Observing flora and fauna interactions for bushland management

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Acknowledging the Wurundjeri people the traditional custodians of the land we will walk in during this excursion.

Join Michael Smith, a local conservationist who teaches conservation and ecological management at Melbourne Polytechnic. Michael has a keen interest in animal-plant interactions and has a strong focus on managing natural systems from an animal-centred perspective.

The objective of his walk is to explore the concept of understanding and noticing the interactions of flora and fauna on site to gain insights on how to best manage ecosystems. Making this concept integral to bushland management will hopefully lead managers to be guided by animal behaviour instead of using plant lists to choose which plant to protect, plant, direct seed and remove from a site.

To help discuss and engage with the above concept, we will compare bird diversity and behaviour along different stretches of the riparian zone in Hurstbridge.

LOCATION

Diamond creek riparian zone/flats in Hurstbridge

MEETING POINT

North side of Ben Frilay oval, Hurstbridge.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Train to Hurstbridge station on the Hurstbridge line then follow the orange/red dashed line approx. 500 metres walk on the map below. (7:19am Flinders Street arrives Hurstbridge 8:38am.) Trains to Hurstbridge are roughly 40 min apart on Saturday.

PARKING

Approx. 250m after turning into Graysharps Rd there is an unmarked track on your right, drive up this track and park in the area marked in the sketch map below. If you drive past the bowls club while on Graysharps road you have missed the turn.

CLOSEST TOILETS

On map

TERRAIN

Mostly on paths, some walking in longish grass.

WEAR/BRING

The walk will mostly be on formed paths, some of the walk will be through longish grass so wear long pants and sensible closed shoes. Clothes suitable for weather forecast i.e. sun hat, rain coat. Binoculars if you have.   Also bring drinking water and any food or medication that you need or might need.

CAPACITY- 30

COST

AABR Members – $5

Non AABR Members – $10

Students – Free

Funds raised go towards supporting the Walks & Talks program

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