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Native Fauna of the Bendigo Creek

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Native Fauna of the Bendigo Creek R e p t i l e s o f B e n d i g o C r e e k M a m m a l s o f B e n d i g o C r e e k Look out for us in summer . Look out for us at dusk . Native fauna of the Boulenger’s Skink Native Water Rat Bendigo Creek I am one of the most common I’m most active at sunset and in A Family Field Guide skinks in the box-ironbark country. the night until dawn as I dive and I love areas with fallen branches hunt for bugs, yabbies, fish and and leaf litter where my colours frogs. Only the top of my head help me hide. You’ll see me and back can be seen as I swim sunbaking in warmer weather but but my white tail tip might be I’ll scuttle away quickly if scared. easy to spot as I climb on land. Common Long-necked Tortoise Sugar Glider I search in the creek for water I rely on hollows in old gum trees creatures but you may see me to survive but will use nest boxes sunning myself on a snag or rock. if I have to. I sleep during the day I roam overland after heavy rain and hunt up in the trees at night but will pull my neck under my searching for beetles and moths shell or spray you with smelly under bark, sap on trunks and wee if you try to touch me. nectar and pollen from blossoms. Stumpy-tailed Lizard Brush -tailed Possum I am a slow-moving reptile you Take your torch out at night and might see out in sunny areas. My you may see me. I could be up in camouflage colours and texture the trees feeding on gum leaves or keep me safe, as does my tail, that I might be on the ground eating looks very much like my head to grasses. I like to nibble on gum trick my predators. If threatened, blossom s, large moths and bird I inflate my body and hiss loudly. eggs for a treat and live in hollows. Proudly produced by Lace Monitor Eastern Grey Kangaroo If you notice birds making a noisy If you’re nice and quiet you might fuss, look up . they could be see me in along some parts of the trying to shoo me from my resting Bendigo Creek. I rest under the place on the trunk of a tree. I’m a shade of bushes and trees during “Building Community Through Conservation” prehistoric looking fellow and I like the day and come out to more to eat other reptiles, baby birds, open areas to graze on native grass with funding from the Victorian Government’s eggs and small mammals. and weeds in the late afternoon. Victorian Landcare Grants B i r d s o f t h e B e n d i g o C r e e k Listen out for us . Look up for us . Look to the water for us . Crested Shrike - tit Whistling Kite Pacific Black Duck If you hear the sound of tearing I soar in the skies above water and I like to puddle around in the calm bark, look up – it may be me ! farmland with my wings in the sheltered waters of Bendigo Creek With my cool rock star looks, I shape of an ‘M’, in search of dead but also enjoy areas of open water search for insects in gum trees by animals and live prey. I build a nearby. I am quite dull in colour ripping the bark from branches large stick nest in tall trees close apart from a flash of purplish- and peeking underneath. My to the creek and call with a falling green on my wing and a bandit- yellow chest also gives me away. whistle before 4-5 rising notes. like eye band. Laughing Kookaburra Dusky Woodswallow Sacred Kingfisher You’ll be sure to start smiling as I glide in circles overhead, I’m a stout little fellow with an my happy laughter fills the bush. chasing flying insects for my over-sized beak. You might not My cackles let other birds know lunch. When I land on a branch I notice me sitting on a branch like a which part of the creek is my usually swivel my tail as I get statue, but once I spy a fish you’ll home. I lay eggs in a tree hollow settled. My blue beak is quite see a flash of bluey-green swoop and eat insects, worms, frogs & distinctive and white stripes on down to the water as my patience yabbies with my strong beak. my outer wings help you find me. is rewarded with a slippery catch. Noisy Miner Rainbow Bee-eater Clamorous Reed-warbler I am bold and curious. I like to I visit the Bendigo Creek in the I’m a talented song-bird with a spend time with my other Noisy spring and summer. After waiting beautiful melodic call, but Miner friends. We feed together, patiently on an exposed branch I camouflaged so well that you’ll breed together and boss other swoop like an acrobat through the rarely see me. I spend my time birds around with our constant air to catch them in flight. I don’t hidden in the water reeds, prizing piping ‘pwee-pwee-pwee’ calls. make a stick nest . I tunnel into insects and balancing delicately on I feed on nectar, fruits & insects. sandy creek banks to lay my eggs. upright stems with my thin legs. Musk Lorikeet Welcome Swallow Dusky Moorhen You’ll probably hear me before From below you’ll notice my You might see me pecking on the forked tail as I catch insects mid- bank for insects and worms but if you see me. I zoom past with parrot friends on my way to the air that hover above the water. I’m disturbed I’ll scoot to the next flowering gum where I Bendigo Creek also provides me water and all you’ll see is my blend in with the green leaves with the mud I need to build my white rump disappearing into the and use my brush-tipped tongue cup-shaped nest and sheltered water reeds. It’s here, well- to eat sweet pollen and nectar. bridges to build my nest under. protected, that I build my nest. B i r d s o f t h e B e n d i g o C r e e k Look to the vegetation for us . in the grasses, amid the shrubs and among the branches Australian Magpie Superb Fairy Wren Long-billed Corella I am one of the first birds you will My active nature, trill call and Don’t confuse me with my loud, hear in the morning, singing in a brilliant blue features make me well-known cousin the Cockatoo. new day. My bold colours make easy to spot. I strut around My small crest is white, I have blue me easy to spot and you will most proudly with my much duller skin around my eye and splashes certainly know I’m around if I female friends, nimbly snatching of pink on my face. I eat seeds swoop you in the spring to defend insects among the grass and low with my strong beak and spend the blue-green eggs in my nest. shrubs beside the creek. time with other Corellas. Galah Crested Pigeon Grey Shrike-thrush I’m a loyal friend, choosing My cool black spiky crest helps me Nature can teach us valuable another galah as my mate for life. stand out from the crowd along lessons . I may look dull, but I I gather in larger flocks, chattering with my barred wings and pinkish have one of the sweetest singing away excitedly at sunset or when ring around my eye. I might give voices of all birds. It just goes to rain is on it’s way. I lay my eggs in you a fright if I take off nearby as show, you should never judge the hollows of gum trees lined my special wings make a whistling something by it’s looks and that with fresh leaves and wood chips. sound in flight. everything on earth has a talent. White-plumed Honeyeater Grey Fantail Australian Magpie-lark Creeks lined with River Red Gums You’ll find me either chasing I am similar to a Magpie but smaller, are my favourite homes. I spend all insects from the leaves with with a whiter chest and white eye. I day busily searching for nectar, fruit, amazing acrobatic tricks or use mud collected from the creek insects and the sugary liquid left perched on a branch constantly bank to build my cup-shaped mud behind by leaf-sucking insects. My fanning my tail. My nest looks like nest. My 'pee-wee' call is sung as a brush-tipped tongue helps me a wine glass with a meticulously duet with a mate and we take turns gather the sticky food I need. built cup above a tapering stem. to raise our wings when calling. Striated Pardalote Eastern Rosella Willie Wagtail I am a small bird with a short tail I am a very colourful member of I run around on the ground, and blunt beak. I move around the parrot family. You’ll often see wagging my fan tail to flush small like an acrobat in search of insects me flying overhead in pairs, making insects up from the grass, then I among the leaves, often seen a high-pitched ‘clink-clink’ call or quickly spin around to snap them hanging upside down.
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