Protecting and enhancing our region’s natural resources
NRM in Spring - look out for Harriers in the Harvest
September 2021
cradle to coastlines
cradle to coastlines in this issue Get involved in NRM Page 3 this Spring Welcome, Nick Page 6 Jamson Somerset PS restore Page 7 habitat Cat Tracker Project Page 8 results
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7
Feral cat control Page 10 delivers results Page 11 Carnivorous plants Page 12 Silt in flood waters Page 13 Sustainable ag forum proves popular IPCC report calls for Page 14 action Page 15 King Island birds Page 16 Arthur the penguin Friends of Three Page 18 Hummock Island trip Page 20 Reclaiming Howie Page 22 Congrats & thanks! Page 24 Events and activities
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12
Like our Facebook Page Cradle Coast NRM for all the latest news, events 16 and NRM activities. Front cover: Swamp Harrier nests are often hidden in hay fields. Photo by Ali Dugand.
1-3 Spring St, Burnie Tasmania 7320 03 6433 8400 www.cradlecoast.com www.facebook.com/CradleCoastNRM/
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GET INVOLVED IN NRM THIS SPRING! Threatened Species Bake-off Entries are open in the annual Threatened Species Bake-off. The bake-off is a nationwide competition, organised by the Threatened Species Commissioner, to raise awareness
of
the
threatened
species
that
organisations like CCA are working to help protect.
Bandicoot garden design at NRM North NRM North have a helpful new booklet available. It is part of their project to protect populations of Eastern Barred Bandicoots. In it, “five
unique,
specialised
and
You are invited to bake a dessert in the shape of a
beautiful garden designs have
threatened species and share it on Facebook using
been created to inspire backyard
the hashtag #TSBakeOff
gardeners
This
year’s
theme
will
focus
on
‘Ecosystem
and
professional
landscapers to create habitat for
Engineers’. Ecosystem engineers have an important
Eastern Barred Bandicoots.”
role to play in Australia’s unique environments and
The designs and plant suggestions
include any species that modifies, improves, or
will work in the Cradle Coast, too,
creates habitat. We are all encouraged to do some
so if you’re looking for spring-time
‘digging’ and celebrate our diverse range of
garden inspo, why not think about
remarkable Australia’s
threatened lesser-known
species,
particularly
our bandicoot buddies and check
threatened
ecosystem
out the booklet online here.
engineers.
In previous years, CCA has entered cakes shaped as a
Giant
Freshwater
Crayfish,
Preminghana
Billybuttons, and a Shy Albatross. Please tag CCA NRM if you bake a cake inspired by
Attention all cat owners! There have been some recent amendments
to
the
Cat
Management Act 2009. A few of
one of the 107 threatened species in our region, and
the changes came into effect on
stay tuned for our delicious entry this year!
1 March 2021, while others will start
(Entries due by Wednesday 8 September)
on 1 March 2022. If you want a quick rundown on all the changes or if you feel like you have any unanswered questions, TassieCat can help you out. Their new brochure ‘Cat Management Legislation in Tasmania’ provides all the answers. Visit
www.tassiecat.com/legislation download the brochure.
p. 3
to
Springtime citizen science Springtime is frog time! Don’t forget about the Frog
ID app, that will help you find out who is creaking in your creek. Available from your app store. The Aussie Backyard Bird Count is on again in October. You can count as many times as you like between 18-24 October, in any type of backyard. Record your results in the handy Backyard Bird Count app. Spring is when one of our favourite birds returns to our region from a winter break somewhere warmer. Swamp Harriers are known as “the farmer’s friends”, because of their excellent pest control skills. If you see a Swamp Harrier working on your farm, you can help it out in return. Look out for a nest, and mark it so that it is not disturbed by harvesting operations. Some farmers pile hay bales around the nest to protect it. Check out Harriers in the Harvest for more information and advice. Visit: harriersintheharvest.com.au
Applications are now open for the 2022 Science and
Penguin Guide Training - new guides needed for Burnie and Lillico - 18 September
Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture,
Friends of Burnie Penguins and
Fisheries and Forestry. This competitive annual grants
Friends of Lillico Penguins are
program supports young Australians aged 18-35 by
running
funding projects to the value of $22,000 that will
guide training and are always in
benefit Australia's primary industries.
need
NOW OPEN! 2022 Science and Innovation Awards grants
✓
You're working or studying in an agriculture,
fisheries or forestry related industry.
their of
annual
new
penguin
guides.
