BUSH TRACKS ’s quarterly magazine for active conservation

Protecting vulnerable natives from ferals Adult and juvenile brolga foraging at waters edge. Photo by Steven David Miller, Auscape International Pty Ltd.

On Naree Station in northwest New Soon David and Sue will travel across Naree’s There they will meet neighbours with their South Wales, the day has dawned clear vast alluvial floodplains to a semi‑permanent sheep dogs, motorbikes and sometimes and bright. In the cane grass swamp waterhole where they expect a less welcome even a gyrocopter, to muster the goats into behind the homestead, brolgas are sight – feral goats. Like stray cattle and temporary yards from which they will be picking their way through the shallow sheep, which the Akers have worked hard trucked off and sold. water on their long stilt-like legs. to remove since the purchase of Naree two Continued on page 3 years ago, goats can cause significant damage They’ll spend much of the day there to Naree’s fragile soils and vegetation. peacefully foraging for food – digging into the mud with their powerful bills. Rather than scouring Naree’s 14,400 In this issue hectares for stray ferals, the Akers have 4 The Umpila Rocky Lake survey For Bush Heritage Reserve Managers been systematically shutting down artificial 8 Bush Blitz unearths new discoveries David and Sue Akers, who live year‑round water points across the reserve – effectively 9 The scent of a quoll on Naree Station, the sight of these using the goats’ reliance on water to lure 9 Women in Conservation Breakfast stately native birds on this morning them to a specific point. This makes it 10 Snapshots to savour is a good omen. easier to both locate and remove them 11 Shared stories in sizeable numbers. 12 Caretakers of the desert

Summer 2014 www.bushheritage.org.au Right: Ms Chantelle Clarke, Western Rivers Region, during the opening ceremony hand over from South African rangers to Australian rangers. Photo by Wayne Quilliam. Below: Gerard at John Colahan Griffin Nature Reserve, Vic. Photo by Matthew Newton.

From the CEO Bush Heritage Australia Who we are Bush Heritage Australia is a leading conservation organisation, protecting millions of hectares of It was with great pride that I recently led Prominent in this field are the Myer ecologically important land for the a delegation of staff from Bush Heritage Foundation, The Vincent Fairfax Family benefit of nature and all Australians. in attending the IUCN World Parks Foundation and the JT Reid Trust Congress in Sydney. who supported the vision behind this Why we’re successful market‑based conservation program. This once‑in‑a‑decade event brought It’s our way of working that makes together our peers from around the globe Occurring almost entirely on private owned Bush Heritage Australia so successful and I was very proud to present our work land, the threatened grasslands and grassy – and makes us optimistic that we in this context – on our home soil but a woodlands of Tasmania’s Midlands contain can expand our great conservation global stage. many threatened species and communities work to meet the challenges ahead: such as the Tasmanian devil, spotted tailed The congress brought together conservation • We pursue non‑confrontational, quoll and wedge‑tailed eagle. leaders with a refreshing range of pragmatic solutions to perspectives and, for those interested The MCF enters into stewardship agreements conservation challenges. but unable to attend, many of the best with private pastoralists supporting them to • We work closely with our neighbours presentations and resources have been manage the land to improve conservation in each community and share the made available online and are well worth outcomes. With over 2,000 hectares of outcomes and knowledge gained exploring (see WorldParksCongress.org). grassland protected and stewarded across for the benefit of all. 12 properties the fund truly is a remarkable Highlights for me were the strong • Everything we do is informed by achievement that has delivered results where good science – aided by our staff representation from diverse indigenous more traditional approaches weren’t possible. groups and their incredible traditional ecologists and science partners. knowledge, as well as a much stronger Special acknowledgement must be given • We have more than 20,000 presence from private conservation groups. to the leadership of Pip Walsh and Jane (and growing) committed supporters Hutchinson, CEO of the Tasmanian Land who enable us to work on a scale While attending the congress we also Conservancy, and to our ecologist Matt that matters and to implement enjoyed the announcement that the Appleby and Andrew Cameron of the solutions that endure. Midlands Conservation Fund (MCF), TLC, who have done an outstanding job • We partner with indigenous developed by Bush Heritage Australia developing relationships with landholders. and the Tasmanian Land Conservancy communities, other land owners, (TLC) had won the Banksia Natural I must also recognise the participating non‑profits, businesses and Capital Award for its conservation work landholders of the Midlands without governments, because we in the Midlands of Tasmania. whose commitment we could stand to know that by working together lose the last remnants of these precious we can achieve so much more. Focusing on the Midlands’ International native grassland communities. • We buy land, and invest in Biodiversity Hotspot in Tasmania the our partnerships and our partnership with pastoralists, farmers, growing number of supporters. environment groups, State and Our mission is for the benefit Commonwealth governments is powered of all Australians, forever. by philanthropic investors in the Fund. Cheers, Gerard O’Neill, Chief Executive 2 Bush Tracks | Summer 2014 Left: Feral goats in a temporary yard. Photo by Nick Rains, Auscape International Pty Ltd. Below: a feral cat devours a native bird. Photo by Jiri Lochman / Lochman Transparencies.

