Tuesday, 27 August 2019
Dear Supporter,
Here is our September eNews – we hope you find it useful.
September Bird Walk
Saturday 7 September – Pilchers Bridge Nature Conservation Reserve
Join us for a spring-time walk in the beautiful Pilchers Bridge Nature Conservation Reserve, led by Jenny Rolland and Euan Moore. We will walk down Andrews Track through mixed box forest to the dam where we will sit and watch the birds as we have a morning tea break (a small mat would be useful for sitting on by the dam). Then we will walk eastwards along Andrews Track (undulating), head north off-track and return to Andrews Track along the creek lines. The terrain here will be open and relatively flat but the ground could be uneven. We will then walk back up the hill to the cars. This walk is based on one of Damian Kelly’s Castlemaine Bird Walks, page 75.
We should see several honeyeater and thornbill species, Treecreepers, Scarlet Robin, Rufous Whistler, Grey Fantail, Crimson Rosella, and if we are lucky, Speckled Warbler and Hooded Robin.
All ages and levels of experience welcome. This is an easy walk covering approx 3 km, finishing at around midday. Please note there are no toilets at the Reserve.
Location and directions: From Harcourt, travel SE along the old Calder Highway (Harmony Way) for about 6 km and turn left along Faraday-Sutton Grange Road. After about 9 km, turn left along the Bendigo-Sutton Grange Road and after about 7 km turn right into Huddle Road (unsealed). After about 1.5 km, look for a small unsealed track on the right – Andrews Track. Park at this junction or at the lay-by about 50 m before the junction. If you reach the sealed road, you have gone too far.
Time: Meet at the junction of Huddle Road and Andrews Track in the Pilchers Bridge NCR at 8:45am, or to carpool from Castlemaine meet at 8:00am outside Castlemaine Community House (formerly Continuing Ed), Templeton Street.
Important information about walks: Bring water, snacks, binoculars, hat, sunscreen, sturdy shoes, long pants during snake season, and other weather-appropriate gear.
Walks will be cancelled if the temperature is forecast to be 35 degrees or more during the walk period, severe weather warnings are forecast, and/or if the day has been declared a Total Fire Ban.
Questions? If you have questions about our walks program, you can email us at castlemaine@birdlife.org.au, or call Judy Hopley (0425 768 559) or Asha Bannon (0418 428 721).
Join Connecting Country’s Bird Watch Program
Observing nature over time provides evidence of landscape changes. Rigorous, long-term monitoring is essential to determine if threatened species are declining, or if landscape restoration efforts are effective in improving habitat for our at-risk species. In 2010, Connecting Country began monitoring woodland birds across the Mount Alexander region, as indicators of biodiversity and ecosystem health. With help from scientists, we established a long-term monitoring program, targeting members of the threatened Victorian Temperate Woodland Bird Community. From 2010 to 2017, field surveys were completed by experienced, and well-respected birders such as Garry Cheers, Tanya Loos and others.
We now have a rare and incredibly valuable database of rigorous, long-term results that can tell us how our woodland birds are faring in response to climatic events, and if habitat restoration is really helping them. However, fluctuating resources put our future monitoring program at risk. At the same time we’ve recognised that engaging community is central to successful biodiversity conservation.
We’ve been developing a new, community-driven model, where community members direct the research questions, and committed volunteers collect the data on the ground. Connecting Country is working to support a rich resource of skilled, committed and enthusiastic volunteers who are collecting scientifically rigorous data.
We plan to reinvigorate the program by monitoring all 50 of our key sites twice each in spring 2019. From then on, we’ll ideally monitor each site four times a year – twice in winter and twice in spring. With our current network of volunteers, we currently have capacity to survey about half of our 50 established sites. It would be wonderful if we could survey more of these sites this spring, and into the future. If you are a skilled and experienced local birdwatcher, we would be delighted if you can help us to monitor local birds. To register your interest, please contact Jess Lawton (Monitoring Coordinator – Connecting Country) at jess@connectingcountry.org.au or 03 5472 1594 by Monday 2 September 2019.
We’d like to know:
Nuggetty Land Protection Group – Nuggetty to Shelbourne Spring 13 km Railway Walk – Sunday 22 September 2019
Nuggetty Land Protection Group is pleased to announce the third Nuggetty to Shelbourne Spring Railway walk. This event will include a stop for lunch to explore the Bradford Nature Conservation Reserve looking at the flora, birds and orchids. BYO lunch and water, wear suitable walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing.
The Community Bus will transport walkers from the parking area at Nuggetty School Rd – Nuggetty Peace Monument to start of walk. Bus will meet at intersections of roads if lift required and return you to your car or take you to the next section of the walk.
Numbers are limited and bookings are required – please contact Jane Mitchell on 0457 729 132 or Christine Fitzgerald on 0419 347 408.
Follow us on Facebook
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Become a Member
Membership of BirdLife Australia is a great way to support a bright future for Australia’s birds. You can find out more about membership or other ways to get involved here.
Kind regards,
The BirdLife Castlemaine Committee
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