Brigalow Belt Bioregion – a Biodiversity Jewel

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Brigalow Belt Bioregion – a Biodiversity Jewel Brigalow Belt bioregion – a biodiversity jewel Brigalow habitat © Craig Eddie What is brigalow? including eucalypt and cypress pine forests and The term ‘brigalow’ is used simultaneously to refer to; woodlands, grasslands and other Acacia dominated the tree Acacia harpophylla; an ecological community ecosystems. dominated by this tree and often found in conjunction with other species such as belah, wilga and false Along the eastern boundary of the Brigalow Belt are sandalwood; and a broader region where this species scattered patches of semi-evergreen vine thickets with and ecological community are present. bright green canopy species that are highly visible among the more silvery brigalow communities. These The Brigalow Belt bioregion patches are a dry adapted form of rainforest, relics of a much wetter past. The Brigalow Belt bioregion is a large and complex area covering 36,400 000ha. The region is thus recognised What are the issues? by the Australian Government as a biodiversity hotspot. Nature conservation in the region has received increasing attention because of the rapid and extensive This hotspot contains some of the most threatened loss of habitat that has occurred. Since World War wildlife in the world, including populations of the II the Brigalow Belt bioregion has become a major endangered bridled nail-tail wallaby and the only agricultural and pastoral area. Broad-scale clearing for remaining wild population of the endangered northern agriculture and unsustainable grazing has fragmented hairy-nosed wombat. The area contains important the original vegetation in the past, particularly on habitat for rare and threatened species including the, lowland areas. glossy black-cockatoo, bulloak jewel butterfl y, brigalow scaly-foot, red goshawk, little pied bat, golden-tailed geckos and threatened community of semi evergreen Biodiversity hotspots are areas that support vine thickets. Sadly, there are already plants and animals that once lived in the Brigalow Belt that we signifi cant biodiversity values threatened have lost forever such as the Darling Downs hopping- with destruction. mouse and paradise parrot. Eighty percent of the bioregion lies within Queensland, Map 1. Queensland Brigalow Belt Bioregion the remainder lies within New South Wales. The bioregion stretches up north to Townsville in Queensland extending south of Dubbo in central-western New South Wales. The bioregion is divided into Brigalow Belt North and Brigalow Belt South. What are the characteristics of the Brigalow Belt in Queensland The bioregion is charcterised by the brigalow tree Acacia harpophylla, a wattle tree with silvery foliage that grows as forests or woodlands on clay soils. The canopy is usually 10-15m in height, and brigalow is the dominant tree species. However large areas of the bioregion are dominated by other communities What is a bioregion? Bioregions are relatively large land areas containing natural ecological communities with characteristic fl ora, fauna, and environmental conditions, and are bounded by natural rather than artifi cial borders. © Environmental Protection Agency 2008 Brigalow habitat © Alison Goodland What are the issues? continued... The bioregion occupies an area nearly 20 percent of Weeds such as parthenium have invaded many areas Queensland. Despite the threat to so many species and replaced native ground layer plants. Inappropriate only approximately 3.6 percent of the region is in fi re regimes and predation by feral animals, in particular protected areas. Of the 163 regional ecosystems pigs, cats and foxes, pose additional threats to local identifi ed in the Brigalow Belt in Queensland by plant biodiversity. ecologists, 33 are classifi ed as endangered and 32 as being of concern. How you can help • Protect remnant bush in your community or on your land to help provide habitat for all our native species. • Support local efforts to conserve threatened species in your area by joining a local organisation such as a Landcare or catchment group, natural history or a ‘friends of’ group or by volunteering for Green Corps or the Australian Trust for Conservation Volunteers. • Participate in special events, information nights, tree planting days and weed eradication programs. • Help manage threats such as overgrazing, weeds, fi re and feral animals to maintain healthy native