Dear Heathmont Bushcarers,

Welcome to May – the cold nights are here but the next few days look fine and warm – an ideal time to get out into nature and to get your hands dirty pulling out some weeds. It’s cheaper and much more beneficial to the environment than joining the gym!

Uambi is the focus of our bush care efforts this month, with pittosporums, asparagus fern and wonga vine in the gully areas being our major targets. It would be wonderful to see you all at Uambi, in Allens Rd, Heathmont, at 10.00am on Sunday May 5th. BYO cup and sense of humour!

In other news, please see below for links to various activities and events that you may be interested in. More information can also be found by clicking this link: https://mailchi.mp/bigpond/friendsnet-99-june-1432618?e=2306a9f53d

Annual count of Red-tailed Black-cockatoos – Saturday 4 May
Seeking spotters!!!
BirdLife Australia and the Recovery Team are currently seeking volunteers to assist in the annual count for the spectacular SE Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo on Saturday 4 May.

Symposium on the use of technology to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions – Tuesday 21 May
The Australasian Network for Ecology and Transportation (ANET) and the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ), with sponsorship from Transport for NSW, is holding a one-day symposium on 21 May 2024 to investigate current and
emerging technology to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions.

Biodiversity Across Borders Conference 7 June 2024
The 10^th Biodiversity Across the Borders Conference, with the theme “Biodiversity Conservation: Can we learn from the past to foster hope for the future‘ will be held at Federation University, Ballarat on Friday 7 June. This one-day conference is designed to disseminate new ecological research findings to natural resource managers, researchers, and individuals interested in advancing environmental stewardship.

Parks Victoria Volunteer Strategy 2024-28
Parks Victoria is updating its Volunteer Strategy and you can have your say here https://engage.vic.gov.au/parks-victoria-volunteer-strategy . You can contribute your thoughts until 5 May. There will be an online workshop on Tuesday 16 May and you can register here.

Have your say on the future of Central Highlands State Forests by 29 April
DEECA established the Eminent Panel for Community Engagement in 2021 to partner with Traditional Owners and engage with the Victorian community about the future of state forest areas following the end of native timber harvesting. You can have your say here https://engage.vic.gov.au/central-highlands-forests .

Kangaroo in the mist, Mt Lofty, Warrandyte. Image by Will Harper.