=== VALLEY OF THE BANDICOOTS UPDATE #16 ===
Monday, 10th November, 2003 (circulation: 103)
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'VALLEY OF THE BANDICOOTS UPDATE' is an occasional email newsletter for people who are interested in the 'Valley of the Bandicoots' project in Aldgate Valley, South Australia. To subscribe, send an email saying 'subscribe VOB UPDATE' (or 'unsubscribe') to David Mussared, mussared@emailmedia.com.au (phone: 8388-5608).
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CONTENTS:
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1. BANDICOOT LIVE TRAPPING SURVEY: THE BANDICOOTS OUTSMARTED US...
(But we are still waiting for the results from the hair funnels)
2. NURRUTTI WORKSHOP: LEARN HOW TO RESTORE YOUR BUSHLAND
(This Thursday afternoon, November 13, Aldgate Valley)
3. WORKING BEE AT THE ALDGATE VALLEY RESERVE
(This Saturday, November 16, 10am-12noon)
4. CHRISTMAS PARTY: AN ALDGATE VALLEY COMMUNITY EVENT (Dec. 6)
(All Landcarers, VOB people & local residents are warmly invited)
5. MYLOR BANDICOOT INFORMATION NIGHT WITH NERISSA HABY (Oct 25)
(A report from Joslyn van der Moolen)
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1. BANDICOOT LIVE TRAPPING SURVEY: THE BANDICOOTS OUTSMARTED US...
(But we are still waiting for the results from the hair funnels)
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Just a quick note to let everyone know that our four nights of live trapping along the Valley of the Bandicoots proved that bandicoots are smarter than people. During the four nights we caught no bandicoots at all - even in those areas where they have been frequently sighted over the past few months, and where dead and injured bandicoots have been found. Overall our trapping captured just five black rats and one brown rat. However, we have now put some 50 'hair funnels' at the same sites we used for the traps, where they will remain for another couple of weeks before being collected and inspected for bandicoot hair.
Hair funnels are plastic funnels, lined on the inside with two-sided sticky tape, which can be baited and left undisturbed in the field. When they are collected, experts can tell from the hair caught on the sticky tape whether bandicoots have investigated them. Our thanks to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (and particularly Ryan Incoll) for providing the hair funnels at short notice.
Many, many thanks to all of those involved in the trapping exercise - particularly to Peter Spinks and the Green Corps team, but also to all the residents and volunteers (Griff Weste, Roger Fidler, Cherilyn & John Maley, Renate Fast & David Pearce, Janet & Chris Schultz & family, Elspeth Young & Mike Hodder, Terry Hann & family, Judith Rose, Roger Chapple, Elizabeth and Phil Fagan-Schmidt, Ruth Albani, Alison Saunders, Lois Grant - and to any others I have forgotten).
Thanks also to Mark Fagan, for his terrific effort in organising the whole exercise, and to Bruce Jackson from Warrawong for being our 'expert' and providing the traps.
We will keep you posted about the results from the hair funnel survey - but those results may not be known for quite some time.
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2. NURRUTTI WORKSHOP: LEARN HOW TO RESTORE YOUR BUSHLAND
(This Thursday afternoon, November 13, Aldgate Valley)
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NURRUTTI WORKSHOP
Demonstrating bush restoration through the Minimum Disturbance Approach
The workshop will include:
- History of Nurrutti Reserve with 'Before and After' photographs
- Inspection of key sites highlighting natural regeneration through the Minimum Disturbance Approach
- Practical demonstration and application of useful techniques
- Photographic Monitoring
- Phytophthora cinnamomi - Hygiene methods
- Reference books
The workshop will be held at the Nurrutti Reserve, Kyle Road, Aldgate Thursday 13 November 1-4pm
Bring your own gloves, secateurs, sunscreen, hat and water bottles. Afternoon tea will be provided after the workshop
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3. WORKING BEE AT THE ALDGATE VALLEY RESERVE
(This Saturday, November 16, 10am-12noon)
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The Aldgate Valley Landcare Group will hold its regular working bee in the Aldgate Valley Reserve on the 3rd Saturday of this month. WHEN: Saturday, 16 November, 10am-12noon
WHERE: Aldgate Valley Reserve (corner of Shanks Road & Aldgate Valley Road)
Bring old clothes and gloves.
CONTACT: Ed Douglas, 8339-2737 (email: Ed.Douglas@unisa.edu.au ).
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4. CHRISTMAS PARTY: AN ALDGATE VALLEY COMMUNITY EVENT (Dec. 6)
(All Landcarers, VOB people & local residents are warmly invited)
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All of the Aldgate Valley Landcare Group and the Valley of the Bandicoots are invited to come along to the CWA Hall Christmas Party.
WHEN: Saturday, 6 December, 2003 (from 5pm until over)
WHERE: CWA Hall (Aldgate Valley Community Hall), Nation Ridge Road
For those who don't know: a group of Aldgate Valley residents has been holding community Christmas parties at the former CWA Hall for quite a few years now. All local residents are welcome - it's a great chance to meet and mingle with the community.
Please bring a plate of food to share, and a $2 pressy for all children who would like to receive a pressy from Santa.
Santa will arrive during the Party.
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5. MYLOR BANDICOOT INFORMATION NIGHT WITH NERISSA HABY (Oct 25)
(A report from Joslyn van der Moolen)
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(Following is report by Joslyn van der Moolen from the Mylor Parklands Bushcare Group on Nerissa Haby's public information night about bandicoots held in Mylor on October 25):
Nerissa gave a fascinating talk to members of the Mylor Bushcare Group, the Aldgate Valley Landcare Group as well as local Mylor residents (total 20). Mark Fagan also explained the work of the Aldgate Valley Landcare Group with reference to the Valley of the Bandicoots project.
A few points of interest I noted follow
- there were 8 species of bandicoots which included 6 bandicoot species and 2 bilby species.
- of the 6 bandicoot species there is only 1 left the Southern Brown Bandicoot.
- there are 4 sub-species of the Southern Brown Bandicoot.
- in SA it is listed as vulnerable.
- it has a shorter tail than its body, small ears and a large rear end and can vary in size from 400 grams to a kilo, whereas the introduced rat ( which people sometimes confuse with bandicoots) has a tail longer that its body, larger ears and a smaller rear.
- its diggings are generally found on sandy non-north facing areas
- in summer it digs deeper holes when searching for food
- it doesn't hold things in its hands like possums do.
- they make nests above the ground and have adapted to nest in thick stands of weeds such as blackberries, gorse and in gardens.
- it is illegal to endanger bandicoots which presumably includes clearing stands of woody weeds that are a known habitat for bandicoots
Mark raised the point of the problem of foxes and cats and showed us a fox cage to trap them live, that will be available for hire. In high residential areas such as ours baiting is not an option due to the risk to pets.
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