vegetation. To fi nd out more about saving threatened species check out www.wwf.org.au/tsn or contact the Threatened Species Network at [email protected]. © WWF-Australia June 2008 Golden-tailed gecko © Craig Eddie Brigalow scaly-foot Spinifex habitat © Craig Eddie Description It shelters beneath sandstone slabs, logs, loose bark, The Brigalow scaly-foot is a legless lizard, lead grey dense leaf litter and in grass tussocks, including to greyish brown in colour. The base of the head is spinifex. It is also known to climb small trees, using cream to pale brown, darkening towards the snout and the trunk and main branches and climbing to heights in contrasting sharply with the black bar on the base of excess of two metres. the head. This lizard is quite heavy set with a round On Boyne Island, sap from hickory wattle forms a snout and moderately large limb-fl aps. The scales major portion of the diet of both adults and juveniles. are smooth and glossy and usually occur in 18, or While primarily ground-dwelling, individuals from this occasionally 20, rows. population have been recorded climbing the rough Distribution bark of wattles to lick exuding sap. Studies on captured female species from Boyne Island record the species The core distribution of the Brigalow scaly-foot is within laying two eggs in early November with the eggs the Brigalow Belt of Queensland. It extends north to hatching in late January. the southern Desert Uplands bioregion, south west of Charters Towers, and west to Idalia National Park in Scientifi c Name: the Mulga Lands bioregion. One specimen has been Paradelma orientalis recently recorded from Wyaga in New South Wales, just south of the Queensland border. Conservation Status Habitat Vulnerable - IUCN Red The Brigalow scaly-foot is found in open forests and List of Threatened Species woodlands of ironbark, poplar box, cypress pine, belah, (International) bulloak, spotted gum, brigalow, gidgee, lancewood and hickory wattle. They have also been found in vine Vulnerable - Environment thickets. Topography varies from sandstone ridges to Protection and Biodiversity fl ats and gently undulating plains with clay, loam or Conservation Act 1999 sand. (National) Ecology and Life Cycle Vulnerable - Nature Conservation Act, 1992 The Brigalow scaly-foot is nocturnal, which means it is (Queensland) active during the night. When alarmed it rears its head and fore body and fl ickers its tongue, possibly to mimic a venomous snake. Brigalow scaly-foot © S.Wilson Key Threats Inappropriate fi re regimes: Fire frequency, intensity, Inappropriate roadside management: Roadsides and season, type and extent of fi res over time, infl uence road reserves often provide suitable reptile habitat. biodiversity and ecosystem processes. Inappropriate Populations of reptiles that live within linear remnants, fi re regimes can potentially alter ecosystem structure such as roadside strips, are particularly vulnerable and impact on the species habitat requirements by, for to disturbances that remove essential microhabitat example, removing food sources and shelter. features, for example, rocks, logs, dense leaf litter and fallen bark. Threats can arise from inappropriate Did You Know? roadside burns, slashing and road widening. Despite their snake-like appearance, the legless lizards are unlikely cousins of the Feral animals: The Brigalow scaly-foot is vulnerable to predation by foxes, cats and pigs. geckos. How to help • Support pest management activities which seek to address feral animal threats e.g. foxes, cats and pigs. • Maintain large, healthy, connected patches of native vegetation and avoid ploughing remnant strips/patches of native grassland or woodland. • Ensure grazing practices are sustainable, maintaining at least 70% ground cover. • If burning, use cool burns in a mosaic pattern that promote patchiness and leave areas of ground cover unburnt. If possible, leave stick-raked timber piles unburnt. • Consider entering into a conservation agreement (e.g. Land for Wildlife, Nature Refuges or incentive agreements through grant programs) for conservation and land management assistance. • Report sightings to WWF-Australia, the Queensland Museum or the EPA/QPWS. Taking a photo of live or dead specimens is useful to help identifi cation. To fi nd out more about saving threatened species check out www.wwf.org.au/tsn or contact the Threatened Species Network at [email protected]. © WWF-Australia June 2008 Cleared habitat © Alison Goodland Collared delma