What goes bump, scrabble scratch in the night?

Can you tell at 15 paces, in the dark, what local animal is peering at your from the treetops? 

Dr Chris McLean can and he’s offered to guide some local untrained eyes to peer into the night and discover the presence of our nocturnal neighbours. The early darkening winter nights and the blossoming of winter flowering gums make this an ideal time for spotlighting.

Dr McLean is an arboreal animal specialist, which means he knows the animals that live in the trees and is very good and identifying them from a glimmer of eyeshine or a chatter in the distance.

A family friendly spotlighting expedition is planned for Saturday dusk, 19^th July from 5.30pm-7pm to explore the local bushland and identify the night-time animals in our bigger backyard.

RSVP by 18/7/14 is essential to provide the meeting place and confirm the numbers. Contact Suzanne Pritchard on 0438 596 741or by email to cppa.tsls@gmail.com 

National Tree Day at Gurranba Reserve

Preparations for National Tree Day are well underway at Gurranba Reserve with the solarising sheets of plastic secured against the elements. Stray sticks were used to spread the stress of the pegging process. With four weeks to go until the planting event it will be interesting to see the effect of this non-chemical treatment of weeds.

A pile of mulch will be arriving at the reserve in the week before the planting. A thick layer of mulch will be spread after the planting to suppress and control the weeds in the new planting of Themeda grasses.

Themeda Grass growing at Gurranba

Coal Point Public School students will be undertaking the major planting of the native grasses on Friday 25th July between 12:30 and 1:30pm. Parents are welcome to attend.

The community event on Sunday 27th July between 10am-noon will complete the planting and mulch the site. Refreshments will be provided. All are welcome, BYO buckets, mulch-forks and wheelbarrow.

Stray sticks were used to
help spread the stress on the plastic
and prevent them lifting
in the wind (again)

If you have any questions about the National Tree Day planting process at Gurranba Reserve please contact Jason Harvey ant the Landcare Resource Centre on 4921 0392.

The plastic sheets help
trap the heat and kill the weeds

Nesting boxes as home-hollows

Every animal needs a home and the majority of Australia’s tree dwelling mammals use tree hollows. Since European settlement, clearing of land and felling of old growth trees has left a shortage of home-hollows. It takes over 100 years for some habitat hollows to develop as fungi and termites take their toll on the tree trunk and this is where nest boxes can make a huge difference to the survival of the local species.

The Threatened Species Last Stand project is about supporting the local wildlife and this year the aim will be to increase the number of habitat options for the threatened Squirrel Glider by installing nest boxes. Nest boxes are a great way to share your bigger backyard, watch the local wildlife and get to know them.

On Saturday 9^th August as part of the Hunter Region Landcare Network’s meeting at Progress Hall there will be a workshop session on assessing the best location for nestboxes and installation techniques. Everyone is welcome to attend the meeting or just the workshop session.

On Saturday 6^th September to celebrate Threatened Species Day there will be a local BioBlitz with a mass installation of nestboxes supported by Lake Macquarie Landcare’s Super Saturday Session. The aim is to install at least 30 nestboxes throughout our community. These home-hollows will then be monitored for occupants and will allow us to work out the extent of the Squirrel Glider population in the area.

Would like a nestbox at your place? If you would like a nestbox installed in your bigger backyard please contact Suzanne  to get the process in progress. 

Solarisation of weeds.

Have you ever had a patch of weeds and wanted to get rid of them without chemicals?

Have you ever had so many weeds your green waste bin was full?

There’s a solution to both these problems that is being successfully utilised around our local reserves…solarisation of weeds.

The Weekend Gardener says it succinctly “Solarisation is a simple nonchemical technique that captures the radiant heat and energy from the sun and causes physical, chemical, and biological changes in the soil. These changes lead to control, or suppression, of soilborne plant pathogens such as fungi, bacteria, nematodes, and pests along with weed seeds and seedlings”.

Local landcarers will be using this technique to prepare the planting site for National Tree day at Gurranba reserve. It will involve laying and securing black plastic over the area to be treated for 4-6 weeks, heating up the soil and killing off a range of weed seeds and pathogens prior to planting.

