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Chiltern Valley No 1 Dam
Chiltern Valley No 1 Dam

Great bird watching spot. Enter via Pit Road. Photo E Collins

Woolshed Falls Track
Woolshed Falls Track

Photo E Collins

View from Mt Pilot in spring
View from Mt Pilot in spring

Photo N Bartlett

Brittle Gums Old Coach Road Mt Pilot
Brittle Gums Old Coach Road Mt Pilot

These magnificent gums are only found the Mt Pilot section of the park. The understorey is bracken. Photo E Collins

Stone wall  Old Coach Road Mt Pilot
Stone wall Old Coach Road Mt Pilot

A relic of the past which has stood the test of time. Photo E Collins

Tuan Track Walk
Tuan Track Walk

Guided walk through different habitats with leaflet provided.All season walk but excellent in spring. Photo E Collins

Bartley Plaque Sept 14th 2013
Bartley Plaque Sept 14th 2013

The plaque tells some of the history of this block.Funded by Friends group. Photo R Collins

Frogs Hollow revegetation
Frogs Hollow revegetation

A willing band planted over 300 shrubs and trees in August 2013.

Albino Swamp Wallaby
Albino Swamp Wallaby

A delightful portrait of this unusually coloured animal. Photo N Bartlett.

Grey Grass Tree Xanthorrhoea glauca ssp angustifolia
Grey Grass Tree Xanthorrhoea glauca ssp angustifolia

This species has recently found to be confined to Chiltern, Killawarra and the Warby Ranges. Photo E Collins

Sunburst Lichen Xanthoria sp
Sunburst Lichen Xanthoria sp

A spectacular lichen which can bee seen on the old fruit trees in Bartley's block. Photo E Collins

Speckled Warbler
Speckled Warbler

This delightful little bird is most easily seen at Bartley's block. Best spot to look is at the southern end. Photo N Bartlett

Amazing balance
Amazing balance

Just one of the many interesting rocks in the park. Photo E Collins

Chiltern Valley No 2 Dam
Chiltern Valley No 2 Dam

Another good bird watching spot. Pleasant picnic spot with good viewing site. Picnic table provided by Friends group. Photo E Collins

Barnawartha Bushfire
Barnawartha Bushfire

After crossing the freeway the fire entered the park along Barnawartha Depot Road. Ridge Track and a large area of the reference area was burnt. Photo by R Pritchard

Grasstree Track
Grasstree Track

Life beginning to return. Springtime will be interesting where the ground has been lightly burnt. Photo B Pritchard

Aerial attack
Aerial attack

Water bombing over the Chiltern Reference area. Parks crew cut a firebreak through this area..

Pilot Reference Area and Hartigans Gap
Pilot Reference Area and Hartigans Gap

This aerial shows the extent and pathway of the fire. The Pilot reference area suffered badly with 11,000 ha being burnt. Many large old trees were lost. Photo B Pritchard.

Woolshed 27th July 2016
Woolshed 27th July 2016

Photo N Blair Another spectacular cascade of water.

Magenta planting June 3rd 2016
Magenta planting June 3rd 2016

In 2016 Parks redesigned the Magenta Mine carpark and barbecue area to improve the area,The surrounds were ripped and mulched and in June Friends planted 200 understorey species.

Interperpretive plaque, Rutherglen N F Reserve
Interperpretive plaque, Rutherglen N F Reserve

Photo M Webster. The Great Southern and Chiltern Valley mine is situated in the Rutherglen Natural Features Reserve. Friends obtained a grant to restore the reserve and mine site. This was completed in 2016 by an enthusiastic group with support from Parks Victoria.

Clear Creek Cascades July 2016
Clear Creek Cascades July 2016

Photo M Webster. The rains have produced some spectacular sights. This waterfall brings the rock formations to life.

‹ ›

Friends of Chiltern Mt Pilot NP Newsletter #302 February 2021

Dear Friends,

The February field day included a gathering at the Grasslands Block to check on the plantings that took place in August 2018 and during 2020.  These plantings are doing well, and we took the opportunity to check two of the mammal nest boxes and remove weeds such as Bathurst Burr (Xanthium spinosum) and Sweet Briar (Rosa rubiginosa).

The day also provided us with a chance to discuss suitable activities for the year with an eye on the possible influence of COVID-19 restrictions. During much of 2020, we featured multiple activities at our field days so that numbers were kept within the prescribed limits for outdoor gatherings. This gave people a chance to choose an activity that suited their interests and abilities.  The discussion generated many suggestions of possible activities and these will be developed into a list of possibilities ready to go as appropriate. The suggestions included bird walks, wildflower walks, wildflower photography sessions, guest presenters on topics that broaden our knowledge of flora and fauna. Regular activities such as monitoring mammal nest boxes and weeding will still feature but be complemented by sessions in between the monthly field days.

