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02 Dec 2019:    Weeding Effort summary updated to end of November

The weeding effort for the 2019-20 season to the end of November was 196 hours, 96% within the Reserve (including the Extension). This was slightly less than last season but more than the season before, which was the smallest of the the 10 seasons of records.

Most effort was spent on the group of miscellaneous Broadleaf weeds, (83 h; 43% of total). Next was Paterson's Curse (33 h) followed by St. John's Wort (26 h) and Capeweed (16 h). Together these made up 80% 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.


08 Nov 2019:    Weeding Effort summary updated to end of October

The weeding effort for the 2019-20 season to the end of October was 109 hours, 99% within the Reserve (including the Extension). This was slightly less than last season but more than the season before, which was the smallest of the the 10 years of records.

Most effort was spent on the group of miscellaneous Broadleaf weeds, (46 h; 42% of total). Next was Paterson's Curse (21 h) followed by Capeweed (16 h). Together these made up 86% 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.


25 Sep 2019:    New finds on the Pinnacle Nature Reserve

As some compensation for the extremely dry conditions on the Reserve our eagle-eyed members have spotted some rarely seen (at least not reported) native species. Perhaps the sparse vegetation has made them easier to see, but in any case they make great additions to the known biodiversity on the Reserve.

Wombat

We have suspected for some time that wombats were finding their way across William Hovell Drive from the Kama Nature Reserve where they are known to be present and heading in the direction of The Pinnacle. Previous evidence was burrows in the Bottom Pinnacle that were so large they were most likely wombats.

In August a small pile of the tell-tale "designer" droppings that Wombats leave were spotted at the western end of the Reserve. Maybe the extensive earthworks in preparation for the new suburb of Whitlam has contributed to their migration; one was observed squashed on the road in that vicinity a month or two ago. Let's hope those that venture across the road do so safely and find an accommodating environment on our Reserve.

wombat droppings

photo: Alison Milton

 

Clematis leptophylla (Small-leaf Clematis, Old Man's Beard)

There have been several independent sightings this spring of this native clematis that is widespread across the ACT but not previously been formally reported on the Pinnacle Nature Reserve. They have been flowering beautifully, as shown by the following photos taken by Alison Milton.

Clematis leptophylla (small-leaf Clematis, Old Man's Beard)

Click image to enlarge

Clematis leptophylla (small-leaf Clematis, Old Man's Beard)

Click image to enlarge

 

Rainbow Bee-eater

Although considered a common breeding summer migrant, there have been few sightings on the Pinnacle Nature Reserve and it has not previously been included in our bird list. It was with great excitement, therefore, that we greeted Alison Milton's observation of one in late September and her excellent photograph of this beautiful little bird.

Rainbow Bee-eater

Click image to enlarge

 

 

Trigonodera Beetle

Few creatures great or small seem to escape the attention of Alison Milton and she recently photographed this interesting specimen on the Reserve. Its body is only about 10 mm long but it has the most amazing tiny antler-like horns. While there have been a few other reported sightings around Canberra, this is a first for the Pinnacle (and fantastic photography by Alison).

Trigonodera beetle

Click image to enlarge



08 Jun 2019:    Weeding Effort summary updated to end of May

The weeding effort for the 2018-19 season to the end of May was 712 hours, 94% within the Reserve (including the Extension). This was 7% more than the total for this period last season and 13% more than the effort on the Reserve alone last season but the second lowest of our 9 seasons of records.

A further 150 h was spent on rescuing Themeda (kangaroo grass) from the route of the new Molonglo pipeline and transplanting it to a degraded patch of the Weetangera paddock as well as an additional 15 h spent on weed mapping.

For the season to date St. John's Wort has received the most effort (218 h) followed by the group of uncategorised broadleaf weeds (185 h), African Lovegrass (63 h) Skeleton weed (44 h), and Verbascum (43 h). Together these account for 77% of the effort so far this season.

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.


08 May 2019:    Reserve hours during 2019 Kangaroo Cull

On 7th May Parks and Conservation announced the restrictions to access to Canberra's Nature Reserves (and adjoining land) of this year's cull of Eastern Grey Kangaroos.

These restrictions apply from now until 26th July.

