2020 Self Isolation

This year has been extremely difficult for everyone with the Covid-19 pandemic completely changing our way of life and bringing sorrow and hardship to everyone across the globe.

For our group it has brought uncertainty on how we are going deliver some projects, with many planned community activities cancelled for the foreseeable future.  Aprils meeting was cancelled, and the scheduled May meeting will also not go ahead. If restrictions on small gatherings remain enforced through June and beyond we may look to move meetings online, or increase communications via other media platforms.

March meeting minutes can be found here

While we are currently unable to run group events there is still plenty you can do to help our local environment while in self isolation.

Here are a few ideas

Autumn Birds in Backyards Survey!

Autumn is a season of migration with cooling temperatures (for the most part). With most of us stuck at home, it gives us another excuse to get out into our backyards and survey birds. Our Birds in Backyards Autumn Survey runs from March to April with a focus on what unusual or unexpected birds are turning up in your backyard?
Find out more about his here on the Birds in Backyards website

Download the FrogID app and join the Sloanes Champions

As the weather cools down further, Sloane’s froglet will start calling more loudly and in higher numbers, particularly after rain. If you’re looking for interesting social-distancing appropriate exercise then perhaps consider recording the frogs calling at your local wetlands with FrogID. We encourage you to pick a wetland or two and visit them multiple times over the season (with permission from the landholder) to record who’s calling. We also encourage you to practise your frog calls and call back. Remember to comply with the latest government directions about group size and composition. Click here for more information on getting involved. 

Build a native bee home


The first global scientific review of Insects around the world found insects are hurtling down the path to extinction, threatening a ‘catastrophic collapse of nature’s ecosystems’. More than 40% of insect species are declining and a third are endangered, the analysis found.  You can help by not using pesticides and building a native bee box. Here is one from Gardening Australia with Costa explaining how to build a native bee home, there are plenty of other examples on the web.

Another great resource guide

Junior Landcare – What’s in your Backyard (Win a $250 camera).

Joining forces with Junior Landcare, the popular TV star and Landcare champion launched the ‘What’s In Your Backyard?’ campaign to encourage the next generation to get outside and document what’s in their local environment.

Kids can submit photos to Junior Landcare to be in with a chance to win one of ten $250 cameras. The major school prize will be a visit from Costa to check out the school’s environment projects. Closing date is Friday 1 May.

 

Stay safe everyone. We look forward to when we can run some community events again.