bushlandnews Summer 2009-2010 bushlandnews

Celebrating 30 years of bushland management

Issue 77 By Kim Sarti Autumn 2011 The community-based Bungendore Park Management Committee in the City of Armadale is Time of Djeran and celebrating positive achievements in bushland management and biodiversity conservation. Makuru in the Nyoongar June 2011 marks 30 years of active involvement by the local community and City. calendar. Bungendore Park is a 498 ha ‘A’ class reserve in Bedfordale of mainly jarrah/ marri forest on the Darling Plateau, but Urban Nature update also encompasses wandoo and granite Page 2 outcropping on the Darling Scarp face. The park is managed as a conservation Bushland weedwatch: reserve for low-impact usage. Black flag Page 3 Conservation initiatives Econote: Microbialites The committee, with the assistance Page 4 of the local community, has been Carnaby Tracker undertaking revegetation of disused Page 5 gravel pits and degraded areas in the park since 1982 and some 96,205 Learning opportunities seedlings have been planted during this Page 5 period. A further 12,400 have been Committee members discuss fire management plan for Bungendore Park. planted on Department of Environment What’s on Page 6 From left: Kim Sarti, Irene Morcombe, Ian Thompson, Guenter Best (Chairman), and Conservation (DEC) managed Don Griffiths, Penny Versteeg and Simon Dawkins. Photo – R Dawkins Funding opportunities land south of the park. All tree and Other surveys include insects, fungi Award recognition Page 7 understorey seedlings have been grown from seed collected within the park to and terrestrial fauna (long-term). The committee’s environmental A bat survey is also underway. Regional reports maintain genetic integrity. achievements and community In conjunction with the Western involvement have been Page 8 Other habitat restoration activities Australian Museum, special acknowledged through winning the include upgrading fencing, weed Feature: Urban roo studies are being undertaken on inaugural John Tonkin Community control, a Phytophthora survey and control three threatened species of black Group Award (1985), the National control program and, recently, feral Page 10 cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus spp.) Banksia Award for a Community European honey bee (Apis mellifera) Group (1992), and the distinguished Group profile: control measures. Feral pig (Sus We also aim to raise public John Tonkin Gold Greening Armadale Wildflower scorfa) control remains a problem. awareness of the and animals Award (1994) for ‘outstanding Society Page 11 that live in Bungendore Park and the Research and publications value of remnant bushland. This has achievements in environmental Resources Page 12 The management committee has been done through a series of five conservation’. been involved with, or organised, information pamphlets, conducting Celebratory events scientific studies of the park. Surveys bush walks, bush breakfasts, a of the plants, birds and aquatic life 'Bushland for Cockatoos' seminar Throughout 2011, we will be have been published as written and information display shelters. holding celebratory events. Our reports. Following the wildfire in A natural history book A Walk first was the 'Dark in the Park' December 1994, a seven-year study with Time (1997) was published to astronomy evening on 12 February, was conducted on tree mortality, celebrate the centenary of the park’s where 165 people were entertained regrowth (including an orchid study) gazettal. There are four named walk with video presentations and an and other fire effects. The results tracks with informative signage and opportunity to look through five were published in the Western a bridle trail follows the northern telescopes fixed skyward. See www.dec.wa.gov.au Australian Naturalist in June 2003. fire access track. ‘What’s on’ for future events.

Bushland News is a quarterly newsletter of Urban Nature, a Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) program to support community involvement in bushland conservation. Bushland News Issue 72 - Summer 2009-2010 www.dec.wa.gov.au 1 Autumn 2011

Urban Nature UPDATE By Julia Cullity

Ecoplan/Urban Nature celebrates 20 years Not to be outdone by the milestones of Bungendore Park’s 30 years and Armadale Wildflower Society’s 50, in April 2011 we celebrate 20 years since the launch of Ecoplan. The Ecoplan program of the Environmental Protection Authority was established to involve community groups and schools in urban bushland conservation, particularly those areas recognised as regionally significant through the 1983 System Six Red Book report. Ecoplan continued through changes of government and departmental restructures, and evolved into the Urban Nature program of DEC. Urban Nature provides technical advice and on-ground support for land managers across Community members use a handheld GPS to gather data at the Urban Nature GPS and all tenures to protect, manage and restore the rich biodiversity of the bushlands and Map Making for Bush Regenerators workshop wetlands in DEC’s Swan Region and beyond. held in February 2011. GPS, computer mapping and database software can be used It has also been five years since our last reader survey when we made a number of to record spatial distribution of the values changes to the content and format of Bushland News (formerly Ecoplan News). We’d and threats to bushland and assist in making like to hear from you again. Are we meeting the needs of the bushland conservation planning decisions for management. Photo – community and can you suggest ways to improve our newsletter? Julia Cullity

Win a prize Contacts Urban Nature office Complete the following survey and Julia Cullity 9423 2925 submit your comments before Tuesday Kate Brown 9423 2905 24 May 2011 to be in the draw to win Karen Bettink 9423 2904 one of three fabulous prizes: Grazyna Paczkowska 9423 2914 • A bat box to attract and house up to 150 microbats–our natural insect Department of Environment and controllers. RRP $135. Conservation, Swan Region office 7 Turner Avenue, Bentley WA 6102 • Wildflower Country: Discovering Biodiversity in Australia's Southwest PO Box 1167, Bentley Delivery Centre WA 6983 by Stanley and Kaisa Breeden Fax 9423 2901 (2010). A beautiful collection of fine art photography with a Email [email protected] travelogue about the diverse flowers of this area. RRP $75. Current and archived issues of Bushland • Brush with Gondwana: The Botanical Artists Group of News are available at www.dec.wa.gov.au/ Western Australia by Janda Gooding (2010). Seven programs/urban-nature/index.html. leading botanical artists share their stories and beautiful illustrations of WA’s flora, fauna and fungi. RRP $60.

