Thanks Tim, I do feel like I have found a nich that just fits so naturally. Nothing seems like work, and I can find time to fit in so much around family life. I do find however stories of people dealing with Council for bushcare projects all the same and very sad. Its like pulling teeth unfortunately. Perhaps council is evolving, but they are just so uninterested, fearful of success, and intrenched with developement and doing stuff for humans only. I watch the news on how the earth is going pear shaped and when someone finally shows some interest, it's largly ignored. I have met several people lately who have taken it upon themselves to do a bit for nature. As woko says better to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission.
I had a little meeting with my bushcare mate yeaterday, we have decided to leave the weeds in the creek, and start working out from the strong point. Maintaining greases around natural saplings that are trying to fight through the weeds. There are several chinese elms who won't be seeing in 2016. Not sure what year it is butt its not the elms.
I'm happy I have encouraged you, I sure get the same from here. Perhaps one by one is how it all starts. Pulling weeds, planting trees, building nest boxes. One by one. I have a feeling the resident Boobook owl will be just stocked to see some microbat boxes go up. Kingfisher and wood ducks are my next target, and am doing well scabing ply from work. Also identified some more clusters of gums the park the mowers will be happy not have to reverse through to mow. Will chat to the phantom planter and see what he thinks. Thay are away from the walking path so will be great for some bushy small bird habitate.
It's a happening, the camera couldn't capture it, but this morning in the soft light the front garden was full of tiny somethings buzzing around everywhere. From corner to corner all in the 1 to 2m range in height. Maybe it's the mulch, meybe it was just a passing insect party, but the back yard did not have it.
I just love the way nature works. I picked some Lomandras yesterday, so thismorning I could fill in under some trees where the parkies don't mow. This liittle fella just hanging out to see where the new homes are going. Also spied a Golden Orb spider has moved in on one of the seedlings gone in. I can tell you 60 Lomandras don't go far though, but a lot of fun doing so.
Well I feel like a facebook junky. Seems I just have to tell the world about my sucesses as I'm not good at being a quiet achiever. Differance is I think, I have more to say than just the three to four words so common to facebook. Hopefully more usefull as well.
My frog pond has turned out to work. Clouded in hazy water for 1/4 of the year as the tree above it drops leaves and they break down. The plants outside have been slowly growing creating protection around the edges. Under the haze the water plants have gone nuts covering the floor of small rocks. The 4 Pacif Blue Eue fish I put in, straight from the fish shop with nothing more than climatizing before hand, have created a school. And most of all I have tadpoles. Over December I had one Striped Marsh frog clocking away patiently by himself. I had fears for his chances as the party was going off down the creek 80m away. But this little lone ranger came up with the goods in the end. The froth appeared one day, then slowly disappeared over the next week. A couple weeks passed and I thought it had failed. But instead I have lots of tadpoles surfacing for air, than back to the bottom for food. The go to now time with planting out the garden, filling the pond, to tadpoles has been 8 months. I planted going into winter, and now my son has a frog in a pond. Pretty cool hey.
Also found a green tree frog the other night, need to work out what and how they do things.
Yes thanks woko, I can only hope. Unfortunately the dark side is strong, there are many clones and siths lords to any one Jedi.
I see another square kilometer of bush is comming down not far from me, more industrial space though much is for lease in the existing.
At work 500 exocitics into the McMansion in one day; and all I can muster is 160 locals into a dam park over a couple months.
The fig hater still prevails. This time ripping the 3" of regrowth off and leaving it next to the stripped stalks. I guess they have really taken it personally when I named them a looser for stealing it. That is all I can come up with. Although they might have a metal illness to I guess, as it does seem long lasting and petty attacking a small tree relentlessly. Annoying though, it would be 1 meter high by now.
My garden is going gang busters, though still tiny, I have picked up regular visits from butcher birds, magpie's, and magpie larks. My resident Currawong defends his patch but seems to be ignored a fair bit. Still no small birds in sight, we have minimal understory at present and none in the park. My plantings along the fence got nuked by the council sprayers. Might be a distant dream I feel.
A kooka has worked out I have a pond. It sits on the fence and observes what's going on. A family is in the hood and say hello to the new day most mornings that I hear, be great to see one of them pick off a little snake one day. Like where there are chickens there are rats, where there are frogs there are snakes.
Also have 15 nest boxes to go up. But need to work out a strategy around OH&S so the council don't panic. It just blows me away I want to spend the money. I want to hire the cherry picker, I wanted to make the boxes, and I will hang them responsibily. NO... not on our land. Don't think they will like the native bee hive idea either. Anyway, time for another beer perhaps.
Had some abrupt and heavey rain here the other day. Interesting to see much of the natural mulch in the park that collects under the cluster of trees got moved onto grass, or towards, or into the creek. Possibily a natural event, but with no understory to slow, stop, or bind this covering the mulch just floats away.
The council sprays under and around these mature trees with it's nuclear stength week killer. Then when the mulch floats away the bare earth is left to hardenand dry while times passes for more mulch to fall. The creek gets an unusually high and unatural injection of decaying leaf matter, and who knows what knock on effect then happens.
Hopefully by planting grasses and the odd tree in these baron mulched areas achieves a few things. I don't have to mulch, the plants stop it from flaoting away, the park has a healthier greener feel but still has open space, it's creates low and mid level habitat under the next boxes that are up, and the council may eventually give a green light to get serious with regen work.
In the mean time plenty of grass to clear away from the dormant seedlings and small local native trees making a break for the sun.
Great to read about events in your neck of the woodlands, jason.
I wouldn't be too worried about a few open spaces in the park. There are a number of bird species which benefit from open spaces such as Superb Fairy-wrens & Magpies. In these areas careful management of weeds before seeds mature will encourage native mosses, lichens, grasses & herbs all of which bind the soil as well as provide tucker for insects, including butterflies.
I trust that your council is now sufficiently educated to not only spray weeds (before seed maturity) but also ensure that adjacent to where they're spraying there are native grasses, mosses, herbs etc which can then colonise the areas from which the weeds have been removed.
LOL, that will be why they sprayed a good 20sqM of oplismenus aemulus then. Actually the spray anything that is popping out of the ground that can't be mowed. And they say they want me to learn about weeds before they trust me to do anything.
It's a mature tree retirement village around here. A reasoable sprinkling of mature trees all with bare earth hoops around them in the open park. In the bushy part of the park, it gets torched every couple years in the name of safty and keeping fuel down. Even though thre are only two houses near it with existing good buffers. It seems though this kills all the children as anything under 3 meters dies. The slow burns also hollows out trunks of mature trees adding to the expired list of the village. It also depeltes the soil, so the food is alway dreadful.
Up the other end, unfortunately it's a dumping ground for garden waste over the back fence. Plenty of garden exocits getting out of hand up there.
Down in the strong hold of the park, if you call it that. 10 Chinese elms have expired and it looks like its barely scratched the surface. Could easily have the same possibliy trebble.
It's really interesting all this stuff. Things look green, looks like all is well; but it's not untill you start to realise just about everything in the creek and on the banks is exocitic. The numbers are certinally stacked in the exocits favour, and along with council maintenance very few natives ever get off the ground.
Keep plugging away, jason. The fact is there's a long way to go to overcome the environmental vandalism of many councils.
Is there no one on council who has any sympathy for or understanding of the natural environment & with whom you can discuss what you're trying to do?
If you can get hold of any examples of good council environmental work you might want to send the information to your council so that they can see there are alternative ways of treating Earth. In SA, Burnside, Mt Barker & Salisbury Councils to lesser or greater extents have done good work. You might want to check their websites. Other Birds in Backyards members might be living in councils which do good environmental work.
Yeh thanks woko. Might look into that. My bushcare buddy who I helped plant out an Ipswich creek of all creeks tells me Brisbane city council are very good. It was like pulling teeth dealing with them until one man came along. He changed how that council percieved and dealt with the environment and now BCC has one of the best reputations in the world for environmental progress. Ipswich council is still back at the pulling teeth phase waiting for the mover and shaker I think. On one hand parts of upper manageent are keen for greatness, down the line others like it the way it is. There is a popular mayor as well, but he is no green thumb I'm told, so its direction is all over the place. My bushcare buddy is at a loss as to what is going on.
