The Fascinating Nesting Habits of Mallee Fowl

 

When it comes to unique and remarkable breeding behaviours of Australian animals, the Mallee fowl stands out as a true Mallee marvel. This ground-dwelling bird is known for its intriguing nesting practices that defy the norms.

Their large (mounds) nests are made from the scraping that the birds do around the area to create this large mini Volcano like structure which they fill with debris that eventually composts and subsequently creates the warmth for incubation.

Its not uncommon for these nests to be two meters in diamater. The female bird lays approximately every 5 days and once the eggs hatch after about 50 days the young are left to fend for themselves and are relatively mobile after just a few hours. (true Mallee toughness)

In a fascinating twist of roles, it is the male Mallee fowl that takes on the responsibility of maintaining the nest. He diligently monitors the temperature of the mound, which is crucial for the successful incubation of the eggs. If the temperature deviates from the ideal range, he will add or remove material from the mound, ensuring a consistent warmth. This behaviour not only showcases the male's commitment but also highlights a remarkable adaptation to their environment, as temperatures can fluctuate dramatically in the Mallee

Temperature regulation is vital for the Mallee fowl's reproductive success. The eggs require a consistent temperature of around 33 degrees Celsius (91 degrees Fahrenheit) for optimal development. If the mound becomes too hot or too cold, it can jeopardize the survival of the developing chicks. This delicate balance is a testament to the Mallee fowl’s evolutionary adaptations, allowing them to thrive in their harsh, dry habitats.

Despite their fascinating nesting behaviours, Mallee fowl populations face several challenges. Habitat

destruction, and introduced predators such as foxes threaten their survival. Conservation efforts are crucial to protect their natural habitats and ensure the continued existence of this unique species. Preserving the delicate ecosystems in which Mallee fowl thrive is essential for their future.

we have been monitoring this nest for several weeks and have named these two birds Mike and Molly. Its amazing considering Mike and Molly have had to contend with Foxes, Echidnas and even a Crow. The fact that they can survive when they have all the odds stacked against them is remarkable.

Join our journey as we have regular update from Mike and Molly the Mallee Fowls' nest on Youtube.

Parma Review #1 - Club Merbein

 

Given Club Merbein is one of my sponsors, it seemed fitting that they would be first in line for a review of the classic Chicken Parmigiana.

Sponsorship aside, this was a good start to the Parmi review journey and Club Merbein won’t be getting a free ride.

It’s a Friday night and the Club is buzzing with a regular bunch that are quite diverse - tradies, retirees and families are the common theme here that have come for the Friday night raffles, a meal or a chance at winning the cash in the members draw.

The Bistro is on the small side for a club, but nevertheless caters well to the locals, a Parmi here will set you back $30. If that’s a bit pricey for you they do have Parmi nights on each Wednesday with a variety of different examples of the Chicken Dish.

Bottom line - I was full to the brim and couldn’t complete this mission, not only was it filling but tasty

aswell.

The low down - the Chicken Breast was a whole thick breast, not one of those commercial skinny things that are all the same shape and was cooked well and not at all dry.

The topping was a good ratio of sliced ham, tomato sauce and cheese melted well on top, the chips were “ok” I’m not a fan of all the chips being placed under the Parmi where they suck up any juice and go soggy.

The salad was a basic, lettuce, tomato, carrot and onion, but the dressing made up for the lack of ingredients.

One point of interest with the service is that the bread roll came out hot, and the butter melted beautifully on it.

Given that this is the first review I can’t give any category a perfect 10 as I will need wriggle room for future reviews, but all in all this was a great choice for my first review.

Value 6/10

Parmi Size 7/10

Topping 7/10

Side 6/10

Chips 6/10

Service 8/10

Total 40/60

Psyche Pumps Fire Up This Weekend!

This Sunday, Mildura's historic Psyche Pumps will roar back into action as the Sunraysia Steam Preservation Society holds one of its open days. 

The pumps were designed by George Chaffey and were the district's main functioning pump from 1891 to 1951 before being replaced by an Electric variety. Thry still stand in the original building that was built by our district’S founding family the Chaffeys. The building and pumps were left derelict for some 25 years before the dedicated bunch of volunteers from the Sunraysia Steam Preservation Society began the restoration works. Nowadays, the Society has several open days throughout the year where the public can see this awesome piece of machinery in full flight, just as it did over 100 years ago. 

