April 18, 2025
By: Michael Fox
One hundred and fifty trees, shrubs, vines and grasses planted to restore a special bird habitat.
We were joined by the wonderful Yang family: Roger, Maggie, Zoe and Ziv whose hard work was key what we achieved for future of our forest birds. The family all enjoyed the morning especially learning about our local native plants.
Benno is another hard working volunteer that loves our forest.
March 26, 2025
By: Michael Fox
Coucal Corner is a special part of Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve on the north face and beside the new walking connecting the Goodenia and Summit Tracks. (No yet marked on walking map.)
Named for the Pheasant Coucals Centropus phasianinus that lived in scrubby habitat cleared as the first stage in restoration. Our Fox Gully team is working with BCC Habitat Brisbane to restore native grasses and scrub to recreate the habitat required by the Coucals and other native birds like Superb Fairy Wrens Malurus cyaneus.
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Council contractors also cleared weeds and placed a thick layer of mulch on the slope ready for replanting with local native species that provide food for butterflies and shelter for small birds..
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As part of our regular Tuesday Bushcare the team planted thirty nine plants including trees, shrubs, vines and grasses.
February 20, 2024
By: Michael Fox
We welcomed five new volunteers today: Asitha, Andrew, Michelle, Kate and Tatiana, It was a perfect day to introduce volunteers to Bushcare … cool in the shade and so peaceful with the birds calling.
We added a new plant to our species list Sigesbeckia orientalis St Paul’s St Paul’s Wort/Indian Weed. I had this down as a weed but Kate was sure it is a native, so I checked with our Botanist Ann Moran who confirmed. I noticed that many of the leaves were chewed which is usually a good sign of a local native.
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We also found a Joseph’s Coat Moth Agarista agricolamoth feeding on Slender Grape Cayratia clematidea.
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A beautiful Silver Orb Spider Leucauge granulata was found in it’s web.
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I introduced the team to a Brown Eucalypt Sawfly Pergagrapta sp. explaining that this is not actually a fly. Sawfly is a common name for some species of wasp.
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A Eucalypt Leaf Beetle Paropsis maculata impressed with its interesting pallet of colours.
February 11, 2024
By: Michael Fox
Tuesday Bushcare gave us more evidence of the value of Mt Gravatt Outlook Reserve as a key resource of species available to strengthen our urban habitat as our Pollinator Link project brings wildlife back to backyards.
We found three new insect species to add to our research: Flora and Fauna of Mt Gravatt Reserve.
The large Yellow Hairy Flower Wasp Radumeris tasmaniensis was a special find. Note that most Australian wasps do not sting humans rather the females use their ovipositor to lay eggs in beetles and caterpillars. Most of our wasps work 24/7 as natural pest controllers in our gardens.
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We found the Privit Hawkmoth Psilogramma casuarinae caterpillar feeding on the Bower Vine Pandorea jasminoides.
Hawkmoth caterpillars can be identified by their characteristic spike tail.
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Leaf-footed Bug Pternistria bispina
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Iridescent Semi-slug Peloparion iridis native snail.
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A Blue Oides Leaf Beetle Oides laetabilis was photographed feeding on Creeping Beard Grass Oplismenus aemulus. An native grass that is very effective as Living Mulch suppressing weeds, keeping the soil cool and reducing erosion.
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A Small Dusky Blue Candalides erinus butterfly visited the site.
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The potential to bring wildlife to our backyards is powerfully demonstrated in the ABC article: How three housemates in COVID lockdown discovered their Brisbane home was a biodiversity hotspot
“The number grew to more than 1,150 unique species of plants, animals and fungi counted over 12 months.”
Sign the petition to expand this highly diverse habitat SIGN PETITION TO COUNCIL
November 14, 2022
By: Michael Fox
Griffith Mates are back with five Japanese students visiting to help our Bushcare restoration work.
It is always a pleasure to show our international guests the unique Australian flora and fauna.
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It doesn’t need to be spectacular flowers or Koalas to interest our guests.
Using magnifying glasses they were able to see our very smallest flowers: smaller than the head of a pin. Exocarpus cupressiformis Native Cherry
This interesting bush food typically occurs among Allocasuarina littoralis Black She-oak on which it is a root parasite.
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This Garden Jumping Spider Opisthoncus parcedentatus fascinated the students who were impressed with the distance this tiny spider can jump to catch mosquitoes for lunch.
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Of course it helped that we found two Koalas in the trees beside the track to the Summit.
June 22, 2022
By: Michael Fox
How many Koalas are there in Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve? I am often asked that question.
As part of our 2021 Koala Drinker Research Project and work by Peter Demmers we know there are at least thirteen individual Koalas in the Reserve. We now have a couple with excellent Koala spotting skills they share with other visitors by marking sightings with an arrow on the track.
If you see an arrow on the track, pause look around and say hi to our special locals.
June 19, 2022
By: Michael Fox
Let’s take advantage of the amazing rainy season and restore more Koala and wildlife habitat in Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve. We have added at least twenty new flora and fauna species this year.
Join us to plant another 600 wildflowers, grasses, vines and shrubs.
Date: Sunday 31 July
Time: 8:00AM – 12:00PM
Location: Eastern Outlook Track
The 2022 planting site is small so please Register early to ensure a place for this year’s National Tree Day.
April 15, 2021
Sunday 16 May 2021
Workshop leader Alan Moore, will challenge you to break the Golden Rule and utilise contre jour style to intensify line and form, shapes and silhouettes, allowing you to see detail in the clutter.
Gift your Mum, or yourself, with place at our annual Photography Workshop where Alan will introduce you to painting with light – artistry and aperture. Then discuss planning and pre-visualisation before we go on assignment in the bush.
Location: Fox Gully Bushcare – Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve
Report Koala sightings
Sheamus O'Connor - Young Citizen of the Year 2012
Environmental Protection Award - Brisbane's Spotless Suburbs
Mount Gravatt Environment Group 
