Bush Matters No 1/2004 (PDF - 1.3MB)

1Bush Matters - Winter 2004

No 1/2004

N e w s l e t t e r o f t h e C o n s e r v a t i o n P a r t n e r s P r o g r a m I S S N 1 4 4 6 - 8 4 4 1N a t i o n a l P a r k s & W i l d l i f e S e r v i c e - p a r t o f t h eD e p a r t m e n t o f E n v i r o n m e n t a n d C o n s e r v a t i o n ( N S W )

CONTENTSPhotos .......................1

From the DirectorGeneral........................2

Talking about land tax;Fire Planning.............2

Landholder gatherings onthe Central Coast and theFar South Coast............3

Conservation on tthe FarSouth Coast, Taralea.....4

How do we get the time? ................5

Frogs of WesternNSW............................ 6

Oolambeyan NationalPark - a differentmanagementstyle...........................8

Spotlighting - anenlightening experience

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Be Wise - Look out forOwls ........................10

Owls in NSW..............11

Initial confusion; Rubbishfor reptiles................12

Coolatai Grass ...........13

Bush Friendly Gardening.14

New Books .....................15

What’s on ...................16

inside......

C o n s e r v a t i o nPartners’ gatheringat BourndaNational Park onthe Far SouthCoast.March 2004

Above: Landholders learnabout fire planning.

Right: Mum possumshowed alot of interest inthe cinnamon bun atmorning tea.

Bega Dry GrassForest, ane n d a n g e r e de c o l o g i c a lc o m m u n i t yfound near Begaon the Far SouthCoast.

Photo: J.Miles

2 Bush Matters - Winter 2004

Since the last Bush Matters, Dr TonyFleming has been appointed as theDeputy Director General, Parks andWildlife Division within the newstructure of the Department ofEnvironment and Conservation. Thenew Parks and Wildlife Division willcontain five Branches which broadly

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Talking about land tax...

... from the Director General

On the 6 April 2004, the NSWTreasurer, Mr Michael Egan,announced a mini-budget forNSW. One of the items ofinterest to readers of BushMatters relates to changes toLand Tax.

The threshold for payment ofLand Tax will change but therewill be no change to the currenteligibility rules for exemptionsfrom Land Tax.

In the past you may not havebeen concerned about Land Taxbecause the threshold meantthat many people with additionalproperties to their principal placeof residence did not have to payLand Tax. In the financial year2003-4 for example if yourproperty was valued at less than$317 000 you did not have to payLand Tax. This threshold hasbeen removed for 2004-5.

If you think that you may nowbe eligible to pay Land Tax onland protected by a VCA youmay be exempt if the primarypurpose for your agreement isto maintain threatened species,populations or ecologicalcommunities.

If you think that you meet thecriteria for an exemption youcan contact Louise Brodie on9585 6671 to requestdocumentation from us that canbe provided for your submissionto the Office of State Revenue.

If you need further advice onLand Tax issues more generallycontact the Office of StateRevenue directlyon 1300 139 816, or visit theirwebsite athttp://www.osr.nsw.gov.auor seek advice from youraccountant.

Linda Bell,Landscape ConservationPartnerships Coordinator

Fire PlanningAt the landholder gathering on the farsouth coast, John Cullen and Greg Pottsfrom the Rural Fire Service talked aboutfire planning.

Most important is the need to communicatewith your local Rural Fire Service. Gettinginvolved and joining your local RFS wouldbe even better. Training session will helpyou to understand how fire behaves and howyou can best minimise damage to yourproperty with good planning and preparation.

Good communication is important so thatthe local RFS know the sort of fire planningthat you have carried out, and where theycan best access your property and anyrelevant equipment that is needed.

Their message regarding planning for firestressed the need to identify the assets onyour property which you want to protectfrom fire – this includes buildings andequipment. For areas being managed forconservation, assets also include wildlifehabitat and threatened plants and animals.

constitute the previous four NPWSRegional Directorates and the newReserves and Wildlife ConservationBranch. The Conservation PartnersProgram will continue to run withinthis Branch. Tony was previously theDirector of the NPWS SouthernDirectorate and so has a knowledgeand background in key programs runby NPWS including theConservation Partners Program.

I am pleased to see that this editionfeatures the landholder Gatheringsheld on the Far South Coast andCentral Coast. Landholders withVoluntary Conservation Agreements,Wildlife Refuges and Land forWildlife properties in these regionshad the opportunity to meet each

other as well as local NPWS staffand local government, Rural FireService and community groupmembers to share experiences andknowledge. One of the keyobjectives of the ConservationPartners Program is to provideopportunities for landholders to obtainsupport and advice. We are keen tohear from landholders as to how bestwe can support their efforts tomanage their land, but I understandthat the opportunity to network withother landholders was enjoyed by allwho attended the gatherings.

LISA CORBYNDirector GeneralDepartment of Environment andConservation


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Di Warman shows participants the bushlandrestoration in the school grounds at KincumberSchool, near Gosford .

...on the Central CoastPretty Beach and Kincumber PublicSchools hosted a gathering for VCA,Wildlife Refuge and Land for Wildlifelandholders on Saturday 1st May.These two schools have joined theLand for Wildlife Program. Ourpartners travelled from around theCentral Coast and the Hunter Valleyon a superb autumn day to meetfellow landholders, Council, NPWS(now part of the Department ofEnvironment and Conservation -DEC) and Central Coast CommunityEnvironment Network (CCCEN)staff, to share information andexperiences.

The day started at Pretty BeachPublic School where Catherine Pricefrom DEC spoke about the BushStone Curlew, a threatened bird thatis found along the coastline and baysof the Central Coast. Catherine iskeen to hear of any birds that maybe seen or heard in the area and itwas useful to be reminded of theircall or hear it for the first time.Rachel Lonie from Gosford Councilspoke about the Gosford Council’sfox baiting program and the program

Conservation Partners GatheringsNetworking is an easy way to find out what other people are doing, especially if thosepeople all have something in common. Gatherings held earlier this year provided theideal opportunity for landholders to network with each other and officers from DEC andother organisations, both on the Central Coast and the Far South Coast.

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of events for landholders tobecome involved. This wasfollowed by a walk with DougBeckers (from the localGosford Parks & Wildlifeoffice) in the bushland at theback of the school. Thisbushland backs onto BouddiNational Park and we learntabout monitoring of regrowthfollowing fire hazardreduction burns that haverecently been carried out.Doug also explained a range ofmonitoring techniques that can beundertaken on your property and thevalue of accurate record keeping. KateConsterdine and Steve Honeywoodtold us about the efforts andachievements of the school’s bushcaregroup and the importance ofmaintaining the School’s creek whichis home to the Red Crowned Toadlet.

