KCLG Landcare eNews - Feb & Mar 2019
KCLG incorporates Landcare sub-Groups:
Upper Kiewa, Kergunyah-Gundowring, Kiewa-Bonegilla,Baranduda and Yackandandah.
Hello Landcarers,
And Happy New Year from all of the Kiewa Catchment Landcare Committee and cheers to 2019!
Our Committee for this year is:
President - Michelle Croker, Yackandandah Creek Landcare Group
Vice President - Rowan Wallace, Kergunyah-Gundowring Landcare Group
Secretary - Tony Marsh, Baranduda landcare Group
Treasurer - Peter Presutti, Baranduda Landcare Group
Committee - Michael Bonhote, Upper Kiewa Landcare Group
Committee - John Gibbons, Upper Kiewa Landcare Group
Committee - Pam Davis-Jones, Kiewa-Bonegilla Landcare Group
Committee - Glen Johnson, Baranduda Landcare Group
We are excited to announce that Belinda Pearce is our Project Officer for the Kiewa Valley Biodiversity Response Planning Project. We have promoted this project in the last couple of eNews and have included again in this one. If this project sounds like something you'd like to be involved in and receive incentive funds for revegetation, fencing, weed control and/or rabbit reduction, please get in contact.
If you have something to promote such as an event, planting day or other Landcare related matter, let me know and i'll include it in the next issue.
Megan Hughes
Facilitator - Kiewa Catchment Landcare Groups
Tues, Wed & Thurs
kiewalandcare@gmail.com
|
|
Dung Beetle Day
Last Sunday, the Kergunyah Hall was hot, the fans were whirring, a dung beetle quiz kept our minds focused on these fascinating little creatures! Dung beetle activity builds soil organic matter, improves rain penetration, soil aeration and drum-roll....major reduction in dung laying around on the surface of pasture. This is only mentioning a few things that improve the soil and ultimately farm productivity. There are many species, some native and some introduced, all actively benefiting our agricultural systems, as well the environment at large.
A Dung Beetle monitoring project has now been launched and is being run by the Kergunyah-Gundowring Landcare Group. Ten new dung beetle monitors have signed up and will start this Saturday. The reason for monitoring? To find out what species are being found active in dung and to highlight any gaps in numbers and or species. Any gaps identified through this project may result in the release of these species to specific locations. As you can imagine, the best outcome would be that there is at least one species actively reducing dung loads throughout the year.
A huge congratulations to Belinda Pearce for re-engaging us after 10 years, back into the world of the dung beetle.
To find out further info or get in touch with Belinda about this project:
landcaredungbeetles@gmail.co
|
|
|
Taking care of rare orchids
For those very keen to protect our rare species, as Glen Johnson and Tony Marsh from Baranduda Landcare Group are, it turns a bushwalk into very important environmental work. These two have been locating and guarding the rare Yellow Hyacinth Orchid for three years now as well as keeping an eye on the Dipodium roseum or Pink Hyacinth Orchid.
Then just this month, along with new ranger Hannah Clemens of Beechworth for Chiltern Mt Pilot NP, they set off on a walk to show her the rare Dipodium hamiltonianum (Yellow Hyacinth Orchid). Now safely entered into the State flora and fauna database, a total of 9 plant sightings! Flowering this time of year is a 'bizarre time of the year to be flowering but that's what makes it so interesting (and scarce) I guess', said Tony Marsh.
|
|
Man made habitat for wildlife - hot property
For the last two Mondays, the Murray Valley Bushwalkers Club has helped do monitoring of nestboxes that Baranduda Landcare Group installed over the last few years. Here's an idea of how exciting it was to find Squirrel Gliders using the nestboxes.....just look at those eyes!
|
|
|
Is your land within the marked area in the map above?
Kiewa Catchment Landcare has a new project to deliver in partnership with the NECMA.
We want to make the most of this funding by supporting landholders to deliver the best projects in the target area. Revegetation, fencing, weed control or rabbit reduction will need to be focused on biodiversity (remnant) protection and improvement, so any sites on general farming land with no linkages to remnant vegetation would not be a priority for this funding. Projects need to have the outcome of one or more of the following. If one or more apply to the site you have for a project on your property, we’d love to hear from you.
Will your project have any of the following benefits?
- shade and shelter for livestock in summer and winter
- corridor for wildlife
- erosion control
- removal and control of significant weed infestation
- wind protection for crops, pasture or livestock
- reduction of a rabbit pest species issue on your land.
To express your interest or discuss your potential project, please contact Belinda Pearce, Project Officer on mobile 0400 880 802 or email biodiversity@kiewacatchmentlandcare.org.au
We look forward to hearing from you.
|
|
Contact us
Kiewa Catchment Landcare Groups Inc.
Incorporating Baranduda, Kergunyah-Gundowring, Kiewa-Bonegilla, Upper Kiewa & Yackandandah.
Website & Membership: https://kiewacatchmentlandcare.org.au/
Web & Membership Support: Tony Marsh secretary@kiewacatchmentlandcare.org.au
Facilitator: Megan Hughes Phone: 0407 227 814
Email: kiewalandcare@gmail.com
Post: PO Box 50, Wandiligong, VIC 3744
|
|
|
|
|
|
