The Kedron Brook Babbler

The Newsletter of Kedron Brook Catchment Branch - Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland Covering the environmental interests of the individuals, groups and organisations living in and near the .Kedron Brook Catchment Area, Brisbane, Australia Mitchelton Greenway Art Sculpture Project On Sunday 2nd March, the Mitchelton April 2008 those involved Art Sculptures were unveiled. This and making this event was a wonderful success with event what it more than 60 people attending. The was. Special morning thanks to Helen Inside This Issue: started at Moriarty for or- Mitchelton Greenway Art Sculpture 1 8am with ganising the State of the Brook 2 tree plant- event and Janet ing on Os- White for the Snippets 2 borne Road time spent on the in which Tilapia Tales 3 art work. (L 200 plants were planted by the 17 vol- Collins) Learn that Weed 3 unteers. At the Mitchelton Pony Club entertain- Presentation Series 3 ment kicked off at 9am including Bird Walk 4 Geckoes Wildlife, a tree sprite, and a free sausage sizzle, followed by a walk along the bikeway and the unveiling of the new

art sculp- ”Green fingers are tures. A the extension of a big thank you to all verdant heart” Photos by Janet White (Russell Page) Fish Snapshots in the Brook

For the sixth year running, Kedron maintenance and revegetation of stream- Brook Catchment Network has held its bank vegetation allows native fish species annual Fish Snapshot program. The to compete more effectively with their in- program collects data on the abundance troduced counterparts. Most of the intro- Special interest points: of native and exotic fish species within duced species are able to tolerate a wider • Catchment Coordinator the Kedron Brook Catchment. range of environmental extremes, such as Nathan Kirby away on six Participants got an opportunity to learn lower dissolved oxygen and higher water months secondment. Lesley temperatures that are more commonly Collins is filling in for Na- about native and exotic fish, water qual- than and is now on board ity and vegetation in the Brook. found in degraded stream areas. • Presentation Series In the long term the data that is col- Fish snapshot activities are conducted by a number • Environmental Walk lected is useful for understanding changes in the populations of fish spe- of catch- cies and the impacts of current manage- ment ment actions such as revegetation and groups weed control programs on these spe- across cies. Bris- bane. (L To date, the results have shown that the Collins)

APRIL 2008 PAGE 1

State of the Brook Kedron Brook Frog The recent OECD Report on Prince William Sound began to re- Survey Australia’s environmental per- cover after the Exxon Valdez disas- formance over the last 10 years ter. Australian catchments may not It’s been fairly quiet around the catch- has some plaudits, but a good have the surging vitality of a tidal ment with regards to the frogs. Even many more cautions and criti- zone, but they can recover from the the Cane Toads aren’t calling much, cisms. Downward trends still damage we have been doing them – although a population of Eastern dominate in species conservation we just need to start to reverse that Sedge frogs were heard calling from and pressures on biodiversity decline. near Waminda Park and Cressey Street remain critical. Investment in Every small action helps; in fact, Wetlands. The vulnerable Tusked conservation has by no means most actions in nature are pretty Frogs have been calling from numer- kept pace with economic pros- small - it’s their accumulation that ous places including Grinstead Park, perity, and coordination of the cuts out canyons and lays down Brook Park and Cressey Street Wet- many “green” initiatives appear- great geological strata. So take lands. ing is needed. heart, do something, anything, and Being quiet here, I went to Mt Barney In the face of this damning re- you’ll be making a difference to- to search for frogs. It too, was very view however, we can take heart wards a sustainable and liveable quiet, none were calling but thanks to from the resilience that nature future! (R Standish-White) our experienced froggers from the continues to surprise us with. We Queensland Frog Society I was pleas- may not see many dewfish any antly surprised finding many of the longer up the Brook, but one can frogs that we have not seen recently in still see healthy schools of mack- our catchment eg the Green Striped erel in Kalinga Park, and our re- Frog (Cyclorana alboguttata), Stoney cent birding walks record many Creek Frog (Litoria willcoxi), Broad- dozens of species in evidence. palmed Rocket Frog (Litoria latopal- This is not to say we can relax in mata), Bleating Treefrog (Litoria den- the belief that “she’ll be right,” tata) and the Northern/Scarlet-sided but to offer encouragement that Pobblebonk (Limnodynastes terrae- there is still a great deal worth reginae). working and fighting for. Cana- (D Dolby) dians were amazed how quickly Cane Toad Bufo marinus & possi- Snippets bly Naked tree Photo by Debbie New Catchment Coordinator The Editors Bit Dolby Lesley Collins the new Catchment Charles is on a well deserved holi- Coordinator for Kedron Brook day. He is enjoying his trip and we you know when and where the catch- started on 10th March. Lesley has look forward to his return in April. ment group will be using it. taken over from Nathan who is working for 6 months in Council’s Water Watch Natural Environment & Sustain- Debbie Dolby has recently com- ability Branch. pleted a certificate in the use of the Lesley has a Bachelor of Environ- Horiba water monitoring equipment mental Planning from Griffith Uni- and has been using it to test the wa- versity and has worked for Council ter quality at the Fish Snapshot for 3 years in a number of different sites. The Horiba measures tem- departments. Lesley has a strong perature, dissolved oxygen, turbid- background in project management. ity, pH, salinity and conductivity. She will be working full time and is Please let Lesley know if you are keen to take on the challenges of interested in seeing this piece of equipment in action, so she can let this role. Photo by Janet White

