Rowsley Landcare Group are hosting a field day Friday 26 August 2022 10:00 am – 1:00 pm AEST

This field day will demonstrate that through innovative farming practices, serious forms of erosion can be effectively managed, and also leveraged into productive farming outcomes.

There is a lot to see in this landscape including the work of wood4good in managing farm forestry to better manage erosion.

Anakie may be known as “Koala Country” but they are very hard to find. Do you know where koalas can be found? Has anyone noticed increased numbers since the 2006 bush fires?

One of our neighbouring Landcare groups has joined a CSIRO national program to gather data on koalas.  The National Koala Monitoring Program aims to assess population size, koala health and condition, and determine threats for koalas.

Participating volunteers will be asked to survey a path (or transect) to spot koalas and then repeat that same survey regularly (either monthly or annually).  The idea would be to complete the same route each time – eg 1-2km along a road/track or area, recording start/finish times and GPS plus GPS of any sightings and note any activity.  It will also be important to know where koalas are NOT found and the time spent looking.

Other options for tracking include:

• spotlight survey - koalas have strong eye shine & are easy to spot at night
• check 30 trees for koala scratches on tree trunks and/or scats under trees
• operate drones with infra red camera and AI technology 

Jackson Cass from Moorabool Catchment Landcare is now looking for people who wish to establish transects on their property, or be designated a transect to monitor. You can find everything you will need to know to establish, record, and monitor a transect here, including a transect data sheet.

While the CSIRO are encouraging people to establish transects on their properties because it is convenient (and still valuable data), there are some specific locations at which they would like to collect data. These specific locations are areas that need more data to improve population modelling and address key knowledge gaps. They also largely exist on public land.

If you're interested in being assigned a transect, or working with other volunteers, please contact Jackson at moorabool.landcare@gmail.com

Brisbane Ranges Landcare group are also participating. Contact Allan Bartholomew if you have any queries for the Brisbane Ranges area. 

Why not help koalas while exploring your local area?