Fox Gully Bushcare

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July 7, 2017

Furry Fungi discovered by Griffith Mates

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Bushcare, Forest Fungi, Fox Gully Bushcare | Tags: , , , , , , , |
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Team 1 July 2017

Griffith Mates Team

By: Michael Fox

Fifteen happy laughing Griffith Mates joined me on Saturday morning to prepare the site for the 2017 National Tree Day.

See Alan Moore’s “We love Bushcare!” photo series. 

The team members were so interested in everything, from the fruiting Thread-moss Orthodontium lineare to a Huntsman spider on an old pipe, that I thought they must all be environment students. However, they were

Thread-moss - Orthodontium lineare - 1 July 2017

Thread-moss Orthodontium lineare

actually studying everything from business to one special person doing her second Phd in linguistics! They just all love being out in the bush doing something useful.

 

 

 

Most Australians would not be keen on getting up close and personal with a Huntsman spider. Griffith Mates students come from all over the globe … Zimbabwe, Malaysia, China, Japan, etc. and they are fascinated all Australian animals.

 

 

Common Crow caterpillar - 1 July 2017

Common Crow Euploea core

I showed the team a Common Crow Euploea core butterfly caterpillar with its fascinating black curls. The caterpillar was feeding on a Parsonsia vine and I explained that butterfly caterpillars will only feed on a limited number of plant species. If we maintain and increase the diversity of native plants in bushland and in our backyards we can bring butterflies back to our urban habitat.

 

The next find was very strange hairy fungi with a colloid shape with hollow in the middle: Hairy Trumpet – Panus fasciatus. A new species to add to our Flora and Fauna of Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve: over thirty fungi species found in the Reserve so far.

Hairy Trumpet 1 July 2017

Hairy Trumpet – Panus fasciatus

 

Plant signs

Installing interpretative signs

There was also work to do. Two teams went hunting for examples Tape Vine Stephania japonica and Slender Grape Cayratia clematidea and install interpretative signs to show Tree Day volunteers some of the plants that feed our native animals.

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Glass removal 1 July 2017

Site safety – removing broken glass

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Preparation also includes maximising site safety by removing broken glass. Not exciting work but very important.

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Visit Facebook to see Alan Moore’s “We love Bushcare!” photo series that captures the mood of joy and pride of our Griffith Mates student partners preparing for. 2017 National Tree Day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 3, 2017

Young life lost on motorway on-ramp

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

Koala 2 - Nathan onramp - 3 July 2017

Healthy young male Koala

“Let me know if I can help lobbying for Koala fencing or wildlife bridges. It breaks my heart to see the good work we have been doing undone so quickly.” Matt

I had just collected a healthy young male Koala dead beside the Mains Road on-ramp to the Pacific Motorway. Fox Gully Bushcare neighbour Miranda had emailed to let me know she had seen a Koala beside to road as she drove to work.

Sadly this young Koala was dead when I arrived so all I could do was collect him and call the RSPCA  Animal Ambulance: 1300 ANIMAL

 

Map - Koala - young male hit by car 3 July 2017

Koala dead beside on-ramp

Matt’s frustration reflects the number of Koala that have been killed trying to cross the Motorway from Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve. Limited wildlife fencing around the Griffith Bus Station and no fence at all on one side of the Mains Road on-ramp (red line) means nothing separates the traffic from the trees on which Koalas are feeding.

At least three joey Koalas were born in Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve in 2016 however I think we lost one of those joeys today.

 

I have previously discussed the possibility of wildlife fencing with Griffith researcher, Cathryn Dexter: co-author of the 2013 Koala Retrofit Works Program report for Main Roads. Cathryn explained some of the many issues in designing and maintaining effective Koala fencing. Also considering we have had a Koala killed on Klumpp Road and a number of car strikes on Creek Road, effective Koala protection in our urban environment will require significant commitment to building wildlife crossings to connect fragmented bushland habitats.

Back to Matt’s question about how to help with lobbying. Create and certify your own Pollinator Link® garden: Water, Food and Shelter for wildlife.

One person or one family may not have a lot of influence, however, every individual Pollinator Link® garden registered contributes to achieving our goal of 30,000 Brisbane gardens by 2022.

The support of 30,000 Brisbane households will give us the influence at local and state government levels to push for more wildlife fencing and road crossings.

You can become a Pollinator Link® Hero by getting ten family, friends or neighbours to create Certified Pollinator Link® gardens and help bring a bit of Australian bush back to Brisbane backyard.

