Bushcarenews

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hornsby.nsw.gov.au/bushcare

Newsletter managed by Hornsby Shire Council Natural Resources Branch

JANUARY 2013

Bushcare Christmas Party 2012A great day on the Hawkesbury River for our Bushcare and Nursery volunteers.

Notes from the Top EndA personal account of the Australian Wildlife Conservancy.

Wareemba teams attack the ArundoMaking progress thanks to dedicated teamwork.

Jumping AntsWhat to do if you come into contact with them.

BushfireImportant things to consider for summer.

+ Staff reports ı Volunteer reports ı Bushcare training ı Office matters ı Diary dates and events

Fagan Park Eco GardenBUSHCARE NEWS

2 JANUARY 2013

The Fagan Park Eco Garden started out as a community endeavour in 2000 with the additional support of the then Northern Sydney Waste Board and Hornsby Shire Council. The last couple of years have seen renewed efforts under the direction of the Council Waste Education and Parks teams.

We have increased community contact and education through free workshops, kids activities and open days, with an emphasis on waste and sustainability issues. Our focus is on providing a relaxed and informative environment where visitors can wander through the garden, chat to

staff, pick up brochures or read the interpretive signs. The Eco Garden is an excellent example of gardening and sustainability where we include fruit and vegetable growing, water conservation, native plants, native bees and waste reduction. The Eco Garden continues to be used for the Council’s waste initiatives such as ‘Compost Revolution’ and the school based ‘Ready Set Grow’ program.

The Eco Garden wouldn’t be the success it is without the ongoing hard work of our volunteers both past and present. We have individuals, families and groups as well as school and community group visits. We certainly welcome new volunteers both in the

garden or offsite as part of our Satellite Seeds and Seedlings program.

We are looking forward to providing the community with more events in 2013 as well as joining forces with the staff and volunteers at the Pennant Hills Community Nursery so please keep your ears open for those activities.

Contact DetailsHornsby Shire Bushcare Earthwise Cottage 28 Britannia St, Pennant Hills

General Bushcare enquiries E: bushcare@hornsby.nsw.gov.au Mail: PO BOX 37 Hornsby NSW 1630

Environmental Scientist – Bushcare Leanne Johnston and Meron Wilson 9847 6362

Coordinator Community Programs Danielle Sutton 9847 6360

Nursery and guided bushwalk information Incident and hazard reporting 9847 4848

Tanya Mein, Eco Garden Officer

You can help shape the future of Hornsby Council Bushcare.

Have your say and give us your suggestions for improving the Bushcare program. All Bushcare volunteers will soon receive a survey and your participation would be greatly appreciated. We will be sending you an email with a link to an online survey. If you receive your Bushcare News in the post you will receive a paper survey in the mail.

It will only take a few minutes to complete but will give us really useful information to help us design a better program. Please fill out just one survey and email or mail back to us by the 31st January 2013. Thanks in advance for your support!

Bushcare Survey needs your input

Hellos & farewells

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A big welcome is extended to Paula Ellis (Rosemead and Manor Road), Cecilia Wong (Stanley Road), David Swain (Roselea), Mary O’Byrne (Magnolia), Terry and Aaron Semple (Fearnley Park) who have successfully completed their probationary training this year and are now fully fledged volunteers.

There are another twenty one volunteers who have attended Bushcode, or completed their three months on site with a Trainer, but not both. We look forward to them joining the registered volunteer team next year!

Clive and June officially have worked on their site since 1997, supported by a succession of Trainers starting with Sheila Woods and ending with Brendan Gulson. Now, eighteen years later, they have decided to hand in their tools.

They have successfully regenerated a patch of Peppermint-Angophora open forest outside their home, where the land slopes down to Terrys Creek, and now look forward to watching the native birds and animals enjoy the fruits of their labour.

They will try not to look at the groundcover weeds that lurk just beyond the site boundaries, and would cheer anyone who took them on.

Farewell Clive and June Moller

Welcoming new volunteers and farewell to others.

Clive and June Moller (front left to right)

New volunteers

Every Monday morning for the past 14 years Louise could be found in the bush at New Farm Road, West Pennant Hills. She was one of the original volunteers at the site, working with the late Janne Hourigan under the supervision of Sheila Woods.

Louise is a sociable person, having grown up with lots of brothers and sisters, and a good cook. Her fellow volunteers Tony, Jacky and Sandy, and their Trainer Jane, particularly enjoyed sharing these qualities with her over morning tea breaks.

Louise was a keen bushwalker, and wore out the bottoms of her feet exploring the great outdoors. She has now decided to hand in her bushcare pouch to spend more time in her garden and with her grandchildren.

Group members are very sorry to see her go, and hope she will stop by often on her walks. They are pleased to be able to say that at the time of her leaving, the site is totally weed free (and should remain so until the next good drop of rain!)

