FINAL REPORT
This project is supported byNACC NRM, Geraldton Streetwork Aboriginal Corporation through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program and the Western Australian Government's State NRM Program Gunnado Farm BioBlitz Drawing Inspiration From Nature
The sun was shining and the wildflowers were blooming when more than 50 people joined the Gunnado BioBlitz – many were local Geraldton residents, but many also travelled up from Perth for the event.
The 2018 Gunnado BioBlitz was hosted by the Northern Agricultural Catchments Council and Geraldton Streetwork Aboriginal Corporation at Gunado Farm near Walkaway. The Gunnado BioBlitz was a community project aimed at bringing together professional and amateur ecologists – and those interested in learning more about their natural environment. It involved collecting data on as many species, from as many different taxonomic groups as possible over a 24-hour time period.
The event was opened with a heartfelt Welcome to Country was given from Wajarri Amangu man David Ronan – encouraging everyone to explore the local area, while also caring for the Country that has provided us with so much.
Participants then moved into four main groups led by ‘eco-gurus’, with participants swapping between sessions and locations according to their skills or interests during the weekend. • Flora – Joshua Foster from Earth Stewardship • Birds – Janet Newell and Jan Checker from BirdLife Midwest-Geraldton • Critters – Joe Tonga from Natsync Environmental • Fauna Trapping – Anthony Desmond from Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (with support from volunteer extraordinaire Corin Desmond)
Twenty Elliott traps were set for the one night using universal bait (a smelly mixture of sardines, oats and peanut butter) and were set on Saturday morning and checked and pulled in on both Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. Unfortunately due to the cool weather conditions no animals were trapped. Two camera traps were set for one week prior - one at the dam and one at Kangaroo Point.
Highlights included • Beach & Boho Glamping winners Glenda and Murray Blyth and the Harrold Family enjoying the breath-taking view of the Moresby Range from their 4 metre tepees. • Tech savy Joe Tonga using his snake camera to flush out a Nightjar and also a Marbled Gecko from tree hollows. • Also, Joe (with support from the kids) using spy-cam to photograph a very hungry magpie chick and also raven chicks. Read more here • Checking the motion sensor cameras to find a great series of Kangaroo images at Kangaroo Point Lookout, plus we added a bird species to our list with a spectacular White-faced Heron.
Gunnado Farm BioBlitz 2018 2 • Discovering a Burrowing Frog in the grass during the night stalk. • The identification of a Priority Four Donkey Orchid (Diuris recurva). • Designing Nature Workshop hosted by Malgana artist Bianca McNeair, where budding artists drew inspiration from the wildflowers of Gunnado Farm to create their very own reusable shopping bag.
NACC’s Biodiversity Program Coordinator Jessica Stingemore said that BioBlitzes are a wonderful way to connect people with nature and a brilliant way to showcase the region and local community spirit.
“They can also be a catalyst for reconnecting children with nature – and of the many highlights of the 2018 Gunnado BioBlitz was seeing so many young children enjoying being outdoors and exploring our unique bushland. And while we were all around the campfire listening to Joe talk about his many adventures in the bush, I overheard a young boy whisper to his mum “I want to do this for a living”. That whispered ambition is what NACC is all about – Catalysing Community Conservation – and that is what makes all the hard work organising the event worth it.”
This event was supported by the Northern Agricultural Catchments Council, Geraldton Streetwork Aboriginal Corporation through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program and the Western Australian Government’s State NRM Program.
Gunnado Farm BioBlitz 2018 3 List of Participants
The success of these BioBlitz events is partly due to the enormous efforts made by volunteers in both leading teams and assisting with the organization of the event on the day to travelling large distance from surrounding areas to participate in the activities.
Over 45 people participated in the 2018 Gunnado Farm BioBlitz, there were many new faces alongside the core group of volunteers who regularly attend BioBlitzes in Western Australia.
Ena Asmussen Daniel Hartwig Indre Asmussen Bree Howard Sarah Ayling Eva Karikis Michael Beeton Clare McElhinney Heather Beswick Stephen McGrath Glenda Blyth Bianca McNeair Murray Blyth Dean Mowat Jan Checker Lucas Moynihan Tshering Chekey Janet Newell Aiden Cremin Natasha Noronha Mikayla Cremin Evelyn Ralston Paul Cremin Wayne Ronan Stephanie Cremin Adele Scarfone Anthony Desmond Ebonie Scarfone Corin Desmond Phoenix Scarfone Aidan English Jessica Stingemore Katherine Evans Sharna Stinson Joshua Foster Joe Tonga Kiera Foster Roslyn Wear Lysander Foster Chloe Wear-Jones Nesaea Foster Laetitia Wear-Jones Katrina Geyer Jamie Williams Caraline Harrold Brittany Willis Roy Harrold
Gunnado Farm BioBlitz 2018 4
(a)
Gunnado Farm BioBlitz 2018 5 The Site
Cleared paddocks (Paddock) Pasture grasses and forbs, with some scattered native species. Dominated by Avena barbata and Arctotheca calendula.
