Bushcare

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July 26, 2020

Rainy not cold … perfect for Bushcare

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Bushcare, Mt Gravatt Environment Group | Tags: , |
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By: Sheamus O’Connor

Expanded garden space - 25 July 2020

Rainy not cold … perfect for Bushcare

We had a lot of fun yesterday in the puddles, luckily it was not too cold as we got soaked!

Thanks to our hard … wet … workers, we got heaps done in such a short period of time.
Logs and branches adjacent to the path will reduce damage to our new Lomandra planting by stopping people walking off the track. At the same time logs make safe habitat for lizards and provide valuable food for beetles and other insects.
Logs Gertrute Petty Place - 25 July 2020

Logs protect planting

Garden beds have been extended to cover areas where fast spreading invasive weed has been Dyschoriste depressa poisoned. Our energiser rain loving team planted and mulched the expanded garden area.

A pedestrian goat track and a mountain bike track between road and Federation Track were closed to allow regeneration and re-mulched earlier plantings.

 

Our next monthly working bee is Saturday 29th August 8am – 11am. Hope to see you there.
 

May 31, 2020

Square-tailed Kites, hovering hawk moths and pest controller wasps

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Bushcare, Wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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Little Eagle 3 - Hieraaetus morphnoides - 13 May 2020 - P Demmers

Square-tailed Kite (pair)

By: Michael Fox

A pair of Square-tailed Kite Lophoictinia isura seem to be making our Reserve their home. Pieter Demmers sighted the pair at a possible nest site at the top of the Goodenia Track near Mt Gravatt Campus. Stacey McLean kindly provided the correct identification.

Friday, I actually watched one of these impressive birds circling over our National Tree Day plantings. I’m hoping this is a sign of habitat health, as large raptors are unlikely to take up residence in the Reserve if there is not plenty of food.

 

Eupanacra splendens - Hawkmoth -11 May 2020

Eupanacra splendens Hawk Moth

This been a great season for butterflies and moths with thousands of sightings of Hummingbird like creatures hovering in front of flowers. Hawk Moths long tongues allow them to hover in front of flowers while drinking the nectar.

We love butterflies in our gardens tend to ignore moths. However, moths vastly outnumber butterflies with 11,000 species compared to about 400 species of butterflies.

Eupanacra splendens - 13 Apr 2018

Eupanacra splendens caterpillar

On Gardening Australia, Professor Ken Walker, senior curator of entomology at Museums Victoria, explained the importance moths in our gardens. Moths work hard under cover of darkness providing valuable pollination services. Moths are also valuable food for birds visiting our gardens as well as lizards and other animals.

 

Butterfly and moth caterpillars feed on our garden plants, like this Eupanacra splendens caterpillar on my Peace Lily Spathiphyllum sp. However, they rarely do a much damage and we end up beautiful butterflies and interesting and valuable moth pollinators.

 

Banded pupa parasite wasp - Gotra sp. - female - ovipositor 2 - 2 May 2020

Banded Pupa Parasite Wasp

 

Professor Walker also refers to beneficial garden insects which includes some some of the ichneumon parasitic wasps found in Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve. The ichneumon wasps have no sting and perform valuable pest control activities.

The female Banded Pupa Parasite Wasp – Gotra sp. has no sting but a long ovipositor used to lay eggs on caterpillars. (Latin ovi = egg, posit = placed)

 

Tiger Ichneumon Wasp - Metopius sp. 2- 1 May 2020

Tiger Ichneumon Wasp

 

Tiger Ichneumon Wasp Metopius sp.

Ichneumon wasps are some of the most attractive insects you can see in the Reserve.

 

 

Alan Moore photographed this Yellow-banded Ichneumon Wasp Echthromorpha agrestoria 

Yellow-banded Ichneumon Wasp - Echthromorpha agrestoria - A Moore 28 May 2020 lr

Yellow-banded Ichneumon Wasp Echthromorpha agrestoria

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 10, 2020

Tuesday Bushcare

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Bushcare, Wildlife of Mt Gravatt Reserve | Tags: , , , , , |
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By: Michael Fox

Great getting out in the bush after the rain. The Fox Gully Bushcare team worked on weeding the 2018 National Tree Day site.

