Land for Wildlife in the Fassifern - 11 June 2016

Natters at Kalbar

Members of the Fassifern Field Naturalists joined the Queensland Naturalist Club excursion to two properties in the Fassifern region. One was at Kalbar, and the other at Obum Obum.

                

The property at Kalbar was former grazed land that was scalded by salt as prior to European settlement it supported brigalow-softwood scrub. Most of this vegetation was cleared by European settlers to make way for productive farms on these fertile soils. The land suffered further damage when it was used by the locals as a rubbish dump. Also about that time the salting was increasing and the then owner believed that the rising salt was due to those ‘dreadful’ trees. So he had most of them cut down.

                  

About twenty years ago the owners bought this degraded land and went about restoring it. The first major step involved earthworks to change flat salt scalds, that retained very little surface water, into watercourses with islands and shallow wader ponds. In dry periods this wetland attracts many waterbirds - swans, ducks, stilts, spoonbills, dotterels, etc.

                   

Lunch was eaten in the garden while listening to talks on mistletoes and salts in Australian soils. More bush birds were seen here too.

                   

Then it was onto Obum Obum to a 17.4 hectare patch of remnant brigalow-softwood scrub, locally known as "vine scrub". Several species of scrub plants were identified. Three that had colourful fruit were Weeping Pittosporum (Pittosporum angustifolium), Red Olive Plum (Elaeodendron australe) and Chain Fruit (Alyxia ruscifolia). Of special note was the very large mature Bottle Tree (Brachychiton australis) standing prominently in a small clearing. 

                 

A great day in two very different habitats which have been preserved and maintained over very many years.

 

June Outing

Shoreline Walk to Secret Valley, Lake Wyaralong

Meeting Place: The car park at the Eastern Trailhead past the dam wall.

Time:  8.45 am or before, to leave the car park at 9.00 am sharp.  

Reflections at Secret Valley

What to bring: Backpack to carry your nibblies and drinks for morning tea.  Hiking stick/s, cameras, binoculars, etc., and depending on the weather – sunscreen & insect repellent. Lunch, chairs and picnic tables to be left in cars at the car park. There are a couple of picnic tables for morning tea at Secret Valley.

Level of Fitness: The Shoreline Track is not strenuous and is classified as easy by seqwater. There is a long slope from the car park to the track start but from there on it is gently undulating. We will be checking out any fungi, flora, and fauna so it will be taken in easy stages. 

Upon Arrival: Please register in the Attendance Book and pay your $2 per person participant fee.

Directions:  Most of you will know the route but for any people new to the area - from the large Boonah round-about head towards Peak Crossing and drive 25 km to Lake Wyaralong, turning only into the Beaudesert Road at Coulson. It is another 5-6 kms along the dam access road past the Meebun Recreation Area and the dam wall, through the gates to the end of the road where we will park our cars. Our walk will commence from here. There are toilet facilities at the car park.

Wet Weather: Heavy rain means the outing will be cancelled as the track will be too slippery.

Toonumbar National Park - April Camp

John and Noela came up trumps again with a terrific camp based at Ironpot Creek Campground in the Toonumbar National Park, NSW.

                

Some excerpts from Noela's report follow:

Toonumbar epiphytes

"The overcast and showery conditions for Thursday and Friday showed the rainforest at its best – mosses, lush and green on all fallen logs and rocks, moisture dripping from the lush foliage and the many varieties of fungi erupting from decaying fallen timber and ground litter. "

"Roadside vegetation on the fringes of the rainforest provided just the right habitat and conditions for the butterfly enthusiasts especially on Saturday and Sunday when the sun shone down from clear blue skies."

"This was our very first camp set up completely in a rainforest setting.   It was great to go to sleep at night to the rustlings and the gentle taps of the leaves and tiny twigs falling on the canvas as the birds settled into their night perches and to wake in the morning to the calls of the Logrunners, Yellow Robins, Scrub Wrens, Lewin’s Honeyeaters and Currawongs."

