Friends of Canadian Corridor

1. “Water races and sluice fields” presentation

The development of gold mining water races and sluice fields was the focus of a presentation by noted academic and author Professor Susan Lawrence at the Eureka Centre on Wednesday May 17^th 2023Professor Lawrence provided the story of how water races developed in Victoria to efficiently mine gullies for gold. The water washed huge amounts of clay and gravel away leaving the gold behind.

Professor Susan Lawrence is acting Co-Director of the Centre for the Study of the Inland and a Professor in the Department of Archaeology and History. Her expertise is in the physical evidence of the recent human past and she is internationally recognised for her research on mining, rivers, and British colonisation. Susan’s 2019 book ‘Sludge: Disaster on the Victorian Goldfields’ (co-authored with Peter Davies) was shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards.

“Sludge” is available for sale at the Eureka Centre. The presentation was made possible by a Parks Victoria Volunteer Innovation Fund Grant.

2. Mining Water Race Walk

Woowookarung Regional Park water races, diggings and sluice field pop up walk.

Over one hundred walkers braved the cold and wet weather on the weekend of May 20^th and 21^st to participate in the mining water race and sluice field walk. The trail was 5.5 km in length and featured 29 stop points along the way. Information signs were located at each mining or water race site along the way.

Walkers on the holding dam in Sparrow Ground next to  information sign. Image 21/5/23

The Woowookarung Regional Park hosts around 30 kms of water races, 7 sluice fields, 4 dams and numerous diggings. The pink ribbons marking the track will stay in place until Monday 12^th  June after which they will be removed.
The walk was proudly sponsored by the Central Highlands Water – Community Support Project.

3. FoCC June General Meeting

 The next FoCC June general meeting will be held at the Earth Ed Centre, Olympic Avenue, Mt Clear at 7pm on Wednesday June 21^st.

The guest speaker will be Mr Haydn Swan talking about the unique geology of the Canadian Corridor and Woowookarung Regional Park in particular.
Haydn Swan is a lecturer in Geology at Federation University based at Mt Helen. In addition to working in education, he has worked in the mining sector in both exploration and mining roles, in every state and territory of Australia.  Haydn has also worked in various roles in the federal public service, both within Australia, and New Zealand.
Haydn’s area of expertise is mineral exploration and geochemistry, and being a keen runner and mountain biker, he has some 30 plus years’ experience exploring Woowookarung.
Everyone is welcome.

4. Koala scat collecting research program continuing

“Koala spotters wanted!
Can you help Siobhan collect Koala scat across Ballarat? There is currently amazing work being done in the Gippsland region of Victoria with profiling koala populations and learning about their genetic diversity. We are trying to find remnant indigenous populations of koalas that will be essential for the conservation of the species! The research is to compare DNA samples from the Mornington Peninsula area and other Gippsland populations. The idea behind the work is to expand on the collected data with samples from Western Victoria. Many populations of koalas in Victoria are descendants of translocations from French and Phillip Islands and have significantly low levels of genetic diversity. Siobhan is attempting to find Koalas around Ballarat in the hopes of collecting some scat (poo!) for DNA analysis. If you spot a koala anywhere in the Ballarat region and surrounds it would be amazing if you could let her know! Scat is best collected by tweezer or tooth pick. Human handling can damage the DNA.

Siobhan is hoping koala spotters will call her and arrange for a collection. Contact Siobhan on:
siobhanheenan@students.federation.edu.au or her mobile – 0437420865

The location of any koala scat found will be recorded on the FoCC Koala spotting record as well.

5. The “Bunny Trail” at the Recreation Rd Bushland Reserve unofficially opened

The unofficial opening of the trail was celebrated with a sausage sizzle on site on Saturday Morning 13^th May 2023. Seventy people of all ages turned up to celebrate the trail being open for use.

6. Bunny Trail works

The installation of the Bunny Trail Rest Spot facilities was the focus of working bee on 4^th May 2023.

Track drainage, forming and topping.

On Monday 22^nd May 2023 contractors, Aussie Soils installed two piped drains under the trail at the northern end. Then applied 60 meters of fill and topped with blue gravel to create a firm surface across a boggy zone. The track works will ensure the trail stays dry even in winter.

Drainage pipe and fill construction. Image: Courtesy of Crackers, 22nd May 2023The Bunny Trail is now open with walkers and cyclists using the trail daily. Future works will be the installation of the front fence and side fencing where required plus removing the rest of the pine saplings within the reserve. The FoCC has applied for a Landcare Grant to restore the vegetation along the creek. If successful these works would occur in winter 2024.

7. Bird of the Month XX (May 2023)
   Scarlet Robin (Petroica boodang)

Scarlet Robin.  One of the hidden gems of the bush.  The bird which will have you re-evaluating the very depths of nature’s beauty, to levels you previously never imagined possible.  The bird for which you never knew you needed binoculars until you viewed its immense and awe-inspiring beauty through the magnified lenses.
The bird that vindicates that the investment that is your binoculars was worth every cent.  The bird that gets you hooked on birdwatching and has you searching through the bush, looking for whatever other limitless beauty nature has in store, to therapise you.  Take it from this author, there are few experiences as surreal as viewing through binoculars for the first time a marvellous male Scarlet Robin.  Game changer!  This bird will have you murmuring to yourself: ‘How is it even possible for nature to produce such an exquisite, vivid red?!’
A small (12-14cm), insectivorous songbird of the Australasian Robin (Petroicidae) Family, Scarlet Robin is the most common red-breasted robin in Ballarat, and alongside Eastern Yellow Robin, one of two robins known to occur at Woowookarung Regional Park.  Unlike Eastern Yellow Robin, Scarlet Robins are sexually dimorphic (meaning males and females are visually distinguishable).  The male Scarlet Robin has a black head, throat, and upperparts; a scarlet red breast and upper belly; and a large, white forehead patch, wing bars, and lower belly.  Females and young birds are grey-brown where males are black, have a watered-down orangey red breast, and a reduced forehead patch.
To distinguish Scarlet Robin from the very similar-looking, locally uncommon Flame Robin, note that Flame males have a smaller white forehead patch, are a shy grey where Scarlet males are black, and their breast is more of an orangey red and extends upwards of the throat to the chin.  Flame females are browner than greyish Scarlet females, and the red of the Flame female’s breast is absent or inconspicuous.  Flame Robins also tend to have a more upright posture.

 Top: Adult male Scarlet Robin.  Bottom: Adult female Scarlet Robin.  Image credit: Rob Loveband.

Scarlet Robins occur in singles or pairs, and inhabit open forests and woodlands, particularly Stringybark eucalypt communities.  In this author’s experience, male and females are often endearingly inseparable or at least within the other’s general vicinity.  This is consistent with the fact that the species forms permanent monogamous pairs that defend a territory year-round.  The territory is advertised by the male’s singing from a conspicuous high perch.

The song has been described as a ‘shrill, yet pleasant, cheery, rippling, musical trill, “tirrit-tirrit-tirrit, tirrit-tirrit-tirrit”’ or a ‘pretty, lilting, “wee-cheedalee-dalee’.  Contact calls are characterised as a quiet, scolding or tapping ‘tik’.  The author would describe the Scarlet Robin song as a subtle wailing, comparable to the generic peaceful snores of a cute, little Disney character.

