Ornothologist Tanya Loos is hanging up her binoculars after leading bi-monthly bird surveys on the ImLal site since the first planting in spring 2010.

Her sharp eyes and professionalism will be missed. She is retiring because of neck strain, which is being exacerbated by peering upwards through binoculars. Something of a tragedy for her and a great loss to us.

The bird surveys are an essential part of monitoring the site's contribution to biodiversity, as well as introducing visitors to the site. For BRT members and ImLal project partners it's become an important vector for on-site inspection and discussion about what silvicultural management is required.  We are looking for a knowledgeable survey leader to replace Tanya. Any ideas?

Species resilience in the south and north sites is a case in point on the importance of regularly getting feet on the ground  talking a walk through the plantation.  Spotted gum and sugar gum plots that last year appeared well and truly dead have both put forward new shoots since the autumn break. Wilting native hempbush has recovered. Direct seeding that we thought had failed is increasingly poking up above the long grass - particularly the Acacia. Bare patches in the north are showing encouraging signs of recovery.  The redwood (about 20-30% of the 50 planted) in the north site struggle on despite a very dry summer and kangaroo predation. 

Volunteer plants are invading the site in increasing numbers, such as swamp gum, manna gum and blackwood. One problem we have created is planting silver wattle between the forestry plots in the south site. They are suckering and competing with the forestry plots. We can't spray them so they will need some form of labour-intensive management.

One moment of excitement on this last bird survey was spotting two Boobook owls in a mature radiata pine fringing the ImLal South forestry plots. It's only the second time we've seen them.

Visitors on this survey included science student Tarquin Netherway (on right) and Geoff Rootes (left) and Linda Zibell from Friends of Canadian Forest Park. Geoff and Linda are looking at introducing the  biorich concept into their proposal for the proposed 300ha multi-use forest park.

Our youngest partipant was Oscar Haywood, the son of Imerys Environment Manager Brad Haywood. He is pictured on left with his father.  He had a good long look at the Boobook.

Visitors are always welcome on the two hour long bird surveys, which are held on a Sunday morning. If you are interested, contact Gib Wettenhall via the Contact Us page – click here

A large group of Federation University (formerly Ballarat Uni) students visited the ImLal site to, once again, monitor plant growth and  mortality within 16 plots established by  the uni some three and a half years ago. 

Associate Professor Singarayer Florentine has rebranded his 'ecological restoration' course as 'Landscape restoration and mine rehabilitation.' By making the course more practically oriented, student numbers this year have more than doubled from 13 to over 30.  For the first time, engineers, geologists and people working with water authorities  have joined the course.

The future for farm forestry would, indeed, seem to lie in integrating conservation and production, so that farm foresters and land managers can in turn rebrand themselves as custodians of the land.

Results from the uni's first plot monitoring exercise can be read on the Plot Monitoring page of this website.   Plot designer Tim Simpson is pictured with course leader Singarayer Florentine on the left.

The student group who came to ImLal to undertake plot monitoring are pictured below.