On Saturday January 17, a public meeting is to be held at the Paluma Community Centre at 10am for all ratepayers to discuss the setting of the 2026 fire levy.
Come along and also find out what the brigade is up to over a cuppa and piece of cake. If there are any queries in the lead up to the meeting, please contact Sonya Bryce, Treasurer / Secretary of Paluma Rural Fire Brigade on (0474) 324153.
The Annual General Meeting of the Paluma Rural Fire Brigade will follow on from the morning tea for those that are interested.
The Metallic Starling (Aplonis metallica) is a frequent visitor to Paluma from about August till February, where it can be seen in small groups feeding on the fruit of various rainforest trees. Unless the light is right, they can appear to be fairly nondescript, small dark birds up in the canopy feeding, flitting and calling. But when the sunlight catches them, they are quite spectacular, with glowing red eyes and a metallic rainbow of iridescent feathers. They also called Shining Starlings, with good reason.
Metallic Starlings can be found in rainforests and adjacent coastal woodlands, as well as tropical gardens. They are primarily frugivorous (fruit-eating) but supplement their diet with nectar and insects. They forage in flocks of up to several hundred, although in Paluma flocks are much smaller, often just a few birds. In Australia, most birds are believed to migrate from eastern New Guinea around August, and remain until April.
Starlings have a bit of bad rep, all due to the habits of one out of the 125 species in the Starling family (Sturnidae). The Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is one of the most invasive species in the world. It competitively displaces native species of birds in southern and eastern Australia and is an economic pest in WA. Another member of the starling family (the Indian Myna) is also an invasive pest. However, the majority of starlings are beautiful tropical birds with little if any invasive tendencies. The glossy starlings of Africa are truly spectacular in appearance and a favourite of birdwatchers.
Several years ago, Michael Drew pointed out a tree on the range road, which had hosted a colony of metallic starlings but had subsequently been abandoned. Last year Peter Laux reported that the birds were again nesting there, and they are here again this year as well. The tree is on the downhill slope next to the very large landslip on the corner above culvert 151 (now dubbed Starling Corner by Michael).
Nesting Metallic Starlings at “Starling Corner” on the Range Road, November 2024. Photo Jamie Oliver
Metallic Starlings, as well as many other species in the family, are colonial nesters. Up to 1000 Metallic Starlings can build domed nests in an emergent tree. The sudden arrival or departure of flocks to the nesting tree provides a memorable spectacle of coordinated aerial acrobatics.
A flock of starlings leaving their nests to forage for fruit near Julatten. Photo Jamie Oliver
The presence of this many birds breeding in such a small area has been shown to have a profound impact on the fauna below the nesting tree. Huge concentrations of invertebrates, and vertebrates such as turkeys, parrots, pittas, pythons, tree snakes, frogs, toads, native rats and pigs were found to exploit the rain of organic matter (including nestlings) falling from the nests above.
Time for the briefing on the new Emergency Action Plan has been rescheduled to 5:30 pm in order to allow people west of the Paluma Dam road to get into town (the road is closed until 5 pm). The Tropical BBQ will start immediately after the Briefing.
The briefing will be led by Sonya Bryce and Charlie Allen, who have put many hours into collecting relevant information, procedures and contacts so that we can effectively self-organise if we experience a serious rain event or cyclone in the future. The document will be continuously revised and improved. The current version and relevant appendices can be accessed on Paluma.org here.
A briefing on the current Disaster Management Plan for all residents of Paluma Village, neighbouring residential areas and Hidden Valley residents will be presented on Saturday December 13th at 5pm by the SES and RFS.
This will be followed by our annual Tropical Xmas BBQ at 6pm. Bring along whatever you wish to cook on the bbq and a side or dessert to share.
The PDCA will have a few sausages and onions on the BBQ. The bar will be open of course. It is time to kick back and welcome in the silly season and listen to some great live music by the talented Stefan Mussap.
Our first working bee for summer is on this Saturday, December 6th. Meet at the hall at 2pm. Bring along some good cheer and energy and a mate. Drinks on the verandah afterwards at 4pm.
