The Recovery of Durranbah – New life part one

Published on by bushboy

It has been six weeks since the fire devastated my place. Today was the first time I have been able to get about my property and see the extent of the damage the fire has done. I went mainly to check the fences as they are the things that have been severely impacted by fire.

The best thing was that I didn’t find any large animals that had died from the fire. I didn’t go poking around in burnt logs and under things so smaller animals and reptiles may have not survived.

I did find the recovery of plants starting to commence.
new_growth_grass_burnt_fire_home_jackadgery_jan 2020

A Eucalypts lignotuber sends new growth from the ground. I love the red colour.
new_growth_ground_burnt_fire_home_jackadgery_jan 2020
A burnt tree sprouts new growth from its trunk.
new_growth_tree_burnt_fire_home_jackadgery_jan 2020
Early signs are often red gradually turning green.tree_new_growth_burnt_fire_home_jackadgery_jan 2020
This gold bummed ant was very protective of its tree. After a while it actually leapt onto the camera lensant_tree_burnt_fire_home_jackadgery_jan 2020
Other ants were carrying treasures back to the nestant_ground_burnt_fire_home_jackadgery_jan 2020
I did find the Bower Birds burnt bower which was near to my house. the bower_bower bird_blue_burnt_fire_home_jackadgery_jan 2020
His blue treasures to impress the females a bit charred and molten.bower_bower bird_blue_burnt_fire_home_jackadgery_jan 2020
Some people have asked how did the waterhole fare. The Lomandras in the water course have all started to sprout.new_growth_lomandra_waterhole_burnt_fire_home_jackadgery_jan 2020
The rain on Christmas Day filled the waterhole and it still has a good amount of water. I am not too sure about the quality of the water. On the left under the fallen Brush Box tree is the rock I sit on to watch and photograph the birds. On the right hand side that tree has fallen across the track I use to get down to the waterhole. The rocky gully where the water comes into the waterhole has lots of trees over it but the small water hole up there a bit has water as well. The Powerful Owls weren’t around much to my disappointment.waterhole_trees_water_burnt_fire_home_jackadgery_jan 2020
This is what the water hole looked like
waterhole_named_home_oct 2018
Dragonflies were flitting around one of the dams near the house.
dragonfly_dam_home_jackadgery_jan 2020
I was pleased to see the White-winged Chough family patrolling through the bush. It looks like they have had a good year as there was around three chicks. I counted eleven birds. Last year when I saw a flock there were seven. Choughs are quite good at enticing other Choughs from other family groups into their family.white-winged choughs_bush_walking_home_jackadgery_jan 2020
I was dismayed to see the big Ironbark tree still on fire. It will be a while until this tree stops burning. It is surrounded by a big burnt area so I am not concerned about it getting out of control. Unfortunately my tracks through the bush have so many trees over them I am unable to get anywhere near it and if I did I have no idea how I would be able to cut through the log to separate the burning bit from the rest of the tree. The tree is at least one meter in diameter.log_burning_ironbark_burnt_fire_home_jackadgery_jan 2020

So when I am next able to get about the property, I’ll write again about the recovery of Durranbah. I probably shouldn’t have walked as far as I did. I hurt my back a few weeks ago and am starting to feel better. I did come back to the house, have a shower, a bit of lunch and then went to bed for a few hours. Still am a bit sore still but the constant showers for the last three hours has been lovely. Not much rain I think but steady soaking rain has made me feel a lot better.

For Cee’s On the Hunt for Joy Challenge – Get Outside

LPM – Photo Adventure – Rural Life

69 thoughts on “The Recovery of Durranbah – New life part one”

  1. I am so glad to see some relief from the fires! It is amazing how nature will recover.
    We have been following the fire stories and worrying about you all in Australia.
    Hope your back is better soon.