Target 30,000 by 2022

 

 

 

May 10, 2017

2017 Photographic Workshop

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Fox Gully Bushcare, Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve, Photography
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By: Michael Fox

On Assignment - 7 May 2017

On Assignment

The theme of this year’s annual Photographic Workshop was Line and Form. Participants learned to pre-visualise the most simple things in the bush as art … to capture as an image the feeling of being in the bush.

Alan Moore, Workshop Leader introduced participants to the Elements they could use to help them see the bush with new eyes.

Line and form putting it togetherAs with past Workshops, Alan’s presentation covered the basics of camera operation and image composition before introducing the Elements of photographic art and how to put it together. The magic of Alan’s approach is summed up in comments like:

  • “I am a beginner and interested in learning the “technical stuff” in language I can understand.”
  • “Alan is very encouraging and this brings out the best in people.”

The effectiveness of his approach is best demonstrated by the extraordinary photos participants shared when they returned from “On Assignment in the Bush.” Alan’s comments (following) help us understand the concepts of Line and Form.

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Lovely image, well planned, well executed. Ticks so many boxes, has line and 3D form, texture and great use of space.

I did rotate and crop the image a little after a slight contrast and saturation emphasis on the berry.

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Photo by Frank

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A bold statement here of shape with the leaf, form and texture with the fungus and nice colour emphasis of the multicoloured leaf.

I have saturated the leaf and cropped the whole.

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Photo by Rob

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Great use of colour emphasis in this image.  Background well blurred and focus firmly on the leaves.
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I did drop the saturation of the background and upped the saturation and contrast on the leaves somewhat and did a minor crop.

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Photo by Madonna

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Here Madonna has captured the texture of the rock well.
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I have cooled the image a little to bring out the whites and greys in the rock and cropped slightly.
wAng---form-IMG_7594_01

Photo by Ange

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Nice and tight capture encapsulating line and shape with texture.
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In processing I’ve desaturated the background and cropped a little to emphasise the subject.
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wMargaret---Form-DSC_8990_01

Photo by

Right on theme, a piece of art in itself.  Kept simple with background totally out of focus and tight focus on the subject, shows pattern with the repeated shape, proportion and rhythm with the small leaves descending in size.

I did rotate slightly and desaturated the background to concentrate on the visual element.

wTrica---rhythm--IMG_4482_01

Photo by Tricia

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Lovely use spot on focus to capture this pattern and rhythm.

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I have given the saturation and contrast a small upwards nudge and rotated the frond to the diagonal.

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Photo by Fiona

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Very nice artwork, right on topic.  Spiral lines and texture in the fine hairs, you want to reach out and touch them.. Well isolated from the background by great depth of field control.

I rotated and increased saturation and contrast slightly.

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Photo by Sue

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This image is almost totally monochromatic green and works well to show the form of the fern fronds, nicely seeing the water droplets.

I cropped a fair bit off to emphasise the central in focus frond and did a slight contrast increase to highlight the water droplets.

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Photo by Mee Wun

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This shot has caught line so well and I have presented the image in black and white to complement the simplicity of the capture.

The background is a bit intrusive and I have dodged the dark shapes just a little.

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Thank you and congratulations to all participants. Participants’ photos are used in production of our Photographic Calendar.

Funds raised from our Annual Photography Workshop and Calendar go towards equipment like infrared wildlife cameras that support our research.

See Alan’s work at:

www.freelargephotos.com

Click on The Photographers then scroll down

find Alan Moore and Click

Contact Alan: editoramcj@gmail.com

 

March 20, 2017

2017 Photography Workshop

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Fox Gully Bushcare, Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve, Photography | Tags: |
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See the forest in a new way.

Discover art in the bush.

Sunday 7 May

 

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Line and Form

The 2017 Photography Workshop will examine line and form art through photography.  Photographer Alan Moore will discuss the artistic concepts of shape, texture and colour and how to capture nature’s art as photographic images.

Learn to use pre-visualisation to imagine the outcome and plan your shots when you go bush on assignment.  Return from assignment to share, compare and discuss a sample of participants’ photos.

An advanced skill workshop. However, the focus is on learning to plan your photos, so camera basics will be covered and even simple point and shoot cameras are welcome.