One thing I have found unintentionally, patience and tollerance. Pondering, growing, watching, learning, nature is so strong and able to mend itself if given a chance, but it takes time and patience. Probably why humans don't care for it to much, not here and now enough, not fast enough.
I'll get my boxes in, create one or two more filled in areas under some mature trees. The mowers seem to get the simplified job of mowing an easier line instead of in and out and around each tree. Then come out I guess. I need approval and better access. Digging, placing, watering 60 plants in the cover of darkness just as the sun rises legging it back and forward to the creek is loosing it's appeal. Also be good to mark plants so the sprayers don't nuke the good trees, and stop sneaking about. Figure if I draw a plan up, put some pretty colours on it, tell a bit of a story and chuck in what's been done already I have better than 50% chances of acceptance. I don't even mid doing the sparaying around the sensitive areas. But hard to say though, council told me once they have seen this before and it failed, people lost interest, so all who follow fail. That was from one who likes it the way it is. They told me to start in the weeds, in the creek, in the full sun, with nutrients galore floating past.....and then they wonder why people loose interest.
Now this is currently what is happening. I accept this is going to happen regardless, but from an ease of application and budget approach alone, wouldn't straight lines be a whole lot easier and cheaper to maintain. No one sits under these trees, well not amongst the dead grass anyway. There is a creek channel forming to the right which shoots water from the street into the main creek. It's a good 1m drop off which the slasher must negotiate each mow.
So this is what I have been doing. Filling in the gaps using the eldless amount of leaves and small sticks and branches that are around the park. Also living next to an easement means I get all the gum leaves from the trees up the street delivered to my house when it rains.
Anyway, plenty of Lomandras with some local open shrubs upto 3 or 4meters. I don't want to creat screens as the council thinks badies hide in bushes. But rather some cover for smaller birds to find refuge. The slashers had to reverse into this spot twice to get the job done, now it's up and back virtually.
The bottom pic is one of the mulch deserts that the sprayers like to keep baron. You can see to the lower right where the water collects and carries away any plant matter trying to breakdown into soil. Last big rain moved much of the mulch onto the concrete, or into the creek.
Now here is an interesting observation. Does Round Up or similar make soil waterproof. I hear it kills all the micro-organisms in the soil which is it failing.
The run off around these trees is amazing. One has to water very slowly or it just runs under the mulch away to the lowest point. It then collects and sits. This puddle has been there for over 40 minutres before I came in to do this. It is on the spray line that gets hit every year with the good stuff, must be because nothing grows on this line over the course of the year. Even council representatives felt uneasy when I asked about thier nuclea powerd killer.
You're doing well Jason. Pity all residents of the area are not like you. What one sees in those photos one sees everywhere. There is always the priority for open clearing and lawn. Its all about ease of maintenance and not about nature. Tree planting by council is only half the job if there is no understorey.
Well having a go I suppose, and yes doing well in a very small compacity. Sadly my park is no different to just about all as you say. My guess is if council allowerd for clusters of trees to be filled in, mowing time could be cut by 1/3. That would add up over all the parks they maintain. With the added bonus of small island habitate clusters could be a plus for all sorts of fauna. But somewhere in it all an argument must prevale to keep with the existing appraoch and costs.
Hey how did the bees go. I bought a tool to sharpen my chain saw yestersday, so I'm looking forward to getting those hollow tree hives ready. Still no one wants to inform me on what to do with a tree, they just keep saying buy a hive from me. If I'm lucky I might have a hive in a water meter as well. It has been identified, but still need to talk to the owner what his plans are. His an old european bee keeper so might have an interest in it for himself.
Hi jason the bees I got from the water meter were only hive remnants; unfortunately not enough to make a new hive.
I have a friend with a hive in a hollow tree and I have placed that same box near it, but its a long shot. I am making more boxes, with my own adaptations as I go.
Otherwise its not easy to get hold of native social bees. Tim Heard in Brisbane who just came out with a great new book "The Australian Native Bee Book" has people on a two month waiting list for tetragonula hockingsi (TH) and at $550 they don't come cheap. And very hard to buy tetragonula carbonaria (TC). Everybody wants some and it is very much a sellers' market.
If you raid a meter box they may be TH which I hear are taking over from TC in Brisbane. I think also that Bob the Beeman may have some kind of contract to remove native bees from meter boxes in Brisbane. If you do take a hive, you will need a pooter or beevac because they all go walkabout when you open the lid, even at night. The more bees and stores you collect the stronger the hive will be.
Whats a pooter or beevac? I have Zabel's Boxing and Splitting Hives booklet No-9, and Klumpp's Australian Stingless Bees book; but I don't recall reading what you have mentioned. Along with the mentioned, Heard is another on who suggested to just buy a book from and a hive as well. I think he got a bit offended when I said I only wanted them for polination and food for other fauna. Not really interested in them as a hobby or for honey. I had a look at his book but doesn't seem to have anything new on Zabels', well according to the contence page anyway.
Kind of need a person who knows about them but isn't in it for the cash. I'm sure there is a bit in it, but when they get the bees for free, then charge $550 for a pine box something is wrong.
I too have a few mates with hives, and the tree at the old house, but like you say a voluntry re-hivination is a bit hit and miss. Maybe the compulsary tunnel approach is not so bad after all.
Jason I think voluntary re-hivation as you call it works when you have an invading swarm. As I understand it, you take some stores from the existing hive then put them in the new box which is placed in the same spot, while the existing hive is removed.
The compulsory tunnel approach as you call it, or sometimes referred to as the eduction method or soft split, can work over a time, but apparently the time to separate the old and new hive is crucial, because if it is left too long the old queen will see the virgin queen in the new box as an interloper and kill her. (I read this in Tim Heard's book which really has a lot of information. It is well worth forty bucks in my opinion). There is an idea that the conduit between the two hives should have a T-piece, so that foragers from the original hive can have their own egress after the second hive becomes operational.
As I indicated in the last posting, its a sellers' market. Everyone wants bees now, so they can demand what they want. Some of them may be opportunists, but others have worked, studied and experimented in this area for decades. Its their life's work so I guess we can't whinge too much about the prices. And of course there's always the chance a purchased hive will not survive, so you're left with a box you don't want and no bees.
A pooter? I can show you a photo of mine. Its just a cheap hand vac from Bunnings with a plastic lemonade bottle attached. Haven't used it yet and it needs taping and some muslin inside the bottle for a soft landing. Apparently the bees just walk out after they are sucked up and into the entrance hole of the new hive.
I recommend you tap into the Australian Native Bee Network (ANBN) on Facebook. A lot of information there, whether or not you are a Facebook follower.
Jason, hand watering plants is very time & energy consuming as you've discovered. I'm not sure if the method I use to achieve a relatively high survival rate would work in Ipswich as the climate is rather different from the Mediterranean climate where I live in SA. I plant after the first good rain in autumn. Provided there are reasonable rains in winter & a good rain or two or three in spring by far the majority of plants survive.
It's understandable that people have been discouraged when they've been told to begin their bush care work in weedy areas. One of the important principles of bush care is to begin work in the area of highest quality bush.
Yeh probably been hard on them, just thought I wanting to use a log with a 3mm crack in it would be more a natural home than a pine box. Certinally more natural in the garden anyway. And maybe I should have asked, but no offer of helping to set up an eduction for some cash renumeration when I have a tree with a hive already. Rather too hard, just buy a book and hive as I have mentioned.
Just thinking if they nest in a meter box and it seems quite common, my guess if it's cool and dark then any spot is probable. The hole in a meter box is bigger than what the experts say, and being on the ground ants and attacking insects are also more probable than what the experts would have. Let alone possible regular flooding. Some brood? may help to start off but conditions seem more important, and there is nothing fancy in a meter box. My logs cuts are 350mm high, and have 100mm thick walls with 150 -200mm hollows. I can insulate the top and bottom and I reckon if I place them 100m away from an existing hive I have as good as chance as any.
In the mean time the wife has facebook so will do some reading. I do like the bee-vac, what willl they think of next. Puts some pics up of your V2 or 3 nest boxes. Always good to see what people are doing.
