Brisbane, QLD


Friday, January 6, 2012

KOALA BUSHLAND

In 1996 four local authorities got together and decided to work together to manage their conservation aims for the forests and parks that are all joined together in our area. So Daisy Hill, Venman, Neville Lawrence, Kimberley, Burnett and Ford Conservation areas all come under the one name  "The Koala Bushland Coordinated Conservation Area. This 1100 ha of natural bushland borders Logan City and Redland City. Koalas don't live in one area but move up and down a corridor munching their way through tons of gum (eucalyptus) leaves. Unfortunately housing development in these corridors is causing the decline in the number of koalas. This conservation area is to provide koalas with a safe corridor and to provide the community with opportunities for nature based recreation and education.

We are so lucky to live 15 min walk to the Daisy Hill Conservation Park, which I still call the Daisy Hill Forest as it was when we first moved here. There are many trails in the forest some are for walking, some for bikes, some for horses and some are shared with everyone.
There are car parks and picnic areas with many barbecues.

I walk to the forest most mornings and then do the ring road and return home. It usually takes me an hour. Sometimes I can convince Mr B to join me. One day last week we went for a gentle walk along the Tree Discovery Trail.

I love how the morning sunlight penetrates the forest and drenches the picnic and play area.

We often come across these cute but shy wallabies (a small species of kangaroo)

However, we only see koalas occasionally. Numbers are dwindling and they sleep high up in the trees well camouflaged during the day. They feed and move from tree to tree at night. Within the conservation park there is The Daisy Hill Koala Centre, which is an educational facility and it also cares for orphaned baby koalas, often taken from the pouches of mothers who have been hit by cars or mauled by dogs.

There are so many interesting things to see in the forest, vines, grasses and

and a variety of different coloured trees. Now that summer has arrived many are shedding their bark.
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Yesterday I joined the U3A Bushwalking Club for my second time with them.
They walk for two hours at a good pace stopping only a few times for a drink of water. This is not a gentle walk.
Each week they choose a different trail. The walks are all pretty and sometimes I wish I could stop to soak up the beauty and explore nature, but I guess we are on a fitness exercise.

We were on a shared path and the cyclist were good as they got off their bikes to pass us. I was so chuffed that I could keep up with the seasoned walkers although the steep hills nearly toppled me but, no, I made it! Now I'm looking forward to next Thursday.

28 comments:

  1. Don't you get a map and can fall back behind? Er, U3A and they go at a cracking pace?

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  2. What a lovely place to have on your doorstep. Loved seeing all these photos this morning. I am up early today, 5.32 a.m.

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  3. A piece of heaven for you to use so near your home. I love the details you always add in your posts and photos, Diane. You have an observant eye. I also applaud you for joining that club. After Christmas I've had to start my own rebounder and yoga exercises. My neighbour has arrived for good from SA and says we can get together again from Tuesday, which will be fun. Have a wonderful weekend. Jo

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  4. What a treat to live so near a Park like yours. Is there a U5A club I could keep up with if I were to visit the area?

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  5. Lovely going for a walk with you today Diane ... but forget about the waking fast bit ... I can't keep up.

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  6. Diane
    I enjoyed reading your post and the photos - as usual. Do you see any koalas in the trees? I was there in October with my grandchildren and we were very disappointed to see not a one.
    There are koalas, however, in the trees in my grand daughter's school. The RSPCA and rangers had to be called to rescue a little one very high in a tree that being attacked by a LOT of crows. Unfortunately we didn't have time to see the rescue.

    Lorraine

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  7. It is great you have such a beautiful forest nearby. I would love to have a walk there. And so very nice of the bikers to hold on for you.

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  8. thanks for my travel trip today, only wish i could wander those trails and would love to see a wallaby and a koala,

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  9. You are lucky to have this so close! I can only imagine how excited I would be to see a wallaby and/or a koala in the wild.
    It's very beautiful out there even not counting the wonderful wildlife.

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  10. What a lovely place to be able to walk. How interesting that the trees shed their bark. Something we don't see here. I'm with you, fitness walking has it's place but I'm a "journey hiker" not a "destination hiker". Want to soak it up and take pictures and so glad that you do!

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  11. I wished I could walk with you and see kangaroos and koalas, I would even leave my new boots at home !

