Friends of Canadian Corridor

Dear FoCC Members,
The FoCC is committed to completing the “Urban Ripple” tree plantings over the next ten weeks. Last year over 750 volunteers participated in the plantings. The tree plantings are an opportunity for friends, families and  community groups to join in to help restore nature in Ballarat as well as meeting old and new acquaintances.
Community Tree Plantings are as follows

Date	Day	Location	Site #	Plantings
28th June	Sunday	Canadian Creek – off Hocking Ave	Site 7	750
12th July	Sunday	Dozed Track – off Recreation Rd	Site 11	600
19th July	Sunday	Lal Lal Drain – off Larter St	Site 4	500
2nd August	Sunday	Canadian Creek – off Hocking Ave	Site 7	750
16th August	Sunday	Sailors Gully – on Lavery Ave	Site 11	400
23rd August	Sunday	Soapy’s Dam – on Elsworth St	Site 5	400

Each planting day starts at 10 am and the wonderful Rotary Clubs of Ballarat are providing registration services and the midday sausage sizzle at the end. All trees, stakes guards and tools provided.

Community Plantings site setup volunteers sought
The FoCC is looking for volunteers to assist in the setting up of each site prior to each planting. The setting up starts at 8.30am on each morning of the planting. The task is to lay out plants, stakes and tree guards across the planting area. To volunteer or find out more pls contact Jeff foccinfo@gmail.com or ph 0408509591

Children’s Friendship Forest
The FoCC has organised a Children’s Friendship Forest planting at Canadian Creek Reserve (off Hocking Ave) beginning at 10am on Tuesday 30^th June 2026. Flyer and booking details here. Spaces are limited.

Schools’ tree planting
The FoCC is hosting several Schools “Urban Ripple” tree plantings as follows

1. 17^thand 24^th June, 11.30 to 2.10pm at Soapy’s Dam (off Davies St). Approximately 40 Damascus College student plus teachers.
2. Aug 12^th10.30 – 2.30pm at at Soapy’s Dam (off Davies St). Small group of Woodmans Hill College student. Other schools may join this event.
3. August second and third week. Mt Clear College will be planting beside the Bunny Trail in Woowookarung Regional Park. Dates not yet confirmed.

Volunteers are sought to assist/support the schools events. Providing student guidance and/or sausage sizzle provision. Working with Children Check is mandatory. Pls contact Jeff at foccinfo@gmail.com or ph 0408509591 if interested.
If you are able to assist or wish to know more pls contact Jeff as per details above.
Kind regards,
FoCC

1. June Friends meeting

The FoCC is holding a Friends meeting on Wednesday 17^th June 2026.
Tim Read, CoB “Biodiversity Programs Officer” will outline the “Links across the divide” project scope and progress so far. The City of Ballarat is working with adjacent councils on identifying the bio links within the region. This includes the Wombat to Enfield Biolink of which the Canadian Corridor and Woowookarung Regional Park are central elements. 

June Friends meeting:   “Links across the divide”
7.00pm Wednesday 17th June 2026
Buninyong Community House, 407 Warrenheip St., Buninyong
All welcome

2. Goldfields Track planning workshop

A FoCC special meeting to discuss the Goldfields Track will be held at 7pm on Thursday June 11^th at the Buninyong Community House 407 Warrenheip St Buninyong.  The meeting will focus on possible trails through Woowookarung Regional Park through to Buninyong. All friends welcome.

3. April Friends meeting
   The April friends meeting was held on Wednesday 29^th April at the Buninyong Community House. David Bannear chair of the Goldfields Track group spoke about the “Goldfields Track and a possible path through Woowookarung Regional Park” David told the story of how the track started in 1992 as the Great Dividing trail and has grown from a walking track only to walking and cycling trails between Ballarat and Bendigo.

   

   

 

4. Friends of Lake Esmond working bees

Friends of Lake Esmond, a subgroup of the Yarrowee Leigh Catchment Group, had their first activity on the 9^th of May. We optimistically gathered in the morning to plant 100 ground covers. The Lake gardens already have a good number of established trees, but the ground is very bare, so the focus is on the ground covers. We had a great, successful time. 9 people turned up, and we managed to plant just shy of 80 plants and spread a good deal of mulch. We worked for just over two hours, not wanting to push anyone too hard, but enjoying the time together. With the leftover plants, we had a follow-up planting on the 17th of May and managed to get the rest of the plants into the ground, with a few fewer people. We are looking forward to seeing the growing results of our work and building a nice sense of community around Lake Esmond. Next planting will be on 27^th June from 10 am. If you would like to join in, please do come along. We will be planting either side of the Larter St entrance. (Hopefully it won’t be too cold and wet!)
For further enquiries, please contact Michael O’Brien: mikeobblt@gmail.com

5. Friends of Specimen Vale working bee

Next working bee is to be held at: Site 3 : Otway Street end, 9:30 -11:00 am (followed by morning tea). Thursday 4^th June 2026.  

