Creating Landscapes to Attract Birds

On Friday 13th August, Basalt to Bay will be running the Creating Landscapes to Attract Birds workshop in St Helens - north of Yambuk. Keynote speakers will be Rod Bird from Hamilton Field Nats and Jonathon Lee. During this workshop, participants will learn about :

• Identifying key local species
• Guidelines for designing landscapes to attract birds
• The benefits of birds

Where : 185 St Helens Rd, St Helens (Google maps will help/car pool may be available)
When : Workshop starts at 9:30 am and finishes at 1 pm
Cost : Free

Picnic lunch and drinks provided, as well as a goody bag with relevant information.
Please RSVP asap by calling Richard Hudson on 0458 268 119 (or by emailing richardb2b@gmail.com) or Karen Wales 55 620 021.

Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare Group Rocks !

Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare Group has done it again, winning the prestigious Australian Government Coastcare Award with their Maremma Dogs project on Middle Island.

Congratulations to Don McTaggart , Ian Fitzgibbon and the rest of the team at WCLCG for their fantastic win. The tireless efforts of the group have resulted in the development of a highly innovative project, using Maremma dogs to protect Little Penguins on Middle Island, from their major predator - foxes. Further information about the project can be found here : http://svc009.wic050p.server-web.com/nationalawards2010/?page_id=202 and here : http://www.wclg.com.au/middle-island/

Resource Update 4

Hey Folks : Just to let you know that things are still busy at this end - lots happening with new funding submissions and new projects that we're developing for next year. Also a reminder that info will be posted soon regarding the upcoming Birds on Farms workshop.

Here are some relevant resource links that have come my way the last few weeks :

• Community Action Grants : http://www.maff.gov.au/media/media_releases/2010/june/further_$8_million_community_action_grants_for_community_groups
• National Landcare Awards : http://svc009.wic050p.server-web.com/nationalawards2010/?page_id=1508
• news from SW Climate Change : http://swccf.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=29&Itemid=26
• Suregro reveg products : http://www.suregro.com/
• Dairying for Tomorrow : http://www.dairyingfortomorrow.com/
• Stipa native Grasses Association : http://www.stipa.com.au/
• Demo Dairy What's On page : http://www.demodairy.org.au/joomla15/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15&Itemid=7
• Pulse Oz : http://www.pulseaus.com.au/
  

Resource Update 3

Hey folks, here are some relevant resource links that have come to my attention since the last update :

• Victorian Conservation Management Network : http://www.vvpcmn.org/
• NE Dung Beetle project - kit availible : http://northeast.landcarevic.net.au/dungbeetle/projects/do-it-with-dung/dung-beetle-resource-package
• Do it with Dung Dung Beetle Newsletters : http://northeast.landcarevic.net.au/dungbeetle/projects/do-it-with-dung/do-it-with-dung-newsletters
• Dung Beetle Articles : http://northeast.landcarevic.net.au/dungbeetle/projects/do-it-with-dung/dung-beetle-articles
• Dung Beetle ID Guide : http://northeast.landcarevic.net.au/dungbeetle/projects/do-it-with-dung/dung-beetle-identification-chart/DUNG-BEETLE-IDENTIFICATION-GUIDE.pdf/view
• Victorian Dung Beetle E-Forum : http://mc2.vicnet.net.au/home/beetles/index.html
• Landcare Australia on Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/posted.php?id=107873861044&share_id=369259282292&comments=1#!/landcareaustralia
• Landcare after 20 years on Landline : http://www.abc.net.au/landline/content/2010/s2869583.htm
• Landlink Landcare Australia Newsletter : http://braveclients.com.au/landcare/landcare/edm1_html/index.html
• Indigenous Landcare : http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/05/19/2903312.htm?site=idx-act (a good possibility for our region ?)
• Free Dung Beetle Package : http://www.landcarevic.net.au/news/dung-beetle-resource-package
• Start Up Grants : http://glenelg-hopkins.landcarevic.net.au/news/start-up-grants
• International Centre for Excellence in Landcare : http://www.landcare.com.au/
• Landcare Case Studies : http://svc018.wic008tv.server-web.com/news_details.asp?sType=news&news_id=287&from=archive
• Regenerating Native Pastures : http://svc018.wic008tv.server-web.com/case_study.asp?cID=195
• Managing Dairy Effluent : http://svc018.wic008tv.server-web.com/case_study.asp?cID=188
• New Fodder Crops for Sheep : http://svc018.wic008tv.server-web.com/case_study.asp?cID=222
• Free Online Videos for Your Group : http://animoto.com/

Kick Start Your Reserve Bus Tour

Last Friday Basalt to Bay ran our long awaited Kick Start Your Reserve Bus tour - after 2 previous cancellations. The tour visited Tozer Reserve, Yatmerone Reserve (Penshurst), Hawkesdale Common, Hawkesdale Racecourse Reserve and Pallisters Reserve. 10 people took their place on the bus with another 8 visitors joining us at individual sites. It was a great day for all with plenty of time out doors and lots information about current projects, opportunities for networking and heaps of food (we try hard to fatten our guests !).