I think they like meter boxes because of the insulation the ground provides (constant temperature). They seem to be able to co-exist with ants. Syrphid flies and phoryd flies are the biggest dangers I think. And yes I don't think they need anything fancy as long as their basic requirements are met ie temperature, ventilation, space and security.
This is a box I am doing at the moment. No super because I don't need to take their honey. I use decking offcuts inside and out because its long-lasting hardwood (I have given away using pine as a liner - it rots.) I have just used rulers as separators and a cupboard vent for ventilation (the box at right is shown upside down and back to front). The top half will have a plexiglas window then more decking for the top and bottom. I am not putting on a tin roof because when I get bees I don't want them out in the weather, but rather under an awning or verandah.
Oct to March is probably best time for planting up here. I have heard two 5lt drinks 6 weeks apart is all they need to get a good hold. They generally have had the first 5 and a few the second. As always hoping for some steady rain help out with the amazing growth it brings. The results have been encouraging with mayby 6 plants gone by spraying, and 3 not handling the heat of summer. I have a 1000lt tank that sits on a trailer with a long hose which was used in other bushcare work, it makes watering quite straight forward. I need approval and access to get this in however.
The chinese elms died quite selectively as it would have it. Opening up the canopy a bit but not to flood the earth with sun to encourage more weeds to go nuts. Got some good bank stabilising trees in like Ficus coronata Sand Paper Fig, Waterhousea floribunda Weeping lilly-pilly, Lophostemon suaveolens Swamp box in.
Still after reading Bringing Back the Bush, the easiest way is to make a clearing for what is already there. Its almost like a ready made forrest that doesn't need watering, but just needs a hand to break through the grass. I'm really likeing this method.
I think they like meter boxes because of the insulation the ground provides (constant temperature). They seem to be able to co-exist with ants. Syrphid flies and phoryd flies are the biggest dangers I think. And yes I don't think they need anything fancy as long as their basic requirements are met ie temperature, ventilation, space and security.
This is a box I am doing at the moment. No super because I don't need to take their honey. I use decking offcuts inside and out because its long-lasting hardwood (I have given away using pine as a liner - it rots.) I have just used rulers as separators and a cupboard vent for ventilation (the box at right is shown upside down and back to front). The top half will have a plexiglas window then more decking for the top and bottom. I am not putting on a tin roof because when I get bees I don't want them out in the weather, but rather under an awning or verandah.
Nice, a little window to see what those beeie bees get up to. My mate has his hive hanging under the deck. Sorry to hear the water meter hive dind't work out. A lot of effort on your behalf that day to only find the remants of a colony. It will come. I'd offer my hive again but I'm hoping this comming summer to get a new hive colonise atleast one of these logs I have. If the potential water meter offer comes off for me you are welcome to place a box at Oxley again. I have several mates with hives who may be up for a box just sitting around the yard. I will ask. Like nature all in good time. Not all, but this taking hives from trees, then putting them into boxes so thay can be split, in rotting pine ones at that by the sounds of it, is kinda so typically human. I guess they do deserve credit, without them the bees would be more less understood than they are anyway. Just not my path.
I'm glad you're getting on with the Bradley method of bush care, jason. I'm now finding that the areas of native understorey including native grasses are now expanding exponentially as the perimeters of regeneration area are becoming longer each year. A bit of follow up work is needed in some places but that's nothing to the work I initially put in to get regeneration started.
Good to hear its paying off woko, I'm happy for you that the hard work has the ball rolling. It really is a simple and practical way to do it.
Oddly enough sitting in traffic yesterday I watched a team of contractors whipper snip and mow around a whole heap of nicley spaced shrubs, trees, and grasses on a nothing median strip. I wondered if they spent their time differently using the Bradley method how it would all be different. Initially they could spend their time on a two/three week cycle like they do now, but it would slow as you say and become once every few months, then once a year. This is just working on the summer cycle as winter the mowers virtually disappear. Still employs peopIe, still maintains public land, just differently with an end goal of almost nill cost. Where as currently mowing government grass must be an expanding lucritive booming business.
It certainly is lucrative, Jason. In spite of or, perhaps, because of my putting the case for encouraging native grasses & herbs along SA's South Eastern Freeway the contractors are busy in spring & early summer with their slashers & mowers all at considerable expense to the tax payers. Then the government says it needs a nuclear industry to generate income. Double whammy to the environment, sadly.
Interesting to see you are looking into native bees at the moment.
I have been thinking about getting some for a while - just for pollination and interest's sake, but the cost has put me off a bit too. Prices seem to range between $400 and $550 for a stocked hive, and I'm not yet sure that I want to spend that.
I went to Tim Heard's book launch at Avid Reader the other week and bought a copy of his new book which is really well presented and filled with a fabulous amount of info on native bees - from anatomy to an overview of species, to range and behaviour. The second half is more about keeping and managing colonies of native stingless bees.
Based on that info and other stuff I've read, the primary issue is getting the bees, as constructing your own box or log nest doesn't seem overly difficult. Seeding trap nests seems to be highly unsuccessful, and removing bees from natural nests seems very unsustainable and not the best outcome for the bees. However, if a colony establishes in an unwanted location such as a water meter box or elsewhere and you have access (and permission) to remove it, that would seem feasible.
I can really only see myself getting native bees by buying them from a supplier and I just need to choose whether I want to pay what they are asking.
I'm not too sure how lucrative the contract mowing is - I think those guys are on low wages and very slim margins, with a lot of time pressure to get the job done.
Yes Tim Heard's book is full of good information Timmo. And yes the price is high, but considering the bees may be with you for decades I guess its not such a big expense over time. Keep an eye on the ANBN on Facebook. Removing bees from natural hives shouldn't happen if they are happy and secure, but some bees take up spots where their survival is threatened, such as in water meter boxes or in trees/buildings that are due to be razed for development. Then its a matter of rescue rather than plunder.
I recall when foxtail palms and wollemi pines were at ridiculous prices. Funny thing with humans, high prices, and a limited supply; the desire for wealth gets dilited buy the rush of others. Now days these plants are cheap as chips.
You know no one if flogging solitary bees. Still a hand full of bamboo, or just drill holes in wood or clay brocks and they will come. They pollinate and achieve the same results. Maybe a sensible option untill the desire dilutes.
Yeah, good points Night Parrot - I'm sure keeping my cat costs that in food, litter and medicine in about 6 months or so. Totally agree re: rescue vs. plunder.
Jason, I meant basically a trap hive where an empty hive is provided with food or pheroone lures to try and bring in an external colony.. As per chapter 10 in Tim Heard's book it suggests that this has a low probability of success particularly with Tetragonula species, although if you come across a fighting swarm attacking another hive, they may be able to be captured. Rescue does seem feasible if you're lucky enough to come across (or be told about) a hive in an unwanted place.
I'm with you on the solitary bees Jason - after the recent discussion about them I put up 4 bundles of bamboo around my yard a few weeks ago (as well as making mud bricks inside old besser blocks before Xmas). A quick scan tonight showed that leaf-cutter bees have taken up residence in one bunch of bamboo, while the others are still empty.
If I could get my phone to connect to the computer I would post the photo I took.
Nice Timmo, see build it and they will come, it's basically that simple I feel for the most post. Us humans are good at creating a food and housing shortage, so if your the only coffee shop on the block they come in droves.
Pics if you can, but your link on post 151 has all the pics and info need for solitary bees. Thank you. Again can't believe how simple it is.
I probably sound like a scab, and a know all, but the gist of all animal life is to reproduce to keep the species going. It sounds like water meter living bees are different to tree dwelling bees, both social but have different housing likes. I am reasonabily confident, and happy to be stupid and wrong, but if a suitable hive is located that doesn't cramp the needs of the existing donor hive than in time it will happen. For free.
But this may be too unreliable for selling bees. It would have all started with experementation, and turned into a business. But I can make 6 bird nest boxes in half a day, no jig, just measure and cut, and that's pretty casually. So double that with pine and a jig. Then if the birds or the bees are free there is not much in it. $150 - $250 seems sensible, but I have always been an ethical looser and not the greatest business man. Its certinally a lot easier to place a bee box than a bird box as well.
