Newsletter No. 53 June 1998
Dear Friends
Many things conspired to ensure that the trees did not get planted at the June meeting. However, true to Friends form when tree planting is on, it really rained! Two members braved the weather for an hour or so and pulled Spurge at Bartleys Block and then retired to the comforts of home. Tree planting will take place at the July gathering. It is good to see some natural regeneration on the Howlong Road block. Guards will be placed around small eucalypts to protect them from the grazers, both natural and feral. Speaking of grazers, when I was inspecting the progress of the previous planting I noticed that of all the Acacia species we planted the only species untouched was Golden Wattle, and it was so obvious as they were well above the guards. Looking through the park it is clear that A. pycnantha has not only withstood the drought conditions but also the browsers. Any comments please? It is the National Emblem and probably well chosen for we are a tough species!
A few more Regent Honeyeaters have been banded. They are a rather cagey lot, but there are other plans for them! Presently they are frequenting the mature Ironbarks along the Barnawartha Road. However, be warned, it is not the safest place to watch birds. Traffic, both in volume and speed, is horrendous. Add the trains and the Freeway noise and it is anything but a relaxing atmosphere which one would only endure for a threatened species.
Several members have been to Killawarra, Reef Hills and Rushworth/Baileston, in search of more Regents. Despite the great flowering of the Ironbark E.tricarpa, White Box and Yellow Gum no Regents were found. Swift Parrots and Musk Lorikeets were plentiful, and the latter extremely noisy. Very few birds were feeding on the E. tricarpa whereas the Yellow Gum was attracting many species. The downside of the Baileston visit was the sight of the gold mine and the great tracts of cleared land. For what? when the soil is so poor? Gold fever and wood fever in action.
While on environmental matters I would like to recommend Dr.Tim Flannery’s most recent book “Throwim Way Leg” as a really good read. Tim’s great sense of humour and his ability to relate to the indigenous people of New Guinea and Irian Jaya, coupled with his hilarious, interesting and frightening encounters will surely appeal to anyone who cares about the environment and the welfare of other cultures. The encounters and observations cover a 15 year period.
NATIONAL THREATENED SPECIES DAY SEPTEMBER 7
This falls on a Monday. Please consider what Friends might do to highlight this day in the area.
NEXT MEETING SUNDAY JULY 5TH 9.00AM AT BARTLEY’S BLOCK
Tree planting, plus any other small tasks that may come our way.
Bring: Gloves, trowel, food and drink, energy, a friend.
After lunch we’ll go walking and looking so come along, you never know what we may find!
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AUGUST 1ST WILL BE AN AFTERNOON/EVENING MEETING WITH GUEST SPEAKERS AND SHARED TEA.
Details in next newsletter.
The continuing support of the WAW Credit Union, Chiltern Branch, by way of the printing of our newsletters is acknowledged and appreciated. Thank you.