Lake Macquarie Landcare

This week's Landcare sighting is these beautiful White-headed pigeons (Columba leucomela) photographed by Bob Spargo of Kenibea Bushland Reserve Landcare.
The population of White-headed Pigeons declined greatly when many of the rainforests of eastern Australia were cleared. The pigeons number have increased dramatically since the 1950s, when they were protected from hunters, and the widespread planting of Camphor Laurel (Cinnamomum camphora) trees in agricultural lands began. These invasive trees produce berries which the pigeons readily eat, in lieu of the native rainforest plants they would otherwise consume.
If you have an interesting nature or wildlife picture, we’d love to see it! Send your photos and drawings to lro@lakemac.nsw.gov.au and you could feature in our Landcare Sightings segment.

Spotlights & Stories
Friday 12 October 6.45pm-8.30pm
Meet at Jewells Crossing Kalaroo Road, Belmont North... Free Nocturnal Bush Activity for kids (aged 6-12 years) in the school holidays.
Explore the forest at dusk and listen to cultural stories about the land.
All kids must be accompanied by an adult.
Wear sturdy footwear, long sleeves, long pants, and bring a water bottle.
Book your spot at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/spotlight s-stories-tickets-… or 0429 267 234
https://www.facebook.com/events/217075538 3246236/
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The October Volume 1 enewsletter is out now! https://bit.ly/2P2Kpy8 🌿🌿🌿

Vote for Sophie by 10th October!
Click here: https://bit.ly/2x3bo5B to vote for Sophie Robertson in the Austcover Young Landcare Leader Award category and learn how each finalist has made a significant difference to the Landcare movement through their projects 🌞🌱👒

Nominations are invited for the 2018 Lake Macquarie Environmental Excellence in Landcare (EEL) Awards. Categories include Local Legend, Community Education, Landcare Achievers, Long standing group, Newcomer group and the John Hughson ‘Soaring with the eagles’ awards. Nomination forms are available from the LRC or from the Lake Macquarie Landcare website here: http://www.lakemacquarielandcare.org/nomi nate-fellow-landc…/

Here are a few shots of two different orchids flowering at Central Rankin Park Landcare. This is the first record of a Blunt greenhood (Pterostylis curta) to show in 23 years of the group's activity and there were about 20 rosettes. The Blunt greenhood has been photographed above by John Fitter using his ‘custom’ light tent to avoid wind and shadows.
The Lady Finger orchids (Caladenia catenata) make an annual appearance in a number of locations. This brings the groups' orchid... recordings over the years to five species, although typical of terrestrial orchids not all of them make an appearance each year. The others are Onion orchids (Microtis sp), Hyacinth orchid (Dipodium punctatum), and Bearded orchid (Calochilus robertsonii).
If you have an interesting nature or wildlife picture, we’d love to see it! Send your photos and drawings to lro@lakemac.nsw.gov.au and you could feature in our Landcare Sightings segment.
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Some health emergencies can happen at any time, including while you are Landcaring. It is important to be aware of signs and symptoms and what response is needed.
This month we are raising awareness about heart attacks. The infographic below shows what signs to look for and emphasises the need for resting, communicating and for calling 000 if anyone is experiencing these symptoms.
More information can be found at the Heart Foundation website www.heartfoundation.org.au/
... https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/…/Ac tion_Plan_CHD-Warnin…
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In the 2017 NSW Landcare Awards, Sophie Robertson of Hunter Intrepid Landcare was crowned the Austcover Young Landcare Leader of the Year. This year, Sophie is eligible for the National Landcare Award!
The biannual National Landcare Awards celebrate the hard work and dedication of amazing Landcare volunteers.
This year, 65 finalists are being recognised across eight categories for their tireless contribution to sustainable farm practices, agriculture land management, coast ca...re, community work, and indigenous land management. Each finalist is in the running for their nominated category and the coveted People's Choice Award.
Click here: https://bit.ly/2x3bo5B to vote for Sophie Robertson in the Austcover Young Landcare Leader Award category and learn how each finalist has made a significant difference to the Landcare movement through their projects.
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The September Volume 2 issue of the Lake Macquarie Landcare enewsletter is out now! https://bit.ly/2xyMxGa 🌼🌼🌼

Gill Chidgey of Wangi Point Foreshore Landcare sent in this sighting of a Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae). She watched two Kookaburras form the nest in the termite mound (in photo above). Interestingly, the birds took turns at flying at the mound, until they formed a hole big enough to fit inside!
If you have an interesting nature or wildlife picture, we’d love to see it! Send your photos and drawings to lro@lakemac.nsw.gov.au and you could feature in our Landcare Sightings segment.

