Yarra4Life Woodlands & Biolinks Project - funding available

Expression of Interest for landholders has opened for this project that aims to protect, improve and increase the extent of woodlands and biolinks in the Woori Yallock Creek sub-catchment.

Offering generous incentives to landholders to undertake activities such as fencing for stock exclusion, weed control, woodland and wildlife habitat enhancement and strategic revegetation.

Another complimentary target of the project is to create biolinks between the Yellingbo Nature Conservation Reserve and the other nearby environmentally significant reserves i.e. Kurth Kiln Regional Park to the south east, the Yarra Ranges National Park and Warramate Nature Conservation Reserve to the north and the Dandenong Ranges National Park to the west. This is to support and protect the threatened populations of wildlife – especially the Helmeted Honeyeater and Leadbeater’s Possum.

Applications are now open for Round 1 (closing 28 February 2010). More details and an application form at http://www.yarra4life.com.au/opportunities/landholders.aspx

Yarra4Life Woodlands & Biolink Project is funded by the Australian Government through Australian Government ‘Caring for our Country’ and the Judith Eardley Save Wildlife
Association.

Image: Map of project boundaries. See the website (above) for more details

Friends end of year Members’ Day

Date: Sunday 29 November 2009
Time: from 12 noon
Meet at: 1217 Macclesfield Road, Yellingbo, VIC. 3139 (Melway: 305 H10)
BYO: Food and drink. BBQ facilities will be supplied, along with tea & coffee.
Activities: Enjoy the surrounds and hear the latest about the Helmeted Honeyeater breeding season. An optional walk after lunch for those who are interested will be organised.
RSVP’s would be appreciated by email heho1@optusnet.com.au or phone 5964 8341 and leave a message. We hope to see you there.

Survey results - I came across this website...

The results are in for our latest Blog survey - I came across this website... From a total of 15 responses:
A. By accident - Nil
B. Search engine - 8 responses
C. I know someone involved in the group - 2 responses
D. Someone told me about it - Nil
D. I am a Friends of HeHo member - Nil

Annual Helmeted Honeyeater Survey Bunyip State Park

Date: Sunday 22 November 2009
Time: 8.30am arrival for 9am start. Finish at 3.30pm
Meet at: Tonimbuk Hall, Tonimbuk Road, Tonimbuk (approximately 7.5 kilometres north of Princes Freeway). Melway ref: Map X912 grid S5/T5.
BYO: lunch, drinking water, binoculars, compass. Dress for the weather - hat, but rain jacket and gumboots may be a good idea. Toilets available at Tonimbuk Hall.
Agenda: We will be surveying areas of Bunyip State Park and its surrounds that we don't spend a lot of time in, looking for Helmeted Honeyeaters. This work is critical to the success of the Helmeted Honeyeater Recovery Program, so you’re assistance is valued. Orientation will be provided on the day.
RSVP's are essential to help in planning for the day. Please contact Bruce Quin (DSE Ornithologist) on 5954 4010 no later than Sunday 15 November. Please leave the name/s of people attending and daytime contact number/s. If you have a 4WD available, please advise Bruce.

Image: Surveys are a great day in the bush
Photographer: Dean Ingwersen

Survey results - why do you access this website?

The results are in for our latest Blog survey - Why did you access this website? From a total of 24 responses:
A. I love birds - 7 responses
B. Research - 7 responses
C. Mistake. Not interested - Nil
D. Interest in environment - 7 responses
E. Looking for a way to get involved - 4 responses

Thank you. This helps us tailor the website further.

Prickly Currant-bush & school children

It continually surprises me what children connect with when we're talking to them about the Helmeted Honeyeater and its habitat. Prickly Currant-bush, Coprosma quadrifida, is one of those things. Why? If you have some ideas lets us know.

Do they relate to it being a great place to get away from predators? Do they like the idea of a hiding place being a source of food as well? Hmmm... Anyway, we received some fabulous letters and pictures from Warburton Primary School students after their recent revegetation day at Yellingbo. We hope you enjoy looking at them as much as we have!

How long do HeHo's live?

We're often asked this question. On 7/06/09 at Yellingbo a 14 years and 7 months of age male was spotted. How do we know? He was banded as a young bird & his hatch date recorded. Members of the HeHo Recovery Team tell us that this makes him the oldest known-age wild Helmeted Honeyeater.

8/1/10 - he's been spotted again by the Field Ornithologist, making this bird 15 years and 2 months old.

The Friends 20th b'day

23 May 2009 was a great day. The sun shone, the speakers & displays were really interesting, the guests were happy, the food was great and the depot shed on Woori Yallock Creek was full. Thank you to everyone who has been involved with the Friends over their 20 year history - our members and partner groups are vital!

Image 1: Bob Anderson President FoHH, Karina Cartwright Healesville Sanctuary, Mick Kealy Parks Vic, Bruce Quin DSE cut the cake as representatives of the Helmeted Honeteater Recovery Team's Operations Group at Friends 20th bday May 23, 2009
Photograph by: S. Tardif

Image 2: It was standing room only at the Friends 20th bday.
Photograph by: S. Mitchell

The Friends turn 20 - 23/5/09

On 23 May 2009 the Friends turn 20. Have you been involved with the Friends in the past and lost contact? Now may be a great time to renew that relationship. Download our membership form here , send it in and we'll make sure you receive an invitation to the Friends 20th birthday celebration.

Image: SP Ausnet staff spent the day planting HeHo habitat on a previously grazed section of the Woori Yallock Creek arm of Yellingbo Nature Conservation Reserve.
Photograph by: S. Tardif

Invitation to Members Day - 22 March 09

Members Day for the Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater starts at 11am at the Rangers house, 1217 Macclesfield Road, Yellingbo. We will start with a talk by Rupert Baker, Senior Vet at Healesville Sanctuary, followed by a BYO picnic or BBQ lunch, and the unveiling of a plaque at our nursery to commemorate the contribution Steve Craig made to the formation of the Friends in 1989.

Not a member but would like to attend? You can join on the day!

All welcome.

Animals affected by bushfires - a practical way to help

The Judith Eardley Save Wildlife Assoc. have notified us that they have started an appeal for all animals, birds etc burned and injured in the Feb/Mar 09 Victorian bushfires. JE have started the appeal with $100,000 and are asking for donations to be made either:

• at their shop, The Judith Eardley Save Wildlife Centre, 193 Maroondah Highway, Healesville, Vic
  
• or at the Commonwealth Bank Healesville, BSB 063689, Account no. 1020 1157

If you're wondering about a practical way to help... this could be it.

Fire threat to Helmeted Honeyeaters - Healesville Sanctuary captive-breeding population

Emergency procedures have been activated for the threatened species area at Healesville Sanctuary. We can report that the captive breeding population of Helmeted Honeyeaters are safe and have been transported to Melbourne Zoo. Other threatened species evacuated are the Mountain Pygmy-possums, Orange-bellied Parrots and Tasmanian Devil.

Fire threat to Helmeted Honeyeaters - Tonimbuk population

The Recovery Team have been working actively with DSE over the past few days in regard to the current fire near Tonimbuk in Bunyip State Park. Control lines have been put in place. In case of fire burning critical habitat or reaching the birds, potential actions to best support the population have been determined. We can report that the Helmeted Honeyeater release sites are safe at this time.

The good news story on the re-introduced population of Helmeted Honeyeaters at Tonimbuk ... the 2008-09 spring-summer has been the most successful breeding season yet. More details soon.