Guides
welcome visitors and ensure the safety of the penguins at local
✓ You're between 18 and 35 years old. ✓ You're an Australian citizen or permanent resident. ✓ You have an original research project idea that
penguin
relates to a significant, longstanding or emerging
Evelyn Devito on 0437 149 747 or
agricultural issue.
message
✓ You demonstrate dedication to the future of rural and regional industries.
Applicants can apply in more than one category but only one Award per applicant will be granted. For the full list of eligibility and funding criteria, visit the website. https://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/conferences -events/scienceawards
p. 4
viewing
platforms
at
Burnie and Lillico Beach during the warmer months. For
more
information
Burnie
contact
Penguin
Observation Centre on Facebook. And to learn more about the region's Little Penguins, check out CCA’s online learning module here.
2021 Tasmanian Community Landcare Conference - Launceston 1-3 October 2021 The biannual conference weekend brings together Landcarers from across the State over three days, offering
a
wide
workshops,
panel
range
of
speakers,
discussions,
field
hands-on days
and
networking opportunities. Landcare Tasmania will move to an online event if a community outbreak of COVID-19 occurs in Tasmania in the next few weeks. They acknowledge that meeting online wouldn't be the same, so would offer whole ticket refunds minus an admin fee.
Swift Parrot photo by Dr Tom Sayers
Swift Parrot nest box monitoring at Kelcey Tier Devonport City Council used a Communities
Environment
CCA is very pleased to be able to support this event as
Program grant, and the help of
a Bronze sponsor and funding bursary tickets for local
Devonport Men's Shed to install
volunteers. Look forward to seeing you there!
100 nest boxes in one of the
Tickets and more information are available here: https://events.humanitix.com/tas-landcare-conf21
remnant
patches
of
critical
habitat for the species in Kelcey Tier reserve. Now they would like your help to see whether the nest boxes are in use! Please contact Phil Hrstich at PHrstich@devonport.tas.gov.au if you have some time to spare and would like to get involved.
Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden’s new platy-cam Local tourism attraction, Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden, is now able to show off their resident platypuses to virtual visitors from around the world! A live “platy-cam” has been set up in one of the ponds at the gardens, so you can tune in to the relaxing scene here on YouTube. The project was supported by a regional tourism grant to Business North
West.
You
can
visit
the
Rhododendron Garden in person if you live
in
Tassie,
see
https://www.emuvalleyrhodo.com/ more information.
for
A platypus at the Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden. Photo by Karene Bracken.
p. 5
Welcome, Nick Jamson
Nick and Spencer inspecting Rice Grass in the Rubicon River.
We have a new starter in the NRM team! The Cradle Coast Authority has appointed a
Nick holds a Bachelor of Environmental
new NRM Project Coordinator to oversee the
Science
Rice Grass removal project in the Rubicon
Resource Science. Recently, he has also
Estuary, as well as the Rice Grass removal
started a Masters of Catchment Science at
component
Griffith University. Nick and his partner are
of
the
Coastal
Saltmarsh
(Honours),
majoring
in
Natural
Recovery project in Circular Head.
currently living in Port Sorell.
Brisbane born and raised, Nick has seven
“I feel very fortunate to be living and working
years of experience in natural resource
in the north-west. I’ve had my eye on Tassie
management across a range of sectors
for a long time, and to finally be here is
including
agriculture,
fantastic. The CCA NRM team is doing some
infrastructure and mining. Nick has worked
really interesting and important work to
across large parts of eastern Australia, both in
safeguard the region’s acclaimed natural
industry and as a consultant. Nick and his
resources, and I look forward to bringing my
partner moved to the Cradle Coast in July this
knowledge and experiences to the table,”
year.
said Nick.
government,
p. 6
Somerset Primary School helping local restoration project You may have heard about the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration. It has inspired the theme to this year’s Tasmanian Community Landcare Conference and many other local, national and international conservation efforts. But what is the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration? The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the UN Decade, which runs from 2021-2030, following a proposal for action by more than 70 countries. It is a rallying call for the protection and revival of ecosystems all around the world, for the benefit of people and nature. It aims to halt the degradation of ecosystems, and restore them. Ecosystems support all life on Earth. The healthier our ecosystems are, the healthier the planet - and its people. Led by the United Nations Environment Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, The UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration is building a global movement to ramp up restoration and put the world on track for a sustainable future. As part of National Tree Day 2021, NRM Engagement Officer Hannah Sadler was invited to join Somerset Primary School students and Tom and Sarah from New-Gen Environmental Services to contribute to an environmental restoration project on the outskirts of Somerset. Over many years private landholders have been controlling invasive weeds, protecting existing remnant vegetation and improving the biodiversity of a waterway.
