A new landscape emerging at Hennigan Crescent

A total of 66 adults and children have given their time over the past year to restore the bushland site on Hennigan Crescent. This is an amazing number, out of around 260 people living in the Forrest area. It’s difficult now to remember the solid walls of holly and thick tangles of blackberry that dominated before, but we should feel proud of our achievement as a town, as we enjoy the tranquil new view of the river from this site.

The 1300 new plants we put in last year are thriving, with continued care from Landcarers over summer. Last month Hennigan Crescent resident Leo Coolhaas donated a few tonnes of woodchips, which we have started to spread around the new plants in our working bees.

Have a stroll down the Hennigan Crescent walking track and check on the progress for yourself. While you’re there, please don’t forget to pull out any baby holly plants you see!

Landcarers big and small

Landcare activities are generally on the first Sunday and second Tuesday of each month, 10am-12pm. For information contact gerangametelandcare@gmail.com.

Gang Gang Cockatoo

Forrest and district is home to so many beautiful birds. This month we welcome two new contributors Ian Davies and Adam Fry, who are enthusiastic bird watchers in our region. They will write about a different bird they have seen, each month. Hope you enjoy learning about the beautiful birds we share our backyard with. Thanks Ian and Adam.

The iconic Gang-Gang Cockatoo is a favourite of many people. They are found in forested areas from the South Australian Border through to Mid Northern NSW. They also venture out into farmland areas, and can be even found in Suburbs of bigger towns if there are enough large trees around. They can be common around the township of Forrest, and other good places to find them include The West Barwon Dam, and around Lake Elizabeth. I have also seen them around the school, and the Forrest caravan park. They are even quite common in the Colac area during the autumn and winter months, where they come in looking for seeds and fruit.

Like most Australian Parrots and Cockatoos, they nest high in a tree hollow, where they lay 2-3 white rounded eggs. Males can be easily distinguished from females by their distinctive brightly coloured red head and crest. Females have a grey head and crest, and a more barred chest.

They can usually be seen in flocks of up to 15-20 birds, and are quite amusing to watch their floppy, irregular but strong flight. It is also great to hear their `rusty gate` call, as they announce their passing, or arrival in an area. They can be extremely quiet and approachable while feeding, and often their presence is given away by the smaller gum nuts falling like rain as they forage through the leaves. In the autumn season they can also often be seen along the Forrest Colac road as they feed on the berries of the Hawthorn bushes along the roadside. This Cockatoo is definitely a favourite of ours!