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Thursday Sept. 9th
Friday Sept. 10th
Sunday Sept. 12th
Friday Sept 17th
Friday Sept 17th |
Social group luncheon at the Courtyard, Goldie Street, Wynyard, At 12.30 pm. Phone Barbara on 6442 3436 to book.
Committee meeting at the Hollingsworth's, 10 am.
Outing to Tamar Wetlands, (small donation) leader Faye Whiting. Bus Wynyard 8.40 am, Burnie 9 am, Ulverstone 9.20 am.
General meeting at the Guide Hall, Howe St. (off West Park Grove, next to the shop) 2.00 pm.
Henry Somerset Lecture, speaker Peter Mooney of Parks and Wildlife Service, commences 7.30 pm. at Polytechnic Theatre, Mooreville Road Free admission Please bring a friend, and a plate of supper . |
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Newsletter items to be in by 25th of the month, but preferably earlier. Pease send any items directly to Barbara. Thank you. Printing by courtesy of Bryan Green MHA | |
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B.F.N. GENERAL MEETING 20TH. AUGUST 2010- | |
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V. PRES.
APOL.
CORRES. IN:
CORRES OUT:
FINANCES
GEN. BUS
PLANTS B. DUDMAN
Meeting Closed |
Opened the meeting at 2.p.m.
E. Ransley
Launc Naturalist, B & E term deposit, Bulletin Landcare membership renewal, Hall hire document, What's Happening in the N.W., N.E. Naturalist Acceptance from P. Mooney Somerset Lecture N.R.M. News.
Reply to What's Happening in the N.W. E- Moved B. Kolberg, sec. B. Evans that the inward corresp. be received And the outward endorsed. Carried.
FINANCES Open. Bal. $-
As P. Mooney is finding his own accommodation, it was agreed to pay For his partner's meal, to be held at the Beachway at 6.p.m. B. Hollingsworth to get supper supplies & B. Dudman to give introductory address..Posters to be distributed.Next outing to Tamar Wetlands, bus leaving Burnie 9.a.m. If weather unsuitable alternately Launceston Museum Inveresk. Outings using own car, passenger to Pay 10c. per kilometre.
Pterostylis Grandiflora (greenhood)N.E. sensitive tongue Chiloglottis Formicifera (bird orchid) Dendrobium Speciosum (rock orchid)Waterfall N.S.W. DEFINITION OF AN ORCHID The sex organs on a column , 3 petals outside dorsal & 2 laterals) And 3 sepals.Some species have fused petals.In 1988 7 forms of Speciosa from Cape York to Northern Victoria were listed . Now There are 13.Speciosa never flower off a new cane, but flower off a node and may take several years,Some have short squat canes and others much higher, Grown in a coarse mix and left in the sun. They are very strongly perfumed particularly in the morning and can Be quite overpowering.
3:35 PM |
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LIFFEY FALLS TRIP
15 souls set out on this trip, led by Lexie Paul. Wet weather was forecast and by the time the bus arrived at our destination we were in light rain which continued for the entire walk, only subsiding by the time we arrived back at the bus. We had a "pit stop" at Deloraine and marvelled at the amount of water flowing over the weir, but all within the river's banks; then travelled past Quercus Park(Agfest site) to Bracknell and onto Liffey. All the creeks and the river were full, running bankers, but not in flood. We parked at the camping ground, on the start of the lower track, and thus had a little over an hour's walk to the falls, so we had lunch in the bus, before setting off. The rain meant we didn't tend to look up very often, and we had to watch where we put our feet as the track itself was a rivulet at times. All sign of our inward footprints were totally gone by the time we walked back out. The track wound its way slowly uphill to the first bridge where we saw our first
and only flowers out, on the sassafras. There were more stands of the sassafras as
we ventured further up the track, all in flower. Cyathodes was in fruit with its
delightful pink seed pods. When we did stop and look across the river, the lichen
stood out, dripping from the dead branches of trees up and down the valley. Two significant
clearings were almost over- Bridge number three, over a creek, was at the top of the track, at the junction to the falls walk and to the upper cascades path. Barry was the only one to venture up the upper cascades track, looking for orchids of which he found leaf sets of the greenhoods. Those of us that reached the falls were well rewarded with the most powerful spectacle of so much water pouring over the edge. By the time we arrived back at the bus, the sun was weakly shining through the clouds, which help to cheer us as we were all soaked, either with leaking coats or boots or both, but all feeling very satisfied and pleased with our efforts and the walk. Those had had been on this same track 25 years ago commented that the track to the first bridge was originally lightly grassed under the trees, similarly to the area in the camping ground, but has now regenerated to the forest that we walked through. In the clearing where the bus had parked, an oddity of bright green was seen on a slim, but dead tree, looking like a green echidna stuck up the there. It turned out to be a patch of moss with fruiting heads. Birds seen or heard on the trip were magpies who were gathering dried grass for nest building, scarlet robins, and a flock of yellow tailed black cockatoos, seen