August 20, 2016
By: Michael Fox
Neighbours, Roger and Margaret called a short while ago. A Koala had just come down one tree and jumped across to another tree in the gully.
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Looks young and definitely male.
It’s a boy
Breeding season has started so the males will be on the move.
Koalas are particularly to dog attack when they are on the ground moving between trees. So it is important that dogs are kept on a leash when visiting Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve.
July 17, 2016
By: Michael Fox
Koala Phascolarctos cinereus breeding season is August to February and we already have three sighting this month, so it is a good time to remind walkers to keep their dogs on leash within the Reserve. As this sighting report highlights:
Koala sighted – station marker 5
“Walking on the mountain yesterday around 10.30 proved exciting: two Koalas on the Summit Track. The first was sitting in a fork directly above the 5th guided walk sign-post. The second had actually climbed down from a tree, walked along the track before climbing back up a tree about four steps from the top of the flight up the western side of the mountain on the Summit Track, where it promptly started feeding. Two in one day really proves we have at least two koalas on the mountain! We think the ones we saw were both young.
Koala sighted walking Summit Track
“As an aside; the woman who saw the Koala climb down and walk the track before climbing back up had a rather large dog, firmly on a lead. We congratulated her for having the dog under control. Poor Koala would not have stood a chance had the dog been free.” Alison
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BCC information on Dogs and Koalas: identifies that Koalas are under threat of extinction. Koalas are now listed as vulnerable in Queensland under the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and also in the South East Queensland bio-region under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992.
Queensland was once home to millions of Koalas. However, the BCC estimates that now there may be as few as 100,000 left in existence statewide. Koalas were still being hunted in Queensland in the 1920s, since that time habitat clearing and road trauma have been the have been the most significant threat with dog attacks number three.
“In 1927 in Queensland, the country’s final, but highly controversial month-long hunt known as Black August, more than 800,000 koalas were killed.” Rural Weekly
Koalas are now breeding in Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve so we have a second chance to keep this unique and iconic species as part of our community.
“80 percent of koalas attacked by dogs die from their injuries” Moggill Koala Hospital – cited in BCC Dogs and Koalas
Koalas live here – dogs visit Keep your dog on leash while walking in the Reserve and help us protect and grow the Koala population.
Your dog wants to play off-leash? Visit Abbeville Street Park.
Koala sightings since January 2016
July 9, 2016
By: Michael Fox
Our Koalas becoming a tourist attraction for Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve:
Levi “Eagle Eyes” Koala
“Today my son and I went for a walk through the Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve and headed on down to Fox Gully to look at your handy work. It’s looking great including all the nest boxes around the area. On the way back I gave my ‘eagle eyes’ son, Levi, a challenge to spot a koala. To my great delight within a minute or two he succeeded! I have attached a photo – not a great one as it was very high up – look for the bump in the second fork up! Thank you for inspiring me to improve my own garden (kookaburra box is up and fingers are crossed!) and for everything that you do for nature.”
See Koala adventures Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve
June 11, 2016
By: Michael Fox
Fox Gully neighbours Miranda, Scott and children, Freya and Clementine, had a special wildlife experience today.
Walking the Geebung Track just near the National Tree Day planting site the family spotted a Koala Phascolarctos cinereus on the ground beside a tree. They managed to get a special photo of the Koala reaching up to climb a tree.
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Koala beside Geebung Track
The family’s sighting has been added to Koala Tracker and our Google Earth map of wildlife sightings.
Koala sightings 2016
Koala in Tallowwood
8 June 2016
Healthy-looking Koala at Gertrude Petty Place
He (or she) was in a large Tallowwood between public housing at 59 Gosford Street and footpath from Gertrude Petty Place to Federation Outlook this afternoon. Was quite high up so this is the best I could do with my Iphone.
Also two quite large microbats patrolling GPP at 5.15pm tonight.
Sue Jones
Koala – Federation Track
23 April 2016
Griffith Mates – Lantana Busters
Our Griffith Mates bushcare partners were very happy to find a Koala beside the Federation Track heading down to Granby Street.
Koala – Federation Track
17 April 2016
Koala along Federation Track
We are sighting a koala bear for last two weeks, during a trek to Mount Gravatt lookout.
