Latrobe Catchment Landcare Network

12/10/2026

🐦 20 minutes for the birds! Are you in? 🌿

The Aussie Bird Count is back from 19–25 October, and we'd love to see our Landcare community get involved!

Whether you're on the farm, in the garden, wandering through your local reserve or enjoying a cuppa on the verandah, why not take 20 minutes to stop, listen and see who's sharing your space?

🦜 It's free, fun and suitable for all ages — and every bird you count helps build a better picture of Australia's birdlife.

It's also a wonderful excuse to slow down and appreciate the incredible biodiversity we have right here in West Gippsland. 💚

🐤 So, who's joining the count? We'd love to hear what birds you're spotting in your patch!

👉 Register at https://aussiebirdcount.org.au/

🐦 The Aussie Bird Count is back! - Register now!

From 19–25 October, Australians everywhere are invited to spend just 20 minutes counting the birds around them, whether that’s in your backyard, on your balcony, at school or in your local park. No experience needed, just a love for birds and a desire to connect with nature.

Last year, 64,000 people counted more than 5 million birds across Australia. This year, we want to make the Count even bigger, and we’d love you to join us! 🐦

All you need is 20 minutes, a little curiosity and the free Aussie Bird Count app, which guides you through the whole process.

Your sightings help contribute to important citizen science, while giving you a chance to slow down, connect with nature and discover the birds living right around you.

We can’t wait to see you there! Register today: https://aussiebirdcount.org.au/

The Aussie Bird Count 2026 is proudly supported by our friends at Bank Australia

12/10/2026

🐰 SUDDENLY SEEING RABBITS EVERYWHERE? YOU'RE NOT ALONE!
🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰
We've been hearing from landholders who are noticing what feels like an explosion in rabbit numbers at the moment!

Rabbits in the paddocks, rabbits along the roadsides, rabbits in the garden... sound familiar?

Well, now's the time to get on board and learn what you can actually do about them!

This Sunday 18 October, we're holding our FREE Rabbits: Breaking the Cycle workshop at Toongabbie Golf Club.

And this isn't just another information session. We're getting out in the field to show you practical rabbit control methods, including:

🐇 Identifying rabbit activity and warrens
🚜 Excavator warren ripping, ferrets, and exclusion fencing installation
💨 Fumigation and other control options
📅 Getting the timing right and following up
🤝 Working with neighbours for more effective, lasting control

We'll have experienced contractors and experts from the Victorian Rabbit Action Network (VRAN) on hand to answer your questions.

We're also looking to bring local landholders together to form a Rabbit Action Group! Because controlling rabbits on one property is only part of the solution.

📍 Toongabbie Golf Club
📅 Sunday 18 October
⏰ 9.30am arrival | 10am–4.30pm
🥪 FREE – Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea included

🎟️ REGISTER NOW via Humanitix link in the comments.

Don't wait until the rabbits have taken over. Come along, bring your neighbours and learn how to break the cycle!


Victorian Rabbit Action Network -VRAN

02/10/2026

🐰 Calling Toongabbie and surrounding landholders! If rabbits are causing problems on your property, we’d love you to come along — and we especially want to hear from people keen to be part of coordinated local control. toongabbie.vic.au

🐰 RABBITS: BREAKING THE CYCLE – TOONGABBIE
Sick of rabbits? Let’s do something about it – together.

Rabbits don’t care about fence lines. You can put time, money and effort into controlling them on your property, but if they’re thriving next door, they can quickly move back in.

On Sunday 18 October, we’re bringing our practical Rabbits: Breaking the Cycle workshop to Toongabbie Golf Club – and the whole community is invited.
Come along and see rabbit control methods demonstrated in real-world conditions, meet contractors and learn from experts from the Victorian Rabbit Action Network -VRAN

We’ll explore:
🐇 Identifying rabbit activity and warrens
💨 Fumigation and where it fits into effective control
🚜 Warren ripping with an excavator
🛠️ Different control methods and when to use them
📅 Why timing and follow-up matter
🤝 Why coordinated control between neighbours is so important

Got rabbits on your property?
We especially want to hear from you.
We’re looking for local landholders who are ready to get involved in coordinated rabbit control, property visits and future demonstration activities. You don't need to have a huge infestation – if you're seeing rabbits, warrens or signs of activity, let us know.

