The smoke

[xelasnave]

Burn offs necessary but such a pain.
However avoided buying the Aldi scope because of it so its saved me $100 and more junk.

There is always an up side.
Alex

[leon]

Yea I know Alex when i was in the Territory they burnt the place to the ground for months, they even did Helicopter burn drops, where vehicles couldn't go.
But because of this there was no bush fires that i was aware of. :shrug:

But the smoke nearly blackened out the Sun. :rolleyes:

Leon :thumbsup:

[el_draco]

No bush = No bushfires.... what's wrong with this equation? :screwy:

[xelasnave]

Hi Leon
I had hoped to do some here but I could not cause of my cat injury.
Fortunately its cleared a little.
Alex

[pmrid]

I share the general view that burnoffs are a PITA. And until now, I have resisted the pressure from neighbors etc to do so. But no longer. The amount of grass, fallen timber and other general debris in the back 50 acres of my property are more a danger than I am willing to tolerate. So I am planning a burn this year to avoid a potentially greater problem if I do not. Q.E.D. Sometimes, ya just gotta bite that proverbial bullet and do it.

Peter

[sharpiel]

All the poor animals...

[leon]

Don't know Rom what is wrong with the equation, :shrug:
have you ever been to the Territory :)

Leon :thumbsup:

[leon]

Alex maybe you had better cut those claws, hope all is well soon.

Leon

[xelasnave]

The smoke kills them before they feel much pain.
Burn off will be less intense than a bush fire
It is a difficult choice
Alex

[xelasnave]

That's closing the gate after cows have left Leon
It was my fault . like trying to stop any fight,...don't
.

Alex

[Boozlefoot]

You would be surprised at the survival rate of the animals regarding bushfires. They have been doing it for millennia. Fire is a natural thinning of the scrub and necessary for healthy regeneration of the bush. Some plants are unable to replenish without fire. Preventing some fires, as previously stated, creates a dangerous situation for later seasons. Let the beast go, and stand to for the protection of property on a regular basis and it reduces the ferocity for later times rather than building a bank of fuels.

[pmrid]

Actually, that's wrong. There are burns and there are burns. This burn will be supervised by the local Rural Fire brigade and controlled so it is a slow-moving fire in what is called a "cool" format. That means that any birds will have ample opportunity to relocate to any of the 30,000 trees I planted on the other 150 acres of the rest of my property 20 years ago. Any animals will also be able to relocate easily through well-defined and carefully controlled exit paths. And they too will not be at any serious risk because it will be a cool/slow fire.

Believe it or not, those who find they must burn are not reckless or uncaring about how it is done and how the habitats are protected. It is done in a thoughtful and considered way. At least mine will be. I value my fauna and am not about to put it at any unmanaged risk.

Peter

[Boozlefoot]

Agree Peter.

Animals arent stupid. Birds smell smoke, they leave. (Apart from butcherbirds.) Reptiles burrow. Mammals flee. Remember fires started naturally and there was no RFS about. Cheers to the RFS for protection of lives and property, but I think more regular and appropriate times of burning is called for.

[acropolite]

Annoying to say the least. In my state (Tassie) the vast majority of smoke from burn off activity is caused by Forestry plantation regeneration burns.

[el_draco]

Alas no. I had heard there was a move towards pattern burning which reduced the heat of the burn, the collateral damage and enriched the soils. I guess the Feds have got involved.:rolleyes:

[sharpiel]

Shame about the butcher birds...maybe there are too many anyway..?

No animals aren't stupid. Well except us of course. Bushfires caused by nature are nature. Ones started by humans aren't. Unfortunately most of us have lost contact with nature itself. We don't take the time to really see around us.

Burns are best done at the end of breeding season not the beginning.

Adult flying birds can fly. Pre fledglings and nestlings can't. They'll die in their nests. Running animals will run. New borns will die in their tree holes. It's all about timing really. Have a look around you...the animals are getting ready to breed and lay. My birds are already laying. The possums are already breeding.

Bad time. You left your run too late. Better done in Autumn.

[xelasnave]

Hi Les
Folk don't burn off in Autumn because the grass is usually reluctant to burn.
My way was to start burning high risk stuff as some as possible starting Autumn and usually even that is hard to burn ..each week I would go to the next high risk that would burn, and usually would have everything done over a couple of months.
These type of fires you have to fight to keep them going they cause little impact on animals because they do not burn for long and go out when the Sun goes down.
But that,way is too much trouble..around here they like to do it in one go.
A little rain last night smokes gone all good
Alex

[Boozlefoot]

[QUOTE=sharpiel;1327307]Shame about the butcher birds...maybe there are too many anyway..?

The butcher birds are attracted by the smoke! They lay in wait at the border of the fire for animals moving away.

[sharpiel]

Smart little critters. I wonder if they'd like smoked bacon too? :D