6. Joel Ellis achieves 50 “Bird of the Month” articles!
   Rob Loveband FoCC webmaster in discussion with Joel Ellis:  

How did you become interested in birds?
My interest in birds developed from a young age.  While still in primary school, I bought my first bird field guide.  At that age, I mostly used the field guide as a road trip staple, helping me to ID raptors — my favourite group of birds — seen during our travels through the countryside.  Predator birds were the favourites as I’ve always been fascinated by any fauna which lived off anything that runs/flies/hides from it.
How has your interest in Birds influenced your life?
Birds have been an addictive hobby for me (particularly since 2016).  Birding has helped me connect with the natural world, and appreciate real-life actualisations of scientific theory (e.g. ecosystem services, symbiotic relationships, bio-indicators), while also tangibly uplifting me with multiple health benefits (i.e. physical activity, plus the soothing effects of greenspace immersion, birdsong, etc.).
I studied Environmental Science from Year 10 through to University (Honours), and gradually specialised increasingly on birds.  Dr Grant Palmer was a pivotal mentor, as he believed in my identification skills, and introduced me to EBird — which awakened my passion for actively collecting and reporting bird sightings data.
What caused you to begin writing bird on the month?
The BotM idea was initially inspired by a segment in BirdLife Australia’s bulletin.  The FoCC Committee foresaw the potential to put an intimately local spin on the BotM, by featuring a carefully selected, topical species in Ballarat’s ever-dynamic bird assemblages during the given time.
Writing Bird of the Month was and continues to be a passion project that has provided me with a rewarding platform to raise awareness about the importance and beauty of our local birds.  It has reinforced my knowledge uptake and encouraged me to closely monitor monthly/seasonal trends in local bird communities.  It’s a blessing to have this creative outlet to express my passion, and hopefully inspire a passion for birds in the Spikey News readers!  Getting approached at FoCC General Meetings by readers who tell me that they enjoy reading the BotM every month, is the most heart-warming part about my time as a volunteer with FoCC!

Acknowledgments
From the bottom of my heart, thank-you to FoCC Committee, for their teamwork in proofreading and editing my drafts, and ultimately bestowing upon me the honour of contributing BotM columns to Spikey News.  Special thanks to our resident bird photographer, Rob Loveband, for being a skilled, reliable and generous image donor, and cooperative collaborator!  And an equally wholehearted thanks to our readers for your kind and supportive feedback, and your impressionable and undying readership!
NOTE: you can read all of Joel’s BotM editions here – they are being updated over this week from the latest edition back to the first one.

7. Bird of the Month XLX (April / May 2026)
   Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius)
   Local First Nations names: kuitj kuitj / kut-kut

Some birds hit different. The individual meanings ascribed, emotions evoked, and symbolism attached to certain birds, is something that really fuels the passion in how we each enjoy birds and engage in our various birding hobbies. Sentiment is in the heart of the admirer. In my case, no local species was a more fitting subject for the 50th edition of Bird of the Month than my father’s – himself amidst a milestone year – lifelong favourite bird: the Eastern Rosella.

The Eastern Rosella is the smaller (Rainbow Lorikeet-sized at 29–34 cm), shier, and considerably less ubiquitous (though still relatively common) of our two local rosellas, in comparison to the Crimson Rosella (see BotM XLIII, July 2025). As its seldom-used alternative name – White-cheeked Rosella – implies, the round white cheek/throat patch is an important distinguishing feature that reveals its ancestral purity (or otherwise). A slight blue wash in the cheek patch is a tell-tale sign of Eastern Rosella × Crimson Rosella hybridisation or distant Crimson Rosella ancestry. Yes, the two species can and do interbreed, albeit uncommonly.
The Eastern Rosella bursts with fruity colours, shining like a beacon in the Aussie bush, with its rich scarlet red front (and vent), vibrant lemon-yellow belly, and vivid lime-green lower abdomen and rump (the green rump is conspicuous in flight). The species is largely sexually monomorphic, but subtle differences exist: females tend to show duller, patchier red with faint yellow mottling through the nape and chest. Juveniles are greener and patchier, with red gradually replacing the green as they mature.
Eastern Rosella breeding season is August through February. They are hollow-nesters, selecting deep, often narrow hollows in trunks or limbs of live or dead trees. Occasionally they use low stumps or logs, but usually nests are high off the ground. The female incubates 4–8 eggs for 19–20 days while the male feeds her near the nest. Both parents feed the young, which fledge at around five weeks.

Notice the individual in the third image below, the extent of red has ‘bled’ into the yellow and green of the belly and lower abdomen. Pigmentation oddities in Eastern Rosellas can arise from several phenomena: (i) genetic mutation (rare in wild birds or influenced by aviary escapees); (ii) hybridisation or genetic dilution by Crimson Rosella; (iii) Golden-mantled subspecies influence (more predisposed to extensive red); or (iv) natural variance within the familiar local subspecies. The Australian Bird Identification (ABID) community concluded that explanation (iv) is most probable. The pure white cheek patch rules out Crimson Rosella influence, and the bird’s South Australian location rules out Golden-mantled subspecies.

Eastern Rosellas are primarily granivores (seed- and grain-eaters) and forage across varied strata: grazing on the ground, feeding in shrubs, and feeding in trees. They also consume fruit. The species occurs in lightly treed country, farmland, watercourses, woodland, forest edges, roadsides, golf courses, parks, and gardens. They are sedentary (non-migratory), resident year-round, and occur in pairs, family groups, and small flocks.
Vocalisations
Eastern Rosellas can be chatty, often flushing into undulating flight with a brisk, sharp, clear, rapid “quink-quink, quink-quink” and even more rapid “whit-whit-whit-whit”. Other calls include a slower, drawn-out, high, clear ringing “pee-pt-eee”, “pink-pink”, and soft chatterings. My sister has nicknamed them the “Beep-beep Bird” for their recognisable flight call.