John Asquith (CCCEN) spoke aboutthe unique natural environment on theCentral Coast. When sellingproperties, those with bushland andwildlife habitat should be promotedfor these qualities rather than forpotential development or horse

grazing. The CCCEN is workingwith the Real Estate Institute on thisapproach. David Green advised thegroup that DIPNR (Central CoastRegion) had $90,000 available for‘on-ground works’ associated withlandholder commitments to long termproperty agreements and Di Warmanand Doug Beckers helped us discoverthe recovery and habitat potential ofthe bushland at Kincumber PublicSchool.

Thanks to all who helped organiseand host the day and to our partnersfor coming along and sharingexperiences.Sally Ash, Conservation PartnersCoordinator

Bournda National Park was thevenue for the Conservation PartnersProgram on the Far South Coast. Inthis region there are 56 landholderswith agreements and another 10 withWildlife Refuges. The ‘gathering’brought together a number of theseand people from Parks & Wildlife,both locally and from Sydney, andrepresentatives from the RFS, tomeet and discuss issues of mutualinterest, including the management ofthe bushland and habitats on theirproperties.

Marcus Sandford from theMerimbula NPWS Regional Officewas our M.C. for the day, ablyassisted by Parks & Wildlife Rangerswho organised the eats and showedtalent at the barbeque. Fire was a ‘hottopic’, being of interest to everyoneand John Cullen and Greg Potts fromthe Rural Fire Service were there totalk to the group. Peter Windle fromthe Merimbula Parks & Wildlifeoffice talked about fire and its role inthe maintenance of flora and faunahabitats.

.....on the Far South CoastLocal ecologist Jacky Miles told usabout the endangered ecologcalcommunities in the area.

The group discussed a range of othertopics relevant to conservation onprivate land such as local successesin managing weeds and pests as wellas the protection of endangeredplants.

Thanks to everyone for their input andenthusiasm.

Louise Brodie


‘Taralea’-landholders managing an endangered ecological community. Ian and Aimee Curtis talkabout their experience.On purchasing land which was partof the Kameruka Estate near Bega,Ian and Aimee Curtis did not expectto end up managing vegetation whichis an endangered ecologicalcommunity.

Kameruka estate isknown for its longassociation withcheese production.The homestead atKameruka wasestablished by theWalker Brotherswho took over thethen 200000-acrecattle run in 1844.They were fromScotland and set upthe estate in thestyle of the landedgentry in Britain.

The land changed hands a couple oftimes and in 1862 was sold toFrederick Tooth who, in turn, sold itto his nephew Robert Tooth in 1864,who began to develop the largely self-contained community, based on theEnglish agricultural estate system.

Over the years the original landholding has been broken up and partssold, and it was in 1996, that theCurtis’s were able to purchase 10hectares.

The Curtis’s became involved inLandcare projects on their land andin the local area. They were luckyenough to be visited by local botanist,Jackie Miles sho identified that thevegetation was an endangeredecological community – the CandeloDry Grass Forest.

Candelo Dry Grass Forest is foundin the Bega and Towamba Valleys inSouth East NSW, on fertile soils inrain-shadow areas. Being in fertile

valleys, these areas were cleared foragriculture. It is thought that only10% of this vegetation remains withmost of this on private land. Theremaining vegetation patches are

subject to further clearing, grazingand weed invasion. Preferentialgrazing may also have changed thecomposition of the understorey andinappropriate fire regimes may alsobe a threat. It differs from othercommunities in the South EastForests with the presence of yellowbox (Eucalyptus melliodora), snowgum (E. pauciflora) and grass andherb species more usually found onthe tablelands.

Weed invasion byE r a g r o s t i scurvula (lovegrass) in theregion furtherthreatens thiscommunity.

To help ensurethe long-termsurvival of thisvegetation, theCurtis’s decided

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to have a conservation agreementover 3.8 hectares of their propertyput in place at the end of 2002.

Jackie considers their remnant to bean exceptionally intact example ofthis community. Previous use of theland involved only light or intermittentgrazing, and this has allowed thevegetation to be dominated by nativegrasses and a good diversity of nativeherbs.

Aimee and Ian have been monitoringthe health of the remnant and aremanaging threats to ensure theintegrity of the area is maintained.

African lovegrass poses a threat, butis able to be controlled by regularremoval or spraying. An eye is keptout for serrated tussock which occursnearby, so that control could beundertaken to prevent subsequentinvasion. Some native grasses on thesite have a similar appearance soidentification needs to be accurate.Other weeds such as blackberry areseen occasionally and are controlled.

Planning for the use of fire, thinningof tree regeneration and the use ofgrazing are all being considered astools so ensure the area maintains thediversity of groundlayer species.

Candelo Dry Grass Forest on Taralea


The four endangered ecologicalcommunities on the far south coastregion, are mainly within Bega ValleyShire.

How much is left?

• Candelo Dry Grass Forest• Bega Dry Grass ForestAround 90% of both of these estimatedoriginal communities has been clearedfor agriculture, and virtually all of theremaining fragmented area occurs onprivate land or small parcels of publicland such as roadsides, cemeteries andTravelling Stock Reserves.

Endangered ecological communities on the Far South Coast

We entered into a conservationagreement over part of our property‘Grevillea Estate’ fifteen years ago.The area under the agreement has hadstock excluded for over twenty years.

Our conservation area, unlike most ofthe Bega valley, is not granitic. It iscovered with rocky immature soils ofvolcanic origin being located on a smallflow of dolerite.

This made it difficult to clear and workcommercially for farming. It could notbe cultivated so the original vegetationis still largely intact. It is unusual to findin the centre of cleared pasture a patchof Eucalyptus dives forest with anunderstorey of correa, persoonia,bursaria, pterostylis and the like.

Farming and conservationAt a recent gathering of landholderswith VCAs on their properties, one factwas obvious. Mainstream dairyfarmers were notable by their absencefrom the group of landholders withagreements. The reason is not that theyare disinterested. The reason is thesame one that has left so many tasksthat we should wish to have carriedout on our VCA, undone. Commercialfarmers generally are subject tocommercial pressures which dictatethat they focus almost exclusively ontheir farming activities.

The net result of this is that apart fromexcluding livestock, our managementof the conservation area involved doingvirtually nothing over the twenty yearperiod.

