Winter Warm-up Mulching Take 2
on Sunday 19 July 1:00 – 4:00 pm
What the work site used to look like – a monoculture of the evil grass Chilean Needlegrass Nassella neesiana, before spraying with herbicide.
Photo by W. Pix.
Join the Friends of Mt Majura for a warm-up mulching session near the Hackett water tank on Sunday, 19 July, from 1pm to 4pm; bring garden gloves and a shovel or garden fork if you have one; residents living nearby are especially invited to give a hand and learn about the work to rehabilitate this area.
We will mulch recently planted ground cover plants such as Creeping Saltbush and Tall Sedge and top up sites with mulch where Chilean Needlegrass was poisoned. Also work to stabilise the edges of the ditch and control a new infestation of Umbrella Sedge Cyperus eragrostis nearby, if there is time.
Where: nature reserve behind Rivett Street around the water tank in Hackett; view this map.
Bring: Body covering garden clothing, drinking water; we provide the tools and equipment.
This is a family friendly working party; no experience necessary. The work party will be cancelled if it is raining.
Further information from the website here.
Enquiries: secretary@majura.org
National Tree Day – Tree Walk and Talk Sunday 26 July 2.00 – 4.30 pm
Lovely winter’s day at Watson for the big group of tree planters on National Tree Day 2019 at Friends of Mount Majura’s The Fair rehabilitation site.
Photo from FoMM’s website.
Ecologist Michael Doherty will lead a tree walk on National Tree Day. It’s 30 years since Planet Ark started National Tree Day so let’s celebrate with them for such a positive impact on our environment! In 2019 FoMM’s last tree planting at The Fair site was on National Tree Day – see more photos here. This year for National Tree Day, look at the trees nature planted, some hundreds of years old, on the slopes of Mount Majura!
Where: Meet at Grayson/Mackenzie entrance to the Mt Majura Nature Reserve – see map.
See and learn about the trees that occur in the Mount Majura woodlands, get tips on how to identify them.
We’ll be walking on trails, mainly on the slopes and possibly up a medium slope to see Snow Gums Eucalyptus pauciflora.
Wear sturdy shoes and warm clothes; bring drinking water and a gold coin donation for a tree list.
More information from the website here.
Questions: FoMMnaturewalks@gmail.com
Improving Grassy Woodland.
What worked, what failed, and what are the plans for the future.
Sat 4th July 2-4pm, meet at the nature reserve entry Tay & Ian Nicols Streets, The Fair, North Watson
Mulch, fire, herbicide, fencing, brush-cutting and solarizing, loosening compacted soil, hand-weeding, broadcasting seeds and planting: over more than ten years, the Friends of Mount Majura ParkCare group used a suite of methods and experiments to improve a 10 Ha heavily degraded grassy woodland area on Mt Majura’s western foot-slope. Share your experiences at a visit to the site and see the effects of
Use of Fire and St John’s Wort
Solarizing Sweet Vernal Grass without pre-treatment (and pre-treatment with herbicide)
Direct Seeding of Native Grass in Nutrient-enriched Soils
2021 Progress @ The Fair before the achieved improvements were undone by overgrazing.
FoMM has organized this event for Friends of Grasslands, but all interested people are welcome.
Reports
Winter Solstice Mulching 21 June
The sign says Volunteers at Work, but here are some of them enjoying a well-earned arvo cake break after a couple of hours spreading wood chip mulch – quite hard work! Waltraud tells them about the wildlife she has found in the lower part of the gully – see the final feature photo.
Photo by B. Read.
Bird Walk and Talk 14 June
Young bird enthusiast watching magpie watching her.
Photo by Phil Jones.
It was a good walk in the bush on the upper side of powerlines heading south from Blue Metal Rd. Twenty people, including a small child with binoculars who loved birds, Peter Miller and Brian (the bird experts), and an ecologist, saw lots of small birds such as pardalotes and weebills moving around high in the canopies. A young kookaburra sat on a low branch for everyone to observe. Some people took photos of it. Some photographers put their photos into iNaturalist or Canberra NatureMapr. The bird list compiled by Brian follows. If you want to see what these birds look like you are spoilt for choice as there are lots of bird apps and websites. Local ones are Canberra NatureMapr (put the bird’s name in the search box at the top of the screen) and Canberra Birds.