Continued from cover “In 2007 we had 280 active Control of both predatory feral cats and foxes is crucial on Boolcoomatta, which The relative ease with which these goats warrens. Now we have about six provides sanctuary for species like the will be removed is testament to Bush – and they’re on the outskirts of endangered plains wanderer – a small Heritage’s approach to feral animal control: the reserve where we get the quail-like bird found on its open grasslands, our aim is to use the funds our generous and the nationally vulnerable dusky supporters provide as effectively as possible occasional ‘immigrant’.” hopping mouse. by working smarter. We then checked them regularly for any “We have traps on the reserve that are Feral animals like pigs, cats, foxes, rabbits renewed activity. Initially we did this a connected to a transmitter. I’m notified, and goats are a permanent feature of couple of times a week, then every few using the UHF radio network when a the Australian landscape, causing untold weeks, then every couple of months. cat gets into a trap,” says Glen. “It’s such damage to native species. “In 2007 we had 280 active warrens. a timesaver because previously I had to In the relatively short period since Now we have about six – and they’re check all the traps manually.” European settlement we’ve lost 29 of on the outskirts of the reserve where Depending on which feral animals are Australia’s unique mammal species – we get the occasional ‘immigrant’, present, our control methods vary on each with 89 more species and subspecies which is easy to control.” reserve but each is informed by science now at risk. In many cases feral animals Rabbits operate on a hierarchical and continually improving. are contributing to the decline. burrow system, so as soon as a better While our methods are sound, feral animal In Victoria, on our Nardoo Hills Reserves, burrow becomes vacant, they’ll move control is an ongoing challenge with no Global Positioning System (GPS) into it. The best burrows are targeted end in sight. It’s a continuous process that technology has been used in effectively and decommissioned again and again, requires substantial resources, dedication controlling rabbits. When Bush Heritage until no more rabbits remain. and smart thinking. Thankfully nature supporters helped us purchase the first Similar GPS-based systems are used provides regular reminders – such as the of the four properties that comprise on other Bush Heritage Reserves with sight of a majestic brolga in flight or a Nardoo Hills, rabbits were threatening substantial rabbit populations, including plains wanderer on Boolcoomatta – of the future of its temperate woodlands. Scottsdale in New South Wales and Bon the importance of this work in protecting These are the most threatened woodland Bon Station in South Australia. our most vulnerable treasures. ecosystem type in Australia, containing At Scottsdale the work is completed by rare native orchids such as the northern dedicated volunteers who return four golden moth orchid and the critically Help us manage times a year to ensure the rabbits don’t endangered robust greenhood. get a chance to re-establish. feral animals Nardoo Hills Reserve Manager Jeroen Please help us protect unique Technology is also being used to help van Veen has seen rabbit numbers landscapes, like Naree, from the us work smarter controlling feral cats plummet across three of the reserves impact of feral animals. Donate today on Boolcoomatta – our other South to virtually nothing in 2014. to ensure our feral animal control Australian reserve. program is fully funded for 2015. “Our first property was purchased in Here, thanks to the ingenuity of volunteers 2004 and rabbit control began about a Donate today at: Keith Gooley and Peter Calder, Reserve year later,” says Jeroen. “We walked the www.bushheritage.org.au/donate Manager Glen Norris now has an electronic properties with a GPS which allowed alarm system, which alerts him when us to accurately pinpoint the location any of his cat traps are activated. of each warren decommissioned.

