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Sematophyllum
Peron`s Tree Frog or Maniacal Cackle Frog (Litoria peronii)
Pseudocyphellaria neglecta
Clustered Everlasting (Chrysocephalum semipapposum)
Tortula antarctica
Flying Duck Orchid (Caleana sp)
Spear Thistle (Cirsium vulgare)
Scarlet Robin
Grey Fantail
Quaking-grass (Briza maxima)
Clitocybe semiocculta
Lichen (probably Xanthoria sp) on a Cassinia stem
Wheel Cactus (Opuntia robusta)
Coral lichen with moss (Leptodontium paradoxum)
Slender Dodder-laurel with moss (Leptodontium paradoxum)
Slender Dodder-laurel
Antechinus
Wooly Bear Caterpillar
Black-shouldered Kite
Rainbow Bee-eater
Author Archives: fobif
Weeds are for burning
In December we criticised DSE’s management of the Quartz Hill management burn [see 'The uses of fire'] on the grounds that the exercise failed to do anything about the prolific weeds in the area. FOBIF has now written to local … Continue reading
Posted in Fire Management, News
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2012 Autumn Fungi Workshops
The Central Victorian Fungi Ecology Workshop Series is running again this coming autumn. If you would like to know more about this curious kingdom, workshops include interactive displays, illustrated seminars and exciting forest forays deep into our local forests. Full … Continue reading
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Maniac?
The endearing creature below is a Peron’s Tree Frog, sometimes uncharitably called the Maniacal Cackle Frog, owing to its distinctive ‘machine gun’ cackle. It’s not uncommon for frogs to be seen in household gardens in our district, and for that … Continue reading
Posted in Nature Observations, News
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How can farming and conservation work together?
This question is posed by the Connecting Country 2012 education program, which starts on February 29. The program explores the idea that efficient production and care for nature go hand in hand. It includes workshops, lectures, discussions and field trips, … Continue reading
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Right plant, wrong place
The flower below is St John’s Wort [Hypericum perforatum], a pretty plant which has been used for over a thousand years as a herbal remedy. Flowers are sparse, but seeds many at this time of the year on Mount Alexander. … Continue reading
Posted in Weeds
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Government under fire over fire
Following the release of ANU research showing that current fuel reduction practices are not improving public safety [see our post below], the press has reported that DSE has been burning widely in remote bushland, but has neglected to effectively reduce … Continue reading
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Does fire protect us from fire?
Calls for more ‘fuel reduction burns’ have been insistent for years, particularly since the Black Saturday fires which burned over 2,100 homes and killed 173 people. The pressure for more management burns culminated in the Royal Commission’s recommendation that at … Continue reading
Posted in Fire Management, News
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Snapshots in time
About 70 people crowded into the small Chewton Town Hall on January 16 for the launch of Ken McKimmie’s Chewton Then and Now, a collection of articles written over a number of years for the Chewton Chat. These articles are … Continue reading
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Parasites aren’t always bad
The red box tree pictured below, on the east side of the Great Dividing Trail as it passes through the Spring Gully Mine site, is interesting for a couple of reasons. One is that it’s sprung up out of the … Continue reading
Posted in Nature Observations
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Connecting Country news
Landcare Facilitator Position Connecting Country will be hosting the newly funded Landcare position for the Mount Alexander Region. The position will be based at Connecting Country’s Office in Castlemaine and is a 12 Month 0.6FTE position, with the possibility of … Continue reading
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