Diario del proyecto Yellingbo and surrounds

Notes from: a Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater hosted citizen science event.
The air was cool but the weather was kind - overcast, no wind or rain and a glimpse of sun every now and then. It was all smiles as a group of 15 new and old Friends, from 9 years of age and older, took to the tracks. A Swamp Wallaby made us pause - beautiful animals, the Bushy Needlewood and Yellow Hakea were in flower, Southern Brown Tree Frogs and Common Eastern Froglets were calling, and the mirrors got a workout as we paid particular attention to the magical little things in the natural environment - the fungi, and the pixie's! The Pixies Parasol and Pixie Cup Lichen are wonders of the natural world.

Thank you everyone. What a joy to spend the morning with you all!

Notes from: a Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater hosted citizen science event.
Fifteen of us walked a track with Woori Yallock Creek on one side and a series of swampland on the either, with sections of open farmland. The ground was damp underfoot and the air was still, but cool, so we were a little surprised that we saw 44 bird species - more than we imagined we'd see today - and barely heard a frog! Highlights were a group of Varied Sittella's, a white morph of the Brown Goshawk, hearing an Australian Raven (not often seen here) and 27 Superb Fairy Wrens! The joy of citizen science mornings is that everyone can contribute, no matter their age or knowledge. It's school holidays, and great to have some keen young birders with us today, and their mum encouraging their interest. A great team effort, with a couple of bird species we rarely see. The frogs? We barely heard them today - too cool it was suggested - with just a lone Common Eastern Froglet calling!

Notes from: a Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater hosted citizen science event.
It was a cool start, just 3 degrees, rising to a balmy 8 degrees by midday :)
It didn't daunt us! A team of 8 flora survey volunteers had a successful morning learning how to ID emerging orchids, then finding and protecting them. These orchids will become dormant before upcoming management works begin, so identifying where they are will ensure they don't get disturbed, and unintentionally lost. Mosquito orchids, Bird orchids, Greenhoods and Large Tongue-orchids were protected.
Great job Taylor, Bruce, Rachel, Linda, Heather, Robert, Sue and Sue!!
Thanks also to Sue who taught us an easy way to tell the difference between the very similar looking Black and Silver Wattles when their flowering seasons overlap - the glands on the central leaf stalk are different. Currently, just Silver Wattle is in flower in our region. Thank you Sue 😊💓