Anyway I have heard Tim Heard has half a dozen hives at his house and many around various outher places. This conflicts with my idea of cramping needs, but if the vegitation and food is around than it looks like it's not an issue. I do wonder if there may be just a little spin suggesting thay are hard to attract. Sorry, just hits me like that when these bee guru's are so quick to disregard your wants and sell theirs. He never replied to me about what was different in his book to Zabels'. And none of them have said anything about why a log is hard. I guess I had my back up a bit after just buy buy buy. Maybe I'm tackless as well. But I will probably buy his book as it sounds like there may be something different in it. Plus scientist / researchers are usually cash strapped. I guess in my head they sell information, reasearch, and findings, and hopefully truthful ones, not just sell what has become currently trendy.
oddly enough today I had a solitary bee scoping a hole in some hand rails I was working on. It was about 3mm diameter and probably only 45mm deep. After I unfortunately filled it he/she moved around to the other side of the pine post. But sadly I had to fill that one as well.
So it spured me on this afternoon to get out a 6mm bit and start drilling holes in my fence. I have 17 posts at my disposal and started with 5 holes a post 75mm deep. I read they get clogged with left overs and are not cleaned out by the bees. Often there are unhatched bees inside as well. So instead of cleaing I'll just keep drilling new holes. The fence is comming down in due course for a metal one eventually. Will have to look at alternatives for holes then.
Th really cool think though, was I found a social bee in the pool. Drowned but if there is one, there has to be more. Better get the log hive up and open for business.
Bumped into the water meter man today. I asked about bees, he said in Spring they average one hive in every twenty boxes. Urban Water gets paid $50 from a contractor who clears the hives away. I said wow $50 bucks, he said he was aware of how much they then sell a hive for and told me he would let me know if there are any in my area in due course.
I'll be leaving a discrete reminder note from now on in my meter box, indicating I will be happy to help out with some Christmas cheer when the time comes.
I figure if these bees like underground living conditions then why change. Just need to identify an appropriate area, dig a hole and insert good quality plactic bucket, leave the top a bit proud so water ingress is not an issue, put some drainage holes in the bottom, and lightly insulate the lid that comes with the bucket after putting a hole in it. Not quite a meter box bt not far from it.
That's really interesting Jason. Perhaps the contractor is Bob the Beeman. I wonder whether the bees move into less than ideal housing for short term security and out of desperation due to the lack of habitat such as in old-growth trees (particularly in an areas of significant food source like the suburban gardens of Brisbane). Man may have created a significant imbalance, by providing the sustenance but not the shelter.
Yes for sure we have created an imbalance, and I'm not sue we have any real understanding of what we have done. Just snippits.
I think you are right though, the bees have found the next best thing for accomodation based around the food.
I will to do some homework however, whether tetragonula hockingsi (TH) in fact prefer to be ground dwelling bees or tree bees like tetragonula carbonaria (TC). Guess I'll be buying a few books.
NP, according to Wiki there is not much in it. TH is from Northern Territory and a little bigger, but basically identical to TC. Nest structure is slightly different but again quite similar. I wonder if TH's presence as you say possibily taking over Brisbane is initially from some commercial polinating activity. It would not be unheard of Australian native flora and fauna introduced into a different part of the country outside it's normal distribution becoming a menance. Not to say TH is, but if numbers are large, and it's not from here then something is working in its favour. I wonder if it could be water meter boxes. 1 in 20 seems high, especially when you start counting houses in the street, distances are not great. An abundance of homes among the enless exocitics and perhaps.
Yes Wiki says TH are primarily in NT and NQ. I read somewhere that their range only extended south to about Gympie, but obviously they are now well entrenched in Brisbane. From what I have read they are not adapted climatewise to extend as far south as Sydney like TC. Suburban gardens probably not only increase the overall food supply but ensure continuity of supply throughout the year as different non-endemic plants flower. You could well be right about meter boxes. It suggests a need for much greater availability of hive boxes in gardens.
Had some really good rain last night, I thought how fortunate for all the young plants growing. I gathered up some wet leaves and went down to thicken up some of the thinner parts. Then went down the creek bank to see if the mulch had moved into the creek. No, that's great and seems to be workinng. BUT low and behold all 60 odd plants have been pulled out now where to be seen. Seems the hater hates more than ever.
Don't feel annoyed, just beaten and sad for who ever it is. Will stop all works I feel. Now it's only a matter of time before the other 3 beds are distroyed. I guess I'm the looser and the joke is on me. Was told not to do anything by coucil, and should have known to try and do anything on public land is open to vandalism and probably a waste of time. Will look for some privare land to work on I think, or just forget about it completely. Just so hard no to improve the park and so easy out side my back door.
I will go down and rake the mulch into the creek and let the bare earth bank thrive once again with zero growth. The Sith Lord will be happy with that. They can marvel at how good strugling abused creek banks looks and stays. You can see in the pic down the bottom what the bare part looks like. I left that bit for the kids to access the creek. Time for a beer.
yes mate, bit lost to explain. Perhaps my fault for writing the sign when the fig got knocked off.
Think I will follow the beaten Jedi's approach and go into self exile. Take up some self enlightenment purley for persoanl interest and study a Certificate III in Cinservation and Land Management. Seems a better way to spend my time at 4AM than down the park. I have my own garden, that will do.
Jason, I marvel at your philosophical approach to this wanton vandalism. It's so disappointing & yet another reminder of the vandalism towards the environment culture which exists in so much of Australia. Your strategy of retreating behind the boundaries of your property where you have a lot more control is probably a good one - at least for the time being - & suits the situation.
I suspect you're right when you imply that it might have been more effective not to have put up a sign in relation to the vandalized fig tree. While, on the surface, it's good to try to educate people & get them on side, there are, sadly, many occasions when this is like waving a red flag to a boofhead & draws attention to what you're doing. There are no guarantees that a more discreet, phantom-like approach will work but this might be the way to go in future.
For example, I wonder if more might be achieved by surreptitiously collecting seed & broadcasting it into areas which are close to the area from which the seeds are collected & which are relatively clear of weeds. Placing small branches & litter on slopes would help prevent seeds being washed into the creek during heavy rain as well as slow water runoff, increase water absorption into the soil & increase the chances of seed germination. The risk would be that any emergent seedlings would be vulnerable to council contractor vandalism but, hey, you're battling powerful forces here.
Another approach might be to take photos of those bare, sloping areas after they've been eroded by heavy rainfall & the concrete path is in danger of undermining. Send the photos to council with suggestions about how such costly damage might be avoided in future by using the sort of approaches you've been unsuccessful in seeing to completion because of, apparently, local boffheadism (not to mention lack of council support but don't mention that!)
I was going to say the same thing as Woko. Don't let the bastard win. Scatter seed whenever you get the chance and when conditions are right. He can't pull out seeds and when the seedlings grow he is unlikely to be able to distinguish between them and weeds. If he wants to weed, then let him go for it!
Possibly, I don't think I am being emotional this time, but I am broke. I have just vented my frustration however by raking the bank bare to it's original state. And dug out the Fig and chucked it. Pulled the marker peg and leveled the soil. The hater can sleep well tonight.
I am pulling down the two mounted Rosella boxes tomorrow to add to the other boxes I have made. I will sell them on gumtree, or if anyone wants them on here PM me. I can see the hater stoning the boxes in due course breaking the landing branches off. I'll put the the money towards the course. Wrong yes, typical selfish human yes, but council don't care. 9 in10 people don't care. And I have a vandictive person watching all I do. I'm also in two minds to destroy what I have done in the other 3 tree clusters of trees but will sleep on it. I am sorry for nature, but another nail is driven in.
Sadly I think the park story is comming to a close. Beaten by an invisible attacker who struck within the first 24 hours of wanting to do something constructive. It was the last thing I expected, and never thought something like this would never happen. But kind if ironic really. I will look again at something if and when I ever get some ackerage. But for now I have 900SqM behind a fence. I have frogs, will try for bees, accept that I will probably have nothing more than second tier preditory birds visiting, and lots and lots to learn.
