Hunting Hawkweed, Kosciuszko National Park
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Hunting Hawkweed Kosciuszko National Park orange hawkweed identification and GETTING THERE ‘Hunting Hawkweed’ is a participate in surveillance. volunteer program supporting the Transport to and from Khancoban to the Khancoban is a small NSW township eradication of a noxious weed. survey areas will be provided daily by associated with the development of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric NPWS. JOIN THE HAWKWEED TEAM Scheme. Suggested routes to Khancoban are: Since 2009, over 300 volunteers have VOLUNTEER FITNESS assisted in the search for orange • Alpine Way – via Cooma, Jindabyne In this eradication program, ‘every last hawkweed in Kosciusko National Park. and Thredbo. plant’ must be found and destroyed, • Snowy Valley tourist drive – via Volunteers help protect sensitive which requires walking through dense Tumbarumba and Tooma Valley on environments, like alpine bogs, from vegetation, over rough and uneven the Tooma Road. hawkweed invasion by finding plants terrain in peak of summer. A high level • Cabramurra Link Road – via Tumut, within the Park. of physical fitness is needed as surveys require a lot of walking. Volunteers Cabramurra, Tumut and Tooma Week long surveys coincide with the should be able to walk approximately 4 Ponds. peak flowering period, which makes km a day and be able to negotiate Information regarding alternate access orange hawkweed easier to detect. natural terrain (no paths) and moderate and accommodation will be provided WHAT TO EXPECT slopes on uneven surfaces. when booking. Orange hawkweed likes good views, 2018-19 PROGRAM which means surveys are conducted in WHAT TO BRING some of the most scenic areas of Volunteers are invited to assist Kosciusko National Park. Surveys are All bed linen and towels are supplied. In during the following periods conducted in the Jagungal Wilderness addition to toiletries and casual clothing, (Monday to Friday): Area, Round Mountain and Upper please bring the following to ensure your Tumut River, Far Bald Mountain and stay is safe and comfortable: Week 1 – 19 November 2018 Fifteen Mile Ridge areas. • Personal medication (e.g. EPI pen, Week 2 – 26 November 2018 Volunteers will be accommodated in hay fever prevention) Week 3 – 3 December 2018 Khancoban, NSW (shared, but at no • Special dietary needs Week 4 – 10 December 2018** cost to volunteers). Accommodation is • Good walking boots (water proof) available from the Sunday evening • Thick socks Week 5 – 7 January 2019** through to the Saturday morning of the • Long pants and long-sleeved shirts Week 6 – 14 January 2019 week’s program. Bookings are • Hat (broad rimmed, that shades face Week 7 – 21 January 2019** essential. and neck) • Warm clothing and wet weather gear NPWS will supply the basics for Maximum 5 volunteers per week. (weather changes rapidly, even in breakfast and lunch. Volunteers will summer months) need to bring food and prepare their **Note – weeks marked with • Gaiters (to protect legs) own evening meals. asterisk include an activity that • 1-2 litre water bottle (for drinking requires previous experience on Each Monday at the start of the Hunting water) the program. Hawkweed week, volunteers meet at the • Day pack/back pack National Parks and Wildlife Service • Insect repellent and sunscreen (NPWS) Office in Khancoban for an Bookings are essential. • Lunch box induction and safety briefing. Volunteers Tumut (02) 6947 7000 • Camera (for capturing the views) are then taken into the park to practice Khancoban (02) 6076 9373 ORANGE HAWKWEED Orange hawkweed (Heiracium aurantiacum) is a species of daisy that originates from northern and central Europe. It has invaded many countries, including the USA, Canada, Japan and New Zealand, where it seriously impacts biodiversity and agricultural lands. This species was first discovered in Kosciuszko National Park in December 2003 and has been a part of a control and eradication program since that time. It poses a serious threat to the Australian Alps and surrounding environments, including productive farmland. Orange Drones hunt hawkweed from the sky (Image Mark Hamilton). hawkweed is known to out compete native and pastoral plants and can create mono- cultures. DETECTION INNOVATIONS Two innovative survey techniques have been developed and incorporated into the program to increase detection of hawkweed in remote locations: Highly trained Weed Eradication Detector Dogs (WEDD) are improving detection rates by finding hawkweed hidden within tussocks or plants too small for humans to find. Remotely Piloted Aircraft (drones) fitted Volunteers and NPWS working together (Image Jo Caldwell). with a high-resolution camera are used to survey large areas for hawkweed. Images of target areas are processed with an advanced algorithm that detects the bright orange hawkweed flowers. SPECIAL ACTIVITIES Remote Helicopter Assisted Surveys This activity uses a helicopter to deploy ground teams, of up to 5 people per team, to remote areas to survey for hawkweed. These remote survey areas are critical in delimiting the extent of hawkweed within the Jagungal Wilderness Area. Teams are supervised by NPWS accredited officers, and comprised of only Sally has a nose for hawkweed (Image Hillary Cherry). experienced team members, to provide the best chances of detecting hawkweed. This activity is only open to volunteers who have previously participated in a week of ground surveillance in either the Orange Hawkweed or Mouse-ear Hawkweed projects. For bookings or inquiries, please call either Tumut or Khancoban NPWS Offices during business hours. Some of the sites in Kosciuszko National Park (Image Jo Caldwell). .