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Archived News Items from 2017


04 Dec 2017:    Weeding Effort summary updated to end of November

The weeding effort for the 2017-18 season to the end of November (162 hours) was the smallest of the last 8 seasons. This is largely because of the very low rainfall this year; the rainfall for the calendar year to the end of November is the lowest since 2008 despite the wet October and November. As a result there have been fewer of the weeds we normally target in evidence. Recent rains in October and November are expected to generate the requirement for increased effort.

Saffron Thistles (39 h), Verbascum ( 32 h), Capeweed (25 h) and miscellaneous Broadleaf weeds (20 h) have received the most effort in this period. Together these accounted for 71% of the effort, with Paterson's Curse, accounting for the bulk of the remainder.

See the weeding effort page and associated links to maps and charts for more statistics and comparisons with previous seasons and across the different management regions of the Reserve.


11 Oct 2017:    First Weeding Effort summary for 2017-18

The weeding effort for the 2017-18 season to the end of September (41 hours) was the smallest of the last 8 seasons. This is largely because of the very low rainfall this year; the rainfall for the calendar year to date is the lowest since 2008 and the 6th lowest since 1974. As a result there are few of the weeds we normally target in evidence.

See the weeding effort page and associated links to maps and charts for more statistics and comparisons with previous seasons and across the different management regions of the Reserve.


12 Nov 2017:    Weeding Effort summary updated to end of October

The weeding effort for the 2017-18 season to the end of October (97 hours) was the smallest of the last 8 seasons. This is largely because of the very low rainfall this year; the rainfall for the calendar year to the end of September was the lowest since 2008 and the 6th lowest since 1974. As a result there have been few of the weeds we normally target in evidence. Recent rains in October and early November are expected to generate the requirement for increased effort.

Capeweed (25 h) closely followed by Saffron Thistles (23 h) then miscellaneous Broadleaf weeds and Verbascum (both 14 h) have received the most effort in this period. Together these accounted for 78% of the effort, with Paterson's Curse, Sweet Briars and Horehound accounting for the bulk of the remainder.

See the weeding effort page and associated links to maps and charts for more statistics and comparisons with previous seasons and across the different management regions of the Reserve.


11 Oct 2017:    First Weeding Effort summary for 2017-18

The weeding effort for the 2017-18 season to the end of September (41 hours) was the smallest of the last 8 seasons. This is largely because of the very low rainfall this year; the rainfall for the calendar year to date is the lowest since 2008 and the 6th lowest since 1974. As a result there are few of the weeds we normally target in evidence.

See the weeding effort page and associated links to maps and charts for more statistics and comparisons with previous seasons and across the different management regions of the Reserve.


20 Sep 2017:    Upcoming Events at the Pinnacle

Spring Bird Walk

Sunday Sept 24th, 9.00 am

Meet at Dungowan St, Hawker

Another Spring and another nesting season at the Pinnacle for the local birds and migratory species alike. Come along for a gentle stroll through the reserve's woodlands to see what we can find. If you'd like to join us, just turn up with your binoculars and/or your camera. Wear sturdy footwear (we'll probably be going off-track at least some the time), dress for the weather and bring along some water. My walks usually finish by around 11 or 11.30, so you'll be home in plenty of time for lunch.

Wildflower Walk to the Offset (Pinnacle Extension)

Sunday October 15th, 9.00 am

Meet at the car park on Springvale Drive, opposite De Salis St, Weetangera

Last year's walk to this new extension to the reserve was quite lovely. This year we'll again be walking down through the reserve into the new area, which looks out over the neighbouring Kama Nature Reserve and the Molonglo Valley. Join our specialist plant guides to check out the gorgeous native wildflowers and take a look at the work being done by the PCS rangers to turn this promising patch back into grassy box-gum woodland and native grassland.

Dress for the weather and wear sensible footwear as we'll be going off the track for some of the walk. Bring along some water and a bit of morning tea if you like, and don't forget your camera — some of the views are stunning! The round trip will be about 4-5 km in all and we expect to be back at the car park by around 11.30.

For more information contact John Brannan


15 Aug 2017:    Kangaroo count and cull results updated

The Kangaroos page results section has been updated to include the 2016 cull number and the 2017 count number. The 2017 cull number is not yet available.

The results show that the 2016 cull kept the kangaroo numbers at about the same level as last year and very close to the estimated "conservation density" appropriate for the Pinnacle Kangaroo Management Unit.

The 2017 revised Kangaroo Management Plan has also been added to the links section at the bottom of the Kangaroos page and a few small changes made to keep it up to date.


12 Jul 2017:    Weeding effort summary for 2016-17 season

The weeding effort summary for the 2016-17 season shows that our effort was the smallest of the last 7 years, both for the Reserve* alone (688 hours) and for the Reserve and adjacent paddocks combined (754 hours). This largely reflects a decline in weeding volunteer numbers over the years and specifically the departure in early 2016 of Pax, who contributed almost a third of our weeding effort in many years.

Compared with the average for the previous 6 seasons the total effort was 35% less but the effort spent on the Reserve alone was only 26% less. This is because with our reduced resources we prioritised the Reserve and had to abandon a great deal of weed control in the adjacent paddocks.