 "On our last camp night, when we gathered in the shelter shed to socialise, I endeavoured to compile a list of all creatures, great and small, viewed throughout the weekend.
 

Toonumbar fungi

"Bush Rat (Rattus fuscipes), Black Rat (Rattus rattus), Red-necked Pademelons (Thylogale thetis), Southern Leaf-tailed Gecko (Saltuarius swainii), Goannas (Lace Monitors) -many, Brushtail Possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) and Ringtail Possums  (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) in and around the campground, and many Granny’s Cloak Moths (Speiredonia spectans) sheltering in the toilets. Spotlighting revealed eels and catfish in the clear water of the creek but no frogs."

View of Mt Lindsay and Mount Barney from the "other" side

Bird List:

Aust. Brush Turkey, White-headed Pigeon, Brown Cuckoo-dove, Wonga Pigeon, Wompoo Pigeon, Topknot Pigeon, Tawny Frog mouth, White-throated Nightjar, Pacific Baza, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Yellow-tail Black Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Rainbow Lorikeet, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Little Lorikeet, Australian King Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Shining Bronze Cuckoo,  Pallid Cuckoo, Fantail Cuckoo, Laughing Kookaburra, Noisy Pitta,  Albert’s Lyrebird, White-throated tree Creeper, Green Catbird, Satin Bower bird, Variegated Fairy-wren, Yellow-throated Scrubwren, White-browed Scrubwren,  Large-billed Scrubwren, Brown Gerygone, Brown Thornbill, Spotted Pardalote, Lewin’s Honeyeater, Bell Miner, Aust. Logrunner, Eastern Whipbird, Varied Triller, Crested Shrike-tit, Golden Whistler, Grey Shrike Thrush, Aust. Figbird, Grey Butcherbird, Pied Currawong, Grey Fantail, Black-faced Monarch, Paradise Riflebird, Pale-yellow Robin, Eastern Yellow Robin, Silvereye, Welcome Swallow, Tree Martin,  Bassian Thrush,  Mistletoebird,  Red-browed Finch.

Butterfly List:

Splendid Ochre (Trapezites symmomus), Greenish Grass Dart (Ocybadistes walkeri), Blue Triangle (Graphium sarpedon), Common Grass-yellow (Eurema hecabe), Common Jezebel (Delias eucharis), Common Albatross (Appias paulina), Brown Ringlet (Hypocysta metirius), Wonder Brown (Heteronympha mirifica) females only, Wanderer (Danaus plexippus), Pencilled Blue (Candalides absimilis).

Interesting Point:

The reference book says the male Wonder Browns (which do not resemble the females at all) are active in Jan-Feb, and the females in Mar-April. It does not say how they meet.

May Outing

The May outing is a social with time for short walks and members' short talks. Please check your newsletter for details. Otherwise contact us through our blog email: fassifernfieldnaturalist[at]gmail.com. 

The Autumn weather should be perfect for this day.

AGM

Our AGM in March was a very enjoyable affair. The official business was dealt with efficiently and we were able to settle down to the interesting and informative talk by Megan Prance on fungi.    

Megan Prance giving her talk

Some of the facts from her talk were: 

• Of the many thousands of fungi found all over Australia, only a comparatively small number have been identified.
• Plants and trees form a relationship with fungi and together they produce specialised roots known as mycorrhiza. (Mycorrhiza = fungus + root) This association produces essential nutrients for both the fungi and the plant and it also provides protection for the plant against disease and soil borne organisms. This Mycorrhiza is also essential for the growth of many of our native terrestrial orchids.
• Fungi is a major source of food for many of our small marsupials such as small wallabies, potoroos, bandicoots and wombats. Some birds also include fungi in their diet. 
•  Even though wood chips used as mulch in the suburban garden leads to the appearance of many interesting and colourful fungi, its use changes the ecosystem.   Using local garden mulch is much better for the environment because of the important role fungi plays in plant ecology.  Wood chip is sourced from a completely different environment so its use promotes a fungi which is foreign to the plants it is going to associate with.

