Lyrebird Tales Volume 28 Number 2 June 2019 Birdlife Yarra Valley Newsletter Badger Weir Park Re-opens We were delighted to see that the vicinity had been restored with care to re-create the original atmosphere from before the storm. Subtle changes had been made such as replacing Badger Weir Park was officially re-opened to the public on the old bollards with rock barriers, new picnic tables and Wednesday 10th April by Lily D’Ambrosio who is the Minister barbecues and the pedestrian bridge over Badger Creek for Energy, Environment and Climate Change. Badger Weir rebuilt. Behind some of the vegetation, large felled trees had Park was closed after the storm on October 9th 2016 which been cut up and remained on the ground, a reminder of the caused extensive damage, felling huge trees and damaging storm and habitat for insects and wildlife. We were pleased to infrastructure as well as to other parts of the Yarra Ranges see the old-style shingle roof rotundas remained and the National Park which included 100km of walking tracks. badly damaged old toilet block had been re-furbished and transformed into a picnic shelter. A new unobtrusive toilet block has been built further away at the far end of the picnic area. This replaced the ‘new’ toilet block which was completely demolished in the storm. Continued on page 3. Contents 1 & 4. Badger weir Park Re-opens by Valerie Fowler 2. Minutes of Annual General Meeting 3. Convener’s Report, Committee, What Bird is That? 5. Chirnside Park Wetlands by Valerie Fowler 6-7. Interesting Sightings. 7. Sherbrooke Lyrebird Group Dawn Survey Dates 8-13. Reports of Meetings and Outings Two days after the opening, 3 members of Birdlife Yarra Valley decided to visit Badger Weir Park to view the changes 14. Calendar of Events and to conduct a short bird survey. Driving into the park there was no obvious change but upon entering the picnic area the difference was noticeable. The picnic area was much more open with many of the large Mountain Ash trees missing. Lyrebird Tales Minutes of Annual General Meeting Held on Tuesday 14 May, 2019, at 7.53p.m. in the Badger Creek Hall Meeting Room, Badger Creek Road, Badger Creek. The Convener took the chair and welcomed the eleven members present. Apologies: Lin Bullen, Terry Barnett. 1. It was Moved Valerie Fowler Seconded Michael Feller “that the Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 8 May, 2018, be accepted” Carried. 2. The Treasurer presented the Financial Statement for 2018-2019. It was Moved Michael Feller Seconded Manfred Hennig “that the Treasurer’s Report be accepted” Carried. 3. The Convener gave an overall report of the year’s activities. It was Moved Valerie Fowler Seconded Michael Feller “that the Convener’s Report be received” Carried. 4. Election of Office-bearers and members of the committee for 2019/2020. Office-bearers: It was Moved Doug Pocock Seconded Peter Fowler that Warren Cousins be elected as Convener. As there were no other nominations Warren Cousins was elected as Convener. Carried. It was Moved Graeme George Seconded Michael Feller that Manfred Hennig be elected as Deputy-Convener. As there were no other nominations Manfred Hennig was elected Deputy-Convener. Carried. It was Moved Warren Cousins Seconded Michael Feller that Alma Mitchell be elected as Secretary. As there were no other nominations Alma Mitchell was elected Secretary. Carried. It was Moved Warren Cousins Seconded Graeme George that Michael Feller be elected as Treasurer. As there were no other nominations Michael Feller was elected as Treasurer. Carried. Committee: Jan Llewelyn Nominated by Michael Feller Seconded by Valerie Fowler. As there were no other nominations Jan Llewlyn was elected as a member of the committee. Carried. It was Moved Michael Feller Seconded Valerie Fowler that Doug Pocock be elected as a member of the Committee. As there were no other nominations Doug Pocock was elected as a member of the Committee. Carried. Special thanks to Warren Cousins who stepped in to fill in the vacancy of Convener at the meeting in June 2018. Special thanks to Lin Bullen for her work as Librarian for a number of years. Lin did not nominate for Committee this year. 5. Any other business: Bank Signatories Manfred Hennig, Michael Feller and Alma Mitchell are currently registered as signatories. As Linda Bullen has resigned from the Committee the Bank is asked to delete her name as a signatory. Two signatures are required for each transaction. As there was no other business the meeting closed at 8.19 p.m. 2 Lyrebird Tales Lyrebird Tales Convener’s Report for Year 2018/2019 At the 2018 Annual General Meeting, at which I was not present, the Convener position was not filled and declared BirdLife Australia Yarra Valley