Boobook2 posted:

Nice Photos Michael, when were they taken?


Thanks

Boobook2 posted:

I have had my morning coffee now and guess they were taken on your Jan trip. I was wondering about the fire regrowth. Looks like it is as bad as parts further east near Blue Rag etc. Are the trees completely dead or are they showing signs of regrowth life?

Member - Michael O (NSW) posted:

Thanks
In far too many areas of the Victorian High Country, the trees ARE completely dead. Often after a fire, you see the eucalypts spouting epiphytes from the trunks and you know the tree will recover. Unfortunately, the 2003 fires were SO hot that a lot of the trees were "cooked".
The regrowth in many areas is actually thousands of new saplings from the ground, most of which are now between 1 and 2 metres tall. Of course, they'll eventually become trees but you'd have to think it's going to take another 20-30 years......

And speaking of boobooks, my son and I were camped at MacFarlanes Flat one night on that trip and during the night we heard deep growling sounds in the bush, followed by a piercing woman's scream. I had to pretend to be the brave Dad but sheeesh! I've since heard later that both sounds are made by the same animal, a Barking Owl.