SUMMERIAUTUMN 2005 ISSUE 48 ISSN. 1038 7897

Dear Members, Welcome to 2005 and another issue of towards creative approaches particularly for low Wildlife & Native . May you find much water use or low maintenance gardening in our pleasure in our native flora and fauna, and in the land of extremes. We should make an effort to establishment and management of your garden as work with our climate and our existing natural it undergoes the changes of the seasons. wealth- to be on friendly terms with some of the inhabitants of the bush, or to sit quietly and Thankyou to those that sent me Christmas and enjoy watching the ' delightful antics and New Year greetings. No doubt you managed to songs. We must appreciate what we have in the spend some time in the garden appreciating the Australian landscape, to re-create areas for fruits of labour, or in relaxing and planning for nature in our very own backyards. the future. Some of you may have undertaken bush walks to appreciate the values of our unique 'Dreamthe new dreams of creating gardensthat Australian flora and fauna. For those, who did make the most of the flowers of autumn, winter manage to get away on holiday, hopehlly the and spring; dream of a summer Tent relaxed weather was kind to you wherever you went, and and cool in a subtle gardenof deep shade made that none were caught up in the terrible Tsunami, cool with varied greenery and enlivened withthe or bushfires and floods that occumed just before gentle drip and splash of water. Dream of being and after Christmas. More importantly, I hope at one with the place whereyou live, of working that the time spent with family and friends was with the climate and developirig a sense of an enjoyable one of relaxation and appreciation. place. '(Notde,T. (1996) Gordenr of the SF^pp. 9) So much seems to happen at Christmas Mew Year that we all need a break of a few days to get In this edition we have a personal story of over it all. recreating a garden, and other bits and pieces which I'm sure most of you will enjoy. So, Each year the time seems to go faster, and the Happy reading and happy Gardening to all days and months just slip away. I'm told this is members! old age and it's just catching up with us! However, understanding the need for change and Cheers Chris stepping out of the conventional square, may bring forth new ideas in gardening and may bring great pleasure. Today more than ever, planning, landscaping and designing gardens seems to be the way to go rather than haphazard random plantings. Perhaps it's more a question of Alphabet Soup by LeighMutray breaking fieeof gardening traditions and letting Understanding the Value of Fungi go of all the cultural baggage that we carry about from MalleefowlMatter Iss35 with us, such as what gardens should look like, Help Our Wildlife what they should contain, and what they stand The Sting on the Nettles by Phil Watson for in our place and lifestyle. Do we accept the Media articles and.. . ..much more 'problems' as challenges and opportunities Alphabet Soup by Leigh Murray Branch stacking Last year I began planting multiple plants in the This is a soup of alphabetical snippets. We have one hole, say a ground cover, a and a a few acres at Queanbeyan, where I'm tree; or two complementary eucalypts, or two revamping the garden after 15 years of neglect, plants of the same , to give a bushier and a six-year-old holiday place at Tuross Head. effect or a better chance of a surviving . So The main aims are to attract wildlife, screen far this scheme is working well and it's a great fencelines and cope with drought. effort-saver (one hole, one guard).