Branch vacant. The previous incumbent, Glenn Mawson, had P.O. Box 1172, Healesville Vic. 3777 resigned due to his relocation out of the Yarra Valley area to email: [email protected] Sandhurst. As a quite new resident in Lilydale, and as a reasonably active newer participant in the outings organised Committee by this group, I was approached shortly after the AGM and Convener: Warren Cousins accepted the nomination at a subsequent meeting. Deputy-Convener: Manfred Hennig The branch owes Glenn a huge vote of thanks for his many Secretary: Alma Mitchell years both on the general committee and as Convenor for Treasurer: Michael Feller many years prior to his departure. These thanks have been Conservation Officer: Michael Feller Other Members: Jan Llewelyn. Doug Pocock personally given to Glenn by myself, and I suspect others from within our group. I would also like to thank all other members of the Committee. Alma never ceases to amaze with her thoroughness, detailed knowledge, and long history with this What Bird is That? branch; Michael for handling our finances and coping with the demands from Birdlife Head Office; Manfred for always being there and helping so much with choice of our locations for outings; and Jan and Lin for their inputs and encouragement. We would certainly also welcome any other members to join us on the Committee. The task on balance is not an onerous one. Another special thank you to Valerie for the wonderful work she does to produce our Lyrebird Tales newsletters. I am sure many tireless hours are needed to pull this together, and the results are a credit to her. I always receive commendations from readers after each new issue is published. We have seen a good number of interesting outings during the last 12 months. These include the regular bi-annual visits Answer on page 7 to the Coranderrk and the RACV Healesville Club. The Coranderrk is one I particularly enjoy as I spend so much time at the adjacent Sanctuary as a volunteer Tour Guide. Thanks are also extended to Manfred for arranging our visits Y.V. BIRDLIFE CAMP October 2019 to the RACV facility. For me as a relative newcomer to the This will be a come and go to suit you camp over the area, many of these outings were a first, and I personally 11-14th October. People can arrive on Thursday 10th in have enjoyed them all, and particularly the post-walk lunch the afternoon to take advantage of a full Friday’s birding. and bird call. No doubt the recent visit to Werribee's The camp will be on a private conservation property in Western Treatment Plant was a real highlight with many Wedderburn. There is plenty of room for tents and wonderful birds seen, and such an excellent contribution by caravans. There is some tank water available, shelter for John Barkla. It was wonderful to see such a good attendance birdcall if the weather is crook and it will be possible to have a campfire. The bird list for the property is about with a total of 25 persons. Our nine monthly meetings at the 140 species seen. Badger Creek Hall meeting room have all been quite well Book with Doug or Jan at [email protected] or phone attended with a good spread of speakers and topics. 5964 4581 and we will send you information. We need to However finding new speakers for future meetings seems to know the numbers to organize toilets. getting difficult, so any suggestions from members will be welcomed. We also hope to put together an interesting spread of outings for the remainder of 2019 and into 2020. I look forward to sharing in these with you. I always welcome any inputs on any matters, so please feel free to ring me at any time on 0425768942. Warren Cousins. Convener Birdlife Australia - Yarra Valley Branch June 2019 3 Lyrebird Tales Badger Weir Park opens continued We were the first visitors to the park that morning though some walkers and families arrived later and several workers were re-fitting the water tank further up the track near the weir where a section of a smashed large water pipe had been replaced. We were happy to see a male Superb Lyrebird cross the road in the picnic area before disappearing in the vegetation along the creek. Unfortunately this was the only Lyrebird seen or heard. We followed the track to the weir, the low vegetation halfway along the aqueduct appeared undisturbed but the Mountain Ash behind had their tops smashed off and many trees were missing. Here we saw a Sparrowhawk and a mixed flock of Yellow-faced Honeyeaters, Red Wattlebirds, several Eastern Spinebills, Lewin’s Honeyeater, Crescent Honeyeater, Grey Fantail, Superb Fairy-wrens and Silvereyes. Reaching the end of the track the creek appeared undamaged but the bank of tree-ferns on one side of the weir had been flattened and erosion occurred.