Southern Hill, mainly around Kangaroo Point and east and south (Acacia - Allocasuarina Thicket) Acacia tetragonophylla, Allocasuarina campestris, Pimelea microcephala tall shrubland to thicket, over Hibbertia hypericoides subsp. septentrionalis, Banksia ashbyi subsp. fraseri Acacia glaucocaesia scattered shrubs, with Diplopeltis huegelii, Dodonaea inaequifolia (on slopes) over Trachymene sp., Caladenia flava, Brachyscome ibiderifolia forbland with Dioscorea hastifolia, Clematissus angustissima, Aphanopetalum clematideum as climbers, on lateritic soils
River View Lookout area (Acacia - Dodonaea shrubland) Acacia rostellifera open tall shrubland over Dodonaea inaequifolia shrubland with Diplopeltis huegelii subsp. integra, D. petiolaris over pasture grasses and forbs, with some scattered native species on lateritic slopes.
Hillview Lookout (Low Banksia Shrubland) Banksia ashbyi var. fraseri low open shrubland over Desmocladus asper, Schoenus spp., Mesomelaena pseudostygia sedgeland, with Lawrencellia davenportii, Podolepis lessonii, Sowerbaea laxiflora forbland on shallow lateritic soils
Southwest corner of property – not in BioBlitz (Sandplain) Banksia prionotes, Acacia rostellifera very open low woodland over Banksia sessilis, Jacksonia hakeoides, with Xanthorrhea preissii, Conostylis candicans and introduced grass species on sand.
Species Lis t - Overall
The 2018 Gunnado Farm BioBlitz recorded 207 plant and animal species:
-1 Fungi - 12 Invertebrates - 1 Amphibian - 2 Mammals - 7 Reptiles - 41 Birds - 143 Plants
Gunnado Farm BioBlitz 2018 5 Species List Invertbebrates and Fungi Puffball mushroom - Calvatia sp
Kangaroo Tick - Amblyomma triguttatum (a) Australian Bush-cockroach - Anamesia polyzona (c) European Honeybee - Apis mellifera* Black House Spider - Badumna insignis Beetle - Chalcopteroides sp. Southern Old Lady Moth - Dasypodia selenophora Velvet Ant - Ephutomorpha sp. Wolf Spider - Lycosa sp. (b) Mud-dauber Wasp - Sceliphron sp. (a) Centipede - Scolopendra sp. Crab Spider - Stephanopis sp. Spider – unknown
(a) (b)
(c)
Bunjil Rocks BioBlitz 2017 7 Species List Mammals
Western Grey Kangaroo - Macropus fuliginosus (a)
Red Fox- Vulpes vulpes* (b)
(a)
(b)
(a)
Gunnado Farm BioBlitz 2018 8 Species List Amphibians and Reptiles
Shoemaker Frog - Neobatrachus sutor (a) (a)
Marbeld Gecko - Christinus marmoratus Variegated Dtella - Gehyra variegata Bynoe's Gecko - Heteronotia binoei Western Bearded Dragon - Pogona minor minor Common Scaly Foot - Pygopus lepidopodus (b) Shingleback Lizard - Tiliqua rugosa Western Blue-tongue Lizard - Tiliqua occipitalis
(a) (b)
Gunnado Farm BioBlitz 2018 9 Species List Birds
Inland Thornbill - Acanthiza apicalis (a) Yellow-rumped Thornbill - Acanthiza chrysorrhoa Wedge-tailed Eagle - Aquila audax (a ) Australian Ringneck - Barnardius zonarius Little Corella - Cacatua sanguinea Fan-tailed Cuckoo - Cacomantis flabelliformis Pallid Cuckoo - Cacomantis pallidus Pied Honeyeater - Certhionyx variegatus Horsfield's Bronze Cuckoo - Chrysococcyx basalis Spotted Harrier - Circus assimilis Grey Shrike-thrush - Colluricincla harmonica Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike - Coracina novaehollandiae Australian Raven - Corvus coronoides (a) Australian Magpie - Cracticus tibicen (c)
White-faced Heron - Egretta novaehollandiae (b) Black-shouldered Kite - Elanus axillaris (b) Galah - Eolophus roseicapilla Spotted Nightjar - Eurostopodus argus Brown Falcon - Falco berigora Nankeen Kestrel - Falco cenchroides Western Gerygone - Gerygone fusca Magpie-lark - Grallina cyanoleuca Welcome Swallow - Hirundo neoxena White-winged Triller - Lalage tricolor Singing Honeyeater - Lichenostomus virescens Splendid Fairywren - Malurus splendens Brown Songlark - Megalurus cruralis Rufous Songlark - Megalurus mathewsi Crested Pigeon - Ocyphaps lophotes Golden Whistler - Pachycephala pectoralis (c) Rufous Whistler - Pachycephala rufiventris