Mildura holds the status of having the oldest running pump of this configuration in the world and witnessing it in action is something to behold.

The engine was delivered from England and as the region’s main transport industry was via paddleboat at the time, the engine came in parts via paddleboat from Echuca.

The open day will run from 10.30am until 3pm this Sunday (29/9) and directions can be found below.

For more information phone 0403320686.

 

Botanic Gardens guided tour this weekend

Get onboard this weekend at The Australian Inland Botanic Gardens as the tractor tour once again does all the hard work for you.

The guided tour over the approximately 370 acre property would normally give the legs a fair old work out, but this Saturday (28/9), from 11am you can take the Tractor Train for $10 (children discounted) and enjoy all that the property has to offer including;

The Rose Garden

Nature Trail

Lakes, Birdlife and much more.

The ride is generally one hour and includes informative commentary along the way. You will see over 20,000 plantings with many labelled. Not just our Australian Native flora, but plants from New Zealand, Africa, Europe, Asia as well as North and South America.

The Gardens are run by a dedicated bunch of volunteers and to book a seat contact Gwen on 0418 969 475.

The Gardens are located just 15 minutes from Mildura over the bridge in NSW (Map Below). 

More information can be found at https://aibg.live/

September is root month in Ouyen

This Saturday (28th September) will see the 7th Annual Mallee Root Festival held at the Ouyen Lake.

The event attracts people from right across the Mallee as competitors compete for the title of the biggest tosser of the Mallee Root (or Stump).

The event is broken into 5 categories - under 10, 14 and 17 as well as the open category and the over 50's which is better known as the old mad rooter.

Apart from the tossing, there will be plenty of live entertainment, as well as the AFL grand final on the big screen.

The event start at 2pm and runs until late in the evening with the live entertainment

Camping spots are available on the lake or there are a few other options available.

Check this link out for accommodation and tickets to the event. 

https://www.malleeroot.au/events/root-fest-24   

Enjoy a pontoon ride on the lake or check out the variety of market stalls, there will be plenty of food and drink vans and activities for the kids.

So for the best Mallee Root in the region, head to Ouyen this weekend.

Pooncarie will be pumping at its annual Cup day

Pooncarie will be pumping this Saturday as it holds its annual Cup Day Carnival.

The event features a 6 race card with the feature race being race 5 the Pooncarie Cup. There will be the usual Cup trimmings with fashions on the field commencing at 12.30pm.

This is a real bush event that brings the whole region together. It's hard to comprehend that its only 115km from Wentworth but has a real Outback vibe.

Camping is available offsite on the banks of the Darling River (and word has it the fish are on the go) at the multipurpose park. This park also has toilet and shower facilities and there will be a shuttle running from the park to the track. For those further away in Mildura there will also be a bus running (see below). Get your bookings in for that one ASAP as seats are limited.

The bar at the track opens at 11am for the hardcore enthusiasts, and given the town will have so many people visiting, mobile reception from the one Telstra tower will be well and truly at capacity. Make sure you bring cash with you so you don't have to rely on 4G Mobile EFTPOS at the track which may have issues at times.

This is a unique outback experience and being so close to Mildura you would be mad not witness this at least once in your lifetime.

Motor Show, major fundraiser for homegrown hero's

If you know Mildura well, you will know we love our motorsport and cars in general. Almost every weekend during the warmer months you will find a speedway, drag or karting event. Sunraysia also features some marquee events like this one to showcase the wide range of our love of motors.

The Sunassist Motor Show attracts hundreds of cars, motorcycles, trucks, in fact anything with wheels and an engine from our region and beyond.

The event is Sunassist's major fundraiser for the year and provides much needed funds for the organisation that provides numerous services including transportation, meals on wheels, and assisted shopping.

Sunassist was formed in 1981 and is a non-for profit organisation with over 300 volunteers. Sunassist is a homegrown organization, so you know the proceeds will be used locally to help those in our community. 

Donations to Sunassist can be made at https://sunassist.org.au/ - simply scroll towards the bottom of the page and click the PayPal donate now button.

