Cradle to Coastlines - April 2020

Mehrdad Abbasian's eagle encounters

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cradle to coastlines

cradle to coastlines in this issue

Page 4 Spring-active dung beetle trial in the Cradle Coast Page 5 Curious Climate Videos Page 6 Plastic pollution where does it go?

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Page 7 Update on Rice Grass projects Page 8 Capturing rare behaviour between our local eagles Page 10 Follow the contours to reduce erosion Page 12 COVID-19 and Citizen Science Page 14 Are you a member of a Coastcare group?

Page 15 New World Oceans Day website Page 16 Events and activities

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cradle coast nrm 1-3 Spring St Burnie Tasmania 7320

www.cradlecoast.com/nrm www.facebook.com/CradleCoastNRM/

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Spring-active dung beetle trial in the Cradle Coast

Following the establishment of a dung beetle nursery near Burnie during early spring last year, a workshop was held by the Cradle Coast Authority Natural Resource Management (NRM) team in summer to see how things were progressing. The spring-active species of dung beetle, Onthophagus vacca, originates from Morocco and was introduced to Australia in 2012 from beetle stock obtained from France. The workshop was presented by South Australian dung beetle expert Dr Bernard Doube of Dung Beetle Solutions Australia.

The development of juvenile beetles from the nursery established last year near Burnie was observed during the workshop. Young O. vacca beetles were dug up and examined. These beetles had reached the third instar larval stage in the five months since introduction, and are expected to emerge from the soil towards the end of summer. When this happens, they will feed for 1-2 weeks before hibernating underground until next spring when they will begin breeding the next generation.

To conclude the event, Dr Doube brought 1,000 O. vacca dung beetles with him to establish a second nursery site in the Cradle Coast region.

Graziers who attended learned how to establish a dung beetle nursery on their own farm. When the first Tasmanian-borne generation of O. vacca beetles emerge from hibernation later this year, they will be collected and distributed to graziers who attended, so that more nursery sites can be established. This will enable rapid colonisation of the region’s grazing districts with this springactive beetle, potentially achieving in 5-7 years what may otherwise have taken several decades.

Workshop participants learned about the history of exotic dung beetle introductions in Australia, the life cycle of the spring-active beetles, and how it varies in Tasmania, and the benefits of dung beetles to sustainable agriculture. Dung left on the ground fouls pasture, can pollute waterways following rainfall, and provides a conducive environment for flies to proliferate.

The activity of tunneling dung beetles relocates much of the dung underground, as beetle eggs are encapsulated in a protective ball of dung and soil. These “brood balls” then provide a source of nutrition as well as protection for the young beetles as they develop. Through the act of burying dung to complete their life cycle, tunneling dung beetles improve soil structure, increase water infiltration into the soil profile and move beneficial nutrients and biology contained in the dung to the root zone, where pasture plants can utilise them to promote increased growth.

This project is supported by the Cradle Coast Authority, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.

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Curious Climate Videos

The climate has always changed, so why is ‘Climate Change’ any different? Why does one or two degrees make so much difference to species? These are some of the questions Tasmanians asked scientists and researchers as part of the Curious Climate Project.

ABC Radio invited people from across Tasmania to send in the climate change questions they most wanted to know more about.

Curious Climate Tasmania gathered a team of scientists and researchers from a wide range of organisations across Tasmania to provide the answers to the most popular questions you asked.

The experts visited the west coast to answer these and other questions which have now been presented as short videos and are available on the Curious Climate Tasmania webpage. The information presented is fascinating and relevant to all our regional NRM activities - well worth a watch.

Curious Climate Tasmania is a collaborative project between the Centre for Marine Socioecology (CMS), the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), the University of Tasmania (UTAS), ABC Radio, the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).

Check out the videos at www.curiousclimate.org.au

Curious Climate Tasmania aims to develop public-powered scientific engagement, bridging the gap between experts and audiences with credible, relevant information about climate change.

Flooding is projected to become more common in Tasmania because of climate change. This photo was taken at the Inglis River in 2016 after flooding.

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Plastic pollution - where does it go?

They didn’t just calculate how much marine debris there was, they also wanted to know how it got there.

CSIRO estimates there are trillions of pieces of plastic in and on our oceans and beaches. It entangles, injures and kills marine life and is also a navigation hazard. It is estimated that the amount of plastic waste entering the ocean each year is 100 times greater than the amount of plastic found floating on the surface. So, where does all the plastic go?

Waves and wind influence where plastic pollution ends up on our beaches, but most of the litter in our oceans and on our coastlines starts in someone’s hand. So it’s no surprise that the more dense the regional population, the more plastic pollution found in the area.

A new CSIRO study aimed to find out https://blog.csiro.au/plastic-pollution-on-ourbeaches/

With marine pollution a major threat to our environment, this research deepens our understanding of its journey from urban to coastal areas. This data helps us know how, and where, we need to make changes to improve waste management. Hopefully this will result in less plastic pollution on our beaches.