Bird List by Brian
- Crested Pigeon
- Laughing Kookaburra
- Galah
- Little Corella
- Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
- Australian King Parrot
- Crimson Rosella
- Eastern Rosella
- Superb Fairywren
- Noisy Miner
- Spotted Pardalote
- Weebill
- Brown Thornbill
- Buff-rumped Thornbill
- Golden Whistler
- Grey Butcherbird
- Australian Magpie
- Pied Currawong
- Magpie Lark
- Australian Raven
- Scarlet Robin
As well as birds, the group found a well-used recliner chair with a cache of empties alongside it. Ranger Rob got on the job and removed these in the following week. Thank you Rob!
The Fair from the Air
Some members of the Mondays @The Fair group may wonder how this area of the reserve got that name and why the track is Clancy’s. Older members who have lived in Canberra for a long time will know that the original Fair was Canberry Fair, also known as Downunderland, a fun fair at the corner of Antill St and the Federal Highway. Located inside of the Australian Heritage Village on 5 acres, it had a roller coaster ride, a man-made lake with ride-in swans, a maze, a ride called the Gravitron, dodgem cars and a pub called Clancy’s. The entrance was in Antill Street. It was there from December 1981 until it shut down in 1991. For a while it had other roles as an animal park and as a venue for concerts and functions. Then the land was sold for The Fair residential development we see to-day, built by The Village Building Co. who started construction in 2011-12. You can see construction happening on Google Earth if you View Historical Imagery.
People remember Canberry Fair fondly – see this FaceBook post. And if you look at this post and click open the comments you can see the photos of the roller coaster and the paddle boat swans.
And here is another story with a picture of the “swans” on the lake. Another ride is shown in this Sydney Morning Herald article.
The Fair at the corner of Antill St and the Federal Highway in February1985. The boundary of what was to become the current residential estate is clearly visible as is Valour Park, then called Apex Park, at the top along the Federal Highway.
Cropped from an aerial photograph provided by ACTmapi.
This is only a small part of the history of the reserve’s The Fair site. Look at FoMM’s website for its earliest history in a pamphlet prepared in 2013 for the new residents at The Fair housing complex.
Come along any Monday morning at 9:30 to the Tay St gate to the reserve in north Watson and join the friendly Mondays@ The Fair group to add your impact on the future history of the 10 ha Fair rehabilitation site. Look at how bare it was in 1985 compared to now, thanks to the Friends of Mount Majura!
Feral Deer Map
Map of feral deer populations compiled by the Invasive Species Council.
Feral deer are causing damage across Australia – trampling habitat, trashing waterways and threatening some of our most vulnerable places.
Feral deer populations can double every 2–3 years if left unchecked. A small herd can become a destructive force within a decade.
As populations expand, opportunities for eradication shrink and communities are left facing a problem that is harder and more expensive to solve.
Our ecosystems were never built to withstand that kind of pressure. And yes, feral deer have been seen on Mt Majura. Hard to photograph, and sometimes what is seen is just the damage done, the hoof prints or an antler; sightings like these are recorded on Canberra NatureMapr.
But since deer were introduced in the 1800s as game animals, feral populations have exploded. Across the country, the damage is mounting. Entire shrub layers eaten to sticks. Frog habitats trampled into mud. Mature trees ring-barked. Waterways degraded. in Victoria and Tasmania, feral deer remain legally protected under outdated laws originally designed to preserve deer for recreational hunting.
Today, feral deer are on track to become the next rabbit: widespread, destructive and incredibly difficult to control. Only South Australia has an eradication commitment.
(Adapted from Invasive Species Council materials.)
And see this story about an incursion of a deer species new to this area, the Hog Deer Axis porcinus.
More Feral News
What is the Feral Cat’s Favourite Food? See here and for a pic of a local feral – see final feature
Cats and risks to human health – see this story from The Conversation.