During breeding season (August through January), the female selects a suitable, well-hidden nest site (usually 1-3m high, but outliers apply in the range of 0.5-20m) in a tree fork, and builds the nest.  Alternative nest sites include hollows of tree trunks or stumps, the fork of grass-trees (specified to apply to SW WA birds, but noteworthy for the fact Woowookarung has Xanthorrhea grass-trees – could these facilitate nesting for our local Scarlet Robins??), and apparently occasionally in nooks and crannies of buildings (e.g. roof gutters).  The nest is an open cup composed of bark, grass and twigs (sometimes also fur and feathers), bound together loosely by spiderwebs and camouflaged with a moss or lichen exterior.  The female incubates a clutch of 2-3 eggs, while the male feeds her.  Both parents feed the hatchlings and will continue to do so for some time after offspring have fledged.

During non-breeding season (i.e. winter), Scarlet Robins, described as ‘seasonally dispersive’, may be inclined to some local movements or even altitudinal migration, whereby they redistribute to more open habitats, such as grasslands, farmland, golf courses, orchard, parks, and gardens.  In the author’s experience, winter visitations to farmland have been observed in the neighbouring LGAs of Pyrenees and Moorabool.

The diet of insects is taken usually by means of the ‘perch and pounce’ foraging method.  This entails robins to, from a low branch or tree trunk, pounce down on ground-dwelling insects, then quickly returning to a perch to eat.  The process is repeated energetically many times over in quick succession, which is rather amusing, but apparently makes them susceptible to cats.

The species may be considered ‘fairly common’, but, consistent with most of its fellow red-breasted robins, official classifications of a ‘decreasing population trend’ apply to Scarlet Robin.  While the Scarlet Robin’s conservation status is classified as ‘Secure’ in Victoria, and ‘Least Concern’ globally, the noted declines are unsettling and not to be treated with complacency.  The main threat to Scarlet Robin is land clearing practices, and particularly the removal of understorey.

Next time you wander through Woowookarung Regional Park, Union Jack Reserve, or another bushland patch, don’t forget to look out for the marvellous Scarlet Robin – and those who can acquire a pair, it is highly recommended you equip yourself with binoculars to get a closer look!  You won’t regret it!

Author note: FoCC Committee member and co-admin of FoCC’s Facebook and webpage, Joel Ellis is the resident bird nerd, amateur Powerful Owl researcher, and editor of FoCC’s (co-funded) ‘Indigenous [Species] of Southern Ballarat’ trilogy of brochures.  Joel has studied birds up to Honours degree level, interns as an ecological consultant (ornithologist), and is a member of BirdLife Australia (Ballarat branch).

8. Koala sightings

October to March is Koala breeding season and peak sightings season, so sightings tend to be less now. They are still there, just harder to spot. If you see, hear or find scat from a Koala, please send the information containing the when, where, and how to: foccinfo@gmail.com. Also, see article 4 above and contact Siobhan: siobhanheenan@students.federation.edu.au or her mobile – 0437420865

9. Park works

Parks Victoria have rehabilitated the Penny Leaf track in the centre of Park. The track is an important fire management track as it follows a ridge line. The track runs west from Katy Ryans Rd, past the W walk area to Dozed Rd then onto its junction with Lavery Avenue. (See map below).

Once the repairs are complete, the trail will be another safe and easy walk or ride within the Park. The track will now be consolidated over winter before any final topping is possibly applied.

10. Orienteers in the Park

The Eureka Orienteers are long time recreational users of the Park. Spotted within the northern end of the Park in April.

11. Federation University student utilise the Bunny trail as a classroom

Federation University Outdoor education students recently inspected the Bunny Trail as part of their coursework.

12. Rifle Range industrial site up for sale again

A small industrial portion of the old Commonwealth Rifle Range is up for sale again.

The land for sale is a 5000 sq metre industrial section west of Kline St. The land was originally part of the Rifle Range however it is now on a separate title to the Rifle Range.

2023 Calendar

1. Friends of Canadian Corridor Incorporated
   Present
   Guest Speaker – Professor Susan Lawrence,  La Trobe University, Department of Archaeology and History, Melbourne, Australia
    “Water races and sluice fields”
   7pm Wednesday May 17^th
   At the Eureka Centre, Stawell St, Eureka
   

The Woowookarung Regional Park is home to a large number of alluvial gold mining sites, mineshafts and adits, water races, dams, and sluice fields, all associated with mining. The relics have remained relatively untouched and unknown to mining historians.
Ballarat East and Woowookarung Regional Park has 30 kilometres of water races, 7 sluice fields, 4 dams and associated water races, supplying water to local quartz crushers and to the Sebastopol Whitehorse diggings via the Mt Helen Reservoir.
Professor Susan Lawrence of La Trobe University, Department of Archaeology and History, Melbourne, is the co-author of the book “Sludge”, the story of how gold mining impacted on Victoria’s waterways.
Susan will be talking about how the water races began, how they were constructed, by whom and when, and how the goldfields water races set the rules and scene for irrigation water licensing relevant to this day.
Tickets: This event is ticketed, and free. However, bookings are required. Donations are welcome and can be made on Trybooking or on the day. Tickets are available from Try Booking at: https://www.trybooking.com/CHXZH

2. Mining Water Race walks
   

   

Woowookarung Regional Park water races, diggings and sluice field pop up walks.
Venue: Sparrow Ground Rotunda, Spencer St, Canadian
10am to 4pm May 20^th 2023
10am to 4pm May 21^st 2023

The trail is well sign posted and has information boards at mining sites in Woowookarung Regional Park. Simply turn up and FoCC personnel will be at Sparrow Ground to provide advice and assistance.
The walk is 5.6 km (2 hours approx) along gravel roads and undulating bush tracks. Walkers are urged to wear solid footwear, warm clothing and carry water and food if required. There are no facilities along the trail.

A walk booklet will be available at the start. The booklet and the provision of information signage along the walk has been gratefully provided by a Community Support grant from Central Highlands Water.
Gold coin donations welcomed.
More info: foccinfo@gmail.com

3. FoCC General Meeting – “Recording flora and fauna”

A general meeting and workshop on how to record flora and fauna observations and input into I Naturalist and the Victorian Bio Atlas, was held at 7pm on April 26th at Earth Ed Centre, Olympic Avenue, Mt Clear.
The well attended meeting discussed the purpose and how to monitor and record flora and fauna.
Many thanks to our three presenters:

Joel Ellis – explaining the value of spotting and recording flora and fauna on the online medium “iNaturalist”.

Jackson Cass – Outlining the CSIRO four-year koala local monitoring program which began in February this year.

Siobhan Heenan – explaining her new Koala DNA study which is now underway. See the next article below.

A very informative evening with all our guest presenters being under 30 years old.

4. Koala scat collecting research program
   “Koala spotters Wanted!

Can you help Siobhan collect Koala scat across Ballarat?
There is currently amazing work being done in the Gippsland region of Victoria with profiling koala populations and learning about their genetic diversity.
We are trying to find remnant indigenous populations of koalas that will be essential for the conservation of the species!
In an effort to find these groups, they are extending their search to Western Victoria and we are calling on citizen scientists to help!
Siobhan is attempting to find Koalas around Ballarat in the hopes of collecting some scat (poo!) for DNA analysis. If you spot a koala anywhere in the Ballarat region and surrounds it would be amazing if you could let her know!
Scat is best collected by tweezer or tooth pick. Human handling can damage the DNA.
Siobhan is hoping koala spotters will call her and arrange for a collection.
Contact Siobhan on:
siobhanheenan@students.federation.edu.au or her mobile – 0437420865

 The location of any koala scat found will be recorded on the FoCC Koala spotting record as well.