Megan & Noela discussing the beautiful display Noela created

This was followed by many questions, and much discussion over a wonderful supper supplied by members.

15-17th April Camp - Iron Pot Creek Campground, Toonumbar N.P.

In the forest at Toonumbar National Park

Limited camping sites. Please email us for details fassifernfieldnaturalists[at]gmail.com

Suitable for tents and camper trailers.

WHERE: 

Iron Pot Creek campground at Toonumbar National Park NSW offers a pristine creek for swimming (though it may be a wee bit cold for this), as well as World Heritage-listed rainforest nearby and abundant wildlife.

COSTS: 

The National Park self-registration station is at the entrance to the Campground. The cost is $6 per person per night so please bring the correct change for the registration envelopes.

Club fee: $2 per person for the camp needs to be paid when signing the registration book.

BRING: 

Your supply of food and water etc for your needs, few pieces of wood for the fireplace in the shelter shed, binocs, cameras, backpacks, reference books etc., repellents (ticks, mosquito & leech).

LATE ARRIVALS:

At recent camps, most of our members have arrived on the Friday but if you arrive mid-Saturday morning, please check the shelter shed for directions as to the whereabouts of the FFNC campers. In any case, we will return to camp at lunch time. 

WET WEATHER:

Anyone wanting to check on road conditions to the campground after heavy rain the day prior to their trip can contact the N.P. Rangers on a week day 7.30 – 4.30 (NSW daylight saving time) on 6632 0000 or click on the website www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au then select Toonumbar N.P. for updates.  Toonumbar Forest Drive (up to the top of the range) does close as soon as there is any rain but this does not usually affect the road to Iron Pot Creek Campground.

DIRECTIONS:

Use this link: Iron Pot Creek campground, to find out more about this lovely spot.

February Field Frolic through Fine Forests

                                                                                                                                                                

Ballow View Nature Refuge - condensed from the report by our leader, Keith.

                                                                                                                                       

The day was rather cloudy – lots of cloud on the mountain – so no view of Ballow.
                                                                                                                                       

Natters at Ballow View

Regardless, we set off through a forest of large and tall Grey Gums (Euc. biturbinata), full of hollows, and a smattering of other species such as Gum-topped Box (Euc. moluccana), Narrow-leaved Ironbark (Euc. crebra), Pink Bloodwood (Corymbia intermedia) and Brush Box (Lophostemon confertus).  The Grey Gums were resplendent in their new uniforms, with patches of new bark in shiny orange. 
                                                  

Some rocky outcrops were investigated and they were covered in bright green moss and lichens of a variety of colours. We came out on a rocky pavement with shallow soil and prickly Leptospermum microcarpum.  A creek cascaded off these rocks in a series of shutes and pools, on its way down to Burnett Creek – a great place for a cuppa.  
                                                                                                                                       
Some sharp eyes spotted little butterflies hovering over a wattle bush. Closer investigation revealed Common Imperial Blue, or Imperial Hairstreak, butterflies (males) waiting for pupa (female) to hatch.  Clusters of pupa (or chrysalis) were covered in ants. 

Pupae with attendant ants
Remember to click on the image for a larger view.

                                                                      
This is a complex life cycle of an intimate relationship with a special species of ant.  Female pupae release a pheromone just before they hatch and the males jostle to get there first.  Other pheromones keep the ants interested.  (See Orr & Kitching on page 250 for a detailed description).  I was quite intrigued by it all.
                                                                      

We then walked up the creek on our way back to the start.  We met a female Mountain Katydid on the way – a big insect with spectacular red bands across the abdomen.   
                                                                      
All in all, a good day. 

