Friends of Mount Majura » Events

Ant Walk (04/03/2012)

Waltraud Pix — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:16:04 +0000

Join ANU myrmecologist Ajay Narendra for a glimpse into the fascinating world of one of the most dominant animals on the planet. Learn amazing things about jack-jumpers and other ants that live on Mount Majura on a Sunday afternoon stroll.

How many ants live in this nest?

Kids accompanied by adults are especially welcome.
Please bring a magnifying lens if you have one and wear covered shoes and sun protection.
It is important to notify us if you are allergic to ants or bee stings.

Limited places! Bookings essential!

Booking and enquiries: Ph 62488955 or admin@majura.org

A gold coin donation to support the conservation work of the Friends of Mount Majura parkCare group would be much appreciated.

Ajay Narendra (right) and Sam Reid study visual guided behaviour of bulldog ants on the Mount Majura ridge.

Ajay Narendra is part of the research team studying navigation strategies in Jack Jumpers (Myrmecia croslandi) in Hackett. Find out about Jack Jumpers and other ants on Ajay’s website at http://web.mac.com/ajaynarendra

Woody Weeds Working Party (19/02/2012)

Waltraud Pix — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:24:54 +0000

When: Sunday, 19 February 2012, 9 am – 1 pm
Where: Meet at the nature park entrance at Mackenzie Street opposite Grayson Street, Hackett; click on map to view the meeting point.
Wear: Sun protection, sturdy shoes, long sleeves and pants.
What: Control of woody weeds along the creek line downhill of the Majura dams. We will use the cut-and-daub method to tackle Briar Rose, blackberry, and young Cootamundra wattles.
Enquiries: admin@majura.org or 6247 7515
We provide the tools and morning tea (tea coffee and cake around 11 am).
Novice weeders please come early for an introduction of the target weeds and the safe use of tools and herbicides. Bring your friends and help promote the event; click here to download a poster.

Sweet Briar, Rosa rubiginosa, a native plant of Europe and West Asia, is a major weed particularly of dry and hilly disturbed land. The seeds are spread by birds and foxes which eat the red fleshy fruits (rose hips). Briars were introduced to Australia as garden and hedge plants in the early 1800s (Photograph Waltraud Pix, 23.11.2011).

Cootamundra Wattle, Acacia baileyana, is an Australian species, which does not naturally occur in Canberra. It was introduced to the ACT as a garden plant. The highly invasive species is now widespread in Namadgi National Park and the suburban nature reserves of the ACT.

How to tell-apart from look-a-likes. The compound blueish-grey-green leaves of a Cootamundra wattle (top in the left panel) resemble those of the local species Sliver wattle, Acacia dealbata, which native to the Mount Majura and Mount Ainslie nature reserves. The leaves of Cootamundra wattles have 3-4 pairs of leaflets arranged along the leaf stem, the lowest pair is shorter and embraces the branch to which the leaf is attached. The leaves of Silver wattles have 8-20 pairs of leaflets arranged along to the leaf stem and the lowest pair does not embrace the branch.

Working Party (22/01/2012)

Waltraud Pix — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 06:46:43 +0000

Join the Friends of Mount Majura for a working party to remove the bad and protect the good guys.

When: Sunday, 22 January 2012, 9 am to 1 pm

Where: Meet at the Hackett reservoir off Rivett / French Streets, Hackett (click this map to view the meeting point)

Wear and bring: Sun protection, sturdy shoes, old garden clothing with long sleeves & pants

What: Control of woody weeds at the drain ditch close to the reservoir; installing wire mesh tree guards around the shrubs planted in 2011.

Give as little or as much time as you want. We provide the tools and morning tea with delicious cakes.

Please come early for an introduction.

Enquiries: Ph 6247 7515 or Email admin@majura.org

Download this poster to promote the working party

Pre-Christmas Working Party (18/12/2011)

Waltraud Pix — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:52:38 +0000

Join us for a Pre-Christmas working party to hunt woody weeds at the northwest slope of Mount Majura.

