Current Events

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Victorian Wader Study Group are on King Island until 31 March.

They are conducting a longitudinal study on Ruddy Turnstones spanning 10 years to date which assesses changing migratory behaviour over time. LOCALS ARE WELCOME TO HELP. Call Jenny on 0418123898 for info on where the group will be capturing and tagging each day. Read about the study here.

We are excited to present the Moonbird Festival | King Island April 16-23, 2023.

Join us for a celebration of one of the most spectacular places on Earth, King Island, with music, art, food & wine. Founded and directed by the Bowerbird Collective, this event brings together some of Australia’s finest musicians for a series of spellbinding concerts. Very limited tickets are available BOOK HERE

Wings on King – monitoring the birds of King Island project

WINGS ON KING Autumn Surveys – join us for the weekend 27-30 April 2023. Anyone interested in birds, both experienced or otherwise, are invited to come along and give us a hand. More info HERE

Spring 2022 Monitoring was conducted in great weather and 6 energetic teams covered the island over the two days. A few sites were too wet but will be surveyed in the next few days. Lizzie, Kate and Ash took a lunch break at the Patersons site.

Winner of the Natural Environment Sustainability Award at the Australian Sustainable Communities, Tidy Towns Awards, the ‘Wings on King project’ was recognised for outstanding community’s achievements in adaptation to environmental change.

This is a wonderful example of citizen science helping gather data from established survey sites, supported by a strong team of ornithologists and ecologists. The project coordinates island wide standardised surveys of King Island bird populations at over 50 sites every April and October.

Follow Birds Of King Island on facebook for up-to-date information.

Nominated for Life memberships, AGM 14 November 2022:

Jenny Thorn (Chair KILG) with life members Greg Morris, Graeme Batey and Margaret Batey. Helen Strickland far right at the Lighthouse Keepers’ Track

Margaret Batey: long serving Committee member; an original “Weed Buster”; reliable participant in “Wings on King” and Victorian Waders Study group activities; and Herbarium Coordinator
Graeme Batey: long serving Committee member; an original “Weed Buster”; reliable participant in “Wings on King” and Victorian Waders Study group activities; Field Naturalist representative
Greg Morris: Committee member since inception and long serving Public Officer; always available signatory; participant in wallaby/possum exclusion project
Helen Strickland:Chairperson for 5 years; Regional NRM advisory committee; Waterwatch volunteer; person behind the Chair when Gary lead the group in the early 2000’s

Guest speaker Iona Flett, CCA NRM, discussed the implementation of Cradle Coast NRM Strategy and linkages to future activities of the KI Landcare group

On-ground work

Planned work by the On-ground Works Crew will continue. This includes planting native tree seedlings and weed management at various sites around the island.

Inkweed

This is a recent incursion on King Island that we are currently aiming to eradicate. Is it in your back yard? See more information, including a map showing the area we know it to be.

Boneseed flowering season

A Weed of National Significance that is known to be in backyards and properties invading across Currie.Is boneseed in your back yard? If so pull it out ASAP preferably before it flowers, or if already flowering ensure no seeds drop.

It can be pulled out or first loosened with a fork then pulled out. Extensive infestations can be sprayed.

If a boneseed is a full grown shrub it may need cutting down.

It is a good idea after removal to revegetate the area to suppress seedling growth.

Currie Wharf Field Days

Currie Wharf field days will now be organised by volunteers and will be held occasionally. These are popular events with volunteers planting native tree seedlings and managing weeds, and will continue as possible. The KILG on-ground work crew will contribute to this project whenever funding allows. Everyone is welcome to help with planting, weeding and other maintenance of the wharf area. Please contact us on 64621825 if you would like to contribute.

We thank all the past sponsors of this highly successful project.

Monthly Meetings

Meetings are usually held the second Monday of each month, 5.30 pm. BUT the next meeting is 3 April. All welcome.

Usually held at KIRDO 5 George St, Currie meetings can also be joined by video-conferencing.

For information on how to join the video-conference please call Jess on 03 64621825 (Friday only) or email.

Counting Our Birds

Counting Our Birds, a Wings on King project running since 2015, we are still interested to hear of your sightings. The King Island Green Rosella and the King Island Black Currawong may be becoming extinct. They are both subspecies of Tasmanian native species that live only on King Island. They exist nowhere else in the world.

Counting birds on Your Place – Garden, Orchard or Farmland, but these focus areas aren’t the only areas that are important. The more people we have counting across the island the better. So it would be great if YOU can help us by checking in your own gardens, orchards or properties. The best time to check is in the morning, but anytime will do. Then send the King Island Landcare the results.

WHAT we NEED to KNOW:

How many Currawongs and/or Green Rosellas are there at one time
When you saw them – Day and time
Where you saw them: GPS co-ordinates (Most smart phones have a GPS built into them) or the address with the nearest cross road.

SEND Your Records by:

PHONE: 03 6462 1825 or EMAIL: kingisland@landcaretas.org.au or drop them into KIRDO, 5 George Street

Last Updated on 21 March 2023