THE KEDRON BROOK BABBLER PAGE 2 Presentation Series Learn that Weed! A monthly presentation series is ing natural areas and in identified Pithecoctenium currently being held jointly by ecological corridors. He will also talk Kedron Brook, the Northern Catch- about some of the measures that peo- Cynanchoides DC ment Network, Habitat Brisbane ple can employ to provide habitat for North and Brisbane City Council’s wildlife and being more ecologically Environment Centres (Boondall sustainable when living in these envi- and Downfall Creek). The presen- ronments. tation series is open to the public Tina will be talking about Brisbane and covers a range of topic that City Council’s Conservation Partner- include weeds posing as natives, ship Program. These partnerships are wildlife response to fauna-friendly voluntary and focus on fostering a infrastructure and the biocontrol of positive association with biodiversity weeds. protection on the landholder’s prop- Common Name: White Trumpet The presentations are held on the erty. Partners can sign one of three Vine, Monkey’s Comb first Wednesday of the month at agreements, ranging from non-legally the Downfall Creek Bushland Cen- binding agreements through to legally Pithecoctenium Cynanchoides DC, tre. binding agreements. In exchange for or more commonly called White conducting a range of weed control Trumpet Vine or Monkey Comb is On 7th May the presentation will a woody climber with hexagonal be by Nathan Kirby, the previous and revegetation activities, partners receive assistance, such as free plants, ribbed branchlets, and many— Kedron Brook Catchment Coordi- branched twinning tendrils. nator and Tina Manners from Natu- technical advice and a cash payment. ral Environment and Sustainability The evening starts at 6:30pm with a Its leave are heart shaped and be- Branch of Brisbane City Council. light supper and some drinks, provid- tween 2.5-8cm long and 2-5cm Nathan will talk about his new role ing you the opportunity to meet some wide. with Brisbane City Council’s pilot like minded people who have an in- New South Wales Flora Online ‘Corridor Carers’ program. The terest in the environment. The pres- states that it is a native of South program was inspired by programs entation begins at 7pm and concludes America and flowers from Novem- such as Redland Shire Council’s by 8:30pm. ber through to February. ‘Your Backyard Garden Program’. If you are interested in attending Redland’s program aims to provide This species has shown up on some please RSVP to free assistance and site inspections properties within the catchment. [email protected] or on to small-lot housing owners in sen- 0419 175 446. sitive areas such as those surround- Tilapia Tales Tilapia have been spotted again in our Tilapia were first reported in 1978 Brook who will id them and report catchment, this time at Kalinga Park. from Lake Kurwongbah, then in them to the DPI. (D Dolby) Unfortunately it looks to be a very 1979 they were reported in the successful population, well condi- Leslie Harrison Dam, from there tioned (if not fat) with all age/sizes they were reported in 1999 in the present. Upper Brisbane River, in 2000 in The Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambi- Boondoomba Dam, in 2001 the cus) is a native Africa Cichlid. They Caboolture Weir, Bulimba Creek are a little unusual in that the male in 2003 ect. broods the eggs and fry in his mouth Tilapia were first reported in our instead of the female as in most other catchment in 2004 and I reported cichlid species. They are a fish from them in 2006 at the junction of the aquaculture industry with rapid Kedron Brook and Sandy Creek. growth in warm water, tolerant of They were there for approximately poor water conditions, capable of util- 4 months, then disappeared. Look izing a wide range of food items and out for these largish fish and they are salt tolerant. should be reported to Kedron

THE KEDRON BROOK BABBLER PAGE 3 KEDRON BROOK CATCHMENT Environmental Walk BRANCH (INC.) Join us on Sunday 18 May for an sect repellent (just in case), binoculars PO Box 1385 STAFFORD QLD 4053 Environmental walk to increase our and bird field guide (if you have knowledge of wildlife habitat along them) and something to snack on Email: [email protected] ABN: 67 730 668 521 the Brook. Meet at Kalinga Park while we’re out observing the wild- 7.30am at the car park at the end of life. BYO picnic and drink and we’ll Park Ave, Kalinga Park (UBD Map picnic after the walk to discuss what

140 J3). Led by Greg Miller and we have seen. President : Robert Standish-White 3862 1186 Leanne Bowden, we’ll visit Secretary : Leah Salo Mobile 0413 446 665 Kalinga Park and the Wavell Heights Cressey Street wetlands You'll get hooked with Kedron along the way (see information at Brook! http://www.healthywaterways.org/ seq_wsud_site_register.html) This wetland is one of the Brisbane We’re on the web! City Council’s “Water Sensitive Urban Designs”, and is intended to www.kedronbrook.org.au improve the quality of urban runoff water before it reaches Kedron This is a joint Brook. activity with ”The philosopher who Wear a Brisbane hat, com- Branch of said that work well done fortable WPSQ. Con- walking tact Greg or never needs doing over shoes and Leanne on sunscreen. 3357 9009. never weeded a garden” Bring wa- ter to ( Ray D. Everson) Photos by drink, in- Robert Standish-

Dates for your Diary:

15 April KBCB Meeting; with Dr. Kevin Warburton on fish and creek habitats 7:30pm Downfall Creek Environmental Centre, Rode Road Light supper provided 7 May Presentation Series; Corridor Carers/Wildlife Friendly Gardens 6:30pm Downfall Creek Environmental Centre, Rode Road 18th May Environmental Walk 7:30am Kalinga Park; Meet at the Park Avenue car park 15th June Tinchi Tamba Walk 7:30am Meet at Deep Water Bend

The Kedron Brook Catchment Branch—WPSQ gratefully acknowledges support by Brisbane City Council

2008/2 THE KEDRON BROOK BABBLER PAGE 4