Nardoo Hills Camp Brief Report - November 2012

This weekend camp was on a reserve owned and managed by Bush Heritage Australia located 12 km north west of Wedderburn. Results were partially successful in so far that a single Southern Freetail Bat Mormopterus species 4 (undescribed) was captured, but otherwise disappointing regarding terrestrial and arboreal mammals. This bat was one of three mammal species Jeroen van Veen, Bush Heritage's Field Officer at Nardoo Hills Reserves, was hoping for us to find on the reserve; the other two not found being Fat-tailed Dunnart and Sugar Glider.

In addition to the Southern Freetail bat, 10 Little Forest Bats Vespadelus vulturnus and 5 Lesser Long-eared Bats Nyctophilus geoffroyi were captured after 10 Harp Trap nights over three nights, 16 bats in all.  No mammals or any other fauna were recorded by eleven MSGV remote sensing cameras deployed over three nights for a total of 24 camera nights. All 49 nest boxes installed by MSGV in 2006 were empty. No cage or Elliot traps were set.

Spotlighting revealed 6 Ringtail Possums, 15 Brushtail Possums and a single Eastern Grey Kangaroo on two surveys; one over a short distance near our camp site and the other along a two kilometre section of Mt Kerang road in Wychitella Nature Conservation Reserve immediately east of Nardoo Hills.  Of these, only 2 Brushtail Possums were spotted within Nardoo Hills Reserves, the remainder were in Wychitella NCR.  An interesting aspect to this, as explained by Jeroen has a lot to do with past land use.  In the case of the three blocks that make up Nardoo Hills, all were previously grazing properties resulting in significant loss of ground cover vegetation and shrub layer.  In the case of Wychitella NCR the area was selectively logged in the past without deliberate removal of shrubs and ground cover. It appears from this spotlight survey that past logging has had much less impact compared to grazing in this area regarding arboreal mammals.

Other mammals seen or heard over the long weekend include a small number of Eastern and Western Grey Kangaroos (about 10 of each) and 2 Black Wallabies. Of the 55 species of birds recorded White-browed and Masked Woodswallows were the highlight. All the other species recorded are what would be expected to occur in this reserve.  Reptiles seen include two skinks, Morethia boulengeri and a Jacky Lizard.

Article by Andrew McCutcheon – Mammal Survey Group of Victoria Inc.

Northern Plains CMN joins the LPLN

The  Northern Plains Conservation Management Network

(NPCMN) is the newest group to become a member of the

Loddon Plains Landcare Network.

The  NPCMN works with communities, government

agencies and non-government organisations within the

regional landscape to protect, enhance and promote

grassland and woodland ecosystems. This is done through

recognising and supporting a workable balance between

biodiversity conservation and sustainable farming.  The

network administers and promotes the implementation of

land management techniques such as pest plant and animal

control, fencing and revegetation with the aim of increasing

habitat quality and extent.

The NPCMN  focal ecological communities are the

nationally critically endangered  Natural Grasslands of the

Murray Valley Plains  and the nationally endangered  Buloke

Woodland of the Riverina and Murray-Darling Depression

Bioregions.

Beau Kent, NPCMN Facilitator said:

"We are very much looking forward to forging a strong and

inspired partnership with the LPLN into the future to help

secure and manage our remaining native flora and fauna."

Article by Anthony Gallacher – LPLN landcare facilitator

The LPLN have completed their Blueprint for Action (shown above) and have a new website which can be visited using the address given below. The WCMN welcomes the NPCMN on board.

 www.lpln.org.

Frogs

We have had a couple encounters with the curiously named Pobblebonk or Eastern Banjo frogs.  It is not uncommon to find these frogs buried in the soil in our vegie garden. These frogs breed in the nearby dam (and they certainly do a lot of loud calling when we get rain).  Several beautiful specimens were unearthed during the process of harvesting a bed of potatoes, then a few days later we found another swimming in a sheep water trough.