There are lessons to be learnt fromthe bushland in our conservation area,and how it has responded to this lackof attention.

First the plusses of doing littlein the conservation area apart fromexcluding stock:• Wherever there was a gap in the

canopy, young Angophoras andEucalypts have filled the gap.

• The understorey has thickened andnow in places it is impenetrable.

• Amazingly , although only three kmsfrom the town, the area now has aconsiderable population ofmammals:- possums, bandicoots,wallabies and wombats.

How do we get the time? - Jim Collins who has a conservation agreementon part of his property at Bega, talks about the challenges of managing this land.

• Apart from diamond firetail finches,bird species have survived.

• As the forest thickened, blackberriesare being suppressed

• A small cleared section is beingcolonised by Eucalyptus sp.,Bursaria spinosa etc.

Next the minuses which are theproblems which we have due to littleattention to work which was neededin the conservation area.• Large and small leafed privets have

invaded the forest area, particularlyin the moist gullies.

• There are a number of love grass plantsscattered throughout the area.

• There are three houses on the easternside of the area. Without fire fortwenty years, the fuel levels are veryhigh on a steep western slope belowthe houses.

• A small rabbit population seems tobe immortal.

How do we get the time?Having recently retired, I look forwardto finally being able to spare the timeto attack some or all of the aboveproblems.

I also intend to look at the possibilityof re-introducing species I knowexisted in the are originally eg Hakeasericea.

• Brogo Wet Vine ForestAround half of the estimated originalextent of Brogo Wet Vine Forest hasbeen cleared for agriculture withall of the remaining stands onprivate land.

• Dry rainforest of the southeast forests

The total area of the communityis believed to be less than 100ha, with most restricted to smallpatches of less than 2 ha.

Jackie Miles, Ecologist

Below: Brogo wet vine forest anddry rainforest. Photo: J.Miles


Frogs of Western NSWidentifying them and helping frogs survive.

Melanie Bannerman shows off the new ‘Frogs of Western NSW’poster. Photo: DEC

Australia is home to over 200different species of frogs, many ofwhich occur in coastal and inlandNew South Wales. Most people thinkthat frogs are only found in wetenvironments such as wetlands,creeks, rivers, dams, ponds andswamps. However, a number of frogspecies are also found in arid andsemi-arid environments that may notcontain water for quite a long time.Some of these dry environmentsinclude sand dunes, clay pans, drycreek beds and mallee.

There are many different types offrogs found in western NSW, eachespecially adapted to living in theirparticular environment. Tree frogsare the most commonly knowntypes. Tree frogs have small discson their toes that enable them to climbup vegetation and other objects suchas buildings and fences. Differentspecies of tree frogs are foundthroughout NSW. Some of the morecommon known species include theGreen Tree Frog (most NSW exceptSW corner), Peron’s Tree Frog(most NSW except NW corner),Desert Tree Frog (most NSWexcept coastal) and Red-eyed GreenTree Frog (coastal NSW). TreeFrogs generally require somemoisture throughout the year and areusually found around wetlands andswamps and built structures such astoilets.

Ground dwelling frogs are alsocommonly encountered throughoutNSW. These frogs do not have thedistinctive toe discs and are generallyfound near or at the edge ofwaterbodies where they shelter andhunt for food. Common grounddwelling frogs include the StripedMarsh Frog (coastal) and its inland

cousin, the Spotted Marsh Frog.Other ground dwelling frogs includethe Barking Marsh Frog (known byits call that sounds similar to a dogbarking) and many small froglets thatare often no bigger than yourfingernail.

The other type of frogs that are foundin western NSW are burrowing frogs.These frogs spend most of their timehibernating underground and can dothis for years at a time waiting forrain. After substantial rains and giventhe right temperatures they come tothe surface. Here they feed andbreed in a frenzy so that they haveeaten and reproduced before thewater dries up. Burrowing frogs areable to survive the hot and dryconditions in western NSW becausethe ability to burrow undergroundallows them to escape the desert heat.One third of Australia’s frogs do this.Most burrowing frogs have largebumps on their feet that enable themto dig a burrow in which to escapethe hot, drying conditions on thesurface. Some of the more commonlyknown burrowing frogs include the

Pobblebonk or Giant Banjo Frog,Crucifix Frog and CommonSpadefoot or Painted BurrowingFrog.

Poster

“Frogs of Western NSW” is arecently released spectacular newposter depicting 35 of the native frogspecies found in central and westernNSW. On the front of the poster arefull-colour pictures of the frogs. Onthe back is a description of each frog,detailing where they are found, adescription of what they look like andtheir call. Also included is aphotograph and description of theintroduced cane toad. Although thecane toad is not normally found inwestern NSW, many native frogspecies may be easily mistaken for acane toad and accidentally killed asa result. The cane toad was thereforeincluded on the poster to enablecomparison with native frog species.

For a copy of the poster, call Sally on9585 6040 or Louise on 9585 6671.


How common are frogs inwestern NSW ?

Most of the frogs in western NSWare common or widespread.However scientists have becomeincreasingly aware of a worldwidedecline in the numbers of frogs. Thesuspected causes of this declineinclude habitat loss (infilling ofwetlands, vegetation clearing,diversion of water from wetlands toagricultural lands, etc), fragmentationof wetlands, chemical pollution ofwaterbodies, stock grazing or rubbishdumping, disease, salinisation ofwaterbodies and predation of eggsand tadpoles by introduced fish,particularly Gambusia (mosquitoFish).

Threatened Species

Twenty-five species and onepopulation of native frogs are listedas threatened in NSW. This meansthat they are faced with extinction ifthe causes of their decline are nothalted in the near future.

In central and western NSW fivefrog species are threatened. Theseare the Southern Bell Frog, Greenand Golden Bell Frog, Yellow-spottedBell Frog, Painted Burrowing Frogand Booroolong Frog.

References:• Barker, J., Grigg, G. and Tyler, M.

(1995) A Field Guide toAustralian Frogs. Surrey Beatty& Sons, Sydney.

• Robinson, M. (1998) A FieldGuide to Frogs of Australia.Reed New Holland, Sydney.

• Romanowski, N. (1998) Wetlandsand Dams - a practical guide towetland design, constructionand propagation. UNSW Press,Sydney.

What can you do to helpfrogs:

• Retain watercourses andwaterbodies in a natural state.

• Provide places to hide frompredators both in the water and onthe ground - these can be providedby vegetation, partially submergedlogs, rocks, and fallen timber.

• Control feral animals includingcats, foxes and the mosquito fish(which prey on tadpoles).

