The Clematis Summer 2008/2009 Issue No 78 BAIRNSDALE POSTAGE Victoria 3875 PAID Quarterly Newsletter of theBairnsdale & District Field Naturalists Club Inc A0006074C 28 1 BAIRNSDALE & DIST FIELD NATURALISTS CLUB INC. finding suitable accommodation /camping sites proves difficult. [Ring me A0006074C if you are having difficulties in that regard] List of Office Bearers for 2009 Cann River is about 75 km (or an hours drive) from Marlo or Orbost, and President: Pat McPherson ph. (03) 5152 2614 [email protected] Genoa about 125 km (or 1.5 hours). Vice President: James Turner ph. (03) 5155 1258 [email protected] Secretary: Fran Bright ph. (03) 5152 2008 [email protected] Bill Kosky Treasurer: Margaret Regan ph. (03) 5156 2541 Correspondence to: Melbourne The Secretary, 22 Harold Street, Middle Park, 3206, P.O. Box 563, Phone:(03) 9686 7666 BAIRNSDALE 3875 Web Site: www.eastgippsland.com/bdfnc Marlo 648 MarloPlainsRd Marlo 3888 General meetings take place at: [coming from Marlo take the Cape Conran Road, go past airport Road on Noweyung Centre, 84 Goold Street Bairnsdale left and Pt Ricardo Road on right and turn left at next intersection into 3rd. Friday of the month at 7.30pm sharp. No meeting June, July, August Marlo Plains Road] Committee meetings take place: Thursday of the previous week Phone: (03) 51 548 326 before the 3rd. Friday of the month at members homes except June, July, August when held on field excursions if required. Both . Mobile: 0427 968 676 Group Co-ordinators: E-mail: [email protected] Botanic Group: James Turner Ph. (03) 5155 1258 ☺ Fauna Survey Group: Jenny Edwards Ph. (03) 5157 5556 Bushwalking Group: Noel Williamson Ph. (03) 5152 1737 Newsletter Editor: Pauline Stewart Ph. (03) 5152 1606 80 Bengworden Rd. Bairnsdale.3875 email: [email protected] ) (white ) (white form) All articles for AutumnClematis must be in by March 1st. John Drinkwater STATEMENT OF PURPOSE - 1. To further the study of natural history in all its branches, promoted by periodical meetings, field excursions and other activities. (Boronia ledifolia 2. To observe and strengthen the laws for the preservation & protection of indigenous flora and fauna and habitat and important geological features. 3. To promote the formation and preservation of National and State Parks and Reserves. at Mt Elizabeth Photo BoroniaShowy 2 27 mosquito protection are highly recommended. RULES TO OBSERVE ON FIELD TRIPS: 1. Excursions are cancelled on days of TOTAL FIRE BAN. Until one knows how and what to look for, finding both C. hunteriana and 2. Participants to keep a visual on the car in front and behind. C. erecta are difficult to see and those that have not encountered these or- 3. When making a turn, give signal, and stay at intersection until chids before will be given assistance and viewings to get their eyes in. following car has also turned. 4. If separated from other cars, stop, and stay with your car. Arrangements Other members will return to find you. 5. Car pool passengers should offer a donation to the driver for fuel costs. It is proposed to carry out the surveys commencing Monday 12 January 2009 extending to Thursday 15th of January (if necessary). It is likely that the surveys will commence in the Marlo-Bemm River area then move east SUBSCRIPTION FEES to Cann River and Genoa. Family membership $30 Depending on participation numbers it is proposed to carry our some Single membership $20 scouting work both before and during the survey period to look at known Mid-year fee (new members only) $10 and potential sites for the presence of C. hunteriana. This scouting work can involve both formal (arranged) scouting expedi- Responsibility for the accuracy of information and opinions expressed in this tions to selected sites or informal individual volunteers (or small inde- newsletter rests with the author of the article. pendent groups) being given locations to reconnoitre in their own time. Depending on how plants are coming along, these preliminary scouting LIBRARY INFORMATION - Librarian - Dot Prout Phone: 5153 1303 expeditions could begin as early as late December. • Books are generally borrowed for one month - however you can write on the sign-out sheet if you wish to have it longer. To Register you interest please notify me by email as set out below (or • Should any library materials need maintenance, please make me aware of alternately at one of the contact numbers below). same. • If you wish to recommend a book, this can be done by writing a short recommendation for the Clematis. This information could be from our li- If possible please give an indication of your interest in participating during brary books or from other books that you believe our library could look at the 12-15 January survey period and/or in preliminary scouting expedi- purchasing. tions. And