Survey questions Winter Bushland News

1. Are there articles/sections of Bushland 3. If you or your group contributed to Winter Bushland News contributions News you would like to: Bushland News, did you receive any should be sent to Urban Nature at a. See more of? inquiries after the article or event [email protected] by b. See less of? was published (e.g. new members, Tuesday 24 May 2011. Compiled and c. Remove? request for information, RSVPs, useful edited by Jo Tregonning. (i.e. cover, Urban Nature update, Bushland networking)? weedwatch, Econote, short articles, 4. Do you have any other comments? Learning and Funding opportunities, What’s on calendar, Regional reports, Please respond to the survey questions either by phone 9423 2925, email Group profile, Resources). [email protected], post PO Box 1167, Bentley DC 6163 or online http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/content/view/445/2026/ on or before Tuesday 24 May 2011. 2. Would you like to add new sections? Please remember to include your name and postal address to be included in the prize draw.

© All material copyright. No part of the contents of the publication may be reproduced without the consent of the publishers. The views and opinions expressed in the articles in Bushland News are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Environment and Conservation.

2 Bushland News Issue 77 — Autumn 2011 www.dec.wa.gov.au bushlandnews bushland weedwatch

Black flag ()

By Kate Brown and Karen Bettink

Naturally restricted to the southern African winter rainfall zone, black flag (Ferraria crispa) was first collected in Australia by the botanist Alexander Morrison from ‘east of Perth’ in 1898. Currently it is naturalised in heathlands and woodlands on sands and sandy loams in south-western Australia, from north of Geraldton around the coast to Albany.

A summer dormant perennial , Management and control black flag flowers in winter and sets seed There is limited published information towards the end of spring. As summer on ways to effectively manage black flag, approaches leaves and flowering stems particularly where it invades intact bushland. die back to a below-ground corm that Brushoff® (600 g/kg metsulfuron methyl) reshoots with the first autumn rains. and Dalapon® (2,2-Dichloropropionic acid) Almost all our weedy cormous plants herbicides were recently trialled on black flag in south-west Australia have annually over a four-year period in Shenton Bushland. renewed ; however, black flag is an interesting exception. It forms extensive Dalapon® at 10 g/L—the most effective populations of persistent columns of treatment trialled—only reduced numbers perennial corms, many of which remain of juvenile plants (non-flowering individuals) dormant through the growing season, from a mean of more than 800 per 1 m making it a particularly difficult weed to x1 m plot to a mean of 493 per plot. control. Following physical disturbance to With so many juveniles remaining after a column, previously dormant corms often three annual applications, Dalapon® produce shoots. cannot be considered a particularly effective treatment. Although no adults Black flag (Ferraria crispa) produces a The putrid-smelling flowers open for one column of persistent perennial corms. (flowering individuals) remained in plots day only. They are pollinated by but Illustration – Libby Sandiford after treatment, numbers before any are also self-fertile and large amounts of treatments were very low. seed are produced each year in late spring. Further reading Interestingly, the number of plants in all Brown, KL and Bettink, KA (2009–) plots fluctuated over the four-year trial Ferraria crispa. Swan Weeds: and the general pattern of variation was Management Notes, FloraBase — The repeated across the different treatments. Western Australian Flora. Department This seems to reflect the natural variation of Environment and Conservation. in corm dormancy that occurs across http://florabase.dec.wa.gov.au/browse/ populations from year to year. profile/1515 When the herbicide trials were complete Brown, K and Betink, K (2010) Black and plants were in the summer dormant Flag (Ferraria crispa Burm.) is a difficult stage, all corms were dug up and their to control and persistent invader of dry weight assessed. The results indicated Banksia/Eucalypt Woodland in south-west Dalapon® had minimum impact on the Australia. Ecological Management and corms. Restoration 11(3): 228–230. A treatment that effectively targets Claughton, A (2004) The ecology and dormant corms or breaks corm dormancy management of the invasive black flag across populations allowing herbicide (Ferraria crispa) in Bold Park. Honours translocation to all corms is required. Thesis, Land and Water Management Physical disturbance and fire have both University of Western Australia. been observed to break corm dormancy in black flag populations and their role in Goldblatt, P, Bernhardt, P & Manning, J managing populations requires further C (2009) Adaptive radiation of the putrid study. In the interim, complete physical perianth: Ferraria (: ) and removal, including corms, of small its unusual pollinators. Journal The putrid-smelling flowers of black flag open 2 for one day only. Photo – Kate Brown infestations (less than 3–4 m ) is one option. Systematics and Evolution, 278(1): 53-65.

Bushland News Issue 77 — Autumn 2011 www.dec.wa.gov.au 3 Autumn 2011 econotes

Microbialites

By David Mitchell

Many people would not be that impressed by the thrombolites (microbialites) at Lake Richmond, Lake Clifton or other Western Australian locations, as they can look little more than a collection of rounded rocks covered with a scummy algae layer. However the idea of these ‘living rocks’—and understanding what they mean for life on Earth—is thrilling!