Bush Tracks | Summer 2014 3 The Umpila Rocky Lake survey

Illuminated arcs break the darkness of “It’s important that we as young Johanne Omeenyo, an Umpila Healthy the rainforest night as a spotlight beam people go through the stepping Country Steering Committee member, swings back and forth from tree to tree. described her people’s aspirations as to stones of our forefathers from basically get families back out there so High above, almost directly overhead, the past and continue to keep people can manage their land. a young common spotted cuscus is momentarily caught by the light midway these places protected.” “Umpila country is a very significant country along a branch. Voices chatter on the – it’s rich and full of cultural values,” she Since 2006, Bush Heritage has worked forest floor and then the beam moves on added. “That’s why it’s important that we in partnership with the Balkanu Cape and he continues his slow and deliberate as young people go through the stepping York Development Corporation on search for food. stones of our forefathers from the past and an over‑arching Cape York Caring for continue to keep these places protected.” This is the Rocky Lake area. Its traditional Country Strategy. As part of this we custodians – the Umpila – have looked have supported assessments and planning Capacity building after this land for more than a thousand work with Traditional Owners in the generations. A thirteen hour bone‑shaking Coen sub‑region. The participating clans Bush Heritage helps support partners drive north from Cairns, Umpila country – the Kaandju, Umpila, Lama Lama and like the Umpila by facilitating capacity runs from the McIlwraith range to the Ayapathu own vast estates, which include building projects such as this one. west to the Great Barrier Reef to the east, the KULLA (an acronym for the clan During the trip the Umpila rangers midway up the east coast of Cape York names) National Park, though most of conducted ecological surveys at 14 different Peninsula in far north Queensland. the Umpila country is outside of this. sites, with support from the accompanying Remote and difficult to access, these forests In 2012, partnering with Bush Heritage, scientists. This provided a chance for the are also places of breathtaking natural Balkanu and The Nature Conservancy, rangers to get hands‑on training in animal beauty and extraordinary biodiversity. the Umpila Pama Malngkanichi Healthy survey, capture and handling techniques Country Plan was developed. – skills they’ll now carry with them into Working into the night is a team carrying the future. out baseline monitoring of plants and Planning sessions had identified the Rocky animals. Over four weeks of early rises Lake area as an important site that hadn’t Bush Heritage Partnerships Manager – and evening spotlighting, the crew – been accessed in some time. Baseline Northern Australia, Emma Ignjic, was part of including Umpila rangers (representing monitoring became a priority, to help the expedition and impressed by the results. their five different river clans), two Bush understand the conservation targets and “The team worked worked hard every day, Heritage staff, two staff from the Balkanu threats in the area, and to inform future often from five in the morning until 10 at Development Corporation, three zoologists plans and funding opportunities. night,” explained Emma. “They got involved and a botanist – have recorded a wealth For the Umpila, caring for country is also in using everything from pitfall traps with of species. about keeping their culture strong and drift fencing, funnel traps and buckets; hair healthy, as the two go hand‑in‑hand. traps; cage traps; Elliott (box) traps; camera trap stations; song‑meter (bat detector), and they did active spotlighting searches.”

4 Bush Tracks | Summer 2014 Opposite page: Top left: Johanne Omeenyo. Photo by Emma Ignjic. Bottom left: The new all terrain buggy at work. Photo by Dave Fell. Large photo: Ecologist Dave Fell working with Umpila rangers to record plant specimens. Photo by Emma Ignjic.

This page: Common spotted cuscus. Photo by Hans and Judy Beste / Lochman Transparencies. Giant tree gecko (Pseudothecadactylus australis). Photo by Anders Zimny. Palm cockatoo. Photo by Nic Gambold. White‑lipped tree frog (Litoria infrafrenata). Photo by Nic Gambold.

