Terrys Creek was one of the many victims of the recent storm & heavy rainfall event that saw the whole east coast of Australia impacted. I have not been able to get down there to check for the damage. Any news would be appreciated. Meanwhile here are some photographs Jenny posted to me in the days following.
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Last Sunday was the final planting out for this area. This eventually will help offset in some way, the great number of significant habitat trees lost in the last few years. Positively, the area of Blue Gum High Forest in Vimiera Park has been expanded to Blaxland Road. Eastwood.
Sadly its goodbye to the Natural Areas staff of Hornsby Council who have given great support to restoring the habitat of Terrys Creek south of the M2 - unfortunately, due to the new council amalgamations they. have lost management of this area . The commitment particularly of Donna Fitton & Ross Rapmund to restoring Blue Gum High Forest has been amazing in what has achieved. A big thank you to all! Mid May saw a group of Yellow Thornbills visit. They are not common, so a great record & photograph from Jenny.
The small seedlings planted by the local community 18 months ago have grown to this, shown above! What was once a bare, mowed area not utilized by the community has been beautifully transformed. The ugly concrete graffiti walls no longer an eye sore. However most importantly, a small pocket of Blue Gum High Forest has been returned! The Blue Gum High Forest is critically endangered.
Yesterday the youth group of Tzu Chi Eastwood gave a helping hand to plant over 500 native seedlings along Blaxland Road Somerville Park. What a great effort, the community including our beautiful wildlife thank you.
Jenny's bird walk last week found the gorgeous Eastern Spinebill & Spotted Pardalote. Great spotting & photographs Jenny!
The mission is focused on one thing and that is to secure a Koala Protection Act A Koala Protection Act would see Koalas receive the highest level of protection of any animal species in Australian history. It is now clear that existing legislation is incapable of providing the level of protection needed to save the Koala from near extinction. So enlist now & do your bit to help save this legendary species from extinction hwttps://ww.savethekoala.com/koala-army Do we really care so little about the earth upon which we live that we don’t wish to protect one of its greatest wonders from the consequences of our behaviours?
http://theconversation.com/da_vid-attenborough-says-the-great-barrier-reef-is-in-grave-danger-its-time-to-step-up-58204 or
Having worked as a volunteer for many years doing bushcare at Vimiera Park & at the Hornsby Council Nursery propagating plants, I am thrilled with the latest plantings for Vimiera Park. The natural resources/bushland team of Hornsby Council, who do much of the ground work, are tremendous. Despite this area of Terrys Creek being flagged to go to Parramatta Council in the near future, they are still keeping it going.
Many thanks to you all & the great volunteers who continue to give their time & energy to improving the habitat along this important corridor. "A smart nation would see the value of its natural assets rising as fast as its built assets because it's looking after the two and appreciating both" http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-15/abs-data-shows-growth-in-natural-assets/7327804?section=environment I saw these birds along Terry’s Creek on the 14th March. The pair of Boobooks were in the bamboo section of the creek and being bombarded by Noisy Miners and Satin Bowerbirds. One of the Satin Bowerbirds appears to be partially leucistic with a dark head and dark bill but otherwise green. A normal transition to black [for a male] occurs between 5-7 years but the beak goes light first and the black colouring comes in all patchy rather than evenly.
From Jenny The wall is a map of the world & all the various bird species. Click on the area of your interest & find information of birds endemic to that region & information about them. Great learning resource! https://academy.allaboutbirds.org/features/wallofbirds/?utm_source=Cornell+Lab+eNews&utm_campaign=3422ab52f3-Cornell_Lab_eNews_2016_03_17&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_47588b5758-3422ab52f3-308158917 Humans are a part of Nature. If we harm nature, we harm ourselves. When we live in harmony & balance with nature, nature thrives. When nature thrives, we thrive. Nature has a right to thrive and evolve. We must act respectfully & protect this right. Individually and collectively, we can act as a force to restore the balance and health of nature. With so many species at high risk of extinction & economic drivers exploiting resources beyond sustainable thresholds, we need to take action. Image by one of my favourite cartoonist, Leunig http://www.harmonywithnatureun.org/index.html I was delighted this morning to see my first Cormorant at Terry’s Creek [although I think you have seen them]. It was a Little Pied Cormorant & was about 50 metres up stream from the waterfall. I also saw some pretty dragonflies and a very close White-browed Scrubwren. On Monday I saw Mr & Mrs Pembroke Powerful Owls roosting together for the first time in many months.
This is your chance to make a difference. Epping Rotary is once again hosting the clean up day at Terrys this saturday March 6th from 10am - 1pm. Meeting at Vimiera Park. Go to link for more info http://www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au/Vimiera+Park+Terrys+Creek
Australia's unique wildlife are worth celebrating & protecting. The possum is the Australian relative of the monkey. Possums are marsupials. They have inhabited our continent for millions of years. Many people consider them common however they have now largely disappeared from many country areas of NSW. I consider it good fortune & a privilege to have them living nearby They are shy & harmless - just in need of food & shelter. Spare a thought for these defenceless victims of tree & land clearing.
_Answer: Josh Cook
Top picture is of a Brown Quail found in Vimiera Park,Terrys Creek after being attacked by a free roaming cat. The owner of the cat brought the injured quail to me. After taking it to the Sash vets in North Ryde for urgent medical attention, we took the bird all the way to this man, Josh Cook in the eastern suburbs. Josh kindly took on the responsibility for its care & on going medical attention. Unfortunately the bird was not able to be returned to the wild due to its injuries. Josh was recently involved in the rescue & raising of three orphaned Kookaburra nestlings who lost their home when the iconic Fig trees in Randwick (story below) were felled. The photo shows Josh with the three now juvenile Kookaburras he has raised. What a hero! Read more about the story: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/city-east/anzac-darley-and-alison-are-growing-into-fine-young-kookaburras-thanks-_to-their-rescuer/news-story/0d28a082c1f4436c110624b426542dbe Highlights of fauna seen yesterday in Terrys Creek, from Jenny. For bird list go to -
http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S27419052_ Top photo shows a small section with the litter that regularly inundates & chokes Terrys Creek when storm water washes the rubbish from our streets, down drains. Simon Day, a local resident & hero is champion of the environment. He collected this in just a few weeks. We all (including wildlife) benefit from this. Thanks Simon ! (: Birdlife Australia are achieving outstanding conservation results for our native birds & their habitat. Conservation is at the heart of everything they do. Check the website for lots of great information & see Jenny's list of birds sighted in Terrys Creek yesterday
These have got to be the cutest faces you will ever find in Terrys Creek. The Boobook Owls are comparably small Owls, usually found tucked up in trees branches with good canopy cover. Jenny Stiles spotted them here yesterday.
Lucky Local resident Ingrid whose home adjoins Terrys Creek bushland spotted this little wallaby exploring the area on Sunday https://www.facebook.com/ingrid.hazelspring/videos/10154545694353079/
Both of these shots were taken looking north from the footbridge that joins Essex Street Epping to Vimiera Road Eastwood. The first photo was taken around 2010 just after the flooding event at Terrys Creek that caused significant damage to the creekbanks. Now the endangered plant communities & abundant wildlife can be assured a more secure future.
Corridor of magnificent heritage habitat trees felled in the dead of night. Despite having an alternate route, that was in the original plan.... Wildlife rescue volunteers also ushered away. Shame..... Read the story_ here
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