Acacias Cockatoos Acacia rubida is the dominant acacia on our To attract cockatoos we've planted rocky Queanbeyan ridge; we love to see Yellow- eriantha, H. sericea, casuarinas, tailed Black-Cockatoos drop in to dine on the integrifotiaand B.spinulosa. We also have many borers in the older ones. A. implexa, another (indigenous) Acacia rubida and local, tolerates not only dry and frosty conditions goniocalyx at Queanbeyan. There we've in Queanbeyan but also slightly salty, gale-force watched Sulphur-crested Cockatoos feast on A. winds at Tuross Head. It's one of our most nrbida seeds, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos reliable trees, ideal for a t~ghtspace (and it can gather e~ghtto a tree to extract the seeds from be pruned to suit); our biggest trees are 6 the fruit of (ignoring other metres tall and a couple of metres wide. Also ) or , and Gang-gang good for a narrow area is A. boormanii, used as Cockatoos eating the fruits of Eucalyptus a light screen along fencelines. It looks stunning goniocalyx. At Tumss, the Blacks favour in flower - masses of golden balls - and its casuarinas and on the golf seeds are said to be fancied by Common course, so I planted some at our place too. Bronzewing pigeons. (For ages one spring we were puzzled by what sounded like a Cram planting monotonous mechanical 'oom', finally tracked Planting to a very high density is excellent for down to a male Bronzewing calling.) wildlife, especially if the layers overlap. We think it's the 'cram planting' once it'd reached critical Amble - mass - that attracted a whipbird to the densest The most enlightening thing I've done in years part of our garden a: Tuross. An echidna also was to take the dog for a mid-winter early- pottered through (eating, helpfully, , an entire morning amble around our land at Queanbeyan batch of biting ants). while the temperature was still at the minus 5 level. What an eye opener that was - there was Downpours frost on the ground where I didn't expect it and At Tuross Head, much of the rain falls in 100mm none where I thought there'd be a heavy layer. I dumps separated by long, dry periods. We've promptly revised the planned locations for all had sudden deaths soon after downpours: two new plantings. Similar ambles at Tuross just 4m Acacia pycnanths, Philotheca rnyoporoides, after downpours were also most instructive. Kennedia retrorsa, 'Austraflora Copper Crest', Eucalyptus albida and E. dielsii. In case a soil fungus caused these losses, I've replanted Many banks~asare excellent wildlife attractors with species listed in the "Encyclopaedia of but we used to have great trouble raising them, Australian Plants" as tolerant of Phytophthora possibly because they can be slowish to cinnamomi, such as Banksia integrif~lia, establish. Recently I've begun to grow them Melaleuca nesophila. Eucalyptus leucoxylon, more successfully by better soil preparation and Epacns longiflora. (bigger holes, some organic matter), more effective watering (deeper), and guards (made Eucalypts of gutter guard) to protect them from munching We have many iidigenous eu&lypts at wallabies and rabbits. I've concentrated on the Queanbeyan (mainly Eucalyptusgoniocalyx and top performers: Banksia en'cifoiia, 8. integrifolia, E. polyanthemos),b~t not one on our land at 8. maqinataand 5. spinulosa. Tuross Head. I've squeezed in as many small, nectar-rich ones there as can, concentrating on Books I long flowering (eg E. leucoxylon and E. caesia Two books I rely an for design ideas and plant which flower throughout winter) and year-round selection are "BirdseapingYour Garden" by flowers (eg E. incrassata for autumn flowers, E. George Adams and "Creating a Native Garden torquafa for summer and E. nutans all year). for Birdsnbv Frances Hutchison - Frogmouths Lizards I've seen an animated Tawny Frogmouth in Plants we grow because they're listed as daytime! A pair returns for short sojourns on a attractive to Blue-tongue Lizards include berry branch near one of our ponds at Queanbeyan. plants (eg, Enchylaena tomentosa, Solanum Once I forgot they were back and directed a linearifolium, Austromyrtus dulcis and Dianella hose onto nearby foliage. Apparently spray revoluta) and, for their tasty flowers, Eremophila drifted onto one frogmouth because soon maculata and Brachyscome multifida. (I keep a afterwards it began preening vigorously (the beady eye out for berry plants showing weed other frogmouth didn't, as usual, so much as potential.) We also provide logs and rocks for twitch). shelter and sunbathing, and (most importantly) fresh drinking water. We have a resident Blue- tongue at Tuross and itinerant ones at A few long flowering, nectar-rich grevilleas have Queanbeyan, and many smaller skinks. proved outstanding at attracting birds. Grevillea 'Coastal Glow', G. 