Category Archives: Nature Observations

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 →

Posted in Nature Observations, News | Comments Off on Small birds – how to identify them

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 →

Posted in Nature Observations | Comments Off on Hurry–season ends soon!

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 →

Posted in Nature Observations | Comments Off on Pollution monitors

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 →

Posted in Nature Observations, News | Comments Off on More than wildflowers

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 →

Posted in Nature Observations, News | 1 Comment

Lichens galore

Posted on 4 July, 2011 by fobif

One feature of the relatively good rains we’ve had in the last year or so has been the great shows of lichens. Lichens are partnerships between a fungus and an alga. The algal partner enables the organism to use photosynthesis … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature Observations, News | Comments Off on Lichens galore

It’s winter in Mount Alexander

Posted on 8 June, 2011 by fobif

It looks like we’re going to get another real winter: cold, and a sense of moisture in the air, whether as mist, drizzle or proper rain. There’s still plenty to see in the bush, however, even as we approach the … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature Observations | Comments Off on It’s winter in Mount Alexander

Autumn ends

Posted on 1 June, 2011 by fobif

One sign of autumn is the prolific seeding of the local coffee bush [Cassinia arcuata]. Cassinia is one of the good soldiers of ruined land, which is why you see it recolonising mining sites. This is what the Cassinia flower … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature Observations | Comments Off on Autumn ends

Advance of the micro kingdoms

Posted on 1 June, 2011 by fobif

Alison Pouliot delivered a lively and informative Connecting Country presentation last Thursday to an audience of about 75 people on ‘Fungi: the mysterious kingdom’. No one leaving the Campbell’s Creek Community Centre that night could be in any doubt about … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature Observations | Comments Off on Advance of the micro kingdoms

Uncommon beauty conceals a deadly trap

Posted on 23 May, 2011 by fobif

Carnivorous plants can trap prey in a various ways: pitfall traps, flypaper traps, snap traps and lobster-pot traps. The well-known local carnivorous Scented Sundew Drosera whittakeri uses the flypaper trap method. Insects are captured in the sticky dew exuding from … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature Observations, News | Comments Off on Uncommon beauty conceals a deadly trap