Author Archives: fobif

Time bombs

Posted on 14 August, 2011 by fobif

FOBIF members have noted a rash of rubbish dumping in our public lands recently. All of it is unsightly, and some disgusting: the prize in this latter category going to the person who has dumped large amounts of meat offcuts … Continue reading →

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What’s that on the ground?

Posted on 14 August, 2011 by fobif

After the success of the Castlemaine Field Naturalists folder guide to the indigenous plants of Castlemaine and surrounds, FOBIF has embarked on a project to produce two more guides in the same style, this time on fungi, mosses and lichens. … Continue reading →

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This bridal is creepy

Posted on 14 August, 2011 by fobif

FOBIF is following up its initial 2010 attack on bridal creeper around the giant yellow box alongside the Great Dividing Trail, with another shot at making an impact on this unpleasant weed. The site is a hundred metres from the … Continue reading →

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Where there’s water . . .

Posted on 14 August, 2011 by fobif

Two FOBIF members went to Walkers Swamp on the Moolort Plains recently. They wanted to observe the abundant wetland birdlife Geoff Park has been documenting on his blog, Natural Newstead, for the past year or so. It was a still and … Continue reading →

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Small birds – how to identify them

Posted on 8 August, 2011 by fobif

At this time of year, the Box-Ironbark forests are alive with birds – you can hear lots of different calls and see movements in the trees – but what are the common birds in the forests? Throughout the Box-Ironbark forests … Continue reading →

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Hurry–season ends soon!

Posted on 4 August, 2011 by fobif

From a few feet away they just look like vivid splashes of various shades of green. Close up, mosses are very different from each other. The Rosalubryum below has characteristic nodding capsules, for example. They’re barely visible to someone standing … Continue reading →

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Pollution monitors

Posted on 29 July, 2011 by fobif

Spring is around the corner, with spectacular flowering of Hardenbergia, and emergence of many other flowering plants like Hovea, Daviesia and Hakea. But by far the most prolific forms of life in the bush at the moment are the mosses … Continue reading →

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Beautiful weeds

Posted on 25 July, 2011 by fobif

The lovely foliage in the picture below belongs to the Cootamundra wattle, Acacia baileyana, which is in prolific flower in our region this month. Unfortunately, the Cootamundra is a good example of the rule that most weeds are quite beautiful. … Continue reading →

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More than wildflowers

Posted on 22 July, 2011 by fobif

Two FOBIF members recently visited the south end of the Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park to see what was in flower. Common Heath Epacris impressa in its pink and white forms was everywhere. Downy Grevillea Grevillea alpina, Bushy Needlewood Hakia … Continue reading →

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Nuggetty Walk

Posted on 22 July, 2011 by fobif

Thirteen people braved the cold, foggy and wet conditions on the July FOBIF walk to the Rock of Ages. This magical site is situated on top of Mount Moorul which is a couple kilometres north of Maldon. It is part of … Continue reading →

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