News from Darebin Creek Dec 2013

Transcription

1 News from Darebin Creek Dec 2013 Creek Dates for your Diary 2014: - AGM 2014 February Wed 19 th Feb 7pm Latrobe Wildlife Sanctuary - March 2 nd Clean up Australia Day - March 30 th Darebin Bushcrew event The Friends of Darebin Creek was formed in 1995 to protect, restore and conserve the Darebin Creek and its adjacent parklands as a natural environment for the enjoyment of the community. 1) Hendersons pocket cleanup September 29th By Sheryl Sibbision Once we located the meeting place we saw what a huge job we had ahead of us. Over the last few months thousands of shrubs and trees had been planted by the Whittlesea bush crew, local residents and conservation volunteers. Since then the weed have grown up inside the tree guards leaving the plants struggling. Our job was to remove the weeds to clear a space for the plant to grow without competition. Sometimes this involved removing the tree guard first then putting it back. Luckily we had a number of our Friends group members, one local and quite a few Conservation Volunteers. The area would eventually be open to residents to walk through and enjoy with a great view from the top of the hill over South Morang area. -

2 Fields of plantings forever.!!! Heather gets stuck into the cleaning up.

3 2) Bird Survey Sunday October 6th Darebin Creek at Dougherty s Drain. Sixteen people took part in this year s Darebin Creek Bird Survey on 13 October in West Heidelberg. Lead by Michael Cincotta from La Trobe University, 48 species of birds were recorded and whether they were breeding, such as a magpie lark [pictured]. At the end of the survey, two quite tame ferrets were also found wandering along the creek [one pictured], making quite a bizarre sight for the assembled group. Thanks to everyone who participated in this year's survey. I collated the results onto the attached spreadsheet. I have forwarded the Record Forms onto Birdlife Australia for inclusion in their Bird Atlas. Last year's survey was later in the year - 25 November, which may account for some of the differences in birds spotted. Thanks to Rachel for sending through some great photos of birds and the ferrets. Also thanks to our able vet-friend Gretchen who took care of the two ferrets. Looking forward to doing it again next year. Peter Grenfell BIRD Australian Magpie Australian Raven Australian White Ibis Australian Wood Duck B Brown Falcon Brown Thornbill Buff-banded Rail Buff-rumped Thornbill Chestnut Teal Common Blackbird Common Myna B Common Starling Crested Pigeon Crimson Rosella Diamond Firetail Dusky Moorhen B Eastern Rosella Eurasian Coot Fan-tailed Cuckoo Galah Grey Butcherbird Grey Currawong House Sparrow Laughing Kookaburra Little Corella Little Pied Cormorant Little Raven B Little Wattlebird Magpie-lark B Mistletoebird Musk Lorikeet New Holland Honeyeater Noisy Miner B Pacific Black Duck Pallid Cuckoo Pied Butcherbird B Pied Currawong

4 Purple Swamphen Rainbow Lorikeet B Red Wattlebird Red-browed Finch Red-capped Robin Red-rumped Parrot Rock Dove Scarlet Robin Silvereye Silver Gull Spotted Pardalote B Spotted Turtle-Dove Straw-necked Ibis Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Superb Fairy-wren Weebill Welcome Swallow White-plumed Honeyeater White-browed Scrubwren Willie Wagtail Yellow-rumped Thornbill Yellow Thornbill Yellow Wattlebird TOTAL ) Committee Meeting 16 th October DCMC offices Darebin Parklands Voting was carried out to accept the new Model Rules of Incorporation as our own rules. The vote was unanimous in favor of accepting the rules. Development of the new website was discussed and feedback given by committee members. Adrian Hotchins has commenced organising next year s monthly activities. Helen Walker-Cook had organised reprints of our greeting cards. These cards had been made from drawing done by one of our members. They are of flora and fauna she sketched along the creek. We will sell these at festivals and monthly activities. mas Dinner - change date to 1 week earlier 29 November at Furlan Club, Thornbury. Helen to make booking.