All the plants are thriving including the weeds. Our main focus was removing Guinea Grass Megathyrsus maximus, Flannel Weed Sida cordifolia and Cobblers Peg Bidens pilosa before seeds set, breaking the weed cycle.

The rain also bought lots of insects and spiders including two species not previously Reported in the Reserve. An Eight-spotted Leaf Beetle and Round Ant Eater spider.

 

Eight-spotted Leaf Beetle - Paropsisterna sexpustulata - 10 Mar 2020

Eight-spotted Leaf Beetle Paropsisterna sexpustulata

 

 

Round Ant Eater - Zenodorus orbiculatus (female) - 10 Mar 2020

 

 

 

 

Round Ant Eater spider Zenodorus orbiculatus (female) Note name change from Omoedus orbiculatus.

 

 

Union-Jack Wolf Spider -Tasmanicosa sp. - with egg sac - 10 Mar 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Union-Jack Wolf Spider Tasmanicosa sp. – with egg sac

 

 

 

 

 

 

St Andrew's Cross Spider - Argiope Keyserlingi - underside - 10 Mar 2020

 

 

 

 

St Andrew’s Cross Spider Argiope Keyserlingi – underside

 

 

 

 

 

Variable Ladybird Beetles - Coelophora inaequalis - larva - 10 Mar 2020

 

 

Variable Ladybird Beetle Coelophora inaequalis larvae

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transverse Ladybird Beetle - Coccinella transversalis - 10 Mar 2020

 

 

Transverse Ladybird Beetle Coccinella transversalis

 

 

March 8, 2020

Clean Up 2020

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Bushcare, Bushwalks, Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve, Wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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Griffith Mates at work - 1 Mar 2020

Weeding Team in action

By: Michael Fox

I love our annual Clean Up when the community turns out to help maintain our special Reserve. Heather Woods, our event coordinator, registered our largest ever team:
  • 75 Volunteers;
  • 66 Adults; and
  • 9 Children (under 16)
Dainty Swallowtail - Papilio anactus - 1 Mar 2020

Dainty Swallowtail Papilio anactus

 

The reduction in rubbish to be cleaned up means the largest group joined the Weeding Team this year.

We are working with the Council Rangers and Habitat Brisbane team to prepare the site for the 2020 National Tree Day Planting on Sunday, 02 August. Special focus will be planting species that enhance the visitor experience by attracting butterflies, like the beautiful Dainty Swallowtail Papilio anactus, while maintaining the views to the city and Glass House Mountains.
Weeds cleared - 1 Mar 2020

Huge area of Guinea Grass and Creeping Lantana cleared

 

The weeding team did a great job clearing a huge area of Guinea Grass Panicum maximum, Creeping Lantana Lantana montevidensis and Glycine Neonotonia wightii. Clearing the weeds and removing trip hazards is the first step in site preparation for planting.

 

 

Blue Banded Bee - Amegilla cingulata - 1 Mar 2020

Blue Banded Bee visiting Blue Tongue flower

 

Species for planting will be based on our research for Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve. Blue Tongue or Native Lasiandra Melastoma affine, currently flowering at the Lookout, is very popular with the solitary native bees in the Reserve. Like Blue Banded Bees Amegilla cingulata

Other species observed on the day were Great Carpenter Bees Xylocopa sp., Stingless Native Bees Trigona sp., and caterpillars of Glasswing Acraea andromacha and Imperial Hairstreak Jalmenus evagoras butterflies and Pale Brown Hawk Moth Theretra latreillii.

Guide on Patrol 2 - 1 Mar 2020

Guide on Patrol

 

Meanwhile the Rubbish Teams were busy around the Summit and along the roadway collecting the usual fastfood packages and some strange parts fallen off cars.

 

 

 

Griffith Mates Team - 1 Mar 2020

Griffith Mates Bushcare Team

 

 

IMG_9218

Heather with rubbish collection

 

 

 

Thank you to all the community members, the Holland Park Girl Guides and Griffith Mates.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you to Heather Woods for organising the event.