Hot weather has prompted the yellow gums to shed last year’s bark.  The trees look very stunning now with smooth pale trunks. Hot weather has implications for wildlife as well.  Once the temperature exceeds 35 degrees the birds begin to take shelter under the decking of our widest verandah.  We have seen ten magpies at once sheltering there. It is also a favourite spot for blue wrens.    In the late afternoon, after a hot day, sizeable groups of very colourful Eastern Rosellas are enjoying feeding on seed on the dry ground.

Plenty of people are reporting sightings of reptiles and unusually large numbers of goannas have been seen in the area.  We have had a few encounters with eastern brown snakes.

Bushfires bring some opportunities.  During recent fires, we noticed the smoke was preceded by a large group of wood swallows which appeared to be feeding on insects borne on the wind from the fire.

We have had a small rabbit around our garden.  An unwanted pest.  Last week we found half a small rabbit, something had eaten it.  We have seen three foxes in the daytime over the past fortnight.  We may have been pleased to find half a rabbit, but not so pleased to find a large pile of wood duck feathers near the dam.

Biodiversity in nature is demonstrated in many ways.  Look at your own place and see what you can come up with.

Wedderburn Conservation Management Network “Observers” - photograph of "Pobblebonk" or "Eastern Banjo" frog

WCMN Christmas Event – Bats of the Wedderburn Area

Nytophilus geoffroyi 2

The WCMN’s 2012 Christmas event took place on Wednesday 5 December 2012 at the Empire State Hotel in Inglewood.  Dinner was followed by a presentation about bats by Micaela Jemison, a bat ecologist from DSE’s Arthur Rylah Institute in Heidelberg.  Micaela is the protégé of renowned bat expert Dr Lindy Lumsden.  

The 33 people who came along raved about the quality and diversity of Micaela’s presentation, and were captivated by George Junior, the tiny Southern Freetail Bat that Micaela brought along for people to meet.  Micaela explained the main differences between microbats (suborder Microchiroptera) - which are the main focus of her work - and the larger bat species such as flying foxes.  She also discussed the different types of microbats such tubenoses, long-eared and freetail bats, and how they navigate using echolocation.  Participants particularly enjoyed learning about local species such as the Lesser Long-eared and Gould’s Long-eared bats, and the Chocolate Wattled Bat.

Feedback from participants indicates that they would be interested in a follow up workshop or field day on bats, especially identifying and improving habitat. 

Session participants captivated by George Junior, the tiny Southern Freetail Bat 

Article and photographs by Karly Learmonth – WCMN Facilitator

Humidity brings butterflies

A humid morning, makes walking in the bush a little slower, but in nature the humidity also brings on an enormous amount of activity with butterflies and moths.  We encountered two orchid butterflies just beside the white line on the Calder Highway.  Wonder how long they would stay there with vehicles passing by at 100km an hour? 

Leaving the highway we proceeded down a bush track and immediately began to notice many different and very active butterflies and moths.  We observed five different species in the space of a few hundred metres. Of course we were keen to take photographs of every different moth or butterfly, but they were so active we soon gave up on this rather difficult task.  Spotting so many different insects compensated for the rather uncomfortable weather conditions during an hour’s walk.

Increase in humidity and insects has also increased the activities of birds and much entertainment can be had watching birds catching insects on the wing. Some non-indigenous plants such as bracelet honey myrtle are flowering in profusion near our garden.  We have counted up to ten different insects feasting on the nectar at one time.

In the forest spring is certainly over, but a few late flowering plants are still evident such as the locally common broom bush. With no rain, the ground is dry and animal tracks are easily seen on the ground.  As we set off on our morning walk we often see tracks of goannas, birds, snakes, lizards and at present a lot of hares.  It’s always an interesting start to contemplate what creatures have passed along this track since the last time we were there.

So once again walks in the natural environment continue to provide diverse and interesting observations, which any one can do.