Somerset Primary School students view a mature forest to see how big their seedlings will grow!
The students at Somerset Primary School have been learning about what living things - including humans - need to survive: clean water, shelter, food and fresh air. The students planted seedlings and went for a bushwalk to see what the seedlings will grow to become and how these trees support the living things around Somerset. Hannah talked to students about the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration and students brainstormed all the things we can do over the next 10 years to ensure the resilience of these ecosystems we rely upon. To find out more about the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration visit: https://www.decadeonrestoration.org/
Wetland restoration and remnant vegetation protection on private land near Somerset
p. 7
Map of one cat's activity shown through Cradle Coast Cat Tracker Project, 24 hours a day over 6 days
Here…. kitty, kitty! In September last year we launched the Cradle Coast Cat Tracker Project in collaboration with Biosecurity Tasmania. The aim of the project was to provide cat owners with information on where and how far their cats roam away from their property. Around 70% of cat owners let their cats roam the whole or part of the day. But do they know where their cat goes and what potential dangers it might encounter? A nation-wide survey conducted in 2019 interviewed 5385 cat owners about their past and present cats.
More than 60% mentioned that they had lost at least one previously owned cat to incidents related to an outdoor lifestyle. Car accidents were identified as the leading cause of death, but many cats just never returned home, and their owners do not know what happened to them. Twenty cats from across the Cradle Coast region were tracked using a light-weight GPS tracker attached to a harness. We only tracked 20 cats as this was a pilot project to trial the harness design.
p. 8
A total of eleven cats were successfully tracked for six consecutive days. Two cats refused to wear the harness and seven cats lost the tracking equipment and it could not be recovered. While this is a small sample size it does provide us with an important insight into the home ranges of cats living in periurban areas. Using the tracking data, we calculated the home range for each cat. The home range of an animal is the area which it uses on a regular basis; the area it lives in as well as the places it normally travels to for food and shelter. The results show that all the tracked cats
roamed
away
from
their
owner’s
property. The size of the home ranges of the 11 cats varied from 0.2 to 7 hectares, with a median size of 1.4 hectares. One hectare is 100
metres
by
100
metres
and
equals
approximately ten 1/4-acre residential blocks. For each cat, we counted the number of roads
crossed.
As
expected,
rural
cats
crossed fewer roads than urban cats, but cats regularly crossed three roads per day with
We used a light-weight GPS tracker called an i-gotU GT-600. The tracker weighs 39 g and is the size of a small match box.
two cats crossing as many as 13 roads on some days. One of the rural cats, Reilly, regularly walked up and down the road for 300 metres to go and visit the neighbours. This data shows that roaming cats often move further away from home than their owners believe. We hope that providing cat owners with information on how far the average cat roams
will
help
them
make
informed
decisions about their cat’s safety and care.
For a copy of the full report visit www.cradlecoast.com/cat-tracker/.
p. 9
John Bowden, expert cat trapper, says bandicoots and wrens bounce back has
One place John regularly works is at Point
over
Sorell shearwater colony. Nearby landholders
many years of volunteer and paid efforts. At
and PWS have given him permission to
several sites that he works at regularly, he
access their land, and in the early years of his
has seen feral cat numbers decline, and a
efforts there, ravens were in huge numbers.
satisfying increase in Superb Fairy-wrens,
They were scavenging on hundreds of dead
Southern Brown Bandicoots, and Eastern
shearwaters and penguins that cats had
Barred Bandicoots as a result.
killed. John caught 18 cats there that year. In
Cradle
Coast
honed
his
John
also
local,
John
cat-trapping
spends
time
Bowden,
technique
working
as
a
Discovery Ranger and naturalist tour guide, so he’s very observant and knows what he’s
the most recent season, he only managed to trap one cat, and there were far fewer shearwater carcasses for ravens to eat.
looking at. “Bandicoots have the fastest
Another client of John’s is Dulverton Waste
gestation of any mammal, so it doesn’t take
Management Facility, where he has trapped
the population long to recover once we get
an incredible 254 cats since 2016! New cats
rid of cats. But when there are a lot of cats in
arrive there all the time, apparently in skip-
an area, I really notice that I don’t see any
bins of garbage. It is a constant effort, but
of the little wrens and silvereyes around, and
John is completely committed to keeping
I don’t see evidence of bandicoots,” John
feral cat numbers down across the region,
said.
and helping reduce a big threat to native wildlife.