Today, we sighted them on top of a eucalyptus tree 100m from carpark near Logan Road entry. Last week, sighted them near Federation lookout.
Attaching pictures of the same to inform respective authority.
Vittal
Koala – Ekibin Creek – P. Demmers
9 April 2016
Koala – Ekibin Creek Pollinator Link
Koala – Fox Gully
Koala – Fox Gully Pollinator Link
Maria, Matt and their children often find Koalas in the trees right behind their house.
In January 2013 the family had a Koala mum and joey visiting.
Photo: Maria Hill
April 24, 2016
By: Michael Fox
Creeping Lantana Lantana montevidenses
Griffith Mates joined me at Fox Gully Bushcare on a beautiful fine Saturday morning to work as Lantana Busters. Creeping Lantana Lantana montevidenses is one of our major weed threats in Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve. Lantana competes for native plants for scarce water reserves and the chemicals in Lantana have a significant negative effects on native plant species.
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(l-r) Sophie, Lifen, Noe – proud of their work
Removing Creeping Lantana is detailed work requiring team members to get down and pull the roots of individual plants. Fortunately the Griffith Mates team were patient and through leaving the area spotless.
As always, it was fascinating to talk to the students about home towns in Japan and China, catching up with one of my old Management Concepts students or hearing about intern experience with KPMG in Korea.
Koala high in tree on Federation Track
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Outstanding effort deserves a reward, so we headed off down the Federation Track to find a Koala Phascolarctos cinereus in the wild. The track down towards Granby Street is a reliable place to spot Koalas. Sophie was first to spot a Koala high in a Tallowwood Eucalyptus microcorys.
Joseph’s Coat Moth Agarista agricola – Photo: K. Sinigaglia
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We also spotted a brightly coloured Joseph’ Coat Moth Agarista agricola flying around a large clump of Forest Grape Cissus opaca an important caterpillar food plant for this amazing moth.
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Ringlet butterfly
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We also found a Ringlet butterfly Hypocysta sp. which depend on Poaceae (grass) species for caterpillar food.
The work of the Lantana Busters clearing the weeds will allow regeneration of important butterfly caterpillar food like Forest Grape and native grasses.
Every visit of our Griffith Mates partners strengthens the habitat for all our native species.
December 15, 2015
Mimosa Creek in flood – Jan 2015
Edited By: Michael Fox
Saturday December 5th was the last working bee of the year at Roly Chapman Bushland Reserve.
2015 started out very wet with January storms flooding the new bikeway bridge over Mimosa Creek.
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Flood damage repair – straightening and staking
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After the flood Lomandras have done there job holding the bank in place. However, the newly planted trees are a different story with most knocked flat by flood water. Liz, Marshal and I moved in to straighten and stake before this beautiful new planting is lost.
Zone 2 – weed infestation May 2015
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Repairs done our Bushcare team returned to working in Zone 2 to tackle the infestation of Guinea Grass Panicum maximum, Small Leafed Privet Ligustrum sinense, Easter Cassia Senna pendula and Asparagus Fern Asparagus aethiopicus.
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Zone 2 – weeds gone – natives returning
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Having cleared the larger weed species the area we are working on near the boundary with Upper Mount Gravatt School now resembles a primary forest. In the open spaces, native plants no longer smothered in weeds, are springing back to life. Many Cheese trees Glochidion ferdinandi, free from competition are racing for the sky. Ground covers such as Native Wandering Jew Commelina diffusa and Creeping Beard Grass Oplismenus aemulus are protecting the soil from erosion and keeping it cool, acting as Living Mulch.
Common Flatwing Austroargiolestes icteromelas
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As we were packing up and looking forward to morning tea, a delicate Common Flatwing Austroargiolestes icteromelas damselfly with bright metallic green stripes paid a visit, hovering over a small patch of vegetation.
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Koala Phascolarctos cinereus
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We now have proof at last that it’s not just Mount Gravatt that is home to Koalas Phascolarctos cinereus. The one pictured here, almost invisible from the path was spotted last month by a dog walker. A mother and baby have also been sighted. This is another good reason to keep weeds at bay. Koalas need to come to the ground and move across the forest floor to look for suitable food trees. Their task is made much harder when there’s a lot of thick weedy vegetation in the way.