5. The “Bunny Trail” at the Recreation Rd Bushland Reserve

The installation of the bridge and trail approaches on the “Bunny Trail” on the old Ballarat to Buninyong Railway at Mt Clear has now been completed. Ballarat based engineering contractors, Lloyds Engineering constructed the bridge and installed it, right beside the original 1889 wooden bridge on the trail. The bridge was funded with a $34000 grant from the Community Bank of Buninyong Community Investment Program. The opportunity to extend the “Bunny Trail” to Mt Clear occurred when a small bush block with 300 metres of old rail embankment and a bridge, was put up for auction by the Victoria Government in October 2019. Successful representation to local member Michaela Settle MP by the Friends of Canadian Corridor about the possibility of having the rail embankment as a rail trail, saw the auction postponed. The Friends developed a comprehensive “Bunny Trail” plan and worked with the City of Ballarat to purchase the land for community use. Similar discussions were undertaken with Community Bank of Buninyong to fund the trails biggest repair item, the bridge. The plan opted to place a new bridge beside the old bridge thus maintaining the heritage values inherent in the 1889 bridge works.

April 4^th working bee
Was held 9am to 11 am on Tuesday April 4th at Recreation Rd to complete the installation of bollards and safety barriers plus tidying up of pine saplings, logs and trail preparation.

The Community Bank Buninyong gifted the FoCC a set of “Community Gold” gift cards to give away to friends participating in FoCC activities. Volunteers at the April 4^th FoCC Working Bee at Recreation Rd received “Community Gold” cards. We thank the Buninyong Community Bank for supporting this project.

April 19^th working bee 

A “Replas” recycled plastic table, bike hanging rack, information signs and earthworks for the rest spot at the trail entrance is being funded by a Victorian Government “Living Local” grant awarded in 2022. The base for the table was installed on April 19^th 2023.

6. Bird of the Month XIX (April 2023)
   Common Bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera)
   Did you know, in Australia, there are 22 native Australian pigeon/dove species?  The local representatives in Ballarat total three: the Crested Pigeon, Common Bronzewing, and Brush Bronzewing.  As a common inhabitant of Woowookarung Regional Park, and other forests, the Common Bronzewing is most befitting of this month’s BotM focal species!

Many locals would have encountered the Common Bronzewing – perhaps in their backyard/garden, streetscapes, or ‘Wookie’ Park itself.  But have you taken a closer look at the iridescent greens, bronze, blues, purples, and reds on its wings?  Pastel tones of greyish pink on the neck/breast, white eye shadow, pink feet, and (in the male) yellow cap/forehead and purple crown – all add up to an understated yet stylish package!  Males and females have subtle but noticeable differences, with males having richer tones than the duller females.

Widely distributed across the continent, where it is endemic; Common Bronzewings, in the Ballarat context inhabit forests, woodlands, and acacia thickets.  The species is common, and sedentary (i.e. non-migratory, present year-round) or locally nomadic.

The species occurs solitarily, in pairs, or small parties.  Common Bronzewings feed on seeds/grain, and may congregate underneath seeding wattles.  Wary in disposition, when startled, Common Bronzewings ‘flush’ (i.e. flush = take flight suddenly) with a clatter and audible wing whistles.

Common Bronzewings breed all-year round if conditions suit, but otherwise predominately July–January.  The nest is an underwhelming dish of twigs/sticks, supporting clutches of two eggs.  Nest sites vary from low down to 20m high.  Alternatively, disused nests of magpies, ravens or choughs may be adopted.  Both parents share incubation and feeding duties.  Hatchlings are naked, and young are fed a special milk-like substance produced in the crop (i.e. crop = a pouch-like digestive organ in the lower throat).

The vocalisations of the Common Bronzewing have been described as a ‘slow, resonant “whoo”’ or ‘monotonous’ “oom”.  They also have a display call of ‘short, soft “whoo-, hoo-hoo”’.  Low-pitched humming is how this columnist would best describe the call.  Head-bobbing while perched is a characterful idiosyncrasy that may endear bronzewings to onlookers.

Next time you wander through Woowookarung Regional Park, or another bushland patch, don’t forget to look and listen out for the humming call, wing whistles, head-bobbing, and beautiful iridescent flare of the Common Bronzewing!
Author note: FoCC Committee member and co-admin of FoCC’s Facebook and webpage, Joel Ellis is the resident bird nerd, amateur Powerful Owl researcher, and editor of FoCC’s (co-funded) ‘Indigenous [Species] of Southern Ballarat’ trilogy of brochures.  Joel has studied birds up to Honours degree level, interns as an ecological consultant (ornithologist), and is a member of BirdLife Australia (Ballarat branch).

7. Park Works
   Parks Victoria have been busy during autumn upgrading facilities, repairing damaged areas and closing 4WD tracks around the Red Hill and Grasstree Creek area. The works are part of the Fern Loop and Cherry Ballart Trails development in the north of the Park.

   

   

   

Stepping stones on the Cherry Ballart Trail.

Parks Victoria contractors have installed an innovative crossing on Grass Tree Creek just east of Pax Hill. The crossing makes the trail an all-seasons trail by avoiding what used to be, a big winter bog hole.

Phytothphora and trail works fact sheets
Two fact sheets are now online at:
https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/woowookarung-regional-park

The Phytophthora fact sheet has a map outlining the extent of phytophthora (dieback) in grasstrees in the Park.
The phytophthora areas are the red areas on the Map above. Grasstrees affected by Phytophthora (dieback) are evident this year in many parts of the Park.
If you see a grasstree that has turned brown or is on the way to turning brown, that will be Phytophthora (dieback). The disease has been confirmed by testing (see March Spikey News). There is some debate as to whether the spread this year has been assisted by the three wet years in succession. The disease travels via water or wet soil. 

8. Specimen Vale Group

Working bees will be held on:
Thursday 11 May
Thursday 25 May
Fortnightly, beginning around 9.30 am, all along the Vale between King St South and Princes St.
We are ‘lovingly’ working on tucking plants in with a thick blanket of mulch to protect against the forecast 50% chance of El Niño later in the year! And we hope to start planting towards the end of May … on the advice of Lloyd from the Community Plant Nursery.
More info: Ellen Scott millie.newington@hotmail.com 
Merrie Harvey merrieharvey@gmail.com

9. Koala sightings
   October to March is Koala breeding season and peak sightings season, so sightings tend to be less now. They are still there, just harder to spot.
   If you see, hear or find scat from a Koala, please send the information containing the when, where, and how to: foccinfo@gmail.com.
   Also, see article 4 above and contact Siobhan:
   siobhanheenan@students.federation.edu.au or her mobile – 0437420865″
   

   

   

10. The changing landscape at Federation University 

Federation University is located in a leafy forested place. The University grounds are an important part of the Canadian Corridor linking Woowookarung Regional Park to Union Jack Reserve and beyond.  The FoCC receives regular Koala reports from the University grounds.
However, it was not always a leafy forested site. The aerial images below tell the story over time.

The Federation track runs around the perimeter of the University and the walk is well worth it. Look out for the original old trees along the track near the East Terrace area. Seed from those trees has created a new forest.

11. Big Pond issues

Spikey News is sent to nearly 1100 subscribers. Every issue has some rejections by recipient’s mail boxes. Big Pond customers have the most problems with the usual feedback being “Too much google spam” in the mail box. If you are a Big Pond customer and are only getting occasional Spikey News issues, the problem may lay with how much spam is sitting in your account. The FoCC does resend rejected messages but the problem can be persistent.

