Take a guided tour of Reedy Lagoon, showcasing the birds living among the iconic river red gums, as part of this weekend's Gunbower Bioblitz.
The Gunbower Bioblitz on November 25 and 26 will feature five events showcasing five different types of animals that rely on the health of the Gunbower Forest floodplain to survive and thrive.
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On Saturday, the sessions will be: Woodland Birds of Gunbower Forest (8am to 10am) and Bats of Gunbower Forest (7pm).
On Sunday, join in with: Fish of Gunbower Creek (8am); Ramsar Reptiles (2pm); and Frogs of the Ramsar Wetlands (5pm).
North Central Catchment Management Authority Ramsar Wetlands project manager Amy Russell said the Bioblitz was a great way for people of all ages to discover the array of animals that call the forest and Gunbower Creek home.
“The woodlands bird event will take people on a guided tour of Reedy Lagoon, showcasing the birds living among the iconic river red gums that surround it,” she said.
“If you’re up early on Sunday morning you can help SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium staff release once-locally-extinct southern purple-spotted gudgeon, also known as the zombie fish, into Cameron’s Creek, and have a light breakfast on us.
“Later that day you can take a guided tour of the forest floor to look for friendly reptiles, or enjoy frog spotting at one of the floodplain’s wetlands.”
The Bats of Gunbower Forest event is expected to be popular. This one is an Eastern freetail bat. Photo: Lindy Lumsden
Photo by
Lindy Lumsden
North Central CMA citizen science co-ordinator Tania MacLeod said the Bats of Gunbower Forest event will also be popular.
“A team of young people has been interning with us under a program delivered by the Campaspe Cohuna Local Learning and Employment Network, and the bat showcase is part of their Youth Take Over,” she said.
“They’ll be joining experienced ecologists from the Arthur Rylah Institute, and anyone else who wants to come, to locate bats with handheld detectors, record bat calls, and check traps.”
The Gunbower Bioblitz will be held at the same time as the Great Southern Bioblitz across the Southern Hemisphere.
“We’re encouraging those attending to download the iNaturalist App and record what they see over the weekend,” Ms Russell said.
“We work with local communities, other government agencies, and the Victorian and Australian governments to deliver water for the environment and protect the plants and animals of Gunbower Forest.
“The Gunbower Bioblitz is a great way to see that work, connect with communities across the globe, and highlight how magical Gunbower is.”