November 23, 2015
Southern Star – 18 Nov 2015
By: Michael Fox
Susan Jones and I met with a specialist Council arborist today at Gertrude Petty Place Bushcare, to discuss action required to improve public safety for mountain neighbours in Gosford Street.
Balancing public safety and wildlife habitat is always complex. Brisbane City Council’s arborist team have checked the health of trees along the property boundary and identified a number of removal. The team’s assessment was then matched against an independent arborist’s report for confirmation.
Long term safety will be managed by replanting with native grasses and low ground covers. Offset planting to replace trees will be undertaken away from the boundary.
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Koala – Queensland Blue Gum
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Finding a Koala sleeping in a Queensland Blue Gum Eucalyptus tereticornis in another part of the Buscare site, highlights the importance of replacing canopy when trees are removed for public safety reason.
May 13, 2015
Walking at night look up for Koalas
By: Laurie Deacon
I went walking last night on the mountain with Mike, Liliana and Matt …spotting ….and we saw two Koalas at two different sights as per the map attached.
Koala One was seen at 8.30 pm and was pretty much in same location as were Pieter saw our koala on the March morning walk. At the fork on Acacia Way.
Both were very cute, middle sized Koalas.
Koala one was on the ground beside the track and then when he/she saw us rushed off in the bush and slowly went up a mid-sized straight tree, but stopped and looked at us. She hung around the base of the tree for about 5 minutes. She seemed young, in good health and maybe a girl.
Koala Two seen around 9pm and was sitting high in a gum just about at the top of the Geebung Track where it breaks onto the park area..(currently covered on steel yards for new public toilet construction). She was cuddled up on a long straight branch quite open and the breeze was making her hold on very tight as the branch was swaying. We could not see if she had a clear white tummy as she was balled up. But was looking around.
Was a beautiful night for a star light walk and then a picnic rug for a home baked Honey and Apple syrup cake and candles in the park for Matt’s 25th Birthday.
Best present he said was seeing the Koalas.
March 3, 2015
First Koala sightings 2015
By: Michael Fox
2015 is off to a good start with six sightings of Koalas reported already, and, importantly, the sightings have been right around the Reserve.
Koala – Griffith Uni Mt Gravatt Campus Photo: Michael McGeever
The latest sighting was on Sunday while we were doing a guided walk for our Griffith Mates visitors. Pieter Demmers spotted the Koala high in a tree beside Acacia Way. Seeing this Koala in the bush was particularly special for our visitors from Germany, France and China.
Michael McGeever spotted another Koala, probably a male, just at the entry to the Mt Gravatt Campus
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Young Koala Fox Gully
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Then we were woken about 4am last week. A young Koala seemed to be calling its mother with the short squeal – almost a ‘yip’, they use to communicate. I was able to get a photo when is climbed an Acacia near the house.
In 2014 at least two Joeys (baby Koalas) were born in Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve. In 2015 we want to do more tracking of Koalas with the aim of identifying and tracking individuals to help us understand their movement patterns and how to reduce the number killed on the South-east Freeway.
So if you see a Koala, please take a photo – phone camera is ok, note the location and any comments eg. mother with joey or walking along the road.
Sightings can be reported to Koala Tracker and/or emailed to megoutlook@gmail.com.
November 23, 2014
By: Michael Fox
Identification of Native Cherry Exocarpos cupressiformis brings to two hundred and seventy-four plant species identified within Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve.
Mt Gravatt Then and Now, Mt Gravatt Historical Society, records that in July 1883 our local Mt Gravatt community convinced the state government to protect the Reserve which had previously been logged as railway timber reserve.
In 2014 it is our turn to protect this unique high diversity habitat. The 274 native plant species our 66 hectare Reserve is equal to 11% of of all species in Great Britain which is 22.6 million hectares.
Protecting and restoring this habitat is a whole of community effort with Griffith Mates joining our Bushcare teams, Mt Gravatt Kindy protecting their part of the habitat and installing nest boxes so the next generation learns, Mt Gravatt State High School and Fox Gully neighbours supporting efforts to build Pollinator Link wildlife corridors linking the Reserve to other habitats.
Koalas breeding successfully is one measure of our progress.
Report Koala sightings
Sheamus O'Connor - Young Citizen of the Year 2012
Environmental Protection Award - Brisbane's Spotless Suburbs
Mount Gravatt Environment Group 