Poplar box habitat © Craig Eddie Description Ecology and Life Cycle The collared delma is the smallest of the legless lizards, The collared delma is a secretive, burrowing fl ap- growing to a total length of 15 centimetres with a tail footed lizard that shelter under rocks, logs, leaf litter twice the length of its body. and in soil cracks. They are most active during the day, however, also become active during the evening or This lizard resembles a small snake or large worm and twilight during warmer weather. is coloured reddish-brownish on top with a bluish grey fl ush to the tail. The head and neck is strongly banded They are presumed to be solitary and long lived (greater with broad black and narrow yellow/red bands. The chin
Recommended publications
  • Download Working Paper
    CLIMATE ADAPTATION FLAGSHIP The implications of climate change for biodiversity conservation and the National Reserve System: the tropical savanna woodlands and grasslands Climate Adaptation Flagship Working Paper #13B Adam C Liedloff, Richard J Williams, David W Hilbert, Simon Ferrier, Michael Dunlop, Tom Harwood, Kristen J Williams and Cameron S Fletcher September 2012 National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Title: The implications of climate change for biodiversity conservation and the National Reserve System: the tropical savanna woodlands and grasslands / Adam C Liedloff ISBN: 978-1-4863-0214-7 (pdf) Series: CSIRO Climate Adaptation Flagship working paper series; 13B. Other Climate Adaptation Flagship, Richard J Williams, David W Hilbert, Authors/Contributors: Simon Ferrier, Michael Dunlop, Tom Harwood, Kristen J Williams and Cameron S Fletcher Enquiries Enquiries regarding this document should be addressed to: Adam C Liedloff CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Darwin, NT 564 Vanderlin Drive Berrimah NT 0828 [email protected] Enquiries about the Climate Adaptation Flagship or the Working Paper series should be addressed to: Working Paper Coordinator CSIRO Climate Adaptation Flagship [email protected] Citation Liedloff AC, Williams RJ, Hilbert DW, Ferrier S, Dunlop M, Harwood T, Williams KJ and Fletcher CS (2012). The implications of climate change for biodiversity conservation and the National Reserve System: the tropical savanna woodlands and grasslands. CSIRO Climate Adaptation Flagship Working Paper No. 13B. www.csiro.au/resources/CAF-working-papers Copyright and disclaimer © 2012 CSIRO To the extent permitted by law, all rights are reserved and no part of this publication covered by copyright may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means except with the written permission of CSIRO.
    [Show full text]
  • Lake Pinaroo Ramsar Site
    Ecological character description: Lake Pinaroo Ramsar site Ecological character description: Lake Pinaroo Ramsar site Disclaimer The Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW (DECC) has compiled the Ecological character description: Lake Pinaroo Ramsar site in good faith, exercising all due care and attention. DECC does not accept responsibility for any inaccurate or incomplete information supplied by third parties. No representation is made about the accuracy, completeness or suitability of the information in this publication for any particular purpose. Readers should seek appropriate advice about the suitability of the information to their needs. © State of New South Wales and Department of Environment and Climate Change DECC is pleased to allow the reproduction of material from this publication on the condition that the source, publisher and authorship are appropriately acknowledged. Published by: Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW 59–61 Goulburn Street, Sydney PO Box A290, Sydney South 1232 Phone: 131555 (NSW only – publications and information requests) (02) 9995 5000 (switchboard) Fax: (02) 9995 5999 TTY: (02) 9211 4723 Email: [email protected] Website: www.environment.nsw.gov.au DECC 2008/275 ISBN 978 1 74122 839 7 June 2008 Printed on environmentally sustainable paper Cover photos Inset upper: Lake Pinaroo in flood, 1976 (DECC) Aerial: Lake Pinaroo in flood, March 1976 (DECC) Inset lower left: Blue-billed duck (R. Kingsford) Inset lower middle: Red-necked avocet (C. Herbert) Inset lower right: Red-capped plover (C. Herbert) Summary An ecological character description has been defined as ‘the combination of the ecosystem components, processes, benefits and services that characterise a wetland at a given point in time’.