The tour profiled a wide spectrum of reserves. Many reserves have the potential for the involvement of large numbers of volunteers and to be used as environmental education sites, while others have the opportunity for additional on ground projects. Pallisters Reserve is clearly the bench mark when it comes to local reserves but all the reserves had something special to offer. Tozer Reserve shows great promise as an environmental education center close to Warrnambool, Yatmerone is a great site for bird watchers, Hawkesdale Common is a great education site for local flora, while Hawkesdale Racecourse Reserve has plenty to offer, including club rooms which could be used for environmental education, a wide selection of native grasses and native orchids and is host to the largest Manna Gum in the region and a huge number of swamp rats !

Given the postive feedback that we recieved in response to the tour, it's likely that we'll have a follow up tour next year.

Thanks to the Department of Planning & Community Development for the funding to run the bus tour and Glenelg Hopkins CMA for resource support.

Victorian Landcare Gateway Training

Does your group need an effective way to inform your local community and members what is happening, events that are coming up, and group projects? Do you want to better promote the group and its activities?

The Victorian Landcare Gateway www.landcarevic.net.au has been designed to make it easier for groups to:

• add or update information on the group
• add news or events, including opportunities for volunteers to participate
• add newsletters and photos
• describe or promote group projects
• find other related groups or projects
• map activities or projects

When Groups have their information listed, community users can:

• find information on topics of interest
• find their local group
• volunteer for events in their area
• link to groups of interest

All this is free for Landcare and related groups. The Gateway has been designed to enable people with basic computer skills to maintain and edit their group information and notices, so you do not need to be a computer whiz to use the site.

There are opportunities available for Landcare and related Group members to attend a training day on how to use the Gateway. THE TRAINING IS FREE.

I have organised training days for Hamilton 10/5/10, Portland 11/5/10, Warrnambool 12/5/10 and Ararat 13/5/10.

If these days do not suit we can make some other arrangements. Please call me to book a position or discuss options.

Thank you for taking the opportunity to participate in the Gateway Training. The following are some house keeping we need to take care of before the day.

1 – if you do not yet have a username on the Gateway you must register and login well before the training. (Visit the Gateway and click on New User link in Login Box)

2 – It is essential that you have logged in at least once, know your username and password and can login on the day –there is no guarantee that this can be done on the day as password reset is dependent upon email access – so please log in to be sure you can remember the details on the day. THIS IS MOST IMPORTANT!!!

3 – You will need to be provided with management rights to your group site. I will arrange for this to happen. It would be helpful if you Email the name of the group you will be using to make sure I have them right. I realise some groups are not set up yet. I will rectify this.

What to bring to the training, preferably in electronic file:

1- An example of an event – field day, workshop, forum notice

2- A news item/media release

3- A digital image or two – preferably with the file size reduced to 200-300 kb (warning, most digital cameras now produce file sizes of 1-8Mb, which are too big)

4- A pdf or background document as well if required

Get an idea of how to use the site, by visiting a couple of group sites that are using the Gateway. Easiest way is to go to www.landcarevic.net.au and click on one of the events coming up from a group, which will take you to their event. Then look at their main site.

Additional tool that may be of use for Landcare Groups - the Gateway has an email server which enables groups to have their own email address, such as group@landcarevic.net.au

The email can be managed via webmail, and allow full contact lists to be managed. This can avoid the issues of transferring group contacts from personal computers, as using this option would only require the login details to be handed over to the new executive member.

Emails can be one way only, where messages sent to the address are forwarded automatically to one or a group of executive email addresses, but the address cannot be used to send messages.

The email can also be fully functional, with messages received, sent and contact lists and address books maintained. The Email addresses are protected by a top line spam protection system, so it is also rare for junk to get through. If your group would like an email address, please also contact me with the preferred address and requirements.

