TWO GREAT WINTER STROLLS AROUND MT ROGERS, JUNE 2016.

On Thursday 16^th and Sunday 19^th June, I took time to stroll around the reserve cross-country. I was ‘on site’ in each case by about 10.15; after a severe frost on Thursday and with another strong, wet front forecast for ‘late morning’ on Sunday. As I type, the front’s rain has begun and the Currawongs are calling loudly around mid Flynn. Some say this calling heralds rain but others equally attribute these choruses to other species. After a long dry spell it’s wonderful to see each bird species’ reactions to the rain. They delight in showers to cleanse their feathers and possibly upset the populations of mites that live amongst their feathers.

ICON Water have contracted clearing of trees and shrubs inside the reservoirs’ fences and for 3 m outside from the fences. Some of the prickly Hakea plants inside the twin tanks’ fence will be reprieved as having low fire risk. This is very good news as their prickliness makes them good predator-proof habitat for small birds. The aim of Thursday’s walk past the reservoirs was to see what, if any, tree removal had been carried out. All was intact.

I became aware of a mixed feeding flock (MFF) of small birds in the trees beyond the Summit track and to the single tank’s south-west. Even better, I realised there was extra activity along the branches and trunks of the trees and ‘Sittellas’ came into my mind. I’d seen a small flock of them nearby but years ago in a sleety snow-storm. The binoculars confirmed Varied Sittella, Daphoeopsitta chrysopter, and that this species-which is under-threat in the ACT was utilising the area scheduled for some tree removal. The photo below shows the ordinary trees where the Sittellas were foraging on Thursday 16th June. Th single tank's fence is on the right. Camera is facing NNW.

Search on-line for Varied Sittella and you’ll see that they are attractive, almost-wren-sized birds. Their conformation is quite different; part of their appeal is that they search bark for insects and larvae by moving rapidly down the trees’ trunks. The White-throated Treecreepers we occasionally see and hear in the reserve forage just as busily but move up the trunks. How different their blood supply mechanisms must be. I think there were 7–10 Sittellas moving through. I came across them again doing pest-control duties around the Flynn playground’s lerp-attacked eucalypts.

Sunday’s birding luck came as I was almost leaving. I glanced up at the trees near the drain barricade and there were two Tawny Frogmouths snuggly roosting against a eucalypt trunk 10 m above the ground. Finding the Sittellas was pure chance but if you look up into the playground’s trees, seeing the camouflaged blob of the Frogmouths might bring you frogmouth-luck. The photo below shows their roost tree. I took the photo with my back to the Schwarz Place entry gate.

If you come across a MFF see whether Thornbills, White-eared Honeyeaters, Grey Fantails, Golden Whistlers, Wrens, Scarlet Robins and Pardalotes are part of the insect-seeking action at different levels of the woodland’s vegetation. Speckled Warblers may be on the ground, seeking insects amongst the grasses alongside Yellow-rumped Thornbills. Like the Sittellas, the Scarlet Robins and Mt Rogers’ other small foragers, the Speckled Warblers aren’t fazed by watchers’ presence but it does take patience to see which species are present!

The same is true in our gardens. We had a male Golden Whistler in the backyard recently, in Flynn, gleaning for insects along with Silvereyes and the dizzyingly quick Eastern Spinebills. Birds’ pest-control services beat insecticides every time!

Some years ago my Mt Rogers list of bird-sightings exceeded 80 species. It did include occasional sightings of Wedgetailed-eagles and Cormorants, Ducks and even Pelicans flying over from one water-body to another. In the 20 years or so patterns of sightings have changed at Mt Rogers, as they have around home. If you’d like to go through your own Mt Rogers list and see what’s changed that would be very useful. Numbers of species such as Grey Butcherbirds, Pee-Wees, Quail, the Frogmouths, Satin Bowerbirds, Superb Parrots, Indian Mynas and Noisy Miners have fluctuated over time in the reserve and in the nearby gardens that partly sustain some of them. Sunday brought two Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos with their inimitable flight and unmistakable calls. And we’ve even more occasionally seen Gang Gang Cockatoos. Both species have very specific diets.

Similarly the vegetation patterns have changed. Winter is a time when the huge efforts that our landcarers have made really show up, because the germination of wild oats is only just beginning. On any bare ground there’s mass germination of introduced annual weeds such as Capeweed, Proliferous Pink, Flatweed, clovers, and Hairy Mustard. Once the sap’s running again we’ll renew our Wander and Weed journeys taking out woody weeds. ICON Water will engage a contractor in spring-summer to cut & daub the spreading infestation of Tree of Heaven that has been bugging us for decades. This is as a trade-off for the necessary removal of vegetation around the reservoirs. (The photo below shows Ivan and David working to remove a Viburnum tinus bush, during landcare work.) 

I noticed a 3 sq.m patch of native Common Woodruff again today. It seems dense enough to deter the grass species that are rampant beyond the patch. Does the Woodruff have inhibiting chemistry that prevents other species from taking the space, water and nutrients the little ground-covering plants need? There’s a field of research for someone: the inhibiting or allelopathic factors shown by common plants and the possible application of this chemistry beyond what we know about eucalypts. I suppose it’s a concept related to the companion-planting that wise vegetable growers practise.

Also noticed was an increase in the native violet population around boulders in the bush not far from the Frogmouth tree. Viola betonicifolia is an attractive addition to Mt Rogers’ floral list. It’s not rare generally but is on Mt Rogers. Let’s hope this species continues to spread and has a robust root system that would not be affected when scheduled Hazard Reduction Burns reach its habitat. With Ginninderra Catchment Group’s help we’re marking maps with electronic data of special native species, plantings, quality woodland and grassy habitat and invasive weed incursions. Nola and Graham have made an extensive photographic study of the seventy ancient eucalypts to which I need to add GPS co-ordinates.