Microbialites is the group name for our living rocks. Thrombolites are a type of microbialite that have a clotted structure. Stromatolites, such as those still living at Shark Bay, have a layered internal structure that shows growth rings. Tufa, like those that form at the Augusta sea The Lake Clifton thrombolites are found in a zone about 15 m wide for 14 km on the eastern side cliffs, are another microbialite. of the lake. DEC has installed a boardwalk to allow people to view the thrombolites and protect them from trampling. The thrombolites at Lake Clifton and at Lake Richmond formed some time These living rocks are representative of after the lakes were isolated from the sea during the past 4,000 years. Photo – Jill Pryde the earliest recorded life on Earth, having been present for nearly 3.5 billion years. is responsible for increasing oxygen in the features highlight the major threats to For much of the history of the planet they atmosphere from less than one per cent thrombolites; changes in the amount and were the only life on Earth. On the other up to the present day level of 21 per cent. composition of groundwater inflow and hand, land creatures, flowering plants, Microbialites truly changed the world! increases in nutrient level. insects, mammals and people have all been around for less than 475 million years. Thrombolite conservation As well as managing the sites where thrombolites occur to protect from Although thrombolites look like rocks, Western Australia has the greatest physical damage (such as from walking they are formed by a complex community range of fossil microbialites, including on them) and managing buffering and of microbes that includes photosynthetic the oldest known fossil stromatolites; surrounding vegetation that protect and prokaryotes (e.g. cyanobacteria) and and the greatest number and varied support thrombolite reefs, it is also critical occurrences of living microbialites of microalgae (e.g. diatoms), along with to ensure that the whole catchment is anywhere on Earth. Living microbialites other microbial species. These microbe managed well to ensure the hydrological occur at Shark Bay, Esperance, Augusta, communities precipitate calcium system that supports the thrombolites is Yalgorup, Rottnest Island, Cervantes and carbonate (limestone) within the maintained. Rockingham. community as a result of their growth and metabolic activity, leading to the Thrombolite communities at Lake Clifton Each of these constitutes a distinct and formation of the rock-like structures. and Lake Richmond (Rockingham) very significant community in terms are listed as threatened ecological of microbial species, structure and Thrombolite communities are unique and communities. Following a nomination history. Living thrombolites provide an special, and while the communities and by the community, in January 2010 the opportunity to study what life may have the microbialite structures they produce Lake Clifton thrombolite community was been like during that immense period of have been on earth for nearly 3.5 billion listed as critically endangered under the time when they were the only forms of years, they are still vulnerable to a number Commonwealth Environment Protection life on the planet, and fossil microbialites of threatening processes that put their and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. are important for interpreting ancient continued existence at risk. Sunlight Recovery teams have been established environments. and fresh groundwater inflow rich in to oversee implementation of an interim We also owe microbialites some gratitude. carbonates are essential to thrombolite recovery plan to maintain or improve the It is thought that their photosynthetic growth and survival. They also need low condition of the thrombolites and reduce activity over hundreds of millions of years nutrients in the water body. These two the level of threat.

4 Bushland News Issue 77 — Autumn 2011 www.dec.wa.gov.au bushlandnews

Can citizens track cockatoos using information technology?

Carnaby Tracker was a citizen science project the mornings and evenings. By linking the developed by biologists and computer observations of several participants, one scientists at The University of Western flock was tracked foraging from Nedlands Australia (UWA) to assess movement patterns to Dalkeith for a few hours after leaving the of Carnaby’s black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus Hollywood Hospital roost site. latirostris) within the Perth metropolitan area. Using citizen science as a method of tracking Carnaby Tracker required participants to birds throughout the entire day was generally lodge observations of Carnaby’s black unsuccessful with this level of participation; cockatoos onto a website, which was open however the approach may work with large- to observations from 19 April–12 September scale recruitment of participants contributing 2010. Participants recorded the location of data over a shorter period. Citizen science the birds using 'google maps', and also noted has the potential to refine the current flight directions, foraging behaviours and knowledge of the seasonal movements of flock sizes. Almost 3,500 observations were black cockatoos, and participants generally submitted by 586 registered participants enjoyed contributing data in a systematic and during this period. The distribution of collaborative manner. Further spatial analysis observations throughout the week and day of the UWA dataset continues and a similar A male and a female Carnaby's black cockatoo were inconsistent, with most participants web site is now operating under the auspices (Calyptorhynchus latirostris) look over the observing cockatoos on weekends, and in of Birds Australia. suburb of Winthrop. Photo – Keith Lightbody

Learning opportunities Cam Clay wins awards

Understanding Western Australian A decade of service to the environment and community earned Cam Clay the Premier’s Australia Day Environmental Contribution of the native plants Year Award and the Active Citizenship Award. Polytechnic West Midland Campus As chairperson of the Armadale Gosnells Landcare Group for the Learn to identify local plants of the Perth Hills and surrounds. past 10 years, Cam has taken part in countless planting and weeding Understand their uses in and their values to natural areas. Classes: days, workshops, events and meetings and has lobbied government Wednesday 6pm– 8.30pm from 11 May to 15 June. Includes at all levels for investment in local environmental projects. He is also weekend activity. Cost: $71.54 (concession available). For more the inaugural treasurer of the South East Regional Centre for Urban information contact Ted Johnson on 0414 896 626 or 9374 6314 Landcare (SERCUL), member of the Wildflower Society of WA, or email [email protected]. volunteer for the Bedfordale Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade, member Fungimap VI – Community based science in of the Roleybushcare environmental group, Honorary River Guardian through the Swan River Trust and Deputy Chair of the City of action Armadale Bushcare Environmental Working Group. 14 Thursday–19 Tuesday July 2011, Denmark, Western Australia Fungimap VI is an exciting biennial event which consists of a day of talks followed by three days of forays and workshops. It includes a full day at the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk, set amid the majestic fungi-rich tingle and karri eucalypt forest. This is a unique opportunity to share and learn about fungi in the field and caters for all levels of interest. Day registration includes lunch and snacks. Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk. Photo - DEC Friday 15 July ‘Day of talks’ or Monday 18 July ‘Valley of the Giants’. Full conference or day registrations. Cam Clay won two awards in January for his service to the Contact the Fungimap Coordinator on (03) 9252 2374 or environmental community during the past 10 years. Photo – Courtesy [email protected]. Visit www.rbg.vic.gov.au/fungimap/. of the City of Armadale

Bushland News Issue 77 — Autumn 2011 www.dec.wa.gov.au 5 Autumn 2011

what’s on Opportunities for you to take part! Visitors always welcome but please confirm activities with the contact person. Most activities are FREE!