'Honey Gem' and G. 'Superb' Mixed Mob are mainstays at Tuross (where they flower Outside the breeding season, a large group of virtually all year round), and G. 'Coastal Glow' is small birds (the 'mixed mob') gets around en looking promising at Queanbeyan although the masse in the upper canopy of our Queanbeyan plants have been slow to establish during the eucalypts. The group varies in its make-up but drought. Amongst our top attractors are G. thornbills always form the basis. Extras include arenaria, G. 'Forest Rambler', the many forms of pardalotes, fantails, spinebills, fairy-wrens, G. juniperina and G. victoriae, and the ground scrubwrens and occasionally finches. covers G. 'Poorinda Royal Mantle' and G. Sometimes when I'm hosing plants they'll pop 'Bronze Rambler'; all are very hardy. down for a shower, and soon tiny birds surround me, zipping back and forth through the spray or Honeyeaters dangling upside down in it with wings Those marvellous characters, Noisy Friarbirds, outstretched. Such joy, eh? love the toothbrush-flowered grevilleas and the fruit of Solanum linearifolium, New Holland Rosellas Honeyeaters are said to be especially fond of The Crimson and Eastern Rosellas at our places banksias, and wattlebirds and lorikeets just plain eat a wide variety of foods, including grass dote on any nectar-rich grevillea (eg. G. seeds, grevillea flowers and acacia seeds (eg, arenaria). Anigozanthos tlavidus and Correa Acacia rubda). Crimson Rosellas are glabra are also favourites. So too are particularly fond of Grevillea jephcoltii flowers, callistemons during their relatively short and over the years they've pruned a very gangly flowering periods. Avoiding wattlebirds, the bush into a better shape. delightful Eastern Spinebills pop around amongst dense grevilleas or hover in front of Treecreepers Epacris longiflora flowers. We love to hear the piping call of the treecreeper (it travels with the mixed mob) and Insects see it working its way up the trunk of a Grevillea 'Poorinda Jennifer Joy' is by far our Eucalyptus goniocalyx probing the bark for biggest bee drawcard. Three at Tuross flower for insects. When our E. srderoxylon develop their most of the year (a beautiful mauve-pink) and furrowed bark, these too should attract them. they're constantly attended by bees both exotic and native. Eucalyptus viridis attracts clouds of Vines insects in summer, and native bees like E. To increase bushiness, cover fences and diversifolia. Of the many butterfly attractive provide nesting sites for small birds, we grow plants we've tried (eg Olearia sp., Lomandra sp.) many climjers such as Clematis microphylla, C. none has yet rivalled Westringia 'Wynyabbie aristata, Hardenbergia violacea and Kennedia Gem'. In Queanbeyan, three indigenous species rubicunda. When young, C. microphylla has a also attract them: the yellow daisy Xerochrysum marked tendency to drop all of its leaves if viscosum, Bursaria spinosa and a local peeved but it recovers brilliantly from bare leptospemum (possibly Leptospemum stalks. brevipes), which is a butterfly magnet for a few weeks each summer. Water help select the appropriate types of fungi for Nectar-seeking birds and insects only favour revegetation projects. The website also plants that are adequately watered - when highlights some "do's and don'ts" - ie. do not there's little moisture, there isn't enough nectar- collect soil with a shovel or a front end loader flow to attract them to the flowers. A select few from natural vegetation. This may cause plants were kept well watered throughout the irreversible damage to the precious remnants and may risk spreading diseases. drought as food plants. For water, 1 set up small crate ponds (based on 50 or 60 litre recycling Once re-introduced, fungi will do their crates) at both places. Stocked with White- amazing and essential part in maintaining the Cloud Mountain Minnows - which eat mosquito health of the vegetation and soil by kick starting larvae but not many tadpoles - native pond and sustaining soil nutrient cycling thus plants ( VaIIisneria spiralis, Potamogeton sp.) and assisting the health and growth of native trees rocks, these are a big hit with wildlife: frogs and and particularly eucalypts, acacias and froglets breed, birds bathe, and birds, insects, sheoaks. kangaroos and wallabies drink from them. These The natural reservoirs of native fungi are small ponds use little water and have proved rapidly depleting as natural woodlands diminish much more