The technique has also been used to compost weed material on landcare sites saving both time and resources in trying to remove a lot of weed material. You may have noticed the black solar sausage rolls in some of our reserves. The rolls heat up and compost the contents allowing the nutrients and organic matter that was incorporated into the weed material to be returned to the reserve in a non-invasive form.

Asparagus fern update- By Robyn Gill

The Asparagus plant we struggle with doesn’t produce delicious, edible spikes but seems to attract birds, which enjoy their red berries and spread the seeds everywhere (including constantly in our garden). In its several weed forms Asparagus covers the ground, climbs trees and sometimes takes shrubby form, even sometimes looking quite different (as Bridal Veil Creeper) which has recently been declared a Class 1 Noxious weed in NSW and in all these forms since 2012 has been listed as a Weed of National Significance.

We have most of the Asparagus weed forms in our reserves and often in the gardens which surround them which makes control very difficult and the work, especially on slopes, hard on legs and hands especially when they are bigger and have a firm hold on the ground. Any assistance with control of these prickly plants in gardens helps and is much appreciated.

Here is a removal technique on the blog.

TSLS Project Update

Robyn Gill, Stephen Hardy and Lois Simpson
 inspecting the bush regeneration

The Threatened Species project recently received a visit from the Grant Administrator Stephen Hardy who provided some extremely positive feedback on the 2^nd year of activities.  

The feedback report states “The grantee continues to achieve outstanding results and excellent value for money with this grant. Output targets for number of volunteers, hours, number of students and area of weed control have been significantly exceeded. Monitoring of progress has been implemented at a very high standard. The project is well on its way to meeting its objectives”.

The report provides further positive feedback stating “ Project management and coordination of activities has been of a high standard and the grantee is to be congratulated on their achievements to date. It is very pleasing to note the level of volunteer input toward this project. This is an excellent example of the potential for community champions and volunteers to effect environmental change at a regional scale.”

Got a birdbath? Bathing Birds Project is looking for citizen scientists

National Parks Association of New South Wales (NPA) in partnership with Birds in Backyards and The University of Sydney are seeking participants for an exciting new citizen science initiative: Bathing Birds. In this initiative we will be exploring which birds are using bird baths and how our gardening habitats are influencing which birds are present.

The project will run from Friday the 27th of June until Sunday the 27 of July and we will run the project again in January to compare differences in birds using the bath. To take part all you need is a birdbath that you can monitor for 20 minutes up to 3 times a week

If you are already registered as a citizen scientist with NPA please contact Dr. Gráinne Cleary at grainnec@npansw.org.au. If you are new to NPA citizen science, go to www.bathingbirds.org.au to sign up!

On Sunday 22 June, 10am – noon Project Coordinator Dr Grainne Cleary will present on current National Parks Association (NSW) programs and partnerships including Bathing Birds and Great Koala Count at the Belmont Neighbourhood Centre, 359 Pacific Highway, Belmont North

Bookings are essential to Council on 4921 0333.

Want to join the CPPA?

Membership to the Progress Association offers some significant local benefits. Access to Progress Hall for hire, opportunities to get additional support looking after your bushland block through the Threatened Species project and the knowledge that your commitment to the community is being considered in  discussions about local developments.

Membership to the Progress Association can be requested at any time throughout the year by downloading the membership form from the web or contacting our Treasurer John Gill,  the Treasurer’s bag is always open!

Backyard Habitat Workshop

Join us for some hands on learning about how to attract native wildlife into your garden and create your own backyard habitat!

Please bring gloves and wear clothing and footwear appropriate to assist in a small planting activity to improve local habitat.

When: Monday 23 June, 9:30am – 11:00am


Where: Landcare Resource Centre, Toronto Road, Teralba


RSVP: To Council on 4921 0333 or council@lakemac.nsw.gov.au

It’s Play Outside Day On Sunday 4 May

On Sunday 4 May, it’s our Play Outside Day. Put on some comfortable shoes and be part of something big!

Many of us don’t get out into nature much. We’re too busy, plugged in to screens and rushing through our busy lives. But nature is crucial to our health and wellbeing — and to the health of our planet.

Nature is our life support system. It underpins our communities, our economy and our livelihoods. We all need clean air and healthy rivers, yet our politicians seem determined to exploit and damage the environment. But when nature is diminished, so are we.