5 Melbourne Water support grants: $1000 to help with administration e.g. incorporation fees, PO Box fees, printing, mailing and promotion. Peter to application form around to committee members. Due date 1 st November 2013 Sheryl suggested getting photos printed up of our activities to use on our display board at festivals. Volunteers of Banyule: Application for volunteers. Possibly a media person. Sheryl to look into it further. Malahang Festival: Sunday 17 th November Must be set up by 9am, finishes 4pm. Roster involving: Sheryl, Helen, Michael, Adrian. Alphington Music festival: Sunday 17 th November. Set up 11am, finish 5.30 pm Roster involving: Sheryl and Trevor, Phillip and Maureen. Review recent activities: Bundoora Farmers Market. Stall attended by Sheryl and Trevor Sibbison, Michael Bradley and Adrian Hotchin. Two new members joined. Had quite a few people show interest. We are welcome to hold another stall when it suits us. Green Street. 5 members and local residents attended planting and weeding along the banks of the creek in Ivanhoe. Good morning tea supplied by residents. Mernda Weeding. Weeding done around plants planted over the last few months. 6 members, 1 local resident and conservation volunteers. Norris Bank noticeboard: Thanks Adrian Infanti for replacing vandalised brochure holder. Correspondence: Banyule Council - flooding of Darebin Creek. 4) Orchids on Electric Spur 27 th October by Adrian Hotchins On a beautiful Sunday morning, too good to waste lying in bed an adventurous party of approx 10 met with Tam/Sam the new Banyule bushcrew member and a handsomely bearded Damien to weed at one of Darebin Creeks better but tiny remnant sites. The task was twofold, to admire the Sun and Leek Orchids Thelmytra and Microtis unifolia while weeding out the Quaking Grass Briza major. At the same time much was discussed FODC business and otherwise. All enjoyed a sociable morning chat and cuppa afterwards and much good work was achieved.

6 Sheryl and Helen not lying down on the job but getting down to the business of remnant conservation The mix of weed and sun orchid

7 Adrian with his weeding bag 5) Alphington Music from the Wetlands and Malahang Festival 17 th November 2013 In an attempt to increase our membership and involve ourselves further in the local creek community Friend s members Adrian, Michael and Helen spent a very pleasant day at the busy Malahang Festival. We set up a marquee, tables and notice boards with information about the group. Lots of local residents showed interest in the creek and Adrian s Environmental Bingo was a hit with the children. Sheryl and Trevor set up for the afternoon at Alphington Music from the Wetlands festival. We had plenty of enquiries about the group and sold lots of our beautiful greeting cards.

8 We welcome new members Ian and Bridgid from Alphington and Candace and Gerald from Malahang and hope to see the other people who showed interest in the future. Also thanks to those who renewed their membership. Adrian at Malahang Festival and Sheryl at Alphington Festival Music from the Wetlands

9 6) Woody Weed Cleanup Macleod 24 th November 2013 by Phillip Orth On quite an overcast Sunday morning, 6 hardy Friends plus the bush crew went to do some weeding in the Cherry Street reserve. While red gums are usually a nice thing to have growing around they had got quite out of hand in some of the Cherry Street areas and to create some diversity in the understory we were to cut down a paddock of saplings. With loppers in hand, we managed quite a paddock of reclaimed land from the red gum and with only one endured shower in the whole morning. The bush crew provided an unusually pleasant morning tea after our efforts, rewarding us with chocolate cake and other goodies. Adrian and Michael get to the red gum removal, Shirley and Bruce help too

10 Before and after we cleaned up the area

11 7) mas party Friday 29 th November Furlan Club The Friends came together for a lovely dinner at our life member the Fogular Furlan club on Friday 29 th November. Nine friends turned up and had a lovely dinner and desert, the group shouted us some garlic pizzas and some wine and soft drinks for our efforts during the year. We hope to see more members next year to join in the fun. Paul, Adrian, Michael, Trevor, Phillip and Peter enjoy a nice dinner. Sheryl, Helen and Chris

12 Friends Photos Please see our Facebook page quite a number of new photos have been added. We welcome any interesting photos from our members just to friendsofdarebincreek@gmail.com Get Involved in Darebin Creek Events in 2013 J -AGM 2014 Latrobe Wildlife Sanctuary Wed 19 th February 7pm for AGM, 8.30pm for night walk around Sanctuary. - March 2 nd Clean up Australia Day - March 30 th Darebin Bushcrew event Got anything to say? Contributions to the FODC newsletter always welcome. Please forward to fodc.articles@dcmc.org.au or friendsofdarebincreek@gmail.com Contact Numbers Convenor/ Membership Officer Sheryl Sibbison Water Pollution? (quote drain sign s number) (h) Melb Wildlife Sanctuary & Indigenous Nursery Shopping Trolley Hotline Adrian Hotchin Events Litter Report Hotline Phillip Orth Newsletter Wildlife Rescue Hotline Darebin Creek Management Committee Vic Police Motorcycle Squad NOTE: The Friends of Darebin Creek Membership Brochure comes complete with map and information in seven languages. Call Sheryl (tel no above) for copies to distribute to neighbours, schools and clubs, and other centres. Visit our website at