9 minute read
Outdoors
Importance of NOT feeding wild birds
A MAJOR issue with wildlife is metabolic bone disease with our wild bird populations.
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Magpies are the main species seen with this lethal disease. This is a result of incorrect diet being fed by humans. The damage occurs at very early stages of development, but does not manifest itself until chicks emerge from the nest. They are then found on the ground and taken to vets or wildlife hospitals. By then it is too late. There is no reversing the damage. If left untreated the bones fracture. It is very distressing to see x rays of these birds. Euthanasia of wildlife is always sad to see, but the option of letting an animal die slowly in the wild is cruel.
For new members, it is hard to say goodbye to those first patients, but seeing them in the wild is such a joy. We have recently taken kangaroos to their release site, five joeys ‘mobbed’ from different carers. How lovely to see them free. Last week two lorikeet chicks were off to release. A week on site at their new home, away from the perils of suburbia, saw them interacting with the local rainbow lorikeets and freedom beckoned. What a site to see them soaring off up into the trees, calling encouragement to each other.
Enquiries are rolling in to our WILVOs website and Hotline about bookings to our next WILVOS induction day. The website has membership application forms, or alternatively phone the Hotline 5441 6200.
All our members care for wildlife in their own way. Regular training sessions are held on the different species. We all began knowing very little! People choose to become wildlife rehabilitators, or transporters, or hotliners. Others may wish to find out more about our native animals. The Hotline runs from our own phones on a diversion system. Help is always at hand in all fields! Think about becoming a wildlife carer on May 15? Induction and New Carers Workshop 10am - 2pm. membership@wilvos.org.au Donna Brennan Wildlife Volunteers Assoc Inc (WILVOS), 5441 6200 or www.wilvos.org.au
Growing Lorikeet chicks
TREES AND SOLAR PANELS getting the best of both worlds
THE trees in our neighbourhoods are a source of beauty, shade and habitat for our local birds and wildlife. We know that trees have many benefits, from cooling down our streets to keeping our kids occupied. But the shade from trees can be a real problem when it comes to installing solar. Solar panels typically work best when they are unobstructed during the daylight hours, ensuring you maximise how much sun is soaked up. So, what do you do when a tree is in the way?
In Australia the right to solar access is not well protected or regulated by law. If you already have solar panels, you may be afforded some protection in court. For example, a new development that overshadows existing solar panels may be required to adjust its design to ensure solar access is retained; or height restrictions may be imposed on growing trees to ensure existing panels remain viable. However, these developments do not address the issue of installing panels on an already shady roof.
The first option you might explore is to simply cut down or trim the offending tree. But that can be a drawn-out process and could require approval from Noosa Shire Council. You can request for tree pruning or removals, but Council policy indicates that ‘trees will only be removed or pruned after consideration of potential risks and benefits,’ notably whether the tree is an unacceptable hazard. Additionally, cutting down the trees around your house will make it hotter during the Summer, impact the scenery and may result in a number of other issues like increased soil erosion.
But there is a way to keep your trees and reap the benefits of solar panels, through technological advancements in the solar energy space.
The first step is to assess exactly how shaded your roof is. Sunny Shire has a case study outlining how one community member measured the shadiness of their roof with a Sun Surveyor app. You can also talk to a solar installer to get an assessment. Ultimately, you want to determine: • Where the shade falls during each stage of the day, • How shade falls during each season of the year, and • To assess if there are any trees that may become an issue (as they grow).
Depending on the level of shade you can look at deploying several strategies. The easiest option, is to configure your solar panels in a way that avoids regular shading. But if shading is unavoidable you can consider using a string inverter that has MPP tracking capability. This allows the maximum amount of energy to be wringed out of the panels even when shaded. The tracker minimises energy losses that come from shading. Alternatively, you could install microinverters or power optimisers. These devices allow each solar panel to work independently, so that overall system energy is not overly affected by some of the panels being shaded.
With technological advancements there are many options to overcome roof shading, without losing the tree! And it is worth it. The case study from Sunny Shire is a great example of how shaded solar panels can still reduce energy bills and emissions for residential homes. In one year, without using technological advancements to maximise output, the resident’s solar panels produced 80% of the output, above their estimations and putting them on track to recoup the cost of the panels in less than 3 years. Now that’s getting the best of both worlds!