popular and easier to look after than in number, and quality. It is therefore a race the large pond we have at Queanbeyan. When against time to re-introduce our remaining ~ative the drought is over, I'll try a small muddy area or fungi with minimal disturbance of existing natural two, for such creatures as wasps and peewees vegetation. Most importantly we must preserve that make mud nests. native fungi sources for the benef-t of ecosystem health and contributions towards future revegetation project successes. UNDERSTANDINGTHE VALUE OF FUNGI By Neale Bougher,CSIRO, Perth, Malleefowlmatter lss.35 Fungi are generally a mystery to most people HELP OUR WILDLIFE and knowledge about native fungi in Australia is 1. By encouraging our wildlife you are also helping limited. We do know however that there are to make your garden flourish. Many birds and many times more fungi than plants in Australia, lizards eat insects and garden pests, and the birds and the majority of Australian fungi, some aid in the pollination of some types of flowers and unique to this country are yet to be discovered hittrees. or named. In the poor soils that dominate much 2. Never use rat or snail bait, or poisonous sprays, of Australia, fungi have many roles including there are any non +poisonous options. decomposing vegetation and litter. As beneficial 3. Before mowing your lawn in late spring partners they act like an extra root system and summer, check for sun baking lizards. delivering nutrients to plants as well as providing 4. Plant trees and bushes that attract fauna and will for such as woylies, malleefowl and also provide food. Avoid plants that are potoroos. poisonous to wildlife. The fruit bodies of large fungi such as 5. Avoid cutting down old trees, where possible, as mushrooms, toadstools, puffballs, brackets and these may have holes and hollows that are used truffles are the most commonly recognised by birds and possums. above ground species however it is their vast 6. Planting trees close together so their canopies can networks of threads below ground that provide meet with those outside your boundaries will valuable ecosystem benefits. enable possums and koalas to travel more safely Hundreds of native fungi occur in, and from tree to tree without the risks associated support the health of Australia's woodlands but with crossing cleared land. these fungi take a very long time, if ever, to self- 7. Bats ofien reside in the bark of trees. When establish in revegetation of badly degraded removing branches, check for bats. sites. It is known that less than 1% of large 8. Provide nesting boxes of varying sizes in trees for native fungi found in remnant bushland have birds, bats and possums to nest in. returned to revegetated areas even after 20 9. Have a birdbath situated in a shady area of your years. In response to addressing some of the garden. challenges CSIRO is developing and testing 10. Most importantly, keep your cat indoors, ways of assisting native fungi back into especially at night. bushland revegetation on former farmlands. This research is encapsulated in FungiBank at w.Fun~l;laritmro au The site aims to raise awareness, encourage and demonstrate responsible application of fungi in natural and restored veaetation. increase knowledae and The Sting on the Nettles by Phil Watson Roman soldiers, chilled by the cold, often rubbed their feet and hands with nettles to Stinging nettles are known as tenacious weeds, bring back their circulation, whilst convicts able to live in the toughest of conditions, were punished by lashing large nettle bushes notoriously known for inflicting unforgettable across the bare backs. Urtification has been pain. Their hanging pinkish flower clusters used successfully for treating rheumatism and impart agonising stings into unsuspecting arthritis by tricking the nervous system into walkers or gardeners who dare exposure their overlooking the deeper pain. bare legs, arms or hands to its armoury. Close Nettles are the pretty Australian examination of these stinging heads reveal a Admiral Butterfly larva's food plant. These myriad of tiny hollow hairs with swollen bases larva carry a row of spiny hairs down their and needle-like tips. All are filled with formic backs. They construct, prior to pupating, acid, which when touched, act like syringes. protective tents, from silk spun around leaves. This weed (Urtica dioica) along with its Tassie Larva pupates into powerful, darting butterflies native cousin (U incisa), have an unexpected which are strongly attracted to colourful set of attributes which deserve recognition. Bfrddleia.sp. flowers. Being well camouflaged Many of the