    [Show full text]
  • The Nature of Northern Australia
    THE NATURE OF NORTHERN AUSTRALIA Natural values, ecological processes and future prospects 1 (Inside cover) Lotus Flowers, Blue Lagoon, Lakefield National Park, Cape York Peninsula. Photo by Kerry Trapnell 2 Northern Quoll. Photo by Lochman Transparencies 3 Sammy Walker, elder of Tirralintji, Kimberley. Photo by Sarah Legge 2 3 4 Recreational fisherman with 4 barramundi, Gulf Country. Photo by Larissa Cordner 5 Tourists in Zebidee Springs, Kimberley. Photo by Barry Traill 5 6 Dr Tommy George, Laura, 6 7 Cape York Peninsula. Photo by Kerry Trapnell 7 Cattle mustering, Mornington Station, Kimberley. Photo by Alex Dudley ii THE NATURE OF NORTHERN AUSTRALIA Natural values, ecological processes and future prospects AUTHORS John Woinarski, Brendan Mackey, Henry Nix & Barry Traill PROJECT COORDINATED BY Larelle McMillan & Barry Traill iii Published by ANU E Press Design by Oblong + Sons Pty Ltd The Australian National University 07 3254 2586 Canberra ACT 0200, Australia www.oblong.net.au Email: [email protected] Web: http://epress.anu.edu.au Printed by Printpoint using an environmentally Online version available at: http://epress. friendly waterless printing process, anu.edu.au/nature_na_citation.html eliminating greenhouse gas emissions and saving precious water supplies. National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry This book has been printed on ecoStar 300gsm and 9Lives 80 Silk 115gsm The nature of Northern Australia: paper using soy-based inks. it’s natural values, ecological processes and future prospects. EcoStar is an environmentally responsible 100% recycled paper made from 100% ISBN 9781921313301 (pbk.) post-consumer waste that is FSC (Forest ISBN 9781921313318 (online) Stewardship Council) CoC (Chain of Custody) certified and bleached chlorine free (PCF).
    [Show full text]
  • Evaluating the Effectiveness of Salvage and Translocation of Striped Legless Lizards
    Evaluating the effectiveness of salvage and translocation of Striped Legless Lizards Megan O’Shea February 2013 Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Technical Report Series No. 243 Evaluating the effectiveness of salvage and translocation of Striped Legless Lizards Megan O’Shea February 2013 Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Department of Sustainability and Environment Heidelberg, Victoria Report produced by: Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Department of Sustainability and Environment PO Box 137 Heidelberg, Victoria 3084 Phone (03) 9450 8600 Website: www.dse.vic.gov.au/ari © State of Victoria, Department of Sustainability and Environment 2013 This publication is copyright. Apart from fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 , no part may be reproduced, copied, transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical or graphic) without the prior written permission of the State of Victoria, Department of Sustainability and Environment. All requests and enquiries should be directed to the Customer Service Centre, 136 186 or email [email protected] Citation: O’Shea, M. (2013). Evaluating the effectiveness of salvage and translocation of Striped Legless Lizards. Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Technical Report Series No. 243. Department of Sustainability and Environment, Heidelberg. ISSN 1835-3827 (print) ISSN 1835-3835 (online) ISBN 978-1-74287-763-1 (print) ISBN 978-1-74287-764-8 (online) Disclaimer: This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.
