You Yangs Boneseed - Birds Australia

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You Yangs Boneseed

The You Yangs Regional Park, which is 55 km south-west of Melbourne, provides habitat for a wide variety of native animals and plants. However, the Park also harbours a number of introduced species including the widespread weed Chrysanthemoides monilifera, commonly known as Boneseed.

Boneseed is a member of the Asteraceae, or daisy, family and in springtime the shrubs, which can grow to 3 m in height, are covered in bright yellow daisies. Seed production is prolific and fallen seeds can remain viable in the soil for 5 to 10 years. The plants thrive in disturbed areas and invade bushland that has been recently burnt, successfully competing with native plants. Boneseed became established at the You Yangs during the 1950s and today grows very thickly in a number of places.

Possibly the most effective, non-polluting, but labour intensive method of Boneseed control is removal by pulling the plants out by hand. As part of the control program, Birds Australia has been allocated a site in the south-east of the park, adjacent to the Great Circle Drive. This area is kept relatively free of Boneseed by Birds Australia members removing the weeds during regular organised visits to the You Yangs. These outings are held four times each year. Dates are advertised in the Vic Babbler.

On each visit the morning is spent travelling around the Great Circle Road, stopping at several places to go for a short walk to look for some of the 200 recorded bird species. After a picnic lunch, we pull out Boneseed for a couple of hours at the Birds Australia site then do some more birding. Items to bring on these outings are binoculars, lunch and a drink, gardening gloves and a trowel, and a hat and sunscreen. Everyone is welcome.

For further information contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , phone 03 9889 4924.