Feral Pigs Eradicated from Kangaroo Island – hooray! good news from the ABC here.
ACT Budget for the environment announcement for the environment- story here with comments from the Conservation Council ACT Region and the Greens. Just one quote from Simon Copland:
“Invasive species are one of the biggest threats to our region’s biodiversity, and we’re relieved the Government has listened to our concerns,” Dr Copland said. “Continuing to fund a biosecurity response team and introducing a new community weeds grant category to the ACT Environmental Grants Program are strong steps in the right direction.”
And another quote from the Greens MLA Andrew Braddock: “The Greens also welcomed increased environmental funding, including strengthened support for environmental organisations, such as bodies Landcare and the National Parks Association; expanded weed management; and a boost to environmental grants. However, the Greens said the government must invest in more ACT rangers and environmental volunteer groups.”
Biocontrol hub here and Paterson’s curse agents here
When you have been digging out or spraying Paterson’s curse plants, have you noticed small round holes in the leaves? These are due to a Flea Beetle, a biocontrol agent, which was introduced some years ago. It and some other agents will never eradicate Paterson’s curse, but they have limited the plants’ vigour and reduced populations. It is now very uncommon to see hills and river flats turned completely purple from the curse.
Flea Beetle on a Paterson’s Curse leaf, small and shiny black.
Photo from the biocontrol hub website taken on a cold misty winter morning
The Paterson’s curse and viper’s bugloss flea beetle Longitarsus echii is 2 to 4 mm long, shiny black, which a touch of bronze. Adults have enlarged hind legs and long antennae, both of which are reddish in colour. Flea beetle larvae are slender, cylindrical and cream in colour with a brown head capsule. Larvae initially fed on the plant crown and leaf stalks, before descending to the taproot to feed. Larvae may be seen in an infested plant if the taproot is cut open. Plants infested with flea beetles appear wilted and in poor condition from internal damage caused by larval feeding.” From here. There are other native flea beetles around, with similar large back legs for leaping – look out for them in your garden and in the reserve. They do not attack Paterson’s curse.
Urban Trees – Story here from The Conversation. The cooling effect of large street trees is recorded in this study for Melbourne and seen around here in the older suburbs where canopies of deciduous trees meet overhead, shading the roadway in summer. In the newer suburbs with narrower streets and plantings of smaller trees like Callery Pear, there is not the same degree of shading, so the impact of these trees on reducing summer heat must be less.
Urban Forest Act amendments proposed in the ACT– see story here
Winners – ACT Environment Awards – read about all the different awards here. The Environmental Protection Award winner was Turtle Watch, led by Bruno Ferronato and the Lifetime Achievement Award was shared by Sarah Sharp and Michael Mulvaney. Congratulations to them both on their outstanding contributions to our understanding of our local environment.
FrogWatch story here. See two events below when the TurtleWatch Coordinator will be speaking in July and early August.
Mushrooms and other Fungi – here is a story about how many have been found lately with the mild conditions in late autumn and at the start of winter. Look for them in your garden as well as in the reserve.
An Earthstar Geastrum sp. at Mount Majura.
Photo by abread111, courtesy of Canberra NatureMapr
Cormorants story here
Bettongs Good News here
Rewilding stories here and challenges here
Our Wider World
When Eucalyptus are an invasive species here
Biodiversity – new species story here – sometimes the new species is hiding in plain sight!
New (Fossil) Type of Marsupial found here
Whale Necropolis shared by whales in the Indian Ocean for millions of years – see story here.
Kew Gardens has completed scanning its collections and released its State of the World’s Plants and Fungi 2026. Subtitle is The Digital Biodiversity Revolution. It celebrates the increasing availability of botanical specimens in digital format for all to use. This publication is not only interesting and important to botanists, taxonomists, ecologists, geneticists and plant lovers generally, but it is also beautiful, with exquisite photographs. So, follow the link under the title and be impressed!
Our River
A walk to look at the Bidgee from Shepherds Lookout is outlined here.
Urban Rivers Project here, a Landcare undertaking funded by the federal and ACT governments. A start, but more needs to be done to limit the impact of invasive species along all our waterways.
