Winter Wattles in Bloom at Highfields Bushland Reserve

The beautiful yellow glow of the native flowering acacias in winter have brightened up the dull brown appearance of winter in the Charles and Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve at Highfields.  The border of the Polzin Road side of the reserve in particular is a glow with this native beauty.  Winter wattle at it's best!

The yellow glow from the winter wattles surrounding the nature trail at Charles and Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve at Highfields.

The Charles and Motee Rogers Reserve has 4 species of native Wattles (identified so far). They are:

• Green wattle Acacia irrorata (Butterfly host plant)
• Maiden’s wattle Acacia maidenii (Butterfly host plant)
• Oleander leaf wattle Acacia neriifolia (Butterfly host plant)
• Fringed wattle Acacia fimbriata

J.G.

Lantana Removal at Charles and Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve

We had a good turn-up for volunteers today at the Charles and Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve. Today extensive removal of dead lantana and asparagus weed was performed with good results. Thanks to the extra volunteers today who were a real blessing.  

What is left of the large dead lantana bushes - now reduced to mulch thanks to the hard work of the volunteers today.

Tubers and roots of the Basket Asparagus Fern (Asparagus aethiopicus 'Sprengeri') an Environmental Weed removed today.

"Basket asparagus fern is native to Africa and is one of the most significant garden escapees invading our coastline. It is known as ground asparagus or simply asparagus fern and has been found to be a problem along the entire coast.  Basket asparagus fern is a Class 3 declared pest plant under Queensland legislation and a Weed of National Significance."  More information at DAFF (Qld Dept of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry)

Wayne spotted these large scratch marks on a smooth section of a gum tree at the Charles and Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve today.  They are possibly either from a Possum or a Glider.

The Friends of Rogers Reserve Group meets on the third Friday of the month and welcome any new attendees. 

We all had our eyes open but didn't spot the resident koala on this occasion, but enjoyed watching a pair of Little Corellas come and go from a large tree hollow at the front of the reserve.

J.G.

Koala at Rogers Reserve Highfields 12th August 2014

We are very excited to report that a healthy Koala was witnessed resting in a large gum tree by the Highfields Library Staff yesterday (12th August 2014). They took photos on their phones and recorded the sighting with the Save The Koala mapping database for good measure. 

Koalas move around quite a lot and can cover a wide area in search of feed trees, so this chance sighting at the Reserve is a real positive. Koalas are currently listed as vulnerable in Queensland as there are major concerns with koala habitat loss. 

A big shout-out & thanks to Cate and the library staff for recording the sighting by taking photographs and for letting us know and allowing us to share her photos.

Koala resting in Gum Tree near Highfields Library at Charles & Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve, Highfields, 12/08/14. iphone Image © CATE COOL 12/08/14

Koala resting in Gum Tree near Highfields Library at Charles & Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve, Highfields, 12/08/14. iphone Image © CATE COOL 12/08/14

If you happen to see a Koala at the Charles and Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve please contact us immediately so that it can be photographed with a geo-referencing camera for accurate recording of the sighting and so that it can also be assessed by local Koala experts to ensure that it is in a healthy condition.

It is a great day when I get to share such exciting news.  

You can share Koala sightings for recording from any location in Australia to www.koalatracker.com.au and also at www.savethekoala.com  and do your part to ensure that the locations and habitats in which koalas reside are recorded accurately to ensure their survival. 

Judi Gray