Contents

• For Your Diary
• Update from the Greens Bush to Arthurs Seat Biolink
• News and Opportunities
• State of the Environment
• Grants
• Local Information
• Newsletter Feedback
• Image at The End: Straw-necked Ibis

Note that the full events section has been transferred to the Events Page on the MPLN Newsletter. We shall continue with brief notifications of imminent activities here as a reminder.

Dunns Creek Catchment Working Bee and BBQ
**Note next Weekend**
Where: Dunns Creek Estate at 137 McIlroy’s Road
When: Saturday 16 November 0830-1300
RSVP for catering: Roger or Hannah Stuart-Andrews 5989 2011

Main Creek Get to Know Your Neighbours and Bushland Plant Walk
**Note next weekend**
Where: 160nHyslops Rd, Main Ridge
When: Sunday 17 November 1200
RSVP: Amanda Breidahl 0417363425

Sustainable Farming Discussion Group
Damien Adcock will demonstrate the pasture species trials he has established at Lardner Park including plantain, chicory, brassicas, along with a range of clovers, ryes and other species. 
Where: Lardner Park (meet at main office to sign in) 155 Burnt Store Road, Lardner
When: Tuesday 19 Nov  10:30 – 12:30pm - Discussion & farm walks.
More info:  Peter at peter@wpcln.org.au or 0402 650382
 

Weeds at the Early Stage of Invasion (WESI) Project together with Cardinia Shire Council invite you to join them for an environmental weed identification session.
Where: Cardinia Shire Civic Centre (20 Siding Ave, Officer, VIC)
When: Thursday 21st  November 2019 starting at 10am (for morning tea, 10:30am start) through to 3pm.
Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/cardinia-weeds-at-the-early-stage-of-invasion-wesi-id-training-tickets-73217482461 or contact bianca.gold@delwp.vic.gov.au.

Melbourne Water’s “Western Port Catchment Collaboration Forum”
We invite you to the Westernport Catchment Collaboration Forum
When: Thursday 21 November.
Where: TBC.
Register: here.

Mornington Peninsula Shire – Detox your home event
Mornington Peninsula Shire residents are urged to ‘Detox your Home’ from highly toxic household chemicals. Please attend a meeting to drop them off for safe displosal.
When:  Saturday 23 November 0900-1500.
Where: Notified on registration
Register here or 1300 363 744.

Sheepwash Creek Catchment Landcare working bee at Arthurs Seat State Park
Where: Meet 490 Arthurs Seat Rd and walk down.
When: Sunday 24th November. 9:30-11:30
RSVP essential to mdelacoeur@gmail.com 
 
Dunns Creek AGM
Where: “Mont Rouge Winery”, 232 Red Hill Rd, Red Hill.
When: 5 for 5.30pm, Sunday 24 November

Merricks-Coolart Get to Know Your Neighbours
Where: Walk through Buckleys Reserve
When: Sunday 24 November 1000
Second Event: Coolart Reserve Sunday 16 December 1000
Contact: Libby LeRossignol 0418 558 998 or Jackie Everett
0450 918 226

Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation Sausage Sizzle
You are invited on a nature walk, where you can learn about koalas and their habitat and lots of other local animals and plants. Join us to celebrate a successful first year with a sausage sizzle followed by a walk (BYOG).
Where: Meet at the Rotunda at Balnarring Beach (1A Foreshore Rd, Balnarring Beach)
When: Sunday 1 December, 1130.
RSVP: Facebook: Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation Email: MPkoalatreeplanting@outlook.com
Phone: Dirk 0422 522 622 or Mary 0424 664 463

SPIFFA AGM and Presentation on The Practical uses of Atlas of Living Australia Applications
Where: Hickinbotham winery 194 Nepean Hwy, Dromana.
When: Mon 2 December 2019

No RSVP required.

An Introduction to Biodynamics
Where: Mossy Willow Farm, 547 Main Creek Rd, Main Creek
When: 5-6 December
Contact: Charlie Arnott

Now THIS is a Biolink

Fungi4Land
The fungi folks who have provided illuminating talks to Landcare groups in the past are producing a book of general reference on fungi - their roles within ecosystems and farms, and how to include them in management of healthy ecosystems. They are seeking help in the form of pre-purchasing a copy of the book and/or making a donation towards the cost of preparation of illustrations such as the one included here.