For more details visit the ZEN website – zeroemissionsnoosa.com.au
ELECTRIC BUSES BOUND FOR THE SUNSHINE COAST
The Palaszczuk Government is driving Queensland’s low-emissions transport future with five electric buses soon hitting the streets of the Sunshine Coast.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said “We’ve made a commitment that every new bus in South East Queensland would be zero emission from 2025.”
FUNDING TO PROTECT NOOSA’S KOALAS AND NATIVE SPECIES
Noosa’s koalas are set to benefit from $249,985 for Noosa and District Landcare, with Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien announcing funding through the Liberal and National Government’s ‘Threatened Species Strategy Action Plan’.
Noosa and District Landcare general manager Phil Moran said, “This grant means we can carry out works like revegetation across five local properties, which will have an immediate benefit for local koala populations, and we can also expand our drone technology to do more research on where koalas are living and where we can do more work to protect them, so it has long-term benefits for future generations of koalas as well.”
Swing in to one of the most beautiful Golf Courses in the Noosa Hinterland OPEN 7 DAYS
• 9 & 18 Hole Layouts • Members Competition • Social Golf • Cart Hire • Visitors Welcome
Challenging but enjoyable experience for golfers of all levels
26 Myall Street, Cooroy Phone: 5447 6258 Clubhouse Hours: 6am-6pm www.cooroygolf.com.au
SPORTS PHYSIOTHERAPY | WOMEN’S HEALTH | MANIPULATION SPINAL PAIN | ARTHRITIS | DRY NEEDLING | PILATES
Rebecca Steele Craig Steele Sabine Anderson
hinteractivephysio Ph: 5442 5556
TO DO LIST • Top up compost on asparagus and bulbs and on newly prepared beds to avoid them drying out • Fertilize – prepare citrus beds by adding a handful of dolomite and micronutrients then mix together 5 litres water with 1 teaspoon molasses, 1 teaspoon seaweed concentrate, 1 cup worm castings and stir well then add to planting beds too • Feed tomatoes with magnesium (epsom salts) • Apply fertilizer tea to cabbage, leek, lettuce and silverbeet when necessary and half strength fortnightly to spinach.
WHAT TO PLANT • Asparagus, rhubarb,rosellas, fruit trees, citrus, custard apple, loquat, dragon fruit, olive, and guava. • Plant broccoli seedlings
Permaculture Noosa Club Night Guest Speaker: Heidi Merika Tuesday May 3, 6pm. Cooroy Memorial Hall Pomona Market BBQ & Plant Sale Saturday May 21, 7 - 11.30am. www.permaculturenoosa.com.au Meet CODY! A happy, fun loving, outgoing boy who is very much young at heart! Cody loves his people, loves to lean right on you for pats and will happily lay beside you all day long if you let him. He suits an indoor lifestyle where he is a real part of daily life with his family. Cody is suitable for experienced owners with kids 13yrs+. He loves his walks and will need daily walking to keep him happy and healthy. He is suitable as a single dog with all the love and affection just for him. He loves toys and will play on his own chasing a ball around for hours! Cody will need secure 6ft fencing to keep him safe and a good sized yard to play in. Adoption Price: $350 includes 1 hour online Behaviour Consult
Hi there, my name is CHOCOLATE, Have you got space in your heart and home for me? I'd love to go home with another piggy friend, because we're very social so if you have one at home already, I'm sure we'll get along. For me to live my best life, I need to be offered a good sized inside cage and an outside cage please provide us with photos. We're not as low maintenance and antisocial as people think we are - we still love spending time with our humans, and rely on you to do everything for us including a daily cage clean - we can be very messy, sorry. We love soft cuddly beds with little hidey holes and fun activities. We also need to eat a healthy mix of grain, hay and fresh fruit and vegetables to keep us fit and fabulous! Unfortunately the kids can't be our sole caretakers - we will need mum and dad's help too. If you think I might be the perfect fit for the whole family, please fill out an adoption application today! www.rspcaqld.org.au/expression-of-interest-to-adopt
A HAUL OF MEDALS AT MASTERS
Andrew from Cowan Taylor Aquatics pictured with daughter Harper at the Australian Masters Swimming Championships at the Sydney Olympic park Aquatic Centre, with his haul of medals, winning 8 of his 10 individual events. Also gaining Australian records in the 50m and 25m freestyle. Congratulations Andrew! Andrew is the head coach at the Cooroy pool so if your looking for lessons or coaching contact 0413 929 197 cowantayloraquatics@live.com.au
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