• Provide damp shady regions forburrowing frogs.

• Provide fresh unpolluted water.

• Ensure pesticide use does notaffect watercourses andwaterbodies.

• If possible, fence off or restrictstock access to waterbodies toprovide clean, clear water anduntrampled vegetation for frogs.

• Increase plant cover by planting avariety of vegetation includingshrubs, reeds and grasses nearwatercourses, wetlands and dams.

• Don’t move frogs from onelocation to another as this mayspread disease, such as chytridfungus, which is a disease that maybe responsible for declining frognumbers.

You’ll find more details, particularlyfor frog researchers, managers andkeepers on how to stop the spreadof chytrid fungus in:NSW National Parks and WildlifeService (2001). Hygiene protocolfor the control of disease in frogs.Information Circular Number 6.NSW NPWS, Hurstville NSW.(www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/PDFs/hyprfrog.pdf)

For further information on frogscontact either your local Parks &Wildlife office or the Frog andTadpole Study Group of NSW Inc.PO Box 296, Rockdale 2216 NSWTel: Frogwatch Helpline:0419 249 728.Enquiries:[email protected] orWebsite: www.fats.org.au

Melanie BannermanThreatened Species Unit (Western)Department of Environment andConservationTel: (02) 6883 5342Fax: (02) 6884 9382Email: [email protected]


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National Parks are generally thoughtof as native vegetation which has notbeen cleared and where use is limitedto low impact public access andtourism. Oolambeyan National Park(ONP) has been a working pastoral andcropping property for over 100 years.The grassland on the property containshabitat for and a population of theendangered ground dwelling bird thePlains-Wanderer. This population andrelated habitat exists as a result of thepast pastoral management and grazingpractices. To some extent, the Parks& Wildlife officers, will have to takeon the role of both station manager andNational Park custodian.

The park is 21,980 hectares in theWestern Riverina, southeast of Hay.The major reason for the national parkis to protect habitat of the endangeredground-dwelling bird, the Plains-Wanderer. State and FederalGovernments jointly funded thepurchase of the property, with thePark gazetted on 25 October 2002.The Plains-wanderer is listed asendangered on Schedule 1 of theNSW Threatened SpeciesConservation Act 1995 and on theFederal Environment Protectionand Biodiversity Conservation Act1999 (EPBC Act).

This small ground dwelling birdresembles but is unrelated to quail,and lives in open grasslands.Optimum habitat for the bird ismaintained by light stock grazing,utilising domestic stock on theproperty. To gain an optimumconservation outcome, DEC will needto manage and maintain stock (sheep)on the property.

The Victorian Department of NaturalResources and Environment (DNRE)has experience in using stock to gaina grassland conservation outcome inits management of Terrick TerrickNational Park in northern Victoria.

DEC has set up a working groupincluding some neighbours andecologists aware of the habitatrequirements of plains-wanderers. In2002 a tender process wasimplemented to determine who wouldgain grazing rights and in doing somaintain some of the last remaininghabitat for the Plains-Wanderer.

After months of planning, thecontrolled grazing program hasbegun. The sheep will be supplied bya local landholder and will be grazingselected paddocks up to 15,700ha,specifically to enhance the grasslandhabitat. The reserve is alreadydivided into grazing paddocks withthe necessary infrastructureavailable. This will be accompaniedby a monitoring program.

As well looking after habitat for thePlains-wanderer, management of thepark will involve a comprehensivefox-baiting program within andoutside of the reserve. Foxes arerecognised as a threat as they areknown to prey on Plains-Wanderersand on lambs.

Other Flora and FaunaThe native grassland also supports anumber of rare and threatened plantspecies, such as the nationallyendangered slender Darling peaSwainsona murrayana.

Apart from being a key areas for thePlains-Wanderer,ONP is ofsignificance for avariety otherthreatened birdspecies, including theG r e y - c r o w n e dBabbler and Bush-stone Curlew.

Other vegetation onthe park includesshrubland with boree,cypress pine,

rosewood-belah and black boxwoodlands. Such shrublands areimportant habitat for woodland birds.Stock grazing will not occur inwoodland areas of ONP so as toimprove those habitat areas forendangered woodland bird species

Aboriginal ValuesOolambeyan is in the area of theWiradjuri nation and its name isbelieved to be based on the Wiradjurilanguage word, Wulambiyan. Wulammeaning to call or give voice to andbiyan can be past tense or alwaysand continuous. Possible definitionsare; ‘Have always been calling’‘The song of the wind passingthrough the trees’, or ‘The voice ofthe wind calling through the trees’.These are then linked to theDreamtime story of Dharramulan(one of Biamie’s sons), whose voicewas put into the trees and this is howwe get the bullroarer.

The park has many areas that couldcontain relics or be of significance tothe Aboriginal community consistingof scar trees, ovens, middens andother artefacts.

Historic ValuesOolambeyan has been a pastoralproperty and sheep stud for over 100years. Oolambeyan contains acomplete set of structures related topast land uses. The Homestead andits associated out buildings, theWoolshed and Shearers huts complexand the Boundary rider / outstationhut are of particular interest.

Tim Sides, Ranger, ONP.

Oolambeyan National Park- a different style of park management

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A couple of months ago I wasfortunate enough to accompany aUNSW research student on a Yellow-bellied Glider survey in BouddiNational Park.

This was by far my most excitingwildlife spotting outing I haveexperienced!

The area surveyed was the ridge thatseparates the east of Bensville fromthe west of MacMasters Beach. Thesurvey was part of a study of Yellow-bellied Gliders through UNSW andalso as part of research project forGosford City Council.

As soon as we started walking wecould hear Yellow-bellied Gliderscalling from all several directions. Wecould hear lots of Southern BoobookOwls, Sugar Gliders and microbats.Our experienced spotlighter’s earswere so tuned in to the sounds of theforest at night that he could also hearthe faint noises of bandicoots. Wecould also hear other noises that Briansaid were gliders landing on the treetrunks after their long glide from aneighbouring tree.

After a short time, the mosquitoeswere swarming around us soprolifically that microbats were flyingaround us to feed on the mozzies. Attimes the bats came so close that theirwings brushed past our shoulders orhair.

After a while we also started to hearrustling in the leaves up above. Aftera bit of searching, our torches caughtthe eyes of Greater Gliders feedingon the eucalypt leaves. These are thelargest gliders and like Koalas feedalmost entirely in leaves. Like Koalasthey are very docile, and just sit theremunching away as you watch them.