12. Busy time on the Dementia Friendly Forest and Sensory Trail

The trail was a very busy place at the Easter and Anzac weekends with over 1000 visitors recorded. Note: Easter numbers were lower due to wet and cold weather whilst the Anzac weekend was warm and flat out.

13. Rubbish dumpers, thieves and vandals

The FoCC encourages Park friends to report track vandals, rubbish dumpers, wood thieves and other suspicious activity to Parks Victoria on 13 1963 or email: woowookarung@parks.vic.gov.au

In emergency situations please call 000. If an offender is spotted, please note vehicle registration details as vehicle identification is most helpful, plus location and details.

14. Useful information

• Parks Victoria Woowookarung email address: woowookarung@parks.vic.gov.au 

• City of Ballarat wildlife information:
  https://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/me/pets-and-animals/wildlife
• DELWP wildlife issues reporting information

Report wildlife crime to Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000.

Report any wildlife at immediate risk of deliberate harm or neglect to 136 186. Other matters relating to wildlife and wildlife management should use the 136 186 too.

The Help for Injured Wildlife tool will help you locate and contact the closest relevant wildlife carers and rescue and rehabilitation organisations to help the injured wildlife. The main point to reiterate is for any matters related to wildlife crime, call Crime Stoppers.

15. FoCC Membership
    Membership runs from 1^st January to 31^st December each year, Membership fee is $20 per year. Children of members are free. New members after July are credited to the next year. Membership forms are available online or email foccinfo@gmail.com

16. FoCC Facebook and webpage

www.facebook.com/friendsofcanadiancorridor/

Rob is overseeing the webpage  webmaster@focc.asn.au
The FoCC has over 1000 friends following us on Facebook and growing. Welcome to all new friends. Feel free to pass on to other friends and press the like button.

Calendar

Spikey News features

1. FoCC General Meeting – “Recording flora and fauna”
2. Five big illegal asbestos dumps in Woowookarung Regional Park
3. Clean Up Australia Day at the Lookout
4. Bunny Rail Trail at 55 Recreation Rd progress
5. Working bee at 55 Recreation Rd April 4^th
6. Community Bank Buninyong provides FoCC with “Community Gold “gift cards
7. Bird of the Month XVIII (March 2023)
8. CSIRO to undertake a four-year study of local Koalas
9. Fern Loop and Cherry Ballart trails
10. Park Works
11. Specimen Vale Group
12. Koalas
13. Pilgrims Walk
14. Dark Sky Event
15. Dementia Trail featured on ABC

1.  FoCC General Meeting – “Recording flora and fauna”

A general meeting and workshop on how to record flora and fauna observations and input into iNaturalist and the Victorian Bio Atlas (VBA), will be held at 7pm on April 26^th at Earth Ed Centre, Olympic Avenue, Mt Clear.

Agenda:

• Purpose of monitoring and recording mediums?
• Lessons from Citizen Science Koala spotting
• How to add to iNaturalist
• How to add to the VBA
• Cameras and their use
  • Uses
  • Protocols
  • Possible outcomes
  • FoCC cameras

All friends welcome.

Note: The meeting date has been moved a week later to Wednesday, April 26^th 2023.

2. Five big illegal asbestos dumps in Woowookarung Regional Park

Late on February 18^th or thereabouts, four tip truckloads of building materials were dumped by a large tip truck along Boak Rd Mt Clear. A further dump occurred along Dozed Rd, Mt Clear.

The FoCC reported the dumps to the Environmental Protection Agency, Parks Victoria and the City of Ballarat.

Later, Parks Victoria confirmed the dumps contained asbestos.

If any friend saw anything suspicious around that date or knows of a recent demolished building with lime green or white weather boards and downpipes, please contact Parks Victoria or the City of Ballarat or the FoCC.

3. Clean Up Australia Day at the Lookout

The FoCC hosted a Clean Up Australia day site at the Lookout on Sunday March 5^th 2023.

The clean-up focused on the roads and trails around the Lookout area. Most of the rubbish was food and drink litter.

4. The “Bunny Trail” at 55 Recreation Rd progress

The “Bunny Trail” bridge was installed on Thursday March 23^rd. The bridge is funded by the Community Bank Buninyong, Community Investment Program. Lloyds Engineering of Wendouree built the bridge and installed it adjacent to the original 1889 wooden rail bridge.

Drainage and trail topping works at the north end of the trail will happen in the next few weeks. Once completed the trail will be open for use.

5. Working bee at 55 Recreation Rd April 4^th

A working bee will be held 9am to 11 am on Tuesday April 4^th at 55 Recreation Rd to complete the tidying up of pine saplings, logs and trail preparation.

The work requires a range of hand saws, long and short handled cutters, shovels and rakes.  The FoCC will supply gloves, a safe working environment and a cup of tea and bikky at the end. Solid footwear and clothing required.

6. Community Bank Buninyong provides FoCC with “Community Gold “gift cards

The Community Bank Buninyong has gifted the FoCC a set of “Community Gold” gift cards to give away to Friends participating in FoCC activities.

Volunteers at the recent FoCC Working Bee at the 55 Recreation Rd, removed pines saplings and cleared the path of the new track all received “Community Gold” cards.

We thank Buninyong Community Bank (BCB) for their support of this project! As part of the project BCB donated $250 of vouchers for project supporters. Volunteers at the 55 Rec Rd project showing their Community Bank of Buninyong “Community Gold” cards.

Note: The construction of the “Bunny Trail’ bridge and trail on 55 Recreation Rd Bushland Reserve is funded by the generosity of the “Community Bank Buninyong” Community Investment Program.

7. Bird of the Month XVIII (March 2023)

Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis)

Variety and uniqueness.  Subtlety and understated beauty.  Tenacious pocket rocket.  If these attributes strike your fancy, then Silvereyes are the bird for you!  As the only southern Australian member of the ‘White-eye’ family, Silvereyes belong to a branch of their own on the evolutionary tree, bringing diversity to a regional bird assemblage largely represented by honeyeaters (Family Meliphagidae), parrots (Family Psittacidae), cockatoos (Family Cacatuidae), Family Artamidae (e.g. magpies, butcherbirds, currawongs) and ravens (Family Corvidae).

With its olive-green, grey, and buff, Silvereyes may lack bright colours and eye-catching flamboyance – making this cutie is one for enthusiasts of pastel tones.   Although quite small (10-12.5cm), Silvereyes are said to be “aggressive at bird tables”, with an “intimidating threat display of flared eye-rings”.

Silvereyes inhabit eucalypt woodlands and forests, as well as parks, gardens, orchards and vineyards.  Silvereyes have a varied diet comprising insects, fruit and nectar.

The vocalisations of Silvereyes have been described as “thin peevish ‘psee’”, with an alarm call of “wavering ‘wee-ee-ee-ee-ee’” and a territorial song that is a “rapid succession of high-pitched notes, trills, warbles”.

Breeding season is September to January.  Up to three broods may be raised per season, with clutch sizes of 2-4 eggs.  Both male and female (indistinguishable) share the nest-building, incubation (14-15 days) and feeding duties.  The nest is a small, deep cup, of fine grass, bound together with spiderwebs and suspended from shrubs or the lower reaches of trees.

Silvereyes are not only diverse from the region’s other birds, but also diverse of and within themselves.  Up to nine races (or sub-species) are recognised within the entire species’ geographic range, and each has subtle variance in plumage from the others.  Complicating matters, the eastern races regularly migrate intra-nationally and may replace each other in their different areas for parts of the year.  For example, in the south of their range, Silvereyes move north each autumn and return south in winter to breed, while the Tasmanian race (which have chestnut flanks) migrates northward in mid-summer and returns to Tasmania in Aug-Oct.

