Scenic Rim’s First Bioblitz
Draft schedule (subject to change)
The Bioblitz is a free event, but there will be a discounted charge for Skywalk entry (child price $9.50 for adults, children with adults free, our specialists in various taxa also free): please collect your lanyards from the marquee prior to entry (entry to the Skywalk carpark and displays is free)
Please bring
- grip-sole shoes,
- rain gear,
- a camera
- a torch or head-lamp if joining an evening walk.
Remember to pick up your lanyard from the marquee if planning to enter Skywalk (children free if accompanied by participating adult, specialists free, participants entering outside ion normal business hours free, other adults at children’s price of $9.50)
Saturday 14th October 2017
Prof. Roger Kitching and his assistants will be arriving approximately 1.00pm to set up equipment in the Sapphire Room, and will begin setting up light traps for moths in surrounding forested areas and also on LandCare properties about 4.00pm.
The marquee and part of the Sapphire room will be available to anyone setting up a display. Please let me know ASAP if you need table space.
Sunday 15th October 2017
7.00am onwards – access for committee and stall holders for setup in and near marquis, Tamborine Skywalk carpark
There will be identification stalls (plants, spiders, reptiles etc.) and stalls with relevant books for sale
9.00-11.00am Roger Kitching’s team will be inspecting light traps and sorting moths, so there will be some initial specimens for visitors to peruse even on our first day (Sapphire Room, Thunderbird Park, near bunk-houses)
10.00am – Skywalk (end of carpark) Welcome to Bioblitz and explanations of what to do:
- Welcome by Scenic Rim Wildlife committee and acknowledgment of the Wangerriburra community
- Introduction by Romane Cristescu to koala detection dogs before the6 had off on their sniffing duties
- Opening of Bioblitz by Frank Manthey (founder of Save the Bilby)
- Welcome by Pat Comben (former environment minister and education minister, resident of Tamborine Mountain, and amateur naturalist)
- Welcome by Nadia O’Carroll (Local councillor, resident of Tamborine Mountain, and amateur naturalist)
- Welcome and explanation of LandCare properties by Judith Roland
- Welcome by Justin, Skywalk
- Ronda Green Explanation of the day’s activities by chair (Ronda Green), minimal-impact searching and collecting, health and safety, identification, where to collect data forms, reporting of findings, where to send photos
- Time available to explore displays (including a sample from the first batch of insects caught in light traps at Thunderbird Park), collect data sheets, your lanyard for discounted Skywalk entry etc.
- Well-known (and very talented) artist Sandra Temple will also begin a painting of a local wildlife species, in the Skywalk carpark, and will be continuing throughout the Bioblitz.
(It is preferable if you can make it to our opening if possible, but not essential – you can join in at any other time)
Now it really starts – there will be too many people involved for everyone to do everything, so you can choose according to your interests which walks to join in with. Please let us know beforehand or add your names to your preferred walks on sheets provided on the day.
11.00am. Walks in:
- Skywalk seeking and photographing (but not collecting) insects, spiders, fungi and whatever else we come across
- Ohia Court led by Robert Whyte, co-author of “A Field Guide to Spiders of Australia”, Jeremy Wilson (primitive spiders) and Andrews Franks (mosses and liverworts)
- Thunderbird Park (along creek, starting near bunk houses) led by Wayne Boatwright (president, Qld Mycological Society) and Lara Kelly (insects, Griffith University).
- Areca Gully (TBA)
- Harrtley Rd. (TBA)
12.30pm Thunderbird Park – walk along creek led by Robert Whyte, co-author of “A Field Guide to Spiders of Australia”, Jeremy Wilson (primitive spiders)
1.15pm Thunderbird Park Australian Bush Buddies will have a display of live animals native to the area, near the Sapphire Room at Camp Thunderbird.
2.15pm Walks at
- Thunderbird Park (along creek, starting near bunk houses) led by Wayne Boatwright (president, Qld Mycological Society) and Lara Kelly (insects, Griffith University).
- Areca Gully led by Andrew Franks (mosses, liverworts)
- Skywalk TBA
3.30pm Walks at
- Thunderbird Park (along creek, starting near bunk houses) led by Wayne Boatwright (president, Qld Mycological Society), Andrew Franks (mosses and liverworts) and Lara Kelly (insects, Griffith University). Also setting up of mammal traps, pitfall traps, motion-sensing cameras and bat detectors in Skywalk and Thunderbird Park (Ronda and Darren Green)
- Areca Gully
5.00pm –
- Skywalk Also setting up of mammal traps, pitfall traps, motion-sensing cameras and bat detectors in Skywalk and Thunderbird Park (Ronda and Darren Green).
- Skywalk seeking nocturnal mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs, insects, spiders, crustaceans, molluscs and luminous fungi: observation and photos only
- Thunderbird Park: TBA
- LandCare Centre, Hartley Road TBA
Monday 16th October 2017
6.00am Thunderbird Park Check traps set the previous night. Identify and release animals (occasional animals may be taken for identification) Only persons with permits will be permitted to handle vertebrate animals, but others are welcome to quietly watch and photograph if not disturbing the animals.
6.30am Thunderbird Park Birdwalk (led by Sheena Gillman, Birdlife Australia)
7.00am Skywalk. Check traps set the previous night. Identify and release animals (as for Thunderbird above)
8.00am Skywalk. Birdwalk (led by Sheena Gillman, Birdlife Australia)
9.00am Walks at
- Youngman Family Park. Mosses and liverworts (led by Andrew Franks)
11.30am Walks at
- Skywalk Mosses and liverworts (led by Andrew Franks)
2.00pm Walks at
- LandCare Centre Hartley Road. Mosses and liverworts (led by Andrew Franks)
3.30pm Walks at
- Thunderbird Park. Also re-set Elliot traps
5.00pm Walks at:
- Skywalk. Also re-set Elliot traps
- Skywalk (led by Jaap Vogel, local naturalist and author)
- Thunderbird Park led by Robert McCormack (crustaceans)
- and at least one of the LandCare properties) seeking nocturnal mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs, insects, spiders, molluscs and luminous fungi. Leaders TBA
Tuesday 17th October 2017
6.00am Thunderbird Park Check traps set the previous night. Identify and release animals (occasional animals may be taken for identification) Only persons with permits will be permitted to handle vertebrate animals, but others are welcome to quietly watch and photograph if not disturbing the animals. Collect up all traps, flagging tape etc. and fill pitfall holes.
6.30am Thunderbird Park Birdwalk (led by Sheena Gillman, Birdlife Australia)
7.00am Skywalk. Check traps set the previous night. Identify and release animals (as for Thunderbird above). Collect up all traps, flagging tape etc. and fill pitfall holes.
8.00am Skywalk. Birdwalk (led by Sheena Gillman, Birdlife Australia)
- Brief report on past 48 hours
- Q&A
10.00am Close of Bioblitz
(volunteer assistance with washing Elliot traps and pitfall buckets at Thunderbird Park would be greatly appreciated)
Tuesday 17th to Sunday 22nd October
- Photos of animals, plants and fungi from all parts of the Scenic Rim to be sent to scenicrim@wildlife.org.au (please be a bit selective though – we’d prefer not to be swamped with dozens of photos of magpies or brush-tail possums)
Saturday 11th November.
12.30 – 4.30pm
The Centre, Beaudesert
Workshop 2: Results of Bioblitz, and how they will be used. Possible plans for another Bioblitz in a different section of the Scenic Rim win 2018. This s a free event, but please RSVP to scenicrim@wildlife.org.au by Friday 3rd October
Back to main Bioblitz page