Wild About Lane Cove Wild Life

Last year the Stringy Bark Creek Residents Association (SBCRA) and Lane Cove Council jointly organised Wild About Lane Cove at Mindarie Park Lane Cove North.  This family-friendly event featured a wildlife show and a free BBQ.

Even the wet weather could not keep the kids (and the grown-ups) away.  Over 100 locals braved the weather to enjoy learning more about wildlife living in the Stringy Bark Creek area.  It was such a success that the Lane Cove Council and the Stringy Bark Creek Residents Associaton have organised another Wild About Lane Cove Event to be held on 7 April 2024.

Wild About Lane Cove 7 April 2024

At this fun family event, get up close and personal with native animals with a fascinating show from Australian Wildlife Displays. Afterwards, enjoy a sausage sizzle and join one of the short guided bushwalks (approximately 20 minutes) along Stringybark Creek.

10:00 am – Wildlife Show

11:00 am – Free sausage sizzle and guided bushwalks

Bookings are not essential.

Wild About Lane Cove Photo Challenge

Don’t forget to bring your camera and get started with the Wild about Lane Cove photo challenge.

Grab your camera and get snapping this autumn! Take a photo from any of Lane Cove’s many parks and reserves and go in the draw to win great prizes in the Wild about Lane Cove photo challenge organised by Lane Cove Council! Explore with family or friends, or go solo and get creative with your camera! Get the kids involved, too, and reap the benefits of feeling happier and healthier as a result of spending time in nature.

Be inspired by nature to take a photo matching any of the following themes:

  • Wildlife
  • Waterways
  • Flowers
  • Mini beasts / Invertebrates
  • People and Nature

Wild About Lane Cove Wildlife Photo Competiton

The event was also the official launch of Lane Cove Council’s Wild About Lane Cove Wildlife photo competition.

Take a photo from a local nature space and go in the draw to win prizes in Lane Cove Council’s Wild About Lane Cove photo challenge – the challenge is on from 1st to 30th April 2023.

Snap a photo inspired by any of the following themes:

  • Wildlife habitat
  • Birds of the bush
  • Water
  • A pop of colour
  • Close up
  • A unique perspective

Wild About Lane Cove 2023 – A Great Success

Kylie Bryden Smith, Vice President of the Stringy Bark Creek Residents Association, told ITC:

“It was great to see the community coming together; many families were new to Australia, and this was their first time experiencing native wildlife.”

The free wildlife show was presented by Anthony Stimson from Australian Wildlife Displays.

Anthony Stimson from Australian Wildlife Displays showing the crowd some possums

Anthony engaged both kids and parents as he talked through the native animals in the Stringy Bark area and let the group hold and get up close with a range of native wildlife, including the blue tongue lizard, a five-week-old tawny frog mouth, two baby possums, a python, bat, and a red belly black snake.

ITC readers regularly ask about tawny frog mouths.  In 2016, residents contacted us about a strange noise that sounded like a car alarm that went off regularly.  After some sleuthing and help from ITC roving reporters, we ascertained that the sound was some tawny frog mouths.  Read our article here.

a five-week-old tawny frog-mouth

There was also a free sausage sizzle.   SBCRA would like to thank the Stringy Bark Creek BBQ dream team volunteers for their expert Snag sizzle skills.

Some of the BBQ Dream Team Members

Parents were pleased to be able to grab a coffee from the Mindarie Park Pick Me Up Cafe.

The idea for this event came after 2022 SBCRA  “Living with Wildlife” information night with guest speaker Bev Young from Sydney Wildlife (Sydney Metropolitan Wildlife Services).

At this information night, residents discussed living with possums, native birds and reptiles, the risks they face in urban environments, and how locals can live more harmoniously with our ‘wild’ neighbours – of course, the ubiquitous brush turkey was a hot topic.

What is the Stringy Bark Creek Residents Association?

Founded in 1993, the Stringy Bark Creek Residents Association was formed with a very simple focus; to help preserve and improve common welfare, traffic, health, safety, transport and, the bushland and environment within the Lane Cove North Area.

Their website states:

“SBCRA believe that pockets of native bushland such as those found along Stringy Bark Creek are what help make Sydney the unique and extremely liveable city that it is.

SBCRA believe our local people should be able to live in a safe and secure environment where traffic, health and safety issues are addressed and dealt with effectively.”

SBCRA Events

Each year the SBCRA hold the following annual events:

Clean Up Australia Day at Batten Reserve – read more here
Bushcare Major Day Out read more here

To find out how to join the SBCRA – click here.

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