Next time you wander through Woowookarung Regional Park, or another local bushland patch, park or garden, don’t forget to listen out for the peevish trills and warbles of these pastel olive pocket rockets!

Author note: FoCC Committee member and co-admin of FoCC’s Facebook and webpage, Joel Ellis is the resident bird nerd, amateur Powerful Owl researcher, and editor of FoCC’s (co-funded) ‘Indigenous [Species] of Southern Ballarat’ trilogy of brochures.  Joel has studied birds up to Honours degree level, interns as an ecological consultant (ornithologist), and is a member of BirdLife Australia (Ballarat branch).

8. CSIRO to undertake a four-year study of local Koalas

The CSIRO is working with the FoCC, Moorabool Landcare Network, Leigh Catchment Group and other agencies and groups to monitor Koalas in our area. The CSIRO program is working across Australia building the knowledge base about Koalas as the statement below explains:

The CSIRO study will build on the Koala data that has been built up by the Australian Koala Foundation, the City of Ballarat’s Koala Plan of Management studies, the FoCC and others over the past 50 years in and around Ballarat.

More information:

https://www.csiro.au/en/research/indigenous-science/managing-country/koala-monitoring-program

9. Fern Loop and Cherry Ballart trails

Parks Victoria held a listening post about the new trails on February 1^st and have published the results as follows:

What did we ask?

We asked for your feedback on our proposal to create two new trail experiences: The Fern Loop and the Cherry Ballart Loop, as well as the changing access to motor vehicle access into this section of park.

What key things did we hear? 

• We received unanimous support to create the two new trail experiences in this section of the park, as it leads through an interesting section of the park.
• We also received unanimous support to our proposed reduction in motor vehicle access to this section of the park, and the importance that walkers, bike and horse riders continue to have access on tracks that are sustainable.
• We also received unanimous support to the 2 proposed names: Fern Loop and Cherry Ballart Loop.

What additional information did you provide us?

• Many people commented on how they would like to see the trails be kept ‘as natural as possible’ and only surfaced when needed to keep feed dry or repair damaged sections.
• People also recommended to us to use good signage at the start at the Cathie Street car park, and using directional totems along the route.
• People commented that they do not want to introduce or spread Phytophthora cinnamomifurther in the area and that the track should avoid infected areas.
• People would like to see the new trail experience reflected on the official park map.

The first bollards are being installed and bog holes being rehabilitated. Further work is some minor tree hazard reduction works, fencing, the installation of stepping stones, regulation signage, 2 duckboard crossings, an information board with updated map, a seat, a Phytophthora cinnamomi hygiene station, directional totems and weed control.

10. Specimen Vale Group

Friends of the Yarrowee River is currently running small local group activities.

The Specimen Vale group meets fortnightly, weather and other commitments permitting, and it’s a lovely, relaxing way to spend an hour or two with like-minded people slowly improving the biodiversity of one of Ballarat’s many green corridors.

The next working bee is scheduled for 9:30 – 11 on Thursday April 13^th on Specimen Vale, at the western side of King St South, Ballarat East.

If you would like further information, please contact

Ellen Scott millie.newington@hotmail.com

Merrie Harvey merrieharvey@gmail.com

11. Park Works

As part of the Fern Loop and Cherry Ballart trails, vehicle tracks have been closed around the Wilson St and Boundary Rd area.

Around 250 bollards are being placed to keep vehicles out but to allow shared access for others.

12. Koalas

October to March is Koala breeding season and peak reporting season.

This is the time when it becomes obvious with their noisy grunting that a male Koala is the area.

Females are generally quiet and therefore hard to see.

If you see, hear or find scat from a Koala, please send the information containing the when, where, and how to: foccinfo@gmail.com.  Images are gold!

“Very excited to get my first ever wild Koala sighting right here in Woowookarung at the lookout of all places!

Sitting down for lunch at the picnic tables I got to watch this one rustle out of the Bracken of the re-gen block, trot across open ground and head up a tree next to the entrance of the Grasstree Nature Trail.”

13. Pilgrims Walk

The Buninyong Uniting Church and the FoCC hosted a short pilgrim walk in the Park’s south.

And written for the event was the pilgrims walk prayer:

Every step is not our own

The path under our feet, is not our own

The breath we take in, has been taken out before

The Breath we give out, also belongs to others

In my walking may others be blessed

In my walking may I be blessed

In my walking may the earth be blessed

May each step awaken my awareness of belonging

May each step awaken my will to serve all beings

May each step awaken gratitude and peace

Let us go, welcoming the earth

Let us go, welcoming whoever we meet

Let us go, welcoming whatever becomes the way

Courtesy: Rev Paul Sanders, Uniting Church Buninyong

14. Dark Sky in the Park

The Ballarat Observatory is hosting an International Dark Sky Week event in Woowookarung Regional Park on the Friday evening of April 21^st 2023.

·       Come and learn about the Fauna at dusk with Andrew in the Park

·       Look through our telescopes and learn about why it is so important to protect our DarkSky and what you can do about it, with Ballarat Astronomical Society members.

·       Wear sturdy walking shoes and dress for the cold weather.

·       Meeting point info is via the Ballarat observatory website below:

https://ballaratobservatory.org.au/event/international-dark-sky-week/

15. Dementia Trail featured on ABC

On Friday March 3^rd at 7.30pm on the ABC Gardening show, host Millie featured a long session on the Dementia Friendly Forest and Sensory Trail, the ideas behind it and some of the wonderful people involved in it.

The FoCC has received many comments about the wonderful way the story was told.

And from Costa’s Corner at:

https://www.abc.net.au/gardening/costa-s-corner-10th-march-2023/102075958

It’s such a privilege to be able to tell the stories we do week in and week out here on Gardening Australia, and it never ceases to amaze me to see the work that people are doing and the care behind the work they are doing in so many different nooks and crannies of life that of course, have a path back to plants, horticulture and gardening. The stories stay with you because of the people that you get to meet and the connections you make with them and their world. I don’t need to look very far, for example Millie’s story last week about the Dementia-friendly Forest and Sensory Trail is one that resonates with the heart because of the long-term impact it is having on the lives of many and the potential for that to be replicated by others who have seen it now……   Costa.

16. Rubbish dumpers, thieves and vandals

The FoCC encourages Park friends to report track vandals, rubbish dumpers, wood thieves and other suspicious activity to Parks Victoria on 13 1963 or email: woowookarung@parks.vic.gov.au

In emergency situations please call 000. If an offender is spotted, please note vehicle registration details as vehicle identification is most helpful, plus location and details.

17. Useful information

• Parks Victoria Woowookarung email address:

woowookarung@parks.vic.gov.au

• City of Ballarat wildlife information:

https://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/me/pets-and-animals/wildlife

• DELWP wildlife issues reporting information

Report wildlife crime to Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000.

Report any wildlife at immediate risk of deliberate harm or neglect to 136 186. Other matters relating to wildlife and wildlife management should use the 136 186 too.

The Help for Injured Wildlife tool will help you locate and contact the closest relevant wildlife carers and rescue and rehabilitation organisations to help the injured wildlife.

The main point to reiterate is for any matters related to wildlife crime, call Crime Stoppers.

18. FoCC Membership

Membership runs from 1^st January to 31^st December each year, Membership fee is $20 per year. Children of members are free. New members after July are credited to the next year. Membership forms are available online or email foccinfo@gmail.com

19. FoCC facebook and webpage

www.facebook.com/friendsofcanadiancorridor/

Rob is overseeing the webpage  webmaster@focc.asn.au

The FoCC has over 1000 friends following us on facebook and growing. Welcome to all new friends. Feel free to pass on to other friends and press the like button.

