Hello Everyone,

I’ve just finished the details of our outing to the Tamar Island Wetlands on the 8th March. That’s next Saturday, 10 am. at the Wetlands Centre.

Situated just 10 minutes drive north from Launceston City on the West Tamar Highway [A7] this Conservation Area is home to approximately 50 bird species. The aim is to gather at the Wetlands Centre where there are large observatory windows and head off from there along the boardwalk until we reach Tamar Island where we would have lunch.

Our leader for the day is Geoff Shannon, a passionate birder, a person who is curious about our local avifauna and spends a lot of his time in the field observing and counting them.

Geoff will give us a short talk before we head off.

Bring binoculars, lunch and sun protection.

Waterhouse Outing last month.

We had 18 people interested in having a look at the vegetation regrowth twelve months after the fire at Waterhouse.

Thanks for a stimulating day Ross and Jay.

The report is contained in a Word Document attached but better to see it in a while when Penny has added the photos to it on the website.

Alert !! Brown Marmorated Stink Bug.

The Biosecurity Unit of NRE has detected this bug in a surveillance trap at Bell Bay and will be setting other traps and monitoring the situation for 12 weeks.

The bug is a significant threat to crops, fruit and ornamental trees. In fact, it is known to feed on 300 hosts and when feeding can cause significant damage to plant tissue.

Adults range from 12 – 17mm.

If you think you have seen this bug, phone the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline 1800 084 881

 

New Members Feli and Alfred.

We recently met Feli and Alfred, visited their place and received their wonderfully generous hospitality after a walk in the rainforest next door to their place on Mt. Arthur.

It was sad to hear that soon after our visit, they received news that Forestry Tasmania is threatening to log areas near Mt.Arthur. It is unsure if the forest at their boundary is part of the plan, but coupe MA127B is nearby on the edge of the Prossers Forest Reserve.

We send them our support for the times ahead.

Northeast Park Weeding.

Ross still has the bit between the teeth and although the number of volunteers is small, he continues with his plan to rid the more natural part of Northeast Park of thistles,arum lillies, foxgloves and holly. Maybe more will be attracted to the task when the weather is cooler.

Picture: a New Zealand flax removed at the last working bee. Well done Ross.