Despite the reduced effort, we are reasonably confident that all major weed targets were controlled to the same extent as in previous seasons. This is attributed to the dry summer that resulted in less weed germination and growth, improved efficiencies in our weed control and evidence that our past efforts have permanently reduced the severity of infestation by many of our target weeds reducing the amount of effort required.

The weeds that absorbed most effort this season were St. John's Wort (202 hours, all on the Reserve), Verbascum (146 h, 122 h on the Reserve) and Saffron thistles (99 h, 68 h on the Reserve) which together accounted for 60% of the effort.

See the weeding effort page and associated links to maps and charts for more statistics and comparisons with previous seasons and across the different management regions of the Reserve.

* Note: effort for the Reserve includes effort in the Extension, both in this season and in previous seasons.


18 May 2017:    Weeding effort summary updated to end of April

The weeding effort for the 2016-17 season to the end of April (711 hours) was the smallest of the last 7 years, and 36% less than last year reflecting a large decrease in available volunteer time. However, the effort spent on the Reserve alone was only 21% less than last year.

The main weeds targeted so far this season have been St. John's Wort (202 hours), Verbascum (139 h) and Saffron thistles (99 h) which together have accounted for 62% of the effort.

See the weeding effort page and associated links to maps and charts for more statistics and comparisons with previous seasons and across the different management regions of the Reserve.


09 April 2017:    Weeding effort summary updated to end of March

After the driest summer for 15 years, not too many of our primary weed targets were growing on the Pinnacle at the beginning or March. Coupled with the large number of wet days that followed in March this resulted in quite a small weed control effort for the month. The weeding effort for the 2016-17 season to the end of March (646 hours) was the smallest of the last 7 years, and 34% less than last year reflecting a large decrease in available volunteer time. However, the effort spent on the Reserve alone was only 19% less than last year.

The main weeds targeted so far this season have been St. John's Wort (190 hours), Verbascum (115 h) and Saffron thistles (99 h) which together have accounted for 62% of the effort.

See the weeding effort page and associated links to maps and charts for more statistics and comparisons with previous seasons and across the different management regions of the Reserve.


04 March 2017:    Weeding effort summary updated to end of February

The weeding effort for the 2016-17 season to date (599 hours) was the smallest of the last 7 years, and 25% less than last year reflecting a large decrease in available volunteer time. However, the effort spent on the Reserve alone was only 15% less than last year.

The main weeds targeted so far this season were St. John's Wort (177 hours), Verbascum (101 h) and Saffron thistles (98 h) and which together have accounted for 63% of the effort.

In February Briars received most effort (31%), with the bulk of the first spraying sweep included in the month, followed by Verbascum (18%), most of which was the bagging and spraying of Verbascum in a 50 m buffer zone outside the Reserve boundaries with Bottom Pinnacle and North Kama. Next was St John's Wort (16%), with a tentative commencement of a third sweep for the season, followed by Prickly Lettuce (14%) which, after being largely absent for a few years has enjoyed the climatic conditions of this season and been flourishing. With the bagging of non-Saffron Thistles in the Extension (9%) these weeds accounted for 87% of the month's effort.

See the weeding effort page and associated links to maps and charts for more statistics and comparisons with previous seasons and across the different management regions of the Reserve.


09 February 2017:    Weeding effort summary updated to end of January

The weeding effort for the 2016-17 season to date (513 hours) was the second smallest of the last 7 years, and a third less than last year reflecting a large decrease in available volunteer time. However, the effort spent on the Reserve alone was only 17% less than last year.

The main weeds targeted so far this season were St. John's Wort (164 hours), Saffron thistles (94 h) and Verbascum (86 h) which together have accounted for 67% of the effort.

St. John's Wort also dominated the month of January, accounting for 38% of the effort. We finished our second sweep spraying St. John's Wort on 31st January (see Recent Weeding for details) and expect to need to commence a third sweep soon. The spraying of Briars, Blackberries and other Woody Weeds across the Reserve commenced in January and will be completed by mid-February. Indications to date are that numbers of Briars and Blackberries are down on last year.

See the weeding effort page and associated links to maps and charts for more statistics and comparisons with previous seasons and across the different management regions of the Reserve.


10 January 2017:    Weeding effort summary updated to end of December

The weeding effort for the 2016-17 season to date (367 hours) was the second smallest of the last 7 years, and a third less than last year reflecting a large decrease in available volunteer time. However, the effort spent on the Reserve alone was only 25% less than last year and for the month of December was close slightly greater than the average of the preceding 6 years. Therefore, despite having many fewer active sprayers and other weeders, weeds on the Reserve are receiving adequate attention.

The main weeds targeted so far this season were St. John's Wort (109 hours), Saffron thistles (73 h) and Verbascum (69 h) which together have accounted for 68% of the effort.

St. John's Wort also dominated the month of December, accounting for 45% of the effort. We finished our first sweep spraying St. John's Wort on New Year's eve and commenced the second sweep (to spray plants that the early summer rain encouraged) on 4th January (see Recent Weeding for details).

See the weeding effort page and associated links to maps and charts for more statistics and comparisons with previous seasons and across the different management regions of the Reserve.


For earlier News articles, see News Archives for:

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