Left to right: Guest speaker Doug Robinson (Trust for Nature) with Growing Connections Project Coordinator Chris Chambers (Western Port Biosphere).

Over 70 passionate people gathered for a workshop in the name of biodiversity this month.

The event was part of the “Growing Connections” project. The key outcome of this project is the development of a 20-year plan for the protection and enhancement of biodiversity across the Western Port Biosphere region, which includes the shires of Mornington Peninsula, Bass Coast, Cardinia and the cities of Casey and Frankston.

Participants were from a broad section of community, science, councils and government agencies, including the Department of Environment and Primary Industries, Parks Victoria and Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority.

Guest speaker Doug Robinson, a conservation biologist working with Trust for Nature, spoke about his experience planning and implementing biodiversity protection works in central Victoria.

Participants then worked together to create a vision for the protection and enhancement of biodiversity over the next 20 years, including a connectivity map capturing important biodiversity assets and opportunities across the landscape.

The information gathered at the workshop will be invaluable in future planning and implementation of biodiversity works across the Biosphere for years to come, says Western Port Biosphere Executive Officer Cecelia Witton.

“This workshop is a significant step in bringing to fruition years of hard work by all the people involved in the Biosphere.”

The Western Port Biosphere Reserve is delivering the Growing Connections Project over the next four years, with funding from the Australian Government’s Clean Energy Future Biodiversity Fund.

• Help shape the 20-year vision for protecting the Biosphere’s biodiversity at the Growing Connections workshop at Pakenham on 3 May 2013. Places are filling quickly, so please book your seat today.
• Community consultation for the draft Port Phillip & Western Port Regional Catchment Strategy. Comments are invited until 12 May 2013.
• Walk for Western Port, Hastings, Sunday 5 May 2013.
• Latest research outcomes from the Western Port Science Review published in March 2013.

DPI runs information sessions to help land managers, industries and interest groups to manage and minimise the impact of the disease. The update lists sessions running in March, April and May 2013.

Further information about myrtle rust is available on the DPI website at www.dpi.vic.gov.au/myrtlerust.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Western Port Biosphere Bird Search on 20–28 October 2012. You helped to find 173 species!

Forty-six species were found at the closing event at Harewood Historic Homestead on 28 October, just ahead of the 42 species found there by thirteen-year-old Harewood Lyall a century earlier.

Highlights that day included Baillon’s Crake, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo and Latham’s Snipe. Many of Harewood’s birds from 1912 were also observed, such as Grey Butcherbird, Eastern Rosella, Shining Bronze-cuckoo, Horsfield’s Bronze-cuckoo and Grey Fantail.

Across the Biosphere, 105 species were found on the Big Day on 21 October, and 90 species were found by teams during the week. Results from municipalities ranged from 63 in Frankston up to 83 in Bass Coast and Cardinia, with 86 on French Island.

Bird Search organiser Jack Krohn said the total was impressive.

“This is a great demonstration of the biodiversity that the Biosphere continues to support even after almost two centuries of settlement,” Jack said.

“Almost all of Harewood Lyall’s birds were found somewhere in the Biosphere, although several of the bush-birds he recorded were not able to be found at Harewood Homestead itself,” Jack said.

“The iconic White-winged Triller, which Harewood called the ‘White-shouldered Caterpillar-eater’, even put in an appearance, with a female bird identified at the Wonthaggi Heathlands by Mike Tesch on the first weekend of the Bird Search, along with other species such as Blue-winged Parrot and Crescent Honeyeater.”

“I’m also aware of a few species, including Eastern Osprey, Painted Button-Quail, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater and Olive-backed Oriole, which were reported in the Biosphere, but just a few days either side of the strict Bird Search week.”

Thanks to all who contributed to the success of the event, especially the competing teams, all those who took part in the Big Day on Sunday 21 October, and supporters Biosis, Phillip Island Nature Park and collaborating partner BirdLife Australia. Special thanks to Pat Macwhirter, who provided both the inspiration in the form of Harewood Lyall’s bird list and wonderful hospitality at Harewood.

Awards will be presented at the Biosphere AGM at The Cube, Frankston, on Friday 16 November. It would be great to see as many Bird Search participants there as possible. The AGM will be followed by lunch, including a conversation between DSE ecologist Dr Ian Mansergh, Prof Mick Keough of Melbourne University and Simon Molesworth AO QC, Executive Chairman of the International National Trusts Organisation. Please email admin@biosphere.org.au or call 5979 2167 to confirm your place.