The donations of various sizes come with a range of thank-you gifts including great t-shirts and copies of the book. For further information check here.

MPLN Quarterly Meeting
Representatives from each of the 12 MP Landcare groups (the ‘Members Reps’) recently met at Rob Nigro and Janette Cahill’s ‘Roundhouse’ for their quarterly meeting. They covered a great deal of items, including voting not to apply for funding from Ross Trust for our ‘Linking the Mornington Peninsula Landscape’ biolink planning project, providing input into how the MPLN can work with the MP Shire on a number of key actions in the recently released ‘Biodiversity Strategy’, gave feedback on a number of new logo designs created by Design students from Chisholm AND worked on the MPLN’s SWOT analysis as part of the development of our strategic plan. The MPLN warmly thanks NRCL for their ongoing support of our biolink planning project. For more information, go to: https://lmpl.org.au/
- Jacqui Salter, Landcare Facilitator

Landcare Trailer Available for Members
Landcare groups are welcome to borrow the new trailer for working bees, etc - it comes with a wide range of tools for weeding, planting, and other landcare activities. Our new gas burner also is available to tackle annual weeds (in wet conditions only). Please contact Jacqui to book

Update from Sheepwash Creek Catchment Landcare

Chris Brayne (second from right) with members of Sheepwash Creek Catchment Landcare (including from left: Mark Lethlean, Michelle de la Coeur and Peter Scott).

Chris Brayne, our local state member of parliament, and Josh Sinclair recently met with a number of Landcare groups. We walked them down into the Arthurs State Park to show him the amazing work the Landcare group have done over six years. 
 
Arthurs Seat State Park where Sheepwash Creek Catchment Landcare have undertaken weed removal over many years (left-hand side of photo) and land owned by Hillview Quarry showing Pittosporum infestation (right-hand side of photo).

We stopped on the west side of 115 Boundary Rd property where Hillview and the Ross Trust plan to remove vegetation to dig a new quarry. This section has not been looked after and is full of pittosporum and pine trees. See the panorama photo below and you'll see the left of the photo is where Landcare have worked and the right is 115 Boundary Rd. Apart from the weeds you'd hardly know it was private property and think it was state park.
 
He asked us what our main concern was and we told him that the proposed quarry is part of our Landcare area and the removal of 93 acres of bushland completely severing our biolink was our main concern. We pointed out where stage one of the quarry would be.

- Michelle de la Coeur, Secretary of Sheepwash Creek Catchment Landcare.

Have your say on Long Term Water Resources Strategy for Victoria.
DELWP is undertaking a study and consultation on Long Term Water Resources Assessment (LTWRA) for Southern Victoria and draft Overview Report and other documents available for consultation here.

Consultation closes on 30th November and it is important to have your say as the report identifies that there has been a long term decline in water availability with detrimental impacts on Victoria's rivers and water systems. This decline in environmental water reinforces adverse impacts on biodiversity in rivers and streams and surrounding areas.

The LTWRA will lead to the development of sustainable water strategies for the Central Region (including Geelong and Melbourne) and Gippsland in the next 12 to 18 months. You also can contribute to these activities here.

A new Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Guide
Introducing the new Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Guide (October 2019) to assist Landcare and environmental volunteer groups and networks that care for landscapes in Victoria, to better understand the state's Aboriginal cultural heritage management process.
 
The guide steps out the process for meeting the requirements of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 and helps determine whether a Cultural Heritage Permit is required. The guide also provides the key Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Contacts by region and Registered Aboriginal Parties (RAPs).
 
View or download the guide at the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Guide.

Help Define the National Skills Standards for Conservation and Land Management
Conservation and land management is a large and complex sector comprised of a number of sub-sectors, including lands, parks and wildlife; natural area restoration; conservation earthworks; and pest management. For this reason, the skills and knowledge required to work within conservation and land management are broad.
 
National skills standards across these areas are being reviewed and developed as part of an industry-led project.
 
Industry experts are being consulted to revise qualifications and skills standards, so that they reflect the geographically and culturally diverse context of this work. Drafts will be available for broad feedback in November.

