Spiders in the sky and birds in the hand

As John and I cruised through the northern section on a search-and-destroy mission for veldgrass, we came across (and quickly dispatched) some geraldton carnation weeds and a japanese pepper tree.
It was a bit unnerving to come eye-ball to eye-ball with a spider - though it was a very pretty one.


We enjoyed meeting up with Rob Davis (Birds Australia / UWA) doing some bird banding in the bushland this morning. Rob ended up banding about 18 birds in his 4 hour stint in the bushland. They were mostly young ones that hadn't been banded before.

View live map Click here to download the GPX data for this map. Note, this data is an XML file - change the name to .GPX to upload to your GPS.

How can we make this bushland more resilient?

As John and I moved through the bushland, chatting (as you do!) about life, the universe, we pondered how we might make this bushland more resilient in the face of climate change (I had just been reading about the work of Brian Walker, CSIRO, on resilient ecosystems).
It seems that everytime we pull a weed out, we are making the weeds in our bushland more resilient; more capable of avoiding our weeding hands, and simultaneously making the bushland less resilient, and more dependent on our weeding hands.
How can we turn this around?

View live map Click here to download the GPX data for this map. Note, this data is an XML file - change the name to .GPX to upload to your GPS.

Amazing weather

The amazing weather continues ... a week to summer and it feels like autumn. The bushland was beautiful with the sparkling droplets of recent rain. The Geraldton Carnation Weed and Veldgrass weeds love this weather, so we go after them to stop them producing more seed.
Geraldton Carnation Weed is no problem to remove - its slender stem is easily removed with little disturbance.
The difficulty with Veldgrass is that it is hard to remove without causing some disturbance. If we leave the plant and just remove the flowering heads, we will have to come back within two weeks and do it again. Our approach is to remove isolated plants where the disturbance is less of a problem than ongoing seed production. We leave patches where there is lots of grass.

View live map Click here to download the GPX data for this map. Note, this data is an XML file - change the name to .GPX to upload to your GPS.

On the edge of the barrens

We returned to the area adjacent to the barrens where we had pulled Geraldton Carnation Weed over past couple of weeks - and took out the remnants - which keep on appearing.

Had this idea that we could get a collaborative research project going with one of the universities to explore ways of looking after the barrens area.

We cut down the Flinders Ranges Wattle we came across last weekend - collected as much as possible of the seed that has already set - it is a very prolific seeder.

Came across a bare area with lots of glass - we picked up the glass to make it a bit safer.

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Global warming and bushland

It was nice to see a reasonable crowd come to Cottesloe beach to urge the Government to do something about global warming.
I sometimes wonder what is going to happen to Shenton Bushland (and other bushlands as well) if we have severe global warming - how will the plants, insects, birds and reptiles adapt to the changing weather? It is quite disturbing really.
It was even more disturbing to hear government ministers lie to us about how concerned they were about global warming - while at the same time undermining any attempt to do something serious.

The more it rains ...

Last year we had rain showers right up to XMas, and the Geraldton Carnation Weed loved it - and kept germinating - and we kept pulling it out as best we could before it went to seed. It looks like it is going to be similar this year ...
John and I worked in the health department area near Selby Lodge, mainly pulling out Geraldton Carnation Weeds, and any other weeds we came across (mainly pelargonium). There is a big patch of Pelargonium near Selby Lodge. We also came across a Flinders Ranges Wattle that was too big to pull out - will cut it down next weekend.

	View live map Click here to download the GPX data for this map. Note, this data is an XML file - change the name to .GPX to upload to your GPS.

They just keep on coming ...

We have had over 100mm of rain in the past 2 months - and the Geraldton Carnation Weed just love it - they keep on coming up long after the other weeds have died off. So we have to keep on going after them.
John and I also went through the Watsonia patch to pull out any remnants that we missed in winter.

View live map Click here to download the GPX data for this map. Note, this data is an XML file - change the name to .GPX to upload to your GPS.

A few surprises

We had a few surprises today. Some welcome, others less so...
Came across some pigface Carpobrotus edulis - an escapee from South Africa.

I have been trying for ages to get a photo of the dragon flies that patrol the paths and elude my camera lense. This one was tangled in a spider's web.

This patch of bushland was burnt on October 3rd - a Friday - school holidays are always a dangerous times for fire.