John Bowden at Point Sorell
p. 10
Carnivorous plants of the Cradle Coast Did you know that Australia is home to the highest number of carnivorous plants in the world? They have a fascinating natural history, detailed here in an Australian Geographic article. There are two types that are common across Tasmania. Not the showy pitcher plants and flytraps, but the even more interesting sundews (Drosera; 11 species in Tas) and bladderworts (Utricularia; 8 species in Tas). Drosera species love peaty alpine areas, and if you look closely, you might see some tiny Sundew Bugs, that can avoid the sticky “dew”, and help the plant to digest the insects that do get trapped.
Bladderworts in Tasmania are mostly terrestrial, instead of aquatic, as in other places, but they also need wet peat soils to survive. Their carnivorous bladders are underground or underwater, and snap closed with an incredible force that sucks in the hapless invertebrate that comes too close. Since mosquito larvae also play in peaty puddles, and March Flies frequent the
Drosera species with a trapped snack item (Pelecorhynchus sp.)
p.11
alpine tarns where Drosera hunt, these carnivorous plants are doing us all a favour. Upload your photos of Drosera and Utricularia to iNaturalist, and add your observations to the Carnivorous Plants of Tasmania project. This way, experts can ID your discoveries and we’ll all learn more about the distribution of our very own pest-control plants.
Dirty waters
Our wet winter has resulted in our rivers running brown and plumes of brown water where they enter the sea along the north-west coast. Increased siltation of our waterways poses a high risk to the Giant Freshwater Crayfish. Siltation or sedimentation can affect a crayfish’s ability to breathe oxygen through the gills, and this affects the animal’s health, particularly during its juvenile stage. Sedimentation can come from bed or bank erosion within a waterway, from stock access and in-stream stock watering points, from dirt roads and farm crossings, from exposed soil in or near waterways and from land clearing in the catchment. Vegetation, especially deep-rooting woody vegetation on the top of the river bank, is essential to hold the banks together and prevent erosion. It is also important to leave a well vegetated buffer zone between the paddock activities and the waterway, to filter out nutrients, soil and fine sediments carried downhill in wet seasonal conditions.
Inglis River in flood
Access tracks and farm crossings also need vegetated buffers (which can be grass and not just trees) between their runoff drainage and the waterway, to filter out the sediment and nutrients. Waterway crossings need careful design and installation, avoiding bends in rivers and creeks where water velocities are always higher. Pipes and culverts are easily blocked by sediment and woody debris and can lead to increased bank and bed erosion. Bridges are more expensive to install but often cost less in long term maintenance, whereas gravel crossings or causeways are cheaper to install but may lead to major bed erosion which is difficult and expensive to fix and often leads to loss of productive land when banks are undermined and collapse as a result of bed lowering. Giant Freshwater Crayfish do not cope well with crossings or culverts and often travel overland to avoid them. Soil erosion from farming and cropping activities can also turn the waterways brown. Reduce the risk through measures such as cover cropping, cultivating on the contour of the slope and maintaining vegetated buffers between production land and waterways.
p. 12
Local agriculture forum talks productivity and sustainability
On Friday the 6th of August the second WalkerAg Consultancy Industry Forum was held in Ulverstone, bringing together farmers and expert speakers to discuss the latest advances in crop agronomy, natural asset protection and farm education programs. This forum is becoming recognised as a key event in the north-west agricultural calendar, led by local independent agronomist Tim Walker from WalkerAg Consultancy and supported by the agricultural industry across the region, including the Cradle Coast Authority. CCA Agriculture Project Coordinator, Ali Dugand, presented at the forum on the use of seasonal cover or ‘breaker’ crops to reduce the risk of soil erosion, and how to incorporate them into a mixed farming rotation. ‘Cover crops cost approximately one-tenth of the value of the soil potentially lost due to erosion and they also have many other benefits for north-west farmers including improving soil structure, water infiltration and nutrient availability’, said Ali. Around 90 people congregated to listen to an array of expert speakers, on diverse topics including:
Onion variety trials and new disease management options New aspects of biosecurity legislation in Tasmania Slug control options with reduced withholding periods Benefits of foliar nutrient applications for crop yield as well as pest and disease resilience Training and education opportunities for agricultural apprentices To conclude this learning and networking event, Henry Terry of Tasmanian Truffles delivered a thought-provoking session, giving an insight into the logistics of establishing a truffle orchard. Since the advent of COVID-19, his business has increased their value-adding component to remain competitive in the national and international marketplace – a good message for all producers.