Louise Rowsten retires from Bushcare

Loiuse Rowsten

BUSHCARE NEWS

4 JANUARY 2013

The Wareemba and Wareemba/Tyas bushcare sites jointly cover around 1.5 hectares along (mostly) the western bank of Larool Creek, which links with

Waitara Creek and the Berowra Valley National Park. Over the past 10 years the combined groups have largely eradicated the usual exotic weeds that had overtaken the creek bank and surrounding bushland. However once that hard work was done we were faced with tackling an enormous stand of Arundo donax or Giant Reed.

Arundo is a member of the grass family, with canes up to six metres in height and capable of growing ten centimeters a day. The removal process is, as you can imagine, a daunting task for a group of nine volunteers, most of us now at that ‘certain age’.

Barbara Tyas was lucky to be made aware of, and we subsequently saw in the Advocate, twenty five Landcare Grants to be made available to community groups for special projects. We then discussed with our trainer, Jane Gye, our suitability for such a grant and after downloading and completing the application on-line we put together a brief PowerPoint presentation.

We selected a dozen photographs highlighting the Arundo problem and ‘showcasing’ the restoration work in the sites, the spectacular waterfall and one of our neighbourhood picnics.

The Council Community Nursery came to the party with a commitment of 300 tubestock to aid in the restoration.

Subsequently Landcare Australia provided us with a $2,000 grant, which enabled us to employ contractors. The funds would cover us for about 48 hours of labour so, to eke our funds out and make the most of the money, we elected to work a schedule of one day a week with the contractors. Each Friday between 9.00am and 2.30pm the contractor fired up the saws and we volunteers began to haul giant fronds uphill from the creek to the road, where they were cut and bundled ready for removal. Over the coming weeks we amassed some 300 plus bundles lining the roadside. Thankfully the council also donated a truck for the removal. With such dedicated teamwork and effort we actually managed to surpass the estimated area able to be removed.

There is still a lot of work to do beyond our boundaries and perhaps another grant will enable us to pursue this to link our creek walk to the nearby remnant Blue Gum forest and further improve habitat along the corridor for birds and other wildlife.

Volunteer working at Wareemba

Wareemba before grant work

Wareemba after grant work

Ann Brown

Wareemba teams attack the Arundo

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Over the past 10 years the combined groups have largely eradicated the usual exotic weeds that had overtaken the creek bank and surrounding bushland.

Your stories and news items

are always very welcome.

Visit us on the web

hornsby.nsw.gov.au/bushcare

Wareemba creek without Arundo

Wareemba creek with Arundo

Trad Bash @ Terrys Creek On Saturday 10 November

Hornsby Bushcare volunteers and neighbours

gathered at Lucinda Coates’ Terrys Creek Bushcare site to remove an infestation of Trad (Tradescantia fluminensis) that had spread from a fill pile into the bushland.

The Terrys Creek valley lies at the southern tip of Hornsby Shire. The narrow corridor of bush along the creek boasts one of the few Endangered Ecological Communities of Blue Gum High Forest in the Shire among its mix of soil and vegetation types, and supports an amazing variety of wildlife. A number of passionate Bushcare groups work along its length, and once in a while one will call for a working bee. This time it was Lucinda. She takes up the story.

“My site was in desperate need of help. For over a year I had not been able to maintain the weeding regime required. During this time Trad (mainly) had re-invaded areas that had been cleared and planted with native

grasses and shrubs, right down to the Chain of Ponds that trainer Brendan Gulson and I created a few years ago. I couldn’t believe how much there suddenly was. I enthusiastically started work with my new Bushcare trainer Adam, but realised we needed a helping hand to get rid of the Trad. We needed a working bee.

“My cunning method was to tempt Bushcare volunteers with a light lunch and a yummy afternoon tea, then arm them with weed bags and let them loose on the Trad.

“It worked beautifully. Some turned up early to partake of delicious (if I do say so myself!) salads but there was no lingering; others headed straight down to the site, armed to the teeth with tools, weed bags and attitude. Everyone worked very hard for three hours or so and I was amazed at the results.

“Hornsby Bushcare staff gave me Special Dispensation to bag the Trad – I didn’t want to compost it on site as

it would release excess nutrients into the soil. Sonny asked me how many bags I needed. “Is ten too many?” I asked. Luckily he left me 40. The team filled a total of 36 from the site (Sonny collected them all the following Monday)!

“Irene planted native tube-stock into the bare patches: mainly small shrubs, sedges and other plants that will build a more suitable habitat for small birds than Trad, and loads of native grasses. I have had good success in the past with bird sightings in my Bushcare site and my garden: Superb Blue Wrens, White-throated Scrub Wrens, a Rose Robin and, most recently, a pair of Eastern Spinebills. It can only get better, with more suitable plants.

