Projects & programsIn working towards our vision to protect and enhance critical woodland habitat, we have initiated a number of funded field projects and programs. Here’s just a
Scroll down the page for further information.
|
Like to know more about us?
Read our Strategic Plan 2013-2018, read our latest Year in Review or subscribe to our regular eNews updates.
Or, find out how you can get involved. 
|
|
Empowering people to create wildlife habitat 'where they live'
Recently, the Network was fortunate to secure a Victorian Government Project Grant to fund a series of seminars and field trips in 2017/18 aimed at educating the local community about native wildlife habitat and encouraging them to create wildlife habitat ‘where they live’. A mix of science and practical experience, the seminar programs discussed the structural elements that make up wildlife habitat, how habitat needs differ between various species and how these habitats can be recreated. The first seminar, 'Gardens for Wildlife', discussed recreating wildlife habitats in urban gardens, including a look at garden styles, what features can be added to both new and existing gardens to create habitat for a range of wildlife, and what Australian plant species are best for attracting wildlife to the home garden; from birds, small mammals and lizards to butterflies, native bees and other beneficial insects. Taking a slightly different tack, the second seminar entitled 'Farms for Wildlife' focussed on creating and improving wildlife habitats on lifestyle blocks and in farm settings. Revegetation works and scattered farm trees help to create corridors to facilitate species movement through the landscape, while structural features such as nest-boxes, hollow logs and rocks provide shelter, food and places to breed. And wildlife aren’t the only winners. Improving farm biodiversity brings benefits for humans too, both economically, and for personal wellbeing and mental health! As valuable as learning about the science and hearing people’s practical experiences can be, there’s nothing quite like seeing habitat creation projects for oneself. That’s why the seminar series also included two field trips, the first to a sustainable farming property near Serpentine, and the second touring the Australian Garden at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Cranbourne including a special ‘behind the scenes’ look at how the RBGC works to protect and monitor a local population of Southern Brown Bandicoot. So ended a worthwhile and informative series. If you missed out on the seminars or would like a recap of the information presented, check out the speakers’ presentations and links on our ‘Events and Resources’ page. Pictured at right (from top): 1) Attendees at the 'Farms for Wildlife' seminar at historic Tottington woolshed; 2) Royal Botanic Gardens ecologist, Dr Terry Coates, points to evidence of nocturnal foraging by Southern Brown Bandicoots in the native bushland adjacent to the Australian Garden at Cranbourne; 3) 'Gardens for Wildlife' seminar attendees collect their free Australian native plant to start them on their habitat creation journey; and 4) Inspecting shelter belts during a tour of a private property near Serpentine, Victoria. |
|
|
Funding secured to continue bio-link and
nest-box programs Over the past year, the Network has been co-ordinating a range of activities aimed at protecting and enhancing habitat for our region’s threatened and declining species; species such as the threatened Brush-tailed Phascogale and other tree-dwelling mammals. Funded under Round 2 of the Victorian Government’s Threatened Species Protection Initiative (TSPI), these activities have been a community effort. Year 9 woodworking students from Donald and St Arnaud Secondary Colleges have constructed nest boxes, children from the Navarre and Moonambel Primary Schools (pictured left) have planted trees and shrubs to help create woodland linkages in the landscape, and local landholders have either made small areas of land available for revegetation works or allowed Network volunteers to access woodland on their properties to install the nest boxes. But with the TSPI funding coming to an end, imagine our delight on learning that our application for further funding under the 2017 Community and Volunteer Action Grants had been approved – funding that will enable our programs and community engagement activities to expand and continue for a further three years! Ultimately, the region’s threatened and declining species will be the beneficiaries of these important works; not only the Phascogale but iconic species such as the Laughing Kookaburra and Southern Boobook which are in decline across southern Australia due to loss of habitat. If you live in north-central Victoria and would like to be involved in this important program, Contact Us. back to top of page |
|
Helping to save the iconic Silver Banksia
In 2017, the Kara Kara CMN recently put out a call to the community in and around St Arnaud to help locate remnant patches of Silver Banksia (Banksia marginata) in the region as part of a state-wide project aimed at saving this iconic native species. Silver Banksia was once common across south-eastern Australia but over time widespread land clearing has seen its range decline to the point that it now occurs only in small isolated patches or as single aging trees. Many of these smaller Banksia populations are at risk of becoming inbred, leading to a loss of vigour and poor germination rates while reducing a population’s ability to recover from environmental ‘shocks’ such as disease. The Silver Banksia Project aims to ensure the survival of this species over the long term using the combined efforts and cooperation of several conservation groups around Victoria. Leaf samples taken from local Silver Banksia populations were sent to Deakin University for a ‘DNA health check’. The genetic profile of each population was then compared with the DNA of plants from other sites in Victoria. Seed from the healthiest populations are being used to establish Silver Banksia ‘orchards’ at several locations around the state, as well as the Network's own seed production areas near St Arnaud (see below). Some of the seedlings these orchards produce will be reintroduced into local Banksia patches to improve gene flow, while others will be used in future revegetation projects on both public and private land. In the meantime, if you think you might have Silver Banksia growing on your property and would like to help, get in touch. back to top of page |
Pictured: Silver Banksia. (Photo: D. Saxon-Campbell)
Silver Banksia genetic testing results are in!