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  12. I love those sweet little creatures! I'm afraid I couldn't keep that pace but I applaud you for joining and hanging in there.

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  13. Your photos are beautiful and make me feel as though I was with you on your walk.

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  14. I'm don't know what's cuter than a koala bear. Love the photos.

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  15. What a beautiful place to walk! That sounds like quite the workout!! I don't know if I could keep up with their pace on the hills.
    I'm so glad this conservation area is providing a safe place for the native animals.

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  16. If you keep it up, soon those hills will get a lot easier! Walking in the forest seems much more desirable to me than along the city streets.

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  17. I have never seen a wallabie or even heard about it. Great pictures.

    Greetings,
    Filip

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  18. been watching a lot of TV, watched one on Tasmania Devil, and Koala bears.

    Is the hot weather affecting them?

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  19. Wat a gorgeous area. Your forest looks very inviting and how sad that the koala is dissappearing It is such a beautiful animal. Have fun on your walks

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  20. Bark shedding!
    Some years ago the BCC decided to replant trees in my street. Some survived, others were vandalised, some just disappeared (??)- anyhow the missing ones,etc. were replaced.
    Just to one side of my place two very fast growing trees were planted and this year, they decided to shed their bark! I was quite sure that they had been poisoned and whilst viewing the trees in horror, the gardener arrived. He informed me that they were "leopard" trees and this was normal ( a leopard does change its spots!). The trees shown on this blog with the bark disappearing all look very tall! I wonder will my two "leopard" trees get that high, if so, the BCC has probably made a terrible mistake!
    I shall be watching "my" two trees very carefully from now on!
    Oh yes, good to see you, Diane, shedding all that Christmas intake!
    Colin (HB)

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  21. I was so impressed when I spotted a deer..then a fox..on my walks..I CANNOT imagine seeing those wonderful creatures of yours and not wetting my pants with excitement! (better be glad you don;t walk with me, huh??) LOL

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  22. What a great club for shedding excess kgs! It didn't look like "a walk in the park", more like something off the Biggest Loser!

    Well done and wonderful photos as usual.

    How are the legs feeling?

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  23. I'm very happy to hear that the local authorities got together to create this preserve. Not all administrators are so forward-looking. I'm also proud of you for keeping up with the hiking group. I'm not sure I could do that.

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  24. Cindy: My legs felt tired and wobbly for the rest of the morning.

    Colleen: I would probably feel the same about seeing a deer up close in the forest.

    Colin: These are not Leopard trees but Eucalyptus Trees. Leopard Trees don't grow that tall but they do spread out and become quite big. They get a nice yellow flower BUT I had my Leopard Tree chopped down because they are so messy. They loose
    millions of tiny leaves in winter and after the flowers finish they grow huge seed pods and then drop them everywhere. However, they have a lovely spotted bark like a leopard and they are a pretty tree.

    Ann: The animals do get stressed in hot weather but they usually find a shady spot. As long as they have water they are okay. We have not had real hot weather this summer. It has only reached 30 a few times.

    Lorraine: Yes as I said we don't often see the koalas. They come down the trees at night. Sometimes really early in the morning there is a chance. I saw one last week moving from one tree to the next.

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  25. Thanks Diane, you have just made my day!
    Yes I have noticed the mess on the ground and I have also noticed that lorikeets, when the Indian Mynas, are not around like the flowers. However, I have seen the lorikeets take on the Mynas and the lorikeets have won, much to my delight.
    Oh dear when will the BCC learn - more rubbish to "stuff up" the drainage! I won't look so lovingly at them any more - ha ha!
    Colin (HB)

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  26. I note the folk with hiking poles. Very sensible, they are.

    I am not able to keep a 'cracking pace' any more, and my exercise is pretty much incidental to my photography.

    This looks like a spiffing place for a walk. My nearest 'wild' place is Centennial Park. Meh.

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  27. It's always a thrill to see a koala in the wild. But even more of a thrill to see one in the trees around ones home - as we do occasionally!!

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  28. Diane, what a lovely place. I would be excited to see the wallaby and the koala. It is very nice that this is so close to your home. I think i would be out walking more if work did not get in the way LOL! Have a great Sunday!

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