Thanks Tim, I do feel like I have found a nich that just fits so naturally. Nothing seems like work, and I can find time to fit in so much around family life. I do find however stories of people dealing with Council for bushcare projects all the same and very sad. Its like pulling teeth unfortunately. Perhaps council is evolving, but they are just so uninterested, fearful of success, and intrenched with developement and doing stuff for humans only. I watch the news on how the earth is going pear shaped and when someone finally shows some interest, it's largly ignored. I have met several people lately who have taken it upon themselves to do a bit for nature. As woko says better to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission.
I had a little meeting with my bushcare mate yeaterday, we have decided to leave the weeds in the creek, and start working out from the strong point. Maintaining greases around natural saplings that are trying to fight through the weeds. There are several chinese elms who won't be seeing in 2016. Not sure what year it is butt its not the elms.
I'm happy I have encouraged you, I sure get the same from here. Perhaps one by one is how it all starts. Pulling weeds, planting trees, building nest boxes. One by one. I have a feeling the resident Boobook owl will be just stocked to see some microbat boxes go up. Kingfisher and wood ducks are my next target, and am doing well scabing ply from work. Also identified some more clusters of gums the park the mowers will be happy not have to reverse through to mow. Will chat to the phantom planter and see what he thinks. Thay are away from the walking path so will be great for some bushy small bird habitate.
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Great work, guys.
It's a happening, the camera couldn't capture it, but this morning in the soft light the front garden was full of tiny somethings buzzing around everywhere. From corner to corner all in the 1 to 2m range in height. Maybe it's the mulch, meybe it was just a passing insect party, but the back yard did not have it.
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I just love the way nature works. I picked some Lomandras yesterday, so thismorning I could fill in under some trees where the parkies don't mow. This liittle fella just hanging out to see where the new homes are going. Also spied a Golden Orb spider has moved in on one of the seedlings gone in. I can tell you 60 Lomandras don't go far though, but a lot of fun doing so.
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No doubt there will soon be birds eyeing off those bugs, jason - if they're not already.
Plant it and they will come.....
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Well I feel like a facebook junky. Seems I just have to tell the world about my sucesses as I'm not good at being a quiet achiever. Differance is I think, I have more to say than just the three to four words so common to facebook. Hopefully more usefull as well.
My frog pond has turned out to work. Clouded in hazy water for 1/4 of the year as the tree above it drops leaves and they break down. The plants outside have been slowly growing creating protection around the edges. Under the haze the water plants have gone nuts covering the floor of small rocks. The 4 Pacif Blue Eue fish I put in, straight from the fish shop with nothing more than climatizing before hand, have created a school. And most of all I have tadpoles. Over December I had one Striped Marsh frog clocking away patiently by himself. I had fears for his chances as the party was going off down the creek 80m away. But this little lone ranger came up with the goods in the end. The froth appeared one day, then slowly disappeared over the next week. A couple weeks passed and I thought it had failed. But instead I have lots of tadpoles surfacing for air, than back to the bottom for food. The go to now time with planting out the garden, filling the pond, to tadpoles has been 8 months. I planted going into winter, and now my son has a frog in a pond. Pretty cool hey.
Also found a green tree frog the other night, need to work out what and how they do things.
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Great to see it all coming together, Jason. Perhaps what you're doing will catch on in the neighbourhood.
Yes thanks woko, I can only hope. Unfortunately the dark side is strong, there are many clones and siths lords to any one Jedi.
I see another square kilometer of bush is comming down not far from me, more industrial space though much is for lease in the existing.
At work 500 exocitics into the McMansion in one day; and all I can muster is 160 locals into a dam park over a couple months.
The fig hater still prevails. This time ripping the 3" of regrowth off and leaving it next to the stripped stalks. I guess they have really taken it personally when I named them a looser for stealing it. That is all I can come up with. Although they might have a metal illness to I guess, as it does seem long lasting and petty attacking a small tree relentlessly. Annoying though, it would be 1 meter high by now.
My garden is going gang busters, though still tiny, I have picked up regular visits from butcher birds, magpie's, and magpie larks. My resident Currawong defends his patch but seems to be ignored a fair bit. Still no small birds in sight, we have minimal understory at present and none in the park. My plantings along the fence got nuked by the council sprayers. Might be a distant dream I feel.
A kooka has worked out I have a pond. It sits on the fence and observes what's going on. A family is in the hood and say hello to the new day most mornings that I hear, be great to see one of them pick off a little snake one day. Like where there are chickens there are rats, where there are frogs there are snakes.
Also have 15 nest boxes to go up. But need to work out a strategy around OH&S so the council don't panic. It just blows me away I want to spend the money. I want to hire the cherry picker, I wanted to make the boxes, and I will hang them responsibily. NO... not on our land. Don't think they will like the native bee hive idea either. Anyway, time for another beer perhaps.
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Better bump the park count to 210, just could not be bothered with work today.
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Had some abrupt and heavey rain here the other day. Interesting to see much of the natural mulch in the park that collects under the cluster of trees got moved onto grass, or towards, or into the creek. Possibily a natural event, but with no understory to slow, stop, or bind this covering the mulch just floats away.
The council sprays under and around these mature trees with it's nuclear stength week killer. Then when the mulch floats away the bare earth is left to hardenand dry while times passes for more mulch to fall. The creek gets an unusually high and unatural injection of decaying leaf matter, and who knows what knock on effect then happens.
Hopefully by planting grasses and the odd tree in these baron mulched areas achieves a few things. I don't have to mulch, the plants stop it from flaoting away, the park has a healthier greener feel but still has open space, it's creates low and mid level habitat under the next boxes that are up, and the council may eventually give a green light to get serious with regen work.
In the mean time plenty of grass to clear away from the dormant seedlings and small local native trees making a break for the sun.
On this glorious sunny morning, new count 270.
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Great to read about events in your neck of the woodlands, jason.
I wouldn't be too worried about a few open spaces in the park. There are a number of bird species which benefit from open spaces such as Superb Fairy-wrens & Magpies. In these areas careful management of weeds before seeds mature will encourage native mosses, lichens, grasses & herbs all of which bind the soil as well as provide tucker for insects, including butterflies.
I trust that your council is now sufficiently educated to not only spray weeds (before seed maturity) but also ensure that adjacent to where they're spraying there are native grasses, mosses, herbs etc which can then colonise the areas from which the weeds have been removed.
LOL, that will be why they sprayed a good 20sqM of oplismenus aemulus then. Actually the spray anything that is popping out of the ground that can't be mowed. And they say they want me to learn about weeds before they trust me to do anything.
It's a mature tree retirement village around here. A reasoable sprinkling of mature trees all with bare earth hoops around them in the open park. In the bushy part of the park, it gets torched every couple years in the name of safty and keeping fuel down. Even though thre are only two houses near it with existing good buffers. It seems though this kills all the children as anything under 3 meters dies. The slow burns also hollows out trunks of mature trees adding to the expired list of the village. It also depeltes the soil, so the food is alway dreadful.
Up the other end, unfortunately it's a dumping ground for garden waste over the back fence. Plenty of garden exocits getting out of hand up there.
Down in the strong hold of the park, if you call it that. 10 Chinese elms have expired and it looks like its barely scratched the surface. Could easily have the same possibliy trebble.
It's really interesting all this stuff. Things look green, looks like all is well; but it's not untill you start to realise just about everything in the creek and on the banks is exocitic. The numbers are certinally stacked in the exocits favour, and along with council maintenance very few natives ever get off the ground.
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Keep plugging away, jason. The fact is there's a long way to go to overcome the environmental vandalism of many councils.
Is there no one on council who has any sympathy for or understanding of the natural environment & with whom you can discuss what you're trying to do?
If you can get hold of any examples of good council environmental work you might want to send the information to your council so that they can see there are alternative ways of treating Earth. In SA, Burnside, Mt Barker & Salisbury Councils to lesser or greater extents have done good work. You might want to check their websites. Other Birds in Backyards members might be living in councils which do good environmental work.
Yeh thanks woko. Might look into that. My bushcare buddy who I helped plant out an Ipswich creek of all creeks tells me Brisbane city council are very good. It was like pulling teeth dealing with them until one man came along. He changed how that council percieved and dealt with the environment and now BCC has one of the best reputations in the world for environmental progress. Ipswich council is still back at the pulling teeth phase waiting for the mover and shaker I think. On one hand parts of upper manageent are keen for greatness, down the line others like it the way it is. There is a popular mayor as well, but he is no green thumb I'm told, so its direction is all over the place. My bushcare buddy is at a loss as to what is going on.