For more details: Ali Dugand Protecting Our Productive Soils Project Coordinator adugand@cradlecoast.com This project is supported by Cradle Coast Authority with funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.
p. 13
That might not sound like much, but consider this: when the world exited the last ice age, all it took was 5C of warming. And that happened over 5,000 years.
IPCC Report - a call to action The
sixth
assessment
report
from
the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was released in August. 234 scientists read 14,000+ research papers to write the UN's IPCC report, making it the most comprehensive climate report ever released… and the results are definitive. Humans are responsible for the observed warming of the atmosphere, lands and oceans and urgent action is required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel burning and deforestation. The latest IPCC report says that within a decade,
global
warming
could
push
temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, and calls on policymakers to take urgent action on climate change. So far, the world has warmed by just under 1.1C, the report concludes. That's compared to the "pre-industrial" baseline, which is treated as the average temperature from 1850 to 1900.
During that period, it took about 1,000 years to warm by 1.5C; now, we're on track to warm 1.5C in about 50 years. Humans have not existed in a climate like this before, and it's getting worse. If we reach 2.5C of warming, that will be a temperature the Earth has not sustained for at least 3 million years. While the IPCC's report makes for grim reading, there are some reassuring details. It isn't too late to secure a future where warming is kept below 1.5C and we avert many of the most worrying impacts. In November the world is gathering at the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow, Scotland. Countries are expected to "ratchet up" their pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions in line with their promise to try to stop warming at 1.5C. You can view the Summary for Policy Makers (39 pages) or the full report via this link: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/
Flooding is projected to become more common in Tasmania because of climate change. This picture was taken at the Inglis River in 2016 after flooding. p. 14
King Island bird update Over on King Island, ecologists working on our King Island Birds Project have discovered King Island Brown Thornbill in more sites than expected, and King Island Scrubtit in fewer sites than hoped. Both birds are critically endangered, and this project is all about mapping their habitat, working out which parts of the island support important vegetation for them, and making recommendations about how we can protect their populations.
The surveys are already showing that even small remnant patches of native vegetation are important. KI thornbills, in particular, rely on forest with eucalypts and a complex understorey. All detections of KI scrubtits were associated with Melaleuca ericifolia communities. The main threat for both birds is habitat loss.
King Island Scrubtit Photo by Mark Holdsworth This project is supported by Cradle Coast Authority with funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.
p. 15
Arthur the Penguin
Penguin Rehab and Release are a local
He came in at only 738 g, very underweight
Landcare group with a gang of extraordinarily
and severely dehydrated. He had dried oil on
committed volunteers. Arthur’s Story by Kathy
the surface of his feathers, and evidence that
Grieveson, is available on the Landcare Tas
he had been struck by a vehicle, and suffered
website, and you can also follow updates
a traumatic brain injury, lacerations to his face
about penguins in care on their Facebook
and eyes, long gouges scraped off his upper
page. Here’s part of Arthur’s Story, that
bill, and the feathers on his face appeared to
demonstrates the effort that the volunteers put
have been singed by the hot chassis. He had
in.
also ingested oil.
Arthur is quite an extraordinary Little Penguin
Arthur’s carers followed vet advice and
who came into care with some extraordinary
treated
complications. He was found in January at
painkillers,
the mouth of Crayfish Creek, sinking into the
bandages, dressings, home-made sponge-
sand at low tide. Huge thanks to Juleen who
clogs, hand-feeding, swim-training, weight-
found him and recognised that something
loss advice, entertainment and, clearly, a lot
was wrong, thereby giving this amazing
of dedication.
penguin a second chance.
p. 16
him
slowly
and
antibiotics,
carefully,
gentle
with
bathing,
PENGUIN FACT 1: Penguins have 3 times the feathers of any other bird (10,000) that form an overlapping waterproof coat that protects their thick down which keeps them warm in the sea. They spend a huge amount of time preening to keep their feathers in perfect condition, using a waxy oil from their preen gland to maintain their waterproofing. Anything disturbing the outer feathers can render them not waterproof, so they will no longer be able to dive or hunt.