View live map Click here to download the GPX data for this map. Note, this data is an XML file - change the name to .GPX to upload to your GPS.

Bush to Beach

The 2008 Bush to Beach walk traversed the Mosman Park penninsula from Cottesloe to the river and back again. Over 50 walkers participated on a beautiful sunny Sunday morning. Thanks to Lesley Shaw and Peter Spriggins for organising it for us!

Robyn Benken introduced walkers to the work being carried out by Cottesloe CoastCare.

We had a welcome break at Mosman Bay with refreshments put on by the Mosman Bay SeaScouts - thanks guys!

We saw a black shouldered kite as we approached Minim Cove in Mosman Park.

View live map.

While on holiday ...

Vicki and John have been busy in the bushland while I have been away ...
Here are some files of work that has been done in SB.
(the first map is from January this year)
* 23rd September - John - followed track around clockwise and entered the high ground i.e. central area and followed a clearly defined new path. Removed heaps of pelargonium. Back onto the track. Removed GCW on the Barrens Two large bags needed.
* 13th October - John - cut the Black wattle down yesterday Sunday and collected remaining GCW in the area and along the Defence Dept fence. Also checked on the weed that you identified. I cannot remember its common name but I have called it “Ugly Betty”. None remaining.
* 3rd of october - Vicki - all points are where either lupins and Carnation weed were removed.
* 5th of October - Vicki - these points include some of what John and I came across at the Sunday work session.
* 9th Oct - Vicki - this was where the carnation patch at the edge was removed. This is a very think patch under some banksia trees also found a small patch at on the eastern side of the barrens still to be removed.
LU = lupins
CW = carnation weed
BF = Black flag - (possibly a double up on already marked points from you).

	View live map Click here to download the GPX data for this map. Note, this data is an XML file - change the name to .GPX to upload to your GPS.
	View live map Click here to download the GPX data for this map. Note, this data is an XML file - change the name to .GPX to upload to your GPS.
	View live map Click here to download the GPX data for this map. Note, this data is an XML file - change the name to .GPX to upload to your GPS.
	View live map Click here to download the GPX data for this map. Note, this data is an XML file - change the name to .GPX to upload to your GPS.

Learning Lessons

The bushland is looking beautiful as always at this time of year - orchids, and a few cat's paws are scattered around. It is a delight to spend a few hours hear each Sunday morning.
John came across this mound of Watsonia bulbs that we had dumped here last year, or maybe the year before. They were sprouting - there is a lesson to be learnt here - carry out all bulbs! It is bad enough having to dig them out once, no point in digging them up again!

We also dug out the flinders ranges wattle that Vicki told us about.

View live map Click here to download the GPX data for this map. Note, this data is an XML file - change the name to .GPX to upload to your GPS.

Back to GCW

Polished off the Watsonia patch and moved on to the Geraldton Carnation Weeds in health department land adjacent to Selby Lodge. There are still lots of GCW to keep us occupied to XMas!
I was disappointed at the amount of damage caused by bulb spraying in the Watsonia area - lots of shrubs adjacent to Watsonias have been damaged and are dying back.

View live map Click here to download the GPX data for this map. Note, this data is an XML file - change the name to .GPX to upload to your GPS.

Still a few Watsonia

Vicki has organised a contractor to spray bulbous weeds (especially black flag) in the bushland. The pale yellow patch in this photo is one of the areas sprayed. There are lots of them - will need to monitor them to see what effect the spraying has. I came across a few rather large Geraldton Carnation Weeds in this area also.

Once I moved into the Watsonia area I noticed that the spraying contractor had been active there also. There was some collateral damage where Watsonias were sprayed that are growing in the middle of something else - might be better to wipe these.
I found more Watsonias than expected - will need to come back next Sunday to finish this patch off.

View live map Click here to download the GPX data for this map. Note, this data is an XML file - change the name to .GPX to upload to your GPS.

Towards a better management plan

Spent the first two hours this morning pulling out Geraldton Carnation Weeds and Watsonias. Got a bit of a surprise at the number of Watsonia bulbs - but then decided it wasn't too bad - should be able to clear them up by next weekend.
Vicki, Jean-Paul, and Dorothy arrived at 10 to talk about funding that Vicki has obtained through the Perth Biodiversity Project to update our management plan. Jean-Paul has been contracted by the City to do the work.
Dorothy, Jean-Paul and I then walked around the bushland discussing some issues to raise in the plan. For example:

• fumitory is becoming very wide-spread - is is something we need to look at?