Maybe you have visited a remote beach only to find the high tide mark littered, or piles of plastic trapped up creeks? Plastic often becomes trapped in vegetation at the back of the beach and stays there.

CSIRO have recorded marine debris all around the coast of Australia and mapped the results.

Marine debris.

Photo credit: Anna Wind

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Update on Rice Grass projects Other control options to tackle the larger meadows will also be investigated.

Rice Grass control projects in the region have been in full swing over the summer in Circular Head and the Rubicon estuary. A Saltmarsh Project Reference Committee has been established and an initial meeting was held in March to start discussions on the best strategy to tackle Rice Grass control.

The Robbins Passage and Surrounds Saltmarsh Recovery project is being delivered in partnership with Circular Head Landcare Group, who have a long successful track record of tackling Rice Grass in Circular Head. A spraying window, guided by optimal tide conditions, was negotiated with oyster farmers, a major stakeholder in the project area. Using the precautionary principle, oyster production was shut down for six days in March. Spraying was successfully completed for this season and planning for the next Rice Grass control works has already commenced.

The Rubicon Rice Grass project has focused this season’s efforts at Narawntapu National Park to protect 200 ha of Coastal Saltmarsh, an EPBC listed threatened community. Hampering efforts were wet and windy weather when spraying could not take place, and finding Rice Grass hotspots (large infestations) that took longer to control. Even with these hurdles, the works were completed on time, meeting our project objectives. Next season, the works program will continue weed control works towards the “containment line” between Squeaking Point and Eagle Point.

This project is supported by the Cradle Coast Authority, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.

Photo credit: Jenny Ostenfield

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Capturing rare behaviour between our local eagles

Mehrdad started taking photos when he was 16 after his father bought him his first SLR and considers himself a hobbyist photographer. He came to Tasmanian eight years ago and thinks this is ‘heaven on earth’. “Where else can you see a pair of White-bellied Sea Eagles five minutes from town? There are so many beautiful sights and birds to see, we’re so lucky to be living so close to nature,” said Mehrdad.

Mehrdad Abbasian is very enthusiastic about birds and takes photos of raptors at every opportunity. He was the photographer that took the now legendary photos of the interaction between a White-bellied Sea Eagle and a Wedgetailed Eagle locking claws in mid-air.

His wife Sahar spotted the eagles while driving along the Bass Highway. They stopped the car and Mehrdad grabbed his camera and ran down the highway to get the outstanding and rare photos of the fight between the eagles, in midair, for territory.

Mehrdad has provided his photographs for Raptor Refuge calendars to support their work looking after raptors in rehabilitation.

Wedge-tailed Eagle vs. White-bellied Sea Eagle.

Photo credit: Mehrdad Abbasian

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White-bellied Sea Eagles.

Photo credits: Mehrdad Abbasian

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Follow the contours to reduce erosion

Meanwhile, Cradle Coast NRM is working closely with Forthside Vegetable Research Facility staff, where erosion control trials have been established to showcase the values of installing erosion control lines with various implements.

Monitoring continues but some interesting results are already apparent.

Rainfall is vital for crop establishment, but it can be a farmer’s curse at the wrong time. A significant rainfall event soon after seeding can see soil running off in sheets. This is when paddocks are at their most vulnerable, and here in north-west Tasmania, with steep terrain in intense agricultural production areas, this situation poses even more of a threat.

Establishing erosion control lines need not be complicated. One way is to simply reduce the number of tynes on your agro-plough, and work the wheel tracks only. This will minimise the potential loss of cropping area, yet still be effective for erosion control.

There are several mechanical options to consider to reduce this risk, although choosing the right method for the landscape, and having the appropriate equipment at hand and on time, can be a challenge.

However, with the widespread use of in-field navigational technology now installed as standard in most current model tractors, there is an opportunity to utilise this precision technology. Following the contours to install erosion control lines adds value to the maps already used to traverse each paddock along straight lines. This is becoming a common practice for various stages of crop establishment and management.

One of the most common methods is to create a series of rip lines at right angles to the slope at regular intervals, which reduced the amount of water running off down slope. This is typically done quite well by eye and best guess based on previous experience, but a clinometer, handheld GPS, or guiding pegs can help.

The purpose-built “Ripper Mulcher” is an erosion control implement, locally developed twenty years ago, and still well-used by some local farmers. It works by distributing straw bales (mulch) in the ripped lines, to further reduce erosive overland flow. Recently, Cradle Coast Authority staff have re-located several Ripper Mulchers. Two are currently being prepared for restoration with plans to have them available for use this coming season, so watch this space…

Our “Protecting our Productive Soils” project aims to supporting producers with new and renewed options to consider.

For more information contact Ali Dugand on 0414 955 501 or adugand@cradlecoast.com

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Straw bale erosion control lines installed using a Ripper Mulcher.

Photo credit: Ali Dugand

Straw bale erosion control lines installed in bed formed carrot paddock.