PENGUIN FACT 2: Penguins are released into the water. This ensures they are fit for ocean swimming because if a penguin is unfit for release it will return to land, indicating that it may need to return to care. If it is fit for release it will swim out and not return. They are also released after the colony has left for their fishing grounds, so as not to disturb other birds, and before predators (such as sea eagles and seals) wake up and set out to hunt.
PENGUIN FACT 3: Penguins are very good at conserving their energy. while they're in care, they don't have to hunt for food or be on the watch for predators, so they have a tendency to just "snooze and cruise" when in the pool. it means that carers have to annoy them a bit to ensure they build the strength and stamina necessary for release. For Arthur that meant holding him in the water as he tried harder and harder to get away, and splashing water over him while he was diving to encourage him to stay underwater longer.
Arthur had a much bigger personality than other penguins that Kathy and the team have treated. He remained cheerful, interested and vocal throughout his treatment and recovery, even when re-growing his feathers after moulting (an uncomfortable process). After more than five months in care, in the wintery predawn, the volunteers said their goodbyes to Arthur. He was very excited to see and smell the sea again, jumping up to see out of his box. Then he was into the water and through the waves and then…he was gone. Goodbye Arthur. Stay safe out in the Big Blue. Live long and prosper. If you would like to hear more about the work of Penguin Rehab and Release, get in touch with the group’s coordinator, Kathy Grieveson, who is running a training session in October in Burnie. penguinrandr@gmail.com
p. 17
Inaugural FROTHI weeding trip a success! A small team of dedicated volunteers recently assembled on Three Hummock Island for the first working bee held by a new Wildcare group, FRiends Of Three Hummock Island! In less-than-ideal weather (but with glimpses of sun to keep spirits up), we worked hard on seven of the island’s many beaches, handpulling Sea Spurge from four sites totalling 1.2 hectares (along 1.4 km), and picking up rubbish across more than 14 hectares (along 5.5 km).
Because of the recent wild weather in the north-west, the beach profiles had changed considerably, and a lot of Sea Spurge was covered in sand. This meant that removing each plant required digging, sometime down more than 60 cm, and it was a sloooow process! Altogether we filled around 130 bags of Sea Spurge (5-10 kg each), disposing of the plants safely away from tides and storms in locations where they will compost away.
Sea Spurge, Euphorbia paralias, is an invasive shrub that can take over beaches and dunes. On Three Hummock Island, we are working to reduce threats to Hooded Plovers, and removing Sea Spurge before it gets out of control will increase the area of suitable nesting sites for beach-nesting birds.
FROTHI volunteers L-R Jesse, Amanda, Ian, Vaughan, Stephen, Lee, Don, Taylor (Iona taking photo) p. 18
As we hiked along the beaches, we also picked up all the plastic and rubbish we could see, reducing the risk that animals will ingest or become entangled in debris. There was a lot more plastic (as well as cuttlefish bones, seaweed and bluebottles) than we usually see on the island, also thanks to the storms. 865 pieces of rubbish were collected including buoys, tubs, bottles, bottle caps and miscellaneous pieces of plastic. 61% was small pieces of plastic and foam under 5 cm (the type that is easily ingested by seabirds and, sadly, has been found in the guts of shearwaters on the Cradle Coast). About a quarter of the volume of rubbish was rope and net – lost and discarded fishing gear. A bag containing 4.8 kg of rope has been donated (?!) to a local artist for basket-weaving. This working bee was supported by Wildcare, PWS, CCA (with funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program), and Three Hummock Island management, but nothing could have happened without the efforts of the volunteers and especially coordinators and island hosts, Taylor and Jesse – THANK YOU, FROTHI TEAM!
p. 19
Reclaiming Howie
Pacific Gulls, like many other sea birds, like an open vantage point for nesting. Their poacovered hill on Howie Island has been invaded by a Mediterranean plant grown in gardens, the Tree Mallow (Malva arborea). The plants have a fibrous “daisy-bush” stem, but grow rapidly over two years into a dense thicket up to 5 m tall, making the area impossible for the gulls to nest in. They flower in the second year, and their purple/pink flowers produce thousands of seeds, which rapidly germinate and replace older bushes.