Red-capped Robin - Petroica goodenovii Common Bronzewing - Phaps chalcoptera Brush Bronzewing - Phaps elegans Grey Fantail - Rhipidura albiscapa Willie Wagtail - Rhipidura leucophrys Weebill - Smicrornis brevirostris Laughing Dove - Spilopelia senegalensis * Grey Currawong - Strepera versicolor Australian Shelduck - Tadorna tadornoides Silvereye - Zosterops lateralis
Gunnado Farm BioBlitz 2018 10 Species List Plants
Amaranthaceae - Ptilotus ?villosiflorus Amaranthaceae Climbing Mulla Mulla Ptilotus divaricatus Amaranthaceae Prince of Wales Feather Ptilotus polystachyus Aphanopetalaceae - Aphanopetalum clematideum Apiaceae Australian Carrot Daucus glochidiatus Apiaceae - Trachymene cyanopetala Apiaceae Spongefruit Trachymene ornata Apiaceae Native Parsnip Trachymene pilosa Asparagaceae Prickle Lily Acanthocarpus sp. Ajana Asparagaceae Nodding Lily Laxmannia sessiliflora Asparagaceae Purple Tassels Sowerbaea laxiflora Asparagaceae Fringed Lily Thysanotus manglesianus Asteraceae Flannel Cudweed Actinobole uliginosum Asteraceae Capeweed Arctotheca calendula* Asteraceae - Blennospora drummondii Asteraceae Swan River Daisy Brachyscome ibiderifolia Asteraceae Bindy Eye Calotis hispidula Asteraceae Pompom Head Cephalipterum drummondii Asteraceae Wingwort Ceratogyne obionoides Asteraceae - Hyalosperma glutinosum Asteraceae Smooth Cats-ear Hypochaeris glabra* Asteraceae Sticky Everlasting Lawrencella davenportii Asteraceae - Monoculus monstrosus Asteraceae - Myriocephalus occidentalis Asteraceae Pimelea Daisybush Olearia pimeleoides Asteraceae - Podolepis aristata subsp. aristata Asteraceae - Podolepis lessonii Asteraceae Sticky Longheads Podotheca gnaphalioides Asteraceae Stiff Angianthus Pogonolepis stricta Asteraceae False Sowthistle Reichardia tingitana* Asteraceae - Rhodanthe laevis Asteraceae - Rhodanthe manglesii Asteraceae - Rhodanthe stricta Asteraceae Common Sowthistle Sonchus olearaceus* Asteraceae Ursinia Ursinia anthemoides*
Gunnado Farm BioBlitz 2018 11 Species List Plants
Asteraceae Orange Immortelle Waitzia acuminata subsp. acuminata Asteraceae Pink Immortelle Waitzia acuminata subsp. albicans Boraginaceae Paterson's Curse Echium plantagineum* Boraginaceae - Halgania gustafsenii var. Mid West Brassicaeae Canola Brassica rapa* Brassicaeae - Heliophila pusilla* Brassicaeae Wild Radish Raphanus raphanistrum* Campanulaceae - Wahlenbergia multicaulis/capensis Caryophyllaceae - Petrorhagia dubia* Caryophyllaceae French Catfly Silene gallica* Caryophyllaceae Corn Spurry Spergula arvensis* Casuarinaceae - Allocasuarina campestris Chenopodiaceae - Rhagodia preissii subsp. obovata Colchicaceae Milkmaids Burchardia congesta Convolvulacae Red Dodder Cuscuta planiflora* Crassulaceae - Crassula exserta Cyperaceae - Lepidosperma ?tenue Cyperaceae - Lepidosperma sp. Cyperaceae - Schoenus ?clandestinus Cyperaceae - Schoenus clandestinus Cyperaceae - Schoenus sp. Dilleniaceae Buttercups Hibbertia hypericoides subsp. septentrionalis Dilleniaceae Stalked Guinea Flower Hibbertia racemosa Dioscoreaceae Native Yam Dioscorea hastifolia Droseraceae Bridal Rainbow Drosera macrantha Ecdeiocoleaceae - Ecdeiocolea monostachya Ericaceae - Leucopogon sp. Mid West Fabaceae Winged Wattle Acacia alata var. biglandulosa Fabaceae Summer-scented Wattle Acacia rostellifera Fabaceae - Acacia sp. Fabaceae Kurara Acacia tetragonphylla Fabaceae Common Brown Pea Bossiaea eriocarpa Fabaceae - Bossiaea spinescens Fabaceae Marno Daviesia divaricata Fabaceae Silky Glycine Glycine canescens