20. 2023 Calendar of events

The FoCC Spikey News is published on behalf of the Friends of Canadian Corridor Incorporated, Registered No A0097535B.

The purpose of “Spikey News” is to link the community to Woowookarung Regional Park and the Canadian Corridor.

The FoCC is a registered Landcare Group with Landcare Victoria Inc and a member of the Yarrowee Leigh Catchment Group.

Circulation this issue is to 1061 1066 subscribers. Welcome to all new friends.

The update is generally published monthly. Friends wishing to add articles to the FoCC update may do so by emailing foccinfo@gmail.com

Feel free to circulate widely including doctor’s waiting rooms, work offices, friends and neighbours.

We are proud to walk this land with the Wadawurrung people and all other First Nations people.

Any opinions expressed in the publications are made in by the editors in good faith and do not officially represent Parks Victoria or the FoCC.

Web –  www.focc.asn.au     Facebook https://www.facebook.com/friendsofcanadiancorridor/

Unsubscribe by emailing foccinfo@gmail.com

1. Clean Up Australia Day at the Lookout
   The FoCC will be hosting a Clean Up Australia day site this Sunday March 5^th 2023 10am to noon. The meeting point is the Lookout on Boundary Rd, Mt Clear.

The clean-up will focus on the roads and trails around the lookout area. Solid footwear and clothing recommended.

2. Smart Building and Living Expo 2023 at Buninyong

The FoCC held a stall at the Smart Building and Living Expo 2023 at Royal Park at the Buninyong Sustainability Expo on Sunday February 26^th. The stall featured information and giveaways on all the FoCC activities for this year. In popular demand were the Flora and Fauna, Wildflower and Insect brochures.

3. FoCC General meeting

The February FoCC general meeting was held at the Dementia Friendly Forest and Sensory Trail shelter on Wednesday February 15^th 2023.  The Guest speaker was Bianca Fammartino, Landcare facilitator at the Yarrowee Leigh Catchment Group. Bianca spoke about the role of the group and the work it undertakes:

• There are eight Landcare groups within the Group, the FoCC is one of the Landcare groups.
• The group facilitates the revegetation and restoration of private and public land by working with local groups.
• The Yarrowee Leigh Catchment Group covers the catchment area of the Yarrowee and Leigh Rivers ranging from the Kirks and Gong reservoirs on the Yarrowee River south to Inverleigh.

  

4. New Species of Grasstree found in WRP

A third species of Grass Tree has been found recently in Woowookarung Regional Park. The identification of the new Grass Tree species was made last year by researchers whilst undertaking a Parks Victoria study into Phytophthora infections within Woowookarung Regional Park.

Parks Victoria Rangers helped FoCC friends and Field Naturalists Club of Ballarat members take part in an identification session in the Park on Thursday 23^rd Feb. Woowookarung is already well known for its extensive Grass Tree stands and a third species adds an exciting new species to the already large range of wildflowers, shrubs and trees found in the Park.

The new species is Xanthorrhoea caespitosa, commonly called trunkless Grass Tree.  The other two species in Woowookarung are Xanthorrhoea Australis which is a large Grass Tree with a solid trunk. The much smaller Xanthorrhoea minor is also trunkless with smaller leaves and a shorter spike when flowering, when compared with the new species. The new species of Grass Tree is often multi headed and greener in colour than the other two Grass Trees. It is listed under the Flora and Fauna guarantee act as vulnerable.

5. The “Bunny” Trail at 55 Recreation Rd progress

The “Bunny” Trail moved another step forward with a very successful pine sapling removal working bee on Saturday February 18th. The working bee’s volunteers aim was to clear the pine saplings from the trail route between the old rail embankment and the entrance to Woowookarung Regional Park.

The newly cleared trail will allow contractors to install a drainage pipe and prepare the trail surface before putting the final topping on the trail.

The works on the trail including the bridge across the creek are being paid for by the generosity of the “Community Bank Buninyong” community investment program.

Progress on The “Bunny” Trail will include a 9-meter-long steel bridge being installed over the creek in the next couple of weeks followed by fencing and protective bollards near the bridge.

When complete The “Bunny” Trail will allow walkers and cyclists to ride from Mt Clear to Ballarat Station passing five old railway stations along the way, all on defined trails and roads as shown on the map.

6. CSIRO to undertake a four-year study of local Koalas.

The FoCC is partnering with local Landcare networks in a CSIRO lead Koala population study across the catchment areas of the Moorabool Landcare Network and Leigh Catchment Group. Agencies such as Parks Victoria and local government are also involved. The Australian Government is funding the Koala study as a response to the disastrous 2019 -20 bushfires. The study is across recognised Koala habitat. The FoCC citizen science Koala sighting data was recognised by the CSIRO as a quality record and has now been added to the koala data collection. There are koala sightings in Ballarat dating back to the 1970’s and this historical data is very helpful. The City of Ballarat’s Koala Plan of Management adds additional sources of data and evidence.

The study has proposed to cover the areas shown on the maps below. Enfield Regional Park is in the centre of the left-hand side cluster and the Moorabool Shire on the right-hand side. The Canadian Corridor and Woowookarung RP are in the middle.

CSIRO research staff met with local Landcare, local government and koala advocacy groups at the Lookout in Woowookarung Regional Park.  The CSIRO staff outlined how the study would proceed.

7. Listening post at Cathie St for new trail

Parks Victoria Rangers held a well-attended listening post in Cathie St, Woowookarung Regional Park on Tuesday February 1^st. Forty attendees comprising neighbours, community groups and park users discussed the plans and provided feedback, suggestions and information about the nature and location of the proposed trail.

8  Bird of the Month XVII (February 2023)
Grey Fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa)

Like your birds flirty and performative?  This feathered friend is just that – and more!  Seductive embellishments aside, the Grey Fantail, is nonetheless sure to dazzle with its overt fluttery, fanned tail on display.  This cheeky bird is perhaps unfamiliar to the uninitiated, but is an endearing ‘gateway bird’ for beginners who are looking for charismatic bushland secrets, detectable at a minimum of time and effort invested by the observer – if they just search beyond the realms of magpies and ravens.

With its grey upperparts, white eyebrows and beard, and buff (i.e., beige) belly, the Grey Fantail is one of the better-known, easily-recognisable small (14-17cm) birds in Australia.  Insectivorous, the Grey Fantail’s foraging behaviour is characterised by tireless, aerial gymnastics, whereby they exuberantly dismount from the outer branchlets, twisting, turning and looping with tail widely fanned, hauling in flying insects as they go.  Rinse and repeat!  Grey Fantails rarely sit still, but the consolation is that they are conspicuous, inquisitive, and nerveless, which ensures that they don’t retreat to cover or depart the area before you can get a good view of them.

Grey Fantail vocalisations have been described as a “sharp ‘dek’”, “sweet, tinny, animated fiddle-like song”, and “squeaky, scratchy sounds”.

Grey Fantails inhabit eucalypt forests and woodlands, watercourses, parks, gardens and golf courses.  They occur (almost) Australia-wide.  Grey Fantails may partake in partial, northern migrations during winter, but some may ‘over-winter’ in the south year-round.

