February to March 2025 Seasonal Update
The fading of the moodjar (Nuytsia floribunda) and the blossoming of the marri (Corymbia calophylla – pictured above) signals the start of the hot Bunuru season with little to no rain and hot easterly and northerly winds followed by a cooling afternoon sea breeze for areas close to the coast. Freshwater foods and seafood made up much of the traditional Noongar people’s diet during Bunuru.
Keep an eye out for the female zamia as it begins to produce huge cones from its centre that slowly change to bright red, indicating they’re ripening and becoming more attractive to animals, particularly emus, that will eat the toxic outer layer.
Now is also a good time to help out native insects, birds and animals by putting out additional water in your garden. Just make sure the dishes aren’t too deep and there is a means of escape for smaller animals if they fall in, like a rock or stick.
Upcoming Events
Guided Possum Spotlighting Tour
20th February
7pm to 8.45pm @ Elleker Hall
Learn all about the critically endangered Western Ringtail Possum with expert Hannah Bannister in a short presentation held at Elleker Hall, followed by a fun spotlighting tour within the Elleker township to spot a possum or three!
Tea/coffee and snacks provided.
Please bring your own flashlight/headtorch.
This is an outdoor event, please dress appropriately depending on the weather.
This is a free event, but places are limited and booking is essential.
Revegetation Tour
22nd February
8am to 1pm @ Torbay Hall
Join us on a revegetation tour with Keith Smith from Formosa Flora, a seed collector and revegetation specialist, where we learn about the different methods undertaken at each site, and how to prepare your property for a successful revegetation project!
We will end the tour with a delicious catered lunch.
We will be carpooling from Torbay Hall to the two nearby revegetation sites. Let us know if you would like to volunteer your car on the day.
We will be walking outside, so wear appropriate footwear and sun smart clothing.
Be sure to bring water as well.
Free for TCG Members / $20 for Non-members.
Places are limited, booking is essential!
We have more events coming very soon!
• Possum Nestbox Building Workshop – Elleker Hall. Early March.
• Guided Possum spotlighting tour – Little Grove. Late March.
Keep an eye on your emails, social media or our website for when booking becomes available!
Upcoming Healthy Estuaries WA Events
Project Updates
Protecting and creating EPBC species habitat in a climate refugia
All three black cockatoo species are facing a crisis with continued loss of habitat for nesting hollows and food sources along with the pressures of a drying climate. The Torbay Catchment Group has been working hard for many years to help these endangered birds by delivering a comprehensive cockatoo conservation program extending across the catchment. Including fencing for remnant vegetation, revegetation, cockatoo monitoring and installing and maintaining cockatubes (artificial nesting hollows).
With advice and knowledge from black cockatoo expert Dr Sam Rycken from Birdlife Australia and input from our citizen scientists on where cockatoos have been seen visiting and breeding in our area, we worked out the best locations to install the cockatubes.
We are happy to report that another two Carnaby chicks have been successfully reared in two separate locations in our cockatubes this season!
Find out more about this project here.
This project is supported by funding from the Western Australian Government’s State NRM Program.
Joining the Dots – Collaborative Feral Management at Landscape Scale Level
Torbay Catchment Group, Southern Aboriginal Corporation, Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee and Oyster Harbour Catchment Group have collaborated to deliver this project which involves the monitoring and control of feral animals in particular foxes and feral cats. Feral animals are recognised as major predators of small livestock and native animals, including critically endangered western ringtail possums.
As part of this project, we have been installing and maintaining camera traps in West Cape Howe National Park and within the City of Albany coastal reserves. This provides valuable data on the whereabouts and numbers of feral animals and the effectiveness of our control programs.
Below are some images that were captured from a camera trap in West Cape Howe NP showing a western ringtail possum in the same vicinity as a red fox and feral cats, highlighting the importance of the program. Find out more about this project here.
This project is supported by funding from the Western Australian Government’s State NRM Program.
Revegetation Success!
About 7 years ago we were lucky enough to get a grant from Torbay Catchment Group ❤️ to provide habitat for possums & black cockatoos.
Our friends & family helped us plant the many little plants. Some survived, many didn’t.
We planted more each year. And tonight we spotted our first possum. Magic!
It wasn’t long after the revegetation was planted that bandicoots began arriving too! Sam Stevens
Thanks so much to Sam for sharing your revegetation success story with us!
We were very happy to hear of the arrival of a critically endangered western ringtail possum along with beautiful bandicoots, showing what can be achieved with hard work and patience!
Have your own story to share? We would love to hear from you!
Whether you received a TCG grant to revegetate habitat or fence remnant bushland, installed a cockatube or possum nestbox or attended one of our many fabulous workshops which inspired you to build, plant, or create something wonderful, let us know!
We would love to feature your story in our newsletters or use it to help us secure funding for future workshops and projects.
Write to us with your stories and photos to: taysha@torbaycatchment.org.au
Recent Workshops
Albany Whaling Station – Possum Drey Workshop 29 January
What amazing weather and a fabulous turnout we had for our Build Your Own Possum Drey workshop held at Albany’s Historic Whaling Station as part of their school holiday program!
Eager participants had fun making their own possum dreys to install in their backyards, whilst learning all about the endangered Western Ringtail Possum and how they could help protect and conserve them. Thanks to Torbay Catchment Group’s Executive Officer Peter Barnes, and Project Officer Christian Knapp who hosted the workshop.
We were also joined by Laura Bird the Right Whale Tracker project coordinator from South Coast NRM, educating us on how to identify the mysterious Right Whales who visit our shore as well as Oyster Harbour Catchment Group’s Project Officer Cassie Dressler who was making DIY cat wand toys for our cat companions and raising awareness on how we can protect endangered native species, through responsible pet ownership.
This project received funding from the Australian Government Saving Native Species Program.
Great Cocky Count 2025
Sunday 6 April 5.15pm-.45pm
Help Birdlife Australia learn more about black cockatoos by joining the Great Cocky Count on Sunday 6 April!
The Great Cocky Count (GCC) is a citizen-science survey, and the biggest single survey for black-cockatoos in Western Australia. In the lead-up to the GCC each year, Birdlife Australia asks people to keep an eye out for roost sites, which helps them plan the upcoming GCC.
Then on the evening of Sunday 6th April, volunteers monitor known roost sites and count black-cockatoos as they arrive to roost.
Black-cockatoos live across a large area, so it’s difficult to get an accurate record of how many there are in the wild. By working with citizen scientists in the Great Cocky Count, Birdlife Australia are able to get a snapshot of where black-cockatoos are located and a better idea of their numbers.
Register to take part in the survey before 16h March: Great Cocky Count – BirdLife Australia
Native plants that black-cockatoos love
There is a new article published in Pacific Conservation Biology Journal by CSIRO that investigates the increasing challenges Carnaby cockatoos are facing. With our drying climate and the clearing of native vegetation, the food resources for our black cockatoos are becoming scarcer and many are struggling to find enough food for their survival.
You can help by planting foods they like to eat!
A good time to start planting is mid-Autumn when there is consistent rain to establish the seedlings before the onset of summer. Smaller seedlings are often more successful than larger plants and are cheaper too!
They like to feed on proteaceous plants such as Banksia and Hakea species along with Marri seeds. They also love pine tree cones, fruit and nut trees.
Watch this space for when TCG are looking for participants wanting to fence their remnant vegetation and/or revegetate with habitat species!
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