Eastern Rosellas are distributed throughout all of Victoria, the eastern half of NSW, southeast QLD, southwest SA, and much of Tasmania. Populations in all states and territories are considered ‘Secure’, and the species’ global conservation status is ‘Least Concern’ with an ‘Increasing’ population trend. They are said to benefit from partial clearing of dense forest into more open habitat.

Next time you wander through Woowookarung RP, or skirt its edges or those of any forest patches, farmland, parks, gardens, golf courses, or roadsides, keep an eye out for the fruity colours and pleasant chattering of the Beep-beep Birds that are Eastern Rosellas. And if you’re lucky enough to encounter them, perhaps spare a thought for the loved ones who would most enjoy these, and other birds, that have graced you with their presence.

Author note: FoCC Committee member and co-admin of FoCC’s Facebook and webpage, Joel Ellis is the resident bird nerd, amateur Powerful Owl researcher, and editor of FoCC’s (co-funded) ‘Indigenous [Species] of Southern Ballarat’ brochure series.  Joel has studied birds up to Honours degree level, is a professional ecological consultant (ornithologist), and member of BirdLife Australia (Ballarat branch). 

8. Koala Sightings

April to September is a quiet time for Koalas.  If you see, hear or find scat from a Koala, please send the information containing the when, where, and how to: foccinfo@gmail.com.  Images are gold (even if a little blurry). All Koala sightings are entered into the iNaturalist online data base.

Andrew and Kyle have been experimenting with a drone to locate Koalas in bushland. The drone uses infra-red technology to locate warm animals. A spot light camera is used to identify warm animals. On the flight, a fox, a possum, a wallaby and a koala were located and identified
Andrew and Kyle are in the experimental stage and they hope in the future to be able to survey properties and find out what is actually living on a property. Stay tuned.

Heard:  Koala on Gear Avenue Fed Uni, May 9^th Observed by Denise.
The complete list of Koala sightings can be viewed at  https://www.focc.asn.au/koalas/

9. Soapy’s Dam working bee
   20 wonderful volunteers picked up hundreds of broken-down tree guards for recycling at Soapy’s Dam on Sunday 24^th May. Over 600 tree stakes were collected, sorted for reuse at a future planting. Last august 400 trees shrubs and grasses were planted on the site and a count today had the success rate at 90%. The plantings used corn-starch-based tree guards which are biodegradable and need to be broken down in composter. The bags of guards will be sent to a composter. See image below of broken-down tree guards. Another 50 plastic tree guards were collected for future reuse. A planting will be held at the dam on the 23rd August 2026. Any failed plants will be replanted.
   The working bee was the first time the FoCC trailer has been in use. Thank you to the City of Ballarat for funding the purchase of the Trailer.

   

   

   

10. Spikeys Trailer

This time last year the FoCC successfully applied to the City of Ballarat community fund for a grant to purchase a trailer to carry our tools, plants stakes and guards to tree planting sessions. The trailer was manufactured and purchased from Eureka Trailers in Melbourne Rd Brown Hill. This met a city of Ballarat Request to utilise local businesses as much as possible.

11. Urban Ripple 2026 program.

FoCC community Tree Plantings for 2026.

• 28th June – Canadian Creek
• 12th July – Dozed Track
• 19th July – Lal Lal Drain
• 2nd August – Canadian Creek
• 16th August – Sailors Gully Creek
• 23rd August – Soapy’s Dam

and

• Children Forest Planting, June 30^th – Canadian Creek reserve. See article below.

2026 Tree, shrub and grass orders. The FoCC has ordered 4500 plants from the Wadawurrung Indigenous Nursery at Bostok and 2000 from Wine Barrel Banksias Nursery Buninyong for delivery in June.
20000 tree guard stakes have been ordered from local supplier Ross St Building Supplies.
The FoCC 2026 Urban Ripple planting dates and details brochure accompanies this edition of Spikey News.

12. June 30^th Children’s Forest Planting

A special children’s forest planting will be held on Tuesday June 30^th. Bookings via Trybooking essential. Max number of children 50.

Bookings via Trybooking.com
https://www.trybooking.com/DMLSJ

13. Union Jack Reserve walk

The FoCC held a discovery walk around Union Jack Reserve on a gorgeous autumn day for the FoCC walk on Saturday 18^th April 2026. Twenty intrepid walkers were led by local naturalist Jez (Jeremy Goosens), pointing out historical mineshafts, tree ferns, gullies, hills and even a koala high in tree above the (4) mine site. According to Joel Ellis, FoCC bird expert, 20 different birds were observed or heard during the walk. Union Jack Reserve is one of the Corridors best kept secrets.

14. Trashing our Bushland
    Ballarat Courier Woowookarung Regional Park and surrounding areas have been subject to large amounts of illegal rubbish dumping over the past months. The Ballarat Courier highlighted the problem in a major article on Saturday 11^th April Courier.
    

    

WIN TV
The following Wednesday 15^th April 2026, the dump shown in the image below was found by a WIN TV Camera Person going to work.  WIN TV’s Wednesday 15^th April news bulletin featured the rubbish dump and FoCC president Jeff Rootes.

ABC Ballarat Radio
Further interviews occurred on ABC Ballarat Radio.  City of Ballarat Director Bridget Weatherall told listeners that the City was going to make the Transfer Station at Alfredton more accessible. This would be done by opening a second lane and streamlining the facility.
Making the Transfer Station more accessible is something the FoCC has advocated for over the years. Well done City of Ballarat!