That’s why on Sunday 4 May, we're holding Play Outside Day. Let’s reclaim nature and grow our connection with each other and the places we love!

Come along, explore and enjoy some of the best bits of bushland along the peninsula on 4^th May 10am-1.30pm. Meeting at the gates to the Hunter Water land off Whitelock St. More information about the day can be found here

Experienced naturalists will be on hand to pass on the passion, there’ll be a treasure hunt for the young at heart and an opportunity to connect with like minded local folk.

Guardian Groups around Neighbourhood Nodes

On Sunday 6th April a Guardian Group event will be held around West Ridge East Neighbourhood Node between 10am -1.30pm meeting on the ridge behind the School. There is a map and more details on the blog.

This event is an opportunity to learn from experienced bush regenerators about the beauty and the beasts within the bush. Answers to the following questions and more will be provided.

• What natives are lurking under the lantana? 
• Will a nest box or a Spotted Gum help the Squirrel Gliders stay put or encourage the Regent Honeyeaters to stop by? 
• How do you control Asparagus Fern?

A morning tea will start the session and determine if you and your neighbours can benefit from the resources available from the project. For more information about the Guardians Gathering please contact Suzanne Pritchard at cppa.tsls@gmail.com or ph 0438 596 741.

Who gives a Hoot?

Powerful Owl

You can join the Powerful Owl Project on Sunday 13 April, 10am to 1pm at Coal point at Progress Hall, 197 Skye Point Rd

Come along to hear about the owl’s habitat and threats, the results of the Powerful Owl research project and receive training to become an owl observer.

Bookings essential to Council on 4921 0333.

And speaking of Honeyeaters…

A Regent Honeyeater was formally recorded on the Coal Point peninsula a few years back and as a Critically Endangered Species, with only 800-2000 known birds, it is certainly worth seeing what we can do to support its ongoing survival by increasing its foraging habitat. Additionally what’s good for the Regent Honeyeater is also good for the Squirrel Glider.

Regent Honeyeaters are generalist foragers that need nectar producing trees, being a honeyeater, There are quite a few local trees and shrubs that would be just thing to lure this visitor to your bigger backyard and give it chance for surviving into the future. Local Eucalypts which are to its liking include Swamp Mahogany-Eucalyptus robusta, Grey Gum-Eucalyptus punctata and Spotted Gum-Corymbia maculata. Insects make up about 15% of their diet and a shrubby understorey provides the right habitat for bugs as well as for nesting materials.

Trees In Newcastle has produced A local resource on Creating Stepping Stones for Nectar Feeders outlines what plants you can supplement your garden with if you have

• A large block in coastal forest or sheltered gullies
• A large coastal garden on sandy soil
• A courtyard on sandy soil
• A large garden on swampy soils
• A small garden on swampy soils

A Regent Honeyeater fact sheet is available online.

Threatened Species Update

The first full year of the Threatened Species project will be completed on March 31 with the submission of an Annual report. The project will continue for another 4 years, providing lots of opportunities to support local landholders restore and regenerate the wildlife corridor that spans the Coal Point Peninsula.

Since the project commenced there has been

• 5680 hours of volunteer time provided of which 3432 hour was landcaring
• 66 training sessions in landcaring techniques for 26 people
• 15 local organisations have been involved, including Coal Point Public and St Josephs Primary schools and Carey Bay Preschool.
• 1376 plants have made it in the ground with 90% survival rate
• 10.5ha of public bushland has been regenerated
• 6.6ha has been weeded
• 17 awareness raising events held interacting with 830 people
• 42 educational products produced including flora and fauna reports, 11 Chronicles, 39 updates on the blog, 2 maps, a movie, a banner, a brochure and planting guides

The Threatened Species project is providing the opportunity to garner and gather information about the local environment in one spot. Since the last Chronicle there has been new information uploaded for sharing far and wide including some static pages holding information about

• The plants in our Bigger Backyard containing a local plant list collated from surveys and planting recommendations for replacing weeds
• The animals in our Bigger Backyard holds the bird surveys, a map and a movie about habitat hollows
• A helping hand for the last stand shares programs you can get involved with
• The Changes in our Bigger Backyard contains the photopoint monitoring for the project

A bit about bats

Recently a talk about Microbats was given Anna McConville at the Lake Macquarie Landcare Super Saturday Session.