Exploring the An‑binik jungle A second major survey with our Aboriginal partners was conducted recently on the As a result of the fauna surveys, 108 birds, Very few introduced plants or feral pests West Arnhem Plateau, traditional 30 mammals (not including micro bats), were recorded, and traditional burning land of the Wardekken people. 15 amphibians and 40 reptile species practices will continue to sustain the were recorded. The Umpila rangers and quality and condition of its range Our long‑standing partnership (since Traditional Owners also engaged in cultural of habitats. 2006) produced Wardekken’s first activities, collected cultural resources and conservation management plan and With this baseline monitoring complete recorded traditional knowledge. helped protect many species listed the Umpila can start working with partners as nationally or locally threatened, Many of the native fauna are considered to tackle specific projects addressing including the bustard, northern quoll, endemic to Cape York. Some – like the identified threats, such as establishing black wallaroo, Arnhem Land rock‑rat common spotted cuscus – have a shared access routes to implement conservation and Oenpelli python. distribution between the Rocky River measures. It’s work that will also support area and Papua New Guinea. their ranger program, and help develop The partnership has also helped jobs and livelihoods on country. to create jobs on country where Another of the outcomes from this trip previously there were none. Last was that it facilitated the purchase of an Survey results year more than 100 Aboriginal people all‑terrain buggy, which will help Umpila worked full‑time and part‑time as with future access to some of these densely casual rangers and in related land forested areas that would previously have 15 management work. been too difficult to reach. amphibian species As Bush Heritage Partnerships From Emma’s perspective, the diverse Manager, Justin McCaul, explains, range of habitats was one of the highlights. partnerships make sense, particularly “I was just amazed by how the vegetation in a place like Northern Australia. was constantly changing,” said Emma. 40 “There was rainforest with incredible reptile “Bush Heritage recognises the buttresses and gallery forest, countless species Traditional Owners’ rights and river and creek systems – it’s really responsibilities to country, so we inaccessible country – stringy bark forest, think partnering is an appropriate tea tree plains and melaleuca swamp forest.” approach to conservation 108 management,” he explained. Overall, the survey confirmed the high bird conservation value of this remote and species special place, which supports a rich and Watch a video online for diverse range of unique or rare animals more on this important including the canopy goanna, red-cheeked 30 partnership and the parrot, palm cockatoo and Bennett’s mammal An‑binik jungle survey. tree kangaroo. species www.bushheritage.org.au/an-binik

Bush Tracks | Summer 2014 5 Currumbin Valley Sylvan ’ Brisbane Reedy Creek Aboriginal partnership Regional partnership up to 1000 ha up to 100 000 ha up to 300 000 ha Sydney Bush Heritage reserves Bush Heritage partnerships Burrin Upper Murrumbidgee Demonstration Reach ‘Nameles s Kosciuszko 2 Coast Northern Woodlands Brogo Friendly Beaches Canberra South Esk Pine Tasmanian Midlands Brigalow Hobart Edgbaston Fan Palm South East NSW Scottsdale Goonderoo Naree Carnarvon Tarcutta Hills Paroo Warrego Riverina Goldfields Mawonga Station Yourka Liffey Valley Reserves Einasleigh Uplands Cape York John Colahan Griffin Balkanu Bulloo Nardoo Hills Melbourne Mitchell Grass Downs Tasmanian Midlandscapes Adelaide Cravens Peak Boolcoomatta Gulf Plains Mulligan SA Arid Rangelands Ethabuka Waanyi Garawa Bon Arid Recovery Aboriginal partnership Regional partnership up to 1000 ha up to 100 000 ha up to 300 000 ha Warddeken Bush Heritage reserves Bush Heritage partnerships Arnhem Land Geographic regions Northern Savannah Arid Riverine Grassy Ecosystems North Spencer Southwest Floristic Grassy Ecosystems South Southeast Coastal and Highlands Darwin Wunambal Gaambera Birriliburu Kimberley Gondwana Link Beringa

Chereninup Creek Gunduwa

landscapes Charles Darwin - Monjebup, Monjebup North & Monjebup Creek Yarrabee Kojonup Eurardy Perth Mid-west WA Rangelands Lesueur-Eneabba Geographic regions Northern Savannah Arid Riverine Grassy Ecosystems North Spencer Southwest Floristic Grassy Ecosystems South Southeast Coastal and Highlands Priority landscapes This map illustrates areas we’ve identified as conservation targets, as as well the sites of work our around the country. For more details see: BushHeritage.org.au/priority