Imperial Hairstreak

Species Lists for Ballow View Nature Refuge, 20 February 2016

Butterfly  & Moth List: A Podlich

Banded Grass-Skipper, Glasswing, Large Purple Line Blue, Common Grass-Yellow, Small Grass-Yellow, Orange Ringlet, Checkered Swallowtail, Dainty Swallowtail, Orchard Swallowtail, Evening Brown, Common Brown, Common Albatross, Imperial Hairstreak, Common Eggfly, Blue Tiger, Common Grass-Blue, Wanderer, Lesser Wanderer, Common Jezebel, Joseph's Coat Moth, Tiger Moth.
Other Insects: L Beaton

Mountain Katydid Acripeza reticulate, Potter Wasp Abispa ephippium, Scarlet Percher Dragonfly Diplacodes haematodes.

Bird List: L Beaton  
Brown Goshawk, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Musk Lorikeet, Laughing Kookaburra, White-throated Treecreeper, White-throated Gerygone, Buff-rumped Thornbill, Spotted Pardalote, Noisy Miner, White-throated Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Cicadabird, Rufous Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Olive-backed Oriole, Grey Butcherbird, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Leaden Flycatcher, Spangled Drongo, Grey Fantail, Eastern Yellow Robin, Torresian Crow, Mistletoebird. 27 species

Amphibians: Cane Toad Rhinella marina, Eastern Stony Creek Frog Litoria wilcoxii

Fantastic Figs

Have you noticed that the birds are gorging on figs at the moment?

A female Australasian Figbird eating a fig 

in a Ficus watkinsiana

Figs are fascinating plants as they have some very unusual characteristics.
  

Strangler figs grow in and around other trees. This is known as being hemi-epiphytic. An epiphyte such as an orchid growing on trees in the wild is a plant which grows on another but is not parasitic. A hemiepiphyte starts by growing on the plant until its aerial roots reach the ground and then becomes independent. In the Strangler Fig's case, it surrounds the host tree which eventually dies. 

Non-strangler figs grow in the ground or over rocks. Early settlers often planted them for shade and as you travel around the Scenic Rim you'll see them in the gardens of old homesteads. 

Unripe, green figs
of the Ficus watkinsiana

Most figs have both male and female flowers on the same plant. This is known as being monoecious from Greek meaning 'one house'. However you won't see them because they are actually inside the fruit! This seems very strange, but in true botanical terms the fig isn't really a fruit, it is a cluster of hundreds of flowers enclosed in a smooth skin.
      
Being flowers they have to be pollinated in a very special way. So, along comes the tiny fig wasp. The female wasp, carrying pollen, squeezes through a minute opening in the fig. She lays her eggs on one type of flower, pollinating the other at the same time. The young wasp larvae develop, and the adult wasps mate, inside the fig. The males are wingless and die while the females exit from the opening gathering pollen on the way. Each fig species has to be fertilised this way with its own species of wasp. The fig depends on the wasp and the wasp depends on the fig. 

Cleaning her beak after her meal

Birds love the figs. In the dense forest the patter of half-eaten fruit falling on the leaf-litter alerts you to the birds in the fig trees. Figbirds, Bowerbirds, Pigeons, Catbirds, Koels, and Crows are just some of the birds which love figs. 

Aborigines used the fruit, the bark and the latex for food, medicines and tools.

If you want to know more about native figs try these links: Native Figs: Food for Wildlife, Noosa's Native Plants, Figs suitable for your garden, How figs are pollinated.

GUEST SPEAKER: Megan Prance "Fabulous Fungi and some Photography"

The formal part of the meeting will be, as is our custom, quite short, followed by -

Megan Prance speaking at the Lockyer Valley
Land for Wildlife Forum

GUEST SPEAKER:  Megan Prance "Fabulous Fungi and some Photography"

Megan became seriously interested in fungi & photography in 2007 after seeing a magnificent Stinkhorn while on a bush walk at Lamington National Park. It took 6 months to find out what it was. To learn about macro fungi she joined Queensland Mycological Society. 