15. Old artifact found
    One of the delights of wandering through the Park are the birds, plants and leftover artifacts from the Gold Rush days. In a quiet secluded creek under a gorse bush this old sandstone grinding wheel.

    

    

16. Warrenheip Big Battery

There is a proposal for a Big Battery to be built in Coulson Rd, Warrenheip, adjacent to the existing Big Battery beside the Warrenheip substation. The FoCC is supportive of the Big Battery and its role in supporting a sustainable energy future. The Warrenheip Big Battery held a “Drop-in planning meeting” on Thursday 23rd April at Warrenheip Hall and the FoCC attended. There are some good opportunities that arose from it. The Battery is adjacent to Ballarat’s last remaining stand of big old trees. The FoCC put the trees forward to CoB for heritage listing earlier this year. The protection of the old trees and the restoration of the landscape around and under the old trees would be a worthy achievement. The proposed Ballarat to Warrenheip walk cycle trail runs beside the site. The incorporation of a new section of the trail to connect Strickland Parade and Farrels Rd should be part of the development.
Shown below are the 2 FoCC maps showing the big trees location and trail connections which should occur as a part of the project.

To read the full FoCC submission: http://www.focc.asn.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Battery-Submission-Apri-2026.pdf  

17. City of Ballarat Biodiversity week
    The City of Ballarat is hosting a Biodiversity week August 1 to August 8 2026. The objectives of the week are to:

• celebrate and raise awareness of Ballarat’s biodiversity
• engage schools, community groups, and the broader public
• promote the Biodiversity Strategy and local conservation work
• encourage collaboration across organisations
• inspire action through education, art, and hands‑on activities

Many Nature friendly organisations are hosting information, walking, planting events during the week.

18. FoCC Biodiversity Week Events 

1. Community tree planting – Canadian Creek reserve. 10am to 12 noon Sunday August 2^nd. See Urban Ripple program for more information.
2. Community Forum. Focussing on species extinction and whether science can reverse extinction. Guest Speaker has worked with the Woolly Mammoth project in the USA and brings a wealth of what can be done and what can’t. Monday August 3^rd Barkly Square Theatrette, Barkly St Ballarat East.
3. Ten Year celebration of the establishment of Woowookarung Regional Park. 10am Wednesday August 5^th
4. Opening of the 10000 Step Trail at Soapys Creek Bridge.

(Off Katy Ryans Rd) at 12noon Wednesday August 5^th
As soon as the details of each event has been settled a special Spikey News will provide booking details.  

19. Rubbish dumpers, thieves and vandals
    The FoCC urges Park friends to report vandals as well as rubbish dumpers, wood thieves and other suspicious activity to Parks Victoria on 13 1963 or email: woowookarung@parks.vic.gov.au
    In emergency situations please call 000. If an offender is spotted, please note vehicle registration details as vehicle identification is most helpful, plus location and details. All information is treated by Parks Victoria Rangers professionally and confidentially.  

20. Useful information 

• Parks Victoria Woowookarung email address: woowookarung@parks.vic.gov.au

• City of Ballarat wildlife information:
  https://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/me/pets-and-animals/wildlife

• Recommended Wildlife rescue: Wildlife Victoria (03) 8400 7300
• Koala spotting – https://www.focc.asn.au/koalas/
• Ballarat Wildlife Hospital: https://ballaratwildlifehospital.org.au
• DEECA wildlife issues reporting information

Report wildlife crime to Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000. Report any wildlife at immediate risk of deliberate harm or neglect to 136 186. Other matters relating to wildlife and wildlife management should use the 136 186 too. The Help for Injured Wildlife tool will help you locate and contact the closest relevant wildlife carers and rescue and rehabilitation organisations to help the injured wildlife.

21. Membership
    Membership runs from 1^st January to 31^st December each year, Membership fee is $20 per year.

New members and renewals after July 1 2026 are credited to the next year.

• You can pay for membershipvia Trybooking at: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1427368
  Cost is $20.50 via Trybooking. You can also make a donation of any size via this process.

• Bank transfer to details: Bendigo Bank Buninyong BSB   633 000    Account No 184147098

Note: Please add your name to the bank transfer and email  foccinfo@gmail.com your name and the date of the transaction. If your postal address has changed, please let us know.

• Payment to the Treasurer at a FoCC meeting

 

22. FoCC Facebook and webpage  www.facebook.com/friendsofcanadiancorridor/
    Rob is overseeing the webpage  webmaster@focc.asn.au

The FoCC has over 1400+ friends following us on Facebook and growing. Welcome to all new friends. Feel free to pass on to other friends and press the Like button.

23. 2026 Calendar
    The calendar is prepared by the FoCC committee.
    

24. FoCC Committee for 2026 is as follows:  

President	Jeff Rootes
Secretary	Hayley Inglis
Treasurer	Peter Darveniza
Committee members.	Jo Kelly, Tarn Kruger, Joan Brick, Rob Loveband, Jane Thompson, Bob Hartmann, Tracie Currie and Joel Ellis

Spikey News change of issue dates

Spikey news is now be published six times a year for the Friends of Canadian Corridor Incorporated. Registered No A0097535B. The FoCC is an independent Landcare group registered with Landcare Victoria Inc. Each edition aligns with one of the six seasons which reflect how the Wadawurrung people and the seasonal changes in the landscape interact.

