The Field naturalists who attended the outing to Scottsdale on 30 Oct had the great privilege of being offered a tour of the reserve by Phil Palmer and Kim Jarvis, who generously gave precious time from their busy schedule.

This Bush Heritage Australia property has an important story to tell. More precisely, the managers of this reserve have achieved, and are continuing to achieve, remarkable restoration outcomes through innovative techniques.

Originally purchased in 2006, the property was in a degraded condition after decades of European settlement. However, its great value was its location for landscape connectivity, both south to north along the Murrumbidgee River riparian corridor, and from west to east, from mountains to coast. As Phil pointed out, there were few options for bird movement to the treeless south. Subsequent management is successfully replacing pasture weeds with native grassland species at the local level, and considerably enhancing connectivity with tree and shrub plantings at the landscape level.

Phil and Kim, along with intern ecologist Ted Stein, explained the spraying and burning techniques they’d developed to remove African Lovegrass and Serrated Tussock and showed us the wonderful results. They also explained the deep rooting techniques they’d developed to improve survival of the thousands of species planted each year. We also viewed Scottsdale’s impressive nursery program, which incorporates harvesting of native seeds and improvement of genetic diversity. Furthermore, substantial erosion control measures have been implemented on the property.

The weather for our visit was fine and warm. In fact it was a little too warm for the best birding. Nonetheless, we were greeted by Diamond Firetails and a chorus of Rufous Whistlers and Striated Pardalotes, we saw Rainbow Bee-eaters on the banks of the Murrumbidgee, and we heard three species of cuckoo – the Pallid, Brush and Shining Bronze. We saw evidence of Yellow-faced Honeyeaters using Snow Gum plantings as stepping stones on their altitudinal migration to the mountains, and we were treated to the sight of a platypus feeding in the Murrumbidgee. Many grassland plants were in flower, such as Button Wrinkleworts, Goodenias, Creamy Candles, Daisies, Violets, Bluebells and Blue Devils, and many insects were active. Stuart found Peacock Spiders, of course!

While lunching on the banks of the Murrumbidgee we were joined by Anke Maria and Chris who planned to show us frog habitat in the high country, so we headed for the hills. However, a fire threat suddenly curtailed the tour. Thankfully all ended well!

With much gratitude, thanks Phil and Kim for facilitating such an informative and enjoyable day.

Donations can be made to assist the vital conservation work of Bush Heritage Australia here: https://secure.bushheritage.org.au/donate

– John Stein

Please see Alison Milton’s report in the November newsletter for more details of the outing