Friends of Chiltern Mt Pilot NP Newsletter #327 May 2023

FRIENDS OF CHILTERN MT-PILOT NATIONAL PARK, Inc.

Correspondence to: Tony Murnane Secretary/Treasurer: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

President: Vacant

Newsletter: Neville Bartlett:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website:http://www.friendsofchiltern.org.au/

May field day

Four hardy souls met on a cold and damp day. The rain was sufficiently modest that we decided to continue to the Grasslands Block and plant 40 Spreading Wattle (Acacia genistifolia) plants.

Planting in progress Photo: Neville Bartlett

One of last year’s Spreading Wattle (Acacia genistifolia) planting Photo: Neville Bartlett

A Eucalypt on a dam wall Photo: Neville Bartlett

It was most encouraging to see how some of last year’s planting has progressed. Having completed the planting, we sat down for a cuppa, some bun and a chat until the rain encouraged us to head home.

 

Fungi workshops organised by Wooragee Landcare – May 20^th, 21^st and 22nd 2023

This year’s workshops were conducted by Alison Pouliot, a renowned fungi expert on Saturday 20^th May (fungus ID and survey around Wooragee/Chiltern area), Sunday 21^st May 2023 (slow mushrooming and identifying edible fungi) and Monday 22^nd May 2023. Alison’s latest book “Underground Lovers” was launched at the Wooragee Hall on Friday 19^th May 2023. These workshops were extremely popular with all three days having waiting lists.

Saturday’s workshop featured an introduction to fungi and the broad role that they play in the environment.

Fungi have alliances, symbioses and mutualisms with other organisms and plants. They have two main modes to nourish themselves by either decomposing organic matter or mustering the help of others. Many plants rely heavily on the nutrients supplied by fungi in order to germinate from seed and to grow. Many species of orchids simply would not exist in the Park were it not for the vital role that fungi (mycorrhiza) play in germination and growth.

 

The morning session of the Saturday workshop Photo: Neville Bartlett

 

The morning session of the Saturday workshop Photos: Neville Bartlett

 

The morning session of the Saturday workshop Photos: Neville Bartlett

Cortinarius sp., Amaria capitata Photos: Leonie Brien

Amaria capitata  Photo: Leonie Brien

The underside of Marshmellow bolete -  Photo: Leonie Brien

 

  Hebeloma Photo: Leonie Brien 

Fungi on Fungi  Photo: Leonie Brien

Alison has three books about fungi that make interesting reading as they discuss human interaction with fungi while being very informative at the same time.

 Swift Parrot (Lathamus discolor) – May image in the 2023 calendar

Swift Parrots breed in Tasmania and spend winter on the mainland of Australia. Most years a number of them can be found in the Park and 2002 was a bumper year with a flock of several hundred observed near Ryan’s Road in the Chiltern section of the Park.

 

Swift Parrots (Lathamus discolor) near Ryan’s Road in 2022. Photo: Philip Dubbin

Ranger’s Report – Brian Pritchard

We have been working with the Friends Committee to develop and approve next year’s Friends Activity Plan and ensure that we meet Parks Victoria’s volunteering requirements. Thanks to Tony for his efforts in this area.

Illegal firewood removal is increasing, and enforcement actions are underway. Significant fines are issued for people detected removing timber from the park and we encourage members of public to assist by reporting any illegal activities. Repairs are being completed and new culverts being installed on a number of roads in the park. We continue to monitor and trap pigs with a number removed this week. Some small areas of weeds have also been sprayed. Parks Victoria is also working through the transition of our fire funded staff who are moving into DEECA on the first of July but much of the detail of the shift are yet to be clarified.

 

Rainfall April 2023: 72 mm. Total for the year to date 2023: 261 mm.
The corresponding total until the end of April 2022 was 363 mm.

The average annual rainfall for Chiltern is 689 mm.

Data supplied by Mick Webster.

NEXT MEETING – SUNDAY 4^th JUNE 2023

The main activity will be weeding at Mt Ochtertyre Reserve and, depending on numbers, other work can be done at Chiltern Valley No 2 Dam along with some exploration of areas that need revegetation.

Please bring weeding equipment, gloves, a chair and morning tea.
The ownership of the Chiltern Bakery has changed and the ‘new’ bun will be available.

Meet at the Chiltern Post Office at 9:00am.

 

Dates for the remainder of 2023

 

For 2023: Saturday 1^st July, Sunday 6^th August, Saturday 2^nd September, Sunday 1^st October, Saturday 4^th November and Sunday 3^rd December 2023.

Rule of Thumb: For even months, the field day is held on the first Sunday of the month and for odd months, it is held on the first Saturday of the month.