Season	Spikey issue date
Mid-summer	End of January
Late summer	End of March
Autumn early winter	End of May
Deep winter	End of July
Early Spring	End of September
Spring and Early summer	End of November

The purpose of “Spikey News” is to link the community to Woowookarung Regional Park and the Canadian Corridor. Circulation this issue is to 1261 1269 subscribers. Welcome to all new friends. Any opinions expressed in Spikey News are made by the editors in good faith and do not officially represent Parks Victoria or the FoCC.
Previous issues of Spikey news can be found at our web site, here.

We are proud to walk this land with the Wadawurrung people and all other First Nations people.

1. The first Friends meeting of the year

Was held on Wednesday 18^th February 2026 at the Gorge adjacent to Olympic Av Mt Clear. Highlight of the meeting was the celebration of the news that the Park had finally been rezoned.

2. April Friends meeting

 7.00pm Wednesday 29^th April, Buninyong Community House,
407 Warrenheip St, Buninyong
Topic “Goldfields Track and Woowookarung Regional Park”
All Members and Friends welcome!

 

3. Woowookarung Park Rezoning

When the Park was established in 2016, the two existing zones were carried over. The Canadian Forest areas were zoned Pubic Conservation and Resource Zone (PCRZ) and the plantation areas were zoned Farm Zone (FZ). Those zones date back to the late 1970’s.
The 2018 WRP Strategic Plan listed rezoning of the Park to all PCRZ as a priority. The Farm Zone is specific in what is allowed, and if it had continued would have precluded the construction of visitor facilities and other necessary works.

The map shows the two former zones in yellow and pink. Road reserves and superfluous overlays in the Park have now been deleted by the rezoning.

The announcement was made as a “Ballarat Planning Scheme C255 amendment” in the Victorian Government Gazette. Full details at: https://planning-schemes.app.planning.vic.gov.au/All%20schemes/amendments/C255ball?schemeCode=ball

The zoning change is the culmination of over a year’s hard work by Parks Victoria staff in creating and documenting the zoning reasons and changes.

4. Smart Living Expo

The FoCC hosted a stall at the Smart Living Expo at Buninyong on Sunday 23^rd February. Over 400 maps, brochures and flyers were distributed to a large number of expo visitors. Many enquiries were made about the Canadian Corridor and Woowookarung Regional Park and several new “friends” were signed up. The morning session included a visit by local Federal Member Catherine King MP. The FoCC has been at every Expo since 2014 excluding the Covid years.

5. Lake Esmond Friends launch

Local Residents from around Lake Esmond met on Saturday morning 21^st March 2026, to discuss ideas about how to look after Lake Esmond better. The meeting was facilitated by City of Ballarat, Yarrowee Leigh Catchment Group and the FoCC representatives.
Discussion ranged from:

• short term annoyances,
• park maintenance,
• working bees and future plantings,
• propagation of plants,
• grants
• creating a Lake Master Plan
  The meeting agreed for a small group of local volunteers to meet and work out the purpose, identity and the next steps for the future of the group. People wishing to be involved in the group should contact the lead organiser at present: Contact: frmike@tpg.com.au
  The Yarrowee Leigh Catchment Group offered Landcare Facilitator support for the group. The FoCC offered local publicity via its regular “Spikey News” newsletter and Facebook. The City of Ballarat provides support to volunteer groups with materials, guidance from the council’s parks and gardens staff, maintenance and preparatory work plus plants from the community nursery.

  

  

  

6. 10000-Step Trail walk

FoCC walkers tested out the full 10000 Step Trail in Woowookarung Regional Park on Sunday 22^nd March 2026. Thirty-seven walkers started at the Dementia Trail welcome shelter and walked around the trail visiting the Lookout, Grasstree Nature Trail, Amphitheatre, Baileys Track, Bunny Rail Trail, Penny Leaf Track returning via the newly completed open section of track between Dozed Track and the Dementia Trail car park.

The 7.8 km long 10000 Step Trail will soon have the bridge over the creek due to be installed in a few weeks’ time with eleven direction signs to be installed before it is officially opened. Great to have an early look at a project that has been ten years in the making.

7. FoCC membership for 2026 reminder
   Over 143 already paid. A new record!
   One unidentified payment
   One wonderful FoCC member has paid via Bank First on the 12^th February and forgot to add their name. We don’t know who you are.????  Contact foccinfo@gmail.com

Membership of the FoCC helps the FoCC in its advocacy, education and activities in support of the corridor. Membership runs from 1^st January to 31^st December each year, Membership fee is $20 per year. Children of members are free.
To renew your membership:

• You can pay for membership via Trybooking at: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1427368
  Cost is $20.50 via Trybooking. You can also make a donation of any size via this process.
  or via Bank transfer: Bendigo Bank Buninyong BSB   633 000    Account No 184147098 Note: Please add your name to the bank transfer and email  foccinfo@gmail.com your name and the date of the transaction. If your postal address has changed, please let us know.
  New Members: New members are most welcome:
  Applications after July are credited to the next year. Membership forms are available online or email foccinfo@gmail.com  

8. Koala Sightings
   October to March is Koala breeding season and peak sightings time. If you see, hear or find scat from a Koala, please send the information containing the when, where, and how to: foccinfo@gmail.com.  Images are gold (even if a little blurry). All Koala sightings are entered into the iNaturalist online data base. The complete list of sightings can be viewed at https://www.focc.asn.au/koalas/

   

   

   

   

   

9. Koala Monitoring walk completed
   The Moorabool Catchment Landcare Group has been monitoring koalas in Ballarat and Moorabool over the past three years as part of the National Koala Monitoring Program (NKMP). The FoCC have been proud partners on the program.