We’re so lucky to have Mt Rogers as an escape and restorative venue. All-year-round there’s plenty to notice, observe and marvel at…and I haven’t even touched on the lichen and fungi forests that keep invertebrates sheltered, busy and fed. Take a mirror with you (or an extendable tradies’ mirror) and look underneath the toadstools for gill-patterns and colours. We all know, from experience, that damp timber and bark is slippery but that very slippery-ness aids the breakdown of the timber cells. Nutrients are provided and chemical balances restored through the actions of teeming numbers of beneficial bacteria, fungi, microbes and algae. If you have young people around, Rachel Tonkin’s Leaf Litter contains a wonderful series of paintings that show and explain what’s happening in woodlands and underground.

There’s also 365 Outdoor activities you have to try!  From Dorling Kindersley. It’s full of suggestions for observing, exploring, creating and discovering in yards, gardens and reserves. It’s of British origin but easily ‘translated’ for the Australian bush. Both titles are available at the Botanic Gardens Bookshop for about $18. The gardens are hosting dinosaurs again at present…and The Spiders exhibition at Questacon is on until October. It’s a brilliant display about habitats and the spiders which have mastered every environment. …Other ideas and venues for engaging young and curious minds!

From our suburbs, add to the adventure by catching 300 series buses to Barry drive ANU and the Albert Hall stops respectively and then observing whilst walking to the venues.

Rosemary   6258 4724

Mt Rogers Landcare coordinator

MT ROGERS MAY 2016 NEWSLETTER

Today (04.05.16) I had an almost 2-hour wander through Mt Rogers starting from behind Schwarz Place, Flynn at 09.15. I meandered up to the Second Summit and probably followed a big inverted-u-shaped loop before ending up near the Frogmouths’ tree near the playground.

Near the start of my walk using the remains of a large mountain bike construction from 5-6 years ago, I could see the Bursaria shrubs we planted, looking really healthy and with seed pods rusty orange in the sunshine. They are common, insect-attracting shrubs in the local bush but, being mildly thorny, may have been removed as public enemies in Mt Rogers’ grazing days. Red-stemmed Wattles are also doing well and the Barbed-wire Grass seedlings I put in near the boulders have multiplied. My photo here shows Barbed-wire Grass in a pot.

I only saw scat evidence of kangaroos today, but they’ve been eating the Weeping Grass, Microlaena stipoides, as other grasses run to seed or turn beige for winter. Separately, Eryka, Steve D. and others have reported seeing ‘our’ mob of kangaroos recently. At this time of the year Mt Rogers looks especially healthy in terms of native plant numbers. Several local grass species have seeded well and look in better shape than the rank, rather derelict, introduced grasses. Wild oats have vanished but their seeds will await rain and, alas, germinate rapidly when the soil’s damper. Oats’ flower-spikes will be taller than we are by summer 2017.

North-north-west of the Second Summit I found a few Serrated Tussock plants we shall need to take out, but the ‘roos have enjoyed a sunny spot nearby, turning the soil areas into a dust-bath. The ‘roos are canny enough to choose places like this for their rest-times. They can see and hear when humans are around but not be seen themselves thanks to the camouflage of their beigey fur.

I came across a mixed feeding flock of small birds. It included Thornbills, Pardalotes in the trees’ canopies, Golden Whistlers and occasional sightings of White-eared Honeyeaters’ glorious olive-green plumage. There was one visible White-naped Honeyeater with its breast and underparts feathers so white it looked more like a Restless Flycatcher. The honeyeaters’ calls were strong, resonating through the trees.

Above but parallel to the gully, I found that the native Sorghum there had flowered. It’s now quite close to a kangaroo track down from the Benchmark tree. I have found about 15 Sorghum leiocladum plants on Mt Rogers. The trick is to come across them when they’re in flower. If the evolving processes hadn’t been interrupted, would Indigenous groups have utilised Australian sorghum species for uses similar to flour?
(My photo here of native Sorghum was taken on The Pinnacle.)

A bit further across the slope a Clustered Everlasting Daisy, Chrysocephalum semipapposum, had shed its seeds into the remains of earlier bike-track-construction diggings. There are about 20 younger plants that have taken advantage of the extra moisture in the cut-out ditch the youngsters had made. This yellow button-daisy species is common in ACT grassy woodlands, but the remaining plants on Mt Rogers are scattered and easily overlooked. In fact, my photo of Clustered Everlasting here is again from The Pinnacle.

There were pathetic skeletal remains near an ivy-covered stump that‘s previously hosted a fox den. The ivy’s a reminder that, all along my route, there are occasional Chinese Pistachio, Cotoneaster, Privet and Firethorn to be dealt with once the sap’s running again to take up herbicide.

Our previous two working-bees sought out these same woody weed species and dealt with them as we walked and weeded on 24 April and 2 May. Brendan and Vimanh morphed into a capable team with loppers and weed-wand ready for each new target. With Ted, all four of us worked on a Hawthorn down from the summit. It’s a shadow of its former self but will still need frequent revisits to check how resilient it is and whether it’s produced crimson berries. Scores of Rose Hips were also bagged … what a shame no one has time to make Rose Hip Jelly these days. It’s high in vitamin C, but making the jelly is a time-consuming preserving process. We also bagged the seed-heads of African Lovegrass (ALG) tussocks and dug out the clumps.

On Monday 2 May we worked towards and at ‘Bridgets’ behind Woodger Place, Fraser. Angharad, Ted and I again searched out ALG because this is the very best part of Mt Rogers in terms of native biodiversity, uninvaded by weeds. In spring there are species of wildflowers (Bulbine Lilies, Early Nancy (top photo below), Purple Hovea (lower photo below), Indigofera, Glycine) which thrive on being in an out-of-the-way place. 

Whilst we were weeding Aidan came to chat about the drainage swales he’s dug attempting to stop water running under their fence. When we realised there were destructive truck tracks through the wildflower areas Aidan said this happened when ‘next-door’ was having their pergola installed. There was a pile of rubbish against the next fence section and several other tracks where shrubs’ branches had been destroyed and drying grasses and Lomandra crushed. Have the wildflowers’ bulbs and roots been crushed by the weight of the trucks? The builders would have driven up the rough steep track from near the Bingley Crescent bus stop. The sheer arrogance and ignorance makes my blood boil. “It’s only the bush” is their mentality. For many Mt Rogers folk such behaviour is equivalent to someone deliberately driving through our gardens.