If you work in conservation and land management, your input is important to ensure the diversity of this work is reflected in national skills standards.

Visit skillsimpact.com.au to:

The project is being managed by Skills Impact and overseen by the Amenity Horticulture, Landscaping, Conservation & Land Management Industry Reference Committee.

Further Information: Contact the project manager William Henderson also on 03 9321 3526.

Mornington Peninsula Volunteer Network
The purpose of the Mornington Peninsula Volunteer Network (MPVN) is to build and maintain a strong community network that enhances the capacity of volunteer organisations operating on the Mornington Peninsula to successfully manage their programs.
 
The network takes part in needs based professional development, mentoring, a regular newsletter and news-bites  as well as networking opportunities with others who manage volunteers.
 
You can register to join the network here.

Volunteer Information Hubs
The Shire in partnership with Mornington Community Information and Support Centre and Western Port Community Support also have established two Volunteer Information Hubs where members of the community can drop in or ring to make an appointment to talk about volunteering in the community. Community organisations can also make contact with the centres to let them know of any volunteer positions they have or to drop off some brochures. The details for each hub is below-

Landcare Magazine online
The Spring 2019 issue (#76) of the Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management magazine, which is a feature of the 2019 Victorian Landcare Awards, is now available online.

Snap, Send, Solve for Wildlife
Did you know that Wildlife Victoria receive a report for injured wildlife every six minutes?

To help with the increasing number of injured animals, Snap Send Solve is proud to have partnered with Wildlife Victoria to give all Victorians an easy and efficient way to report injured wildlife.

If you see injured wildlife, simply start a report with Snap Send Solve and select ‘Wildlife - Native Injured’ to send the report to Wildlife Victoria.

Reports are sent in real time, ensuring native wildlife receive urgent care when needed. Direct integration with Wildlife Victoria systems also reduces administration time and costs, and gives Wildlife Victoria the ability to continue to respond to the increasing demand.

For more information about their partnership with Wildlife Victoria click here. 

The next time you wince as a cockie comes screeching by, its raucous cry reverberating through your brain, spare a though for the females of the Amazonian white bellbird (Procnias albus). Amorous males have been recorded at 125 dB when she is around. That is around the same as operating a pile-driver without earmuffs (hear an example).
 
Our crafty male bellbird calls away from the female until she approaches closely. He then swivels around and lets loose right at her. But she is wise to him and has rapidly retreated around four metres as he turns. Since the volume of sound drops off with the square of distance, this means a 24 decibel drop to only around 113 dB, or the level at which we would experience considerable pain.

The reasons for this ear-shattering ability are not clear and it may even be that the female is attracted by the noise but then heads off for some quieter dalliance.
 
Despite the somewhat inaccurate articles that appeared on the discovery of the bellbird’s aural qualities, it is not even close the loudest animal, nor even the loudest bird. The latter honour goes to the Moluccan cockatoo (Cacatua moluccensis) at 129 dB, although the bellbird does seem to hold the record for amorous calls. The loudest animals of all are the howler monkeys (Alouatta sp) at a head-shattering 140 dB - the equivalent of standing a few meters from a 747 engine as it powers up for take-off.
 
Those howler monkeys have to make tradeoffs. Those with the loudest calls develop that ability at the cost of smaller testes – apparently the loud ones bet on the competitors being scared away so they can get by with lower quality sperm. This choice led to one of the all-time great headlines in New Scientist – “Howler monkeys have to choose between big balls and big bawls”.

And we all know only too well that these scientific results never tell the whole story. That little wattle bird chuckalucking outside our bedroom window at 4 am is obviously much louder!

- Article by Greg Holland. Image from Wikipedia.
 

Servicing and Maintenance of Nest Boxes

Now that you know how to attach and install nest boxes, from the last newsletter, let's look at how to keep them there. A nest box is NOT an item to install and forget. Without servicing and maintenance nest boxes can fall from trees, fall apart, fill up with rotten eggs, dead chicks, or bees and cease to be a safe and secure haven for wildlife. All of these are totally preventable.

First, some important  safety advice: Always tie the top of the ladder to the tree; Have someone hold the base of the ladder; Beware of animals rushing out of a nest box and climbing your face; Wear face and eye protection; Be Careful!

