QNC EventsD

Please note that QNC excursions and meetings will be subject to special rules during the Covid19 pandemic click here and attendees must register by email (see below)

 Register for excursions at: excursion@qnc.org.au and meetings at: meetings@qnc.org.au

Type Event_Date Description Person/Presenter Information
Meeting 19-04-2021 Presentation:
The Unseen World Inside Fungi		 Dr Vivian Sandoval Have you ever thought about what kind of organisms can live inside the bracket fungi growing in the old stump in your backyard? Or in the mushrooms that suddenly emerged on your lawn after the rain? Many groups of insects and other arthropods have a close association to fungi, being in some cases obligatory fungal inhabitants (mycetobionts), using fungi as their shelter, place of oviposition, and food. As their food source sometimes is restricted or ephemeral, these organisms have developed different adaptations to colonize and use these resources. But what is the importance of this interaction for us and the environment? 
Dr. Vivian Sandoval has been studying and collecting mycetobiont insects and their host fungi for more than ten years in Brazil, Colombia and Australia, and will be sharing stories of these fascinating creatures, with a special attention to beetles that can call fungi “home”. She will also talk about collecting and rearing techniques, and how to contribute to her research project. 
Excursion 24-04-2021 JC Trotter Memorial Park, Cherbon Street, Burbank Susan Nelles Drive aprox. 700m along Cherbon St to the entrance on the left, then park along the road.  Bring morning tea and lunch. When you register put JC TROTTER PARK in the subject line, and include names and contact details for all people attending.  NOTE: There are no toilets; the nearest are at the Caltex petrol station.
         
Camp
May Long
Weekend		 1-3 May 2021 Minto Crags, Croftby, Scenic Rim Dick Copeman Minto Crags are a prominent rocky outcrop, a rhyolitic ring dike south of Boonah in the Fassifern District. The highest point is Mt. Minto, 1,082 feet high, which was originally called Coweemooraburra. The varied vegetation communities include low woodland, shrub-land, and small areas of microphyll vine forest at the base with the surrounding areas dominated by eucalypt open forest.The campsite is on a private property of 60 acres, including Mt. Minto, and adjacent to Crown Land that also forms part of the Minto Crags ring dyke. The owners have been very careful in the preservation of the natural history features on their land. The camp area has some slopes, is grassed amongst some small eucalypts and is suitable for tents, caravans and camper trailers. Nearby is a relocated hall which will be available for the evening get together. If the weather is suitable, frogs may be calling from a near-by dam. Campers will need to be self-sufficient, including water. Toilets are on site. Day visitors are welcome and need to be on site by 8.30am for a 9.00am start. Location details are in the newsletter. When you register, put MAY LONG WEEKEND CAMP in the subject line, and include names and contact details for all people attending.   
Excursion 14-05-2021 Cooloola BioBlitz Barney Hines If you are interested in coordinating or participating in this event, please email excursion@qnc.org.au, put BIOBLITZ in the subject line, and put details of what involvement you are interested in. The blitz will be held over 3 days Friday to Sunday inclusive.
Meeting 17-05-2021 Presentation:
Dragonflies and Damselflies of the Gold Coast		 Narelle Power and Damien White Narelle and Damien have recently published a field guide on the dragonflies and damselflies of the Gold Coast and surrounds. Dragonflies and damselflies (odonates) are becoming increasingly popular for ‘spotting’ and photographing. However, not since 2006 (Dragonflies of South East Queensland) by the late Ric Nattrass, has a local regional guide been published. The authors will use images from their book to discuss odonate life history and habitat. They will highlight the more common (and rarer species) present on the Gold Coast and more widely in the SEQ region. For more information please click on the hyperlink below. Limited copies of the guide will also be for sale by the authors on the night of the meeting.

Dragonflies and Damselflies of the Gold Coast
Meeting 21-06-2021 Presentation:
Do Bilbies have a Future in Queensland?		 Dr Paul Campbell Bilbies are the fastest reproducing Australian mammal. They are also ecosystem engineers, supporting many other plant and animal species through their activities. Bilbies once occupied over 70% of the Australian mainland but have disappeared from at least 80% of their former range. In Queensland, bilbies still survive in small isolated populations in the far west and are listed as endangered. The Save the Bilby Fund (STBF) maintains a growing bilby population inside a predator exclusion fence on Currawinya National Park, and a breeding and acclimatisation creche in Charleville. This presentation by Dr Paul Campbell, a director of the STBF, will discuss the current status of bilbies in Queensland and the Fund's plans to re-introduce bilbies back into parts of their former range.

Register for excursions at: excursion@qnc.org.au and meetings at: meetings@qnc.org.au

QNC General Meetings

Learn about natural history at our meetings with talks presented by specialists from the club or from various scientific institutions, and from members exhibits. Visitors are welcome

Where:    We meet at the Toowong Uniting Church Hall. This is located at 82 Sherwood Road, Toowong and is less than 200 metres from Toowong Village Shopping Centre, Toowong Railway Station & bus stops.

There is parking at 76 Sherwood Road for 12 cars.  Street parking is available.  Toowong Village parking is free  provided you enter after 6pm.

When: 7:30 p.m. on the third Monday of each month, February to November inclusive

Note that each meeting will commence with the presentation by the guest speaker.

 Excursions

The Club arranges about ten field excursions each year to locations of natural history interest and tours of specialist institutions such as the Queensland Herbarium or museums. They range in duration from short, half-day local trips through week-end camps to longer excursions lasting from one to two weeks in more remote locations. Visitors are welcome on short excursions. 

Excursion leaders click here for attendance form.