Around your reserves in 90 days

Hopping right into our hands

	Photo: Peter Morris.

When Journalists from SBS, ABC and Channel 9 News visited Boolcoomatta Reserve in October, this tiny mouse stole the show.

The journalists had gathered to witness firsthand the incredible difference Bush Heritage and its supporters have made since the property was purchased in 2006.

Scientists carrying out Bush Heritage's first trapping survey of the reserve were thrilled to find a dusky hopping mouse in their monitoring trap – the first live capture of the mouse on record at Boolcoomatta.

The teeth marks on Ecologist Jim Radford's hands suggest the mouse wasn't a willing participant, but that didn't stop it becoming a media star. The mouse, which is known for its feistiness, is listed as vulnerable in South Australia and, until recently, had not been seen in the area for at least 40 years.

80 per cent fewer rabbits at Scottsdale

	Photo: Eddie Misic

Like many of our reserves, Scottsdale received plentiful rains in the last year, with grasses growing high and feed for native animals in endless supply. It's not just native animals that enjoy the good times though – during boom periods, rabbits can have four or five litters a year, with just 1000 rabbits producing up to 25 000 offspring.

In June, thousands of you responded to that very real threat, by supporting our feral-fighting campaign across all our reserves. Thanks to your support and a team of dedicated and skilled volunteers, we've been able to prevent thousands of rabbits from breeding at Scottsdale.

Reserve Manager Peter Saunders reports an 80 per cent reduction in the number of rabbits since volunteers began quarterly working bees three years ago. (Nationally and elsewhere in New South Wales, rabbits have increased in numbers.)

That's 80 per cent fewer rabbits to feed on native grassland flowers like bulbines, creamy candles and milkmaids, all of which grow at Scottsdale.

Wildflowers blooming at Eurardy

Visitors to Eurardy Reserve were treated to an extraordinary wildflower show this season, after the property had its wettest year in more than 20 years.

"Nature has done us a favour," says Reserve Manager Elizabeth Lescheid, who showed visiting wildflower enthusiasts displays of orchids, sandplain heath, everlastings and in particular, a rare flower called Eurardy wax.

"We've only ever seen Eurardy wax in a few spots before now, but this year, it's showing up all over the place," says Elizabeth.

High rainfall is an obvious reason for the extraordinary boom, as well as regeneration after a 2010 bushfire. But thanks to your support, Elizabeth and fellow Reserve Manager Matt Warnock have helped the land make the most of the favourable conditions, managing feral rabbits, goats and foxes, and controlling weeds.

Wunambal Gaambera

Bush Heritage has appointed a Healthy Country Manager, Dr Tom Vigilante, to work with the Wunambal Gaambera people on the implementation of a Healthy Country Plan.

Tom's appointment is a key action in the ground-breaking, ten-year, agreement signed recently between Wunambal Gaambera people and Bush Heritage to work together to manage a new Indigenous Protected Area.

The Indigenous Protected Area protects 340 000 hectares of Kimberley bush, at least 65 animal species and 102 plant species found nowhere else on earth. The goal of the Healthy Country Plan is zero loss of species.

Yourka back on track

	Photo: Wayne Lawler / Ecopix

Reserve managers Paul and Leanne Hales are well prepared for the summer fire season thanks to repairs made to access roads after Cyclone Yasi devastated infrastructure in early 2011.

"In the last three months we've had a contracted dozer removing heavy cyclone timber and clearing fire breaks," says Leanne.

The work has been made possible thanks to our generous supporters after dramatic news of the cyclone's destructive impact at Yourka, bolstered by disaster relief funding from the Queensland government.

"For the first time since Bush Heritage purchased Yourka we have commenced our planned burn program with the security of bare earth breaks and clear tracks around fire blocks. Proactive fire management is the most critical management activity at Yourka as it protects our greatest natural asset, the diverse woodlands, from broadscale, devastating wildfire."