The forecast was for inclement weather but, as I always say, you can't have a rainforest without at least some rain! A bus load of COGites, ably driven by John Avery, set off for Monga State Forest, recording each species observed on the way. Why? Because it was the weekend of the Twitchathon, an event raising funds for albatross research and conservation, and our busload was the 'COGnoscent' team. Friends from the Wilderness Society and the Friends of the Mongarlowe River group had advised us of access problems in the forest at present (River Road is closed a little south of Monga hamlet with a bridge out) so we went to an area different from previous trips: a 3-hour, 5-km loop walk along Burma and Lookout Roads. This route took us through forest that had been heavily logged in the past, into exquisite old growth forest. On that walk we observed some 26 species, including wet forest species such as Black-faced Monarch and Pilotbirds. All participants obtained good views of Olive Whistlers. At one spot we had all three species of whistler: olive, rufous and golden.
Leaving the forest we observed a few additional species and, following the advice of our informant from the Friends of the Mongarlowe River, we visited a spot where many Monga Waratahs were in full bloom along the Mongarlowe River. Following the trip, both COG as an association, and some of the individual trip participants, wrote to the NSW and Commonwealth Governments urging that the Regional Forest Agreement for SE NSW, currently being negotiated, provide complete protection of Monga State Forest's conservation and wilderness values. Every additional letter helps!
And what of the Twitchathon? Over the day we observed about 73 species and in Braidwood downed a bottle of Strayan bubbly to mark the occasion. After all, we were in the Champagne class of the Twitchathon! Thanks to all who donated to this good cause at COG meetings, as a result of which we sent off $320 for albatross research.
David McDonald