Sundays 8.30am 7 Thursday 10 Tuesday 7.30pm Recurrent activities Bushcare activities with the Great Cocky Count of Carnaby’s Yilgarn Ranges with guest speaker Friends of Wireless Hill are on black cockatoos at roost sites. Brian Moyle. Cost $2. Contact the second and fourth Sunday of Volunteer counters needed for the WSWA(P). 9am each month. Meet at main carpark. Perth region and beyond (Perth to Guided walks with trained guides Contact Margaret 0402 105 649 or Albany, east to Esperance and north 11 Wednesday 7pm–9pm from the Friends of Bold Park [email protected]. to Geraldton). Contact Geoff on Life After People is a thought- Bushland, Floreat. First Saturday, 9423 2907 or greatcockycount@ provoking film that combines second Thursday and third Sunday of Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays birdsaustralia.com.au. movie-quality visual effects and expert each month. For details 9480 3996, 9am–12 noon investigation to demonstrate how our or www.bgpa.wa.gov.au/bold-park/ Bushcare activities and 9 Saturday 9am–12 noon planet will change in our absence. walks or [email protected]. wetlands walk trail Wetland appreciation and Kalamunda Performing Arts Centre. maintenance with Yanchep management workshop at Wandi. Bookings 9424 2216 or joanne. Saturdays 9am National Park Volunteers. Call Julia Contact GS. [email protected]. Bushcare activities with the 9405 0771. Friends of Brixton Street Wetlands 9 Saturday 9am–12.30pm 14 Saturday are on the third Saturday of each Tuesdays, Thursdays 8am–11am Go Batty bat building workshop Community planting day Lake month. Call Regina 9459 2964. Koala maintenance at Yanchep with Joe Tonga at Perth Zoo. Cost: Magenup. Contact WL. National Park. Call Julia 9405 0771. $165 includes a bat box to take Saturdays home. Bookings 9474 0365 or 18 Wednesday 4pm–6pm Bushcare activities with the Mt Thursdays 8am–9am www.perthzoo.wa.gov.au. Zoo Design Teacher Professional Henry Conservation Group are on Bushcare activities every Thursday Learning. Find out how Perth Zoo the fourth Saturday of each month. with Byford Enviro-Link. Call 9 Saturday 7pm–9.30pm creates ways to exhibit animals to Email [email protected]. Johanne or Kristy 9526 0199. Nocturnal tour at Kanyana inspire people to take on Wildlife Cost $20 per person. conservation action. Cost: $40. Sundays 9am–11am Contact KW. Bookings 9474 0365 or Bushcare activities with www.perthzoo.wa.gov.au. Cottesloe Coastcare are on the first 12 Tuesday 7.30pm Sunday of each month. Visit www. Georgiana Leake – WA’s first 20 Friday 7.30pm cottesloecoastcare.org for details botanical artist with guest speaker Nocturnal guided walk with the or contact Robyn on 9384 7668 or Margaret Love. Cost $2. Contact Friends of Lake Gwelup. Contact FLG. WSWA(P). [email protected]. Conservation Volunteers 24 Tuesday 7.15pm Australia activity schedule. Sundays 9.45am–12 noon 16 Saturday 8am Managing trees in public places Overnight country trips or one-day Bushcare activities with the Guided walk with the Friends of and quantifying risk with guest activities. Call Andrew 9227 5711 or Friends of Piesse Brook are on Lake Gwelup. Contact FLG. speaker Jeremy Thomas. Wildflower visit www.conservationvolunteers. the third Sunday of each month. Society WA (Northern Suburbs). com.au. 16 Saturday Henderson Centre, North Beach. Contact Gerry 9293 2517, Bridgett Pigface removal Wandi Nature [email protected], linda@ Call David 9448 9192. Research into bird populations Reserve. Contact WL. johnstanley.cc or visit www. with the Herdsman Lake Bird 27 Friday 7.30pm friendsofpiessebrook.org.au. 17 Sunday 1pm–4pm Banding Group. People are welcome Nocturnal guided walk with the Boots on Bushcare and Safety Friends of Star Swamp Bushland, Sundays 9am–10.30am to call Bill (ABBBS Coordinator) workshop focuses on basic work Bushcare activities at Throssell 0438 910 252 and organise a visit. North Beach. Contact David 9448 safety and Phytophthora dieback 9192 or [email protected]. Reserve, Eastern Hills in the Jane hygiene. Gooseberry Hill Scout Hall. Brook Catchment are on the second Contact BSH. Sunday of each month. Phone Una April 9572 1447. 20 Wednesday 7pm–9pm 2 Saturday 8.45am–1pm Flow For the Love of Water is Sundays 8am–10am Rock Groups on Tour is an an award-winning documentary on Bushcare activities every Sunday exploration of the Boya quarries with the ‘world water crisis’. Kalamunda with the Friends of Shenton Park CSA Global geotourism expert and Performing Arts Centre. Bookings Bushland. Contact Dani 9381 3470 geologist. Bus departs Jack Mann 9424 2216 or joanne.woodbridge@ or [email protected]. Oval, Middle Swan. Contact BSH. emrc.org.au. Sundays 9am–12 noon 3 Sunday 8.30am 27 Wednesday Bushcare activities with the Guided walk with the Friends of Pigface removal Wandi Nature Friends of the Spectacles (Kwinana) Mirrabooka. Meet at Thyme Court, Reserve. Contact WL. 28 Saturday 10am–2pm are on the third Sunday of each Mirrabooka. Contact 9344 2872 or Frog Doctor workshop will teach month. Contact Lynda on 9439 1928 friends.of.mirrabooka.bushland@ you about frog biology, creating a frog or [email protected]. gmail.com. May friendly garden, plants for native bees and butterflies. Lake Leschenaultia. 1 Sunday 9am–3pm Contact BSH. Registration/Contact details Kanyana Wildlife Open Day Contact KW. 28 Saturday 9am–12 noon BSH Bush Skills for the Hills KW Kanyana Wildlife Land management workshop at 4 Wednesday 5.30pm Free community workshops. Bookings 9291 3900 or Wandi. Soil types, soil health, weed Cockatoos and legislation Bookings 9424 2216 or www.kanyanawildlife.org.au. identification and control, land-use discussion evening with the Urban [email protected]. WL Wandi Landcare planning. Contact GS. Bushland Council. Lotteries House, FLG Friends of Lake Gwelup Contact Fred 0428 604 032 or Delhi St, West Perth. Bookings Meet at the scout hall carpark, [email protected]. 9420 7207 or [email protected]. Huntriss Rd. Contact Christine WSWA(P) June 9447 2983 or [email protected]. Wildflower Society of WA 7 Saturday 9am–12 noon 25 Saturday 8am GS Green Skills (Perth Branch) Revegetation skills workshop Guided walk with the Friends of Star Free workshops. Bookings 9360 6667 Subiaco Community Centre. Email at Bibra Lake. Seed collecting, Swamp. Contact David 9448 9192 or or [email protected]. [email protected]. species selection and revegetation [email protected]. Visit www.greenskills.org.au. techniques. Contact GS.

