Lismore's Big Trap

Lismore City Council and the Men's Shed have built a large trap intended for areas with major Indian Myna populations. The photo show its size against a normal Pee Gee trap, we will keep you posted on their results.

Toadbusting Backtoad

Well, I'm a little behind in updating the blog for cane toad busting! Sorry everyone. Since my last post we have been out 3 times!

15th Feb - we went to Yamba and bagged 151 cane toads from the usual haunts. On 1st March we went to the Yamba Golf course (9 vols -great turnout!) and in between the rain and the harassment bagged 654 cane toads (there were tadpoles in the dam nearest the golf club).

Then on 15th March, 6 vols (not me - I was out sick!) spent the night out at Brooms Head with the amazing Russell Jago and bagged 270 cane toads.

Rob recording toads caught with Russell Jago

So we are pottering along with the same few volunteers but happy to chug along. See you out in the swamp! Cheers, Sharon.

11/1/13 - Mororo Cane Toad Busting

On Friday night 15 volunteers went out at Mororo in the heat to pick up 140 cane toads. It was probably the quietest I have seen it at Mororo - is it the dry? It is certainly hot enough for them and we needed to be quick. Some of the local ...dams are still creating perfect breeding habitat for them but it was good and do some good old fashioned "round the edge of dams male toad snatching" work. 

Bevan was awarded a CIA toad shirt (for his dedication to invasive animal control - top toad buster and just reached over 1000 common mynas caught), Rob, new cane toad coordinator also was awarded a shirt. I am planning at CIA facebook competition shortly which will involve winning the few shirts I have left (cleaning up my house and simplifying life!).

Ant spent his day in front of a truck at Glenugie then the night picking up toads so no wonder he needed a litlte nanna nap at the end! Thank you to all the people who came out. Greta to see lower numbers of toads. Hopefully this dry season will give a chance to get round them a bit more and slow the advance. Cheers, Sharon.

 

Bevan’s got a thousand mynas

Bevan Pugh is undeniably Clarence Valley’s number one Indian Myna trapper.

He started trapping in late 2007 after seeing a group of Indian Mynas kick a pair of Rosellas out of their nest at the Grafton Ag.  Station. Bevan has now removed 1000 of these feral pests from around his home in South Grafton (over 500 in the last 2 years). Also he trapped and euthanased a couple of foxes that were preying on the trapped birds. 

He’s a very active CIA committee member, is happy to share his trapping experiences and is a regular catcher at CIA Cane Toading evenings.

Congratulations Bevan, thanks for your much appreciated dedication.

30/11/2012 Yamba Myna Workshop

Thirty-five people packed the Old Kirk Hall at the Yamba Museum to overflowing to hear what can be done about this nasty bird. As well as locals there were also a couple tourists from Sydney and Melbourne who were looking for help with mynas there. We were also pleased to have Bruce who single handed keeps the mynas at bay in Wooli, his comments were most helpful.

Well done Paul our Yamba coordinator who organised the venue and publicity. Thanks also to Helen of Angourie Landcare who delivered flyers to residents of Angourie and Woolewayah and a special thanks to Pam our Grafton coordinator who provided morning tea and assisted on the day.

The audience seemed very interested as there were lots of questions both during the presentation and over the friendly cuppa afterwards. I always felt Yamba was a bit slow on taking up the program but maybe I was wrong, two traps have been placed since the meeting and we are hopeful of more.



17/11/2012 Granite Borders Landcare - Indian Myna Workshops

Granite Borders Landcare recently received a “Caring for Our Country” grant similar to CVCIA and our IM organisers Laura and Kevin were invited by GBLC to present three workshops to help kick-start their program before the mynas are able to get established in their area. Twelve people attended the Stanthorpe workshop at the Community Garden including one from Warwick who had many mynas in his garden and needed help to try to get something going in Warwick.

 The second session was at Drake 50 kilometres east of Tenterfield.  Although only three people turned up it was still a fruitful session as they were all interested in helping set it up in their little community.

That afternoon the final workshop was at the GBLC Office in Tenterfield. Over twenty people attended what was the most successful meeting with many people offering to help control the pests here. Mark placed his first trap even though it wasn’t quite finished, the trapper was happy to add the finishing touches, if allowed to get trapping straight away.

A lady came to open the hall for the Stanthorpe workshop.  She stayed only to close up but listened to the presentation.  Afterwards she said told us “I’m an environmentalist and would not have considered attending this, but I’ve changed my mind – I didn’t realise how devastating mynas are.  I’m glad I came.”

News from up North

The latest news from WA - Stop the Toad group inccluding maps, awards and fences. Check out the cool new Wicked Van!

http://www.stopthetoad.org.au/

Cheers, Sharon.