6 Bush Tracks | Summer 2014 Briefs from the blog www.bushheritage.org.au/blog

Your support makes a difference in so many ways. Our blog provides an overview of what’s been happening on our reserves around Australia – all made possible thanks to our supporters. Gungoandra Creek rock weir For regular updates follow us on social media. After nearly four years in planning and building the Gungoandra Creek rock weir and fish way has been completed on . It’s part of an erosion control plan that volunteer soil consultant Peter Fogarty helped produce. Funded by South East Local Land Services Wildflowers of its purpose is to stop an active head cut eroding into several kilometres of creek wetland. A large rock wall was Spring is always a sea of wildflowers in west Australia installed into both banks and held by steel columns drilled and this year was no exception. You can view the amazing into the bedrock. A series of steps where the water drops pictures of this spectacular annual event on our website. 10cm for every 80cm of flow was carefully built on the Photos by Simon Smale. original stream course creating a fish way or ladder.

Photo by Peter Saunders.

Tree hugging at Boolcoomatta At in South Australia’s arid rangelands, our staff recently discovered new trees worthy Baby eagle photo bomb of appreciation. White cypress‑pine is recorded on several The art of ‘photo bombing’ (getting yourself included in neighbouring properties but was found on the reserve for someone else’s photo – often as a joke) may be a natural the first time. Several examples of fast growing slender instinct for this baby wedge tail. Remote sensor cameras bellfruit, listed as ‘vulnerable’, were found along with a were set up on Monjebup North to establish some wallaby horse mulga, recorded for the first time in what may be monitoring sites. When they were picked up this baby an extension of range from the north and west of the state. (and you can tell from the creamy feathering and vestigial gape that it’s little more than that) had left a superb profile picture! Buffel busters at Bon Bon The ‘Roxby Downs Buffel Busters’ are a volunteer community group who get together regularly to keep buffel grass infestations under control around their town. They visited Bon Bon with another group of volunteers from the Eyre Peninsula, called ‘Friends of the Gawler Ranges National Park’. Over a weekend 20,000 litres of herbicide was used and countless hours spent chipping, bagging and mapping.

Move to Level 1 Our head office has been brought down a few levels – literally – from Level 5, 395 Collins St Melbourne, to Level 1. The move means we can make better use of our space, ensure the environmental credentials of our office, and welcome more of our supporters to visit us in person!

Bush Tracks | Summer 2014 7 Bush Blitz unearths new discoveries

The national Bush Blitz program – Overall, participants were impressed at the Forty-five species of flies were sampled, a partnership between the Australian diversity of species on Carnarvon and many which represents at least 15 of the 100 Government, Earthwatch Australia were very surprised by the difference in families known in Australia. and BHP Billiton – aims to discover species recorded here and on neighbouring About 35 species of bees were collected new species. National Parks to the east and north. by Dr Remko Leijs from the South Program Manager, Jo Harding, has “It’s rewarding to see different species Australian Museum. Carnarvon appears made the claim that 75% of Australia’s being recorded, despite similar surveys to be the western most limit for a number biodiversity remains undiscovered – being done there,” Mr Haseler said. of these species including the green a fact that checks out according to “It’s an indication that we’re making a real carpenter bee (Xylocopa aerates), which the ABC’s Fact Check website. contribution to the national reserve estate.” has a very healthy population on reserve. It’s the small stuff – insects, soil organisms, Findings from the exercise will help Bush More than 40 species of spiders from funghi and bacteria – in which there’s still Heritage gain a much better understanding 20 different families were collected by much to be discovered and so it proved of the biodiversity on Carnarvon, and lead Queensland Museum’s Dr Barbara Baehr. during a ten‑day intensive survey of to refinements to reserve management in There were six specimens collected from our Carnarvon Station Reserve, 200km the future. the large Mygalomorphae spiders, four south of Emerald in central Queensland ant‑mimicking spiders, four ant‑eating during October. Highlights spiders and a wolf‑spider. A very rare wall‑crab spider was also recorded. Hundreds of flora and fauna samples Dr John Stanisic, Curator of Molluscs were collected including many new, at the Queensland Museum for 26 years, Above top left: Dr Remko Leijs found several undescribed species. The survey team found about 20 species of land snail, undescribed bee species on Carnarvon Reserve. included 12 of Australia’s top scientists, including eight new undescribed species. Photo by Alison Wilson. eight volunteers from BHP Billiton’s Their greatest threat is fire so mapping Above bottom left: This native viola species found was new to Carnarvon. Photo by Emma Toms Sustainable Communities Program habitat and managing fire is vital. (Australian National Herbarium). as well as support staff. Previously unknown on the reserve, Above: Barbara Baehr examines a spider Philydrum lanuginosum (Frogsmouth) found in one of her pitfall traps. “A property like Carnarvon does amazing Photo by Alison Wilson. work to conserve what they have, but and a species of Viola were collected if they don’t know what they have they for the Herbarium in Canberra. can’t make those decisions,” said Jo. Dr Christine Lambkin is Curator Bush Blitz 2 of Entomology at the Queensland Hundreds of flora and Bush Blitz 2 is the second phase Museum. Her husband Noel Starick, of a National Program aimed at fauna samples were also an entomologist and Susan Wright, discovering new species. collected including many Queensland Museum’s Entomology Alison Wilson posted updates from new, undescribed species. Collection Manager, headed up the team focused on flies, dragonflies and ants. the field at BushHeritage.org.au/blog