6 Bushland News Issue 77 — Autumn 2011 www.dec.wa.gov.au bushlandnews

Highlights Funding opportunities 2011 International Year of Forests celebrating forests for people. Visit Biodiversity incentives for SJ landowners By Vanessa Slater www.un.org/en/events/ Serpentine Jarrahdale Shire in partnership with the SJ Landcare Centre iyof2011/index.shtml. has established the biodiversity stewardship program Healthy Habitats for 22 Friday April landowners. The program assists landowners with managing their bushland and Earth Day 2011: a other natural areas. The program provides expert technical advice, site visits, billion acts of green. Pledge your act today! ecological assessments, guidance with management plans and assistance with Visit www.earthday.org/. grant applications. Winter Fungi Forays with the Perth Urban Bushland Local resident Peter Jacobs took advantage of the Healthy Habitats program. Fungi Project. Event information and bookings will be After working with the shire he has discovered his property includes two uploaded to website in April/May. Visit www.fungiperth. org.au/. threatened ecological communities, and new populations of two species of declared rare flora. He has been able to add value to his property through 13 Friday May 10am–2pm Earth Day for Schools successfully applying for a grant from the South-West Catchments Council for fencing and the control of weeds and feral animals. Contact Penny Hollick at the SJ Shire on 9526 1111 or Francis Smit at the SJ Landcare Centre on 9526 0012. Download the Draft Biodiversity Strategy at www.sjshire.wa.gov.au/biodiversity/.

WetlandCare Australia – improving wetland management WetlandCare Australia invites you to nominate suitable wetland sites for on-ground works. Suitable projects include: stock control, fencing (but not boundary fencing), acid sulfate soil management, improving wetland hydrology (wetting and drying), managing groundwater, improving drought refuge Children participating in SERCUL’s Caring for our Rivers activity. Photo – Melinda Snowball. values, re-establishing connections to waterways, revegetation, weed and Primary schools are invited to celebrate pest control, sediment and erosion control, reinstating tidal flows (including International Earth Day at Canning River modifying access tracks, roads, floodgates and levees), vehicle and access Eco Education Centre (CREEC). Cost $4 per control. Visit www.wetlandcare.com.au/Content/templates/pagesNi2_detail. student. Call 9461 7160. asp?articleid=575&zoneid=87. 5 Sunday June World Environment Day Forests: nature at your Ian Potter Foundation Environment and Conservation Grants service. Visit www.unep.org/wed/index.asp. The aim of the environment and conservation grants is to preserve biodiversity 14 Thursday–19 Tuesday July and support communities to live sustainably. Applications of up to $20,000 Fungimap VI Conference, Denmark WA. Contact the should be made on the Small Grants Application Form. Closes Monday 30 May Fungimap Coordinator on (03) 9252 2374 or fungimap@ 2011. Visit http://foundation.ianpotter.org.au/environment-amp-conservation. rbg.vic.gov.au. Visit www.rbg.vic.gov.au/fungimap/. 19 Tuesday–23 Saturday July City of Cockburn Landowner Biodiversity Conservation Grant Program 6th World Environmental Education Conference, This program gives financial and NRM training support to Cockburn landowners Brisbane, Australia. Visit www.weec2011.org. who wish to conserve and enhance the natural bushland and wetland areas 24 Sunday–30 Saturday July on their property. Grants are for on-ground works that directly relate to the XVIII International Botanical Congress, Melbourne, Australia. Visit www.ibc2011.com/. conservation and improvement of privately owned natural bushland and/ or wetlands. Grants up to $3,000. Closes 31 October each year. Visit www. 23 Tuesday–25 Thursday August 2011 State Natural Resource Management cockburn.wa.gov.au/Council_Services/Environment/Landowner_Biodiversity_ Conference, Perth. Visit www.isde7.net/. Conservation_Grant/. City of Melville Community Partnership Funding Activities key A key funding area open to community organisations or individuals is for innovative projects that contribute to climate change action and environmental Hands on – bushland and wetland management sustainability in the City of Melville. For grants less than $5,000 assessments are activities. conducted monthly. For grants $5,000–$10,000 applications will open March Walks and tours – look, listen and enjoy guided 2011 and close April/May 2011. Visit www.melvillecity.com.au/community/ walks and excursions. community-grants/community-partnership-funding. Skills development activities – talks, presentations, training courses and workshops. Norman Wettenhall Foundation Grants Meetings and events – group meetings, expos, The objectives of the grants are to build community capacity, support research, festivals and conferences. monitoring and knowledge sharing to effect long-term beneficial change in the natural environment. Grants are usually $5,000–$10,000. Pre-approval is required before submitting your grant application. Closing dates: 30 June, 29 Please send us your July, August and September 2011 September and 15 December 2011. Visit www.nwf.org.au/grants/index.html. events by Tuesday 24 May 2011.