Annual inspection and service items:

• Use an Insecticidal Surface Spray on the ceiling and around the entrance hole in August/September to prevent bees. A feral bee swarm can severely disrupt and may even kill the occupants.
• Spray lubricant on the hinge. Use White Lithium Grease, Lanolin, Inox© or cooking oil to lubricate and prevent rust.
• Replace wood shavings if needed - dry or green gum leaves are a good alternative.
• Check attachment cable. Lift and reseat the box and cable. Check for structural and attachment integrity.

Feral Bees commonly occupy "forgotten" nest boxes, displacing wildlife. Use a surface spray that protects for 6 months or more and that will not harm furred or feathered animals. "Avian Insect Liquidator" © is a surface spray for cage birds and controls lice and mites. It is sprayed onto the birds, the nests, the cage and the baby birds without any harmful effects. The one I use is from Aldi called "Atlas Crawling Insect Spray"©. It protects up to 9 months and has hardly any odour. Sugar Gliders and Possums stay in the box when it is sprayed.
Note that this does not apply in NSW and other northern states, where the bees may be the native stingless bees and should be encouraged rather than discouraged.

Lubricating Hinges: Even stainless steel hinges can stiffen with corrosion and the small short screws easily pull out if it is forced. Spraying before opening is best. The recommended lubricant spray is "White Lithium Grease" ©. It persists as a white grease layer for years! I found that Lanolin grease or spray was food for sugar gliders, possums, beetles and microbes. It also persists in the closed hinge where it may become mouldy, smelly and change colour. Lithium Grease is better. Inox© also works well and persists for several months. Cooking oil can be used if you have nothing else and it works well as a pre-opening spray.

However, I no longer use hinges. The No-Hinge-Lid method has a tight fitting plywood plug with 2 locking screws, and the Vertical Hollow Design has an entrance gap and an over sized pergola style roof. These are my own designs that avoid the use of hinges and their short weak screws.

Cleaning Nests: Birds crap in nest boxes and are messy temporary tenants. Possums and gliders, however, are good long term tenants and keep a clean nest box. Wood-duck breeding season is from July to November and four of five pairs may use the same box with a new pair moving in straight after the ducklings have left. This means that there is a lot of duck poo and possibly a few unhatched rotten eggs. I service all of my boxes in September and remove any empty bird nests and any common myna nests. If the wood shavings look clean, dry and loose then they are OK. However, if the wood shavings are dirty, clumped, discoloured or low then they are replaced with new wood shavings. Green gum leaf nests are a nice and clean alternative. The bases of my nest boxes are treated with deck oil and after removing lots of duck poo, myna nests and ant nests I give the base another coat of deck oil.

A family of Wood Ducks from a box serviced in September.

Ants may move in to a nest box and fill it with eggs, larvae, formic acid and lots of ants. Wildlife will not use an ant box. They can be removed by leaving the lid open for a couple of weeks then removing the nest and replacing the wood shavings. You can also use an insecticidal surface spray in to the box leave it closed for half an hour and then clean it out.

Common mynas are a disaster in nest boxes. They displace wildlife, build nests that cover current-occupant eggs and baby birds. They also pack nest boxes with huge amounts of rubbish and nest material. I generally control them in boxes with 4-cm exclusion holes that keep them out and with 10-cm and greater holes that let Brushies in to keep mynas out. Before I clean out myna nests I spray them with surface spray to remove mites and after 10 or more minutes remove all the nest material. An interesting myna prevention method that I have worked out is to place a hanging basket on a loop of rope in a tree near a box that you are protecting from mynas. The loop of rope is used to raise and lower the basket. Fill it with fruit and it attracts possums which displace the mynas. It also fun to watch the visitors, possums followed by sugar gliders at night and during the day lorikeets.

The angle of the hang cable or chain is determined by the difference between the tree circumference and the length of the cable. Tree growth will decrease this angle and lift the nest box, which may catch and place the cable under tension. A very important service item is to lift the box and cable and let them reseat. This removes tension in the cable and prevents tree damage. Eucalyptus, black wattles, and young trees require lifting and reseating every year. Some old, large trees may require lifting and reseating every few years.