Our reward for checking this area for ALG was that three Superb Parrots flew east over our heads and the treetops. Once or twice we disturbed Common Bronzewing Pigeons. They’re the sometimes-shy birds that make that “oom - oom” call. They’re nowhere near as common as their name suggests even though their numbers have increased on Mt Rogers in the past 5–8 years. The one in the photo here is on the track up from the car-park.

Steve and Judy happily reported a first for the Bainton Crescent area; two green-plumaged Satin Bower Birds in the garden of the Tudor house. Perhaps it’s dispersal time for the younger Bower-birds. A fascinating species if your garden hosts a bower.

On Sunday 22 May, Strathnairn Arts Association is holding its 2016 OPEN DAY from 10 am. This event offers chances to watch artists at work in the studios of the precinct beyond Belconnen Golf Course. By then the main galleries will be exhibiting the U3A Photography Group’s diverse and stunning photographs. In the WOOLSHED, over 100 artistic expressions from everyday creators, on square canvasses, will be on show during the SQUARES Exhibition and competition. This is the reason why the next Mt Rogers Sunday working-bee will be on 29 May and not 22 May. And June’s Monday working bee will be on 6 June. 

If you need to report fallen trees, litter or anti-social activities around Mt Rogers please phone 13 22 81, Canberra Connect – Access Canberra, which will alert the relevant authorities. I’ve found ‘Fix My Street’ online useful also.

See you on Mt Rogers, and at Strathnairn on 22 May.

Rosemary    Mt Rogers Landcare Group  6258 4724                10.05.16.

MID APRIL 2016 ……LAST RAIN ON 18TH MARCH….rain’s forecast….but that’s happened before…..where there was, perhaps, one raindrop per leaf

Over the last 10 years Mt Rogers’ folk have built a caring community from folks’ daily walks around and across the reserve.  Conversations have turned strangers into acquaintances and discussions have created friendships and like-minds who share the issues and ups and downs of life, local and world affairs. Our dogs have often been catalysts for these progressions and so have our landcaring efforts…working-bees that significantly benefit the reserve’s habitats and wildlife.

Another embryonic community-building effort is taking off: a Directory of trades, services and Community activities from individuals and groups who live in Flynn, Fraser, Charnwood, Dunlop, Macgregor, Latham, Holt, Higgins and those parts of Spence and Melba west of Kingsford-Smith Drive. The aim of the West Belconnen Directory is to encourage residents to use the trades and services in our local community. Not-for-profit groups are encouraged to advertise events and activities in the Community section. The Directory will be delivered FREE to 13,000 households in these suburbs every six weeks or so.

If you have a business that needs advertising coverage or you can recommend a local tradesperson contact Kate on 0411 067 111, use email wbcf@bigpond.com or visit the website www.thewbc.com.au.  This new Directory is modelled on the successful Murrumbateman Local Services Directory that, over 10 years, has helped ‘gel’ the Murrumbateman community, turning strangers into neighbours.

There wasn’t a working-bee on Easter Day but John, Angharad, Ted, Kirsty and I made up for that ‘holiday’ with a Wander and Weed session on Monday 3 April. We walked east and then up towards the Tree-of-Heaven infestation where we tried the experiment of cutting & daubing the suckers on the edge of the ever-expanding patch. We then headed into the rough bush south of the single tank and dispatched more woody weeds large and small. More weeds, such as Chinese Pistachio, were found to the east before we began to sight Serrated Tussock clumps that had grown up since our previous work in the area of Wattle regrowth. 

The photos here show (top) our group (John D, Kirsty, Ted and Angharad) beginning a cut&daub of Tree of Heaven, and (below) the group attacking Tree of Heaven suckers. This infestation covers an area of 100 m x 100 m. Presumably there was an older or original tree there 40 years ago.

We heard Grey Butcherbird calls several times, confirming our hopes that these songsters have found enough habitat to take up residence in Mt Rogers’ 65 hectares. The Butcherbirds, as their spectacular calls might suggest, are closely related to Australian Magpies. They sometime perch watchfully, on branches like miniature Kookaburras.

This April has been Honeyeater migration month as in previous years. Flocks of honeyeater species fly from the high country, though the ACT in order to winter where it’s warmer. They’re often seen flying along the Murrumbidgee corridor and through the nearby suburbs. Some of the honeyeaters are just Starling-sized but the species can be distinguished by their calls.

Steve D had an exciting sighting of Speckled Warblers so these ground-foraging little birds are still around the reserve. Grey Fantails have been busy and numerous recently, and the Scarlet Robins are back to brighten up our winter days. Those interested can go to the Canberra Birds website to find members’ photos of the species seen, read monthly newsletters about sightings or join the email ‘chat-line’ where there’s daily reporting of bird activities and sightings.

Mt Rogers, like other reserves and our gardens, is currently very dry. If you need to be ecologically refreshed go to the Canberra Museum and Gallery’s FREE Exhibition Bush Capital: the natural history of the ACT. The habitats, animals and plants of the region are illustrated through art and science including 150-year-old paintings from the National Library’s collection, botanical art, ceramics, digital photographs and videos, and animal specimens from CSIRO’s insect and animal collections. The displayed works’ captions are skilfully written by Ian Fraser who blends anecdote, science, humour and decades of his observations to make each explanation memorable. The Museum is near the Canberra Theatre complex. Mt Rogers’ neighbours are lucky because the 314 and 315 buses stop 100 m away on London Circuit (and the 300 series buses also use that route as they pass through Civic.). Take a look at what your rates & taxes have paid for!