Bushland News Issue 77 — Autumn 2011 www.dec.wa.gov.au 7 Autumn 2011 regionalreports Please send us your regional report (150–200 words) and a photo by Tuesday 24 May 2011. Text may be edited in response to volume of submitted reports.

Bennett Brook breathes again By Melinda McAndrew Friends of Brixton Street

Bennett Brook Reserve is 140 ha and By Regina Drummond includes the 17 km long Bennett Brook which is classed as a Conservation The Friends group together with DEC was Category wetland. The reserve is a Bush very active in 2010 with weed control programs and the installation of a new Forever site and provides important fence along the freight railway line habitat for the endangered southern boundary. The fence aimed to protect the brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus wetlands from trail bikes. It worked well obesulus). initially, but now our visitors come with Strategic revegetation of the reserve has heavy duty cutters. been ongoing since 1995 with 16.5 ha The scorched areas of Bennett Brook are the As part of Eco Walks and Talks in the City of degraded area being improved. The focus of restorative works following a fire in of Gosnells, we held an evening for the focus of revegetation work has been January 2010. Photo – Melinda McAndrew community with a talk by Robert Powell on on the removal of priority weeds such the Friends of Bennett Brook have trees of the Perth metropolitan area. Amy as blackberry and perennial veldt grass undertaken a project for the recovery Kruper talked about using local native plants (Ehrharta calycina) and revegetation with and enhancement of Bennett Brook. to protect our waterways. This was followed indigenous species. Our initial aim is to restore habitat in the by numerous questions and a light supper. Fires in January 2010 destroyed 10 ha of recently burnt area to protect bandicoots, This evening was very well attended and vegetation in the reserve including three native fish and prevent erosion. The well worth the effort. project involves removing priority ha of previously revegetated bushland. In November, Marc Lane led a flora walk weeds including two weeds of national A further two ha of formerly untreated through the wetlands. Otto Muller from the significance (blackberry and lantana), as blackberry infested land was also burnt Insect Study Group had a very interesting well as preventing a reduction in water during the fire, providing an opportunity display for people to look at and ask quality in both Bennett Brook and the to completely eradicate blackberry in this questions. During morning tea, Earth Music Swan River. The project is scheduled to area and reinstate a continuous corridor by Acushla provided a beautiful backdrop run during 2010–11. of native vegetation during restorative very suitable for our unique bushland. This works. For more information contact Melinda on event was also well attended and we took Through recent funding from the Swan [email protected] the opportunity to sell our 2011 Brixton River Trust and State NRM Office, or 9374 3316. Street calendars. The Friends group are all very proud of our calendar which was put together to promote our amazing wetlands. It features photos by Dr Subas Dhakal, a valued member of our Friends group. Subas takes photos during our work mornings, which are on the third Saturday of each month. These photos provide a record of our activities and seasonal changes in the wetland. The photos are used as a monthly newsletter and members look forward to seeing what Subas has spotted and what candid shots he has included. This year, with help from DEC’s Urban Nature, we are hoping to have an activities program to provide structure to our work mornings and add more interest for our volunteers. The program will be dependent on seasonal changes to the wetland. A big thank you to our very loyal and much valued volunteers who give up their Saturday mornings, to On Sunday 13 February the Friends of Marmion Marine Park and club members from Scuba come and give love to our Brixton Street 11 conducted a touch pool in the park. It was very well attended by the public and helped Wetlands regardless of the weather! to raise awareness of the rich diversity of marine life in our ocean. For more information on Friends group activities contact Lynda on [email protected]. Photo – Lynda Arnold For more information contact Regina on 9459 2964 or [email protected].

