KOALAS ------- WHERE ARE THEY ??????

When a group of local citizen realised that the Gympie regional council area had NO recent Koala mapping or a conservation plan they decided to take some action. Keeping in mind there are 32 koala zones in S.E.Qld. from Noosa west to Toowoomba and south to the N.S.W. boarder which have been mapped or are being mapped in the future. These maps can be viewed at  seqkoala@ehp.qld.gov.au

Gympie regional area is not included on these maps.

The Koala Action Group was formed and started to inform the general public of the need for urgent action to survey the district and create a conservation plan which will assist in maintaining a viable Koala population in our region. 

The public was asked to start their own Koala survey by spotting , noting the location , and sending that information to the Mary River Catchment group on 54824766 (MRCCC).

At the groups April meeting the local council officers present announced that a tender had been accepted for a koala survey to be done in the Gympie Region. The survey will be completed by October,2015.

It is hoped that all the data collected and the survey will be used to define koala areas, to establish vegetation corridors,marry more carefully development and environmental concerns and help to conserve the vulnerable koala for future generations in this area.

These photos were taken at Melawondi  in the Mary Valley , March 2015. Look at the health of these animals. No facial tumors in this population.

Members of the Koala action group ------- behind is a typical koala habitat ----- which may be under  threat .

APRIL OUTING ---- COORAN AND POMONA AREA

The early birders started at the Yellow Belly Hole Reserve on the Six Mile Creek at Cooran. After a very foggy trip the birds were very active for the good number of early starters. The main group arrived and all enjoyed morning tea at William Martin Waterhole before taking a walk on section 5 of the Noosa trail. Water holes fed by a small creek with natural and replant forest made for a very pleasant walk.After a couple of hours the group travelled to Cooroora Creek Park on the edge of Pomona for lunch break. The photo above shows the large number in attendance for the day. After lunch a walk in the well manicured park brought an end to a very enjoyable day. Some photos from the day.

Part of the Agarics family of fungi ---- The white stem and grooved surface ----- with the spores in the center .

The fruit of the Davidson Plum Tree ----- hangs in cluster from the trunk and branches------ the fruit is edidible but highly acidic ----- a native of Nth Queensland growing quite well in the Cooroora Park.

Lewin's Honeyeater ------ very common in our forest areas ------ identifiable by that rapid machine-gun rattle call.

Red-backed Fairy-Wren (M) ----- male and the female group very active in the grass lands.

Coral Fungi ----- as the name suggests ----- grows in soil rather than decaying wood .

The focal point is the object hanging from the branch.We believe it is part of the Psychide family

which in its final stage end as a Case Moth or sometimes called Bag moth. The tiny caterpillar larvae feed on the leaf material, builds a Case in which they live and grow, pupate and ends as a moth .  After mating the cycle continues.

The call of the Brown Cuckoo-Dove could be heard in the distance ---- Then the male and female came together for this photo opportunity ------ their favored food being fruit from wild tobacco and lantana plants.

Water Snowflakes

Pacific Black Duck

Horse shoe in a fence post ------- there would be a story somewhere

The items members spot on our outings ------ I have no identification ----- Its looks like a birds mud nest ----- the section at the bottom looks like an extension to the nest ------ what do you think?