Tag Archives: habitat

Turtle Habitat Islands Construction

Get involved in a project to construct a habitat island for turtles in Glenbrook Lagoon.

This joint project involves Bushcare, Council and the University of Western Sydney, and is funded by a small grant from the Premier’s Office.

The turtle population Australia-wide is ageing and declining, with few young recruits, thanks to predation on eggs and hatchlings.

Several species of freshwater turtle live in Glenbrook Lagoon, and they need safe nesting habitat. A floating turtle habitat island will be constructed for them.

The construction session will start at 8 am and run until probably 1 – 2 pm. Participants may come and go as they choose. Bring sturdy footwear, a hat, some snack food and drink. Gumboots may be useful too. Bushcare volunteers are welcome to attend.

Please RSVP if you are coming by clicking on the link below.

For further information on the workshop, contact Nathan Summers, Bushcare Officer on nsummers@bmcc.nsw.gov.au or phone 4780 5623 (leave a message). Nathan works part time so it may take a few days to reply to messages.

Turtle habitat construction flyer cover

Hollows as Homes Walk and Talk

Saturday 14 October

Hollows as Homes is an exciting project run by the University of Sydney, the Australian Museum and the Royal Botanic Garden and funded by Sydney Coastal Councils. This fascinating project will help scientists, councils and the community further understand the role of tree hollows in providing homes for our urban wildlife, as well as discover what wildlife is using our local tree hollows. As a member of the community, you will have the opportunity to locate a tree near you that has a hollow or nest box in it, take some measurements of the tree and then regularly observe which animals may be using it; is it a home for a possum, a parrot or a powerful owl? Not only will you be providing valuable information to aid in conservation of our local wildlife, but you will also be part of a real scientific research project and be able to see how your local tree hollow compares to other tree hollows in the wider community.

Join Dr Adrian Davis from the University of Sydney for this free “Hollows as Homes” talk and field trip, hosted by Blue Mountains City Council Bushcare. Learn about how tree hollows form, the role they play in supporting our wildlife and what wildlife that you’re likely to spot using them. You’ll learn how to take different tree and hollow measurements, why particularly characteristics of trees and hollows are important to different animals and how to spot different animals using hollows.

If you can’t make the field trip but would still like to participate in the Hollows for Habitat citizen science program, you can register at www.hollowsashomes.com or email Dr Adrian Davis hollows.ashomes@gmail.com to find out more.

We’ll start off with a presentation and some light refreshments in the community centre at Blaxland Library, then venture outside for a dusk-time walk to look at potential habitat – and hope we might see some of the inhabitants! Come prepared with long sleeves, and sturdy footwear.

RSVP to Tanya by Friday 19 May. Numbers are strictly limited, so book in early!

Bushcare Boosters Training for Bushcare & Landcare volunteers

Geoff presents the birds and the bees

This year BMCC sponsored 2 one-day workshops for Bushcare. Bushcare Boosters is a three-part course which was designed by the Sydney Metro CMA, Volunteers Co-ordinators Network in conjunction with the Australian Association of Bush Regenerators and several local councils.

We’re aiming to ensure that our community conservation program volunteers are up to date with the current best practices in Bushcare and the opportunity to develop the highest standards possible—the ones we are used to!

To that end, we decided to hire an expert trainer, Geoff Bakewell, who is very experienced in Bushcare and is certified to teach the Bushcare Boosters program, a combination of classroom and field based learning. Geoff has worked as a Bushcare Officer and has delivered Bushcare Boosters to Bushcare volunteers for both local and state government.

So far, we have covered two of the three modules. Module 1, “Bushcare and the Big Picture” looked at the history of Bushcare, the values, problems, plants and animals present on Bushcare sites and the development of site strategies. It was held at South Lawson Park, a good example of a site with many values and complex issues to keep its Bushcare volunteers busy.

Module 2, “The Birds and the Bees of Bushcare” was at another long-term Bushcare site: Jackson Park, Faulconbridge. We spent half a day discussing habitat— how to assess it, find evidence of fauna occupying it, how to look after it.

The third module will cover weed control technique and safe work practices. It is yet to be scheduled, but we will run it as soon as we can—so stay tuned for more information or contact Monica at the Bushcare Office on 4780 5528 or mnugent@bmcc.nsw.gov.au

Bushcare Boosters in Jackson Park

Rare win for habitat protection in Holroyd

Holroyd Local Government Area doesn’t have much habitat left, so when Holroyd Council was alerted by resident complaints that trees were being damaged they took quick action. Council investigators found that 4 remnant Eucalyptus fibrosa trees had holes bored into them around the base using a chainsaw and filled with an unidentified liquid. A resident also provided video footage of a man chain sawing the base of one of the trees.

IMG_5306

chain saw cuts at base of tree

Council wrote to the owners (the property was a rental) seeking an explanation however the owners denied any knowledge of the works occurring.

In the following weeks the trees rapidly discoloured and later died and the owners lodged an Tree Preservation Order (TPO) application to remove them. Council determined the trees were of significant habitat value due to presence of hollows and the future potential of hollows. The TPO application was deferred and a Local Govt Order No 21 served to make safe the trees by removing all but the trunks and portions of the 1st order laterals.

The owners appealed Council’s Order to the LEC however the appeal was dismissed and the Court saw fit to strengthen our original Order.

The above photos were tendered as evidence.

https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/55e68d99e4b0012d84a75877

with thanks to Jason Rothery, Landscape Technical Officer for HolroydCity Council

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