Otway Biofest | My Site

The Otway Biofest

How well do we really know the Otway Ranges? Would you like to find out more and contribute to recording and sharing the wonders of this biodiversity hotspot?

School holidays are on the horizon. By then, spring will have sprung! So, we’ve got a cracking experience planned for you, your friends, family and anyone you enjoy spending time outdoors with. It’s on the second last weekend of September, so pop it on the calendar!

We’re so lucky in this area to be surrounded by such a richly diverse environment. Let's share and celebrate this beauty and complexity, with visitors from near and far.

Whether you’re a bike rider, scout, walker, bird watcher, hiker, camper, team, group, family, individual, or farmer/property owner, this weekend has something for everyone. If you own property in the Otways, but don’t know who or what you’re sharing your land with? This is definitely for you!

Throughout the weekend there’ll be local legends who are specialists in their field, leading groups to different parts of the Otways to observe and connect with all the diverse creatures and critters - like birds, frogs, plants, bats, moths, possums, gliders, glow worms and fish- the friends and the foes. Some of these activities will even be under the stars.

The Otway Biofest coincides with the Great Southern Bioblitz (GSB), the southern hemisphere’s biodiversity survey with thousands of participants across 14 countries. By attending our event, you will contribute observations of biodiversity to this large-scale citizen science project, by helping observe and collect data on the flora and fauna we find together.

Over the past few years of the Great Southern Bioblitz, all across the Otways, there’s been a small group of passionate people doing the heavy lifting for us all. Rain, hail or shine, they’ve been observing all forms of biodiversity annually in a ninety-six-hour marathon. It’s time to up the ante and ignite the Aussie competitive spirit for the GSB, the southern hemisphere-wide competition! Oh, and we’ll be having some fun along the way, of course!

Participants are welcome to come along for individual sessions or continue building connections throughout the weekend; why not camp out in the Otways?

When

Friday 20th - Sunday 22nd Sept. All coordinated Otway Biofest activities will be in and around the Central Otways.

How

Click the book sessions here button above.

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Ten guest presenters and local legends will be our nature guides for ten activities -

Bookings are limited so click the button above to reserve your place.
Each session will include an intro to iNaturalist and the Great Southern Bio Blitz.
See profiles of our amazing guides at our social media pages (FB and Insta)

FRIDAY 20th September

We’ll kick off the Otway Biofest on the shores of Lake Elizabeth, exploring the secret life of platypus and new ways to monitor their distribution throughout the Otways.

Platypus and EDNA with Field Scientist Will Webster from EnviroDNA
5-7.30pm, Lake Elizabeth

Glowworms catch visitors attention as they wander back from Lake Elizabeth after dark. Let’s find out more about these star-like critters from someone in the know.
Glow Worms with Dr. David Merritt
8-9.30pm, Lake Elizabeth

SATURDAY 21st September

Back by popular demand. Adam Fry, Co-author of Colac Otway Birds will take us on a guided walk along the shores of Lake Colac Bird Sanctuary.

Birds or the Lake Colac Bird Sanctuary with Adam Fry
8.30-10am, Colac (End of Church St, Lake Colac)

Did you know there was recently a new frog species discovered in the Otways? Let’s find out about it, while also exploring other amphibians and reptiles of the Central Otways.
Frogs and Reptiles of the Otways with Matt Clancy
11-12.30pm, Greens Rd, Gellibrand

Let’s take a walk with 2024 Women in Landcare Award winner, Beth Ross. As a teacher of horticulture, conservation and land management at Gordon Institute of TAFE, Elizabeth Ross has inspired countless students to pursue a meaningful career in natural resource management.

Plants of the Otways with Beth Ross
2-3.30pm, Birnam Station, Kawarren

It was a highlight two years ago, with all kinds of night critters coming out to play. Possumpete and Craig Grabham are back to conduct a night walk in a forest full of nightlife.

Otway Nightlife (Possums, Gliders, Moths, Bats) with Possum Pete and Craig Grabham
6.30-8.30pm, Birnam Station, Kawarren

SUNDAY 22nd September

Image - https://austcray.com/the-otways-cray-geocharax-gracilis/

Explore the life of Blackfish in the Gellibrand River with local ‘fish magnet’ Andrew Daffy. Andrew has an intimate connection with the Gellibrand River and can't wait to share his backyard!
Blackfish and other Aquatic life of the Gellibrand River with Andrew Daffy
9-11am, Gellibrand

Switch on your observation goggles. Mike will have you noticing plants you would usually walk right past. Let’s talk Otway plant species identification, seed collection, growth habits and plant communities of the Central Otways.
Plants of the Otways with Mike Robinson-Koss
12-1.30pm, South of Gellibrand

The recent Conservation Ecology Centre Otways Ecological Research Forum once again showcased the extensive invaluable work being conducted across the Otways. Let’s get out there and find out about some of these projects, including one about Resilient Forests. Other projects include research on Potoroos, Bandicoots, pest management, detection dogs and the impacts of fire on the Carlisle Heath.

Conservation and Biodiversity Research Projects of the Carlisle Heath with Dr. Claire Fenuik (Conservation and Research Manager, Conservation Ecology Centre)
2.30-4.30pm, Carlisle River

How to get started with iNaturalist

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Watch this clip for a quick lesson

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https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/help

https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/video+tutorials

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