Center	Location	Address	Date	Time
Southern Grampians Adult Education	Hamilton ( above Kerr and Co.)	89 Gray St	10/05/2010	10.00-2.00 pm
South West TAFE Portland	Portland	154 Heard St	11/05/2010	10.00-2.00 pm
South West TAFE Warrnambool	Warrnambool	Timor St	12/05/2010	5.00 - 9.00 pm
Ararat Neighbourhood House	Ararat.	56 Campbell St	13/05/2010	5.00 - 9.00 pm

We will provide a light lunch at the Hamilton and Portland sessions and there will be some snacks before the Warrnambool and Ararat sessions. Tea and coffee will be available.

Please do not hesitate to call if you have any questions. PLEASE VISIT THE SITE TO SEE WHAT IT CAN DO!

Cheers,

Tony Lithgow

Regional Landcare Coordinator

Glenelg Hopkins CMA

Ph. 55712526

Kick Start Your Reserve Bus Tour

You are cordially invited to attend the

Kick Start Your Reserve Bus Tour

Friday 21^st May, 2010

Where : Bus departs from Harris St. Reserve Warrnambool

When : Departing 9:00 am sharp, back at 5 pm

Destinations : Tozer Reserve (Wangoom Road), Hawkesdale Common, Hawkesdale Racecourse Reserve, Yatmerone Reserve (Penshurst) & Pallisters Reserve (St Helens).

Picnic lunch & drinks provided.

Please RSVP by 13^th May by calling Richard on 0458 268 119

Or emailing: richardb2b@gmail.com

Resource Update 2

Hey folks, here are some relevant resource links that have come to my attention since the last update :

• Landcare Contacts : http://www.landcarevic.net.au/resources/for-staff/resource-guide-for-facilitators/Directory-Resource-Guide_web.pdf
  
• Recycling for Recovery Program : http://www.landcarevic.net.au/resources/funding/recycling-for-recovery-program/recycling-for-recovery-program
• Resources for Groups from Landcare Gateway : http://www.landcarevic.net.au/resources/for-groups
• Landcare Australia on Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/landcareaustralia
• Thornbill Ecoeducation (Workshops, Consultancy & Tours) : http://www.thornbill.com.au/
  
• The State of Australias Birds 2009 : http://www.birdsaustralia.com.au/images/stories/publications/soab/SOAB-2009.pdf
  
• Carbon Innovators Network : http://www.carboninnovators.net.au/
• Climate Change & Government policy : http://www.carboninnovators.net.au/sites/carboninnovators.net.au/files/images/Paris%20Nichols%20EPA.pdf
• Climate Drivers in SW Victoria : http://www.carboninnovators.net.au/sites/carboninnovators.net.au/files/images/Vince%20Versace%20Deakin.pdf
• Local Tidal Power : http://www.carboninnovators.net.au/sites/carboninnovators.net.au/files/images/Mark%20Gervis%20Southern%20Ocean%20Mariculture.pdf
• Geelong Geothermal Project : http://www.carboninnovators.net.au/sites/carboninnovators.net.au/files/images/Rob%20King%20Greenearth%20Energy_0.pdf
• Carbon Innovators Network : http://www.carboninnovators.net.au/sites/carboninnovators.net.au/files/images/Joseph%20Mazzone%20Origin.pdf
• Ralph Leutton for Wannon : http://www.leuttonforwannon.com.au/
• Wiki Spaces : http://www.wikispaces.com/
• Tree Day - Planet Ark : http://treeday.planetark.org/involved/coordinate.cfm
• Geoengineering (worth finding out about what's being planned for our planet) : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoengineering & http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=https://publicaffairs.llnl.gov/news/news_releases/2008/images/geoengineering_diagram_big.jpg&imgrefurl=https://publicaffairs.llnl.gov/news/news_releases/2008/NR-08-05-04.html&h=2083&w=3125&sz=2897&tbnid=prq94TyV_cDbDM:&tbnh=100&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3DGeoengineering&usg=__Bih3ZVg8PoOGkcAXCp1dBTJJcJE=&ei=rJPbS8a5O86GkAWJsc3RBw&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=7&ct=image&ved=0CEIQ9QEwBg
  

Capacity Building Activities for 2010

We have just revised our calendar for capacity building activities for the year. Please note the following new dates and locations :

• Birds on farms workshop - Yambuk (Friday 11th June)
• Wetlands Workshop - Caramut (Friday 13th August)
• Direct Seeding Demonstration - Orford (Friday 8th October)
• Coastal Weed & Identification workshop - Warrnambool (Friday 15th October)
• Healing the Soil with Native Pastures - Location to be announced (Friday 22nd October).

Flyers will be sent out approximately 4-6 weeks prior to all events. If yoy are interested in attending, please contact myself Richard Hudson on 0458 268 119 or email richardb2b@gmail.com .

