Roo totals from last week
Thanks so much to the folks who walked,ran,biked and climbed the summit to find the aprox roo total: everyone was out on the mountain by 7.30 am and were finished by 8.30-9 am; we found that the animals moved fairly quickly in the big mobs, and this made final figures a bit difficult.
We have a realistic total of 211 adult animals, and a very interesting addition of about 50% of the adult population, with small joeys in pouches, which we did not count. The large mob on the agistment was severely reduced in numbers for the count, but today I saw the two mobs there with over 60-70adults.
When we started work on Taylor in 1989 we had 5 roos, and the increased number is now aprox 316 adults and small joeys living on a 5 km square mountain. We are observing damage to the environment with erosion, new tracks, sand baths, over grazing and shrub damage. The main grazing is both on the summit and the perimeters of the mountain, as much of the vegetation is sparely grassed on the high sides. There are many roos that have been killed on the surrounding Parkway and the roads this year, and eventually there will be some bad/fatal human accidents in the future. The latest roo total is very close to the Belconnen culling fiasco.
Other items of interest:
The Brachycritons are looking well: there are 17 on the W/S side and 12 on the N side: only two may be replaced in autumn. The trees have been watered several times, as the rain has been limited. Many thanks to the group minders!
The new weeds and some woody weeds require work: Our last work on the old agistment on the S side was very successful with many woody weeds cut and dabbed, and the commemorative site is growing well.
NEXT MEET: on the 15 Sat November, on N side. Will send details next month.
Cheers Anne
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