WHAT’S COMING UP?
Our field trip this month will be a bushwalk along the Dalrymple Track on Sunday 20th September. Please follow this link [Link expired] for details of the walk, as well as meeting time and place and what to bring.
Upcoming trips for 2015: On October 25th we hope to repeat the successful night in 2013 when members gathered to watch the Ross river banks light up with thousands of fireflies – of course this depends on the fireflies turning up and doing their part. Stay tuned!
On November 21- 22 we will join Birdlife Australia at Mission Beach to count the Torres Strait pigeons as they fly out in the late afternoon from several beaches between South Mission and Bingil Bay. The afternoon starts with a pre-count briefing video and ends with a gathering over dinner at a pre-arranged venue. You will need to make your own accommodation arrangements for Saturday night (or longer if you wish, of course). Fuller details next month but contact Liz if you need more information now, or Trish Pontynen to register as a counter.
Quoll survey trips have re-started (again!) after the DEHP permits at last came through. A camera set-up trip took place on 5th September and a return trip to collect cameras (and hopefully find some cute quoll selfies!) will take place this Sunday 13th. If you would like to go on future trips please email us and we will pass your details to the co-ordinator.
Two reminders – If you are anywhere near Mission Beach in the school holidays it would be worth attending World Cassowary Day on Saturday 26th September.
And don’t forget that Reef Blitz, organised by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, is happening here in Townsville on 16th-17th October. Registration is due to open this Friday so click on the above link to find out more and register your interest.
WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING?
Budding marine biologists at Rowes Bay?
Our August low tide field-trip attracted a large and enthusiastic crowd who much enjoyed John Collins’s entertaining and expert interpretation. Read about it here.
The Coming of the White Birds documentary was launched in Cardwell on September 5th, see this post. It will be screened in Townsville this Saturday (12th) at 2pm at the TCC sound shell meeting room in Dan Gleeson Gardens. Copies of the DVD will be on sale for $15. If you would like to order a copy please email us.
Helping Mahogany Gliders: The Mahogany Glider Recovery Team and our sister group, Wildlife Queensland’s Cassowary Coast and Hinchinbrook Branch, have launched a fund-raising appeal to help one of Australia’s most endangered animals. Don’t forget that sightings in the Ollera Creek area to our north mean that we are privileged to have these rare and beautiful animals as fellow-residents. Click on this link [Link expired] for details of how your donation will help, and to view the 2013 video Every tree matters to me.
Dumping on dugongs: Please help the Mackay Conservation Group achieve their goal of 200 submissions to the Queensland Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Dr. Anthony Lynham, in relation to the proposed dumping of 2 million tonnes of dredge spoil on land directly adjacent to the internationally recognised Caley Valley wetlands, and impacting on habitat essential for dugong, turtles, a variety of fish species – and more. Follow this link to read more and be among those making their voice heard.
Run-off in the Johnstone River estuary. Photo Martin Cunningham.
Rivers of Red: You may have heard the Background Briefing episode bearing this title that was aired in Radio National on 30 August. Veteran environmental reporter Greg Borschmann reported on problems with run-off into the Johnstone River in particular, but also the Tully, Russell and Hull Rivers, which carry this pollution out to the reef. Local fisherman, Martin Cunningham, was so concerned about silt coming from banana farms in particular, that he used a drone to film the sediment pouring into the river and out to the reef after a fairly small rain event in June. There are real concerns that this run-off, among other impacts, is a significant cause of crown-of-thorns increase. If you have the time do listen to this in depth analysis of a major problem – it is available here.