of the dates you might participate. We expect most will only want to commit to one particular day, and that is OK. CONTENTS If possible please provide an email address and both home and mobile Program January to June 2009 5-6 phone numbers so that I can contact you and advise of further and more President’s Annual Report 2008 6-9 detailed arrangements. Mt Elizabeth 10-13 Blond Bay - Metallic Sun Orchid Count 14-15 Helen & I expect to be at Marlo of and on from about 29 December on Fernbank –Winkie Creek 16-19 staying at our shack on the Marlo Plains Road. Our Marlo address and Bruthen Walking Trails 20-21 phone numbers are set out below. If required our Marlo property could act Status & Future of Gippsland Lakes 22-24 as a base for surveys of the Marlo-Bemm area, and be used for camping if National Survey of Cryptostylis Hunteriana 24-27 26 3 CONTACT PHONE NUMBERS and email address’s for meetings members of the Bairnsdale and District Field Naturalists Club will also and field trips. provide assistance. Pat McPherson 5152 2614 [email protected] The surveys involve habitat recording and number counts at all known Margaret Regan 5156 2541 sites of this elusive cryptic orchid which occurs sporadically, and in low Pauline Stewart 5152 1606 [email protected] numbers at a relatively small number of locations from Southern Queens- James Turner 5155 1258 [email protected] land, through NSW and into eastern Victoria. Noel Williamson 5152 1737 [email protected] In Victoria most occurrences are in Xanthorrhoea heathlands mostly in Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from, rather than directly on, the coast, between Marlo and Mallacoota. from the Editor The occurrence of C. hunteriana in this area is sporadic and often transito- My thanks to members who contributed articles and photographs throughout 2008, ry. There are relatively few sites where C. hunteriana is known to occur, without your support there would be no Clematis. and at many of these sites it has not been seen for many years. Also many thanks to DSE in Bairnsdale for access to their photo copiers. I wish all members and their families good health and happiness in 2009. Whilst there are a large number of suitable habitats that could potentially contain C. hunteriana, more often than not searches of these locations proves fruitless. Even so there are a number of sites where the heathland is at a stage that favours C. hunteriana, and selected potential sites maybe worth investigating if sufficient volunteers were available. DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY FOR BUSH WALKS Cryptostylis erecta is likely to be present at some of these sites. As it oc- Easy Flat, good firm track. Moderately easy Mostly flat, track in good to fair condition curs in extremely low numbers in Victoria the opportunity will be taken to Moderate May be undulating, track in good to fair condition record the presence and numbers of any encountered. Mod. difficult May be some steep sections, track may be rough in places C. subulata is usually plentiful at this time, and sometimes C. leptochila is Difficult May have long steep sections, track may be non encountered. existent at times Walks vary in distance from 6 to 14 km. The Victorian flowering time for C. hunteriana and is generally late De- Contact the leader of the walk for a rating if it’s not included in the program. cember to mid February. C. erecta flowers from January through to April. If the very heavy rains received in late November are followed up with Please take note of safety procedures in your Bairnsdale & District Field half decent December rainfall then it promises to be an excellent year for Naturalists Club Inc. ‘RISK MANAGEMENT POLICY’ booklet. tonge orchids in Far East Gippsland. Front Cover: Grass Trees (Xanthorrhoea australis) at Blond Bay photo - Fran Bright Searching for C. hunteriana is sometimes a difficult and unpleasant task, particularly in hot weather. Dense sometimes wet, heath/xanthorrhoea The Clematis is printed and supported by habitat can be difficult to move through. Flies, mosquitoes, sometimes Dept. of Sustainability and Environment, Bairnsdale. ticks and, very occasionally, snakes, can be encountered. Heavy trousers and comfortable gum boots, or boots and high gaiters, and adequate drink- ing water are essential. Hats, sunscreen, insect repellent or other fly/ 4 25 competitive bidding process in order to obtain ongoing funding. PROGRAM - JANUARY TO JUNE 2009 Members of HNEG groups who organized the Forum see it as a con- sciousness raising exercise for the community and as an ongoing process It is your responsibility to contact the co-ordinator of each field to keep the status and future of the Gippsland Lakes as an issue before the trip to notify them of your intention to participate.