• blue lechanaultia in the Prisoner of War camp site - do we retain it as part of the bushland's cultural heritage?


• dealing with 'the barrens' - a former rubbish dump - now quite polluted and degraded - what should we do with it? Should we seek corporate sponsorship?

My message in general was: we want feedback on how we are doing in our management of the bushland - what have we done well? What could we be doing better? What should we stop doing?

View live map Click here to download the GPX data for this map. Note, this data is an XML file - change the name to .GPX to upload to your GPS.

Feels like spring!

What a change in the weather - after weeks of cold and wet Sunday mornings in the bushland it was still cold - but the air is dry - and the feel is quite different. There are lots of plants in flower - orchids, hardenbergia, wattles ... it is all happening!
John is off on a visit to the UK, so it was just me today - mainly pulling out geraldton carnation weeds. Unfortunately the battery on the GPS went flat early - so the map doesn't show all of the areas I worked on.

View live map Click here to download the GPX data for this map. Note, this data is an XML file - change the name to .GPX to upload to your GPS.

More GCW

It always amazes me how we can go over the same spot many times, and always find more of the geraldton carnation weeds popping up - even 5 minutes later!
John and I continued to work in the Grevillea thicket. A security guard in the neighbouring Karrakatta Barracks peered at us suspiciously - I can see why - two blokes crawling around on hands and knees near the security fence must arouse some concerns!

View live map Click here to download the GPX data for this map. Note, this data is an XML file - change the name to .GPX to upload to your GPS.

CVA does GCW

Vicki organised a Conservation Volunteers team (CVA) team to tackle the Geraldton Carnation Weeds (GCS) in shenton bushland on Friday - here is where they worked.

View live map Click here to download the GPX data for this map. Note, this data is an XML file - change the name to .GPX to upload to your GPS.

Beautiful rain

The drizzle started shortly after I arrived at the bushland, and continued most of the time we were working - and then stopped just as I was going home - so I didn't have to ride in the rain. John and I worked mostly on pulling out Geraldton Carnation Weed - though there were a few patches of freesia that will need spraying - see map.
Phil was spraying veldgrass in the bushland on Saturday - which was a nice sunny day - Phil must have been checking up on patches missed - thanks Phhil.

View live map Click here to download the GPX data for this map. Note, this data is an XML file - change the name to .GPX to upload to your GPS.

Cold!

It took me an hour for my hands to warm up enough to actually feel the weeds I was pulling out this morning - only 1 degree above freezing. John and I worked in the Geraldton Carnation Weed patch for a couple of hours before heading home for a warming muffin!

View live map Click here to download the GPX data for this map. Note, this data is an XML file - change the name to .GPX to upload to your GPS.

Lachenalia spraying

Nedlands council sprayed the lachenalias this year. This is the first time in some years that contractors were brought in specifically to spray lachenalias. Previously, in an attempt to save money, the spraying has attempted to cover Lachenalias and Freesias at the same time - which worked OK for Freesias, but not for Lachenalias - with the reult that they have been spreading. Thanks to Vicki for organising the spraying this year.

	View live map Click here to download the GPX data for this map. Note, this data is an XML file - change the name to .GPX to upload to your GPS.
	View live map Click here to download the GPX data for this map. Note, this data is an XML file - change the name to .GPX to upload to your GPS.
	View live map Click here to download the GPX data for this map. Note, this data is an XML file - change the name to .GPX to upload to your GPS.

A plague of lachenalias

Found a few more infestations of lachenalias today when working in the bushland with Vicki - in places where we were not expecting to - which is a bit disappointing - so we marked them for future reference. Vicki will try to get them treated to at least stop them seeding.
Also found Geraldton Carnation Weeds quite wide spread - but the infestations not too dense - so we were able to cover quite a bit of territory.

View live map Click here to download the GPX data for this map. Note, this data is an XML file - change the name to .GPX to upload to your GPS.

Pulling Lachenalias may not be a good idea!