“Everyone had a great time. I really recommend, if you have never attended (or organised) a Bushcare working bee before: just do it! It’s great for a temporary change of Bush regeneration routine, you get to meet and work with local and other Bushcare site volunteers, check out different sites and maybe get some extra help at yours at a later stage. Depending on the time of day, there might be on offer some scrummy lunch or delicious morning or afternoon tea. It’s also an excellent social event and the host, of course, gets a huge helping hand for their Bushcare site!

“My heartfelt thanks go to Noel and Rae, Margot, Simon, Irene, Judy, trainer Adam and my next door neighbour Ken (who thinned out some excess giant bamboo grass at my request, for fire preparedness). Also thanks to Sonny, Ross and all the Bushcare team for the plants, afternoon tea, tools and support.”

If you would like ideas on how to organise a working bee for your site, contact the Environmental Scientist – Bushcare by emailing: bushcare@hornsby.nsw.gov.au

BUSHCARE NEWS

6 JANUARY 2013

Trad Free

If you spend any time working in the bush over summer, chances are you will come into contact with a jumping ant or ten. The experience is likely to be a painful one.

Jumping Ants

This is because Jumping Ants belong to the Australian native stinging ant genus,

Myrmecia. The genus is broadly subdivided into bull ants, also known as bulldog or soldier ants of which the red and black species (Myrmecia pyriformis) is a good example, and the jumping bull ants such as the Jack Jumper Ants (Myrmecia pilosula) and Common Jumping Ants (Myrmecia nigrocincta). Bull ants can be large, around 15mm to 25mm long, whereas Jack Jumper and Common Jumping Ants are generally 10mm to 15mm long and often display jerky, jumping movements

Shared characteristics include large eyes, long, slender mandibles and a potent venom-loaded sting. They have superior vision, and can track and even follow intruders from a distance of one metre. Many species of bull ants have bright red or orange colours on the head or abdomen. Jack Jumper and Jumping Ants can be told apart by the all black body and yellow jaws of the Jack Jumpers and the orange and black bodies of the Common Jumping Ants, but geographically Jack Jumpers are more likely to be found in the southern mainland states including Tasmania, while Common Jumping Ants are more common from Victoria to north Queensland. North of the harbour the most common species is the Common Jumping Ant.

All up there are about 90 species of Myrmecia ants in Australia with nine species recorded in Sydney. There may be more as yet undiscovered.

Jumping Ants live in urban areas, forests, woodland and heath. Their nests are usually underground and can extend several metres. Small entrances are inconspicuously hidden under a rock, or may be formed from a 20 to

60cm diameter mound of finely granular gravel.

Jumping Ants are carnivores and scavengers. They collect nectar and other plant juices, as well as animal prey, which are carried back to the nest. They sting their victims with venom that is similar to stings of wasps, bees, and fire ants. Their venom is one of the most powerful in the insect world. Jumping Ants are proven hunters; even wasps are hunted and devoured.

As with many species of bull ants, Jumping Ants are usually solitary when they forage, though they live in colonies like most ants, and only workers forage. They are highly territorial, and fights among Jumping Ants from different, and even the same, colonies are not uncommon.

The StingBull and Jumping Ants will attack intruders of any size that come too close to their nest, and will follow or even chase them a good distance. The ants deliver painful stings by gripping the intruder with their mandibles (jaws), curling their abdomen to reveal the sting and injecting the victim with venom. Often multiple stings are delivered.

Jumping Ants are aggressive and the stings they deliver, like those of bees and wasps, are very painful. Local swelling is very common, lasting a few days at a time. An ice pack or commercially available spray may be used to relieve the swelling and pain (Rapaid is provided in Hornsby Bushcare First Aid kits). Alternatively, if Bracken Fern (Pteridium esculentum) is nearby – and it usually is - rub frond sap on the sting site (new unfurling fronds are best). Relief should occur within fifteen minutes.

If the itching and pain is persistent, ask a pharmacist for advice about antihistamines.

The more serious reactions are generalised allergic reactions, the most severe of which is anaphylaxis. Jumping Ants are responsible for about 90 per cent of anaphylaxis in Australia, (Jumper Ants in Tasmania). Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction in which the person often gets a rash, feels their throat tighten, and experiences swelling of the lips and face and difficulty breathing. If there is evidence of an anaphylactic reaction immediate medical treatment is needed.

If you have previously had a serious allergic or anaphylactic reaction to an ant sting you should carry adrenaline while working on a Bushcare site. Let your Bushcare Trainer know if you have been diagnosed with allergies or if you are carrying medication.