    [Show full text]
  • Environment and Communications Legislation Committee Answers to Questions on Notice Environment Portfolio
    Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Communications Legislation Committee Answers to questions on notice Environment portfolio Question No: 3 Hearing: Additional Estimates Outcome: Outcome 1 Programme: Biodiversity Conservation Division (BCD) Topic: Threatened Species Commissioner Hansard Page: N/A Question Date: 24 February 2016 Question Type: Written Senator Waters asked: The department has noted that more than $131 million has been committed to projects in support of threatened species – identifying 273 Green Army Projects, 88 20 Million Trees projects, 92 Landcare Grants (http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/3be28db4-0b66-4aef-9991- 2a2f83d4ab22/files/tsc-report-dec2015.pdf) 1. Can the department provide an itemised list of these projects, including title, location, description and amount funded? Answer: Please refer to below table for itemised lists of projects addressing threatened species outcomes, including title, location, description and amount funded. INFORMATION ON PROJECTS WITH THREATENED SPECIES OUTCOMES The following projects were identified by the funding applicant as having threatened species outcomes and were assessed against the criteria for the respective programme round. Funding is for a broad range of activities, not only threatened species conservation activities. Figures provided for the Green Army are approximate and are calculated on the 2015-16 indexed figure of $176,732. Some of the funding is provided in partnership with State & Territory Governments. Additional projects may be approved under the Natinoal Environmental Science programme and the Nest to Ocean turtle Protection Programme up to the value of the programme allocation These project lists reflect projects and funding originally approved. Not all projects will proceed to completion.
    [Show full text]
  • 6. Terrestrial Fauna
    Moura Link - Aldoga Rail Project Queensland Rail Environmental Impact Statement Terrestrial fauna 6. Terrestrial fauna This section describes the existing environment, potential impacts and mitigation measures for the Project in terms of the terrestrial fauna values. The assessment has been based on a review of existing information and the outcomes of supporting field investigations. It should be noted that the information regarding legislation is current at the time of writing this section but may be subject to change in the future. Legislation requirements covered in the EIS have been cited from: • Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) • Nature Conservation Act 1992 (NC Act) • Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 2006 (NC Regulation) • Vegetation Management Act 1999 (VM Act) • Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002 • Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Regulation 2003 The currency of such information will be checked during the detailed design phase of the Project and prior to commencement of construction activities within the project area. Currently the designation of threatened species under the NC Act and NC Regulation is being reviewed to conform with international classification and as such species listed as rare will be reassessed and classified as either least concern, vulnerable, near threatened, endangered or critically endangered. 6.1 Existing environment 6.1.1 Methodology In March 2007, Connell Hatch prepared a desktop ecological assessment to support the development of an Initial Advice Statement, EPBC Referral for determination of the Project’s controlled action status under the EPBC Act and ultimately assist in the EIS process. The Project was deemed a not controlled action under Section 75 of the EPBC Act.
    [Show full text]
  • Raymond T. Hoser
    32 Australasian Journal of Herpetology Australasian Journal of herpetology 11:32-50. Published 8 April 2012. ISSN 1836-5698 (Print) ISSN 1836-5779 (Online) THE DESCRIPTION OF A NEW GENUS OF WEST AUSTRALIAN SNAKE AND EIGHT NEW TAXA IN THE GENERA PSEUDONAJA GUNTHER, 1858, OXYURANUS KINGHORN, 1923 AND PANACEDECHIS WELLS AND WELLINGTON, 1985 (SERPENTES: ELAPIDAE) RAYMOND T. HOSER 488 Park Road, Park Orchards, Victoria, 3134, Australia. Phone: +61 3 9812 3322 Fax: 9812 3355 E-mail: [email protected] Submitted 20 March 2012, Accepted 30 March 2012, Published 8 April 2012. ABSTRACT This paper defines and names new taxa from Australasia. The taxon Denisonia fasciata Rosen 1905, placed most recently by most authors in the genus Suta, is formally removed