MT ROGERS: MID-SEPTEMBER UPDATE 2017

 The next working-bee will be on Sunday 24^th September from 09.00hrs. We’ll meet in McNolty Place, Spence.  On Sunday October 22^nd we’ll meet at Wickens Place and return to the Tree of Heaven task. (No working bee on Monday 2 October.)

Sunday 17 September was another brilliant day emerging after a week of feral winds and minimal rain. The wind was still cold at times but there were sheltered places in the backyard where the garden needed attention. Do check the moisture levels at your place as the windiness, frosts and lack of useful rain have dried out soils.

Throughout the day we could hear the “chip chip” of Yellow-Faced Honeyeaters. They have Flynn mapped out in terms of finding and feasting on the nectar of Ironbark trees. These eucalypts’ flowers are pink. Rainbow Lorikeets were also busy in the nearest tree and were strangely silent compared to their usual noisy, fast-flying aggressiveness. The story goes that the ACT’s population has expanded from aviary birds released from Hawker 20 years ago. It’s likely that climate change is also playing a part in their increasing numbers these days.

Last Sunday Mt Rogers hosted a bird-watching walk for the Canberra Ornithologists’ Group (COG). Angharad researched and reconnoitred the routes that would offer the best sightings from an 08.30 start. The tally was 26 species augmented by a display from a squadron of Straw-Necked Ibis giving a thermalling display high above the reserve as we returned to Wickens Place. Our 12 visitors seemed well pleased. Tee was lucky enough to spot a pair of roosting Frogmouths. Those with the right lenses moved round for some closer shots of the appealing couple. Perhaps someone has spotted a nest? We found three last year.

The previous weekend, 8–10 September Ann was among a number of local landcarers/ParkCarers contributing several hours as explainers at the Parkcare Display at Jamison Shopping Centre. The general public had a chance to see what landcaring is all about and where volunteers are actively caring for their special places around Belconnen.

Phil and Richard (Rangers) were at the Display for several hours on Sunday 10^th before heading to Flynn to talk to a person who has been sporadically taking timber out of Mt Rogers for some time. The Rangers confiscated the culprit’s woodpile and included the following in their report: ‘The current maximum penalties that apply are as follows (in summary only):
*Take native plant growing on unleased land - $7,500
*Damage native tree, unleased land - $60,000
*Damage fallen native timber with diameter more than 10 cm, unleased land - $7,500
*Take fallen native timber from unleased land - $7,500. ’  
Our thanks go to Ted for his investigations of recent drag-marks through the reserve to the west and for taking valuable photographs. Contact the Parks and Conservation Service’s Compliance Unit if you see someone taking timber 6207 6487.

             

If only there was a compliance unit to attend to the problem of irresponsible dog owners.  A few of us have been discussing making our own signs with messages about dogs being under their owners’/walkers’ control. We are still waiting for the official signs about dog behaviour & owners’ responsibilities that were ‘promised’ in 2014. Our regular community members, their dogs and Mt Rogers’ wildlife need protection from those who don’t care about others and fail to respect and share the reserve that we’re stewards of.

Steve has responded to our mapping that confirmed St Johns Wort infestations by spraying these weeds with Starane. This herbicide does not affect grasses near the SJW rosettes.

             

Rosemary 6258 4724

Mt Rogers Landcare Group’s working bee on Monday 4th September

Photos taken by Rosemary on Monday 4 September

Angharad and Ted cutting & daubing a Sweet Pittosporum that sheltered a Privet.

  

Diana wondered whether cutting down a native plant was justified. 

The Cootamundra Wattles’ blooms are past their prime. 

We were watched by a Kookaburra. Maybe its nest is nearby?

We’ve been watched by Kookaburras in this area before.

Nearby is a huge, ancient eucalypt that doesn’t look very healthy. It has several hollows. I used to call it The Possum Tree as it may have had scratch marks from possum paws on its trunk.

Not long after this the next cold front came through with rain.

Rosemary

Mt Rogers Landcare Group Convenor

Another 10.5 hours for Mt Rogers

Sunday 27th August was another day when the Bureau of Meteorology succeeded in predicting the weather. We put in another ten and a half hours of weeding before the rain began.

Thanks to Ann, Colin, Ivan and Ted some tricky invasives were taken out from hiding places under other shrubs and trees. Privets and cotoneasters were cut & daubed. A large Briar Rose with shrivelled but no doubt still viable rosehips was cut back and the hips were bagged. We were working in the area accessed by the track to the twin reservoirs. 

Also in this area are healthy St John’s Wort rosettes at the bases of last years’ browned-off flower shoots. 

Steve D. and I are conferring on the weeds scenario at the moment and he will be able to treat the St John’s Wort in the reserve with that appropriate herbicide: Starane in this case. It affects the SJW but not nearby grasses.

Steve has continued his walking through the reserve spot-spraying Serrated Tussock and any African Lovegrass he comes across. Until spring stimulates more germination of grass seeds the main occurrences of these introduced grasses and Chilean Needle Grass are in the mown areas between residents’ fences and the gravel path around the ‘hill’.

I’m also ensuring the Catchment Group has infestations of Blackberry, Honeysuckle and Ivy recorded as there’s another round of funding available to tackle Blackberry as a Weed of National Significance (WONS) in Ginninderra Creek’s catchment. 

You’ve probably noticed germinating Capeweed plants on the edges of the gravel track. They’ll flower pale yellow … pretty and useful for daisy chains but easily spread by brown, hairy seeds sticking to laces and fabrics. 

In our gardens people are complaining about Flickweed Cardamine hirsuta. Seeds dry out in long, thin capsules and then explode away to begin next season’s crop. Chickweed is at least edible though it does taste a bit like grass. 

The Weed Foragers Handbook  is a handy guide to plants that are edible, their lookalikes and how these useful weeds have been used in previous centuries. Cleavers, or Sticky Weed, Galium aparine, is another edible weed - though unless it’s used well blended or in Smoothies it’s a bit like eating Velcro due to stems, leaves and fruits being covered with the hairs that hook onto things …including fur & feathers. Hence it's being spread. 

Whilst we were working we were rewarded by Wrens and Double-Barred Finches passing through. They reminded us that birds are nesting and needing the dense shrubbery around Mt Rogers as safe sites for breeding. The "Double-bars” are an especially welcome sighting as are the Speckled Warblers Steve’s seen reasonably recently.

If you come across troublesome Magpies ring Access Canberra 13 22 81 for action by the City Rangers.

After our weeding and lunch I went out to Strathnairn, driving through hail. Later it snowed out there too, bringing a very light dusting of snowflakes momentarily. Later again I drove along Stockdill Drive delighted to see and photograph snow on the ranges’ foothills. In the distance to the SE there was a big dump of whiteness on a hill beyond Queanbeyan as seen through the Molonglo Valley and binoculars. 

It’s now the turn of other wattle species to flower after the Cootamundra Wattle trees are a bit past it. Keep your eyes peeled for Early Nancy’s white flowers. I found one or two behind Woodger Place the other day.

Thank you Working-bee volunteers and to the many others who make Mt Rogers special.

There’s some wonderful Art of Nature  at the Belconnen Art Centre for a few weeks. Animals and plants from all continents. It’s free. Parking at the Mall is the best option as there are few spaces in the official carpark on the lakeside. Steve D has a couple of paintings entered. Josie, a neighbour in Flynn, has a Highly Commended portrait of a Galah chick near its nest hollow. 

Rosemary

Mt Rogers Landcare convenor

Mt Rogers Landcare is part of Ginninderra Catchment Group