Wearing the recommended PPE (long trousers, closed shoes, long sleeves and gloves) will reduce the intensity of ant sting – though they can still bite through clothing. It is good practice to mark Jumping Ant nests on Bushcare sites so they can be avoided. If you come across an ant nest please let your Bushcare Trainer know. Hopefully before you get stung.

Information sources: Tristram Thomas; Bush Regenerator: North Sydney Council Professor Simon Brown: HYPERLINK “http://www.allergy.org.au/content/view/12/111/”Australian Ant Venom Allergy Study (AAVAS) Australian Museum: Martyn Robinson pers. comment; and website: australianmuseum.net.au

Image: www.brisbaneinsects.com

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BUSHCARE NEWS

8 JANUARY 2013

Bushcare Christmas Party 2012The 2012 Bushcare Christmas Party was held on the Hawkesbury on a lovely Hawkesbury Cruise catamaran on

Saturday 1 December. We’d like to thank the crew for their great service, particularly the kids, Madison and Alex. The day was a huge success with over 100 Bushcare and Nursery volunteers attending. It was a difficult choice

between battered dory and chips and vegetable quiche and salad but all who attended managed to make a decision. Incidentally both options were delicious!

Justin provided the commentary on the interesting history of the river and its people. There was ample opportunity for people to talk and watch as the boat passed by the islands. The crew also opened the bar after lunch for volunteers to purchase beer, wine or other drinks. Some of our volunteers looked very relaxed sharing a drink with their bushcare buddies.

Many were grateful for the air-conditioning in the cabin; others preferred the gentle cool breeze on the deck. Many volunteers were sun smart and brought along hats and umbrellas to provide some relief from the hot sun. There was a lot of bushcare hats on display on the day but the stand out was Lucinda. Lucinda’s hat was very festive, decorated with Christmas baubles, candy canes etc. That leads me to wonder if we could have a Christmas bonnet/hat competition next year!

Having it on a ferry was a great idea as it allowed all the volunteers to mix together and talk to others that we probably wouldn’t have met if the party had been held in a hall somewhere. There was a much more relaxed atmosphere which made the official part of the day less “official”. We were also able to talk to the trainers more easily in relaxed surroundings.

The food was also pretty good and the staff running the ferry were first Class and very helpful.

Congratulations all round and I hope that you are able to give it another go next year.

Tony Rees, Francis Green Bushcare Group, Cherrybrook

Achievements of the Natural Resource BranchAfter lunch Di Campbell, Hornsby Council’s Manager-Natural Resources, spoke about some of the Natural Resource Branch achievements. Did you know that 187 hectares of bushland is actively being restored by Council, this includes the 68 hectares that bushcare volunteers regenerate. The Hornsby Community Nursery produced over 52,000 plants and dispatched over 32,000 for the year.

Other Council achievements include the development of the online Native Tree database to facilitate tree identification. To find out more about how to identify 40 of our native trees go to http://www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/services/trees/indigenous-trees. Other projects include the Estuarine Wetland and Migratory Bird Survey, Hornsby Heritage Step restoration, bushfire mitigation of Woodcourt Fire Trail and the completion of the Habitat Connectivity grant. The habitat connectivity grant included the regeneration of 9.3 hectares public and private bushland. The project included 281 participants including private landholders. The team also reviewed the draft Hornsby Local Environment Plan and Development Control Plan. The team were also responsible for achieving over $1million of grant funds this year.

Lian and Roselea volunteersTony Rees in the striped shirt

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Bushcare Christmas Party 2012AwardsSpecial Achievement Awards The Special Achievement Awards were for groups who have been working on their bushcare sites for over 20 years.

1. Observatory Park, BeecroftThe Observatory Park Bushcare group started in May 1988 when bush regeneration was in its infancy.

John Noble, who many know as a driving force in the community, and who sadly died last year, was one of the original members. Other original members Sheila Woods and Ron Leslie are still going strong.

2. Abuklea Road, EppingIn February 1991 Jean Miller organised her husband Charlie and some neighbours to carry out the primary clearing of privet and lantana. She then started popping across the road for a few hours, on a regular basis. After about five years of this Charlie decided to get involved. He got serious about it. He studied Bush Regeneration at TAFE and applied his new found knowledge and ability to the site.

3. Chilworth, Beecroft Chilworth was one of the pioneer Bushcare groups that helped Council get involved managing the bushland under its control. According to Council records it started in June 1991 at the request of local resident John Noble.

4. Rosemead Road, Hornsby The group started work in 1989 under the umbrella of the Hornsby Conservation Group, members of which were keen bushwalkers and protectors of bushland. They officially joined the Bushcare program in May 1992.

5. Currawong, Berowra Heights The Currawong site started in July 1992 when two local mothers put an advertisement in the local paper asking for help to restore the natural vegetation. The weed-choked site was also being used as a rubbish dump.