Gunnado Farm BioBlitz 2018 12 Species List Plants
Fabaceae Granny Bonnets Isotropis sp. Shark Bay Fabaceae - Jacksonia hakeoides Fabaceae - Leptosema aphyllum Fabaceae - Lupinus cosentinii* Geraniacae Blue Heronsbill "Tick-Tocks" Erodium cygnorum Goodeniaceae Spiked Dampiera Dampiera spicigera Goodeniaceae - Goodenia berardiana Goodeniaceae Currant bush Scaevola spinescens Goodeniaceae - Velleia cycnopotamica Haemodoraceae - Conostylis candicans Haemodoraceae - Haemodorum sp. Haloragaceae - Gonocarpus nodulosus Hemerocallidaceae Pale Grass-Lily Caesia micrantha Hemerocallidaceae Blueberry Lily Dianella revoluta Hemerocallidaceae Yellow Autumn Lily Tricoryne elatior Loganiaceae - Phyllangium divergens Loranthaceae Pincushion Mistletoe Amyema fitzgeraldii Loranthaceae - Amyema miraculosa Loranthaceae Christmas Tree Nuytsia floribunda Malvaceae Lilac Hibiscus Alyogyne hueglii Malvaceae Large Flowered Thomasia Thomasia grandiflora Montiaceae Parakeelya Calandrinia ?polyandra Montiaceae - Calandrinia sp. Myrtaceae Malallie Eucalyptus eudesmoides Myrtaceae York Gum Eucalyptus loxophleba Myrtaceae Graceful Honeymyrtle Melaleuca radula Orchidaceae - Caladenia ?vulgata Orchidaceae - Caladenia flava subsp. ? Orchidaceae Cowslip Orchid Caladenia flava subsp. flava Orchidaceae Kalbarri Cowslip Orchid Caladenia flava subsp. maculata Orchidaceae Daddy Long-legs Spider Orchid Caladenia longicauda subsp. borealis Orchidaceae - Caladenia nobilis Orchidaceae - Diuris recurva^ (P4) Phyllanthaceae False Boronia Phyllanthus calycinus Phyllanthaceae Small Poranthera Poranthera microphylla
Gunnado Farm BioBlitz 2018 13 Species List Plants
Poaceae Long Greybeard Grass Amphipogon caricinus Poaceae - Austrostipa elegantissima Poaceae - Austrostipa variabilis Poaceae Bearded Oat Avena barbata* Poaceae Blowfly Grass Briza maxima* Poaceae Prairie Grass Bromus ?catharticus* Poaceae Annual Veldt Grass Ehrharta longifolia* Poaceae Goldentop Lamarckia aurea* Poaceae - Monachather paradoxus Poaceae Foxtail Mulga Grass Neurachne alopecuroidea Polygalaceae - Comesperma integerrimum Polygonaceae Climbing Lignum Muehlenbeckia adpressa Primulaceae Pimperel Lysimachea arvensis* Proteaceae Acorn Banksia Banksia prionotes Proteaceae (a Dryandra) Banskia fraseri var. ashbyi Proteaceae - Grevillea biternata Proteaceae Needle Tree Hakea preissii Pteridaceae Mulga Fern Cheilanthes sieberi Restionaceae - Desmocladus asper Rhamnaceae - Cryptandra sp. Rhamnaceae - Stenanthemum notiale Rubiaceae Dog Weed Opercularia vaginata Santalaceae Broom Ballart Exocarpos sparteus Santalaceae Quandong Santalum acuminatum Sapindaceae - Diplopeltis hueglii subsp. subintegra Sapindaceae - Diplopeltis petiolaris Sapindaceae - Dodonaea inaequifolia Scrophulariaceae Spreading Night Phlox Zaluzianskya divaricata* Solanaceae Black Berry Nightshade Solanum nigrum* Solanaceae - Solanum oldfieldii Stylidiaceae Midget Stylewort Levenhookia ?pusilla Stylidiaceae Tall Triggerplant Stylidium elongatum Thymeleaceae - Pimelea ?megacephala Thymeleaceae Shrubby Riceflower Pimelea microcephala Urticaceae Pellitory/ Parietaria ?debilis/?cardiostegia Vitaceae Wild Grape Clematicissus angustissima Xanthorrhoeaceae - Chamaescilla corymbosa var. corymbosa Xanthorrhoeaceae Grass Tree Xanthorrhoea preissii
Gunnado Farm BioBlitz 2018 14 Common names are listed first followed by scientific. family names are also included for plants. ^ Declared Rare Flora, * Non-native species