Some time later we began to hear aSooty Owl making its blood-curdlingcall from some distance away. Withtime it grew closer and closer untilwe saw a dark shape fly up to abranch just in front of us. A quickcheck with our torches showed it tobe the Sooty Owl! I was quite excitedto see one of these. Sooty Owls arethe least well-known of our nativeowls because they are quitesecretive.

A couple of minutes after the SootyOwl flew away we heard a MaskedOwl hissing from behind us. Theunderstorey trees were too dense forus to see this one, unfortunately.

As we continued along ourway, we started to hear thesoft repeated yaps of SugarGliders calling from the treesaround us. We also caughtglimpses of small creaturesflying past our heads. Wefirst thought that these werebats but after shining ourtorches at the trees aroundus we found that they wereSugar Gliders. One of themlanded about two metresabove the ground in the treeright beside us. It quickly ran

up the tree however, scared off bythe light. These gliders feed on allsorts of food - insects, nectar, sap,and the gum that wattles exude fromthe holes made in their trunks byborers. This high sugar diet makesthem very active little creatures!Their big eyes also make them verycute!

While it climbed up the tree, wecaught sight of another large darkabject fly up to a tree a little furtheroff the track. This turned out to bea Yellow-bellied Glider! It was alsovery cute. Its big eyes and out-turnedears gave it what I thought was adopey kind of look. We wereentertained by this glider for quiteawhile as he climbed around andmade the distinctive Y-B Glider call.

After this we returned to our cars.On the way back we saw plentymore Sugar Gliders and GreaterGliders and heard more Yellow-bellied Glider calls.

We continued on to another site,working well into the early morning.I however was very satisfied havingseen Yellow-bellied, Greater andSugar Gliders, a Sooty Owl and lotsof microbats, as well as hearing aMasked Owl and Bandicoots.

I must add that although this surveywas conducted in the National Park,many of these species, particularlythe owls and the Yellow-belliedGliders, rely on habitat on privateland, outside National Parks andcouncil reserves to survive. Manyof your properties are likely tocontain a similar wealth of wildlifethat we encoutered that night.

Many of the animals sighted on thissurvey require large areas of habitatfor a populations to survive in the longterm. Landholders with bushlandcontribute to providing this habitat.

Spotlighting - an enlightening experienceJeff Drudge, the Land for Wildlife project officer on the Central Coast tells us about his recentexperience on a recent spotlighing survey.

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Yellow-belliedglider


Be Wise — look out for Owls

Sooty Owl

The devastating effect of habitatdestruction on Australia’s owls is wellknown.

A lesser-recognised threat to owls is‘secondary poisoning’ occurringwhen they prey on mice or rats thathave eaten rat poison (rodenticide).The toxins from these poisons maybuild up in the owls’ livers andeventually kill them.

There is evidence that pest rodentspecies are on the increase and, useof rat bait is necessary sometimes tokeep them at bay. The good news isthat there are some products whichare safer to use and being lessharmful to owls.

At the recent meeting of VCAholders at Bournda National Park, itwas suggested that I should pass onthe following information in theinterest of the owls.

Rodenticides have been around formore than 40 years. The earlyrodenticide chemicals known as ‘firstgeneration’ of these were multipledose baits containing anticoagulants(such as warfarin or coumatetralyl),that compete with Vitamin K1 andreduce the rodent’s blood-clottingability. After eating sufficient bait,the rodent dies within 3-8 days afterthe initial feed. Few secondarypoisonings of wildlife were reportedduring the use of this first generationof rodenticides.

However, the more recent and nowmore common ‘second generation’rodenticides pose a much greaterrisk of secondary poisoning. Thereason for this is that they are singledose, more potent, includinganticoagulants such as bromadiolone,brodifacoum and flocoumafen.These products are capable of killingrodents after a single feed, although

the rodents still take some 3-8 daysto die, giving them more time to eatextra poison and to be available asprey. Perhaps more significantly, theproducts are effective againstpopulations that have becomeresistant to the first generationwarfarin. The greater toxicity of theseactive ingredients and their greaterpersistence in animal bodies is whatcauses the danger to owls.

The issue of rodenticides wasdiscussed at the International Owls2000 symposium in Canberra inJanuary 2000.

One of the papers reported on trialsusing a product containingcoumatetralyl, a first generationrodenticide, which was registered in1999 for use in Australia’s canefieldsfollowing withdrawal of a secondgeneration rodenticide. As well, anumber of measures wererecommended to minimise exposureto non-target species, including theuse of rodenticide in bait stations, as

part of the integrated pestmanagement program. It has provedeffective in rodent control and witha reduced risk of secondarypoisoning.

As researchers and ornithologistspoint out, there is no perfectly safebait, but the risk to non-target speciescan be reduced by the choice of aproduct which uses coumatetralyl asthe active ingredient.

So look out for the owls! If you haveto resort to rodenticides, read thelabel carefully and choose an owl-safe product. (See Editor’s notebelow for names of chemicalinvolved)

Ornithologists generally distinguish 10species of Australian owls, includingthe Christmas Island Hawk Owl. Insoutheastern Australia, at least fourspecies are listed as endangered orthreatened – the Powerful, Masked,Sooty and Barking Owls. It is in ourpower to reduce the threat to them.

The Owls 2000 symposiumproceedings are now available asThe Ecology and Conservation ofOwls,Published by CSIRO 2002.

Editors Note:First Generation chemicals includecoumatetralyl and warfarin, howeverin some places rats have becomeresistant to warfarin.

Second generation chemicalsinclude: bromodiolone, brodifacoumand flocoumafen.

There are a variety of rodenticideproducts and brands which containthese chemicals.

Further information on this topic isavailable from The Barn Owl Trustin the UK – www.barnowltrust.org.uk/Forms/no_21.pdf

Den and Geoff Robin have a VCA over their land at Dignams Creek, on theslopes of Gulaga (Mt Dromedary), where some four owl species are regularvisitors. Den writes about owls and rodenticides.

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Owl species in Australia number 11,from two groups or genera. Thisnumber does not include frogmouths,and nightjars, which are related.

The 5 species of Ninox (hawk-owlsand boobooks) all have large, yelloweyes and a hawk-like face. Three ofthese are found in NSW• Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua),• Barking Owl (Ninox connivens),• Southern Boobook (Ninox boobook).

The six species of Tyto – (the barnowls and masked owls) are easilydistinguished by their heart-shapedfacial disc. Those found in NSW are• Sooty Owl (Tyto tenebricosa),• Barn Owl (Tyto alba),• (Eastern) Grass Owl (Tyto capensis),• Masked Owl (Tyto novaehollandiae) .