returning to their roost as we were nearing the end of our walk. On our way in, at Liffey, we passed a flock of Little Corellas, (see the article below), and on the drive home, currawongs and the "piece de resistance"; a wedge tail eagle, first spotted by Bill, our driver, and he then tried not to use the noisy brakes to scare it off, as it was dining on a wallaby carcass in a paddock only about 10 feet from the roadside. Unfortunately the size of the bus was too much for it, but it was a wonderful sight as it flew off to a nearby tree. The acacias along the roadsides were in various stages of flowering; coming into flower, in full flower and past flowering as we drove past, and on our way back into Deloraine, we were stopped by a dairy herd of very pregnant mainly jersey cows walking down the road to fresh pastures. Into Deloraine for our ice cream stop and then home. It was a long and wet day, but thoroughly enjoyable. Thank you Lexie Louise Gibson | |
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Corellas
Order: Psittaciformes (cockatoos & parrots)Family: Cacatuidae (cockatoos) There are two species of corella native to Australia: Little Corella (also known as the bared eyed cockatoo, bloodstained cockatoo, short- The birds we saw on Sunday are the Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea). The species is endemic to Eastern, Northwestern and Northern Australia. It is so common in its natural habitat that it has become something of a pest throughout much of Australia, as it can be destructive to the trees in which it perches by chewing the bark off smaller twigs. The Little Corella congregates in flocks of up to several thousand birds, which often include many Galahs. This cockatoo generally roost in trees overnight, and flies off to feed in the early morning with an almost deafening screeching. It mostly feeds on the ground, eating seeds including cereal crops such as wheat and barley. Males and females look alike. Immature birds look like adults, but have a shorter bill and their periophthalmic ring (ring around the eye) is less blue. Size: Average length: 36 to 40 cm (15 ins), wing length 288 - Louise Gibson | |
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THE BADGERS REVISITED, After a sixty- I persuaded my sister to accompany me, and two noted disorienteers embarked on a nostalgic trip. Following Sheffield's High Street and almost to the Golf Club, Badger Road turns to the right and a few metres along there is a large sign, "Kimberley's Lookout". Kimberley was a convict's son made good, acquiring sizeable properties and running many sheep flocks. He was attributed to discovering the first ford over the river at Kimberley, and it was his wont to scale the Badgers to locate his sheep prior to mustering. This sign lists the native flora and fauna. Starting on a four wheel drive track we eventually began ascending surrounded by plethora of flowering heath and passing a still pool with perfect reflections enhanced by croaking frogs. The track deteriorated after a time as motor bikes have cut deep channels in the soft gravelly soil. Surprisingly it was much steeper than I recalled. Wonder of wonders! We reached our target, a few rocks surmounted by a trig marker, and were rewarded with a lush view of Sheffield, Railton and surrounds, a little obscured by trees. Lunch consumed, the return journey commenced with a little trepidation as to whether we would emerge where the car was parked. Paths take on a different aspect when returning. My daughter suggested we should photograph specific features along the way, so the could be referred to on the way back. Also binoculars would have been handy; where were those two items? Home, of course! Amazingly we ended up at the car, and consequently felt vindicated over our Trowutta Arch debacle One Up! On "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered!" Bev Kolberg | |
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Dendrobium speciosum: Rock Orchids At the August meeting I displayed a plant in bud and described the habits of this popular orchid. This is a group of orchids which are native to Eastern Australia, from Cape York down to North Victoria, and grow on tree trunks or rocks. The book, "Orchids of Australia" 1988, describes six varieties which have distinct characteristics. In "Native Orchids of Australia" 2006, David Jones has raised eleven varieties to species status, and describes growth habit, flowering, habitat etc.. I grow my plants in large pots which are in full sun and left undisturbed for years,
and they flower at their best each two - Much work has been done by hybridises in crossing selected clones, and there are
specific "SSpeciosum - Barry Dudman | |
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Forthcoming Bird Count - Love the beach? Care about shorebirds? The second count of resident shorebirds that live between Narawntapu National Park and Stanley will take place between October 9th and November 6th . A free resident shorebird awareness and identification workshop is being held at the Devonport Entertainment and Convention Centre on October 9th from 11 am to 4 pm. A field trip to Moorland Point is included. Registrations are required by September 18th Phone Hazel Britton on 6425 2785, or email lbonney@cradlecoast.com for more information. | |