Breeding season is July–March, but is most intensive from August–December.  Several broods may be raised per season (clutch size 2-3 eggs).  Both male and female (which are visually indistinguishable) share the nest-building, incubation (14-15 days), and feeding duties.  The nest, which resembles a ‘wineglass with no base’, is composed of plant fibres, bound together with spiderwebs.  Nests are often supported by a forked branch, at heights of 1-12m (typically 2-5m).

Next time you wander through Woowookarung Regional Park, another bushland patch or Blackwood-lined creek, don’t forget to focus in on the fiddle-like songs and squeaks, and fluttery, fanned tail of the charming Grey Fantail!
Author note: FoCC Committee member and co-admin of FoCC’s Facebook and webpage, Joel Ellis is the resident bird nerd, amateur Powerful Owl researcher, and editor of FoCC’s (co-funded) ‘Indigenous [Species] of Southern Ballarat’ trilogy of brochures.  Joel has studied birds up to Honours degree level, interns as an ecological consultant (ornithologist), and is a member of BirdLife Australia (Ballarat branch).

9. Ten years of regrowth at the Lookout

In February 2013 the former blue gum plantation had just been removed when the image below was taken from near the Foos Lane and Boundary Rd junction. Not only were the blue gums removed, but the stumps were bulldozed and the ground was dug to a depth of 600mm (2ft). At that time the existential question was, how would this bare land be able to regenerate?

Ten years on the answer is quite clear. Let nature get on with it with a little bit of help from some aerial tree seeding.

10. Koalas

October to March is Koala breeding season and peak reporting season. This is the time when it becomes obvious with their noisy grunting that a male Koala is the area. Females are generally quiet and therefore hard to see. If you see, hear or find scat from a Koala, please send the information containing the when, where, and how to: foccinfo@gmail.com. Images are gold! All koala sightings are recorded by the FoCC onto the Victorian Bio Atlas as a permanent record. This is the authoritative source of biodiverse records and is often cited by developers. Every Koala sighting refutes those developers that claim “no Koalas were sighted or have been reported”.

11. Toilets around Woowookarung Regional Park

The question of where the nearest toilet is to Woowookarung Regional Park is an often asked question. The map below shows where existing public toilets are located. Public toilets around Woowookarung Regional Park.

Note the absence of public toilets in the Mt Clear area!

12. Pilgrims Walk

The Buninyong Uniting Church and the FoCC are hosting a short pilgrim walk in the Park’s south. Details below.

13. Vale Don Boak

Earlier this month Don Boak, an avid supporter of the Friends of the Canadian Corridor passed away quietly. Don was an inaugural FoCC committee member. He was interested in everything that was happening in the Park, particularly around his home area in Mt Clear. Don had an incredible memory of old Mt Clear. He provided many anecdotal stories such as: the origins of the name of Olympic Avenue, the Park connection with Joh Bjelke Peterson, where firewood permits were available from, Bailey’s bone mill and so on.

The Number 47 tree on the City of Ballarat Significant Tree list is on the Boak property at Mt Clear. The tree is a big old spreading Scent Bark. Dons wish was to find out how old it was! Even last year, Don was still discovering new stuff, an echidna that was hunting around his yard, Kookaburras acting strangely, an old kangaroo that he knew that had passed away and he wanted to know why?
He will be missed!

14. Dementia Trail to be featured on ABC

This Friday March 3^rd at 7.30pm on the ABC Gardening show, host Millie will be featuring the Dementia Friendly Forest and Sensory Trail, the ideas behind it and some of the wonderful people involved in it.

15. Rubbish dumpers, thieves and vandals

The FoCC encourages Park friends to report track vandals, rubbish dumpers, wood thieves and other suspicious activity to Parks Victoria on 13 1963 or email: woowookarung@parks.vic.gov.au

In emergency situations please call 000 If an offender is spotted, please note vehicle registration details as vehicle identification is most helpful, plus location and details.

16. Useful information

• Parks Victoria Woowookarung email address:woowookarung@parks.vic.gov.au 

• City of Ballarat wildlife information: 

https://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/me/pets-and-animals/wildlife

• DELWP wildlife issues reporting information

Report wildlife crime to Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000.

Report any wildlife at immediate risk of deliberate harm or neglect to 136 186. Other matters relating to wildlife and wildlife management should use the 136 186 too.

The Help for Injured Wildlife tool will help you locate and contact the closest relevant wildlife carers and rescue and rehabilitation organisations to help the injured wildlife.

The main point to reiterate is for any matters related to wildlife crime, to call Crime Stoppers.

17. FoCC Membership

Membership runs from 1^st January to 31^st December each year,  Membership fee is $20 per year. Children of members are free. Memberships paid during February should receive their receipt and insect brochure in the next few days. New members after July are credited to the next year.  Membership forms are available online or email foccinfo@gmail.com

18  FoCC Facebook and webpage

www.facebook.com/friendsofcanadiancorridor/

Rob is overseeing the webpage  webmaster@focc.asn.au

The FoCC has over 1000 friends following us on Facebook and growing. Welcome to all new friends. Feel free to pass on to other friends and press the like button.

1. FoCC Membership for 2023 due

FoCC membership for 2023 is due. Many thanks to those who have already paid their 2023 membership. Membership of the FoCC is just $20 per calendar year. Children of members are free. All new and renewing members will receive a copy of the “Indigenous Insects of Southern Ballarat” by mail.

1. You can pay for membership via Trybooking at:  https://www.trybooking.com/CFLFU

Cost is $20.50 via Trybooking. You can also make a donation of any size via this process.

2. Bank transfer to details: Bendigo Bank Buninyong BSB   633000    Account No 184147098

Note: Please add your name to the bank transfer and email  foccinfo@gmail.com your name and the date of the transaction. If your postal address has changed, please let us know.

3. Payment to the Treasurer at a FoCC meeting or
4. Cheques should be made out to “FoCC Incorporated” and addressed to:
   FoCC Treasurer, PO Box 83, Mt Clear Vic, 3350.

2. FoCC General meeting

The FoCC February general meeting will be held at 7pm on Wednesday February 15^th outdoors at the Dementia Trail shelter, Katy Ryans Rd, Mt Clear.
The agenda will include the FoCC’s activities for the coming year with presentation and discussion on Landcare, Parks works and FoCC projects. All welcome. PS Bring a chair. Insect repellent provided or BYO.

3. Listening post at Cathies Lane Ballarat East

Parks Victoria are holding a trail listening post on Wednesday 1st February between 4.30pm and 6pm at the Cathie St Car Park, Ballarat East. Parks are proposing to upgrade existing local tracks to form a double loop 3 km long neighbourhood trail for walkers, runners and cyclists. Friends are encouraged to attend, view the proposed trail and discuss with Parks Victoria Rangers items of interest. More info:     woowookarung@parks.vic.vic.gov.au or phone 131963

4. Park Works – Phytophthora sampling

“Parks Victoria commissioned Ecology Heritage Partners Pty Ltd to undertake an ecological survey of Phytophthora impacts within Woowookarung Regional Park during April 2022. The purpose of this assessment was to map changes in Grass-tree distribution, cover and health since 2017, that may be caused by the impacts of Phytophthora.  Ref:  Managing phytophthora WRP Dec 2022.

Parks Vic Rangers have been active in the Park collecting soil and root samples for testing at the Latrobe University soil testing facility for phytophthora fungus. Samples have  been taken from many locations throughout the Park. The results will take several weeks to obtain.

