Category: Events

milk carton guards were not beating the browsers – a refresh with stronger guards on Sunday 21 June

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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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

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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