No doubt you all need a rest after a busy Summer of celebrating, weeding and regenerating, so here’s another packed issue of Gecko. You have an excuse to make a cuppa, put your feet up and settle down for a good read about the great environmental protection work we’re all engaged in. Full of contributions from Environment Branch staff as well as Bushcare Team members and volunteers: powerful owls, weed control in threatened forests, feral fish and a swamp study; there’s surely something for everybody this Autumn!

Late in 2014, Council’s Bush Regeneration Team discovered the remains of a bird found in Lapstone Reserve with mixed feelings. Naturally they were saddened, but also curious: they thought it might be a Powerful Owl, but weren’t sure. Tracy Williams made some enquiries with Council’s Environmental Scientist who verified that Bush Regeneration Team member Matt Rudge’s initial identification was correct and also referred her to Birdlife Australia’s Sydney Powerful Owl project. This very interesting and important project is the subject of our feature article ‘King of the Night Forest’.

Your Bushcare program goes from strength to strength. Our 65 Bushcare, Landcare and Swampcare Groups have already contributed over 3,500 hours of voluntary bush regeneration since June, and we can welcome one new Landcare Group: Birriban Katoomba High School. A big thank you to David King and Elly Chatfield as well as Steve Ahern and other KHS staff! We can also welcome back Redgum Park, Bullaburra, which recently restarted thanks to Vanessa Keyser.

Well done Bushcarers; thank you. We look forward to seeing you on a Bushcare site soon!

Monica & Erin, for the Bushcare Team