Access to the Pinnacle Nature Reserve is restricted to the following hours:

Monday to Thursday open from 9-00 am to 3-00 pm
Friday open from 9-00 am onwards
Saturday open all day
Sunday open until 3-00 pm

For further details see the PCS 2019 kangaroo cull announcement.


08 May 2019:    Weeding Effort summary updated to end of April

The weeding effort for the 2018-19 season to the end of April was 672 hours, 94% within the Reserve (including the Extension). This was 6% more than the total for this period last season and 13% more than the effort on the Reserve alone last season but the second lowest of our 9 seasons of records.

A further 150 h was spent on rescuing Themeda (kangaroo grass) from the route of the new Molonglo pipeline and transplanting it to a degraded patch of the Weetangera paddock as well as an additional 11 h spent on weed mapping.

For the season to date St. John's Wort has received the most effort (218 h) followed by the group of uncategorised broadleaf weeds (155 h), African Lovegrass (58 h) Skeleton weed (44 h), and Verbascum (41 h). Together these account for 77% of the effort so far this season.

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 Apr 2019:    Weeding Effort summary updated to end of March

The weeding effort for the 2018-19 season to the end of March was 603 hours, 98% within the Reserve (including the Extension). This was 11% more than the total for this period last season and 20% more than the effort on the Reserve alone last season but the second lowest of our 9 seasons of records.

A further 150 h was spent on rescuing Themeda (kangaroo grass) from the route of the new Molonglo pipeline and transplanting it to a degraded patch of the Weetangera paddock as well as an additional 11 h spent on weed mapping.

For the season to date St. John's Wort has received the most effort (216 h) followed by the group of uncategorised broadleaf weeds (126 h), African Lovegrass (52 h) Skeleton weed (41 h), and other Briars (31 h). Together these account for 77% of the effort so far this season.

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 Mar 2019:    Weeding Effort summary updated to end of February

The weeding effort for the 2018-19 season to the end of February was 528 hours, 99% within the Reserve (including the Extension). This was 21% more than the total for this period last season and 34% more than the effort on the Reserve alone last season.

A further 150 h was spent on rescuing Themeda (kangaroo grass) from the route of the new Molonglo pipeline and transplanting it to a degraded patch of the Weetangera paddock as well as an additional 11 h spent on weed mapping.

The effort spent on weed control alone was the second lowest for the 9 seasons of records, but when the additional effort was included the total of 689 h was the fifth largest.

For the season to date St. John's Wort has received the most effort (206 h) followed by the group of uncategorised broadleaf weeds (107 h), Skeleton weed (41 h), African Lovegrass (35 h) and other Exotic grasses 27 h). Together these account for 79% of the effort so far this season.

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 Feb 2019:    Weeding Effort summary updated to end of January

The weeding effort for the 2018-19 season to the end of January was 431 hours, 99% within the Reserve (including the Extension). This was 27% more than the total for this period last season and 41% more than the effort on the Reserve alone last season.

A further 151 h was spent on rescuing Themeda (kangaroo grass) from the route of the new Molonglo pipeline and transplanting it to a degraded patch of the Weetangera paddock as well as an additional 10 h spent on weed mapping. When all this effort is combined, the total of 592 h was the fifth largest of the 9 seasons of records.

For the season to date St. John's Wort has received the most effort (156 h) followed by the group of uncategorised broadleaf weeds (89 h), Skeleton weed (41 h), Exotic grasses (excluding African Lovegrass (27 h) and Saffron Thistles (25 h). Together these account for 78% of the effort so far this season.

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.


05 Jan 2019:    Weeding Effort summary updated to end of December

The weeding effort for the 2018-19 season to the end of December was 323 hours, 98% within the Reserve (including the Extension). This was 34% more than the total for this period last season and 56% more than the effort on the Reserve alone last season.

A further 151 h was spent on rescuing Themeda (kangaroo grass) from the route of the new Molonglo pipeline and transplanting it to a degraded patch of the Weetangera paddock as well as an additional 10 h spent on weed mapping. When all this effort is combined, the total of 474 h was the fifth largest of the 9 seasons of records.

For the season to date St. John's Wort has received the most effort (98 h) followed by the group of uncategorised broadleaf weeds (66 h), Skeleton weed (40 h), Exotic grasses (excluding African Lovegrass (26 h) and Saffron Thistles (21 h). Together these account for 78% of the effort so far this season.

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.


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