Mid Lachlan Landcare
supporting sustainable agriculture and restoring the environment
Diary of a Onthophagus vacca farmer
Well we have become farmers of a different type of livestock – Dung Beetles 🙂 The beetles arrived on the 9th of October 2020 to be released into their nursery as reported in the last BLOG post. They started off slow and we were quite concerned they may not make it.
They are now turning the piles of cattle dung, that we feed them about twice a week, into a shell really quickly. It is awesome to see the work they do to bury the dung within the nursery. They cannot escape and so they are totally reliant on us to provide for them.
Before arrival we had to collect about 50 litres of dung to put in a garbage bin and leave to settle for a week. This ensured any beetle species already in this dung were gone so we didn’t introduce other beetles into the O.vacca nursery. As this bin empties we collect more dung to be ready to swap over when required. It is a pretty simple process and it’s pretty easy to feed the dung out to the beetles.
These livestock don’t need paddock moves, don’t need water checked, don’t need shearing, don’t need weaning. All in all it’s a great process and in the long run they will improve our soils as well.
At this stage all seems to be going well and we really hope the beetles survive, thrive and especially breed. The on-farm nursery protocol is as per below:-
- Check dung burial twice weekly.
- At the same time, add 2 litres of dung immediately adjacent to the previous pile.
- The parental beetles will feed and breed for 2–4 months (August – October/November).
- They will then die.
- The next generation of adult beetles (F1 beetles) will begin emerging in October – November or much later in cooler climates (January – February).
- The newly emerged adults will feed for 2–3 weeks but will not breed.
- When they have finished feeding, they will tunnel underground and stay there until spring.
- Stop feeding the beetles in summer when the dung is no longer being buried.
- In spring the overwintering beetles will emerge, feed and begin to breed.
They are a really interesting species to learn about and it is exciting for Mid Lachlan Landcare to be involved in establishing a new species of dung beetle in our region. Fingers crossed they make it though our summer.
Some pictures below of the dung pile after the beetles have finished with it. If you have any questions or would like to find out more about the dung beetle work we are doing please contact us midlachlanlandcare@gmail.com.
Monitoring our Box Gum Grassy Woodland Project sites
We have begun the monitoring process on the completed project sites and this is an important component of the ‘Saving our Species’ program. By carrying out a monitoring program we can see what changes occur across the project sites. The sites will hopefully show improvement but the monitoring will also pick up decreases in the quality of the sites and we can then look at why this might be occuring and implement changes.
Due to the current weather conditions it is such an amazing year to be doing this monitoring. We have enlisted the talented Dan Florance to lead the monitoring. Before we go to a site he has a computer randomly pick a number of GPS coordinates across a site. Here we look at different components within a 20m diameter circle around each GPS point. There are all sorts of things that get measured but my favorite is noting down all of the native groundcover species present within the circle. Box Gum Grassy Woodlands have many grasses and a very high diversity of forbs. It is absolutely fasinating and wonderful to see some of these species up close. This region is so important for the conservation of Box Gum Grassy Woodlands and anyone involved in this project is doing amazing things to help.
Our monitoring has turned up a number of special species (although I think every species is special and exciting to find). We thought you might like to see one of them. Below are Yass Daisy (Ammobium craspedioides) and they have shown up on one of the sites over near Mandurama. This little plant is listed as ‘vulnerable’ in NSW and you can find out more info here.
John and Megan Rowlands are undertaking targetted weed control as part of this project within this amazingly diverse patch of woodland on their farm near Mandurama. “We are aware there are very few remnant areas such as the Box Gum Grassy Woodland on Hilton. With the various surveys completed we are encouraged to know & learn of the many native plant & wildlife species this 40 hectare block supports. We realise how important it is to nurture such a unique area.”