Rae and Noel Rosten were among the thirty or so who responded, and they are there still. Other early starters included Jim Hatfield, who retired a few years ago. Jim was also a member of the local fire brigade and was very helpful in getting ecological burns happening.

6. Watson Avenue, Hornsby The Watson Avenue site was a mess of weeds when the Shellens moved into their place in 1991. They decided they wanted to improve the quality of bushland next to their property, and approached Council for help. A kind staff member came out and helped label the trees and plants.

In October 1992 Jim and Mary joined the program and set to work, under the expert hands of Tein McDonald. Their site was, and still is, dauntingly steep, so they focused at first on the bits that could be easily reached, removing large swathes of Bamboo, Privet and Camphor laurel.

Golden Trowel AwardChilworth Reserve Bushcare group is awarded the prestigious Golden Trowel this year for

�� Implementing good bush regeneration practices and principles on site�� Successful regeneration of a very large bushcare area�� Longstanding persistence

and dedication�� Being a cohesive

community group that supports each other

If you would like to visit Chilworth Reserve, they will be hosting the Bushcare Site Tour for 2013.

Nursery AwardsMark Greaves was awarded the nursery award. Mark’s enthusiasm for the nursery is almost unsurpassed. He volunteers at the nursery as often as he can, and is also a keen assistant in extra curricula seed collecting expeditions. He has put in countless hours on expeditions to collect a wide variety of key species that the nursery produces.

Mark’s passion is matched by an advanced level of understanding of the science behind the nursery’s bank of stored seed. This is clearly demonstrated through his participation in the seed preparation component of work at the nursery.

Mark is continually looking for ways to improve the management of the stored seed bank that is so essential to the nursery’s operation. His contribution is highly appreciated and valued.

Congratulations to all.

BUSHCARE SPECIAL

Chilworth Reserve Bushcare group

Tony Rees in the striped shirt

Ron Leslie

BUSHCARE NEWS

10 JANUARY 2013

Bushfire

Of the 30,000 hectares of bushland within Hornsby Shire over half is managed

by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, 17 percent by Council, and a small proportion is managed by the Department of Primary Industries (Catchments and Lands). The rest is mostly privately owned.

Hornsby Shire Council is responsible for approximately 49 kilometres of interface with public and private assets (including approximately 5,000 dwellings). Assets located directly along this interface are generally the most at risk to bushfire impacts.

Council is a local authority under the Rural Fires Act, and a member of the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Bushfire Management Committee along with the Rural Fire Service (RFS), NSW Fire Brigade and the public land managers.

The committee is guided by the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Bushfire Risk Management Plan which sets out initiatives for fire management and seeks to develop a coordinated and strategic approach within the Hornsby and Ku-ring-gai Local Government areas. Under this plan, local authorities

develop and undertake an annual hazard reduction program which aims to reduce the threat to life, property and the environment. The committee also takes on an educational role, and is continually developing its FireWise program.

Many residents have moved to Hornsby Shire specifically because of the bushland setting. This proximity to the bush provides residents with many aesthetic and recreational opportunities; it also increases the risk of bushfire impacts to life, property and the environment.

What can private landholders do?Private landholders need to prepare for bushfire. All residents near the bushland interface should have completed a Bush Fire Survival Plan.

The Plan template has been developed by the RFS to help residents decide what is the best plan for family and pets well before bush fire threatens. These decisions include:

1. How will you prepare?

2. Will you Leave Early or will you Stay and Defend?

3. What will your triggers be to act?

4. What will your back-up plan be?

You can download a copy of a Bush Fire Survival Plan from www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/dsp_content.cfm?cat_id=4073&gclid=CMqhsqWHubMCFchdpQodIUwA2Q

To receive a hard copy phone Hornsby Rural Fire District: 9883 2000

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Preparation is not just about your house and having a plan. It is also about considering your physical, mental and emotional preparedness. A bush fire can be terrifying. If you have any doubts about your ability to cope, you should plan to leave early.

PREPARE YOUR PROPERTYA well prepared home is more likely to survive a bush fire. Even if your plan is to leave early, the more you prepare your home, the more likely it will be to survive bush fire or ember attack.

A well prepared home can make it possible to defend. No one wants residents and/or fire fighters risking lives. A well prepared home is less likely to put your neighbours’ homes at risk.

A well prepared home will give you more protection if a fire threatens suddenly and you cannot leave and have to take shelter.