The powerful, sooty, masked, barkingand grass are all listed as vulnerableunder the Threatened SpeciesConservation Act 1995, which meansthat the species is likely to becomeendangered if threats continue.

Loss and continued fragmentation offorest habitat through clearing ofnative forests is the main threat tothese owls. Owls, like other predatorsare at the top of the food chain, takingbirds, mammals and someinvertebrates, and require extensiveareas of their natural habitat for theirsurvival. Other threats include thecombination of grazing and regular(often illegal) burning. This may affecthabitat quality for owls through itseffects on nest and roost siteavailability and its effect on the qualityof ground cover for mammal prey.Also human induced mortality such asfences, wires, rabbit traps and open-topped water tanks has also beenrecorded. The use of rodenticides incane fields in North Queensland waslinked to a dramatic fall in populationsof barn, masked and grass owls.Removal of trees with nesting hollowsin areas away from forests could affectnumbers of barn and boobook owls.

The powerful, sooty and masked owlsare all found in forests, and woodlandsand farmlands with large trees.

Numbers can be reduced whenforested patches become too small toprovide enough prey.

The barking owl is found in woodlandand has had its habitat dramaticallyreduced due to clearing for agricultureand other human development.Surveys in the Pilliga forests in theWinter of 2001 by NPWS, found ahigh density population, being one ofonly two such high density populationsin southern Australia.

The grass owl (Tyto capensis)is theonly owl species in Australia whichdoes not need trees. However it is onlyfound over a small area and only intropical coastal grasslands.

NSW State Forests are regulated byconservation protocols that form theterms of Threatened Species Licencesfor forestry operations, to manage theseareas for threatened owls and otherspecies. For the barking, powerful,masked and sooty owls, specialprotection is given to areas where owlsnest and roost and their prey are mostlikely to be found. In addition, oldhollow trees are retained within loggedareas to reduce logging impacts on theowls and their prey. These conditionsapply throughout wood productionforests, regardless of whether owls areknown to occur. Other conditions applywhere these owls are know to occur.

Have fun identifying owls.Find out if you have owls which useyour land. Often we hear rather thansee owls.

Go to http://www.owlpages.com/australian_owls.html , which haspictures and also recordings of owlcalls, which will help you identify anyon your property.

How to help owls on your land:• Protect and retain large hollow trees.• Retain nest sites, roost sites, patches

of habitat and prey bases.

More information: Try the web siteabove plus:http://home.mira.net/~areadman/owls.htm

The Australian OwlGenetics Project

Museum Victoria scientists arestudying the DNA of owls, to increaseour knowledge about these birds, findout whether deforestation affects theirpopulations, if owl populations are atrisk from inbreeding, and to establishany patterns of movement of owlswithin and between forest fragments.The project will also examine therelationships between Australian owlsand owls from other parts of the worldso we can discover more about howthey have evolved.

Want to get involved? You can getinvolved in the project by collectingowl feathers and sending them to theresearch team at Australian OwlGenetics Project, SciencesDepartment, Museum Victoria, GPOBox 666E Melbourne VIC 3001.

When collecting feathers try toidentify which owl the feather mayhave come from, using either the kitor a Field Guide. The special OwlIdentification Kit is being sold throughthe Melbourne Museum shop and allAustralian Geographic outlets, withproceeds donated to the project.

Place the feather(s) into a cleanenvelope or plastic bag, and includea label detailing the type of owl (ifknown); location (e.g. which state,name of nearest town, road name),date collected and your name andaddress. Use a new envelope/bag ifcollecting feathers from more thanone location or individual.

Owls in NSW

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Initial ConfusionDecided to catch up with my friendover a cuppa. She arrived “I’m soconfused” she said. I waited withbated breath for the latest gossipfrom the school tuckshop orcomments on the latest royalwedding. However she continued……..

“I so wanted to get involved inlooking after my bit of bush, but Iseem to have lost track of who I amtalking to. I called the person who Ithought dealt with Landcare, but theytold me to call the NRM facilitatorat DIPNR, which used to be DLWC,and now they have CSOs. And ofcourse I could get funding from NHTor NAP, but that depends on whichCMA you are under as they aredifferent from the CMBs which aredifferent from the old CMCs, and ofcourse that is linked to DEH. Andother funding could be via the ET,which was run by the EPA, which isnow DEC, and NPWS are part ofthat too”

Being ever ready to help I gave hera bit of an explanation about the bitsI understood.

• DEC is the Department ofEnvironment and Conservation. TheNational Parks and Wildlife Service(NPWS) is part of this department,as is the EPA (EnvironmentProtection Authority), the RoyalBotanic Gardens and ResourceNSW. The ET (EnvironmentalTrust) which is administered byDEC is one source of funding forenvironmental projects. DECmaintains the functions of all theprevious departments whichincludes looking after threatenedspecies, fauna and Aboriginalheritage.

• DIPNR is the Department ofInfrastructure, Planning and NaturalResources. The former DLWC(Department of Land and WaterConservation) and PlanningNSWare part of this department.DIPNR administers amongstothers, the Native Vegetation Act2003, which will come into effectsoon, as well as catchment andwater management issues.

• Crown lands are now dealt with bythe Department of Lands.

• Funding available for work torestore the environment is madeavailable from the federalgovernment through the NHT(Natural Heritage Trust). There isalso funding for certain areas todeal with salinity under NAP -National Action Plan for Salinityand Water Quality.

• DEH (Department of Environmentand Heritage) is the federal agency,which used to be known asEnvironment Australia (EA).

• CMAs (Catchment ManagementAuthorities) have been set upseparately to DIPNR but will reportto DIPNR’s Minister. Theseauthorities will work out how bestto use the funding available throughfunding programs both state andfederal (including NHT). Thesehave replaced CatchmentManagement Boards, and theareas they cover are slightlydifferent. To date the chairs andsome members of the CMAs havebeen appointed. The CMAs willalso incorporate work carried outby the Regional VegetationCommittees and WaterManagement Committees, whichwill stop operating July 2004.

• NRM (Natural ResourceManagement) facilitators andCommunity Support Officers havereplaced the Landcare supportnetwork, although exact titles mayalter in each area.

• The Department of PrimaryIndustries (DPI) commenced onthe 1st July 2004. This Departmentincorporates the former NSWAgriculture; NSW Fisheries, StateForests and the Department ofMineral Resources.