Back on Mt Rogers, Chris has helped out by taking down the seat notices when the masking tape began to weary of overnight dew and the days’ hot sun. I could use stronger tape but that might end up vandalising the seats’ paintwork. Chris is one of the regular litter-collectors that I know of, but others make rubbish removal their regular contribution to Mt Rogers. Jill C has had her paintings exhibited at Strathnairn, with a view of Mt Rogers being sold very early on. There has been an exhibition showing Bush on the Boundary at ACTEW AGL House in Civic, The works featured scenes and artists’ interpretations of the natural world within the three ACT catchments, each of which has its own focused group: Ginninderra Catchment Group (Ginninderra Creek catchment), Southern ACT CG (Murrumbidgee River catchment) and Molonglo CG (Molonglo River catchment). These groups are umbrella organisations advising and supporting the region’s volunteer Landcare communities such as our Mt Rogers Landcare Group.

WORKING BEES

Our next efforts will be on Sunday 24 April, Monday 2 May and Sunday 29 May (I’m not available on 22 May).

On 24 April we’ll work north-east of the summit again meeting at about 9.00 am at the seat with views of the mock-Tudor House. This over-looks the easement between Carey and Hammett places.

On 2 May we’ll again meet at the Wickens Place carpark and head off in search of woody weeds….possibly our last chance before cooler weather slows down the sap and the transfer of herbicide.  9.00 am then also.

See you on Mt Rogers in the next few weeks.

Rosemary,   Mt Rogers Landcare Group    6258 4724

FEBRUARY 2016 News from Mt Rogers.

On Sunday 24^th January six volunteers gave time to Mt Rogers for the first working-bee of 2016. Ann had a family happening to attend, so left after an hour. Ann was my back-up in case I called in sick and she also keeps the blog updated with the news, newsletters, other articles, observations and photographs … mtrogerslandcare.blogspot.com

It was good to welcome Ivan back from his hip-replacement surgery. He worked unstintingly on St John’s Wort (SJW) and any woody weeds we came across. We worked in the triangle west of the single tank. Quite a few people use the tracks around the area but the grassy wildness is only used by kangaroos.

We began on the track towards the summit from Wickens Place, recognising and pulling a few SJW plants (like the one pictured below) – slowly but determinedly so as many roots as possible pulled out of the conveniently dampened soil. Ted multi-tasked, pulling SJW, leaving the older plants’ seed capsules to desiccate in the heat of each day. We all had to seek out younger plants growing through the rank introduced grasses. They might have been SJW seedlings or suckers from nearby mature plants – either way we found well-developed roots and clusters of pink buds at soil level ready to branch out during 2016–17. The next phase will be to ask Steve D to spray SJW in this triangle as pulling is only partially successful.

There were also Mustard plants flowering lemon-yellow (as in the next photo below). In spite of sturdy tap-roots they pulled out quite well. The roots’ holes will allow air and any further rain falls to penetrate deeper into the soil. David took the Mustard as his speciality, ranging through the area to find & pull scores of other Mustard plants. He’s very interested in stewardship of the land – what better way to support communities and Country than with some landcaring hours? There are several Mustard-like cabbage-family weeds. The Cabbage white butterflies are among the flowers’ pollinators.

Brendan and Vimanh joined us for the first time and were eager to learn about Mt Rogers’ ecology and plants as they worked alongside us. Vimanh searched widely for plants that were showing their golden-yellow flowers. Once her ‘eye was in’ she successfully added the small SJW to her victims list.

We were able to point out a native ground-cover, Climbing Saltbush. Here it’s ground-hugging and we found several with small red berries. Common Bronzewing and Crested Pigeons eat the berries but it would be encouraging to think that lizards would be better at finding the small orange-red fruits amongst the tall grass than pigeons. Both pigeons prefer to feed where the grass is short and where they can see any potential dangers.

We introduced Brendan and Vimanh to Serrated Tussock as there are about 30 plants scattered through our work area. We cut off and bagged any remaining seedheads and then Ted dug out the tussocks with a small mattock. Quite a few plants were ‘hiding’ under shrubs as that’s where the wind had blown the long stalks or where seeds had fallen out of resting kangaroos’ fur.

Brendan, Ivan and Ted began work on a huge Firethorn that’s obviously escaped notice for several years. The photo below shows Ivan and Brendan tackling the job watched by David and Vimanh. It’s a fertile bush, as there were hundreds of green berries on each branch. We’ll continue work on this later in the year. Are any grazing animals in the species’ homelands (China, the Caucasus through to Turkey) able to nibble at Firethorn leaves amongst the vicious thorns? Here birds disperse the orange-red berries.

Anne C will continue her solo walk-and-weed sessions with isolated woody weeds as her target species. The mowing that has tidied up the Mt Rogers fire-management zone this sprummer hasn’t prevented new shoots of Mustard rapidly growing into path-side spaces. If anyone would like to bring secateurs on their walk and cut off these plants close to the soil we’d have hundreds fewer Mustards next spring! The flowers are pale yellow. Chris & Margaret are on the lookout for Verbascum flower-heads, cutting off & bagging any they come across.

John & Joan reported their concern that a neighbour was emptying their swimming pool into the edge of the reserve at the weekend. Just think through the quality of the water after months of dosing with pool chemicals. And if it was a salt-water pool….There are very few plant species that thrive in salty soils and even  fertilisers can devastate soils and river systems over time….Pool chemicals…aaagh!

If they haven’t already done so I expect EUROPEAN WASPS will be appearing more regularly around our yards soon. The EUROPEAN WASPS HOTLINE number is 6258 5551 and there’s a website www.ewasp.com.au that gives additional information about these potentially dangerous introduced wasps. They are also a significant threat to native vegetation because of the way they destroy flowers when they seek to steal nectar. Australian flowers have evolved to be pollinated by Australian insects and birds. The European wasps are about Honeybee size and black & yellow.

In The Chronicle of 23^rd January there was an article from Brett McNamara on the new Reptile component of Canberra Nature Map (CNM). Ian’s photo of one of Mt Rogers’ Brown snakes trying to work out how to eat one of the Bearded Dragons was submitted to CNM as evidence of our populations and also the snake’s appetite. Frances had taken a Brown snake on her phone a few days previously. The beauty of the CNM is that one’s photos can be sent in and species of plants, reptiles, fungi and butterflies identified. If the phone or camera has GPS capability the photos are doubly useful, as location and abundance data can be built up for the region’s native species.

