Manly Dam Biodiversity Project's Journal

Hi All,

The project is going “gang busters”. There is so much wildlife out there to view and it’s been lovely to see so many people out and about enjoying our beautiful bushland.

Don’t forget to check your observations from time to time. If someone has suggested a different species then if you agree with them please make sure you hit the “agree” button. The observation doesn’t become Research Grade unless the original observer agrees on the species. I find it easier to navigate changing your observation by logging in via the website rather than through the App. If anyone has any tips please feel free to comment below - all help welcome!

I hope everyone is enjoying the rain; great weather for the ducks at the Dam! It will be interesting to see how the vegetation changes after all this rain.

For anyone interested in the future of Australia's unique biodiversity and ecosystems below is a link to the independent review of the of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. It's a long but easy and interesting read.
https://epbcactreview.environment.gov.au/

Also on the Biodiversity subject, did you know Northern Beaches Council has a Biodiversity Officer? As part of the Save Manly Dam Catchment Committee we met with Sonja Elwood late last year and she has a long history in the wildlife sector. She is a founding member of Sydney Wildlife Rescue and is also working on recording local Biodiversity through BioNET the NSW register (like iNaturalist feeds into the national ALA).
Unfortunately with the amalgamation of the councils into the single Northern Beaches Council Sonja now has to cover the whole of the northern beaches (there was originally one officer per council).
She's a force to be reckoned with but her work is a constant battle.
Have a read of the interview below from her work with Sydney Wildlife Rescue:
https://blog.sydneywildlife.org.au/2020/11/an-interview-with-local-member-sonja.html