Friends of Chiltern Mt Pilot NP Newsletter 264 August 2017
Dear Friends,
Due to the forecast of adverse weather conditions the August meeting was cancelled. The meeting has been rescheduled for Saturday August 12th when hopefully we will get a fine day.
In the meantime Parks Staff will be undertaking improvements to Tuan campsite area. Friends have provided a picnic table for installation at the site.
It’s Fungi Time Again
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The rain in July saw the emergence of a few fungi. The dainty and fragile Glistening Ink Cap, Coprinus micaceus was spotted in the Rutherglen reserve. A very short-lived species, it auto-digests to a dark sticky mess. |
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The iridescent Gold Dust Lichen, Chrysothrix candelaris, was captured on ironbark by Neil. The present wet spell should be good for fungi hunters.
Turquoise Parrot Boxes
Richard, Bill and Mick have installed our boxes throughout the park. Now we have to wait to see how they are received by the parrots. This may take time and we may have to wait until the next breeding season. Hopefully we will be as successful as the Warby/Chesney Vale group.
The photo of the parrot feeding its chicks above is by courtesy of Chris Tzaros and the Owlet Nightjar below in the parrot box is by Graham Colson.
As Janice Mentiplay who sourced the photographs for me remarked, “ just to prove that there are lots of critters out there needing suitable tree hollows”. I wonder what we might get in our boxes?
Double-barred Finches in town
Keen-eyed Simon Benett reported these delightful little finches in Bow Street. This is a new record for the Chiltern list. To my knowledge the closest they have been recorded in the past is along the Back Springhurst Road in more open country. Thankyou Simon.
Rutherglen Natural Features Reserve
Neil and Eileen planted eighteen Swainsona rectas in the enclosure. Of the three planted last year none have survived. There was good rain post the planting so they had an encouraging start. The vegetation within the enclosure demonstrates the benefit of excluding the grazers. The Pterostylis bicolor rosettes are beginning to show and the ground covers are doing well. We will have to spot spray some St John’s Wort later in the year.There is good growth in the plantations particularly at the southern end of the block where the understorey plants are making an impact on the once bare area. On the downside the Pimelea curviflora has been heavily grazed by kangaroos.
Bartley’s Block and Grasslands
At Bartley’s block Parks have provided gravel for Friends to create a track to the interpretive plaque and pamphlet box and for the surrounds of the seat. At Grasslands Parks have installed the corner posts and stays for the enclosure. We will endeavour to complete these works on Saturday August 12th.
Looking back
In 1993 one of our first major projects in conjunction with the then Department of Conservation and Natural Resources was to renovate the washed out outlet of Cyanide Dam. Staff put a layer of hessian over the site and added large rocks. Fifteen members removed large clumps of Sedge (Carex appressa) which were divided and replanted on the restored site. Months later four inches of rain fell over a weekend and all but destroyed the work.
Ranger’s Report
Staff have been refreshing the picnic area at Woolshed Falls. Improvements have been made to facilities, walking tracks and drainage in preparation for road works. Work will commence this week on redeveloping Tuan Campsite. Staff have been refreshing the picnic area at Woolshed Falls. Improvements have been made to facilities, walking tracks and drainage in preparation for road works. Work will commence this week on redeveloping Tuan Campsite. Rangers have been noticing an increase in rubbish dumping, firewood removal and illegal motor bike use.
2018 Friends Calendar
The 2018 calendar is being prepared. We invite anyone with photographs they would like to have considered for the calendar to email them to : nulgerong@westnet.com.au
Weed Report
A few briars have been seen and dealt with in Grasslands. A wander round the Pooleys Track area resulted in sixty small olives being removed. A walk around Mt Ochtertyre Reserve showed very little weed regrowth. A few briars have been seen and dealt with in Grasslands. A wander round the Pooleys Track area resulted in sixty small olives being removed. Guards have been placed around more Cryptandra amara plants . They will be very showy when they flower in the coming months. Thanks Mick.
Rainfall for July
76.6 mm over 12 days. Year to date : 287.8 mm
Next Meeting Is Saturday September 2nd
This is the Annual General Meeting. It will take the form of a bush walk with our guest speaker Mr Neville Walsh, chief botanist at the Melbourne Herbarium. This will be followed by drinks and nibbles from 5.00pm at the Senior Citizens Hall Dinner at 6pm and a short AGM and guest speaker at 8pm. Field contact 0407 486 480 or Details of the meeting place and bush walk will be circulated closer to the date.
Members are asked to bring a meal to share. Drinks and nibbles will be supplied.For catering purposes please RSVP by August 24th to : nulgerong@westnet.com.au
ADD YOUR SUPPORT
If you are a follower of the Friends of Chiltern Mt Pilot NP on this website or Facebook, and feel you would like to support their activities you can do so, with a small donation, by becoming a Friends of Chiltern Mt Pilot National Park Member for $15 a year. Your support is a source of encouragement and helps fund the costs of materials for new and ongoing weed eradication, nest box, revegetation, threatened species and information programs.
Friends Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/556332777763388/
We are a group of people (304 as at August 2017) who are interested in Chiltern Mt Pilot National Park in North-Eastern Victoria. People can find much more information on the Park, activities of the Friends and membership details at http://friendsofchiltern.org.au/
Why not become a Member, not just a Facebook member? only $15 a year!
FRIENDS OF CHILTERN-MT PILOT NATIONAL PARK Inc MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL IS DUE
Membership renewals: Thankyou to everyone who has renewed their membership. Membership now stands at seventy-four, twenty-six short of the hundred of last year.
Click here for MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
Friends have achieved a great deal during the past year. Surveys for plants, birds and monitoring, maintaining and surveying mammal boxes, tree planting, weed control and provision of interpretive signage and park furniture are just some of our contributions. Your support for our activities is valued and your membership renewal is vital to our cause. Membership expires on June 30th.