stinging nettle's at rest, they happily bask on sunlit garden attributes are common to their 500 member walls in the summer. Nettle family, (Urticaceae) which is made up Nettle can yield excellent silky fibre, of native and exotic trees, shrubs and herbs. traditionally used to make fishing nets, rope, Prominent lliembers include the feared, paper arid cloth. The fibres were considered tropical Giant Stinging Trees, (Dendrocnide superior to cotton when making velvet and a excelsa), the indigenous Smooth Nettle or more durable type of linen. Cloth was often Shade Pellitory (Parietaria debilis), the coloured ~i?hthe yellow dye that could be attractive indoor plant andlor tropical extracted fim their roots. groundcover Aluminium or Friendship Plant (Pilea sp.)and the toughest and silkiest of all Little known nettle relatives natural fibre producers, China Grass Aside from the Stinging nettle, the (Boehmerianivea). native Small Shade Nettle (Australinapusilla), found in damp cool forests, are attractive, non- Nettle tonics are nutritious stinging nettles ideal for growing with ferns. Both the native and exotic stinging Along with the native Shade Pellitory, both nettle is very nutritious, provided their stings produce tasty spinach-like leaves. are neutralised by cooking or drying. A The Asthma Weed (Parietaria delicious vivid green, cream-of-nettle soup can jzrdacea) is a weed nettle often found lurking be made using their tender, young shoots in moist urban bushland sites. The hairs on this spiced with a touch of lemon. A superb nettle woody herb can induce skin rashes whilst its tea, wine or beer can be brewed fiom infused pollen causes asthma, conjunctivitis and hay extracts of the young leaves. Due to their high fever. Ironically it is grown for its medicinal Vitamin 4 C and iron content, quenching properties, which may be inadvertently helping nettle drinks act as a health tonic. Herbalists it invade bushland sites. report that nettle tea can improve blood coagulation and haemoglobin formation. The Tree size nettle relatives roots of the nettles contain 'Phytosterols' The Giant Stinging Tree is an which can be extracted to synthesis steroidal important primary colonising tree (scab plant) drugs. It is used for inhibiting the growth of which grows quickly within sub tropical East tumours and regulating blood cholesterol. Coast rainforests, following a disturbance, like kch moist soils, preferably fertilised a landslip or a tree fall. They are also the home with chicken manure, allow gardeners to grow of the spectacular Splendid Ghost Moths, crops of lush nettles, whilst the best native whose exqlrisite females display rich geen nettles can be found thriving in damp, shady forewings and pink hind wings whilst the forests. In the native and vegetable gardens, males exhibit beautiful blue tones. they act as companion plants and provide Interestingly, the male moth produces a strong nutritious supplements for the compost heap. female attracting. pheromone scent fiom its A nitrogen-rich foliar feed can be brewed by glandular brush of hairs on its rear hind legs. soaking them in a bucket. This is opposite to most moths, in that the females disseminate the pheromone. History reveals strange uses Interestingly they have tunnelling larva, which Urtlpcation is the process of bore into the young trees, after initially living deliberately stinging the skin with nettles amongst the forest floor litter. Jgm;fAw<& STATE EMBLEMS

.-' eneath our radiant /I; Southern Cross We'll toil with hearts and hands; L To make this Commonwealth OF ours Renowned OF all the lands; ... '5; ihs For ,hose who've come across ._. CTORIA - The Garden State. the seas; IMAL - Leadbeaters Possum. FLORAL - Pink Heath. We've boundless plains to share; BlRD - Helmeted Honeyeater. With courage let us all combine QUEENSLAND - The Sunshine State. to Advance Australia Fair. - Koala. In joyful strains then let us sing FLORAL - Cooktown Orchid. ADVANCE AUS~ALIAFAIR ;; :; - I" BlRD - Brolga. 4:. .: ADVANCE AUSTRALIA FAIR', I, ..37, p:,12 NEW SOUTH WALES -The First State. T.4.. ..,, . Y . ANIMAL - Platypus. FLORAL - . BlRD - Kookaburra. nu. . .*A Charus SOUTH AUSTRALIA - The Festival State. .m.5$p$e trom thepelomtime ANIMAL - Hairy-Nosed Wombat. ~rom>fhej~lusb~re$s,3il plains , .':-.+ e are one, but we Ore many FLORAL - Sturt's Desert Pea. I am the osb$tm,&rt, th*%keepk< on And horn all the lands eorth BlRD - Piping Shrike. of Ihe flume 's '"t, ,: . - we come -. WESTERN AUSTRALIA - The State of t stood upon the r,& y shorr-3 :,:. We shore o dream ond slna., I watched th~I toll ships come'",. ' - with one voice Excitement. For forty thousand' yc +p I'd been ': , l om ANIMAL - Numbat. The First Australion. ; , . . Wu are FLORAL - Red and Green Kangaroo Paw. . -+ I Pi < .. We ore Australian BlRD - Black Swan. come upon he prison sJlp TASMANIA - The Holiday Isle. Bowed down by iron chains'. 