One thing I have found unintentionally, patience and tollerance. Pondering, growing, watching, learning, nature is so strong and able to mend itself if given a chance, but it takes time and patience. Probably why humans don't care for it to much, not here and now enough, not fast enough.
I'll get my boxes in, create one or two more filled in areas under some mature trees. The mowers seem to get the simplified job of mowing an easier line instead of in and out and around each tree. Then come out I guess. I need approval and better access. Digging, placing, watering 60 plants in the cover of darkness just as the sun rises legging it back and forward to the creek is loosing it's appeal. Also be good to mark plants so the sprayers don't nuke the good trees, and stop sneaking about. Figure if I draw a plan up, put some pretty colours on it, tell a bit of a story and chuck in what's been done already I have better than 50% chances of acceptance. I don't even mid doing the sparaying around the sensitive areas. But hard to say though, council told me once they have seen this before and it failed, people lost interest, so all who follow fail. That was from one who likes it the way it is. They told me to start in the weeds, in the creek, in the full sun, with nutrients galore floating past.....and then they wonder why people loose interest.
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Now this is currently what is happening. I accept this is going to happen regardless, but from an ease of application and budget approach alone, wouldn't straight lines be a whole lot easier and cheaper to maintain. No one sits under these trees, well not amongst the dead grass anyway. There is a creek channel forming to the right which shoots water from the street into the main creek. It's a good 1m drop off which the slasher must negotiate each mow.
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So this is what I have been doing. Filling in the gaps using the eldless amount of leaves and small sticks and branches that are around the park. Also living next to an easement means I get all the gum leaves from the trees up the street delivered to my house when it rains.
Anyway, plenty of Lomandras with some local open shrubs upto 3 or 4meters. I don't want to creat screens as the council thinks badies hide in bushes. But rather some cover for smaller birds to find refuge. The slashers had to reverse into this spot twice to get the job done, now it's up and back virtually.
The bottom pic is one of the mulch deserts that the sprayers like to keep baron. You can see to the lower right where the water collects and carries away any plant matter trying to breakdown into soil. Last big rain moved much of the mulch onto the concrete, or into the creek.
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Now here is an interesting observation. Does Round Up or similar make soil waterproof. I hear it kills all the micro-organisms in the soil which is it failing.
The run off around these trees is amazing. One has to water very slowly or it just runs under the mulch away to the lowest point. It then collects and sits. This puddle has been there for over 40 minutres before I came in to do this. It is on the spray line that gets hit every year with the good stuff, must be because nothing grows on this line over the course of the year. Even council representatives felt uneasy when I asked about thier nuclea powerd killer.
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You're doing well Jason. Pity all residents of the area are not like you. What one sees in those photos one sees everywhere. There is always the priority for open clearing and lawn. Its all about ease of maintenance and not about nature. Tree planting by council is only half the job if there is no understorey.
Well having a go I suppose, and yes doing well in a very small compacity. Sadly my park is no different to just about all as you say. My guess is if council allowerd for clusters of trees to be filled in, mowing time could be cut by 1/3. That would add up over all the parks they maintain. With the added bonus of small island habitate clusters could be a plus for all sorts of fauna. But somewhere in it all an argument must prevale to keep with the existing appraoch and costs.
Hey how did the bees go. I bought a tool to sharpen my chain saw yestersday, so I'm looking forward to getting those hollow tree hives ready. Still no one wants to inform me on what to do with a tree, they just keep saying buy a hive from me. If I'm lucky I might have a hive in a water meter as well. It has been identified, but still need to talk to the owner what his plans are. His an old european bee keeper so might have an interest in it for himself.
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Hi jason the bees I got from the water meter were only hive remnants; unfortunately not enough to make a new hive.
I have a friend with a hive in a hollow tree and I have placed that same box near it, but its a long shot. I am making more boxes, with my own adaptations as I go.
Otherwise its not easy to get hold of native social bees. Tim Heard in Brisbane who just came out with a great new book "The Australian Native Bee Book" has people on a two month waiting list for tetragonula hockingsi (TH) and at $550 they don't come cheap. And very hard to buy tetragonula carbonaria (TC). Everybody wants some and it is very much a sellers' market.
If you raid a meter box they may be TH which I hear are taking over from TC in Brisbane. I think also that Bob the Beeman may have some kind of contract to remove native bees from meter boxes in Brisbane. If you do take a hive, you will need a pooter or beevac because they all go walkabout when you open the lid, even at night. The more bees and stores you collect the stronger the hive will be.
Whats a pooter or beevac? I have Zabel's Boxing and Splitting Hives booklet No-9, and Klumpp's Australian Stingless Bees book; but I don't recall reading what you have mentioned. Along with the mentioned, Heard is another on who suggested to just buy a book from and a hive as well. I think he got a bit offended when I said I only wanted them for polination and food for other fauna. Not really interested in them as a hobby or for honey. I had a look at his book but doesn't seem to have anything new on Zabels', well according to the contence page anyway.
Kind of need a person who knows about them but isn't in it for the cash. I'm sure there is a bit in it, but when they get the bees for free, then charge $550 for a pine box something is wrong.
I too have a few mates with hives, and the tree at the old house, but like you say a voluntry re-hivination is a bit hit and miss. Maybe the compulsary tunnel approach is not so bad after all.
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Jason I think voluntary re-hivation as you call it works when you have an invading swarm. As I understand it, you take some stores from the existing hive then put them in the new box which is placed in the same spot, while the existing hive is removed.
The compulsory tunnel approach as you call it, or sometimes referred to as the eduction method or soft split, can work over a time, but apparently the time to separate the old and new hive is crucial, because if it is left too long the old queen will see the virgin queen in the new box as an interloper and kill her. (I read this in Tim Heard's book which really has a lot of information. It is well worth forty bucks in my opinion). There is an idea that the conduit between the two hives should have a T-piece, so that foragers from the original hive can have their own egress after the second hive becomes operational.
As I indicated in the last posting, its a sellers' market. Everyone wants bees now, so they can demand what they want. Some of them may be opportunists, but others have worked, studied and experimented in this area for decades. Its their life's work so I guess we can't whinge too much about the prices. And of course there's always the chance a purchased hive will not survive, so you're left with a box you don't want and no bees.
A pooter? I can show you a photo of mine. Its just a cheap hand vac from Bunnings with a plastic lemonade bottle attached. Haven't used it yet and it needs taping and some muslin inside the bottle for a soft landing. Apparently the bees just walk out after they are sucked up and into the entrance hole of the new hive.
I recommend you tap into the Australian Native Bee Network (ANBN) on Facebook. A lot of information there, whether or not you are a Facebook follower.
Jason, hand watering plants is very time & energy consuming as you've discovered. I'm not sure if the method I use to achieve a relatively high survival rate would work in Ipswich as the climate is rather different from the Mediterranean climate where I live in SA. I plant after the first good rain in autumn. Provided there are reasonable rains in winter & a good rain or two or three in spring by far the majority of plants survive.
It's understandable that people have been discouraged when they've been told to begin their bush care work in weedy areas. One of the important principles of bush care is to begin work in the area of highest quality bush.
Yeh probably been hard on them, just thought I wanting to use a log with a 3mm crack in it would be more a natural home than a pine box. Certinally more natural in the garden anyway. And maybe I should have asked, but no offer of helping to set up an eduction for some cash renumeration when I have a tree with a hive already. Rather too hard, just buy a book and hive as I have mentioned.
Just thinking if they nest in a meter box and it seems quite common, my guess if it's cool and dark then any spot is probable. The hole in a meter box is bigger than what the experts say, and being on the ground ants and attacking insects are also more probable than what the experts would have. Let alone possible regular flooding. Some brood? may help to start off but conditions seem more important, and there is nothing fancy in a meter box. My logs cuts are 350mm high, and have 100mm thick walls with 150 -200mm hollows. I can insulate the top and bottom and I reckon if I place them 100m away from an existing hive I have as good as chance as any.