When: Sunday, 18 December 2011, 9.00 am – 12.00 noon
Where: Mt Majura nature park off Antill Street south of “The Fair” construction site, north Watson
Meet: Access and car parking opposite Prime TV; walk along the horse track towards “The Fair” until you hit the PCS trailer; click here to view a map.
What: Cut-&-daub Sweet Briar, hawthorns, and other woody weeds and frilling of Cootamundra wattles.
Bring: Sun protection, appropriate shoes, body-covering clothing; tools and morning tea will be provided.
Novice weeders, please come early for an introduction.
Enquiries: Email admin@majura.org or Phone 6247 7515

To view common woody weeds of Mount Majura including the target weeds of the working party click on the FoMM Woody Weeds Flickr Group. Some of the weeds we will tackle are featured below.

Firethorn, Pyracantha sp. flowering at the lower slope of Mount Majura (Photograph Waltraud Pix, 15.11.2011).
Firethorns are native to Asia and have been introduced to Australia as an ornamental plant. There are a number of species but the most common is the Orange Firethorn (P. angustifolia), which has leaves with hairs on the lower surface. Firethorns are common environmental weeds in urban bushland areas. They are spread by seeds in the droppings of birds. The plants shade out native vegetation; thorny thickets restrict access to invaded areas and provide shelter for rabbits and hares.

Sweet Briar, Rosa rubiginosa, a native of Europe and West Asia, is a major weed particularly of dry and hilly disturbed land. The seeds are spread by birds and foxes which eat the red fleshy fruits (rose hips). Briars were introduced to Australia as garden and hedge plants in the early 1800s (Photograph Waltraud Pix, 23.11.2011)

The Cootamundra Wattle, Acacia baileyana is one of the woody weeds which we control in the Mount Majura nature reserve. The species does not naturally occur in Canberra and was introduced to the ACT as a garden plant. The highly invasive species is now widespread in Namadgi National Park and the suburban nature reserves of the ACT.

How to tell-apart from look-a-likes. The compound blueish-grey-green leaves of a Cootamundra wattle (top in the below panel) resemble those of the local species Sliver wattle, Acacia dealbata, which native to the Mount Majura and Mount Ainslie nature reserves. The leaves of Cootamundra wattles have 3-4 pairs of leaflets arranged along the leaf stem, the lowest pair is shorter and embraces the branch to which the leaf is attached. The leaves of Silver wattles have 8-20 pairs of leaflets arranged along to the leaf stem and the lowest pair does not embrace the branch.

(16/10/2011) Report on Spring Working Party

louisa — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 23:57:14 +0000

By Will Floyd (Crowajingalong scout)

was on the Sunday, 16 October, from 9am to mid-day
near the Hackett water reservoir (at the corner of Rivett and French Street)

We turned up at Hackett water reservoir at 9am with our sun screen, broad brimmed hats and sturdy shoes. After a quick intro talk we got to work watering and re-protecting seedlings.

This is how we watered and re-protected the seedlings:

We removed waste matter and guards from around seedlings
We placed moist newspaper around the seedlings
We placed straw cut from nearby grass around plant
We put plant guard back around plant
We put sticks around the plant protector

We had a great day in the sun protecting and watering plants. Plus morning tea was provided (Mmmmm!).

Amount of people who came:

About 8 Adults
7 Kids (most from Mount Majura scouts)
1 Dog(she was very fluffy)

You can see our photos on Flickr here

Learn about Rabbit Mapping (08/11/2011) – new date

louisa — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 03:38:43 +0000

When : Thursday November 10th from 6-7pm

Where : Entrance to the Nature Park at the end of Phillip Avenue. Plenty of parking available off Kellaway Street. Here is a map of parking and entrances.

Meet the local ranger and hear about the project
Learn how to identify active warrens
Adopt a mapping block
Sign up for a GPS training session

For more information email to : fomm.committee@gmail.com

If this time or date is not suitable for you but you are interested in helping out please email fomm.committee@gmail.com to let us know. Rabbit mapping is not a difficult task, very basic GPS skills are required but we can show you all you need to know. Taking part is a wonderful way to get to know our mountain better as it gets you off the regular paths!

