Author Archives: fobif

Small birds, part 4

Posted on 6 September, 2011 by fobif

Other common birds you are likely to see in the forests include the Silvereye Zosterops lateralis which frequents a range of habitats from town gardens to open forest. They often move about in flocks searching for food. A bird that … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature Observations, News | Comments Off

The Selwyn map: a glimpse of the past

Posted on 5 September, 2011 by fobif

One intriguing feature of Arn Tolsma’s Connecting Country talk on August 27 [see our post], was his reference to the 1853 Selwyn map. It’s quite an aborbing exercise to pore over this map and line it up against the landscape … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Comments Off

Bendigo meeting on fire zones

Posted on 5 September, 2011 by fobif

FOBIF representatives attended a DSE briefing in Bendigo on the new fire management zones on Wednesday August 24. The briefing was a sobering experience, since it was made plain to us that the entire fire management system was governed by … Continue reading →

Posted in Fire Management, News | 2 Comments

How effective are DSE’s fire zones?

Posted on 5 September, 2011 by fobif

FOBIF has always supported a zoning system for fire management. It’s quite clear that bush close to homes should be treated differently from bush more remote from settlement. That’s one reason why housing in sensitive and fire prone bushland should … Continue reading →

Posted in Fire Management, News | Comments Off

What price gold in a recovering landscape? And what price the Prospector’s and Miners’ Code of Conduct?

Posted on 30 August, 2011 by fobif

When walking along Forest Creek recently we came across a series of freshly dug holes that varied in shape and size. Ones made by the hungry echidna (see below) were a delight to see as it meant that the rehabilitation … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Comments Off

Moss: Examining the detail

Posted on 30 August, 2011 by fobif

Fifteen people took part in a fascinating moss field day at Clinkers Hill Bushland Reserve on 27 August. This was part of the Moss and Liverwort project that is working on producing a brochure about local mosses and liverworts. The group … Continue reading →

Posted in Moss and Liverwort Field Guide group, Nature Observations, News | 1 Comment

FOBIF walkers enjoy a sunny August day

Posted on 27 August, 2011 by fobif

Sunny weather made for a great FOBIF walk on 21 August. There were thirty walkers on this excursion to the Muckleford bushlands. Paul Hampton from Muckleford Landcare was the leader with Doug Ralph providing a commentary on the mining history … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Comments Off

Looking at the fire record

Posted on 26 August, 2011 by fobif

A solid crowd of about 80 rocked up to the second talk in the Connecting Country 2011 education program at Campbell’s Creek on August 25. Dr Arn Tolsma gave a deeply engaging account of fire history in Australia, and in … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Comments Off

Small birds, part 3

Posted on 26 August, 2011 by fobif

The more noisy and active of the birds are the Honeyeaters, often flying rapidly between trees, calling loudly and chasing one another. The Red Wattlebird Anthochaera carunculatais is the largest and most aggressive, chasing all comers away. Please upgrade your … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature Observations, News | Comments Off

Kalimna tourist road: in spite of the best intentions…

Posted on 25 August, 2011 by fobif

We have received a reply from the Mount Alexander Shire to our concerns about the incremental widening of the Kalimna Tourist road. We have been assured by the Infrastructure manager and Superintendent of works that road crews are aware of … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Comments Off