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LEECHES! AAAGHH After the soggy walk to Liffey Falls we were back on the bus changing out of our wringing wet clothes. Suddenly there was an urgent appeal for salt. Someone had found a leech intent upon draining her lifeblood. A minute later two more cries for salt set everybody searching for these hungry little parasites. Karen Richards and Chris Spencer of the Forest Practices Authority have produced this article on the dear little friends: "All Tasmanian leeches have 34 body segments with a powerful suction pad on each
end. They are hermaphroditic - Leeches are grouped by their feeding method. In Tasmania there are three terrestrial
species that seek human hosts, all of which are jawed leeches. All three species
are similar in appearance and distributed state- "Sensory organs on the head and body surface enable the leech to detect changes in light intensity, temperature and vibration. A keen sense of smell is provided by chemical receptors on the head, and there may be more than one pair of eyes." The leech, when it has found a victim, will generally attach itself to a hotspot where the blood flows close to the skin, such as body crevices. The leech chooses a bite site then holds its body rigid and flattened against the host. This position holds the sucker in place while it incises the skin, utilising its jaws to make a V or Y shaped incision. Mucus containing anaesthetic is produced; this bonds the sucker to the skin and dulls any sensation to the victim as the jaws are used like minute saws. On completion of the surgery, a saliva solution containing histamine and anticoagulant, hirudin, floods the tiny wound." Pretty disgusting, but very clever and effective! "The leech relaxes its body and allows the blood to flow, ingesting it by using the
blood- Many untruths exist concerning the pulling off of leeches from the body. You should remember that: • You will not bleed to death. "There is no evidence to suggest that leeches transmit blood- The authors claim that many ideas exist as to a repellent. This include soap lather,
eucalyptus oil, lavender oil, tea- | |
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ROAD KILL
There's so much wildlife, all the tourists say, making their way to sanctuaries and parks, where they may, if they're lucky, catch a glimpse of strange marsupials, wombats,
potoroo, bandicoots, or sugar gliders, quolls, or red-
But on the roads, there's quite a different sight, the smashed and bloodied bodies of the slain, the dead and dying creatures, struck by cars or trucks with trailers packed with logs too high. Don't swerve for wildlife, traffic pundits say, or you, yourself; may be the next to die.
The politicians, ever seeking praise, make policies for wider, faster roads, to save the motorist a little time in travelling, or for shopping on the way. And so the carnage by the cars goes on, the wildlife hassled, frightened, maimed, or dead, their ancient crossing places all ignored unsafe at morning, evening, night or day. |
The wedge-
And in the night, the owls caught in the lights of cars or trucks, their great white faces glimpsed as ghosts, the barn owl, boobook and the masked, out on a search for moths, which like themselves are splattered on the glass.
Then there's the devil, found throughout the night, seeking to scavenge rather than to slay; unlike the possums and the kangaroos, which dazzled, face the lights and stay, the devil turns his back, and if he's lucky, lopes away.
But sometimes, in the pouches of the dead are long-
The tourists take away their souvenirs, their photographs of many lovely places, but on their cars remain the sorry traces perhaps within an unseen tyre tread, there's fur or flesh or feathers, blood or bone, mementos of the wildlife maimed or dead. Mary Kille |
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Revegetating Penguin Habitat
Lexie and Barry will be wearing their Coast Care hats on Sunday, September 5th, from
1 pm -
Sharing Travel Costs
It has been agreed that a contribution to the owner of the vehicle of 10 cents per kilometre is very fair. Set the trip meter before setting out, and read it at the end of the journey, To comply with insurance and legal niceties, contributions should be made at the end of the trip, not the beginning.
September Quiz Question
What are vomerine teeth, and where would you find |
Keep out Website up-
Remember to send Peter your CD or photos through the post and he can scan them into our site. Or you can send them to his email address. (If you need help, your Online Access Centre will show you what to do,) Peter Robinson, 11, Jacaranda Drive, Margate 7054.
August quiz answer
Nodes holocyclus, a most undesirable pet, is the tick, that causes paralysis in humans. |
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PRESENTATION FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 17TH COMMENCING 7.30 pm AT THE POLYTECHNIC (TAPE) LECTURE THEATRE MOOREVILLE ROAD, BURNIE GUEST SPEAKER PETER MOONEY WILL PRESENT A POWER POINT LECTURE ON THE MANY ASPECTS OF THE PARKS AND WILDLIFE SERVICE INCLUDING: - How the Service is Organized Achievements Risks and Threats Challenges Solutions ALL ARE WELCOME SUPPER WILL BE SERVED FREE ADMISSION
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