Kara Kara CMN | Environmental conservation organisation

Kara Kara CMN

Phone: 0419 550 226

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• Community organisation
• Environmental conservation organisation

24.01.2022 In September this year, we will be conducting a BioBlitz - attempting to further quantify and identity our wonderful regional biodiversity. A series of guided ...bushwalks, talks and activities will be conducted. Thanks to a very generous Environment Fund Grant from The Field Naturalists Club of Victoria, we will be publishing a small book, using photos taken from our BioBlitz attendees! If you would like to be involved, just message us! . . . . #bioblitz #nature #landcare #conservation #biodiversity #naturephotography #fieldnaturalists #bushwalk #fieldnaturalistsclub #fieldnats #outdoors See more

22.01.2022 Friends of the Kara Kara CMN will know that we are part of a joint effort to save the iconic Silver Banksia in central Victoria. Today we visited the City of Bendigo's plant nursery in Golden Square to see trays of Silver Banksia seedlings, most of which are destined for the COB's Seed Production Area (SPA) at Crosbie, east of Bendigo. These seedlings were propagated from seed sourced from various remnant Banksia populations throughout Central and northern Victoria. The overall aim of the SPA's mixed plantings is to facilitate cross pollination between plants from different provenances, thereby increasing genetic variability in the species and improving resilience to environmental shocks, such as climate change. Fascinating stuff!

21.01.2022 That's a wrap! All of our planned plantings for 2020 are done and dusted... just in time too with the new restrictions on outdoor gatherings coming in from Wednesday!! Phew! Even today's planting took some juggling with volunteers from the CMN and Norman Simpson Memorial Pipe Band working in 2 shifts of 10 in order to meet the C19 restrictions. Thanks to all our volunteers who helped with planting the 800 seedlings at Kooreh today, and on other properties this season as well. Thanks also to the Kooreh Hall Committee who provided packed lunches today for the hungry hordes. It seems appropriate that we finish our plantings on National Tree Day! Stay well everyone!

20.01.2022 Coastcare Victoria is hosting an incredible 'Winter by the Sea' online festival. Join them for a series of expert speaker presentations, great learning opportunities, and virtual field trips in to marine protected areas, from May to August

19.01.2022 For any birders heading up into NSW..

19.01.2022 Hello friends, a bit off-topic for me but one that keeps me up at night! With the recent increase in #rodent populations, no doubt many #gardeners are turning t...o this shelf. Please choose carefully! 90% of the baits here have active ingredients known as #SGARS (second generation anticoagulant rodenticides) which have the potential to also poison animals eating the targeted rodents - think #owls, #raptors & other natural pest controllers! If you are going to use a bait, look for an FGAR, like warfarin. None of it ends well for the rodents, but better choices can make a big difference for our precious #BirdLife. They are already under so much pressure. For more info, hit the @birdlifeoz website and hit up your #hardwarestore to stock the safer stuff. #birdlife See more

19.01.2022 A lovely sunny day for tree planting at Beazleys Bridge, west of St Arnaud. Thanks to our small band of volunteers for planting just under 500 native trees and shrubs in record time to create a corridor across private property between the Avon River and Sandy Creek. Our new water cart made the job a lot easier too!

18.01.2022 Today was cold and windy, so our Facilitator took advantage of the opportunity to stay indoors in the warmth and undertake an important task... coaxing Silver Banksia (B. marginata) cones to release their precious seeds. Silver Banksia is one of the Kara Kara CMN's conservation targets. This iconic species was once widespread in central Victoria but is now limited to just a few geographically and genetically-isolated populations. So, receiving landholder permission to selecti...vely source some cones from one of these remnant populations was an opportunity not to be wasted! So just how do you get Banksia cones to open? First, space them out on an oven tray and 'roast' at 180 deg C for about 30 minutes. The heat causes the cone's follicles to open. Allow the cones to cool, then gently tap each one on a paper-lined bench to dislodge the seeds. Each follicle holds two winged seeds, one on either side of a woody 'separator' structure. Seeds that don't fall out by themselves after this treatment can be gently prised out with pointed tweezers. A fiddly and time-consuming task! So, what to do with them now?! The seeds will be propagated and the young seedlings used in revegetation works throughout the region. Some will also find their way to specially-created Seed Production Areas (SPAs) that have been established to facilitate gene flow between plants from different populations. Progeny from these SPAs will then be planted back into original remnant populations to increase genetic variability and help ensure the long-term future of this beautiful Australian native in central Victoria.