The combination of soil warmth and rain has triggered the germination of fungal spores. Perhaps we could collectively build up a dossier of Mt Rogers’ fungi species. I take a plumber’s mirror with me so I can look at the underside of the fruiting bodies without damaging their efforts to reproduce. There was a warning about DEATH CAP MUSHROOMS on the local radio news today.

On page 5 of The Chronicle, Tough Mudder was featured. Children are offered challenges and team-work experiences which include playing in muddy water, trying obstacle courses, problem solving, climbing outside. Compass work and code-breaking are offered inside. These are primarily school holiday activities with costs revealed on the bfirm website. Mt Rogers can offer most of these challenges free!

Angharad, Ted & I were working in the rain at first on 1^st February when we continued pulling SJW to the west of the single tank. We also worked on more to the east of the tank, an area where Mary had worked several years ago. There’s also a patch of African Love Grass nearer the tank’s entry gates that Steve has previously sprayed. New plants have grown up since, so return visits will be scheduled.

Now is the time to MULCH! With all the rain topping up the soil’s water-table, the moisture can be retained by using coarse mulch materials. Air and any later rain can move past the coarse mulches. However, there are times when the Bush Fire people denounce woody mulches as fire-hazards so there’s pros and cons involved. The rain might trigger eucalypts shedding their barks. These sheets of bark can be broken up into smaller pieces where they deflect the sun’s heat and encourage the spread of raindrops across the ground….but plant-based mulches could also be flammable……another Catch 22.

One of Mt Rogers’ west-side neighbours generously offered free peaches to passers-by. Margaret, Chris and Dennis reported clear sightings of a Channel-billed Cuckoo in the Basely-Avery-Bingley area of Fraser. These massive cuckoos are rare as far south as the Canberra region. They parasitise Currawong and Magpie nests so they could be very useful if they time their journeys south more accurately!

Koels seem to have worked out the timing better. This photo is of a female Koel in a mid-Flynn garden.

There have been quite a few reports of Koel chicks being fed by Red Wattlebird parents. Joan sent four wonderful photos of a male Koel in their garden (below). These birds are notoriously difficult to see even when they are calling from a tree above you so Joan & John’s Koel was remarkably cooperative.

There’s an article from The Conversation this week: ‘Why a walk in the woods really does help your body and your soul’. The suggestion is that there are exchanges between the trees and our lungs that chemically contribute to our wellbeing. Perhaps plants are far less passive and far more interactive than we thought. We certainly can’t ‘do without them’ or afford to treat them as ‘only plants’.

Rosemary   6258 4724  mtrogerslandcare.blogspot.com   04.02.16.

January 2016, 10 new additions at once

Today, Sunday 3^rd January, I posted some information notices on each of the seats beside the gravel track. [These are now uploaded below, following a note about the benefits Mt Rogers’ carers gain by being on Mt Rogers.]

The notices on the seats might have been more use 1-2 weeks ago as Mt Rogers has hosted many newcomers over this holiday period.  The idea is that each piece may help passers-by pause, observe and ponder the scenes and sights we see every time we’re there.

As our community is so observant, curious and alert to changes each time we walk and exercise there much of what I’ve drawn together will be common knowledge to you….but let’s hope more people are encouraged to learn and benefit from Mt Rogers’ magic this year.

Several times a week we may find we need willpower to make those first steps on the ascending path to Mt Rogers or to the garage to have the car help us up the challenging  ascent. Some of us also have pleading or demanding brown eyes to spur us on. I think, universally, we daily appreciate the benefits of exercise for our bodies (aging or fit) and minds already brim-full of contemporary clutter as well as valuable information.

We have the gravel path to walk on. Even the repaired surfaces teach us to be alert, to watch where we tread, to adjust to differences in levels and the changing but mostly gently undulations. Even the still-rough section east from the Notice box has value as extra care is needed to negotiate the protruding rocks, wash-aways, loose stones and silt collections.

Additionally we learn here how the effects of thousands of feet, hundreds of wheels, many paws and moving water loosen soil, grit and gravel to illustrate how erosion happens. In winter we’ve noticed that the mature caterpillars of the Pasture Day Moth dig out tunnels for their pupation in this harsh surface. I once had a 20-something young man denouncing the government for not concreting the path. Obviously he didn’t appreciate that the current path made ‘walking in the bush’ feasible for many and was better than nothing for many others. Dogs have made their own softer-on-paws grassy path in places.

We can ‘go bush’ if we wish (and are suitably shod and equipped) by taking one of the many tracks and paths up towards the ridgeline or the summit. From these dirt tracks our chances of seeing more wildlife and more native plants are enhanced. But we learn about seeds in dogs’ ears and coats, the increased possibilities of snake encounters in the warmer months and the chances that our canines might dash off after the irresistible challenge of the kangaroo mob’s presence.

The Frogmouths nesting in their big tree tolerated our learning about them, birds’ behaviour and how to be observant with or without binoculars and cameras. Mt Rogers folk know that each species of bird has its own suite of calls. We know a fair bit about the relationships between bird species and which vegetation level is their preferred feeding zone.  Alarm calls cause us to look skywards in case there’s a raptor on the prowl or looking out for prey. There are places to check for Butcherbirds, Kookaburras, Sparrows, Magpie and Currawong nests. Superb Parrots have put us on the ACT’s ornithological map again this year as they seek out gardens’ unharvested fruit. [Two ornithologists, Geoffrey Dabb including photo, and Dennis, posted these two notes: 

Paid a quick visit this morning. Apart from being the ACT’s dog-walking capital, the periphery of Mount Rogers is well equipped with fruit trees, which at 3 points were getting the attention of the parrots. As the cherry growers of Young know well, this species likes a bit of fruit, probably a source of moisture in dry weather too.  Like lorikeets, they seem to express the juice between tongue and bill.