The Sunassist Motor Show will be held this Sunday the 22nd of September from 10am until 2pm at the Mildura Senior College ovals (see map below). General admission is only $5 and kids under 12 get in for free.

There will also be live music, plenty of food and beverage vans and a swap meet.

For more information visit the sunassist website.

Are Mallee Fowl predicting a rain event?

 

The Mallee's very own Bush Chook has created debate over the years on their ability to predict rain that would help with their egg incubation.

I recently travelled to a remote area deep in the Mallee scrub to see an active nest. What amazed me most was the birds "composting" skills. 

Composting in this case, is the process the Mallee Fowl uses to create heat. That heat subsequently works like an incubator that keeps the eggs warm in the giant mound that this unique little bird has constructed.

Mallee Fowl scrape leaves and debris from as far as 10 meters away into their nest and wait for rain to start the composting process to begin. The shape of the nest also works like a funnel, diverting water from around the nest into the centre where all the leaves are and underneath the eggs.

How do the Mallee Fowl know when to begin this process? Do they know it's going to rain or are they taking a punt?

To be honest I have no idea, but during my visit I set up some trail cameras in the hope to get a better look at what these birds are up to and if they really can predict the rain.

In the coming weeks I will download the footage and share what I find. Will we see little chicks emerging from a nest or will it be a non-event? I guess now I'm the one taking the punt.

Opening Speedway event postponed, but a big one on the way!

 

Photo - Racing Fix Media

https://racingfixmedia.com.au/

The newly upgraded B&S Earthworks Timmis Speedway has had to make the tough call to postpone its opening meeting which was scheduled for the 21st of September.

A Statement on the clubs Facebook Page reads "The Mildura Speedway Drivers Club Committee regrets to announce that the race meeting scheduled for September 21 has been postponed. Our dedicated club members have been working tirelessly to prepare the facility for the start of the 2024/25 season, but unfortunately, we are not quite ready. Please stay tuned to our social media channels for updates on the rescheduled date.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support."

The club was recently awarded the most improved track in Australia at the Speedway Australia awards night. This was following major upgrades that included lighting, fencing and power upgrades.

The club was also host to the Australian Production Sedan Title last season which was a huge success.

There were a couple of factors leading to the difficult decision, but the club will no doubt be looking forward to a massive event scheduled for October 12 when it will host a Sprint Car and Street Stock Feature. (See below for the clubs full calendar.)

For more information visit the clubs website www.milduraspeedway.com or its Facebook page www.facebook.com/timmis.speedway

Country Music on the Murray

Country Music is back in Sunraysia from this Friday the 13th of September with the "Apex Riverbeach Country Music Festival".

A full line up of artists is scheduled for the 9 day festival which will be held at the Apex Park Riverbeach Holiday Park in Mildura. 

Entry is free and renowned hosts Rod and Rhonda Owen promise a show(s) to remember with a full lineup. (Seen below.)

Apex Riverbeach Holiday Park still has some accommodation options available. The Park is on the banks of the Murray River surrounded by big River Red Gums and is located just 5 minutes from the Mildura CBD.

For more information on the Park visit https://www.apexriverbeach.com.au/ or call the office on  (03)50236879