8 Bushland News Issue 77 — Autumn 2011 www.dec.wa.gov.au bushlandnews

Turtle study at Yellagonga Wildlife monitoring at Kwinana By Craig Wilson

On 2 October 2010, councillors and The Bandicoot Refuge Project, an Alcoa- staff from the Cities of Joondalup and sponsored activity in association with Wanneroo, together with members of the Town of Kwinana and DEC, has now the Friends of Yellagong Regional Park installed a wildlife monitoring camera at attended the launch of the 2010 Long- one of its refuge sites in Beeliar Regional Necked Turtle Study at Picnic Cove in Park at Challenger Beach. The Reconyx Edgewater. Daniel Garlett from the South camera produces colour photographs West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council during the day from a motion-sensing and Dennis Simmons, the Indigenous trigger and black and white photographs caretaker of Yellagonga Regional Park, at night triggered by an infra-red sensor. attended and spoke of their support for In the four months following camera the project. Fox activity has been recorded at Challenger installation (October 2010), a range of Beach during camera surveillance of the coastal Concern about fox predation on turtle fauna has been captured, from birds and rehabilitation areas. Photo – Craig Wilson hatchlings and incubating eggs was the reptiles during the day to cats, rats, foxes motivation for the initial study in 2009. and bandicoots at dusk and through the For more information contact Craig on Two fox trapping programs were carried night. The presence of foxes and cats is of [email protected]. out in the park during 2010. Funding concern—therefore a control program will from both cities has allowed the Friends be implemented to reduce the potential sponsored study to continue with Dr for bandicoot predation. It is hoped that Jacqueline Giles. Friends group members that installation of the terracotta pipes will Friends of Lake Kevin, John and Frank have been trained provide refuge for bandicoots. Hair traps to sample the turtles. It is hoped that do indicate that bandicoots are using the Claremont win sufficient information will be gathered refuges—a positive sign. to accurately assess turtle numbers, their Community Action Additional planting in the reserve by general health and level of recruitment. By Heidi Hardisty community Coastcare volunteers will Grant For more information contact volunteer increase habitat areas and provide coordinator Graham Sinclair on improved protection from feral predators. For the second consecutive year, the [email protected]. Friends of Lake Claremont have been awarded a $20,000 Community Action Grant through the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country program. Partially surrounding Lake Claremont, the closure of a 21 ha golf course in June 2009 has provided an opportunity to restore the highly degraded wetland buffer. With this year’s funds, we will continue our work restoring a portion (2,500m2) of the fringing vegetation of this Conservation Category wetland and Bush Forever site. Volunteers will plant 10,000 native seedlings on the northwest shore of the lake following the removal of invasive weeds and installation of a temporary fence to protect the seedlings from walkers and dogs. Weeding and fence maintenance will be continued by our group members and the Town of Claremont. Restoration of the wetland buffer will provide additional habitat and protection for local fauna and encourage a future wetland buffer and bushland rehabilitation works. Marianthus bicolor in York’s Bushland Garden during January. The garden has been progressively developed during the past six years by the Wildflower Society (Avon Branch) with We will be inviting volunteers from local assistance from the York Shire Council. The Society has propagated, planted and maintained schools and the wider community to help the local native garden. Successful funding from Wheatbelt Natural Resource Management will plant in late June–early July. To assist please enable labelling of the plants. For more information contact Eric Ayling on 9641 1136 or ayfo@ wn.com.au. Photo – Eric Ayling contact us on [email protected].

Bushland News Issue 77 — Autumn 2011 www.dec.wa.gov.au 9 Autumn 2011

Urban roo control By Chris Mayberry

Kangaroos in the Perth region can be found in our remnant bushlands, golf courses and market garden areas, often where irrigation provides them with an abundant food supply. Migration and breeding of the kangaroo populations can result in the carrying capacity of the area being exceeded or human– wildlife conflict. Rather than culling, there may be an opportunity for our suburban kangaroo populations to be managed through pharmaceutical fertility control.

During my recent PhD project on managing the fertility of female western grey kangaroos (Macropus fuliginosus ocydromus), I often noticed one or two younger kangaroos watching from close by as I worked with a tranquillised adult female. Once, as two youngsters stood by, I approached the tranquillised adult. Her joey, which was at that awkward stage when they spend some time out of the pouch but are not quite ready to leave, was on the ground beside his mother. When I picked him up to put him back Chris Mayberry takes notes and feeds the kangaroos at a suburban Perth golf course as part of his in the pouch, one of the two youngsters studies on kangaroo fertility control. Photo – Sushil Sood attacked me. Although she would have weighed just 12 kg, compared to my In the future, long-acting drug formulations to the ethical imposts of habituating 70 kg – and even on her toes and tail that can withstand the physical forces of kangaroos to regular feeding and close stood only as high as my waist – she delivery by dart may be developed, but any human contact. The kangaroos may was determined to defend that joey. I treated animals also need to be identified become dependent upon supplementary eventually managed to fend her off for to prevent unnecessary re-treatment. feeding, visitors to the feeding site may be long enough to get the joey back into Adding a coloured marker increases molested by over-familiar kangaroos and his mother's pouch and the youngster the weight of the dart and consequent the kangaroos become easy victims for retreated to a distance of about 5 m. trauma, while only temporarily identifying malicious attack by humans. Public recognition of animal sentience, the treated kangaroo from the side on We can’t measure the distress caused to as displayed by this young kangaroo, which it was darted. Automatic delivery the survivors of any culling process but is the motivation for more humane systems, such as baiting feed or water, those culled will not suffer if it is done management of wild animals and are indiscriminate and can be expected to in accordance with the National Code opposition to culling. deliver widely differing doses. of Practice, and the carcasses are usually It took me at least three months of hand- Physical capture and restraint inherently harvested for pet food. feeding two or three times a week to be involve strenuous muscular activity and can In comparison, each dose of the drug I able to closely approach most kangaroos easily cause 'capture myopathy', resulting used costs more than $30 for one or two on two Perth golf courses. I was able in the kangaroo's death immediately years of female infertility. The tranquilliser to demonstrate that by using a system or from muscle breakdown up to four costs another $5. Adding to this is the of tranquillising, tagging and treating weeks later. Habituating kangaroos to cost of habituating kangaroos to close- females, suburban kangaroo populations regular feeding can make approaching approach, which makes current fertility can be managed through pharmaceutical them to inject a tranquilliser easier, but control relatively expensive and time fertility control. consideration should also be given consuming.