from that genus and placed in a monotypic genus formally named and described herein. Other taxa formally named and described for the first time include subspecies of the following; the broadly recognized species Pseudonaja textilis (known as the Eastern Brown Snake), P. guttata (Speckled Brown Snake) and P. affinis (Dugite), Oxyuranus scutellatus (Taipan) from Irian Jaya and western Papua as well as a second subspecies from north-west Australia and a hitherto unnamed subspecies of Panacedechis papuanus (Papuan Blacksnake) from the same general region. The newly named taxa are: Hulimkai gen. nov., Pseudonaja textilis cliveevatti subsp. nov., Pseudonaja textilis leswilliamsi subsp. nov., Pseudonaja textilis rollinsoni subsp. nov., Pseudonaja textilis jackyhoserae subsp. nov., Pseudonaja guttata
    [Show full text]
  • Broad-Headed Snake (Hoplocephalus Bungaroides)', Proceedings of the Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales (1946-7), Pp
    Husbandry Guidelines Broad-Headed Snake Hoplocephalus bungaroides Compiler – Charles Morris Western Sydney Institute of TAFE, Richmond Captive Animals Certificate III RUV3020R Lecturers: Graeme Phipps, Jacki Salkeld & Brad Walker 2009 1 Occupational Health and Safety WARNING This Snake is DANGEROUSLY VENOMOUS CAPABLE OF INFLICTING A POTENTIALLY FATAL BITE ALWAYS HAVE A COMPRESSION BANDAGE WITHIN REACH SNAKE BITE TREATMENT: Do NOT wash the wound. Do NOT cut the wound, apply substances to the wound or use a tourniquet. Do NOT remove jeans or shirt as any movement will assist the venom to enter the blood stream. KEEP THE VICTIM STILL. 1. Apply a broad pressure bandage over the bite site as soon as possible. 2. Keep the limb still. The bandage should be as tight as you would bind a sprained ankle. 3. Extend the bandage down to the fingers or toes then up the leg as high as possible. (For a bite on the hand or forearm bind up to the elbow). 4. Apply a splint if possible, to immobilise the limb. 5. Bind it firmly to as much of the limb as possible. (Use a sling for an arm injury). Bring transport to the victim where possible or carry them to transportation. Transport the victim to the nearest hospital. Please Print this page off and put it up on the wall in your snake room. 2 There is some serious occupational health risks involved in keeping venomous snakes. All risk can be eliminated if kept clean and in the correct lockable enclosures with only the risk of handling left in play.
    [Show full text]
  • Terrestrial Ecology Impact Assessment
    Wandoan Coal Project Western coal seam methane water supply pipeline Terrestrial ecology impact assessment November, 2008 Wandoan Joint Venture Parsons Brinckerhoff Australia Pty Limited ABN 80 078 004 798 Level 4, Northbank Plaza 69 Ann Street Brisbane QLD 4000 GPO Box 2907 Brisbane QLD 4001 Australia Telephone +61 7 3854 6200 Facsimile +61 7 3854 6500 Email [email protected] NCSI Certified Quality System ISO 9001 2133006C-RPT031-B:pm Western coal seam methane water supply pipeline Terrestrial ecology impact assessment Contents Page Number Acronyms .....................................................................................................................................................v Executive summary....................................................................................................................................vi 1. Introduction..........................................................................................................................................1 1.1 Background 1 1.2 Context and scope of this assessment 1 1.2.1 Structure of the environmental impact assessment and the ecological assessments 1 1.3 Western CSM water supply pipeline details and study area 6 2. Relevant legislation .............................................................................................................................8 2.1 State assessment framework 8 2.1.1 State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 Act 8 2.1.2 Mineral Resources Act 1989 9 2.1.3 Integrated Planning Act 1997 9 2.1.4 Environmental
    [Show full text]
  • Draft Animal Keepers Species List