&
During our regular circumnavigation of Mt Rogers this morning I saw dozens of superb parrots including many youngsters in the green space to the south of the Wickens Place carpark and to the east of the well-named Bird Place in Flynn. Lots of short flights accompanied by calling mostly in what I assume to be family parties of three individuals. Worth a look if you are in the area, particularly in the mornings. ]

Honeyeaters chatter amongst successive flowerings of eucalypt species and we’ve noticed the infiltration of Rainbow Lorikeets. Channel-Billed Cuckoos have been sighted & heard this summer in Fraser. They’re fruit-eaters also but will cuckold Magpies and Currawongs…maybe they need to arrive earlier than November for this in coming years.

In conversation today we touched on the value of carrying a mobile phone. We’re able to alert ACTEW to water or possible electricity problems. Mobiles can help when people tumble & calling their emergency contacts is needed. The Pet Ambulance operating from near Kippax  6254 1866 or 0448 789 039 could mean a dog reaches an anti-venom injection at a vet’s in time. And there’s Access Canberra  13 22 81 for reporting incidents, fallen branches & dumping for example. Most people carry drinking water these days so that’s an improvement.

Because so many of us have learned about dogs’ behaviour and appreciate dogs’ need for natural exercise and socialising we’ve increasingly valued the companionship of pets, even when we’re not owners ourselves. We know that at times, even with training, dogs’ responses to instinct can be stronger than owners’ control. Some people are upset by uncleared dog-poo. Let’s hope the provision of bins for poo bags will clean up the place. We need to ask for this again, and for signs that inform newcomers of Mt Rogers’ Dogs off Leash status so they can choose whether or not to walk here. Please email Helen.GombarMillyn@act.gov.au asking for bins & dog status signs.

Evidence of the development of our community couldn’t have been stronger as we submitted against Mt Rogers losing its Dogs off Leash status. This is our example of communities coming together to protect what they love and their freedoms. The Land’s stewards protect what they value and what society needs for survival. Don’t we need to also put ourselves in others’ shoes and support those whose farms, communities and nature reserves are being threatened by coal expansion and CSG fracking? There’s a photo posted reading NO SANE CIVILISATION POISONS THEIR OWN WATER SUPPLY: STOP FRACKING NOW.

As we walk round Mt Rogers the open space and fresh air give us time to be ourselves. We make time for letting our thoughts wander. Perhaps our minds can wander away from pressing issues at home or in our networks. Perhaps we can harmlessly prioritise ourselves for a while, delete a few unnecessary files in our brains or allow stimuli from what’s around us to take us towards new thoughts, solutions or back amongst refreshing memories.

There are chances to touch base with fellow walkers from time to time or as part of regular arrangements. Surely in our lives we need both situations: time to ourselves and time shared with others through conversations, camaraderie, by Skype or phone-calls. Mt Rogers conversations have taught many of us that we share the reserve’s space and similar ideas on a range of topics and issues. Our patch is a treasure in the rush of contemporary life. If only we could ensure that quantifying Mt Rogers’ value appears in budget balance sheets ensuring there are sufficient funds for caring for the region’s habitats.

Whilst we slow down to take in Mt Roger’s qualities and nature we learn so much. Not all eucalypts are the same. They and wattles alternate their flowering times to provide nectar and other pollinating inducements throughout the year. There’s diversity in barks’ colours, textures and lichen coverings for artists and photographers to capture. In the photo here, as Frances and Margaret stride past, I tried a shot of these markings on a small eucalypt. Extraordinary excretions from insects to create their 'homes'...made delicate patterns, discovered by chance.

We slow down to absorb seasonal changes and the weather’s increasing variations. Clouds are an endless fascination especially when the various layers and wind-speeds are taken into consideration. Can we imagine shapes in the clouds as we may have done as children? De-stressing is good for us all and Mt Rogers offers this, beyond holiday periods, every time and in all weathers.

As part of the information notices on the seats I have included this photo.

 It shows what Mt Rogers was like in the seventies as Flynn houses were being built. The power poles were already in place as were the reservoirs. Decades of grazing had taken out any shrubs or trees that might have regenerated or germinated. Only the majestic old, naturally occurring eucalypts remained. The grass looks much as it does in January 2016: waist high in places and dried beige. Do you know of anyone who might have photos from those early days, from when your house was built and of the views that then existed? Perhaps we could collect more copies and have a yesteryear display at some point before all these photos end up forgotten in cupboards.  Please let me know if you’re interested in helping with your photos. 6259 4724.

If new people move into your street take a Mt Rogers brochure for them after you judge the main unpacking has been done. There’s also the Explore  listing available. It gives options for visits to may other parks and playgrounds and is evidence of your rates being interestingly spent on encouraging outdoor activity.

Rosemary, Convenor, Mt Rogers Landcare Group. 

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Hi Mt Rogers Carers

Here's a few thoughts on how we benefit from Mt Rogers.

There are also some wonderful actual examples of rewards that have nothing to do with money:

Margaret & Chris tackled some Verbascum flower-spikes in their own time as Working-bee volunteers. By chance were able to show them an enormous caterpillar that confirmed similarity to one they'd seen closer to home. Try searching on Chelepteryx collesi or White -Stemmed Gum Moth and add 'images'. I mentioned them on the COG (Ornithologists') email line and had several responses that included fabulous photographs of the caterpillars, cocoons and the emerged moth. Peter came across one of the caterpillars earlier and just before I'd found a dead one in Flynn. Avoid handling the caterpillars as the spines can irritate. A rather beautiful painting of them is online at http://australianmuseum.net.au/image/chelepteryx-collesi-gray/.

In September Frances photographed an early-active Brown snake. Ian has provided a classic shot of a Brown snake working out how to devour a large lizard. Sad about what seems to be an Eastern Dragon lizard...Which reminds me Snakes Alive is on again at the Botanic Gardens from 18th  to 24th January.  There's a modest entry cost by which The ACT Herpetological Association raises money for reptile & frog research. (And there's parking costs where the funds help the Gardens projects & don't go into ACT government coffers).

The Schwarz Place Frogmouths have spend some days recently roosting in the Flynn garden's backyard trees. 