8 Bush Tracks | Summer 2014 Molly Harriss Olson, speaker at 2015 Left: Bush Heritage Ecologist Murray Haseler Women in Conservation Breakfast. and Amanda Hancock discuss possible trial sites. Photo by Alison Wilson. Below: Quoll detection dog ‘Sparky’. Photo by Annette Ruzicka.

The scent of a quoll Celebrating Women in Conservation

If you’ve ever owned a border collie “What we want ultimately, to The fourth annual Celebrating Women in you’ll appreciate that they have some confirm the animal, is to get Conservation Breakfast, held in partnership amazing qualities. with Trust for Nature, is coming up in March. a photo of it. So we can now Celebrate with us as guest speaker Molly Specially bred for intelligence and obedience, use motion sensor cameras these working dogs have incredible energy Harriss Olson shares her transformative and love to be involved in everything. at identified spots.” ideas for decision making in conservation. Named as one of the 2014 Australian After her daughter Liz passed away in “We have no doubt that there’s quoll Financial Review and Westpac 100 2012, an anonymous supporter was keen odour here,” Mrs Hancock said, “so it’s Women of Influence, Molly has convened, to honour her memory with a gift to very exciting.” chaired and been a member of numerous Bush Heritage that her daughter would “What we want ultimately, to confirm sustainability initiatives over more than have just loved. As Liz had been an avid the animal, is to get a photo of it. So we three decades. bushwalker, native animal lover and owner can now use motion sensor cameras at of border collies herself, there was one identified spots,” said Murray. “If anything Molly worked in the White House as project that stood out. walks past, it’ll snap a picture.” the Founding Executive Director of the President’s Council on Sustainable Thanks to a gift from Liz’s estate, two border Carnarvon Station represents one of Development, appointed by President collies have been special guests on our the few intact remnants of Brigalow Clinton. She is also the Founder and Carnarvon Reserve in central Queensland, Belt landscape, which was once one of Convenor of the National Business Leaders joining 30 scientists and field researchers the most extensive and fertile regions Forum on Sustainable Development and as the National Bush Blitz program in northern Australia. Broad‑scale land co‑founder of EcoFutures and Earthmark. conducted a 10‑day surveying exercise. clearing has fragmented habitats and Molly serves on the Green Building Council ecosystems but intact remnants such Scampering through the bush with their of Australia and the AMP Sustainable as Carnarvon Reserve provide a chance handlers in trail, these specially trained Investments Alpha Advisory boards, and is for scientific researchers to understand sniffer dogs were on site to find traces of CEO of Fairtrade Australia & New Zealand. that natural biodiversity. the nationally endangered northern quoll. This breakfast is generously sponsored Last recorded on the property in 2008 Working in habitats identified by our by NAB. quolls are threatened by habitat loss, a Queensland ecologist, Murray Haseler, propensity to eat poisonous cane toads as most suitable for the quoll, the dogs and predation by feral cats and foxes. Thursday, 5 March 2015 at confirmed their scent at several sites. 7.00 am for a 7.15 am start. The smallest of the Australian quolls, While sniffer dogs are usually used to find the northern quoll males die off after RACV City Club, 501 Bourke Street, drugs, ecologist Amanda Hancock and each mating season, leaving females Melbourne. $75 per person; her husband Lloyd, from a neighbouring to raise their young. If a population on $700 for a table of 10. property, provide trained sniffer dogs as the reserve can be found, we can ensure Book tickets at: a wildlife detection service and worked they’re supported by altering fire regimes www.trybooking.com/109307 with the dogs during the blitz. and controlling feral predators in the area.

