Category Archives: Nature Observations

How do they do it? [2] Surviving in the pollution soup

Posted on 14 December, 2015 by fobif

The picture below is a Common Long Neck turtle [Chelodina longicolis] sun baking in the horrible pollution soup that is Forest Creek at the Wheeler Street bridge. Turtles have been seen in this unpromising location for many years, and seemed … Continue reading →

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Spring prowl

Posted on 18 October, 2015 by fobif

A typically strong group rocked up for FOBIF’s October walk on Sunday, expertly and entertainingly led by Elaine Bayes and Damien Cook through the Morgan’s Track area of the Diggings Park. In spite of the dry season there was plenty … Continue reading →

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Blackwood: a link to a great Australian tradition

Posted on 13 September, 2015 by fobif

Blackwoods are flowering around the place at the moment, though more prolifically in the country to our south. Is there a better example of an Aussie battler than this attractive tree? ‘It tolerates drought, poor drainage, any soil, salt air, … Continue reading →

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Mysteries, activities

Posted on 3 August, 2015 by fobif

A full house turned up at the Ray Bradfield rooms for the FOBIF AGM last Monday to hear Sarah Lloyd talk about slime moulds , mysterious life forms which are neither slime nor moulds. Sarah interspersed her entertaining talk with beautiful photos … Continue reading →

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Is this the saddest sign in our region?

Posted on 5 July, 2015 by fobif

Well, we think it could be a credible nomination, anyway: an eloquent testament to past abuse of the land, painfully slow recovery, and perhaps the under resourcing of our land management bodies.  

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Seen any good flowering Ironbarks lately?

Posted on 8 June, 2015 by fobif

Ironbarks are flowering attractively along the Pyrenees Highway between Castlemaine and Chewton, but they aren’t what we’re looking for. These beautiful trees are Eucalyptus sideroxylon, Ironbarks native to country from northern Victoria through to Queensland. We believe they were planted … Continue reading →

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Look again: there’s something there

Posted on 10 May, 2015 by fobif

Those interested in getting a better look at relatively obscure elements of our bushlands should get along to the Nature Abstracted exhibition at the Falkner Gallery in Templeton Street Castlemaine. The exhibition of photographs by Bronwyn Silver concentrates on lichens, … Continue reading →

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A giant crash

Posted on 23 March, 2015 by fobif

Wild winds brought down numerous trees in the region on the last Saturday in February, including a giant poplar which fell onto the Midland Highway bridge, writing off a car and injuring its driver. The same storm caused massive limb … Continue reading →

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Golden Orb Weavers are about

Posted on 16 February, 2015 by fobif

The Golden Orb Weaver Nephila edulis is reasonable common in our local bush. At this time of year the females are mature and able to construct large wheel-shaped orb webs. In certain lights these strong webs look golden, thus the name. Their egg sacs … Continue reading →

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Happy new year

Posted on 2 January, 2015 by fobif

It’s been a dry 2014—only 473.9 mls of rainfall in Castlemaine, against a long term average of over 560 mls: and the bush is hunkering down for a long dry summer. There are still flashes of colour around the place, … Continue reading →

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