MT ROGERS NEWS – LATE APRIL 2014

Owlet Nightjar and European wasps.  Peter discovered and photographed an Owlet Nightjar peeking out of one of the nest-boxes in the gully. These Starling-sized, nocturnal birds have sugar-glider-like faces and I wonder whether this similarity has some benefit or is co-evolution at work. The bird also used the box nearest the Wickens car-park as a daytime roost so glance towards the box as you walk nearby. They sometimes alternate the daytime roosts they use. Peter also reported finding the entrance to a European Wasps nest on a scruffy Flynn nature-strip. Call Canberra Connect 132281 or 6162 1914 for help with these invasives.

Frogmouths.  For Frogmouth devotees Stringybark Graphics have a new T-shirt design featuring frogmouth images on a creamy background. Check out their website for designs though the frogmouth tees may not have been added as yet. I was lucky enough to see them at the Folk Festival.

Spinebills.  An Eastern spinebill has just called from the garden reminding me that at least three were dashing around here after Correa and Grevillea flowers the other day. They were joined by a male Golden Whistler checking out the insects in a small eucalypt.

Eagle.  There is a Little Eagle on the Mt Rogers species list from years ago but it’s pure chance when they and Wedge-tailed Eagles are seen when glancing upwards. A short commotion from the garden’s magpies made me look up to see a possible Little Eagle soaring between Florey and Melba or perhaps following the creek-line. Little Eagles are listed as endangered in the local region as houses spread into the country they forage in.

Skyscapes.  Did you realise there are Cloud Watchers’ societies and that they have galleries of photographs for appreciators? Mt Rogers is a great place for skyscapes and it’s not necessary to view from the trig point. For me, a large part of the appeal of Mt Rogers is the openness and the times to pause and ponder that our walks offer. Do you feel better for being there or for being out in all its weathers and moods? Conversations suggest that being outside amongst nature and having the exercise opportunities is a major reason for valuing Mt Rogers. There are escalating moves to have those benefits expressed more widely and quantified so open space and de-stressing- exercise can turn up as positive eco-system services in budgeting. I suspect that nature’s values are another of those items governments don’t want to know about.

The tracks debacle.  Letters have been sent to Ministers Corbell and Rattenbury about the grading work carried out on the blue-metalled track to the tower and the track south from the summit. Angharad, Graham M, Phil G and I have spent hours on these and on on-site checks supported by comments, suggestions and thanks from a dozen other Mt Rogers folk and Ginninderra Catchment Group’s co-ordinators. The timing of the work, the way the grading was done and the reasoning prompted our concerns. Mt Rogers is managed by TAMS as it is an area of urban open space rather than part of Canberra Nature Park. It would seem that the main problem is lack of communication between agencies. Over time areas like Mt Rogers and Ginninderra Creek’s corridor have been found to have areas of much greater conservation value than was ever appreciated when TAMS and the agencies were set up 40-50 years ago to manage places vital for infrastructure.

Volunteers’ management tasks.  Following the Monday working-bee on 7^th April we asked Steve to turn some spraying attention to the mass germination of Patersons Curse (PC) under the power-lines east of the Wickens Place car-park. We dug out many isolated PC plants avoiding disturbing the soil which would encourage other seeds to spring into life. The PC Steve worked on were growing amongst introduced grasses which might be affected by the chemicals. We’ll continue this detailed weeding on May 5^th as the conditions have obviously favoured PC seeds waiting in the soil. The same story is repeated around the region as the rain events have offered opportunities to many species we consider weeds. The Weed Forager’s Handbook gives details of many weed species which can be eaten at some stages of their lives. Ones I’ve come across recently include Green Amaranth, Onionweed, Blackberries, Blackberry nightshade, Chickweed, Sticky-weed, Dandelion, Fat Hen, Fennel, Mallow, Stinging nettle, Wood sorrel, Plantain, Purslane, Salsify, Sow thistle, Wild brassicas, Prickly lettuce, Briar Rose hips. They’re not all present on Mt Rogers and another mentioned is Nasturtium which is overtaking parts of my veg garden at present.

Mowing.  Around Belconnen the mowing schedules are way behind, or rather they have been swamped by the enormity of the task. The most obvious grass is African Lovegrass because it seems to be able to take advantage of moisture regardless of the season. As usual in late summer, the native Red-leg Grass is growing strongly and adding a maroon tinge to the nature strips. Bluebells are also flowering with determination in many places. The plants don’t seem to mind harsh conditions and bare soil. Another native is Fuzz-weed. There are two species of Vittadinia around Mt Rogers noticeable at the moment with fuzzy seed heads and perhaps a few remaining pale purple, daisy-like flowers.

Fungi.  You’ll have noted the array of toadstools that have also responded to the damp and still-warm soil. The sheer variety is staggering even in areas close to home. There are 10c-piece size orange ones hiding amongst the grasses that need weeding out of our front garden. There were three Stinkhorns in a Macgregor garden. They have red starfish-like arms that exude a foul-smelling slime which blowflies and other insects find irresistible. The insects distribute the spores for the fungus. Fungi’s fine hair-like-hyphae have spread throughout the mulches and leaf-litter and enzymes are helping to break it down into nutrients for the other plant species. Large and smaller insects, snails and slugs and possums are amongst the animals that feed on fungi. Hopefully we can encourage children to look at the fungi-undersides using a mirror rather than kicking them over to see what the gills are like. There are also a few puff-balls around. They show how minute the fungal spores are and how easily they disperse on breezes or by being touched and carried by paws, on fur and footwear.

On a completely different note…..but still about environmental awareness….

Following a suggestion from a family member my phone number was given to an ActewAGL contractor who is a member of the ActewAGL Energy Efficiency team that is changing light globes to energy efficient ones. Farhad Elavia came to change our globes and those of several Flynn neighbours this week. He can also fit draught-excluders to outside doors.

The service is FREE and the new ‘globes’ are quicker to warm up, more energy-efficient and brighter than the first compact globes that came out. They come with a 2-year guarantee. The task takes about 20 minutes and there’s a call from ActewAGL to verify that the change-over has been carried out to your satisfaction. Farhad lives in Belconnen and once studied at University of Canberra. The phone number for booking is 1300 789 002.

I mention this in the hope that we can make our homes cheaper for us to run and lessen our footprints on the planet. This reminds me that I’ll try to source some Wood is good signs that explain that fallen timber needs to remain as habitat for wildlife and not be taken home as firewood.

Rosemary, Convenor Mt Rogers Landcare Group. 6258 4724