For more information:

NSW RFSwww.rfs.nsw.gov.auhttps://www.facebook.com/HK.RFSPhone: 9883 2000

FIRE AND RESCUE NSW

http://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/page.php?id=751

Prepare Yourself

Past newsletters can be viewed in colour on Council’s website hornsby.nsw.gov.au/bushcare

Reporting threatened species

If you think you have found a significant or threatened species, population or community please

be sure to report it to the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) via their web site www.environment.nsw.gov.au/wildlifeatlas/about.htm#contribute.

or call 131 555. This is also where you should report possible Aboriginal sites. Please cc bushcare when you make a report to the OEH.

Records provided to National Parks are catalogued and verified, and distributed to local government and other stake holders. Accurate, reliable and current information is vital to ensure the effective management of natural bushland areas and cultural sites, which are vulnerable to a wide range of threats such as feral animals, pollution, disease, climate change and development.

Formal data bases such as the Atlas of NSW Wildlife are very helpful when conducting environmental assessments, and when documenting base line data to facilitate monitoring programs. It also allows site checks on flora and fauna to be undertaken.

If you are not sure of the significance of the species, or are curious about what is going on in your back yard, check out the website – it is user friendly and full of interesting information.

BUSHCARE NEWS

12 JANUARY 2013

Notes from the Top EndHi Sheila and team!

Sorry for my extremely late reply, internet access has been very limited, especially at Wongalara sanctuary in the NT. Before that I was at Mornington sanctuary in the central Kimberley for 3 months, and prior to that I was in the Tanami desert on Newhaven sanctuary for a month. It has been amazing seeing such remote parts of the country.

Most of the work I have been involved with is part of the annual biodiversity surveys at each of the sanctuaries. This involved trapping for small mammals and reptiles nearly every week for 5 months. On Mondays we drive to our sites (the furthest a day’s drive away), dig holes for pitfall traps, then dig trenches for a drift fence – a lot of digging! We leave the site open for 3 days and check the traps for animals every morning and afternoon. We have caught lots of interesting

animals, including Northern Brown bandicoots which had never before been captured on Mornington.

Aside from trapping for the surveys, we have also done trapping aimed at endangered species. One weekend we camped at a gorge on Mornington and put out cage traps for Northern Quolls. We caught about 15, and got to learn how to handle them. I was also involved in the annual finch census, in which all staff and about 10 volunteers survey waterholes for finches every morning for a week. Quite a few people spotted Gouldian finches, and there were large numbers of several other finch species around too (Crimson, double-barred, long-tailed & pictorella mannikins). There are many other amazing birds around and I am getting quite into birdwatching!

On weekends we have been on quite a few adventures such as going canoeing in gorges, swimming in waterholes (it has been between

28-42 degrees every day!) and hiking. Mornington seems to have an endless number of gorges and waterholes, and being larger in size than the ACT you could easily spend years there and still not see all of it!

There are lots of new plants to learn up in the top end, but I have eventually gotten to know a lot of them. At Wongalara the other intern and I took our own survey teams for a week so we had to quickly learn all the plant species in order to do vegetation surveys at our sites! There are a few weeds up here that are really bad, mostly notably Passiflora foetida, Parkinsonia and Callitropis (rubber bush). The land management staff spray them whenever they are found, but as the properties are so big the weeds can often take hold before anyone notices. Passiflora in particular is now out of control, as every wet season it spreads further down the rivers as they flood.

One great thing about the Top End is that there has been a lot less land clearing than down south – a lot of pastoral land is savannah vegetation which has fairly sparse trees, meaning it was already suited to cattle without the need for much clearing. Australian Wildife Conservancy is slowly taking cattle off large areas of the sanctuaries, which will be great for both the plants and the wildlife, but unfortunately they can’t yet get rid of cattle completely because the land is managed under a pastoral lease. Hopefully that will change one day, as it is incredible how much damage the cattle do in terms of erosion.

I’d love to hear the latest from the bush and how things are going for you.

Cheers Emily

Emily Mowat, Chilworth Bushcare writes about her 6 month internship with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy

Northern Quoll

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Did you know that there are more introduced plant species (27,500) than native plants (24,000) in Australia?

And how many of them are or have the potential to become environmental weeds? Around ten per cent of them have become ‘naturalised’ or ‘established’, meaning they now grow by themselves and thrive in the wild.

Find out more about weeds and what to do with them by logging on to www.weedsnetwork.com an impressive free public weed information site managed by Dr David Low, PhD in Scientific Communication (ANU 2003) and Master of Environmental Science (Monash 1992).

Dr Low has joined forces with like minded boffins from Australia and beyond to “foster ways to better understand weeds so they become a resource we can use with environment and future generations in mind”.

The Weed’s Network describes itself as “passionate about a sustainable, viable and creative future in our relationship with weeds”. The Network aims to provide evidence-based information for innovative ways of thinking about, engaging with and managing weeds sustainably.

You can subscribe to the weekly Weed News Digest to keep in touch with the latest research, or just tap into the comprehensive on-line library to find out more about that pesky plant growing on your bushcare site.