For the last 3 years, a Koala monitoring walk has been held annually along the Canadian Creek Trail between Hocking Av and Recreation Rd, Mt Clear. On Friday 20^th February 2026, volunteers walked with Jackson from the Moorabool Landcare Group looking for Koalas. Alas no sightings. It is important in Koala monitoring to record where they are not seen as well as where they are.
Sound recorders
Placing sound recorders is another Koala monitoring task in likely Koala habitat. Last year a sound recorder was placed in Lal Lal Drain area which resulted in 108 recordings from a couple of Koalas.

10. The Koala DNA new research

A recent report in “The Conversation” about the surprise findings of DNA of Koalas is worth reading. The Koala DNA question about whether small colonies of Koalas in places like Ballarat were at risk, has a surprise finding, which is heartening for Ballarat’s Koala future. The FoCC believes Koala scat collected from Ballarat in 2023 was included in the research.
Read the KOALA DNA report at:

https://theconversation.com/we-thought-inbred-koalas-were-at-risk-of-extinction-but-what-we-discovered-upends-genetic-conventions-276981

11. Bird of the Season XLIX (February / March 2026)
    Black Kite (Milvus migrans)

If raptors (birds of prey) are at the worst of times symbols of grace, aerialist ability, and formidable predatory prowess – then add to that, for this particular raptor, resourceful adaptability, (almost) worldwide occupation, and some Cleopatra charm (more on that later!). And don’t forget its chocolate-coloured plumage, and its being shrouded in lore as one of a few Aussie ‘firehawks’. The Black Kite, formerly and colloquially referred to as Fork-tailed Kite, is Australia’s only raptor with a conspicuously concave (V-shaped) trailing edge to its tail. While they are commonly recognised as open country regulars, the species is seemingly increasingly commonly-encountered in a variety of habitat contexts – including flyovers above the forests of Union Jack Reserve (Buninyong) and Canadian sections of Woowookarung Regional Park. On balance, these birds are awe-inspiring with a hint of mildly villainous protagonist (loveable antihero?)!

A member of Order Accipitriformes, and the second such featured as a Bird of the Month (after the Wedge-tailed Eagle), the Black Kite is one of six Australian species who go by the ‘Kite’ moniker.  Those six ‘Kites’ belong to four different genera (Black Kite is the standalone representative of Genus Milvus, in Australia), and four of them occur in Ballarat (Whistling, Square-tailed, and Black-shouldered are the other three locally-occurring species).  Just as there is much diversity between the ‘Kites’, there is much diversity within the Family Accipitridae, given eagles, buzzards, harriers, hawks, and indeed kites, all belong in the family***.  And much diversity within the species complex of Black Kite, given several subspecies exist across multiple continents.

***Did you know?  In listing off the generic names of raptors within Family Accipitridae, the omission of falcons was not an accident or mistake.  Falcons belong to their own branch of the evolutionary tree, that of Order Falconiformes, and are actually closer in genetic relationship to parrots and cockatoos (Order Psittaciformes) than they are to the eagles, hawks, kites, etc. of Order Accipitriformes.  Kestrel, Hobby, and the Crested Caracara of the Americas, all belong to Family Falconidae, while the former two join Peregrine and other falcons in Genus Falco – demonstrating again that there exists much diversity in some cases within a genus, let alone family or order classification. Other omissions: §   Osprey o   Rare or absent from Victoria, colloquially referred to as ‘Fish Hawk’, the coastal specialist, piscivore joins Black Kite in Order Accipitriformes, but is in its own offshoot that is Family Pandionidae. §   Owls o   The nocturnal predators, which are sometimes included in the generic, informal grouping of ‘raptor’, belong to Order Strigiformes, which includes: §  Family Tytonidae (the ‘Barn’ owls of Genus Tyto), characterised by their distinctive facial disk §  Family Strigidae (the ‘Hawk-owls’ / Boobooks and allies, of Genus Ninox among other genera), whose facial disks are more of an eye mask

The Black Kite is a medium-sized (48-55cm long, with 1.2m wingspan) raptor, with a largely unpatterned plumage.  The ‘Black’ is somewhat of a misnomer, given these kites are more chocolate-coloured, and barely reach dusky brown levels of darkness.  This becomes all the more misapplied in females of advanced age, whose head becomes progressively paler (such cases aside, the sexes are largely indistinguishable).  Given the largely uniformly brown plumage can be non-descript and not provide many ID clues when distinguishing from other raptors and even the similarly-sized Little Raven, it is very useful for the observer to focus their attention on the bird’s shape.  The tail is distinctively forked in a V-shape – setting it apart from all other Australian raptors – and only when it is in moult or the tail is fanned to the extreme does its tail become comparable to that of Square-tailed Kite (but at such an extreme fanning the Square-tailed Kite’s tail is gently convex, whereas Black’s is triangular).

Also important is its wing posture and flight behaviour; gliding on gently bowed wings (like a seagull stick figure in a generic seaside painting) with wrist forward and primaries / ‘fingers’ spread, and tail tilting (clockwise and anticlockwise) – all classic characteristics of Black Kite.  For photographers tossing up the ID of a well-defined image, Black Kite is unmistakable with its yellow cere (nostril area), yellow feet, and “Egyptian mascara” through the eye – a descriptor that was trending on Facebook bird identification forums (hence the Cleopatra reference in the intro!).