To find out more about the ‘White Box, Yellow Box, Blakely’s Red Gum Habitat on Farm’ project and how you could get involved contact midlachlanlandcare@gmail.com
Second Box Gum Grassy Woodland Workshop held
On Thursday 22nd October we held a workshop for the year 2 participants in our Box Gum Grassy Woodland Habitat on Farms project.
Dan Florance from the Austalian National University Fenner School of Environment and Society provided a great presentation and discussion with plenty of practical ideas on how we can protect, enhance and expand Box Gum Grassy Woodland on farm.
Ideas such as :-
- fencing off and changing grazing practices within a remnant patch of woodland you might have on your farm.
- ways to protect individual old paddock trees.
- innovative ways to include understory species back into your farm.
- looking at connectivity opportunities across the farm.
- grazing management to maximise opportunities for our native grasses and forbs to grow, set seed and drop seed within our livestock enterprises.
- direct seeding or tubestock.
We also discussed the huge range of Native flora and fauna that call this woodland home. After lunch we headed out for a site visit to one of last years completed projects. It gave everyone a chance to be inspired, see the gorgeous natives within the site, see the plenty of exotic annual species that have come up within the site this year (there is no perfect Woodland patch!) We checked out the innovative cluster circles he has put in to get some understory species into this patch. As under his careful management since 2013 there had still not been recruitment of understory species. He is hoping these circles will enable them to get established while he can still crash graze the rest of the paddock at strategic times.
It was lovely to be able to see the Superb Parrots that nest in this patch. Dan also heard and then pointed out Cockatiels that were utilising the patch as well.
Last years projects were fantastic and we are now very excited to see the projects this years participants come up with.
If you are keen to find out more about our Box Gum Grassy Woodland Habitat on Farm project and you are interested in getting involved for year 3 email us midlachlanlandcare@gmail.com.
Onthophagus vacca dung beetle coming to the region
As part of our current dung beetle project we are excited to announce that our Local Landcare Coordinator is recieving this newly imported species of dung beetle to breed in an on-farm rearing site.
The Onthophagus vacca were introduced to Australia in the 1980’s but they failed to establish. It is anticipated that this new strain of beetle is expected to survive and reproduce better than the earlier strains. This beetle is expected to fill the Spring gap in activity that some areas currently have.
This trial for Mid Lachlan Landcare will give our coordinator training to then enable her to assist our other landholders who become involved in the on-farm rearing of the Bubas bison (Winter active beetle) in Autumn 2021. Many thanks to Sally Kirby from Central Tablelands Landcare for the assistance.
To find out more about the Onthophagus vacca you can check out the article produced by Dung Beetle Ecosystem Engineers ‘ New import for Australia, meet the beetle : Onthophagus vacca‘
Beetles being released into the on-farm rearing site 9th October 2020
Birds, if only they could talk!
As part of Birdweek 2020 the Cowra NRM along with support from Mid Lachlan Landcare, Saving our Superb Parrot and NSW Government, will be hosting an evening on all things Birding 
Join us on Tuesday the 20th October and spend an evening with Warren Chad & Damon Oliver for a light hearted talk about what’s going on with our feathered friends and discover the role you can play through observation and citizen science to make a difference.
Warren is a regular on ABC Central West radio and an avid contributor to Bird Life Australia, his life’s mission is to photograph and observe as many of the world’s birds as possible which all began as kid with a love of being outdoors and in natures splendour.
Dr Damon Oliver has been involved in research and conservation of woodland birds for 30 years. He especially loves the Superb Parrot and gets a thrill every time he sees or hears them. The best part of his job as a threatened species manager with the NSW Government’s Saving Our Species program is working with the many Landcare groups and landholders who share his love of the environment and sustainable agriculture. The Saving Our Superb Parrot project has been a wonderful example of community and Government working together as a team to help a threatened species in rural NSW.
Book your seat ASAP. You don’t want to miss this fantastic evening.