Time: 8am to 1pm

Cost: $20 per person ($15 for B4C members)

Limited places book early 

 

 

 

 

December 26, 2016

Cow Peas and Koalas

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Fox Gully Bushcare, Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve, Wildlife of Mt Gravatt Reserve | Tags: , |
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wild-cowpea-vigna-vexilata-var-augutifolia-17-dec-2016

Wild Cow Pea Vigna vexillata var. augustifolia

By: Michael Fox

Finding a Wild Cow Pea Vigna vexillata var. augustifolia brings the number of native plant species found in Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve to two hundred and seventy eight.

Two hundred and seventy eight native species in our 66 hectare Reserve is equal to 20% of all native plant species in Great Britain which has 22.6 million hectares. The extra ordinary species diversity in the Reserve is something worth protecting and valuing.

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koala-gpp4-20-dec-2016

Koala Mum & Joey

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As well as plant diversity the Reserve has a healthy population of breeding Koalas.

Andrew Wallace our BCC Habitat Brisbane Officer spotted this mother and joey (baby Koala) at Gertrude Petty Place a couple of weeks ago. This is one of at least two joeys born in the Reserve during 2016. There have been twenty-three Koala sightings reported in 2016

Please keep reporting the sightings: photo (phone camera photos are fine), approximate location, date time. Your reports are important evidence that helps us get ongoing funding and support for our restoration work.

google-map-koalas-2016

Koala sightings 2016

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October 28, 2016

Order your 2017 Photography Calendar

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Fox Gully Bushcare, Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve, Photography | Tags: , , , , |
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00_cover_2017_v1Share a unique view of Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve with family and friends and support our ongoing restoration work and wildlife research.

The 2016 Photography Workshop was called Mount Gravatt lights up, so  workshop leader, Alan Moore, has selected participants photos that show contre-jour techniques. Contre-jour techniques break the rules by shooting into the light. The photos chosen breathe new life into how we see the world around us in a new way.13_thumbnails_2017_v2

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Calendar:    $15ea plus $3.00 post & packing.

Seasons Greetings cards:    $5 cards

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Purchase calendars or cards:

aldi_wildlife_camera2

Maginon Wildlife Camera

Funds raised in past years have allowed for purchase of research equipment like the infrared wildlife camera used to monitor the Squirrel Glider Petaurus norfolcensis families living the nest boxes at Fox Gully Bushcare.

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October 12, 2016

Geebung Track Reconstruction

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Bushwalks, Fox Gully Bushcare, Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve | Tags: , |
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By: Michael FoxGlider map

Thanks to the BCC Natural Environment team for reconstruction of the steep slippery section of Geebung Track near Azanian Street entry to Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve.

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geebung-track-3-12-oct-2016

Geebung Track new entry

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The new track starts near the Glider interpretative sign and loops into the bush, missing large trees and uses steps to create a safer easier walk.

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geebung-track-1-12-oct-2016

Reconstructed Geebung Track

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Professionally made steps rejoin Greebung Track at top of steep section.

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geebung-track-2-12-oct-2016

Managing track erosion 

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The Natural Environment team have specialist contractors to do track restoration work. The existing track had already been restored right up to the small green water reservoir. That restoration work included large swales to direct water off the track reducing erosion. The contractors have set up the new section of track with rocks to handle the huge volume of rain water coming off the swales.

 

 

September 12, 2016

Griffith Mates Ochna Blitz Challenge

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Fox Gully Bushcare, Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve, Pollinator Link, Wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , |
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Join Griffith Mates for the Ochna Blitz Challenge!

Saturday 24 September 8am to 11am

Map

2016 National Tree Day planting

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Location: Junction of Geebung and Federation Tracks (behind green water reservoir)

We will do a walk through the National Tree Day planting and some light weeding then move onto the Mickey Mouse Plant Ochna serrulata.

The planting site is looking great with trees and vines planted in 2015 now flowering and producing seed. A Sickle Leaved Wattle Acacia falcata is already hosting caterpillars of the Imperial Hairstreak Jalmenus evagoras butterfly.

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The caterpillar is protected by “Kropotkin” ants – Small Meat Ant Iridomyrmex sp. The ants provide protection in return for sugary fluids secreted by caterpillar. Imperial Hairstreaks will only return to breed where both caterpillar food plants and the ants are present.
Kropotkin is a reference to Russian biologist Peter Kropotkin who proposed a concept of evolution based on “mutual aid” between species helping species from ants to higher mammals survive.