Black Kites are very flexible and cunning in their foraging strategy, able to combine active predation of locusts, mice, and other small fauna, with scavenging of carrion from roadsides, abattoirs, stockyards, rubbish tips, and beaches.  Black Kites are attracted to bushfires, and will survey about the smoky blaze ready to opportunistically seize prey fleeing the flames.  This association with fire is so shrouded in lore – and recently verified to be factual – that Black Kite, along with Whistling Kite and Brown Falcon, earned the moniker of ‘firehawks’, i.e. raptors that purposefully spread pre-existing fires by picking up sticks with burning embers and dropping them in nearby unburned patches.  To the best of my knowledge, this behaviour is uncommon, and known only from remote northern Australia.

Black Kites inhabit grasslands, open farmland, woodland, scrub, gibber deserts, wooded watercourses, mudflats, mangroves, beaches, airfields, and homestead environs.

Black Kites’ breeding season in the south of Australia is generally July through December (whereas, northern Australian birds may breed at any time of year).  Both sexes engage in a ritualised aerial courtship, which entails loud calling and choreography of locking talons and tumbling or cartwheeling.  The nest site is often high in the upper canopy of a watercourse tree, where the species may nest singularly or in loose colonies.  The female incubates for 35 days the clutch of 2-3 eggs, while the male provides food.  The nest is a shallow, untidy dish of large sticks, lined with various debris, such as leaves, grass, bark, wool, and dung.  Black Kites often reuse the nest of corvids and other raptors.  The species is assumed to breed in Ballarat and district, but irrefutable proof of breeding activity has – at the time of writing – been surprisingly elusive.

Black Kite dispersion (i.e. social organisation) differs from many other raptors.  Where many raptors are solitary predators, the Black Kite (and Whistling Kite) are often gregarious, meaning they are “rarely solitary” but instead often occur in small groups.  It is also not uncommon for the species to gather in groups totalling hundreds and even thousands of Black Kites!

Vocalisations include stuttering trills, peevish mews and whinnies, and tremulous whistles of “see-err”.  Also, plaintive, quavering “kwee-ee-ier” and sharp, staccato “kee-ee-ki-ki-ki”.

The Black Kite is distributed throughout the vast majority of mainland Australia (with the exception of sections of inland WA and SA, while in Tasmania it is a vagrant, i.e. irregular visitor).  In its Australian distribution, Black Kites are sedentary (non-migratory), but may be nomadic and irruptive in response to locust and mouse plagues.  Black Kites also occupy Africa, Eurasia, and Papua New Guinea, where it is a widespread and familiar species.  This multicontinental occupation makes it arguably the most numerous species of raptor in the world.

Next time you wander through Woowookarung RP, Union Jack Reserve, or any of the Corridor’s forest patches bordered by farmland – remember to look up, look twice at ravens in case it’s a raptor that you passed off as a raven, and mind the territorial, mobbing behaviours of magpies – any one of these cues could score you an opportunistic sighting of Black Kite (or other raptor) that you might’ve otherwise missed!  And if you see that conspicuously forked tail, you’ll know you’ve been graced by the adaptable, loveable antihero that wears its Cleopatra makeup – what a beauty!

Author note: FoCC Committee member and co-admin of FoCC’s Facebook and webpage, Joel Ellis is the resident bird nerd, amateur Powerful Owl researcher, and editor of FoCC’s (co-funded) ‘Indigenous [Species] of Southern Ballarat’ brochure series.  Joel has studied birds up to Honours degree level, is a professional ecological consultant (ornithologist), and member of BirdLife Australia (Ballarat branch). 

12. Park Works

10000 Step Trail works
The final stages of the construction of the 10000-Step Trail is underway between Lavery Avenue and the Dementia Trail Rotunda area. Penny Leaf Track has been upgraded with washaways removed and surface topping applied.

New connecting trail
A new 390m long connecting trail from the corner of Dozed Tk and Katy Ryans Rd to the Dementia Trail has now been constructed. The final task is the installation of the bridge over Soapys Creek over the next few weeks.
South Gate (Bakers Rd) tree trimming

Preparatory works have been underway at the car park area beside the south gate on Bakers Rd. The car park area is to be formalised with nose in parking, better signage and a reduction in the hard clay surface area.

13. Urban Ripple 2026 program.
    FoCC community Tree Plantings for 2026.

• 28th June – Canadian Creek
• 12th July – Dozed Track
• 19th July – Lal Lal Drain
• 2nd August – Canadian Creek
• 16th August – Sailors Gully Creek
• 23rd August – Soapy’s Dam

2026 Tree, shrub and grass orders.

The FoCC has ordered 6500 trees shrubs and grasses for planting on the four selected sites. 4500 plants have been ordered from the Wadawurrung Indigenous Nursery at Bostok and 2000 from Wine Barrel Banksias Nursery Buninyong for delivery in June. 20000 tree guard stakes have been ordered from local supplier Ross St Building Supplies.

Urban Ripple – City of Ballarat walkover

City of Ballarat Parks and Gardens staff met with FoCC reps to finalise the Urban Ripple planting plans.

14. Brewery Tap Rd Intersection upgrade
    Planning for the upgrade of the brewery Tap intersection at Warrenheip has begun with community consultation. The FoCC has long had a view that an upgrade presents an ideal opportunity to connect north and south of the highway with a shared walk/cycle crossing over the highway. Plus, extensive revegetation beside highway where the Biolink crosses the highway. Ropeways for small animals and poles for gliding animal and birds. The FoCC made a submission to the Brewery Tap Rd upgrade on 8^th March 2026.
    