In the mean time the wife has facebook so will do some reading. I do like the bee-vac, what willl they think of next. Puts some pics up of your V2 or 3 nest boxes. Always good to see what people are doing.
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I think they like meter boxes because of the insulation the ground provides (constant temperature). They seem to be able to co-exist with ants. Syrphid flies and phoryd flies are the biggest dangers I think. And yes I don't think they need anything fancy as long as their basic requirements are met ie temperature, ventilation, space and security.
This is a box I am doing at the moment. No super because I don't need to take their honey. I use decking offcuts inside and out because its long-lasting hardwood (I have given away using pine as a liner - it rots.) I have just used rulers as separators and a cupboard vent for ventilation (the box at right is shown upside down and back to front). The top half will have a plexiglas window then more decking for the top and bottom. I am not putting on a tin roof because when I get bees I don't want them out in the weather, but rather under an awning or verandah.
Too Woko's comment.
Oct to March is probably best time for planting up here. I have heard two 5lt drinks 6 weeks apart is all they need to get a good hold. They generally have had the first 5 and a few the second. As always hoping for some steady rain help out with the amazing growth it brings. The results have been encouraging with mayby 6 plants gone by spraying, and 3 not handling the heat of summer. I have a 1000lt tank that sits on a trailer with a long hose which was used in other bushcare work, it makes watering quite straight forward. I need approval and access to get this in however.
The chinese elms died quite selectively as it would have it. Opening up the canopy a bit but not to flood the earth with sun to encourage more weeds to go nuts. Got some good bank stabilising trees in like Ficus coronata Sand Paper Fig, Waterhousea floribunda Weeping lilly-pilly, Lophostemon suaveolens Swamp box in.
Still after reading Bringing Back the Bush, the easiest way is to make a clearing for what is already there. Its almost like a ready made forrest that doesn't need watering, but just needs a hand to break through the grass. I'm really likeing this method.
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Nice, a little window to see what those beeie bees get up to. My mate has his hive hanging under the deck. Sorry to hear the water meter hive dind't work out. A lot of effort on your behalf that day to only find the remants of a colony. It will come. I'd offer my hive again but I'm hoping this comming summer to get a new hive colonise atleast one of these logs I have. If the potential water meter offer comes off for me you are welcome to place a box at Oxley again. I have several mates with hives who may be up for a box just sitting around the yard. I will ask. Like nature all in good time. Not all, but this taking hives from trees, then putting them into boxes so thay can be split, in rotting pine ones at that by the sounds of it, is kinda so typically human. I guess they do deserve credit, without them the bees would be more less understood than they are anyway. Just not my path.
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I'm glad you're getting on with the Bradley method of bush care, jason. I'm now finding that the areas of native understorey including native grasses are now expanding exponentially as the perimeters of regeneration area are becoming longer each year. A bit of follow up work is needed in some places but that's nothing to the work I initially put in to get regeneration started.
Good to hear its paying off woko, I'm happy for you that the hard work has the ball rolling. It really is a simple and practical way to do it.
Oddly enough sitting in traffic yesterday I watched a team of contractors whipper snip and mow around a whole heap of nicley spaced shrubs, trees, and grasses on a nothing median strip. I wondered if they spent their time differently using the Bradley method how it would all be different. Initially they could spend their time on a two/three week cycle like they do now, but it would slow as you say and become once every few months, then once a year. This is just working on the summer cycle as winter the mowers virtually disappear. Still employs peopIe, still maintains public land, just differently with an end goal of almost nill cost. Where as currently mowing government grass must be an expanding lucritive booming business.
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It certainly is lucrative, Jason. In spite of or, perhaps, because of my putting the case for encouraging native grasses & herbs along SA's South Eastern Freeway the contractors are busy in spring & early summer with their slashers & mowers all at considerable expense to the tax payers. Then the government says it needs a nuclear industry to generate income. Double whammy to the environment, sadly.
Hi folks,
Interesting to see you are looking into native bees at the moment.
I have been thinking about getting some for a while - just for pollination and interest's sake, but the cost has put me off a bit too. Prices seem to range between $400 and $550 for a stocked hive, and I'm not yet sure that I want to spend that.
I went to Tim Heard's book launch at Avid Reader the other week and bought a copy of his new book which is really well presented and filled with a fabulous amount of info on native bees - from anatomy to an overview of species, to range and behaviour. The second half is more about keeping and managing colonies of native stingless bees.
Based on that info and other stuff I've read, the primary issue is getting the bees, as constructing your own box or log nest doesn't seem overly difficult. Seeding trap nests seems to be highly unsuccessful, and removing bees from natural nests seems very unsustainable and not the best outcome for the bees. However, if a colony establishes in an unwanted location such as a water meter box or elsewhere and you have access (and permission) to remove it, that would seem feasible.
I can really only see myself getting native bees by buying them from a supplier and I just need to choose whether I want to pay what they are asking.
Best of luck with your efforts.
Cheers
Tim
Brisbane
I'm not too sure how lucrative the contract mowing is - I think those guys are on low wages and very slim margins, with a lot of time pressure to get the job done.
Cheers
Tim
Brisbane
Yes Tim Heard's book is full of good information Timmo. And yes the price is high, but considering the bees may be with you for decades I guess its not such a big expense over time. Keep an eye on the ANBN on Facebook. Removing bees from natural hives shouldn't happen if they are happy and secure, but some bees take up spots where their survival is threatened, such as in water meter boxes or in trees/buildings that are due to be razed for development. Then its a matter of rescue rather than plunder.
Timmo, what do you mean by seeding?
I recall when foxtail palms and wollemi pines were at ridiculous prices. Funny thing with humans, high prices, and a limited supply; the desire for wealth gets dilited buy the rush of others. Now days these plants are cheap as chips.
You know no one if flogging solitary bees. Still a hand full of bamboo, or just drill holes in wood or clay brocks and they will come. They pollinate and achieve the same results. Maybe a sensible option untill the desire dilutes.
Ipswich Shire Eastern flanks
Yeah, good points Night Parrot - I'm sure keeping my cat costs that in food, litter and medicine in about 6 months or so. Totally agree re: rescue vs. plunder.
Jason, I meant basically a trap hive where an empty hive is provided with food or pheroone lures to try and bring in an external colony.. As per chapter 10 in Tim Heard's book it suggests that this has a low probability of success particularly with Tetragonula species, although if you come across a fighting swarm attacking another hive, they may be able to be captured. Rescue does seem feasible if you're lucky enough to come across (or be told about) a hive in an unwanted place.
I'm with you on the solitary bees Jason - after the recent discussion about them I put up 4 bundles of bamboo around my yard a few weeks ago (as well as making mud bricks inside old besser blocks before Xmas). A quick scan tonight showed that leaf-cutter bees have taken up residence in one bunch of bamboo, while the others are still empty.
If I could get my phone to connect to the computer I would post the photo I took.
Cheers
Tim
Brisbane
Nice Timmo, see build it and they will come, it's basically that simple I feel for the most post. Us humans are good at creating a food and housing shortage, so if your the only coffee shop on the block they come in droves.
Pics if you can, but your link on post 151 has all the pics and info need for solitary bees. Thank you. Again can't believe how simple it is.
I probably sound like a scab, and a know all, but the gist of all animal life is to reproduce to keep the species going. It sounds like water meter living bees are different to tree dwelling bees, both social but have different housing likes. I am reasonabily confident, and happy to be stupid and wrong, but if a suitable hive is located that doesn't cramp the needs of the existing donor hive than in time it will happen. For free.
But this may be too unreliable for selling bees. It would have all started with experementation, and turned into a business. But I can make 6 bird nest boxes in half a day, no jig, just measure and cut, and that's pretty casually. So double that with pine and a jig. Then if the birds or the bees are free there is not much in it. $150 - $250 seems sensible, but I have always been an ethical looser and not the greatest business man. Its certinally a lot easier to place a bee box than a bird box as well.