Enable Exit: I have seen nest boxes that collect bones, as birds become trapped by the smooth sides of a nest box. I have seen lots of articles stating that they heard birds scratching and then after a few years the boxes are removed because they have collected bones. A forward lean and a full length ladder inside provides them with a safe means of exit. When birds are using a safe nest box you will see them coming and going with quick ins and outs.

A Nest Box is NOT an item to install and forget.

- Article and Images by Jim Greenwood

This highly-invasive tussock grass does not yet have a presence on the Peninsula. However it is a state prohibited weed in South Australia due to its invasiveness and unpalatability to stock - and it is now in the process of becoming established in Victoria. Since the best form of control is to eradicate early, please keep an eye out for potential infestations.

Species name: Amelichloa caudata, Family: Poaceae.

Origin: Chile, Uruguay and Argentina.

Weed Status: Early stages of invasion, with small foothold in Victoria. Originally a denizen of dry climates, it has recently been found in riparian and other zones.

Growth Habit: A tussock grass to 0.8 m that can form thick infestations to the detriment of other grass species.

Reproduction: By two types of seed: one set at the top of the plant have long, spear-like panicles that readily attach to clothing, animal fur, etc; the other is hidden well within the plant and provides a means of rapid re-establishment when the plant dies. Both have very long lifetimes in the soil.

Dispersal: Dispersed by air, and animals.

Toxicity: Not toxic to humans, but stock do not like it and will eat down adjacent pasture in preference.

Control Methods: Because of the two types of seeds, slashing and burning is not effective, so some form of chemical removal, such as glyphosate is needed. If discovered, talk to an expert for both ID confirmation and a control plan.

Similar Plants: Very similar to the native spear grasses of the Austrostipa genus. Also similar to the declared Weed of National Significance, Chilean needle grass (Nassella neesiana)

Further reading: Broad-kernel espartillo.

- Article by Greg Holland, image and distribution from Atlas of Living Australia.

Do you any questions or complaints? How about a story to tell? Is there a weed, plant, fungus, slime mould, or animal that you want to know about? Have you identified a new, rare, or interesting species? Or a good book? How about a great photo?

Please contact Greg Holland for it to be featured in the newsletter.

Jacqui Salter: Landcare Facilitator, MPLN ph: 0408 213 079
Greg Holland: Newsletter Editor.
David Maddocks: President of MPLN ph: 0429 990 518
Michele Sabto: Project Coordinator for ‘Linking the Mornington Peninsula Landscape’ project.
Chantal Kelly: Project Coordinator for ‘Greens Bush to Arthurs Seat Biolink’ Project.
Sarah Saxton: MP Shire Agribusiness & Food Industry Officer.
Lizzie Younger: Melbourne Water River Health Officer.

The wet spring has been a magnet for birds and our paddocks have benefited from ever greater flocks of large, regal birds with their necklaces of lacy feathers and iridescent blue-green backs glinting in the sunlight.
 
Straw-necked ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis) are widespread through the wetter parts of Victoria, visiting anywhere there is an irrigated paddock or wetland. They are well known on the Peninsula, but recently large flocks have filled the sky as they commute from their overnight roost to a range of feeding grounds. Some break off and spiral down to try out a paddock, others wander on by, some high some low - all on the lookout for likely feeding sites.
 
At Carranya, a few wander around the wetland feasting on frogs and tadpoles, but the majority head for the lush green paddocks. There they live up to their title as the farmer’s best friend by diligently probe the soft ground every 10-20 cm looking for larvae and adult grasshoppers, crickets and locusts.
 
The probing provides a natural aeration and loosening of the compacted soil. Each bird also typically consumes up to 250 insects a day. On a good day we have had up to 60 ibises consume well over 10,000 insects. A straw-necked ibis rookery in Victoria consumed an estimated 500 tonnes of insects each day (Butz 1985) and this has been estimated as worth $675,000 per year in 1999 dollars for the surrounding farmland (Glanznig 1999).
 
They always are welcome at our place.
 
-     Article and images by Greg Holland
References:
Butz, M., 1985: Trees and other wildlife in Commonwealth of Australia (1985) Think trees - Grow trees.  AGPS Canberra.
Glanznig, A., 1999: Native Vegetation and Farm Productivity: the biodiversity connection, Australian Landcare pp52-53.