5. 5. Bird of the Month XVI (January 2023)
      Australian Magpie (Cracticus tibicen)

This is a bird with a difference; a local Australian Magpie case study serving a poignant lesson.  It centres on humans feeding wildlife – an important topic warranting increased public awareness.
Let’s be clear: connecting with nature is roundly encouraged.  Please strive for a wildlife-friendly backyard.  How exactly we attract wildlife to our backyard is what’s in focus here.
What are the risks associated with feeding wildlife?  The risks are categorised into behavioural and nutritional disruptions.  Firstly, feeding wild animals breeds altered behaviours.  Unnatural patterned behaviour replaces the species’ natural foraging behaviours/diet.  That’s when wildlife default to begging, phasing out their wild instincts.  Thus, the wild animals become somewhat tame, and dependent on humans.
How does this relate to the local case study?  My street’s resident magpies exhibit bad habit-forming, whereby 12-23 individuals, flock to exploit hand-outs.  Surveying homeowners’ movements, loitering and encroaching close, begging for artificial food.  When their usual providers pause/cease provisions for reasons unforeseen, the resident magpies redirect to other neighbours.  This suggests human dependency, as begging is the default, and hand-outs the primary sustenance, resulting in diminished natural foraging behaviour/diet.  This behaviour is intergenerational; with parent magpies teaching juveniles to beg – which likely bodes poorly for the population’s resilience against fluctuating human assistance.
Secondly, nutritional disruptions.  All fauna possess digestion geared towards metabolising a certain diet, adapted throughout thousands of years/generations of evolution.  Since human agency has introduced novel foods, wildlife is being exposed to artificial foods that their physiology isn’t evolved to digest.  Bread, mince, chips, etc. clog animals’ digestive tracts, i.e. any goodness is unable to be extracted.  Upset stomach aside, malnutrition and other health complications are risks.  For example, carnivorous birds may suffer calcium deficiency from eating processed (boneless) meats, as the absence of bone doesn’t support their nutritional requirements.  This may lead to brittle bones, bill, and eggshells.
Evident in the case study magpies is poor feather condition.  Most have tattered and discoloured feathers (brownish, not the mottled grey of youngsters).  This poor feather condition has been observed over several months, which outlasts moulting cycles, and is uncharacteristic of any plumage age.  Thus, it is almost certainly caused by poor diet.
The long-term implications?  Unnatural behaviours and poor nutrition, combined, this case study suggests an intergenerational ill-health that presumably bodes poorly for the genetic fitness of the local magpie population – and this trend needs reversing!
Recommended practical resolutions?  Prevention is better than cure, but if it’s too late, be not guilt-ridden, but rather empowered to learn and reform.  Weaning them off provisions encourages natural foraging.  Feeding intervals are important for patterned behaviour, i.e. if provision times are few and far between, birds are unlikely to congregate like clockwork for hand-outs.  During weaning, try a revised menu of natural foods specific to the target species.  Please always refrain from breads, mince, and chips!
Better yet, attracting wildlife to your backyard, through birdbaths, and a native garden, is unreservedly encouraged.  Providing water is permissible, as safe drinking and bathing water is a far-less accessible commodity, and one that may be life-saving during extreme heat (see image below).  Birdbaths of different sizes, depths, heights, and proximities to cover, are considerations for catering to avian diversity, including small, risk-averse species.  The only caution is that birdbaths MUST PLEASE be cleaned and sanitised regularly to prevent disease transmission!

As for a native garden, this is great for providing food, foraging substrates, shelter and nesting resources for native fauna.  Sourcing locally indigenous flora of local provenance is the pinnacle!
Next time you see Australian Magpies, rather than passing them off as dime-a-dozen, consider it a reminder that well-intentioned stewardship of wildlife can elicit unintended ill-effects; hence, we must spread this educational message.  Let’s all enjoy a summer in the outdoors, connecting with nature in an informed manner!
Author note: FoCC Committee member and co-admin of FoCC’s Facebook and webpage, Joel Ellis is the resident bird nerd, amateur Powerful Owl researcher, and editor of FoCC’s (co-funded) ‘Indigenous [Species] of Southern Ballarat’ trilogy of brochures.  

6. Bunny Trail progress at 55 Recreation Rd

The Bunny Trail project at 55 Recreation Road is well underway courtesy of a Community Investment Program Grant from the Community Bank of Buninyong.

• Bridge construction commenced: The FoCC contracted Lloyds Engineering to construct and install the bridge across the creek. The steel bridge has been built and it is now in Geelong to be galvanised for weather protection.
• Site visits have worked out the location of the bridge concrete footings and access for machinery. Small pine trees along the access path have been removed.
• Parks Victoria rangers met the FoCC to sort out the details of the entrance into the Park. The entrance will include a lockable bollard to allow maintenance access.

7. Koalas
   

   

   2. Another Koala observed by Daniel on 16 November along East Terrace Mt Helen (Fed Uni).  No image.

   

   4. East end of Olympic Avenue Mt Clear. Heard by Bob on 26 December 2022. No image.

   

   

   

8. Clean up Australia Day March 5^th 2023

The FoCC will be hosting a Clean Up Australia day site. The meeting point is the Lookout on Boundary Rd, 10am  to Noon. More details next Spikey. 

9. Parks Victoria Chairperson visits Dementia Trail

Parks Victoria Chairperson John Pandazopoulos visited the Dementia Trail in November. The visit arose from the Dementia Trail winning a State Sport and Recreation Award earlier in November.

10. Xmas drinks report

A well-attended Xmas drinks at the lookout experienced a great Ballarat sunset.

11. Haymes Rd update

The proposed 28 lot development at Haymes Rd has been rejected by the City of Ballarat. In a letter to the FoCC dated November 25th 2022 the CoB said,

“The proposal fails to adhere to the objectives of the Planning Policy Framework of the Ballarat Planning Scheme” 

12. 2023 Smart Living Expo Buninyong

The FoCC will host a stall at the 2023 Smart Living Expo Buninyong at Royal Park Buninyong. Always a good time to catch up with Friends and see and talk about sustainability opportunities.
Buninyong’s Smart Living Expo – A FREE event, Sunday the 26th of February 2023 from 10am to 3:30pm

Ideal place to pick up one of our brochures.
https://www.smartbuildingandlivingexpo.com.au/

13. Revegetation of old 4WD track

Parks Victoria and volunteers planted out an old 4WD track on the North side of Katy Ryans Rd a couple of years ago.

The track was along the edge of a plantation block and no longer in use. It was mostly hard clay and yet the plants have struck and surprisingly other hardy native shrubs and trees have also begun to grow. This is nature repairing itself perhaps helped by three wet winters.

14. Rubbish dumpers, thieves and vandals

The FoCC encourages Park friends to report track vandals, rubbish dumpers, wood thieves and other suspicious activity to Parks Victoria on 13 1963 or email: woowookarung@parks.vic.gov.au In emergency situations please call 000  If an offender is spotted, please note vehicle registration details as vehicle identification is most helpful, plus location and details.

Why dumped garden waste causes problems in the Park?

15. Useful information
    Parks Victoria Woowookarung email address: woowookarung@parks.vic.gov.au 

• City of Ballarat wildlife information:
  https://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/me/pets-and-animals/wildlife

• DELWP wildlife issues reporting information     
• Report wildlife crime to Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000.

Report any wildlife at immediate risk of deliberate harm or neglect to 136 186. Other matters relating to wildlife and wildlife management should use the 136 186 too.

The Help for Injured Wildlife tool will help you locate and contact the closest relevant wildlife carers and rescue and rehabilitation organisations to help the injured wildlife. The main point to reiterate is for any matters related to wildlife crime, to call Crime Stoppers.

2023 Proposed Calendar

The calendar is prepared by the FoCC committee.