'm a taller of stories ANIMAL - Tasmanian Devil (unofficial). I cleared iha fond, endured the losh I'm o singer of songs FLORAL - Tasmanian Blue Gum. And waited For the rains *,.& I om Albert Nomoliira A.C.T. - The Nation's Capital. I'm a settler. t"m o former's ty/,& ,, li I paint he ghostly gums Onodryondborrentun I pm,Cloncy on his horse FLORAL - Royal Bluebell. A convicl than o [reemon '5:;; Itrn,Ned Kelly on he run BlRD - Gang-Gang Cockatoo. - , ", t become Ausfrolion. I'm the one who waltzed Motilda NORTHERN TERRITORY - Outback Australia. . ". . I am Austrolion. ANIMAL - Red Kangaroo. 3. omthedouhterofadigger~~ Who sought t e mother lode - . 5 'm I~Ehot wind from !he desert I' -, a rl become o womon l'm I~Ablnck soh of the doins ~nddus~~~rood . I'm the maunto;ns ond he valleys B I'm o child ot the depression I'm tl>adrough~ and flooding rorns I SOW rhe'good times come ,f I om Ihe rock, I om Ihe sky I'm a bushiei, I'm o battler .$ The rivers when they run I om Australian. k" 7. The spirit of his great land I om Australion 5" ad . k.--, Chorus

MWC DY B~UCCWoodley Woros by Bruce Woodlcg 9 Rob Newton MEDIA ARTICLES environmental damage from locusts. Wherever CLEVER BIRDS- In recent research, "birds possible control teams have treated locust have emerged as rivals to chimpanzees and outbreaks in Plains Wanderer habitat areas with dolphins for the title of the most intelligent non- Greenguard, a fungus based agent designed for human animals," reports 'The Sunday Times' of environmentdly sensitive areas. London. A Cambridge University team put a hole in the side of a transparent tube, mounted DANGER FROM LX)CUST CaEMCALS the tube horizontally with the hole facing A report in Queensland Country Life (2711105 downward into another tube. and placed food p.5) reminded landholders of the importance of inside it next to the hole. Primates tried to push an awareness of the types of chemicals sprayed the food out, losing it down the hole. But and their potential impacts such as the chemical woodpecker finches used a stick to draw the food residues in Livestock and grain. Landholders out without losing it. Earlier, Oxford University were urged to be precise when mixing chemicals researchers watched a New Caledonian crow and to follow instructions relating to application named Betty make hooks from garden wire and rates and withholding periods. They were also adapt the shape of the hook to suit a particular urged to keep records of any spraying activity job- a task that primates have never been known and to inform neighbours of any spraying to perform. Such findings "contradict years of undertaken. along with reporting any further received wisdom" that only primates are capable outbreaks of locusts. of toolmaking, comments the' Times'. LWW GUIDE ON LOCAL TREES & SHRUBS MYCOTOXINSFROM COMPOST The Riverine Grazier (2611105 pg.4) reported on A report from the International Archives of the release of a new Glove Box guide titled Occupational and Environmental Health 'Useful Trees and Shrubs for Central West 1993,65 1 13-1 17) raises more concerns about NSW'. There are 75 trees and shrubs shown in commercial composting products We are the book with many of the species listed also already aware of Legionella and its capacity to common in the Hay plains area. The authors are affect human life, and here is another gem! Peter Milthorpe and Margaret Wynne of the Although it is well known that exposure to NSW DPI. The book is based on research carried mycotoxins in food can cause ill health effects in out at the Conjoblin Research Station. humans and animals, mycotoxin toxicity from the respiratory route has been questioned. A OLDTREES SAVE WMMERABm study of 5 Aspergillus and Penicillium species A new study revealed that keeping old buloke found in German composting facilities found that trees might be a key to saving the threatened red- these fungi produced large quantities of tailed black cockatoo, was reported in the mycotoxins including Vermculogen, Fumagillin, 'Wimmera Mail Times - The Farmer' (2611105) Sterimatocysytin, Penitrem and Roquefortine. Researcher Martine Maron said farmers needed These mycotoxins were found to be very toxic to to carefully manage the keeping of old bulokes human lung, liver and nerve cell cultures. Other to maintain firm productivity because much of studies have noted that inhaled mycotoxins may the remaining nesting and feeding