The combination of rain and clearing Creeping Lantana Lantana montevidensis means the Ochna is thriving and it is covered in flowers and seeds. However, the rain also means must easier to pull our either by hand or Treepopper.

 

 

August 31, 2016

Kangaroo on a bus?

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Bushcare, Bushwalks, Fox Gully Bushcare, Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve, Wildlife | Tags: , , , , |
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Jisu - Elkhorn and Basket ferns 31 -Aug 2016 lowres

Jisu fascinated by Elkhorn and Basket Ferns growing on a rock

By: Michael Fox

I introduced Korean student Jisu to our wildlife and native plants in Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve while walking to Mt Gravatt Campus.

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Kangaroo on a bus - 31 Aug 2016 lowres

I like my new mum

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Jisu is keen to meet a Koala but neither of us expected to meet a Kangaroo on the Griffith Inter-campus. This youngster was happily nestled into his substitute pouch on the wildlife carer’s lap.

 

August 11, 2016

Planting the future for small birds

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Fox Gully Bushcare, Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve, Photography | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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By: Michael Fox
Photos: Alan Moore

Sunday morning 31 July and one hundred and thirteen volunteers have arrived for 2016 National Tree Day. So I took one team to tackle the Creeping Lantana Lantana montevidenses while Sue Jones organised the other team to start the planting. The teams swapped jobs after morning tea.

Lantana Busters hard at work
Lantana Busters hard at work clearing 1,600 square metres of Creeping Lantana

Creeping Lantana is a major weed threat in Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve. Lantana competes for native plants for scarce water reserves and nutrients, physically smothers other plant and the chemicals in Lantana have a significant negative effects on native plant species.

The Lantana Busting teams cleared an amazing 1,600 square metres with one group raking the weed into long swales to manage erosion and retain water while others followed up, hand pulling the remaining roots. I explained that once the roots are removed the Lantana can be left piled up without regrowing. Slow, detailed but amazingly effective work. I showed the teams the natural regeneration of native grasses: Pademelon Grass Oplismenus imbecillis and Creeping Beard Grass Oplismenus aemulus, Tufted Scleria Scleria mackaviensis (native sedge) and Slender Grape Cayratia clematidea (native vine). Nature works 24/7 to build on our work and the forest will regenerate naturally if we clear the weeds.

Planting - 31 July 2016

Over with the planting team it was all action, lots of smiles and a big job in hand. This year the team is building on the work from 2015 National Tree Day with in-fill planting of 564 creepers, grasses, shrubs and trees to provide safe habitat and food for small forest birds, including nectar, pollen, insects and seeds. 2016 National Tree Day Planting List

Like last year, this was real cross-cultural event with the Griffith Mates Bushcare Team, Ahmadiyya Muslim Association and Alpha Phi Omega teams returning. This year we welcomed a new team representing carbon neutral energy supply company Viridian Energy Australia. Viridian team members traveled from the Sunshine and Gold Coasts to join us making a practical contribution carbon sequestration to protect our children’s future.

Kids having fun - 31 July 2016

And the kids were there digging in to build their own future. Kids love digging in dirt and look at the skill development! Let’s invite these future builders back for 2017 National Tree Day.

Morning tea - 31 July 2016

All that hard work deserves some tea and bikkies and time to learn about our native bees from Len Kann.

 

Ross Vasta - National Tree Day - Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve

I show Ross Vasta and his son an Acacia Falcata planted in 2015 and already flowering.

Of course events like this are not possible without the strong support we receive from our local, state and federal politicians. We were pleased to welcome Ross Vasta MP, Federal Member for Bonner and Jo Kelly MP, State Member for Greenslopes.

Ian Walker MP, State Member for Mansfield and Cr Krista Adams, Councillor for Holland Park both wanted to attend but had other prior commitments.

Event supported by:

BCC Habitat Brisbane
Bulimba Creek Catchment Coordinating Committee (B4C)
Planet Ark National Tree Day
Peaks to Points Festival

supporters

An amazing event – see Stats below, and importantly it looks like 2017 National Tree Day will be even bigger with all the teams and local community members telling me they want to come back.

Stats:

115 participants including two BCC Habitat Brisbane team members

  • Three groups from 2015 returned this year, one new group and lots of locals
  • All fours groups want to return next year when I hope to hold the event at the Summit

273.5 volunteer hours

564 plants

  • 30 creepers
  • 230 grasses
  • 114 shrubs
  • 190 trees

1,600 square metres of Creeping Lantana cleared.

 

 

 

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