Diario del proyecto Great Southern Bioblitz 2024: Ballarat Region

What a great BioBlitz weekend! Our total observations have exceeded the 2023 and 2021 totals.

It is not too late to upload observations - you can continue to do that up until the final tally day on 7th October. Before then we also need to get as many of our observations as possible identified.

To help with identifications, here are some links you might find handy:

Identify anything

Identify plants

Identify fungi

Identify insects

Thanks to everyone who participated. It was encouraging to see observations coming in from so many people, and from all over our region. I hope you had fun.

I'll post again after 7th October, with our final results.

After 2 full days of the bioblitz, we have 520 observations. Congratulations everyone! If we can keep up the pace, we are on track to do better than our totals in 2023 and 2021.

You can see the yearly comparison in the Ballarat Region BioBlitz Umbrella Project I created:
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/ballarat-region-bioblitz

It is a bit windy and there might be showers, but we are going ahead with the moth night.

Here are a few ideas of places you might like to bioblitz:

• At the northern end of Woowookarung, the new-ish Fern Loop Trail and Cherry Ballart Trail start at a small car parking area at the end of Cathie St. There is a shoe-cleaning station, so you can brush and sploosh your shoes before hitting the track to help stop the spread of phytophthora dieback. The trail is a bit rough in places.
• Document species that are regenerating in a former plantation, now part of Woowookarung, in the area bounded by Clayton Street, Boundary Road, Lal Lal Drain and a vehicle track, which is here on the map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/HUYM6rtDka6fMJwp7 . This area was aerial seeded many years ago, and Parks Victoria are interested to see what has germinated and survived. They will be carrying out detailed surveys in the future, but any observations of flora, fungi, mammals or biological processes are useful information as a starting point.
• There is a small section of Grassy Valley Forest EVC around Katy Ryans Road (there are some swamp gums there) that you may like to explore.
• Mullawallah Wetland. See the FNCB Project for the location if you are unfamiliar with it: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/fncb-mullawallah-wetland
• Lake Wendouree is always worth a visit for observations of common and uncommon waterbirds
• Clarkesdale Bird Sanctuary, 360 Linton-Piggoreet Rd, Happy Valley
• Don't forget your own backyard! Insects are starting to be active - I saw my first yellow admiral of spring today. Weeds are valid observations, too and they are popping out of the ground everywhere.

Wherever you manage to bioblitz, have a great weekend enjoying the natural world.

We have permission from Ballarat City Council to hold a moth night at Sparrow Ground Reserve on Friday evening, 20th September. This will be an opportunity to see some of Ballarat's night life that you may have never seen, and record it for the Great Southern BioBlitz.

What we will do: Members of the Field Naturalists Club of Ballarat will be present with 2 or 3 moth sheets and battery-powered lights.

We will set up at the shelters between the oval and the off-street carparking area in Spencer Street, between Kline St and Richards St. Please park in the car-park area.

Sheets will be set up from about 6pm, and moth-attracting lights turned on once it is dark enough.

What to bring:

• the device you use for iNaturalist observations (phone, tablet), or a camera to take photos to upload later. Make sure your batteries are fully charged. Using a flash will give you better photos, but will drain your battery faster.
• torch. If you have one, a head torch is useful for keeping your hands free. I noticed Aldi had some for sale this week, although I have no idea how good theirs are.
• warm clothes. Sitting waiting for moths to appear could be cold. A beanie, scarf and jacket will help.
• hot drink. A thermos of tea, coffee, or hot chocolate might go down well while you wait.
• snacks. Please make sure you take any wrappers away with you. Leaving no litter is a condition of our permit.
• folding chair. There is seating available at the shelter, but if you have one of your own you might like to bring it along.

Upload your photos to iNaturalist by 4th October for them to be included in the BioBlitz count.

Any questions? If you have questions, please comment on this post and I will attempt to answer them.

Watch this space!
As of the time of writing, Friday's weather forecast does not look promising. We are able to move the moth night to another night of the GSB in case of rain, strong winds, or freezing temperatures. A decision will be made closer to the time whether to go ahead on Friday or postpone to another night. Announcements will be posted in this project, so check before heading out on Friday.

The Great Southern BioBlitz starts on 20th September, and runs until 23rd. One week to go!

We are hoping to run a moth night in a park next Friday (or other night of the GSB if the weather is poor that night), but are waiting to hear from Ballarat City Council regarding our permit application. If permission is granted, I will post the details here.

I will add other ideas to this journal when I have details.