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Category Archives: Fraser Island Defenders Organisation
Persistence Paying Off
FIDO’s Bush Regeneration program has been operating volunteer week-long weeding operations since 2005. However, the number of weeding operations has increased progressively from one in 2005 to 10 in 2016–17. This is to keep pace with the increasing threat, and number, of weed invaders.
Where has K’gari’s rainfall gone?
Citizen science has an enormous amount to contribute, as recently demonstrated when a Darwin mechanic discovered a new planet. Similarly, citizen science has a lot to contribute to our understanding of K’gari. For example, the driest year on record caused my son Keith and I to go poring over rainfall records. We thought that we would start with doing a detailed examination of Double Island Point, which is the closest place to the island with records going back for more than 100 years. What we found astonished us; it was a revelation. (more…)
This one’s for the birds…
During the first field trip by the Maryborough and Bundaberg Wildlife Branches to Fraser Island (K’gari) in November 1968, in 24 hours the group positively identified 65 species of birds. Admittedly, the trip was led by outstanding naturalist and keen birdo, Eric Zillman.
A little landscaping improves the natural integrity
Back in 2011, FINIA had a dilemma about how to use the nursery-raised plants using island genetic stock that needed planting out. It was resolved to plant them at the western entrance to Eurong as a demonstration garden. (more…)
FINIA Meeting held on Fraser Island (K’gari)
The March 2017 FINIA meeting, which was on held on Fraser Island, provided an excellent opportunity for the members of FINIA to see first-hand the work being undertaken on the island by teams of FIDO volunteers (supported by BMRG through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme), the Fraser Island Association [FIA], and the Fraser Coast Regional Council with the support of Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service. (more…)
Visiting Chinese World Heritage Sites
China has many more World Heritage sites than does Australia. Most, like the Forbidden City, Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors, are cultural sites. However, it also has a number of outstanding natural World Heritage sites. With a population exceeding a billion people, who are rapidly gaining greater affluence and the means to travel more widely, there is huge pressure on these World Heritage sites and many lessons that K’gari can benefit from in how this tidal wave of visitation is being handled. (more…)
Monitoring K’gari’s Weather
FIDO has just installed a second online weather station on K’gari at Eurong as part of an ongoing FIDO program to capture weather data from a broader area to assist in environmental monitoring. Through FIDO’s website, anyone in the world with access to the internet can see the temperature, barometric pressure, wind direction and rainfall at both Happy Valley and Eurong in real time and for the previous 14 days. FIDO also feeds the data to Weather Underground and the Bureau of Meteorology, where it can also be seen. They also add FIDO’s weather station input to their permanent storage.
The Persistence of Abrus
One of FIDO’s many inspiring volunteers has been Peter Dorney, a nurseryman from Boreen Point. Pete was appalled by the extent and aggressiveness of the rampant Abrus he encountered during a Happy Valley working bee in March 2016. He wondered how persistent the seed might be because this is critical to how long the vigilant treatment of Abrus needs to be maintained once no more seeds are set. (more…)
The First K’gari BioBlitz
From 28 November to 4 December 2016, a multidisciplinary team of experienced scientists and enthusiastic amateurs based at the University of the Sunshine Coast’s (USC) Dilli Village Research and Education Centre carried out the first of what are hoped to be regular BioBlitzes to better document the wide range of both plant and animal species on Fraser Island (K’gari).
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Happy Valley Weeding Update
This trip the focus was again on the invasive weed Abrus precatorius subspecies Africanus (Common name – crab’s eye). The control program began in March 2014, with four trips a year since then. The population was extensively established on the Northern, Western and Southern sides of the village, as well as throughout the village area. It has not been detected East of the village. The plant is a creeper/climber, and in many areas, had occupied up to 70% to 80% ground cover and extended into the canopies of trees. It seeds in all areas where it grows, and profusely when it gets high levels of sunlight exposure, such as on the dingo fence and especially where it extends into the canopy of trees.
After trialling physical removal, including attempts to dig the roots out, and cut and paste with roundup, it became very clear these methods were ineffective and, given the extent of the infestation, were completely impractical. Foliage spray was trialled with glyphosphate and starane. Both chemicals resulted in good knock down of foliage, but with starane, plants regrew from the roots. Glyphosphate (1.5% Roundup) applied with a wetting agent and a dye is the mix we now use. It is extremely effective. (more…)
FINIA 