Rubbish for ReptilesHabitat does not alwaysneed to be created.Sometimes it exists inplaces we don’t thinkabout.

On recent trips to WildlifeRefuge properties inwestern NSW, the teamspent fruitful hours lookingfor reptiles in piles of oldwood, under pieces ofgalvanised iron and other materials.

These provided warm places forreptiles and shelter from predators.

On lifting this piece of galvanised irona singleback lizard was found. Arange of other lizards and skinks werealso found in these situations.


We all spend significant amounts ofmoney in order to reduce the effectsof weeds on agriculture and our bushand grasslands. The best way toprevent weed spread is to identifynew weed invasions on your propertyand control them while the areasaffected are still small.

A weed which is becoming moreprevalent is Coolatai grass(Hyparrhenia hirta) which is aninvasive grass from Africa and theMediterranean. In some places it isalso known as Tambookie grass. Itwas first introduced into northernNSW for erosion control, and is nowwidespread in North West NSW, theCentral West and coastal NSWincluding Sydney.

It can quickly spread from roadsidesand other disturbed areas intoundisturbed bush. The plant producesthousand of tiny, sticky seeds whichadhere to animals, machinery andmotor vehicles. In some areas it hasbeen spread by slashing and mowing.

It grows so densely that it displacesnative ground cover plants. The grasssoon dominates pastures, creatinglarge amounts of dead leaf and stemthat has little food value and isunpalatable to stock.

Identification

Coolatai grass is a perennial grass thatforms tussocks. This growth habit issimilar to a number of native grassesand this weed could be confused withthese.

It is usually about 1.5 metres tall andhas thin greyish-green leaves. Theseed head is quite distinctive, as canbe seen in the diagram. It is describedin botanical terms as being a much-branched panicle ending in pairedracemes. Flowering occurs in springand summer.

If you are unsure of its identification,take a piece to your local bushcare,landcare or weed officer.

Control

Once an invasion is mixed withvaluable native grasses, control canbe difficult.

Manual removal or herbicidetreatment prior to seeding can be used,and regular follow-up is required toprevent regrowth and re-establishment from seed.

If the plant is in seed, do not slash ormow as this will simply spread theweed. Seeding weeds can be pulled andburnt or removed from the site in bags,so that weed seed does not spread.

Herbicides can be effective. There aretwo permits in place for spot-sprayingof coolatai grass - Permit PER5457allows the use of certain glyphosateherbicides for spraying of smallpatchy infestations in non-cropsituations. The permit is found on thewebsite www.nre.gov.au and shouldbe read and the directions followed.

Volunteers working to control thisgrass have found that it is even moreeffective is the grass is slashed to 5-10 cms from the ground, then leftfor two to three weeks prior tospraying. This allows a betterproduction of green leaf whichresponds best to the herbicide spray.

Of course spot-spraying must bedone with care to minimise effectson native vegetation in the area,especially low growing native plantsand grasses.

Coolatai grass - a serious threat to bushland- be on the look out for this invasive grass. Research

The impacts of infestation by CoolataiGrass on native grasslands andendangered Grassy White BoxWoodlands in northern NSW, arebeing investigated by the North WestVegetation Forum (a voluntary groupof landholders and agencyrepresentatives), the Department ofInfrastructure, Planning and NaturalResources and the National Parks andWildlife Service of DEC.

The diversity and abundance of nativeplants and animals are threatened bythe spread of Coolatai Grass, anaggressive environmental weed. Thisincludes the White Box-Yellow Box-Blakelys Red Gum endangeredecological community.

The continuing study is showing thatCoolatai Grass infestation:• has a big impact on the native plant

cover, reducing the number ofspecies present and the abundanceof each species;

• significantly reduces the abundanceof ground-active invertebrates;

• reduces the abundance and varietyof frogs present;

• may reduce the abundance andvariety of reptiles, giving advantageto some species and not others.

Success in controlling infestations isbest achieved if all land managersidentify and implement coordinatedactions to reduce the spread ofCoolatai Grass, particularly to protectpastures and other areas of highconservation value native vegetation.This will require the identification ofwhere effective control is possible,particularly areas of new infestations.

There is also a need to increaseawareness of the need to act quicklyto maintain grazing to control weeds,before major costs are incurred.

There is much that is unknown aboutCoolatai Grass so further research isalso necessary to try and halt thisserious threat to our properties.

Peter Croft, Senior Ranger, Glen Innes


Bush friendly gardeningGardeners can now get important information aboutthe weed potential of some garden plants.

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Did you know that weed invasion ismore damaging to the environmentand is a greater cost to agriculturethan salinity?

New economic research undertakenin 2003 by the Weeds CRC throughthe University of New England hasestablished that the annual cost ofweeds to Australian agricultureexceeds $3.5 billion. This compareswith recent estimates for salinity ofan annual net loss of $200 million.

Weed invasion is a major threat toAustralia’s primary industry and tothe natural environment. Weeds aresecond only to land clearing as acause of biodiversity loss. There arealso close ties between theenvironment and the economy.Tourism, which generates $30 millionannually in Kakadu National Park,is heavily reliant on the appeal of‘untouched’ wilderness, an aspectwhich is under serious threat fromweed invasion.

Weeds arrive into an area eitheraccidentally or are deliberately.Frequently plants introduced asagricultural or horticultural importsbecome weeds. There is often a lagphase between introduction andbecoming invasive. A most notableexample of this is Mimosa pigrawhich was introduced into Darwinin the late 1800s, but did not explodeuntil a century later.

Helping GardenersIt can be a real disappointment todiscover that your favoured gardenplants are likely to be harmful in theenvironment. Often a feature whichmakes the plant a weed, such as easyto reproduce via seed or other plantparts, makes it easy to propagate forsale.

How do you as a gardener who caresabout the environment know whichplants for sale are liable to becomeweeds?

Luckily help is at hand, andinformation to help you is becomingmore readily available.

On the North Coast ofNSW.Do you live on the North Coast ofNSW? The Bushland Friendly NurseryScheme (BFNS) has been set up tohelp you select plant species for yourgarden which will not become weedsin your local area. The area covered isfrom Taree to Tweed, and the sixteencouncils in this area participate in theproject. The scheme was initiated bythe North Coast Weed AdvisoryCommittee (NCWAC) and funded bythe NSW Environmental Trust.

The scheme has two aspects:• listing of environmental weeds in the

area• lists of alternative plants which can

be used.