trees were on be up to 40 times more toxic than the same private land. She stated that "Only about three mycotoxins taken orally. per cent of the original buloke woodland remains in the Wirnmera The large, mature buloke trees LOCUST TERF,ATENS ENDANGERED that cockatocs prefer now mostly occur as B]RD. jiom L)eniliquznPastoral l ~mes(NSW) scattered paddock trees." SouthernWeekly Magazine 31//1/05p. 5 Because buloke trees only grew slowly, they Special precautions in the treatment of plague could be more than ninety years old before locusts, are recommended in areas known to be cockatoos wwld feed on them. Grazing areas habitat for the endangered Plains Wanderer. The and roadsides might be crucial in protecting the DPI, the Australian Plague Locust Commission cockatoo. . . and the Dept. for Environment and Conservation The red-tailed black cockatoo is one of seven had recently developed a set of guidelines for threatened species being studied by a joint DPI- heating locusts in Plains Wanderer areas around DSE project called Threatened Species and Conargo, Jerilderie and Hay. The aim of the Farming. guidelines is to minimise agricultural and '90 of our species in grave peril' Plants and weeds database an article appearing in The Australian (8-9/01/05). Charles Sturt University Virtual Herbarium is a I It was reported that an international authority useful tool for anyole interested in native flora. on endangered bird species (Dr. Cagan The database lists some 3500 plant and weed I Sekercioglu) predicted that Australia has 12 species found in the Murray Darling Basin. The times as many bird species facing , site also provides handy inforrnaiion on the and that 14% of the world's 9787 bird species distribution, ecology and propagation of many will become extinct this century if, environmental species. The focus for the herbarium in the near degradation continues. Given that Australia's future will be on native grasses. woeful record is 45 threatened species and 27 Visit the site at: near-threatened. "Habitat loss and species are usually correlated with population and population density and Australia is very low KNOW YOUR WEEDS in both." Seventy five per cent of Australia's Parthenium: This weed of national significance threatened birds are unique only to Australia is present in Central Queensland with and yet we have eight extinct bird species- 20 outbreaks at Highfields, Warwick and times that which would be expected for a nation Cambooya, supposedly caused by the use of of 20 million people. Some species under threat: stockfeeds from infested areas. Abbott's booby and four other species are Giant rats tail orass: this aggressive weed that critically endangered on Christmas Island, their can reduce pasture productivity and out numbers decimated by crazy ants. On Lord compete desirable pasture grasses. It was Howe lsland several birds became extinct in the introduced from South Africa in the 1960s and 1800s because of rats from shipwrecks. The has adapted well to large areas of Qieensland. wandering albatross and other seabirds in Boxthorn: the spiny South African perennial Australian waters are threatened by tuna fishing. shrub is an aggressive weed in some districts, In North Queensland the southern cassowary is and produces a dense thicket armed with spines fast disappearing, killed by dogs and cars. to form an impenetrable barrier.

AUSTRALIA'S MOST ENDANGERED BIRDS CARPET PYTHON AT RISK IN VICTORIA Chestnut-breastedwhiteface Some of the most important habitat for the shy, Noisy scrub bird slow moving, tree dwelling, noi-venomous Rufous snake are in the red gum forests between Swan Southern cassowary Hill and the South Australian border. This m Eastern bristlebird habitat includes the Nyah Forests and is Western bristlebird currently the subject of a Victorian Environment * Red goshawk Assessment Council investigation into Riverine Gouldian finch Redgum Forests along the Murray River. Christmas lsland frigatebird The Inland Carpet Python or Inland Carpet Lord Howe woodhen Snake, is a slow-moving, nocturnal snake that I Albert's lyrebird has an average adult length of 170 to 190 cm. - Star finch Snakes in the southern portion of th3 range, the a Orange bellied parrot Murray River drainage basin in Victoria, are Regent honeyeater essentially black and grey, although some r Red-lored whistler individuals may have a tan colouration on the * Abbott's booby sides. The inland carpet python is one of only Plains- wanderer two pythons to occur in Victoria, the other being the closely related diamond python. Hollow logs Night parrot or trees plus thick litter or shrub cover are Princess parrot