Anyway I have heard Tim Heard has half a dozen hives at his house and many around various outher places. This conflicts with my idea of cramping needs, but if the vegitation and food is around than it looks like it's not an issue. I do wonder if there may be just a little spin suggesting thay are hard to attract. Sorry, just hits me like that when these bee guru's are so quick to disregard your wants and sell theirs. He never replied to me about what was different in his book to Zabels'. And none of them have said anything about why a log is hard. I guess I had my back up a bit after just buy buy buy. Maybe I'm tackless as well. But I will probably buy his book as it sounds like there may be something different in it. Plus scientist / researchers are usually cash strapped. I guess in my head they sell information, reasearch, and findings, and hopefully truthful ones, not just sell what has become currently trendy.
Ipswich Shire Eastern flanks
oddly enough today I had a solitary bee scoping a hole in some hand rails I was working on. It was about 3mm diameter and probably only 45mm deep. After I unfortunately filled it he/she moved around to the other side of the pine post. But sadly I had to fill that one as well.
So it spured me on this afternoon to get out a 6mm bit and start drilling holes in my fence. I have 17 posts at my disposal and started with 5 holes a post 75mm deep. I read they get clogged with left overs and are not cleaned out by the bees. Often there are unhatched bees inside as well. So instead of cleaing I'll just keep drilling new holes. The fence is comming down in due course for a metal one eventually. Will have to look at alternatives for holes then.
Th really cool think though, was I found a social bee in the pool. Drowned but if there is one, there has to be more. Better get the log hive up and open for business.
Ipswich Shire Eastern flanks
Some interesting trivia,
Bumped into the water meter man today. I asked about bees, he said in Spring they average one hive in every twenty boxes. Urban Water gets paid $50 from a contractor who clears the hives away. I said wow $50 bucks, he said he was aware of how much they then sell a hive for and told me he would let me know if there are any in my area in due course.
I'll be leaving a discrete reminder note from now on in my meter box, indicating I will be happy to help out with some Christmas cheer when the time comes.
I figure if these bees like underground living conditions then why change. Just need to identify an appropriate area, dig a hole and insert good quality plactic bucket, leave the top a bit proud so water ingress is not an issue, put some drainage holes in the bottom, and lightly insulate the lid that comes with the bucket after putting a hole in it. Not quite a meter box bt not far from it.
Ipswich Shire Eastern flanks
That's really interesting Jason. Perhaps the contractor is Bob the Beeman. I wonder whether the bees move into less than ideal housing for short term security and out of desperation due to the lack of habitat such as in old-growth trees (particularly in an areas of significant food source like the suburban gardens of Brisbane). Man may have created a significant imbalance, by providing the sustenance but not the shelter.
Yes for sure we have created an imbalance, and I'm not sue we have any real understanding of what we have done. Just snippits.
I think you are right though, the bees have found the next best thing for accomodation based around the food.
I will to do some homework however, whether tetragonula hockingsi (TH) in fact prefer to be ground dwelling bees or tree bees like tetragonula carbonaria (TC). Guess I'll be buying a few books.
Ipswich Shire Eastern flanks
NP, according to Wiki there is not much in it. TH is from Northern Territory and a little bigger, but basically identical to TC. Nest structure is slightly different but again quite similar. I wonder if TH's presence as you say possibily taking over Brisbane is initially from some commercial polinating activity. It would not be unheard of Australian native flora and fauna introduced into a different part of the country outside it's normal distribution becoming a menance. Not to say TH is, but if numbers are large, and it's not from here then something is working in its favour. I wonder if it could be water meter boxes. 1 in 20 seems high, especially when you start counting houses in the street, distances are not great. An abundance of homes among the enless exocitics and perhaps.
Ipswich Shire Eastern flanks
Yes Wiki says TH are primarily in NT and NQ. I read somewhere that their range only extended south to about Gympie, but obviously they are now well entrenched in Brisbane. From what I have read they are not adapted climatewise to extend as far south as Sydney like TC. Suburban gardens probably not only increase the overall food supply but ensure continuity of supply throughout the year as different non-endemic plants flower. You could well be right about meter boxes. It suggests a need for much greater availability of hive boxes in gardens.
Had some really good rain last night, I thought how fortunate for all the young plants growing. I gathered up some wet leaves and went down to thicken up some of the thinner parts. Then went down the creek bank to see if the mulch had moved into the creek. No, that's great and seems to be workinng. BUT low and behold all 60 odd plants have been pulled out now where to be seen. Seems the hater hates more than ever.
Don't feel annoyed, just beaten and sad for who ever it is. Will stop all works I feel. Now it's only a matter of time before the other 3 beds are distroyed. I guess I'm the looser and the joke is on me. Was told not to do anything by coucil, and should have known to try and do anything on public land is open to vandalism and probably a waste of time. Will look for some privare land to work on I think, or just forget about it completely. Just so hard no to improve the park and so easy out side my back door.
I will go down and rake the mulch into the creek and let the bare earth bank thrive once again with zero growth. The Sith Lord will be happy with that. They can marvel at how good strugling abused creek banks looks and stays. You can see in the pic down the bottom what the bare part looks like. I left that bit for the kids to access the creek. Time for a beer.
Ipswich Shire Eastern flanks
Yes you definitely have a hater there Jason. Hates plants, hates nature, hates life and hates himself too probably. Despicable.
What a prick.
yes mate, bit lost to explain. Perhaps my fault for writing the sign when the fig got knocked off.
Think I will follow the beaten Jedi's approach and go into self exile. Take up some self enlightenment purley for persoanl interest and study a Certificate III in Cinservation and Land Management. Seems a better way to spend my time at 4AM than down the park. I have my own garden, that will do.
Ipswich Shire Eastern flanks
Jason, I marvel at your philosophical approach to this wanton vandalism. It's so disappointing & yet another reminder of the vandalism towards the environment culture which exists in so much of Australia. Your strategy of retreating behind the boundaries of your property where you have a lot more control is probably a good one - at least for the time being - & suits the situation.
I suspect you're right when you imply that it might have been more effective not to have put up a sign in relation to the vandalized fig tree. While, on the surface, it's good to try to educate people & get them on side, there are, sadly, many occasions when this is like waving a red flag to a boofhead & draws attention to what you're doing. There are no guarantees that a more discreet, phantom-like approach will work but this might be the way to go in future.
For example, I wonder if more might be achieved by surreptitiously collecting seed & broadcasting it into areas which are close to the area from which the seeds are collected & which are relatively clear of weeds. Placing small branches & litter on slopes would help prevent seeds being washed into the creek during heavy rain as well as slow water runoff, increase water absorption into the soil & increase the chances of seed germination. The risk would be that any emergent seedlings would be vulnerable to council contractor vandalism but, hey, you're battling powerful forces here.
Another approach might be to take photos of those bare, sloping areas after they've been eroded by heavy rainfall & the concrete path is in danger of undermining. Send the photos to council with suggestions about how such costly damage might be avoided in future by using the sort of approaches you've been unsuccessful in seeing to completion because of, apparently, local boffheadism (not to mention lack of council support but don't mention that!)
I was going to say the same thing as Woko. Don't let the bastard win. Scatter seed whenever you get the chance and when conditions are right. He can't pull out seeds and when the seedlings grow he is unlikely to be able to distinguish between them and weeds. If he wants to weed, then let him go for it!
Possibly, I don't think I am being emotional this time, but I am broke. I have just vented my frustration however by raking the bank bare to it's original state. And dug out the Fig and chucked it. Pulled the marker peg and leveled the soil. The hater can sleep well tonight.
I am pulling down the two mounted Rosella boxes tomorrow to add to the other boxes I have made. I will sell them on gumtree, or if anyone wants them on here PM me. I can see the hater stoning the boxes in due course breaking the landing branches off. I'll put the the money towards the course. Wrong yes, typical selfish human yes, but council don't care. 9 in10 people don't care. And I have a vandictive person watching all I do. I'm also in two minds to destroy what I have done in the other 3 tree clusters of trees but will sleep on it. I am sorry for nature, but another nail is driven in.
Sadly I think the park story is comming to a close. Beaten by an invisible attacker who struck within the first 24 hours of wanting to do something constructive. It was the last thing I expected, and never thought something like this would never happen. But kind if ironic really. I will look again at something if and when I ever get some ackerage. But for now I have 900SqM behind a fence. I have frogs, will try for bees, accept that I will probably have nothing more than second tier preditory birds visiting, and lots and lots to learn.
Ipswich Shire Eastern flanks
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