You Yangs Bone-seeding

Our You Yangs outings are mostly birding, but include an hour or so of serious bone-seed pulling. We begin the day by birding in the vicinity of the visitors' centre before driving around the Great Circle Road, stopping at a few locations to walk along some tracks and see what birds and other wildlife we can find. We pull out the odd boneseed plant as we go. There is a very conveniently placed picnic table and small car park where we have our lunch and work up the energy to start weeding. We arrive at the BA site by 2.30 or 3.00pm and pull out boneseed and sometimes also tackle Box Thorn, which does tend to fight back. We are gradually winning the battle in our area. It is certainly more clear of boneseed than it was some years ago. However, it is a matter of control, not eradication as the seeds can remain viable in the soil for up to 10 years. If there has been recent rain and numerous small boneseed plants have sprouted, each person can easily pull out 1000 in an hour. When we have had enough, we do some more birding at the eastern flat beyond our site. It is always very rewarding, partly because it is late in the day and also because there are some reliable birds there and usually an odd surprise as well. It's a really great day. All are welcome. Participants should bring a trowel, gardening gloves, clothes for all weather, food and water, binoculars of course and anything else they might need. I always have extra gardening equipment and water, just in case.

Last updated 17 July 2007.