The Superb Parrots have really been a feature of Mt Rogers over the holiday period. The begging calls of the young alert us to their presence. There have been many sightings on the reserve's edges where gardens have unharvested fruit trees.  Several people have remarked on how difficult they are to see even when we 'know' they are in a certain tree. 

Koels are even harden to find even when it's clear where their "Ko...elle" or "Wirra Wirra" calls are coming from. The COG line has had photos of Koel chicks hiding in foliage but being fed by Wattlebird parents.

Kookaburra have been attracting interest and delighting their fans but has anyone seen any Sacred Kingfishers this sprummer season? 

The sporadic rain we've have has enhanced the browns & beiges of trees' bark and shown where the rainwater runs down trunks & into the soil. It takes a while for rain to penetrate through the trees' leaves to the ground. It's probably even longer before rain penetrates the mulches we've dutifully used on our gardens. Coarser mulches let the rainwater through more quickly and allow air to reach the soil. Let's hope most people have watering systems under their mulches so that less water is lost to evaporation. 

There's several tree species around Flynn whose bark is peeling off as a result of the heat and now the rain. The bark can be used as a loose mulch as it's brittle enough to break or crush into smaller pieces to cover open spaces. It's possible that the eucalyptus oils & chemicals inhibit weed growth but some seeds inevitably blow in from the neighbourhood. 

It's almost time for Crepe Myrtles to be flowering and showing why introduced plants appeal to gardeners. I've noticed several privets around the place having a renewed burst of flowering. Their creamy yellow flowers will be followed by navy-blue berries and they'll keep hundreds of Currawongs happy. How many of the berries will end up on Mt Rogers for the Landcare Group to tackle in 2017 and beyond?

It's been great to meet new people whilst walking round the track recently. Thank you for joining the e-list. 

There may be others on our list who wish to 'unsubscribe'. If that's so please just let me know in an email.

Hopefully I'll have some of the moth and snake photos up on the mtrogerslandcare.blogspot.com  later in the month...thanks to Ann.

Enjoy any remaining holiday sharing with family and friends and the relaxing Mt Rogers brings,

And thank you all for your multi-faceted support for Mt Rogers!

Rosemary, 4 January 2016

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The MT ROGERS SEAT notices (8 of them)

AVERY-WOODGER SEAT: Faces WEST

The eucalypts here used to benefit from nitrogen from Wattles growing near them. Many wattles & shrubs in the Fire Abatement Zone have been cleared to protect homes & infrastructure.

The bush to the right represents the species that comprise a healthy Grassy Woodland ecosystem in the ACT region. There’s a mix of ancient eucalypts & their younger offspring. There are wattles, Cassinias & other shrubs which provide insect prey, nectar, seeds and shelter for a range of birds through the seasons.

In spring there are species of wildflowers that bring blushes of colour to the ground & leaf-litter.

These natives are testimony to the extraordinary tenacity of some species & their seed dispersal methods. They’ve survived 4 decades of being surrounded by very different garden habitats. Huge changes in soil structure & fire regimes have altered soil chemistry & consistency.

Birds from the 80+ Mt Rogers’ species list, including Superb Parrots, Common Bronzewing Pigeons, Butcherbirds, Honey-eaters regularly visit this quality, natural woodland remnant.

NOTICE-BOX SEAT:  Faces WEST

Views towards the distant Brindabella Ranges & north towards the Wallaroo area in NSW are especially colourful at sunset. Moving clouds indicate influential changes in the weather.

From the 1980’s Dunlop was built into paddocks. It’s no longer possible to see where Ginninderra Creek turns west towards its confluence with the Murrumbidgee.

From here we are able to appreciate the importance of green spaces for connectivity as birds move to and from the ranges in spring and autumn. Suburban trees play their part for migrating birds. Un-harvested fruit is important for some species in summer.

Boulders provide wattles with a refuge from the mowers.

Behind the seat there’s a huge Apple Box, Eucalyptus bridgesiana. It’s surrounded by the natural untidiness of the bush with grasses, wildflowers, shrubs and small trees all contributing to the nutrient-rich leaf-litter of Mt Rogers’ grassy woodland habitats. Beetles, termites, native cockroaches & moth larvae feed on the litter releasing nutrients regardless of leaves having phenols, tannins, oils & toxic chemicals.

The track beside the gum tree shows the effect of rain- water eroding the thin soils and exposing rocks and roots.

Simple run-offs now divert water into the bush to restore the ground-water. Water rushing downhill reaches & erodes the main gravel path affecting all walkers when rocks are exposed. 

FRASER-SPENCE PLAYGROUND VIEW SEAT: Faces NORTH-EAST

At a 5-6 way junction the Blue-metalled track leads up to utilities near the 704m Mt Rogers summit & right to the reservoirs. 16 cul-de-sacs give access to the reserve from the 4 suburbs & 6 locked gates for the authorities’ vehicles. TAMS personnel are the area’s land managers.

Apart from the gravel track circling the edge of the vegetation there are numerous informal tracks going cross-country from the main track. Kangaroos make their own pathways as they graze or move through the woodland sections.

New kangaroos may be scared up to Mt Rogers via easements through Flynn and Fraser.

To the right & on the mown zone there’s an old eucalypt sprouting new vertical branches after it fell. Behind to the left is an ancient eucalypt that has a maze of branches & hollows. It’s probably been a vital habitat tree for birds & arboreal mammals for more than 300 years.

It’s surrounded by the complexity &, some say, the untidiness of the bush. Wattles, when dead, still provide shelter from predators for small birds. Under their bark, as the whole tree decays, there’s a diversity of borers, larvae & bugs that provide food for insectivorous birds.

Some of the dead trees & fallen timber will become ash in the next Hazard Reduction Burn with the ash returning nutrients to the soil for other plants to utilise. 

ABOVE MAGRATH SEAT: Faces NORTH-EAST

Beyond the Spence houses & into the distance is open grazing-land in NSW. The ridgelines beyond Hall might entice walkers to try the section of the Centennial Trail from Hall to One Tree Hill. The view here doesn’t show how new Gungahlin suburbs continue to encroach on the paddocks that surround some of the headwaters of Ginninderra Creek.