Please download this poster to spread the word about this meeting

Woody Weeds Working Party (20/11/2011)

louisa — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:09:56 +0000

Friends of Mount Majura (FoMM) jointly with the Watson Woodland Working Group will host a working party to control woody weeds at the northwest slope of Mount Majura

When: Sunday, 20 November 2011, 9.00 am – 12.00 noon

Where: Mt Majura nature park off Antill Street south of “The Fair” construction site, north Watson

Meet: Access and car parking opposite Prime TV; walk along the horse track towards “The Fair” until you hit the PCS trailer; click here to view a map.

What: Cut-&-daub Sweet Briar, hawthorns, and frilling of Cootamundra wattles.

Bring: Sun protection, appropriate shoes, body-covering clothing; tools and morning tea will be provided.

Please come early for an introduction

Enquiries: Email admin@majura.org or Phone 6247 7515

To view common woody weeds of Mount Majura including the target weeds of the working party click on the FoMM Woody Weeds Flickr Group

The Cootamundra wattle, Acacia baileyana is an Australian species, which does not naturally occur in Canberra. It was introduced to the ACT as a garden plant. The highly invasive species is now widespread in Namadgi National Park and the nature reserves of the ACT. The compound blueish-grey-green leaves resemble those of the local species Sliver wattle, Acacia dealbata, which native to the Mount Majura and Mount Ainslie nature reserves.

How to distinguish between Cootamundra wattle and Silver wattle: The compound leaves of Cootamundra wattles (top) have 3-4 pairs of leaflets arranged along the leaf stem, the lowest pair is shorter and embraces the branch to which the leaf is attached. The leaves of Silver wattles (bottom) have 8-20 pairs of leaflets arranged along to the leaf stem and the lowest pair does not embrace the branch.

Bird Walk (13/11/2011)

louisa — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:03:11 +0000

Join ornithologist Terry Munro for an early morning walk to observe and hear some of the many birds that call Mount Majura and Mount Ainslie home.

Bring sun protection, sturdy shoes, binoculars, if you have them and a gold coin for a species list and a pocket guide.

Sunday, 13^th November, 8.30 am to 10.30 am

Limited places! Booking essential!

Booking and enquiries: Phone 6247 7684 or Email jlruxton@gmail.com

Download this poster for promotion.

Spring Wildflower Walk (30/10/2011)

louisa — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 08:35:41 +0000

Sunday, 30 October 2011, 2.00pm to 4.00pm

Meet at the nature park entrance Mackenzie Street, near Grayson Street junction; view this map.

Enjoy a spring Floriade on the mountain at this delightful walk with local ecologist Michael Doherty. The walk will highlight the different species found in grassland, woodland and open forest. Please bring sun protection, water, good walking shoes, and a magnifying glass if you have one.

Parrot-pea, Dillwynia sericea

An updated flora list is available for a donation.

Booking not required.
Enquiries: Phone 62488955

View photographs of orchids and forbs on FoMM Flickr

Spring Working Party (16/10/2011)

louisa — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 08:06:21 +0000

When: Sunday, 16 October from 9am to 12noon
Where: Meet at the Hackett water reservoir close to the Rivett and French Streets intersection; view this map.
Bring: Sun protection, sturdy shoes, long sleeve and pants and garden gloves if you have them.
Morning tea will be provided.
Enquiries: email admin@majura.org or phone 6247 7515
Give the seedlings planted on National Tree Day at the Majura paddock a head start for spring by watering, mulching and weeding.

Mulch suppresses weeds, retains moisture and keeps tree guards in place.

Mulched seedlings at Majura paddock. Mulch helps to keep the protective guards in place (Photograph W.Pix 23.09.2011).

Eucalyptus seedling damaged by rabbits (or hares) after its guard blew off (Photograph W. Pix 02.09.2011)

How the paddock looked like before volunteers started restoration work. Weeds particularly horehound covered most of the ground in the timbered part of the paddock (Photograph W. Pix, 15.09.2009)

For more information on the Majura Paddock restoration project click here.