17.01.2022 An online doco for anyone interested in eucalyptus.

17.01.2022 Thanks for your help everyone. A terrific job!

14.01.2022 Black Range Landcare stalwarts Neil and Wendy Marriott have made a fantastic contribution to Landcare and the environment. They are looking for new members for ...Black Range LC and will make the best mentors. Have a look around their property for a little bit of inspiration. #WonderLandcare #VolunteerForNature Wimmera CMA Landcare Victoria Landcare Victoria Inc See more

14.01.2022 Loddon Plains Landcare Network is excited to invite you to our webinar, Migratory Birds of the Kerang Lakes with Damien Cook, flyer attached. Please join us on ...the 9th of June from 7pm until 8pm for Damien's presentation. Places are limited so if you can please limit your registration to one person per household where possible that will allow more to access this event. See more

14.01.2022 Since 2012, the Kara Kara CMN has enjoyed the benefits of having a dedicated Landcare Facilitator to drive our biodiversity-related programs and projects. That will change from 1 July 2021. Find out more at https://www.karakaracmn.org.au/whats-new.html

12.01.2022 A cool day out but still wonderful to be out in the fresh air putting up nest boxes. The bush is looking great and we found our first chocolate lily for the year.

07.01.2022 Join us on the 29th of June from 7pm for a second webinar with recognised wetlands ecologist Damien Cook talking about the ecology of the Kerang Ramsar wetands ...complex. This area is home to some wonderful and unique plant and animal communities. Register for the event here: https://forms.gle/ZcFunQGsnAxaCoge6

06.01.2022 A few more runs of the board for biodiversity today. This morning our small group of volunteers finished planting a biolink on private property at Beazleys Bridge to the west of St Arnaud (a big thank you to you all). And with spring not far away we finished off the day by erecting two nest boxes - one for kookaburra and one for boobook. Hopefully they'll have some new tenants soon.

06.01.2022 Another year, another Wimmera Biodiversity Seminar! We are excited to reveal the theme for the #WBS2021 is ‘Biodiversity on Farms'! The committee are ramping up... planning and we are looking for an artist who has what it takes to design this years logo for us. The lucky artist will be paid and have their artwork forever tied to the #WBS2021. What are we looking for? - A design which fits with our theme 'Biodiversity on Farms' - Square design (for profiles & promotion) as well as rectangular (to be used for (letterheads/programs) - colour & black/white versions - a design that can easily be transferred onto the mug and other merchandise (nothing too detailed), bold text, and high resolution (300dpi). We would love local artists who are interested to contact us at [email protected] with some of your previous work and any questions you may have. Below is some inspiration of our most recent logo designs! Please share this with your networks or anyone you know who may be interested.

05.01.2022 Time to get out the binos...

04.01.2022 Not much of a view today as we get some glorious soaking rain in north-central Victoria. Those 3,000 seedlings our volunteers just planted are getting a wonderful drenching.

04.01.2022 How can we let creatures like this face extinction? How cute is that!!

03.01.2022 Keep your eyes open when walking out and about in our forests folks!

03.01.2022 During April, the Kara Kara CMN Facilitator and volunteers have been out and about assessing the quality of native habitats at established 1ha sites within the Kara Kara National Park. The assessments cover a range of vegetation communities [(also known as Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs)], and are part of a broader project being run by Parks Victoria and the Dja Dja Wurrung Aboriginal Corporation (the region's traditional owners) to gauge the impact of goats and other feral herbivores on the Park. Whatever the season or the task, a walk in the forest always turns up something interesting, as we found out yesterday when we crossed paths with some of the local fauna while working in Box-Ironbark forest.

02.01.2022 Domestic cats are killing an estimated 230m native Australian birds, reptiles and mammals every year, new research finds. Sean Dooley, our National Public Affai...rs Manager, welcomes the study (published in the journal Wildlife Research), saying it was further confirmation that both feral and domestic cats are a major threat to birds. Holly Parsons, BirdLife Australia’s urban bird program manager, agrees: Not only do domestic cats have an impact on native birds, keeping your cats inside and contained is healthier for them and they live longer. We want people to enjoy both our diverse and wonderful wildlife as well as their pet companions. For more on cats, and how to be a bird-loving cat owner head to the Birds in Backyards website: https://www.birdsinbackyards.net/Domestic-Pets-0 Tell us how you are keeping your felines safe and happy and away from backyard wildlife To read the article https://www.theguardian.com//keep-pet-cats-indoors-say-res

02.01.2022 A small planting at St Arnaud East this morning to complete a biolink between St Arnaud Creek and some native woodland on private property. Just got it finished before the weather closed in! A good morning's work. Thanks to all our volunteers who gave up their Sunday morning to help.

02.01.2022 Today the Kara Kara CMN committee and Facilitator had the opportunity to visit a 220ha property adjoining Morrl Morrl NCR which is being rehabilitated by Cassinia Environmental to benefit biodiversity. What's especially interesting is that the project is being funded by large European corporate investors who, tired of waiting for governments to act on climate change, 'get' the fact that a healthy planet is also ultimately good for the future of their business. Makes sense Parts! Parts of the property have already been direct seeded and we look forward to seeing the project progress.

02.01.2022 A fantastic project by Bush Heritage in our region. At the Kara Kara CMN we are watching with interest as the results of this research will give us vital information for our own projects...

01.01.2022 ... and counting. Just 41 to go before we reach our target!