Weed’s Network

Most of the work I have been involved with is part of the annual biodiversity surveys at each of the sanctuaries.

BUSHCARE NEWS

14 JANUARY 2013

Just a reminder to the Group Leaders to submit you ‘sign-on sheets’ to your Trainer. If you don’t have a Trainer at present give us a call on 9847 6362.

We need to report on the number of volunteer hours for Council’s Annual Report to the Community, the State of the Environment Report and to safeguard funding for the bushcare program.

Last year our reported hours dropped dramatically by 5,000. There are various reasons for the decrease, including wet weather, but a big contributor to the decline in hours was not receiving the sign-on sheets.

Please be sure to document all hours so we can accurately demonstrate volunteer commitment to bushcare. If you want the sheets returned for your records just tick the box at the end of the page. Many thanks for your cooperation and a gold star to those that are already diligent in submitting the sheets.

Sign-on Sheets

Little LorikeetThe Little Lorikeet is an

increasingly rare species of bird that inhabits the Hornsby

Shire Council area. A tiny parrot it weighs around 40g and is approximately 16cm in length. It has a relatively short tail and its wings appear short and angular when in flight if you can manage to capture a glimpse of this high speed flier as it weaves and twists between the tree tops.

When feeding it often associates noisily with other Lorikeets particularly Musk and Rainbow, but its higher pitch call always gives its presence away. The call can be described as a high-pitched, insect-like screech zit-zit.

Little Lorikeets are blossom nomads in that they move around following the nectar trail of flowering Eucalypts and

Paperbarks, they also feed on Mistletoes – both flower and fruits. This nomadic lifestyle has been highlighted locally with good flowering across the Hornsby Shire of Blackbutts (Eucalyptus pilularis) attracting small flocks of Little Lorikeets.

Little Lorikeets tend to nest in smooth barked Gum Trees with a hollow opening width of just 3cm preferably. They breed in the cooler months between May and September.

The major threats to Little Lorikeets are loss of breeding sites and food resources from ongoing land clearing particularly of mature hollow bearing trees. As such the Little Lorikeet is listed as Vulnerable under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.

Little Lorikeet Photo courtesy of Birdlife Australia

Ted Angelo & Danielle

Glossopsitta pusilla

This year we did things a little differently. We held the photo competition in October, Hornsby Shire Council’s bushcare month. The photos were on display at the Earthwise Cottage and on Council’s facebook. This was the first time people outside of bushcare were eligible to vote.

The winner was Ted Angelo, Flannel Flowers.

We also had a new category, Before and After Bushcare Site Photo. Barry Tomkinson from Short Street won this section.

Thank you to everyone who entered the competition.

The photos were on display at the Wallarobba Art Centre in Hornsby in November. The popular photos will be on display throughout the year in local libraries.

Winner of the Photo Competition

hornsby.nsw.gov.au/bushcare 15

Compost and Worm Farming WorkshopCome to a fun and free composting and worm farming information session to get the dirt on how to create one for your home.

When? Sunday 24 February 2013 Time? 10:00am – 12:30pm Where? Eco Garden Gazebo, Eco Garden, Fagan ParkBook: Free for Hornsby Shire residents. Bookings essential, spaces are limited call 9847 4856

Snake and Reptile Talk When? Saturday 2 March 2013Time? 1:30pm – 3:30pmWhere? location given upon booking Presenter: Philip Topham Book: Phone Ku-ring-gai Bushcare on 9424 0179

Compost and Worm Farming WorkshopCome to a fun and free composting and worm farming information session to get the dirt on how to create one for your home.

Free for Hornsby Shire residents. Bookings essential, spaces are limited call 9847 4856.

When? Friday 8 March 2013 Time? 9:30am – 11:30amWhere? Wallarobba Garden (behind Willow Park), Edgeworth David Ave, Hornsby

Eco Garden Basic workshopAn introductory session on Eco Gardening techniques such as permaculture, no dig gardening, companion planting, crop rotation and much more!

Free for Hornsby Shire residents. Bookings essential, spaces are limited call 9847 4856.

When? Saturday 16 March 2013Time? 10:00am – 12:30pmWhere: Eco Garden Gazebo, Eco Garden, Fagan Park

Bird Walk and Talk Discover some of the wide variety of birds that live in the Wisemans ferry area. We will visit a variety of vegetation types to see how birds inhabit different niches and see the great variety of bird species we have in the Hornsby Shire.