 

February 9, 2020

Scarlet Honeyeater and Robust Velvet Gecko

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Bushcare, small bird habitat | Tags: , , , |
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By: Michael

Scarlet Honeyeater - Myzomela sanguinolenta - P Demmers - 18 July 19

Scarlet Honeyeater

Thanks to Pieter Demmers and Rachel Cruttenden we have two bird species and a native gecko added to our Flora and Fauna of Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve.

Pieter photographed this beautiful Scarlet Honeyeater Myzomela sanguinolenta At 10 to 11cm this is one of our special small forest birds feeding on nectar, some fruit and insects.

 

Brown Goshawk - Accipiter fasciatus - 21 Dec 19

Brown Goshawk

 

Pieter found a Brown Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus a medium-sized raptors found across Australia in timbered habitats. Brown Goshawks feed on small mammals, birds, reptiles and insects.

 

 

Robust Velvet Gecko - Oedura robusta 2 - P. Demmers - 4 Feb 2020

Robust Velvet Gecko

Rachel first found one Robust Velvet Gecko Oedura robusta with Pieter following up that sighting to find three geckos. It is nice to find native geckos living in the forest rather than just the noisy Asian House Gecko Hemidactylus frenatus.

 

 

 

February 8, 2020

Dog off-leash kills female Koala in Reserve

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Bushcare, Bushwalks, Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve, Threats to Conservation Reserve, Wildlife | Tags: , , , , , |
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By: Michael Fox

Sheamus O’Connor, Group Leader of Gertrude Petty Place Bushcare, reported on the Group’s first event for 2020 with sad news:

“Unfortunately, an injured koala was found about 50m down from GPP, up on the hill, sitting at the bottom of a tree. She had been bitten by a dog on her wrist and was very sick from infection. Angela, the local wildlife rescuer, collected her however has little hope in full recovery. Let’s hope she recovers.

We’ve got signs now but that is obviously not enough, people ignore them and continue to have their dogs off lead. What will it take for people to take responsibility for their pets?” Sheamus Dog Kills Koala - Feb 2020 adj

 

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As reported in the Southern Star this week the Koala Phascolarctos cinereus did not survive this dog attack.

It is very disappointing that irresponsible individuals still ignore the signs and let their dogs run loose in the Reserve.

Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve is a special place with a wide diversity of flora and fauna including a healthy breeding population of Koalas appreciated by tourists, international students and even increasing property values in the area.

Dogs off-leash are also a problem for walkers with children or people walking their own dogs on-leash. For other people, even a well behaved dog off-leash creates uncertainty because they don’t know how that strange dog will behave around their children or their dog.

Unfortunately, we have reports that challenging walkers with dogs off-leash is often met with aggressive rudeness. So consider simply taking a photo, from a distance, and reporting to Brisbane City Council call centre on 07 3403 8888.

Dogs do love to run loose, so consider visiting the local Abbeville Street Park off-leash area or look for one of the other 150 City Council dog off-leash areas. 

 

 

 

November 9, 2019

Griffith Mates Fishbone Fighters

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Bushcare, Bushwalks, Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve | Tags: , , , |
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Mates on trail - 9 Nov 2019

Fishbone Fighters on the trail

By: Michael Fox

Our Griffith Mates Bushcare team joined us again today to help eradicate the invasive Fishbone Fern Nephrolepis cordifolia from Fox Gully Bushcare Zone 10.

As always the team was an interesting mix of international students: Osaka Japan with its amazing aquarium, cold Gansu in north-west China where winter temperatures range from -13°C to a toasty 3°C, and a local student with a French heritage whose passion is environmentally sensitive urban planning.

 

Weed Busters - 9 Nov 2019

Fishbone Fighters hard at work

 

 

 

 

The Fishbone Fighters worked hard first cutting back the prickly Barbed Wire Vine Smilax australis which will tear an unsuspecting Bushcarer’s arms to pieces. However, Barbed Wire Vine is very hardy local native which can tolerate a hard cutback to allow access for weed removal.