Three experts will help us to explore sustainability: Dr Ian Mansergh, terrestrial ecologist, DSE; Prof Mick Keough, marine ecologist, Melbourne University; Prof Simon Molesworth AO QC, International National Trusts Organisation.

Date: Friday 16 November 2012
Time: 10 am (sharp) for commencement of AGM
Address: Cube 37, Frankston Arts Centre, 27–35 Davey Street Frankston 3199

A buffet lunch will follow. If you wish to join us for lunch, please notify us for catering purposes.

RSVP: email admin@biosphere.org.au or telephone 5979 2167 by 5 pm Wednesday 7 November 2012. Please advise us of any special dietary requirements.

Braving the elements on Western Port

Local residents of Rutherford Inlet and Watson Creek embarked upon a trip on Western Port aboard the Tidemaster this month.

The group visited places many locals have never seen, including the bird sanctuary Barrilla Island and Yaringa Marine National Park, and were rewarded with sightings of migratory and rare birds as well as a curious seal!

The day was organised by the Western Port Biosphere in conjunction with City of Casey and Mornington Peninsula Shire to help broaden knowledge of how our activities on land can affect the marine environment.

One resident noted, “It’s been great to see Western Port in a new way. So many different birds that fly half-way around the world just to visit here, it’s amazing!”

Grey Fantail on its nest at Devilbend. Image courtesy of Jack Krohn.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Western Port Biosphere Bird Search “Big Day” on Sunday 21 October. You helped to find 105 species.

Highlights included:

• Many families of Cape Barren Geese on Phillip Island.
• A solitary Little Penguin along with Kelp Gulls, Sooty Oystercatchers and a Black-faced Shag at The Nobbies.
• Parties of Bar-tailed Godwits and Red-necked Stints and a resting Caspian Tern on the falling tide at Observation Point.
• A pair of Brown Goshawks plus assorted waterbirds including Black-winged Stilts and Australian Shelducks at Fisher’s Wetland.
• A flock of Cattle Egrets near Bayles.
• Eastern Spinebills, Brush Cuckoo and singing Rufous Whistlers (plus various orchids) at Mt Cannibal.
• Pink-eared Ducks at the Pakenham wastewater treatment plant.
• Four cuckoo species, Swamp Harrier (plus an Echidna and a Southern Brown Bandicoot) at RBG Cranbourne.
• Another Swamp Harrier, a nesting Grey Fantail and calling Little Grassbird and Clamorous Reed Warbler at Devilbend.

The Big Day route commenced at The Nobbies, Phillip Island (Bass Coast Shire) and included stops at Observation Point (Rhyll), Mt Cannibal Reserve (Garfield North, Cardinia Shire), Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne (City of Casey), Langwarrin Flora and Fauna Reserve (City of Frankston) and Devilbend Park (Mornington Peninsula Shire) – thanks to Parks Victoria for permission to enter. Additional stops were made at Fisher’s Wetland on Phillip Island, Pakenham Wastewater Treatment Plant (quick look through the gate) and Rossiter Road wetland (part of Eastern Treatment Plant, City of Frankston). Records were also kept of birds observed while driving through the Biosphere from point to point.

Full-day participants were Rob Gell, Jack Krohn, Jenny and Phil Krohn, George Pergaminelis, and (from Birdlife Bass Coast) Elizabeth Shaw and Darren Callesen. They were joined by Tim Sturges (Koo Wee Rup Secondary College) on Phillip Island; Charlie Clarke (Woodleigh College) at Mt Cannibal; Clare and Thea from Biosis at RBG Cranbourne, Langwarrin and Devilbend; Marian (also from Biosis) at Langwarrin and Devilbend; and local resident Kate Roper at Devilbend.

Best of luck to all teams in the Bird Search for the rest of this week. Please confirm if you will be attending the BBQ at Harewood next Sunday at midday (email birdsearch@biosphere.org.au). You are welcome to arrive earlier and see if any more species can be added to the Bird Search list.

White-winged Triller

The Western Port Biosphere Bird Search will run from 20-28 October 2012. Why not join or start a team to help us discover how our birds have changed over the last century?

If you would like some help in building your Bird Search list, you are welcome to catch up with Biosphere Chair Rob Gell and Bird Search organiser Jack Krohn on Sunday 21 October as they tour the Biosphere looking for birds.