When? Saturday 16 March 2013Time? 7:30am – 12.30pm Where? Earthwise Cottage, 28 Britannia Street, Pennant HillsPresenters: Ross Rapmund and Sonny Armstrong Book: 9847 6832 or bushland@ hornsby.nsw.gov.au

Native Plant GiveawaysRatepayers from the following suburbs only are invited to pickup four free native plants on production of a rates notice: Beecroft, Carlingford, Castle Hill, Cheltenham, Epping, Eastwood, Glenhaven, Pennant Hills, North Epping and West Pennant Hills. Limited stock available on the day.

For more information, go to www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au, call 9847 6832 or email bushland@hornsby.nsw.gov.au

When? Saturday 23 March 2013 Time? 1:00pm – 3:00pmWhere? Hornsby Council’s Community Nursery, 28 Britannia St, Pennant Hills

Pools to Ponds Site VisitVisit a demonstration site with Peter Clark, from Ku-ring-gai Council, to learn about converting your unused backyard pool into a beautiful wildlife haven.

When? Sunday 24 March 2013Time? 10:00am – 11:30pmBook: 9424 0179 or bushcare@kmc.nsw.gov.au

Botanical Photography Workshop This is a practical workshop, be sure to bring along a camera with macro capabilities. John will talk briefly about composition and using the available light to get the most out of your photographs. Be prepared to take lots of photos. Bookings essential.

When? Wednesday 10 April 2013 Time? 9:00am – 1:00pm Where? Ku-ring-gai Wild Flower GardenPresenter: John Martyn Book: Phone Ku-ring-gai 9424 0179

Native Plant GiveawaysRatepayers from the following suburbs only are invited to pickup four free native plants on production of a rates notice: Asquith, Berowra, Berowra Heights, Brooklyn, Cowan, Dangar Island, Hornsby, Hornsby Heights, Mt Colah, Mount Kuring-gai. Limited stock available on the day.

For more information, go to www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au, call 9847 6832 or email bushland@hornsby.nsw.gov.au

When? Saturday 4 May 2013Time? 1:00pm – 3:00pmWhere? Hornsby Council’s Community Nursery, 28 Britannia St, Pennant Hills

Please note you need to book into most events, and numbers are limited. If you don’t book the event may be cancelled.

Diary datesGlossopsitta pusilla

BUSHCARE NEWS

POSTAGEPAID

HornsbyNSW

AUST 1630

Hornsby Shire Council Bushcare Newsletter | JANUARY 2013

THE BUSHLAND SHIRE If not claimed within 7 days please return to PO Box 37 Hornsby NSW 1630

As part of our duty of care to our volunteers we make sure you are provided with basic First Aid equipment. Trainers carry a kit with them whenever they attend a site. Group Leaders of groups that meet outside Trainer visits are also supplied with a kit. Single family groups that work on sites next to their homes are expected to use their personal kits if they have one.

Current kits are supplied by Uneedit. They are packaged in a soft green zip fastened pouch, and contain a pre-selected assortment of bandages and accessories considered useful for most first aid situations. The kits include a list of contents. Some of these, such as eye washes, have a limited shelf life and need to be replaced regularly.

As well as the standard kit we provide a few extras that are often welcome on site.

Insect repellent spray pack. Keeps mosquitoes and to a lesser extent leeches at bay.

Tick remover. Luckily our sites are relatively tick free, but some volunteers experience strong reaction to bites. If this is you, let your Trainer know.

Antiseptic itch relief spray packs or single use cream pouches. Very welcome if bitten by something that isn’t put off by the insect repellent (don’t forget Bracken fronds also soothe).

Ice packs. Single use application for relief of sprains and strong reactions to insect bites.

Compression bandage. Specifically for that rare but unwelcome encounter with a venomous snake or spider.

The First Aid contact for each group is asked to take responsibility for registering use of any of the pouch’s contents, and for reporting the incident to Safehold (9847 4848). If the Trainer is present, and their pouch’s contents used, they will report it.

Group First Aid contacts are also asked to get out of date items replaced. This can be done via the Trainer, or when doing a Bushcode Refresher. If you don’t have a Trainer, you can contact the Bushcare office on 9847 6362.

PLEASE CONTRIBUTE TO THIS NEWSLETTER You can send your stories or letters to the Editor in for the next edition by 1 MARCH 2013

Fax: 9847 6362 Mail: PO Box 37, Hornsby 1630 or Email: bushcare@hornsby.nsw.gov.au

This newsletter has been compiled by the Natural Resources Branch and Bushcare volunteers.

First Aid Kits for Bushcarers Tube Pot ReturnsPlease return to the community nursery any tube pots you may have lying around at home or at your bushcare site.

The nursery has nearly run out of tube pots after not having to purchase new tube pots for over 3 years due to the high return rate of recycled tube pots.

You can drop return tube pots in person, or place them in the after hours chute at the nursery gate.

Thanks!!

Almost every week there is a free guided walk through a

part of the Hornsby Shire bushland. Brochures at libraries and Council offices.