FRIDAY 13th

10am – 3pm
WALKUPS

4 – 6.15pm

KC Lacourse

THE HIRDS

KEVIN SULLIVAN & THE SULLI-VANS

SATURDAY 14th

10am – 3pm
WALKUPS

4 – 6.15pm

KC Lacourse

Evan Platshinda

Kevin Sullivan & The Sulli-Vans

SUNDAY 15th

10am – 3pm
WALKUPS

4 – 6.15pm

KC Lacourse

The Millwards

KEVIN SULLIVAN & THE SULLI-VANS

MONDAY 16th

10am – 3pm
WALKUPS

4 – 6.15pm

KC Lacourse

Robyn Norton

THE HIRDS

TUESDAY 17th

10am – 3pm
WALKUPS

4 – 6.15pm

KC Lacourse

The Millwards

Evan Platshinda

WEDNESDAY 18th

10am – 3pm
WALKUPS

4 – 6.15pm

KC Lacourse

Evan Platshinda

Sandie Dodd

THURSDAY 19th

10am – 3pm
WALKUPS

4 – 6.15pm

KC Lacourse

Don Costa

Sandie Dodd

FRIDAY 20th

10am – 3pm
WALKUPS

4 – 6.15pm

KC Lacourse

Christine Clifford

Don Costa

SATURDAY 21st

10am – 3pm
WALKUPS

3 – 3.30pm
Backtracks Band

4 – 6.15pm

KC Lacourse

Christine Clifford

Sandie Dodd

Little Willys Roll into Town

 The “4th Australian Willys Nationals" rolls into town this Friday for a 3 day event culminating in a Show and Shine at Nowingi Place on Sunday.

The event is a gathering of like minded Willys owners and enthusiasts. No matter whether their Willys is original, restored, Hot Rodded or even a Jeep or wagon variety, there's only one condition - it has to be manufactured in or before 1965.

The event which is hosted by the Willys Downunder Club and Graham Matthews includes a number of awards to be presented on the Sunday at the Show n' Shine and is anticipated to be the largest gathering of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.

Willys was a brand name used by Willys–Overland Motors, an American automobile company, founded by John North Willys. It was best known for its design and production of World War II era military jeeps.

After the war, Willys did not resume production of its passenger-car models, choosing instead to concentrate on Jeeps and Jeep-based vehicles. The first post-war Willys product was the CJ-2A, an MB stripped of obviously military features, particularly the blackout lighting, and with the addition of a tailgate.

In America, the company changed its name by 1963 to Kaiser-Jeep Corporation; the Willys name
disappeared thereafter.

At this stage the forecast for Sunday is 30% chance for under a mm on rain.  So, the likelihood of a wet Willy is pretty slim.

For more information on the event, head to the Willys Downunder Club Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/groups/643886855745346

Kayak Fishing in Kings Billabong - First Time!

 

Recently turning fifty, I appreciated receiving a good deal of shopping vouchers to BCF (my friends and family know me well).  It was an easy decision to invest in something I had thought about for a long time.

That's right, a fishing Kayak! My first thoughts of "this will be easy" soon changed. As the day of reckoning came closer I started to consider things like what sort of life jacket should I get, how do I tie up to a snag, how will I mount my camera, how do I protect my equipment from getting wet, as well as how much tackle do I take?

With limited space, these were all things I needed to consider and in the end I just decided to get a basic inflatable life jacket (one with a canister inside) and "wing" the rest. I couldn't see the point in investing in a new tackle box and all the camera mounts at this point. Afterall, I could purchase the completely wrong components without seeing how everything feels once on the water, or even worse I might decide that Kayak fishing just isn't for me.

Now, I wasn't going to do this solo on my first outing so I called up on my mate Ditchie who was looking after his son's Kayak  who moved across the country.. Jobs on!

Kings Billabong was our chosen location with the belief that it would be a lot calmer than the river. This turned out to be a great decision. Not only was it calm, but there were plenty of great snags to tie up to if only I remembered a rope or as we latter decided a bungee strap as the magic solution.

The new kayak handled well and proved to be great value. It came with two rod holders beside me and a main one at the front, along with a drink holder, dry compartment, storage area at the rear and rails on either side to mount various accessories to.

Here is the link to BCF with my little Kayak, 

Once on the water, I was surprised by the stability of this little Kayak, but given the lightness, it was
quite twitchy on the surface and was easily blown around by a bit of wind.

Access to the dry compartment was easy, as was the storage area on the back (did have to twist a little), I'm now thinking of all the add-ons that would make this more comfortable.

First on the list, a good seat. Second, a couple of Go-Pro's and some mounts and third a good Kayak Anchor . The tackle box I took was also overkill and a small tray would be sufficient. Also a little holder that can mount on the side rails for things like scissors and line would be handy.

As far as the fishing was concerned, I did my usual trick of catching bugger all. Ditchie (right) did manage a little Perch and dreaded carp. Considering the small amount of time we were on the water, we can't complain.

Will I be back fishing in the Kayak?

A big Yes, although I can now feel every muscle in my body. It was a lot of fun and I think once I am more comfortable with it, I may even manage to catch a fish. 

But let's not get ahead of ourselves.

A full video of the day can be seen below.