Wedderburn Conservation Management Network “Observers”

Photograph of Orchard butterflies on bitumen road (Calder Highway)

Interdependent Fauna and Flora in the Wedderburn environs

Mistletoe is often regarded as a parasite of shrubs and trees however Mistletoe produces its energy through photosynthesis and functions only in a semi-parasitic mode.  Continuing studies are demonstrating the importance of mistletoe for biodiversity in degraded bushland. (Watson D. M. & Herring M 2006)

Too often we see the wonders of fauna or flora as isolated observations and miss the complexity and beauty of the co-evolutionary relationships.  Mistletoe is a good example to illustrate some of these inter-dependencies.

At least four species of Mistletoe occur around the Wedderburn/Mount Korong locality and one, the Grey Mistletoe Amyema quandang can be seen on Cootamundra Wattle Acacia bayleania in gardens around Wedderburn and is common on Dean’s Wattle Acacia deanei ssp. paucijuga and Wallowa Acacia euthycarpa around Mount Korong.  Images in Figs 1 to 10 were taken near Mt. Korong and Wedderburn by D. Stewart.

The flower structure of Mistletoe is designed to transfer pollen to and from the head of visiting honeyeaters such as New Holland Honeyeaters Fig 3. commonly seen attending the flowers.   Mistletoe Birds follow the fruiting cycle of mistletoe species and consume the fruit.  The digestive system of Mistletoe Birds is modified to facilitate rapid transit of ingested fruit and the bird’s behavior is adapted to increase the chance of seed falling to a suitable growth position on a host plant.   These birds perch atop the host tree and frequently turn parallel to the perch twig prior to voiding the seed which emerges like a necklace of pearls, to slowly drip down through the foliage Fig 4.

Figs 5 to 10 illustrate some of the Lepidoptera dependent on mistletoe as the food plant for their larvae.

Fig 10 is of an Ogyris butterfly whose larvae are dependent on the attendance by certain ant species.  The butterfly has brilliant iridescent metallic blue upper wing surfaces that flash in the sunlight and are hidden from view as the insect keeps wings together when purchased on the mistletoe.

The obvious thought to ponder when considering these examples of interdependent associations is which species is dependent on which other species for ongoing function of this component of the ecosystem?

Article – D. Stewart

Images in Figs 1 to 10 were taken near Mt. Korong and Wedderburn by D. Stewart.

WCMN Guest Speaker Evening – Dr Linda Broadhurst, CSIRO

On 22 August 2012 the WCMN hosted a guest speaker evening at the Empire State Hotel in Inglewood.  Dr Linda Broadhurst, a research scientist from CSIRO in Canberra spoke to the group about seed genetics and seed provenance in revegetation jobs. 

The event was a great success, with 25 people attending.  Participants spoke highly of the presentation, with several commenting that the content was “complex but clear”.  As well as discussing how genetic diversity comes about, Linda provided several case studies of Victorian species, and provided useful and practical advice to participants about local issues.  Some of the key messages of the evening were:

-          It is hard to do irreparable damage when carrying out revegetation works.

-          Large trees are important reservoirs of genetic diversity in the landscape.

-          When collecting seed, harvest over several successive years, and from all sides of the canopy.  Blend seed from successive years together to improve genetic diversity in revegetation jobs.

-          Strong evolutionary forces such as saline soils, or particularly wet or dry climates cause local adaptation – if these strong selective pressures are not present in your area, bringing in new species to boost the gene pool can be a good thing in revegetation.

-          Create a buffer zone around revegetation sites if pollution of the gene pool is a concern – ask yourself “is it better to get these plants back in the landscape?”  Assess the risk, and be aware that cross-pollination may occur.

-          When working in very high conservation significance sites, be more cautious about mixing provenance than you would be when working with a degrading remnant of lesser conservation significance.

There was strong feedback from participants that they would like a follow up workshop on seed collection and treatment.  This will be arranged for sometime over the coming months.

Article and photograph - Karly Learmonth