Expressions of interest now open for the Glossy Black Cockatoo project
Do you live on the Kangarooby Rd./Barryrennie Rd. area around Conimbla National Park? If so, would you like to do some tree planting on your property to help out this beautiful species listed as vulnerable in NSW.
We are seeking expressions of interest with a closing date of Monday 23rd November to undertake tree planting of Allocasuarina diminuta in Autumn 2021.
Click here for the Expression of Interest form.
For more information visit our Glossy Black Cockatoo project summary.
Cowra Archibird photo competition 2020
Bought to you by the Cowra Natural Resource Management Committee and partners.
YAY….it’s that time again
The 
Archibird Prize photography competition is now open for its 2nd year. We hope you have all been busy hanging out with the birds and taking photos, we’re certainly looking forward to seeing what you have captured. Last year’s entries were fantastic. 
Entry Details: Like & follow the Cowra NRM facebook page 
Send us your photos via messenger or email to cowra.nrm@outlook.com
10 photos per person per category (there are 3 categories) Photos must be of wild Australian birds taken within 100kms of Cowra Photos entered in last year’s competition will not be accepted
Provide the following details:
* Category your entering * Name & phone number * Caption/title of photo * Location photo was taken
Entries Close Monday 9 November 2020 Goodluck
Terms & Conditions
* Photos of birds held in captivity or restrained in any manner or that have been taken using harmful or unethical practices will NOT be accepted
* Photos of baby birds in nests will also not be excepted due to the risk of causing distress to the birds.
* The committee reserves the right to refuse any entry that does not abide by these rules and does not provide all necessary contact details.
* Entry into the competition signifies acceptance of all conditions. Entrants are required to abide by the Conditions of Entry and Terms and Conditions as presented.
* This Competition is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. You are providing your information to the Cowra NRM and not to Facebook. The information you provide will be used for the competition only – your name and the photo caption/title is the only information that will be displayed on Facebook – all personal information will be stored confidentially for the Cowra NRM to contact you in the event you win a prize.
Growing the Grazing Revolution Update
What’s been happening in the last couple of month’s for Growing the Grazing Revolution?
In July we hosted another of our ‘Healthy Horses Healthy Landscapes’ workshops at Cargo with 20 people attending. Dr David Searle shared some great information on equine health. Although the weather was a little challenging all participants were able to take part in a paddock walk to inspect some great horse pasture.
Scott and Peter have been busy holding Grazing Cluster meetings at Bowan Park, Walli, Nyrang Creek, Woodstock and Darby’s Falls. Across the 5 Grazing meetings we had over 35 attendees. The main topics for discussions were :-
1. Revising the past few years…. What worked, what we would do again and what changes, if any, to improve the next dry time.
2. And Now…. How are things looking after the rains and how are people feeling within themselves.
3. Cover cropping and it’s potential benefits for stock feed, multi species introduction and the important benefits for soil biology.
A Zoom meeting was also held at the Cowra Services Club with Terry McCosker for our peer leaders and the local participants of the training we held in Cowra last September. This was an excellent meeting with discussions on:-
- Recovering from Drought, repairing landscape, business and people
- Lessons learned from the dry period, What should we take forward for the next dry
- Boosting post Drought cash flow and ways to prevent excess debt
- Ideas on Event management in our landscapes
- Carbon link and government schemes
- Strategies for boosting soil biology
We are also happy to report that our event in December 2019 with Charlie Massy was included in the ABC ‘s Australian Story – ‘Breaking new Ground’ on Monday 28th September. It’s a great story and if you check it out you might see some familiar faces. Click here for the link to the show on iview. Just scroll down the page to the ‘Breaking new Ground’ story.
Photo’s below from some of the recent events.
Operation Orchid Observation
This season has just been amazing for orchids. I have taken my first obsessive and addictive steps towards finding all the orchids I can. What an experience!!
So far in the Conimbla National Park and surrounds 18 different orchids species have been found since June 2020. They are all fasinating in their own way and well worth taking the time to search for. It has been a huge learning curve and we thought you might like to see some of these amazing plants.