essential to the reptile's exislence. The Golden shouldered parrot environment is used for shelter, to avoid Western whipbird predators, ambush prey and thermo-regulation. While juvenile inland carpet pythons are thought AUSTRALIA'S EXTINCT BIRDS to feed mostly on lizards, the adults prey upon Norfolk lsland starling small to medium sized mammals as well as * King lsland emu birds, particularly thsse roosting in tree hollows. Kangaroo lsland emu The radical alterations in the abundance and a Lord Howe gergoyne distribution of mammals since European New Zealand little bittern settlement have im~actedon prey availability, Lord Howe swamphen frequency of breeding and the number of young Paradise parrot ovthons ~roduced.A varietv of orocesses have Biodiversity hotspots

USTWIA is oneof the most biologically diverse countries in the world. It A is home to more than one million species of plants and ani- mals, many of which are found nowhere else. Some 85% of Australia's flower- ing plant species, 82% of mammals (excluding whales), more than 45% of birds, 89% of reptiles and 85% of temperate zone inshore marine fish are found only in Australia. This country's remarkable biolog- ical diversity - the plants, animals, micro-organisms and their ecosys- tems - is threatened by the impact of human activities. Since European settlement, more than 50 species of animal and more than 60 species of plant are known to have-become extinct in Australia. Biodiversity hotspots are areas Cape Barren Geese. Photo by A. Tatnell under immediate threat from impacts such as development pres- some time (with South-West West- The purpose of the hotspots is to sures, land clearing, weeds, feral ern Australia on an international put a spotlight on areas where, if the animals and salinity, and are strong- list). country acts now, it can slow down holds for large numbers of Aus- However, this is the first time or avert environmental damage tralia's unique plants and animals. Australia's biodiversity hotspots have before it happens, and get the most The hotspots are home to many been identified. They were identified value from its conservation dollar. 'endemic' species - in other words, by the Australian Government's The hotspots also help to raise native flora and fauna that are Threatened Species Scientific Com- public awareness of the environmen- mostly restricted to one geographic mittee, the Humane Society Interna- tal heritage at risk and promote locality. tional and the Australian hIuseum, strategic action to conserve it. Internationally, biodiversity with input from recognised biodiversi- As a priority in hotspot regions, hotspots have been identified for ty experts from across Australia. Natural Heritage Trust funding is being directed to implementing hotspot conservation actions. These national hotspots are not designed to replace priority-setting by states, regions or local communi- ties. Rather, they provide important information to guide decision makers in developing strategic plans and identifying priority actions for biodi- versity conservation, and provide guidance on cost-effective invest- ment under the Natural Heritage Trust. Information packages have been prepared for each natural resource management (NRM) region that overlaps with a hotspot. Australian Government and regional NRM facilitators will assist communities to develop approaches to conserve biodiversity hotspot val- ues and reduce threats to biodiversi- ty through their regional investment Bridled nailtail wallaby. Photo by M. Evans strategies.

12 -alian Farm Journal BUSH, November 2004 F-. -=- bP'.-. , YaturalHeritage Trust

Biodiversity Hotspots

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1 Einasleigh and Desert Uplands 6 South Eastof South Australia 11 Mount Lesueur Eneabb~ and South West Victoria 2 Brigalow North and South 7 Mt Lofty / Kangaroo Island 12 Geraldton to SharkBay sand plains 3 Border Ranges North and South 8 Fitzgerald River Ravensthorpe 13 Carnarvon Basin

4 Midlands of Tasmania 9 Bussetton Augusta 14 Harnersley/ Pilbara 5 Victorian Volcanic Plain 10 Central and EasternAvon Wheat Belt 15 North Kimberley m-: Uwl.eranwIDErqo-lcl--1MN*-. r-aa.wmu.!.~onunlclo-wsu ~sss./ubhursaa~ (M:wU((anessmmnt.~utwwhammmwYn. TmDepdnMd UnhomM~~,h.rPm."dc.~VUrn~Y.*".b.~,,. MnW&bq- M-dhdm~ Lq-wEmII.~dE"A.-M--dM92CMm*uwPrm DY-: WLUdUElhUB~LOD-lcl--IOD(Nwnnm. T~OBI.*IY.I~(O~MISIO~-I~~.U~~IU*~~ k-.*-*b~rlrrQknm91- Ik-* -t-rd~~mAme~~rmmh-- -='.uuuIy-

More informationon these areas site at: . ment and Heritage, phone: the Environment and Heritage web Contact: Jenny Tomkins, (02) 6274 2720.

Australian Farm Journal BUSH, November 2004 13