Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forests

In August FOBIF wrote to Mount Alexander Shire suggesting that the issuing of free garden rubbish vouchers to residents might lead to a reduction in the amount of illegal dumping of green waste in our forests.

We have received the following reply from the Council:

“Mulching green waste taken to the Castlemaine landfill and then reused costs Council in excess of $100,000 per year. This processing cost is offset by the gate charge to the community when they bring green waste to the site. Hence, Council does not intend to discount or waive the fees to dispose of garden and other green waste at the Castlemaine landfill.”

In the meantime we have noted that Macedon Ranges Shire Council has introduced a new green garden recycling service whereby residents are supplied with a green garden bin. They have also introduced a free ‘Green Drop’ service at the Council Transfer Stations for larger, woody garden prunings. These initiatives would involve a high startup financial outlay but in the long term would be a great way to reduce illegal dumping and waste generation as well as increasing recycling.

Unfortunately given the constraints on the MAS budget, cost would make the adoption of the Macedon Ranges scheme unlikely in the short term. However FOBIF intends to keep raising this green waste issue with Council and looking at alternatives to the current unsatisfactory situation. Click here to view our earlier post on this subject.

Recently we posted an piece on the 1853 Selwyn map. We have found out that quarter sheets of this map are available on this site enabling more detail to be viewed.  Most if not all maps can be downloaded for free at 75 dpi resolution. Or else you can buy the whole lot for $10.

Black-faced Cuckoo Shrikes Coracina novaehollandiae are another arrival that have a loud and distinctive call. These birds can often be seen flying about or calling from high points, often on dead branches.

Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike. Newstead. Photo by Damian Kelly, 4 September 2011

A less common migrant, but one seen recently at Bells Swamp is the White-bellied Cuckoo ShrikeCoracina papuensis. Not common in the area, but around nevertheless. At first glance it looks a little like its relative, the Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike, but colouration and call are quite different.

White-bellied Cuckoo Shrike. Bells Swamp. Photo by Damian Kelly, 28 July 2011

In spring the call of the Rufous Whistler Pachycephala rufiventris can be heard throughout the forests. Quite a musical tone that is repeated regularly. The male has the distinctive colouration, whilst the female is more cryptically coloured.

Rufous Whistler. Kalimna Park. Photo by Damian Kelly 14 September 2011

After an extended dry period, Bells Swamp has now flooded so extensivley that it has swallowed up the main road as well. The large extent of water has encouraged a wide range of birds and the former main road provides an easy, dry walk right through the centre of the swamp allowing visitors to enjoy the watery environment without getting wet feet.

Side roads, however, have disappeared under the flooding waters.

A wide range of birds abound and the air is alive with calls and activity. A sample of common birds follows.

Long-billed Corella. Photos by Damian Kelly

Long-billed Corella Cacatua tenuirostris is typical bird of the open country and edges of the forests and swamps. Generally moves around in flocks, calling loudly. With large groups the noise can be deafening! These birds roost in the big gums around the swamp.

Australasian Grebe. Photo by Damian Kelly

Australasian Grebe Tachybaptus novaehollandiae is a small, but very cute diving bird. Often dives and appears a long way off after 30 seconds or more underwater.

Brown Treecreeper. Photo by Damian Kelly

At Bells Swamp the Brown Treecreeper Climacteris picumnu can be seen as often on the ground foraging as it is in the trees creeping up trunks in search of food.