Bird Survey

On the second weekend of October each year, Birds Australia Victoria conducts a detailed survey of bird populations in a wide variety of habitats all across the Lurg Hills and surrounding areas.

The sites include most of the major bush remnants, key roadsides, and scores of planting sites of different ages. With data stretching as far back as 2005, these surveys provide vital information to help us evaluate how successful our work really is.

The event is free-of-charge but registration is essential. BYO food, all camping gear, binoculars and bird-watching equipment.

Seed Collection

After the planting season is over, it is time to start the whole cycle over again. We begin with seed harvesting throughout December and into the new year, collecting seed pods from a wide variety of local plants including trees, wattles, peas, daisies, lilies and several rare plant species.

Other activities that you may enjoy as a change from planting:

• checking out our rare plant sites for seed readiness
• seed collection
• seed cleaning
• seed sowing for the new year’s crop of seedlings
• soil trials  
• and much more

Feel free to spread the word that we would certainly like some help, particluarly with the important seed tasks that simply must be done while the seeds are available on the bushes. There is a lot to do all through December. The seed crop is highly unpredictable from year to year and so we take enough supplies in the good years to carry us through leaner years.

Planting Weekends

We plant in Autumn, Winter and early spring, whilst there is still moisture in the soil before the planting day the site has been prepared and the seedlings selected, so it’s time to get our plants in the ground and acclimatized before the heat of summer. Planting weekends are a highlight of the year: the time when everything comes together and we start to see results. Before the planting weekend the land is prepared and which may involve ploughing and riplines where appropriate. This allows the plants a better chance to get established. There is generally only a couple of months to be ready to withstand the heat of summer and, if the roots are deep enough already, the tiny amount of moisture remaining in the subsoil will be enough to see it through.

Duties include planting, tree guarding and digging as well as helping to take out the plants and helping with catering. The days also involve walks, talks and other activities.