Fire meeting

Posted on 13 November, 2012 by fobif

On 1st November a concerned group of people from Castlemaine, Bendigo and surrounding areas, meeting in the Chewton Town Hall, decided to form a network to lobby and campaign for major changes to the State Government’s current and forthcoming fuel reduction burning programs.

After assembling a wide range of ideas for action, and gaining a state-wide strategic overview from Philip Ingamells of VNPA, and some suggestions from a legal perspective from Brendan Sydes of the Environment Defenders Office, the meeting divided into smaller groups to address each sub-group of actions. These sub-groups included: Overall (organization, etc) Legal, Community Education, Media, Social Media, and Monitoring (pre and post burn site monitoring, and possibly monitoring of actual burning operations).

A further meeting to advance the implementation of action plans, and to include a workshop on legal issues is proposed to be held on Thursday 6th December. For further information or for inclusion on the network email list, please contact Elaine Bayes elain@rakali.com.au

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A Spectacular Orchid

Posted on 2 November, 2012 by fobif

Three FOBIF members recently went to Old Coach Road in the Fryers Ranges to have a look at the Giant Sun Orchid Thelymitra aristata. In contrast to our normal small orchids this one was 81 cm (32 in)  and can apparently reach a metre in some areas. Local flora expert, Ern Perkins commented that these orchids were not often seen during the drought but in the last two years quite a few have been sighted.

Giant Sun Orchid. Old Coach Road. Photos by Bronwyn Silver

Noel Young has sent us the three beautiful orchid images below which were taken recently in Sinclairs Lane, Walmer: Purplish Bearded Orchid Calochilus robertsonii, Pink Fingers Petalochilus fuscatus and Rabbit Ears Thelymitra antennifera.

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Last walk for 2013

Posted on 30 October, 2012 by fobif

The last FOBIF walk of the year was to the Fryers Ranges on Sunday 21 October. Twenty-three people enjoyed a sunny walk along a series of paths including the interestingly named ‘No Name Track’ and onto Fryers Ridge. Richard Piesse who led the walk had counted 110 different plants in this area and estimated that over 50 of these were in flower. The slide show below with photos by Noel Young, Frank Forster and Bronwyn Silver gives an indication of the proliferation of wild flowers.

 

The first walk for 2013 will be on 17 March. Details will posted in the ‘Walks’ section on this site early in the year. There are still some gaps in the program so if you would like to lead a walk next year give Bronwyn Silver a ring on 5475 1089.

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Honeyeaters raise the alarm

Posted on 25 October, 2012 by fobif

Sitting quietly in my garden I get to watch Silvereyes as they go about their foraging. These beautiful little birds are quite common in local gardens. If you remain still you can often be rewarded with very close views. Silvereyes will happily utilise a variety of resources in gardens – both native and introduced. As can be seen from the first photo this bird is enjoying the foliage of a plum tree currently flowering in my garden. As well, they have taken a liking to my compost heap for some reason, especially when a new pile of weeds is added to the heap.

Silvereye. Lyttleton Street garden. Photo by Damian Kelly, 2012

My patience was rewarded on a recent warm day when the Silvereyes, after spending a hard time working over the plum blossoms then proceeded to one of my water bowls and had a pleasant time bathing, letting me get some interesting shots.

My pleasant  time was disturbed by alarm calls of New Holland Honeyeaters and I scanned the skies, half-expecting to see the resident Goshawk plying her trade. However, this time my attention was diverted to a movement on the ground near a garden hose, and what did I see? A brown snake cruising along. Lots of nature can be seen even in gardens close to the centre of town.

Eastern Brown Snake. Lyttleton Street garden. Photo by Damian Kelly, 2012

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Woolley Bear munches on a Greenhood

Posted on 15 October, 2012 by fobif

Doug Ralph has taken another terrific photo of a Woolly Bear, this time upon a Greenhood. The two holes you can see suggest feeding has begun.

Photo by Doug Ralph, September 2012

The caterpillars of the Arctiidae are mostly covered in dark hairs, which gives them the name “Woolly Bears”. The hairs can irritate some people. The caterpillars typically feed and move about during the daytime. Characteristically, if disturbed, they roll into a tight spiral with the head in the centre. They pupate in a cocoon made of silk with their hairs matted together. (Discovery Museum)

Upside down these caterpillars are even more colourful. Doug found the one pictured here clasping a Sundew in Little Bendigo last year.

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