    

    After the submission the FoCC received the following message from the Highway Project Team

Dear Jeff
Thank you for sharing the Friends of Canadian Corridor’s (FoCC) submission to the Western Freeway and Brewery Tap Intersection Upgrade consultation.
We appreciate the time and consideration that went into your feedback. Your submission has been provided to the project team for review alongside all consultation inputs.
In particular, we’ve noted FoCC’s suggestions regarding the opportunity to enhance the biolink across the highway and a north–south active transport connection via a shared walk/cycle path.
These points will be considered as we progress design development.
If you have any further suggestions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We will keep you updated as the project moves forward.

Kind regards
The Project Team

Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority

15. orest Fire Management York St Burn
    

    

    

16. Brown Hill subdivision outcome
    Last year the FoCC objected to a proposal to clear a substantial lot of Koala habitat at 76 Springs Rd Brown Hill. Recently the FoCC received the following letter from the Cities statutory planning team upholding our objection.
    Dear Sir/Madam,
    Re:  PLP/2021/788 76 Springs Road, BROWN HILL
    The Statutory Planning Unit has considered the above application and determined to refuse to grant a planning permit. The attached copy of the Notice of Refusal to Grant a Planning Permit sets out the grounds of refusal. Your attention is drawn to the appeal provisions, printed at the end of this Notice. Please call 5320 5640 if you have any enquiries.
    Thank you
    Statutory Planning Team

The FoCC main objection was that the project proposal breached Koala Plan of Management requirements, particularly the retention of Koala Habitat. Well done, City of Ballarat!

17. Union Jack Reserve walk
    The FoCC is holding a discovery walk around Union Jack Reserve on:

1pm Saturday 18^th April 2026
Distance 5.2 km
Meet at reserve entrance, Elizabeth St, Buninyong
Trail Condition – The trail is on formed trails and undulating bush tracks with occasional steep hills.
The walk takes between 2 – 2.5hours and requires reasonable fitness.
Solid footwear, rain and wind proof clothing is essential. Recommended to carry water and any other personal needs. There are no facilities along the way. Cuppa at the end.

18. A Goat on Water Reserve land

A goat appears to have made its home in the forest adjacent to the Central Highlands Water basin at the corner of Wilson St and Boundary Rd Canadian.  It appears to be undisturbed by people, which suggests it may be a domesticated goat. If anyone knows anything about this goat, they should contact City of Ballarat animal shelter services.

19. Rubbish dumpers, thieves and vandals

The FoCC urges Park friends to report vandals as well as rubbish dumpers, wood thieves and other suspicious activity to Parks Victoria on 13 1963 or email: woowookarung@parks.vic.gov.au

In emergency situations please call 000. If an offender is spotted, please note vehicle registration details as vehicle identification is most helpful, plus location and details. All information is treated by Parks Victoria Rangers professionally and confidentially.

20. Useful information
    Parks Victoria Woowookarung email address: woowookarung@parks.vic.gov.au

• City of Ballarat wildlife information:
  https://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/me/pets-and-animals/wildlife

• Recommended Wildlife rescue: Wildlife Victoria (03) 8400 7300
• Koala spotting – https://www.focc.asn.au/koalas/
• Ballarat Wildlife Hospital: https://ballaratwildlifehospital.org.au
• DEECA wildlife issues reporting information

Report wildlife crime to Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000. Report any wildlife at immediate risk of deliberate harm or neglect to 136 186. Other matters relating to wildlife and wildlife management should use the 136 186 too. The Help for Injured Wildlife tool will help you locate and contact the closest relevant wildlife carers and rescue and rehabilitation organisations to help the injured wildlife.

21. Membership
    Membership runs from 1^st January to 31^st December each year, Membership fee is $20 per year. New members and renewals after July 1 are credited to the next year.

• • You can pay for membership via Trybooking at: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1427368
    Cost is $20.50 via Trybooking. You can also make a donation of any size via this process.

• Bank transfer to details: Bendigo Bank Buninyong BSB   633 000    Account No 184147098

Note: Please add your name to the bank transfer and email  foccinfo@gmail.com your name and the date of the transaction. If your postal address has changed, please let us know.

• Payment to the Treasurer at a FoCC meeting

22. FoCC Facebook and webpage
    www.facebook.com/friendsofcanadiancorridor/
    Rob is overseeing the webpage  webmaster@focc.asn.au
    The FoCC has over 1400+ friends following us on Facebook and growing. Welcome to all new friends. Feel free to pass on to other friends and press the Like button. 

23. 2026 Calendar
    The calendar is prepared by the FoCC committee.
    

24. FoCC Committee for 2026 is as follows:  

President	Jeff Rootes
Secretary	Hayley Inglis
Treasurer	Peter Darveniza
Committee members.	Jo Kelly, Tarn Kruger, Joan Brick, Rob Loveband, Jane Thompson, Bob Hartmann, Tracie Currie and Joel Ellis

Spikey News change of issue dates
Spikey news is now be published six times a year for the Friends of Canadian Corridor Incorporated. Registered No A0097535B.
The FoCC is an independent Landcare group registered with Landcare Victoria Inc.
Each edition aligns with one of the six seasons which reflect how the Wadawurrung people and the seasonal changes in the landscape interact.  

Season	Spikey issue date
Mid-summer	End of January
Late summer	End of March
Autumn early winter	End of May
Deep winter	End of July
Early Spring	End of September
Spring and Early summer	End of November