April 2018

Illustration: Rhyll Plant & Jess McGeachin Enjoying, learning and looking after nature with the family

WILD WATERWAY DISCOVERY tree Rivers, creeks and wetlands are an small important part of our landscape, bird they: • Carry water from land to the sea. • Are a part of our water cycle. sock gr us as • Are very important habitat and t s water for birds, fish, frogs, bugs and mammals. • Are special places for relaxation large and recreation. bird ild flowe w r Waterway spotto On your next adventure by a wat waterway, try this ‘spotto’ activity. er When you see or hear the animals, plants or micro-habitats (such as fallen logs) at your chosen location platy g insec pu en lo by a river, creek or wetland, you t s fall can colour it in. You may see all or just some of these things along your waterway. You might wish to think nt about what it means if all of these pla ck ter ro things are present or some of them wa are missing.

frog Renee Treml Artwork by Some more questions Waterway spotto – colour in the things you see or hear. to explore • Is the water clear or murky? • What sounds can you hear? Always consider safety on outdoor adventures and remember to • How fast is the water flowing? • Thinking about recent and forecast supervise children safely around • Where has the water come from weather do you think the water water. and where is the water going? (look level will be the same, higher or at some maps to find out) lower when you come back?

This edition of Wild Families was produced by the Victorian National Parks Association in partnership with Water and Living Links WILD PLACE Winton Wetlands on the are a wonderful place to spot wildlife. Photo ©

DANDENONG CREEK, DANDENONG CREEK FROM SOURCE TO SEA FEATURE CREATURES The Dandenong Creek and There are many species of wildlife Corhanwarrabul Creek flow all the that inhabit Dandenong Creek. way from the Here are some fun facts about the through forested headwaters and creatures we’ve featured on our wetlands, through suburban and map! industrial areas, then out to sea in Dwarf galaxias have special homes being built • Lyrebirds can imitate the calls of Bay. for them at Winton Wetlands. Photo: Rhys Coleman other birds. Dandenong Creek flows through • Platypus dig deep burrows in Wurundjeri, Bunurong and Boon can hear. You could even add your the banks of rivers and creek. Wurrung Country. very own citizen science record. Echidnas and platypus are the only Here are some great ways to enjoy 4. Visit one of the many wetlands and egg-laying mammals in the world! nature along the waterway. check out the bird life. How many • The call of the male Spotted birds can you see? 1. Take a walk in the forested marsh frog sounds a bit like two headwaters of Dandenong Creek 5. Enjoy a picnic at and stones being hit together. Each in the Dandenong Ranges National take a photo of the Dandenong species of frog has a different Park. Listen out for Lyrebirds Ranges in the distance. The water call. This means we can identify calling. flowing past you has journeyed all them just by listening. the way from these mountains. 2. Visit H.E. Parker Reserve for a • Common galaxias visit all parts of bushwalk. There is a Fluker post 6. Grab your bike and ride a section Dandenong Creek and the sea in here, which is a special photo point or all of the Dandenong Creek their lifecycle. that tracks changes to Dandenong Trail. It runs 44km along the • Dwarf galaxias are an unusual Creek overtime. You can place your length of the creek. species of fish as they are able to camera on top of the post, take a 7. Visit the beach at Carrum to see breathe air for long periods under photo and submit it. where the waterway has become leaf litter and in freshwater cray 3. Listen for frogs at Winton the and meets the burrows when water levels become Wetlands, Jells Park or Dandenong sea. very low. Valley Wetlands. You can download 8. Try the Wild Waterway Discovery • Pacific black ducks with their the free Melbourne Water Frog activity on the front of this sheet ducklings can often be spotted Census app. which will help you at any river, creek or wetland. near waterways in Spring. identify which species of frog you

WILD FAMILIES DISCOVERING DANDENONG CREEK

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www.vnpa.org.au Renee Treml Artwork by Keeping storm water clean means caring for wildlife in our waterways. Photo: Andrew Lloyd © Melbourne Water KEEPING OUR 1. Do not wash paints or cleaning 5. Put garden waste into a compost products into drains or onto and do not wash or sweep down WATERWAYS HEALTHY the ground. Check your council gutters. guidelines on the best way to We can all get involved in keeping 6. Join a local Landcare group and our waterways healthy. The best dispose of these items. get involved in caring for the way to do this is by keeping the 2. Make sure cars do not leak oil in important vegetation that lines water that runs down stormwater the driveway. Wash your car at the creek. drains clean. a carwash or on the lawn to keep 7. Talk to your friends and family the soaps from washing in to Did you know that when it rains, about how we can look after our rivers and creeks. rainwater washes rubbish and waterways. pollutants from our streets in to 3. Pick up any litter and place in a storm water drains and in to our bin. You could even join or start a rivers and creeks? This can be THE SHORT-FINNED local litter clean up group. harmful to the plants and animals EEL that live there. 4. Clean up after your dog, by placing dog poo in the bin. If you were a Short-finned eel in Here are some tips on how your , it is thought that your family can keep your local waterway parents would have travelled all healthy: the way to the Coral Sea near New Caledonia to breed and die. As a newly hatched young, you would have drifted back to your freshwater stream home on ocean currents over a 1-3 year journey. Short-finned eels are active at night and eat insects, yabbies, fish and frogs. They can be found in streams in Victoria, including Dandenong Creek, with males being up to 60cm long and females up to 90cm long.

Illustration of a Short-finned Eel by Edgar R Waite.

WILD FAMILIES