She is a former nurse and has an Applied Science Degree majoring in Biology. She currently works at
Queensland Herbarium assisting with the Fungal Collection, the new DNA lab and  running the Botanical library. Megan is past president of Wolston & Centenary Catchments Inc. With Dr Sapphire McMullan-Fisher she conducted a fungal survey of West Brisbane Fungi in 2014-15.

The annual general meeting of the Fassifern Field Naturalists Club Inc. will be held at 6.30pm on Saturday, 19th March 2016 in the Boonah Baptist Hall, corner of Church and Macquarie Streets, Boonah.

This will be followed by our guest speaker, supper and socializing with time to view the interesting items and photos brought in by members.

Admission for members and non-members is $4 and includes supper.

Early morning bird walk, 17 January 2016 - adapted from the report of our leader, Lindsey

Knehr Road Bird Walk (click to enlarge)

It is a tradition with the Fassifern Field Naturalists that the January outing is a bird walk in the early morning. This is to avoid the heat of midsummer. Not heat, but heavy rain and strong winds throughout the night did not deter a larger than expected number of enthusiastic bird watchers who had travelled locally and from many parts of Brisbane to Knehr Road, Wyaralong. The walk winds its way around the banks of the Wyaralong Dam and is home to many water and bush birds.

Despite the weather conditions through patches of rain and drizzle - 70 birds were identified which was a remarkable number considering the conditions. 

There were three species with chicks and the Little Black Cormorant seemed to be sitting on a nest lined with plastic bags until the young ones started to raise their hungry little heads. 

Where we walked

Koala, not the one seen on the walk, 

but included purely because it is so photogenic

It is difficult to choose the bird of the day as there were some good sightings - Nankeen Night Heron, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Red-kneed Dotterel, Comb-crested Jacana, and Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo to name a few. However because most of our party had good views the Latham's Snipe wins the prize.

Watching us pass by was a koala yawning and stretching providing a perfect photo opportunity for all of us that did not bring a camera out because of the rain! 

Ed: Lindsey's comment about not having a camera is so true. Sorry there's not many photos to go with this report.

Species Lists

Birds:

Brown Quail, Australian Wood Duck, Grey Teal, Pacific Black Duck, Australasian Grebe, Bar-shouldered Dove, Australasian Darter, Little Pied Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant with chicks, Australian Pelican, Eastern Great Egret, White-faced Heron, Nankeen Night-Heron, Royal Spoonbill, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Whistling Kite, Purple Swamphen with chicks, Dusky Moorhen with chicks, Eurasian Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Red-kneed Dotterel, Comb-crested Jacana, Latham's (Japanese) Snipe, Sulphur-crested cockatoo, Little Corella, Rainbow Lorikeet, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Little Lorikeet, Australian King-Parrot, Pale-headed Rosella, Pheasant Coucal, Eastern Koel, Channel-billed Cuckoo, Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo, Fan-tailed CuckooBrush Cuckoo, Azure Kingfisher, Laughing Kookaburra, Sacred Kingfisher, Rainbow Bee-eater, Dollarbird, Superb Fairy-wren, Red-backed Fairy-wren, White-throated Gerygone, Yellow Thornbill, Striated Pardalote, Noisy Miner, Brown Honeyeater, White-throated Honeyeater, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Little Friarbird, Striped Honeyeater, Grey-crowned Babbler, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Cicadabird, Rufous Whistler, Australasian Figbird, Olive-backed Oriole, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Restless Flycatcher, Magpie-lark, Golden-headed Cisticola, Tawny Grassbird, Welcome Swallow, Tree Martin, Common Myna, Red-browed Finch.

Golden Orb-Weaver, another photo not taken on the walk

Marsupials:

Koala, Eastern Grey Kangaroos.

Spiders: Golden Orb Weaver, Leaf-curling Spider.

Butterflies: Large (Common) Grass-yellow, Meadow Argus, Lesser Wanderer, Wanderer.