Grasslands Block (Neville Bartlett) (0237)

Weeding at Grasslands Block – photo: Neville Bartlett Grasslands Block (Neville Bartlett) (0243)

A view of the 2018 Grasslands planting – photo: Neville Bartlett

Later in the morning, Mick Webster led a group to the Mt Pilot section of the park to check out progress with the Wheel Cactus control and a walk to Clear Creek Falls.

 

Wheel Cactus (Mick Webster)

Wheel Cactus showing the infestation of cochineal beetles – photos: Mick Webster

Wheel Cactus (Mick Webster) (0133)

Clear Creek Falls – photo: Mick Webster Clear Creek Falls (Mick Webster) (0139)

 

Hercules Robber Fly - Neoaratus hercules - Eileen Collins

Sometimes when one is just standing still amazing creatures appear.

This Robber Fly announced its presence with a loud buzzing and obligingly landed on a plant in front of me.

Neil captured this photo showing the intricate vein pattern in the wings which has enabled it to be identified to species level.

At a length of about 3 cms, the name "Hercules" suits it perfectly.

It may look ferocious, but its interest lies in catching passing flying insect prey.

Prey is captured in flight and stabbed with its rostrum.

It proceeds to suck the juices from the body and then discard the skeleton.

Hercules Robber Fly - Neoaratus hercules (Neil Blair)

Hercules Robber Fly (Neoaratus hercules) – photo: Neil Blair

Gang gang cockatoos are regular visitors to this area at this time of year, voraciously feeding on hawthorn berries, either ripe or unripe.  They are one of the more "human friendly" cockatoos, who certainly don't mind showing off their hairstyle.  This photo is of a male, taken at Rowdy Flat at the end of January.

Gang-gang Cockatoo (Jan Palmer)

Gang-gang Cockatoo (Callocephalon fimbriatum) – photo: Jan Palmer

Around the Park

There has been much bird activity this season and the images featured here were taken by Brian Pritchard while he was in lockdown at home late in 2020.

Mistletoebird near nest (Brian Pritchard) (DSCN4742) Mistletoebird (Brian Pritchard) (DSCN4841)

Male Mistletoebird (Dicaeum hirundinaceum) and its nest – photos: Brian Pritchard

Weebill on nest (Brian Pritchard)

Weebill (Smicrornis brevirostris) in its nest – photo: Brian Pritchard

Ranger’s Report

Our two new rangers have commenced work it is planned to meet with Friends at the next meeting on 6 March.

Scott Cunningham is an experienced ranger who has transferred from Yarrawonga into an ongoing position. Scott has a previously worked for Parks Victoria in various roles at Wangaratta, Mt Buffalo and Wilsons Promontory.

Laura Collins has been seconded into Hannah Clemen’s position until November whilst Hannah works on the horse project at Barmah National Park. Laura has been working as a project fire fighter in Beechworth and has a background in outdoor education.

We are looking forward to what they bring to the team, our parks and support for the Friends Group. Luke is still with the team and Brian continues albeit working from home due to COVID situation.

In the park, contractors have commenced fox control program near Barambogie with baiting to continue over coming months and we are still responding to a lot of trees falling across roads. Preparations are well underway for planned burns to be undertaken near Barambogie and at Davitt’s Swamp in the Mt Pilot section of the park. It is expected planned burning will commence soon given the favourable weather conditions. Yeddonba remains closed as we are experiencing some difficulties in sourcing contractors to undertake works.

Rainfall    December 2020:  41 mm. Total for 2020: 778 mm. In 2019 we had 448 mm up to the end of December. The average annual rainfall for Chiltern is 689 mm.

NEXT MEETING – SATURDAY 6thMARCH 2021

The activities for the day are expected to include meeting with our new rangers, a demonstration of a pole camera for inspecting mammal nest boxes and a walk in the park.

Details will be announced on the Wednesday beforehand (3rd March 2021).

Meet at the Chiltern Post Office at 09:00am.

Contact for the day: Neville – 0412 399 239.

Dates for 2021

 Saturday 6th March, Sunday  4th April (Easter Sunday), Saturday 1st May, Sunday 6th June, Saturday 3rd July, Sunday 1st August, Saturday 4th September, Sunday 3rd October, Saturday 6th November, and Sunday 5th December 2021.

Rule of Thumb: For even months, the field day is held on the first Sunday of the month and for odd months, it is held on the first Saturday of the month.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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