The BFNS has developed anenvironmental weed list. The 84 mostsignificant weeds are those that‘BFNS Nurseries’ shall not sell,propagate or knowingly distribute.Many of these are rarely sold bynurseries now, so will have littleimpact on most nursery sales. A few,like Duranta repens, are currentlypopular species.

Identifying alternative non-invasiveplants is another important aspect ofthe BFNS. Although many of us donot want to plant weedy species, itcan be hard to know which plants tochoose.

A number of nurseries have alreadyelected to participate in the scheme,and this group can be consulted forsales and advice.

The BFNS has developed a bookletfor landholders. This gives details andpictures of the targetedenvironmental weeds, and also listssuitable alternative non-invasivespecies for planting. The bookletgives ‘broad examples’ only, andencourages landholders to consultparticipating Bushland FriendlyNurseries for appropriate plants.

The participating councils haveagreed to exclude the use ofenvironmental weeds in newdevelopments as well as in their ownlandscaping. They will also promotethe participating Bush FriendlyNurseries.

For copies of the booklet, ring Sally9585 6040 or Louise 9585 6671.

Further information is available onthe website www.bfns.org.au.This lists participating nurseries andlists of weeds and alternatives.

Or contact the BFNS: Ian Turnbull, Secretary,POB 117, Bellingen, NSW 2454Email:[email protected];Ph: (02) 6655 7338

Look for this logo at your local nursery


“Grow Me Instead”

This is another handbook for landholders and is producedby the Nursery and Garden Industry in NSW & ACT.Whilst the guide is largely for the Greater SydneyDistrict, it applies more broadly to many areas of thestate. It focuses on ‘garden escapes’- popular gardenplants which will spread into neighbouring bushland,gardens and farmland.

For each garden escape, there are a number ofalternatives illustrated and described. These includenative and non-native species, so give gardeners a widechoice of plants to use.

For further information contact the Nursery & GardenIndustry NSW & ACT Ph: 02 9679 1472 Fax: 02 96791655; [email protected]

Garden Guide for Albury Wodonga

This guide has been produced by the City of Albury Council, to introduce thesorts of plants which can attract birdlife and create your own outdoor haven.It was developed by council is association with the NPWS (now DEC) UrbanWildlife Project.

The Guide is a handy little book that provides guidance on garden design,plant selection, maintenance, and safety. There are over 70 local natives,Australian natives and exotic plants represented. The community basedcommittee involved also ensured 75% availability of the plants from localnurseries and selected those species which are easy to cultivate.

At only $5, the Garden Guide is available from theAlbury City Customer Service Centre, AlburyLibrary, Charles Sturt University Herbarium, TAFEThurgoona Campus and Department ofSustainability and Environment (VIC). Otherbooklets available from council include ‘BushInvaders - identification &control ofenvironmental weeds of Albury Wodonga&Surroundings’ ($8) and ‘Along the BushTracks Albury Wodonga’ ($8)

Other sources of adviceIn a number of areas, local councils or local groups of the Ausstralian PlantSociety can also provide advice or lists of what species may become invasivein your garden.

Some of these oprganisation may also be able to help with a list of suitableplants which can also help to create habitat for native fauna.

Your local landcare group may also have lists of suitable species to plant inyour area.

“A Field Guide to Sub-alpineFlora of Barrington TopsNew South Wales.”

By Anne Heinrich, 2003

If you enjoy going to the BarringtonTops, then this book is a vital additionto the library. Of course it will havea broader application.

The book describes the vegetationof Barrington Tops Plateau and itsclimate and geology. There are 130plant species which are described andillustrated.

Available from the author, AnneHeinrich for $14.95 (plus $2 p&p),389 Playfords Road, Comboyne,NSW 2429

New Books

“Native Species Habitat. Itsidentification and protectionon farming and grazing landin South West NSW.”

DIPNR November 2003.

A great little book with lots of photosof habitat. Although based on workin the Lower Murray DarlingCatchment and the Cobar Peneplain,the habitats examined are foundacross western NSW. The hints onmaintenance of habitat areapplicable to most grazing properties.

Call Sally 9585 6040 or Louise 95856671 for a copy.


WHAT’S ON

Bush Matters is the Newsletter of the Conservation Partners Program of the NSWNational Parks & Wildlife Service and is produced twice yearly.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service is part of the Department of Environmentand Conservation (NSW) - DEC.

Editor/ Layout: Louise Brodie. All photos, art work by DEC: L. Brodie unless indicated.The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of DEC.Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this newsletter

is accurate at the time of printing,DEC cannot acccept responsibility for errors or omissions.

Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW), PO Box 1967,HURSTVILLE NSW 1481 Phone 02 9686 6444

email: [email protected]; www.dec.nsw.gov.au

Swift Parrot and Regent Honeyeater2004 Survey season

The national surveys for Swift Parrots and Regent Honeyeaters are beingcarried out.

The next survey date is the first weekend inAugust (31 July/1 August)

Contact Debbie Saunders 1800 66 57 66 or email: [email protected] Geering, 1800 62 10 56, [email protected]

Other information is available onwww.parks.tas.gov.au/wildlife/birds/swparrot.html

www.birdsaustralia.com.au/birds/swift.htmlwww.birdsaustralia.com.au/birds/regent.html

Wildlife Refuges in Western NSWDiscover what plants and animal live on your property!

This project aims to work with landholders to find out moreabout the flora and fauna on Widlife Refuges.

More surveys will be undertaken in Spring.

For more information contact theCommunity Conservation Officer,

Laura Kelly on 02 6841 9202. Chalinolobus gouldii Gould’s wattled bat - this littlecreature has been found on a number of Wildliferefuges in north western NSW, during surveys.

THE WOMEN’S GATHERING 2004at COONABARABRAN

17-19 September

REACH FOR THE STARSHolistic Health, Wealth and Well-Being

Dr Fred Watson, Astronomer in Charge at the Anglo-Australian Observatory at Siding SpringObservatory, will be the dinner speaker.He a well-known from his broadcasts on the ABC.

Fiona O’Loughlin - comedian and TV personality based in Alice Springs will also be a guest.

Further information: Phone 1800 242 881 orvisit: www.coonabarabran.com/womensgathering2004

Big Scrub RainforestDay

A day for rainforest lovers.

5th September 20049am to 4 pm

at Rocky Creek Dam,(15 Kms north west of Lismore.)

The Big Scrub rainforest once covered aroughly circular area where Lismore, Ballina,Byron Bay and Mullumbimby are presently

situated.

Bush Matters No 1/2004 (PDF - 1.3MB)

Documents

Transcript of Bush Matters No 1/2004 (PDF - 1.3MB)