Proud Bushcarers - 9 Nov 2018

Proud Fishbone Fighers

 

Thanks again to the extraordinary Griffith Mates Bushcare team who have been partnering with Mt Gravatt Environment Group since April 2013.

 

 

 

November 1, 2019

Griffith Mates meet Koala Mum

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Bushcare, Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve | Tags: , |
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Koala spotting circle - 26 Oct 2019

Koala spotting

By: Michael Fox

Griffith Mates joined us again last Saturday for Bushcare. Always a pleasure to show off our forest even if there was not much in the way of flowers to show off in the dry conditions.

Koala mum and Joey - 26 Oct 2019

Koala Mum with Joey snuggled up

 

One surprise we could provide was a Koala Mum and Joey in a tree on Acacia Way.

Griffith Mates in action - 26 Oct 2019

Energy and laughter a great mix

 

 

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The Griffith Mates Bushcare team is always a ball of energy and laughter.

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Grin from ear to ear - 26 Oct 2019.

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Thank you team you are always help me remember the reason I do Bushcare work: the next generation.

 

July 22, 2019

Exploring the forest with Griffith Mates

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Bushcare, Wildlife of Mt Gravatt Reserve | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |
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Kookaburra welcoming commitee - 20 July 2019

Kookaburra welcoming committee

By: Michael Fox

Everyone loves to welcome the Griffith Mates Bushcare team to Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve. Even the Kookaburras were ready to welcome our visitors.

 

 

Common Spotted Ladybird - life stages - 20 July 2019

Common Spotted Ladybird life stages – larva, adult, pupa

While we waited for the Team I explored the Fairy Fan Flower Scaevola aemula and found three life stages of the Common Spotted Ladybird Harmonia conformis. The larva stage looks nothing like the adult however they still perform valuable pest control services for your garden, feeding on sap-sucking aphids. The pupa stage (right) looks more like the adult Ladybird beetle. The best known adult stage (middle) also feeds on aphids.

Love learning about wildlife - 20 July 2019

Meeting the locals

 

Most of our Griffith Mates visitors had not seen Lady beetles before and they were eager to meet these miniature Australians.

 

 

Cotton Harlequin Bugs - Tectocoris diophthalmus - nymphs - 20 July 2019

Cotton Harlequin Bugs nymphs

Walking - 20 July 2019

 

 

 

 

On the back of Macaranga leaves we found pretty Cotton Harlequin Bug Tectocoris diophthalmus nymphs

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walking from Mt Gravatt Campus to the Bushcare work site along Acacia Way we could hear the Pardalotes chip-chipping in the trees and Australian King-Parrots Alisterus scapularis  whistling in the distance.

 

Going bush - 20 July 2019

Going bush

 

Equipment collected, we headed off track to the day’s work site.

 

 

 

Griffith Mates - 20 July 2019

Weeds bagged for removal - 20 July 2019

Great work Team – weeds bagged for removal

The target for the day is the invasive weed Fishbone Fern Nephrolepis cordifolia. Once the Team is briefed on the difference between Fishbone Fern and the local Basket Fern Drynaria rigidula they dived removing and bagging huge clumps of roots for removal off site.

 

 

Weeding Team - 20 July 2019

Thanks to Griffith Mates Bushcare Team

17 Team members and 51 hours of restoration work. A great morning’s work.

Fairy Home found in forest

 

Leading the Team to Mt Gravatt Lookout to meet their taxi we discovered the Fairy Home made by one of our Gully neighbours.

 

 

Fairys for Climate Change Action

 

 

Open the door to discover a special climate change message from the Fairies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 8, 2019

Fungi database updated

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Bushcare, Forest Fungi, Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve, Uncategorized | Tags: |
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By: Michael Fox

Thanks to Fflur Collier, BCC Wildlife Conservation Partnerships I have been able to make valuable additions to our Flora and Fauna of Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve research.

Accurate identification of fungi species can be extremely difficult so tentative identification is used in some cases. Please share any insights or corrections.

Flora and Fauna - Fungi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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