This is an extract of a story by Rees Campbell and Col Meyers, talented authors, naturalists and conservationists (amongst other skills) from Wynyard. The full story can be read here. Howie Island is a tiny outcrop of land off the north-western tip of Tasmania, hidden between Stony Point at Montagu and Robbins Island. The island sits in Robbins Passage, a stretch of water known for extraordinary tidal movements, with deep fast-moving channels cutting through sea grass and sand flats.
We first observed a 10 m square area of Tree Mallow in 2007, and in 2010 we kayaked to the island and saw that the thicket had grown to almost 40 x 60 m, pushing the resident gull population off the knoll into hazardous nesting sites right on the high tide mark. We looked at each other and said “someone oughta do something about that”. So we did.
Like most islands, Howie is home to sea birds. It has a sandy knoll on the northern end originally covered with tussocks of native poa, which hosts a Pacific Gull rookery.
After researching minimal impact weeding on the island’s tiny and fragile ecosystem, we recruited and trained a group of unwary volunteers to withstand three primary problems: getting there, timing, and stinging nettles!
The Pacific Gull is magnificent, up to 65 cm long with a wingspan of up to 150 cm and weighing over 1 kg. It is strikingly-coloured with a massive red-tipped yellow beak, yellow legs, and an all-white body set off by a black back, wings and tail band. The juveniles (up to 4 years) are so different they are often thought to be a separate species, known as “mollyhawks”. They are mottled brown all over and only after the first couple of years change to the spectacular and dignified white and black of their parents.
Several times a year, for five years, we battled the unpredictable waters of Robbins Passage, and the vicious nettles (native and introduced), and carefully and methodically cleared the rookery of Tree Mallow. We have learned a lot about effective Tree Mallow removal over this time, and about the natural history of the island, and you can read more about it in the full version of this story, on the CCA website.
p. 20
Pacific Gulls are not endangered, nor even rare, but it is common creatures which drive ecological systems. There have been too many species regarded as common, and their value underestimated until they begin to slip into rarity. Habitat loss is a primary reason for so many extinctions, and currently 1 in 5 species of birds in Australia is under habitat threat.
Our efforts have been successful, and we’ve been delighted to see the island reclaimed by the birds after our hard work… however, as with many weed battles, this war is not quite won: Reinfestation continues, and biannual follow-up is required. In spite of some frustrations, the project has been extremely worthwhile from a conservation perspective. A huge thank you to all the volunteers and unfortunate family and friends who have been sucked in to giving us a hand, arm or leg by sweet talking from Rees and Col.
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CONGRATULATIONS, KUDOS, AND THANKS Cradle to Coastlines Reader Survey- thank you and prize winner! Thank you to all the people who completed our short survey about your experience of the Cradle to Coastlines newsletter. The results and comments have been extremely valuable and will help us ensure the newsletter remains interesting and useful to our readers. Please note that we welcome feedback anytime, so please send your comments or suggestions to hsadler@cradlecoast.com. Congratulation to James from Kindred who was the winner of the $50 voucher for the Tasmanian Produce Collective. The Tasmanian Produce Collective is a collaboration between a group of small-scale farmers and makers in Tasmania. Customers can order directly from the producers, helping support local sustainable food production.
New Cradle Coast NRM Strategy on track Thank you so much to all the community groups who have sent us comments and suggestions for our new NRM Strategy. It’s not too late if you still want to provide feedback at this stage. Later in the year, a public comment period will be open, and at that point, we’d love to start hearing your ideas for all the ways that we can work together to protect and enhance our priority NRM assets. One excellent tip we received was from the Central North Field Naturalists, who pointed out that the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) have now officially recognised fungi as a major component of biodiversity. We should follow suit, and replace references to “plants and animals” with “animals, fungi and plants”. After all, there would be no life on Earth without fungi (not to mention the devastating lack of wine and chocolate).
New orchid identified! Congratulations to Mark Wapstra and Craig Broadfield for describing a new orchid, Caladenia vulgaris var. nunguensis! The latin name is derived from the close proximity of the type-location to nungu (West Point) on the Cradle Coast. This orchid immediately qualifies to be listed as a critically endangered species under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act Display planter box at 14 days post seeding. 1999. A detailed peer-reviewed paper has been published in The Orchadian - the official journal of the Australasian Native Orchid Society Inc., Volume 20, Number 4 - June 2021.