Learn about Economics and competing water uses – here and watch the Webinar: The Value of Water — Rethinking Flows in the Upper Murrumbidgee here
Did you know that the Upper Murrumbidgee River receives only less than 10% of its natural flows? The Upper Murrumbidgee River, the ACT’s most significant waterway, is in crisis.
Now, for the first time in more than 20 years, the rules controlling flows from Tantangara Dam to the river are being reviewed through the Snowy Water Inquiry Outcomes Implementation Deed (SWIOID) Review.
This presents a critical opportunity for the ACT community to make their voice heard on the future of the river.
Together, the Australian River Restoration Centre and the Conservation Council ACT Region are excited to present the webinar: The Future of the Upper Murrumbidgee River and the SWIOID Review.
Join Anna McGuire, National Policy Lead at the Murray-Darling Conservation Alliance, and Dr Siwan Lovett, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Australian River Restoration Centre, both members of the SWIOID Review Stakeholder Advisory Group, to learn more about this important review. The webinar on 15 July will be recorded if you cannot attend then. See events section below for registration.
Events
All July at the Arboretum -many events, some especially for children in the school holidays. See the program here and buy your tickets.
Any Day 9 am – 5 pm at the National Library, see the Treasures Gallery – this story is about what’s on show now.
Thursday 2 July 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm Field Naturalists Monthly Meeting – Speaker: Ana Gracanin ‘Can artificially carved hollows effectively restore habitat for endangered Greater Gliders?’ See here for details.
Monday 6 July 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Canberra Museum and Gallery, Civic See the Peacock Spider artwork that’s on display with Stuart Harris, as a guide giving expert commentary on the species behind the art! Organised by the Field Naturalists – see here for details.
Wed 8 Jul 4:30pm – 7:30pm at Parliament House 4:30pm to 6:00pm – landscape and gardens walk, 6:00pm to 7:30pm – Join in with the Parliament House Indigenous Stargazing event led by Indigenous Astronomer Peter Swanton. For more info and to register see here
Wed 8 July 6pm – 8pm 2nd Screening: On the Edge at Palace Electric organised by the Conservation Council ACT Region – get info and tickets here
Wed 15 July 12 -1 pm webinar The Future of the Upper Murrumbidgee River and the SWIOID Review – register here to get the Zoom link.
Saturday 18 July 9:30am to 11:00am – 5 km walk, 11:00am to 11:30am – morning tea and chat with local MP David Smith Branching Out: Wanniassa Hills Nature Reserve – info and register here
Friday 24 Jul 11:30am – 3:30pm Branching Out: Explore the Geoheritage Trail at Mulligans Flat BYO lunch, more information and registration here
Wednesday 29 July – 23 August 2026 9.30 am – 4.30 pm at the visitor centre Gallery, Australian National Botanic Gardens Eggpicnic at the Gardens – Through illustration and sculpture Eggpicnic celebrates the remarkable plants, animals and fungi that call ANBG home. See here and here.
Thursday 30 July12:30 pm – 1:30 pm Bruno Ferronato ‘TurtleWatch ACT: citizen-science, monitoring and conservation of turtles in Canberra’ at the Australian National Botanic Gardens Theatrette, more information and booking here. For other events organised by the Friends of the ANBG see their calendar.
Sunday 2 Aug 10 am -noon JOURNAL IN THE FIELD with Ami at Red Hill and then the first Sunday each month at different locations. See here for more information and to book for these free social events.
Thursday 6 August 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm Field Naturalists Meeting – Speaker: Bruno de Oliveira Ferronato ‘Turtles in Ginninderra Catchment’ See here for details.
Friday 7 August Close of Have your say on the draft Guide for Tree Removals on Design Grounds and Urban Forest (Approval Criteria). The draft documents and a survey are available here.
Sunday 23 Aug 03:00 pm Bogong Watch Update online – see here to register.
Final Feature
Cat Felis catus on the prowl in the gully near the lower Hackett water reservoir, where there is a wombat burrow. Caught on a camera set up by Waltraud.
Photo courtesy Canberra NatureMapr