AGM and Recruitment Drive a Great Success

Last night Basalt to Bay held it's annual AGM/recruitment drive in Port Fairy. A nice crowd of 21 people turned out and from that we gained a few more volunteers for local Landcare groups.

It was a great night, with a fantastic meal from head chef, Dianne from the HUB in Port Fairy and presentations by Peter Forster from the Environmental Farmes Network and Inka Veltheim from the SW Brolga Research Project.

Folks enjoyed some serious networking and we all enjoyed the talk by Peter and Inka. We were all much the wiser about the benefits of gaining carbon credits from biodiversity planting and the benfits that landholders gain from improving local biodiversity and shelter for stock and crops. We also learned that the southern Brolga currently faces endangered status in Victoria and that key threats to it's ongoing survival include fox predation, disturbance from Wind Farms and clearing of habitat by landholders.

Thanks to the Department of Planning and Community Development and Glenelg Hopkins CMA for sponsoring the night.

Saving the Amazing Brolgas

Inka Veltheim is a PhD student currently studying southern Brolga distribution and migration at the University of Ballarat.

Inka spoke last night at Basalt to Bay Landcare Networks AGM. During her talk, Inka highlighted that the sothern Brolga population currently has an threatened status, with only some 750 birds, with many of these birds located at 4 major sites. This is in stark contrast to the northern population of Brolgas, who are thought to number between 75,000-100,000. The southern Brolga has an ageing population with only 3 % of flocks being immature birds. Inka confirmed that unless significant steps are taken to mitigate ongoing losses, the Brolga may reach a tipping point, beyond which they may not recover.

Inka said that current threats to the Brolga include the Red Fox, disturbance from wind farms and powerlines and a loss of wetland habitat due to clearing and over grazing by land holders. It is thought that threats can be mitigated by :

• Culling of Red Foxes
  
• Identifying how much space is required by Brolgas, so that disturbance by windfarms is reduced
• The creation of large scale artificial wetlands with diverse wetland flora
• The protection of known flocking and nesting sites, using barbless wire
  
• Creation of large buffer zones around wetlands - the larger the better
• Creating wetlands between grain crops
• Reducing the presence of Powerlines near known Brolga flocking and nesting sites.

Inka also suggested that the Brolga is an ideal indicator species for the overall health of wetlands. As the presence of Brolgas usually indicates high levels of general biodiversity and wetland bird biodiversity.

Brolgas are found across the south west of Victoria from Corangamite to Mount Gambier. The most significant populations are found in Penshurst and Willaura but birds have also been recorded across in areas such as Portalnd, Warrnambool, Mt Richmiond, Kaladbro and Glenthompson.

Inka would like to hear from anyone in the south west of Victoria who has seen any Brolgas or any landholder who knows of any Brolga sites or has any knowldge about the history of local Brolgas.

You can contact Inka by email on inka_veltheim@yahoo.com.au or you can call her on 03 9877 5342. You can read about her project here : http://victorianbrolgastudy.com.au/

Further information on Brolgas can be found here :

• http://bird.net.au/bird/index.php?title=Surveys
• http://ozcranes.net/index.html
• http://ozcranes.net/research/proj.html#brol
• http://www.boca.org.au/
• http://www.savingcranes.org/brolga.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brolga .
  

Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare Group Update for April

Hi Guys,

Now that we have recovered from the Lava Flows bus trip (which was a fantastic day) here is a few more activities happening around the place that you may wish to be part of:

• One of our members , Philip du Guesclin needs some help to catch and band the short tailed Shearwaters at Griffiths Island on Sun 25th April, before they take off for the northern hemisphere summer He will be meeting at the rotunda at 1915 hrs and again the same time Mon 26th if Sunday's weather is inclement. Phone Philip on 55681685 mobile 0438313305.
• If you are in Melbourne from April 30 – May 2^nd, try and find some time to visit the Going Green Expo at the Exhibition centre. www.goinggreenexpo.com.au
• We have entered in the Clean Beach Awards this year and a judge is coming to town this week to check us out. Not sure what time yet. I may ring around when I find out to see if some of us can meet him or her for two hours (possibly Thursday 11.00 – 1.00)
• We are waiting on Ann to advise us of the new Harris St Working Bee Roster. It should be starting real soon.
• Marty Gent starts the Coast Action Coastcare Facilitators position on April 27^th.
• Our next meeting is May 4^th. Shannon McKay has accepted an offered to speak to us about Whales and her visit to the Antarctic last summer.

Cheers Don.