10 Bushland News Issue 77 — Autumn 2011 www.dec.wa.gov.au bushlandnews groupprofile

Armadale Wildflower Society turns 50 By Kim Sarti

The Armadale Branch of the Wildflower Society of WA formed in March 1961 as a result of a public meeting called by the then Armadale-Kelmscott Road Board to “assist the propagation and preservation of wildflowers”. Half a century later, the group is still involved in such activities.

The group is now officially a branch of the Wildflower Society of WA Inc. Early records show the branch was active in trying to preserve plants that were being bulldozed for development and prevent the illegal removal of timber and gravel, and was holding local wildflower displays before such displays were held at Kings Park. In June 1965, following much lobbying and letter-writing by the branch, local reserve A4561 was vested in the then Shire of Armadale-Kelmscott. By September 1973, the reserve was called Bungendore Park, the name suggested by the branch. Seed collecting in Bungendore Park during February 2011 for our long-term revegetation program. Members have been actively involved in From left: Faye Clay, Kim Sarti, Helen Wildsmith, Kim Fletcher, Irene Morcombe and Cam Clay. the management of Bungendore Park Photo – D Griffiths since 1981, as well as the nearby Armadale Settlers’ Common. We are now active in on-ground activities with numerous Friends groups in the region. Over the years many wildflower exhibitions have been staged, from mini-displays in local libraries and shopping centres to large three-day shows in the Armadale Hall. All exhibitions are aimed at informing the public on the wealth of our local flora and their place in our home gardens. Regular monthly meetings are held with a guest speaker combined with local excursions and weekend excursions afar. Seed collecting in Bungendore Park for revegetation has been a key activity since 1981. In June 1990 we worked with Men of the Trees (MOTT) to help revegetate a three km stretch of road eight km west of York. Society members at a management meeting in August. Photo – Peter Murphy (National Trust) The 10,000 seedlings were grown by the branch and in 1992 the branch and MOTT Reverend Ewan Watts instigated the Reverend Watts would be pleased to know won the John Tonkin Greening Award – public meeting held in 1961 where it is that 50 years after he addressed the public Community Group section. recorded he was elected president and meeting a group he helped to form is still There were 22 people at the first meeting “appreciated [Armadale–Kelmscott Road] doing its best to preserve and pass on our and over the years membership has Board assistance [and] had no doubt all wildflower heritage to future generations. remained fairly static. Of interest, one present supported the proposal [and] The Armadale Branch meets on the second person at the very first meeting was considered the wildflower heritage must Thursday of the month at 7.30pm at the (younger) Michael Morcombe who showed be preserved and passed on. The object some wildflower slides after the main Field Study Centre, Armadale Settlers’ of [the] proposed Society is to preserve business had concluded. Michael and his Common (Triton Crescent, off Albany wife, Irene, still attend our meetings and are and cultivate wildflowers and bring to Highway). For more information contact currently patrons of the branch. homes, parks”. We are sure that the late Kim on 9470 2297 or [email protected].

Bushland News Issue 77 — Autumn 2011 www.dec.wa.gov.au 11 Autumn 2011 Resources

Shedley E, Coates D and Burrows N Website watch New publications (2010) ‘Fire responses of threatened flora in Western Australia’. Australiasian Plant Conservation 19 (3): 36–37. PerthCare website developed by Perth Stromatolites (2009) Region NRM provides land managers MacNamara, K. Western Keighery G and Keighery with best practice management Australian Museum. 88 B (2010) 'Hidden information and a web-based tool to pages. RRP $18.95. This treasures: documenting prepare a horse management action plan book shows readers how localised variants of the and monitor its implementation. Visit these formations are a flora of the Swan Coastal www.eksa.com.au/perthcare. window to the past. An Plain'. Australiasian Plant illustrated account of the Conservation 19 (3): 19–20. Citizen Science Toolbox is a free structure and formation resource of 60 community involvement of these ancient tools, principles and strategies to enhance constructions which Are your details meaningful stakeholder involvement in have been on Earth for correct? decision making. Visit https://app.secure. nearly 3.5 billion years. griffith.edu.au/03/toolbox/index.php. Please check your mailing details and let us know if we Environmental Planning Tool was need to change anything by updated in December 2010. Includes Recent phoning us on 9423 2914. vegetation complexes by 2009 vegetation research If you’d prefer to receive this extent and their regional retention and newsletter electronically, send protection levels, cadastral boundaries, an email titled ‘email me’ to threatened and priority ecological McLeod LJ, Saunders GR, McLeod SR, [email protected]. communities, protected and listed flora Dawson M and van de Ven R (2010) and fauna, DEC estate and the ability ‘The potential for participatory landscape to generate site-specific reports. Areas management to reduce the impact of the include the Perth NRM Region and South red fox (Vulpes vulpes) on lamb production’. Be in the draw West Biodiversity Project area. Contact Wildlife Research 37 (8): 695–701. Remember to complete our survey (page Renata Zelinova on 9213 2047 or Fitzsimons J, Legge S, Traill B and Woinarski 2) by Tuesday 24 May to be in the [email protected]. J (2010) Into Oblivion? The disappearing draw to win a prize. Your feedback will Artificial hollows for Carnaby’s native mammals of northern Australia. help us to improve this newsletter and cockatoo project has developed a report Report for the Nature Conservancy. Available better support community involvement in and three information sheets. Visit www. at http://wildaustralia.org/science/oblivion- bushland conservation. dec.wa.gov.au/content/view/6333/2361/. disappearing-mammals-northern-australia. 20110103-3-1600 bushlandnews Printed on 100% recycled, totally chlorine free (TCF) paper using vegetable-based inks.

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