Microbats are more common than you think. There are 23 microbat species in the Lower Hunter with five local threatened varieties. Many are no bigger than your thumb, they have small eyes and all of them use echolocation (hearing) to find their favourite food, insects, especially mosquitoes.

Unlike the Megabats, such as the Flying Foxes, who use their superb night vision, feed on nectar and pollen and have a wing span of up to 1.2m you would hardly notice a microbat.

Microbats are hollow-roosting, mossie-munching mammals that can eat up to 50% of their body weight each night. They will shimmy under bark, congregate in caves, tuck into tunnels, and cozy up in culverts. Being so small they only need small spaces to snuggle into which is why loose bark, hollow logs and branches are needed for their survival.

There are several different types of microbats.

• Gleaning microbats are slow fluttering flyers who pluck their food on the wing.
• Free-tailed microbats are swift fliers who like the wide, open spaces.
• Forest bats are the smallest and fly around the branches and canopies of trees eating mosquitoes, flies and moths.
• Gould’s Wattled Bat is the most common and likes the forest edges.
• Fishing bats skim the still water surface for aquatic insects.
• Bent-Wing Bats can fly up to 10km a night and are a Threatened Species
• Greater broad-nosed bats are a larger beetle eating microbat which is also threatened.

Microbats can best be seen at dusk and are often mistaken for small birds. The only one that you are likely to hear is the White-Stripe Freetail bat whose cicada like cheap is within the audible range of humans.

There will be an opportunity to search for Microbats a little later this year on the community spotlighting events and as part of the Bioblitz event in September.

There are lots of interesting fact sheets available from the Australasian Bat Society covering topics such as

• Bats in your belfry? What to do if you find bats in your house

• Boxes for Bats: Information about roosting boxes

• Tree pruning and bats: things to consider before you lop the branches

Threatened Species Last Stand On the Coal Point Peninsula Update

In 2014, as part of the Threatened Species Last Stand on the Coal Point Peninsula project, there will be lots of support on offer and opportunities to learn about the local bushland, locate the treasures that are hidden amongst the shrubbery, identify the worrisome weeds that need constant control and befriend the wildlife that share the Coal Point – Carey Bay area.

Every Thursday there is landcaring on the public reserves along the Coal Point peninsula. On the 1^st Thursday of the month there is an extra landcare session at Threlkeld Reserve. There are experts on hand to share skills and knowledge. You can pop in for any amount of time you want to. The Coal Point Progress Association’s blog has a calendar of local landcaring events, information and links to resources about the project.

Over the past year several ‘neighbourhood nodes’ of interest have been identified where locals have been keen to get additional support to look after their ‘bigger backyard’. This year these nodes will be used a starting point to connect the interested locals as a guardians group for their patch. The ‘neighbourhood nodes’ have been called Carey Bay, West Ridge and Stansfield. The dates when landcaring activities and Sunday support will be happening in these areas is available on the blog.

On the first Sunday of the month from 10am-1.30pm a Guardians Group field day will be held for local landholders who live adjacent to public reserves. Two bush regenerators will be on hand to share their knowledge and skills.

At the field day you can

· Discover and photograph the beauty in the bush on a guided walk.

· Learn about the unique local native plants at your back fence

· Identify the weeds in the local bush and learn how to control and remove them

· Enjoy a morning tea with your neighbours who share the bigger backyard bushland

· Find out about local landcaring activities

· Participate in a landcaring session

· Sign up for the Backyard Habitat for Wildlife program

· Have an environmental property assessment undertaken as part of the Land for Wildlife program

· Register for a National Tree Day planting

· Purchase or order

o  native plants

o  nest boxes and

o  bush regeneration services

Come along on the 2^nd of March for the West Ridge-West gathering or 6^th of April for the West Ridge-East event. You’ll meet your neighbours, learn new skills and find out about the wonderful bushland we share. Contact Suzanne Pritchard for more information, to RSVP and for meeting place directions on 0438 596 741 or cppa.tsls@gmail.com.

The meeting spot for the West Ridge West gathering on March 2^nd is at the top of Whitelock Street near the Hunter Water gates.