Living Smart Festival
Saturday 22 September, 8am-2pm Speers Point Park
... The Living Smart Festival is a fun, family-friendly day out for people to explore how to adopt sustainable practices in their everyday life.
Held at Speers Point Park, this annual event brings together an inspiring collection of presenters, community groups, local producers and businesses to showcase green living opportunities for sustainable futures. Program highlights include free outdoor yoga classes, urban farming workshops, sustainable cooking demonstrations, Raid My Wardrobe pop-up event, tiny house exhibition and electric vehicle displays.
The event will also feature special presenter, Craig Reucassel, who will be bringing his War On Waste message to Lake Macquarie as festival headliner.
Volunteers needed - If you would like to volunteer to assist for a few hours at the Lake Macquarie Landcare stand please contact the LRC on 4921 0392.
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By Suzanne Pritchard, Coal Point Progress Association Landcare
The Threatened Species Project is now complete with the final number-crunching-activities-achieved report to be submitted by the end of August.
It’s been amazing project that’s contributed to a greater understanding and protection of the threatened species in our area. Formally recording Squirrel Gliders, Powerful Owls and Tetratheca juncea have been real highlights. Knowing they are here on the Coal Point peninsu...la helps us to protect the bushland that they need to survive.
The community gave 15,454 hours landcaring in our local reserves, 5017 people attended a variety of 117 events that shared the joy and knowledge of caring for our land and local critters far and wide, 268 educational items were created, 51 local organisations were involved, 11,500 plants planted and over 55,000 people were reached by the project directly or indirectly via the media.
To finish off the project The Bonza Bushland Gardening Guide has been compiled to maintain the gains of the project. It encourages a style of gardening that not only helps you keep your bonza bit of bush in tip-top shape, but also contributes to protecting our bigger bushland backyard that doesn’t recognise property boundaries in the mosaic of public private land across our community. Check it out at http://coalpointprogress.blogspot.com/p/b onza-backyard-gard…
Congratulations to all involved in the Threatened Species Last Stand on the Coal Point peninsula project.
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A great write-up from Hunter Local Land Services about our Landcare Week and Threatened Species Day bus tour on 7 September 🌱

To celebrate Landcare Week (3-9 September) and Threatened Species Day, Lake Macquarie Landcare hosted a bus tour on 7 September to showcase three Landcare sites in southern Lake Macquarie. The day featured tours from Landcare volunteers, and guest speaker Mick Roderick from the Environmental Trust Saving Our Species Swift Parrot project.
More than 40 volunteers and support staff attended the day to recognise and celebrate the efforts of Landcare in preserving habitat for thre...atened species such as the critically endangered swift parrot and regent honeyeater. The bus circumnavigated the lake, stopping at Catherine Hill Bay, Wyee Point and Bonnells Bay in search of threatened flora, fauna and vegetation communities.
Threatened Species Day commemorates the day the last known thylacine died in Hobart Zoo; a stark reminder to what is at stake for other native species. The significance of the day was emphasised by BirdLife Australia’s Mick Roderick, who spoke about the threats faced not only by threatened species, but all wildlife.
“The swift parrot is critically endangered and extremely rare, yet it relies on coastal forests like the ones around Lake Macquarie where it feeds each autumn and winter after migrating from its breeding grounds in Tasmania,” Mr Roderick said.
“We need to protect and enhance these important areas of coastal habitat for this species, which is on the brink of extinction.”
Lake Macquarie Landcare Coordinator, Jason Harvey, hosted the event, which he described as an excellent opportunity for volunteers to learn more about threatened species in the context of their Landcare efforts.
“Landcare volunteers dedicate many hours working in areas such as the dune sites of Catherine Hill Bay, and bush reserves like Wyee Point Park, for the benefit of native flora and fauna,” Mr Harvey said.
“To be able to show other Landcarers their sites while learning about the threatened species they support really puts their hard work into perspective.”
Landcare volunteers donate their time in a variety of roles, from planting trees, removing invasive weeds and conducting flora and fauna surveys, to helping grow native seedlings in the Landcare Resource Centre nursery or assisting in the office.
For more information about volunteering with Lake Macquarie Landcare, go to lakemacquarielandcare.org or call 49210392. To learn more about the Environmental Trust Saving Our Species Swift Parrot project, contact debbie.saunders@anu.edu.au.
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The first Spring edition of Landcare enews is out now! https://bit.ly/2PA9LmS

Please vote for Sue's amazing Brush Tailed Rock Wallaby cake, as sampled at Lakeside Retirement Village Landcare on the bus tour today!

Nursery notes By Site Maintenance & Nursery Officer, Alex Wilson
Winter time in the nursery can be a relatively quiet time as things are growing much more slowly. It’s a good opportunity to collect seed which remains on the plant until it is collected. Many species of the Proteacea family fall into this category. Some, like Hakeas, just need to dry out for the seed to be released. Others, like Banksia spinulosa, need to be heated before the seed is released. In nature thi...s would happen with fire, at the nursery we use a BBQ.
Banksia cones are barbequed in a closed smoky BBQ (image 1) then, once cooled, seeds can be shaken out (image 2), falling through a grill to be collected in a bucket (image 3).
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Chinese Violet survey for the Hunter region
Lake Macquarie has 4 known sites of Chinese Violet. The results of this survey will help develop projects to eradicate Chinese violet, which is a fast growing smothering weed.
It is a threat to both agriculture and our natural environment. Even if you have never heard of this weed, your opinions are still very important.
... The link to the survey is https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Chinese_vi olet_weed_survey. Survey closes on 17 September 2018.
If you have seen this weed, please let Council’s Vegetation & Pest Management Coordinator Kim Hignell on 49210333 know of the location.
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