I was late this morning - hard to get out of bed on these cold and frosty mornings - even though it is beautiful in the bushland once the sun comes up. Vicki was waiting for us - in the freezing cold - sorry Vicki!
Vicki had been in the bushland during the week spraying the remaining Lachenalias - was concerned at the disturbance we were causing - so we have decided not to do any more lachenalia pulling for this year - began pulling Geraldton Carnation Weeds instead.

View live map Click here to download the GPX data for this map. Note, this data is an XML file - change the name to .GPX to upload to your GPS.

Still pulling lachenalias

John and I continue on with removing Lachenalia - it looks like an endless task, and is causing quite a bit of disturbance to the soil - is it a good idea?

View live map Click here to download the GPX data for this map. Note, this data is an XML file - change the name to .GPX to upload to your GPS.

Tackling the soldiers

John and I took on a platoon of soldiers (Lachenalia reflexa) and the place looked a bit like a battlefield after we had finished - hope we didn't do too much damage to the remaining native vegetation!
By 9.30am we were pretty much exhausted - had a look to see if Phil O'Neil was spraying herbicides - but he hadn't turned up, so we walked around the bushland inspecting the potential battle sites for the rest of this year - a few Watsonia's are beginning to pop up - and Geraldton Carnation Weeds also - better get fit!
Noticed that Vicki has organised Nedlands Council to remove all of the weeds we have dumped near the front gate - Thanks Vicki!

View live map Click here to download the GPX data for this map. Note, this data is an XML file - change the name to .GPX to upload to your GPS.

Make Spray while the Sun Shines

One of the trickiest parts of spraying herbicides to control bushland weeds is timing - knowing when to spray to have the maximum effect on weeds - and fitting that in with the weather. Now is the time for veldgrass spraying - just before the veldgrass goes into flower. But now is also the wettest time of year in Perth, so it is not easy to find a gap in the weather to spray.

Last Sunday proved to be such a gap, and we took advantage of it to begin spraying in the bushland (see map below). Phil O'Neil, our very dedicated contractor turned up before 9am on Sunday morning to begin spraying, and I helped out, carrying a hand sprayer to do the odd clumps out of reach of Phil's hose.

View live map Click here to download the GPX data for this map. Note, this data is an XML file - change the name to .GPX to upload to your GPS.

Just checking ....

Met Vicki and inspected the extent of Lachenalia in the bushland. Then met with Phil o'Neil who is going to be doing the veldgrass spraying shortly to work out what we can do to contribute to the spraying program. Looks like we are going to have a fine break so may spend the next couple of Sunday afternoons carrying knapsacks of fusilade around spraying the bits that are hard for Phil to get to with the hose.

View live map Click here to download the GPX data for this map. Note, this data is an XML file - change the name to .GPX to upload to your GPS.

What's that smell?

The lachenalia are quite bad this year. Started working just near the path at the junction, and at first there didn't seem to be much, but half an hour later I could see I had barely moved more than a couple of metres and the pile of lachenalia on the footpath was quite impressive.
Decided that we need to be strategic here. Clearly, there are more weeds than we have resources to deal with - so how to proceed? Those two ladies (The Bradley Sisters) had good advice - work around the edge of the infestation - at least that way we can make the infestation just a little bit smaller each year.
So, I am working anti-clockwise around the edge of the infestation.
At one point I noticed quite a pungent aroma - a bit like dead meat. Following my nose I came across these very smelly fungi - no idea what they are. Do you know? Please let me know if you do!

View live map Click here to download the GPX data for this map. Note, this data is an XML file - change the name to .GPX to upload to your GPS.

Mound(tains) of Black Flag

Black flag is on the march - for example, noticed a mound of dumped soil covered in Black Flag that is now beginning to spread out into the neighbouring bushland - need to deal with this soon!

View live map Click here to download the GPX data for this map. Note, this data is an XML file - change the name to .GPX to upload to your GPS.

A busy day!

It was a busy day for sure - pulling out veldgrass and freesia in the bushland from 8 to 9am, followed by a committee meeting from 9 to 10.30am. We discussed bushland management plans. We also began to plan for a fund-raising day in August - a day to bring the community into the bushland and enjoy the wildflowers.

At 11 am we helped in the 'Save Underwood' rally - over 100 people turned up to enjoy the speakers, music, and the bushland itself.

View live map Click here to download the GPX data for this map. Note, this data is an XML file - change the name to .GPX to upload to your GPS.