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FoGL’s annual Boole Poole monitoring project

growth outside vs inside tree guard
growth outside vs inside tree guard

growth inside tree guard
growth inside tree guard

FoGL’s concern that introduced browsers, namely Hog Deer, have a negative impact on biodiversity in the Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park has led to an annual monitoring project to record species and recruitment, survivability and growth rates of native plant species on Boole Poole.
Assistance has been provided by Bruce Macpherson, Conservation and Land Management, Forestec who has created the methodology and James Turner, renowned local botanist and FoGL member who has identified the species existing in the survey areas.

Go »here to read their reports for which FoGL are very grateful.

Thanks also to Parks Victoria for their assistance.
What is significant is the degree to which browsing has inhibited growth of seedlings and what species are missing entirely which normally would be expected to exist in the survey areas.

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Spring comes to Macleod Morass

Friends of the Parks and Reserves of the Gippsland Lakes (FoGL) held a very well attended Springtime walk at Macleod Morass on Saturday October 13th. After the rejuvenation of Winter and Spring, the Morass is a hive of activity.
This 520 hectare fresh water marsh is part of a worldwide scheme to protect and enhance wetland habitat. Spring is probably the best time of year to appreciate the breadth of its wildlife.
The walk through the Morass was led by Jim Reside of Wildlife Unlimited, a professional environmental consultancy based in Bairnsdale which works internationally as well as throughout Australia.
The Morass has been under threat by the rampant growth of Cumbungi, which has made it difficult for birds to move through and nest. Birdlife EAST Gippsland has previously recorded 155 species in this area. Bairnsdale’s Head Ranger Jeremy Tscharke described how Parks Victoria had approached the management of this important area which is subject to the conditions of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.

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Burnt Bridge Guided Night Walk

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) –

View Larger Map
Parks Vic MAP

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Macleod Morass Canoe Paddle Friday 11 November

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.

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FoGL Macleod Morass Planting Sat 8th October

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 north

alongside Saleyards Rd. looking south
alongside Saleyards Rd. looking south
Continue reading “FoGL Macleod Morass Planting Sat 8th October”
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Events

AGM Wednesday 3 August

Guest Speaker

Over the past year FOGL has been involved with other partners in developing a research project to examine the extent of the impact of introduced species on native flora in the Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park One contributor throughout this process has been Bruce Macpherson, Course Coordinator, Conservation and Land Management East Gippsland Institute of TAFE, Forestech Campus. Bruce has spent a great deal of time working with us on Boole Poole to examine the revegetation process following a controlled DSE burns. He has provided a great deal of support in the development of the methodology and supported our efforts to gain funding for the project. This will be an opportunity to meet with Bruce and learn more of the biodiversity and the challenges to sustainability areas around the Gippsland Lakes.

To be held at: Grand Terminus Hotel cnr. Macleod St & Service St Bairnsdale
Time: 6:00 p.m. Dinner 7:00 p.m. Guest Speaker

Bruce Macpherson, Course Coordinator, Conservation and Land Management
East Gippsland Institute of TAFE, Forestech Campus
Bruce Macpherson has been working in cooperation with FOGL in the development of the project to explore impacts on native flora on Boole Poole Peninsula.

7.30 p.m. Annual General Meeting

    1. Welcome – to Members and Guests.
    2. Apologies
    3. Advice of Proxy appointment forms.
    4. Minutes of 2010 Annual General Meeting.
    5. Reports
    6. Election of Committee
    7. Other Business (on notice)
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Guided Night Walk – Burnt Bridge Thu14Apr 1815-1930

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) –

View Larger Map
Parks Vic MAP