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Challenge of the Cane Toad

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Cane toads (Rhinella marina) pose a very serious threat to our native wildlife, particularly those which feed on frogs. This includes goannas, snakes, dingoes and quolls, for whom cane toad venom, which contains adrenalin and cardotoxic steroids, can be lethal.  

The MCCG is working with Professor Rob Capon from the University of Queensland to catch cane toad tadpoles using cane toad venom. We are also liaising with BCC about the collection of adult cane toads.

Note: please check our Summer newsletter for an update about the MCCG’s work on the Cane Toad Challenge!

But in the meantime we can share some info about a different approach to the Cane Toad Challenge. It seems we have other interested parties who are just as keen to eradicate the toad!

Last year, Ed Frazer managed to shoot a sequence of photos showing two different birds feasting on cane toads on separate occasions. The first was a White Ibis. The second was a Cattle Egret. 

For both birds, taking down and ingesting their respective cane toad was no easy feat! 

Here is the first shot of the Egret’s marathon feast:

Check our Bush Bites section to see more of these remarkable and unique photos!

Cattle Egret – Cane Toad Predator in Action – Ed Frazer

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In November 2017 I had another encounter with a cane toad, this time with a Cattle Egret. 

I watched the Egret re-positioning the cane toad and swallowing it. It had quite a battle getting it down!  You can see the bulge in its throat as it struggles to swallow such a large toad. 

I went down to the site and checked to see if it had regurgitated it but there was nothing. It just went on poking in the grass for insects afterwards with no obvious problems as you can see in the last photo. 

I had to take the photos into the sun but you can still see the action!


 


 


 


 


 


 


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Saturday arvo at McKay Brook

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Would you like to see what’s been happening recently at McKay Brook?

Thanks to recent intermittent rainfall, our plantings from 11th November have established well and have only needed a single follow-up watering.

This Saturday 6 January we’ll be working further upstream where a tree has fallen across the grassed area. We’ll be controlling weeds along the margins, where we also plan to plant some Lomandras.

This area has established well and includes some peanut trees which are propagating on their own and deserve to be looked after!

Peanut tree in flower (photo courtesy of Bryan Hacker)

Care to join us? Just park in Pamela Place around 2pm, look to your left (upstream) and you should soon find us!

Wear protective clothing (long-sleeved shirts, jeans, sensible shoes/boots), gloves and bring drinking water, a hat and some sunscreen. We’ll bring the refreshments!

For more info, contact Bryan Hacker on 3374 1468 or via email at: [email protected]

Please come if you can – we need lots of help!

Boobooks in backyards!

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If you’re intrigued by owls and birds of the night, then you must check our latest Bush Bites article!

Vicki and Paul Campbell share details of their encounters over many years with Boobooks and Barking Owls on their property.

Vicki’s stories are embellished by some wonderful photos taken by Paul .. just like this one!

Click here to read, learn and see more!

A Pheasant Christmas Day

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… but this is not the traditional way we think of Pheasants at Christmas!

On Christmas morning, Ed Frazer stepped outside his Brookfield property and came across a startling sequence of events.

As always, Ed’s camera was nearby and he has kindly shared the experience with us. 

Please click here to see some amazing photos which demonstrate how Ed’s Christmas Day for 2017 started.


Whatever is beautiful …

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…  whatever is meaningful, whatever brings you purpose and happiness … the MCCG wishes you these gifts during the Christmas season and extending into 2018.

We acknowledge the support and generosity of our volunteers, partners and the catchment community in general, and we look forward to an engaging and productive year ahead!

(Photo – Red-browed finches, courtesy of R Riccetti)


How did you go?

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Last week Jim Butler set us all a challenge: to identify the species of three birds from photos in the December edition of ‘Feather Fascination‘. The photos were taken in our catchment by Ed Frazer. Jim suggested using our online Catchment Field Guides to identify the three mystery birds. 

 
In case you missed it, click here to see the challenge: Feather Fascination December 2017 
So how did you go?
As promised, here are the correct answers:

Double-Barred Finch  
Golden Whistler 
Australasian Grebe 

To see more photos and learn about the extraordinary diversity of birds in our Catchment, select Catchment Field Guides from the menu on the left-hand side of your screen.

What a place to call home!

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We are delighted to share some of the winning entries of this year’s Photography Competition.

The entries submitted this year were of extraordinarily high quality, each showcasing a different delightful angle of our wonderful Catchment.

We extend our congratulations to all winners, our sincere thanks to our sponsors and of course to the talented local photographers who submitted entries for the competition.

Please click here to view some of the winning shots!