Genetic testing of Silver Banksia leaf samples collected by Kara Kara CMN other conservation groups and individuals across central Victoria undertaken by geneticist, Dr Adam Miller, of Deakin University revealed the following key findings:
In a nutshell, if we are to save the Silver Banksia, we need to act now! To read Adam's full report, see our Events & Resources page. |
Pictured: Year 9 students from Donald High School hard at work monitoring a Network project in Stuart Mill Conservation Reserve.
(Photo: D. Saxon-Campbell) |
Case Study: Environment Week about more
than planting trees The week of 18-22 September 2017 was Environment Week for 22 Year 9 students from Donald High School and what better way to reconnect with nature than to participate in a range of conservation programs with the Kara Kara CMN! The opportunity for student assistance is usually a great opportunity to undertake some revegetation works and this year was no exception. From their base at Stuart Mill, students travelled to the west of the St Arnaud Range to a private property at Tottington to spend a day helping to expand a biolink between the Big and Little Tottington Nature Conservation Reserves. But while revegetation works are important, we also wanted to give students the opportunity to experience something a bit different. So, with monitoring of past projects a focus of the Network’s activities in 2017, we designed a day-long education program of outdoor activities in Stuart Mill Conservation Reserve. With students working in teams, the morning saw them undertake some monitoring exercises in two fenced grazing-exclusion areas within the Reserve; the aim being to teach them why monitoring is important and acquaint them with some basic monitoring techniques. With the hard work done, the afternoon was spent visiting and discussing a number of other Network projects within the Reserve with the aim of getting students to interpret what they were observing, both at the project sites and in the woodland environment around them. We also developed a series of questions that the teams were required to answer at day’s end. Both days were a great success, but the monitoring education program was a particular hit, with students enthusiastically entering into the exercises to win points for their teams, while thoroughly enjoying themselves at the same time. Special thanks to the students and teachers for their assistance and we hope to play host to a new group of students next year. back to top of page |
Help for threatened and declining flora
A new Network project that will gain momentum in 2017 is the establishment of Seed Production Areas (SPA) on private properties at Emu, Carapooee and Carapooee West. The main objective of these SPAs is to propagate seedlings for use in future revegetation projects; however, they will also serve another vital role in helping to bolster existing and isolated remnant populations of declining native species such as Buloke (Allocasuarina luehmannii) and Silver Banksia (Banksia marginata).
Commonly associated with Box woodland on alluvial soils (DSE 2004), Buloke was once widespread across Victoria’s inland plains, but now occurs mostly in small, isolated and ageing copses or as scattered trees on private land. Buloke regeneration is also being hampered by intense grazing pressure. So it’s really no surprise that this species is listed as threatened in Victoria (DEPI 2014). Similarly, Silver Banksia has also disappeared from much of its former range across south-eastern Australia (ANPC 2015).
As well as being incorporated into the species mix for future revegetation projects, seedlings propagated from locally-sourced seed of these declining species will be used to promote gene flow and increase genetic diversity in isolated remnant populations. We also propose fencing some remaining Buloke populations to reduce grazing pressure and foster natural recruitment.
Funded under the Threatened Species Protection Initiative and by a Landcare Grant, this project will also help us to identify those native species with a greater potential to be able to adapt to south-eastern Australia’s drying climate.
References:
back to top of page
A new Network project that will gain momentum in 2017 is the establishment of Seed Production Areas (SPA) on private properties at Emu, Carapooee and Carapooee West. The main objective of these SPAs is to propagate seedlings for use in future revegetation projects; however, they will also serve another vital role in helping to bolster existing and isolated remnant populations of declining native species such as Buloke (Allocasuarina luehmannii) and Silver Banksia (Banksia marginata).
Commonly associated with Box woodland on alluvial soils (DSE 2004), Buloke was once widespread across Victoria’s inland plains, but now occurs mostly in small, isolated and ageing copses or as scattered trees on private land. Buloke regeneration is also being hampered by intense grazing pressure. So it’s really no surprise that this species is listed as threatened in Victoria (DEPI 2014). Similarly, Silver Banksia has also disappeared from much of its former range across south-eastern Australia (ANPC 2015).
As well as being incorporated into the species mix for future revegetation projects, seedlings propagated from locally-sourced seed of these declining species will be used to promote gene flow and increase genetic diversity in isolated remnant populations. We also propose fencing some remaining Buloke populations to reduce grazing pressure and foster natural recruitment.
Funded under the Threatened Species Protection Initiative and by a Landcare Grant, this project will also help us to identify those native species with a greater potential to be able to adapt to south-eastern Australia’s drying climate.
References:
- Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) (2014) Advisory list of rare or threatened plants in Victoria. Available from URL: http://delwp.vic.gov.au.
