Friends of the Parks and Reserves of the Gippsland Lakes

The Friends of the Parks & Reserves of the Gippsland Lakes (FoGL) in association with Parks Victoria invite the community to a summer spotlight night walk to observe nocturnal animals in the wild.

The activity will be held at Burnt Bridge in the Lake Tyers Forest Park located on the Princes Highway 11 Kilometres east of Lakes Entrance.

A spotlight walk at this time of the year provides an excellent opportunity to observe active animals in the trees and seeking food in the water of Toorloo Arm.

Please note that this activity involves walking on bush tracks in the dark and is not recommended for children under 8 years old.

Guides will be;

• local experienced environmentalists Jim Reside and Rohan Bilney of Wildlife Unlimited, with assistance from Parks Victoria Rangers.

As the night walk is very popular the number of participants will be restricted so if you wish to attend you are asked to register your interest. (president@fogl.org.au – 5156 2175)

If people would like to have a picnic tea (byo) before the walk, please allow enough time as it is important to have a punctual start once it is dark around 8.45 p.m.

You may also like to bring a snack and drink to have before the start or at the end of the walk.

Participants should wear suitable clothing and bring insect repellent, picnic tea/supper, binoculars, and torch (Guides will carry spotlights for observations).

Directions – Travel approximately 9kms east from Lakes Entrance to the Burnt Bridge turnoff on right, the east side of the highway. Follow the road approximately 1 kilometre to the Burnt Bridge Picnic area on Toorloo Arm, refer to map below (green arrows points to Burnt Bridge) -

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Parks Vic MAP

Parks Victoria Ranger in Charge of the Bairnsdale area Jeremy Tscharke expressed how pleased he was with the turn out, and was amazed by the knowledge and enthusiasm of the guide Jim Reside. The Macleod Morass is an exciting and diverse freshwater environment. Community field trips such as this one help the public to better understand the values that Parks Victoria work to preserve.

FoGL_MMorassCanoePaddleNotice2011 for more information and map.

Prep site 27th August
Planting 8th October
(bbq on Planting Day 1230-1315)

Thanks to Coastcare Victoria (for the funding) and Parks Victoria (for the invaluable assistance), FoGL planted a 3000 sqm area alongside Macleod Morass on Saturday 8th October.
Our hard-working members who did attend got the site planted out and Hughy rewarded our hard slog with a follow-up rain the next day.
Thanks Rob and Jeremy (Parks Victoria), Richard Vuat (Wildseed), Cinnamon, Connor and Torin (all from Bairnsdale Scouts), Jim Reside (Wildlife Unlimited) and Trevor, Nancy, Geoff, Wendy, Bill C, Bill B, Margaret, Anne, Gayle, Jenny, David, Maurice (all from FoGL).

View FoGL MM Planting Area in a larger map

alongside Saleyards Rd. looking north

alongside Saleyards Rd. looking south

(more…)

For Members and their guests and interested members of the public, Wildlife Unlimited took a guided walk through the forest at Lake Tyers.

What we saw

On a beautiful moonlit night;
Sugar Gliders brawling,
Several Yellow-bellied Gliders,
Several microbats and the Large-footed Myotis (a bat that flys just above the Lake surface and skims the water for insects and small fish).
We heard the Boobook Owl but didn’t see it, but still just hearing the calls of various animals and birds was magical enough.

Thanks to Jim Reside of Wildlife Unlimited for his knowledgeable and entertaining guidance.

Travel approximately 9kms east from Lakes Entrance to turnoff on right, refer to map below (green arrows points to Burnt Bridge) -

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Parks Vic MAP

To showcase the Metung Bushland Reserve behind the Metung Primary School in Stirling Road.

An extensive upgrade has been undertaken including tree planting, signage, picnic facilities, track formation and establishment of exclusion areas to support regeneration of vegetation.

The project has been implemented through the cooperative efforts of Friends of Metung, Friends of the Gippsland Lakes Parks and Reserves and Park Victoria.

There was a walk under the guidance of Bruce McPherson from Forestech and PV rangers provided insight into the project and the potential this Reserve has for Metung’s native flora and fauna.

10.00 Open Day Commences

11.00 Guided Walk around Reserve

12.30 Sausage Sizzle

1.00 Official Opening and Information Session

Directions – Before entering Metung turn right into Stirling Road. The Metung Bushland Reserve is on the LHS behind the Primary School.

Please park near the Primary School on Stirling Rd. or Park Rd. then walk to the top of the hill using the road on the north side of the Reserve. Vehicular use of this road is restricted to official vehicles and disabled access.

You can also find your way to the Reserve via the Metung boardwalk, take the foot-track signposted “Walking Track to Lawrence Court” (Lawrence Crt. > right onto Wood St. > left onto Christmas St.).

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A joint Friends of the Gippsland Lakes Parks and Reserves (FoGL) and Eagle Point Paynesville Landcare Coastcare Group Working Bee will be held on Saturday 6th November from 9.00 am to 1.00 pm.

The location of the Working Bee are the four paddocks on the South arm of the Silt Jetties where FOGL members have been involved over recent yeas. The plantings are progressing well and maintenance is now a priority. Checking plants, weeding and removing/replacing tree guards will be the major tasks to be undertaken.

A spade or mattock and a mallet would be useful tools to bring, along with gloves and if required a thermos for a cuppa.

The site is just past the end of the bitumen on Silt Jetties Road and a FOGL sign will be on display. Any time between the designated hours that you have available to contribute would be appreciated.

View Larger Map
If you require any further information contact Trevor Caldwell – mobile 0417261204 or email tcaldwell5@bigpond.com

Went well on a lovely sunny day.

A good turnout of Metung people and some from further afield put in a few hours to plant all the plants and install a park table and signage. Parks Victoria staff Nat and Rob provided their assistance and most of the equipment.

An infestation of agapanthus was also removed.

Images here