Bush Tracks | Summer 2014 9 Left: Storm clouds create an interesting light on Boolcoomatta Reserve, SA. Photo by Boris Hlavica. Below: Reflections in the water at Naree Station, NSW. Photo by Peter Morris.

Snapshots to savour

For many of us, getting out into nature Photo tips is a chance to savour sights, smells and Below Boris shares some simple tips that can sensations, and we often get the impulse help transform your nature photography: to capture some of the beauty we find to keep it or share it in a photo. 1. Look for interesting light conditions first and then for a subject within them. For professional photographer Boris 2. Too much contrast (the difference Hlavica, outback Australia is a study between the brightest and darkest in colours, forms, textures and light. points) will ruin the photo. “My work is about conveying the emotional 3. If shooting subjects in low light, look impact landscapes have on me. It is about for the moment they look into the light the effects of beauty, space, time and and their faces are lit up. history,” said Boris. “The only other place 4. Wait for motionless moments when you get the vastness and subtle patterns subjects stop moving. is the open ocean, though the colours of Australian deserts and arid regions are 5. If movement is an issue, use the ‘burst’ Other access opportunities something else.” feature to take a rapid fire series. At least one will be much clearer than others. You can visit some more of our reserves Boris will run a nature photography on self‑guided day trips: 6. Change point of view. Climb up on workshop on our Boolcoomatta Reserve something or get down low for a unique • Chereninup Creek Reserve, WA in South Australia’s arid rangelands from angle on your subject. • Currumbin Reserve, Qld 27 to 30 March 2015, providing a unique visitation experience. Costs will be $500 7. Look for a puddle of water, get down close • Liffey River and Oura Oura Reserves, Tas per person and bookings are essential. to it and you’ll have fantastic reflections. • Kojonup Reserve, WA For more details see: • Reedy Creek Reserve, Qld. www.ImagesOfAustralia.com.au Share your nature photos Several of our reserves are open for with us for a chance camping between April and October each “My work is about conveying the to win a canvas print. year. We also run a number of guided tours emotional impact landscapes We’ll share your images in the cooler months. As we prepare our have on me. It is about the on social media and the most popular trip schedule for 2015 we’ll post updates will win a canvas print from among our on our website and social media. effects of beauty, space, time free desktop wallpaper images. and history.” For more details and to download Simply send in your photos to: brochures see: BushHeritage.org.au/visits Boris Hlavica, Photographer [email protected] Above: Zebra finches on , Qld. Photo by Linda Rogan.

10 Bush Tracks | Summer 2014 Thank you

Thanks to the many supporters who have generously donated to our work.

In memoriam Thank you to the many generous friends and family who donated in memory of Reg Hamilton. Pamela Caster donated in memory of Meryn and Jon O’Brien’s son Jack. George Dalton was also remembered with a generous gift from Cassia Conlin. Jim, Kate and Katrina Gilluley donated in memory of long-time supporter David Shepherdson.

In celebration Many, many donations were received in celebration of Patsy Hallen’s 70th birthday, and for the 60th birthday celebration of Cheryl Hercus. And a special thanks to seven-year-old twins, Shared stories Kai and Finlay Thomson for donating to Bush Heritage!