Photo credit: Ali Dugand

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COVID-19 and Citizen Science

As the COVID-19 virus spreads in Australia, health officials are asking for “social distancing” and most pre-planned activities have been cancelled or rescheduled. Find the most current information at the Australian Government Department of Health website and the Tasmanian Government Coronavirus website.

Claws on the Line - Monitoring Tasmania’s burrowing crayfish. www.naturetrackers.com.au Feral Scan - help map feral cat sightings in your local area. www.feralscan.org.au Roadkill App - Record what roadkill you have seen, when and where. www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/wildlifemanagement/save-the-tasmanian-devilprogram/about-the-program/roadkillproject/roadkill-tas-app

While we are asked to stay home, take this opportunity to observe nature within your own backyards and exercise routes. Have a look at some of these citizen science projects you can get involved in locally, to get outdoors and help contribute to the protection of our natural resources.

Redmap - Spot, log and map unusual marine species. www.redmap.org.au Climate Watch - collecting and recording data that will help shape the country’s scientific response to climate change. www.climatewatch.org.au/about

Maintain your social distance and your sanity during this period of social isolation by discovering something new in your own backyard!

Platypus monitoring – Find a location near you and conduct regular platypus surveys to add data to an Australia-wide network. www.platypusnetwork.org.au/home

Wild Pollinator Count - contribute to wild pollinator insect conservation in Australia, 12 – 19 April. www.wildpollinatorcount.com

iNaturalist – the ultimate Citizen Science App. Upload photos of any species that you see, and naturalists around the world will help you identify them. www.inaturalist.org/

Butterflies Australia - aims to get everybody looking at butterflies and recording their sightings. www.butterflies.org.au Birdata App - collaboratively and scientifically collect data to gain insight and protect Australia's birds, including the Birds in Backyards Autumn Count, anytime in March and April. www.birdsinbackyards.net/content/article/A utumn-Birds-Backyards-Survey

Activities especially for kids BirdLife Australia has developed some good ones: www.networkbirdlife.org/birding-athome

Junior Landcare photography competition: https://juniorlandcare.org.au/campaigns/wh atsinyourbackyard/

www.birdata.birdlife.org.au/

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Clockwise from top: Hannah's garden pollinators; Devil's Coach Horse Beetles on carnivore poo, recently uploaded to iNaturalist by Iona; Anna's garden bird observation.

Photo credit: Hannah Sadler, Anna Wind & Iona Flett

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Are you a member of a Coastcare group?

The goal is to assist Coastcare groups in finding solutions to overcome barriers to their activities in the future. This research will really help better understand what works for Coastcare groups and contribute to their activities in conserving our coast.

Researchers from the Geography and Spatial Science Discipline at UTAS would like your help in completing a survey titled 'Opportunities and barriers for Coastcare groups in conducting conservation activities in Tasmania'.

The purpose of this research is to survey Coastcare group members and volunteers about their engagement with Coastcare, and the challenges and barriers in conducting conservation activities.

For more information contact Miss. Nikita D. Sarangdhar nikitas@utas.edu.au The link to the survey can be found here.

Photo credit: David McCormack

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New World Oceans Day Website

There are also resources to help amplify your work across social media. The new conservation focus for the 2020 World Oceans Day is growing the global movement to ensure global leaders commit to protecting 30% of the planet by 2030 (called 30x30). Safeguarding at least 30% of our ocean through a network of highly protected areas will help ensure a healthy home for all.

World Oceans Day is on 8 June 2020. Leading up to the event there is a new website to help people worldwide find useful resources for planning activities and taking action to protect our oceans.

The website includes new promotional and conservation action resources, including campaign materials, how-to guides, and the new World Oceans Day logo.

For more information, please visit www.worldoceansday.org

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Events and activities what

where & who

when

Wild Pollinator Count

You can join in by watching any flowering plant for just 10 minutes sometime in our count week.

You don't need to be an insect expert.

You dont need any fancy gear.

You may be surprised what you see!

More info: wildpollinatorcount@gmail.com www.wildpollinatorcount.com

12 - 19 April

Birds in Backyards autumn survey

More info and links to Birdata survey instructions here: http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/content/article/Aut umn-Birds-Backyards-Survey

Any time in March & April

Biodiversity Scheme Trial forum

Find out about the Australian Farm Biodiversity Certification Scheme Trial, and register for the seminar here: https://nff.org.au/programs/australian-farmbiodiversity-certification-scheme-trial/

9am - 12Â noon 22 April

Where? Where? Wedgie citizen science survey. Book your square online.

Taking place in priority squares across Tasmania, especially in the south-west and west region.

More info: info@naturetrackers.com.au www.naturetrackers.com.au

15 - 17 May 29 - 31 May

Request a FREE hard copy identification by emailing nrm@cradlecoast.com and provide your name and postal address.

Submissions on the EPBC Act review deadline extended due to the bushfires

https://epbcactreview.environment.gov.au/

cradle coast nrm 1-3 Spring St Burnie Tasmania 7320

www.cradlecoast.com/nrm www.facebook.com/CradleCoastNRM/

17 April