their dramatic display until late February, but there’s less to see now.
Any of you who have photos to go up on the web site, we have unlimited space. Just email them to me – hooray for broadband! – and I’ll upload them if you haven’t access. And a gentle reminder to those who … Read the rest
FROM THE PARKES DESK MARCH 2008
Staff
We welcome Rhonda McNeil to the Grampians team. Rhonda comes to us from Central Region and takes up the position of Fire Operations Officer which has a focus on the Grampians and Black Range as well as the wider Wimmera District.
We are excited about the return to work by Suzy Skurrie who has been on sick leave for several months. Suzy will initially work part time, one to two days a week.
Summer Ranger, Emily Bedggood, will assist over the next few months with the preparation work for the reintroduction of the Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby.
Fire Recovery Works
Easter will see the reopening of a number of destinations in the southern end of the Wonderland Range, including Sundial Car Park, Sundial and Lake View Lookouts, and Delleys Dell, Dairy Creek, and Mount Rosea Walking Tracks.
Silverband Road is reopening and will have a one-way direction between Rosea Car Park … Read the rest
Members’ Meeting Feb 9th.
* Advisory Group – Graham Parkes outlined plans upon which a new committee will be chosen :– meeting with Traditional Owner groups, seek expressions of interest from the broader community & also previous committee members etc. Stan reinforced FOGG’s feeling that it is important to keep the Advisory Group functioning.
* Scotch Thistle – NP has contractors working on scotch and furze thistle, however works have eased back as the plants are now in seed. Next season, attack on plants will have to increase. It’s unfortunate that not enough is known about the thistle and its actions. Stink-wort is another emerging problem after the fire
* Request for help with cost of microscope for Brush Tail Rock Wallaby Project We will give up to $1200. We suggest that a camera attachment be included. It was agreed the microscope will belong to Parks, but other groups may use (in the Parks … Read the rest
Members Meeting Jan 12th
TREASURERS REPORT: Bank balance – $5060 before cheques written on day. We will consult with Graham re projects that the money may go towards. We will be receiving more money from Beyond the Smoke
GENERAL BUSINESS
* Margo S. raised a concern re the Grampians Advisory Group. Its tenure is coming to an end and it is to be hoped not too much time will elapse before another Group will be formed. FOGG will relay their support for the A. Group to Graham Parkes and also to Ian Voigt, Ballarat.
* Margaret Margitta expressed concerns re the Thistles that seem to be appearing both inside & outside the Park. FOGG will speak with Graham about the problem. Could FOGG tackle this weed in November instead of Sth.African orchid? It was noted that Sth. African orchid has gotten completely out of hand at Rocklands – spraying has not helped.
* Stan … Read the rest
ADVISORY GROUP REPORT March 08
The current Advisory group has officially finished its term of office, but had one more meeting to replace the “final” meeting which was cancelled due to fire weather. As FOGGs did the next day, in February we examined the proposed one way section of the Silverband road, went as far as Tower Hill to be updated on the brushtail rock wallaby project, and concluded with a barbecue at Sundial car park. We were given a copy of the proposed cultural heritage strategy and asked to respond individually. Advertisements asking for expressions of interest in joining the new Advisory Group have appeared in the papers and we hope it will not be long before the new group is in place. … Read the rest
MACROPOD MONITORING
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
REPORTS ON ACTIVITIES JAN – MARCH 2008
Mt Cassell TSG Grevillea Survey (Grevillea microstega) This excursion was badly weather affected and got postponed at least twice. It was to be December but when we finally got to do it in March the flowering season was past and we could not find any specimens. However we had a most interesting walk in the burnt area along Seven Dials Track looking at the regeneration of other species.
Saturday January 12 Ptilotus erebescens count at Cooinda Burrong.
(See also Stan’s piece above)
Twenty members and friends were on hand for this year’s count. We count the flower heads, not the plants, which is more work but helps fill out the jigsaw of this rare plant.
Stan had already counted the individually protected plants which left us the larger areas in three unprotected zones and the three protected plots.
Landcare / Parks Vic Experimental Plot :-
Exclude Rabbits only 847
Exclude … Read the rest
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
I would like to take the opportunity to thank those who attended the day of the Ptilotus erubescens count on the 12th January doing the hard yard in the actual counting of the flower-heads. Several new points were achieved on the day: 2nd highest number counted = 5696 Flower-heads; first observation of two clumps of semi developed heads; (they are the red ones on the web site). See below for the complete statistics for the day. The ‘Exclude Rabbits only’ count of 847 was below expectations compared with other areas. On reinspection of this area, it would appear by the number of Grey Kangaroo scats (pellets) they grazed the area before the day, so reducing the number of heads.
After forwarding the results of the day, I received this letter from Dr Frank Udovicic, Plant Sciences, National Hebarium of Victoria.
“Dear Stan,
Thanks very much for sending us your latest … Read the rest