Anyone has a chance of finding some of these special plants and currently a few of them can be found if you go for a bushwalk along the Ironbark trail to Cherry Creek Lookout in the National Park. Others you might have to look a little bit harder for 😉
Australia has more than 1700 of the 25–30,000 species in the Orchidaceae family known globally, yet, regrettably, 25 per cent of orchid extinctions occur here. In part our species are vulnerable because they require symbiotic relationships with specific types of ‘mycorrhizal’ fungi to grow and germinate, and many are pollinated by a unique species of pollinator.
An example is the Pterostylis curta (Blunt Greenhood) in the pictures below. It is germinated by Certobasidium fungi and pollinated by Mycomya fungus gnats. Very specific requirements!!!
We would love to hear about any orchids you find in your travels. Contact midlachlanlandcare@gmail.com 🙂
Pterostylis ampliata (Large Autumn Greenhood) – Tracee Burke 
Caladenia carnea (Pink Fairy) – Tracee Burke 
Pterostylis cycnocephala (Swan Greenhood) – Tracee Burke 
Cyrtostylis reniformis (Common Gnat Orchid) – Tracee Burke 
Pterostylis nana (Dwarf Snail Orchid) – Tracee Burke 
Cyanicula caerulea (Blue Fairy) – Tracee Burke 
Acianthus collinus (Hooded Mosquito Orchid) – Tracee Burke 
Diuris chryseopsis (Common Golden Moths) – Tracee Burke 
Pterostylis curta (Blunt Greenhood) – Tracee Burke 
Caladenia atrovespa (Green-comb Spider Orchid) – Tracee Burke 
Glossodia major (Waxlip Orchid) – Tracee Burke 
Thelymitra sp. (Sun Orchid) – Tracee Burke 
Caladenia cucullata (Hooded caladenia) – Tracee Burke 
Diuris goonooensis (Western Donkey Orchid) – Tracee Burke 
Pterostylis parviflora (Tiny Greenhood) – Tracee Burke 
Caleana minor (Small Duck Orchid) – Tracee Burke 
Pterostylis rubescens (Blushing Tiny Greenhood) – Tracee Burke 
Pterostylis boormanii (Sikh’s Whiskers) – Ruth Workman added Sep 2021
Woodland Wonders
We have recently been visiting local farms looking at potential project sites for this years Box Gum grassy Woodland project. It has been wonderful to see so many groundcover species after the recent dry years. Did you know that there are over 400 plant species found across the Box Gum Grassy Woodlands range and in a good quality patch you can find between 60 and 110 species.
The groundcover plants, such as forbs, grasses and sedges make up most of this diversity and we thought you all might like to see some of the plants that have recently been seen. All of these photos have been taken by me from around our region. Enjoy!!
Feel free to send through any pictures to midlachlanlandcare@gmail.com and we can try to have them identified for you.
Stackhousia monogyna (Creamy Candles) 
Glycine sp. 
Wurmbea sp. (Early Nancy) 
Pterostylis ampliata (Large Autumn Greenhood) 
Pleurosorus rutifolius (Blanket Fern) 
Cyanicula caerulea (Blue Fairy) 
Erodium crinitum (Blue Storksbill, Blue Crowfoot) 
Cyrtostylis reniformis (Small gnat orchid) 
Calotis lappulacea (Yellow burr daisy) 
Eremophila debilis (Amulla, Winter Apple) 
Caladenia carnea (Pink Fairy, Pink Fingers) 
Calotis cuneifolia (Purple burr daisy) 
Drosera sp. (Sundew) 
Glossodia major (Waxlip orchid) 
Diuris goonooensis (Western donkey orchid) 
Swainsona galegifolia (Smooth darling pea) 
Microseris lanceolata (Murnong, Yam daisy)
Mid Lachlan Landcare 