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    1. Quite gratifying Amanda 🙂 the rain has been lovely. I loved that tree and it was a shame to see it down and even sadder to see it still burning

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  4. The Australian bush is amazing how it begins to recover, lets hope you continue to get steady and persistent rain to enable the regrowth to really take off. You can care of yourself though, we don’t want you get caught anywhere xx

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    1. Thank you Becky. It is a wonderful way the trees sprout. I shall make sure I don’t do that again for a while. Having physio this morning which I hope will help a lot. Thanks for caring xx

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      1. Hope physio is good. My Pilates yesterday sorted out my shoulder and hips, but then she got us doing diagonal curl ups with a special twist. My abs are complaining today!!

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        1. I am seeing someone new as my regular physio was booked until the 16th. It was bad timing to do it over the Christmas/New Year period when nothing was open. I did get one massage but it didn’t do much for my back but my neck and shoulders are a treat. Always look out for that special twist but at least it had other benefits

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        2. That’s what I keep telling myself, when I’m not giggling at the newly discovered muscles!

          Really hope they can work their magic on your back for you, and give you some exercises to strengthen it long term xxx

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        3. I do back strengthening exercises every day due to old injury. This time I shall need new ones as this is different to previous back pain.
          I can just imagine you giggling at Pilates 😀 😀

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  7. It’s wondeful to see new life emerging from the ashes all around and I can well understand that ant for wanting to protect its tree! And I’m so glad that it rained, at least a bit. Take care of your back and get well soon, Brian!

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    1. Thank you Sarah 🙂 That ant was so funny as it gave me the get away signals. I lovely gentle 5mls last night. I shall have to take care of me as I’m the only one I have 😀

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      1. Apart from that one afternoon, our skies haven’t been too bad. I heard that the cloud has reached Chile, and I’m sure ash is falling, but we’re not getting discernible amounts in Auckland.
        How are you doing? It was great to see your photos of new life on your property, but I can’t imagine how it must feel to look out on such devastation.

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        1. The walk about was good therapy for the mind and soul Su. Yes our shit has been sent around the world I wonder if it will come back to Western Australia. The constant view from everywhere of blackened trees and dead brown leaves is a bit much at times.

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        2. I can understand that. I get absurd a,ousts of joy from seeing new growth in my garden, and I’m not facing the devastation that you’re living with. I know there isn’t much I can do to help you, but I am determined to make my voice heard and actions felt here where I can make a difference.

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        4. I’ve just been in touch with my local conservation group (and yeah, I have lived here for nearly 20 years :-/), and am looking at how we can raise more native seedlings for planting in the neighbourhood.
          My efforts with the kowhai seedlings seems to be paying off, and I can see a backyard nursery coming soon. 🙂

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        5. That is so good. Being involved is such a great thing to do. I have been involved with Landcare here for ages. Only in the last three years have I wound back a bit as it was getting a bit too much. I am sure you will do well with a backyard nursery, growing and propagating seedlings 🙂

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  13. It must be heart-breaking to see all the fires, but even more so when it is your home place. I wish we could send you some of our all to plentiful Irish rain. At least you can see life returning to your place.Keep safe.

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  14. Thank you for the update, Brian. I’m happy to see the sprouts new growth, they look beautiful. How wonderful to capture the Dragonfly. All are very encouraging. 🙂

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  15. It is wonderful to see signs of growth, but still so sad to see the charred remains. I did not know about your back issues. My husband has been suffering with sciatica for 2 months now, and nothing seems to be helping, He just started with a new Dr this week, PT, electrical stimulators, who knows what else. It is terrible.

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    1. The charred trees will be around for quite some time Lisa. I am hoping todays physio will help. It’s not good but is much better than when I first twisted my back cleaning K’s pool .I hope Mr can get relief soon too

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        1. Oh yes especially between Christmas and New Year when nothing was open to help. I saw the physio today and have had a bit of relief as long as I do what she says 🙂

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      1. Yes, “enjoy” is key to healing from such devastation. I’m in awe with the diversity of birds in the Eastern States! I should put a birding tour on my bucket list, I think!

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