Rob and Jack will be touring birding sites across all five Biosphere municipalities during the day. Look for them in their red Biosphere vests at the following locations (see map grabs for further details):

• 8:30 – 9:15 am, The Nobbies, next to the visitor centre, looking for seabirds.
• 9:45 – 10:30 am, Observation Point lookout at the north end of McIwraith Rd, looking for waders and shorebirds.
• 12:00 noon – 1:00 pm, Mt Cannibal Reserve car-park, Garfield North Road, looking for honeyeaters and other forest birds.
• 2:00 – 3:00 pm, Stringybark Picnic Area, Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, looking for heathland and woodland birds.
• 3:30 – 4:30 pm, main parking area off McClelland Drive, Langwarrin Flora and Fauna Reserve, looking for woodland and forest birds.
• 5:00 – 6:00 pm, Hodgins Road near entrance to Bittern Reservoir, Devilbend Park, looking for waterbirds, forest birds and birds of prey.

Entry details

Entry forms must be submitted by email (birdsearch@biosphere.org.au) or post (Western Port Biosphere, PO Box 261, Hastings VIC 3915) by close of business on Friday 19 October 2012.

For further information, visit biosphere.org.au/birdsearch, or contact Jack Krohn: email birdsearch@biosphere.org.au, ph. 0438 033 171.

White-winged Triller

Spring has sprung. How many birds can you find in the Biosphere? Join us in the Biosphere Bird Search, 20-28 October, and help discover how our birds have changed over the last century.

In October 1912, thirteen-year-old Harewood Lyall spent a day bird-watching with his tutor on the Harewood property east of Tooradin, in the heart of what is now the Western Port Biosphere. He recorded 42 species that day. Can you do as well?

A century later, the Western Port Biosphere is holding the Biosphere Bird Search in collaboration with Birdlife Australia and Biosis. The aim during the week-long search is to find all the species that Harewood listed and as many more as possible too.

• How have the birds changed in the century since Harewood’s Big Day?
• How many birds can you find in the Biosphere?
• Are there still White-shouldered Caterpillar-eaters (White-winged Trillers) here?

Join a team! Start your school’s team! Here is a wonderful, fun way to learn about environment, history and sustainability in practical terms.

If you would like some inspiration, you could catch up with organiser Jack Krohn as he travels around the Biosphere on Sunday 21 October – the first weekend of the Bird Search – for birding at selected points in each of the five council areas. You are welcome to join him for as much or as little of the day as you like. Details of places and times to be posted soon.

Closing event

And when you’ve finished, come to Harewood Historic Homestead on Sunday 28 October for a lunchtime barbecue, a chance to swap stories with other teams, and learn how many of Harewood’s birds are still here.  And of course, prizes!

Birdlife Mornington Peninsula is also holding a birding event at The Briars on Sunday 28 October from 9am. Bird Search participants are welcome to go to The Briars if that suits better than going to Harewood that morning. You will have access to advice from experienced Mornington Peninsula birdwatchers.

Entry details

Entry forms must be submitted by email (birdsearch@biosphere.org.au) or post (Western Port Biosphere, PO Box 261, Hastings VIC 3915) by close of business on Friday 19 October 2012.

For further information, visit biosphere.org.au/birdsearch, or contact Jack Krohn: email birdsearch@biosphere.org.au, ph. 0438 033 171.

The grant will fund landscape-scale biodiversity planning, revegetation and pest control to connect and improve habitat corridors across the Western Port Biosphere Reserve region.

The region includes Western Port and the five local government areas that together cover most of the Western Port catchment – Bass Coast Shire, Cardinia Shire, City of Casey, City of Frankston and Mornington Peninsula Shire.

Under the grant, a multi-stakeholder steering committee will develop a regional biodiversity action plan, enhance key reserves, revegetate landscape gaps to establish habitat links, improve low-cost integrated pest control, and provide and audit carbon storage with new enabling systems.

Partners include Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority, the region’s five local governments, Department of Sustainability and Environment, Melbourne Water, Parks Victoria, Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, South East Councils Climate Change Alliance, Trust for Nature, Cardinia Environment Coalition, Bass Coast Landcare Network, Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Information, Natural Resources Conservation League of Victoria, Chisholm Institute of TAFE and others.

The Western Port Biosphere Reserve is pleased to be able to attract funding for such an important landscape-scale project, says executive officer Cecelia Witton.

“We are looking forward to working with like-minded community groups, land-owners and volunteers to connect habitat and provide urgent protection for the region’s fragile biodiversity.”

UNESCO biosphere reserves aim to foster conservation and sustainable development. The Western Port Biosphere Reserve was designated in 2002 because it has outstanding natural values, including two Ramsar wetlands of international importance, highly diverse ecosystems, and many threatened species and habitats on the fringe of Melbourne. Habitat loss and fragmentation are major threats as Melbourne’s population grows and the climate changes.