Bequests We gratefully acknowledge the estates All over the country there are passionate • Where are you finding your personal of John Dawson Weightman, Sheila Mary environmentalists whose support inspiration from nature? Box, Terence Cornthwaite Wollaston, underpins the work that we do, and • What are some of the environmental Brian Robert Norton Williams and Dora who themselves are doing some amazing challenges in your corner of the country? Vaughan Lee. We’re also very thankful things in their own corners of the country. • What drives you to support organisations to have received a living bequest from One of the great traditions of visiting like ours? Hilde Jung. outback Australia is camping under • How are you managing to make a the stars and sharing stories around the difference in your own local area? A Lawrencella flower on Eurardy Reserve, WA. campfire. What we’ve found whenever Photo by Lyla and John Hansen. we bring groups of supporters together Hopefully by opening up the channels for on our reserves, is that we all have much some two‑way conversations, we’ll be able common ground once the conversations to shine a light on the common values start to flow. and connections we have, and the shared passion for protecting the Australian bush. Our blog has proven a fantastic vehicle for keeping our staff and supporters up to date on happenings around the country. But as Send in your stories – well as telling you about what we’re up to, up to 500 words – and we’ll we’d love to hear from you as well and to post and share suitable share some of the stories that connect us. content on our blog, social media channels and in this newsletter. Above: One of the great traditions of bush camping is sharing stories around the fire. Photo by Craig Allen. [email protected]

Bush Heritage Australia This publication uses 100% post‑consumer Level 1, 395 Collins Street waste recycled fibre, made with a carbon PO Box 329 Flinders Lane ABN 78 053 639 115 neutral manufacturing process, using Melbourne, VIC 8009 Contributors: Lucy Ashley and Mick Moylan. vegetable‑based inks. T: 1300 NATURE (1300 628 873) Design by iconinc.com.au T: (03) 8610 9100 F: (03) 8610 9199 E: [email protected] W: www.bushheritage.org.au

Bush Tracks | Summer 2014 11 Left: Sunset on the dunes at Ethabuka. Photo by Alistair Dermer. Above: Mick Moylan painting. Caretakers of the desert

Keen to travel and experience more of Each night before bed we’d walk out to the We identified flowering pituri plants (a narcotic Australia, recent retirees Mick Moylan shed and shut down the diesel generator. traded in the area by early Aboriginals) on and his wife Kerry jumped at the chance When it rattled to a halt the silence was another of our trips and it was exciting to to volunteer as caretakers at one of our stunning. It was also suddenly pitch black see stone implements, evidence of ancient remote reserves. so the stars on display were sensational and regular Aboriginal occupation. and the feeling of isolation complete. After a month-long stint at Ethabuka, It feels like we learnt and achieved a lot in on the edge of the Simpson Desert, We soon grew accustomed to the routine a short stay. The asset register was completed, we left with a better appreciation for and kept very busy. Our main tasks were with over 400 items listed, tools etched the self‑sufficiency of locals. painting three rooms in the homestead with asset numbers and appliances labelled. and compiling an asset register. Three rooms were freshly painted and the Our assignment began at Bedourie, a small two showers look like new. town in western Queensland, itself remote Matt, our Bush Heritage supervisor, and isolated. After phoning ahead with made a weekly visit along with his wife Making it all worthwhile, we learnt that our departure time we set off for Ethabuka. Amanda and baby Isabella. He took us Matt and his young family will be moving around some of the sights on reserve in next March now that the homestead is On arrival we were given a comprehensive and we discovered spectacular scenery looking liveable, which will enable him to do induction by Bush Heritage Field Officer and learnt some fascinating history: more on the reserve. (Thanks, as well, to the Matt Warr, who lives at Craven’s Peak Aboriginal as well as early settler. work of previous volunteers Wybe and Isobel Reserve 120km away. It was a relief to Reyenga as well as Ralph and Jill Farnbach.) finally store our meat and groceries after We explored places such as Dribbler Bore, shopping for a month ahead in Mt Isa. Ethabuka Springs and the Field River. We’d certainly recommend the Volunteer Dribbler bore runs naturally as the name Caretaker Program – we’d do it all again After a three-day handover, we said farewell suggests and the artesian water runs into in an instant! to the previous caretakers, Wybe and Isobel, a pond that was crystal clear with aquatic and were truly alone. To find out more about volunteering visit plants and incredibly, dozens of small BushHeritage.org.au/volunteers rainbow fish.

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