- Australian Network for Plant Conservation Inc. (ANPC1) (2015) Bringing Back the Banksias: Partnering to save Silver Banksia from the brink. Available from URL: http://anpc.asn.au/banksias.
back to top of page
Nest boxes: port-a-homes for native wildlife
If you’ve ever been shopping for a new home, you probably had a wish-list of features in mind. Many of Australia’s native birds and mammals use tree hollows for shelter and breeding and, like us, they have particular preferences when seeking out a new home. Size, shape and aspect are all important hollow attributes, as is safety from predators and, for some species, even the type of eucalypt. Birds such as parrots, kingfishers, owls, nightjars, pardalotes and ducks all use hollows, as do many species of arboreal mammal including possums, gliders, antechinus, phascogales and various species of microbat. Australian eucalypts have evolved to form hollows, dropping their branches which are then hollowed out over time by fungi, termites and other natural processes. However, hollows can take many decades to develop, sometimes up to 120+ years. With the number of mature hollow-bearing eucalypts in our native forests becoming severely depleted due to land clearing, timber harvesting and other causes, the installation of species-specific nest boxes can alleviate this hollow shortage and help to secure the future for our native wildlife. Nest boxes can also be useful tool for surveying the wildlife that inhabits a particular area, or in observing how birds and animals behave. If you’d like to install some nest boxes at your place and you live in the St Arnaud area, contact the Kara Kara CMN. We can help with sourcing sturdy nest boxes designed to suit a range of wildlife, or if you prefer to build your own, we can advise on appropriate box design and placement. Pictured: Native arboreal mammals such as the Sugar Glider (above) and Yellow-footed Antechinus (below) rely on tree hollows for shelter. 
|
Case Study: Students construct nest boxes for native wildlife
Each year, the Kara Kara CMN enlists the help of students from the regional secondary colleges to construct nest boxes to benefit the region’s native wildlife. Involving woodworking students from St Arnaud, Charlton and Donald Secondary Colleges, the boxes are being used to help address the shortage of tree hollows for the region’s tree-dwelling mammals, and in particular, the threatened Brush-tailed Phascogale which is known to occur in the woodlands around St Arnaud. Phascogales aren’t the only species that will benefit from the project. Antechinus as well as several glider and possum species also depend on tree hollows for breeding, shelter and protection from predators. It is hoped that the nest box project will help to relieve tree-hollow competition for these species as well. The Network installs the student-constructed nest boxes in remnant native woodland on private properties around St Arnaud. An ongoing program to monitor nest box activity is commencing in 2018.
|
Powerful Owl, Ninox strenua
(Photo: C. Tzaros) |
Woodland birds project
The findings of our woodland bird project are in and the news isn’t good, with at least 30 species found to be at moderate to high risk of local extinction. These results represent the findings of a study undertaken in 2014 which analysed data from two sources: firstly, from survey data made available by the St Arnaud Field Naturalists Club Inc. covering the 12-year period from 2002 to 2013; and secondly, from field surveys conducted during 2014 to collect baseline data on contemporary woodland bird assemblages in the Kara Kara CMN territory. Thirty-four woodland species were selected for analysis, including species identified in other studies as being in decline in southern Australia; species of conservation concern; and species identified by the researchers as occurring at low levels in the field. To summarise the study results, 26 (76%) of the selected species were either absent (4 spp.), present as isolated records only (4 spp.), in decline (8 spp.), or their occurrence rates remained steady but at low levels (10 spp.). The remaining eight species (23%) increased in occurrence, although rates for all but two species were low. When occurrence rates were averaged to determine occupancy status, 88% of species were either absent (4 spp.) or had low occupancy (26 spp), and the remaining 12% (4 spp.) had moderate occupancy, although in decline. To read more, read the woodland birds presentation on our Events & Resources page. Woodland birds are one of the Kara Kara CMN’s key conservation targets and these results will help us in prioritising habitat rehabilitation and restoration efforts going forward. They will also form the basis for ongoing monitoring of woodland bird assemblages in our region over time. |
|
Common Myna project
A native of south-east Asia, the Common Myna (Sturnus tristis) – sometimes called the Indian Myna(h) – has steadily gained a foothold in south-eastern Australia since its introduction in the mid-19th century. Following a marked increase in the number of Myna sightings in and around St Arnaud, the Kara Kara CMN launched the Common Myna Project, aimed at raising awareness and educating the community about Myna ecology and control. This aggressive and invasive bird pest contributes to the decline of threatened native birds by out-competing them for food along forest edges and in urban areas, and by occupying tree hollows that would otherwise be used by native birds as nesting sites during the breeding season. The Kara Kara CMN is encouraging the local residents and the wider community to help stop the spread of Common Mynas, mostly by limiting the availability of their food sources. Simple things like feeding pets indoors, cleaning up grain spills, avoiding putting out seed for native birds, and covering chicken pens with wire netting to exclude Mynas from gaining access to food scraps can help stop the spread of this invasive pest. To find out more about Common Mynas and what you can do to help stop their spread, read our Fact Sheet. The Kara Kara CMN also has a specially-built Myna trap which is available for loan to the community on payment of a refundable deposit. The trap also comes with a Fact sheet of usage guidelines covering trap use as well as information on the humane disposal of captured birds. back to top of page |
Common Myna, Sturnus tristis
(Photo: BirdLife Australia) |
Page last reviewed: 6/6/2018
