Meandersmeanders Quarterlyquarterly

MeandersMeanders QuarterlyQuarterly VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 SEPTEMBER 2007 INSIDE On-the-ground action 2 Tree custodian Creekside burble project launch Community alliances 3 Propagating passion Featured bird 4 Resident raptors Featured plant 5 Water Plantain Meet a stakeholder 7 Merri Creek Management Committee Restoration project 9 In place of willows WHY MEANDERS? The eroding bends of goose- FROM THE PRESIDENT Our Confluence Tree: Tree neck meanders Custodian Project Launch, Now that the promise of Spring is upon us, we through the July 2008 at the confluence of can all watch with satisfaction the results of our Merri and Edgars Creeks lower floodplains Winter’s work. The months ahead are a busy weeding time for our Tree Custodians, who of Edgars Creek planted thirty River Red-gums along the Creek are part of a down stream from Edwardes Lake during July. Something we can all be proud of natural process. Another twenty enthusiastic ‘friends’ gathered during August, on the banks of a meander Apparently, south of the Kodak bridge in North Coburg, to plant 280 riparian habitat plants. there are no other areas along Again, while we all receive a great deal of satisfaction planting and imagining what will be in the urbanised years to come, it is the weeding work we do in sections of Merri Spring and the watering during the heat of Summer that will give these plantings the best and Edgars chance of reaching their potential. Creeks where A series of weed control workshops that the this process can Merri Creek Management Committee is provid- ing for FoEC members, beginning in October, be preserved. are designed to give us the necessary skills to look after these plantings. Until then, one weed gone is one weed less! PAGE 2 So, as you walk along the Creek, provides us with a place to take a moment to grab a fist full of ‘interpret’ our work for others and weeds encroaching any one of our hopefully attract more people to join plantings, give it a good shake, look us. around you, and imagine what we will all achieve together, with many Thanks everyone for your enthusi- hands. astic and sometimes irreverent par- ticipation. We have another exciting Another fantastic development is program of activities to look forward the Community Notice Board re- to over the next few months so, as cently installed by the Moreland City we say, ‘See you down the Creek’! Council down by the bridge adjacent Stephen Northey, President to the Edgars Creek waterfall. This Young Tree Custodians planting Sense of place a future Therefore, we encourage you to FROM THE SECRETARY invite a neighbour along to our next Whenever we gather for our activity to share in the fun. Not only monthly activities it is a true do more people make lighter work, celebration of community it also shows Councils and policy spirit. makers how much our community cares about our Creek. Since February this year, we have attracted 57 financial Since last newsletter, we have en- members. All our activities joyed a plant propagation talk from are well attended. Some- Judy Allen, planted 30 River-red times it is difficult to tell who Gums and have begun restoring ri- is having more fun: the kids, parian habitat to a meander of the the dogs or the adults. Creek. Watering the first Custodian tree, We can all feel good about doing We also have some fantastic activi- watched closely by something active for our environ- ties planned over the coming local MP, Christine ment. At the same time, what we months, including a tour of West- Campbell (Centre) hear most is that you had FUN at garthtown and our Frog Census our activities. What better way to Night. (See page 10-11 for more keep our community alive! details) MEANDERS VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 PAGE 3 As always, your committee is working hard behind the scenes organising, coordinating, meeting with stakeholders and lobbying our land managers for the benefit of the Creek. Together, with plenty of good humour, we are indeed fostering a ‘sense of place.’ Aliey Ball, Secretary Even dog Bunty is reverent as the two Daves plant the Confluence Tree Propagating passion “Sometimes COMMUNITY ALLIANCES One of the gardening is just easiest in- Passion is often the best resource digenous that simple.” for a teacher. On a chilly Winter plants to afternoon in June, Judy Allen from propagate the Victorian Indigenous Nurseries is Hop Goodenia. In the nursery, Cooperative (VINC) shared her cuttings will put out roots in ten passion about indigenous plant days, utilising bottom heat, hor- propagation during a workshop on mones and misting. At home, the subject held at the Newlands Judy puts cuttings in a shady place Community Centre. near the back door, which put out roots in about 3 weeks. A group of about 16 Friends cer- tainly learnt a lot from Judy, who One of Judy’s secrets for success has a wealth of knowledge in this is a mini shade house, the design area. She is the Chief Plant Propa- of which is based on the Cool- gator at VINC, as well as being the gardie Safe. Cuttings like a cool, convenor of the Friends of West- humid environment, when they breen Creek, a tributary of the don't have roots to give them Moonee Ponds Creek. more water. This can be provided in a shade house. Judy’s interest in propagation be- gan when she was 9 years old. “My mini shade house is made by “When I was 9, my brother and I draping cloth over a wire frame were ‘helping’ in the garden and a and allowing the edges of the cloth branch of the fuchsia broke off. to rest in a dish of water. I put Mum wasn't happy, but my brother cuttings in potting mix in a plant just poked it in the ground, and to pot, and place them under the our amazement when we came cloth. The cloth edges dipped in New Community Notice back to it in a month, it had put water create a humid environment Board advertising our out roots. Sometimes gardening is as the cloth soaks up the water activities, North Coburg. just that simple”, Judy recounts. and is evaporated away.” PAGE 4 Resident raptors FEATURED BIRD In this issue of Meanders Quarterly we feature the raptors that inhabit our Creek reserve. No, we are not talking about our younger neighbour- hood folk who maybe heard uttering rapid, rhythmic, stream-of-consciousness thought: they are rappers! The word ‘raptor’ comes from the Latin raptare which means ‘to seize and carry off’. At various times, the word ‘raptor’ has been used to refer to small, slender, carnivo- rous dinosaurs of the Cretaceous Period or people who seize by force or rob. In relation to birds, however, raptors are birds of prey Hobby Falcon who have both a hook-tipped bill and sharp curved claws perched on power or talons which they use to ‘seize and carry off’ their lines prey. Photo by Geoff Gates Eagles, kites, kestrels, hawks, harriers, falcons, gos- hawks, osprey, buzzards and owls are all classed as raptors. Two raptors that inhabit the Creek reserve, particularly in the lower reaches, are the Australian Hobby Falcon “While the and the Black-shouldered Kite. Hobby Falcon Australian Hobby Falcon chases feral The Australian Hobby Falcon Falco longipennis, also known as Little Falcon, is one of Australia’s smallest rap- doves mid-air tors. It is almost exclusively an on-the-wing hunter, which means it is rarely observed hunting prey on the ground. … the Black- At a height, the Hobby Falcon will take flying insects and shouldered Kite smaller birds, sometimes reaching speeds well over 100km per hour. Even at these speeds, Hobbies exhibit will drop excellent agility, often dodging through trees during tail chases of avian prey. At dusk, you might catch a glimpse silently onto an of the Hobby flash past, chasing small bats. unsuspecting Falcons have more stamina than most birds. They chase their prey till it is exhausted and then slash it. The rabbit. ” Hobby Falcon can take prey its own body size and is apparently fond of feral doves. The Hobby Falcon has a widespread habitat, found throughout all of mainland Australia and across northern and eastern Tasmania. During Winter, the Hobby mi- grates to Indonesia and New Guinea. Encourage a friend or neighbour to join the Friends of Edgars Creek MEANDERS VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 PAGE 5 When breeding, the Hobby Falcon takes over nests of other birds. The female incubates and broods her young while the male hunts. A pair of Hobby Falcons have been observed during the past year around the confluence area adjacent to the Coburg Harriers Athletics Club. Perhaps, we might sug- gest a name change to the Coburg Falcons? Black-shouldered Kite Black-shouldered Kites Elanus axillaris are small birds of prey common to city parks over most of Australia. They have a white head, pale grey to white body and tail, a black patch on the shoulder and in front of the eye, grey Black-shouldered Kite to brown wings and distinctive red to orange eyes. hovering in search of prey You may hear the hoarse wheezing sound or the sharp Photo by Geoff Gates whistle of the Black-shouldered Kite when you take a walk along the Creek in the early morning or late afternoon. Their distinctive red eyes help them to see in these low light conditions. Look up and you may see him hovering high above the ground searching for mice, lizards, snakes, frogs and insects; his wings flapping high and fast with tail pointed down.

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