Rain-water draining off Mt Rogers has caused problems under the nearby houses when it reaches them underground rather than flowing overland into the embanked drain as planned in the seventies.

The mown zone shows many that eucalypt saplings have grown from epicormic buds aiming to become trees.

Behind the seat the soils may be thin and dry. Only native grasses can survive. They grow in clumps with leaf-litter and bark from the trees surrounding them. There are at least 15 different species of native grasses on Mt Rogers. In the settlement days native grasses were despised as being useless for European-style agriculture. Pasture improvement species & the use of artificial fertilisers destroyed both the structure and biological diversity of hectares of natural vegetation. Weeping Grass is green through summer & is among those Australian grasses that are now considered to be valuable & drought resistant.

Towards the summit the dried-off introduced grasses & oats show their persistence through generations of seeds stored in the reserve’s soils. 

MOCK-TUDOR HOUSE SEAT: Faces SOUTH-EAST

The easement between Hammett and Carey Places is quite a busy entry to Mt Rogers from Spence. Perhaps the Photinia hedge was planted for privacy. I’d rather have the view of Mt Rogers! Photinia is now a garden escapee & we find its seedlings when removing weeds.

The opposite garden shows how to trim back weed species whilst retaining the plants as a screen or hedge.

Closer to the main track are a few Melaleucas. These tall shrubs were planted in the 1970’s to revegetate what sheep had grazed.

Behind the seat there are several steep tracks leading up to the 704 m summit & its 360-degree views.

Most of the trees along this edge of the hill were also planted or are the offspring of planted eucalypts & wattles, including Cootamundra wattle.

The Mt Rogers Landcare Group checks through the reserve regularly and removes privet, cotoneaster, hawthorn, firethorn plants that grew from berries brought in by birds.

To the distant left, Crace is visible. Being a modern development there is little space for trees or shrubs.

How will the lack of greenery affect the residents?

Will there be varied surfaces for walkers to use?

Will the suburb be hotter & need more electricity to cool houses? Will there be populations of the birds we enjoy? 

BELCONNEN VIEW SEAT: Faces SOUTH

With Black Mountain and Bruce Ridge in the distance this might be a view to celebrate human achievement. The light towers for the AIS are clearly visible as is Belconnen.

As suburban trees have grown taller the line of Ginninderra Creek has become less obvious.

To the left the sprawl of suburbs over grazing land is seen.

The Natural Temperate Grasslands reserve to the north of the Lawson development has the creek as its western boundary. The Ginninderra Peppercress grows amongst the native grasses and wildflowers. It’s a small plant only found on the site of the ex-transmission station. The rare Golden Sun Moth is also found there. Both are species unique to Australia.

The Grasslands are protected but the land taken by the development means less grazing-space for mobs of kangaroos.

Native Grassland habitats are as special in the ACT as rainforests are in the tropics.

The eastern third of Mt Rogers was Hazard Reduction Burnt in August 2011. The area was patch burnt with care being taken not to damage the existing trees. Between the trees are quite extensive swathes of Weeping Grass Microlaena stipoides. This native grass remains green during the summer as it prepares to flower. Mt Rogers’ small mob of kangaroos likes Microlaena.

Downhill from the main path the introduced grasses are mown to reduce fire risk to homes and power-lines. Earthworks 45 years ago were made to prevent water flowing downhill towards houses. 

SNOW GUM SEAT. Faces SOUTH

This corner is named for the planted Snow Gums Eucalyptus pauciflora clustered with Cassinia shrubs behind the seat. 6-7 Snow Gum clusters were planted in Mt Rogers’ 60 hectares, with other eucalypts & native species as the suburbs were built. 

Hidden by the gums & shrubs are several large boulders. There are native wildflowers and grasses here with rank introduced grasses from the grazing days usually hiding a narrow track up to more boulders by the Second Summit.

Mt Rogers’ boulders are of volcanic origin & were once buried deep underground. More can be seen by taking the track to the left & looking out from the 704 m summit.

In the distance, over Bainton Cres, are Mounts Majura & Ainslie. Black Mountain & Mt Painter are backdrops to treed Belconnen suburbs, Belconnen & Lake Ginninderra.

From the seat the scale of the mowing maintenance task can be appreciated. Wide expanses of grass need mowing or slashing between the gravel path & residences to reduce likelihood of fire reaching houses & infrastructure. Over 50 reserves need this mowing protection in the ACT.

Shrubs are not welcome in these Fire Abatement Zones.

The bush one mower-width ‘above’ the gravel path is retained as wildlife habitat. Mt Rogers Landcare Group removes environmental weeds & invasive grasses from amongst the native vegetation.

FLYNN DRAIN BEND: seat faces SOUTH

The 300 year old eucalypt where the Schwarz Pl. entry meets the main gravel path is famous for Tawny Frogmouths having nested in its fork for several springs. Sharing observations & photos of the family transformed the Mt Rogers community into observant naturalists.

The drain channels rainwater from the reserve down towards Ginninderra Creek through & under Flynn. There’s a damp patch in the grass that dogs love to investigate.  Peewees use the mud in spring to make their nests.

The eucalypt species around the playground & others up behind the seat were planted to restore the grazed land in the 70’s. Original eucalypts might be 300-400 years old.

Some wattles were planted & others have regenerated. Wattles benefit other plants by restoring nitrogen to the soil. At all stages of their lives wattles, like shrubs, are essential habitat & sources of food for small birds.

The gully off to the left is often good for bird-watching.

The steep track behind the No Motorbikes notice shows how erosion occurs on people-made straight up-hill tracks. Gravity speeds up water which gouges out soil loosened by many feet. Mt Rogers’ soil is thin & often rocky. Deeper into the reserve areas of vegetation are freer of introduced grasses & weeds. Lilies, other wildflowers, mosses, lichens and fungi can be spectacular, in miniature, in good seasons.

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