    Revised NSW Native Animal Keepers’ Species List Draft © 2017 State of NSW and Office of Environment and Heritage With the exception of photographs, the State of NSW and Office of Environment and Heritage are pleased to allow this material to be reproduced in whole or in part for educational and non-commercial use, provided the meaning is unchanged and its source, publisher and authorship are acknowledged. Specific permission is required for the reproduction of photographs. The Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) has compiled this report in good faith, exercising all due care and attention. No representation is made about the accuracy, completeness or suitability of the information in this publication for any particular purpose. OEH shall not be liable for any damage which may occur to any person or organisation taking action or not on the basis of this publication. Readers should seek appropriate advice when applying the information to their specific needs. All content in this publication is owned by OEH and is protected by Crown Copyright, unless credited otherwise. It is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0), subject to the exemptions contained in the licence. The legal code for the licence is available at Creative Commons. OEH asserts the right to be attributed as author of the original material in the following manner: © State of New South Wales and Office of Environment and Heritage 2017. Published by: Office of Environment and Heritage 59 Goulburn Street, Sydney NSW 2000 PO Box A290,
    [Show full text]
  • Threatened Wildlife Photographic Competition
    THREATENED WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION Winners Announced The Australian Wildlife Society Threatened Wildlife Photographic Competition is a national competition that awards and promotes endangered Australian wildlife through the medium of photography. The Australian Wildlife Society invited photographers to raise the plight of endangered wildlife in Australia. Our Society aims to encourage the production of photographs taken in Australia, by Australians, which reflects the diversity and uniqueness of endangered Australian wildlife. The annual judge’s prize of $1,000 was won by Native Animal Rescue of Western Australia (Mike Jones, Black Cockatoo Coordinator). The winning entry was a photo of a forest red-tailed black cockatoo named Makuru. The forest red-tailed black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksia naso) is listed as Vulnerable; only two of the five subspecies of black cockatoo are listed as Threatened on account of habitat destruction and competition for nesting hollows. The photograph was taken in Native Animal Rescue’s Black Cockatoo Facility (opened 2011 thanks to a generous grant from Lotterywest), which allows them to receive and care for injured or ill black cockatoos. Makuru (a Nyungar word meaning The First Rains or Fertility Season) was the first captive-born black cockatoo at the facility in July 2016. The photo depicts the young cockatoo emerging from its breeding hollow at two months and 15 days. Thank you to all the contributors to the Society’s inaugural Threatened Wildlife Photographic Competition – please enter again next year. Australian Wildlife Vol 4 - Spring 2017 7 The annual people’s choice prize of $500 was won by Matt White Matt’s entry was a photo of a greater glider (Petauroides volans).
    [Show full text]
  • Fowlers Gap Biodiversity Checklist Reptiles
    Fowlers Gap Biodiversity Checklist ow if there are so many lizards then they should make tasty N meals for someone. Many of the lizard-eaters come from their Reptiles own kind, especially the snake-like legless lizards and the snakes themselves. The former are completely harmless to people but the latter should be left alone and assumed to be venomous. Even so it odern reptiles are at the most diverse in the tropics and the is quite safe to watch a snake from a distance but some like the Md rylands of the world. The Australian arid zone has some of the Mulga Snake can be curious and this could get a little most diverse reptile communities found anywhere. In and around a disconcerting! single tussock of spinifex in the western deserts you could find 18 species of lizards. Fowlers Gap does not have any spinifex but even he most common lizards that you will encounter are the large so you do not have to go far to see reptiles in the warmer weather. Tand ubiquitous Shingleback and Central Bearded Dragon. The diversity here is as astonishing as anywhere. Imagine finding six They both have a tendency to use roads for passage, warming up or species of geckos ranging from 50-85 mm long, all within the same for display. So please slow your vehicle down and then take evasive genus. Or think about a similar diversity of striped skinks from 45-75 action to spare them from becoming a road casualty. The mm long! How do all these lizards make a living in such a dry and Shingleback is often seen alone but actually is monogamous and seemingly unproductive landscape? pairs for life.
    [Show full text]