If you are interested in learning more about our local orchids please contact us for a FREE copy of the ‘Beginner’s Guide to the Common Orchids of North West Tasmania’ compiled by Ian Ferris with technical advice and photography by Philip Milner. Copies are available during business hours from the Cradle Coast Authority or by emailing hsadler@cradlecoast.com. Photos Top: new orchid Caladenia vulgaris var. nunguensis (Photo: Craig Broadfield). Bottom: Spencer and Nick draw the Reader Survey voucher winner out of a hat.
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Successful grant will tackle Gorse and Broom from Ridgley to Waratah Congratulations to Burnie City Council and partners on receiving funding through the latest round of the Tasmanian Government's $5 million Weeds Action Fund. Burnie City Council has received funding for a highly collaborative project to control Gorse and English Broom across tenures from Ridgley through to Waratah. Council will work with Forico, State Growth, TasRail, private landholders and Waratah-Wynyard Council over the next three years to control these highly invasive weeds on the road and rail corridor. This project is funded by the Tasmanian Government through the Tasmanian Weeds Action Fund facilitated by NRM North with support from Cradle Coast Authority and NRM South. A list of all the successful WAF projects is available from the DPIPWE https://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/invasive-species/weeds/tasmanian-weeds-action-fund
website:
Photos: 1. Gorse flowering on a roadside 2. Weed Action Fund project planning with Council Weed and NRM Officers; Phil Hrstich BCC & DCC, Bill Walker WWC & CHC and Sonya Stallbaum CCC.
Redbank Farm a National Landcare Award Winner Congratulations to Sisters Creek farmer Michael Nichols who won the Australian Government Innovation in Agriculture Award at the recent 2021
National
employs
a
Landcare mixture
Awards. of
Michael
state-of-the-art
agricultural practices on his property Redbank Farm and it was his pursuit of precision agricultural
techniques
to
address
crop
variability and resource use efficiency which saw him win the award. Read
more
about
the
award
and
the
sustainably practices Michael employs from the Landcare Tasmania media release: https://www.landcaretas.org.au/tassie_farm_wi ns_national_award2
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Photo: Landcare Tasmania; Michael Nichols (centre) Accepts the Award, with Landcare Tasmania's Peter Stronach A/CEO (left) and Director Jonathan Lord (right).
Events and activities what
Who and more info
when
Threatened Species Day and Bake-off
Bake a dessert in the shape of a threatened species to commemorate Threatened Species Day on 7th September. To find out more visit: https://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threat ened/commissioner/tsbakeoff
Threatened Species Day, Tuesday 7 September. Bake-off entries due 5 pm, Wednesday 8 September tsbakeoff@environment.gov.au
Penguin Guide Training - Burnie and Lillico
Guides welcome visitors and ensure the safety of the penguins at local penguin viewing platforms at Burnie and Lillico Beach during the warmer months. Contact Evelyn Devito Ph 0437 149 747 or message https://www.facebook.com/BurniePenguinObserva tionCentre/
Saturday 18 September. UTAS, West Park, Burnie
Small Farm Living Field Day- Lillydale
Learn from a range of presenters, demonstrations, and stallholders about how to make your smallholding work for you. Contact Lauren from NRM North lbird@nrmnorth.org.au or visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/5488994529113 15/?ref=newsfeed
Sunday 26 September. 10 am-3:30 pm 231 Golconda Rd, Lilydale
Tasmanian Community Landcare Conference
Conference weekend for Landcarers from across the State. A wide range of speakers, hands-on workshops, panel discussions, field days and networking opportunities. For more information visit: https://www.landcaretas.org.au/conference2021
1-3 October, Tailrace Centre, Launceston
Aussie Backyard Bird Count
Just spend 20 minutes in your favourite outdoor space and note the birds you see during that period. You can submit your results using the app or the web form. Every count helps. Visit: aussiebirdcount.org.au
18-24 October 2021
Penguin Rehab and Release Training
Help rehabilitate injured Penguins. Contact Kathy for more info: penguinrandr@gmail.com or https://www.facebook.com/penguinrehabandrele ase
Thursday 21 October. Cradle Coast Authority, Burnie.
TIA Forthside Vegetable Research Facility Field Day
View the research trials, hear from researchers and industry innovators, and discover the smart technology in use on the farm. For more information visit: https://www.utas.edu.au/tia/events/items/forthside -field-day
Wednesday, 3 November. 10 am - 3 pm, Tasmanian Vegetable Research Facility, Forthside
1-3 Spring St, Burnie, Tasmania, 7320 03 6433 8400 www.cradlecoast.com www.facebook.com/CradleCoastNRM/