📅 Sunday 18 October 2026
📍 Toongabbie Golf Club
☕ 9:30am registration & morning tea
🐰 10am start – 4:00pm finish
🥪 Morning tea, lunch & afternoon tea supplied
🎟️ FREE – registration essential
👉 Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/rabbits-breaking-the-cycle-toongabbie
👉 Tell us about rabbits on your property: https://forms.gle/uho1SAgeDwXsr4dr8

One property can make a difference. A whole neighbourhood working together can make a much One property can make a difference. A whole neighbourhood working together can make a much bigger one.

02/10/2026

🐰 RABBITS: BREAKING THE CYCLE – TOONGABBIE
Sick of rabbits? Let’s do something about it – together.

Rabbits don’t care about fence lines. You can put time, money and effort into controlling them on your property, but if they’re thriving next door, they can quickly move back in.

On Sunday 18 October, we’re bringing our practical Rabbits: Breaking the Cycle workshop to Toongabbie Golf Club – and the whole community is invited.
Come along and see rabbit control methods demonstrated in real-world conditions, meet contractors and learn from experts from the Victorian Rabbit Action Network -VRAN

We’ll explore:
🐇 Identifying rabbit activity and warrens
💨 Fumigation and where it fits into effective control
🚜 Warren ripping with an excavator
🛠️ Different control methods and when to use them
📅 Why timing and follow-up matter
🤝 Why coordinated control between neighbours is so important

Got rabbits on your property?
We especially want to hear from you.
We’re looking for local landholders who are ready to get involved in coordinated rabbit control, property visits and future demonstration activities. You don't need to have a huge infestation – if you're seeing rabbits, warrens or signs of activity, let us know.

📅 Sunday 18 October 2026
📍 Toongabbie Golf Club
☕ 9:30am registration & morning tea
🐰 10am start – 4:00pm finish
🥪 Morning tea, lunch & afternoon tea supplied
🎟️ FREE – registration essential
👉 Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/rabbits-breaking-the-cycle-toongabbie
👉 Tell us about rabbits on your property: https://forms.gle/uho1SAgeDwXsr4dr8

One property can make a difference. A whole neighbourhood working together can make a much One property can make a difference. A whole neighbourhood working together can make a much bigger one.

28/09/2026

WANT TO LEARN HOW TO USE iNaturalist in your area
Our friends at the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority and our superstar facilitator, Em, have a great opportunity to learn more about iNaturalist online tonight 🙂

Will you be joining us?
Check out the link below to register ...

Then, we have some groovy booklets with all the details to give to our Landcare groups and run some workshops with us.
If you're interested, please reach out to us 💚

Tanjil Valley Landcare Boolarra South Landcare Friends of Morwell National Park Gippsland Plains Rail Trail Mountain Rivers Landcare Mt Worth and District Landcare Group

As part of our upcoming BioBlitz, we're offering a free online training session!
📅 Tonight Monday 28 September (7pm - 8.30pm).
Jump online to this session that will:
👋🏼Introduce the West Gippsland Bio-Blitz project
🦇Show you how to join the BioBlitz on iNaturalist
🐦Demonstrate how to use the iNaturalist app
🔍Explain how your observations contribute to citizen science
Whether you're a keen naturalist or simply curious about the wildlife around you, this is a fantastic opportunity to connect with nature and contribute to a better understanding of West Gippsland's biodiversity, and the iNaturalist App! hashtag!
Register here: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1651508 Landcare in West Gippsland

15/09/2026

With H5N1 bird flu now a serious concern across Australia, monitoring wild bird populations, including invasive species such as the Indian myna, is more important than ever. Indian mynas are highly mobile and adaptable and thrive in urban areas. They compete with native birds and small mammals for food and scarce nesting hollows and can displace wildlife, damage eggs and kill chicks.

Indian mynas are declared a pest species in the ACT for good reason. Recording sightings helps us understand where mynas are established and spreading, but surveillance alone is not enough. Coordinated, humane control is also important to reduce their impacts on native wildlife. Pest management is not about a lack of compassion for animals. It is about making careful, evidence-based choices to protect native species and ecosystems facing multiple pressures.

If you see sick or dead birds, do not touch them or allow pets to approach them. Rather report them to the national bird flu hotline.

If you spot an Indian myna, you can also record the sighting on MynaScan because every record helps build a clearer picture of where these birds are established and spreading and supports better management.

Report sick or dead birds: https://loom.ly/Lm-fLlw
Record myna sightings: https://loom.ly/vpfy5jU
For useful resources and to learn more about humane Indian myna control: resources https://loom.ly/Tsfnj_Y
Get involved with the Indian Myna Action Group: https://loom.ly/ubUbe6c